Thank you to the author for sending me a copy to review. When the Devil is out today, and I know many of you are gonna wanna read this.

A story as fast moving as the tornado that rips through its final pages, When the Devil is a Southern Gothic that perfectly channels the two sides of life’s coin, violence and pleasure, as main character June asserts. It’s a brief novelette that manages to portray decades, centuries, millennia of female rage and patriarchal oppression, yet births hope and Sapphic love from the carnage of its ending. I loved it from start to finish.

Emma E. Murray’s masterful alternation of sweet passages and blunt, pragmatic violence is the best medium for this story. I would love to see a film adaptation, too. The swaying fields, the sunshine, the summer heat that makes both the landscape and protagonist Libby shimmer with its intensity. And you know when you’re watching a horror movie that is more psychological, and something happens, and you’re just kind of blinking in faint surprise as blood starts to pool or a body falls? There are several scenes of, shall we say sudden expiration, in this story, and each happens with that incredibly satisfying abruptness.

It’s such a short story that to say more would be detrimental, but suffice it to say that this deserves a place among the best of modern Southern Gothics, and that Emma is a rising star among women in horror. Her writing renders the horrific beautiful, somehow, and I am always happy to devour more pages of her words.arcs-netgalley-giveaways-to-review horror sapphic21 s Anna Avian561 85

In this short story, we are introduced to Libby, a woman trapped in a cycle of abuse inflicted by her husband and her own grandfather. Her life takes a sudden turn when she encounters June, a mysterious woman who swiftly eliminates both tormentors from Libby's life.

The narrative, however, falls short of providing the emotional and psychological depth one might expect from such a complex and delicate subject matter. The killings come across as shallow and strangely lacking in gravity, even appearing to evoke a sense of satisfaction from her. There is a missed opportunity to delve into June's character—her motivations, past experiences, or methods of covering her tracks—which could have added layers of intrigue and depth to the storyline.

June and Libby's relationship also remains ambiguous. There is no clear indication that June's actions are motivated by genuine concern or care for Libby; instead, her actions appear somewhat detached and clinical.

Overall, the story feels quite simplistic and fails to explore its potentially rich themes and character dynamics. The absence of plotting and psychological insights into the characters' actions leaves the reader with a sense of unfulfilled curiosity.lgbt short7 s thevampireslibrary358 147

Short, sweet and sapphic, this was a psychological horror novella that was both hopeful and bleak, a big book that takes up little space, what appears to be a simple narrative becomes so much more as themes of liberation, oppression and revenge are explored through well paced devilishly dark infused prose7 s Mother Suspiria138 74 Read

WHEN THE DEVIL is a novelette from Emma E. Murray that packs many horrors inside of its compelling, feverish intensity. Libby's world is dark and cruel, and any peace, joy, or deliverance comes with a price. Devils abound, but sometimes the fruit they offer makes the damnation worth it.4 s C.J. DaleyAuthor 1 book89

A huge thanks to Shortwave for the physical ARC! Such a good cover too, I’m so glad I own one.

This novelette is short, a little sweet, and kind of a lotta dark. A tale of abuse, both from a husband and grandfather, this story showcases some of the horror stories women face daily. Yet it’s also mixed with a bit of hope and sapphic desire.

Now, you may know from some other of mine that I really struggle with any form of cheating/adultery, but this is more so about having the ability, the autonomy, to want and decide for yourself. When all you’re shown is abuse, that ability to decide, to feel, to want, is part of that ability to claw yourself back from it. And that’s what this felt .

Then there is of course, the more horrific elements. Deceit, deception, avoidance, perhaps a little murder? But isn’t all of that just another angle at being free, at fighting against the structured injustice being showcased in this rural community?

My favorite thing though, perhaps, is how Libby goes from one kind of prison to another. And as the bodies start to pile up, June’s hold over her is just another type of chokehold.

https://fanfiaddict.com/review-when-t...horror indie-reads physically-owned4 s elle ?115 21

Oooh, I just LOVED this! Murray is an excellent storyteller and scene setter. I really needed this novelette to be much longer! Looking forward to reading more from Murray and will definitely keep my ear to the ground on her upcoming books.

4.5/53 s Jamedi512 96

Review originally on JamReads

When the Devil is a Southern horror novelette, an intense and cathartic piece written by Emma E. Murray, which will be published by Shortwave Media. Lynn is trapped in an abusive marriage (and supported by her father), but when June appears in the town, she will experience freedom, and will see a way out of her situation.

A fast-paced story structured around Lynn's desires to escape from this toxic relationship, and which is only fulfilled when June appears to give her an anchor point that helps Lynn to manifest her own preferences. Lynn is an excellent representation of those women trapped in abusive marriages that are perpetuated by fear and sometimes with the complicity of the own family; thankfully for her, June is there.
June definitely fulfills more the role of a grey-morale character, as despite we can understand the idea behind her actions, and we can even support them, you cannot stop you thinking if she is mostly playing the role of the Devil in this novelette: the measures are really extreme even if it's needed for Lynn's sake.

Even in that situation, Murray has written an extremely cathartic novelette, with sapphic elements that add a bit more to the plot; a perfect piece if you are looking for a short horror book without avoiding the intensity of it.2 s KayHokis297 57

I am so lucky to get an early eye on When the Devil and I enjoyed it so much!

Novellas are one of my favorite forms of storytelling and Emma E. Murray utilized the structure perfectly. The pacing is engaging, moving from scene to scene with quickness and fluidity while also allowing the reader to get a solid grasp on the characters through beautiful exposition. You really feel for Libby and the life she’s living before she meets June.

I love a good morally gray character (or several!) and enjoyed the little love story tucked between dark moments. This ticks so many of my boxes (short and sweet, sapphic, and dark) and I highly recommend checking it out when it releases on May 7th, 2024.2 s Oma Ann Splatter18

Interested in some sapphic, feminine rage? Boy do I have the story for you.
Quick paced at only 48 pages, When the Devil is absolutely beautiful and I have to say it made me smile, leaving me feeling oddly satisfied.2 s Ai JiangAuthor 56 books274 Read

A big thank you to the publisher for an ARC of the book!

I finished this in a single sitting and found it to be a fast-paced story about the desire to escape toxic relationship but also the fear of doing so. There are themes of losing faith in some ways and gaining it in others, women confined to the domestic sphere, finding freedom in the most unexpected places and in unexpected ways—the fleeting, stolen moments that linger above the pain. Murray reminds us through the novella the detriments of societal expectations and judgement against women, of women having to learn independence after forced reliance and compliance, of how women can serve as mentors for other women rather than seen as "competition". There is a desire, hunger, and lust for power by the powerless, and the novella illuminates the darkness moments of reclamation. A chilling and liberating read.

1 Jody Blanchette816 54

Good things come in small packages. Actually, even evil things can come in small packages, lol. When The Devil is a whopping 48 page novelette that does not lack the meat of a full length novel.
Though this is a very short dive into it, the novelette deals with domestic abuse, revenge and justice. It’s a unique telling of a young woman, in a bad situation, finding herself and getting out. I enjoyed watching Libby grow, and find excitement in life again. June is her new love interest, and the thrill of the story. She is a fierce woman who takes what she wants, even if it does involve murder. Lol
Though I didn’t find the story terrifying or horrific, it was no less shocking in some moments. Definitely a quick hitting story, leaving nothing out.
1 Amanda502

“Life’s just two sides of a coin: violence and pleasure.”

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