🕯️ Supernatural

When the Devil: A Novelette

✍️ Emma E Murray
Reader Score
4.6
(1 review)
$10.99
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A sapphic Southern tale of love, murder, and liberation through poison.

Libby’s journey involves facing a God she no longer believes in while finding salvation in a new partner. The story uses homebrewed poison as a tool for reclamation. Murray writes with sharp prose that reveals fangs, creating an addictive narrative. The book is organized as a novelette that beats with the tang of empowerment. It suits those who want a bloody, satisfying read about awakening and liberation.

Key Themes
sapphic romance homebrewed poison Southern Gothic
Literary Context

This work sits within the Southern Gothic tradition, blending horror with supernatural fiction. Published by Shortwave Media in 2024, it appeals to American readers interested in dark, character-driven narratives that challenge religious and social norms through a modern lens.

Difficulty
●● Medium
Recommended For Fans Of
Shirley Jackson · Carmen Maria Machado · Tana French · Anne Rice
🕯️
Supernatural
🏛 Shortwave Media 📅 2024 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781959565307
📚 This Book in Collections

📝 Description: When the Devil: A Novelette

Emma Murray delivers a sapphic Southern narrative centered on Libby, who seeks liberation through a new romantic partner and homebrewed poison. The story examines her confrontation with a God she no longer believes in, framing her awakening as an act of bloody empowerment and reclamation. Murray’s prose is described as sharp and southern, revealing fangs that bite into the reader’s expectations. This novelette blends traditions of gothic fiction with contemporary supernatural elements. It focuses on the intersection of love and murder, presenting a tale where salvation is found in dangerous choices rather than divine intervention. The work draws on the Southern Gothic tradition to explore themes of faith, betrayal, and personal freedom. Murray qualifies as an author who writes with visceral intensity, using language that curls back to expose the raw edges of her characters’ souls. Readers who enjoy dark romance and stories of female agency will find this compelling. Those seeking lighthearted fare or traditional religious affirmations may find the content too intense. The narrative does not offer easy comfort but instead provides a satisfying, addictive experience for fans of horror and gothic literature.

💎 Our verdict on When the Devil: A Novelette

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Emma Murray delivers a sharp, southern sapphic tale that effectively blends gothic fiction with contemporary supernatural horror. The narrative centers on Libby’s confrontation with a God she no longer believes in, framing her awakening as an act of bloody empowerment and reclamation through homebrewed poison. Murray’s prose is described as visceral and intense, revealing fangs that bite into reader expectations while exposing the raw edges of her characters’ souls. This novelette suits those who enjoy dark romance and stories of female agency, offering a compelling look at love and murder. It avoids easy comfort, instead providing a tangy, addictive experience for fans of horror. The work is best appreciated by readers seeking intensity and thematic depth over traditional religious affirmations.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking a visceral, intense narrative will find this novelette deeply compelling. It offers a satisfying exploration of liberation and awakening through the intersection of love and murder, appealing to those who appreciate dark romance and stories centered on female agency. The text provides an addictive experience for fans of horror and gothic literature who are willing to engage with content that challenges traditional religious affirmations. Those who enjoy sharp, southern prose that exposes the raw edges of the soul will find the themes of reclamation and empowerment resonant. It is ideal for audiences looking for a bloody, intense read rather than lighthearted fare, delivering a narrative where salvation is found in dangerous choices.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.6
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

Emma Murray delivers a sharp, southern sapphic tale that effectively blends gothic fiction with contemporary supernatural horror. The narrative centers on Libby’s confrontation with a God she no longer believes in, framing her awakening as an act of bloody empowerment and reclamation through homebrewed poison. Murray’s prose is described as visceral and intense, revealing fangs that bite into reader expectations while exposing the raw edges of her characters’ souls. This novelette suits those who enjoy dark romance and stories of female agency, offering a compelling look at love and murder. It avoids easy comfort, instead providing a tangy, addictive experience for fans of horror. The work is best appreciated by readers seeking intensity and thematic depth over traditional religious affirmations.

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