The Devil Makes Three

The devil seeks his due from two unsuspecting students in this YA horror novel for fans of The Library of the Unwritten and VE Schwab.When Tess and Eliot stumble upon an ancient book hidden in a secret tunnel beneath their school library, they accidentally release a devil from his book-bound prison, and he'll stop at nothing to stay free. He'll manipulate all the ink in the library books to do his bidding, he'll murder in the stacks, and he'll bleed into every inch of Tess's life until his freedom is permanent. Forced to work together, Tess and Eliot have to find a way to re-trap the devil before he kills everyone they know and love, including, increasingly, each other. And compared to what the devil has in store for them, school stress suddenly doesn't seem so bad after all.This is a fast-paced YA crossover/gothic horror debut, with a strong romance and an eerie, page-turning plot that will make this a great choice for fans of VE Schwab and Library of the Unwritten by AJ Hackwith. The book is the perfect blend of dark humor, supernatural suspense, and rich, compelling characters.

From School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up—Renowned cello player Tess Matheson is in her senior year at the prestigious Falk University Preparatory Academy in Pennsylvania. With help from her great aunt Mathilde, Tess has arranged for her and her young sister, Nat, to live at the boarding school without financial troubles. She'll do whatever it takes for them to avoid their parents' money problems and quarrels, even if it costs her a full scholarship at the Boston Academy of Arts. Tess gets by on work-study at the school's (haunted) Jessop library. While working, she unintentionally butts heads with Eliot Birch, the headmaster's handsome, standoffish, and mysterious son from London. Eliot convinces Tess to take him to the basement of forbidden books. Unbeknownst to Tess, Eliot has a secret mission of his own. An innocent reading of dark magic turns their journey into one of fire, blood, and possession. An unexpected friendship develops between the two young loners as they work together to set things right. Bovalino tells the story from three points of view (Tess, Eliot, and the Devil), giving readers the chance to empathize with all characters, even the most sinister ones. The storyline has plenty of romance and witchcraft that drags at times but will still leave the hairs standing on readers' arms. Tess and Eliot's races aren't specified. VERDICT An excellent read for a sleepover and a reminder to high school students to take life easy and to not let others define you.—Beronica Puhr, Oak Park P.L., IL

Erin A. Craig, NYT bestselling author, House of Salt and Sorrows

“Bovalino's debut crackles. Dripping with dark atmosphere, THE DEVIL MAKES THREE is perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo's NINTH HOUSE. Make sure to read this with the lights on!”

Chloe Gong, New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights

“A spine-tingling, entrancing read. The Devil Makes Three is the perfect blend of supernatural horror and contemporary gothic, with each page as heart-pounding as the next. Tori Bovalino is an absolute master at atmosphere.”

Tasha Suri, author of The Jasmine Throne

“A glorious, darkly atmospheric journey into the disturbing power of books, ink and the horrors that live inside them.”

Mara Rutherford, author of Crown of Coral and Pearl

"With its magical library, brooding British boy, and haunted heroine, The Devil Makes Three is as darkly compelling as the grimoires of Jessop. A thrilling debut that cast a spell on me from page one!"

Hannah Capin, author of Foul is Fair

“With demonic wit and a wholly human heart, Tori Bovalino’s debut will grab your hand on the very first page ― and you won’t let go. The Devil Makes Three is imaginative, original, and a genuine delight. Read this book, and tell your friends the devil made you do it.”

Joshua Phillip Johnson, author of The Forever Sea

“A perfect blend of gothic terror, slow-burn romance, and irreverent humor ― this novel is a must read. I loved every page and paragraph of it.”

AJ Hackwith, author of The Library of the Unwritten

“Bovalino delivers an ink-splattered love letter to old books and dark academia. Wicked and sharp as a pen stroke, this is a delight for library goths ―me included. If you ever wished your school library had a forbidden wing, then you need to read this book immediately.”

Kat Dunn, author of Dangerous Remedy

“Quietly horrifying and compulsively readable, The Devil Makes Three is as chilling as it is compelling. A recipe for nightmares.”

School Library Journal

“Plenty of romance and witchcraft…An excellent read for a sleepover and a reminder to high school students to take life easy and to not let others define you.”

The Nerd Daily

“Intriguingly dark and macabre, The Devil Makes Three is a perfectly chilling YA horror that delivers in spades.”

About the Author

Tori Bovalino is a debut author. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, she is now pursuing her MA in creative writing in London.

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