Mind blown. I started this earlier tonight and I could not turn the pages fast enough. I have rarely read such an amazing blend of horror, thriller, historical fiction and though — note the trigger warning — not for everyone, I will be recommending it to anyone willing to take a chance on a book that has left me reeling. Different than most of my usual favorites, I am left without the words to describe what I’ve just finished. Of course I went directly to the related website indicated in the back of the book, and watched the trailer, looked at all the gallery of photos of actual sites described in the narrative, and desperately long for the movie that is meant to be in production.

In the meantime, read this if you dare. I’m off to start the sequel.

My apologies for neglecting to read and review this for so many years. Thank you to NetGalley for the e-book ARC.

A bible with a hidden key, a lottery ticket, a mysterious sect of monks, gorgeous settings...and the Devil. It's an interesting combination of objects and players, and it makes for a mostly gripping novel.

The book is described as horror - and I would attribute that to the 2nd third of the novel. The first third could be more aptly described as a mystery/thriller - if you liked Dan Brown's Angels and Demons, you're on the right path. The last third of the book? There is a lot of history and information packed into this last part, along with some scary, tense stuff and an ending that I'm not sure how I feel about...

This is a book that requires you to go in with no expectations, because you've probably read nothing like it. Gracias does an extraordinary job of setting the scene and building tension for most of the book. Parts are graphic and visceral, and Gracias spares no gory detail. The story hurtles along until the third part...necessary to understand where this is heading, and interesting in its own right but it slows the pace a bit.

This story is being written as a screenplay, and I can see where this section might translate onscreen - but with less detail thrown at you, perhaps.Thankfully, the sequel due out in December 2017 because I need to see where he will take his readers next. ( )

A woman has been horrible betrayed by trusted friends, so in order to seek revenge she concludes a pact with the devil.Well, the first half of the book is quick paced ( and although the descriptions and details of the revenge killings are unnecessary gory and after the second killing have lost all their necessity) it reads well, barring numerous platitudes such as " more people have died in the name of religion than any other disease ".And then, not only is the devil implicated but also a lot of ( not always accurate) historical facts and myths.In this case the Nag Hammadi codices, a 13th century Benedictine manuscript, red monks and to top it off, climate change is brought into the whole lot.The writing doesn't get any better and frankly it feels as if the emphasis lies on writing a blockbuster. And the end is an absolute disaster, as a matter of fact, there is no"end ".
This book is often compared to Dan Brown 's work, but unfortunately it has the same flaws and pluses.Not very well written, dubious historical data, a certain artificial flavour and yes, it is fast paced, horror and mystery merge and it is an easy read. But just not good enough.... ( )

I greatly enjoyed reading this. I was immediately pulled in, and before I knew it I was halfway through the book and the sun had set hours ago. Well paced, emotional, and filled with mystery and adventure, 'The Devil's Prayer' is an excellent book and a must read! ( )

ho ricevuto copia di questo ARC da Netgalley in cambio di un'onesta recensione
Caspita che lettura!!! la storia mi ha tenuta incollata al libro come non mi succedeva da un pò....
devo dire che all'inizio della lettura ero un pò dubbiosa per l'enorme rischio di ritrovarmi una i soliti clichè di possessioni ed il tutto infarcito con sotto-storia alla Dan Brown... invece la trama si è dipanata in un racconto intorno a due figure principati, madre e figlia Denise e Siobhan, la prima scompare misteriosamente dalla vita della figlia per entrare in un Monastero e abbandonandosi al voto del silenzio, la figlia si ritroverà invischiata in una vorticosa ed infernale sequenza di eventi mozzafiato che ci porteranno a capire come mai Denise abbia avuto quel destino ed il ruolo del diavolo che ha orchestrato per bene manovrando la vita di tutti i personaggi che incontreremo......
( povero Gesù Cristo..... alla fine del libro ai quasi la sensazione che sia morto per niente!!!)
al di là di una lettura scorrevole con un battito cardiaco quasi sempre al cardiopalma mi sono proprio affezionata piu' a Denise che non a Siobhan, che mi è sembrato alla fine essere un personaggio mutilato da zero senso pratico e da nessuna profondità emotiva di spessore.....
gli eventi che incontreremo nella trama sono un pò troppo quello che noi europei chiamiamo "americanate" ogni cosa capita un pò troppo per " giusto" caso facendo filare correttamente tutta la catena delle varie conseguenze..
Molto gradevoli i riferimenti storici e biblici religiosi, solo alla fine del libro, diciamo le ultime 90 pagine, al situazione si fa troppo infarcita ed ingolfata di riferimenti storici e racconti legati a personaggi religiosi... il tutto così ravvicinato che la lettura inizia a diventare un pò una zavorra.
detto questo e senza volutamente essermi soffermata sul contenuto della trama, odio le recensioni riassunto dei libri!!! è un libro che consiglio a chi ama i thriller storico religiosi.. complimenti all'autore per questa sua gradevolissima opera!!! ( )