DEVILS WE KNOW

Death may be certain, but it’s also unpredictable.

At 12, red-haired Finn Robinson traded her soul to a demon in exchange for healing her brother of consumption. She’s waited six years for the demon to return and collect his payment. Meanwhile she lives on borrowed time, nursing a long-standing love for her friend Remy and only recently tapping into the power the demon unlocked within her—conjuring fire (which drains her life force). Remy isn’t aware of Finn’s true feelings, but she recognizes her own attraction to Finn. Cas, who’s transgender and newly turned 18, is a reaper’s glass—he’s spiritually connected to Death. This particular Death, who’s gone missing, is one of “a whole slew of Deaths” and the romantic partner of the captain of the ship the Memento Mori, on which Finn, Remy, and Cas are currently sailing. Cas has tried using meditation to contact the missing reaper, but he struggles to focus. Time is of the essence, since the leader of the Order of Lazarus plans to usurp Death’s duties and make his own list of souls, saving only those he deems “not righteous, not holy.” Aside from a somewhat abrupt ending, this duology closer following Devils Like Us (2025) is a satisfying read, which does justice to the well-developed white-presenting central characters. Thompson carefully interweaves the various plot strands, creating an impressively balanced narrative. The historical setting provides a striking backdrop for a marvelously modern queer-conscious space.

Absolutely fantastic.