Hallowed Be Thy Name

4.5/5 My first forey into religious horror and ut was such a good book for it. The book may start slow but its taking you on a journey through Augustus' life and all that he has been through and it makes you root for him and his happiness. I loved Nathaniel and the way their relationship develops as well. The religious/cult aspects were something new to me and something where going in I wasn't sure how I could relate cause I wasn't raised particularly religious. Even so I could understand the struggles and feel for the character. I thought I understood what was real but the end remained a rollercoaster of emotions and left me staring at a wall. In a good way. Such a strong debut and a big recommendation from me if you're looking into different horror sub-genres.

Every single one of those five stars is deserved. I am completely in awe… I was excited. I was thrilled. I was completely absorbed. It was eerie, unnerving, sweet, it was gripping, and it had me sending excerpts to my sister, giggling like a little girl, kicking my feet in delight, gasping for air, and even taking pictures of passages I couldn’t stop marveling at because they were haunting me. The writing style was absolutely phenomenal. At times lyrical, at times completely natural in dialogue, so human, so effortless to read. And then there were moments that were almost poetic, absolutely breathtaking. The story itself is wonderfully complex. I could genuinely empathize with each character, understand their motivations, and follow every nuance of their development. Each leap was intentional, seamless, and crucial to the story. I didn’t know what would happen next, and I waited, almost in suspense, until the very end, which is rare for me. AND THE ENDING??? Well I cannot really say anything besides that this was phenomenal. This is a masterpiece I would recommend without hesitation, and one I’ll be thinking about for a long time!!

Hallowed Be Thy Name is a fantastic debut about religion, trauma and connection. Augustus Saint has always been told the Devil lives inside him. He didn't know it was true until a failed exorcism results in his mother's disappearance, binding him to a Devil only he can see. As recurring nightmares bleed into reality, his darkening mind and growing paranoia leads him to the chilling realisation that he is becoming the very thing he has always feared: The villain of his own story. A sliver of salvation infiltrates Augustus' guarded walls upon meeting classmate Nathaniel Carrington. Forced to collaborate on a university assignment, their research incites a desperate search for the cult that stole Augustus' mother, confronting him with the truth buried deep inside the House on North Lane. As Nathaniel and Augustus grow closer, the Devil fights to keep them apart. The book follows Augustus through the first ~20 years of his life, from a child to a young adult, which makes you feel even more emotions for him and the struggles he's facing. He's an amazing protagonist and I enjoyed overthinking his actions and thoughts and trying to figure out with him together what's real and what's just in his head….. (Also, minor detail but l loved the way the title of this book has a deep meaning for the story and how often it's been referred to. Truly made the book feel round and complete!) I can recommend this book to everyone interested in horror books as this one forces you to question the words written and the things happening. This is unlike any book l've ever read, go give it a try!!