What do you think?
Rate this book
The Devil's Colony
From the author of "Crimson Cobblestones" comes a visceral hypothetical horror of America’s most unanswered question: What happened to the Lost Colony of Roanoke?
In the haunting wilderness of 1587, the Dare family seeks salvation but finds only damnation in the form of a desolate settlement and mounting deaths. THE DEVIL’S COLONY weaves a blood-soaked tapestry of historical tragedy and spine-chilling supernatural horror, exploring the thin line between faith and madness in the New World.
Featuring:
Witchcraft, Wendigos, Possessed children, and “Found-footage” diary entries, witness the terrifying unraveling of family and settlement as long-buried secrets collide.
With echoes of Alma Katsu's "The Hunger" and the atmospheric dread of Robert Egger’s "The Witch," this novel drowns readers in a world where the promise of a new beginning leads only to unimaginable horror, exploring the haunting consequences of betrayal and the desperate lengths one family will go to reclaim what was lost.
In the haunting wilderness of 1587, the Dare family seeks salvation but finds only damnation in the form of a desolate settlement and mounting deaths. THE DEVIL’S COLONY weaves a blood-soaked tapestry of historical tragedy and spine-chilling supernatural horror, exploring the thin line between faith and madness in the New World.
Featuring:
Witchcraft, Wendigos, Possessed children, and “Found-footage” diary entries, witness the terrifying unraveling of family and settlement as long-buried secrets collide.
With echoes of Alma Katsu's "The Hunger" and the atmospheric dread of Robert Egger’s "The Witch," this novel drowns readers in a world where the promise of a new beginning leads only to unimaginable horror, exploring the haunting consequences of betrayal and the desperate lengths one family will go to reclaim what was lost.
- GenresHorror
ebook
Published April 8, 2025
10 people are currently reading
112 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
January 24, 2025
History and witchcraft always makes the best combination. This book talks about the colony of Roanoke with an added twist of witchcraft. I always admire when authors can write books about a specific time period. This author nails it! From the language to the descriptions of living in the 1500s.
This books takes us back in time to the time period of 1580s as we follow people from England building a colony Roanoke. This is no easy task as people are out of their element and are using the land they have been provided to make nothing into something. Little do the people of Roanoke know they are settling on land that is currently being occupied by non human people.
I did enjoy the multiple points of views and being able to visit each person through their story. It was easy for me to keep up since I prefer stories with multiple view points. This story definitely gives an American Horror Story Roanoke. If you are a fan of this series you’ll love this book. Definitely give it a read you will not be disappointed.
Thank you to Marie Lestrange and Victory Editing for providing me with an Arc! I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This books takes us back in time to the time period of 1580s as we follow people from England building a colony Roanoke. This is no easy task as people are out of their element and are using the land they have been provided to make nothing into something. Little do the people of Roanoke know they are settling on land that is currently being occupied by non human people.
I did enjoy the multiple points of views and being able to visit each person through their story. It was easy for me to keep up since I prefer stories with multiple view points. This story definitely gives an American Horror Story Roanoke. If you are a fan of this series you’ll love this book. Definitely give it a read you will not be disappointed.
Thank you to Marie Lestrange and Victory Editing for providing me with an Arc! I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 23, 2025
A dark and twisty supernatural take on the lost colony of Roanoke.
I’ve always loved hearing the theories, myths, and legends around this iconic mystery. Marie’s writing and plot take this to new levels with monstrous entities, devilish occurrences, and colonists fighting for their lives.
I found the style of the story interesting: a combination of journal entries and character POVs. Very 1500s “found footage” vibes.
At times I was a bit puzzled by what was happening, and had to jump back in the story to see if I’d missed something. It was also a bit over the top at times, so that I’d be more stunned (is this really happening now?) than scared or anxious. Some parts were genuinely freaky though too.
Definitely a story unlike any other I’ve seen about the missing colony.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Victory Editing for a copy.
I’ve always loved hearing the theories, myths, and legends around this iconic mystery. Marie’s writing and plot take this to new levels with monstrous entities, devilish occurrences, and colonists fighting for their lives.
I found the style of the story interesting: a combination of journal entries and character POVs. Very 1500s “found footage” vibes.
At times I was a bit puzzled by what was happening, and had to jump back in the story to see if I’d missed something. It was also a bit over the top at times, so that I’d be more stunned (is this really happening now?) than scared or anxious. Some parts were genuinely freaky though too.
Definitely a story unlike any other I’ve seen about the missing colony.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Victory Editing for a copy.
January 17, 2025
If witchcraft, wendigos, and possessed children sound like your idea of a good time, you might want to think twice before settling into The Devil’s Colony. On paper, it promises all the atmospheric dread of The Witch and the slow-burn terror of The Hunger, but in reality, it’s more like being lost in the woods with a map drawn by someone who failed cartography 101.
As an archaeologist, I know better than to expect historical accuracy in horror fiction, but this book doesn’t even try. It feels like the author glanced at the Wikipedia entry for Roanoke, skimmed a Buzzfeed listicle on scary colonial myths, and called it a day. Add in grammar mistakes, “found footage” diary entries that read like Mad Libs, and a plot so convoluted it made me question my sanity, and you’ve got a recipe for frustration instead of fear.
I wanted to love this, truly, but much like the settlers in the story, I found myself desperately looking for a way out. Two stars for the cool premise and spooky vibes that never quite made it off the page. Wait—who am I kidding? One star. I’d rather face a wendigo than read this again.
As an archaeologist, I know better than to expect historical accuracy in horror fiction, but this book doesn’t even try. It feels like the author glanced at the Wikipedia entry for Roanoke, skimmed a Buzzfeed listicle on scary colonial myths, and called it a day. Add in grammar mistakes, “found footage” diary entries that read like Mad Libs, and a plot so convoluted it made me question my sanity, and you’ve got a recipe for frustration instead of fear.
I wanted to love this, truly, but much like the settlers in the story, I found myself desperately looking for a way out. Two stars for the cool premise and spooky vibes that never quite made it off the page. Wait—who am I kidding? One star. I’d rather face a wendigo than read this again.
January 26, 2025
Full review can be read here: https://readreviewandreflect.wordpres...
Thank you to the author for this copy.
I found The Devil’s Colony to be an enjoyable and pleasant read. I love multi-narrative tellings, and feel it was a really good choice for the recounting of the Roanoke colony, especially to reveal secrets along the way. With this narration, Lestrange gives the story much more depth and area to play with. It hones in on the opposition of themes like faith and madness, love and betrayal, and the variation of the character responses to supernatural occurrences. Exposing the marriage breakdown between Eleanor and Ananias Dare by swapping their point of view was exciting. But when their past was revealed, my initial intrigue about the source of their marital issues became a profound sense of pity for Eleanor. Imagery in The Devil’s Colony is rich and vivid, and although the overall atmosphere of the novel is dark and gloomy, it is sometimes used to convey a fleeting sense of bliss. Foreshadowing is used throughout The Devil’s Colony to produce a sense of unease, fear and tension which strengthens the exploration into the supernatural. Lestrange uses beautiful but hideous imagery to arouse the reader’s emotions, creating suspense peppered with anxiety. Clearly, Lestrange is a master with her descriptions and use of imagery throughout and I thoroughly enjoyed being able to vividly imagine every scene and every character. The only criticism I have is that the “found-footage” diary entries became grating. Personally, I feel they were used too often, and more than a handful of them were longer than they needed to be, taking away from the overall energy of the novel. This novel leads with a family in domestic dysfunction, creating an allure of curiosity and possible entertainment, and then shifts to horrific deaths and unthinkable images. It is a rollercoaster of a read and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. I wish I was more engaged, as with the long diary entries, I did find myself trailing off, but I am very glad I finished this novel.
Thank you to the author for this copy.
I found The Devil’s Colony to be an enjoyable and pleasant read. I love multi-narrative tellings, and feel it was a really good choice for the recounting of the Roanoke colony, especially to reveal secrets along the way. With this narration, Lestrange gives the story much more depth and area to play with. It hones in on the opposition of themes like faith and madness, love and betrayal, and the variation of the character responses to supernatural occurrences. Exposing the marriage breakdown between Eleanor and Ananias Dare by swapping their point of view was exciting. But when their past was revealed, my initial intrigue about the source of their marital issues became a profound sense of pity for Eleanor. Imagery in The Devil’s Colony is rich and vivid, and although the overall atmosphere of the novel is dark and gloomy, it is sometimes used to convey a fleeting sense of bliss. Foreshadowing is used throughout The Devil’s Colony to produce a sense of unease, fear and tension which strengthens the exploration into the supernatural. Lestrange uses beautiful but hideous imagery to arouse the reader’s emotions, creating suspense peppered with anxiety. Clearly, Lestrange is a master with her descriptions and use of imagery throughout and I thoroughly enjoyed being able to vividly imagine every scene and every character. The only criticism I have is that the “found-footage” diary entries became grating. Personally, I feel they were used too often, and more than a handful of them were longer than they needed to be, taking away from the overall energy of the novel. This novel leads with a family in domestic dysfunction, creating an allure of curiosity and possible entertainment, and then shifts to horrific deaths and unthinkable images. It is a rollercoaster of a read and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. I wish I was more engaged, as with the long diary entries, I did find myself trailing off, but I am very glad I finished this novel.
April 18, 2025
I posted a longer review yesterday and it has been on my mind because of how harsh it was. It is especially weighing on my mind because from what I can tell this may be self-published or at least from a smaller publisher and it just feels bad to think that I have trash someone’s hard work. Anyway, here is my review condensed down into its objective points and can hopefully still provide guidance to someone who might be interested:
Challenges:
1. Needs editing for grammar, syntax, and POV.
2. It doesn’t feel entirely original to me. Recycled themes and tropes common to our culture and history.
3. Misogynist themes throughout that defined the book. Poor depiction of women.
4. No trigger warnings for self harm, child death, or graphic sexual depictions.
Positives:
1. Good character development.
2. Lots of action.
3. Easy to read and follow.
4. Good commitment to dialect and tone.
Overall: Entertaining, if problematic.
*I received a copy of this through Netgalley.*
***jk, months later and I think the full review should stand so here it is.
Let me say right away that this author was kind enough to reach out to me by email to confirm that I had a readable copy of the work. Because of this, I am apologizing in advance for my review because, I hate to say it, this is mostly going to be a critique.
I really tried my best to look at this book with an open and positive mind but 300 pages of one tiresome trope after another just wore me down. First, the exposition was very shaky. The beginning was clunky writing filled with religious undertones and overtones to the point where it was verging on mockery. After you accept that this hyper-religious panopticist-type reverence/paranoia is meant to be a sincere trait of the group as a whole and that these people simply cannot think or breathe without deferring to God, the tone becomes more manageable. Of course, then, you also have to contend with the fact that the author never decided between 1st or 3rd person narration in some parts, has some noun-pronoun confusion, and an occasional verb-subject-tense disagreement, then you’re also forced to internalize disjointed writing as well as a few other syntax errors and grammatical missteps for the sake of pushing through the first 50 pages. Like I said, the exposition was shaky but once you get through the beginning, it becomes easier to absorb the story though you don't quite see where the author is going until maybe the last five pages.
So, on to the content. It was problematic for me. First, I feel bad saying this but I don’t think this is a very original story. It felt like overused elements within the American socio-religious, cultural, and horror sphere were hand-picked, dressed up, and given the veneer of an infamous historic mystery to look like a brand new story. But, none of this is new: the lustful/sinful father, the overzealous holy man, the innocent young couple, the wronged wife, mass religious hysteria, dead kids, blood galore, witches on broomsticks (really?), the witch in the woods (she's even got a cauldron!), “cavorting” with a demon, innocent girl in shackles, all the way down to a straight up “the power of Christ compels you” -style exorcism ripped straight from the pages of William Peter Blatty’s classic. There were just too many themes that were too familiar and basic and not reinvented in any way. Also, there is a lot of content that didn't really add to the plot because this story was just an attempt to explain what happened to the Roanoke colony and that was arguably its only goal so excesses like Jonathan and Agnes' drawn-out love story and all the extra details about Alice should have been cut. The plot bobbed and weaved enough and between having to read a self-absorbed and repetitive prayer at the beginning of each chapter and thought processes that you weren't sure belonged to the character or the narrator, there was enough material there already.
Second, and worst of all, this story is flatly misogynistic. For the sake of entertainment, it exploits every stereotype of “occult," “witchcraft,” or simply, "other," (read: "non-Christian") used to silence, scapegoat, and commit violence against women for centuries — rehashed in a story we have all heard before and with zero underlying critique of this history. It portrays nearly every female character in a highly undignified light. All body horror elements involve only women, there is graphic sexual violence which only involves women, the boundaries of consent are heavily blurred, women are portrayed as wrathful destroyers or as vessels, women are involved in disturbing acts of sexual perversion for no real reason except shock value, there is borderline bestiality involving the women... honestly, I could go on but it really bums me out. The fact that Eleanor "succeeds" doesn't change any of this, and I would argue that the ending was more so guided by a need to conform to the historical facts and was not an attempt to end with her in a position of power. I mean, what bigger critique could there be of the fact that the power held by these women is inherently corrupt and evil? And the half-hearted attempt to restore the land taken from the natives by having a couple of the settlers turned into trees didn't convince me, either. This is a Pyrrhic victory if I ever saw one.
Third, I don’t understand why the author even bothered to hint at the narrative that these women were wronged and were comforting each other and standing in solidarity against a harsh 16th century world. I can only assume that that story would have felt more authentic and inclusive of the struggles that both the native women and settlement women endured during that time. There is certainly enough content there and the bloodiness of that history certainly lends itself to a horror slant but it may not have explained what happened at Roanoke. Maybe that idea should have been cut altogether. Because it was such a hard contrast to the witchcraft trope and this group of women on some kind of common revenge crusade, pulled into a satanic darkness, uglified (of course), and had their vags torn up on the reg by Rudolph and his spiky demon penis who at the end of the day was another absentee male persona making promises of power in exchange for slavish sacrifice and worship. The frugal attempt to add some semblance of meaningful backstory with the Latsvna witch fell by the wayside which honestly was a bad decision because it just added to message of eh who cares, they’re evil (which is eerily similar to how the world has viewed women for literally thousands of years). And I can't help notice how cavalierly the native story was discarded until the flimsy tree transformation nod at the end which came across as afterthought and that ultimately the source of the demon worship and witchcraft was the native women. Kind of messed up.
This subject matter really represents a blank slate in our collective storytelling conscious because we truly do not know what happened and there is so much room for filling in it what could have been. It has so much potential to be filled with interesting and novel theories beyond whining about the state of the land or the weather or the nondescript "inhospitable conditions." Unfortunately, this went down the route of “women are evil and the women who seek revenge are evil and also ugly, broom-humping whores,” and I was not here for it. Also, not a fan of the fact that these women got their power by having a male entity violate them, hated all the gross mound rubbing, and the scenes with the wildly inappropriate orgasmic moaning on the phallic shaped objects while siphoning power from Rolf or whatever was stomach turning. And where was Roshambo when they were fighting battles and getting captured, stabbed, and set on fire? Nowhere to be found of course.
Having said all of that, let me add that I did see some good in this. The commitment to the tone and language was next-level. The author never let up on the dialogue and the stiffened post-medieval vibe was present through out, so kudos for consistency. Also, the fact that these ideas were recycled and familiar actually made it super easy to absorb once I got into the story. While I did not exactly love the irritating prayers at the beginning of each chapter, there was clear and well-defined structure to the story that made it a quick read. And there was no shortage of actual action, which made it pretty entertaining. So, if you don't read too much into it and are simply looking for a story to entertain you, I wouldn't steer you away from this. But, it could certainly stand for some trigger warnings for themes like suicide/self-harm, child death, sexual violence, and graphic sexualized content, etc., so if those things were triggering, I would advise to skip those pages.
So, what happened to the Roanoke colony? Women. Evil women. (Cue ELO.)
All in all, to use my least favorite expression, it is what it is. ⭐️⭐️.
Challenges:
1. Needs editing for grammar, syntax, and POV.
2. It doesn’t feel entirely original to me. Recycled themes and tropes common to our culture and history.
3. Misogynist themes throughout that defined the book. Poor depiction of women.
4. No trigger warnings for self harm, child death, or graphic sexual depictions.
Positives:
1. Good character development.
2. Lots of action.
3. Easy to read and follow.
4. Good commitment to dialect and tone.
Overall: Entertaining, if problematic.
*I received a copy of this through Netgalley.*
***jk, months later and I think the full review should stand so here it is.
Let me say right away that this author was kind enough to reach out to me by email to confirm that I had a readable copy of the work. Because of this, I am apologizing in advance for my review because, I hate to say it, this is mostly going to be a critique.
I really tried my best to look at this book with an open and positive mind but 300 pages of one tiresome trope after another just wore me down. First, the exposition was very shaky. The beginning was clunky writing filled with religious undertones and overtones to the point where it was verging on mockery. After you accept that this hyper-religious panopticist-type reverence/paranoia is meant to be a sincere trait of the group as a whole and that these people simply cannot think or breathe without deferring to God, the tone becomes more manageable. Of course, then, you also have to contend with the fact that the author never decided between 1st or 3rd person narration in some parts, has some noun-pronoun confusion, and an occasional verb-subject-tense disagreement, then you’re also forced to internalize disjointed writing as well as a few other syntax errors and grammatical missteps for the sake of pushing through the first 50 pages. Like I said, the exposition was shaky but once you get through the beginning, it becomes easier to absorb the story though you don't quite see where the author is going until maybe the last five pages.
So, on to the content. It was problematic for me. First, I feel bad saying this but I don’t think this is a very original story. It felt like overused elements within the American socio-religious, cultural, and horror sphere were hand-picked, dressed up, and given the veneer of an infamous historic mystery to look like a brand new story. But, none of this is new: the lustful/sinful father, the overzealous holy man, the innocent young couple, the wronged wife, mass religious hysteria, dead kids, blood galore, witches on broomsticks (really?), the witch in the woods (she's even got a cauldron!), “cavorting” with a demon, innocent girl in shackles, all the way down to a straight up “the power of Christ compels you” -style exorcism ripped straight from the pages of William Peter Blatty’s classic. There were just too many themes that were too familiar and basic and not reinvented in any way. Also, there is a lot of content that didn't really add to the plot because this story was just an attempt to explain what happened to the Roanoke colony and that was arguably its only goal so excesses like Jonathan and Agnes' drawn-out love story and all the extra details about Alice should have been cut. The plot bobbed and weaved enough and between having to read a self-absorbed and repetitive prayer at the beginning of each chapter and thought processes that you weren't sure belonged to the character or the narrator, there was enough material there already.
Second, and worst of all, this story is flatly misogynistic. For the sake of entertainment, it exploits every stereotype of “occult," “witchcraft,” or simply, "other," (read: "non-Christian") used to silence, scapegoat, and commit violence against women for centuries — rehashed in a story we have all heard before and with zero underlying critique of this history. It portrays nearly every female character in a highly undignified light. All body horror elements involve only women, there is graphic sexual violence which only involves women, the boundaries of consent are heavily blurred, women are portrayed as wrathful destroyers or as vessels, women are involved in disturbing acts of sexual perversion for no real reason except shock value, there is borderline bestiality involving the women... honestly, I could go on but it really bums me out. The fact that Eleanor "succeeds" doesn't change any of this, and I would argue that the ending was more so guided by a need to conform to the historical facts and was not an attempt to end with her in a position of power. I mean, what bigger critique could there be of the fact that the power held by these women is inherently corrupt and evil? And the half-hearted attempt to restore the land taken from the natives by having a couple of the settlers turned into trees didn't convince me, either. This is a Pyrrhic victory if I ever saw one.
Third, I don’t understand why the author even bothered to hint at the narrative that these women were wronged and were comforting each other and standing in solidarity against a harsh 16th century world. I can only assume that that story would have felt more authentic and inclusive of the struggles that both the native women and settlement women endured during that time. There is certainly enough content there and the bloodiness of that history certainly lends itself to a horror slant but it may not have explained what happened at Roanoke. Maybe that idea should have been cut altogether. Because it was such a hard contrast to the witchcraft trope and this group of women on some kind of common revenge crusade, pulled into a satanic darkness, uglified (of course), and had their vags torn up on the reg by Rudolph and his spiky demon penis who at the end of the day was another absentee male persona making promises of power in exchange for slavish sacrifice and worship. The frugal attempt to add some semblance of meaningful backstory with the Latsvna witch fell by the wayside which honestly was a bad decision because it just added to message of eh who cares, they’re evil (which is eerily similar to how the world has viewed women for literally thousands of years). And I can't help notice how cavalierly the native story was discarded until the flimsy tree transformation nod at the end which came across as afterthought and that ultimately the source of the demon worship and witchcraft was the native women. Kind of messed up.
This subject matter really represents a blank slate in our collective storytelling conscious because we truly do not know what happened and there is so much room for filling in it what could have been. It has so much potential to be filled with interesting and novel theories beyond whining about the state of the land or the weather or the nondescript "inhospitable conditions." Unfortunately, this went down the route of “women are evil and the women who seek revenge are evil and also ugly, broom-humping whores,” and I was not here for it. Also, not a fan of the fact that these women got their power by having a male entity violate them, hated all the gross mound rubbing, and the scenes with the wildly inappropriate orgasmic moaning on the phallic shaped objects while siphoning power from Rolf or whatever was stomach turning. And where was Roshambo when they were fighting battles and getting captured, stabbed, and set on fire? Nowhere to be found of course.
Having said all of that, let me add that I did see some good in this. The commitment to the tone and language was next-level. The author never let up on the dialogue and the stiffened post-medieval vibe was present through out, so kudos for consistency. Also, the fact that these ideas were recycled and familiar actually made it super easy to absorb once I got into the story. While I did not exactly love the irritating prayers at the beginning of each chapter, there was clear and well-defined structure to the story that made it a quick read. And there was no shortage of actual action, which made it pretty entertaining. So, if you don't read too much into it and are simply looking for a story to entertain you, I wouldn't steer you away from this. But, it could certainly stand for some trigger warnings for themes like suicide/self-harm, child death, sexual violence, and graphic sexualized content, etc., so if those things were triggering, I would advise to skip those pages.
So, what happened to the Roanoke colony? Women. Evil women. (Cue ELO.)
All in all, to use my least favorite expression, it is what it is. ⭐️⭐️.
January 1, 2025
An original and compelling new take on The Lost Colony with just the right amount of gore and suspense to make this book impossible to put down. Growing up in OBX, I've read or heard just about every theory on the mystery of Roanoke and this one was an instant favorite. Lestrange has managed to write for buffs and newbies alike! I loved everything about this ARC, wouldn't change a thing (I do not agree with Footnote 11)!
January 12, 2025
I’ve always wanted to read a story about Roanoke and here we are! This novel has great character development where you start to feel the pain and love of each being shift. I love how it sticks true to the time period through out the journey. Immersive scene description really has you feeling that breeze that goes by or the bite of winter cold. There are different point of views that let you live in each characters head for a moment which I really enjoyed. Religion yes! Horror yes! Colony realism yes! Trigger warnings all around! Definitely want to pick this one up!
February 5, 2025
You know one of those cheesy horror movies that you randomly choose from Netflix and laugh at with your friends, but later when you're trying to sleep your brain is still thinking about it? This is 100% that energy in book form.
The Devil's Colony takes the mystery that has shrouded the Roanoke colony for centuries and transforms it into a supernatural tale of deception, violence, and bloodshed. It is, as other reviewers have said, reminiscent of the atmosphere of The Witch (2015) and in some ways, I think a TV/movie adaptation would actually more benefit the story that Lestrange tells. The imagery is visceral and grotesque, but the writing style (and unfortunate lack of proper editing) left something to be desired. It started to drag a bit for me towards the end (despite the culminating aspects of the story), but all in all it turned out to be a quick and pretty entertaining read.
Also, tag yourself: I'm a Skin Beast.™
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review. I'd also like to mention that I really appreciate Lestrange's commitment to making sure her readers had the correct file format through NetGalley; I received a weirdly formatted version first, and she later sent out an email with a revised version and further explanation.
The Devil's Colony takes the mystery that has shrouded the Roanoke colony for centuries and transforms it into a supernatural tale of deception, violence, and bloodshed. It is, as other reviewers have said, reminiscent of the atmosphere of The Witch (2015) and in some ways, I think a TV/movie adaptation would actually more benefit the story that Lestrange tells. The imagery is visceral and grotesque, but the writing style (and unfortunate lack of proper editing) left something to be desired. It started to drag a bit for me towards the end (despite the culminating aspects of the story), but all in all it turned out to be a quick and pretty entertaining read.
Also, tag yourself: I'm a Skin Beast.™
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review. I'd also like to mention that I really appreciate Lestrange's commitment to making sure her readers had the correct file format through NetGalley; I received a weirdly formatted version first, and she later sent out an email with a revised version and further explanation.
April 11, 2025
Ananias & Eleanor Dare & their two (soon to be three) children are part of the second colony heading to the New World, following the failure of the first group. The Dares are moving for a fresh start following Ananias's affair with another woman but his promises of faithfulness do not last long & his actions set of events which culminate in the horror-filled end of Roanoke.
This is of course loosely (very loosely) based on the missing colonists of Roanoke who disappeared between 1587 & 1590 leaving behind the word 'Croatoan' carved on a tree. Although theories have abounded ever since, there has been little solid evidence of what happened to them so the scope for imagining their fate is quite wide.
This one started off quite well before descending into chaos which left me feeling 'What the heck did I just read?'. Although it did keep my interest enough to finish reading it, it became a bit unhinged towards the end. I was also a bit disappointed that it relied on the usual stereotype of witches being ugly, old women. A miss for me I'm afraid.
TWs: death of a child, infidelity, scenes of a sexual nature., animal death, cannibalism.
Thank you to NetGalley & publisher, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
This is of course loosely (very loosely) based on the missing colonists of Roanoke who disappeared between 1587 & 1590 leaving behind the word 'Croatoan' carved on a tree. Although theories have abounded ever since, there has been little solid evidence of what happened to them so the scope for imagining their fate is quite wide.
This one started off quite well before descending into chaos which left me feeling 'What the heck did I just read?'. Although it did keep my interest enough to finish reading it, it became a bit unhinged towards the end. I was also a bit disappointed that it relied on the usual stereotype of witches being ugly, old women. A miss for me I'm afraid.
TWs: death of a child, infidelity, scenes of a sexual nature., animal death, cannibalism.
Thank you to NetGalley & publisher, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
January 3, 2025
I recently started reading *The Devil's Colony* but unfortunately, I couldn't finish it. I got about 20% into the book, and I found the storyline difficult to follow, especially with the multiple points of view. This could very well be a personal preference, as I tend to struggle with books that shift perspectives frequently.
That said, I can recognize that the writing itself is beautifully articulated. The prose is rich and vivid, which suggests that the book has a lot to offer. The intricate world-building and character development might appeal to readers who enjoy complex narratives. However, for me, the difficulty in keeping track of the different POVs ultimately made it hard to stay engaged.
I believe *The Devil's Colony* is probably a good book, but sadly, I just wasn't able to connect with it. It might be more suited to readers who enjoy layered storytelling and can navigate the shifts in perspective with ease.
I appreciate NetGalley offering me this book as an ARC.
That said, I can recognize that the writing itself is beautifully articulated. The prose is rich and vivid, which suggests that the book has a lot to offer. The intricate world-building and character development might appeal to readers who enjoy complex narratives. However, for me, the difficulty in keeping track of the different POVs ultimately made it hard to stay engaged.
I believe *The Devil's Colony* is probably a good book, but sadly, I just wasn't able to connect with it. It might be more suited to readers who enjoy layered storytelling and can navigate the shifts in perspective with ease.
I appreciate NetGalley offering me this book as an ARC.
April 4, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC!
While this was a perfectly serviceable and enjoyable read with some genuinely horrific moments (looking at you, skin dog creature), I'm just not sure what the author wanted us to take away from it. At times, it seemed to be going in a Good For Her direction and supporting the witches' actions in the face of sexism and ridiculous social standards. However, then the witches would do something especially heinous and (I think?) we were expected to then side with the colonists in condemning them as pure evil hellbeasts with no possible redemptive qualities. While this may have been intended to convey complex morality, it came across as muddled and made it hard to connect with or understand the characters. I'm also not sure why it was billed as "found footage style" when 1) it was set in a time before the concept of footage existed and 2) the word "epistolary" exists, but that's a nitpick.
While this was a perfectly serviceable and enjoyable read with some genuinely horrific moments (looking at you, skin dog creature), I'm just not sure what the author wanted us to take away from it. At times, it seemed to be going in a Good For Her direction and supporting the witches' actions in the face of sexism and ridiculous social standards. However, then the witches would do something especially heinous and (I think?) we were expected to then side with the colonists in condemning them as pure evil hellbeasts with no possible redemptive qualities. While this may have been intended to convey complex morality, it came across as muddled and made it hard to connect with or understand the characters. I'm also not sure why it was billed as "found footage style" when 1) it was set in a time before the concept of footage existed and 2) the word "epistolary" exists, but that's a nitpick.
February 13, 2025
This book really played into the mystery of what did happen at the Roanoke colony. we all know it was lost, and it still remains a mystery of what truly happened, and this book gives a great take on that.
we follow the colony as they settle into their new lives in Virginia and try to survive and make it in the new world. One of the families comes to leave behind not only England, but hopefully begin a new and forget what was their aliments back home. As things seem to go well, an action by one of the men sets off an event that changes to course of his families lives and the lives of those that came over with him. The question is, what caused them such much harm was always present and would what haunts the woods have attacked them.
I was given an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
we follow the colony as they settle into their new lives in Virginia and try to survive and make it in the new world. One of the families comes to leave behind not only England, but hopefully begin a new and forget what was their aliments back home. As things seem to go well, an action by one of the men sets off an event that changes to course of his families lives and the lives of those that came over with him. The question is, what caused them such much harm was always present and would what haunts the woods have attacked them.
I was given an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 29, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy for review.
The Devil’s Colony is based off the lost colony of Roanoke, where 117 settlers disappeared. The only thing found was the word “Croatian” carved into the bark of a tree.
The Dare family is one of the first to settle in the new colony of Roanoke. They are very flawed but trying to survive the lack of food, medicine, and comfort. Agnes the eldest daughter, discovers witch’s in the forest and everything swiftly falls apart. A host to plagues from the coven of witch’s torment the settlers and cause disease and many deaths.
My favorite characters are the young couple Agnes and Jonathan. Although “sinners” they are loving, kind and responsible. The other characters in the book aren’t very likable, but realistic. Loved the witch’s in the woods. Some pretty intense body horror.
Will definitely read more from this author.
The Devil’s Colony is based off the lost colony of Roanoke, where 117 settlers disappeared. The only thing found was the word “Croatian” carved into the bark of a tree.
The Dare family is one of the first to settle in the new colony of Roanoke. They are very flawed but trying to survive the lack of food, medicine, and comfort. Agnes the eldest daughter, discovers witch’s in the forest and everything swiftly falls apart. A host to plagues from the coven of witch’s torment the settlers and cause disease and many deaths.
My favorite characters are the young couple Agnes and Jonathan. Although “sinners” they are loving, kind and responsible. The other characters in the book aren’t very likable, but realistic. Loved the witch’s in the woods. Some pretty intense body horror.
Will definitely read more from this author.
June 3, 2025
My rating: 3/5
In 1587, the Dare family arrives at the Roanoke Colony, hoping for a new beginning, but instead finds death, despair, and something far more sinister. Blending historical tragedy with supernatural horror, The Devil’s Colony reimagines the fate of the Lost Colony in a chilling, blood-soaked tale of survival and faith.
While the premise of The Devil’s Colony is intriguing, I struggled to fully engage with the story. The alternating diary entries and internal thoughts, written in both archaic English and modern English, made for a jarring reading experience. I found myself skimming after the first quarter, as the structure and pacing didn’t work for me. That being said, the atmosphere is effectively eerie, and fans of historical horror may enjoy this take on the Roanoke mystery.
Thank you NetGalley and publishers for the advanced copy of this title!
In 1587, the Dare family arrives at the Roanoke Colony, hoping for a new beginning, but instead finds death, despair, and something far more sinister. Blending historical tragedy with supernatural horror, The Devil’s Colony reimagines the fate of the Lost Colony in a chilling, blood-soaked tale of survival and faith.
While the premise of The Devil’s Colony is intriguing, I struggled to fully engage with the story. The alternating diary entries and internal thoughts, written in both archaic English and modern English, made for a jarring reading experience. I found myself skimming after the first quarter, as the structure and pacing didn’t work for me. That being said, the atmosphere is effectively eerie, and fans of historical horror may enjoy this take on the Roanoke mystery.
Thank you NetGalley and publishers for the advanced copy of this title!
June 12, 2025
2.5 stars rounded down.
I was drawn to this book because of my interest in the Roanoke mystery and love for folk horror rooted in Puritan and witchcraft themes. The journal entries worked well and was some of favorite in the book.
That said, the story didn’t fully deliver for me. The plot jumped around too much, making it feel disjointed. It also had spice for what felt like the sake of spice. I’m not opposed to spice, and when done fluidly with the plot, I think it can add that element that readers want in certain stories.
Thank you NetGalley & Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
I was drawn to this book because of my interest in the Roanoke mystery and love for folk horror rooted in Puritan and witchcraft themes. The journal entries worked well and was some of favorite in the book.
That said, the story didn’t fully deliver for me. The plot jumped around too much, making it feel disjointed. It also had spice for what felt like the sake of spice. I’m not opposed to spice, and when done fluidly with the plot, I think it can add that element that readers want in certain stories.
Thank you NetGalley & Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
January 9, 2025
The wildest of rides I have been on in a whole!
Despite knowing the story of the Roanoke Colony, this book did not disappoint or just rehash facts. It was so creepy and downright vile at times (in the best way), and so atmospheric you could almost feel the tension rolling off the page.
My only real issue with it, and the reason I gave it 4 instead of 5, is that it went on maybe a few chapters too long. I think it could have ended a lot sooner.
Regardless, a brilliant read, and he got what he deserved 💅
Despite knowing the story of the Roanoke Colony, this book did not disappoint or just rehash facts. It was so creepy and downright vile at times (in the best way), and so atmospheric you could almost feel the tension rolling off the page.
My only real issue with it, and the reason I gave it 4 instead of 5, is that it went on maybe a few chapters too long. I think it could have ended a lot sooner.
Regardless, a brilliant read, and he got what he deserved 💅
January 29, 2025
This is an historical fiction surrounding the Lost Colony of Roanoke, partially revealed as journal entries over a span of 1587-1590. It’s a very dark and entertaining read with a bleak ending. An entire menagerie of evil is not-so-accidentally unleashed on the second wave of settlers to Roanoke, and our starving little band of people are in way over their heads when it comes to battling the forces of nature…and of evil. A really great slow build that ends with a dramatic finish. Some of the editing on the NetGalley version I read was sloppy, but as a book this was super entertaining.
April 8, 2025
2.5 stars rounded up
It wasn’t terrible it was like a cheesy b rate horror movie that I usually love but this book just didn’t work for me.
I wanted to love this it promised so much truly however it didn’t deliver for me and I found my self waiting for it to end. A supernatural take on the lost colony of Roanoke.
At times this book was confusing and I wasn’t sure if maybe I missed something only to go back a few pages and still be confused. It was hard to focus and kept track of it all.
It wasn’t terrible it was like a cheesy b rate horror movie that I usually love but this book just didn’t work for me.
I wanted to love this it promised so much truly however it didn’t deliver for me and I found my self waiting for it to end. A supernatural take on the lost colony of Roanoke.
At times this book was confusing and I wasn’t sure if maybe I missed something only to go back a few pages and still be confused. It was hard to focus and kept track of it all.
April 21, 2025
A Good But Disappointing Read
While this book presents a number of important issues regarding the authoritarian impulses of religion, it fails to address the main concern about why the colonists of Roanoke actually disappeared. This is unfortunate since the very reason for being interested in the situation of the colony and it’s mysterious demise, is what attracts the reader to the book in the first place. Instead we get some nonsense about witchcraft, which is supposed to explain Roanoke and it’s sudden end. This is difficult to believe as a reason.
While this book presents a number of important issues regarding the authoritarian impulses of religion, it fails to address the main concern about why the colonists of Roanoke actually disappeared. This is unfortunate since the very reason for being interested in the situation of the colony and it’s mysterious demise, is what attracts the reader to the book in the first place. Instead we get some nonsense about witchcraft, which is supposed to explain Roanoke and it’s sudden end. This is difficult to believe as a reason.
April 1, 2025
What actually happened to the colonists at Roanoke? This extremely detailed and well written story attempts to provide us with those answers. Through prayers by the colonists and we get insight into the fears of the community as they face forces known and unknown. This book is perfect for fans of historical horror and folk horror.
January 6, 2025
I recently received the arc for this on Netgalley. Unfortunately I found the ebook layout too hard to focus and read. So unfortunately I had to DNF it. But I'm definitely going to check this out again when I can get my hands on the physical copy.
January 29, 2025
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Roanokes fate is sealed because of one man’s failure to stay true to his wife and suffers a fate of biblical proportion. The Devil’s Colony was an enjoyable read filled with witches, religion, sex and violence.
January 23, 2025
If you’re looking for a theory on the lost colony of Roanoke full of witches and spice which is also well-researched and a fun read, this is the book for you.
May 2, 2025
I was making a summary of April releases for my Bookstagram when I came across this book and I knew I just had to read it. I love books that combine historic mysteries or weird events with horror, especially paranormal, and fill in the blanks to create a new theory, so I had to get my hands on this as fast as I could.
That being said, I had some mixed feelings about this one. I think the thing that I disliked the most was the constant reference to religion and inclusion of prayers or messages to God (maybe diary entries or letters?) at the beginning of the majority of the chapters. It was something that pulled me out of the plot a little and just seemed disjointed because it conflicted so strongly with the rest of the book. Of course, I do recognize that that is most likely very realistic to the time period of 1500s, so I didn't let it effect my rating too much :)
That being said, I had some mixed feelings about this one. I think the thing that I disliked the most was the constant reference to religion and inclusion of prayers or messages to God (maybe diary entries or letters?) at the beginning of the majority of the chapters. It was something that pulled me out of the plot a little and just seemed disjointed because it conflicted so strongly with the rest of the book. Of course, I do recognize that that is most likely very realistic to the time period of 1500s, so I didn't let it effect my rating too much :)
September 4, 2025
This is a new dark "what if" scenario that semi-uses historical facts but also takes creative liberties in a story about the second attempt at creating the colony of Roanoke and their efforts to settle down and find comfort and God in their new home only to discover their woods hold demonic forces and a coven of witches. The found prayer journal entries of the Dare family and other settlers brings us through the short existence of their once pious settlement as family secrets and betrayals are revealed and the isolation leads to madness and death.
I've never heard a story about Roanoke like this one! It was shocking and bloody, Lestrange spared no expense in the details. The descriptions and imagery were beautifully done and really solidified the gloominess of that lonely and scared colony and the horrifying things these characters see. I loved the use of the POV switches between chapters giving us a chance to see the characters responses and reactions while they try to rationalize the tragedies and supernatural events that keep hitting them. I became so attached to Agnes and Jon holding onto their love for each other in the face of everything. And knowing that, in the end, Roanoke has to be found empty I couldn't stop myself from reading on to find out exactly what happens to them.
My only complaint is that at times I really didn't think some of the journal entries were necessary and didn't add much. They slowed me down a little and I had to take some breaks.
Overall, I thought this book was great and I'm excited for its upcoming release!
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for a copy of this ARC
I've never heard a story about Roanoke like this one! It was shocking and bloody, Lestrange spared no expense in the details. The descriptions and imagery were beautifully done and really solidified the gloominess of that lonely and scared colony and the horrifying things these characters see. I loved the use of the POV switches between chapters giving us a chance to see the characters responses and reactions while they try to rationalize the tragedies and supernatural events that keep hitting them. I became so attached to Agnes and Jon holding onto their love for each other in the face of everything. And knowing that, in the end, Roanoke has to be found empty I couldn't stop myself from reading on to find out exactly what happens to them.
My only complaint is that at times I really didn't think some of the journal entries were necessary and didn't add much. They slowed me down a little and I had to take some breaks.
Overall, I thought this book was great and I'm excited for its upcoming release!
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for a copy of this ARC
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews