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Devil Inside: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 11 Aug 26A man who’s back from the dead meets a woman who’s from somewhere even worse in Clay McLeod Chapman’s new horrormance about love, possession, and just a little murder.
After a traumatic accident that almost cost Jordan his life, he’s finally starting to feel normal again. Well, maybe not normal. Everything tastes like ash, and when he looks at the people around him, their faces start to melt. At least he’s not dead, right? His friends are doing their best to get him back on his feet, maybe find someone to talk to, perhaps even find someone to take his mind off his last failed relationship.
Then he meets Lilith. The two share an instant connection but after a wild and passionate night together, she ghosts him. Jordan searches the city for Lilith, desperate to see her again. But when a woman claiming to be Lilith shows up, wearing a different face but knowing intimate details about Jordan, he worries he’s losing his grip on reality. As he grows closer to this mysterious woman, he discovers that happily ever afters sometimes come at a cost. How far will Lilith take him, and how much darkness will he embrace to find love?
After a traumatic accident that almost cost Jordan his life, he’s finally starting to feel normal again. Well, maybe not normal. Everything tastes like ash, and when he looks at the people around him, their faces start to melt. At least he’s not dead, right? His friends are doing their best to get him back on his feet, maybe find someone to talk to, perhaps even find someone to take his mind off his last failed relationship.
Then he meets Lilith. The two share an instant connection but after a wild and passionate night together, she ghosts him. Jordan searches the city for Lilith, desperate to see her again. But when a woman claiming to be Lilith shows up, wearing a different face but knowing intimate details about Jordan, he worries he’s losing his grip on reality. As he grows closer to this mysterious woman, he discovers that happily ever afters sometimes come at a cost. How far will Lilith take him, and how much darkness will he embrace to find love?
384 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication August 11, 2026
575 people want to read
About the author
Clay McLeod Chapman
184 books1,822 followersBooks. Children's books. Comic books. Film.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 10, 2026
This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year! I adore Clay and I LOVE horromance, so when this was announced, I was freaking out. Thankfully, I am a member of The Hive and could read this immediately when it dropped on NetGalley. I dropped everything to pick it up, AND IT DELIVERED!
Jordan is back from death after a traumatic accident, and meets Lilith, who is from... well, far away. After a passionate night, Lilith ghosts Jordan but he can't stop thinking about her. She made him feel alive again. Jordan feels like his grip on reality is failing when he starts to notice strange things in the people around him. When he encounters Lilith, and she has no recollection of him whatsoever, then subsequently encounters a different woman who claims to be Lilith, his reality really starts to warp. But he cannot stop his focus on Lilith, and she on him. How far would you go to be with the one you love?
I have to tell you, this book is pretty dark. If you're like "oh, a romance with some horror elements"--flip it. It's a horror that revolves around a romance. Clay is a masterful horror writer and it is evident in this book. We explore the lines of love, obsession and even possession. Is love a form of possession? Someone takes up residence in your heart, mind, soul and you feel empty without them. I love the depiction of literal demonic possession here, comparing different bodies/souls to different wines. We also touch upon healing after a great traumatic experience. There’s a lot that this entertaining story leaves you pondering and thinking on when it comes to love and relationships. This one will stick with me. No hesitation in rating this 5 stars! I am SO GLAD that Clay decided to write a horromance!
Thank you to MIRA Books, HTP Books, and The Hive for the early ARC! Book releases 8/11/26. (I kind of love that I got to read it in February, the month of love.)
Jordan is back from death after a traumatic accident, and meets Lilith, who is from... well, far away. After a passionate night, Lilith ghosts Jordan but he can't stop thinking about her. She made him feel alive again. Jordan feels like his grip on reality is failing when he starts to notice strange things in the people around him. When he encounters Lilith, and she has no recollection of him whatsoever, then subsequently encounters a different woman who claims to be Lilith, his reality really starts to warp. But he cannot stop his focus on Lilith, and she on him. How far would you go to be with the one you love?
I have to tell you, this book is pretty dark. If you're like "oh, a romance with some horror elements"--flip it. It's a horror that revolves around a romance. Clay is a masterful horror writer and it is evident in this book. We explore the lines of love, obsession and even possession. Is love a form of possession? Someone takes up residence in your heart, mind, soul and you feel empty without them. I love the depiction of literal demonic possession here, comparing different bodies/souls to different wines. We also touch upon healing after a great traumatic experience. There’s a lot that this entertaining story leaves you pondering and thinking on when it comes to love and relationships. This one will stick with me. No hesitation in rating this 5 stars! I am SO GLAD that Clay decided to write a horromance!
Thank you to MIRA Books, HTP Books, and The Hive for the early ARC! Book releases 8/11/26. (I kind of love that I got to read it in February, the month of love.)
February 18, 2026
As soon as this was available to request on NetGalley, I requested! I have loved every book I’ve read by Clay, but I was nervous diving into horrormance because I didn’t know what to expect. Would it be horror with some spicy scenes? Dark romance? So many questions.
That said, IT. WAS. PERFECT. There were parts written so beautifully I questioned whether or not Clay secretly writes romance all the time! And not corny romance. Romance that makes you FEEL something. The constant comparison between love and possession was *chef’s kiss* There are dark elements and it’s definitely horror, but it’s so much more than that. If you love horror, read it. If you love love (and all its dark and twisted and messy glory) read it.
Thanks to NetGalley and The Hive for allowing me to read the ARC!
That said, IT. WAS. PERFECT. There were parts written so beautifully I questioned whether or not Clay secretly writes romance all the time! And not corny romance. Romance that makes you FEEL something. The constant comparison between love and possession was *chef’s kiss* There are dark elements and it’s definitely horror, but it’s so much more than that. If you love horror, read it. If you love love (and all its dark and twisted and messy glory) read it.
Thanks to NetGalley and The Hive for allowing me to read the ARC!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews