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The Deck of Omens
(The Devouring Gray #2)
by
The teenagers of Four Paths must save their home.
Though the Beast is seemingly subdued for now, a new threat looms in Four Paths: a corruption seeping from the Gray into the forest. And with the other Founders preoccupied by their tangled alliances and fraying relationships, only May Hawthorne seems to realize the danger. But saving the town she loves means seeking aid fro ...more
Though the Beast is seemingly subdued for now, a new threat looms in Four Paths: a corruption seeping from the Gray into the forest. And with the other Founders preoccupied by their tangled alliances and fraying relationships, only May Hawthorne seems to realize the danger. But saving the town she loves means seeking aid fro ...more
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Paperback, 405 pages
Published
April 21st 2020
by Titan Books
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Brie
As far as I know this is the conclusion. So, 2.
Megan
This answer contains spoilers…
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Community Reviews
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Start your review of The Deck of Omens (The Devouring Gray, #2)

**4.5-stars rounded up**
After the events of The Devouring Gray, the Beast is seemingly subdued and May, Justin, Harper, Violet and Isaac, are left to lick their wounds.
Even after all they have overcome, old anxieties remain and as the teens move forward, they find themselves continuing to flounder as the town at large feels hostile, especially for Justin.

Unfortunately for them, things are far from over. A mysterious corruption beings to seep from the Gray, infecting those citizens it comes into ...more
After the events of The Devouring Gray, the Beast is seemingly subdued and May, Justin, Harper, Violet and Isaac, are left to lick their wounds.
Even after all they have overcome, old anxieties remain and as the teens move forward, they find themselves continuing to flounder as the town at large feels hostile, especially for Justin.

Unfortunately for them, things are far from over. A mysterious corruption beings to seep from the Gray, infecting those citizens it comes into ...more

Jan 31, 2020
Chelsea Humphrey
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
netgalley,
from-publisher
Returning to Four Paths was a breath of fresh air; I really enjoyed the eery, atmospheric buildup that was provided in The Devouring Gray, which left me prepared to find out more regarding The Beast and Gray in The Deck of Omens. What started out as backstory in book one has bled into determining a plan to defeat the evil entity encompassing the founding family's beloved home, while also dealing with personal struggles pertaining to each character individually. This sequel was again, very atmosp
...more

Mar 17, 2020
Kristin Hackett (Merrily Kristin)
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
new-releases-2020
I am incredibly satisfied by this conclusion!!!

Can we please normalize killing off main characters (when there are more)?
I just want some death that will actually affect me.
Everybody can't survive all the time.
Just kill them.
Not these two, tho.

art by @LesyaBlackBird. ...more
I just want some death that will actually affect me.
Everybody can't survive all the time.
Just kill them.
Not these two, tho.

art by @LesyaBlackBird. ...more

“Ah, Four Paths.” Violet sighed. “Always finding new ways to ruin our lives.”
First off, I really enjoyed The Devouring Gray and absolutely loved the eerie atmosphere, and the depth to all the characters. So of course, I was super excited to dive back into Four Paths in The Deck of Omens. I really loved how much action was in this book and we actually got to see new perspectives from characters in the first book. I really enjoyed how there really wasn’t a slow burn to the action, it was definitel ...more
First off, I really enjoyed The Devouring Gray and absolutely loved the eerie atmosphere, and the depth to all the characters. So of course, I was super excited to dive back into Four Paths in The Deck of Omens. I really loved how much action was in this book and we actually got to see new perspectives from characters in the first book. I really enjoyed how there really wasn’t a slow burn to the action, it was definitel ...more

Apr 21, 2020
Ellie (faerieontheshelf)
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
recieved-for-review,
paranormal,
ya-lit,
thrillers-crime-mystery,
gothic,
own-voices,
fabulism,
lgbtqia
I LOVE ISAAC SULLIVAN AND VIOLET SAUNDERS!!!
I went into this still struggling with the lingering effects of a reading slump, so the first 100 pages were quite an effort for me. I felt The Deck of Omens took a little while to develop, but once I was securely halfway, I streamed through this book. And I'm so glad about that, because I loved The Devouring Gray, and if I hadn't enjoyed the sequel, I would have been devastated.
Once again, Christine Lynn Herman displays her talent at writing ensemble ...more
I went into this still struggling with the lingering effects of a reading slump, so the first 100 pages were quite an effort for me. I felt The Deck of Omens took a little while to develop, but once I was securely halfway, I streamed through this book. And I'm so glad about that, because I loved The Devouring Gray, and if I hadn't enjoyed the sequel, I would have been devastated.
Once again, Christine Lynn Herman displays her talent at writing ensemble ...more

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.

3.5 stars
Heavy on the Cabeswater vibes. A good continuation and conclusion of everything set up in the first book.
Heavy on the Cabeswater vibes. A good continuation and conclusion of everything set up in the first book.

Originally published on The Nerd Daily | Review by Maša Tome
“And it’s as true as most stories are, which is to say that it is and it isn’t.”
As I am sitting here, trying hard to write a coherent review and make some sense out of the jumbled mess in my mind, I am realising that this might be hard to do. Why? Simply because I loved this book so much! I picked up The Devouring Gray last year soon after it came out and I was dying for the sequel as soon as I finished it.
The Deck of Omens is the concl ...more
“And it’s as true as most stories are, which is to say that it is and it isn’t.”
As I am sitting here, trying hard to write a coherent review and make some sense out of the jumbled mess in my mind, I am realising that this might be hard to do. Why? Simply because I loved this book so much! I picked up The Devouring Gray last year soon after it came out and I was dying for the sequel as soon as I finished it.
The Deck of Omens is the concl ...more

Comparing this series and The Raven Cycle was a more apt comparison than anyone realized: by the end, both series fell in the same "great potential, shoddy execution" pitfall, except TRC did, at least, the one thing I wanted it to do: delve deep into the characters.
I said this in one of my updates for the book but here it comes again: I had read 70% of this book and felt like I had read absolutely nothing, both character-wise and plot-wise. The plot was kickstarted a little at the end (more on t ...more
I said this in one of my updates for the book but here it comes again: I had read 70% of this book and felt like I had read absolutely nothing, both character-wise and plot-wise. The plot was kickstarted a little at the end (more on t ...more

*4.5 stars!
This book was SO GOOOD! I started reading it immediately when I got sent an e-arc (thank you so much Titan Books!!) and I instantly got sucked back into the story. The story picks up pretty much where the Devouring Gray left off, so there was immediately some action going on. In this book we get further pulled into the secrets of the Gray and the mysterious past of Four Paths. We discover along with the characters if and how they can banish the Gray from the town once and for all (we ...more
This book was SO GOOOD! I started reading it immediately when I got sent an e-arc (thank you so much Titan Books!!) and I instantly got sucked back into the story. The story picks up pretty much where the Devouring Gray left off, so there was immediately some action going on. In this book we get further pulled into the secrets of the Gray and the mysterious past of Four Paths. We discover along with the characters if and how they can banish the Gray from the town once and for all (we ...more

Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
I liked but didn't love Deck of Omens. I was a fan of The Devouring Gray for its atmospheric prose, interesting characters, and twisty plot. The followup was still fairly atmospheric and added in some creepy elements, but it felt like everything was getting a little too neatly and quickly tied up. Which, for me, made the characters feel a little flat and the plot a tad predictable. There were some cool moments, and opportunities for characters to talk through important is ...more
I liked but didn't love Deck of Omens. I was a fan of The Devouring Gray for its atmospheric prose, interesting characters, and twisty plot. The followup was still fairly atmospheric and added in some creepy elements, but it felt like everything was getting a little too neatly and quickly tied up. Which, for me, made the characters feel a little flat and the plot a tad predictable. There were some cool moments, and opportunities for characters to talk through important is ...more

this fixed a lot of the issues I had with the first book - the writing was more polished, the relationships felt like they had more depth, there was only one weirdly forced description of a character as a ‘white girl/white boy’ in constraint with the narrator who is also white even though the entire main cast is white and there is literally no racial diversity in the series......okay so maybe the weird race stuff and lack of diversity in these books still bothers me a bit lmao. BUT on the positi
...more

EDIT: Forced myself to read a bit more (again, for the sake of how I liked the 1st one) only to dnf at pg 210
And yeah, it felt like forcing myself to care again for the story - I didn't- and the characters - did I really liked them? I don't seem to be able to now...- so I just stopped. You are supposed to enjoy your reading, not to force your way thru the pages.
And yes, it's a pity because I thought I would enjoy this 2nd part.
DNF'ed at pag 192 or so after been skipping some parts of it
I just di ...more
And yeah, it felt like forcing myself to care again for the story - I didn't- and the characters - did I really liked them? I don't seem to be able to now...- so I just stopped. You are supposed to enjoy your reading, not to force your way thru the pages.
And yes, it's a pity because I thought I would enjoy this 2nd part.
DNF'ed at pag 192 or so after been skipping some parts of it
I just di ...more

Normally, when I read the second book in a YA fantasy series, I don't like it as much as the first but I'm very pleased to say, that I enjoyed this one just as much as the first.
Obviously, I can't say too much on the plot of this one as it's a sequel but if you like stranger things, the raven cycle etc. I think you will really like this series, which starts with the devouring Gray.
There is just something about the writing of these books. It's so addictive and easy to read.
I can't lie, its bee ...more
Obviously, I can't say too much on the plot of this one as it's a sequel but if you like stranger things, the raven cycle etc. I think you will really like this series, which starts with the devouring Gray.
There is just something about the writing of these books. It's so addictive and easy to read.
I can't lie, its bee ...more

This has been one of my favorite reads in 2020 and I am so happy but also sad it's over.
Full RTC ...more
Full RTC ...more

I found this book to be a great conclusion of the duology, both from the plot and characters' point of view. It was more action-packed than the first book but still spent enough time dwelling on motivations and feelings of the protagonists. I especially enjoyed how pretty much all the romantic relationships were handled realistically and respectfully.
Overall, I quite enjoyed this novel and I'm ready for future Christine Lynn Herman's books! ...more
Overall, I quite enjoyed this novel and I'm ready for future Christine Lynn Herman's books! ...more

∞/ 5
full review to come closer to release date, but for now I will say this is a stunning conclusion to this story about a gang of broken teens trying to piece themselves back together and survive in a world set out to destroy them; a fabulous study of growth, grief, hope, forgiveness, accountability and corruption. Could not recommend any more highly.
full review to come closer to release date, but for now I will say this is a stunning conclusion to this story about a gang of broken teens trying to piece themselves back together and survive in a world set out to destroy them; a fabulous study of growth, grief, hope, forgiveness, accountability and corruption. Could not recommend any more highly.

Jul 20, 2019
Ari
marked it as to-read
i need Justin and Isaac to be together!!!
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Born in New York City but raised in Japan and Hong Kong, Christine Lynn Herman subscribes to the firm philosophy that home is where her books are. She returned to the United States for college, where she traded out a subtropical climate for harsh, snowy winters and an Honors English degree at the University of Rochester. Currently, Christine and her books reside in Brooklyn, along with her partner
...more
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The Devouring Gray
(2 books)
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