His Own Devices

by Douglas Wynne

In 2016 an occult cabal activates a psychic trigger in a popular video game and a countdown to chaos begins

While her husband is deployed in Afghanistan, Jessica Ritter finds herself navigating the pitfalls of parenting on her own. That includes moderating her ten-year-old son's screen time—an obsession that hits a fever pitch when YouTube sensation Rainbow Dave releases an addictive new iPad game. Gavin knows he isn’t supposed to keep secrets from his parents, but when his achievements in the game unlock personal messages from Dave instructing him to embark on real world mini-quests, he can’t resist.

In the aftermath of an ambush that leaves her husband missing in action, Jessica grapples with fear and sorrow while clues to a threat closer to home evade her detection. Rainbow Dave, the charismatic host of Scream Time, is America’s cool big brother—a gamer who built a video empire on the strength of his personality. He is also the focus of a shadowy conspiracy hell-bent on sowing chaos with vast technological resources. Dave’s anonymous benefactors have granted him a glimpse of paradise between the pixels, and the real world hasn’t looked the same since. Now, wired with a head full of unholy revelations and a crate full of dangerous devices, he’s on a mission to help his fans “level up” at a live event. Scream Time is coming to town, and it may be too late to stop a deadly game.

Genres: Horror, Fiction

264 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 4, 2021

About the author

Douglas Wynne is the author the horror thrillers The Devil of Echo Lake, His Own Devices, and the SPECTRA Files trilogy. His short fiction has appeared in numerous anthologies and his writing workshops have been featured at genre conventions and schools throughout New England. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife and son and a houseful of animals.

Reviews

[Char · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having been a fan of Douglas Wynne's Spectra Files books, I was excited to read something new from him. HIS OWN DEVICES shows how well he can branch out from his usual fare to something that's mightily compelling!

Jessica is doing her best to run a household and raise her son while her husband Matt is serving in the military. Worries about him soon take a back seat to her worries about her son Gavin, and the time he spends on internet gaming. He loves to watch a You-Tuber named Rainbow Dave, and even Jessica gets used to Dave's voice, because she pays close attention to what her son is doing online. Rainbow Dave has developed a new game and has privately invited some of his top followers to play. Gavin gets an invite and before you can say You Tube, he's receiving private messages within the game, asking him to perform certain tasks. What are these messages about? Why is he being contacted personally? You'll need to read this to find out!

HIS OWN DEVICES made me doubly thankful that my son was grown before most online gaming became a thing. This stuff is crazy! Prior to reading this, I though the primary problems with the internet and teens was Facebook or TikTok or whatever other social media in which bullying could take place. I had no idea gaming had become this big. Luckily, I didn't need to know a lot about it to enjoy this book.

I related to Jessica as she did her best to keep her son safe and to keep his spirits high while his father was off serving his country. Both she and her son lived for the opportunity to Face Time whenever Matt was able to contact them. And they also both lived in fear of a time when that contact stopped.

I think the pall of Matt's service hung over this book like a cloud. Always there, always in the background. Will today be the day that soldiers show up at the front door? Jessica had her hands full keeping all the balls of her daily life in the air. I think her tension and stress permeated this novel and that helped to keep it interesting and moving forward at a brisk pace. I'm not sure that,without the military angle, I would have enjoyed this book as much as I did.

Douglas Wynne has been a personal favorite of mine over the years and I was a bit wary about this book, it being more of a techno-thriller rather than horror. But good writing is good writing and Mr. Wynne never fails at that!

Recommended!

*Thanks to the author for the e-ARC of this tale in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it!*

[Steve Stred · Rating 5 out of 5]

** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **

This is the second book recently that I snagged for review where I was completely unfamiliar with the author and his work. The previous one – Midnight In the Chapel of Love by Matthew R. Black – was fantastic.

I’d recently came across Michael Patrick Hicks posting that he was reading (and enjoying) a Wynne release, so when this one was offered, I jumped at the chance.

This isn’t a typical book I’d want to read. Sure the synopsis had some mention of occult workings, but I’m not personally a big gamer, so I wasn’t too sure how I’d fair.

What I liked: ‘His Own Devices’ follows Gavin, a kid who admires his favorite Youtuber, Rainbow Dave. At first Rainbow Dave, with his massive mohawk, is all about Minecraft, but when he launches his own game, that’s when we start to see his nefarious reasons.

Wynne had me hooked from page one. For a book that isn’t something I’d normally read, I felt tension and anxiety throughout. Learning about Gavin’s dad, stationed overseas, about his limited friends where they’d moved and how he’d connected with this “influencer” was really well done. Wynne gives us a great emotional connection with Gavin and keeps ramping that aspect up as different things arise.

Maybe it’s me currently having a 4-year old who has firmly grasped how to navigate Youtube (his fav Youtubers are Rich from Toy Pal TV, CKN Toys and T-Rex Ranch), I found I was invested in this world Wynne had created. The introduction of secondary characters was really well placed and the pacing of the book was perfect.

The ending of this is fantastic. There’s a very minor supernatural aspect to this book and I loved how Wynne carried it throughout.

What I didn’t like: I think the gaming aspect for some might be a turn-off, but for me it worked really well, so don’t let that deter you. As for me personally, I’ve always hated the “infidelity rumour” aspect of military literature, which was a very minor bit here, but still annoyed me.

Why you should buy this: This book rips along at 100 miles an hour. Wynne gave us great character depth, emotional connections and enough twists and turns to keep us guessing. The ending is anxiety drenched reading, which was really great.

Overall, I loved this one and really think it’s going to have a lot of people talking. Stunning work.

[Bandit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, if anyone was to write a techno-thriller that a non-techno-thriller fan would enjoy, it had to be Wynne. I’ve long been a fan of the author and I appreciate his genre versatility, so I knew this would be fun or at least had a strong suspicion it might be.
I read the prequel first, so I had a pretty good idea of what to expect and sure enough, this book did not disappoint. Is it going to become my new author’s favorite above Devil’s Lake and Smoke And Dagger…no, but then again I really really love those books.
This was good in its own right. A techno-thriller with a distinct Wynne twist to it i.e. occult. And how does he throw occult into a story about video games for kids and kid gamers? Well, expertly. And so, freaking cleverly. I absolutely loved the backstory on this one. Wished there was more of it. In a way, the prequel was almost more atmospheric due to its leanness, it was just purely sinister mad scientists/global domination/ancient evil sort of thing.
At any rate, I’m not a gamer, the appeal of gaming and books about games (like the much-overrated Ready Player One) has up to now eluded me, it takes an author of Wynne’s talent to change my mind. I’ve always maintained that if a book is written well, genre shouldn’t matter. That’s very much the case here with this story of a precocious 10-year-old obsessed with a game and his idol, a 23-year-old gaming-Youtube-guru with a. terrifying agenda.
Both of them had had their brains washed a few years back (as we find out in the prequel) and are now primed and prepped for all manner of sinister suggestibility.
So, with that exciting plot and compelling realistic characters and awesome writing, you can’t really go wrong here. Techno-thriller fans should love this as is, but more importantly, readers who’d normally shy away from the genre, can enjoy this too. Recommended.

This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/

[Candace Nola · Rating 4 out of 5]

The year is 2016, the iPad is more popular than ever, and YouTube is spitting out more gamer icons than ever before including Rainbow Dave, a gamer influencer that is worshipped and adored by the tween crowd and more. Young Gavin is no different and he is obsessed with his iPad, sucking up every minute of game play that his mom allows. His mom, Jessica, has her hands full with raising her young son alone while her husband is deployed overseas in Afghanistan. When he suddenly goes missing during an ambush, she finds herself reeling from the fear and sorrow, and is desperately trying to keep it together for Gavin.
Meanwhile, Rainbow Dave has discovered an odd pixel within his game, an oddly colored pixel that begins to give him disturbing dreams and visions before invading his gameplay altogether. Something evil is using Rainbow Dave as its pawn and his young followers are all too eagerly following his lead, in their mission to level-up at an upcoming live event, Gavin included. By the time Jessica realizes what is going on, it might be too late to save Gavin. It might be too late to save anyone.
With a chilling storyline and relatable situations and characters, “His Own Devices” is a haunting fast paced story of chaos, supernatural evil and heartbreak told in all too realistic details. A great read for modern times, I am giving this story a solid four out of five stars.

[Dale Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this. Certainly makes you think about what your kids get up to when online. It couldn't really happen, could it?

Good writing, you also get emotionally connected to the characters- the wife whose husband is in the military and stationed away, the son who is connected to his online hero and also missing his dad.

I personally liked the tech aspect of the story. There was a touch of supernatural in this but i felt the story could have done without it. It added a nice extra touch but at the same time, felt kinda out of place.

Overall, a decent read.

[Milt Theo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Douglas Wynne’s new book, His Own Devices, has a creative premise and quite original concepts. My niece has been playing Minecraft and it was a joy to see Wynne’s take on the relationship of kids to the game. Combined with a subtle grasp of Lovecraftian horror, the story moves forward into both the occult and social issues of relevance today. Cyber-bullying, grooming, gaming addiction, and the nefarious influence that a misled YouTuber may exercise on young minds are presented in detail via great and suspenseful story-telling. The characters are well-drawn but I found the portrayal of the American soldier Matt rather thin – I would have liked to see more of this guy and his relationship to his son. I also had some questions on the YouTuber’s actions, his character changed too fast for me, but a quick read of the short prequel to the book (obtained freely on the author’s site once you subscribe to his newsletter) answered everything. The prequel actually deepens the story – and that’s a good thing! In any case, this book, His Own Devices, is definitely worth buying and enjoying either as an action thriller or a paranormal suspense story with great social sensitivity.

[Mary Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the mom of a son who has played (and still plays) Minecraft and who used to watch Minecraft videos aplenty on YouTube, I was drawn in quickly to this book.

Wynne creates a true story of technological terror here, as well as human and family dynamics that add a heartfelt aspect to it.

Absolutely loved this book.

[Amber Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great and thrilling read, I could not stop reading it.

[Tia · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a terroristic faction uses a popular Youtuber and his computer game release "Rainblox" to influence bright young children to keep secrets and go on real-life quests by sending secret messages through a backdoor on the game a Mom, who is also dealing with her military husband MIA in Afghanistan, gets concerned and consults with her son's technology teacher. When it turns out her fears are warranted, they end up on a race to stop a horrendous tragedy from happening.
With our children spending so much time unsupervised online, "His Own Devices" is a scary but realistic threat to our life as we know it. Since my kids play lots of online games, this completely opened my eyes even more to the types of predators that can be online beyond the ones I had already thought of.
Well written and researched, as well as exciting and terrifying at the same time.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting read

[Thomas Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

In His Own Devices, we meet young mother and army wife Jessica Ritter, whose husband has recently been deployed in Afghanistan. This isn’t a new experience for Jessica but, with a ten-year-old son, Gavin, struggling to come to terms with the distance, and not being able to see his father every day, Jessica knows that she has her hands full. One area of refuge for Gavin is his following of internet video sensation, Rainbow Dave. With his multi-coloured hair and eternally sunny disposition, Dave has gained millions of fans, young and old, who come to regard him as a beacon of light. Jessica must balance her son’s need for social interaction via this online community, and his exposure to technology.

Unfortunately, there are more sinister forces at play, and Jessica will discover that she has more to worry about than just Gavin’s screen time. Behind Dave’s façade is a tortured history that makes him an easy target for manipulation by great and hidden influences, and they see Dave as a vehicle for affecting his followers. Hinted at throughout the story, but not truly seen until the conclusion, they give the story an added darkness. And a touchstone with reality, as Wynne connects these forces with the occult teachings of Edward Kelley and John Dee, and their connection with the demon Choronzon.

Wynne shifts point of view throughout the novel, offering insights into the thinking of Jessica and Gavin as they deal with the unfolding drama. Readers with children of their own will no doubt relate to Jessica’s concerns for her son and his growing reliance on technology, especially those with kids in the same age range who find themselves drawn to the social nature of video streaming and social media platforms, with their magnetic personalities. In doing so, Wynne creates a connection between the reader and Jessica, so that we feel her terror. We may also relate somewhat with Gavin. His family dynamic is unique, but most of us have experienced difficult moments in our youth, whether it be the struggle to find our place or feelings of loneliness.

We also see some of the action from the point of view of Dave, but never to the point of giving too much of the details away. Wynne does a good job of revealing just enough of the true nature of Dave’s actions and motivations without giving it all away, thus keeping our attention to the very end. Some of these scenes were the most chilling of all, witnessing this lovable personality beloved by millions, both adult and child alike, descend into a bleak pit of despair, directed by the true antagonists like a puppet on a string. The introduction of Gavin’s technology teacher, Mr Strauss, adds another dimension to the drama, and an ally for Jessica. Although initially seen as a secondary character at first, Strauss takes a more active role when he realises the extent of the danger facing his student.

What begins as a technological thriller quickly develops into something more with the introduction of the supernatural back story. Although, with its strong characters and immediately accessible plot revolving around the targeting of vulnerable youngsters through an online game, the book would work very well as a thriller, the addition of the occult storyline gives it a creepy and disturbing tone. It preys on the fears of anyone with young children or, indeed, anyone who finds themselves losing touch with the fast pace of technological and online advancements, and it does so well. Wynne has adeptly created a fast-paced thriller with an all-too-real threat, mixed with a heady portion of chilling occultism.

[Horror DNA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Douglas Wynne's His Own Devices tells the story of Gavin, a 10-year-old boy growing up in Massachusetts. He is an only child, new to his town, and his dad is serving in the war in Afghanistan. He’s therein likely to clutch at computerized means of something to feel a part of. And he does: He follows a Minecraft celebrity man-child named Rainbow Dave to the point of obsession. It has come to the point where Rainbow Dave is like a best friend wrapped up in the gauze of a deity, and when it comes to watching Rainbow Dave’s newest episode on YouTube, Gavin shows traits ponderously akin to some of the crackheads I’ve seen downtown.

You can read Sean's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.

[Nick Nafpliotis · Rating 5 out of 5]

His Own Devices isn’t just a techno thriller or a clever merging of horror and modern technology. It’s a story whose themes and characters grab you from the first page and absolutely refuse to let go. If you’re not able to read the book in one 24-hour sitting, then you’ll be thinking about it during the day and dreaming about it at night.

Thankfully, the only side effect will be an unshakable desire to explore the book’s characters and their world again…and maybe a healthy fear of gazing at your personal devices’ screens for too long.

Read my full review at AIPT!