Review: The Devil's Poetry by Louise Cole

Overall Rating: ★★★ ☆☆         Difficulty Rating: ★★★★☆

   Nothing was abnormal about Callie's love for books. However, the fact that reading from one particular powerful book was to determine the fate of the world certainly rang peculiar...

   Young people left, right and centre were being called up by the National Service to fight in the ongoing oil wars and conflicts in the Middle East. There was nothing Callie and her friends could do about it. That was until a secret order sought her out and informed her that reading from an ancient manuscript will bring peace. That sounds simple enough but, with the order being every bit as malicious as the evil Cadaveri, who can Callie trust?

   Cole has such a way of crafting a unique and imaginative plot that it kept me on edge pretty much the entire time I was reading. Structurally, I admired how she would end every chapter with suspense or a shocking revelation, which made me struggle to stop reading - much like Callie's infatuation with the book! 

   My favourite aspect of The Devil's Poetry has got to be how the title is certainly reflective of Cole's writing itself. Her wonderfully poetic descriptions were what made the book so gripping. 

I could still feel my heart beating, but it was a funeral march, slow and steady, the rhythm of hopelessness."

    The story has a very action packed plot; it really kicks off at the halfway point, which caused me to enjoy the second half so much more. However, the pace of the plot towards the beginning of the novel did give me whiplash! There was such a strong beginning that immediately drew me in because of the undertones of impending doom. Shortly after that, I felt like I was plunged into a mess of mixed narratives I could not comprehend. Consequently, I was uncertain as to who was speaking and in what time. In terms of structure, I believe that this would have worked a lot better if these narratives were separated by chapters - which signposted the current narrator - or if the mixed narrative was introduced later in the novel after getting to know the characters better.

    I loved the contextual relevance of this book as it touches on terrorism and questions whether collateral damage is ever acceptable if the ends justifies the means - both very pressing issues that affects us today. 

She is their instrument. If we find a bomb we destroy it, do we not?"

   Disillusionment is a recurring theme in the plot as we are constantly left questioning who the real protagonists are. It is this that gives The Devil's Poetry the thrill of being unpredictable. On the other hand, this could be confusing at times as it would have been preferable if Cole had delved into the backstory of the villainous Cadaveri a little more so I could be sure of their origin and motives. 

   An outstanding novel from Cole, whose enchanting poetry will certainly have you under its spell.