About the Book:

Title: Before the Devil Knows You’re Here 

Author: Autumn Krause 

Publisher: Peachtree Teen 

Release Date: October 3, 2023

Pages: 352

Genre: YA Fantasy, YA Gothic 

Synopsis:

Part dark gothic fantasy, part journey into the bizarre, this delicious blending of tall tales and Latin American surrealism will haunt you as you devour it!

“Highly imaginative and powerfully affecting.” — Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

1836, Wisconsin. Catalina lives with her pa and brother in a ramshackle cabin on the edge of the wilderness. Harsh winters have brought the family to the brink of starvation, and Catalina has replaced her poet’s soul with an unyielding determination to keep Pa and her brother alive.

When a sudden illness claims Pa, a strange man appears—a man covered in bark, leaves growing from his head, and sap dripping from his eyes. He scoops up her brother and disappears, leaving behind a bird with crimson wings. Catalina can’t let this man—if that’s what he is—have her brother. So, she grabs Pa’s knife and follows the bird.

Along the way, she finds help from a young lumberjack, who has his own reasons for hunting the Man of Sap. As their journey takes them deeper into the woods, they encounter strange beasts and tormented spirits. The more they uncover about the Man of Sap, the more they learn how deeply Catalina’s fate is entwined with his, planted long ago in cursed seeds.

An enchanting mixture of American tall tales and Faustian elements, Before the Devil Knows You’re Here centers a fierce Mexican American poet on a quest to save her brother. Autumn Krause’s vivid, haunting prose and rich symbolism make this a must-read for fans of Maggie Stiefvater and Erin Craig.

*I received an e-arc via Edelweiss from the publisher and the author for review. Thank you for the opportunity! All thoughts are my own*

How do you like them apples?! (Sorry, not sorry) Like biting into a crisp, juicy apple, Autumn Krause’s riveting blend of American tall tales (Paul Bunyan and Johnny Appleseed among them) and Faustian deals with the devil will beckon you in and leave you wanting more. This story is heartbreakingly beautiful with lush imagery and gorgeous prose, and I highly recommend to those who enjoy YA, the importance of family, fairytales and legends, and dark gothic fantasy.

The story begins in 1863, in the state of Wisconsin. Catalina, a young Mexican American poet, lives with her father and brother in a small cabin on the edge of the wilderness. The harsh winters have brought the family on the brink of starvation and Catalina is determined to keep them alive.

When her father becomes suddenly ill, a strange man appears that is covered in bark, with leaves growing out of him, and sap dripping from his eyes. He takes her brother, and leaves behind a bird with crimson wings. Catalina can’t let this monster have her brother, so she grabs her father’s knife and sets out after them by following the bird.

On her journey, Catalina meets a young lumberjack who has his own reasons for following the Man of Sap. As their travels take them deeper into the woods, they meet spooky creatures and tormented spirits. The more they unearth about the Man of Sap, the more they realize that Catalina’s fate is entwined with his and those long-ago planted seeds.

Catalina is a fierce and determined character I could get behind. I admired her strength and how she was willing to do whatever it took to save her brother. She felt very real to me. I also loved Paul (the lumberjack) and learning more about him as the story progressed. His is such a sweet, cinnamon roll!

This is the perfect fall read, so warm up your apple cider, grab a cozy blanket, and sit by the fire! Releasing on October 3, 2023.

About the Author:

Autumn Krause is a writer in Orange County, California, where she can most often be found wearing a black lace dress and boots.