Review: HIDEOUS by DEVON MCCORMACK

Title: Hideous

Author: Devon McCormack

Release Date: June 19th 2014

Age Group: New Adult

Genre: Paranormal M/M Romance

BLURB

Eight years ago, Luke Retter witnessed the brutal murder of his mother and sister at the hands of his demon-possessed father. He survived but lost a hand and an eye. The demon also burned its emblem into his skin, marking him as a cursed. Those who bear this mark are at risk of becoming possessed themselves, so they are monitored and enslaved by the state-run UCIS. Working as a slave is hard, but Luke prefers it to the possibility of being controlled by a demon. 
One night, Luke wakes to find his worst nightmare coming true. His father's demon has returned. In a panic, he runs to the only person who might be able to help: Zack, a cursed who ran away from the state and created an underground community to protect other fugitive curseds. Zack helps him suppress the demon. But the city's become a time bomb, and Luke's demon itches to escape. 
With the UCIS closing in on Zack's underground operation and Luke's demon crafting its own, nefarious plot, Luke realizes that he must take a stand.

Purchase: Amazon | B&N

Review

I am lucky that as a reviewer I read some very good books. Every once in a while I come across one which completely floors me and I think "if I die tonight and that was the last book I read, I would happy". For me Hideous is that book. Devon McCormack's story is brilliant, frightening, awesome, horrific, romantic, sad and every other contradiction inbetween, but it is guaranteed to give its reader one hell of a book hangover!

I immediately loved Luke and wanted to rescue him from his miserable existence. In his world demons really exist, taking delight in torturing and killing their victims. Those who are 'lucky' enough to survive such an attack are The Cursed, identifiable by the spider web like tattoo they are marked with. There are rules for these Cursed individuals which they must abide by or be at risk of execution by the government. Luke is registered but is only employed for the most menial tasks; cleaning at a boys' boarding school.

Luke is unable to see past his damaged appearance, even though Devon McCormack shows us his honesty, loyalty and loving nature. His confusion about his life only increases when he is befriended by two very different young men, Tom and Zack.

Luke finds Tom drunk one evening in the school grounds and after saving him Tom continues to secretly visit Luke's room. Tom is a difficult character to read and although he shares his most private thoughts with Luke, I find his motives purely selfish.

The moment Zack saves Luke we know that he is a character with a huge heart, which is unaffected by the way he chooses to survive. Their friendship is not always an easy one, but it is Zack who encourages Luke to see past his reflection, calling him "amazing".

Luke develops feelings for both Tom and Zack which at times threaten to overwhelm him, but he realizes over time how these differ. Often the idea of  a M/M relationship discourages certain readers, but in Hideous the romance is so much more than the physical connection. The emotion is intense and provides more than just an interlude from other horrifying events; it gives us hope for Luke's future.

Devon McCormack's power as a writer is particularly evident in the later chapters of Hideous. Here he writes with a relentless pace, describing  moments of Exorcist-like demon possession. We barely have time to dwell on these grotesque events before the narrative sweeps us on. Although I admit to shrieking a few times!

In my opinion Hideous should be renamed "Awesome", not only because of its addictive storyline but because Devon McCormack has made an important contribution to the NA genre. This market is saturated with books about female characters but now we are offered a multi-dimensional male protagonist who, despite his struggles, is someone we connect with and feel for.

Would I recommend this book? HELL YEAH!

Rating:

(could I seriously give it any less??)