Odd Devils

Some books are difficult to pinpoint. Odd Devils, by Zwahk Muchoney, is one such book. Part horror, part dark fantasy, part romance, part Christian manifesto, part occult fiction, the novella’s genres may be varied, but they present a clear story for the reader. What’s difficult to pinpoint, however, is the author’s intent and how it translates to the story of the titular odd devils. Whilst as the book moves toward its climax, its intent becomes clear, it may cause some readers to turn away from the story before discovering this point. Alternatively, once its message is clear, it may turn off readers who expected something else following the opening chapters. As frustrating as this can be at times, Odd Devils is nothing if not interesting.

In the early chapters of Odd Devils, there’s a moment where Satan—traditionally considered the ruler of Hell; here presented as no fallen angel, but one whose duty is to serve Heaven by working in Hell—reveals he is same sex attracted. As he is shunned by his fellow angels, the book’s perspective doesn’t make it clear whether it’s condoning Satan’s actions. In fact, it feels as though the book is siding with the larger group of angels, proclaiming same sex attraction to be a sin. As the story delves further into human sexuality, it too, feels as though it’s condemning the actions of people. As the book moves closer to its conclusion, it becomes clear that this isn’t the case; it empathises with people of all sexualities. With this stance being unclear from the outset, the book feels confused about what it wants to say. The result feels like a book that’s largely homophobic with a side of slut shaming, something that can turn readers off before they are able to be dissuaded of the notion.

It’s a shame that the book doesn’t clearly state its intentions from the outset. While it adds some mystery as to where the tale is going, it distracts from the story the author’s telling. This is compounded by the religious themes throughout Odd Devils, added throughout the book. Despite its occult nature, the presentation of these themes—which aren’t a negative in their own right—made me question the tale’s motives. The result of this made me unable to fully enjoy Satan’s journey, as well as that of the book’s secondary protagonist, a being brought to life by Aleister Crowley, for fear of how the story will treat the subject matter. Yet, despite this limitation, the story being told kept drawing me in.

Throughout its 195 pages in paperback and hardcover (or an estimated 197 pages on Kindle), the story is anchored by an intriguing narrative device. The story is told in just eight chapters, yet each chapter is presented as a short story. Whilst these stories don’t stand alone, and the reader won’t be able to get the most out of them in isolation, it makes the book easy to pick up and read, chapter by chapter, or short story by short story. Early in Odd Devils, it feels as though the stories are unrelated, before the narrative brings them together in entertaining ways.

The author’s writing evokes classic fairy tales, belying the book’s dark tone. The first chapter lures the reader into a false sense of security through its tale, very much a parable in nature. While there’s a sense of foreboding to it, it leaves the reader unprepared for just how dark it becomes. The effect jolts the reader with some truly gruesome horror and a sign of the darkness throughout the remainder of the book’s pages. It prepares the reader for what’s to come, yet the tales being told in the latter chapters still manage to shock and thrill, while also capturing some oddly beautiful moments.

Whilst the book conveys a dark fablesque tone, the prose doesn’t flow as nicely as it could. It lacks a certain amount of colour, and although it clearly conveys what’s happening throughout the story and describes the characters and locations well, more character to the writing could have elevated it. Instead, it feels as though the reader is watching the events from a distance, rather than being immersed in them. Likewise, the dialogue lacks flavour. The characters all speak in a way that is easy to follow and they all have unique voices. But they feel somewhat flat, with conversations feeling stilted.

Although the dialogue being spoken by Odd Devils’ characters feels flat, the major characters are wonderfully nuanced. Throughout the overarching tale, the approach of creating the chapters as short stories puts the emphasis on the characters and helps the reader connect with them. They’re all three dimensional characters who feel fully formed. As the book explores their relationships, both romantic and platonic, you feel for the characters. Those who play more minor roles in the story are less defined, however; but they still entertain, and work in service of the larger narrative.

Odd Devils is an odd book. Whilst it’s difficult to pinpoint what it’s trying to say, whether it’s the messaging about sexuality or juggling a tale about the occult with Christianity, as the book moves towards its conclusion, it presents a positive message that rewards the reader for its perseverance. The writing lacks colour, making it a less engaging read as a result, but the story being told, and the characters whose eyes it’s told through, is entirely engaging.