Devils Like Us

A trio of teens set out to rescue a peer and uncover a secret society in Thompson’s creatively imagined queer historical fantasy debut.

At age 10, Cas and Remy become estranged after clairvoyant Cas portends Remy’s father’s violent future death. In the following eight years, Cas continues to have visions of various deaths. Remy, meanwhile, with help from orphaned Irish immigrant Finn, assiduously researches the Order of Lazarus, a group her father was investigating when he went missing around Cas and Remy’s falling out. After Cas somehow shares in experiencing one of her visions with suitor Henry, his emotional response (he “just snapped”) prompts his parents to send him to a boys’ seminary in Maine, “hoping to drive the demons out of him.” Upon learning that the institution is connected with the Order, Cas persuades Remy and Finn to rescue him, and they stow away, disguised as boys, on a ship from Massachusetts to Maine, all the while uncovering revelations both personal and supernatural.

In this taut, complex fantasy, Thompson skillfully plumbs the white-cued protagonists’ doubts, motivations, and desires, as experienced against a vivid society and setting, to examine themes of found family and identity. Ages 14–up.

Three young adults in Massachusetts discover there’s more to their world—and themselves—than they could have dreamed. 

Despite feeling dissatisfied, Cas Sterling tries to exist within the roles her mother and society have set out for her, behaving like a proper lady who doesn’t expect to marry for love. She’s also plagued by frequent prophetic visions of people’s deaths. When she was 10, she foresaw the gruesome death of her best friend Remy DeWindt’s dad. But people’s reactions have taught Cas to keep the visions private; a disbelieving Remy cut off their friendship after Cas revealed what she’d witnessed. Remy’s father has disappeared, however, and she has been trying to learn more about the Order of Lazarus, the mysterious society he’d been researching. She’s assisted by her Irish immigrant friend, Fionnuala Robinson, who has a secret crush on her. But when Cas has a terrifying vision of Finn’s death, the three are propelled on a journey of supernatural discovery. Thompson’s narrative is well-paced: The unfolding plot meshes immaculately with the three main characters’ growing awareness of self. The 19th-century historical setting adds a romantic air, highlighting the restrictive social status quo that contrasts nicely with the freer atmosphere on the ship on which the white leads travel to Maine; its crew includes people of diverse ethnicities, gender identities, and sexualities. Cas’ experience with gender expression is his trans coming-out story, while Remy questions her sexuality

Well-written and exciting. (Historical fantasy. 14-18)