Review - The Devil's Own by Janet Louise Roberts

The Girl - 17 year old innocent adopted Isabel, black haired, green eyed with a way of reading people's thoughts and hearing voices that tell her what to do. Her adopted parents take care of her but are cold and almost seem afraid of her.

The Guy - 21 year old Matthew, tall strong and handsome - he immediately claims Isabel for his own.

The Setup - Isabel finally is old enough and going away to college, she is excited that her life will finally begin. Her Aunt Camilla(no real relation to her or her adopted parents) is allowing her to live with her and supporting her. Aunt Camilla is a noted professor, successful and strange - she has a group of weird friends and "plays" at witchcraft which she drags Isabel into against her will. Matthew is Camilla's best student and often over her house. He falls for Isabel and tries to protect her from her Aunt's strange musings. But he is also horribly jealous and "claims" her saying she belongs to him. Then there are the nightmares - or are they nightmares?

The Good Stuff - Awesome! A Gothic done as only JLR can do them. My favorites of her occult Gothics would be Her Demon Lover and Lord Satan but this one is damn good as well. She turns the genre on its head and gives you what you want by breaking all the rules. She is also one of the only Gothic authors that will deal with rape and sex - most of your Gothics stop at chaste kissing. JLR goes all the way!

My Gripes - Not too much! Not as good as the previous two I have mentioned but still this is a damn good Gothic. We do have some pet sacrifices in here that made me a little uncomfortable but hey with an occult novel they are par for the course.

What you are getting yourself into
**Rape
**Lots of drugging
**Animal sacrifices
**Full on black masses

First cover is a reissue done by Robert A. Maguire (he did an entire series of her reissues). Second cover is the original and I'm not sure of the artist.

PS - This book reminded me alot of the dancing scene in Legend (with Tim Curry who rules)...