The Devil Particle


Young Adult - Thriller
313 Pages
Reviewed on 05/31/2023
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Years ago, Kristin A. Oakley wrote "The Bomb," a flash fiction piece about a character named Paul. At the time, she was also working on the third book in the award-winning Leo Townsend series, but Paul couldn't be ignored, so Leo had to wait. Paul's story is The Devil Particle, the first book in a four-book series.

In addition to creating Paul and Leo's stories, Kristin reviews books and writes about being a novelist in her bi-monthly newsletter, available at kristinoakley.net. She lives in the Milwaukee area and likes to hang out in coffees shops, writing characters into impossible situations.

    Book Review

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The Devil Particle is a work in the thriller, suspense, and dystopia subgenres. It is intended for the young adult reading audience and contains some moderate use of adult language and brief references to violence. Penned by Kristin A Oakley, this gripping and enthralling drama takes us to a world where science has discovered that the root of all evil can be extracted from human beings but must be stored in human vessels once it has been acquired. So begin the Vessel Trials, where teenagers compete to become the ones who will save humanity by becoming The Devil Particle Vessel. Paul, grieving and withdrawn, is persuaded into the trials by a close friend, and there he hopes to prove his worth to the world and himself.

Kristin A Oakley has a fascinating concept for this captivating new YA novel; it draws you in immediately and never lets go throughout the reading experience. I enjoyed the pace and depiction of the many action scenes, which played out with such atmosphere and vivid multi-sensory cues that you begin to feel like you’re in a VR world, running, racing, and fighting alongside Paul and his fellow potential vessels. In addition, the explored interpersonal relationships are realized with unique dialogue personalized to each character. Finally, Paul’s emotional journey is well-paced with close, personal narration that feels realistic and well-crafted. Overall, The Devil Particle is an accomplished dystopian work with plenty of high-stakes action and a fantastic emotional core that readers will find gripping and moving.