“Raw, compelling, and painfully honest, When the Devil hits like a punch to the gut. Between the gorgeous prose, vivid setting, and characters that jump off the page, I found this novelette impossible to put down.”
—Kelsea Yu, Shirley Jackson Award-nominated author of Bound Feet
In When the Devil, Libby finds salvation in a new sapphic partner, homebrewed poison, and facing a God she no longer believes in.
“When the Devil is a dark gale of a story, carrying readers from a pious hell to the devil’s brand of salvation.”
—Rae Knowles, author of Merciless Waters
“Raw, compelling, and painfully honest, When the Devil hits like a punch to the gut. Between the gorgeous prose, vivid setting, and characters that jump off the page, I found this novelette impossible to put down.”
—Kelsea Yu, Shirley Jackson Award-nominated author of Bound Feet
“In When the Devil, Murray’s lips curl back to reveal fangs. With sharp and southern prose, this story of awakening beats with the bloody empowered tang of reclamation.”
—Scott J. Moses, author of Our Own Unique Affliction
“This sapphic, Southern tale of love, murder and liberation [is] addictive, satisfying, and an all-around must-read.”
—George Dunn, FanFiAddict
“When the Devil packs an impressive and immersive punch within its pages. Murray wastes no time in luring readers right into a desolate, cruel world. The balance of bleakness alongside the clarity of hope is thoughtfully accomplished. I particularly loved the poetic framing with the rain imagery toward the beginning and ending of this story—beautifully done!”
—Sara Tantlinger, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of The Devil’s Dreamland
Emma E. Murray writes horror and dark speculative fiction. Her stories have appeared/are forthcoming in anthologies like OBSOLESCENCE, What One Wouldn’t Do, and Still of Winter, as well as magazines such as Vastarien, Pyre, and If There’s Anyone Left. When she’s not writing, she loves playing pretend with her daughter, hiking, and being an obnoxious bard in D&D.