What do you think?
Rate this book
The Devil's Own
At the Threshold of Tenderness - or Terror
Isabel's life was suddenly glorious. Her Aunt Camilla welcomed her to her new home. Her boyfriend, Matthew, would make her life complete. But frightening things began to happen at Camilla's - strange parties, midnight meetings in the woods, dreams - or were they dreams? - of being ravished by someone Isabel could scarcely remember in the morning. Then, after one of her nightmares, she turned to Matthew for comfort - only to recognize the glitter in his eyes! Only to realize the horrible truth she was born to discover!
Isabel's life was suddenly glorious. Her Aunt Camilla welcomed her to her new home. Her boyfriend, Matthew, would make her life complete. But frightening things began to happen at Camilla's - strange parties, midnight meetings in the woods, dreams - or were they dreams? - of being ravished by someone Isabel could scarcely remember in the morning. Then, after one of her nightmares, she turned to Matthew for comfort - only to recognize the glitter in his eyes! Only to realize the horrible truth she was born to discover!
- GenresGothicRomanceParanormal
255 pages, Paperback
First published August 25, 1972
109 people want to read
About the author
Janet Louise Roberts
77 books34 followersSee pseudonyms Louisa Bronte, Rebecca Danton & Janette Radcliffe. Some of the listed titles are more straight romance than romantic suspense.
Janet Louise Roberts was born on January 20, 1925, in New Britain Connecticut, the daughter of a missionary in a conservative church. She wrote contemporary, historical, and gothic romances, as well as occult horror romances such as The Devil’s Own, Isle of the Dolphins, Lord Satan, and Her Demon Lover. She used pseudonyms for several of her works.
Roberts died on June 11, 1982 in Dayton, Ohio.
Janet Louise Roberts was born on January 20, 1925, in New Britain Connecticut, the daughter of a missionary in a conservative church. She wrote contemporary, historical, and gothic romances, as well as occult horror romances such as The Devil’s Own, Isle of the Dolphins, Lord Satan, and Her Demon Lover. She used pseudonyms for several of her works.
Roberts died on June 11, 1982 in Dayton, Ohio.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 25, 2011
All I am going to say is I don't remember ever reading a book quite like this one. And, I don't think I will again.
I think the thing that disturbed me the most about the plot was that for me it had the flavor of child pornography and sexual abuse. True I read BR's where the heroine is young, she gets raped, the Hero is violent to her ... but, the light does enter the darkness, love does bloom from lust, and I have never sensed a tinge of child pornography and abuse mixed in the plot. That theme just doesn't entertain me in the least. Left much unease after I finished it.
Then I learned the author was the daughter of a preacher. That really divided my focus from the plot to the author... and back and forth. Would very much have liked to talk with her and learn what her life was like in reality. Now, that really grabbed my interest.
I think the thing that disturbed me the most about the plot was that for me it had the flavor of child pornography and sexual abuse. True I read BR's where the heroine is young, she gets raped, the Hero is violent to her ... but, the light does enter the darkness, love does bloom from lust, and I have never sensed a tinge of child pornography and abuse mixed in the plot. That theme just doesn't entertain me in the least. Left much unease after I finished it.
Then I learned the author was the daughter of a preacher. That really divided my focus from the plot to the author... and back and forth. Would very much have liked to talk with her and learn what her life was like in reality. Now, that really grabbed my interest.
December 29, 2015
Reread. My favorite gothic of all time.
January 2, 2025
Somewhat like JLR's "Lord Satan" with the surreal settings, lots of rituals and unnatural brutal sex. Basically a romance between a witch and the devil...heroine has to finally accept the truth about her situation and reality but not as enjoyable as the first book in my opinion.
July 20, 2025
Isabel has been raised by foster parents always knowing that despite their diligent care of her has more to do with duty than love. Now she is starting college and going to live with her "aunt" Camilla who is a professor at the very same college. Camilla is effusious in welcoming Isabel and introduces her to a young man named Matthew who Isabel finds to be nice.
Less nice however is the evenings Camilla organizes with her fellow afficiandos of the occult and witchcraft where Isabel is forced through hypnotic coachings by Camilla to have visions of the future. These sessions always leaves her feeling drained. Unhappy with her situation Isabel relies more and more on Matthew but things turn even more dark...
Isabel is a rather charmless and passive character, this type of plotline would not be out of place in a modern dark academia novel but due to the time it was written and I can only assume the authors own attitudes Isabel is not only menaced by occult forces but also by proximity to a potential lesbian and gangs of dope fiends.
One can only surmise that the author saw and was inspired by Rosemary´s baby but with the added variation of it being revelead that Isabel herself is the daughter of
The ending is rather ambigious as on the one hand Isabel is in the amorous and evil clutches of a demon, but on the other hand she is enticed with the demons plans for their future. (power, wealth,world travel and having children)
Reading this book was lackluster experience but reading it with the knowledge that the author was from a religious family. I mean if you approach it with a Jungian literary analytical perspective interesting.
Less nice however is the evenings Camilla organizes with her fellow afficiandos of the occult and witchcraft where Isabel is forced through hypnotic coachings by Camilla to have visions of the future. These sessions always leaves her feeling drained. Unhappy with her situation Isabel relies more and more on Matthew but things turn even more dark...
Isabel is a rather charmless and passive character, this type of plotline would not be out of place in a modern dark academia novel but due to the time it was written and I can only assume the authors own attitudes Isabel is not only menaced by occult forces but also by proximity to a potential lesbian and gangs of dope fiends.
One can only surmise that the author saw and was inspired by Rosemary´s baby but with the added variation of it being revelead that Isabel herself is the daughter of
The ending is rather ambigious as on the one hand Isabel is in the amorous and evil clutches of a demon, but on the other hand she is enticed with the demons plans for their future. (power, wealth,world travel and having children)
Reading this book was lackluster experience but reading it with the knowledge that the author was from a religious family. I mean if you approach it with a Jungian literary analytical perspective interesting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2023
I'll just say two things. First, if you liked "Rosemary's Baby", chances are you'll like this book. Second, if you're wishing for the conventional HEA ending, be careful what you wish for!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews