The Devil Takes The Blues by Ariel Slick

Thanks to Netgallery and @arielslickwrites for this ARC.

This was a great Southern Gothic story that has Sinners vibes, it follows the dual perspectives of Beatrice and Frank. Beatrice Corbin is a woman who just wants to run her general store and keep a watchful eye on her newly married, younger sister Agnes in her small town of Azoma, Louisiana, she loves Jazz and blues, her life starts to change after she breaks a bottle of whiskey belonging to her late father. Soon she meets Frank Charbonneau who predicts her sister's murder, she doesn't buy it till another of his predictions comes true. In a desperate bid to stop it she makes a bet with him, her soul at stake to find her sister's would be killer in the seven weeks time frame. Setting off to do this not aware that her sister is keeping a secret, Beatrice also tried to ignore her growing feelings for a black musician who has also made a deal with Frank.

We also get Frank's view, a devil giving human form who after we freed from his imprisonment feels a strong connection to Beatrice and in trying to win her heart. He can't interfere with the fate set for Agnes but as he spends more time in this human form he begins to feel human emotions which causes him to feel sympathy for Agnes but also jealously towards Angelo because how Beatrice feels for him. We learn bits about him but also he love for music, blues in particular. We also see him watching the corruption in this small town and the rise of the klan in it.

I found the time period interesting , also seeing how evil snakes it's way into small towns be it the actual devil or just the mundane evil of ordinary men who let the darkness take over, seeing how the klan recruits which in a way reminded me of a MLM scheme. Seeing the racism, misogyny and the general views of the time, I felt for Agnes when she tried to get a divorce from Tim whose drinking has gotten out of hand, only to be refused and made to feel shame. I was really hooked by this story and felt for the characters and their struggles even Frank who the longer he is in human form becomes more sympathetic to Agnes who he initially dismissive of because, also feeling jealousy over Beatrice and Angelo's growing feelings. Honestly I found myself liking Frank even though he is an devil I found him to be honest in his intentions which were to win Beatrice's heart as she freed him. Frank and Beatrice's relationship is interesting as she makes a deal and a bet to get out of it in her sister's life but I do feel she does begin to have feelings for him even though she finds the idea of marriage as an cage but her urge to save her sister makes her do things to try and prevent it. Through the two POVs of two we find out Agnes has secrets that might be the reason she might be in danger. Again this is such a great read and would definitely recommend it.