Devils Like Us

by L.T. Thompson

Overview

Our Flag Means Death meets The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue in this YA historical fantasy about three queer teens and their found family of queer pirates facing down a secret magical society.

Remy wants to rescue her father.

Cas wants to finally be himself.

Finn wants to get the girl.

Nineteenth-century Massachusetts high society isn't kind to anyone who doesn't conform to its norms. For years, Remy, Cas, and Finn have done their best to blend in. But when they find themselves targeted by an evil magical society, they'll have to find the strength to stand out.

When a prophetic vision sets the three of them on a collision course, they embark on a journey that will take them aboard a ship of queer smugglers, into the path of a demon, and inside a sinister stronghold of dark magic. Together, they'll confront hidden secrets and face deadly odds-and, hopefully, find out who they truly are.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781547615193
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	06/03/2025
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.30(d)
Age Range:	14 - 17 Years

About the Author

L.T. Thompson writes stories about queer kids and teens discovering themselves and having adventures. They're a proud library worker and the author of two books for middle-grade readers: The Best Liars in Riverview and The House That Whispers. L.T. grew up in Kentucky, spent a decade in Boston, and now lives in Iowa with their wife and cat. When they're not writing, they enjoy picking up new hobbies and letting their interests cycle like the tides.

ltthompsonbooks.com | @ltthompsonbooks

Editorial Reviews

Taut with tension and with a story that's propelled forward by characters I adore, Devils Like Us is extraordinary. L. T. Thompson delivers a breathless adventure that's full of action, wit, and beautiful self-realization.” —Kacen Callender, award winning and bestselling author of Felix Ever After

“A triumph. L.T. Thompson's breathtaking prose and masterful storytelling create a mystical, chilling adventure, but Cas, Finn, Remy, and the crew of the Memento Mori feel like home. This story and these characters are burned into my heart forever; I will follow them anywhere.” —Jen St. Jude, author of If Tomorrow Doesn't Come

“Full of horror, humor, and queer friendship, Devils Like Us is a dark and exciting adventure sure to satisfy any reader who daydreams of running away to sea or plotting revolution.” —Sacha Lamb, Stonewall Book Award-winning author of When the Angels Left the Old Country

“In this taut, complex fantasy, Thompson skillfully plumbs the . . . protagonists' doubts, motivations, and desires, as experienced against a vivid society and setting, to examine themes of found family and identity.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Well-written and exciting.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Magic and mysticism deftly share space with examinations of self in this gripping, profoundly insightful novel. . . . a dynamic, heartwarming first entry in Thompson's coming-of-age fantasy series.” —Shelf Awareness

“A creative mash-up of tropes that combines a swashbuckling and piratical adventure with a cozy found family . . . delves into fate, religion, identity, romance, and more with aplomb. Suspenseful, emotional, and highly recommended.” —Booklist

From the Publisher

2025-03-08
Three young adults in Massachusetts discover there’s more to their world—and themselves—than they could have dreamed.

Despite feeling dissatisfied, Cas Sterling tries to exist within the roles her mother and society have set out for her, behaving like a proper lady who doesn’t expect to marry for love. She’s also plagued by frequent prophetic visions of people’s deaths. When she was 10, she foresaw the gruesome death of her best friend Remy DeWindt’s dad. But people’s reactions have taught Cas to keep the visions private; a disbelieving Remy cut off their friendship after Cas revealed what she’d witnessed. Remy’s father has disappeared, however, and she has been trying to learn more about the Order of Lazarus, the mysterious society he’d been researching. She’s assisted by her Irish immigrant friend, Fionnuala Robinson, who has a secret crush on her. But when Cas has a terrifying vision of Finn’s death, the three are propelled on a journey of supernatural discovery. Thompson’s narrative is well-paced: The unfolding plot meshes immaculately with the three main characters’ growing awareness of self. The 19th-century historical setting adds a romantic air, highlighting the restrictive social status quo that contrasts nicely with the freer atmosphere on the ship on which the white leads travel to Maine; its crew includes people of diverse ethnicities, gender identities, and sexualities. Cas’ experience with gender expression is his trans coming-out story, while Remy questions her sexuality.

Well-written and exciting.(Historical fantasy. 14-18)

Kirkus Reviews