One of the hottest books of 2018 isn’t about wizards or vampires. It’s about an exorcist… and it’s 100% nonfiction.

Written by RH Stavis, Sister of Darkness is an autobiography of a modern-day exorcist. It may not have Linda Blair floating above her bed or running down the stairs backward but Stavis still manages to tell a haunting tale of her experience as an exorcist in the 21st century. It’s the perfect summer read for fans of the paranormal, TV shows like Supernatural and Buffy, and Halloween fanatics desperate to get a bit of spookiness outside of October. It’s both an easy, quick read and also haunting and disturbing–something that will keep fans reading deep into the night and probably give them nightmares.

As you would expect with a book about an exorcist, Stavis tells some pretty creepy stories. Ranging from a dream about a terrifying doll to describing various entities she sees, the imagery is terrifying. Stavis recounts multiple exorcisms in vivid detail and she makes you feel as if you’re standing in the room with her, watching her work. Stavis is not only a talented exorcist but also a gifted writer, being able to capture what she is able to see all around her and put it into writing for the rest of us.

A huge part of Stavis’s book is her going through describing different entities that haunt people. Some entities are a result of trauma and past experiences attracted to your negative thoughts. Some cause depression or insomnia. Some are barely conscious and only focus on feeding while others can be far more terrifying and cause irreparable damage. Some are attracted to evil people and help them rise to power (think Adolf Hitler). Some cause nightmares and, according to Stavis, one was involved in the 2016 presidential election. Stavis spends the majority of her time describing each of these entities, where they come from, and how to get rid of them.

Stavis is sometimes dubbed as a “secular exorcist” but that isn’t entirely correct. Stavis should be considered an “all-inclusive exorcist” rather than secular. She incorporates aspects of traditional exorcism customs found in Catholicism and Christianity while also working in bits of Buddhism, Hinduism, Wiccan, Reiki, and other aspects of both old and new religions. She manages to bridge the gap between religion, atheism, and spiritualism while completing her exorcisms. It’s fascinating to see how she works with all belief systems to complete her work and it’s what makes her so successful and the book so interesting to read.

Some people might think that Stavis is a bit bold with the way she describes her abilities and her work. She, herself, admits that she is confident because she has to be in her line of work. Facing these entities requires both strength and a very specific way of thinking. Yes, she is confident and proud of her work because she’s the best at what she does and she knows it.

READ: Get your copy of Sister of Darkness from Amazon now

FINAL SCORE:

8.5/10

I’m not a huge fan of nonfiction but the subject matter of this book was so interesting, I couldn’t put the book down. Stavis managed to tell a compelling (true) story that was both fascinating and haunting. There were several times I had to put the book down because I was so creeped out. It’s both an autobiography and a how-to book. She doesn’t just present us with a problem, she offers advice and tips as well which made the book that much more interesting.

+Frightening subject matter and imagery

+Excellent writing

+Easy to read

+Managed to be entertaining and informative

-Stavis can come off as overly confident to some

Amanda Woomer-Limpert is a writer and editor for The Geekiverse. She’s freakishly interested in the paranormal and supernatural and anything to do with black cats, and witches, and stuff.

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