In Your Heart a Devil by Vanessa Santos
Vanessa Santos' latest novel reimagines the tale of Wizard Laird of Skene, yet its Gothic sensibilities do not quite make up for a shallow approach
In Your Heart a Devil asks the age-old question: how might a woman cope when her husband is having an affair? Except, this time, the paramour is none other than the Devil himself. Vanessa Santos’ debut novel is inspired by the Wizard Laird of Skene, a tale from Scottish folklore that refers to a wealthy landowner who, while studying the dark arts abroad, makes a pact with the Devil.
It’s deliciously Gothic source material, and Santos’ premise injects even more intrigue by adding Lady Skene into the mix. Clearly inspired by Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, the novel follows the early days of their marriage; yet the novel wears its references on its sleeve, making for a brief, superficial read. The biggest issue is its lack of precision. In Rebecca, we understand why the protagonist is devoted to Maxim, and, likewise, why she stays at Manderley.
Here, Isabel’s motivations are hazy. She barely knows Alexander, and he has little interest in her even before his lover, the devilish Nick, is introduced. Another snag is the unspecified time period. In this world, we have hot water, electric lighting, indoor plumbing, and passenger airlines, and yet there’s no mention of telephones, popular music, or either World War, creating a disorientating effect. The novel’s inability to root itself in one time period exacerbates the thinness of its characters, plot, and overall world. I would love to read a passionate, twisty tale about queer love between the Devil and man, but, unfortunately, this is not it.
