The Devil Three Times A Novel
The Devil Three Times by Rickey Fayne is a debut novel published by Little Brown in 2025, featuring 416 pages in English. This ambitious narrative spans eight generations of a Black family in West Tennessee, exploring their complex relationship with the Devil, who visits them during pivotal moments in their lives. The story begins with Yetunde, who awakens aboard a slave ship, accompanied only by the spirit of her deceased sister. In a desperate bid for survival, she forms an unexpected alliance with the Devil, who seeks redemption through her protection.
Readers will encounter a rich tapestry of characters, including Lucille, a conjure woman, and Asa, who navigates the challenges of passing for white. Each descendant faces their own trials, from familial conflicts to spiritual struggles, as the Devil offers them various forms of salvation. The narrative is deeply rooted in the spiritual traditions and oral histories of the Black diaspora, presenting a multifaceted exploration of family life and identity in the United States. This edition invites readers to engage with themes of sacrifice, survival, and the quest for redemption across generations.
Official synopsis Publisher
“A debut of enormous ambition” spanning eight generations of a Black family in West Tennessee as they are repeatedly visited by the Devil (Nathan Harris, New York Times bestselling author of The Sweetness of Water)
Yetunde awakens aboard a slave ship en route to the United States with the spirit of her dead sister as her only companion. Desperate to survive the hell that awaits her at their destination, Yetunde finds help in an unexpected form–the Devil himself. The Devil, seeking a way to reenter the pearly gates of heaven, decides to prove himself to an indifferent God by protecting Yetunde and granting her a piece of his supernatural power. In return, Yetunde makes an incredible sacrifice.
Their bargain extends far beyond Yetunde’s mortal lifespan. Over the next 175 years, the Devil visits Yetunde’s descendants in their darkest hour of need: Lucille, a conjure woman; Asa, who passes for white; Louis and Virgil, who risk becoming a twentieth-century Cain and Abel; Cassandra, who speaks to the dead; James, who struggles to make sense of the past while fighting to keep his family together; and many others. The Devil offers each of them his own version of salvation, all the while wondering: can he save himself, too?
Steeped in the spiritual traditions and oral history of the Black diaspora, The Devil Three Times is a baptism by fire and water, heralding a new voice in American fiction.
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