aeslis's review against another edition
4.0
This book was nothing that I expected, and I mean that in all the best ways. John, our main character, dies, and ends up in Purgatory. Only there's a a problem: Purgatory has been turned into a prison by a higher power. John escapes with two of his friends and a dog and ends up, mistakenly, in Hell, where Asmodus and a flaming hot incubus by the name of Rimmon send him off on a mission to unite the various pantheons of the Gods in war. John's journey takes him to meet the Celtic gods, the Norse gods, the Egyption gods, and even Amaterasu. Each pantheon has its own lands and ways in the afterlife. But John discovers a problem: All the Gods' leaders have disappeared.
Being a lover of mythology, I found it lovely how many different mythologies were brought into play so seamlessly. The author was exceptionally creative in plot and pacing, and the unraveling of each mystery that reared its head. John's relationship with Rimmon was also not nearly so simple as most gay romances, and it was woven through the plot instead of substituting for plot.
Being a lover of mythology, I found it lovely how many different mythologies were brought into play so seamlessly. The author was exceptionally creative in plot and pacing, and the unraveling of each mystery that reared its head. John's relationship with Rimmon was also not nearly so simple as most gay romances, and it was woven through the plot instead of substituting for plot.
michaeljpdx's review against another edition
5.0
This book was a really pleasant surprise. It was a really nice change from what I have been reading lately, and reminded me how much I like a good sci-fi/alternate universe story. It was my first reading love, before puberty got me interested in sex and smut.
Bell has crafted a very believable vision of the afterlife, where the various belief systems of humanity - Christian, Hindu, Celt, ancient Egyptian, etc. - all have their concepts of the afterlife realized. There's Heaven, Hell, Asgard, Olympus and all the other ideals, along with their respective gods, such as Thor, Zeus, Set and so on.
But things are not exactly as they should be in the afterlife. Something has gone wrong, and it becomes our hero John Grey's task to help set it right. John is a new arrival in what turns out to be Purgatory, why some kind of cosmic game is being played, like a twisted version of Farmville. John befriends a couple of other lost souls, and together they try to escape from Purgatory, only to find out just how far out of hand the place has become.
They do eventually make their escape, but John ends up riding Dante's sins straight to Hell, which turns out to be a rather nicer place than expected. But then, Hell is trying to enlist John's help in their war against Heaven, which they believe is responsible for the mess the afterlife is in. They use a sexy incubus to seduce John and guide him through the various realms of the afterlife in his quest to raise an army to free the souls from Purgatory.
It's quite a roller-coaster ride that takes you to the halls of Asgard, Mount Olympus, the tomb of a Chinese emperor and more. Along the way, John manages to learn the secret of why he was uniquely qualified to take on this quest. Despite this, and some misgivings about being "Hell's Pawn", he continues his quest.
The final ending is a bit of an anti-climax, and for that I'd give the book 4 ½ stars rather than five. A few things are left unexplained, but by the end it really doesn't matter, as it's been such a good ride. The story is told in rich detail, but without being pedantic or boring. There's a bit of a message near the ending, but it's delivered rather subtly and I'll let you figure out what it is.
Bell has crafted a very believable vision of the afterlife, where the various belief systems of humanity - Christian, Hindu, Celt, ancient Egyptian, etc. - all have their concepts of the afterlife realized. There's Heaven, Hell, Asgard, Olympus and all the other ideals, along with their respective gods, such as Thor, Zeus, Set and so on.
But things are not exactly as they should be in the afterlife. Something has gone wrong, and it becomes our hero John Grey's task to help set it right. John is a new arrival in what turns out to be Purgatory, why some kind of cosmic game is being played, like a twisted version of Farmville. John befriends a couple of other lost souls, and together they try to escape from Purgatory, only to find out just how far out of hand the place has become.
They do eventually make their escape, but John ends up riding Dante's sins straight to Hell, which turns out to be a rather nicer place than expected. But then, Hell is trying to enlist John's help in their war against Heaven, which they believe is responsible for the mess the afterlife is in. They use a sexy incubus to seduce John and guide him through the various realms of the afterlife in his quest to raise an army to free the souls from Purgatory.
It's quite a roller-coaster ride that takes you to the halls of Asgard, Mount Olympus, the tomb of a Chinese emperor and more. Along the way, John manages to learn the secret of why he was uniquely qualified to take on this quest. Despite this, and some misgivings about being "Hell's Pawn", he continues his quest.
The final ending is a bit of an anti-climax, and for that I'd give the book 4 ½ stars rather than five. A few things are left unexplained, but by the end it really doesn't matter, as it's been such a good ride. The story is told in rich detail, but without being pedantic or boring. There's a bit of a message near the ending, but it's delivered rather subtly and I'll let you figure out what it is.
___tamara___'s review against another edition
4.0
Somehow, Jay Bell's books are always more than I expect them to be after reading the blurb. This book one more example of how it doesn't matter what ideas you use, but the way you execute them. And here they were executed exceptionally well!
On a side (fangirling) note, one thing that particularly had me squealing in delight is when, more so because I hadn't expected it.
Word of warning though, if you're looking for a romance to read, this is not the book you want.
But if you want an adventure, read this and you definitely won't be disappointed!
On a side (fangirling) note, one thing that particularly had me squealing in delight is when
Spoiler
John went to Heaven and met Jace the pilot, and I realized that Jace the pilot is actually Jace, THE Jace from the Seasons series... and Samson was there too!Word of warning though, if you're looking for a romance to read, this is not the book you want.
But if you want an adventure, read this and you definitely won't be disappointed!
sylvia_is_reading's review against another edition
5.0
What an amazing adventure. I love John and his determination to find out what was really going on. I liked his friends, Rimmon, Dante and Bolo who were funny and imperfect. What a wonderful world Jay painted, with fantastical creatures inhabiting beautiful and diverse realms.
Compliments for [a:Andreas Bell|1866951|Andreas Bell|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto/nophoto-U-50x66.jpg] who made another great cover, I loved the evolution of this one :)
Compliments for [a:Andreas Bell|1866951|Andreas Bell|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto/nophoto-U-50x66.jpg] who made another great cover, I loved the evolution of this one :)
midi's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
ktomp17's review against another edition
5.0
I am absolutely stunned by this book. At first, the book went at a very slow pace and I wasn't too keen on the whole concept (I'm don't typically find fantasy books appealing for me). After a couple of chapters, however, the book really picked up and had me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. It was a very cerebral read-lots of big words and concepts that made me think. Lots of history and mythology. I found myself teary-eyed at some parts and sobbing at the end. I thought the epilogue was great to show that he had found love and had moved on from the love he thought he had for Rimmon. I could truly feel that Scott was his everything. At first I wanted more. I know he mentioned he was his husband and I can assume they were together for 60 years. But I wanted to know just a little bit more. I want to know what his return was like. Did Scott see everything as John remembered? Were things the way John remembered? Was Rimmon there? Now I realize that by saying "everyone he had missed from this life and the other, welcoming him home again" answered everything I could have wondered about. Yes to all the questions I had. Although I wouldn't have said no to just a small glimpse of his return. After such big sobbing, I would have loved a happy feeling moment.
I really had a hard time deciding how to rate this book. I wish I could give 4.5 stars as I tend to give 5 stars to my favorites. The more I thought about this book and all that happened in it, the more I realized it is worth 5 stars just for the emotions, thoughts, and questions that this raised for me. It now sits on my favorites shelf. :-)
I really had a hard time deciding how to rate this book. I wish I could give 4.5 stars as I tend to give 5 stars to my favorites. The more I thought about this book and all that happened in it, the more I realized it is worth 5 stars just for the emotions, thoughts, and questions that this raised for me. It now sits on my favorites shelf. :-)
More...