lunarelle's review against another edition
4.0
I may actually have nightmares from this brilliantly written book. The idea of Hell as a city terrifies me, but it's a bit easier to digest. I don't recommend reading this while eating, at least not at first, as it gets pretty gross - at least it did for me. I mean, I watch The Walking Dead, but ick. There's something visceral about Lee's descriptions that curbed my appetite. Thanks for that, as I'm trying to lose weight, so that works.
The characters:
- Lissa - nicely played, nicely played. Still trying to figure her out.
- Cassie - a little whiny for my tastes, but I think I'd be whiny too if I were suddenly sent to Hell while I was alive. She adjusts quickly, which goes in her favor.
- Via - Arguably my favorite character of the bunch.
- Hush - I like her!
Two more books in the series, and I think I'm going to read them both this week. 4 star-rating, because of the typos I found in there.
The characters:
- Lissa - nicely played, nicely played. Still trying to figure her out.
- Cassie - a little whiny for my tastes, but I think I'd be whiny too if I were suddenly sent to Hell while I was alive. She adjusts quickly, which goes in her favor.
- Via - Arguably my favorite character of the bunch.
- Hush - I like her!
Two more books in the series, and I think I'm going to read them both this week. 4 star-rating, because of the typos I found in there.
rellwood74's review against another edition
5.0
Not a horror, more of a supernatural/paranormal story without a lot of horror, but some elements of gore.
Supernatural in that the story takes place in Hell. However, Hell isn't as scary as you would think. It's more like what life here would be like if Demons, satanism and all that go along with it were the norm.
This is a quest story about a young woman whose sister committed suicide in the opening (she shot herself when she found her boyfriend cheating on her), she learns that because of certain circumstances of birth and whatnot she is some major deal "Etherness" basically a type of Saint in Hell. She makes friends with a few not-ghosts but other people who at one point lived in Hell but are now "ex residents" and live in the house that Cassie moved into.
Said not-ghosts talk her into going into Hell with them because she wants to see her sister (who ended up there). She has to hide the fact that she is still alive (only the dead are in Hell), but those dead people are still "alive" and have a body that can die again. Just think of it like a parallel universe that only the people destined to go to Hell end up, basically starting a new life there. Eating, working, living, buying things, keeping out of the way, etc. Sure there are a lot of bad things that happen, but it's just all in the normal way things go there. It's not underground its a huge city that runs in an alternate bizzaro way where everything bad is good and Satan runs the show from his penthouse- we never meet him, but we meet the faction that is trying to overthrow him.
Meanwhile this Cassie is trying to find her sister for reasons, and it's a quest to find her, to hide the fact that she's an Etheress - some great mythological being that ended up being true.
There are funny parts, gross parts, action parts, sexual (but not sexy) parts, it's a regular read. However the story was fun, always had me interested, and I am now reading the second part.
So don't think this is some dark, super horror. Its supernatural in that we are dealing with demons, and hell, but think of the paranormal stories and this is pretty much like it.
Supernatural in that the story takes place in Hell. However, Hell isn't as scary as you would think. It's more like what life here would be like if Demons, satanism and all that go along with it were the norm.
This is a quest story about a young woman whose sister committed suicide in the opening (she shot herself when she found her boyfriend cheating on her), she learns that because of certain circumstances of birth and whatnot she is some major deal "Etherness" basically a type of Saint in Hell. She makes friends with a few not-ghosts but other people who at one point lived in Hell but are now "ex residents" and live in the house that Cassie moved into.
Said not-ghosts talk her into going into Hell with them because she wants to see her sister (who ended up there). She has to hide the fact that she is still alive (only the dead are in Hell), but those dead people are still "alive" and have a body that can die again. Just think of it like a parallel universe that only the people destined to go to Hell end up, basically starting a new life there. Eating, working, living, buying things, keeping out of the way, etc. Sure there are a lot of bad things that happen, but it's just all in the normal way things go there. It's not underground its a huge city that runs in an alternate bizzaro way where everything bad is good and Satan runs the show from his penthouse- we never meet him, but we meet the faction that is trying to overthrow him.
Meanwhile this Cassie is trying to find her sister for reasons, and it's a quest to find her, to hide the fact that she's an Etheress - some great mythological being that ended up being true.
There are funny parts, gross parts, action parts, sexual (but not sexy) parts, it's a regular read. However the story was fun, always had me interested, and I am now reading the second part.
So don't think this is some dark, super horror. Its supernatural in that we are dealing with demons, and hell, but think of the paranormal stories and this is pretty much like it.
linwearcamenel's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
bosermoki's review against another edition
dark
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a really fun novel. The characterization is thin and reliant of boring tropes, the exposition is clunky and actively hinders vs helping the world building.
Overall, this novel is pulpy as hell. But in spite of all that or perhaps because of it, it's a lot of fun. The narrative doesn't aspire to anything higher than an edgy pulpy romp through a dark edgy exploration of hell, the titular "City Infernal", the Mephistopolis. Highly recommend for a quick light read that just revels in its premise.
Overall, this novel is pulpy as hell. But in spite of all that or perhaps because of it, it's a lot of fun. The narrative doesn't aspire to anything higher than an edgy pulpy romp through a dark edgy exploration of hell, the titular "City Infernal", the Mephistopolis. Highly recommend for a quick light read that just revels in its premise.
paperbackstash's review against another edition
3.0
Edward Lee again goes full frontal on the gore assault front. This beginning of a series is worthy with it's world-building, unusual premise, and build-up.
Since I'm more of a character-orientated reader than a plot-driven one, the characters being a bit one-dimensional wasn't welcome. Cassie's powers seem to come too easily without training but again, that belongs in the story. She's reasonably likeable, although her sister is not. The dad is also enjoyable but was kept in the background as fodder. Cassie's sidekicks were amusing for the most part with their dialogue lines and motivations, although that can amp up the cheese sometimes.
The monsters? Creepy as can get. Lee takes time to focus on a large assortment of horrifying demons, abilities, scenarios, and gritty details - things he gets kudos for. The internal battles are particularly interesting and work well with the world building he's constructed.
I can't complain on the pacing at all - from a surprising family drama in the beginning to almost constant horror through a creative hell. Lee is talented with convincing dialogue but I'm hoping the second book makes me warm up to the main players more.
Since I'm more of a character-orientated reader than a plot-driven one, the characters being a bit one-dimensional wasn't welcome. Cassie's powers seem to come too easily without training but again, that belongs in the story. She's reasonably likeable, although her sister is not. The dad is also enjoyable but was kept in the background as fodder. Cassie's sidekicks were amusing for the most part with their dialogue lines and motivations, although that can amp up the cheese sometimes.
The monsters? Creepy as can get. Lee takes time to focus on a large assortment of horrifying demons, abilities, scenarios, and gritty details - things he gets kudos for. The internal battles are particularly interesting and work well with the world building he's constructed.
I can't complain on the pacing at all - from a surprising family drama in the beginning to almost constant horror through a creative hell. Lee is talented with convincing dialogue but I'm hoping the second book makes me warm up to the main players more.
acknud's review against another edition
3.0
Fairly lame story but the effort on Lee's description of Hell made this a good read. He really put some thought into this. I found the book humorous and not in the least horrifying. The descriptions can increase the queasy factor though!
kkehoe's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyable, if a bit to heavy on expository world-building and light on actual story. I'd also expect less deus-ex-machina moments in a Hell-centric work. Seriously, the characters ALWAYS just happened to have the perfect item or spell for every misadventure, coming off as a little too Adam West Batman utility belt. Otherwise, a decent intro to a series that I hope starts to intertwine a bit more plot in upcoming entries.
cosmic_mistake's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 starts to be exact.
Really good and quick read. I will definitely be picking up the next book soon. I liked the characters dynamic of goth city girl moving adjacent to bum fuck nowhere.... oh and also casually visiting Hell and being pulled into a whirlwind mission. I like how Lee sprinkled in reality with this concept of Hell.
Really good and quick read. I will definitely be picking up the next book soon. I liked the characters dynamic of goth city girl moving adjacent to bum fuck nowhere.... oh and also casually visiting Hell and being pulled into a whirlwind mission. I like how Lee sprinkled in reality with this concept of Hell.
mikekaz's review against another edition
4.0
As the first novel by Lee that I read, I will have to say that he does just as good as all of his short stories. It's something to very much enjoy and seek out. I know that I will be seeking out some of this other books.
This one involves Cassie, a goth teenager from DC with a twin sister who committed suicide. In their escape from DC and the tragedy there, Cassie and her father unknowingly move to a house on a Deadpass, a place where the dead can pass between the real world and Hell. Cassie discovers this out at the same time that she realizes that she has unknown powers that allow her to travel to Hell. Wanting forgiveness and understanding from her sister, Cassie joins up with three souls trapped in Hell and visits the city of Hell, an city that evolved at the same speed as humans in the real world.
Now that might sound like a lot of co-incidence and maybe too much to take but it really doesn't come across quite that bad in the novel. It all flows and makes sense. But if you are afraid of being overwhelmed, then there is another reason to not read this book: it supplies horror on top of horror, enough to be quite graphic. Considering that they are visiting Hell and all of its methods of tortures, it only makes sense. The only thing that I didn't really like about this book is all the deus ex machina. There were too many incidents of a power or ability being presented just as it was needed. I understand that Lee was setting up many of the rules as to how Hell operates but it came across as too convenient. The real story though is Cassie's growth from an ignored teen through depression and then into acceptance of who she can be. And that is done brilliantly.
This one involves Cassie, a goth teenager from DC with a twin sister who committed suicide. In their escape from DC and the tragedy there, Cassie and her father unknowingly move to a house on a Deadpass, a place where the dead can pass between the real world and Hell. Cassie discovers this out at the same time that she realizes that she has unknown powers that allow her to travel to Hell. Wanting forgiveness and understanding from her sister, Cassie joins up with three souls trapped in Hell and visits the city of Hell, an city that evolved at the same speed as humans in the real world.
Now that might sound like a lot of co-incidence and maybe too much to take but it really doesn't come across quite that bad in the novel. It all flows and makes sense. But if you are afraid of being overwhelmed, then there is another reason to not read this book: it supplies horror on top of horror, enough to be quite graphic. Considering that they are visiting Hell and all of its methods of tortures, it only makes sense. The only thing that I didn't really like about this book is all the deus ex machina. There were too many incidents of a power or ability being presented just as it was needed. I understand that Lee was setting up many of the rules as to how Hell operates but it came across as too convenient. The real story though is Cassie's growth from an ignored teen through depression and then into acceptance of who she can be. And that is done brilliantly.