southernhon's review
3.0
Interesting enough subject matter, but the gore was just too much. It was gory for gore's sake and some of it was laughable.
bmacenlightened's review
5.0
I really liked this story, and finally got back to finish it today. The idea of demons and what hell actually is, is something I've spent a lot of time wondering about and it was nice to see a portrayal that lives up to the thoughts that I've had regarding the subject. I came into this expecting something super-gory and whatnot, but honestly the scenes with "eww" inducing details were written so interestingly enough and with a lot left to the imagination that I actually enjoyed reading about it and wasn't made ill in the process.
I had only really read Lee's Brain Cheese Buffet before this, and its good to know that in combination with the crazy redneck stories he creates he can also attack something on an epic scale.
I grew to really like the characters throughout as well, with their different traits and their rugged determination in the face of so much resistance. Cassie was relatively shallow in the beginning but by the end was fleshed out thoroughly and so were her companions.
What was really cool is the idea that hell contained a city and the fact that the city was so fleshed out with all of the necessities that one might find in a realistic city. It gave it a level of familiarity in an area that is anything but.
I had only really read Lee's Brain Cheese Buffet before this, and its good to know that in combination with the crazy redneck stories he creates he can also attack something on an epic scale.
I grew to really like the characters throughout as well, with their different traits and their rugged determination in the face of so much resistance. Cassie was relatively shallow in the beginning but by the end was fleshed out thoroughly and so were her companions.
What was really cool is the idea that hell contained a city and the fact that the city was so fleshed out with all of the necessities that one might find in a realistic city. It gave it a level of familiarity in an area that is anything but.
jobinsonlis's review
3.0
So the thing that I find so strange about this book is how much it reads like a traditional YA novel. Obviously it's an R-rated version of one (although even a lot of the edgy splatterpunk touches fade a bit as the plot gets going) but it's got that structure--girl is still suffering from a traumatic event in her past, she finds out that she is the Chosen One with special-special gifts, and she has a personal quest that coincidentally aligns with the larger struggles that propel the overall plot. I don't know how much I actually enjoyed this book beyond the basic premise (girl goes to Hell to see her dead twin sister and Hell is an enormous metropolis filled with unspeakable horrors that verge on splatstick from jump) because it's not that well-written and the characters are so paper-thin that they're in danger of bursting into flames every time they board the demonic subway but I'm weak to stories with depictions of hell and heaven in them so I'll definitely keep going with this series. My fervent wish is that the next book doesn't go any deeper down the hellbilly horror well that it's dancing all around but honestly I'm the fool who kept going if it does because all the pieces are right there. Rob Zombie should adapt this instead of making progressively worse movies with evil clowns in them.
kkehoe's review
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.
michaellouisdixon's review
5.0
Ed Lee's work is visceral and intense, as well as just plain fun.
Loved this and I'm looking forward to reading the entire series.
Loved this and I'm looking forward to reading the entire series.
bunnayfun's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
lunarelle's review
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.
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.