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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.
billymac1962's review against another edition
2.0
City Infernal started off great. Here were two interesting characters, twin Goth sisters, and a plot with great promise. Unfortunately, it seemed another writer with the style of a 12 year-old took over once the story moved into Hell.
Remember when you were a kid, and you and your friends would run around
living imaginary adventures, making up the rules as you went along (OK, this rock? It makes me invisible!)? That's exactly how this book seemed.
Combine that with juvenile dialogue, and the read became an eye-rolling experience that I wouldn't have finished had it been a big book.
The novel did have redeeming qualities, though, like his desciption of Hell, but this wasn't enough to make me a happy reader.
This is really too bad, because I had heard such great things about Edward Lee and was very excited when I found this novel, and it had such a promising start with the type of good writing you'd expect from an established novelist.
Unfortunately, I don't feel motivated to read any more from him now.
Remember when you were a kid, and you and your friends would run around
living imaginary adventures, making up the rules as you went along (OK, this rock? It makes me invisible!)? That's exactly how this book seemed.
Combine that with juvenile dialogue, and the read became an eye-rolling experience that I wouldn't have finished had it been a big book.
The novel did have redeeming qualities, though, like his desciption of Hell, but this wasn't enough to make me a happy reader.
This is really too bad, because I had heard such great things about Edward Lee and was very excited when I found this novel, and it had such a promising start with the type of good writing you'd expect from an established novelist.
Unfortunately, I don't feel motivated to read any more from him now.
terminalfin's review against another edition
5.0
I waited quite a while for this book to be put out in audiobook format. This began as I was on a hell kick after listening to "A short stay in hell", "Lost Gods", and "Hell's Super". I waited a bit and finally found through the Edward Lee Fan Page Facebook group that this book had been released in audiobook format.
I am glad I waited and gave this a listen. What a gory and interesting tale of how hell operates. Right from the opening chapter, this book drew me in. I was interested to see how Hell would play a role in the story after the first few chapters passed by and was pleasantly surprised at the transition from the flesh world through the dead pass. I thoroughly each of the characters to include Via, Xeke, and Hush.
Mr. Lee definitely has a fan and I hope that book three becomes available again through Audible as I only see book two available currently. Mike Bradley did a wonderful job with the narration and really brought to life the gory and disturbing aspects of this story.
I am glad I waited and gave this a listen. What a gory and interesting tale of how hell operates. Right from the opening chapter, this book drew me in. I was interested to see how Hell would play a role in the story after the first few chapters passed by and was pleasantly surprised at the transition from the flesh world through the dead pass. I thoroughly each of the characters to include Via, Xeke, and Hush.
Mr. Lee definitely has a fan and I hope that book three becomes available again through Audible as I only see book two available currently. Mike Bradley did a wonderful job with the narration and really brought to life the gory and disturbing aspects of this story.
redrumreads's review against another edition
3.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this. It’s definitely not the most “put together” book, but it’s ridiculous and stupid and gory and so fun. Hell as a city is atrocious but honestly sounds 10x better than the sulphur pits.
I’ll also say the first chapter shocked me to my core, what an opener.
I’ll also say the first chapter shocked me to my core, what an opener.
southernhon's review against another edition
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 against another edition
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 against another edition
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 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.
michaellouisdixon's review against another edition
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.