Reviews

A Cold Day in Hell by Naomi Valkyrie

aylaphipps's review against another edition

mysterious fast-paced

5.0

What a conclusion to an amazingly diverse series. This is book five in the series Life is Hell by Naomi Valkyrie but from book one you already know most of the characters so seeing the growth across each of the books was such a treat. Dual perspectives of Hadassah and Jezebel. Heads up while this book as well as the others could be read as a standalone Hadassah’s start in this book is the direct consequences of her actions in book one. 

Hadassah is an Angel from Heaven and after helping her fallen angel brother Malakhi save his demon girlfriend from witches, she is now on probation on earth awaiting her punishment. While she wouldn’t change her mind on helping him, she doesn’t want to “condemn” herself more by interacting with his new less than heavenly family he has made on earth. Jezebel in book one was thought to be just a dog until the climax when Mal and everyone else discovered she was a shifter. She may have been at Mal’s side for years the secret of her identity was a shock and more so that she went so long without revealing herself. Haddie wanted to “please” her brother and show she at least tried so she reaches out to Jezebel in an empty offer to hang out. Suddenly trapped with a shifter stuck to her side everywhere when a threat from Jezebel’s past comes knocking and taking, Hadassah keeps to her good ways and goes on the run with Jezebel to protect her. 

What will heaven decide? Can Hadassah keep Jezebel safe? Everything and everyone in this series was constantly growing and evolving with each book and seeing where previous couples were throughout this book was a cherry on top of an amazing series. Enemies to lovers is one of my favorite tropes but add in the supernatural, celestial aspects and it’s made all the better as everyone learns that life and the world isn’t black and white. The moment you stop seeing it that way is the moment you truly begin to live a fuller life, a more rewarding life. Naomi Valkyrie is truly one of my favorite authors and I can’t wait to start another one of her books. 

jaimie0459's review against another edition

emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

A Cold Day in Hell is the 5th book in the Life Is Hell series. I personally can't wait to read the rest of them!! I didn't want to put this book down. A couple nights I had to force myself to put it down and go to sleep. I just wanted to finish it! I read this as a standalone, but because there are so many characters you meet quickly, I suggest reading them in order. I am sure there are some back stories in some of this that I might have not picked up on because I haven't read the rest. YET! In this book you meet Hadassah who is an angle that is on probation for sharing her power with her brother (Malakhi) who's an exile from Heaven. Her punishment is to live on Earth for whatever period of time the Heaven council sees fit. Helping her brother save a demon has turned her life upside down. Hell on Earth. While she stays with Mal and his chosen family she keeps to herself. She doesn't want to be included. She wants to get through her sentence and be gone. As to not disappoint her brother more she makes a small attempt to hang out with Jezebel. Thinking she can get out of it easy and go back to being a shut in alone in her room backfires though. Jezebel ends up going on the run from some dangerous people and Hadassah goes with her. Stuck with a shifter who hates her and annoys the crap out of her, but hey maybe Mal will be grateful. IF they don't kill each other! When Jezebel disappears Hadassah must make a few choices that are going to piss off a lot of people. Will she be able to give up her old life? Will she even have a life once everything settles? This book is so so good!! Slow burn for sure! Paranormal Fantasy that's definitely a frenemies-to-lovers romance.

rwhite334's review

emotional inspiring tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Another great book in the Life Is Hell Series. This is book 5 of the series, and this book follows Jezebel and Hadassah. Hadasdah is Mals' brother and is a spoiled brat. There are a lot of ups and downs in this book with these characters, but it all comes together at the end. We see a lot of the previous characters in this book. This is an F/F book with great characters, a fast-paced and easy read.
#coldashell
#lifeishellseries
#NaomiValkrie

tytanmom23's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-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? N/A

4.5

A Cold Day In Hell (Life Is Hell Book 5) by Naomi Valkyrie. This is the 5th book in this series and its amazing. I have really enjoyed this series even though they can be read as standalone its been great reading them in order. This is a supernatural read which is not my favorite but I've come to really enjoy this series. Its the story of Hadassah Engel who is an Angel and Malakhi's sister and Jezebel the shifter. Hadassah is in trouble for sharing her power with her brother because he has been banished from Heaven. While waiting for her trouble to end she goes on the run with Jezebel because of Jezebel's past. While on the run Hadassah learns more and more about Jezebel's past and how being family means so much to her. This is such a good continuation of the past books and I love all of the characters. Do yourself a favor and read this series today!

tpriest's review against another edition

4.0

What a ride that was. I love enemies to lovers trope and the author nailed it. I haven’t read the other books in the series, but this read well without having read the previous books.

rosemccaskey's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny medium-paced

4.0

 I've read all the books of the books to this series. They are each about a different set of characters, but the characters are each in every book. This one was about Hadassah, an angel who has lost her powers and is serving time exiled from heaven and Jezebel, who can shift into dogs. 

When Hadassah is told by Mal that she needs to connect with his family while she is staying with them, she thinks Jezebel is the best person to seek out thinking she will be turned away. However, Jezebel's past has caught up to her, and she must run. 

It's a ride and a lot of angst following Jezebel and Hadassah's story, but it's a good one. I recommend reading the entire series so you can get to know each of the characters.

axl240's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A Cold Day in Hell by Noami Valkyrie
5 Stars

Haddassah is an Angel probation on Earth as a punishment for helping her brother. She is living with his family and isn't trying to be social and except them, mainly because she will be going home to Heaven and because they are demons. When Mal her brother asks her to try more Haddassah decides to try with Mal's friend Jezebel who is living in the guest house and seems to be secluding herself as well. Haddassah shows up thinking she will be sent on her way by Jezebel and she can say she at least tried. Until later that night when Jezebel notices she has been found and needs to run again, Haddassah joins her on the journey to help. Only for Jezebel to be kidnapped by her ex-fiancé Devland a necromancer.   
Great story, fast read for me but I enjoyed it all the same. 
I don't normally read books in a series that I haven't read from book #1, a I liked this. It showed love and loyalty for family, and I am big on that!  I will definitely go back and read the first 4 books soon. 

shannlynn's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

5.0

Just when I thought the last book was my favorite, here comes the 5th installment blowing everything out of the water! I am constantly astonished at the author’s ability to create incredible, engaging stories time-after-time. The only remotely negative thing I could say about this book is that it’s the last one in the series, and I need more! I dived right into this book and devoured it in one day. We’re back in Juniper Lake but this time with Hadassah and Jezebel. I was immediately invested into their banter, tension, and romance as soon as the chemistry popped off the page. It was beyond refreshing to experience an enemies-to-lovers that didn’t feel downright malicious. If you haven’t read anything by this author yet, you’re doing yourself a disservice. This has been one of the top series I’ve read and while I’m sad to see it end, I know there will be more fantastic work on the way!

meggs1717's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

This is the final book in the Life is Hell series and it was exceptional! I love how Valkyrie wrapped up the story but left a little thread loose for the possibility of future tie ins (or maybe another book down the road). I really love Hadassah and Jezebel's story and it really is an enemy-to-lovers trope but without all of the vitriol that sometimes comes with it. Aside from Mal and Delilah's story, this is my favorite. It's witty, funny, tense, romantic, and action-packed all in one. I literally couldn't put this book down and read it in one (maybe two because...adulting) sittings. Definitely read this series in order so that you understand the plot line and so that you get to know the characters because one thing (of many) that Valkyrie does that I love is she keeps her characters in her series so the readers are able to see what is going on in characters' lives from previous installments. Valkyrie has become an author that I will automatically read. This book is a paranormal, FF, enemies-to-lovers, romance. I'm sad to see it come to an end but it was a fantastic ride!

sophierae's review against another edition

4.0

This book was stunning. Without knowing it was the fifth in the series - I jumped right in to this fantasy (with the information I have now, I’ll be starting from the top!) but still this book was nonetheless stunning. From the dual perspective plot line to the Angel “banned” to earth. Both Jezebel and Hadassah were so strong and easily relate-able. I’ll be back with a more in depth review when I can connect all of the dots. I loved the writing style as well!