Thursday 3 March 2011

URBAN FANTASY REVIEW: Hell on Earth 1-3: Hell's Belles, The Road to Hell, Hotter than Hell - Jackie Kessler

Release Date: 20/01/11

SYNOPSIS:

Once upon a time, Jezebel was a powerful succubus, capable of seducing men and sucking out their souls. But that was before Hell put a bounty on her head. Now her only chance to escape a fate far worse than death is to live as a mortal, losing herself in a sea of unfamiliar humanity, in a place where sinners walk hand-in-hand with saints - a place like Belle's strip club in New York City. Working as an exotic dancer is a piece of cake for a former demon that once specialised in sex. But she hadn't counted on meeting sexy Paul Hamilton, a man haunted by his past. Goodbye, succubus; hello, love struck. Learning all about how complicated - and pleasurable - love can be, Jezebel thinks she's turned her back on Hell. But Hell hasn't stopped looking for her as the secrets Jezebel holds are the most dangerous of all. Demons are closing in, which is enough to make Jezebel shiver in her G-string. But it's her love for Paul that's going to have deadly consequences . . .



REVIEW:

The first of Jackie’s Succubus titles and one that launches as the series means to go on. Whilst many urban fantasy titles that feature succubi tend to have them being just members of Hell’s circle, Jackie takes a novel approach and has one that tries to break away and succeeds in becoming something unique. It’s definitely a story that will appeal to fans of the erotic urban fantasy as well as to fans who love a good story. Back it up with a lead character who stands out on her own, has some real kick ass friends who all know some killer one liners and it’s a title that will satisfy in more ways than one.

A real gem of an opener and one that we hope will set the tone and continue to impress as the tale unfolds in further outings.



Release Date: 03/02/11

SYNOPSIS:

Jesse may no longer be a soul-stealing succubus, but she's got a Hell of a past. She'd love to come clean to her sweet, super-hot boyfriend Paul but how exactly does a girl start that conversation? There's no name tag that reads: I Used to Have Sex with Men before Taking Their Souls to the Lake of Fire - Ask Me How! Just like some people are worth being monogamous for (shudder), some secrets are worth keeping. Like the fact that bad boy incubus Daunuan keeps popping up from the Underworld to put some toe-curling moves on her; that her former associates are trying to strong-arm her back into the fold; and that every supernatural entity on the planet seems to want to have a conversation with her in the bathroom. But someone in the Underworld isn't ready to play nice, and this time, the stakes are nothing less than Paul's immortal soul. If Hell wants Jesse back so badly, they've got her. But payback's a bitch, and this bitch is about to rock Hell like a hurricane - or lose her soul trying...


REVIEW:

Here in the second book of Jackie’s series, our heroine has a monumental task ahead of her so what does she do but knuckle down and kick some demon butt however whilst many would literally do this in a beat down sort of sense, Jackie’s hero does it with brain power. It’s a nice turn up and its definitely something that made her stand out to us as readers. Back that up with more kickass one liners, a fast paced plot as well as an imaginative version of hell and you know that its going to be good.

Finally with the series all set now for a climactic conclusion in the third part out next month, we really can’t wait to see what Jackie has lined up next. “Look Sir, demons, bloody thousands of them..”



Release Date: 03/03/11

SYNOPSIS:

Daunuan was never the ambitious type. There's so much to love about his job just the way it is - mind-blowing sexual prowess, the power to seduce any human, excellent dental plan. But now Pan, the King of Lust, has offered to make Daun his right-hand incubus - a position other demons would give their left horn for. All he has to do is entice a soul destined for heaven into a damnable act of lust. Should take, oh, seven minutes, tops. Then he meets his target, Virginia Reed. She's cute. Funny. Smart. Unfathomably resistant to his charms. He can't understand it. But Duan has centuries of seduction to his credit. Sooner or later, he tells himself, he'll transform this polar ice-cap of a female into a pool of molten desire...Meanwhile, he has to deal with a plague of rogue demons. Hell-bent on taking him down, sent by an unknown enemy with a serious grudge. And one other problem: the dawning realisation that he's falling in love - that unholiest of four-letter words - with the woman he's about to doom for all eternity...


REVIEW:

Jackie is an author who loves to tease, enjoys twisting perceptions and above all else knows how to keep her readers happy as she brings one of her supporting cast members forward to star in this, the latest offering in her Hell on Earth series. Whilst in the previous two titles Daunuan helped out due to his own twisted sense of desires readers have long suspected that there were greater depths to this Incubi and whilst this title is all about him and his progression through the ranks of hell we get a richer deeper flavour that will make him a firm fan favourite.

Add to this wonderful creative outing, a dark twisted tapestry of sins alongside serious pace and plotline, a potion of redemption, a dash of selfishness, a drop of love and boil until reduced and the whole creation will leave readers firmly in Kessler camp eagerly awaiting the next release in the series. Great stuff.

1 comment:

Casi said...

These look interesting enough to try, and they certainly seem to take off in a different direction than usual. It does sort of remind me of Holly Lisle's Hell on Earth series, which begins with Sympathy for the Devil.