Book Review: Hell On Earth

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Hell On Earth     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Michael Reaves
Class/Genre:   Fantasy
Del Rey, May 2001, $22.00, 288 pp.

With the dawning of a new millennium, certain events have occurred that might be construed as the beginning of the Apocalypse. In a backwater town, a fifteen-year-old girl dies while giving birth to a demon. After being pursued by a serial killer, Liz Russell watches the state give him a lethal injection only to see him wink at her after he died. Bodyguard Terry Dane tries to protect his client from a demon disguised as a human.

While these incidents happen, Colon a master of magic awakens to discover that the Trine, a powerful talisman consisting of three segments is missing. The angel Zoel visits Colon and though they may have different agendas team up to recover the Trine. They regain two of the segments, but Colon soon finds himself in Las Vegas where he meets Liz and Terry, who were mystically guided to the city. Here Armageddon seems imminent unless Colon and company can find a way to defer the beginning of the end.

Michael Reaves has written a serio-comic tale about the cosmic forces of heaven and hell on earth. The author's skills show up throughout the tale, but especially when he makes the verbal exchanges between the mage, an angel, and a demon humorous yet solemn, a clear testimony to a wonderful author. Though the ending is fulfilling, loose strings exist so one can conclude that a sequel is forthcoming.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner