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Gehenna by Helen Taft

 

Life after death for the lost.  The dead arrive in Gehenna as human beings, but if you stick around too long, as in don’t repent and get redeemed or simply die the second and final death, then you slowly turn into a demon—a vampire—and then you really do belong in hell.  Michael Thane was just shy of scoring a millennia and the changes in his body and mind were now impossible to hide.

Elizabeth Grant ended her life in a car crash.  One of the things that had shocked her about Gehenna when she’d first arrived was how technologically advanced it was.  When she’d pictured Purgatory, she’d thought of Pilgrim’s Progress, not Star Wars.  Actually, no, that was wrong.  Star Wars was too clean.  Gehenna is more Firefly-esque.  Old and new were butted up together without thought to continuity.

Neither knew of the supernatural storm brewing with them at the centre, including murder and an all-or-nothing hunt through the worst parts of hell.  A wrong step could mean annihilation and nothing is what it seems.  Angels, demons and humans will all have to choose a side in a race for the chance at redemption.

Note: Gehenna contains some graphic violence.


A serialized novel, updating weekly

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Listed: Nov 11, 2009

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Editor’s First Impression

Editor: Linda Schoales
November 11, 2009

The writing in the prologue is solid, with a good mixture of action and introduction to the character and backstory.  Worth a look

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Most Helpful Member Reviews

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Hellish

Member: Miladysa
January 6, 2010

What will happen to us when we die? I always toyed with the idea that I am not going to—one day I shall discover I am immortal!

The odds are that I will—die that is.  We all will. I just hope that when I do, I’m going rise up to the pearly gates rather than shoot down to the old quarters of Gehenna. 

Life continues after death in Gehenna and you had better not screw it up this time, it really is the last chance you have to change your ways.  There are only two choices and heaven help you (or rather it won’t) if you fail to make the right one.

On a few occasions my blood chilled while reading this story.  It wasn’t always the obvious scenes where torture or final deaths were involved.  Often, the chill was caused by the subtle glimpses of the cross-denominational dead trying to recreate some form of normality, and retain traces of their humanity, in the world they now inhabit.

The author creates some interesting and believable characters.  The unrepentant bad guys in particular are—wicked!

At nine chapters so far, there is already a nice chunk of fast moving and entertaining fiction to sink your teeth into.  If you like Thirteen Bullets or Hell on $5 A Day there is a good chance that you will enjoy Gehenna.

NB My rating is based on the fact that there are only nine chapters and the next chapter is TBC.  Will revise at a later date.

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