Stevie‘s review of Damned If You Do by Marie Sexton
Gay Paranormal Romance published by Samhain 14 Jun 16
There’s something highly appealing about stories in which Hell is an endless round of bureaucracy and paperwork – not to mention targets – possibly because many of us have to deal with such inconveniences all too often in real life. This particular author’s version of Hell is made yet fascinating to readers if, not for its inhabitants, by all the other quirky details that those sentenced to an eternity of paperwork are forced to endure: the limited selection of names for the multitude of demons, the outmoded and malfunctioning technology they’re supplied on which to complete their paperwork, the shoddy accommodation they have to return to at the end of each day at the office. No wonder our hero finds excuses to visit the world above as often as possible, while generating as little additional work for himself down below as he can get away with.
Abaddon’s main occupation is the collection of souls – each of which has a particular value based on the virtues and vices of its human owner. A virtuous or devout human’s soul is worth far more than that belonging to a criminal, and so fewer need to be collected in order to hit that month’s targets. As each soul collected generates a new mountain of paperwork to be filled in at the depressing offices within Hell, Abaddon is keen to take his time over collecting only the most valuable of souls: spending less time in his cubicle and more time out and about. Unfortunately he’s missed one target too many, and will be sent somewhere even worse unless he can make up the deficit quickly.
Abaddon is beginning to panic, when he catches a hint of the perfect pure soul. Seth is the adopted son of a travelling preacher in a rather offbeat evangelist movement, most of whose followers seem to be hipsters rather than the happy-clappy sorts Abaddon has encountered before at similar shows. Seth also has unexpected facets to his personality, as Abaddon soon discovers. Blinded mysteriously in early adulthood, Seth is a talented musician, with his skills encompassing several instruments, and possesses other more mystical abilities which surface randomly during shows.
Abaddon soon finds himself attracted to Seth the man as much as to the prospect of claiming Seth’s soul, but as their unexpected friendship blossoms and deepens, Abaddon begins to question whether it would be fair to subject Seth to the same work Abaddon and his colleagues are forced to carry out – the fate of all those who trade their souls for earthly temptations.
I had a great deal of fun reading this story, wondering if and how the heroes could stay together outside of Hell, and figuring out how the quirky chapter headings fitted in with the plot. I’d love to learn more about the workings of this world’s Heaven as well as its Hell, and I’ll certainly be investigating other series by the same author.
Grade: A
Summary:
The path to temptation is paved with a hellish amount of paperwork.
Soul acquisition is a drag, but if Abaddon doesn’t catch up on his quota, he could be demoted to scooping poop for the Hounds of Hell. With a deadline hanging over him, he heads for the Bible Belt, looking for the perfect combination of sweetness and challenge.
Seth is a blind musician, part of a traveling tent revival. He’s cute, mystically talented, and quotes the Bible at every turn. His soul is pure enough to fill Abaddon’s quota for months to come, and Abaddon is determined to claim it.
The problem? There’s the revival foreman who watches Abaddon’s every move. Then there’s the mystery of Seth’s many unusual talents. Lastly, there’s Abaddon himself. He’s beginning to like Seth a bit too much. Maybe Seth deserves something better than damnation.
But Hell’s agenda isn’t negotiable, and time is running out. If Abaddon doesn’t play his cards right, he could condemn both of them to the worst fate of all—an eternity apart.
Warning: Contains a Bible-quoting twink and an irreverent devil who’ll do anything to avoid going “back to the office”. Also, snakes. Lots and lots of snakes.
Read an excerpt.
