I accepted a review copy of Invitation to Hell (by Amber Bunch) through R&R Tours. It was also featured over on Sadie’s Spotlight. You can hop over there for an excerpt, author information, an opportunity for some pre-order swag, and a chance to win a copy of the book for yourself.
What if, all you’ve ever known was ripped away from you…
You were thrown into a world full of the same creatures that have haunted your nightmares for years. Magic, and the Gods are no longer a myth, but a part of your destiny.
Now, you’re about to lose everything and everyone you love to an evil King known as the Devourer of Souls.
Then, there’s Hades son…
The ruthless Prince that drives you crazy and thinks you are a waste of his time.
You can’t stand him, but he has been instructed to protect you, so now you have to deal with his arrogance on top of everything else.
The two of you must travel across the Realms to find a way to stop King Lucius before all is lost and you still don’t even know how to use your newly awakened power.
Well, this should be fun.
I’m afraid I was not impressed by this one. I think it has an interesting idea, with the mixed mythologies, secret child of divinity, alpha a-hole romance, etc. But the whole thing is just SO RUSHED. There is basically no build-up to ANYTHING. The book reads like an outline—like ‘here are what will be the highlights of the plot’—but also like the author then forgot to go back and flesh it out. I felt no connection to the characters, just felt confused by the multiple pantheons, got whip-lash from the romance, and then finished the book with a shrug (and that’s even with the hook for book two in there).
Mechanically, the writing seems as fine as I can judge in an ARC (and ‘unedited ARC’ at that). I can’t speak to editing, etc—again, I read an ARC. But I can say it’s readable, just sparse on the buildup and rushed in the plotting. I also hope the author invests in a better cover before publication.
Other Reviews:
I Smell Sheep: book review Invitation to Hell
https://jessicabelmont.com/2022/08/23/booktour-invitation-to-hell-amber-bunch-abunch0615-rrbooktours1-rrbooktours-darkfantasy-darkromane/