Thursday, September 24, 2020

Review: Beneath: Running from the Devil 1, by J E Taylor and Katie Salidas

 

 


 

 

The book begins with long-time torturer of Hell Phenex taking a chance upon a rogue portal and ending up stranded in New York City with very realistic culture shock. Fate has assigned her exactly one ally, a being equally between realms as she is, and a redemption contract that she'd best fulfill or else.

The ally, Smoke, prefers living as a stray tomcat to either Hell or Heaven. Phenex, or as she renames herself, Phoebe,
discovers a long-buried joy in aiding animals serves her well. Her task is to stop a rogue Djinn from gorging on too many human lottery winners with the help of a Night Hag she met Down Below... all before she figures out how to learn to read.

The only hiccup I encountered in believing this unfolding tale was how quickly our heroine figures out the telling of time. Otherwise I was very easily entranced by this spin on the supernatural realms, and look forward to finding out what's making the portals, why Lucifer is MIA Down There, and whether Phoebe and Smoke can do all seven of her Redemption Tasks while also becoming a full-fledged Veterinarian's assistant. That is, if she quits nearly dying prematurely. Fine start to a series.

 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3564604987

 https://www.amazon.com/Beneath-Running-Devil-Book-1-ebook/dp/B07XDC8LVF/

 

Although it is not marketed as a YA,  I am designating it as one because it is not at all romantic or even sexual in content, and it has plenty of puppies.