Edward Lee
City Infernal (2002)
Author: Edward Lee
Genre (and subgenre): Horror (Splatterpunk)
Plot Summary:
After her twin sister kills herself in a Washington D.C. nightclub, Cassie Heydon and her father move to rural Virginia to start a new life. They take up residence in Blackwell Hall, a house once owned by Fenton Blackwell, a known Satanist and baby killer. A month after arriving, Cassie meets Via, Hush, and Xeke, three souls damned to Hell for all eternity, and learns that her house is a bridge between Hell and the living world. Cassie then goes to Hell in the hopes of visiting her sister. Although she finds Hell and its human/supernatural inhabitants disgusting, sinful, murderous, and cruel, she continues to search for her sister with her three companions. After watching Xeke get arrested by Lucifer’s police force, and finding an impersonation of her sister working in a Strip Club, Cassie realizes that Lucifer has been trying to capture her because he wants to use her life energy to incarnate himself on Earth. She uses her powers to kill many demons and escape back to earth with Via and Hush. The three friends then dig up Blackwell’s bones and return to Hell to use them against Lucifer and save Cassie’s sister. They join up with the army of Ezoriel, a Fallen Angel and chief enemy of Lucifer, and attack. Everything is going well until Blackwell, who has been living in Hell since his death, imprisons Cassie. However, she is soon saved by an escaped Xeke, who is actually Lucifer, and then by Ezoriel. Cassie is safely returned to Earth, but soon decides to re-enter Hell and fight Lucifer for her sister.
Geographical Setting: Washington D.C., rural Virginia, and Hell
Time Period: Present Day
Series: This book has a sequel: Infernal Angel
Appeal Characteristics:
This action packed, fast-paced, Splatter Punk, horror story takes place in Hell. The dark toned story is not literature: it focuses on action, not character development, and provides graphic descriptions of Hell, its inhabitants, and supernatural attributes.
Similar Authors: John Shirley; Clive Barker; Steven King
Red Flags: Graphic Violence (Cannibalism, Infanticide, Murder, Rape, Self Mutilation, Suicide); Sexual Subject Matter (Graphic Descriptions, Pedophilia, Prostitution); Excessive Profanity; Descriptions of Drug Use and Abuse
|top|
|
