Kaylin McFarren's Blog - Posts Tagged "demons"
Great Review for ANNIHILATION, Book 2 Gehenna Series
Annihilation
by Kaylin McFarren
Creative Edge Publishing LLC
Book Review by Michelle Jacobs
"Lucifer's most frightening power is annihilation. You don’t need knives, spears or firearms when you can turn your enemies to dust with the wave of a hand."
Hell has a new ruler, and her desire for eternal power knows no bounds. When Queen Lucinda replaces her father on the throne of Hell, a new reign of terror and perverse dominion begins. But maintaining control proves to be more difficult than Lucinda imagined as political enemies conspire, secret alliances form, and her father's spirit returns to claim what it is his. Evil retribution is unleashed when he reclaims the throne in a stealthy, unexpected move. Lucifer punishes his daughter and begins the hunt to kidnap and possess the enigmatic Samara, who becomes his queen by brutal force. But some outside of Hell believe Samara to be the miracle prophesied to destroy Lucifer and save the world from annihilation. Will she discover her power in time, or will Lucifer's mark consume her?
This thrilling venture into the depths of Hell offers unrelenting intrigue and fearsome characters. The betrayals and powerplays between individuals and political factions stoke the suspense and keep readers guessing over loyalties and outcomes. Demons, shapeshifters, angels, and half-humans populate the pages of this paranormal fantasy. These characters provide a complex network of good and evil as they try to protect themselves and their families. At times, they resort to unspeakable violence and sacrifice in the fight to stay alive. Samara emerges as a young woman learning to use her powers and discovering her true destiny as either the Queen of Hell or savior of the world. Her brutal journey into the bowels of Hell and the bed of Lucifer is not for the faint of heart. The rape scenes are graphic, and the violence in Hell is torturous and savage. The demons in Hell torment and torture, delivering punishment in unimaginable ways.
However, there are also timeless stories of love, friendship, sacrifice, and identity within this hellish tale. The rich worldbuilding and deeply imagined story bring forth classic themes about the corrupting influence of power and evil's corrosive, destructive force. The mythic and horrific combine to generate a fantastical, dark descent into cruelty with a hint of hope on Earth as forces align to defeat Lucifer. Swerving allegiances keep the plot twisting and readers engaged as the action moves toward an epic battle.
Pop culture and texts from many different cultures are full of stories, representations, and manifestations of Satan and Hell. From classical literature's Inferno and Doctor Faustus to television's Lucifer and Supernatural, portraying the devil offers opportunities to explore morality and question the nature of good and evil.
McFarren leans into the challenge with her convincingly detailed depiction of Lucifer, his daughter Lucinda, and a host of demons at his command. McFarren wields her own kind of power as she unleashes this story from her boundless imagination and creative soul. Readers should tread carefully if they dare follow her dark tale into the depths of Hell. As Dante warned, "Abandon all hope ye who enter here." The scenes of graphic violence, erotica, and torture are intense, and Lucifer is not a conflicted soul looking for redemption. He is every bit the iconic Satan of old, and Hell is one's worst nightmare and vision of despair and horror.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review
Annihilation
by Kaylin McFarren
Creative Edge Publishing LLC
Book Review by Michelle Jacobs
"Lucifer's most frightening power is annihilation. You don’t need knives, spears or firearms when you can turn your enemies to dust with the wave of a hand."
Hell has a new ruler, and her desire for eternal power knows no bounds. When Queen Lucinda replaces her father on the throne of Hell, a new reign of terror and perverse dominion begins. But maintaining control proves to be more difficult than Lucinda imagined as political enemies conspire, secret alliances form, and her father's spirit returns to claim what it is his. Evil retribution is unleashed when he reclaims the throne in a stealthy, unexpected move. Lucifer punishes his daughter and begins the hunt to kidnap and possess the enigmatic Samara, who becomes his queen by brutal force. But some outside of Hell believe Samara to be the miracle prophesied to destroy Lucifer and save the world from annihilation. Will she discover her power in time, or will Lucifer's mark consume her?
This thrilling venture into the depths of Hell offers unrelenting intrigue and fearsome characters. The betrayals and powerplays between individuals and political factions stoke the suspense and keep readers guessing over loyalties and outcomes. Demons, shapeshifters, angels, and half-humans populate the pages of this paranormal fantasy. These characters provide a complex network of good and evil as they try to protect themselves and their families. At times, they resort to unspeakable violence and sacrifice in the fight to stay alive. Samara emerges as a young woman learning to use her powers and discovering her true destiny as either the Queen of Hell or savior of the world. Her brutal journey into the bowels of Hell and the bed of Lucifer is not for the faint of heart. The rape scenes are graphic, and the violence in Hell is torturous and savage. The demons in Hell torment and torture, delivering punishment in unimaginable ways.
However, there are also timeless stories of love, friendship, sacrifice, and identity within this hellish tale. The rich worldbuilding and deeply imagined story bring forth classic themes about the corrupting influence of power and evil's corrosive, destructive force. The mythic and horrific combine to generate a fantastical, dark descent into cruelty with a hint of hope on Earth as forces align to defeat Lucifer. Swerving allegiances keep the plot twisting and readers engaged as the action moves toward an epic battle.
Pop culture and texts from many different cultures are full of stories, representations, and manifestations of Satan and Hell. From classical literature's Inferno and Doctor Faustus to television's Lucifer and Supernatural, portraying the devil offers opportunities to explore morality and question the nature of good and evil.
McFarren leans into the challenge with her convincingly detailed depiction of Lucifer, his daughter Lucinda, and a host of demons at his command. McFarren wields her own kind of power as she unleashes this story from her boundless imagination and creative soul. Readers should tread carefully if they dare follow her dark tale into the depths of Hell. As Dante warned, "Abandon all hope ye who enter here." The scenes of graphic violence, erotica, and torture are intense, and Lucifer is not a conflicted soul looking for redemption. He is every bit the iconic Satan of old, and Hell is one's worst nightmare and vision of despair and horror.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review
Annihilation
INCREDIBLE REVIEW FOR REQUIEM FOR A QUEEN
"Something which has always been truly fascinating is whether or not our parents or genetics truly define us, or if our actions are truly our own. The divide between good and evil, right and wrong, always seems to bring up questions of whether or not a person is beholden to the way they are raised, the people who birthed them, or the genes that make them who they are. One of the most creative ways to explore this dilemma in our society seems to be fiction, and one genre that has mastered this has to be the occult horror genre.
In author Kaylin McFarren’s Requiem For a Queen, the author explores this question through the story of Samara and her son Papi. The third book in the hell-bending series Gehenna, the author shares the story of Samara, one of the Nephilim who has recently escaped from a nightmarish experience as a prisoner and then wife to Lucifer in Hell. However, as she prepares to give birth to his son, she must contend not only with her newfound motherhood, but a brewing war between the forces of heaven and hell. As Lucifer’s daughter fights to regain control of the throne of hell, Samara must escape one hellish nightmare after another, all while trying to protect her son and find a means of making sure he doesn’t become the menacing evil his father is.
The author continues her long-running experience as a horror writer to bring the balance of occultism and fantasy-driven world-building which this series has become known for. One thing of note to readers is that this is definitely a mature series, and there are some trigger warnings of abuse and sexual assault that need to be addressed for future readers who may be new to this series. As there are significant sections of story that delve into the mythos of hell and demons, instances of torture and assault do arise, so be advised. However, despite this, the author’s creativity and rich mythology development was both chilling and adrenaline-fueled, keeping the reader invested in the morality balance that protagonist Samara had to undergo. The evolution of her character and the discovery of her own power make for a truly engaging read.
This is the perfect read for those who enjoy horror novels, especially those that enjoy occult horror and elements of fantasy world-building storytelling. The haunting atmosphere and tensions the author was able to infuse into this story did a great job of producing both action and spine-chilling interactions, as well as equally haunting character growth and development that kept the story flowing smoothly.
Thrilling, captivating, and brilliantly written, author Kaylin McFarren’s Requiem For A Queen is a must-read occult horror novel and the perfect next book in this growing series. The balance of horror scares and diverse character growth really elevated this growing conflict in the series to all new heights, and the introduction to equally disturbed villains like the Black Dragon was something that will keep readers hanging off of the author’s every word."
-- Alyssa Avina, Pacific Book Review
Requiem For A Queen
In author Kaylin McFarren’s Requiem For a Queen, the author explores this question through the story of Samara and her son Papi. The third book in the hell-bending series Gehenna, the author shares the story of Samara, one of the Nephilim who has recently escaped from a nightmarish experience as a prisoner and then wife to Lucifer in Hell. However, as she prepares to give birth to his son, she must contend not only with her newfound motherhood, but a brewing war between the forces of heaven and hell. As Lucifer’s daughter fights to regain control of the throne of hell, Samara must escape one hellish nightmare after another, all while trying to protect her son and find a means of making sure he doesn’t become the menacing evil his father is.
The author continues her long-running experience as a horror writer to bring the balance of occultism and fantasy-driven world-building which this series has become known for. One thing of note to readers is that this is definitely a mature series, and there are some trigger warnings of abuse and sexual assault that need to be addressed for future readers who may be new to this series. As there are significant sections of story that delve into the mythos of hell and demons, instances of torture and assault do arise, so be advised. However, despite this, the author’s creativity and rich mythology development was both chilling and adrenaline-fueled, keeping the reader invested in the morality balance that protagonist Samara had to undergo. The evolution of her character and the discovery of her own power make for a truly engaging read.
This is the perfect read for those who enjoy horror novels, especially those that enjoy occult horror and elements of fantasy world-building storytelling. The haunting atmosphere and tensions the author was able to infuse into this story did a great job of producing both action and spine-chilling interactions, as well as equally haunting character growth and development that kept the story flowing smoothly.
Thrilling, captivating, and brilliantly written, author Kaylin McFarren’s Requiem For A Queen is a must-read occult horror novel and the perfect next book in this growing series. The balance of horror scares and diverse character growth really elevated this growing conflict in the series to all new heights, and the introduction to equally disturbed villains like the Black Dragon was something that will keep readers hanging off of the author’s every word."
-- Alyssa Avina, Pacific Book Review
Requiem For A Queen
