Against the Prince of Hell

Red Sonja #5

by David C. Smith, Richard L. Tierney

She lived in a savage world in an uncivilized age, a world ruled by men and governed by the sword. They called her Red Sonja--for her flame-red hair, for the smouldering fire of her pride which gave her sword arm a strength few men could match and none had ever defeated.

In the very lands where Conan the Cimmerian roams, this dangerous warrior-maid pits herself against a power-mad wizard who rules a city poised precariously above the door to the Seven Hells...

Genres: Fantasy, Sword and Sorcery, Pulp, Ebooks

200 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[⚔️ Mythica ⚔️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one despite the fact Sonja is out of commission for the first part of the story. The plot is nothing mind blowing but it kept me engrossed enough. On to the last book ⚔️

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sword and sorcery runs rampant in Against the Prince of Hell, the fifth book in the Red Sonja series from the 1980's. While forming part of a broader narrative, this book does read well as a standalone (I've only read the first book in the series and found book 5 new reader friendly) with Red Sonja finding herself part of a band of warriors hell bent and taking back their city from an evil sorcerer.

The fact that Against the Prince of Hell is set in the Red Sonja series can be somewhat misleading in terms of who the key players are. We see very little of the series protagonist until page 50 or so; for the earlier stages she's largely out of commission. This book is mostly about two magical factions, one seeking vengeance, the other, domination over the dead and utter control over his newly conquered city.

There isn't anything mind blowing in this book but it is a quick read and provides a fantastical form of escapism. 3.5/5 stars.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

The magic in this book was more frightening, and the action more immediate than many more "modern" fantasy novels I've read recently. It's not necessarily deep or thought provoking, but there is also a higher quality and depth to the writing. Howard's world feels more real than any fantasy realm I've visited, and that realism came through in this book as well. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another in the fast paced series. Smith is always entertaining.

[Marcus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as predictable as the Conan pastiches by Jordan. Solid story telling. Since it is a series it helps if the reader has read the other books, but it stands alone pretty well.

[Wes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hey there, Timmy! Do you like fantasy stories? What about fantasy stories about a female Conan like character? And what if she ran around in the same world that Conan did? Would you read a book like that, Timmy? Well then have I got a book for you!

This is part of a larger series, but this particular story itself works as a solid stand alone. The book moves pretty crisply and does pretty well at balancing the stories between the characters. You're probably not going to find this book all over the place, but if you dig fantasy books and the Conan world in general, pick it up if you come across it.

All in all, this is a pretty decent flight killer.

[Ari · Rating 2 out of 5]

Red Sonja's role in this story is negligible and her character barely shows through at all. Everyone here is, in fact, pretty much paper thin; it's not a great failing in a plot-driven genre like this, but the characters who do get the spotlight are thoroughly unremarkable (i.e. once more, a total bore of a male prince who's clearly there only as a point for male readers to relate to).
In all a passably written story with entertaining occurrences, but one that totally fails to deliver for a reader (like me) hoping for a heroine to take the spotlight.

[Bradley Schlieper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall a good book.

[Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Least favorite Red Sonja so far.

[Kevin Dumcum · Rating 3 out of 5]

Taken as a whole, I found the book interesting. As a Red Sonja story, however, I hoped for more Red Sonja. I appreciated the complexity of the plot, with multiple characters each with a competing agenda. But as with other volumes of Smith and Tierney’s six-issue series, Sonja is a bit player in her own story. Indeed, of all the major characters, she is the one lacking a motivation.

[Paul Darcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

By David C. Smith and Richard L. Tierney, published in 1983.

This is the fifth book in the Red Sonja six book series (conveniently numbered on the spines and covers) by the two authors listed above. And this time Sonja, traveling across the mountains, gets herself involved in a battle to win back a city.

The rightful ruler of the overthrown city has been cast out by an “evil” sorcerer who intends to use his powers to control the city and then the world. The ruler’s wife betrayed him and taken up with the evil sorcerer. This city lies atop lost but not forgotten sealed gates to the lower hells. (sounds like the Buffyverse.) The evil sorcerer intends to open them and lead vast armies to take over.

Sounds all very high fantasy, no? Well the anser is yes. I really like these novels. They are pure pulp fantasy and, to me anyhow, highly entertaining. The character of Red Sonja is well drawn out and I find myself actually on her side in the conflicts she gets herself into.

Red Sonja seems to be battling evil in the form of magic, but this is not too unusual since she has been gifted by a god the ability to be unequaled in swordplay. She hails from Hyrkania, a land in the same world as Conan (who hails from Cimmeria) so if you know anything about Conan (from the movies or books) then you have a good idea of the world Sonja travels in.

Not to give away any plot points but titanic battles between larger-than-life god-like creatures is waged as well as armies of mortals in this novel. Sonja plays a supporting cast role though as the main players do their dance of death. These Red Sonja novels reminds me somewhat of Glen Cook’s “Black Company” novels, or Moorcock’s “Elric” saga novels.

If you can actually find these novels anymore (I had a hard time) they are worth the read. Not long, but fun and entertaining. And for those who like a strong female character - well Sonja fits that bill perfectly. Not even Conan can beat her in battle - and that says a lot!

A lot of great moments in this novel but the ending left me a little disappointed, but not overly so. This is a good fantasy series, and well worth your efforts in finding.

Here are the six titles in case you are hunting them.

1) The Ring of Ikribu
2) Demon night
3) When Hell laughs
4) Endithor’s Daughter
5) Against the Prince of Hell
6) Star of Doom

Overall I would give this one a 4 our of 5. The entire series I would rate a bit higher.

[Robert Fenske · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story revolves around Sonja, a snake worshipper, and an exiled King as they attempt to take back a city the has been taken over by dark magic. Da-jum, the dark sorcerer, who ha taken over the city seeks to find a gate to hell and command its forces.


The action was plentiful and the magic was used on a much larger scale than previous Sonja books. But I felt the book suffered from too many characters going on different paths that didn't connect until later on in the book.

I also felt the ending was very abrupt and some what anti-climatic. Although Sonja finds the Gate of Hell, Da-jum never finds it.