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In Fire and Ash #3
Hell On Earth
A dream so dark and deadly.
I didn’t mean to wake the god of the underworld, and I never meant to lose my heart to him. Too bad good intentions aren’t enough to save innocent people. But maybe I’m not as innocent as I thought.
With a flick of his powerful hand, Hades sent Ashlyn home. However, nothing’s the same as it was. She’s hunted. Marked by the God of Death because her life is connected to Hades, and her death will return things to the way they were.
But Hades isn’t done with Ashlyn. She’s given him the one thing he’s never had. Love. And he will damn all the rules to keep it even if it means shattering his tether to the underworld and destroying the world.
I didn’t mean to wake the god of the underworld, and I never meant to lose my heart to him. Too bad good intentions aren’t enough to save innocent people. But maybe I’m not as innocent as I thought.
With a flick of his powerful hand, Hades sent Ashlyn home. However, nothing’s the same as it was. She’s hunted. Marked by the God of Death because her life is connected to Hades, and her death will return things to the way they were.
But Hades isn’t done with Ashlyn. She’s given him the one thing he’s never had. Love. And he will damn all the rules to keep it even if it means shattering his tether to the underworld and destroying the world.
- GenresUrban Fantasy
303 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 21, 2023
33 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
Melissa Haag
47 books1,190 followersI love to write! Sharing the worlds I've created is beyond amazing . Want to read a book for free? Check out my website at:
http://melissahaag.com/free-ebook/
Connect with me on:
https://twitter.com/MelissaHaag
https://www.facebook.com/author.MelissaHaag
I also write adult books under the pen name M.J. Haag. Happy reading!
http://melissahaag.com/free-ebook/
Connect with me on:
https://twitter.com/MelissaHaag
https://www.facebook.com/author.MelissaHaag
I also write adult books under the pen name M.J. Haag. Happy reading!
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 24, 2023
Warning: this review contains spoilers for books 1 and 2 of the In Fire and Ash series. So don’t read this review before reading those.
I have been on tenterhooks waiting for the finale of the In Fire & Ash series by Melissa Haag. But in coming back to the real world, it lost some of the dark charm the earlier books had. This is 3⭐️ from me.
So Ashlyn has finally convinced Hades she’s human and not his psycho ex-wife Persephone, and been freed to return to Earth… but she’s still suffering attempts on her life and she really misses Hades. Life in Uttira seems very restricted now and she’s longing for a guy that only likes her because he thought she was someone else… life is rough.
I absolutely adored the first two books in the series, but this ending to the trilogy felt like a bit of a let down – and I suspect it was the setting shift that did it. Both of the previous books were based in Hell, with its strange monsters, creepy halls, lost souls and the scary but also totally hot Hades. This book is back on Earth, and doesn’t have the same creepy, gothic vibe to it because of that shift in setting. And somehow Hades loses his terrifying element and feels less god-like when he’s having dinner with Ashlyn’s friends at her house – it’s natural I suppose when moving something so otherworldly into our modern world, and I understand that to interact with characters like Adira, they needed to return to Uttira, but it just didn’t work for me unfortunately. The setting of Uttira is too high school compared to Hell, and whilst the previous two series worked well there, this one is beyond Uttira for sure.
I found Hades really compelling in the first two novels. He’s not only sexy and uber powerful, but he’s actually quite unnerving and scary. And we discover that he’s got major trauma and has developed a real psychological issue after Persephone’s treatment of him.
Twofold issues I have with Hell on Earth are linked directly to Hades: firstly, he’s no longer that scary and seems kind of tame rather than godlike and all-powerful (because of the aforementioned eating with her friends and going clothes shopping, all too tame for the God of Hell), which really changes his vibe and makes him seem so out of place; and secondly, I just don’t think it’s realistic or believable that they reconcile themselves with that ending after all the trauma he suffered – I won’t spoil it, but come on, he clearly has unresolved mental illness and no one just gets over that.
The big reveal of the answer to the series’ question (what is the link between Ashlyn and Hades?) felt anticlimactic, although I did like the twist itself as a concept. I just wish it had been presented differently. I also question how easily the ends tied up – I’m not sure Ashlyn’s or Hades’ reactions are very realistic! Maybe this reveal earlier in the book, and a need for them to then overcome it would have made a better novel, where we could have spent more time back in Hell and dealt with the massive emotional and psychological implications of the reveal would have helped.
Overall, from a series where I was gobsmacked by in the first two books, I’m fairly disappointed with this ending. The contrast between the creepy, gothic, psychological nature of the first two books versus this one is like night and day. It’s been a pattern lately for poor ends to series I’ve read, between this book, A Curse for True Love and the later books in the House of Beating Wings series. Overall, 2023 sequels haven’t been blowing me away, Two Twisted Crowns aside – maybe it’s partly me?
This series is for you if you liked the rest of the Mantirum Worlds books including the Of Fate & Furies series and By Kiss & Claw series by Melissa Haag.
I have been on tenterhooks waiting for the finale of the In Fire & Ash series by Melissa Haag. But in coming back to the real world, it lost some of the dark charm the earlier books had. This is 3⭐️ from me.
So Ashlyn has finally convinced Hades she’s human and not his psycho ex-wife Persephone, and been freed to return to Earth… but she’s still suffering attempts on her life and she really misses Hades. Life in Uttira seems very restricted now and she’s longing for a guy that only likes her because he thought she was someone else… life is rough.
I absolutely adored the first two books in the series, but this ending to the trilogy felt like a bit of a let down – and I suspect it was the setting shift that did it. Both of the previous books were based in Hell, with its strange monsters, creepy halls, lost souls and the scary but also totally hot Hades. This book is back on Earth, and doesn’t have the same creepy, gothic vibe to it because of that shift in setting. And somehow Hades loses his terrifying element and feels less god-like when he’s having dinner with Ashlyn’s friends at her house – it’s natural I suppose when moving something so otherworldly into our modern world, and I understand that to interact with characters like Adira, they needed to return to Uttira, but it just didn’t work for me unfortunately. The setting of Uttira is too high school compared to Hell, and whilst the previous two series worked well there, this one is beyond Uttira for sure.
I found Hades really compelling in the first two novels. He’s not only sexy and uber powerful, but he’s actually quite unnerving and scary. And we discover that he’s got major trauma and has developed a real psychological issue after Persephone’s treatment of him.
Twofold issues I have with Hell on Earth are linked directly to Hades: firstly, he’s no longer that scary and seems kind of tame rather than godlike and all-powerful (because of the aforementioned eating with her friends and going clothes shopping, all too tame for the God of Hell), which really changes his vibe and makes him seem so out of place; and secondly, I just don’t think it’s realistic or believable that they reconcile themselves with that ending after all the trauma he suffered – I won’t spoil it, but come on, he clearly has unresolved mental illness and no one just gets over that.
The big reveal of the answer to the series’ question (what is the link between Ashlyn and Hades?) felt anticlimactic, although I did like the twist itself as a concept. I just wish it had been presented differently. I also question how easily the ends tied up – I’m not sure Ashlyn’s or Hades’ reactions are very realistic! Maybe this reveal earlier in the book, and a need for them to then overcome it would have made a better novel, where we could have spent more time back in Hell and dealt with the massive emotional and psychological implications of the reveal would have helped.
Overall, from a series where I was gobsmacked by in the first two books, I’m fairly disappointed with this ending. The contrast between the creepy, gothic, psychological nature of the first two books versus this one is like night and day. It’s been a pattern lately for poor ends to series I’ve read, between this book, A Curse for True Love and the later books in the House of Beating Wings series. Overall, 2023 sequels haven’t been blowing me away, Two Twisted Crowns aside – maybe it’s partly me?
This series is for you if you liked the rest of the Mantirum Worlds books including the Of Fate & Furies series and By Kiss & Claw series by Melissa Haag.
December 22, 2023
left me expecting more
Really had to push to finish this book, it came to the point is lost interest, very repetitive and the end was odd, not my favorite
Really had to push to finish this book, it came to the point is lost interest, very repetitive and the end was odd, not my favorite
July 13, 2024
Hades and Persephone retelling
(0-5)
Spice: 1
Plot: 3
Adventure: 3
Very slowburn and dragging until the end.
Though you can see development on the characters all through out the series, its just dragging. Ive spent almost 20$ just to see how it goes, but my feelings at the end of this book is like meh
If youre looking for a very spicy retelling of Hades and Persephone, stay away. But if youre looking for series that is wholesome with little smut, probably bordering to edging, this is the series for you
(0-5)
Spice: 1
Plot: 3
Adventure: 3
Very slowburn and dragging until the end.
Though you can see development on the characters all through out the series, its just dragging. Ive spent almost 20$ just to see how it goes, but my feelings at the end of this book is like meh
If youre looking for a very spicy retelling of Hades and Persephone, stay away. But if youre looking for series that is wholesome with little smut, probably bordering to edging, this is the series for you
November 15, 2025
I discovered Melissa Haag a long time ago and fell in love with her writing, but somewhere along the way I stopped keeping up with all her books. I’m honestly so glad I rediscovered her through this series. I adore a good Hades and Persephone retelling, and Melissa gave this one such a unique and intriguing twist that I absolutely loved.
There were a few moments where the story felt a bit slow, but overall it was a captivating, imaginative read that reminded me why I enjoyed her books in the first place. I’m really happy I came back to her work—this series was definitely worth it.
There were a few moments where the story felt a bit slow, but overall it was a captivating, imaginative read that reminded me why I enjoyed her books in the first place. I’m really happy I came back to her work—this series was definitely worth it.
December 1, 2023
I sooooooo hope that Zotera and thanthos, and Zayn gets a book of their own 4 A true love. It would b really interesting if slot of Hades kids found the loves of their lives and they could go 2 the school on Earth where Megan, Ashelyn, etc went 2 school at 2 4 future books. It was really good but toward the end it was a little concerning but it was good how it turned out. I was relieved. I think all the humans gets their mates/ true loves also. I loved it all!!
November 30, 2023
HHEA!
Happy and heated ever after! This series wrapped up so well! Ashlyn and Hades might be my favorite couple, but I enjoyed all the Mantirum stories so much it's hard to say for sure. I hope we get to revisit this world in the future.
Happy and heated ever after! This series wrapped up so well! Ashlyn and Hades might be my favorite couple, but I enjoyed all the Mantirum stories so much it's hard to say for sure. I hope we get to revisit this world in the future.
January 16, 2024
nice ending
Nice way to wrap up the 3 books. I was a little miffed I never got to see how they figured out the s*x thing with Hades growing in size … but still great chemistry.
I also enjoyed the twists in the story and the action. And Megan was a highlight, as always!
Nice way to wrap up the 3 books. I was a little miffed I never got to see how they figured out the s*x thing with Hades growing in size … but still great chemistry.
I also enjoyed the twists in the story and the action. And Megan was a highlight, as always!
November 26, 2023
love!
So good! Loved every second of it, and I hope Melissa continues to expand on this world! I so love these characters!
So good! Loved every second of it, and I hope Melissa continues to expand on this world! I so love these characters!
December 11, 2023
love this ending
I really like this finale it gives closure and happiness they all deserve. I cannot wait to see where Melissa takes us next!
I really like this finale it gives closure and happiness they all deserve. I cannot wait to see where Melissa takes us next!
February 14, 2024
What a great finish for the Fire And Ash 3 book set! Loved the twists & turns this set took getting me hooked on Hades as a character!
September 29, 2024
3.45/5
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews