We've come a long way since the classic Christian fantasy of Tolkien and Lewis, thanks mostly to Frank Peretti's contemporary depictions of the spiritual realm intersecting with a common, modern world. Now, Bryan Mitchell has thrown his quill into the ring with the Infernal Fall series. I recommend you read them in order. The first book drags an average guy (significantly an Army veteran) through the nine levels of Hell in a daunting quest to get back home. Along the way, he finds two traveling companions who also undergo significant character arcs during the journey. Well, now Daniel is back "stateside," and it's not all roses and gumdrops (though there is a swarm of delightful, hyperactive fairies). Daniel's spiritual sight is fully awakened, so he can't help but see demonic (and occasionally angelic) beings all around, influencing the people he loves most. While Infernal Fall was somewhat restricted by its adherence to Dante's vision, Almost Paradise is character driven and wide open. It's refreshingly unpredictable. New characters are brought in, there are various reunions, and formerly damned characters are offered painful redemption. While Infernal Fall was a normal guy's quest to get back home, Almost Paradise is a journey of the heart. Instead of escaping pain and misery, this homecoming requires leaning into grief, regret, and painful reconciliation. There's plenty of danger, and even an epic spiritual battle between demonic and angelic forces at the climax of this exciting tale. The ending is satisfying, but the story is far from over, as Daniel has yet to learn that prayer is his most powerful weapon. He's still spiritually immature, at best a "guest" at his parent's church. I look forward to at least one more book in this series, where Daniel, who only wishes to have his spiritual blindness restored, embraces the call to heroic faith and action. Now THAT would be epic.