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No One's Gonna Take Her Soul Away
Sapphira Gail is dead.
What’s worse, she’s in Pandemonia, cast down to the worst part of this hellscape by a terrifying, mercurial goddess who determines the fate of every being. Sapphira knows she doesn't belong in Pandemonia. So she plans to escape, confront the goddess, and return across the veil, back to the land of the living, to find the person responsible for her death.
But the journey is treacherous — Sapphira must travel the Path of the Damned, following it through every part of Pandemonia to make it to the goddess's seat of power. Along the way, she meets an irritable yet caring vampire whose touch soothes Sapphira’s broken heart, a charismatic werewolf nursing a betrayal similar to Sapphira’s, and a melancholic demon determined to get her freedom by any means necessary.
Though she recruits them as allies on her quest for retribution, this is Pandemonia after all— can any of them truly be trusted? And will Sapphira escape or will she remain tortured for all eternity?
What’s worse, she’s in Pandemonia, cast down to the worst part of this hellscape by a terrifying, mercurial goddess who determines the fate of every being. Sapphira knows she doesn't belong in Pandemonia. So she plans to escape, confront the goddess, and return across the veil, back to the land of the living, to find the person responsible for her death.
But the journey is treacherous — Sapphira must travel the Path of the Damned, following it through every part of Pandemonia to make it to the goddess's seat of power. Along the way, she meets an irritable yet caring vampire whose touch soothes Sapphira’s broken heart, a charismatic werewolf nursing a betrayal similar to Sapphira’s, and a melancholic demon determined to get her freedom by any means necessary.
Though she recruits them as allies on her quest for retribution, this is Pandemonia after all— can any of them truly be trusted? And will Sapphira escape or will she remain tortured for all eternity?
Unknown Binding
First published April 30, 2024
1 person is currently reading
374 people want to read
About the author
Amanda B.Weaver (formerly Amanda Ross)
4 books93 followersAmanda B. Weaver (formerly Ross) is an indie fantasy and horror author. Her books include In The House of Transcendence, To Astera, With Love and its sequel, To Ilaris, In Desperation, the YA fantasy anthologies Girls of Might and Magic and Kindred Kingdoms, and her upcoming horror novel, No One’s Gonna Take Her Soul Away. When she’s not writing, Amanda is spending too much time on TikTok (@amandabweaver) or recording her horror podcast, Horror Heaux Support Group.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 16, 2024
Sapphira is dead. And after being wrongfully cast down to the deepest depths of Pandemonia (aka hell), she decides to take her fate into her own hands and escape. But can she travel The Path of the Damned and make it back to the land of the living? The Wiz meets Dante’s Inferno in this Black, queer, horror novel!
The world building in this novel was amazing. I could picture every single part of hell so vividly. The body horror & the gore in this novel is WILD! This book is not for the faint of heart because there is so much torture and savagery! And as a horror girlie, I loved it, but it even had ME stressed out (in the best way)! And oh my god, the characters!!! I loved them so much! They all had such great chemistry. My babies Astra and Luquin must be protected at all costs! (not that they need protection lol) Astra is literally my favorite character of the year! I haven’t loved a character this much in so long! I loved all the main characters though and hated the villains! There weren’t any characters that blended in the background. They all stood out and evoked emotion in me, whether it was love or hate!
My only complaint is that the story felt a little repetitive at times. The recurrent thoughts about Dante mainly. Also, the last couple of fights in part 1, but, once I got to Part 2 of the book, I didn’t want to put it down!
This was such a dark, fun ride! The characters were everything, the gore was everything, and this has solidified Amanda B. Weaver’s place as one of my fave authors!
Thank you to the author for this arc! All opinions are my own.
TW: drug and alcohol use, violence, anxiety, depression, torture, gore, cannibalism, emotional and mental abuse, and murder
The world building in this novel was amazing. I could picture every single part of hell so vividly. The body horror & the gore in this novel is WILD! This book is not for the faint of heart because there is so much torture and savagery! And as a horror girlie, I loved it, but it even had ME stressed out (in the best way)! And oh my god, the characters!!! I loved them so much! They all had such great chemistry. My babies Astra and Luquin must be protected at all costs! (not that they need protection lol) Astra is literally my favorite character of the year! I haven’t loved a character this much in so long! I loved all the main characters though and hated the villains! There weren’t any characters that blended in the background. They all stood out and evoked emotion in me, whether it was love or hate!
My only complaint is that the story felt a little repetitive at times. The recurrent thoughts about Dante mainly. Also, the last couple of fights in part 1, but, once I got to Part 2 of the book, I didn’t want to put it down!
This was such a dark, fun ride! The characters were everything, the gore was everything, and this has solidified Amanda B. Weaver’s place as one of my fave authors!
Thank you to the author for this arc! All opinions are my own.
TW: drug and alcohol use, violence, anxiety, depression, torture, gore, cannibalism, emotional and mental abuse, and murder
June 23, 2024
This is the second book of Amanda B Weaver's that I've read (the first being In The House of Transcendence). When the author first described this as Dante's Inferno meets The Wiz I was all in!
The book starts off with our main character Sapphira who is sacrificed by her ain't shit boyfriend, for fame.
Sapphira is then sent to the underworld Pandemonium where she finds herself on one of the seven islands of torture. Determined to get justice and return to her friends and family, Sapphira sets off on a bloody quest to get through all Seven Islands, and cross the veil.
This book was gory and stomach turning. Weaver does not hold back on the brutality in this book - I'm talking beaches with sands of bloody teeth, blood rain falling, bones and guts and organs being pulled out, eaten, smashed etc. It's quite essentially a gorefest.
But woven throughout the gore is also the complex cast of characters. Besides Sapphira we have a werewolf, a vampire, a demon god's daughter, and more. Each has gone through their own suffering in Pandemonium, and learning their backstory definitely helps to flesh them out.
I really enjoyed this book from start to finish, and I found it hard to put down.
My only critique about this book is that at times the writing felt a bit stilted/clunky, but it definitely wasn't enough to hinder my enjoyment.
I loved the real conversation about grief and how hard it is to lose yourself in somebody else, only to feel betrayed when they hurt you. I was rooting for Sapphira since page one and the ending was VERY satisfying.
This is definitely a book to keep on your radar.
Thank you the author for sending me and ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The book starts off with our main character Sapphira who is sacrificed by her ain't shit boyfriend, for fame.
Sapphira is then sent to the underworld Pandemonium where she finds herself on one of the seven islands of torture. Determined to get justice and return to her friends and family, Sapphira sets off on a bloody quest to get through all Seven Islands, and cross the veil.
This book was gory and stomach turning. Weaver does not hold back on the brutality in this book - I'm talking beaches with sands of bloody teeth, blood rain falling, bones and guts and organs being pulled out, eaten, smashed etc. It's quite essentially a gorefest.
But woven throughout the gore is also the complex cast of characters. Besides Sapphira we have a werewolf, a vampire, a demon god's daughter, and more. Each has gone through their own suffering in Pandemonium, and learning their backstory definitely helps to flesh them out.
I really enjoyed this book from start to finish, and I found it hard to put down.
My only critique about this book is that at times the writing felt a bit stilted/clunky, but it definitely wasn't enough to hinder my enjoyment.
I loved the real conversation about grief and how hard it is to lose yourself in somebody else, only to feel betrayed when they hurt you. I was rooting for Sapphira since page one and the ending was VERY satisfying.
This is definitely a book to keep on your radar.
Thank you the author for sending me and ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 24, 2024
This book is a hard one to describe because it’s equal parts self discovery, passion, and torturous experiences.
More to come!
More to come!
March 21, 2025
What a journey!! First of all, this is the first time a book has made me overstimulated. By that, I mean Pandemonia is GRUESOME. It's gross. It's violent. It will definitely have you upset that Sapphira was wrongfully placed there. The characters took a while to grow on me. The motivations they had to help Sapphira didn't fully make sense to me. But the emotions behind the stories of each character felt so raw and relatable. Despite being overstimulated and taking a while to like the characters, I enjoyed my time.
I recommend this to people who love found family, going through Hell, healing journeys, and revenge plots.
I recommend this to people who love found family, going through Hell, healing journeys, and revenge plots.
January 12, 2025
Wow! Wow ! Wow! I mean this book takes you on such a journey, you feel SO connected to the characters/story, I almost didn’t want it to end.
You are following Saphira as she is going through the 7 islands of a version of Hell, to request her freedom, she meets friends along the way. You grow to get to know more about each character who joins her on the journey. I mean they really had to fight their way through against all odds
I would DIE for a novella with Maxwell & Saphira 😍😍
Heavy topics are discussed, there’s violence, gore, sex, blood,etc so pay attention to the warnings going in.
You are following Saphira as she is going through the 7 islands of a version of Hell, to request her freedom, she meets friends along the way. You grow to get to know more about each character who joins her on the journey. I mean they really had to fight their way through against all odds
I would DIE for a novella with Maxwell & Saphira 😍😍
Heavy topics are discussed, there’s violence, gore, sex, blood,etc so pay attention to the warnings going in.
April 12, 2024
“Sometimes the horror comes not from ugliness but from beauty.”
I’ve been wanting to read more horror and totally binged this in one night. It was gory and violent and horrifying but also…sweet? Loved the found family and such a satisfying ending! Highly recommend if you’re a fan of horror. Please mind the TW.
I’ve been wanting to read more horror and totally binged this in one night. It was gory and violent and horrifying but also…sweet? Loved the found family and such a satisfying ending! Highly recommend if you’re a fan of horror. Please mind the TW.
April 27, 2024
I had just been scrolling through Twitter when I came across a tweet about the book and decided to pick it up. The idea of the main character going to hell and trying to fight her way back to the land of the living with her new companions sounded so interesting to me. Like sign me up, and the main character is bi love that for her. So I started reading and boy was it gory (which I like a good gore moment) but it was an amazing journey to witness Sapphira fight and get through hell, fight demons and perhaps find a new partner or 2 or three (you’ll have to read the book and see) was inspiring. Seeing Sapphira’s light continue to burn bright despite everything she goes through; I was very happy for her, reading the ending which I just finished and can’t wait to read more of Amanda B. Weaver’s books. If you are someone who likes queer black stories and horror you should read this book! Sapphira was a badass while still being sensitive and going through her emotions which she deserves! Also werewolf vampire and demon ? Sign me up!
May 4, 2025
3.5/5
I wish the editing were a bit tighter - there are numerous typos that ruin the flow of the story - but the story is a lot of fun. A human, a vampire, and a werewolf taking on a version of hell to try and get their lives back? Really great premise, and while a lot of the friendships move REALLY fast, you’re still cheering in the end.
The deities do feel very typical, and the main character feels more and more like a cipher for the reader to project themselves onto rather than her own unique character. Her self doubt is a clear character flaw, but it feels like the only character flaw she has. Most well-rounded characters have more than one flaw, especially if they overcome that flaw by the end of the story.
I do like parts of Sapphira’s character journey. I just wish she wasn’t quite so “we never leave anyone behind!” In the Sailor Moon vein. I do really like her relationship with Luquin, as they’re both grappling with similiar emotional issues.
Also some of the descriptions were gross in the best way.
Spoilers for the plot (I know I can’t be the only one who wants to know this.)
- Sapphira is killed by her shitty boyfriend and sent to the seventh island (out of 7 horrific torture islands) because he sold HER soul so he could hit it big in music. There she meets Maxwell, the vampire. Together they decide to try and get back to the goddess of order to try and appeal her judgement. NBD, just gotta get through the 7 torture islands first.
- The souls and bodies of the damned basically respawn, so murder, torture, and pain are eternal. Hurray.
- On the fifth island, Sapphira is swindled by Luqin (werewolf, obviously), and she has her first death. POV switches to Tartagnon (Tart), the god of pandemonia - the overarching name for these 7 murder islands - who is PISSED that anyone is trying to flee his hell world. He sends his kids after Sapphira & friends: his son to stop her immediately & his daughter to befriend Sapphira and then make her friends betray her at the end.
- Astraphelle (Astra) has been tortured by her dad four century for having the audacity to fight him for her human lover’s soul. She puts on a human glamor and befriends Sapphira on the fourth(?) island. She very quickly goes from plotting against Sapphira & friends to thinking it’s absolute BS that Sapphira has been sent to eternal damnation for someone else’s deal.
- Astra and Maxwell both begin falling in love with Sapphira. Is it super quick? Yes, especially for Astra.
- When they almost hit the end of the path, Tart appears with his other demon kid and exposes Astra as a demon. He gloats that no one is getting free. Astra tries to fight her dad & gets tossed into the Abyss. The Abyss is supposed to be True Death for everyone: gods, demons, souls, everyone. No more respawns. He then takes Sapphira & Co. to torture himself.
- Astra activates Pissed Off Daughter Who Is Also In Love mode and manages to fight her way out of the Abyss. She returns to fight her father, but she’s overwhelmed again. Sapphira makes a deal that she, Max, and Luquin can leave if she can beat a demon. She does (it’s the reoccurring demon son miniboss) & the Team minus Astra get to pass to the Goddess of Order’s realm
- Tart starts torturing Astra and is like “oh, *I* gave them safe passage but your mom, Simyasha (goddess of order, Sim), didn’t make that deal. So they’ll be back like… super quick. Astra levels up, kills Tart, and basically is like “mom, you can let them go or die”
- Sim lets them go, Astra can’t go with them because she’s gotta be a goddess now. Maxwell gets the girl (though it’s implied that once Sapphira dies again, open relationship is definitely in the cards), and the trio get to have an awesome life.
(There is a lot of emotional work that’s happening in the background, and that’s really the heart of the book rather than this flippant plot summary.)
I wish the editing were a bit tighter - there are numerous typos that ruin the flow of the story - but the story is a lot of fun. A human, a vampire, and a werewolf taking on a version of hell to try and get their lives back? Really great premise, and while a lot of the friendships move REALLY fast, you’re still cheering in the end.
The deities do feel very typical, and the main character feels more and more like a cipher for the reader to project themselves onto rather than her own unique character. Her self doubt is a clear character flaw, but it feels like the only character flaw she has. Most well-rounded characters have more than one flaw, especially if they overcome that flaw by the end of the story.
I do like parts of Sapphira’s character journey. I just wish she wasn’t quite so “we never leave anyone behind!” In the Sailor Moon vein. I do really like her relationship with Luquin, as they’re both grappling with similiar emotional issues.
Also some of the descriptions were gross in the best way.
Spoilers for the plot (I know I can’t be the only one who wants to know this.)
- Sapphira is killed by her shitty boyfriend and sent to the seventh island (out of 7 horrific torture islands) because he sold HER soul so he could hit it big in music. There she meets Maxwell, the vampire. Together they decide to try and get back to the goddess of order to try and appeal her judgement. NBD, just gotta get through the 7 torture islands first.
- The souls and bodies of the damned basically respawn, so murder, torture, and pain are eternal. Hurray.
- On the fifth island, Sapphira is swindled by Luqin (werewolf, obviously), and she has her first death. POV switches to Tartagnon (Tart), the god of pandemonia - the overarching name for these 7 murder islands - who is PISSED that anyone is trying to flee his hell world. He sends his kids after Sapphira & friends: his son to stop her immediately & his daughter to befriend Sapphira and then make her friends betray her at the end.
- Astraphelle (Astra) has been tortured by her dad four century for having the audacity to fight him for her human lover’s soul. She puts on a human glamor and befriends Sapphira on the fourth(?) island. She very quickly goes from plotting against Sapphira & friends to thinking it’s absolute BS that Sapphira has been sent to eternal damnation for someone else’s deal.
- Astra and Maxwell both begin falling in love with Sapphira. Is it super quick? Yes, especially for Astra.
- When they almost hit the end of the path, Tart appears with his other demon kid and exposes Astra as a demon. He gloats that no one is getting free. Astra tries to fight her dad & gets tossed into the Abyss. The Abyss is supposed to be True Death for everyone: gods, demons, souls, everyone. No more respawns. He then takes Sapphira & Co. to torture himself.
- Astra activates Pissed Off Daughter Who Is Also In Love mode and manages to fight her way out of the Abyss. She returns to fight her father, but she’s overwhelmed again. Sapphira makes a deal that she, Max, and Luquin can leave if she can beat a demon. She does (it’s the reoccurring demon son miniboss) & the Team minus Astra get to pass to the Goddess of Order’s realm
- Tart starts torturing Astra and is like “oh, *I* gave them safe passage but your mom, Simyasha (goddess of order, Sim), didn’t make that deal. So they’ll be back like… super quick. Astra levels up, kills Tart, and basically is like “mom, you can let them go or die”
- Sim lets them go, Astra can’t go with them because she’s gotta be a goddess now. Maxwell gets the girl (though it’s implied that once Sapphira dies again, open relationship is definitely in the cards), and the trio get to have an awesome life.
(There is a lot of emotional work that’s happening in the background, and that’s really the heart of the book rather than this flippant plot summary.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2024
In "No One's Gonna take Her Soul Away" we're following a young woman by the name of Sapphira who, undeservedly, is cast down to Pandemonia (Hell). With the help of a werewolf, vampire, and demon, she attempts to escape and cross back into the land of the living.
This story captured my full attention and had me on the edge of my seat! I have read Amanda B. Weaver's previous books and they were great, but you can really see the growth in her prose and storytelling here. The characters were well flushed out, the worldbuilding was terrifying (in a good way!) and there was PLENTY of gore which should satisfy all the horror lovers out there.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves strong but vulnerable female characters and lots and lots of blood!
This story captured my full attention and had me on the edge of my seat! I have read Amanda B. Weaver's previous books and they were great, but you can really see the growth in her prose and storytelling here. The characters were well flushed out, the worldbuilding was terrifying (in a good way!) and there was PLENTY of gore which should satisfy all the horror lovers out there.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves strong but vulnerable female characters and lots and lots of blood!
April 29, 2024
This reminded of the Wiz and The Good Place in colored. Sapphira was fighting for her life trying to get from the hell she knew she didn't deserve to be in. Collecting friends on the way, she was determined to not let her ex win, all the while obtaining 2 new lovers on the journey. Badass FMC with the determination of a raging bull, she wasn't gone stop til she got where she needed and wanted to be.
April 22, 2024
This was such an interesting ride. Sapphira is both funny and cunning. I found myself enjoying her journey immensely, even when I disagreed with her decisions. She is fierce, flawed, and a teeny bit fucked. Worth the read.
May 5, 2024
I absolutely loved this book. I love how the author takes the time to write the characters in a way you invest in them. The descriptions and details are unmatched. Amazing read!!!
November 23, 2025
The descriptions of the locales were suitably disgusting, and the gods of death were terrible and mesmerizing. I wanted to see the protagonist change a little more over the course of the story. It's a corruption arc that I wanted to feel more sinister. I also felt like some locales got more time than others. I wish this book had been split in two so each place could get its due and so the characters could feel more of the horrifying emotional impacts of the story. Aside from the gods, I didn't feel like the other supernatural creatures served much purpose. It didn't feel like being a vampire or werewolf gave the characters too many unique strengths and weaknesses other than that they handled a lot of grunt work during the fights.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews