A Sinister Love

by Spencer Hixon

When Scribble gets fired from her desk job in Purgatory, she’s completely unprepared for her new assignment on Earth as a Sinister—a demon that tempts a human. Her only exposure to the human world is through the various books she's collected over the years. Her boss, Belphegor, gives her only a few weeks to make her client, Paul Taylor, add enough weight to his soul that he ends up in Hell, but all her attempts to make him sin end up backfiring.

With the help of her mentor, Rotworm, she borrows the body of a succubus to tempt him better; however, she soon starts falling in love with him instead. She must make a decision—give in to her desires and damn him to Hell, or surrender love for the sake of love.

But when she finds out what happened to Paul’s former Sinister, a mystery unfolds, pointing to a foul scheme that puts everyone in danger. On top of that, Scribble and Paul must deal with their dark pasts before they can move forward. With time running out and both Heaven and Hell after them, can Scribble stop a demon Prince before it’s too late... without losing Paul?

Genres: Fantasy

344 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 26, 2024

Reviews

[Betwixt the Pages · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5/5 Penguins (rounded up)
Quick Reasons: angels and succubi and imps, oh my!; laugh out loud funny; whimsically adorable; I read this in one sitting; indie author for the win; entertaining, endearing, believable characters

Full review to follow soon!

[Rose Q. Addams · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a disclaimer, I'm not into the "angelic/demonic warfare" genre. This book was also written for adults, so I definitely wouldn't be handing it to a child or teenager. There is some language, some definitely disturbing imagery, and there's a couple scenes/concepts of the 'Prince of Lust' that wouldn't be something I promote. Not filthy, but enough innuendo to make me uncomfortable.

I didn't really enjoy the book; I'm not aware of many of the Catholic or apochryphal traditions and thematic elements that were crucial to the plot, which might've made it more enjoyable-- but it was fairly well-written so there isn't fault with that part, so much as with it's not my thing.

I am a Presbyterian, and so believe that God is actively involved with us, personally, instead of distant. The fact that God wasn't involved in any of the action, or given more than a passing mention, irritated me. When the big baddie stormed the gates of Heaven and broke in, I was waiting for some "deus ex machina" God-shows-up-and-reveals-his-glory-and-burns-up-a-few-demons-with-it moment (which would be legitimate, given the story), but it didn't happen.

I'm not really sure where I stand on the whole "guardian angel/demon" thing. While I believe there are angels and demons, and that their warfare is something that does occur, I believe that it's not really our business what's going on with them. They serve masters that ain't us. God didn't give us details for a reason. I don't believe that we each have an angel and a demon attached to us to directly influence our decisions, and I definitely don't believe in Purgatory, since Jesus' sacrifice is fully sufficient. There's Heaven, there's Hell, and that's it. We might be getting into Heaven without a gem in our crown if it's a last-minute conversion, but we're there because God's work is enough.

Oddly enough, I did like the fact that some of the angels were pictured as unclear of gender (and not in an inappropriate way), because that seems in line with what's accurate. They're just... scary servants of God. I know there's a passage somewhere that says something about they aren't given or taken in marriage, which supports that theory, but also, they're mostly called by male names, which I think the book actually did a nice job of picturing.

I also liked that forgiveness and hope were tied together when Paul went down a really dark (literally) path. Our hope stems from the reason we can forgive; God's work in us. God's sacrifice for us. And His continuing love for and through us.

On the whole, the book wasn't something I'd recommend, but there was some good snapshots of sacrifice and hope that were very well-done.

[Book Reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

In A Sinister Love, by Spencer Hixon, we are introduced to Scribble, a demoness abruptly reassigned from her mundane clerical duties to a role she never anticipated: a Sinister on Earth. Tasked with tempting her assigned human, Paul, into sinning, Scribble struggles not from a lack of cunning, but because she tends to talk more than she tempts. Deciding that a physical presence might improve her odds, she assumes a succubus body with the help of her enigmatic new boss. As Scribble navigates her new form, she not only charms Paul into offering her a job but also grows unexpectedly close to him, leading to unforeseen emotional complications. Is her discomfort due to the new body, or could she be falling for a human?

Hixon's portrayal of Scribble as an avid reader adds an unexpected layer of relatability to the demoness, making her journey from timidity to bravery quite compelling. Similarly, Paul is a thoughtfully crafted character whose struggles with mental health add depth and relevance to the narrative. The character of Rotworm is vividly realized—his sleazy demeanor is palpable, yet he delivers surprises that leave readers eager for more. While the novel excels in character development and a gripping plot, I feel that some areas seemed a bit underexplored and could benefit from further elaboration. Despite these minor gaps, this book remains a highly engaging read, especially for those who appreciate a blend of supernatural elements with human emotional dilemmas. Hixon's work is a commendable addition to the genre, promising a level of intrigue that will keep readers looking forward to the next installment.

Spencer Hixon's A Sinister Love masterfully blends the supernatural with the profoundly human, crafting a narrative that is both entertaining and emotionally resonant. Through the eyes of Scribble, a demoness finding her footing among humans, readers are treated to a story that challenges the traditional boundaries of genre fiction. This book is sure to delight those who enjoy tales of personal growth, supernatural intrigue, and the complexities of love, making it a worthy addition to any reader's collection.

[JD Donnelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall a very entertaining read, with a healthy dose of fresh, unique world-building takes on so many supernatural tropes and characters of Sinisters, Dexters, and mortals in-between. The soul stone concept in particular and soul weight was well done, and kept the stakes sizzling throughout the story. Each side character is unique and memorable, and I was pleasantly surprised with the pacing, especially when the story veered off in a direction I didn't expect at the halfway point. My one critique that keeps this from a 5 star review is that the main heroine Scribble is a bit too reactive for my taste for a main character, and I wished she had more pro-activeness rather than side character/plot conveniences stepping in to help her in some scenes. Scribble does find her agency by the conclusion, though, and I'm curious to see how she fares in the sequel--which I do plan to pick up when it comes out cause I want to see what happens to these characters in this Spencer's version of Heaven and Hell.

[Kymberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting book. Not at all what was expected based on the description my friend got from Gen Con nor what the bookmark speculated it to be (Surli saying Is that Smut your reading? Does Jesus know? Spoiler it isn’t a romance novel or smut). Once I got over the fact that I was not escaping to an actual romance between a demon and a human, it was a good interesting take on the Fall and on the constant battle between good vs evil. I got lost sometimes with all the big demon names and also confused on the gender of some of the angels (perhaps that was intentional). There were a few grammatical errors that caused me to have to reread sections to make sure I was getting the intended purpose. I like Scribble but sometimes the switch between her inner dialogue and actions was also confusing.

[Jennifer Fulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book with likable characters, an amazing variety of settings, and a compelling plot. I was most impressed by Hixon’s knowledge of Scripture (both canonical and apocryphal), demonology, and angelology, and by the creative liberties he took with the lore. Hixon is also has a gift for description; whether describing a bookstore or a machine of demonic design or a portion of heaven, he does so in a way that helps the reader to really see. I hope to see more of Scribble, Paul, and the human and non-human cast of characters again.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This didn't meet my hopes and expectations. I struggled to get through. I found the world building left me feeling lost at times and the plot felt both too convoluted and complicated.

[Melissa Milbourn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving the way he writes his story