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Tear Down Heaven #3
Hell to Pay
All victories are fleeting and the enemy is never idle...
It’s been one month since Bex’s rebel crew took over the Seattle Anchor and things have been suspiciously good. They’re emancipating slaves by the busload, earning money from their thriving Free Market, and basically living the Gilgamesh-free life of their dreams. It’s what Bex always wanted for her people, so why does she feel so uneasy?
It could be because she’s working twenty-hour days desperately trying to free her wrath demons. Or because Gilgamesh has sealed off all the Anchors still under his control, creating a worldwide shortage of the magical quintessence their new fortress needs to stay afloat.
Everywhere Bex looks, timers are ticking down on the safe haven she’s built for her demons, but the biggest threat is the one she doesn’t see, because Heaven hasn’t been idle. The man who killed the gods knows how to handle a rebellion. The closer the demons get to victory, the tighter the invisible noose becomes, and when the Queen of Wrath crosses the final line, there will be Hell to Pay.
It’s been one month since Bex’s rebel crew took over the Seattle Anchor and things have been suspiciously good. They’re emancipating slaves by the busload, earning money from their thriving Free Market, and basically living the Gilgamesh-free life of their dreams. It’s what Bex always wanted for her people, so why does she feel so uneasy?
It could be because she’s working twenty-hour days desperately trying to free her wrath demons. Or because Gilgamesh has sealed off all the Anchors still under his control, creating a worldwide shortage of the magical quintessence their new fortress needs to stay afloat.
Everywhere Bex looks, timers are ticking down on the safe haven she’s built for her demons, but the biggest threat is the one she doesn’t see, because Heaven hasn’t been idle. The man who killed the gods knows how to handle a rebellion. The closer the demons get to victory, the tighter the invisible noose becomes, and when the Queen of Wrath crosses the final line, there will be Hell to Pay.
408 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 28, 2025
206 people are currently reading
333 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Aaron
35 books3,048 followersHello, my name is Rachel Aaron, and I write the Heartstriker books, a new Urban Fantasy series about misfit dragons, starting with Nice Dragons Finish Last. I also wrote The Legend of Eli Monpress fantasy series for Orbit Books about a wizard thief and the poor bastards who have to try and stop him. PLUS I'm also the author of the new, rolicking fun Science Fiction romance Fortune's Pawn under the name Rachel Bach.
I was born in Atlanta, but I currently live a lovely, nerdy, bookish life in Denver, CO with my lightspeed son, perpetually understanding husband, and far too many plants. Besides my own books, the internet knows me best for writing very fast. The best way to get to know me is probably to read my blog or follow me on Twitter.
I was born in Atlanta, but I currently live a lovely, nerdy, bookish life in Denver, CO with my lightspeed son, perpetually understanding husband, and far too many plants. Besides my own books, the internet knows me best for writing very fast. The best way to get to know me is probably to read my blog or follow me on Twitter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
March 8, 2025
4.5 stars.
Wow, I did not expect the story to turn the way it did, and it was fantastic. The next book can't come soon enough.
Wow, I did not expect the story to turn the way it did, and it was fantastic. The next book can't come soon enough.
February 17, 2025
This review was originally published on Before We Go Blog
3.5 stars (rounded up)
Rachel Aaron brings the Tear Down Heaven series to its epic midway turning point in Hell to Pay, and the time of secrets and teasing is officially over. This third instalment is bigger, bolder and admittedly a bit bumpier than ever before, but at its heart it’s still just pleasantly good paranormal urban fantasy fun!
Much like at the start of Hell of a Witch, our favourite wayward witch and rebel crew of demons is having a suspiciously good time after dealing their latest big blow to Heaven. Bex continues her mission of freeing as many wrath demons as she can from Gilgamesh’s chains to aid in her rebellion, while Adrian gains help from a surprising new ally who helps him tap into unexplored dangerous powers that could change the tide for them all. But as tenuously peaceful as things might seem, the clock is still ticking, and the man who killed the gods will make sure that there will be hell to pay.
Now, I have always really appreciated and admired how Aaron has balanced the exhilarating action with the heartfelt, quieter character moments in this series, even if I have personally been more in it for the characters rather than the plot. However, Hell to Pay really had a lot of ground to cover as a pivotal middle book in the series, and I think all the ambitious set-up and shocking reveals came slightly at the detriment of the aspects I personally enjoy most about this story.
Don’t get me wrong, I will always love spending time with these (literal and figurative) chaos demons, but I can’t sit here and pretend that the first half of Hell to Pay didn’t have me a bit nervous and frustrated. See, even though Bex and Adrian are both very strong and compelling main characters on their own, it’s when they are together that the true magic happens for me. And especially after all the teasing of their romance that we got in Hell of a Witch, I was SO ready to see their uniquely powerful relationship fully come to fruition here… only for them to be separated for the entire book.
All that said, the second half of Hell to Pay more or less shed that dreaded ‘middle book syndrome’ vibe, and I honestly think it contained some of my favourite scenes in the entire series so far. Some of the side characters that got sidelined in the first half of the book really got their time to shine again (NEMINI! Look at her slay on this gorgeous cover!), and once I had accepted that Bex and Adrian weren’t going to get together here, I could enjoy their separate storylines for what they were.
Ultimately, I am still more invested in the individual character journeys and all the messy but heartfelt interpersonal relationships rather than the macro ‘war against heaven’ plot, but there is no denying that the nuanced commentary on war is very poignant and that the long-awaited (or surprisingly unexpected) reveals in Hell to Pay were extremely intriguing. Especially the fact that we finally come face to face with Gilgamesh after two books of him being a vague ‘background’ threat was very satisfying to me, as it really rekindled my investment and made the stakes feel so much more tangible and real.
Aaron’s vision for the Tear Down Heaven series is clearly above and beyond what I had initially given it credit for, and I have full faith that the last two books are going to live up to the potential that is promised in Hell to Pay. Bring on the chaos, emotional turmoil, meddling gods, wicked witchery, and diabolical demons, I am here for it!
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Hell to Pay is scheduled for release on February 28, 2025.
3.5 stars (rounded up)
Rachel Aaron brings the Tear Down Heaven series to its epic midway turning point in Hell to Pay, and the time of secrets and teasing is officially over. This third instalment is bigger, bolder and admittedly a bit bumpier than ever before, but at its heart it’s still just pleasantly good paranormal urban fantasy fun!
Much like at the start of Hell of a Witch, our favourite wayward witch and rebel crew of demons is having a suspiciously good time after dealing their latest big blow to Heaven. Bex continues her mission of freeing as many wrath demons as she can from Gilgamesh’s chains to aid in her rebellion, while Adrian gains help from a surprising new ally who helps him tap into unexplored dangerous powers that could change the tide for them all. But as tenuously peaceful as things might seem, the clock is still ticking, and the man who killed the gods will make sure that there will be hell to pay.
Now, I have always really appreciated and admired how Aaron has balanced the exhilarating action with the heartfelt, quieter character moments in this series, even if I have personally been more in it for the characters rather than the plot. However, Hell to Pay really had a lot of ground to cover as a pivotal middle book in the series, and I think all the ambitious set-up and shocking reveals came slightly at the detriment of the aspects I personally enjoy most about this story.
Don’t get me wrong, I will always love spending time with these (literal and figurative) chaos demons, but I can’t sit here and pretend that the first half of Hell to Pay didn’t have me a bit nervous and frustrated. See, even though Bex and Adrian are both very strong and compelling main characters on their own, it’s when they are together that the true magic happens for me. And especially after all the teasing of their romance that we got in Hell of a Witch, I was SO ready to see their uniquely powerful relationship fully come to fruition here… only for them to be separated for the entire book.
All that said, the second half of Hell to Pay more or less shed that dreaded ‘middle book syndrome’ vibe, and I honestly think it contained some of my favourite scenes in the entire series so far. Some of the side characters that got sidelined in the first half of the book really got their time to shine again (NEMINI! Look at her slay on this gorgeous cover!), and once I had accepted that Bex and Adrian weren’t going to get together here, I could enjoy their separate storylines for what they were.
Ultimately, I am still more invested in the individual character journeys and all the messy but heartfelt interpersonal relationships rather than the macro ‘war against heaven’ plot, but there is no denying that the nuanced commentary on war is very poignant and that the long-awaited (or surprisingly unexpected) reveals in Hell to Pay were extremely intriguing. Especially the fact that we finally come face to face with Gilgamesh after two books of him being a vague ‘background’ threat was very satisfying to me, as it really rekindled my investment and made the stakes feel so much more tangible and real.
Aaron’s vision for the Tear Down Heaven series is clearly above and beyond what I had initially given it credit for, and I have full faith that the last two books are going to live up to the potential that is promised in Hell to Pay. Bring on the chaos, emotional turmoil, meddling gods, wicked witchery, and diabolical demons, I am here for it!
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Hell to Pay is scheduled for release on February 28, 2025.
March 27, 2025
I think one of my least favorite tropes is when a character hides important info from their friends for a really stupid reason, just because the plot wouldn't work otherwise. That's most of this book.
March 4, 2025
Might have chucked my reading tablet across the room at one point
March 4, 2025
Review originally on JamReads
Hell to Pay is the third novel in the urban fantasy series Tear Down Heaven, written by Rachel Aaron. An instalment set one month after the events of Hell of a Witch, and which is a bigger novel that sets a definitive turnpoint in the saga, starting to finally reveal what was hidden from the reader, and putting in motion the wheels for a new arc in this epic urban fantasy saga.
This novel is particularly heavy in terms of character development, especially regarding our main duo of Bex and Adrian; despite they are an excellent duo and their chemistry is absolutely fire, Aaron puts them in separate paths on this occasion. Bex is still fighting to fit into her role of demon queen; freeing more demons from Gilgamesh chains, but tensions are also rising in the group she's trying to lead. Her obligations are also an obstacle to spend more time with Adrian, and having to put fight over her own wellness is also making a dent in her.
Adrian is desperate for finding a way to help Bex, and a new mysterious ally will appear; with this new character, Adrian will unlock a new source of power, but all it's too convenient. While he's learning more about these powers, we will also see how many secrets about Adrian's origins will be revealed.
We have two differentiated parts in this novel, especially in terms of pacing: in the first part, Aaron takes the opportunity to continue fleshing the characters while giving us more chances to empathize with them, to understand more about their motivations and ideas, in an exchange of a slower pacing, especially in comparison with what we were used from the first two books. In comparison, the second part is absolutely memorable and spectacular; not only we have great action scenes, but also some of the twists were just jawbreaking, increasing the epicness of this saga (and seriously, it might feature my favourite moment of the whole series).
I personally appreciate how each new novel in the series expands the worldbuilding: not only about how Gilgamesh reached the power, but about those powers that still exist and how all worked before the rebellion.
The writing is sharp, and shines especially when the pacing finally picks up, when the great avalanche happens.
Hell to Pay is another great instalment in this epic urban fantasy saga, a book that puts many wheels in motion while humanizing more its character. Seriously, you should give Tear Down Heaven an opportunity, because it's an excellent series.
Hell to Pay is the third novel in the urban fantasy series Tear Down Heaven, written by Rachel Aaron. An instalment set one month after the events of Hell of a Witch, and which is a bigger novel that sets a definitive turnpoint in the saga, starting to finally reveal what was hidden from the reader, and putting in motion the wheels for a new arc in this epic urban fantasy saga.
This novel is particularly heavy in terms of character development, especially regarding our main duo of Bex and Adrian; despite they are an excellent duo and their chemistry is absolutely fire, Aaron puts them in separate paths on this occasion. Bex is still fighting to fit into her role of demon queen; freeing more demons from Gilgamesh chains, but tensions are also rising in the group she's trying to lead. Her obligations are also an obstacle to spend more time with Adrian, and having to put fight over her own wellness is also making a dent in her.
Adrian is desperate for finding a way to help Bex, and a new mysterious ally will appear; with this new character, Adrian will unlock a new source of power, but all it's too convenient. While he's learning more about these powers, we will also see how many secrets about Adrian's origins will be revealed.
We have two differentiated parts in this novel, especially in terms of pacing: in the first part, Aaron takes the opportunity to continue fleshing the characters while giving us more chances to empathize with them, to understand more about their motivations and ideas, in an exchange of a slower pacing, especially in comparison with what we were used from the first two books. In comparison, the second part is absolutely memorable and spectacular; not only we have great action scenes, but also some of the twists were just jawbreaking, increasing the epicness of this saga (and seriously, it might feature my favourite moment of the whole series).
I personally appreciate how each new novel in the series expands the worldbuilding: not only about how Gilgamesh reached the power, but about those powers that still exist and how all worked before the rebellion.
The writing is sharp, and shines especially when the pacing finally picks up, when the great avalanche happens.
Hell to Pay is another great instalment in this epic urban fantasy saga, a book that puts many wheels in motion while humanizing more its character. Seriously, you should give Tear Down Heaven an opportunity, because it's an excellent series.
March 7, 2025
An superb new entry in this series, Hell to Pay blew my expectations out of the water and completely changed what I thought I knew, leaving me begging for more. I anticipated being very excited for the next book, but I severely underestimated just how much. I keep on saying this, and it keeps on being truer with every book she writes. Rachel Aaron is an absolutely joy to read and one of a very few auto-buy authors for me.
March 8, 2025
I felt a bit cheated here. I like Ms Aaron’s books a lot. I like her headlong dash and relentless up of the ante. Things were progressing in the usual fashion until
Thankfully Ms Aaron is a good enough writer to recover from this dreadfully clunky plot twist and the rest of the book is entertaining enough but surely that could have been handled better! One demerit and hopefully the next book will be a return to form
Thankfully Ms Aaron is a good enough writer to recover from this dreadfully clunky plot twist and the rest of the book is entertaining enough but surely that could have been handled better! One demerit and hopefully the next book will be a return to form
July 21, 2025
This one was kindly sent to me by the author, but I would absolutely be buying this series too as I am absolutely invested at this point, and it's just so interesting. I ended up reading this almost entirely on holiday, as it's a short and easy read for me. Any time Rachel Aaron releases a book I know I will have a good time, and this was no exception.
We are immediately picking up from where we left off with this story, Bex and Adrian and their friends are at the point where they've managed to fight back a bit and gain some control, but now they have to work out how they can use that control to further taking back power, and how they can press their enemy and their advantages.
This story introduces some really interesting new PoV characters, one of whom is related to Adrian, and it's really fascinating to see how he and Adrian talk, learn and grow from one another. They offer a lot of ideas back and forth, but Adrian has to also not be too trusting, as trusting new people might not be a good plan...
I really enjoyed seeing Adrian's powers grow, and I also liked seeing the journey that Bex and her sword go on, as that felt like a big moment of growth for both of them. I think both of our lead characters are a lot stronger and more prepared by the end of this book to go on and do what is needed, but they're also in a big old pickle too. I was so keen to continue reading straight away, so I hope it's not too long to wait for the next (and presumably final) instalment in this series. 4*s
We are immediately picking up from where we left off with this story, Bex and Adrian and their friends are at the point where they've managed to fight back a bit and gain some control, but now they have to work out how they can use that control to further taking back power, and how they can press their enemy and their advantages.
This story introduces some really interesting new PoV characters, one of whom is related to Adrian, and it's really fascinating to see how he and Adrian talk, learn and grow from one another. They offer a lot of ideas back and forth, but Adrian has to also not be too trusting, as trusting new people might not be a good plan...
I really enjoyed seeing Adrian's powers grow, and I also liked seeing the journey that Bex and her sword go on, as that felt like a big moment of growth for both of them. I think both of our lead characters are a lot stronger and more prepared by the end of this book to go on and do what is needed, but they're also in a big old pickle too. I was so keen to continue reading straight away, so I hope it's not too long to wait for the next (and presumably final) instalment in this series. 4*s
April 29, 2025
Review originally posted on the SFF Insiders website:
https://www.sffinsiders.com/blog/revi...
Sometimes it is just a good time to read about witches, demons, and other nefarious characters. This is all contained within the Tear Down Heaven Series by Rachel Aaron. I really enjoyed the first two, especially as Bex and her crew team up with the witch Adrian to fight against Gilgamesh. The magic is intense and intriguing. I will say that there is a lot more world building and explanation in this book than in the first two entries. It is interesting and not overwhelming, but it is a bit of a step back from an attack on the armies as we would come to expect after the thrilling ending to book two. Bex is still doing her best to come to terms with her new role and how to lead the demons in the best way possible. Adrian is away from her again, looking for the solution to help his new found love. This is where the difference becomes very evident, as the two main characters don’t have as much interaction as is to be expected. I do have to say that this is not a bad thing, as it allows the reader to connect with them on a more individual level. It also sets up more of the series and the overarching ideas of what is to come.
The standout parts of the novel were still the characters. The side characters also take a backseat for the majority of the novel, which did make me a little sad as the banter and other actions from some of them are always fun to read and see. They do make more of an appearance towards the end of the novel and it is spectacular when they do. Adrian was the one who showcased more of what was happening and a lot of the explanation comes from his point of view. The other character of Gilgamesh actually makes an appearance in the novel, which is thrilling and well worth the wait of just seeing him mentioned in the first two. The pacing is a little slower, but is not overly slow. It does have moments of action interspersed in between the book learning that we get. The action in the entire series is different from typical fighting that is seen in urban fantasy or even fantasy novels, especially with the powers that each of them have. I love how the powers are complimentary but very different as well. I do not believe that I could actually pick which one I prefer more than another.
This series keeps shocking me in more ways than I could possibly explain. I found this review difficult to write without spoilers as the twists, shocks, and even more surprises are many. It makes it spectacular to read and a complete guessing game to try and figure out what could happen. Rachel Aaron has shown herself to be a master of character work that leads to amazing surprises that will leave readers shell shocked. It is just a joy to be able to continue to read more of her series as I find them fully captivating from beginning to end. This one will take the familiar and change it to be something fully it’s own from the very first page to the last one in this book so far. I look forward to continuing the series as soon as I possibly can!
Thank you for taking the time to read my review. As always, happy reading and Stay Great!!
https://www.sffinsiders.com/blog/revi...
Sometimes it is just a good time to read about witches, demons, and other nefarious characters. This is all contained within the Tear Down Heaven Series by Rachel Aaron. I really enjoyed the first two, especially as Bex and her crew team up with the witch Adrian to fight against Gilgamesh. The magic is intense and intriguing. I will say that there is a lot more world building and explanation in this book than in the first two entries. It is interesting and not overwhelming, but it is a bit of a step back from an attack on the armies as we would come to expect after the thrilling ending to book two. Bex is still doing her best to come to terms with her new role and how to lead the demons in the best way possible. Adrian is away from her again, looking for the solution to help his new found love. This is where the difference becomes very evident, as the two main characters don’t have as much interaction as is to be expected. I do have to say that this is not a bad thing, as it allows the reader to connect with them on a more individual level. It also sets up more of the series and the overarching ideas of what is to come.
The standout parts of the novel were still the characters. The side characters also take a backseat for the majority of the novel, which did make me a little sad as the banter and other actions from some of them are always fun to read and see. They do make more of an appearance towards the end of the novel and it is spectacular when they do. Adrian was the one who showcased more of what was happening and a lot of the explanation comes from his point of view. The other character of Gilgamesh actually makes an appearance in the novel, which is thrilling and well worth the wait of just seeing him mentioned in the first two. The pacing is a little slower, but is not overly slow. It does have moments of action interspersed in between the book learning that we get. The action in the entire series is different from typical fighting that is seen in urban fantasy or even fantasy novels, especially with the powers that each of them have. I love how the powers are complimentary but very different as well. I do not believe that I could actually pick which one I prefer more than another.
This series keeps shocking me in more ways than I could possibly explain. I found this review difficult to write without spoilers as the twists, shocks, and even more surprises are many. It makes it spectacular to read and a complete guessing game to try and figure out what could happen. Rachel Aaron has shown herself to be a master of character work that leads to amazing surprises that will leave readers shell shocked. It is just a joy to be able to continue to read more of her series as I find them fully captivating from beginning to end. This one will take the familiar and change it to be something fully it’s own from the very first page to the last one in this book so far. I look forward to continuing the series as soon as I possibly can!
Thank you for taking the time to read my review. As always, happy reading and Stay Great!!
January 5, 2026
Hell to Pay
by Rachel Aaron
I read this out of order by mistake. It's book #3 and I thought it was #2. It was still good and I didn't seem to notice at the time. Really enjoying the series. Great fantasy and characters.
by Rachel Aaron
I read this out of order by mistake. It's book #3 and I thought it was #2. It was still good and I didn't seem to notice at the time. Really enjoying the series. Great fantasy and characters.
March 4, 2025
4.5 stars cause the plot was a tiny bit predictable but the execution as always was perfect.
March 3, 2025
Setting/Worldbuilding: 10/10
Main characters: 9/10
Side characters: 9/10
Dialogue: 6/10
Plot: 10/10
Technique: 8/10
Prose: 6/10
Romance: 6/10
Ending: 10/10
Overall enjoyment: 10/10
Total: 84/100 (4.2/5)
Earth shattering. Literally. She really does not understand the concept of middle book syndrome, because Rachel Aaron has done it again. Nemini plays a prominent role in this book - get ready for it.
Main characters: 9/10
Side characters: 9/10
Dialogue: 6/10
Plot: 10/10
Technique: 8/10
Prose: 6/10
Romance: 6/10
Ending: 10/10
Overall enjoyment: 10/10
Total: 84/100 (4.2/5)
Earth shattering. Literally. She really does not understand the concept of middle book syndrome, because Rachel Aaron has done it again. Nemini plays a prominent role in this book - get ready for it.
April 4, 2025
This series is so much fun! I didn't realise it wouldn't be a trilogy but longer till I got near the end, so that was a bit confusing, but still, had a blast.
I love the world with old lore that is kicking up shit in the present, and I wish there were more Fantasy drawing from Mesopotamiam myths.
I still feel like Aaron is really at the top of her game with this series, giving me everything I want from an urban Fantasy series, just when I want it.
Also the cat familiar remains amazing and I'm glad he got to have a bit more space in this book.
I love the world with old lore that is kicking up shit in the present, and I wish there were more Fantasy drawing from Mesopotamiam myths.
I still feel like Aaron is really at the top of her game with this series, giving me everything I want from an urban Fantasy series, just when I want it.
Also the cat familiar remains amazing and I'm glad he got to have a bit more space in this book.
March 15, 2025
Fun book with characters I like, from an author I like. But.
MAN, it's not fun to read a story about otherwise clever people walking into increasingly obvious traps over and over again. I mean, I get it, the plot has to move along, but by the time stuff was 'revealed' I was very, very over the naivety from a bunch of hardened fighters.
Not like I'm not gonna read more! I love Aaron's books- but this one was frustrating all the same. Hopefully the next one has less betrayal and more progress.
MAN, it's not fun to read a story about otherwise clever people walking into increasingly obvious traps over and over again. I mean, I get it, the plot has to move along, but by the time stuff was 'revealed' I was very, very over the naivety from a bunch of hardened fighters.
Not like I'm not gonna read more! I love Aaron's books- but this one was frustrating all the same. Hopefully the next one has less betrayal and more progress.
March 2, 2025
What title do I give this review?
Man, I’ve been following Rachel Aaron for a while and read most of her works. She has an incredible talent for story telling and this book is definitely not a letdown. In fact, everything you thought you knew from the first two books ends up getting turned on its head in this book and now everyone I thought was super bad and or clearly good are now very nuanced and that is amazing. It really is refreshing to see complexity in characters especially when the author can truly get the reader into this mode where you can actually care for bad guy and where he is coming from. And also seeing that the good guys may not have such shiny pasts. Well done.
Man, I’ve been following Rachel Aaron for a while and read most of her works. She has an incredible talent for story telling and this book is definitely not a letdown. In fact, everything you thought you knew from the first two books ends up getting turned on its head in this book and now everyone I thought was super bad and or clearly good are now very nuanced and that is amazing. It really is refreshing to see complexity in characters especially when the author can truly get the reader into this mode where you can actually care for bad guy and where he is coming from. And also seeing that the good guys may not have such shiny pasts. Well done.
Read
July 10, 2025this series is just... awesome *clenches fist*. that ending!! i am dying to read book 4
March 5, 2025
love this series!
I really love how Rachael writes and never know what’s coming next. The books are hard to put down.. I’m constantly torn between wanting to find out what happens and not wanting it to end!
I really love how Rachael writes and never know what’s coming next. The books are hard to put down.. I’m constantly torn between wanting to find out what happens and not wanting it to end!
March 7, 2025
Omg hoopla finally got the audiobook Ive been waiting forever
March 20, 2025
I love this world. I love these characters. I love the writing. I cannot for the life of me understand how they were so dumb throughout this book. You're in the middle of a WAR and you just blindly trust? And it all happened in like... 24 hours? Princesses are bone white but the guy's plates must have overgrown... Honestly everyone deserved to be smacked down a few notches in this book. I hope they smarten up in the next one. 😭
December 31, 2025
Book 3 of an ongoing series. In Hell to Pay, witch Adrian and exiled demon queen Bex had a nice date plan, but both of them are simultaneously dragged into urgent business. As Adrian deals with a mysterious sorcerer and Bex fights an unbeatable demon for custody of some of her people, they begin to suspect that something is off...
After the protagonists' relative successes in the previous two books, this is a fairly broadly foreshadowed Things Go Bad arc. Since Bex and Adrian are separated for almost all of the novel, there's very little focus on the ongoing romance plotline. Instead, they're both thoroughly distracted fighting their own battles, very literally in Bex's case as she struggles to defeat a demon general who will only join her cause if she can beat him. I won't spoil too much about Adrian's problems, but let's just say they tend more towards the emotional than the physical. The plot runs slightly heavier to fight scenes (not my cup of tea) rather than plotty intrigue, but I still had fun. On to the next book!
After the protagonists' relative successes in the previous two books, this is a fairly broadly foreshadowed Things Go Bad arc. Since Bex and Adrian are separated for almost all of the novel, there's very little focus on the ongoing romance plotline. Instead, they're both thoroughly distracted fighting their own battles, very literally in Bex's case as she struggles to defeat a demon general who will only join her cause if she can beat him. I won't spoil too much about Adrian's problems, but let's just say they tend more towards the emotional than the physical. The plot runs slightly heavier to fight scenes (not my cup of tea) rather than plotty intrigue, but I still had fun. On to the next book!
June 5, 2025
Boston and I have nothing to say.
3.5/5
3.5/5
March 14, 2025
I’m still learning this author’s writing style, and after the three books in this series, I still can’t figure out if I like it.
For the series as a whole: The magical world is actually different from any other fantasy book I’ve read, so that’s awesome. The Gilgamesh angle was genius. And the characters are all fleshed out, individual, and engaging, which is chef’s kiss.
But this book draaaaaggged. I didn’t need pages after pages after pages of monologues. Nor did I want paragraphs after paragraphs of the characters saying the same thing fifty different ways. The pacing for the first two books was similar, but I didn’t mind it as much because there was world building to be done and mythology to be explained.
Here, though, it was a big problem for me. It’s the third book - I don’t need things to be explained over and over again. I want action. I want movement. I want the promise of the eventual lead up to be fulfilled. I almost DNF’d it at 50% because there was nothing happening. I only pushed through because I’m stubborn.
When things finally started picking up, the book freaking ended. Maybe it’s my Onyx Storm hangover talking, but it’s frustrating when the end comes and nothing big feels resolved. It’s frustrating waiting so long for some action and then bam, the book just ends. I guess I just wasn’t expecting it, and maybe I should have. There were probably hints I missed because I was trying to just be done. It’s probably my fault because I thought this was a trilogy, and I didn’t realize until the end that it wasn’t. I don’t know, I just expected a completed series and I’m grouchy I didn’t get it. I don’t want to continue with Book 4 when it comes out, but I probably will just to find what is hopefully a resolution.
5 stars for the story idea, 2 stars for the pacing.
For the series as a whole: The magical world is actually different from any other fantasy book I’ve read, so that’s awesome. The Gilgamesh angle was genius. And the characters are all fleshed out, individual, and engaging, which is chef’s kiss.
But this book draaaaaggged. I didn’t need pages after pages after pages of monologues. Nor did I want paragraphs after paragraphs of the characters saying the same thing fifty different ways. The pacing for the first two books was similar, but I didn’t mind it as much because there was world building to be done and mythology to be explained.
Here, though, it was a big problem for me. It’s the third book - I don’t need things to be explained over and over again. I want action. I want movement. I want the promise of the eventual lead up to be fulfilled. I almost DNF’d it at 50% because there was nothing happening. I only pushed through because I’m stubborn.
When things finally started picking up, the book freaking ended. Maybe it’s my Onyx Storm hangover talking, but it’s frustrating when the end comes and nothing big feels resolved. It’s frustrating waiting so long for some action and then bam, the book just ends. I guess I just wasn’t expecting it, and maybe I should have. There were probably hints I missed because I was trying to just be done. It’s probably my fault because I thought this was a trilogy, and I didn’t realize until the end that it wasn’t. I don’t know, I just expected a completed series and I’m grouchy I didn’t get it. I don’t want to continue with Book 4 when it comes out, but I probably will just to find what is hopefully a resolution.
5 stars for the story idea, 2 stars for the pacing.
June 30, 2025
She does this to me every time! She just writes these characters who I love and adore and want the best out of life and then let life happen to them in horrible horrific ways. It gives me just enough hope that I want the next book. I want the satisfaction of a conclusion because I know it will be satisfying. This book ends with a "hope is practically lost but never say never" note. Be prepared to have your emotions yanked around and get vital backstory on many characters that help you understand them better, even if you can never forgive them for their actions.
June 4, 2025
The twist that was telegraphed so hard it didn't twist at all.
June 20, 2025
Some complaints first, then the positives.
In books 2 & 3, I struggled with the lack of character growth in terms of maturity, teamwork, and strategic thinking—particularly in Bex and Adrian. For a demon that’s been alive for hundreds of years and a Blackwood witch that is supposed to be the smartest and best of his kind in ages, it’s disappointing that they rely so much on themselves and their individual styles of recklessness.
Throughout both books, they continue to act impulsively and communicate badly (or not at all). I get it—lots of pressure when you’re fighting one of the most powerful entities of all time! But jfc, charge your phone? Run things by each other and your team before you make huge decisions that might kill you? AND—most importantly—be suspicious of people that suddenly show up out of the blue claiming to want to help, when they’ve never shown up until now? Maybe keep them at arm’s length instead of telling them so much and inviting them in? They kept being subject to the exact same pitfalls recycled throughout the series, which oversimplified and threw the pacing off in book 3 especially. Due to all the above, the story leans more toward YA than I think it meant to.
That said, I loved the cast of side characters. Iggs, Nemini, Lys, Boston, the Morrigan—all great and super lovable. I'd love to know more about Nemini! I hope we get more info on her past. And I'm definitely going to read up on the Morrigan now that I know of this mythical character. ✨She's terrifying and I love her for it.✨
The magical world building was cool, too. I loved what bits we gleaned about Adrian’s magic, the Gods, the anchors, Gilgamesh, sorcery, demons, and the realms between life and death. Lots of it seems related to existing myths and legends, but it's a new perspective on them and I find that interesting.
Overall, the series had its heart in the right place, backed by a good sense of humor and lots of magical and mythical interest. Despite my criticisms, I liked it a lot! Will eventually finish this series when the rest come out.
In books 2 & 3, I struggled with the lack of character growth in terms of maturity, teamwork, and strategic thinking—particularly in Bex and Adrian. For a demon that’s been alive for hundreds of years and a Blackwood witch that is supposed to be the smartest and best of his kind in ages, it’s disappointing that they rely so much on themselves and their individual styles of recklessness.
Throughout both books, they continue to act impulsively and communicate badly (or not at all). I get it—lots of pressure when you’re fighting one of the most powerful entities of all time! But jfc, charge your phone? Run things by each other and your team before you make huge decisions that might kill you? AND—most importantly—be suspicious of people that suddenly show up out of the blue claiming to want to help, when they’ve never shown up until now? Maybe keep them at arm’s length instead of telling them so much and inviting them in? They kept being subject to the exact same pitfalls recycled throughout the series, which oversimplified and threw the pacing off in book 3 especially. Due to all the above, the story leans more toward YA than I think it meant to.
That said, I loved the cast of side characters. Iggs, Nemini, Lys, Boston, the Morrigan—all great and super lovable. I'd love to know more about Nemini! I hope we get more info on her past. And I'm definitely going to read up on the Morrigan now that I know of this mythical character. ✨She's terrifying and I love her for it.✨
The magical world building was cool, too. I loved what bits we gleaned about Adrian’s magic, the Gods, the anchors, Gilgamesh, sorcery, demons, and the realms between life and death. Lots of it seems related to existing myths and legends, but it's a new perspective on them and I find that interesting.
Overall, the series had its heart in the right place, backed by a good sense of humor and lots of magical and mythical interest. Despite my criticisms, I liked it a lot! Will eventually finish this series when the rest come out.
July 17, 2025
It's more of a 3.5
Three salient negative points (and a half)
- Worldbuilding : look, maybe it's petty but I struggle with those names for being that are supposed to be sumerian. It's just weird to see ancient king Gilgamesh call the Morrigan by that name, while in ancient time. At least say she have had several names through time, I dunno. That felt... bad? Those two characters were not part of the same culture, not even in the same region, I would have liked some reflection of that.
Rebexxa. etc. It was already the case in other books, I might just be more petty this time.
-Definitely petty: while I'm not looking at this author for queer representation... Look I'm just sad that Gilgamesh and Enkidu are not lovers in this book. I'm glad Enkidu's mentioned at least! But sad
-I felt like the action scenes were really dragging in this book, I was getting bored from reading them by moments. There is a narrative point but they outlast their welcome or their utility (it needed not be this long to bring the realisation that "oh no, he very strong." "oh no, the sword can't pierce")
And a half that is definitely personal, is that I really don't care for the protagonists, and I think it's because of the romance? I'm interested by the wider plot (heaven, the gods, Gilgamesh, etc.) but I really do not care for the relationship between Bex and Adrian (I think that's me not vibing with that author on romances, I have enjoyed previous books for their plot but I had never been convinced by any of the previous couples. The friendships or family bonds were much more interesting, as is the case now) and as so much of their focus is on each other...
As others said, the obvious plot twist was obvious but I do not think it's necessarily a bad thing. I had the clues to figure it out, I figured, it's fine. I prefer that than a twist coming from left field with absolutely no clues before!
Three salient negative points (and a half)
- Worldbuilding : look, maybe it's petty but I struggle with those names for being that are supposed to be sumerian. It's just weird to see ancient king Gilgamesh call the Morrigan by that name, while in ancient time. At least say she have had several names through time, I dunno. That felt... bad? Those two characters were not part of the same culture, not even in the same region, I would have liked some reflection of that.
Rebexxa. etc. It was already the case in other books, I might just be more petty this time.
-Definitely petty: while I'm not looking at this author for queer representation... Look I'm just sad that Gilgamesh and Enkidu are not lovers in this book. I'm glad Enkidu's mentioned at least! But sad
-I felt like the action scenes were really dragging in this book, I was getting bored from reading them by moments. There is a narrative point but they outlast their welcome or their utility (it needed not be this long to bring the realisation that "oh no, he very strong." "oh no, the sword can't pierce")
And a half that is definitely personal, is that I really don't care for the protagonists, and I think it's because of the romance? I'm interested by the wider plot (heaven, the gods, Gilgamesh, etc.) but I really do not care for the relationship between Bex and Adrian (I think that's me not vibing with that author on romances, I have enjoyed previous books for their plot but I had never been convinced by any of the previous couples. The friendships or family bonds were much more interesting, as is the case now) and as so much of their focus is on each other...
As others said, the obvious plot twist was obvious but I do not think it's necessarily a bad thing. I had the clues to figure it out, I figured, it's fine. I prefer that than a twist coming from left field with absolutely no clues before!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2025
Good reading
In short: likeable characters, interesting locales, plot twists often enough that you’re not guessing the next bit. Good reading. Oh, and there’s a cat familiar who steals the show on every page he’s in.
I’m a Rachel Aaron fan; have been since I read the first book in another series, “Nice Guys Finish Last.”
This series has never been about good vs evil. It’s about Bex, a demon war goddess who lives in Seattle, and her potential boyfriend Adrien, a fully-fledged with of the Blackwood. It has flavours of many other things of the forest; all the fairy-tale things your little believer heart could want.
At some point in this book, we veered into good versus evil, and brought a bunch of religious iconography into the mix. Now, in some ways I can put up with stories that contain religion, depending on how it’s handled. That is rare, however. I was impatient with this part and couldn’t wait for it to be done with. Thankfully, the bits that were annoying me are done with. I fear they’ll be back in Book 4, however. I’ll likely skim those parts, but I’ll definitely be back for the book.
Rachel writes such compelling stories, they’re hard to put down. She has her basis covered with designing the infrastructure so well. You feel like you can walk around the corner and know that there will be a coffee shop jussssst … there. Same goes for the religion, the witchcraft, and how they work. It feels solid, not like something she just pulled out of the ether.
In short: likeable characters, interesting locales, plot twists often enough that you’re not guessing the next bit. Good reading. Oh, and there’s a cat familiar who steals the show on every page he’s in.
I’m a Rachel Aaron fan; have been since I read the first book in another series, “Nice Guys Finish Last.”
This series has never been about good vs evil. It’s about Bex, a demon war goddess who lives in Seattle, and her potential boyfriend Adrien, a fully-fledged with of the Blackwood. It has flavours of many other things of the forest; all the fairy-tale things your little believer heart could want.
At some point in this book, we veered into good versus evil, and brought a bunch of religious iconography into the mix. Now, in some ways I can put up with stories that contain religion, depending on how it’s handled. That is rare, however. I was impatient with this part and couldn’t wait for it to be done with. Thankfully, the bits that were annoying me are done with. I fear they’ll be back in Book 4, however. I’ll likely skim those parts, but I’ll definitely be back for the book.
Rachel writes such compelling stories, they’re hard to put down. She has her basis covered with designing the infrastructure so well. You feel like you can walk around the corner and know that there will be a coffee shop jussssst … there. Same goes for the religion, the witchcraft, and how they work. It feels solid, not like something she just pulled out of the ether.
March 18, 2025
Wow. If you start to read Rachel's "Tear Down Heaven" series, buckle yourself in but it's going to be a bumpy ride. Thank you to Rachel for providing me an ARC so that I could start reading this novel before it was officially available.
We start the story with the Seattle Anchor getting back to normal with more demons showing up to live there under Bex's rule.
We get introduced to General Kirok (Korokaltos), who is leading a band of war demons to bolster Bex's potential to attack Gilgamesh's Heaven. [I almost typed "Gilgamensch" but that was probably a Freudian slip.]
General Kirok encourages Bex to acquire a super war demon called "Havok" who turns out not to be what he appears to be.
Adrian gets to know his father, Malik, better and he turns out not to be what he appears to be. Many pleasant twists in this novel.
Adrian "whitewashes" his tree with quintessence.
Bex makes a questionable choice which darkens her character.
Iggs writes technical documentation (a fellow tech writer).
The story ends up on the brink of a massive cliff (hanger) and I can hardly wait for Rachel's next book in the series (which she assures me will be out this Summer).
Overall, Rachel keeps ratcheting up the tension in unexpected ways. Good stories, good characters, and we need more please.
I was three-quarters of the way through the book before I realized that it was Nemini on the cover with her Medusa "do".
We start the story with the Seattle Anchor getting back to normal with more demons showing up to live there under Bex's rule.
We get introduced to General Kirok (Korokaltos), who is leading a band of war demons to bolster Bex's potential to attack Gilgamesh's Heaven. [I almost typed "Gilgamensch" but that was probably a Freudian slip.]
General Kirok encourages Bex to acquire a super war demon called "Havok" who turns out not to be what he appears to be.
Adrian gets to know his father, Malik, better and he turns out not to be what he appears to be. Many pleasant twists in this novel.
Adrian "whitewashes" his tree with quintessence.
Bex makes a questionable choice which darkens her character.
Iggs writes technical documentation (a fellow tech writer).
The story ends up on the brink of a massive cliff (hanger) and I can hardly wait for Rachel's next book in the series (which she assures me will be out this Summer).
Overall, Rachel keeps ratcheting up the tension in unexpected ways. Good stories, good characters, and we need more please.
I was three-quarters of the way through the book before I realized that it was Nemini on the cover with her Medusa "do".
March 14, 2025
I DON’T HAVE THE WORDS!!!
MIND BLOWN!
I mean I saw where it was going, it was hard not to, but at the same time I didn’t see THAT coming.
Gah!! I need book 4, like right now! Sad times, I can wait (because I have to).
So yeah, that was full on BOOM! This series is easily one of the best I’ve read in recent years. In book 2 Bex aka Rebexa Queen of Wrath and Adrian Blackwood attacked and took the Seattle Anchor. More importantly they learned exactly what it was an anchor for. Since then Gilgamesh put the remaining anchors on lockdown and Adrian has been trying to find his way to another chain with no luck. Bex has been busy freeing demons. Plans are afoot and new allies appear. The road ahead is very rocky for Adrian and Bex are they ever going to find the time to carry on their plots?
If you’re anything like me you’ll want to read the series back to back. So whilst I strongly recommend that you read this series, I suggest you decide if you can wait between books, if you can’t then hang on until book 4 to see if it’s the final instalment of the series. Either way I think you’re going to want to read it, I doubt you’ll be disappointed. This series just made it onto my “must buy” list.
MIND BLOWN!
I mean I saw where it was going, it was hard not to, but at the same time I didn’t see THAT coming.
Gah!! I need book 4, like right now! Sad times, I can wait (because I have to).
So yeah, that was full on BOOM! This series is easily one of the best I’ve read in recent years. In book 2 Bex aka Rebexa Queen of Wrath and Adrian Blackwood attacked and took the Seattle Anchor. More importantly they learned exactly what it was an anchor for. Since then Gilgamesh put the remaining anchors on lockdown and Adrian has been trying to find his way to another chain with no luck. Bex has been busy freeing demons. Plans are afoot and new allies appear. The road ahead is very rocky for Adrian and Bex are they ever going to find the time to carry on their plots?
If you’re anything like me you’ll want to read the series back to back. So whilst I strongly recommend that you read this series, I suggest you decide if you can wait between books, if you can’t then hang on until book 4 to see if it’s the final instalment of the series. Either way I think you’re going to want to read it, I doubt you’ll be disappointed. This series just made it onto my “must buy” list.
March 16, 2025
I absolutely adored Hell for Hire - it was one of those rare books that felt like it was written just for me. The characters, the immersive and original setting, the magic system rooted in Mesopotamian mythology and the Epic of Gilgamesh - everything about it was perfection. Hell of a Witch kept the momentum going, especially with how it deepened Bex and Adrian’s relationship, so I was beyond excited to see how their story would end in Hell to Pay.
Except… it turns out this isn’t the final book in the series. And while I’m thrilled that I don’t have to say goodbye just yet, this installment definitely suffers from middle-book syndrome - even more so than Hell of a Witch did. Bex and Adrian spend most of the book apart, each on their own missions, whether it’s gathering power or figuring out how to breach Gilgamesh’s domain. They don’t reunite until Act 3, which makes the whole thing feel a bit like the middle act of an RPG - grinding for levels before the final boss fight.
If you have even a passing familiarity with Sumerian mythology, you’ll probably guess who Adrian’s new ally really is by Chapter 7, which takes some of the punch out of the big reveal. But the other plot twist? That one I did not see coming. It completely threw me, and now I have to wait months for the next book?!
If anyone needs me, I’ll just be here, refreshing Rachel Aaron’s homepage and whispering, Is it time yet?
Except… it turns out this isn’t the final book in the series. And while I’m thrilled that I don’t have to say goodbye just yet, this installment definitely suffers from middle-book syndrome - even more so than Hell of a Witch did. Bex and Adrian spend most of the book apart, each on their own missions, whether it’s gathering power or figuring out how to breach Gilgamesh’s domain. They don’t reunite until Act 3, which makes the whole thing feel a bit like the middle act of an RPG - grinding for levels before the final boss fight.
If you have even a passing familiarity with Sumerian mythology, you’ll probably guess who Adrian’s new ally really is by Chapter 7, which takes some of the punch out of the big reveal. But the other plot twist? That one I did not see coming. It completely threw me, and now I have to wait months for the next book?!
If anyone needs me, I’ll just be here, refreshing Rachel Aaron’s homepage and whispering, Is it time yet?
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