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Purgatory, Inc
Writing Your Own Ransom Note
Jazz Chaillet is your average college caffeinating his way through his tough chemistry program, working as many hours as he can at his bakery job to offset his crushing student loan...and being hunted by a hellhound.
According to the hellhound, Pyxis, tampering with dark magic has Jazz’s soul in a state of swift decay. The only problem? Jazz’s studying regimen doesn’t include witchcraft. In order to sniff out the real witch, Pyxis and Jazz will have to intimately connect to one another—in soul and body.
According to the hellhound, Pyxis, tampering with dark magic has Jazz’s soul in a state of swift decay. The only problem? Jazz’s studying regimen doesn’t include witchcraft. In order to sniff out the real witch, Pyxis and Jazz will have to intimately connect to one another—in soul and body.
39 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 22, 2015
1 person is currently reading
34 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 3, 2015
A Hearts On Fire Review
3.5 HEARTS--Different. Hella different and I liked it for what it brought to the table.
Tired of reading paranormal that feature the ever popular choices of shifters? Want to read about a different type of beast? Want diversity? Want to read snark without it going into lames-ville?
You might be interested in reading Sam Schooler's "Writing Your Own Ransom Note".
Set in Chicago, Jazz is 19, bi, Canadian, a victim of racism and bullying due to his vitiligo. Believable. But the story doesn't play the 'woe is me' card which I give kudos to the author for. He's working at a doughnut shop and his coworker spots a monster wolf-dog (hilarious internal dialogue BTW) sitting on Jazz's car. He tries to cajole the wolf-dog off his car but instead the wolf-dog has plans for him.
The animal is not of this world, he's a hellhound named Pyxis. And Pyxis is on the hunt for rotting souls...guess who Pyxis thinks has one?
The two encounter a mini snark filled, junk food gobbling road trip to save Jazz's soul. And they perform an inventive way on sussing out the soul rot. This is a short story, so not too many guesses on how Pyxis works this out. (Don't fear, Pyxis has a human form)
The story wasn't action packed or suspenseful. No bang, bang, shoot'em up here. This is perfect for a reader who wants something to read between novels or on a lunch break. There is sex but it wasn't intense or something that might make you get flustered. Everything about it was quirky and I liked the vibe and for the different ways it introduced different types of people. There was an ease about it that I liked.
But the story was kind of too short. Something about the ease of Jazz and Rosa's reactions was a little hard to swallow for me. And it ends with barely a HFN. I think I'd have liked a little more length. Maybe finish the case or at least read what happens to the culprit.
Overall: quick, easy and different. This is part of a series of standalones short stories, Purgatory Inc.
Great concept.
3.5 HEARTS--Different. Hella different and I liked it for what it brought to the table.
Tired of reading paranormal that feature the ever popular choices of shifters? Want to read about a different type of beast? Want diversity? Want to read snark without it going into lames-ville?
You might be interested in reading Sam Schooler's "Writing Your Own Ransom Note".
Set in Chicago, Jazz is 19, bi, Canadian, a victim of racism and bullying due to his vitiligo. Believable. But the story doesn't play the 'woe is me' card which I give kudos to the author for. He's working at a doughnut shop and his coworker spots a monster wolf-dog (hilarious internal dialogue BTW) sitting on Jazz's car. He tries to cajole the wolf-dog off his car but instead the wolf-dog has plans for him.
The animal is not of this world, he's a hellhound named Pyxis. And Pyxis is on the hunt for rotting souls...guess who Pyxis thinks has one?
The two encounter a mini snark filled, junk food gobbling road trip to save Jazz's soul. And they perform an inventive way on sussing out the soul rot. This is a short story, so not too many guesses on how Pyxis works this out. (Don't fear, Pyxis has a human form)
The story wasn't action packed or suspenseful. No bang, bang, shoot'em up here. This is perfect for a reader who wants something to read between novels or on a lunch break. There is sex but it wasn't intense or something that might make you get flustered. Everything about it was quirky and I liked the vibe and for the different ways it introduced different types of people. There was an ease about it that I liked.
But the story was kind of too short. Something about the ease of Jazz and Rosa's reactions was a little hard to swallow for me. And it ends with barely a HFN. I think I'd have liked a little more length. Maybe finish the case or at least read what happens to the culprit.
Overall: quick, easy and different. This is part of a series of standalones short stories, Purgatory Inc.
Great concept.
June 18, 2018
I don't know whether not reading the other books in this series play a role, but I think I missed a whole lot of context about the story and characters background *shrugged*
Read
August 7, 2025So happy to finally read this. I love a good supernatural story in a contemporary setting (it's pretty much the only way I can enjoy contemporary these days), and this delivered. Basically I was sold on page one because the MC is named Jazz and there was a DOG SITTING ON HIS CAR.
The connection between Jazz and Pyxis is immediate and unique and I was totally into it from the go. Sam Schooler's knack for dialog helped there. Moments of humor--re: Pyxis' size, "He could have fit Jazz’s entire head in his mouth and have some room to spare for fries"--kept it from being 100% about sexual tension and plot device stuff. It's pretty hard to nail that kind of author voice, especially in relatively little real estate (the story's 38 pages), but it's well done and very balanced.
Really my only issue is the length. I'd love more background and to see more characters: Jazz's mom's Wiccan, so meeting her could be cool, and, you know, there's a hellhound in the story, and the confirmation of heaven and hell. More worldbuilding about the magic and how it works in the world would be lovely, but even though 50 more pages would be great, it was a satisfying read from beginning to end.
The connection between Jazz and Pyxis is immediate and unique and I was totally into it from the go. Sam Schooler's knack for dialog helped there. Moments of humor--re: Pyxis' size, "He could have fit Jazz’s entire head in his mouth and have some room to spare for fries"--kept it from being 100% about sexual tension and plot device stuff. It's pretty hard to nail that kind of author voice, especially in relatively little real estate (the story's 38 pages), but it's well done and very balanced.
Really my only issue is the length. I'd love more background and to see more characters: Jazz's mom's Wiccan, so meeting her could be cool, and, you know, there's a hellhound in the story, and the confirmation of heaven and hell. More worldbuilding about the magic and how it works in the world would be lovely, but even though 50 more pages would be great, it was a satisfying read from beginning to end.
February 12, 2015
This book was fabulous! Kudos to the author for tackling the skin disorder. Jazz was a fantastic character. He fought racism, bully’s and hater to pursue his dream. Pyxis was a badass shapeshifter/hellhound. Even though we never read his pov the author did a perfect job writing Pyxis.
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January 23, 2015
I adored this novella. Seriously it was fantastic. I want more of Jazz and Pyxis because they have intriguing chemistry and great potential for background stories.
This is the second installment of the Purgatory Inc. world from Evernight Publishing.
This is the second installment of the Purgatory Inc. world from Evernight Publishing.
April 4, 2015
2.5 stars
It had a potential,and I think if it was a novel,or novella even,it would be better...but,honestly I can't say that I enjoyed it. OK to pass 30 minutes of your time,but it's rather pointless,at least it was for me.
It had a potential,and I think if it was a novel,or novella even,it would be better...but,honestly I can't say that I enjoyed it. OK to pass 30 minutes of your time,but it's rather pointless,at least it was for me.
December 12, 2015
4.5 Stars
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews