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Donny's Inferno #2
Down in Flames
From award-winning author P.W. Catanese comes the second fast-paced thriller about a twelve-year-old boy who must protect the kinder, gentler underworld from returning to its previous terrifying incarnation.
After being rescued from a fiery death by Angela Obscura, an ancient demon from the underworld, Donny Taylor is settling into a new home in Sulfur.
Life as Angela’s mortal assistant isn’t so bad. Donny gets to travel to exotic places through fire portals, money is no object, and he’s seeing amazing things that few mortal boys have ever laid eyes on. Plus Angela is fun to be around. What’s not to like?
Well there is one minor detail. Being Angela’s assistant has almost gotten Donny killed a few times already. And Angela doesn’t seem to take his worries very seriously. After all, she may look like a beautiful human, but she’s a demon and hard to kill. Donny, however, is all too vulnerable. When another encounter with a horrific underworld monster nearly gets him devoured, he’s starting to wonder if he should find a way out of the whole situation.
Then the king of the underworld’s ferrymen gives Angela and Donny a mission. Souls are disappearing before they reach Sulfur. But who’s taking them, and why? Their quest takes the pair on another globe-hopping adventure, where they join forces with a charming old friend of Angela’s named Fiasco.
When Donny finds himself in danger yet again, it’s finally time to Should he help Angela pursue this mystery to its shocking conclusion? Or should he plan his escape to a normal mortal life, before it all goes down in flames?
After being rescued from a fiery death by Angela Obscura, an ancient demon from the underworld, Donny Taylor is settling into a new home in Sulfur.
Life as Angela’s mortal assistant isn’t so bad. Donny gets to travel to exotic places through fire portals, money is no object, and he’s seeing amazing things that few mortal boys have ever laid eyes on. Plus Angela is fun to be around. What’s not to like?
Well there is one minor detail. Being Angela’s assistant has almost gotten Donny killed a few times already. And Angela doesn’t seem to take his worries very seriously. After all, she may look like a beautiful human, but she’s a demon and hard to kill. Donny, however, is all too vulnerable. When another encounter with a horrific underworld monster nearly gets him devoured, he’s starting to wonder if he should find a way out of the whole situation.
Then the king of the underworld’s ferrymen gives Angela and Donny a mission. Souls are disappearing before they reach Sulfur. But who’s taking them, and why? Their quest takes the pair on another globe-hopping adventure, where they join forces with a charming old friend of Angela’s named Fiasco.
When Donny finds himself in danger yet again, it’s finally time to Should he help Angela pursue this mystery to its shocking conclusion? Or should he plan his escape to a normal mortal life, before it all goes down in flames?
336 pages, Hardcover
First published April 4, 2017
1 person is currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
P.W. Catanese
11 books234 followersP.W. (Paul) Catanese is the author of fantasy-adventure novels (published by Aladdin/Simon & Schuster). His next novel, DONNY'S INFERNO, a supernatural adventure, will be published in early 2016.
A crisp style, fast pacing, interesting characters and vivid descriptions have made Catanese a favorite with everyone from reluctant readers to teachers to adults seeking a thrilling escape. His books have been turned into acclaimed audiobooks, and translated into many foreign languages.
In its starred review, Publisher's Weekly said “Catanese dazzles in the first of the planned Books of Umber...Catanese packs a lot into the book: rich characterizations, well-choreographed action sequences and genuinely surprising twists at the end. An auspicious start to the series.”
VOYA called The Thief and the Beanstalk "a rollicking adventure meshed with complex characters and an intriguing spin on a familiar tale..."
Paul is always happy to hear from readers.
A crisp style, fast pacing, interesting characters and vivid descriptions have made Catanese a favorite with everyone from reluctant readers to teachers to adults seeking a thrilling escape. His books have been turned into acclaimed audiobooks, and translated into many foreign languages.
In its starred review, Publisher's Weekly said “Catanese dazzles in the first of the planned Books of Umber...Catanese packs a lot into the book: rich characterizations, well-choreographed action sequences and genuinely surprising twists at the end. An auspicious start to the series.”
VOYA called The Thief and the Beanstalk "a rollicking adventure meshed with complex characters and an intriguing spin on a familiar tale..."
Paul is always happy to hear from readers.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 25, 2017
My name is Danny, and I am a mortal human now living in Sulfur (a place you might know as Hell) serving a demon named Angela. She led the reform that stopped the tormenting of souls for eternity in the Pit of Fire, but some creatures still want a return to tradition. The king of the ferryman spoke to the council and said there are souls being taken in the mortal world instead being delivered to Sulfur. He also said he may start his own revolution back to the old ways if the persons responsible are not stopped. Angela eagerly accepted the challenge, but we have no idea how dangerous it might be. She has a habit of overlooking the dangers I face when I help her, but I always thought she had my best interests at heart. However, I overheard her telling someone that she doesn't care if I live or die; she'll just find another mortal to replace me. I'm crushed. I may have a way to leave her, but is it the right thing to do? And will she allow it without killing me?
You should read Donny's Inferno first. It explains all of the background knowledge you need to understand Down in Flames. The premise underlying the series is unusual. Who would ever think demons in the underworld might have a moral problem with forcing damned souls into a burning pit of fire for eternity? Angela believes souls should have a chance for redemption with the possibility of eventually finding eternal rest. Donny's character is obviously in a bizarre situation. A human teenager living among demons in the underworld? The conversation he overheard with Angela added a whole new dimension to the plot and became a major problem for him. He wants to please Angela, but he has mortal fears and thinks he's being taken for granted. I felt like the mystery of the missing souls took a backseat to Donny's issues until he resolved them. I was fine with that. Angela is a great character, because she has great power and can become a terrifying creature but seems naive about the mortal world. She can act like a mother to Donny then immediately strike terror into everyone around her. Overall, I'm enjoying the series very much, and recommend it to readers.
You should read Donny's Inferno first. It explains all of the background knowledge you need to understand Down in Flames. The premise underlying the series is unusual. Who would ever think demons in the underworld might have a moral problem with forcing damned souls into a burning pit of fire for eternity? Angela believes souls should have a chance for redemption with the possibility of eventually finding eternal rest. Donny's character is obviously in a bizarre situation. A human teenager living among demons in the underworld? The conversation he overheard with Angela added a whole new dimension to the plot and became a major problem for him. He wants to please Angela, but he has mortal fears and thinks he's being taken for granted. I felt like the mystery of the missing souls took a backseat to Donny's issues until he resolved them. I was fine with that. Angela is a great character, because she has great power and can become a terrifying creature but seems naive about the mortal world. She can act like a mother to Donny then immediately strike terror into everyone around her. Overall, I'm enjoying the series very much, and recommend it to readers.
May 12, 2020
Beautiful and enjoyable read!!!
May 12, 2020
A great book! It is filled with adventures and action to the brim! It is amazing!
Oh, Margo read this!
Oh, Margo read this!
July 19, 2017
A good book II- lots of adventure and learning more about Angela's world in Sulfer!
January 29, 2018
Catanese, P.W. Donny's Inferno: Down in Flames, 323 pgs. Aladdin, 2017. $16.99. Language: G (1 swear); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG.
Hanging out with Angela in the Underworld is fun and Donny has seen and done a lot of things that no one else has, but being in the Underworld is dangerous, especially for a mortal. The struggle for power is still going on and Angela is always in search of allies. Also, there are monsters to catch. Donny likes being in the Underworld with Angela, but after an incident he begins to wonder if something else is going on. Donny keeps forgetting that Angela is a demon, and maybe she is using him and putting him in unnecessary danger.
This was a harder read for me than the first book. There is a lot going on and you need to remember new people and places as well as old ones. There are a few side stories that I'm not sure how, or if, they fit into the story, but there is a lot of action and adventure that will appeal to some of your readers, especially if they liked the first book. That being said, I didn't find any of the characters to be truly endearing, particularly Angela, who I like even less this time around, and I didn't find myself invested in their story.
EL, MS - OPTIONAL. Reviewer: RB
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
Hanging out with Angela in the Underworld is fun and Donny has seen and done a lot of things that no one else has, but being in the Underworld is dangerous, especially for a mortal. The struggle for power is still going on and Angela is always in search of allies. Also, there are monsters to catch. Donny likes being in the Underworld with Angela, but after an incident he begins to wonder if something else is going on. Donny keeps forgetting that Angela is a demon, and maybe she is using him and putting him in unnecessary danger.
This was a harder read for me than the first book. There is a lot going on and you need to remember new people and places as well as old ones. There are a few side stories that I'm not sure how, or if, they fit into the story, but there is a lot of action and adventure that will appeal to some of your readers, especially if they liked the first book. That being said, I didn't find any of the characters to be truly endearing, particularly Angela, who I like even less this time around, and I didn't find myself invested in their story.
EL, MS - OPTIONAL. Reviewer: RB
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews