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The Eighth
After Paimon, Lucifer’s top soul collector, falls in love with a mortal girl whose soul he is supposed to claim, he desperately tries everything in his power to save her from the Devil’s grasp. But what happens when a demon has to confront his demons, when he has to turn to something darker, something more sinister for help? Can Paimon survive the consequences of working with the Seven Deadly Sins-sins who have their own agenda with the Devil—or will he fall into a deeper, darker kind of hell?
“The Eighth is a stellar horror debut from Stephanie Wytovich. An intimate, painful map of personal and literal hells that would make Clive Barker proud.” – Christopher Golden, New York Times bestselling author
“The Eighth is a stellar horror debut from Stephanie Wytovich. An intimate, painful map of personal and literal hells that would make Clive Barker proud.” – Christopher Golden, New York Times bestselling author
252 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2016
9 people are currently reading
195 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie M. Wytovich
76 books271 followersStephanie M. Wytovich is an American poet, novelist, and essayist. Her work has been featured in magazines and anthologies, such as Weird Tales, Nightmare Magazine, Southwest Review, Year's Best Hardcore Horror: Volume 2, and The Best Horror of the Year: Volumes 8 & 15.
Wytovich is the Poetry Editor for Raw Dog Screaming Press and an adjunct at Western Connecticut State University, Southern New Hampshire University, and Point Park University. She has received the Elizabeth Matchett Stover Memorial Award, the 2021 Ladies of Horror Fiction Writers Grant, and the Rocky Wood Memorial Scholarship for nonfiction writing.
Wytovich is a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association, an active member of the Horror Writers Association, and a graduate of Seton Hill University’s MFA program for Writing Popular Fiction. She is a two-time Bram Stoker Award-winning poet, and her nonfiction craft book for speculative poetry, Writing Poetry in the Dark, is available from Raw Dog Screaming Press. Readers can pick up her latest project, Howl: An Anthology of Werewolves from Women in Horror, co-edited with Lindy Ryan, now from Black Spot Books.
Follow Wytovich at https://www.stephaniemwytovich.com/ and on Twitter, Threads, and Instagram @SWytovich and @thehauntedbookshelf. You can also sign up for her newsletter at https://stephaniemwytovich.substack.com/.
Wytovich is the Poetry Editor for Raw Dog Screaming Press and an adjunct at Western Connecticut State University, Southern New Hampshire University, and Point Park University. She has received the Elizabeth Matchett Stover Memorial Award, the 2021 Ladies of Horror Fiction Writers Grant, and the Rocky Wood Memorial Scholarship for nonfiction writing.
Wytovich is a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association, an active member of the Horror Writers Association, and a graduate of Seton Hill University’s MFA program for Writing Popular Fiction. She is a two-time Bram Stoker Award-winning poet, and her nonfiction craft book for speculative poetry, Writing Poetry in the Dark, is available from Raw Dog Screaming Press. Readers can pick up her latest project, Howl: An Anthology of Werewolves from Women in Horror, co-edited with Lindy Ryan, now from Black Spot Books.
Follow Wytovich at https://www.stephaniemwytovich.com/ and on Twitter, Threads, and Instagram @SWytovich and @thehauntedbookshelf. You can also sign up for her newsletter at https://stephaniemwytovich.substack.com/.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 4, 2016
I like my horror much the way I like my whisky - high quality, straight up, excellent from the beginning to the end, and leaving me wanting more. I can be all over the board when it comes to horror that I like. The biggest thing is suspension of disbelief. If I'm not buying into the story, it's a struggle to get through. That's why dark fantasy is a tough one for me to choke down. Most of the stuff that I encounter is so comic book-ish, it's hard for me to swallow, like cheap whiskey. So, when I was asked to read and review Stephanie Wytovich's dark fantasy tale, The Eighth, I was apprehensive, to say the least, eyeing it with the same kind of scrutiny as if someone poured me a glass of whiskey made in Cleveland. This may be Wytovich's debut novel, but she's no rookie in the writing world. Poetry seems to be her calling and she's been nominated for Bram Stoker Awards in that area. You can see it in her writing which, by the way, is very good. Her descriptions are top shelf. The girl has quite the vocabulary and she's not afraid to use it. She paints a landscape of hell with liberal strokes of Dante's Inferno along with accents of Clive Barker and Neil Gaimon, for good measure. The tale itself centers around Paimon, Satan's top soul collector. Paimon has been assigned to harvest Rhea's soul. In an unusual lack of preparedness, Paimon goes about the task withouth reading her file first. Bad mistake. If he had, he would've learned that Rhea is a spitting image of Marissa, Paimon's long lost love who he killed so many years ago. He struggles daily with this decision and, upon seeing Rhea, he immediately falls in love with her. There's no way he can deliver her to Lucifer. He has to have Rhea for himself. Well, you can see how this can become problematic and to no surprise, it does.
Wytovich's elegant writing style breathes life into the story. You can feel Paimon's sadness and pain. She's also no stranger to the red stuff, which this book has plenty. The "rules" of hell are a bit jumbled, but that may also be something that I missed on the initial reading. And that's really my only complaint for the whole story. I feel like I was missing something to tie it all together. Now, that's more of a problem for me and not the fault of the writer. If you're a fan of dark fantasy, pour yourself a tall glass of The Eighth. The writing is excellent from start to finish.
4 1/2 Deadly Sins out of 5
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A2J1...
Wytovich's elegant writing style breathes life into the story. You can feel Paimon's sadness and pain. She's also no stranger to the red stuff, which this book has plenty. The "rules" of hell are a bit jumbled, but that may also be something that I missed on the initial reading. And that's really my only complaint for the whole story. I feel like I was missing something to tie it all together. Now, that's more of a problem for me and not the fault of the writer. If you're a fan of dark fantasy, pour yourself a tall glass of The Eighth. The writing is excellent from start to finish.
4 1/2 Deadly Sins out of 5
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A2J1...
October 29, 2016
This is an excerpt. The entire review can be found at: http://www.thisishorror.co.uk/book-re...
Stephanie M. Wytovich is far from an unknown in the horror community. Having published several outstanding collections of poetry, including Hysteria, Mourning Jewelry, and her most recent book Brothel, she’s arguably one of our more prolific and talented poets. She’s garnered high accolades from readers, critics, and reviewers, and she’s been nominated for several awards, including multiple Bram Stokers. Most recently she’s turned her considerable talents to long form fiction, producing one of the most unique, groundbreaking, and remarkable debut novels to come along in years.
In The Eighth, Rhea Harmon is a broken young soul, betrayed by her lover and coveted by the Devil for her ability to detect people’s sins. And the Devil isn’t the only one who wants her. Paimon, the demon monk who serves as Lucifer’s top collector of souls has been sent to collect her but instead he falls in love with her, vowing to protect her from Satan and branding himself a traitor in the process. But Stephanie M. Wytovich’s Hell is full of surprises and Paimon finds himself seeking help from a force even darker and more threatening than the Devil himself. Oddly, given that the majority of the characters are devils and demons, it’s a poignantly human story of loss, betrayal, and suffering that delights in sin and decadence. Loosely based on the Hades of Dante’s Inferno, Wytovich’s depiction of the underworld is truly terrifying and it’s likely that it would scare the hell out of Alighieri himself.
Stephanie M. Wytovich is far from an unknown in the horror community. Having published several outstanding collections of poetry, including Hysteria, Mourning Jewelry, and her most recent book Brothel, she’s arguably one of our more prolific and talented poets. She’s garnered high accolades from readers, critics, and reviewers, and she’s been nominated for several awards, including multiple Bram Stokers. Most recently she’s turned her considerable talents to long form fiction, producing one of the most unique, groundbreaking, and remarkable debut novels to come along in years.
In The Eighth, Rhea Harmon is a broken young soul, betrayed by her lover and coveted by the Devil for her ability to detect people’s sins. And the Devil isn’t the only one who wants her. Paimon, the demon monk who serves as Lucifer’s top collector of souls has been sent to collect her but instead he falls in love with her, vowing to protect her from Satan and branding himself a traitor in the process. But Stephanie M. Wytovich’s Hell is full of surprises and Paimon finds himself seeking help from a force even darker and more threatening than the Devil himself. Oddly, given that the majority of the characters are devils and demons, it’s a poignantly human story of loss, betrayal, and suffering that delights in sin and decadence. Loosely based on the Hades of Dante’s Inferno, Wytovich’s depiction of the underworld is truly terrifying and it’s likely that it would scare the hell out of Alighieri himself.
October 24, 2016
Review: THE EIGHTH by Stephanie M. Wytovich
Stephanie Wytovich is by nature a poet. THE EIGHTH is both pure poetry, and purely poetic. From the first lines I floated in imagery and lyricism, in sensuality in its strictest sense, a feast of the senses. A hedonist would revel! [Both Aleister Crowley and Oscar Wilde come to mind in this regard.]
The demon Paimon is one of Hell's collectors, who bring souls for Lucifer's delectation. That worthy prefers females, so Paimon needs must provide according to his quota. He is a clever and cunning temptor indeed, and his weapons are those of supreme mental torture: despair, betrayal, self-flagellation, envy, depression, self-wrath. As are his victims prisoners of their own emotions and confusion, so too is their temptor, far more like his targets than either can know.
Stephanie Wytovich is by nature a poet. THE EIGHTH is both pure poetry, and purely poetic. From the first lines I floated in imagery and lyricism, in sensuality in its strictest sense, a feast of the senses. A hedonist would revel! [Both Aleister Crowley and Oscar Wilde come to mind in this regard.]
The demon Paimon is one of Hell's collectors, who bring souls for Lucifer's delectation. That worthy prefers females, so Paimon needs must provide according to his quota. He is a clever and cunning temptor indeed, and his weapons are those of supreme mental torture: despair, betrayal, self-flagellation, envy, depression, self-wrath. As are his victims prisoners of their own emotions and confusion, so too is their temptor, far more like his targets than either can know.
October 31, 2016
The Eighth is an intense tale of love, betrayal, damnation and regret. Paimon's story draws you in with lyrical language and lush imagery that is both beautiful and disturbing. This story is definitely not safe for the faint of heart or the weak of stomach, immersing you in a world of pain and darkness. Paimon and Arazel are compelling characters to follow as they struggle to get out of Hell and rescue Rhea from the Devil. The Seven are also intriguing as they plot to overthrow the Devil. From the brutal beginning to the twisted ending this book kept me on the edge of my seat. I highly recommend this engrossing 4.5 star read.
January 8, 2018
This wasn't really bad, but I don't think it was for me, so it was a pretty meh selection with a couple really serious turn offs.
The setting has a lot to offer as it is in a contemporary version of Dante's multi-ringed hell, Paimon is a soul collector trying to meet his quota as a result of a postmortem deal with the devil when he's tasked with going to collect the soul of Rhea. Things go awry in the process of collecting Rhea, not only because she reminds him of his dead wife, but this ends up giving an opening to The Seven (aka the seven deadly sins as beings) who have been banished to the void to make their way out and bring war to the devil. Sounds awesome so far, right? Except basically all of that awesome main plot arc is barely there behind a whole lot of pointless filler.
- Rhea is special in that she can see people's sin as coloured auras. This sounds amazing! Except that it's barely a passing mention twice in the book, it's never explained at all beyond that or given purpose at any point, despite being a huge opening to something that would have been really cool.
- The whole thing is full of incredibly forced attempts at either "grossifying" or sexualizing things that are not actually gross or sexual contexts, using very repetitive word choices. I don't know how one can shoehorn the words "erect" or "tongue/tonguing" into so many places, or make settings full of blood/rot/gore for no apparent purpose. At quite a few points we enter such a setting, spend lots of time describing it using those particular terms, then leave without ever doing anything there. I like actual atmospheric horror, but at no point was this effective to achieve that, there were a couple moments where I got hopeful it was actually going to turn for more creepy set pieces instead but then didn't.
- Blackouts. There are a lot of short chapters, I am not exaggerating that probably at least 1/3 of the chapters contain either a blackout or open to waking up from a blackout.
- I still haven't figured out how a multi-murder happens, then just no one comes after the murderer, they just wake up at a family member's and absolutely nothing ever comes of it.
- Women are just generally poorly handled and quite badly objectified. Apparently women are so difficult to see as individuals that Paimon is constantly mistaking the only 3 named women for one another, who are all never in the same places (Marissa never even actually exists in the story as more than his memory from life). Women are constantly derogatorily called "whore," sure we're in hell, but c'mon, if anything I would think it wouldn't be an insult there at all. Paimon falls in insta-love with Rhea, has sex with her once, impregnates her with a demon baby of some sort... all while having never actually talked to her, then basically the rest/majority of the book is spent agonizing over how much he needs her and has go through the wringer to salvage the situation to be with this total stranger who is actually a pretty repulsively immature, needy, jealous, and whiny person based on what little we actually see of her as a character before he comes onto the scene. Toward the end it's clear that in his life Paimon was likely some
- It's probably not a good sign when the most empathetic, likable character is the actual devil.
Ultimately, the writing was fine, the underlying big ideas were definitely there and really intriguing, but the execution was a bit all over the place.
The setting has a lot to offer as it is in a contemporary version of Dante's multi-ringed hell, Paimon is a soul collector trying to meet his quota as a result of a postmortem deal with the devil when he's tasked with going to collect the soul of Rhea. Things go awry in the process of collecting Rhea, not only because she reminds him of his dead wife, but this ends up giving an opening to The Seven (aka the seven deadly sins as beings) who have been banished to the void to make their way out and bring war to the devil. Sounds awesome so far, right? Except basically all of that awesome main plot arc is barely there behind a whole lot of pointless filler.
- Rhea is special in that she can see people's sin as coloured auras. This sounds amazing! Except that it's barely a passing mention twice in the book, it's never explained at all beyond that or given purpose at any point, despite being a huge opening to something that would have been really cool.
- The whole thing is full of incredibly forced attempts at either "grossifying" or sexualizing things that are not actually gross or sexual contexts, using very repetitive word choices. I don't know how one can shoehorn the words "erect" or "tongue/tonguing" into so many places, or make settings full of blood/rot/gore for no apparent purpose. At quite a few points we enter such a setting, spend lots of time describing it using those particular terms, then leave without ever doing anything there. I like actual atmospheric horror, but at no point was this effective to achieve that, there were a couple moments where I got hopeful it was actually going to turn for more creepy set pieces instead but then didn't.
- Blackouts. There are a lot of short chapters, I am not exaggerating that probably at least 1/3 of the chapters contain either a blackout or open to waking up from a blackout.
- I still haven't figured out how a multi-murder happens, then just no one comes after the murderer, they just wake up at a family member's and absolutely nothing ever comes of it.
- Women are just generally poorly handled and quite badly objectified. Apparently women are so difficult to see as individuals that Paimon is constantly mistaking the only 3 named women for one another, who are all never in the same places (Marissa never even actually exists in the story as more than his memory from life). Women are constantly derogatorily called "whore," sure we're in hell, but c'mon, if anything I would think it wouldn't be an insult there at all. Paimon falls in insta-love with Rhea, has sex with her once, impregnates her with a demon baby of some sort... all while having never actually talked to her, then basically the rest/majority of the book is spent agonizing over how much he needs her and has go through the wringer to salvage the situation to be with this total stranger who is actually a pretty repulsively immature, needy, jealous, and whiny person based on what little we actually see of her as a character before he comes onto the scene. Toward the end it's clear that in his life Paimon was likely some
- It's probably not a good sign when the most empathetic, likable character is the actual devil.
Ultimately, the writing was fine, the underlying big ideas were definitely there and really intriguing, but the execution was a bit all over the place.
February 26, 2019
"It was comforting to see another's regret spattered all over their face, especially when it was their own blood."
I want to say upfront that this book is a dark romance, and I am not the ideal reader / reviewer for this subgenre. I think I was expecting a bit more horror, which is why I picked it up. I'm also a huge fan of Stephanie Wytovich's poetry, so I was going to read it no matter what it was about.
Stephanie writes so well, and that's evident here, but I just struggled to get into the plot. That has to do with my own preferences, not her storytelling. I liked the concept of the book, but it was too heavy on the romance aspect for me to really be invested. If you like the religious aspects from season 5-ish of Supernatural combined with dark romance, you should definitely pick this one up.
I want to say upfront that this book is a dark romance, and I am not the ideal reader / reviewer for this subgenre. I think I was expecting a bit more horror, which is why I picked it up. I'm also a huge fan of Stephanie Wytovich's poetry, so I was going to read it no matter what it was about.
Stephanie writes so well, and that's evident here, but I just struggled to get into the plot. That has to do with my own preferences, not her storytelling. I liked the concept of the book, but it was too heavy on the romance aspect for me to really be invested. If you like the religious aspects from season 5-ish of Supernatural combined with dark romance, you should definitely pick this one up.
December 28, 2016
Wonderfully creepy and amazingly beautiful read. I'm not sure how Stephanie Wytovich managed to create such a breathtaking world in the midst of Hell. Multiple images from the descriptions will stay with me. Paimon, even tho a demon, was so perfectly rendered, complete with all his flaws, that I ended up feeling pity for him and hoping something better comes his way.
July 17, 2018
I'm always eager to read stories set, even partially set, in Hell, so I was eager to read this (and a few friends had recommended it to me). The mechanics of Hell and its minions were poetically described and I thoroughly enjoyed those passages, though it took me a few re-reads to work out the exact relationship between Paimon, Satan, the others collectors/demons, Sins, etc. I found Rhea's dark family history intriguing and enjoyed the unsettling development of her character. Witty dialog and a fair share of steamy scenes make for a diabolically fun and unquestionably dark "love" story.
April 27, 2017
This may be one of the most emotionally exhausting books I've ever read. Her descriptions of pain, both physical and psychological, were absolutely breathtaking. I found myself having to take breaks from it because it was literally affecting my mood - and not in a good way. It was the epitome of disturbing. That all being said, it's an incredible talent to have that level of impact on people. It's a beautifully written, interesting story about love, loss, betrayal, and regret. And honestly I felt them all while reading her story.
December 17, 2016
Whie I enjoyed the plot and the characters, the strongest part of the novel is Wytovich's use of language that elevates this above the rest of the genre. Little phrases of description and metaphor add a dimension of art beyond just a telling if the events . Wytovich hints at a wider theology and backstory, providing some information for contemplation and further interest, without getting bogged down in dull exposition or reading like a fictional textbook . The poetic language and brutality combine to make this something special. As if Dante and Clive Baker did a bit of the old freaky bow-ca-chow-cho and were able to breed the ideal person to continue their legacies . A favorite of the year.
February 17, 2017
I love a good book set in Hell. No joke, I have read quite a few. I have been to Palahniuk's Hell, Edward Lee's Hell, and Kurt Unsworth's Hell. Needless to say, I was pretty stoked about going to Hell with Stephanie M. Wytovich. I admittedly do not know a lot about the author other than she is an accomplished poet and I believe this is her first published novel. It is not hard to believe that Wytovich is a poet as poetry oozes out of her prose. It is dark and sexy with great emotional range.
Paimon, a soul collector for The Devil, is sent to pick up Rhea Harmon from the real world as she has the power to see a someone's deadliest sin by just looking at them. It is a rare and mighty power to have and Satan wants her soul. Paimon catches feelings for Rhea and mates with her because she reminds Paimon of his wife. This obviously wasn't the plan and after years of loyalty, Paimon finds himself a target of Lucifer as opposed to a servant. Paimon is now playing cat and mouse with SATAN while trying to protect Rhea and the baby she is now carrying. For me, the best scenes in the book are the ones that contain The Devil. Wytovich's Satan is evil, strong, deceptive, cunning and everything else you'd imagine Satan being. As Paimon navigates between dimensions of Hell and the real world we learn more about the rules and history of this post-mortem world. One of the most original and interesting components to Wytovich's Hell is the lack of, or very minimal discussion of Heaven if it really even exists in this book. I enjoyed this version of Hell being more like its own other-worldly dimension as opposed to the secular opposite of Heaven. After Paimon's deceit, "The Seven" or the keepers of the deadly sins come into the story. They have lurked in the shadows and now that Paimon has deceived Lucifer they offer him protection in an effort to destroy Lucifer. Paimon is resistant until he has no choice. Is it possible to overthrow Satan in Hell?
This is straight dark fantasy, and I can't recommend it enough for people who enjoy reading a new world created from scratch. The only aspect of the book that I wanted a little more from was more context in relation to the lore in this version of Hell. I also found myself wanting a little more background on Rhea and the power she possesses. I don't want to spoil the book for anyone but I do feel like it is left open for the possibility of a sequel or prequel which may provide more of that background and context, and if that is the case I am all for it. If not, it is still a great dark fantasy novel and I recommend it if you like books set in Hell like I do. I committed myself to the next 10 books I read and review being by female horror authors in recognition of Women in Horror Month. The Eighth is the first of this commitment (I had to read it a little slower than normal due to personal time constraints). Reading these 10 books will take me longer than February to finish but that's cool, it is more about increasing my knowledge and exposure to female horror writers than anything else. I will definitely be checking out some of Wytovich's poetry and I look forward to reading more of her prose in the future as well.
Paimon, a soul collector for The Devil, is sent to pick up Rhea Harmon from the real world as she has the power to see a someone's deadliest sin by just looking at them. It is a rare and mighty power to have and Satan wants her soul. Paimon catches feelings for Rhea and mates with her because she reminds Paimon of his wife. This obviously wasn't the plan and after years of loyalty, Paimon finds himself a target of Lucifer as opposed to a servant. Paimon is now playing cat and mouse with SATAN while trying to protect Rhea and the baby she is now carrying. For me, the best scenes in the book are the ones that contain The Devil. Wytovich's Satan is evil, strong, deceptive, cunning and everything else you'd imagine Satan being. As Paimon navigates between dimensions of Hell and the real world we learn more about the rules and history of this post-mortem world. One of the most original and interesting components to Wytovich's Hell is the lack of, or very minimal discussion of Heaven if it really even exists in this book. I enjoyed this version of Hell being more like its own other-worldly dimension as opposed to the secular opposite of Heaven. After Paimon's deceit, "The Seven" or the keepers of the deadly sins come into the story. They have lurked in the shadows and now that Paimon has deceived Lucifer they offer him protection in an effort to destroy Lucifer. Paimon is resistant until he has no choice. Is it possible to overthrow Satan in Hell?
This is straight dark fantasy, and I can't recommend it enough for people who enjoy reading a new world created from scratch. The only aspect of the book that I wanted a little more from was more context in relation to the lore in this version of Hell. I also found myself wanting a little more background on Rhea and the power she possesses. I don't want to spoil the book for anyone but I do feel like it is left open for the possibility of a sequel or prequel which may provide more of that background and context, and if that is the case I am all for it. If not, it is still a great dark fantasy novel and I recommend it if you like books set in Hell like I do. I committed myself to the next 10 books I read and review being by female horror authors in recognition of Women in Horror Month. The Eighth is the first of this commitment (I had to read it a little slower than normal due to personal time constraints). Reading these 10 books will take me longer than February to finish but that's cool, it is more about increasing my knowledge and exposure to female horror writers than anything else. I will definitely be checking out some of Wytovich's poetry and I look forward to reading more of her prose in the future as well.
February 16, 2018
I picked this up based on the back cover text. It's about a demon sent from hell to collect a soul, but she reminds him too much of his former lover, so he defies the Devil and sets out to save her, and himself. Of course, fighting the Devil, and hell itself isn't as easy as it sounds. I guess it counts as horror, but it's really just juicy, graphic descriptions of things in hell, by hell, and of hell. I don't think the intent is to scare. This was a fun, fast read, that should appeal to anyone who likes the demon as a character type of book. The best part is that with a book like this it is easy to underpower the Devil in order to give the protagonist a chance. That doesn't happen here. The Devil is truly evil, powerful, resourceful, and frankly one step ahead. There isn't so much winning against him, as getting comfortable with what you can squeeze out.
Definitely recommend.
Definitely recommend.
March 26, 2021
Bit of a strange one, this. It's a short book, ends on a cliffhanger so I'd imagine more books to come (though not yet published AFAIK) and for much of it I was tempted to DNF, which to be fair I'm quick to do, and with first books in a series often being the weakest it's where it usually happens. However, I'm a sucker for books set in Hell, and while this isn't the best Hell I've read about, not yet anyway, it's a pretty decent imagining, suitably gross and cruel. Of course there's a romance aspect which is almost always a huge turn off for me, but there's definitely more horror than romance, and by the end I found I really did want to know what's going to happen and will definitely buy the next book in the series.
February 22, 2019
Review soon!
May 18, 2019
What a ride! A tribute to the Devine Comedy with nods to the style of Barker. Wytovich has a definite talent and I can't wait to read her next novel. I'm only hoping it is a sequel to this gem!
February 7, 2017
Full disclosure: the author of this book and I are acquaintances through my graduate school. However, I bought my copy of this book of my own accord, and she has not asked me to review it any more than she has anyone else in the world.
I haven't had the opportunity to read any of Wytovich's writing outside of this, but from reputation alone, I know her to be a very talented horror-skewed poet. THE EIGHTH was her delving into this particular world of writing, and I will say, her poetic background shows through on every page. The descriptions are vivid and clear, the world easy to see in the mind's eye. Every moment was perfectly balanced to be both evocative and showing, and it was easy to follow along with the waves of emotions these characters radiated.
We follow Paimon primarily, a collector in the business of bringing souls back to the Devil. However, the charge we see him go to first is no ordinary person. This woman--Rhea--bears a startling resemblance to Paimon's late wife...and while he knows that his task is to return her for Lucifer...he doesn't want to give her up. He's lost Marissa once. He won't lose her again. What follows is the inevitable fallout of one lone person going off book, and seeing just how far Paimon is willing to go in order to keep his Rhea with him. Because when something deeper and darker than the Devil himself starts creeping up around the edges, Paimon is going to have to make a decision, and fast--one which may not seem like the best choice.
Paimon is an interesting character. There's no secret where his motivation comes from; it's clear from the beginning that in one way or another, Marissa's spirit is behind everything that he does. Whether it's the love of her, the wrath at her betrayal, the anguish of her absence, she lives at the back of every move he makes. So seeing the struggle he has when dealing with Rhea--knowing that she isn't Marissa but allowing it to be far too easy to ignore that--is intense and painful. There is a great deal of regret in Paimon, and it only builds as the story goes on--and becomes a very important element of the character.
I'm eternally fascinated by different authors' interpretations of the Devil and Hell, demons and the like, and Wytovich puts her own spin on it all. They are clearly Other from us, but there's a "human" quality to all of them (remembering a conversation with Charon the ferryman in specific) that makes it easier to relate to them, even when their reality is so far from our own. The Devil himself seems to shift as the book continues on, depending on what he's doing and how he wants to be viewed. (Reasonably.) Darkly handsome, intensely charming, everything one might expect of the Serpent from the Garden. But for all his pretty words and beautiful facade, there is no romanticization of the Devil from within his hells. He is heartless, he is cruel, and he cares only for his own end goal. We see what little romanticization of him there is when he is around impressionable humans; again, when he plays the serpent, he is a cunning master.
Wytovich's characters are all well fleshed-out and believable, with strong back stories and interesting quirks that set them apart from others...but occasionally I wonder if a little too much of it stayed within the author's head. I feel like there is infinitely more to Paimon than what we see; what is his real drive in relation to Marissa? I'm not entirely certain how he started life; was he a demon at the start, or was he once a human? Why the process of self-burning that we are introduced to early on? There are holes in my understanding, and while it's not nearly bad enough to drag me out of the story, it's enough to make it stick in my mind.
That being said, the end is very neatly lined up for the possibility of a sequel, and perhaps that's where she plans to reveal more of this. I always question, however, leaving chunks of a character's driving personality and force for a second story. Perhaps it's the right move; occasionally, it has been. I don't know where the story is headed as the author does. I'll leave that up to her.
All in all, a wonderful book and one I very much enjoyed reading. I'll be interested to see more of Wytovich's work, both poetic and prose, and will cross my fingers for more of Paimon's story.
Rating: **** (Recommended)
I haven't had the opportunity to read any of Wytovich's writing outside of this, but from reputation alone, I know her to be a very talented horror-skewed poet. THE EIGHTH was her delving into this particular world of writing, and I will say, her poetic background shows through on every page. The descriptions are vivid and clear, the world easy to see in the mind's eye. Every moment was perfectly balanced to be both evocative and showing, and it was easy to follow along with the waves of emotions these characters radiated.
We follow Paimon primarily, a collector in the business of bringing souls back to the Devil. However, the charge we see him go to first is no ordinary person. This woman--Rhea--bears a startling resemblance to Paimon's late wife...and while he knows that his task is to return her for Lucifer...he doesn't want to give her up. He's lost Marissa once. He won't lose her again. What follows is the inevitable fallout of one lone person going off book, and seeing just how far Paimon is willing to go in order to keep his Rhea with him. Because when something deeper and darker than the Devil himself starts creeping up around the edges, Paimon is going to have to make a decision, and fast--one which may not seem like the best choice.
Paimon is an interesting character. There's no secret where his motivation comes from; it's clear from the beginning that in one way or another, Marissa's spirit is behind everything that he does. Whether it's the love of her, the wrath at her betrayal, the anguish of her absence, she lives at the back of every move he makes. So seeing the struggle he has when dealing with Rhea--knowing that she isn't Marissa but allowing it to be far too easy to ignore that--is intense and painful. There is a great deal of regret in Paimon, and it only builds as the story goes on--and becomes a very important element of the character.
I'm eternally fascinated by different authors' interpretations of the Devil and Hell, demons and the like, and Wytovich puts her own spin on it all. They are clearly Other from us, but there's a "human" quality to all of them (remembering a conversation with Charon the ferryman in specific) that makes it easier to relate to them, even when their reality is so far from our own. The Devil himself seems to shift as the book continues on, depending on what he's doing and how he wants to be viewed. (Reasonably.) Darkly handsome, intensely charming, everything one might expect of the Serpent from the Garden. But for all his pretty words and beautiful facade, there is no romanticization of the Devil from within his hells. He is heartless, he is cruel, and he cares only for his own end goal. We see what little romanticization of him there is when he is around impressionable humans; again, when he plays the serpent, he is a cunning master.
Wytovich's characters are all well fleshed-out and believable, with strong back stories and interesting quirks that set them apart from others...but occasionally I wonder if a little too much of it stayed within the author's head. I feel like there is infinitely more to Paimon than what we see; what is his real drive in relation to Marissa? I'm not entirely certain how he started life; was he a demon at the start, or was he once a human? Why the process of self-burning that we are introduced to early on? There are holes in my understanding, and while it's not nearly bad enough to drag me out of the story, it's enough to make it stick in my mind.
That being said, the end is very neatly lined up for the possibility of a sequel, and perhaps that's where she plans to reveal more of this. I always question, however, leaving chunks of a character's driving personality and force for a second story. Perhaps it's the right move; occasionally, it has been. I don't know where the story is headed as the author does. I'll leave that up to her.
All in all, a wonderful book and one I very much enjoyed reading. I'll be interested to see more of Wytovich's work, both poetic and prose, and will cross my fingers for more of Paimon's story.
Rating: **** (Recommended)
February 27, 2017
Disclaimer: The author and I share a publisher for her poetry collections and I consider her a friend. However, I purchased a hardcopy version of this novel for full price.
I hate starting reviews with "I don't usually read this genre, but..." In this case, however, it's 100% true. I'm not a horror reader (or viewer). It's not my chosen form of escapism. However, I've been in love with Dante's Inferno since the first time I read it in high school, and I because I'm lucky enough to know this author personally, I was intrigued by Wytovich's version of Hell.
I could have easily devoured this book in mere hours, but I took my time in order to stop and reflect on a regular basis. Comparing The Eighth to Inferno does both books a disservice, because they both serve very different purposes. In Inferno, you shadow Dante and Plato through a sterile museum tour filled with curiosities and historical tidbits. In The Eighth, Wytovich drags you kicking and screaming in Paimon and Arazel's wake, thrusting you into the gory trenches, forcing you to be a participant rather than a spectator. Not only is it a different view of Hell, but it's a more visceral experience that provides its own agony and depth.
But sometimes, too much of a good thing isn't necessarily a positive. I've criticized erotica novels for sexual content that borders on gratuitous rather than exciting, and while The Eighth never quite crosses that line into sheer "gore porn," I did eventually find myself dulled to the physical descriptions of pain and torture. They were always beautifully detailed descriptions, but at some point, there can even be too much injury and blood and other miscellaneous bodily fluids.
The back-cover blurb is a great representation of the events that occur in this novel. At the same time, events never once played out as I could have predicted, which made for an exciting read in its own right. I was wrong about Paimon and Rhea, wrong about The Seven, and wrong about who or what would eventually become No. Eight. I was intrigued and hooked at every turn, and while some books are satisfying in their predictability, The Eighth delights in never once proving you right.
I hate starting reviews with "I don't usually read this genre, but..." In this case, however, it's 100% true. I'm not a horror reader (or viewer). It's not my chosen form of escapism. However, I've been in love with Dante's Inferno since the first time I read it in high school, and I because I'm lucky enough to know this author personally, I was intrigued by Wytovich's version of Hell.
I could have easily devoured this book in mere hours, but I took my time in order to stop and reflect on a regular basis. Comparing The Eighth to Inferno does both books a disservice, because they both serve very different purposes. In Inferno, you shadow Dante and Plato through a sterile museum tour filled with curiosities and historical tidbits. In The Eighth, Wytovich drags you kicking and screaming in Paimon and Arazel's wake, thrusting you into the gory trenches, forcing you to be a participant rather than a spectator. Not only is it a different view of Hell, but it's a more visceral experience that provides its own agony and depth.
But sometimes, too much of a good thing isn't necessarily a positive. I've criticized erotica novels for sexual content that borders on gratuitous rather than exciting, and while The Eighth never quite crosses that line into sheer "gore porn," I did eventually find myself dulled to the physical descriptions of pain and torture. They were always beautifully detailed descriptions, but at some point, there can even be too much injury and blood and other miscellaneous bodily fluids.
The back-cover blurb is a great representation of the events that occur in this novel. At the same time, events never once played out as I could have predicted, which made for an exciting read in its own right. I was wrong about Paimon and Rhea, wrong about The Seven, and wrong about who or what would eventually become No. Eight. I was intrigued and hooked at every turn, and while some books are satisfying in their predictability, The Eighth delights in never once proving you right.
September 25, 2022
A very interesting read!
I've read Wytovich's short fiction before and was very impressed by her writing style, so I was very keen to give her novel a read.
I really liked a lot of the concepts explored in this. The authors version of hell and, by extension, demons and Satan was super interesting. Besides biblical imagery Dante's inferno is also recognizable. Still Wytovich puts her own spin on it.
The first half of the book was a little slow and had me a little confused where the book was going, but the second half really picked up. I didn't enjoy being in the male main characters head, but I don't think you're supposed to. He still remained somewhat sympathetic, but I liked how the narrative never rewarded his bad/possessive behavior.
The ending was definitely my favorite part of the novel. I appreciated that Wytovich did very little moral handholding and really let the reader form their own opinions.
I'd read a sequel to this for sure!
I've read Wytovich's short fiction before and was very impressed by her writing style, so I was very keen to give her novel a read.
I really liked a lot of the concepts explored in this. The authors version of hell and, by extension, demons and Satan was super interesting. Besides biblical imagery Dante's inferno is also recognizable. Still Wytovich puts her own spin on it.
The first half of the book was a little slow and had me a little confused where the book was going, but the second half really picked up. I didn't enjoy being in the male main characters head, but I don't think you're supposed to. He still remained somewhat sympathetic, but I liked how the narrative never rewarded his bad/possessive behavior.
The ending was definitely my favorite part of the novel. I appreciated that Wytovich did very little moral handholding and really let the reader form their own opinions.
I'd read a sequel to this for sure!
May 15, 2020
The Eighth, by Stephanie M. Wytovich chronicles the epic journey of Paimon, a collector of souls. The tale opens with a provocative statement that offers readers a clear preview of what is to come.
“Paimon set himself on fire.”
Roasting in a burning chamber, this soul collector punishes himself for the deeds he is forced to commit by his taskmaster, the devil. Paimon is an extraordinary sort of demon.
The soul collector resides in a hellacious monastery deep in the bowels of the inferno. There he suffers guilt for his sins and awaits orders that will send him back to the living world where Paimon’s most searing agony awaits to torment him—memories of Marissa, his former wife. Haunted by their long spent love, even after death, he still wears his wedding ring, even though it “sears a bloody circle around his finger.”
Paimon soon gets marching orders; the devil needs another soul. His next victim will be Rhea Harmon, a troubled earthling. Impelled to do his duty, Paimon’s locates his target. One glance at Rhea compels him to reexamine his allegiance to the devil—a very dangerous notion. Paimon is love. To preserve a miniscule possibility of happiness, he leads readers on a dangerous quest aided by another citizen of hell, Arazel.
The major settings of The Eighth are in and near hell. Enhanced by the author’s poetic use of language, the descriptions offer a clear picture of a twisted, strangely believable dimension committed to hate, lust, and pain, with little or no hope of redemption.
Four main characters take turns competing for the reader’s attention. The devil is drawn as a salacious, Machiavellian ruler who manipulates his minions in a heartless plan, an ever-evolving game. Arazel is Paimon’s true and unappreciated friend and protector. Rhea is a love-struck, psychotic earthling, living a tortured, ill-fated existence. And Paimon suffers from emotions he cannot master. The interaction of these four distinctive characters creates multiple connections, interwoven temptations, and remarkable conflicts.
The plot is a highly complex, lyrical quest journey reminiscent of Dante. The action bounces back and forth between the world of the real and other dimensions, all enhanced by lush descriptions and exacting details that include examinations of the character’s inner conflicts.
The literary quality is perhaps the most preeminent element of this work. Wytovich’s poetic skills are made evident in her luscious style laced with a brilliant use of imagery. She describes each scene, action, and inner reflection in vivid, exacting detail. However, this lush prose later tends to hinder the plot by overwhelming the story repeated elements, thus slowing down the pace. However, readers who crave Boschian visuals will linger over every horrific moment.
The Eighth is a daring combination of action, quest, and verse. Readers who yearn for leisured, painterly journeys will adore the novel. It is not focused on gratuitous violence, but many of the visuals are gruesome. The Eighth is a tale that creates a mood that will wash over the reader and seep into his soul.
The Eighth comes highly recommended for enlightened readers who enjoy luxuriating in extended, atmospheric imagery.
“Paimon set himself on fire.”
Roasting in a burning chamber, this soul collector punishes himself for the deeds he is forced to commit by his taskmaster, the devil. Paimon is an extraordinary sort of demon.
The soul collector resides in a hellacious monastery deep in the bowels of the inferno. There he suffers guilt for his sins and awaits orders that will send him back to the living world where Paimon’s most searing agony awaits to torment him—memories of Marissa, his former wife. Haunted by their long spent love, even after death, he still wears his wedding ring, even though it “sears a bloody circle around his finger.”
Paimon soon gets marching orders; the devil needs another soul. His next victim will be Rhea Harmon, a troubled earthling. Impelled to do his duty, Paimon’s locates his target. One glance at Rhea compels him to reexamine his allegiance to the devil—a very dangerous notion. Paimon is love. To preserve a miniscule possibility of happiness, he leads readers on a dangerous quest aided by another citizen of hell, Arazel.
The major settings of The Eighth are in and near hell. Enhanced by the author’s poetic use of language, the descriptions offer a clear picture of a twisted, strangely believable dimension committed to hate, lust, and pain, with little or no hope of redemption.
Four main characters take turns competing for the reader’s attention. The devil is drawn as a salacious, Machiavellian ruler who manipulates his minions in a heartless plan, an ever-evolving game. Arazel is Paimon’s true and unappreciated friend and protector. Rhea is a love-struck, psychotic earthling, living a tortured, ill-fated existence. And Paimon suffers from emotions he cannot master. The interaction of these four distinctive characters creates multiple connections, interwoven temptations, and remarkable conflicts.
The plot is a highly complex, lyrical quest journey reminiscent of Dante. The action bounces back and forth between the world of the real and other dimensions, all enhanced by lush descriptions and exacting details that include examinations of the character’s inner conflicts.
The literary quality is perhaps the most preeminent element of this work. Wytovich’s poetic skills are made evident in her luscious style laced with a brilliant use of imagery. She describes each scene, action, and inner reflection in vivid, exacting detail. However, this lush prose later tends to hinder the plot by overwhelming the story repeated elements, thus slowing down the pace. However, readers who crave Boschian visuals will linger over every horrific moment.
The Eighth is a daring combination of action, quest, and verse. Readers who yearn for leisured, painterly journeys will adore the novel. It is not focused on gratuitous violence, but many of the visuals are gruesome. The Eighth is a tale that creates a mood that will wash over the reader and seep into his soul.
The Eighth comes highly recommended for enlightened readers who enjoy luxuriating in extended, atmospheric imagery.
April 30, 2017
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From Dark Regions Press comes The Eighth, Stephanie Wytovich’s debut novel. A contemporary horror tale, the story follows soul-collector Paimon who is in service to the Devil. The job is simple; go to Earth, convince the mark to commit grievous sins, then reap the bounty.
Yet Paimon’s loyalties are turned upside-down after being charged with collecting Rhea, a tortured woman locked in an abusive relationship. As he twists Rhea’s mind towards vengeance against her cheating boyfriend, the soul-collector makes an egregious mistake. Consumed by regret for killing his wife Marissa long ago, he ends up falling in love with his charge.
And by saving Rhea’s life, Paimon betrays the Devil’s trust. Yet this is not just a personal struggle, but a political one. Paimon soon discovers himself bowing to the Seven Sins, who covet dominion over the fallen angel’s domain.
Although marked as a horror novel, Wytovich borrows hints of other genres to build something unique. Divided into three parts of roughly fifteen chapters, the first section was more horror-romance and psychological. Particularly, the third chapter flirted with a powerful hook as it discussed some of Paimon’s techniques for manipulating his victims. These “tools of the job” would have been an awesome point of story-telling all on their own.
The second and third parts were more horror-fantasy as they took place primarily in Hell. Here the author does a very strong job of world-building. Our normal understanding of Hell paints it as metaphysical place, not bound by the usual laws of reality. But Wytovich hints at something more understandable, something strangely more realistic. That demons too require sustenance, and some punishments are far more permanent than others.
That ultimately, Hell has a kind of an economy.
Regarding the meta-game of publishing, the timing of this novel feels rather fortuitous. The last few years have seen a massive resurgence in the popularity of the works of H.P. Lovecraft. Eldritch horror is beloved, but has left other sub-genres somewhat ignored lately. The Eighth fills a niche for the introspection that comes with Christian dogma, and a sense of personal, existential horror.
That point may bring us to the only possible weakness with the book. Sometimes the characters’ introspections become “rabbit holes” that are too deep. The beginning chapters are filled with emotional pangs that, when explained, become lengthy backstories. These details are packed with strong character development, but their depth risks upsetting the book’s pace. Middle and later chapters naturally progress beyond this issue however.
Ultimately, The Eighth is a strong debut novel that scratches an itch in horror fans. And for those tiring of the Cthulhu mythos, it comes highly recommended.
From Dark Regions Press comes The Eighth, Stephanie Wytovich’s debut novel. A contemporary horror tale, the story follows soul-collector Paimon who is in service to the Devil. The job is simple; go to Earth, convince the mark to commit grievous sins, then reap the bounty.
Yet Paimon’s loyalties are turned upside-down after being charged with collecting Rhea, a tortured woman locked in an abusive relationship. As he twists Rhea’s mind towards vengeance against her cheating boyfriend, the soul-collector makes an egregious mistake. Consumed by regret for killing his wife Marissa long ago, he ends up falling in love with his charge.
And by saving Rhea’s life, Paimon betrays the Devil’s trust. Yet this is not just a personal struggle, but a political one. Paimon soon discovers himself bowing to the Seven Sins, who covet dominion over the fallen angel’s domain.
Although marked as a horror novel, Wytovich borrows hints of other genres to build something unique. Divided into three parts of roughly fifteen chapters, the first section was more horror-romance and psychological. Particularly, the third chapter flirted with a powerful hook as it discussed some of Paimon’s techniques for manipulating his victims. These “tools of the job” would have been an awesome point of story-telling all on their own.
The second and third parts were more horror-fantasy as they took place primarily in Hell. Here the author does a very strong job of world-building. Our normal understanding of Hell paints it as metaphysical place, not bound by the usual laws of reality. But Wytovich hints at something more understandable, something strangely more realistic. That demons too require sustenance, and some punishments are far more permanent than others.
That ultimately, Hell has a kind of an economy.
Regarding the meta-game of publishing, the timing of this novel feels rather fortuitous. The last few years have seen a massive resurgence in the popularity of the works of H.P. Lovecraft. Eldritch horror is beloved, but has left other sub-genres somewhat ignored lately. The Eighth fills a niche for the introspection that comes with Christian dogma, and a sense of personal, existential horror.
That point may bring us to the only possible weakness with the book. Sometimes the characters’ introspections become “rabbit holes” that are too deep. The beginning chapters are filled with emotional pangs that, when explained, become lengthy backstories. These details are packed with strong character development, but their depth risks upsetting the book’s pace. Middle and later chapters naturally progress beyond this issue however.
Ultimately, The Eighth is a strong debut novel that scratches an itch in horror fans. And for those tiring of the Cthulhu mythos, it comes highly recommended.
Want to read
November 28, 2017Dark Regions Press P/26
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