Descent to Hell: How far would you go to rescue a loved one?

by Nic Parker

A man forced to enter mankind's most feared territory … a child dragged into the underworld!
When Charlie Ward's beloved niece is kidnapped by an atrocious demon he has to find the secret gateway into the one place every human wants to stay away Hell!
Armed only with courage and determination Charlie has to survive in a forbidding place filled with despair and anguish. He must face challenges no mortal should ever have to undergo that threaten to destroy his very soul.

228 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 28, 2016

Reviews

[Noelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well holy jaysus! A *mahoosive* shout out to Nicola East for recommending I read Nic Parker’s Descent to Hell and thanks to the author for contacting me and providing me with a copy. What follows is an unbiased and honest review of a book that I wish I had not waited so long to read!

Descent to Hell has two main settings: London and ….the depths of Hell!

As a reader, we are forced (willingly of course…ahem…) to believe the unbelievable as we face fear, anger, pain, depravity, the knowledge that no one can be trusted but having to take a leap of faith, the unknown, love and a quest to find a missing child.

My interest was piqued right at the start – from the 666 steps to the Gateway to Hell through to the very last page where truth is discovered. A missing child, a suspicious uncle…sprinkled with a dark and dry dash of humour – what is not to like! What I loved about this book was the fact that it was not pure horror. The horror element is strong, but it had a crime fiction feel to it that made it a superb read for me. Don’t get me wrong, there were some pure evil cringe moments, but also some (say with a whisper) *sexy stuff*, a bit of romance and a cracking crime/mystery to solve that just made this one of those books I devoured in hours rather than days/weeks.

Charles (Charlie) Ward is the main character and an absolute corker of a guy! He is witty, determined, and courageous as he faces his fears to find his niece, Susie. I worried that he may be a little dull, but holy sh*tballs, was I wrong! His character developed through each chapter and the reader joins him on his journey, rooting for his success. It was a turbulent and scary but thrilling excursion where Charlie’s personality may just have saved him from being killed instantly. Such a great character!

DI James Clarke really caught my eye too! He is a haunted soul by an experience from his childhood and he is determined to find Susie- even though all fingers point at poor, old Charlie! John Black is another mysterious character- can we trust him? Should we trust him? What part does he play in the case of this missing child and why does he offer Charlie an opportunity that could ultimately lead to his death? I pictured that scary fellow from Poltergeist when Mr Black was introduced…wonder if anyone else did? Turns out, John Black was a bit younger than I imagined…who knew?!

Max really stole the show for me – though Lucifer (who I will mention next) was not far behind her! Max is an inhabitant *coughs* of hell but boy did she rock! Sassy, strong, sexy, determined – A real kickass lady! Although she came across as very hard, cold on the outside, she actually had an endearing vulnerbility that really made me favour her. She oozed class in a raunchy sort of way, if that makes sense – and had it not been for the “lives in hell” part- I’d certainly want to hang out with her! #MyKindOfWeirdo

Last but certainly not least there is Lucifer – is it wrong that I fell in love with the devil himself? Seriously! This character will get under your skin and have you drooling, ladies! Power, strength, courage, a fantastic sense of humour and oh, so sexy- *fans self* – I absolutely adored his story and I can’t say anymore without giving away the best parts of this book…so I will zip my lip and let you find out for yourself what I mean.

So what can I say? Would I recommend this book- Oh My Bloody Hell I would! I loved the gothic noir feel. The storyline was unique, gripping and the humour had me belly-laughing (and maybe snorting) throughout. This is definitely going into my #TopReadsof2017 pile and I am extremely excited to see what the next in the series has in store!

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to be honest and say I wasn't initially keen on this book. It just seemed to start without any real explanation but once Charlie was in hell it picked up.
I enjoyed Lucifer, Max and their little gang. To see Lucifer as a suave man who wasn't really evil but just in charge of the really bad guys/demons made a refreshing change. Personally I wouldn't class this as horror, more a black comedy chiller....saying that, I would definitely read more from this author.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Hell takes its toll on the ones who shouldn’t be here.”

Using Orpheus’s journey into the Underworld as its inspiration, Nic Parker’s “Descent to Hell” is an imaginative modern quest, part horror, part fantasy, and gloriously entertaining.

Very little here is what you would expect, from the description of this realm (which I won’t spoil) to the people we meet. It’s the characters that are the book’s biggest strength, with protagonist Charlie Ward (our Orpheus, risking his own life to save his niece), Max the femme fatale (and possible love interest), and Lucifer himself (more a politician than the Devil) who really stand out. There are some very clever twists; Nic Parker not only knows how to build a world and populate it with engaging characters, but she also understands how to manipulate her readers and surprise us over and over again.

Written at a very fast pace, “Descent to Hell” has the episodic nature of quest stories which lends itself nicely to a TV adaptation. With plenty of suspense and lots of black humour, this is well worth a read.

[Sophie Narey (Bookreview- aholic) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wonderful dark book to read ! The main setting in this book is London and of course Hell!

In this book we meet Charlie Ward , when his beloved niece is snatched away by a demon , he is determined to find her but to do that he must find the gateway to Hell . Armed with just determination and love he fights his way through a place full of so much despair. He has to face challenges that no human should ever have to do.

This book starts of a little slow but as soon as you get to the point where Charlie is having to go into hell the pace picks up , it draws you into the book and you read it in no time at all. There is a different view of Lucifer in this book compared to others that I have read and I was a refreshing view of him , the way he is with the other characters it's wonderful to read , and although I didn't find it that scary to read it was certainly dark!

[Louise]

Horror is not usually my forte but I really wanted to read something far out of my comfort zone, something that gave me the chills and something that was just totally different than what I normally read. So having seen this come up on TBC and it involving Lucifer, Hell and a whole lot of attitude I snapped it up.


I was apprehensive because I thought this was going to be really scary and I was loving the thought, however it didn't scare me at all. What it did though was pull me right in the story and I bloody loved it.


When Charlie Ward's beloved niece is kidnapped by an atrocious demon, he has to find the secret gateway into the one place every human wants to stay away from: Hell!


Armed only with courage and determination Charlie has to survive in a forbidding place filled with despair and anguish. He must face challenges no mortal should ever have to undergo that threaten to destroy his very soul.


I loved the storyline so much that the fact that it didn't scare me didn't detract from the story at all. The attitude and the chemistry between the characters were awesome and once I started I couldn't put it down.


Lucifer was depicted in such a different light, I loved that he wasn't just the big bad evil of the underworld. If the Devil himself is a Fallen Angel he had to have some compassion right. Can I also say that I absolutely loved Max's character too, her little wisecracks made me howl. Her and Charlie's banter back and forth was comedic.


This book gave me so much enjoyment. I will most definitely be watching out for more from this author in the future.


Definitely 5 fantastic stars!!!

[Sue Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Descent To Hell by Nic parker is a horror read.
Charlie's niece is missing. The trail gone cold. But charlie hasn’t given up. He will find her.
This was a absolutely fantastic read with brilliant characters. I loved the story too. How it was written in could imagine what hell was like. Charlie would do anything to find his niece.
A fantastic read with brilliant characters. I loved charlie. A detective how Lucifer and Hell was described. Highly recommended. 5*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from tbc on fb.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Believe it or not, this Ginger Book Geek has never ever read a horror story. Well apart from Point Horror as a child but I don’t think that that really qualifies does it? My Dad was a huge fan of horror stories and he especially loved Dean Koontz, Stephen King. James Herbert and Robert .R. McCammon to name but a few. So when I was contacted and asked if I would like to take part in the blog tour for ‘Descent To Hell’ by Nic Parker, I thought that it would be an ideal opportunity for me to read my first horror novel and see just what it is I have been missing out on. What a book it is but more about that in a bit.
I really felt for the character of Charlie Ward although I must admit he did give me the creeps at times. He is the loving and doting Uncle of a young girl called Suzy, who disappeared after playing with an Ouija board and being kidnapped by a demon. Charlie is desperate to find her and when a shadowy character called James Black, tells Charlie that there is a gateway to Hell, which Charlie can use to entee and search for his niece, Charlie seizes the opportunity. Charlie finds the gateway and enters hell. He desperately wants to find his niece and so his investigation begins. Now the part that gave me the creeps. I get that Charlie is a doting uncle but he appears to have assumed the role of father to Suzy and he seems obsessed by her. Given that Suzy’s mother is his sister it just seems creepy to me. Suzy’s mother Pam is another character I really felt for even if I did suspect that she is keeping something back. She has lost her daughter to the other side and now her brother has gone on a mission to find Suzy so it’s like she has been bereaved a second time. She is left in a state of limbo because she doesn’t know if she will see either of them again, which breaks her heart. The police are involved in the search for Suzy and in particular we meet DI James Clarke. The only problem is that the police suspect Charlie and I think they have concentrated all efforts on finding the proof to convict him.
I have to say that it took me a little while to get into this book as the beginning was a little slow to get going. What I will say is that when Charlie entered Hell, the story picked up pace and then some. After I had finally got into the book, the pages just seemed to speed past and before I knew it I had finished the book. I was pleased to finish but not because the book is badly written because it isn’t but because I knew how the story ended. There were times when I almost had to read through my fingers or hide behind a cushion because I genuinely feared what was going to happen next. ( I know I am a big wimp). Reading this book was much like being on a rollercoaster ride with all the twists, turns and heart stopping moments. Just when you thought that your heartbeat could slow down a bit then off the story went again. It is not the sort of book to read just before you go to bed, like I did because all I could then dream about were devils and demons etc. The book certainly sent my already vivid imagination into overdrive.
In short I really did enjoy reading ‘Descent To Hell’ and I will recommend it to anybody. Nic Parker is certainly an author to watch and she is certainly on my list of must read authors. I give this book a well deserved 4* out of 5*.

[Gordon Mcghie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Halloween approaches and it was time that I got some tales of ghosts and evil entities onto the reading list. Descent to Hell sounded ideal and, very pleasingly, it was exactly what I needed – a clever and stylish adventure story (with demons, the devil and some nasty surprises).

Charlie is going to Hell. His choice. His niece is missing and Charlie has discovered that she was abducted by a demon. As you may expect there are not many people who may believe that a demon can rise from Hell to steal away a child and Charlie has found himself under suspicion from the police into the girl’s disappearance.

Charlie finds a way to cross from the “real” world to the depths of Hell and decides that his sister’s happiness and the chance to save his niece is worth more than his own life. Charlie will risk everything to go to Hell and try to bring his niece home. .

The most pleasing aspect of Nic Parker’s Hell was that it was not a classic interpretation from Dante or the biblical depiction. No flaming pits of the damned, no obvious tortured souls – a modern cityscape awaited Charlie. Denizens of Hell who chat, have homes, comfortable beds (as Charlie finds out when “rescued” by a gorgeous bombshell who has her own “wicked” ideas).

Yes Descent to Hell is a horror tale (any book with Lucifer has to be such) but it is also funny in places, there is a crime undertone with an investigation ongoing into where his niece may be, there is an adventure thriller as Charlie faces numerous challenges to cross Hell to face the demon who took his niece.

Nic Parker writes in a very readable style. The story zips along and there was no feeling that she was trying to pad out the plot or to distract the reader with sub plots which don’t progress the main tale. The focus on the rescue remained constant and Charlie’s frustration over a lack of progress was always tangible.

Descent to Hell comes highly recommended. If you fancy a Halloween story but normally shun away from chillers or ghost stories then this clever thriller with its dark undertones is a great option.

[Angela C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hell's no place for a child...

Charlie Ward is heading to Hell to save his beloved niece Susie from the clutches of a nasty demon who was summoned during a Ouija board session. Baffled by Susie's disappearance, police have been no help, even insinuating Charlie may be responsible. When told to seek out Jonathan Black, he finds out how to enter Hell where Susie has been taken. The story opens with a sense of impending doom. There are great challenges ahead for Charlie to not only survive getting in but returning back to the world of the living. With the help of Lucifer and the attractive Max, he might just make it – but can he trust them?

I liked the depictions of hell that Charlie encounters – for example the suffering of the hellbound and places such as The Ocean of Tears. Hell is full of the unexpected and Lucifer is no exception to this rule. I also enjoyed the interspersed humour Charlie shows. For example when he hopes for an arrow pointing him in the direction of his abducted niece (well, Hell is a large place!). I felt the flow and pace of the story picked up approximately half way through where it became much more compelling but this might have just been me adjusting to the style after reading novels of different genres.

All in all, a good read and what a Hell conjured up by Nic Parker!

[Donna Morfett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well I have to say this is one of the more unusual reads I have read for the #SHOCtober Month for Spellbound Books.
Charlie needs to rescue his niece and willingly goes to hell once he realises the story her friends told her about being abducted by a demon was true.
When he arrives in Hell, he is instantly marked out as a pure blood, not meant to be there. He makes quite an impression on the fellow residents. He is also shocked by how un-hell like it is. Charlie is a great character, funny, sarcastic, but loyal and loves his family.
The poker group are funny, and soon Mark Charlie our for what he is, everyone seems to like him, except Max, or is that just a front?
Even Lucifer is cool, not a sentence I ever thought I would speak, write or type!
This is a fun light hearted sort of book, and I enjoyed being swept along Charlie's journey, despite some of it being dark. Particularly when Nergal joins in the story. He has gone against all the ancient rules by bringing a child to hell and not only is Charlie after him, but Lucifer is angry and wants to make him pay.
A Perfect read for fans of something different and something dark.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review by Martin!

Descent To Hell is very readable, OK so 'readable' is not a great word, but I hope you know what I mean? It has a great plot, with characters that constantly surprise the reader. Who ever thought of Lucifer, the Devil, sitting behind a desk in a business suit? This is the sort of thing that I enjoy in a book; something different, unusual and clever.

I'll admit that I wasn't scared by Descent To Hell, it's not your typical James Herbert esque horror; there's a dry sense of humour running right through it and it reminded me of the TV series Supernatural (another favourite of mine). However, it's quite a tense read and the tension builds up towards the end, which I thought was excellent.

Descent To Hell is a really enjoyable and Nic Parker's writing is great. I really enjoyed the humour and will certainly be reading the next in the series.

[Emma Bunting · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
The genre for this book is horror, but it is so much more than just a horror story! It also felt like an action story as Charlie goes through so much as he descents down to hell to try save his niece. There is also a great element of romance (quite saucy) too in this which develops and is so well done and executed that I forgot i was actually in hell (so to speak lol). The fight scene near the end of the book was brilliant! So tense ... I even gasped because I couldn’t believe what happened! I also really warmed to the characters, I actually loved Lucifer... which is a sentence I can honestly say I’ve never said before 🤣
Great book that has left me feeling completely satisfied 👍

[Rochelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank the Fiction Care Review and the publishers for a ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

This is the first that I have read anything by this author I hope to find more of his books.
This very original and immersive story is a bit slow to start with but soon perked up and had me hooked.
It follows the descent to Hell that our hero Charlie has to undertake to get his beloved niece back. I had my doubts that Charlie had something to do with the niece disappearance, but once I got into the book those doubts where gone. So my questions is How far would you go to rescue someone you love? If you looking for a great book then you might want to read this one

[Rosie Bray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlie Ward is just an ordinary guy, that is until he faces an extraordinary challenge ~ to rescue his demon kidnapped niece from Hell!! After seeking information on how to get into Hell from the enigmatic Jonathan Black, Charlie comes face to face with the denizens of Hell, including the Lord of Hell himself, Lucifer and the nefarious demon responsible for kidnapping his niece.

I loved this novel, it's fast paced and if you're anything like me you'll be rooting for the underdog. I enjoyed the interplay between the characters, and hope that this isn't the last we see of Charlie??

[Greta Halliday · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book that I could not put down. If that is what Hell is like I sure am not going there. A storyline that has you wondering what is coming next and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Hoping there is going to be a follow on and that we will not be kept waiting too long!!! Thanks to TBC for giving me the opportunity to read this as book.

[Brenda Blair · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven’t read a horror book in a while so I thought this would be perfect for Halloween and it was. This book was very fast paced and full of horror, nightmares, love, determination, with humor thrown in between. Charlie has to stay strong as he entered hell to bring back his niece. Hell is every bit nightmarish and horroring as expected. It took determination, will power, and love to get Charlie through. The unexpected humor and love stories where a bonus for me.

[Pam Devine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book - a new take on hell. I found Charlie likeable and his reasons for doing as he did very commendable. Well drawn characters and a sound plot. Recommended.b

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

So the journey to hell was mixed with funny, dark, crazy.
Absolutely loved it.
Nic Parker definitely caught my imagination & I’ll be trying more by this author

[Laura Furuta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Descent to Hell: How far would you go to rescue a loved one?
By: Nic Parker
5 out of 5 stars

The story Descent to Hell: How far would you go to rescue a loved one? By Nic Parker is a horror book. This is an amazing story and one I highly recommend to anyone who loves the horror genre. Yes, the story is scary and dark, however, it also has a human touch to it. It is all about how far the main character Charlie is willing to go in order to find and bring his niece, Suzie, home. Charlie’s character is one that you can easily identify with and will be rooting for him and his mission the entire way. While Charlie, at the beginning, may not seem the type of person who can survive a trip to Hell, you quickly learn that everyone seems to underestimate him. He would be the type of person I would want to rescue me. Along the way, Charlie meets several souls that help him in his quest. There is another side to the story as well. It has to do with Charlie’s sister, Pam. She is Suzie’s mother. There is an investigation into Suzie’s disappearance and the detective is bound and determined to solve it.

Once I started reading this book I found that I couldn’t stop. The underworld and the details in which it and the different characters that you meet there are so vivid that your imagination will go into overload. Every page that you turn in this story leads to another revelation. I found the ending came all too quickly. This is the first book I have read by this author and I can say that it will not be the last. I received a copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it.

[Simon Leonard · Rating 5 out of 5]

the story follows a man called charlie who has to go to hell to find his niece after she was taken when playing with a ouiji board. the story is very well written and I couldn't put it down as I needed to know what was going to happen next. it was a very well written story and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Katie Warburton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. The story flowed easily and the characters were believable. Descent to Hell is a book I would highly recommend. I will be reading more by this author.

[Melanie Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do love a good horror/fantasy and Nic Parker certainly does not disappoint. Charlie is an excellent hero, and I never thought the day would come when I found myself rooting for Lucifer! But it shows the brilliance of the author's characterisation if she arouse sympathy and warmth to someone you are supposed to loathe and fear. The story moves along at a very brisk pace, and I really couldn't put it down, walking around in the kitchen trying to make supper whilst reading at the same time really isn't practical. The ending of the book suggests that there may be more. I really hope so. It is a pleasure to highly recommend this 5 star book. If this is a debut novel then we are in for a treat with what is yet to come.

[Emma Ounsworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This very original and immersive story is a bit slow to start with but soon perked up and had me hooked.
It follows the descent to Hell, that our hero Charlie has to undertake to get his beloved niece back, what follows is a courageous and quite humorous adventure filled with Demons, horrors and the very interesting Lucifer, who I'd love to learn more about.
Will follow this author closely.

[Sarah Maleficent · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book appeals to me greatly.A horror story, set in hell, with Lucifer as a sophisticated man with a dry wit. What's not to like?
As a horror it didn't scare me, but told as the journey of Charlie, traipsing through hell to find his beloved Niece, going through and overcoming his worst nightmares in order to save her, it was a wonderfully written, amusing tale that had a healthy helping of dark comedy thrown in.
The author clearly has a talent for the fantastical, and a great ability to transform that to the written word. With an easy flowing style, it was an enjoyable read and one i'd recommend.