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Devil's Lair
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Welcome to Hell...
Devil's Lair is a fantasy novel set in Dante's Inferno.
A medieval knight leads a quest through Hell to recover the Holy Grail from the Devil.
The knight, Marco da Roma, is joined by: Giovanni Boccaccio, an expert on Dante; William of Ockham, an English friar; and Nadja, an epileptic with the gift of prophecy.
As the Black Death sweeps through Europe, these unlikely heroes confront the Devil—and their own demons—to forestall the Apocalypse.
What readers are saying:
"A fantastic book and I commend Mr. Wisehart on such an incredible novel. Highly Recommended."
~Debra L. Martin, author of The Quest for Nobility
"Beautifully told, full of vivid details. Brilliant!"
~Christa Polkinhorn, author of Love of a Stonemason
"Devil's Lair is a work of greatness!"
~John Pearson, author of Learn Me Good
"Compelling."
~M. Cantrell, author of Citizen Zero
"Powerful."
~J.H. Sked, author of Basement Blues
"Action-packed."
~Gretchin L. Rix, author of The Cowboy's Baby
"Brilliant!"
~Kiana Davenport, author of House of Skin
"Truly astonishing."
~Darrell Delamaide, author of The Grand Mirage
"A remarkable piece of literature!"
~Rebekah L. Downey, Amazon review
"A medieval tour-de-force!"
~"Samuel L. Clemens," Amazon review
Go to Amazon and grab your copy today.
Welcome to Hell...
Devil's Lair is a fantasy novel set in Dante's Inferno.
A medieval knight leads a quest through Hell to recover the Holy Grail from the Devil.
The knight, Marco da Roma, is joined by: Giovanni Boccaccio, an expert on Dante; William of Ockham, an English friar; and Nadja, an epileptic with the gift of prophecy.
As the Black Death sweeps through Europe, these unlikely heroes confront the Devil—and their own demons—to forestall the Apocalypse.
What readers are saying:
"A fantastic book and I commend Mr. Wisehart on such an incredible novel. Highly Recommended."
~Debra L. Martin, author of The Quest for Nobility
"Beautifully told, full of vivid details. Brilliant!"
~Christa Polkinhorn, author of Love of a Stonemason
"Devil's Lair is a work of greatness!"
~John Pearson, author of Learn Me Good
"Compelling."
~M. Cantrell, author of Citizen Zero
"Powerful."
~J.H. Sked, author of Basement Blues
"Action-packed."
~Gretchin L. Rix, author of The Cowboy's Baby
"Brilliant!"
~Kiana Davenport, author of House of Skin
"Truly astonishing."
~Darrell Delamaide, author of The Grand Mirage
"A remarkable piece of literature!"
~Rebekah L. Downey, Amazon review
"A medieval tour-de-force!"
~"Samuel L. Clemens," Amazon review
Go to Amazon and grab your copy today.
214 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2010
88 people are currently reading
1424 people want to read
About the author
David Wisehart
18 books38 followersDavid Wisehart directed the upcoming feature film The Bride from Outer Space. He wrote, directed, and produced the short film Bang, Virginia City: the musical, Endgame: a play in one act, the one-act opera The Other Wise Man, and Valentino: a play in verse. He produced James Cameron's Titanic Explorer, The Simpsons Wrestling, and other video games for Fox Interactive. For Philips Media he wrote four documentaries: The French Impressionists, The Art of the Czars: St. Petersburg and the Treasures of the Hermitage, Dutch Masters of the 17th Century, and Flight: The Universal Dream. He was a research assistant for The Aerospace Corporation. He received his B.A. in Film and Television from UCLA, and was the Review Editor for the UCLA Daily Bruin. During high school he programmed computers for NASA.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
August 9, 2016
This story is based on the premise that a work of fiction is factual. In this case Dante's The Inferno. Well done. The story combines historical and fiction characters and historical events to increase verisimilitude. Modern story telling (and occasionally expressions) increase, rather than diminish, the immediacy of the tale. All was combined with a deft hand so that the reader seldom is knocked out of the spell of the tale.
William of Ockham is, perhaps, the most effective if unexpected character. Hard to tell from William's writings and biography if Wisehart played true with his personality: he comes across pretty modern, but then his thinking contributed to the dawning of the Renaissance. Boccaccio and Petrarch seem consistent with their historical selves. Perhaps more noteworthy is Wisehart's keeping the characters true to the attitudes the era (except as noted for William), while so many authors ruin the effect by making the characters, think, talk, and act like moderns.
Other reviewers noted both the abundance of un-translated Latin and the length of the introduction versus the shortness of the journey downward. These need not impinge on the reader's enjoyment. About a third of the Latin phrases are explained in the dialogue, another third are obvious scripture or liturgical excerpts; the remainder obvious from context. The trip through Hades is not much shorter than Dante's version and, yes, assumes a previous reading, but enough detail is included to explain each levels and its residents.
An audacious effort well done.
An excellent read.
William of Ockham is, perhaps, the most effective if unexpected character. Hard to tell from William's writings and biography if Wisehart played true with his personality: he comes across pretty modern, but then his thinking contributed to the dawning of the Renaissance. Boccaccio and Petrarch seem consistent with their historical selves. Perhaps more noteworthy is Wisehart's keeping the characters true to the attitudes the era (except as noted for William), while so many authors ruin the effect by making the characters, think, talk, and act like moderns.
Other reviewers noted both the abundance of un-translated Latin and the length of the introduction versus the shortness of the journey downward. These need not impinge on the reader's enjoyment. About a third of the Latin phrases are explained in the dialogue, another third are obvious scripture or liturgical excerpts; the remainder obvious from context. The trip through Hades is not much shorter than Dante's version and, yes, assumes a previous reading, but enough detail is included to explain each levels and its residents.
An audacious effort well done.
An excellent read.
October 1, 2010
Devil’s Lair
David Wisehart
Devil’s Lair is by far the best book I have read in years. The premise is intriguing. A holy friar, a poet, a beautiful epileptic girl and an amnesiatic Knight Templar set out to reclaim the Holy Grail from Lucifer. Using Dante’s Inferno as their guide through hell, they come face to face with their own loves and lusts, disappointments and demons even as they move toward their Godly task to save the world from the pestilence.
Yet it is not just the inventiveness of this story that sets Devil’s Lair apart, it is the incredible craftsmanship shown by the author. It is evident that he loves language – English, Latin, Greek. It is evident that his grasp of Medieval history is impeccable (or so it seemed to me). It is evident that his understanding of the Church, the superstitions and the science of the time is beyond reproach. But it is his natural storytelling ability that quite simply makes this book a work of art.
Not once was I distracted by Mr. Wisehart’s knowledge. Indeed, he drew me in with characters so well drawn I felt I was walking beside them; time and place to exquisitely communicated that I was lost in both.
I am not usually a fantasy reader. I don’t often pick up historical novels. I have just begun to read Indie authors. I am so glad I took a chance on David Wisehart. He is an incredible writer, an amazing storyteller, an author who I hope writes many more books and gets the recognition he deserves. Don’t miss this one. Highly recommended.
David Wisehart
Devil’s Lair is by far the best book I have read in years. The premise is intriguing. A holy friar, a poet, a beautiful epileptic girl and an amnesiatic Knight Templar set out to reclaim the Holy Grail from Lucifer. Using Dante’s Inferno as their guide through hell, they come face to face with their own loves and lusts, disappointments and demons even as they move toward their Godly task to save the world from the pestilence.
Yet it is not just the inventiveness of this story that sets Devil’s Lair apart, it is the incredible craftsmanship shown by the author. It is evident that he loves language – English, Latin, Greek. It is evident that his grasp of Medieval history is impeccable (or so it seemed to me). It is evident that his understanding of the Church, the superstitions and the science of the time is beyond reproach. But it is his natural storytelling ability that quite simply makes this book a work of art.
Not once was I distracted by Mr. Wisehart’s knowledge. Indeed, he drew me in with characters so well drawn I felt I was walking beside them; time and place to exquisitely communicated that I was lost in both.
I am not usually a fantasy reader. I don’t often pick up historical novels. I have just begun to read Indie authors. I am so glad I took a chance on David Wisehart. He is an incredible writer, an amazing storyteller, an author who I hope writes many more books and gets the recognition he deserves. Don’t miss this one. Highly recommended.
November 19, 2010
The Devil’s Lair is am ambitious book that does not disappoint. It is loosely based on Dante’s Inferno and has a cast of fantastic characters full of flaws and redeeming qualities alike. The cast includes William, the holy friar, Gionvanni, the poet, Nadja, an epileptic girl and Marco, a Knight Templar who has lost his memory. Nadja is their guide and she lets her falling down “dreams” show them the way. Each character adds to the missing piece of the puzzle and the pilgrims venture on.
Their quest is to save the world from pestilence that is slowly killing everyone. To succeed, they must find the Holy Grail and take it from the Devil. Along the way they each must face their own demons and that’s where the author’s brilliance shines. Mr. Wisehart clearly is a master of languages, English, Latin, and Greek. I found some of the words he used challenging, but it didn’t take away from the enjoyment of the story. I would caution readers to have a dictionary handy though.
I couldn’t put the book down especially when the pilgrims started their descent through the layers of Hell. The author allows you feel their fear and trepidation the further into Hell they go. Each level of Hell is full of vivid characters and incredible descriptions.
All in all this is a fantastic book and I commend Mr. Wisehart on such an incredible novel. Highly Recommended!
Their quest is to save the world from pestilence that is slowly killing everyone. To succeed, they must find the Holy Grail and take it from the Devil. Along the way they each must face their own demons and that’s where the author’s brilliance shines. Mr. Wisehart clearly is a master of languages, English, Latin, and Greek. I found some of the words he used challenging, but it didn’t take away from the enjoyment of the story. I would caution readers to have a dictionary handy though.
I couldn’t put the book down especially when the pilgrims started their descent through the layers of Hell. The author allows you feel their fear and trepidation the further into Hell they go. Each level of Hell is full of vivid characters and incredible descriptions.
All in all this is a fantastic book and I commend Mr. Wisehart on such an incredible novel. Highly Recommended!
July 14, 2014
A friar, a poet, an epileptic psychic, camping on a battlefield. Searching for a knight to guide them through the gates of hell... The book starts dark and mysterious and quickly pulls the reader in. Pestilence is ravaging the countryside and three friends on a mission from God, are looking to descend into hell... But here the book loses steam.
The prose is decent, dark and to the point; but David Wiseheart makes a couple story-structure errors. First the Latin; no translation is offered with the Latin, and the sentences don't necessarily arrive at "Those Moments". You know those moments, the ones where the characters could speak any language they want and the meaning would be perfectly obvious. So if the book had been written without the Latin it would be almost exactly the same as the book with the Latin, except maybe a few sentences shorter. Second complaint about structure is in the poetry. Its cheesy. I skimmed the first few lines of each poem before moving on. Poetry adds nothing more than the Latin.
I did like the characters. I did like the first half of the book. There were things that were more shocking because of the author's quick, to the dark heart of matters, way of writing. Nadja's attacks, the bodies, the sickness and the suicides. But his writing style neglects to outline a decent reason for the going to Hell.
In the start, it's implied by the friar that they plan to stop the Fourth Horseman and spare humanity the end of the world. But then all this stuff with the Templar Knights and then the Holy Grail gets name dropped. Then when they're in Hell, the Monsters as are suspiciously easy to defeat, and their are a lot of famous dead people down there...And we stop. to talk. to each of them. Why? What purpose does it serve? Is it just to distract the reader from the fact the characters are speed walking through Dante's Inferno? I mean, I can see how the four, reuniting with people they knew could prove to be a trial; the temptation to reclaim those we love or something along those lines. But why did we need to converse with everyone's whose name we ever heard in Ancient Pop Culture?
And then, the character proceed to commit some odd acts in Hell, that might actually get them sent to Hell if they weren't already there. Peeing on, stoning, cursing, the already damned. Which doesn't quite fit with: "God is love. Hell is the absence of God. The torments you see are born of fear. But love drives out fear. We must carry love with us, like water to a desert, for we go to a place where there is no love." It doesn't sound like they entered Hell with love, it sounds like they entered with vengeance.
And then end was rushed; the author figuring out with only a few pages to go, that he needed to tie all these odd elements together and answer the dangling questions. This story started strong, with intriguing concepts and characters, but fizzled out when the story lost direction.
The prose is decent, dark and to the point; but David Wiseheart makes a couple story-structure errors. First the Latin; no translation is offered with the Latin, and the sentences don't necessarily arrive at "Those Moments". You know those moments, the ones where the characters could speak any language they want and the meaning would be perfectly obvious. So if the book had been written without the Latin it would be almost exactly the same as the book with the Latin, except maybe a few sentences shorter. Second complaint about structure is in the poetry. Its cheesy. I skimmed the first few lines of each poem before moving on. Poetry adds nothing more than the Latin.
I did like the characters. I did like the first half of the book. There were things that were more shocking because of the author's quick, to the dark heart of matters, way of writing. Nadja's attacks, the bodies, the sickness and the suicides. But his writing style neglects to outline a decent reason for the going to Hell.
In the start, it's implied by the friar that they plan to stop the Fourth Horseman and spare humanity the end of the world. But then all this stuff with the Templar Knights and then the Holy Grail gets name dropped. Then when they're in Hell, the Monsters as are suspiciously easy to defeat, and their are a lot of famous dead people down there...And we stop. to talk. to each of them. Why? What purpose does it serve? Is it just to distract the reader from the fact the characters are speed walking through Dante's Inferno? I mean, I can see how the four, reuniting with people they knew could prove to be a trial; the temptation to reclaim those we love or something along those lines. But why did we need to converse with everyone's whose name we ever heard in Ancient Pop Culture?
And then, the character proceed to commit some odd acts in Hell, that might actually get them sent to Hell if they weren't already there. Peeing on, stoning, cursing, the already damned. Which doesn't quite fit with: "God is love. Hell is the absence of God. The torments you see are born of fear. But love drives out fear. We must carry love with us, like water to a desert, for we go to a place where there is no love." It doesn't sound like they entered Hell with love, it sounds like they entered with vengeance.
And then end was rushed; the author figuring out with only a few pages to go, that he needed to tie all these odd elements together and answer the dangling questions. This story started strong, with intriguing concepts and characters, but fizzled out when the story lost direction.
July 30, 2012
I quite enjoyed this tale of 4 pilgrims descending into Hell to retrieve the Holy Grail from Lucifer. It follows Dante's INFERNO, but ropes in other mythology as well. The story takes place after the fall of the Templars. Like many great tales, this one focuses on a group traveling on a quest.
Only a few criticisms mark this book as a 4 rather than a 5 star. First, I appreciate good vocabulary. I like to stretch myself. Sometimes, it appeared the author went out of his way to choose a $20 word. Sometimes they were appropriate, because the one word held a greater meaning in the passage like chatoyant. Other times, the words seemed overbearing: embrangled (entangled), intermontane (between mountains), superannuate (retired), or tatterdemalion (tattered, ragamuffin). Each of these words could have easily been substituted for a simpler word with the same meaning.
The effect of this is often the opposite of what the author would want: it disturbs the flow of the narrative to the point that it detracts from it, not improves upon it.
Word choice is paramount to story-telling. In most cases, Mr. Wisehart makes excellent choices. His descriptions are rich and educated, compelling and vivid. However, this novel would have shined brighter (chatoyant, even), if some of the vocabulary had been toned down some. One thing to learn is that the thesaurus is not always the author's friend. Along this line of criticism, after a while, I began to skip the long latin passages. Methinks someone was showing off.
The second criticism would be that some of the scenes seemed inappropriate (urinating on people in Hell, for one) and gratuitous. The rape scene seemed necessary, and well written, but the temptation of Giovanni in Hell by the mother and daughter? Not so much. Some of it was taken too far. Mr. Wisehart painted a very Dante portrait of Hell as it was. This is sort of a taste issue; some may have enjoyed these scenes and found them important to the plot or theme of the novel. I did not.
The final criticism would be the chance meetings of the people they had known in life. Some were important, others were extraneous. For each, three would have sufficed. Some of the more vague historical figures, were maybe too much. The "messages" from one famous person to another in Hell? Not important, really, other than to make the point that there are more people in Hell from history than we might expect.
Despite these criticisms, I would highly recommend this book. It has many great moments that far outweigh its shortcomings. Some poignancy and understanding are found here that are often missing in our literature today where authors fly to one extreme or the other. In fact, several passages from this book are going to be among my favorites. Thank you so much, Mr. Wisehart for writing such an inspiring and intelligent novel.
Only a few criticisms mark this book as a 4 rather than a 5 star. First, I appreciate good vocabulary. I like to stretch myself. Sometimes, it appeared the author went out of his way to choose a $20 word. Sometimes they were appropriate, because the one word held a greater meaning in the passage like chatoyant. Other times, the words seemed overbearing: embrangled (entangled), intermontane (between mountains), superannuate (retired), or tatterdemalion (tattered, ragamuffin). Each of these words could have easily been substituted for a simpler word with the same meaning.
The effect of this is often the opposite of what the author would want: it disturbs the flow of the narrative to the point that it detracts from it, not improves upon it.
Word choice is paramount to story-telling. In most cases, Mr. Wisehart makes excellent choices. His descriptions are rich and educated, compelling and vivid. However, this novel would have shined brighter (chatoyant, even), if some of the vocabulary had been toned down some. One thing to learn is that the thesaurus is not always the author's friend. Along this line of criticism, after a while, I began to skip the long latin passages. Methinks someone was showing off.
The second criticism would be that some of the scenes seemed inappropriate (urinating on people in Hell, for one) and gratuitous. The rape scene seemed necessary, and well written, but the temptation of Giovanni in Hell by the mother and daughter? Not so much. Some of it was taken too far. Mr. Wisehart painted a very Dante portrait of Hell as it was. This is sort of a taste issue; some may have enjoyed these scenes and found them important to the plot or theme of the novel. I did not.
The final criticism would be the chance meetings of the people they had known in life. Some were important, others were extraneous. For each, three would have sufficed. Some of the more vague historical figures, were maybe too much. The "messages" from one famous person to another in Hell? Not important, really, other than to make the point that there are more people in Hell from history than we might expect.
Despite these criticisms, I would highly recommend this book. It has many great moments that far outweigh its shortcomings. Some poignancy and understanding are found here that are often missing in our literature today where authors fly to one extreme or the other. In fact, several passages from this book are going to be among my favorites. Thank you so much, Mr. Wisehart for writing such an inspiring and intelligent novel.
August 31, 2012
I went into Devil’s Lair with a lot of excitement, eager for a read on one of my favorite historical eras. That it promised to include generous helpings of Dante’s Inferno made me even more eager.
I have to say that I was not disappointed. Wisehart does a magnificent job with character development, painting a vivid portrait of deep characterization on very different people—the wounded knight, the fallen priest, Giovanni the poet, and the epileptic woman with visions.
I felt the development of the characters was exceptionally well done in the first half of the book, while action and a faster pace dominated the second half. I have read Dante’s Inferno a few times, and I enjoyed it, but I wonder if someone not familiar with Dante would find as much pleasure in Devil’s Lair.
The only complaint I have is Wisehart’s use of his obviously extensive vocabulary. I love being sent to the dictionary now and then to learn a new word, or to get clarification on what I thought was the proper definition of a word, but I found myself going a little too often in Devil’s Lair. Ordinarily I wouldn’t mind so much, with electronic reading and the dictionary literally at your fingertips, but—and this might be an annoyance for some—many of the words weren’t even listed in the Kindle dictionary, so I was forced to look them up on Google. While this was enlightening in one sense, it was frustrating in another. I felt that 90% of the time the author could have made his point just as well with a simpler word.
Devil’s Lair is not a typical page-turner in the sense of action, or mystery; it is more a book that must be devoured one delicious page at a time, and I did just that. It took me longer to read than most books, but then again, this one made me stop and think—something I relish, as I don’t do enough of it. The descriptions in Wisehart’s book are detailed, the story is true to the era and the masterpiece it draws so well from, and the dialogue can be thought provoking and enlightening.
If you are a fan of Dante’s Inferno, or enjoy that era of Italian history, by all means I would recommend you pick up Devil’s Lair. You won’t be disappointed.
I have to say that I was not disappointed. Wisehart does a magnificent job with character development, painting a vivid portrait of deep characterization on very different people—the wounded knight, the fallen priest, Giovanni the poet, and the epileptic woman with visions.
I felt the development of the characters was exceptionally well done in the first half of the book, while action and a faster pace dominated the second half. I have read Dante’s Inferno a few times, and I enjoyed it, but I wonder if someone not familiar with Dante would find as much pleasure in Devil’s Lair.
The only complaint I have is Wisehart’s use of his obviously extensive vocabulary. I love being sent to the dictionary now and then to learn a new word, or to get clarification on what I thought was the proper definition of a word, but I found myself going a little too often in Devil’s Lair. Ordinarily I wouldn’t mind so much, with electronic reading and the dictionary literally at your fingertips, but—and this might be an annoyance for some—many of the words weren’t even listed in the Kindle dictionary, so I was forced to look them up on Google. While this was enlightening in one sense, it was frustrating in another. I felt that 90% of the time the author could have made his point just as well with a simpler word.
Devil’s Lair is not a typical page-turner in the sense of action, or mystery; it is more a book that must be devoured one delicious page at a time, and I did just that. It took me longer to read than most books, but then again, this one made me stop and think—something I relish, as I don’t do enough of it. The descriptions in Wisehart’s book are detailed, the story is true to the era and the masterpiece it draws so well from, and the dialogue can be thought provoking and enlightening.
If you are a fan of Dante’s Inferno, or enjoy that era of Italian history, by all means I would recommend you pick up Devil’s Lair. You won’t be disappointed.
December 1, 2012
The premise of Devil’s Lair is that Dante’s account of his travels through Hell in Inferno was basically a true story. Now, the devil has seized the holy grail, and its absence on earth is bringing about the End of Days as the Black Death spreads across Europe in 1349 A.D. A quartet of pilgrims lead by William of Ockham, the famous (and historical) friar and philosopher, undertakes a quest to find the gateway to Hell and retrieve the grail. With him are Nadja, a young German woman accused of witchcraft because she was born with the power to see the future, and Giovanni Boccaccio, the famous (and historical) Italian poet who is an expert on Dante and is expected to guide them through the underworld. The fourth member of their party is Marco da Roma, a former Knight Templar who they find left for dead on a battlefield, suffering from a serious bout of amnesia.
The first part of the story, and frankly my favorite part of the novel, takes place in Italy, where the pilgrims are trying to get to Avenrus, a gateway to the underworld according to Virgil in the Aeneid. The problem is that Marco has no intention of joining them, and this provides the conflict for the first half of the story. The pilgrims’ travels through Italy take them to Rome and Padua, the home of Petrarch, the most famous poet of the time, who possesses an artifact the pilgrims will need if they’re to survive a journey through Hell. I found the scenes set in medieval Italy to be well-crafted, and they anchored what otherwise could have been a purely fantasy tale to a real and important period of history.
The second half of the story takes place in the nine circles of Hell, a setting based literally on Dante’s Inferno, complete with all of its monstrous denizens. There are a number of exciting scenes in the underworld, but in between these, the story slows down for scenes where each of the main characters learns something about themselves and their past. At times, this felt like reading a condensed version of Dante’s epic poem, but the author pulls it off and the ending contains enough of a twist to make the whole journey worthwhile.
The first part of the story, and frankly my favorite part of the novel, takes place in Italy, where the pilgrims are trying to get to Avenrus, a gateway to the underworld according to Virgil in the Aeneid. The problem is that Marco has no intention of joining them, and this provides the conflict for the first half of the story. The pilgrims’ travels through Italy take them to Rome and Padua, the home of Petrarch, the most famous poet of the time, who possesses an artifact the pilgrims will need if they’re to survive a journey through Hell. I found the scenes set in medieval Italy to be well-crafted, and they anchored what otherwise could have been a purely fantasy tale to a real and important period of history.
The second half of the story takes place in the nine circles of Hell, a setting based literally on Dante’s Inferno, complete with all of its monstrous denizens. There are a number of exciting scenes in the underworld, but in between these, the story slows down for scenes where each of the main characters learns something about themselves and their past. At times, this felt like reading a condensed version of Dante’s epic poem, but the author pulls it off and the ending contains enough of a twist to make the whole journey worthwhile.
January 12, 2013
I loved the writing style of this story. It was perfectly suited to the well-formed ensemble cast of mediaeval hell-bound travellers with their quest to prevent the biblical Apocalypse.
Although I enjoy straight historical novels, I like to see them leavened with a dash of mysticism or even magic - this is the 14th century after all - and Devil’s Lair blends exactly the right amount of reality with fantasy to ‘keep it real’.
The plot has been described in detail already, so suffice it to say that the template for Hell is based upon a Christian idea of the underworld by Dante and in that sense is limited in the level and scope of its imaginings to conform to the template. That is not to say that it isn’t imaginative, far from it, but this scene has been visited many times before and one could predict some events with (almost) clockwork regularity. But not all.
Another small criticism is the liberal use of Latin and Greek bon mots throughout. I’m old enough to have been forced to study both languages at school so could just about understand the references, but without translations I’m sure some readers would struggle.
What stopped this work from being just another ‘Day Trip To Hell’ story was the quality of the writing and the exposition of the characters. Each character is closely defined and individual and unlike some historical novels where depth of character is overlooked in order to cram in historical detail, the writer chose to allow his characters to breathe and become real people. In this way he brought to life both the people and the age, both of which help to create a delightful read.
David Wisehart is an accomplished writer and Devil’s Lair is a well-written story that maintains interest throughout with many thought provoking moments and several emotional high points that will live in memory. I will read more from him. Recommended.
Although I enjoy straight historical novels, I like to see them leavened with a dash of mysticism or even magic - this is the 14th century after all - and Devil’s Lair blends exactly the right amount of reality with fantasy to ‘keep it real’.
The plot has been described in detail already, so suffice it to say that the template for Hell is based upon a Christian idea of the underworld by Dante and in that sense is limited in the level and scope of its imaginings to conform to the template. That is not to say that it isn’t imaginative, far from it, but this scene has been visited many times before and one could predict some events with (almost) clockwork regularity. But not all.
Another small criticism is the liberal use of Latin and Greek bon mots throughout. I’m old enough to have been forced to study both languages at school so could just about understand the references, but without translations I’m sure some readers would struggle.
What stopped this work from being just another ‘Day Trip To Hell’ story was the quality of the writing and the exposition of the characters. Each character is closely defined and individual and unlike some historical novels where depth of character is overlooked in order to cram in historical detail, the writer chose to allow his characters to breathe and become real people. In this way he brought to life both the people and the age, both of which help to create a delightful read.
David Wisehart is an accomplished writer and Devil’s Lair is a well-written story that maintains interest throughout with many thought provoking moments and several emotional high points that will live in memory. I will read more from him. Recommended.
May 19, 2012
I wanted to really like this novel, but. . .
As I noted previously, it starts out well, a historically-based Grail quest-- William of Ockham, Boccaccio, Plutarch, to name a few individuals--into the 9th circle of Dante's vision of Hell. However, the best bits are before the questers descend and in the final couple of chapters; most of the middle, the journey from Limbo to Satan, is disappointing. This is primarily due to what I believe is the assumption of the author that his readers are somewhat familiar with The Divine Comedy, or the Medieval religious concepts on which it is built, as his descriptions are perfunctory and many of the incidents irrelevant to the plot. The writing (again, primarily once the netherworld journey has begun) lacks the style needed to build tension or maintain any emotional connection to the characters. There are moments of heroism, humour, and pathos, but too few. The resolution is less clever than derivative.
Also, as other readers have noted, the use of Latin, full passages and brief statements, without commentary or translation, detracts rather than enhances. Wisehart also mixes modern vernacular with archaic/esoteric vocabulary, which is distracting and, honestly, annoying.
As I noted previously, it starts out well, a historically-based Grail quest-- William of Ockham, Boccaccio, Plutarch, to name a few individuals--into the 9th circle of Dante's vision of Hell. However, the best bits are before the questers descend and in the final couple of chapters; most of the middle, the journey from Limbo to Satan, is disappointing. This is primarily due to what I believe is the assumption of the author that his readers are somewhat familiar with The Divine Comedy, or the Medieval religious concepts on which it is built, as his descriptions are perfunctory and many of the incidents irrelevant to the plot. The writing (again, primarily once the netherworld journey has begun) lacks the style needed to build tension or maintain any emotional connection to the characters. There are moments of heroism, humour, and pathos, but too few. The resolution is less clever than derivative.
Also, as other readers have noted, the use of Latin, full passages and brief statements, without commentary or translation, detracts rather than enhances. Wisehart also mixes modern vernacular with archaic/esoteric vocabulary, which is distracting and, honestly, annoying.
February 7, 2012
Imagine Dante's Inferno as a travel guide, and you have the basic premise of Devil's Lair. Now, I haven't read Dante, so I was at a disadvantage from the beginning, but this is an incredibly intelligent, well-written book packed with literary references. I enjoyed the mix of personalities of William, Nadja, Giovanni and Marco, and was drawn in by the grimy medieval setting, of which there was plenty of very vivid depiction. The pace is slower than my usual reads; although there's plenty of trekking backwards and forwards, it's halfway through the book before we discover whether our protagonists will make a genuine journey into hell, or whether they are simply deluded, following the dreams of epileptic Nadja. I would have preferred to see more depth in the second half of the book, when the adventures really start, but suddenly everything seemed a bit too easy: it reads as if life in medieval Italy is harder than that in Hell. However, the mystery of Marco's memory loss and the interplay of characters is enough to keep it interesting, and this was certainly a satisfying read.
April 27, 2011
I saw some publicity for this book, comparing it to Dante's Inferno, and my first thought was, It's been done. The great sci-fi author Larry Niven wrote a book (and a sequel!) about a modern-day man journeying to hell, descending through the levels, crossing the circles, and escaping through the ice.
But Wisehart's Devil's Lair is a work of greatness all its own. It is not adrenaline, action-adventure, sci-fi, like Niven's work. It's a whole lot more character-driven. It fleshes out the lives of these characters before delving into the descent and hell-trip itself. And that's what makes it so enjoyable.
Another reviewer took away some points because of all of the untranslated Latin in the book. I agree that it would have been better if these quotes HAD been translated into English. I disagree that it took away from the story. (It DID make me gloss over those sections, though.)
I highly recommend Devil's Lair, and for the low price of 99 cents, it's truly a steal.
But Wisehart's Devil's Lair is a work of greatness all its own. It is not adrenaline, action-adventure, sci-fi, like Niven's work. It's a whole lot more character-driven. It fleshes out the lives of these characters before delving into the descent and hell-trip itself. And that's what makes it so enjoyable.
Another reviewer took away some points because of all of the untranslated Latin in the book. I agree that it would have been better if these quotes HAD been translated into English. I disagree that it took away from the story. (It DID make me gloss over those sections, though.)
I highly recommend Devil's Lair, and for the low price of 99 cents, it's truly a steal.
January 24, 2012
I just finished David Wisehart's "The Devil's Lair," provided through Library Thing. Since this was the first book I've read on my new Kindle Fire, I want to say a few words about the experience prior to writing my review.
At age 61, the eyes aren't what they used to be, and I really appreciate the ability to raise the type font and select an off-white background. I also appreciate the ability to create bookmarks, highlights and notes electronically. Those highlights and notes are very useful in writing this review.
Wisehart's Library Thing author's page notes that his favorite authors include Dante and Umberto Eco, and those authors clearly inform his writing. "The Devil's Lair" is part adventure story, part retelling of Dante's "Inferno," part examination of the Christian precepts of love, sin, and hope - all set in 14th century Italy. The world is on the edge of apocalypse, with massive plague deaths, and the very earth dying with its inhabitants. Four travelers - an English monk, a young epileptic who sees visions when stricken, poet Giovanni Boccaccio ("The Decameron"), and a wounded knight with amnesia - join in an attempt to save the world by descending to Hell and stealing the Holy Grail from Satan. They are armed with only their faith (to various degrees among the four) and a lance, the head of which, they believe to have been the point that wounded Jesus on the cross.
It's been more than 40 years since I read either Boccaccio or Dante, but I'm going to assume that the four protagonists of Wisehart's book more or less follow Dante's path through the nine circles of hell, meeting the same general cast of lost souls - thieves, blasphemers, heretics, etc. Each of the four also confronts his or her history - family members, friends, colleagues - who sinned and fell into purgatory. Two of the travelers will die and two will live.
"The Devil's Lair" is a ripping yarn, with complex, well drawn characters, some 14th century Indiana Jones action," an exploration of certain scientific phenomena, and even a modicum of toilet humor. It is, however, more an exploration of sin and redemption, and hope, the monk's figurative and literal mantra. There are also theological discussions that resonate today. I am not Catholic and not well versed in Catholic history and dogma. So, I was surprised at a discussion of abortion, noting that "The early church fathers taught that in all cases abortion is murder, but Saint Augustine took a different view. His teachings are now canon law. He wrote that the human soul develops in stages: a vegetative soul, an animal soul, and a rational soul. This means that an early abortion is like killing a plant. A later abortion is like killing an animal." "When is it murder?" "At forty days for a boy, or eighty days for a girl. That's when the child becomes fetus animatus. Full human."
A discussion with Roman legionnaire Longinus (who, at least in this tale, stabbed Jesus on the cross), deals with the notion of a just war in terms more applicable to the Bush presidency than St. Augustine. "War is a noble calling," the centurion declared. "War is good for morale and bad for morality," replied the monk, Wiiliam..."Rome never fought a war of aggression. Only defense. If we had not attacked them, they would have attacked us." "William frowned, 'War is sometimes a necessary evil. But when it is not necessary, it is only evil.'" And capital punishment. When the centurion says it was his job to kill murderers (flanking Jesus on the cross), William says, "Keep them in prison until God takes them. A man awaiting execution is alive, as we are, by the grace of God. Who are we to deny him that grace? If God wants a man to die, He'll stop the man's heart. God is all-powerful. He does not need us to do his killing for him." And, "More evil is done in the name of Good than in the name of the Devil." Nice.
I need to make two points that, to me, are negatives. Most of us do not read Latin, and there is a considerable amount of Latin throughout the book. It was, of course, the common European tongue of the time, but as the saying of high school students goes, "Latin's a dead language, as dead as dead can be; first it killed the Romans and now it's killing me." The inclusion of Latin in this book is hardly a fatal flaw, but just not helpful to the average reader. The second point is the author's use of archaic and obscure language. Wisehart is obviously proud of his vocabulary, or has one hell of a dictionary at his elbow. Tatterdemalion. Dwale. Ensorcelled. Chatoyant. Incarnadine. Vatic. Bricolage. On and on. In most cases, a common word would have done just as well.
Overlooking those faults - or what I perceive as faults - Wisehart includes some marvelous passages in "The Devil's Lair." A playful "dialogue" between Boccaccio and a donkey regarding Balaam's ass; Petrarch's discussion of holy relics ("Relics are like loaves and fishes. They tend to multiply. Would you care to see my collection?"); the epileptic girl trying to breast feed her dead baby in Purgatory; the fights with Cerberus, Medusa and the Manticore; the Devil trapped in the ice of his own tears at losing God's love. There's also a nice musing on fame and remembrance - why we want to leave something behind, whether books or children. "Dante nodded, '...I was looking at a man reading a book. He lives in the future. I do not know when or where. But when he reads my book, so can I. When anyone reads it, I am there. It is all I have left of who I was." Boccaccio asks, "But if people stop reading your work?" Dante replies, "Then I am lost."
If Wisehart keeps writing like this, he won't have to worry about becoming lost.
At age 61, the eyes aren't what they used to be, and I really appreciate the ability to raise the type font and select an off-white background. I also appreciate the ability to create bookmarks, highlights and notes electronically. Those highlights and notes are very useful in writing this review.
Wisehart's Library Thing author's page notes that his favorite authors include Dante and Umberto Eco, and those authors clearly inform his writing. "The Devil's Lair" is part adventure story, part retelling of Dante's "Inferno," part examination of the Christian precepts of love, sin, and hope - all set in 14th century Italy. The world is on the edge of apocalypse, with massive plague deaths, and the very earth dying with its inhabitants. Four travelers - an English monk, a young epileptic who sees visions when stricken, poet Giovanni Boccaccio ("The Decameron"), and a wounded knight with amnesia - join in an attempt to save the world by descending to Hell and stealing the Holy Grail from Satan. They are armed with only their faith (to various degrees among the four) and a lance, the head of which, they believe to have been the point that wounded Jesus on the cross.
It's been more than 40 years since I read either Boccaccio or Dante, but I'm going to assume that the four protagonists of Wisehart's book more or less follow Dante's path through the nine circles of hell, meeting the same general cast of lost souls - thieves, blasphemers, heretics, etc. Each of the four also confronts his or her history - family members, friends, colleagues - who sinned and fell into purgatory. Two of the travelers will die and two will live.
"The Devil's Lair" is a ripping yarn, with complex, well drawn characters, some 14th century Indiana Jones action," an exploration of certain scientific phenomena, and even a modicum of toilet humor. It is, however, more an exploration of sin and redemption, and hope, the monk's figurative and literal mantra. There are also theological discussions that resonate today. I am not Catholic and not well versed in Catholic history and dogma. So, I was surprised at a discussion of abortion, noting that "The early church fathers taught that in all cases abortion is murder, but Saint Augustine took a different view. His teachings are now canon law. He wrote that the human soul develops in stages: a vegetative soul, an animal soul, and a rational soul. This means that an early abortion is like killing a plant. A later abortion is like killing an animal." "When is it murder?" "At forty days for a boy, or eighty days for a girl. That's when the child becomes fetus animatus. Full human."
A discussion with Roman legionnaire Longinus (who, at least in this tale, stabbed Jesus on the cross), deals with the notion of a just war in terms more applicable to the Bush presidency than St. Augustine. "War is a noble calling," the centurion declared. "War is good for morale and bad for morality," replied the monk, Wiiliam..."Rome never fought a war of aggression. Only defense. If we had not attacked them, they would have attacked us." "William frowned, 'War is sometimes a necessary evil. But when it is not necessary, it is only evil.'" And capital punishment. When the centurion says it was his job to kill murderers (flanking Jesus on the cross), William says, "Keep them in prison until God takes them. A man awaiting execution is alive, as we are, by the grace of God. Who are we to deny him that grace? If God wants a man to die, He'll stop the man's heart. God is all-powerful. He does not need us to do his killing for him." And, "More evil is done in the name of Good than in the name of the Devil." Nice.
I need to make two points that, to me, are negatives. Most of us do not read Latin, and there is a considerable amount of Latin throughout the book. It was, of course, the common European tongue of the time, but as the saying of high school students goes, "Latin's a dead language, as dead as dead can be; first it killed the Romans and now it's killing me." The inclusion of Latin in this book is hardly a fatal flaw, but just not helpful to the average reader. The second point is the author's use of archaic and obscure language. Wisehart is obviously proud of his vocabulary, or has one hell of a dictionary at his elbow. Tatterdemalion. Dwale. Ensorcelled. Chatoyant. Incarnadine. Vatic. Bricolage. On and on. In most cases, a common word would have done just as well.
Overlooking those faults - or what I perceive as faults - Wisehart includes some marvelous passages in "The Devil's Lair." A playful "dialogue" between Boccaccio and a donkey regarding Balaam's ass; Petrarch's discussion of holy relics ("Relics are like loaves and fishes. They tend to multiply. Would you care to see my collection?"); the epileptic girl trying to breast feed her dead baby in Purgatory; the fights with Cerberus, Medusa and the Manticore; the Devil trapped in the ice of his own tears at losing God's love. There's also a nice musing on fame and remembrance - why we want to leave something behind, whether books or children. "Dante nodded, '...I was looking at a man reading a book. He lives in the future. I do not know when or where. But when he reads my book, so can I. When anyone reads it, I am there. It is all I have left of who I was." Boccaccio asks, "But if people stop reading your work?" Dante replies, "Then I am lost."
If Wisehart keeps writing like this, he won't have to worry about becoming lost.
August 24, 2023
In the midst of plague and pestilence, four unlikely companions test out a theory that Dante's Inferno is a guide that can lead them into hell to retrieve the Holy Grail and save humanity.
Devil's Lair is a historical fiction that combines real events, myth, and fantasy in exciting ways. The book spends a lot of time developing the story and the characters which cumulates into epic conclusion.
Devil's Lair is a historical fiction that combines real events, myth, and fantasy in exciting ways. The book spends a lot of time developing the story and the characters which cumulates into epic conclusion.
July 9, 2012
Disclaimer: I received this ebook via the LibraryThing Member Giveaway direct from the author.
I'm a sucker for biblical mythology so when I saw this would play heavily with Dante's Inferno, I had high hopes. When I discovered that the story takes place in a world where the Inferno was a travelogue rather than a work of fiction, I was even more excited. I sat back, set my mind to the mid-fourteenth century, and let the cart pull me forth.
Devil's Lair reads like a by-the-book screenplay; enter the scene late, exit it right before the viewer (reader) fits all the pieces together. I'd wager a practiced screenwriter could adapt this work and leave very little out as this appears to be a tightly woven tale. Aside from the premise, there's really nothing new here - we've got a small but varied party setting out on an adventure, encountering obstacles and enduring hardships from battles to disbelieving patrons, finding strength in themselves and each other - but all of those little pieces are done exceptionally well and they add up to a fulfilling whole. The pacing and subplots kept me interested from cover to cover and I enjoyed seeing the familiar faces--some in new places--when the group traverses the levels of Hell. For the most part, the pacing enabled Devil's Lair to feel much shorter than its true length as I flicked the pages by.
The chemistry and tension between the characters seemed believable if a little simple at times. The medieval setting aids in the belief as the religious fervor of that age could compel people to do things that some rational thinking would oppose. Regardless, their interactions and qualities more than made up for any arched eyebrows I may have made.
One section did jump out at me as feeling misplaced but it appears much later in a fairly stress-laden chapter. The slight vulgarity just didn't sit well with me as being in-character but that's really a very minor nit to pick. It simply made me do the literary equivalent of a double-take in an otherwise beautifully smooth narrative.
The ending itself was perfect. Upon reflection it was completely telegraphed but done so in that clever "ah, so that's why you set it up like that" way. You've no doubt seen it before but again, like many things in this book, that familiar element was portrayed exquisitely. It manages to wrap up the story completely as well as keep in mind that the Inferno's reality just may be our own.
I'm a sucker for biblical mythology so when I saw this would play heavily with Dante's Inferno, I had high hopes. When I discovered that the story takes place in a world where the Inferno was a travelogue rather than a work of fiction, I was even more excited. I sat back, set my mind to the mid-fourteenth century, and let the cart pull me forth.
Devil's Lair reads like a by-the-book screenplay; enter the scene late, exit it right before the viewer (reader) fits all the pieces together. I'd wager a practiced screenwriter could adapt this work and leave very little out as this appears to be a tightly woven tale. Aside from the premise, there's really nothing new here - we've got a small but varied party setting out on an adventure, encountering obstacles and enduring hardships from battles to disbelieving patrons, finding strength in themselves and each other - but all of those little pieces are done exceptionally well and they add up to a fulfilling whole. The pacing and subplots kept me interested from cover to cover and I enjoyed seeing the familiar faces--some in new places--when the group traverses the levels of Hell. For the most part, the pacing enabled Devil's Lair to feel much shorter than its true length as I flicked the pages by.
The chemistry and tension between the characters seemed believable if a little simple at times. The medieval setting aids in the belief as the religious fervor of that age could compel people to do things that some rational thinking would oppose. Regardless, their interactions and qualities more than made up for any arched eyebrows I may have made.
One section did jump out at me as feeling misplaced but it appears much later in a fairly stress-laden chapter. The slight vulgarity just didn't sit well with me as being in-character but that's really a very minor nit to pick. It simply made me do the literary equivalent of a double-take in an otherwise beautifully smooth narrative.
The ending itself was perfect. Upon reflection it was completely telegraphed but done so in that clever "ah, so that's why you set it up like that" way. You've no doubt seen it before but again, like many things in this book, that familiar element was portrayed exquisitely. It manages to wrap up the story completely as well as keep in mind that the Inferno's reality just may be our own.
December 11, 2019
I love Dante Alighieri's "Commedia," the "Inferno" being my favorite part of the whole. When I found David Wisehart's novel Devil's Lair, I couldn't wait to embark on a journey back down into Dante's rings of Hell.
Not only is this novel deftly written, but also it is undeniably entertaining. A work fraught with adventure, history and intrigue, I couldn't put it down. I admit the novel is enhanced when one is versed in works of antiquity and the Middle Ages, but nonetheless it stands alone as a first-rate work of fiction.
The imaginative marriage between literary history and church mythology enriches "Devil's Lair" and makes it a novel that is not easily forgotten. What student of literature wouldn't want to witness a meeting between two of the greatest Italian poets, Giovanni Boccaccio and Francesco Petrarch? Wisehart brings them both to life and puts them in the same room. I couldn't help but smile at their admiration for one another:
"Beaming a smile, Petrarch stepped forward, clapped Giovanni on the shoulders, and kissed him on both cheeks. `Welcome, old friend. I've met you many times by candlelight, in the quiet of an evening. Now here you are. I know you well, and not at all. You are truly a gift to our language.' Giovanni felt a blush. `Whatever gifts I possess have come from you and Dante.'"
This is what makes Wisehart's novel a work of virtuosity. He breathes new life into characters--some real, some fictive--that have long been lost in the pages of antiquity and medieval times.
Wisehart appropriates Dante's ice-bound Lucifer and gives him the voice of the Miltonic Satan from "Paradise Lost." Wretched and regretful, it is difficult not to sympathize with the fallen angel who will forever be separated from God. Fated to spend eternity yearning for the light he has lost, Satan lies trapped in a frozen bed of his own tears.
The novel is so rich with literary mythos, I commend and admire the breadth of Wisehart's erudition. He has reinvented the quest for the Holy Grail by placing it in a realm well beyond our own, not just physically but spiritually as well. Relying on Dante's brilliant depiction of a tormenting Hell, Wisehart takes his reader into a world that is both memorable and recognizable, a place to which we have ventured before.
Not only is this novel deftly written, but also it is undeniably entertaining. A work fraught with adventure, history and intrigue, I couldn't put it down. I admit the novel is enhanced when one is versed in works of antiquity and the Middle Ages, but nonetheless it stands alone as a first-rate work of fiction.
The imaginative marriage between literary history and church mythology enriches "Devil's Lair" and makes it a novel that is not easily forgotten. What student of literature wouldn't want to witness a meeting between two of the greatest Italian poets, Giovanni Boccaccio and Francesco Petrarch? Wisehart brings them both to life and puts them in the same room. I couldn't help but smile at their admiration for one another:
"Beaming a smile, Petrarch stepped forward, clapped Giovanni on the shoulders, and kissed him on both cheeks. `Welcome, old friend. I've met you many times by candlelight, in the quiet of an evening. Now here you are. I know you well, and not at all. You are truly a gift to our language.' Giovanni felt a blush. `Whatever gifts I possess have come from you and Dante.'"
This is what makes Wisehart's novel a work of virtuosity. He breathes new life into characters--some real, some fictive--that have long been lost in the pages of antiquity and medieval times.
Wisehart appropriates Dante's ice-bound Lucifer and gives him the voice of the Miltonic Satan from "Paradise Lost." Wretched and regretful, it is difficult not to sympathize with the fallen angel who will forever be separated from God. Fated to spend eternity yearning for the light he has lost, Satan lies trapped in a frozen bed of his own tears.
The novel is so rich with literary mythos, I commend and admire the breadth of Wisehart's erudition. He has reinvented the quest for the Holy Grail by placing it in a realm well beyond our own, not just physically but spiritually as well. Relying on Dante's brilliant depiction of a tormenting Hell, Wisehart takes his reader into a world that is both memorable and recognizable, a place to which we have ventured before.
July 6, 2013
This was probably the best Kindle freebie I've ever read. The plot is tight and the grammar impeccable. The author has an expansive vocabulary; while it's rare for me to find even one or two new words in a single novel, this work offered several. I am thrilled to add "chatoyant," "fleered," and "marcesant," among others, to my vocabulary.
Having recently reread Dante's Inferno, I perhaps found this work a bit more exciting than most might, but I would recommend it as a complement to the original masterpiece as it makes some concepts (the geography of Hell, and contrapasso, for instance) much more accessible.
My biggest complaint, voiced by another reviewer, is that the use of Latin phrases without translation offers nothing to the book. With the exception of actual prayers, which the average person could look up easily, most Latin should either be translated in following text (as an example, a Latin phrase could be followed by another character's response "'An eye for an eye'," mused William, "but what of..." and voice a repartee in English rather than Latin, or by simple footnote. I also really dislike the abuse of some of the spirits in Hell by the Living, but this is true to Inferno- Virgil tells Dante that he must have no sympathy for the damned, because sympathy is contrary to the will of God, but this mortal atheist thinks peeing on people is really uncool.
I think a great deal of self-published work is scoffed at and swept under the rug, but I am so pleased to report this is a polished piece, and worthy of a read either an an accessible complement to Dante or a fantasy adventure.
Having recently reread Dante's Inferno, I perhaps found this work a bit more exciting than most might, but I would recommend it as a complement to the original masterpiece as it makes some concepts (the geography of Hell, and contrapasso, for instance) much more accessible.
My biggest complaint, voiced by another reviewer, is that the use of Latin phrases without translation offers nothing to the book. With the exception of actual prayers, which the average person could look up easily, most Latin should either be translated in following text (as an example, a Latin phrase could be followed by another character's response "'An eye for an eye'," mused William, "but what of..." and voice a repartee in English rather than Latin, or by simple footnote. I also really dislike the abuse of some of the spirits in Hell by the Living, but this is true to Inferno- Virgil tells Dante that he must have no sympathy for the damned, because sympathy is contrary to the will of God, but this mortal atheist thinks peeing on people is really uncool.
I think a great deal of self-published work is scoffed at and swept under the rug, but I am so pleased to report this is a polished piece, and worthy of a read either an an accessible complement to Dante or a fantasy adventure.
January 15, 2012
In this novel, Mr. Wisehart tells a tale of a monk, a knight, a “fair” maiden and a traveling poet. Some of them are seeking the Holy Grail which is the monk is certain lies in the rings of Dante’s Inferno. It is the time of the plague and many have fallen. Knights are battling for good and the group known as Templars are surely no more.
William of Ockham, a greyfriar and his companion Nadja have been searching for Marco da Roma for a
long time. Nadja, an epileptic, saw him in one of her “falling dreams” as the Last Templar and man to guide them to Hell to find the Grail. His addition to their group is short-lived as, after healing from the battle; he leaves them alone and steals their donkey.
Giovanni, the poet and scion of a once well-to do house doesn’t miss Marco at all. He has feelings for Nadja and she spent all her time tending the injured Knight. Giovanni, in charge of a very worn copy of The Inferno, is unhappy with being asked to give up what is left of his wardrobe to clothe the knight – especially when Marco leaves them high and dry! He leaves the other two to go to a castle, but returns.
This novel was a trial for me. The friar continually lapses into Latin which I cannot translate and I felt that it took away from the pace, not added to it. The descriptions of the plague were very well researched and the group’s quest was true. You may absolutely this one and I tried to, but couldn’t bring up more than a “good try.” Read it yourself, it may be just what you’re looking for.
William of Ockham, a greyfriar and his companion Nadja have been searching for Marco da Roma for a
long time. Nadja, an epileptic, saw him in one of her “falling dreams” as the Last Templar and man to guide them to Hell to find the Grail. His addition to their group is short-lived as, after healing from the battle; he leaves them alone and steals their donkey.
Giovanni, the poet and scion of a once well-to do house doesn’t miss Marco at all. He has feelings for Nadja and she spent all her time tending the injured Knight. Giovanni, in charge of a very worn copy of The Inferno, is unhappy with being asked to give up what is left of his wardrobe to clothe the knight – especially when Marco leaves them high and dry! He leaves the other two to go to a castle, but returns.
This novel was a trial for me. The friar continually lapses into Latin which I cannot translate and I felt that it took away from the pace, not added to it. The descriptions of the plague were very well researched and the group’s quest was true. You may absolutely this one and I tried to, but couldn’t bring up more than a “good try.” Read it yourself, it may be just what you’re looking for.
April 22, 2012
A medieval knight leads a quest through Hell to recover the Holy Grail from the Devil. The knight, Marco da Roma, is joined by: Giovanni Boccaccio, an expert on Dante; William of Ockham, an English friar; and Nadja, an epileptic with the gift of prophecy. As the Black Death sweeps through Europe, these unlikely heroes confront the Devil--and their own demons--to forestall the Apocalypse.
“William of Ockham walked barefoot through the carnage. Slaughtered knights and fallen horses festered on the battlefield. A thousand naked corpses lay broken upon the earth, and in that multitude a few unlucky men survived, weltering in their own blood, crying out for God. The fighting was over but the dying would go on for days.”
This is the beginning of The Devil’s Lair and from these four sentences I was hooked! Mr Wisehart has written a beautifully crafted novel, with characters that you care about, laugh with and cry with. He immerses you in the period with such vivid descriptions, that you journey with this band of unlikely heroes step by step. An outstanding novel that will stay with you long after you read the last word. If it were possible I would give it more than 5*s. Very highly recommended.
Available from Amazon:
US http://www.amazon.com/Devils-Lair-ebo...
UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/Devils-Lair-e...
“William of Ockham walked barefoot through the carnage. Slaughtered knights and fallen horses festered on the battlefield. A thousand naked corpses lay broken upon the earth, and in that multitude a few unlucky men survived, weltering in their own blood, crying out for God. The fighting was over but the dying would go on for days.”
This is the beginning of The Devil’s Lair and from these four sentences I was hooked! Mr Wisehart has written a beautifully crafted novel, with characters that you care about, laugh with and cry with. He immerses you in the period with such vivid descriptions, that you journey with this band of unlikely heroes step by step. An outstanding novel that will stay with you long after you read the last word. If it were possible I would give it more than 5*s. Very highly recommended.
Available from Amazon:
US http://www.amazon.com/Devils-Lair-ebo...
UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/Devils-Lair-e...
November 12, 2012
David Wisehart's writing style easily pulled me into the story, but a few things bothered me and occasionally jolted me out of the story.
First, word choices. Many words caused me to pause as I re-read sections trying to discern word meanings without having to pull out a dictionary. I could sometimes see the reason for the particular word choice, but many times I simply wished for a more common choice.
Secondly, the use of Latin. Some of the Latin was translated or explained, but others of it was not, which left me wondering what I was missing.
Thirdly, long stretches of poems or songs. While I appreciated the effort, the longer the poem went on, the more likely I was to simply skip to the end and give up whatever detail I was missing by not reading it all.
I saw a couple scenes I saw little need for (a rape scene being one of them, though I greatly appreciated the effort to make it as clean and quick as possible). Additionally, I had small problems with the geography as I'm not at all familiar with the area the author describes.
But all this is not to say that the story doesn't have any value. It's not my favorite, but if you love Dante or some of CS Lewis's works, if questionable knights finding themselves on a great quest appeals to you, then you might enjoy this story immensely.
First, word choices. Many words caused me to pause as I re-read sections trying to discern word meanings without having to pull out a dictionary. I could sometimes see the reason for the particular word choice, but many times I simply wished for a more common choice.
Secondly, the use of Latin. Some of the Latin was translated or explained, but others of it was not, which left me wondering what I was missing.
Thirdly, long stretches of poems or songs. While I appreciated the effort, the longer the poem went on, the more likely I was to simply skip to the end and give up whatever detail I was missing by not reading it all.
I saw a couple scenes I saw little need for (a rape scene being one of them, though I greatly appreciated the effort to make it as clean and quick as possible). Additionally, I had small problems with the geography as I'm not at all familiar with the area the author describes.
But all this is not to say that the story doesn't have any value. It's not my favorite, but if you love Dante or some of CS Lewis's works, if questionable knights finding themselves on a great quest appeals to you, then you might enjoy this story immensely.
September 2, 2012
A group of pilgrims goes in search of the Holy Grail. William is a friar, well-versed in God's love, Nadja is a girl who has visions, Giovanni is a poet interested in following in Dante's footsteps, and Marco is the last Knight Templar. At first Marco has no interest in joining their little group, but he has no memories of his past life. The others find him on a battlefield, but even the battle is erased from his memory.
Overall, i enjoyed this book a great deal. It was well-written, and the pilgrims follow Dante's descent into Hell, which is always a topic i enjoy reading about. As enjoyable as that was though, I had to give this book four stars due to the simple fact that there is a lot of untranslated Latin in this book. A lot. Now, I've never had the opportunity to study Latin, so I understood maybe one out of every ten words, and found myself just skipping huge chunks of text becaise I didn't understand it. A lot of the Latin seemed important, so I'm sure I missed out on some important aspects of this book. While the language provided authenticity, it grew to be annoying. Still, I had trouble putting this book down, so I think it's definitely worth the read, especially for fans of Dante.
Overall, i enjoyed this book a great deal. It was well-written, and the pilgrims follow Dante's descent into Hell, which is always a topic i enjoy reading about. As enjoyable as that was though, I had to give this book four stars due to the simple fact that there is a lot of untranslated Latin in this book. A lot. Now, I've never had the opportunity to study Latin, so I understood maybe one out of every ten words, and found myself just skipping huge chunks of text becaise I didn't understand it. A lot of the Latin seemed important, so I'm sure I missed out on some important aspects of this book. While the language provided authenticity, it grew to be annoying. Still, I had trouble putting this book down, so I think it's definitely worth the read, especially for fans of Dante.
June 27, 2012
Wow.
This was a terrific story: a pilgrimage through Hell itself to retrieve the Holy Grail and save the world from the plague that had descended upon it.
There were several instances where I found quotes that I loved, including one that reflected how I feel about all my beloved writer friends, many of whom I have never met in person. "Welcome, old friend. I've met you many times by candlelight, in the quiet of the evening. Now here you are. I know you well, and not at all."
The writing is educated, but not stuffy. It was not contrived, but very much suited the period in which the story takes place. It is evident that Mr. Wisehart has put much time into understanding the classics of literature and social and religious elements that are characteristic of those times.
You should expect to spend a little time translating Latin phrases, as there are a few. Thank goodness for those who don't have a background in the language, it is so easy now to use the translation gizmos on the internet.
I have waxed rhapsodic enough for the nonce, but I highly recommend this book. And to think, I almost decided not to download it.
This was a terrific story: a pilgrimage through Hell itself to retrieve the Holy Grail and save the world from the plague that had descended upon it.
There were several instances where I found quotes that I loved, including one that reflected how I feel about all my beloved writer friends, many of whom I have never met in person. "Welcome, old friend. I've met you many times by candlelight, in the quiet of the evening. Now here you are. I know you well, and not at all."
The writing is educated, but not stuffy. It was not contrived, but very much suited the period in which the story takes place. It is evident that Mr. Wisehart has put much time into understanding the classics of literature and social and religious elements that are characteristic of those times.
You should expect to spend a little time translating Latin phrases, as there are a few. Thank goodness for those who don't have a background in the language, it is so easy now to use the translation gizmos on the internet.
I have waxed rhapsodic enough for the nonce, but I highly recommend this book. And to think, I almost decided not to download it.
April 13, 2011
We think we might know the realm of Hell, but it proves to be rather more than the ‘torture-porn’ gorefest our modern cultural expectations might demand.
Yes, there’s plenty of blood and pain for the damned souls incarcerated in the Underworld, but the truth of Hell’s horrors are much more psychological in nature, more subtle, more severe, and more intelligent than anything a schlock-horror mindset might favour. Wisehart avoids falling into the latter trap.
Given its theme, it might be tempting to call this a work of fantasy, but on the other hand given it Mediaeval setting, its homage to Dante, and the grip that religion had on how individuals saw their world in those bygone days, it can equally be called a historical novel.
Either way, Wisehart has woven a compelling and engaging story that will move its readers every bit as much as it provokes thought. It might even teach a thing or two about an era that is far removed from our own time, one that is – at least on the surface – more rational and reasoned.
Yes, there’s plenty of blood and pain for the damned souls incarcerated in the Underworld, but the truth of Hell’s horrors are much more psychological in nature, more subtle, more severe, and more intelligent than anything a schlock-horror mindset might favour. Wisehart avoids falling into the latter trap.
Given its theme, it might be tempting to call this a work of fantasy, but on the other hand given it Mediaeval setting, its homage to Dante, and the grip that religion had on how individuals saw their world in those bygone days, it can equally be called a historical novel.
Either way, Wisehart has woven a compelling and engaging story that will move its readers every bit as much as it provokes thought. It might even teach a thing or two about an era that is far removed from our own time, one that is – at least on the surface – more rational and reasoned.
June 12, 2011
This was one of the first books I bought after getting my Kindle, and is worth every penny.
The story focuses on a medieval quest to stop the Apocalypse, and draws you in to the life and times of the period immediately.
Wisehart has created some pretty well-rounded characters here, thrown them into a melting pot, and poured the results out in a fantastic fantasy adventure.
The book has strong themes of redemption and sacrifice, without being preachy in the slightest, and I loved the way Dante's scenes from the Inferno were revisited. My only complaint is that I would have liked more of the book set here.
Overall, an intelligent, delightful, although melancholic read, with a couple of scenes at the end that come pretty close to breaking your heart.
Highly recommended.
The story focuses on a medieval quest to stop the Apocalypse, and draws you in to the life and times of the period immediately.
Wisehart has created some pretty well-rounded characters here, thrown them into a melting pot, and poured the results out in a fantastic fantasy adventure.
The book has strong themes of redemption and sacrifice, without being preachy in the slightest, and I loved the way Dante's scenes from the Inferno were revisited. My only complaint is that I would have liked more of the book set here.
Overall, an intelligent, delightful, although melancholic read, with a couple of scenes at the end that come pretty close to breaking your heart.
Highly recommended.
August 29, 2010
Four pilgrims embark on a quest to retrieve the Holy Grail from the Devil and thereby save the world from the plague, war, and destruction. The pilgrims follow the path of Dante’s Inferno but their battle with evil is foremost a personal quest for truth and their own redemption. In this remarkable work, the Holy Grail itself, that allusive and coveted chalice, is given new meaning, which is unveiled in another one of David Wisehart’s surprise endings. Beautifully told, full of vivid details and references to medieval history and literature, the Devil’s Lair goes far beyond the genre of mere fantasy. Brilliant!
April 6, 2012
Such a compelling cast of characters on a perilous journey to hell to halt the apocalypse. Even though I consider myself well-read in this time of plague, I found Wisehart's details incredibly authentic and I truly felt I was experiencing those terrible times myself. Every sentence is well-crafted and beautiful while his pace and storyline never falters. I read Dante's Inferno back in college and this book brought it all back to me and then some. If you love historical fiction, Dante, or religious battles between good and evil this book is for you. Amazing job, David. I can't wait to read what you create next!
May 23, 2012
A really enjoyable quick read, the book follows four companions who spend the first half of the book journeying to the gate of Hell (interesting with a respectable pace), and the second half of the book journeying through Hell itself (extremely fun, well paced and engaging).
An extremely well woven tale that takes you on a tour through biblical Hell through the eyes of a diverse cast of 14th Century characters (an exiled priest, a fallen Knight, a penniless poet and a naive prophet) that work extremely well together.
As soon as the cast take the first steps down into Hell the book becomes extremely difficult to put down. Leaves you wanting much more of the same style - recommended.
An extremely well woven tale that takes you on a tour through biblical Hell through the eyes of a diverse cast of 14th Century characters (an exiled priest, a fallen Knight, a penniless poet and a naive prophet) that work extremely well together.
As soon as the cast take the first steps down into Hell the book becomes extremely difficult to put down. Leaves you wanting much more of the same style - recommended.
March 14, 2013
Enjoyed the book.
The book begins with Giovanni Boccaccio (a poet), William of Ockham (an English friar) and Nadja (an epileptic with the gift of prophecy) seeking the knight, Marco da Roma. Nadja believes that he can lead them to hell and help them recover the Holy Grail. They find a grievously wounded Marco on the battlefield with no memory of who he is. Captivated by Nadja's beauty he agrees to accompany them.
Using Dante's Inferno as a guide the pilgrims make their way into hell. William's death comes as a sad blow to the group. Marco remembers who he is and redeems himself and Giovanni and Nadja escape with the Grail.
The book begins with Giovanni Boccaccio (a poet), William of Ockham (an English friar) and Nadja (an epileptic with the gift of prophecy) seeking the knight, Marco da Roma. Nadja believes that he can lead them to hell and help them recover the Holy Grail. They find a grievously wounded Marco on the battlefield with no memory of who he is. Captivated by Nadja's beauty he agrees to accompany them.
Using Dante's Inferno as a guide the pilgrims make their way into hell. William's death comes as a sad blow to the group. Marco remembers who he is and redeems himself and Giovanni and Nadja escape with the Grail.
April 17, 2013
What a cool story. It definitely benefits from an awareness of Dante's Inferno, although it's not absolutely necessary as most of the key points are explained in sufficient detail to know what's going on. The author has taken one of history's most well known literary works and asked the question "what if it weren't just a story? What if it was real?" He creates interesting characters and gives you just enough to understand them. The story could have been longer, with more character development and a deeper investigation of the plot, but there is still a lot of satisfaction to be had in this book.
January 18, 2012
I got this as a free ebook at Amazon, and was very pleasantly surpised. There are four pilgrims on a quest to retrieve the Holy Grail from the depths of hades, and the famous poem by Dante is the guide to the adventure. The story takes place during the middle of the 14th century, at the height of the black death. The characters are well developed, and the dialogue and prose are well written, with many references to classic literature. The graphic depictions of the various inhabitants of hell and their punishments are not for everyone, but all in all, it kept me interested to the end.
April 11, 2012
I really struggled with this book. I should have given up after the first few pages. There were far too many analogies and the author would often use very obscure words to describe something commonplace.
Very slow paced book, though the premise was good. The author at times got far too caught up in the detail which made the book twice as long as it probably should have been as not a lot happened. The ending seemed sudden and was disappointing.
Complete waste of time.
Very slow paced book, though the premise was good. The author at times got far too caught up in the detail which made the book twice as long as it probably should have been as not a lot happened. The ending seemed sudden and was disappointing.
Complete waste of time.
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