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Hell's Bells
It's 1991, and Sasha, Hayley, Tiffany, and Jessica are four best friends into black clothes and rock music. They dabble in Ouija boards and occult games like ‘light as a feather,’ but when Hayley gets ‘saved,' she’s convinced rock music is the devil’s domain and conspires to save them all. Her good intentions go up in flames and the four girls accidentally summon Satan. Trapped in the basement with entities beyond their wildest nightmares, their only saving grace is rock & roll. They have to hope to hell it’s enough, before another one bites the dust.
Book 8 in the Rewind-or-Die series: imagine your local movie rental store back in the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, remember all those fantastic covers. Remember taking those movies home and watching in awe as the stories unfolded in nasty rainbows of gore, remember the atmosphere and textures. Remember the blood.
Book 8 in the Rewind-or-Die series: imagine your local movie rental store back in the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, remember all those fantastic covers. Remember taking those movies home and watching in awe as the stories unfolded in nasty rainbows of gore, remember the atmosphere and textures. Remember the blood.
140 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 18, 2020
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548 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
May 10, 2022
This was TONS of fun. I love Queen so much!! Full review to come, but this is the third in the Rewind or Die series that I've read and LOVED. If you're considering checking out the series, don't wait! Do it!
September 11, 2021
"The confrontation with my parents had been a bummer, but Hayley's conversion was ruining my post-virginal glow."
It's the night that Freddy Mercury died and it's sure not easy being fan girl Sasha right now - not only did she lose her idol, but also her virginity to the boy she loves and her best friend Hayley to fundamentalist Christians.
When Hayley smashes all Sasha's and their friends' Jessica and Tiffany's cassette tapes with a hammer in a wild bid to convert and save them, Sasha loses herself and strikes Hayley, knocking her out. So in order to show her what it feels like to be forced into a belief, the decide to summon the devil himself with virgin Hayley's blood. And sure enough, he comes. He's just not the only one joining the party and things will soon take unexpected turns.
If you think this sounds wild so far, you should know that the real action begins after this point - this book is insanely good!!! I thought the highlight of the Rewind or Die series was "Food Fright", in which French speaking croissants were chasing and trying to eat highschool girls, but "Hell's Bells" has just topped even that.
I surprised myself by how much I loved reading this. And I read it breathlessly! Don't be fooled by page numbers, Lisa Quigley packs incredibly deep existential questions, an utterly likeable set of characters, a very humorous (as well as frightening) representation of religion and a genuine, humanist ending with a heart warming message into this little (but big) book.
It's the night that Freddy Mercury died and it's sure not easy being fan girl Sasha right now - not only did she lose her idol, but also her virginity to the boy she loves and her best friend Hayley to fundamentalist Christians.
When Hayley smashes all Sasha's and their friends' Jessica and Tiffany's cassette tapes with a hammer in a wild bid to convert and save them, Sasha loses herself and strikes Hayley, knocking her out. So in order to show her what it feels like to be forced into a belief, the decide to summon the devil himself with virgin Hayley's blood. And sure enough, he comes. He's just not the only one joining the party and things will soon take unexpected turns.
If you think this sounds wild so far, you should know that the real action begins after this point - this book is insanely good!!! I thought the highlight of the Rewind or Die series was "Food Fright", in which French speaking croissants were chasing and trying to eat highschool girls, but "Hell's Bells" has just topped even that.
I surprised myself by how much I loved reading this. And I read it breathlessly! Don't be fooled by page numbers, Lisa Quigley packs incredibly deep existential questions, an utterly likeable set of characters, a very humorous (as well as frightening) representation of religion and a genuine, humanist ending with a heart warming message into this little (but big) book.
Read
June 4, 2020I have so many reviews to catch up on--adding this one to the list. I finished Tuesday night and I have plans to review it after sorting through my thoughts. I'd also like to have an open, public discussion with friend, author (and podcaster!) Lisa Quigly, about this one on the Night Worms YouTube channel relatively soon.
This is a well-written story but was a little problematic for me because of emotionally charged anti-religious overtones. I'm not religious. I'm a person of faith; there's a difference. I'd like to be able to unpack all of that before writing up my review.
And also talk to Lisa to gain understanding and context.
I will say, for the purpose of promoting this book--I LOVED the way Lisa gave her readers authentic, complex, and genuine female protagonists at different stages of life. Very fast read >> compelling.
This is a well-written story but was a little problematic for me because of emotionally charged anti-religious overtones. I'm not religious. I'm a person of faith; there's a difference. I'd like to be able to unpack all of that before writing up my review.
And also talk to Lisa to gain understanding and context.
I will say, for the purpose of promoting this book--I LOVED the way Lisa gave her readers authentic, complex, and genuine female protagonists at different stages of life. Very fast read >> compelling.
July 27, 2020
"When you find people who celebrate your weirdness, you hold onto them."
I was so excited when I first heard of Hell's Bells, and it did not disappoint! I'm always happy to see coming of age horror stories that don't only feature boys, and I hope people continue writing more books like this.
I loved the setup of this story, and I think it would also make such a fun movie. However, it's wish there would have been a little more context for everything that was going on. I wish it would have been 100ish pages longer so that readers could have a better grasp on what was going on with God and Satan in this universe. The ending was kind of over-the-top, and I wanted more background. Anyway, I enjoyed Hell's Bells overall.
As with the other Rewind or Die books I've read so far, I have to say that the lack of editing can be distracting, but I still highly recommend picking up these fun books.
I was so excited when I first heard of Hell's Bells, and it did not disappoint! I'm always happy to see coming of age horror stories that don't only feature boys, and I hope people continue writing more books like this.
I loved the setup of this story, and I think it would also make such a fun movie. However, it's wish there would have been a little more context for everything that was going on. I wish it would have been 100ish pages longer so that readers could have a better grasp on what was going on with God and Satan in this universe. The ending was kind of over-the-top, and I wanted more background. Anyway, I enjoyed Hell's Bells overall.
As with the other Rewind or Die books I've read so far, I have to say that the lack of editing can be distracting, but I still highly recommend picking up these fun books.
June 2, 2021
For a religion best known for its frail old men wearing silly hats, launching the Crusades, torturing and murdering whoever it deemed to be heretics and nonbelievers, killing women for being witches, raping children, voting Trump, being obnoxiously and hypocritically judgmental of everyone but themselves, and launching a global series of increasingly inane prosecutions against homosexuality, rock music, and Harry Potter -- all the while working to gaslight a global population into believing they have an imaginary disease that only the Church can cure provided you tithe accordingly, and having the temerity to claim their literally-gold-hoarding organization is the one actually being persecuted, even as they worm their way into secular governments to control even more levers of power for themselves! -- Christianity is often seen as the default savior, even in horror. No doubt you know the ridiculous schtick about needing a young priest and an old priest to save the day from a scary young girl expressing individual freedom and sexuality and letting the Lord's light shine, glory glory hallelujah, and all that bullshit. It's an overwrought trope embedded in sexism that too many writers rely on simply because of its ultimate simplicity and historically inaccurate virtue signaling that Christianity equals unequivocable good. Well, I say with every bit of secular, atheistic irony I can muster, thank god for Lisa Quigley!
Hell's Bells is a perfect, wonderfully subversive bit of horror fic, one that gives Christianity and its proselytizing douchecanoes a righteous, and very much needed, swift kick in the ass. This book has been sitting on my Kindle for more than year, but in an obvious fit of divine inspiration via a recent recent Twitter post from the author, this book leapt straight to the top of my TBR. Over on ye olde Twitter, Quigley wrote, "When Christians stop pushing abusive and harmful theology, I will stop being critical of Christian culture in my writing. Until then, expect to find this in my work—or don’t read my books." Lemme tell ya, nothing warms the cockles of my dried-up, black heart and makes me want to read their work faster than a horror author being critical of Christianity. And oooh boy, did this ever deliver!
So, brief recap on what it's all about. Seventeen-year-old Sasha is a Queen/Freddie Mercury obsessive, and she and her 1991-era girlfriends are into the occult... or, at least, most of them are. Best-friend Hayley has recently been converted to Christianity and brain-washed into being a Hell-fearing, judgmental a-hole, not unlike delusional, hypocritical dingbats like Pat Robertson, Joel Osteen, or any given member of the GOP and MAGA crowd. In short, she's becoming the sort of obnoxious, insufferable, Bible-thumping "friend" you want to show the door to real quick, maybe after feeding them a knuckle sandwich or two. In the wake of Mercury's death from complications from AIDS, Hayley only gets worse and it's up to Sasha and their friends to save her.
Drawing on issues like the Satanic Panic, cult brainwashing, and deprogramming, Hell's Bells reads like an inverse exorcism, with its potent themes of individuality, freedom of choice, and the power of love, rock music, and Freddy Mercury (even the chapters are titled after Queen songs). It's a nostalgic reminder of the 90s, as well as a kick-ass, girl-centric coming of age story that reminds readers we don't need the outdated, archaic beliefs of an irrelevant 2,000+ year old religion that has consistently stolen and claimed dominion over that which it holds absolutely no authority over, and that, yes, we desperately do need more coming-of-age horrors from a girl's perspectives. As Sasha realizes in her fight to save Hayley's heart, mind, and soul, "The only true thing was me and oh, there was such power in that!" Rock on, girl! And rock on, Lisa Quigley, for your lovely "fuck you" to the institutional misogyny of Christianity. Keep these books coming!
Hell's Bells is a perfect, wonderfully subversive bit of horror fic, one that gives Christianity and its proselytizing douchecanoes a righteous, and very much needed, swift kick in the ass. This book has been sitting on my Kindle for more than year, but in an obvious fit of divine inspiration via a recent recent Twitter post from the author, this book leapt straight to the top of my TBR. Over on ye olde Twitter, Quigley wrote, "When Christians stop pushing abusive and harmful theology, I will stop being critical of Christian culture in my writing. Until then, expect to find this in my work—or don’t read my books." Lemme tell ya, nothing warms the cockles of my dried-up, black heart and makes me want to read their work faster than a horror author being critical of Christianity. And oooh boy, did this ever deliver!
So, brief recap on what it's all about. Seventeen-year-old Sasha is a Queen/Freddie Mercury obsessive, and she and her 1991-era girlfriends are into the occult... or, at least, most of them are. Best-friend Hayley has recently been converted to Christianity and brain-washed into being a Hell-fearing, judgmental a-hole, not unlike delusional, hypocritical dingbats like Pat Robertson, Joel Osteen, or any given member of the GOP and MAGA crowd. In short, she's becoming the sort of obnoxious, insufferable, Bible-thumping "friend" you want to show the door to real quick, maybe after feeding them a knuckle sandwich or two. In the wake of Mercury's death from complications from AIDS, Hayley only gets worse and it's up to Sasha and their friends to save her.
Drawing on issues like the Satanic Panic, cult brainwashing, and deprogramming, Hell's Bells reads like an inverse exorcism, with its potent themes of individuality, freedom of choice, and the power of love, rock music, and Freddy Mercury (even the chapters are titled after Queen songs). It's a nostalgic reminder of the 90s, as well as a kick-ass, girl-centric coming of age story that reminds readers we don't need the outdated, archaic beliefs of an irrelevant 2,000+ year old religion that has consistently stolen and claimed dominion over that which it holds absolutely no authority over, and that, yes, we desperately do need more coming-of-age horrors from a girl's perspectives. As Sasha realizes in her fight to save Hayley's heart, mind, and soul, "The only true thing was me and oh, there was such power in that!" Rock on, girl! And rock on, Lisa Quigley, for your lovely "fuck you" to the institutional misogyny of Christianity. Keep these books coming!
September 16, 2020
This is a coming-of-age horror story featuring Queen, the devil, and teenagers.
The focus of the story is on Hayley and Sasha, two friends that are growing up and growing apart. Hayley has turned to church and eschews what she used to have in common with Sasha—rock'n'roll—for Jesus. Sasha just wants to convince her friend that there's no such thing as the devil and that her religious fanaticism is making her into someone she's not. The problem is, when they do a ritual to summon the devil, he shows up.
The story is set in the early nineties, so the idea of satanic panic is definitely still lingering around, and many people did blame music for infesting their kids with supposed demonic thoughts and actions. Even today, if you wear too much black eyeliner to school you will probably be labeled a goth weirdo who might burn down the building.
Though I liked the characters and the idea of the story, in execution, this one felt a bit lacking. I am not personally religious, but the book definitely puts Christianity (or whatever religion, I'm not an expert) in a negative light, leaning on stereotypes and anti-religious sentiment. I wish that the idea of religion and what it meant to the characters (perhaps how Sasha viewed music as her religion, etc.) had been explored more—even though the story is short, I think there could have been a more meaningful conversation throughout about what religion means to one person vs. another.
This is still a fun, quick little horror tale, and I enjoyed reading it.
The focus of the story is on Hayley and Sasha, two friends that are growing up and growing apart. Hayley has turned to church and eschews what she used to have in common with Sasha—rock'n'roll—for Jesus. Sasha just wants to convince her friend that there's no such thing as the devil and that her religious fanaticism is making her into someone she's not. The problem is, when they do a ritual to summon the devil, he shows up.
The story is set in the early nineties, so the idea of satanic panic is definitely still lingering around, and many people did blame music for infesting their kids with supposed demonic thoughts and actions. Even today, if you wear too much black eyeliner to school you will probably be labeled a goth weirdo who might burn down the building.
Though I liked the characters and the idea of the story, in execution, this one felt a bit lacking. I am not personally religious, but the book definitely puts Christianity (or whatever religion, I'm not an expert) in a negative light, leaning on stereotypes and anti-religious sentiment. I wish that the idea of religion and what it meant to the characters (perhaps how Sasha viewed music as her religion, etc.) had been explored more—even though the story is short, I think there could have been a more meaningful conversation throughout about what religion means to one person vs. another.
This is still a fun, quick little horror tale, and I enjoyed reading it.
May 31, 2020
This is a nice little book with a lot of heart. A good afternoon read when you’re in the mood for some good ole rock and roll, and a little bit of Satan.
April 23, 2021
4.5 stars
Sasha and her friends are having a sleepover, playing the traditional games: light as a feather, Ouija board. Then, Sasha brings up summoning the devil. Hayley, who's recently into Christianity, thinks its complete blasphemy. After Freddie Mercury dies, Hayley takes it into her hands to destroy Sasha's love for music to hopefully bring her back to Christ. Sasha, hurt and angry, decides it's time to summon the devil.
But the devil is not who we expect. Lisa Quigley takes traditional Christianity and flips it on its head in Hell's Bells.
I love books about girl friendship. This friendship group is not perfect, but they do really care about each other. Because they care so much about each other, they're willing to do anything to keep each other together: Hayley destroying their music, and Sasha summoning the devil.
The way this book was written was gorgeous. I won't give any spoilers to the end, but it was absolutely disgusting and I loved it.
TW: body horror
Sasha and her friends are having a sleepover, playing the traditional games: light as a feather, Ouija board. Then, Sasha brings up summoning the devil. Hayley, who's recently into Christianity, thinks its complete blasphemy. After Freddie Mercury dies, Hayley takes it into her hands to destroy Sasha's love for music to hopefully bring her back to Christ. Sasha, hurt and angry, decides it's time to summon the devil.
But the devil is not who we expect. Lisa Quigley takes traditional Christianity and flips it on its head in Hell's Bells.
I love books about girl friendship. This friendship group is not perfect, but they do really care about each other. Because they care so much about each other, they're willing to do anything to keep each other together: Hayley destroying their music, and Sasha summoning the devil.
The way this book was written was gorgeous. I won't give any spoilers to the end, but it was absolutely disgusting and I loved it.
TW: body horror
Read
April 10, 2021Summary
Sasha, Hayley, Tiffany and Jessica are best friends who enjoy black clothes, makeup and rock music. Things begin to change when Hayley finds God and starts pushing her religion onto her friends.
What starts out as a harmless wake up call for Hayley goes horribly wrong when the other girls take things too far. Next thing they know the Devil decides to show and he's not the only one.
Personal Opinion
This was one of those books that didn't quite go how I thought it would.
Things got gory, things got intense and the group of teens involved learned a valuable lesson about being yourself.
I'm kind of curious as to how exactly Hayley, the 'saved' member of the group, came to be that way. I think adding that part in would have made a good addition.
Overall this was a good one that may leave you questioning what really happens after death.
May 29, 2020
Friendship, first love, rock and roll with a side of blood magic, HELL’S BELLS delivers on the promise of Unnerving’s Rewind Or Die’s awesome eighties horror movie inspired novella series.
The death of Freddie Mercury devastates Queen super-fan Sasha. His music serves as a soundtrack for the story. When her best friend Hailey decides rock and roll music is evil, Sasha and her other friends plan to prove Hailey wrong.
After finishing the book, I want to blast my favorite Queen songs and dance. My favorite thing about the story is how the power of music, friendship, and love shine through.
The death of Freddie Mercury devastates Queen super-fan Sasha. His music serves as a soundtrack for the story. When her best friend Hailey decides rock and roll music is evil, Sasha and her other friends plan to prove Hailey wrong.
After finishing the book, I want to blast my favorite Queen songs and dance. My favorite thing about the story is how the power of music, friendship, and love shine through.
June 19, 2020
I love this book. It has the perfect blend of teenage gloss melodrama with something more below the surface – a wickedly subversive, anti-authoritarian streak that doesn’t pussy-foot around with dishing up something challenging – but rewarding – for the reader. If you’re a freak or a freethinker; a horror nut or a John Hugh’s fan, Lisa Quigley’s debut novella doesn’t just step up to the plate, it knocks the ball out of the park. Equally, part Breakfast Club as it is The Devil Rides Out, this is a fun, satisfying read.
November 12, 2023
One of the greatest days of my reading life was finding the "Rewind or Die" series. Everytime I think the series has gotten as good as it can get, the next author surprises me. I have read 11 books in the series and I will say Hell's Bells is the best in the series so far. I was brought to tears and laughs. I felt for the characters in the book and I was surprised by how emotional this story made me. I am looking forward to more from author Lisa Quigley.
April 30, 2022
When I was in high school I had some close friends that took up Christianity; it was a real drag. Totally sucked. Lisa Quigley nailed that feeling of being a teen and all of your friend group starting to splinter off in different directions and discover who they are as people. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t all sentimental “Perks of Being a Wallflower” type stuff; that would be just as lame as my friend’s weird Christian phase. Hell’s bells reads like someone watched Hack-O-Lantern and said “this movie would be cooler with more Queen… actually… ONLY Queen for the soundtrack.” It works perfectly, and I believe Freddy, Brian, and the others would be happy to see their music used in a book that captures the band’s message of being unapologetically yourself. K thx.
May 23, 2021
HELL’S BELLS is a fun, fast-paced twist on the Satanic panic.
1991. Freddie Mercury died. But fat bottom girls make the rocking world go round. Four teenagers play occult games with the resistance of one. Hayley has been saved and returned to her faith in full force. She will bring that force to save her friends’ soul from going to Hell. As a joke, to prove there is no Devil and therefore no God, the others summon the Dark Prince. Like, the actual dude.
Friendships and beliefs are tested in the perfect homage to the Rewind or Die theme. I could easily see HELL’S BELLS being the next Shudder exclusive. The characters are developed and clear individuals. Sasha reminded me a lot of my sixteen year old self. The Queen references were great and really tied in how much music is a part of our lives--especially during young adulthood. In 1991, I was an impressionable 9yo that picked up Nirvana’s Bleach and I haven’t been the same since.
1991. Freddie Mercury died. But fat bottom girls make the rocking world go round. Four teenagers play occult games with the resistance of one. Hayley has been saved and returned to her faith in full force. She will bring that force to save her friends’ soul from going to Hell. As a joke, to prove there is no Devil and therefore no God, the others summon the Dark Prince. Like, the actual dude.
Friendships and beliefs are tested in the perfect homage to the Rewind or Die theme. I could easily see HELL’S BELLS being the next Shudder exclusive. The characters are developed and clear individuals. Sasha reminded me a lot of my sixteen year old self. The Queen references were great and really tied in how much music is a part of our lives--especially during young adulthood. In 1991, I was an impressionable 9yo that picked up Nirvana’s Bleach and I haven’t been the same since.
February 7, 2021
“...tonight of all nights called for vinyl, not mere cassette tapes.”
Lisa Quigley wrote a love letter to horror, music, and Freddie Mercury. Hells Bells is quick, gory, and a little bit heartbreaking. The focus on a group of girlfriends, and how life can change so quickly as a teen, is a high point. There are definitely areas where more depth would’ve enriched the story, but I think it works just fine the way it is. I definitely could’ve read another 100+ pages of this.
This joins the ranks of my favorites in the Rewind or Die series, along with Cirque Beserk and Benny Rose: The Cannibal King. I can’t wait to read more from Quigley.
Lisa Quigley wrote a love letter to horror, music, and Freddie Mercury. Hells Bells is quick, gory, and a little bit heartbreaking. The focus on a group of girlfriends, and how life can change so quickly as a teen, is a high point. There are definitely areas where more depth would’ve enriched the story, but I think it works just fine the way it is. I definitely could’ve read another 100+ pages of this.
This joins the ranks of my favorites in the Rewind or Die series, along with Cirque Beserk and Benny Rose: The Cannibal King. I can’t wait to read more from Quigley.
October 27, 2020
This book went places I was not expecting, as such I totally devoured it. Lisa Quigley's debut novella is a heck of a good time. As someone who loved alt music since middle school and grew up in a super conservative small town, I related to the characters so much. That bond of friendship with your fellow weirdos truly gets you through some tough times. I enjoyed how much Quigley *went there* with certain scenes, even when it made me uncomfortable. This little book pushes many buttons and boundaries, but it still delivers on leaving messages to make you keep thinking about the story once you close the book. Our power of choice, our unique paths in life, what we can tolerate and what we can't especially in today's political climate -- I could have totally devoured another 100 pages or so of this book, so I am really excited to see what Quigley does next!
*small note to say that I do wish the book had received more love from the editor since there were quite a few typos, but the story itself is a super fun time!
*small note to say that I do wish the book had received more love from the editor since there were quite a few typos, but the story itself is a super fun time!
May 22, 2025
If I tell you that I didn't expect this book to go THERE you have no idea what I mean by THERE. I thought this was a story about a group of friends in the 90s doing some Ouija experimenting and one of them gets possessed (maybe I mixed that up with "Goddess of Filth" which I actually wasn't a fan of), and somehow the band Queen is central to it all. And in way, this is true just that no one gets possessed, instead we summon the devil. Then it all dials up by 1000 in a way I didn't think a little Horror novella that's supposed to be just 'fun' would do.
This dives into questions of faith, good vs evil and how teenage friendship fits in between all of that. And it all started out so innocently. The first half is not bad but a bit unremarkable. The editing when it comes to the writing could have been better (certain information are given to us twice within the span of only a few pages), overall I have to admit I found the writing and the events a bit bland. It was lovely to see our Lord and Savior Freddie Mercury being incorporated into the plot but so far this wasn't doing much for me. Once we get to the point though where the devil makes an appearance this kicks into the gear it needed to be in and things got truly interesting.
Obviously, I am being vague here, I didn't know what was to come and I don't want to spoil but I am also aware that I might be raising expectations of a too high mark. That's the risk of the game, play it anway. To be fair, I am still deciding if I like what this story is doing with all of its elements and thematic discussions, all that is implied here. I do know that I liked that this had the guts to do something more than what I've come to expect from this kind of plot. It might be too ambitious for its own good, I am sure for some religious readers out there this will be a nope. As the atheist in the room I am also still mulling over what just happened here. On the good side though, this got unexpectedly gross, I mean leeches level of gross and that is one of the top tiers.
Surprisingly, the Queen element didn't do as much for me as I thought it would. I was a teen in the 90s (though my hey days were a bit later in the decade), I adore Queen. But how Freddie was used towards the end was a bit... odd? But I liked the inclusion as the ultimate band to symbolize accepting people as they are, friends will be friends after all. Additionally, it's the kind of story that I like more and more with some distance. While reading it the writing itself, certain details and the tamer first half irked me a bit. But it's for sure quite the story to look back on, this had me thinking way more than I expected. My rating, of course, lands on a dreaded half star and I want to round down. I know, another one bites the dust. Then again, this did accompany my ESC 2025 week which, honestly, I believe Freddie would have loved what the competition became over the years. With that in mind, what the hell, let's round up!
3.5*
This dives into questions of faith, good vs evil and how teenage friendship fits in between all of that. And it all started out so innocently. The first half is not bad but a bit unremarkable. The editing when it comes to the writing could have been better (certain information are given to us twice within the span of only a few pages), overall I have to admit I found the writing and the events a bit bland. It was lovely to see our Lord and Savior Freddie Mercury being incorporated into the plot but so far this wasn't doing much for me. Once we get to the point though where the devil makes an appearance this kicks into the gear it needed to be in and things got truly interesting.
Obviously, I am being vague here, I didn't know what was to come and I don't want to spoil but I am also aware that I might be raising expectations of a too high mark. That's the risk of the game, play it anway. To be fair, I am still deciding if I like what this story is doing with all of its elements and thematic discussions, all that is implied here. I do know that I liked that this had the guts to do something more than what I've come to expect from this kind of plot. It might be too ambitious for its own good, I am sure for some religious readers out there this will be a nope. As the atheist in the room I am also still mulling over what just happened here. On the good side though, this got unexpectedly gross, I mean leeches level of gross and that is one of the top tiers.
Surprisingly, the Queen element didn't do as much for me as I thought it would. I was a teen in the 90s (though my hey days were a bit later in the decade), I adore Queen. But how Freddie was used towards the end was a bit... odd? But I liked the inclusion as the ultimate band to symbolize accepting people as they are, friends will be friends after all. Additionally, it's the kind of story that I like more and more with some distance. While reading it the writing itself, certain details and the tamer first half irked me a bit. But it's for sure quite the story to look back on, this had me thinking way more than I expected. My rating, of course, lands on a dreaded half star and I want to round down. I know, another one bites the dust. Then again, this did accompany my ESC 2025 week which, honestly, I believe Freddie would have loved what the competition became over the years. With that in mind, what the hell, let's round up!
3.5*
March 31, 2021
4.5 stars, a little stereotypical, filled with tropes of satanic horror, but actually really cute 😬 I loved it, I just wish it had been longer and more plot driven at points.
August 12, 2022
Queen + coming of age + the 90s + Ouija boards and the devil?! Sign me up! Lisa Quigley has a fast-paced and fun novella here with HELL'S BELLS that definitely fits into the Rewind-or-Die series in the best way. So many coming of age stories are focused on teenage boys so I definitely love when I get one with girls - and nothing about Quigley's debut novella disappoints! It's a novella that I wish could be longer to really explore some of the themes and character decisions in more depth, but I still enjoyed my ride on this quick story.
February 23, 2021
I got this on the Kindle app as soon as it came out but I just can't read books that way, so it wasn't until I recently got a physical copy that I was able to sink into it. And once I did, I quickly devoured it. When I started it, I was in the middle of some other books and didn't mean to read the whole thing at once, but it wouldn't let me go (will not let you go). I thought I knew what I was in for, more or less, with four teenage girls summoning the devil in their suburban basement, but nothing could've prepared me for Quigley's sheer audacity and willingness to go there.
While Satan is no stranger to stories, his arch-nemesis is usually considered off limits. Not here. To avoid being spoilery, I'll move on to other aspects, but I would like to note that the author is not merely being transgressive (which horror fiction ought to be) but setting up fertile thematic ground which is probed in the novella's denoument. (An instructive parallel reading might be the chapter "The Whiteness of the Whale" from Moby-Dick while also listening to the song of the same name off Side 2 of Led Zeppelin II to really get the spirit of the thing.)
The story is set in 1991—the novella is part of a series called Rewind or Die in a nod to renting horror flicks from your local video store before DVDs and the rise of Netflix—and the nostalgic elements are wonderful: listening to a cassette of The Cure's Disintegration over and over on Halloween night; a translucent neon green phone with visible circuitry; bean bag chairs; having to find another collector and borrow VHS tapes of rare concert and interview recordings of your favorite band long before YouTube; the power of Doc Martens and black lipstick. But these signifiers are not just window-dressing. The presence of media drives the story and makes for some of its most surprising and suspenseful moments. As one friend tries to convert her friends with a VHS tape and intends to smash all her friends' cassette tapes, the importance of our physical media collections, especially before streaming and everpresent internet, how the art and messages contained in them affected our worldviews and informed our identities as developing teenagers, becomes of paramount importance. Similarly, in another sly twist, Quigley introduces what could just be a cool piece of music nerd legend and weaves it into the story in a tactile and meaningful way; this is the case more often than it is not with the narrator's obsession with Freddie Mercury and Queen.
Quigley's narrative shifts from the internal emotional worlds of teenage girls to the external physical world of bodies and what happens to them in horror in an epic climax that occupies a solid range of this brief book's pages. Linking these two sections are notions of personal power, being rooted in one's body, consent and its opposite, self-presentation, the ties that bind, and relationships with other humans we know versus relationships with icons and deities. A writer of supernatural fiction needs to be clear when taking readers over the boundary of the known world into the imagined other realms, and Quigley's imagination and hand are up to the task, giving us smells, visuals, analogies, and tactile references that allow us to experience her unique take on magical and religious tropes without being slowed down. (The only things to really take me out of the narrative are three quibbles it's more of an editor's job to notice and assist in correcting: the anachronistic presence of a cassette by a band that didn't exist yet in 1991 in the tapehoard; the presence of a few typos noted in another review here; and an overuse of the same adjective in the latter half of the book. That said, this series put out one novella a month on a DIY ethos, a grueling schedule.) Another element of craft I admired on Quigley's part is the way she establishes in a few strokes what the four main characters look like in the opening pages and doesn't return to it. For example, she doesn't mention physical characteristics of the narrator Sasha's three best friends again unless noting a departure from their established look and why it might be disconcerting. Meanwhile, true to a teenager riddled with self-doubt, Sasha will return again and again to self-conscious thoughts of her imperfect teeth (calling to mind Lorde's "White Teeth Teens" for this reader).
I particularly enjoyed how Quigley speaks to a young woman's struggle to express themselves and believe what they want in a society that constantly tries to erode that self-determination. Whether it's comments from a well-meaning but tone-deaf mother, authoritarian (and let's face it, patriarchal) forces at church and school, or the subtle and insistent pressure to conform from within one's peer group, these forces seem to be ubiquitous and difficult to resist, and Quigley grounds her story in specifics that matter in this social context: the brand of sneaker, the shade of lipstick, or the placement of a piercing. I greatly enjoyed my first romp through through the imagination and art of Lisa Quigley and look forward to what she does next. Meanwhile, I'll be looking up her short fiction published online.
While Satan is no stranger to stories, his arch-nemesis is usually considered off limits. Not here. To avoid being spoilery, I'll move on to other aspects, but I would like to note that the author is not merely being transgressive (which horror fiction ought to be) but setting up fertile thematic ground which is probed in the novella's denoument. (An instructive parallel reading might be the chapter "The Whiteness of the Whale" from Moby-Dick while also listening to the song of the same name off Side 2 of Led Zeppelin II to really get the spirit of the thing.)
The story is set in 1991—the novella is part of a series called Rewind or Die in a nod to renting horror flicks from your local video store before DVDs and the rise of Netflix—and the nostalgic elements are wonderful: listening to a cassette of The Cure's Disintegration over and over on Halloween night; a translucent neon green phone with visible circuitry; bean bag chairs; having to find another collector and borrow VHS tapes of rare concert and interview recordings of your favorite band long before YouTube; the power of Doc Martens and black lipstick. But these signifiers are not just window-dressing. The presence of media drives the story and makes for some of its most surprising and suspenseful moments. As one friend tries to convert her friends with a VHS tape and intends to smash all her friends' cassette tapes, the importance of our physical media collections, especially before streaming and everpresent internet, how the art and messages contained in them affected our worldviews and informed our identities as developing teenagers, becomes of paramount importance. Similarly, in another sly twist, Quigley introduces what could just be a cool piece of music nerd legend and weaves it into the story in a tactile and meaningful way; this is the case more often than it is not with the narrator's obsession with Freddie Mercury and Queen.
Quigley's narrative shifts from the internal emotional worlds of teenage girls to the external physical world of bodies and what happens to them in horror in an epic climax that occupies a solid range of this brief book's pages. Linking these two sections are notions of personal power, being rooted in one's body, consent and its opposite, self-presentation, the ties that bind, and relationships with other humans we know versus relationships with icons and deities. A writer of supernatural fiction needs to be clear when taking readers over the boundary of the known world into the imagined other realms, and Quigley's imagination and hand are up to the task, giving us smells, visuals, analogies, and tactile references that allow us to experience her unique take on magical and religious tropes without being slowed down. (The only things to really take me out of the narrative are three quibbles it's more of an editor's job to notice and assist in correcting: the anachronistic presence of a cassette by a band that didn't exist yet in 1991 in the tapehoard; the presence of a few typos noted in another review here; and an overuse of the same adjective in the latter half of the book. That said, this series put out one novella a month on a DIY ethos, a grueling schedule.) Another element of craft I admired on Quigley's part is the way she establishes in a few strokes what the four main characters look like in the opening pages and doesn't return to it. For example, she doesn't mention physical characteristics of the narrator Sasha's three best friends again unless noting a departure from their established look and why it might be disconcerting. Meanwhile, true to a teenager riddled with self-doubt, Sasha will return again and again to self-conscious thoughts of her imperfect teeth (calling to mind Lorde's "White Teeth Teens" for this reader).
I particularly enjoyed how Quigley speaks to a young woman's struggle to express themselves and believe what they want in a society that constantly tries to erode that self-determination. Whether it's comments from a well-meaning but tone-deaf mother, authoritarian (and let's face it, patriarchal) forces at church and school, or the subtle and insistent pressure to conform from within one's peer group, these forces seem to be ubiquitous and difficult to resist, and Quigley grounds her story in specifics that matter in this social context: the brand of sneaker, the shade of lipstick, or the placement of a piercing. I greatly enjoyed my first romp through through the imagination and art of Lisa Quigley and look forward to what she does next. Meanwhile, I'll be looking up her short fiction published online.
September 14, 2020
4.5 stars. Forget "Bohemian Rhapsody," this is my quintessential Queen text. Awesome story.
April 6, 2021
Man, I just don’t have words! For such a short little thing I am completely in love with it! The characters the references, it’s jumped to my top 5 list easy! You should definitely read it if you’re on the fence! 🖤
September 2, 2020
3.5/5
Fun! Incredibly niche, which was a bit distancing.
Fun! Incredibly niche, which was a bit distancing.
June 20, 2020
Book eight in Unnerving’s Rewind or Die series comes from Lisa Quigley, best known as one of the hosts of the Ladies of the Fright podcast. Hell’s Bells marks Quigley’s debut novella and it is a doozy. We’re introduced right away to a cast of teenage girls who are remarkably easy to keep track of. This may sound small, but I often find myself struggling to keep multiple characters straight when they’re thrust upon me all at once. Quigley does a great job of establishing personality traits and quirks so that the reader is able to settle in and enjoy the storytelling, rather than being confused. The characters are developed and fleshed out in a way not often seen in a 140 page novella.
At the time I was reading this book, I also got sucked into a three-part episode of This is Horror with the author. The subject matter presented in this book, namely themes of Christianity, devotion, satanic panic, and the like stand on their own, and are investigated in complex, yet real-life ways. This book would have captivated my attention regardless, but hearing the story of Quigley’s early life tied in so much with her fiction. I don’t believe you need to read an author’s interviews to get their work, but for me, the podcast was the perfect companion piece to the book.
As I’ve mentioned countless times, well at least 7, the Rewind or Die series sets out to give us a literary version of B-movie horror. The reader goes in expecting to have a good time and be entertained. You may not expect to leave with existential questions, but hey, it could happen. There was one matter presented regarding history being written by the winners that has had my brain going for days since I finished this book in two sittings. I think most of us can agree with that concept, but I never thought to apply it to religion.
Most of the story is told over the course of a very short period of time. While it works, it felt different to me. I’ve developed this idea of a novella following the characters and events over a certain period of time. When it mainly gets packed into a few hours, the narrative has to work outside of a traditional manner. I don’t mean this to sound like a complaint, because in reality it lends the book a unique way of working, but some readers may find it strange.
Lastly, I couldn’t very well write a review of this book that left out the music. The allusions to Queen and Freddie Mercury, both direct and indirect, give this book that nostalgic feel that has worked in all the strongest entries in this series. Quigley leaves the reader with earworms for days. I can wholeheartedly recommend this book to fans of satanic panic lit, character-driven horror, and Bohemian Rhapsody, because after all - Beelezebub has a devil put aside for me.
At the time I was reading this book, I also got sucked into a three-part episode of This is Horror with the author. The subject matter presented in this book, namely themes of Christianity, devotion, satanic panic, and the like stand on their own, and are investigated in complex, yet real-life ways. This book would have captivated my attention regardless, but hearing the story of Quigley’s early life tied in so much with her fiction. I don’t believe you need to read an author’s interviews to get their work, but for me, the podcast was the perfect companion piece to the book.
As I’ve mentioned countless times, well at least 7, the Rewind or Die series sets out to give us a literary version of B-movie horror. The reader goes in expecting to have a good time and be entertained. You may not expect to leave with existential questions, but hey, it could happen. There was one matter presented regarding history being written by the winners that has had my brain going for days since I finished this book in two sittings. I think most of us can agree with that concept, but I never thought to apply it to religion.
Most of the story is told over the course of a very short period of time. While it works, it felt different to me. I’ve developed this idea of a novella following the characters and events over a certain period of time. When it mainly gets packed into a few hours, the narrative has to work outside of a traditional manner. I don’t mean this to sound like a complaint, because in reality it lends the book a unique way of working, but some readers may find it strange.
Lastly, I couldn’t very well write a review of this book that left out the music. The allusions to Queen and Freddie Mercury, both direct and indirect, give this book that nostalgic feel that has worked in all the strongest entries in this series. Quigley leaves the reader with earworms for days. I can wholeheartedly recommend this book to fans of satanic panic lit, character-driven horror, and Bohemian Rhapsody, because after all - Beelezebub has a devil put aside for me.
July 19, 2020
Buddy read with Emily! ♥
I'm gonna be honest, I wasn't going to review this one because I still haven't formulated all of my thoughts. But I'm not going to deny that Hell's Bells was a good read, regardless of how uncomfortable it might have made me feel at times.
To begin with, Hell's Bells is short. Granted, it's a novella so obvs. But, like, I read through this without getting up to use the bathroom once & let me tell you, that doesn't happen very often. I zoomed through in, maybe, a little over an hour? That's what my Kindle kept telling me at least.
It's definitely well-written. I loved how realistic the teenage characters felt. Their thoughts & all that jazz were definitely things that I remember feeling at their age. Also, this is an ode to rock n' roll & I love it. Did I absolutely LOSE my shit when Satan comes in & says, "Smells like teen spirit?" Maybe. Mind your business. I find humor in a lot of things & pals, that had me cackling.
Time to touch on the demonic elephant in the room, amiright? My slight problem is a personal problem & is not included in the rating whatsoever. My 4-star rating is based solely on the writing & the story-telling & just, in all, being a good read.
I don't speak about religion often. It's my own personal thing -- I believe in what I believe & I'm cool with everyone else. Jesus is my homeboy, you feel me? Again! This is personal! And does not affect my rating! I'm only mentioning because maybe someone else needs to hear it prior to reading this? I don't know. But, I personally felt uncomfortable with the anti-religion themes in Hell's Bells. That's it. That's the slight issue I have. & is that Lisa Quigley's fault? NOT AT ALL.
tbqh, it wasn't until a certain point that I started feeling uncomfortable; which I can't really address due to spoilers.
So, again -- my rating is based on the writing & the story & I totally neglect my own personal problem, because it's definitely a case of me. Quite honestly, if you don't think that my problem will be your problem, THEN TREAT YOURSELF AND READ THIS BECAUSE IT'S GOOD.
I'm gonna be honest, I wasn't going to review this one because I still haven't formulated all of my thoughts. But I'm not going to deny that Hell's Bells was a good read, regardless of how uncomfortable it might have made me feel at times.
To begin with, Hell's Bells is short. Granted, it's a novella so obvs. But, like, I read through this without getting up to use the bathroom once & let me tell you, that doesn't happen very often. I zoomed through in, maybe, a little over an hour? That's what my Kindle kept telling me at least.
It's definitely well-written. I loved how realistic the teenage characters felt. Their thoughts & all that jazz were definitely things that I remember feeling at their age. Also, this is an ode to rock n' roll & I love it. Did I absolutely LOSE my shit when Satan comes in & says, "Smells like teen spirit?" Maybe. Mind your business. I find humor in a lot of things & pals, that had me cackling.
Time to touch on the demonic elephant in the room, amiright? My slight problem is a personal problem & is not included in the rating whatsoever. My 4-star rating is based solely on the writing & the story-telling & just, in all, being a good read.
I don't speak about religion often. It's my own personal thing -- I believe in what I believe & I'm cool with everyone else. Jesus is my homeboy, you feel me? Again! This is personal! And does not affect my rating! I'm only mentioning because maybe someone else needs to hear it prior to reading this? I don't know. But, I personally felt uncomfortable with the anti-religion themes in Hell's Bells. That's it. That's the slight issue I have. & is that Lisa Quigley's fault? NOT AT ALL.
tbqh, it wasn't until a certain point that I started feeling uncomfortable; which I can't really address due to spoilers.
So, again -- my rating is based on the writing & the story & I totally neglect my own personal problem, because it's definitely a case of me. Quite honestly, if you don't think that my problem will be your problem, THEN TREAT YOURSELF AND READ THIS BECAUSE IT'S GOOD.
October 14, 2020
Appears in my October 2020 take over of THE READERS' SHELF column in Library Journal: https://www.libraryjournal.com/?detai...
Unnerving Magazine has capitalized on the popularity of the horror novella, mixing in yet another huge genre trend-- nostalgia for the gore and camp of 1970s, 80s and 90s horror films with their Rewind or Die series. Entry 8 in the series, HELL’S BELLS by Lisa Quigley, is a terrifying and humorous take on the “Satanic Panic” trope, featuring teen girls who mistakenly summon Satan in their suburban basement, but use rock n roll to save themselves and the world at large. The characters jump off the page, the action and terror are perfectly realized, and the musical allusions are fun and frequent. Quigley is also a host of the award winning Ladies of the Fright podcast, so her name may ring a bell with patrons, despite this being her debut. The awesome cover art surrounding this tale, and every entry in the series, will help the book sell itself to patrons. Read-alike: The fourth entry in this series, CIRQUE BERSERK by Jessica Guess is another great choice. Both feature witless teens, slasher tropes, and are bunches of gory, fun to read.
Unnerving Magazine has capitalized on the popularity of the horror novella, mixing in yet another huge genre trend-- nostalgia for the gore and camp of 1970s, 80s and 90s horror films with their Rewind or Die series. Entry 8 in the series, HELL’S BELLS by Lisa Quigley, is a terrifying and humorous take on the “Satanic Panic” trope, featuring teen girls who mistakenly summon Satan in their suburban basement, but use rock n roll to save themselves and the world at large. The characters jump off the page, the action and terror are perfectly realized, and the musical allusions are fun and frequent. Quigley is also a host of the award winning Ladies of the Fright podcast, so her name may ring a bell with patrons, despite this being her debut. The awesome cover art surrounding this tale, and every entry in the series, will help the book sell itself to patrons. Read-alike: The fourth entry in this series, CIRQUE BERSERK by Jessica Guess is another great choice. Both feature witless teens, slasher tropes, and are bunches of gory, fun to read.
January 12, 2021
This is, hands down, my new fave coming of age story. Yeah, Ramona Quimby, go on somewhere.
Hell's Bells, like every installment in the Rewind or Die series, is a great deal of fun. There's gore, there's blood, there are some scenes so gross they could win a splatterpunk award. But there's also a great deal of heart in Lisa Quigley's characters, and in their relationships with each other. The long running friendships of the four friends, their sense of self, their love for each other, and the concept of self love all run through this story. It's well written, it's funny, and it's like nothing I've ever read before. Looking forward to more from this author.
Hell's Bells, like every installment in the Rewind or Die series, is a great deal of fun. There's gore, there's blood, there are some scenes so gross they could win a splatterpunk award. But there's also a great deal of heart in Lisa Quigley's characters, and in their relationships with each other. The long running friendships of the four friends, their sense of self, their love for each other, and the concept of self love all run through this story. It's well written, it's funny, and it's like nothing I've ever read before. Looking forward to more from this author.
August 22, 2020
A horror story about blind faith and organised religion, but also a love letter to Freddie Mercury. I felt the characterisation and dialogue between the four main characters was excellent. And the depiction of both the devil and god were unique and refreshing, especially the charismatic satan. I loved it!
June 10, 2020
At some point, Hell’s Bells author Lisa Quigley must have wondered “who is my audience for this book?” Is it the horror crowd? The classic rock crowd? The coming of age trope crowd?
A lifelong Queen fan AND horror fiction fan, I am your audience, Miss Quigley.
I can rattle the dates off without googling: 9/5/46 (Freddie’s birthday); 9/21/80 (first time I saw Queen live); 7/31/82 (last time I saw Queen live with Freddie); 9/24/91 (the day Freddie died).
So when I saw a post on social media from one of my horror family friends showing the cover to Hell’s Bells with Freddie Mercury in profile, it didn’t matter if it was a horror story or a Harlequin Romance, I hopped right on Amazon and placed my order.
Hell’s Bells tells the story of four 17 year old friends wrestling with some changes in their lives. Sasha, the story’s narrator, is upset best friend Hayley has been “born again” and is struggling with her new outlook on life. When her opinions include condemning all rock music as the work of the devil, Sasha has had enough. Something must be done to show Hayley that Freddie Mercury (among others) was not subliminally expounding satanic rhetoric in his lyrics. Sasha and her friends figure if they show Hayley that there is no such thing as the devil, they can get the old Hayley back.
So they go about trying to summon the devil.
I’d love to discuss the plot in much greater detail, but to do so would necessitate major spoilers. What started out as a teen coming of age story takes a very dark turn. Blood is spilled and lives are broken. Quigley writes well when the passage demands it. She also can handle teen angst and conversations pretty solid.
But the elephant in the room is her handling of religious themes. She has definite opinions on these ideals and the second half of the novella promulgates the idea that nothing is what it seems when it comes to God and the devil. I sense some amount of Ayn Rand objectivism in her concepts—follow reason and not faith—and, ultimately, the girls in the story espouse the belief that the support they get from each other is all the reason they need to have the faith they do. It’s a resonant lesson, but not one without some amount of controversy.
The story draws from such influences as Neil Gaiman’s Season of Mists storyline in Sandman; the current Lucifer TV show, and most certainly the Queen legacy. Quigley names chapters after Queen song titles, each title tying into the chapter’s content. She’s clearly done her homework when it comes to Freddie and the boys. Queen’s music becomes something of a driver for the plot, an aspect which the fanboy in me absolutely loved.
All said, the novella gives the royal treatment to the classic devil conjuring trope in horror fiction. But Quigley turns that trope on its pointy tailed behind, weighing in on some heavy topics. Sprinkle delicately with a little body horror and evisceration and this one packs a ton of fun into 134 pages. It’s just a question as to whether or not the girls can defy the laws of nature and come out alive (see what I did there?)
4 out of 5 crazy little stars.
A lifelong Queen fan AND horror fiction fan, I am your audience, Miss Quigley.
I can rattle the dates off without googling: 9/5/46 (Freddie’s birthday); 9/21/80 (first time I saw Queen live); 7/31/82 (last time I saw Queen live with Freddie); 9/24/91 (the day Freddie died).
So when I saw a post on social media from one of my horror family friends showing the cover to Hell’s Bells with Freddie Mercury in profile, it didn’t matter if it was a horror story or a Harlequin Romance, I hopped right on Amazon and placed my order.
Hell’s Bells tells the story of four 17 year old friends wrestling with some changes in their lives. Sasha, the story’s narrator, is upset best friend Hayley has been “born again” and is struggling with her new outlook on life. When her opinions include condemning all rock music as the work of the devil, Sasha has had enough. Something must be done to show Hayley that Freddie Mercury (among others) was not subliminally expounding satanic rhetoric in his lyrics. Sasha and her friends figure if they show Hayley that there is no such thing as the devil, they can get the old Hayley back.
So they go about trying to summon the devil.
I’d love to discuss the plot in much greater detail, but to do so would necessitate major spoilers. What started out as a teen coming of age story takes a very dark turn. Blood is spilled and lives are broken. Quigley writes well when the passage demands it. She also can handle teen angst and conversations pretty solid.
But the elephant in the room is her handling of religious themes. She has definite opinions on these ideals and the second half of the novella promulgates the idea that nothing is what it seems when it comes to God and the devil. I sense some amount of Ayn Rand objectivism in her concepts—follow reason and not faith—and, ultimately, the girls in the story espouse the belief that the support they get from each other is all the reason they need to have the faith they do. It’s a resonant lesson, but not one without some amount of controversy.
The story draws from such influences as Neil Gaiman’s Season of Mists storyline in Sandman; the current Lucifer TV show, and most certainly the Queen legacy. Quigley names chapters after Queen song titles, each title tying into the chapter’s content. She’s clearly done her homework when it comes to Freddie and the boys. Queen’s music becomes something of a driver for the plot, an aspect which the fanboy in me absolutely loved.
All said, the novella gives the royal treatment to the classic devil conjuring trope in horror fiction. But Quigley turns that trope on its pointy tailed behind, weighing in on some heavy topics. Sprinkle delicately with a little body horror and evisceration and this one packs a ton of fun into 134 pages. It’s just a question as to whether or not the girls can defy the laws of nature and come out alive (see what I did there?)
4 out of 5 crazy little stars.
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