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Kill Karma
When Pepper turned seventeen, she expected to be released from probation and maybe even have a party. So, trekking through the pits of Hell, joining a squadron of assassins, and fighting demons was never part of the plan...
Pepper Li Bell has a high aptitude and talent that, in the past, she used exclusively to get into trouble. Despite the terms of her probation, she decided to use that knowledge and prowess to become an entrepreneur of sorts, beginning a karma-for-hire business. Pepper can’t stand to see karma go unserved, so when oppressors dodge justice, she’s ready to uncover their dirty little secrets—for a fee, of course.
But on her latest job, when she uncovers an insidious plot that’s been brewing for a decade, and now, it’s on the verge of fruition, Pepper is in way over her head. Demons have set up shop in her small Florida town, peddling soul contracts and possessing her neighbors. They await orders set for doomsday—All Hallows’ Eve—when the nefarious Syndicate will be unleashed from Hell, turning the forces of darkness loose and declaring war on Earth. The only thing standing in their way is goddess Karma, who wields the Scales of Justice, ensuring balance throughout the realms, and her assassins.
After unearthing secrets from her past, Pepper realizes she just might hold the key to bringing the demonic regime to its knees and saving everyone she knows and loves. The fate of Karma, every magical being, and all of humanity rest on her young shoulders…but can she rise to the challenge in time?
Armageddon is brewing, and Pepper is in the eye of the storm.
Pepper Li Bell has a high aptitude and talent that, in the past, she used exclusively to get into trouble. Despite the terms of her probation, she decided to use that knowledge and prowess to become an entrepreneur of sorts, beginning a karma-for-hire business. Pepper can’t stand to see karma go unserved, so when oppressors dodge justice, she’s ready to uncover their dirty little secrets—for a fee, of course.
But on her latest job, when she uncovers an insidious plot that’s been brewing for a decade, and now, it’s on the verge of fruition, Pepper is in way over her head. Demons have set up shop in her small Florida town, peddling soul contracts and possessing her neighbors. They await orders set for doomsday—All Hallows’ Eve—when the nefarious Syndicate will be unleashed from Hell, turning the forces of darkness loose and declaring war on Earth. The only thing standing in their way is goddess Karma, who wields the Scales of Justice, ensuring balance throughout the realms, and her assassins.
After unearthing secrets from her past, Pepper realizes she just might hold the key to bringing the demonic regime to its knees and saving everyone she knows and loves. The fate of Karma, every magical being, and all of humanity rest on her young shoulders…but can she rise to the challenge in time?
Armageddon is brewing, and Pepper is in the eye of the storm.
376 pages, Paperback
Published October 14, 2021
12 people are currently reading
1692 people want to read
About the author
Kelly L. Marsh
2 books76 followersKelly L. Marsh is the author of the award-winning novel Kill Karma. Before she started writing fantasy, she earned a B.S. degree in chemistry from the University of Miami in Coral Gables. After that, she embarked on a career in forensics. By day, Kelly is an EFT-Tapping master practitioner. By night, she dives into fantasy worlds of her own creation. She lives in Naples, Florida, with her family, where she was born and raised.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 29, 2021
4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
It’s hard to believe that it’s been (checks notes) over a YEAR AND A HALF since my last true Goodreads review!? Are you effing kidding me!? Apparently, time flies when you’re going through an existential crisis, writing your own book, AND going through the existential crisis of writing your own book.
But one of the only constants in life is change, and it was high time for me to let go of review retirement and get back into the literary workforce.
And one of the ways I wanted to do said grand re-entry was to start focusing less on the established literary powerhouses and start giving indie authors more of a shake.
Sure, we all love our established go-to’s; books like Game of Shadow & Bone Outlander Thrones in the Expanse of Fifty Shades of Whatever is Being Made into a Movie or Series: Part 1, but it’s genuinely nice at times to take a step back and enjoy something less well known. To give other authors a chance to earn our adoration (or loathing) of their works.
My inaugural choice was Kill Karma, a YA (but kinda not really) adventure epic that literally takes place in the very bowels of hell. Any sort of YA tends to be outside of my wheelhouse, but that’s another of my goals (getting off the beaten path once in a while).
And what a way to start out. Kill Karma is bursting at the seams with good ideas. Which is one of the biggest draws for me when looking at Indie authors; the sheer creativity on display. Naturally, independent authors don’t have the advertising horsepower that bespoke authors do. As such, we are heavily reliant on unique concepts, word-of-mouth, and reviews from readers. Guerrilla writing at its finest. And that’s not a bad thing. Most Indie authors aren’t in it for the money (and if they are, many will have a very rude awakening).
No, for the average Indie author, it’s simply about telling a story and proving to ourselves that we can get our works out there (even if it’s self-published).
As it stands, author Kelly L. Marsh has enough imagination and creativity for three people. It’s very obvious that this story, and all the facets and characters thereof, are rolling around in her head constantly. To which I can most certainly relate.
Like my previous reviews, I will approach this one assuming readers would prefer to go in blind. As such, if it’s not mentioned in the official book synopsis, I will do my level best to avoid mentioning it here. Spoiler-free and proud of it!
***Indie Book Review***
So, how best to describe Kill Karma? My best stab would be: a rollicking magical adventure, part detective tale and part coming of age story, that ranges from Florida to the pits of Hell (some would say they’re the same place), featuring a colorful cast of misfits who are attempting to thwart all manner of diabolical deeds.
And in the interest of avoiding spoilers, that’s about it for my description. In all honesty, I can’t recall reading a book quite like it. Sure, Hell being more of a bureaucratic nightmare as opposed to all fire & brimstone has been explored, but not to this degree (in my experience anyways).
There were several things that really cemented my enjoyment of Kill Karma.
On top of that list was the setting. I don’t have a religious bone in my body, so I’m always open to the various takes on concepts like Heaven & Hell. And Kelly’s version of Hell is certainly the most enjoyable I’ve read. From the creative usage of souls and bodies to the fantastically creepy denizens, Kill Karma’s Hell is basically a character unto itself. It's one Hell of a place to explore (pun intended). I mean, there’s a shop called Succubi’s Secret, featuring all manner of lingerie! I think it was at that point that I was all in. Hell as a bustling metropolis…especially with all the various layers of bureaucracy that go into making it all function. Color me invested…whatever color that might be.
In addition to the setting, I genuinely enjoyed Pepper Bell as a protagonist. Since the whole book takes place from her perspective, it helps that she is an engaging lead. She’s spunky. She’s smart. She’s...amazingly imperfect. Unlike many a protagonist in YA books, Pepper is certainly no goody-two-shoes. She’s on probation, can be incredibly vindictive, and is already drinking at seventeen. She gets in her own way at times, which is something that we all do as well. The fact that she is flawed allowed me to relate to her on several levels. But she’s not all rough edges. The love she bears for her father is palpable, and their relationship is probably the brightest spot of the whole tale. Her sarcastic but vulnerable nature made her easy to root for.
I also appreciated that many of the staples of the YA genre were blessedly absent. There were no "but she’s the chosen one, destined to unite the blah blah blah, fated to bring an end to the whatevs, and the first person in centuries who can call forth the who gives a shit” moments. There were also no love triangles to be found.
That alone bears repeating:
NO.
LOVE.
TRIANGLES.
It’s also worth mentioning that this book pulls no punches. Straight up. Decapitations, gore, violence, bad language, adult situations…it’s all there. Which I’m totally good with, but it’s also why I put the “kinda” caveat up top when saying it was a YA book. It might fall into that category, but just barely. I would say it straddles the line between YA and straight up adult fiction. Not like ADULT fiction mind you, with deviant bedroom antics taking place and bodily fluids flying everywhere. Just more grown up fare. Mature situations and brutal violence, that kind of stuff.
What’s interesting is that Kill Karma starts out kind of tame, with nary a bad word to be found. But by the end, there are panties being felt and f-bombs being dropped.
The supporting cast is another place where the book shines. No two are alike, and they all bring something fun to the table. Perrin the Lolly’ka was easily the standout, and I was always wondering what insanity would spout from her mouth next.
On the opposite end of the table are the villains, who are also a mixed bag. Some of them are run-of-the-mill baddies, folks you’d expect to buy in bulk at Villains R Us. But others are much more threatening. Of the batch, Sawyer was my favorite, and I genuinely wished she had gotten more page time.
The plot itself is pretty fun, and didn’t quite play out like I thought it would. Like most stories, it starts out small, and then builds as it goes. What begins as a personal story for Pepper (that through line sustains through the whole novel) turns into something much larger, and much more nefarious, than anyone initially expected. The stakes continually get bigger and bigger.
For all my enjoyment, however, I do have a few quibbles.
First: A lot happens in Kill Karma. And I mean A LOT. As such, there are times when it can be difficult to truly tell what is happening in a scene. There are heavy exposition dumps (to be expected in a brand new universe with so many ideas at play), a pretty full roster of characters, numerous abilities, various rules and truisms, double-crosses and revelations, etc. All of which, starting around a third of the way through, take place at a breakneck pace. And sometimes all within the same few paragraphs. As such, there were times where I was a little confused about how something played out. I either had to go back and re-read the passage, or wait a bit until it was explained in more detail later.
Second: I’m a sucker for magic systems. I love to see the myriad ways authors bring the concept to life. But I do struggle quite a bit when the tenets of said system are loosely defined. Maybe I’ve been spoiled by authors like Sanderson and Jordan, where their magic systems have very clearly established boundaries and rules. For me, when magic is essentially an “anything goes” affair, it takes some of the excitement out of the proceedings. If characters can find a way to do just about anything, then the tension and stakes are negatively impacted.
Third: Kill Karma is wordy. And I say that as someone who enjoys a large vocabulary, and has populated my own book with lesser used nouns and pronouns. But there are quite a lot of large and/or esoteric words to be found here, which were sometimes distracting. There were times when the narrative read like a noir, which I appreciated, but also times when an urgent situation would get bogged down with unnecessarily complicated passages. Since it’s something I myself am guilty of (which my editor was more than happy to point out) I am pretty forgiving on this one.
But again, this is a book by an Indie author, not some powerhouse established writer with a coterie of editors and literary agents at their beck and call. It’s a debut, and a fantastically diverse one at that. Are there a few mistakes? Most certainly. Did they pull me from the narrative? Not really. I’m certainly not expecting perfection, as the perfect novel doesn’t exi…(slowly slides James Clavell’s Shogun underneath a pillow)…st.
I genuinely hope that, once this series is complete, Kelly L. Marsh tries out something different. The way she writes would fit a noir tale perfectly. I could easily see her ditching the YA field altogether and trying her hand a detective story. I think she could write a femme fatale like nobody’s business!
I’m also happy to be doing a peer review for a fellow Indie author. Spreading the love as it were. The only way we will grow as authors is by receiving candid feedback from the community. From both readers and writers alike!
All in all, I’m glad I dove into this one. It’s not what I expected, but it certainly kept me entertained. And now that the debut blues are out of the way, I’m pretty sure that the next book in the series will be a leaner & meaner affair.
If enjoyable renditions of Hell are your thing, and you’re sick of the same-old within the YA genre, give Kill Karma a fuh'karing try!
It’s hard to believe that it’s been (checks notes) over a YEAR AND A HALF since my last true Goodreads review!? Are you effing kidding me!? Apparently, time flies when you’re going through an existential crisis, writing your own book, AND going through the existential crisis of writing your own book.
But one of the only constants in life is change, and it was high time for me to let go of review retirement and get back into the literary workforce.
And one of the ways I wanted to do said grand re-entry was to start focusing less on the established literary powerhouses and start giving indie authors more of a shake.
Sure, we all love our established go-to’s; books like Game of Shadow & Bone Outlander Thrones in the Expanse of Fifty Shades of Whatever is Being Made into a Movie or Series: Part 1, but it’s genuinely nice at times to take a step back and enjoy something less well known. To give other authors a chance to earn our adoration (or loathing) of their works.
My inaugural choice was Kill Karma, a YA (but kinda not really) adventure epic that literally takes place in the very bowels of hell. Any sort of YA tends to be outside of my wheelhouse, but that’s another of my goals (getting off the beaten path once in a while).
And what a way to start out. Kill Karma is bursting at the seams with good ideas. Which is one of the biggest draws for me when looking at Indie authors; the sheer creativity on display. Naturally, independent authors don’t have the advertising horsepower that bespoke authors do. As such, we are heavily reliant on unique concepts, word-of-mouth, and reviews from readers. Guerrilla writing at its finest. And that’s not a bad thing. Most Indie authors aren’t in it for the money (and if they are, many will have a very rude awakening).
No, for the average Indie author, it’s simply about telling a story and proving to ourselves that we can get our works out there (even if it’s self-published).
As it stands, author Kelly L. Marsh has enough imagination and creativity for three people. It’s very obvious that this story, and all the facets and characters thereof, are rolling around in her head constantly. To which I can most certainly relate.
Like my previous reviews, I will approach this one assuming readers would prefer to go in blind. As such, if it’s not mentioned in the official book synopsis, I will do my level best to avoid mentioning it here. Spoiler-free and proud of it!
***Indie Book Review***
So, how best to describe Kill Karma? My best stab would be: a rollicking magical adventure, part detective tale and part coming of age story, that ranges from Florida to the pits of Hell (some would say they’re the same place), featuring a colorful cast of misfits who are attempting to thwart all manner of diabolical deeds.
And in the interest of avoiding spoilers, that’s about it for my description. In all honesty, I can’t recall reading a book quite like it. Sure, Hell being more of a bureaucratic nightmare as opposed to all fire & brimstone has been explored, but not to this degree (in my experience anyways).
There were several things that really cemented my enjoyment of Kill Karma.
On top of that list was the setting. I don’t have a religious bone in my body, so I’m always open to the various takes on concepts like Heaven & Hell. And Kelly’s version of Hell is certainly the most enjoyable I’ve read. From the creative usage of souls and bodies to the fantastically creepy denizens, Kill Karma’s Hell is basically a character unto itself. It's one Hell of a place to explore (pun intended). I mean, there’s a shop called Succubi’s Secret, featuring all manner of lingerie! I think it was at that point that I was all in. Hell as a bustling metropolis…especially with all the various layers of bureaucracy that go into making it all function. Color me invested…whatever color that might be.
In addition to the setting, I genuinely enjoyed Pepper Bell as a protagonist. Since the whole book takes place from her perspective, it helps that she is an engaging lead. She’s spunky. She’s smart. She’s...amazingly imperfect. Unlike many a protagonist in YA books, Pepper is certainly no goody-two-shoes. She’s on probation, can be incredibly vindictive, and is already drinking at seventeen. She gets in her own way at times, which is something that we all do as well. The fact that she is flawed allowed me to relate to her on several levels. But she’s not all rough edges. The love she bears for her father is palpable, and their relationship is probably the brightest spot of the whole tale. Her sarcastic but vulnerable nature made her easy to root for.
I also appreciated that many of the staples of the YA genre were blessedly absent. There were no "but she’s the chosen one, destined to unite the blah blah blah, fated to bring an end to the whatevs, and the first person in centuries who can call forth the who gives a shit” moments. There were also no love triangles to be found.
That alone bears repeating:
NO.
LOVE.
TRIANGLES.
It’s also worth mentioning that this book pulls no punches. Straight up. Decapitations, gore, violence, bad language, adult situations…it’s all there. Which I’m totally good with, but it’s also why I put the “kinda” caveat up top when saying it was a YA book. It might fall into that category, but just barely. I would say it straddles the line between YA and straight up adult fiction. Not like ADULT fiction mind you, with deviant bedroom antics taking place and bodily fluids flying everywhere. Just more grown up fare. Mature situations and brutal violence, that kind of stuff.
What’s interesting is that Kill Karma starts out kind of tame, with nary a bad word to be found. But by the end, there are panties being felt and f-bombs being dropped.
The supporting cast is another place where the book shines. No two are alike, and they all bring something fun to the table. Perrin the Lolly’ka was easily the standout, and I was always wondering what insanity would spout from her mouth next.
On the opposite end of the table are the villains, who are also a mixed bag. Some of them are run-of-the-mill baddies, folks you’d expect to buy in bulk at Villains R Us. But others are much more threatening. Of the batch, Sawyer was my favorite, and I genuinely wished she had gotten more page time.
The plot itself is pretty fun, and didn’t quite play out like I thought it would. Like most stories, it starts out small, and then builds as it goes. What begins as a personal story for Pepper (that through line sustains through the whole novel) turns into something much larger, and much more nefarious, than anyone initially expected. The stakes continually get bigger and bigger.
For all my enjoyment, however, I do have a few quibbles.
First: A lot happens in Kill Karma. And I mean A LOT. As such, there are times when it can be difficult to truly tell what is happening in a scene. There are heavy exposition dumps (to be expected in a brand new universe with so many ideas at play), a pretty full roster of characters, numerous abilities, various rules and truisms, double-crosses and revelations, etc. All of which, starting around a third of the way through, take place at a breakneck pace. And sometimes all within the same few paragraphs. As such, there were times where I was a little confused about how something played out. I either had to go back and re-read the passage, or wait a bit until it was explained in more detail later.
Second: I’m a sucker for magic systems. I love to see the myriad ways authors bring the concept to life. But I do struggle quite a bit when the tenets of said system are loosely defined. Maybe I’ve been spoiled by authors like Sanderson and Jordan, where their magic systems have very clearly established boundaries and rules. For me, when magic is essentially an “anything goes” affair, it takes some of the excitement out of the proceedings. If characters can find a way to do just about anything, then the tension and stakes are negatively impacted.
Third: Kill Karma is wordy. And I say that as someone who enjoys a large vocabulary, and has populated my own book with lesser used nouns and pronouns. But there are quite a lot of large and/or esoteric words to be found here, which were sometimes distracting. There were times when the narrative read like a noir, which I appreciated, but also times when an urgent situation would get bogged down with unnecessarily complicated passages. Since it’s something I myself am guilty of (which my editor was more than happy to point out) I am pretty forgiving on this one.
But again, this is a book by an Indie author, not some powerhouse established writer with a coterie of editors and literary agents at their beck and call. It’s a debut, and a fantastically diverse one at that. Are there a few mistakes? Most certainly. Did they pull me from the narrative? Not really. I’m certainly not expecting perfection, as the perfect novel doesn’t exi…(slowly slides James Clavell’s Shogun underneath a pillow)…st.
I genuinely hope that, once this series is complete, Kelly L. Marsh tries out something different. The way she writes would fit a noir tale perfectly. I could easily see her ditching the YA field altogether and trying her hand a detective story. I think she could write a femme fatale like nobody’s business!
I’m also happy to be doing a peer review for a fellow Indie author. Spreading the love as it were. The only way we will grow as authors is by receiving candid feedback from the community. From both readers and writers alike!
All in all, I’m glad I dove into this one. It’s not what I expected, but it certainly kept me entertained. And now that the debut blues are out of the way, I’m pretty sure that the next book in the series will be a leaner & meaner affair.
If enjoyable renditions of Hell are your thing, and you’re sick of the same-old within the YA genre, give Kill Karma a fuh'karing try!
November 23, 2021
I received a copy of Kill Karma in exchange for an honest review. See the full review at https://rosieamber.wordpress.com/
There is a fabulous energy to Kelly L. Marsh’s debut novel, Kill Karma. Yes, it very much reads like a first novel: the plot is a little messy, the mythology could stand a little more explaining in the early portions, and the characters don’t always quite act like the teenagers that they are supposed to be, but all of that can be laid aside because Kill Karma is pretty darn fun.
Pepper Bell is a teenager with a penchant for getting into and out of tight spots, Karma is a goddess Pepper doesn’t know exists yet, and someone out there wants to make a whole heap trouble for Pepper, her hometown, and the world. Along for the ride are a colorful cast of sometimes-trustworthy characters and expect a cliffhanger because you can bet your behind this is the first in a series.
Written with an undeniably infectious energy, Kill Karma is not flawless, but is definitely fun enough to keep a reader hooked from the stakeout that opens the story, to the boat chase that closes it. Kelly Marsh has created a new YA heroine with spunk and a world with style, and this reader can’t wait to see what happens next!
There is a fabulous energy to Kelly L. Marsh’s debut novel, Kill Karma. Yes, it very much reads like a first novel: the plot is a little messy, the mythology could stand a little more explaining in the early portions, and the characters don’t always quite act like the teenagers that they are supposed to be, but all of that can be laid aside because Kill Karma is pretty darn fun.
Pepper Bell is a teenager with a penchant for getting into and out of tight spots, Karma is a goddess Pepper doesn’t know exists yet, and someone out there wants to make a whole heap trouble for Pepper, her hometown, and the world. Along for the ride are a colorful cast of sometimes-trustworthy characters and expect a cliffhanger because you can bet your behind this is the first in a series.
Written with an undeniably infectious energy, Kill Karma is not flawless, but is definitely fun enough to keep a reader hooked from the stakeout that opens the story, to the boat chase that closes it. Kelly Marsh has created a new YA heroine with spunk and a world with style, and this reader can’t wait to see what happens next!
July 14, 2022
Pepper Bell has just turned 17, graduated High School, and gotten off probation. She is looking forward to some well deserved adult freedom. However, her plans get side railed when her irritating neighbor, Kimball Garcia, blackmails her into retrieving his recently possessed mother's soul. Pepper soon after receives a magical invitation to become an Agent of Karma and go to Karma Academy. Pepper is unable to cast the spell that will open the Chaos Gate and summon the vehicle to ferry her there. Quick on the scene comes the sexy, mysterious young soul broker, Jhi. He tells her that her magic has been stolen because of a deal she has made and she must track down the person holding her magic in Hell. The author is quite imaginative with her descriptions. Who knew there would be so many personable creatures living in Hell? However, her description of the place is pretty darn scary, and is definitely one place you would not want to spend eternity in. As Pepper undergoes her quest, she finds that no one is who they seem to be and finds that even the most trustworthy could be out to destroy her. The story ends without a solution, so I am sure that more books will be forthcoming. I am interested to see what happens next in Pepper's journey. I found this book to be very enjoyable and fascinating, although it was also a little bit of an uncomfortable stretch for me. I would recommend it to people who enjoy a more quirky kind of fantasy that blends some scary subject matter with just enough wit and charm to balance it out. I received my copy of "Kill Karma" through Voracious Readers Only.
April 14, 2022
5 STARS from Readers' Favorite
"Kill Karma sets up a significant commentary about how justice in society tends to slip by and the desire for retribution steps in. It reflects Pepper's personal quest (and her secret job) to dish out karma and ensure that justice is served. The story is poignant, timely, real, and gritty in the way it manifests in a world being slowly invaded by demons. The strong writing is full of personality from vivid descriptions and a fun tone woven around the attitude of Pepper. Specific word choices add to the originality of the writing and help to create an instantly likable main character. The story evolves quickly as the world spirals and pulls Pepper further into a hellish reality brought to life through dark imagery, with grotesque re-enactments and a disturbing museum. Marsh introduces a variety of creatures including Leviathan, demons, hounds of hell, vampires, and gargoyles into the world, among elements such as possession, soul brokers, and contracts. Marsh delivers a blend of suspense, action, dark imagery, and adventure which brings to life a story that's addictive, fast-paced, and cleverly written." -- Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite.
"Kill Karma sets up a significant commentary about how justice in society tends to slip by and the desire for retribution steps in. It reflects Pepper's personal quest (and her secret job) to dish out karma and ensure that justice is served. The story is poignant, timely, real, and gritty in the way it manifests in a world being slowly invaded by demons. The strong writing is full of personality from vivid descriptions and a fun tone woven around the attitude of Pepper. Specific word choices add to the originality of the writing and help to create an instantly likable main character. The story evolves quickly as the world spirals and pulls Pepper further into a hellish reality brought to life through dark imagery, with grotesque re-enactments and a disturbing museum. Marsh introduces a variety of creatures including Leviathan, demons, hounds of hell, vampires, and gargoyles into the world, among elements such as possession, soul brokers, and contracts. Marsh delivers a blend of suspense, action, dark imagery, and adventure which brings to life a story that's addictive, fast-paced, and cleverly written." -- Liz Konkel for Readers' Favorite.
July 15, 2022
Kill Karma by Kelly L. Marsh
"That is the key to understanding why a homicidal vampire cartel is after me. It has to be. I mean what could a five-year-old possibly have done to land on their radar?" -Page 178
Pepper goes through a lot of changes after she turned 17. She discovers she is a powerful mage, she's chase by Hell Hounds, and goes to Hell and back for her family. Literally!
Pepper is a relatable character, she has a very real personality. She thinks and feels, exactly the way a good character is written.
I enjoyed the interesting depiction of Hell in this book. I'm always interesting in traditional and non traditional views of the afterlife, Hell in particular.
Lore for Hell demons is unique but inclusive. It incorporates a few different ideas about the underworld such as the traditional circles of Hell.
The author uses actual demon names from real lore. Such as Mephistopheles! Everyone's favorite soul ripper! In this story he's some kind of soul collector, but it's always nice to hear some recognizable names from demon textbooks.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only
"That is the key to understanding why a homicidal vampire cartel is after me. It has to be. I mean what could a five-year-old possibly have done to land on their radar?" -Page 178
Pepper goes through a lot of changes after she turned 17. She discovers she is a powerful mage, she's chase by Hell Hounds, and goes to Hell and back for her family. Literally!
Pepper is a relatable character, she has a very real personality. She thinks and feels, exactly the way a good character is written.
I enjoyed the interesting depiction of Hell in this book. I'm always interesting in traditional and non traditional views of the afterlife, Hell in particular.
Lore for Hell demons is unique but inclusive. It incorporates a few different ideas about the underworld such as the traditional circles of Hell.
The author uses actual demon names from real lore. Such as Mephistopheles! Everyone's favorite soul ripper! In this story he's some kind of soul collector, but it's always nice to hear some recognizable names from demon textbooks.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via Voracious Readers Only
March 6, 2023
Not your average YA...My wife recommended Kill Karma to me because it has made-up gods, it's not your typical Young Adult, doesn't have the same tropes, and you'll enjoy the other worlds. Boy was she right. Kill Karma was definitely that "something different" that I was looking for. This fantasy series does a good job of world building and includes the simple but clever idea of Karma, not just a religious or philosophical concept, but a Goddess whose sudden absence sends the world into slow brewing turmoil as bad deeds go unpunished.
Another thing I enjoyed is how the main character is flawed as are all the other characters. And the Hell parts were beyond enjoyable and unique to say the least. Between the action, mystery, suspense, unique dimensions, I'm totally hooked and looking forward to the sequel
Another thing I enjoyed is how the main character is flawed as are all the other characters. And the Hell parts were beyond enjoyable and unique to say the least. Between the action, mystery, suspense, unique dimensions, I'm totally hooked and looking forward to the sequel
July 18, 2022
For a debut novel, Kill Karma was an exciting and unique adventure. The plot was intriguing as was the authors take on Hell, Demons, and magic. I enjoyed the twists and turns. There were a few unexpected surprises. The characters definitely grew on me and te author did an excellent job developing them. I look forward to getting to know them in the next book. Highly engaging and although a few parts were a little chaotic the book as a whole was a great read that kept me hooked until the end.
I received this book from the author through Voracious Readers Only
I received this book from the author through Voracious Readers Only
December 21, 2021
Kill Karma is not your typical Young Adult since it goes off the heavily beaten track of overused tropes, which made this book refreshing.
May 29, 2022
These book is really great.
May 30, 2022
The book is very amazing.
July 30, 2022
Great well rounded read. Coming of age with adult language and violence, gentle romance, quests, gods, mysteries and all the supernatural abilities and characters to go with it.
September 19, 2022
Amazing
October 27, 2022
goodbook
Currently reading
December 7, 2022In this book we can observe a good writing by the author, it is entertaining, actually i recommended reading it.
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March 4, 2023karmic
September 19, 2023
A gripping, heart-pounding journey into the darkest corners of the human psyche
dnf
March 31, 2024I wanted to love this because it has such a cool concept, but it’s way too wordy and too much happens all at once.
I feel like this book with be perfect for someone, just nit for me.
I feel like this book with be perfect for someone, just nit for me.
April 13, 2022
This book is definitely extraordinary.
February 17, 2022
Holy crap, where has this author been hiding???? My Dad recommended this book to me, and I have no idea how he stumbled upon it, but damn!!! When does the next book come out? I. Must. Know.
It ends on a cliffhanger, BTW.
Anyway, the story centers on Pepper Bell, who is getting ready to turn seventeen, graduate from high school, and end her probation all in one go. She also has a kind of revenge-for-hire side gig going on. She receives a mysterious invitation to join Karma academy and become an Agent of Karma. At this point I almost rolled my eyes and thought, “Oh great, another magical academy book…” But nope. The story takes a hard left. And it’s FUN. Pepper dodges assassins, gets blackmailed by her next door neighbor (whose mother was recently possessed by a demon), and goes on a quest to hell to try to get back her memories and figure out why assassins are trying to kill her. Along the way, she makes new friends, but you are often left questioning their true intentions. Who to trust? What’s their angle? It almost reads like a mystery, but not exactly.
The concept of hell in this book is truly unique. It’s another dimension, Pandaemonia. There’s a bureaucracy, government offices, retail shops, street gangs, all kinds of creatures, you name it. The cars are powered by the souls of the damned, and magic is harvested from their souls as well, which makes a sort of currency in hell. Its way more than the typical fire and brimstone descriptions you’re used to. Fun.
I can’t wait for the next book. You really do need to read this.
It ends on a cliffhanger, BTW.
Anyway, the story centers on Pepper Bell, who is getting ready to turn seventeen, graduate from high school, and end her probation all in one go. She also has a kind of revenge-for-hire side gig going on. She receives a mysterious invitation to join Karma academy and become an Agent of Karma. At this point I almost rolled my eyes and thought, “Oh great, another magical academy book…” But nope. The story takes a hard left. And it’s FUN. Pepper dodges assassins, gets blackmailed by her next door neighbor (whose mother was recently possessed by a demon), and goes on a quest to hell to try to get back her memories and figure out why assassins are trying to kill her. Along the way, she makes new friends, but you are often left questioning their true intentions. Who to trust? What’s their angle? It almost reads like a mystery, but not exactly.
The concept of hell in this book is truly unique. It’s another dimension, Pandaemonia. There’s a bureaucracy, government offices, retail shops, street gangs, all kinds of creatures, you name it. The cars are powered by the souls of the damned, and magic is harvested from their souls as well, which makes a sort of currency in hell. Its way more than the typical fire and brimstone descriptions you’re used to. Fun.
I can’t wait for the next book. You really do need to read this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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