What do you think?
Rate this book
Circles in Hell #11
Hurt of Darkness, or Lighten Up!
The final tale in the Circles in Hell humorous fantasy series
Satan, fallen angel, chief devil, and ruler of Hell seems to have everything: immortality, a kingdom, cool superpowers, and lots of minions to grovel at his feet. So why isn’t he happy? Simple. Satan wants more. He’s just not sure, though, what “more” even means in his case.
To break out of his funk, he and the other devils pit themselves against their heavenly counterparts in a struggle with universal consequences. No, this isn’t the War in Heaven. It is
The Demiurge Competition
There can be but one winner, and the Earl of Hell will do everything in his power to ensure that he comes out on top.
Join Satan and all your other favorite characters in one final romp through the Circles in Hell universe. CIH has been compared to other comedic works of “Hell Fiction,” such as The Screwtape Letters and Good Omens, and to the paranormal humor of Tom Holt, Christopher Moore, Terry Pratchett, and Douglas Adams.
Satan, fallen angel, chief devil, and ruler of Hell seems to have everything: immortality, a kingdom, cool superpowers, and lots of minions to grovel at his feet. So why isn’t he happy? Simple. Satan wants more. He’s just not sure, though, what “more” even means in his case.
To break out of his funk, he and the other devils pit themselves against their heavenly counterparts in a struggle with universal consequences. No, this isn’t the War in Heaven. It is
The Demiurge Competition
There can be but one winner, and the Earl of Hell will do everything in his power to ensure that he comes out on top.
Join Satan and all your other favorite characters in one final romp through the Circles in Hell universe. CIH has been compared to other comedic works of “Hell Fiction,” such as The Screwtape Letters and Good Omens, and to the paranormal humor of Tom Holt, Christopher Moore, Terry Pratchett, and Douglas Adams.
- GenresFantasy
122 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 20, 2022
39 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Mark Cain
29 books221 followersWriter living in Austin, Texas.
My work could best be described as satire, with a little fantasy thrown in. This is a good characterization of my comic fantasy series, CIRCLES IN HELL.
Here is a link to the series page.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017...
My work could best be described as satire, with a little fantasy thrown in. This is a good characterization of my comic fantasy series, CIRCLES IN HELL.
Here is a link to the series page.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 6, 2022
I don't want to include spoilers so I'll just say this is an ok final installment in this series, definitely better than the last one. None of the later books Circles In Hell have the intrigue of the first few, and this is no different in that regard. It's kind of a character study of Satan. The ending is a bit hokey and pretty much what you would probably expect.
September 16, 2025
The last book in the Circles in Hell series by Mark Cain - if that changes this opening sentence is going to be confusing, and I wouldn't change it either so ner ner.
This book focuses more on Satan, Lucifer, the Devil, the Lightbringer, the Morningstar, or Nik-el if you like. Beelzebub convinces Satan to enter the Demiurge competition which is like a Mr or Miss Universe but for celestial beings. Can Satan win it without lieing and cheating, probably not if his track record is to be believed, but I won't spoil it for you.
I did enjoy this book despite only giving it 4 stars. It brought a lot of things together and wrapped up some of the stories from previous books. It was fun and entertaining. I didn't particularly enjoy the end though, it felt like a bit of a cop out. Some characters only seemed to appear for a brief cameo with no reasoning for it. I also didn't really enjoy the change that Satan seemed to have gone through before this book kicks off. In previous books he was the lord of evil and a lot of fun with it. In this he feels like a different person, maybe it's the depression he's suffering, maybe it's from being surrounded by his former angelic brothers and sisters, I don't know, it just didn't completely sit right with me. He felt a lot more weak, wet, and vulnerable.
Overall this wraps the series up nice enough, but the series as a whole declined a little after Steve Minion became saved. Still 4 out of 5 isn't too bad is it.
This book focuses more on Satan, Lucifer, the Devil, the Lightbringer, the Morningstar, or Nik-el if you like. Beelzebub convinces Satan to enter the Demiurge competition which is like a Mr or Miss Universe but for celestial beings. Can Satan win it without lieing and cheating, probably not if his track record is to be believed, but I won't spoil it for you.
I did enjoy this book despite only giving it 4 stars. It brought a lot of things together and wrapped up some of the stories from previous books. It was fun and entertaining. I didn't particularly enjoy the end though, it felt like a bit of a cop out. Some characters only seemed to appear for a brief cameo with no reasoning for it. I also didn't really enjoy the change that Satan seemed to have gone through before this book kicks off. In previous books he was the lord of evil and a lot of fun with it. In this he feels like a different person, maybe it's the depression he's suffering, maybe it's from being surrounded by his former angelic brothers and sisters, I don't know, it just didn't completely sit right with me. He felt a lot more weak, wet, and vulnerable.
Overall this wraps the series up nice enough, but the series as a whole declined a little after Steve Minion became saved. Still 4 out of 5 isn't too bad is it.
August 3, 2022
keeps with the series but a bit tired
The Circles of Hell books have been entertaining light reading with humor, philosophy, and a bit of blasphemy thrown in. All in all good casual reading. This 11th book is a bit tired feeling as if the author just wanted to close the story and move on.
The Circles of Hell books have been entertaining light reading with humor, philosophy, and a bit of blasphemy thrown in. All in all good casual reading. This 11th book is a bit tired feeling as if the author just wanted to close the story and move on.
September 15, 2023
What a Universe
The Eleven books making up the Universe of Mark Cain, entertained me throughout. As an avid reader i don't recall ever consuming so many instalments in one go.
Bravo and thanks to the author, I'm now off to read the rest of Mr Cains writings.
If you've not discover the Circles of Hell, I urge you to grab book 1 today
The Eleven books making up the Universe of Mark Cain, entertained me throughout. As an avid reader i don't recall ever consuming so many instalments in one go.
Bravo and thanks to the author, I'm now off to read the rest of Mr Cains writings.
If you've not discover the Circles of Hell, I urge you to grab book 1 today
December 23, 2025
A nice little capstone to the series, getting a happy story for the Big Guy himself. Not my favorite entry--I might wish that there were more cameos from our favorite characters--but we got a lot of that in the last episode or two. So maybe thinking of this as a denouement for the series, seeing Steve from Satan's POV and putting a bow tie on their working relationship.
July 20, 2022
Loved It!!!
I received this book this morning and just finished it. Wow, so much fun but I am left with a couple tears at the end. This book, especially, is a thought provoking page turner. Tell me this is not the final book in Circles in Hell. Let there be light!
I received this book this morning and just finished it. Wow, so much fun but I am left with a couple tears at the end. This book, especially, is a thought provoking page turner. Tell me this is not the final book in Circles in Hell. Let there be light!
March 10, 2023
Seasonal affective disorder, melancholia and dolefulness abound in circle 9, while the insatiably intriguing demiurge contestants remind Nik - El of his choices and champions.
Great read / listen thank you Mark Cain, much appreciated. :-)
Great read / listen thank you Mark Cain, much appreciated. :-)
April 15, 2023
best one in the series so far
Character development is good. Storylines alter from book to book. Although this was slightly shorter it’s a compelling read, and looking forward to the next episode.
Character development is good. Storylines alter from book to book. Although this was slightly shorter it’s a compelling read, and looking forward to the next episode.
August 4, 2023
A fitting send off to the series
I've enjoyed all of these books and will probably re read them in due course.
Good to see Satan get a starring role and everyone else get name checked at the end.
A great twist to finish on.
Now to see what else Mr Cain wrote and read that too.
I've enjoyed all of these books and will probably re read them in due course.
Good to see Satan get a starring role and everyone else get name checked at the end.
A great twist to finish on.
Now to see what else Mr Cain wrote and read that too.
August 19, 2023
Good!
Finally, the conclusion. A little short but nice, nonetheless. Too bad it's already the end, I would have loved to read more, and there is no ending words from the author, so, maybe, with luck, there will be more...?
Finally, the conclusion. A little short but nice, nonetheless. Too bad it's already the end, I would have loved to read more, and there is no ending words from the author, so, maybe, with luck, there will be more...?
May 5, 2024
True to form!
Once again this author delighted me with a witty, humorous, and oddly enough, insightful story that did not bore or overly preach religion but gave a very satirical view of heaven and he'll and those who dwell within! Loved it!
Once again this author delighted me with a witty, humorous, and oddly enough, insightful story that did not bore or overly preach religion but gave a very satirical view of heaven and he'll and those who dwell within! Loved it!
July 23, 2022
Ummmm
Not marks best work in my opinion. I only have given it one star because there is no option for no star!
Not marks best work in my opinion. I only have given it one star because there is no option for no star!
August 6, 2022
Could be better
Not his best but pretty good. I'm sorry to see the series end! One of my favorite book series in a while and the start on this one was rockey but it found it pace.
Not his best but pretty good. I'm sorry to see the series end! One of my favorite book series in a while and the start on this one was rockey but it found it pace.
August 13, 2022
Booh
Another great addition to this fun filled adventure!!! Looking forward to the next chapter!!
Great book to read and enjoy!
Another great addition to this fun filled adventure!!! Looking forward to the next chapter!!
Great book to read and enjoy!
September 1, 2022
Loved the meta moment in the book. Very well written. I'm sad that this series is over. However, Mark Cain did a phenomenal job wrapping it up. I laughed, I cried. It was perfect.
January 19, 2023
Excellent complement!
Another in a series of great stories, with familiar but evolving characters. I love that it combined parts from the other shorts in the collected series.
Another in a series of great stories, with familiar but evolving characters. I love that it combined parts from the other shorts in the collected series.
March 21, 2023
Great fun
I've read all the books in the series. Highly enjoyable. A bit like peanuts you can't stop at just one
I've read all the books in the series. Highly enjoyable. A bit like peanuts you can't stop at just one
June 22, 2023
quite annoyed to have finished the series... have read them all in the past few weeks! now bereft :(
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews