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Infernal Fall
There is only one way out of Hell.
Daniel Strong is a troubled young man with only one bright spot in his life—his girlfriend, Kristine. He hopes to propose to her on a hike in the mountains, but a mysterious artifact in a dark cavern ruins his plan. Things quickly go downhill—literally—as handling the ‘keystone’ causes Daniel to fall straight into Hell, leaving Kristine behind.
A soul-harvesting demon tells him the only way out is through, that he must go to Satan and bargain for his freedom. But the shadow-man responsible for leaving the keystone behind tries to show him there’s another way out. Against his better judgment, Daniel finds himself listening to the demon’s claims that appealing to the Master of the Underworld himself is his only choice.
As the unlikely group traverses the many levels of Hell, hurt, anger, and fear hound Daniel, reminding him how hopeless his efforts truly are. All Daniel can do is push forward in hopes of making it back to Kristine. Will Daniel heed Kristine’s words to choose life? Or will he succumb to the lies pulling him down with every step?
Infernal Fall is a modern twist on the classic tale: Dante’s Inferno. If you're a fan of Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti, you will love Infernal Fall. Grab your copy today and embark on a harrowing tale of light vs darkness and discover if there truly is only one way out of Hell.
Daniel Strong is a troubled young man with only one bright spot in his life—his girlfriend, Kristine. He hopes to propose to her on a hike in the mountains, but a mysterious artifact in a dark cavern ruins his plan. Things quickly go downhill—literally—as handling the ‘keystone’ causes Daniel to fall straight into Hell, leaving Kristine behind.
A soul-harvesting demon tells him the only way out is through, that he must go to Satan and bargain for his freedom. But the shadow-man responsible for leaving the keystone behind tries to show him there’s another way out. Against his better judgment, Daniel finds himself listening to the demon’s claims that appealing to the Master of the Underworld himself is his only choice.
As the unlikely group traverses the many levels of Hell, hurt, anger, and fear hound Daniel, reminding him how hopeless his efforts truly are. All Daniel can do is push forward in hopes of making it back to Kristine. Will Daniel heed Kristine’s words to choose life? Or will he succumb to the lies pulling him down with every step?
Infernal Fall is a modern twist on the classic tale: Dante’s Inferno. If you're a fan of Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti, you will love Infernal Fall. Grab your copy today and embark on a harrowing tale of light vs darkness and discover if there truly is only one way out of Hell.
301 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 25, 2022
61 people are currently reading
272 people want to read
About the author
Bryan Timothy Mitchell
2 books37 followersBryan Mitchell lives in Archdale, North Carolina with his wife and children. He is an Army Veteran and has a master’s degree in computer science and a bachelor’s degree in English. His debut novel, Infernal Fall, won the Realm Award for Best Horror. He is a member of Realm Makers and Word Weavers which are Christian writer communities. Beyond higher education, he enhanced his storytelling abilities by attending Realm Maker’s Conferences and the Novel Writing Intensive headed by Stephen James and Robert Dugoni, and by reading books that focus on the craft of writing. You can learn more about Bryan at www.bryantimothymitchell.com.
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January 27, 2023As the author of Infernal Fall, my first published work, I'm really proud of it, but not so proud that I'll give it any stars at all. It goes without saying that I'm utterly biased regarding my feelings toward this book. I hope anyone who reads it finds it entertaining and walks away inspired. I know some readers are hesitant to travel into pages filled with darkness, but if my mother-in-law can do it, so can you. LOL! If that isn't assuring enough just know that no matter the darkness you are bioluminescent. You shine whether you believe it or not. The light is in you, so shine on and never fear the darkness because it will always shrink from your presence.
November 1, 2022
Infernal Fall will take you on a wild ride through Hell and back—as Daniel’s journey progressed, I got more and more invested until I simply couldn’t put it down! I finished the book in two days, and it was time well spent. Highly recommend to anybody looking for an adventure with some stellar character development (and some crazy twists that really threw me for a loop)!
February 9, 2023
While many of the things that happened in this story aren't biblical depictions of hell, I enjoyed the reminder that Jesus hears and rescues, even if we're in the darkest of places. The different realms with battles reminded me of Pilgrim's Progress.
October 25, 2022
Thank you so so much to the author for sharing an ARC of his book with me through Bookstagrammers.com!!!
“Terror blinding his reason, he clung to hope”
“Choose life”
“Does it hurt walking around without your heart?”
Wow!! I am in awe !! I don’t know what to say.
I’ll start with the easy part. The writing style of this book was incredible and it made it easy for me to get into the book and feel that rapture that makes it literally impossible to put it down.
The characters were absolutely crazy amazing. Each and everyone of them had something to teach me and they had no reserve in showing both a dark and confused and a good and bright side.
Now onto the deep stuff.
I’ve been obsessed with Dante’s work since I was a child. I am Italian so this piece of art in particular has been a part of my cultural education since I was very young.
There’s something so captivating about his Inferno that makes you believe you’re reading one of the first fantasy book ever created.
What this author did with the original story was impressive and worth of notice.
The way he managed to create a contemporary version of this unbelievable journey while following faithfully the original text, made the reading experience beautiful and refreshing.
Daniel, Beau and Charles are a bit like Dante and Virgil … their journey through Hell was complicated but very important. They all learned something about themselves and in turn, they made me learn something too.
I absolutely loved this book and I am honoured the author shared an ARC of this book with me !!!
I literally can’t wait for this to be out and the world to experience this, hopefully with the same passion the author put in writing it!!!
“I shouldn’t care because I fear repercussions. I should care because I want to”
“ We gravitate to the ones we serve. Those who serve themselves will be left to themselves. But those who are humble will be exalted”
“Without forgiveness,” … , “hatred hardens our hearts”
“Terror blinding his reason, he clung to hope”
“Choose life”
“Does it hurt walking around without your heart?”
Wow!! I am in awe !! I don’t know what to say.
I’ll start with the easy part. The writing style of this book was incredible and it made it easy for me to get into the book and feel that rapture that makes it literally impossible to put it down.
The characters were absolutely crazy amazing. Each and everyone of them had something to teach me and they had no reserve in showing both a dark and confused and a good and bright side.
Now onto the deep stuff.
I’ve been obsessed with Dante’s work since I was a child. I am Italian so this piece of art in particular has been a part of my cultural education since I was very young.
There’s something so captivating about his Inferno that makes you believe you’re reading one of the first fantasy book ever created.
What this author did with the original story was impressive and worth of notice.
The way he managed to create a contemporary version of this unbelievable journey while following faithfully the original text, made the reading experience beautiful and refreshing.
Daniel, Beau and Charles are a bit like Dante and Virgil … their journey through Hell was complicated but very important. They all learned something about themselves and in turn, they made me learn something too.
I absolutely loved this book and I am honoured the author shared an ARC of this book with me !!!
I literally can’t wait for this to be out and the world to experience this, hopefully with the same passion the author put in writing it!!!
“I shouldn’t care because I fear repercussions. I should care because I want to”
“ We gravitate to the ones we serve. Those who serve themselves will be left to themselves. But those who are humble will be exalted”
“Without forgiveness,” … , “hatred hardens our hearts”
October 29, 2022
Want a quick ride into the hell? Grab a copy and read INFERNAL FALL. 🔥
This book is about a man named Daniel , who accidentally fell into the hell while alive and encount with two strange persons ; ( a harvester of dead souls and a shadowman who is the reason Daniel fell into hell in the first place ) & how he tries to get back to the world of living.
Daniel in his effort to get back to the world of living is tricked by Charles , the harvester of souls. As a result of trusting Charles, Daniel has to traverse through the nine circles of hell ; limbo , lust , gluttony , greed , anger , heresy , violence , fraud and treachery and meet Satan. Meanwhile he is followed by the Archangel Azrael who claims himself as a helper. Not knowing whom to trust , Daniel proceeds towards Satan with Charles and the shadowman , confronting many challenges in the nine levels of hell.
This was a very fast paced , fast read that surprisingly amazed me. Never in my life I thought that I'd enjoy a book that sets in the hell 😂. The themes are dark indeed , but the plot was very appeasing. The language was simple and enriched with a lot of imageries. Anybody who doesn't fear certain dark scenes in hell will enjoy this book. Also , the book brings out vital life lessons for the readers that will change their perspective on life. I read this in one sitting and yes , I recommend the book to anyone who loves ; adventures , dark fantasy, Dante's Inferno and christian fantasy.
Finally I would like to thank bookinfluencers.com & the author Bryan Timothy for giving me this great opportunity to read this little gem. Also , my views upon this book is are all honest and unbiased.
This book is about a man named Daniel , who accidentally fell into the hell while alive and encount with two strange persons ; ( a harvester of dead souls and a shadowman who is the reason Daniel fell into hell in the first place ) & how he tries to get back to the world of living.
Daniel in his effort to get back to the world of living is tricked by Charles , the harvester of souls. As a result of trusting Charles, Daniel has to traverse through the nine circles of hell ; limbo , lust , gluttony , greed , anger , heresy , violence , fraud and treachery and meet Satan. Meanwhile he is followed by the Archangel Azrael who claims himself as a helper. Not knowing whom to trust , Daniel proceeds towards Satan with Charles and the shadowman , confronting many challenges in the nine levels of hell.
This was a very fast paced , fast read that surprisingly amazed me. Never in my life I thought that I'd enjoy a book that sets in the hell 😂. The themes are dark indeed , but the plot was very appeasing. The language was simple and enriched with a lot of imageries. Anybody who doesn't fear certain dark scenes in hell will enjoy this book. Also , the book brings out vital life lessons for the readers that will change their perspective on life. I read this in one sitting and yes , I recommend the book to anyone who loves ; adventures , dark fantasy, Dante's Inferno and christian fantasy.
Finally I would like to thank bookinfluencers.com & the author Bryan Timothy for giving me this great opportunity to read this little gem. Also , my views upon this book is are all honest and unbiased.
October 25, 2022
Well written book about an incredible journey through Hell. This book is a modern day retelling of Dante's Inferno. The main character, Daniel, finds a mysterious artifact that causes him to fall into Hell. He meets two other characters, Charles and Beau, and they must go on an intense journey through Hell. Each character must face their demons, literally and figuratively.
October 25, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars!
I really enjoyed this book! The character development was one of the best parts. It was also pretty nice too see a different depiction of hell. Highly recommend, it was that good I finished it in about a day and a half as I couldn’t put it down!
(Will add more to this when I have time).
I really enjoyed this book! The character development was one of the best parts. It was also pretty nice too see a different depiction of hell. Highly recommend, it was that good I finished it in about a day and a half as I couldn’t put it down!
(Will add more to this when I have time).
January 19, 2023
It took longer than usual for this book to hook me. Once it did, I wanted to disregard all of my responsibilities to finish it. I fell asleep reading it and woke up to read it before my kids got up for breakfast.
Right away, I have to admit that I haven’t read the Divine Comedy so I can’t contrast the Inferno with this retelling. (I’m a little embarrassed to admit it, but so many classics and too little time.)
The plot follows a living human through the nine layers of hell. As he encounters various entities and hells, the main character, Daniel, must also encounter his own spiritual situation. As a reader, it’s difficult to avoid doing the same. His two traveling companions are endearing if not complicated. A book that takes place 90% hell could be really heavy so I appreciate that the author balanced any amount of scariness or weighty content with lighter descriptions and a little comic relief.
The world building was top-notch and I enjoyed the vivid descriptions. Mitchell has a way of engaging all of the senses, a rare find! 4/5 stars- which is a really good rating from me.
Right away, I have to admit that I haven’t read the Divine Comedy so I can’t contrast the Inferno with this retelling. (I’m a little embarrassed to admit it, but so many classics and too little time.)
The plot follows a living human through the nine layers of hell. As he encounters various entities and hells, the main character, Daniel, must also encounter his own spiritual situation. As a reader, it’s difficult to avoid doing the same. His two traveling companions are endearing if not complicated. A book that takes place 90% hell could be really heavy so I appreciate that the author balanced any amount of scariness or weighty content with lighter descriptions and a little comic relief.
The world building was top-notch and I enjoyed the vivid descriptions. Mitchell has a way of engaging all of the senses, a rare find! 4/5 stars- which is a really good rating from me.
April 10, 2023
A modern retelling of Dante's Inferno with heavy references to Lewis' The Great Divorce. I felt like it was much more action packed than Dante, which was not necessarily a good thing, but is necessary I guess for a truly modern retelling. Still, I couldn't put it down.
January 14, 2023
OMG the best read I've had in a while
By far the best and I need a part 2. The ending made me gasp and smile. Totally a fan of Charles and Beau. I need to read about Beau and what's in store for him, I need to know about Chance and what Charles and Beelzebub are planning.
By far the best and I need a part 2. The ending made me gasp and smile. Totally a fan of Charles and Beau. I need to read about Beau and what's in store for him, I need to know about Chance and what Charles and Beelzebub are planning.
October 25, 2022
This ingenious spin on the classic “Dante’s Inferno” takes intangible concepts—hope, sin, redemption—and gives them flesh. Protagonist Daniel Strong seems like a real person, his flaws of impatience and anger sometimes imperiling his journey. And even Daniel’s two netherworld guides, shadow-man Beau and soul-harvester Charles, become full-blooded characters whose fates matter.
“Infernal Fall” overflows with arresting dialogue, vivid descriptions, and fascinating plot turns, such as an unexpected but compelling encounter with an icon of Christian history. In addition, through Daniel’s eyes, the book faces some of the thorny questions many of us have about Hell. The narrative may not answer all concerns the reader may have, but neither does it provide pat answers.
If you like to read modern fantasy that makes you think, feel, and hope, “Infernal Fall” will be time well spent.
“Infernal Fall” overflows with arresting dialogue, vivid descriptions, and fascinating plot turns, such as an unexpected but compelling encounter with an icon of Christian history. In addition, through Daniel’s eyes, the book faces some of the thorny questions many of us have about Hell. The narrative may not answer all concerns the reader may have, but neither does it provide pat answers.
If you like to read modern fantasy that makes you think, feel, and hope, “Infernal Fall” will be time well spent.
December 7, 2022
I really liked this one! A modern twist on Dante's Inferno (my favourite book of the Divine Comedy👀) Infernal Fall follows a troubled man named Daniel as he makes his way through the circles of Hell to get back to Earth and to his girlfriend Kristine.
It has great worldbuilding: the author successfully managed to mix elements from the classic book with more modern ones. The descriptions make it very easy to follow along and not confusing even if you are not familiar with Dante's original work.
It's also very fast paced. I read it in one day and it somehow managed to (finally) cure my two month long reading slump🎉
I'd really recommend it to anyone who likes dark fantasy adventures with great character development! I'm now very curious to read the rest of the series.
Thank you bookinfluencers.com and the author for sending me the copy of this book
It has great worldbuilding: the author successfully managed to mix elements from the classic book with more modern ones. The descriptions make it very easy to follow along and not confusing even if you are not familiar with Dante's original work.
It's also very fast paced. I read it in one day and it somehow managed to (finally) cure my two month long reading slump🎉
I'd really recommend it to anyone who likes dark fantasy adventures with great character development! I'm now very curious to read the rest of the series.
Thank you bookinfluencers.com and the author for sending me the copy of this book
December 12, 2022
This book is incredibly written and I felt immersed into the world he created which was a dark imagining of hell and found myself connecting with the main character Daniel almost instantly. I couldn’t put it down wanting to see where Daniel’s journey took him next.
I can’t recommend this book enough to those who love classic and ancient literature and are looking for their next modernised version.
I can’t recommend this book enough to those who love classic and ancient literature and are looking for their next modernised version.
November 11, 2022
Powerful story about a young veteran, Daniel who falls into the depths of Hell and has to find his way out, all the while running into demons like Asmodeus and Azazel. Will Daniel be able to fight through his issues and make it out?
Unable to put down book, great read for young adults also.
Unable to put down book, great read for young adults also.
November 21, 2022
This usually isn't a book I'd pick up just from the description, but I'm glad I gave it a shot. This was a fast pace read for me. The plot was pretty good. Finished in two days. It'll be interesting to see where this story leads and the ending was kind of a nail biter.
November 11, 2022
Great book. Really enjoyed it and couldn’t put it down. Loved it. Take of a modern day Dates Inferno.
September 26, 2023
Daniel Strong is on top of Grandfather Mountain, watching his world crumble. He has an engagement ring in his pocket and is anxious to propose to Kristine, the love of his life, but she’s on the brink of breaking up with him. His own sins have brought him to this, and he has no one to blame but himself. Caught up in his own personal hell, he stumbles onto a blood-red keystone inside a huge dead tree, unaware that the real Hell awaits.
The keystone pulls him into Hell, where he falls and miraculously survives as one of the undead- a living person in Hell, though maybe not for long. Heartless Charles, a condemned soul who fancies himself a demon, tries to persuade him that this is not Hell, and that if he just goes a little deeper in he’ll find Kristine. Beau, a wandering spirit who has assumed physical form, tries to save Daniel, but he doesn’t want to believe. For many years, Daniel has convinced himself that Hell doesn’t exist, and he isn’t planning to start now. But he’s running out of time. Soon, belief that Hell exists won’t be enough to save him. And with the Angel of Death on his way, Daniel’s lease on life looks like it’s about to be broken.
This retelling of the classic Dante’s Inferno has taken the fiction community by storm. It won the Realm Award for Horror/Supernatural/Paranormal, even though this is the author’s first novel! The world is so well developed. One of the most well developed characters was Charles, the condemned soul turned ruthless soul harvester. Easy to hate, but underneath there is a glimmer of something relatable. Decent, even. Just a shred, you understand, but he makes the most of it, pulling it out as a shield to cover his grotesque nature.
Beau, the wandering spirit, has been stuck in Limbo for a long time, He can’t remember who he was, but his association with Daniel brings snippets of memory to the surface, If he could just recapture some of them…
One of the things that really hit me while reading this is how difficult it is for a fiction writer to write spiritual fiction that makes everyone theologically happy. There is doubtless some small, or even large something in this book that someone of any Christian denomination might take issue with, including me. But do we not read the original classic for that reason? Mitchell takes the high road and decides to tell a good story, one of sin and redemption, rather than trying to make any one group happy. I encourage you to value it for the story, and leave the theological parsing for non-fiction books. If you hand it to your teens, that is actually a great opportunity to talk about theology and fiction.
There were a few other things that I wasn’t a fan of. Mitchell occasionally will revisit the same scene from different points of view, a literary device that I’m not fond of. Sometimes he has a character tell about things that I would rather see dramatized, but there often turns out to be a valid reason for this choice.
Disclaimer: At Realm Makers I handed Descendant Publishing a free copy of Gemini’s Key, and they invited me to choose a free book in return. I had just watched Infernal Fall win the Realm Award, so of course I had to have it. No review was requested, and I did not offer one, but I assume they aren’t objecting now.
Heat: Nothing dramatized, but there is reference to a woman seducing a married man, adultery, and prostitution. A beautiful demoness attempts to bewitch Daniel, but even here there is nothing sexual about it and her clothing is not described. Masterfully done, in my opinion.
Profanity: None. The author gets across the profane nature of the demons without ever having to resort to profane words.
Violence: Mild. There is definitely some gross stuff there, but very little actual violence dramatized. There is reference to fights, but the vast majority of it occurs off screen. That isn’t to say there is no tension. Every scene crackles with tension. I often had to put it down because it was so intense (I’m not normally a horror reader), but I always went back to pick it up again. There is reference to murders, suicides and murder-suicides.
Age Recommendation: 14+ or whenever you are comfortable with the above topics being discussed.
This review first appeared on H. Halverstadt Books at https://hhalverstadtbooks.com/inferna...
The keystone pulls him into Hell, where he falls and miraculously survives as one of the undead- a living person in Hell, though maybe not for long. Heartless Charles, a condemned soul who fancies himself a demon, tries to persuade him that this is not Hell, and that if he just goes a little deeper in he’ll find Kristine. Beau, a wandering spirit who has assumed physical form, tries to save Daniel, but he doesn’t want to believe. For many years, Daniel has convinced himself that Hell doesn’t exist, and he isn’t planning to start now. But he’s running out of time. Soon, belief that Hell exists won’t be enough to save him. And with the Angel of Death on his way, Daniel’s lease on life looks like it’s about to be broken.
This retelling of the classic Dante’s Inferno has taken the fiction community by storm. It won the Realm Award for Horror/Supernatural/Paranormal, even though this is the author’s first novel! The world is so well developed. One of the most well developed characters was Charles, the condemned soul turned ruthless soul harvester. Easy to hate, but underneath there is a glimmer of something relatable. Decent, even. Just a shred, you understand, but he makes the most of it, pulling it out as a shield to cover his grotesque nature.
Beau, the wandering spirit, has been stuck in Limbo for a long time, He can’t remember who he was, but his association with Daniel brings snippets of memory to the surface, If he could just recapture some of them…
One of the things that really hit me while reading this is how difficult it is for a fiction writer to write spiritual fiction that makes everyone theologically happy. There is doubtless some small, or even large something in this book that someone of any Christian denomination might take issue with, including me. But do we not read the original classic for that reason? Mitchell takes the high road and decides to tell a good story, one of sin and redemption, rather than trying to make any one group happy. I encourage you to value it for the story, and leave the theological parsing for non-fiction books. If you hand it to your teens, that is actually a great opportunity to talk about theology and fiction.
There were a few other things that I wasn’t a fan of. Mitchell occasionally will revisit the same scene from different points of view, a literary device that I’m not fond of. Sometimes he has a character tell about things that I would rather see dramatized, but there often turns out to be a valid reason for this choice.
Disclaimer: At Realm Makers I handed Descendant Publishing a free copy of Gemini’s Key, and they invited me to choose a free book in return. I had just watched Infernal Fall win the Realm Award, so of course I had to have it. No review was requested, and I did not offer one, but I assume they aren’t objecting now.
Heat: Nothing dramatized, but there is reference to a woman seducing a married man, adultery, and prostitution. A beautiful demoness attempts to bewitch Daniel, but even here there is nothing sexual about it and her clothing is not described. Masterfully done, in my opinion.
Profanity: None. The author gets across the profane nature of the demons without ever having to resort to profane words.
Violence: Mild. There is definitely some gross stuff there, but very little actual violence dramatized. There is reference to fights, but the vast majority of it occurs off screen. That isn’t to say there is no tension. Every scene crackles with tension. I often had to put it down because it was so intense (I’m not normally a horror reader), but I always went back to pick it up again. There is reference to murders, suicides and murder-suicides.
Age Recommendation: 14+ or whenever you are comfortable with the above topics being discussed.
This review first appeared on H. Halverstadt Books at https://hhalverstadtbooks.com/inferna...
November 18, 2024
A very interesting journey through Hell, which I enjoyed much more than the original, haha. The characters were distinct and unusual, developed in unexpected and refreshing ways. Can’t say too much without giving it all away, but the way things unfolded was often frustrating or surprising, or both, but it worked. I’ll be certainly continuing the adventure with Almost Paradise!
November 21, 2024
I LOVED this book. Two-time Realm Awards winner for the spiritual warfare/paranormal category, Bryan Mitchell delivers a modern Dante’s Inferno that caught my attention from chapter one and refused to let go. I highly recommend this book.
January 18, 2024
“I’m dead, tough guy. The only reason we breathe and bleed in Hell is to suffer.”
I don’t often stay up until 2 a.m. listening to audio books, but when I do I’m listening to Bryan Mitchell’s “Infernal Fall.” This modern-day retelling of “Dante’s Inferno,” is a wild ride of hold-your-breath-and-hang-on-tight action blended with inspirational themes of perseverance, courage, hope, and redemption.
The colorful cast of characters were all fleshed out and had distinctive personalities. Daniel Strong made for a nobly motivated character with gritty determination and relatable flaws. I connected with his struggles to overcome his anger and unforgiveness for others as well as himself. Daniel is literally going through Hell, where despair and hopelessness are inevitable. Yet these dark moments are perfectly balanced with Daniel’s determination to fight and live to see his true love again, so it never feels as if he or the story is wallowing in these emotions. The main supporting characters, Daniel’s shoulder angel and devil, if you will, are equally compelling.
Beu, the shadow man, does his best to get Daniel through the levels of Hell with his hope and humanity intact. I loved his compassionate, soft-spoken, yet courageous nature. The flashes he received from his past intrigued me, and I can’t wait to delve deeper into his story in the sequel.
Charles, the demon, does his best to push Daniel down to the deepest circle of Hell while dragging up the worst aspects of the undead man’s nature. But Charles’s nature may be the one changed as the light carried inside Daniel infects him. Charles is a character who is likeably unlikable. He revels in the cruel, ruthless, cunning that gained him demonic status and is obsessively meticulous with the symbols of his power. But, as the layers of his character are stripped back, a very human man is revealed. The twists and turns of his arch were surprising, yet believable. I was cheering for joy one minute and on the edge of my seat the next.
World-building was interesting and well done. A wonderfully fresh take on the Hell of “Dante’s Inferno.” Some people may be quick to criticize the book for not being a Biblically accurate depictions of damnation, Hell, angels, and demons, but I feel the themes and symbols tell a fundamentally Christ-centered story without coming across as condescending or preachy.
Bryan Mitchell’s “Infernal Fall” was a thrilling, uplifting, delightful read. I can’t wait to dive into the sequel, “Almost Paradise!”
I don’t often stay up until 2 a.m. listening to audio books, but when I do I’m listening to Bryan Mitchell’s “Infernal Fall.” This modern-day retelling of “Dante’s Inferno,” is a wild ride of hold-your-breath-and-hang-on-tight action blended with inspirational themes of perseverance, courage, hope, and redemption.
The colorful cast of characters were all fleshed out and had distinctive personalities. Daniel Strong made for a nobly motivated character with gritty determination and relatable flaws. I connected with his struggles to overcome his anger and unforgiveness for others as well as himself. Daniel is literally going through Hell, where despair and hopelessness are inevitable. Yet these dark moments are perfectly balanced with Daniel’s determination to fight and live to see his true love again, so it never feels as if he or the story is wallowing in these emotions. The main supporting characters, Daniel’s shoulder angel and devil, if you will, are equally compelling.
Beu, the shadow man, does his best to get Daniel through the levels of Hell with his hope and humanity intact. I loved his compassionate, soft-spoken, yet courageous nature. The flashes he received from his past intrigued me, and I can’t wait to delve deeper into his story in the sequel.
Charles, the demon, does his best to push Daniel down to the deepest circle of Hell while dragging up the worst aspects of the undead man’s nature. But Charles’s nature may be the one changed as the light carried inside Daniel infects him. Charles is a character who is likeably unlikable. He revels in the cruel, ruthless, cunning that gained him demonic status and is obsessively meticulous with the symbols of his power. But, as the layers of his character are stripped back, a very human man is revealed. The twists and turns of his arch were surprising, yet believable. I was cheering for joy one minute and on the edge of my seat the next.
World-building was interesting and well done. A wonderfully fresh take on the Hell of “Dante’s Inferno.” Some people may be quick to criticize the book for not being a Biblically accurate depictions of damnation, Hell, angels, and demons, but I feel the themes and symbols tell a fundamentally Christ-centered story without coming across as condescending or preachy.
Bryan Mitchell’s “Infernal Fall” was a thrilling, uplifting, delightful read. I can’t wait to dive into the sequel, “Almost Paradise!”
December 5, 2023
Based on the marketing, I suspected a close adaptation of Dante Alighieri’s original Divine Comedy.
The structure of Hell is the same, and the cultural commentary is there, but the story borrows far more from C. S. Lewis and Hellblazer by Jamie Delano, which amounts to Hellblazer with slightly less sarcasm.
But that’s still great, still thoughtful, and still creates a struggle worth watching.
But I have a couple of major hang ups:
1) The setup
I’m sorry, but entering Hell by picking up a totem on the ground is not a strong enough entry for me. Intuitively, it’s hard for me to think of reasons why someone would go through literal Hell when replacing the totem in some way, shape, or form would, in theory, get you home much faster.
If the characters had at least attempted to climb the mountain of light first, I’d be better sold.
2) No variety in the motivations of the sufferers of Hell
EVERYONE in Hell, every human, at least, is suffering there because of the exact same narcissistic trait of refusing to take responsibility for their actions. The demons have a variety of motivations for why they do what they do, but the humans can’t?
What’s next isn’t a hang up, but it was still annoying.
When the main characters talk to Hell’s sufferers, with one, maybe two exceptions, they speak to mainstream evangelicals.
The main characters are in HELL. Presumably, there’s more people there besides hypocrite conservatives.
But I’d rather not end on a bad note, because this isn’t a bad book.
It’s not a spectacle of horror like the original, it’s a well-written character sketch of the three mains, and their development is handled very well.
Even though the ending is tragic for two of them, it’s a development that makes sense.
The structure of Hell is the same, and the cultural commentary is there, but the story borrows far more from C. S. Lewis and Hellblazer by Jamie Delano, which amounts to Hellblazer with slightly less sarcasm.
But that’s still great, still thoughtful, and still creates a struggle worth watching.
But I have a couple of major hang ups:
1) The setup
I’m sorry, but entering Hell by picking up a totem on the ground is not a strong enough entry for me. Intuitively, it’s hard for me to think of reasons why someone would go through literal Hell when replacing the totem in some way, shape, or form would, in theory, get you home much faster.
If the characters had at least attempted to climb the mountain of light first, I’d be better sold.
2) No variety in the motivations of the sufferers of Hell
EVERYONE in Hell, every human, at least, is suffering there because of the exact same narcissistic trait of refusing to take responsibility for their actions. The demons have a variety of motivations for why they do what they do, but the humans can’t?
What’s next isn’t a hang up, but it was still annoying.
When the main characters talk to Hell’s sufferers, with one, maybe two exceptions, they speak to mainstream evangelicals.
The main characters are in HELL. Presumably, there’s more people there besides hypocrite conservatives.
But I’d rather not end on a bad note, because this isn’t a bad book.
It’s not a spectacle of horror like the original, it’s a well-written character sketch of the three mains, and their development is handled very well.
Even though the ending is tragic for two of them, it’s a development that makes sense.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2023
This was an imaginative and creative story based around Dante's Inferno.
Daniel and Kristine are out on a trek in the hills when Daniel stumbles on a mysterious rock but soon becomes trapped and falls into the unknown.
When he wakes he believes he's fallen into the mountain somehow and must climb to his freedom.
He soon meets Beau and Charles, unusual entities that convince him they will help him escape. While Beau is upfront and tells Daniel he's fallen into Hell, Charles merely explains he can't climb out the mountain he must travel through it instead and offers his help.
Of course Daniel doesn't actually believe he's fallen into hell, that would be impossible, so he trusts that wherever they lead him he'll end up home.
Along the perilous journey Daniel has to face his demons literally, and has to traverse the 9 realms of hell alongside his new allies in a quest for his freedom, coming face to face with sins and their influence on humanity.
He's also confronted with fears, truths and darkness, and has to choose a path if he wants to live again.
With detailed world building, creative action scenes, intense character development and growth, this is an interesting dark fantasy story and journey of redemption.
The ending leaves things ready for the next book and more adventures and trials for Daniel, Beau and Charles to face.
Daniel and Kristine are out on a trek in the hills when Daniel stumbles on a mysterious rock but soon becomes trapped and falls into the unknown.
When he wakes he believes he's fallen into the mountain somehow and must climb to his freedom.
He soon meets Beau and Charles, unusual entities that convince him they will help him escape. While Beau is upfront and tells Daniel he's fallen into Hell, Charles merely explains he can't climb out the mountain he must travel through it instead and offers his help.
Of course Daniel doesn't actually believe he's fallen into hell, that would be impossible, so he trusts that wherever they lead him he'll end up home.
Along the perilous journey Daniel has to face his demons literally, and has to traverse the 9 realms of hell alongside his new allies in a quest for his freedom, coming face to face with sins and their influence on humanity.
He's also confronted with fears, truths and darkness, and has to choose a path if he wants to live again.
With detailed world building, creative action scenes, intense character development and growth, this is an interesting dark fantasy story and journey of redemption.
The ending leaves things ready for the next book and more adventures and trials for Daniel, Beau and Charles to face.
September 10, 2023
Bryan Timothy Mitchell's "Infernal Fall" is much more than a modern reimaging of Dante's classic "Inferno," it's a deep and convicting examination of the human condition. As we're introduced to Daniel Strong, who represents most of us, we come face-to-face with our own brokenness the longer we follow him and his two spiritual companions, "Heartless" Charles and Beau. As these three travel through each new level of Hell, it soon becomes clear that it's a place filled with folks unable (and unwilling) to change rather than those unjustly judged. A fascinating look at eternal damnation juxtaposed with sanctification, my favorite character turned out to be the most unlikely - and also the most heartbreaking to follow. At the risk of spoiling anything, I'll end this review by saying that this novel tugged on my heartstrings (and my conscience) more than I thought it would, in a way that only points me back to the Savior. The second installment cannot come fast enough.
September 17, 2023
I’ve never read Dante’s Inferno, but after reading this book, I know I will be.
This well written book follows Daniel’s journey through the nine levels of Hell, in hopes of getting back to his life and the woman he loves. The trial he and his “friends” Beau and Charles go through really bring the image of Hell to life in your imagination.
It was interesting to see Daniel fall even further into the depths of his despair before finally coming to terms with how he really is. To read the author tell that he experienced his own hell while serving made this book even more poignant.
Mitchell does a great job of world building the levels of Hell, and the character development of not only the main characters but also the demons was fantastic.
This book is definitely something very different than the books being offered out there right now. This was a very entertaining read, with a message, and I’m looking forward to reading what happens next with our main characters.
This well written book follows Daniel’s journey through the nine levels of Hell, in hopes of getting back to his life and the woman he loves. The trial he and his “friends” Beau and Charles go through really bring the image of Hell to life in your imagination.
It was interesting to see Daniel fall even further into the depths of his despair before finally coming to terms with how he really is. To read the author tell that he experienced his own hell while serving made this book even more poignant.
Mitchell does a great job of world building the levels of Hell, and the character development of not only the main characters but also the demons was fantastic.
This book is definitely something very different than the books being offered out there right now. This was a very entertaining read, with a message, and I’m looking forward to reading what happens next with our main characters.
September 3, 2023
Former military vet, Daniel Strong, is hiking with his girlfriend when he falls into a deep hole and finds himself literally in hell. To return to his life, he must rely on the aid of a demon and a shadow man, neither of whom he trusts.
There’s a lot of depth in this speculative fiction story, and much of it is about coming to terms with the past and seeing situations in a new light. The setting Daniel finds himself in offers opportunities to do exactly that, but each challenge he faces takes a greater toll on Daniel’s physical and emotional state.
This is an imaginative story that introduces all kinds of horrific creatures, yet it’s also a story about redemption and choices. Although Daniel clearly has anger issues, I cheered for him as he struggles to find a way out of his dilemma. A recommended read.
There’s a lot of depth in this speculative fiction story, and much of it is about coming to terms with the past and seeing situations in a new light. The setting Daniel finds himself in offers opportunities to do exactly that, but each challenge he faces takes a greater toll on Daniel’s physical and emotional state.
This is an imaginative story that introduces all kinds of horrific creatures, yet it’s also a story about redemption and choices. Although Daniel clearly has anger issues, I cheered for him as he struggles to find a way out of his dilemma. A recommended read.
May 19, 2025
This story was exactly what I expected. A journey of self reflection for the main character, Daniel, as he travels though layers of Hell. Similar to Dante's Inferno.
The story jumped quickly to it. Putting Daniel into a circumstance where he would be thrown into limbo. Although he doesn't realize it and reacted blindly to his situation. Presenting him with choices that didn't feel like choices to him, being his nature.
My favorite character was Charles, the demon who makes it his purpose to lead Daniel. He is well aware of what was going on from the get go and is happy to misdirect. They are followed by Beau, whom I believe was a reaper collecting souls who sympathizes with Daniel's plight. Each chapter switches between the three, giving them each a section of each part of the journey where they guide the reader.
The story has a lot of insight and felt purposeful, but I think fell apart towards the end. Simply written, the pacing starts slow, gains momentum and felt right, but then as the story progressed, more felt lost and rushed. Particularly the ending. There was build up for a grand decision, but then it didn't feel so grand. Just wrapped up to be done.
I liked the journey of reading, bits of the message, but felt it deflated by the end.
The story jumped quickly to it. Putting Daniel into a circumstance where he would be thrown into limbo. Although he doesn't realize it and reacted blindly to his situation. Presenting him with choices that didn't feel like choices to him, being his nature.
My favorite character was Charles, the demon who makes it his purpose to lead Daniel. He is well aware of what was going on from the get go and is happy to misdirect. They are followed by Beau, whom I believe was a reaper collecting souls who sympathizes with Daniel's plight. Each chapter switches between the three, giving them each a section of each part of the journey where they guide the reader.
The story has a lot of insight and felt purposeful, but I think fell apart towards the end. Simply written, the pacing starts slow, gains momentum and felt right, but then as the story progressed, more felt lost and rushed. Particularly the ending. There was build up for a grand decision, but then it didn't feel so grand. Just wrapped up to be done.
I liked the journey of reading, bits of the message, but felt it deflated by the end.
January 16, 2025
I wasn't expecting the author to craft such a fine world depicting Dante Alighieri's Inferno story. Every level was crafted so well, offering an insight to a new layer to sin that really gives you goosebumps on how insane the punishments can be. Daniel and Charles' journeys, in particular, stood out to me. They make an excellent Dante + Virgil duo. You will come to love Charles' witty charm as he guides you through the daring trials of hell. You will also be enthralled by Daniel's self-discovery as he comes to the ultimatum at the end between life and death.
January 4, 2025
I usually have multiple books going at any one time, but after getting hooked by 'Infernal Fall' I put aside my other reading for a few days and finished this one in record time. Creepy, very atmospheric, and with an ultimately hopeful message, this one earned a place on my top shelf.
October 25, 2023
I love the imagery of what it takes for Daniel to face the trials if he'll to get back to the love of his life.
January 19, 2024
I couldn't put this book down. I kept turning the pages to see what happened next. I couldn't wait to see how it ended.
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