Easy Guide to Escape Hell

by Elisa Menz

Dagon Gunthersson—a powerful demon warrior and a renowned member of Hell’s nobility—stands accused of treason by his commander. His abrupt escape leads him to the last place he expects: the human world. Stuck in a decrepit manor haunted by lesser demons, Dagon masterminds a plan to return to Hell and take his revenge.

Josephine Gardiner’s sheltered life vanishes the moment she escapes her controlling parents. When she’s offered the opportunity to claim a mysterious manor, no heaping trash, nor the looming threat of eviction will stop her from building the home she’s always dreamt of. But the ghastly creatures scurrying in the shadows might.

While Heaven and Hell gamble with war, the manor inhabitants stand against greedy lawyers, hostile angels, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Can an arrogant demon and a strong-headed woman stop pretending they don’t care about each other and save the only home they’ve ever loved?

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy, Fiction, Romantasy, Contemporary

443 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 25, 2022

About the author

Elisa Menz is a self-taught writer and a fantasy literature fan. Born in Bolivia, she grew up surrounded by mythical creatures and supernatural folklore, through local writers and storytellers. Inspired by those tales, she started writing her own stories at a young age.

Now living in Chile, she works full time as a writer, while dawdling in video game programming, comic design, and alternative sources of storytelling. A member of the Chilean Tolkien Society and an avid reader of fantasy classics, her work is heavily influenced by authors like David Eddings, Raymond E. Feist, and Robin Hobb.

Her stories are full of witty, sweet, and hilarious characters, always with a pinch of magic.

Reviews

[Val~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

2025 RE-READ: I like the humorous writing style of the author. I really enjoyed this book so much that I read it again. The lesser demons (kobolds) and Rosier are so cute and fun!!! This is definitely a great example of a cozy fantasy rom-com with themes regarding found family, loyalty, love, demons and angels, a retelling of Hell and Lu (Lucifer), cuteness, and finding yourself despite what others may or may not think of you, just stay with those who love you for who you are. I would definitely read more books from Elisa, that somewhat reminded me of Ali Hazelwood’s funny remarks in her books.

[Duckie Mack · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun book. It was so different than what I expected, but when I saw romcom with demons, I was intrigued.
Elisa does such a great job creating unique characters, and this one had me loving the demons (some of them)
Dagon and Josephine are an unlikely pair, but they couldn't have been better for each other. Dagon is a demon, a strong warrior from hell, who faced a big betrayal in the middle of a deadly battle, and was suddenly whoosed away to the human world.
Josephine is a lawyer who has had enough of being under her parent's controlling thumbs. She gets a call out of the blue to renovate an old house to help save a neighborhood. It seems like the perfect way to escape and start a new path.
She knew she'd have to roll up her sleeves and do some hard work on the house, but what she didn't expect to find, was that it was already occupied. Suddenly, she is sharing a home with a gargoyle, a moody demon, and a bunch of fluff balls from hell.
She manages to take control of her home and everyone inside, much to the surprise of the still-healing warrior.
This book is part romcom, pnr, and part epic fantasy. It was a really unique experience, but a fun one, laced with humor and clever interactions and musings. This story was a delight. I loved the banter and debates between Josephine and Dagon, and how they challenged each other as well as complimented each other. This was a great book, excited to see more like it

[Olivia Ganzenmuller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy Guide to Escape Hell by Elisa Menz: NA. Urban Contemporary Drama. Portal High fantasy. Multiple Third Person POV. Renovating. Self-discovery. Independence. Friendships and Found Family. Humans. Demons. Angels. Hell. War. Sieges. Assassins. Traitors.

This is one of the most original standalone fantasies I've read and I highly recommend it to people who love Contemporary dramas, grumpy/sunshine romance, and high fantasies with war and political intrigue tropes. This was perfect for me. It is also a big book, and considering the subgenre shift halfway through (which is done perfectly btw) it's almost two stories in one.

The story begins when Josephine decides to quit her job at her parents' firm and escape their control and antagonism. After decades she's had enough, but she doesn't know what to do with her life until she's contacted by the Mayor of Alexander and offered a historical house for free as a corporation is threatening to bulldoze the neighborhood. In exchange, she'll restore the house and live there. The only problem is the house is haunted, but upon discovering that it's full of demons who've nowhere to go, she'll fight with everything she has to help them.

Down in Hell, Dagon has just lost his battalion to 12 angels, not even his best friend made it. Standing against 12 angels and prepared to fight to the death, he's summoned away by his father before the Angels can kill him. Relieved, he's surprised his father stepped in, but quickly learns why. His army commander has uncovered evidence he's a traitor and a coward and he's to be executed. However, before they can kill him, he's summoned away again and wakes up in a house on Earth. Safe. A Gargoyle felt his fate and rescued him like he's been doing for others for decades since escaping Hell himself. Now stuck in the human world, in a run-down house, Dagon must find a way to get back to Hell to clear his name, but that doesn't go according to plan when a persistent human woman decided to move in.

I can't express how much I loved this book in all its parts. The first part of the novel takes place on earth in the small community of Alexander and is about Josephine working with the demons to restore and renovate the house. It's cozy, full of interesting drama and the stakes are always rising. I don't want to spoil the second part of the novel, but let's just say it still amazes me that this book goes from a group of people renovating a house at the start, slowly growing feeling for each other, to them waging war and uncovering assassins and traitors in Hell. It's Epic. It fits so well with the character's backstories and skills and how they've been tested. I can't say it enough. This was amazing. If you even want a book with both cute drama that kind of reads like a sitcom AND high fantasy with war and political intrigue this one is for you.

At its heart, it's about believing in yourself and what you believe in in the face of naysays and people who don't have your best interests at heart. I love how the main characters helped teach each other to believe in themselves and have more self-respect and confidence. It was relatable and empowering.

Overall, it's well-written and light and complex with likeable characters, unexpected twists and turns, unique world-building, unique cultures and mannerisms, and heightening stakes and intrigue.


How much did I like this? 5 Stars
Ideas - World Building: 5 Stars
Ideas - Plot: 5 Stars
Character Depth: 5 Stars
Character Interactions: Above Average
Emotional Highs and Lows: 4 Stars
Animal Characterisation: minimal
Warnings: Sex scenes. Swearing. Mild violence.
Execution: 5 Stars

[E.M. Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn’t my usual genre to read, but I was intrigued by the cover art, which led me to the blurb, which sounded like fun, and it delivered just that! Menz weaves an interesting and unique tale of love in this book.

I give it only four stars because I did find myself losing interest around the halfway to three-quarter mark and felt like a lot of stuff could’ve been cut without the story being affected. It picked back up towards the end though and I’m glad I stuck it out.

Some character reactions didn’t make sense to me and had me raising my eyebrow at times because they seemed over the top, and I felt like there were too many characters to keep track of at times. Still, overall it was a fun read and Josephine and Dagon were both loveable characters, with equally loveable sidekicks by their side throughout. I was rooting for them from the get go.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, Heartfelt, Captivating!

I didn’t expect this to be so funny, but I laughed and smiled through the whole book.
I loved the reimagining of hell and the conflicts. I adored the kobolds, and I never thought I’d cry for a demon, but there I was crying for Dagon.
The story line was well thought out, characters well rounded, and twists and turns that kept you turning pages. Definitely a must read!

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book via voracious readers and was piqued by the title. The book was well written and the story is a delightful romcom. The story centres around Demons, humans & Angels and the war in hell with the romance between Josephine a human and Dagon a demon. There is family drama, good and bad angels & demons and Lucifer not being what you expect.
The characters are all well written and the book is one you can enjoy for a easy read.

[Jillian Bondarchuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the CUTEST story about the creatures of Hell who have sought refuge on Earth, and the woman who braves meeting Lucifer himself to keep her love safe.
I'm partial to love stories that have more than just a relationship to conquer. This one met all my hit points. Character growth, moody love interests, quirky supporting characters, fantastic world-building, intrigue, spice (gotta have that), friendships, strong female leads, new twists on already well-known characters, and a plot bigger than just the growing relationship between the MCs.
Loved it!

[Vanessa M.D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Angels Give Flowers to Demons


I've been waiting for an opportunity to read Elisa's novel for a long time. Since I knew her opening chapter from the Become Hooked Contest - which she won, by the way - my expectations for the rest of the text were very high. A challenging place to start for a book, to be honest.

The opportunity presented itself in the form of becoming an ARC reader, so I had to decide whether to write a review that was very supportive of my writing friend or to take a neutral stance and give the story as objective and, therefore, honest feedback as possible.

I decided to go with the second option, and I am so glad that the supportive part will not come up short.

So here is my review of "Easy Guide to Escape Hell":

I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end. Elisa has talent and knows how storytelling works. However, one also has to consider the production history. I know this is a very unorthodox move when writing a review. Still, it's important to acknowledge the fact that the novel is self-published and has more quality than many traditionally published works. And it goes without saying that this novel is perhaps the best I have read among self-published stories. Reviewers and critics can be relentless, especially when the spine of a book doesn't say Penguin, Harper & Collins, or Macmillan. As a result, self-published works are under more scrutiny than ever, and unfortunately rightly so, because many writers have the goal of publishing in mind but not the many steps and tasks that lead to it. Most works are therefore published hastily.

Elisa Menz, however, cared. Very much. She cared about the characters, the plot, the world building and the themes, putting together a coherent and clever text that didn't reveal the big secret on page ten. The text tells of the darker sides of life. It depicts exciting worlds, as well as humor and love, and Elisa knew how to insert these to lighten the mood and give depth to the story and its characters.

Also, the author learned from the best. She went to school at Tolkien's, probably together with "The Boy Who Lived". She also knows that it's one thing to be influenced by great works, but another (dangerous) move to copy them. And with all the obvious influences, she has succeeded wonderfully in creating something new, and I'm thinking of Stephen King, who once said that writers should deal with the what-if questions in stories. Without giving anything away, Elisa has taken familiar story tropes, even stereotypes, and given them new meaning or a twist that made her book a refreshing reading experience. And that's precisely where she hooks and brings in the humor that appeals to the reader. Brilliant.

It's hard work to write, but it's a mammoth task to finish a novel, and do all the editing and proofreading, formatting and marketing. Yet Elisa Menz has done it. And there are lessons to be learned from her.

Are there hiccups in the story? Small ones, yes. But nothing that would make me condemn the novel. On the contrary, the author proved that self-publishing can be worth the trouble, and I'm really looking forward to reading more from this wonderful person.

[Lady Azulina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I committed to starting every review by saying that I was blessed to receive Elisa Menz’s free ARC copy and I’m corresponding with this review more because I loved the book than I have to.

Honestly, I expected to find the wholesome, lighthearted, slow-paced rom-com novel that the cover and the synopsis referenced, and it was! For, like, the first quarter. But then, a lot of hidden plots appeared and we were fast pacing toward this really big-grand scheme to attempt to-… no, I will not tell.

But yeah, you can sense the plots growing underneath your feet until it’s impossible to keep balance. And it’s that the wholesome, lighthearted, slow-paced rom-com novel is just the smallest part of the whole story. And what a story! We see a great development there, of all the characters (well, more or less, villains are villains and only have one outcome, don’t they?). There isn’t really a lot of communication, but it shows what a healthy relationship is! And not only the romantic one. With family, and friends, and even as professionals, in the workplace. It shows you what it is to be a person and to treat all people as equals.

I loved our sassy queen. I will not say that she underwent a great change, rather she showed her true personality, though it can be seen as the truest change. I would love to be more like her, not only about the sassy part 😉.

Though, in the end, I’m not really sure if we learn an easy way to escape hell. In fact, I think we found a way to go to hell. It’s not as bad as it sounds, I promise.

[Amy Poirier · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was sweet and sometimes funny, with a wide variety of characters and an interesting take on the battle between heaven and hell.

Why only 3 stars, then? Well, I found the content to be a bit contradictory. The language was adult, but the actions of the characters were a little more middle school. I found myself getting annoyed by the situations they got themselves into, and it took away from my enjoyment of the book. It wasn't bad. It just wasn’t for me at this time.

[Letra Escarlata · Rating 4 out of 5]

El libro tiene un humor muy fresco y revitalizante, adoro la originalidad de la trama y los personajes son memorables.
Para mi el problema estuvo en la construcción de mundo y en el ritmo a mitad del libro, lo sentí lento innecesariamente, con menos páginas, ahorrándose ese tramo lento que poco aportó a la trama hubiera sido sin dudas un 5 estrellas.
Fue una lectura interesante.

[Javi Mc Cawley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me encantó 💗💞💖

Chistoso, romántico con un poco de drama. No perdí la atención en ningún momento de la historia.

Ofrezco mi hogar para que un ejército de kobolts me ayude con las tareas domésticas. Les daré una pieza, mucha comida y disfrutarán también de compañía felina.

[Susan May · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book! I think this is going to be one of my most favorite books I’ve read during the 2024 reading challenge. I probably never would have given this book even a glance but I am glad I did. It was such a fun read.
The main character, Josephine Gardiner, decides to disregard her parents insane demands and expectations when she gets a chance to start a new life in a new town in an inherited and very old manor house. As with all good things, there is a catch? She needs to fix the place up to code and commit to not selling it for at least 20 years. Sounds easy enough.
What she doesn’t know is there are already some inhabitants at the manor. Dagon Gunthersson is a demon warrior hailing from a noble family in Hell. Dagon's whole demon battalion, including his one and only friend and companion, is slaughtered by the most unlikely of beings. Then he was summoned by his father but not to be saved or to be executed. After being deceived and then falsely accused of being a traitor. Dagon finds himself in the most strange and unlikely situation, he is in the human world. Dagon is arrogant, threatening, and arguably unreasonable. Then enters Josephine. After winning her legal case but earning a scolding, Josephine has finally had enough and quits her parents law firm. That is when the answering of a mysterious phone call changes her life beyond any expectation she could have ever have and obtains the manor.Then the two find themselves living in the same house along with a gargoyle named Rosier, the Brona, over 375 enthusiastic kobolds and one lust demon. Together, the unlikely group of roommates faces more than one massive challenge, leaning on odd neighbors and and plenty of elbow grease. There are real bad guys and complications. Some rogue angels and heartache, loss and reconciliation. As
conflict stirs Mr. Embers seeks to steal her manor at any cost and in Hell there is a rebellion growing as an unsavory alliance threatens to turn all the realms into cataclysmic war.
The characters were so much fun and made this an all around fun story. This one easily deserves more than five stars.

[Rodrigo · Rating 5 out of 5]

An unexpected adventure

I bought this book because it was recommended to me. They told me it was an adventure book, a bit unusual, very entertaining and with very good characters.

I am a professional with more than 15 years of experience, who on more than one occasion has thought about making a career change. And I couldn't feel more represented with the career change that the protagonist (Josephine) lives at the beginning and during the book.

I felt identified with the pressure that Josephine receives from her family and environment, due to this change. The story reflects very well the feelings that one can feel in this type of situation, moments marked by a strong conviction, but also by a strong uncertainty: What comes now? What do I do next?

But just as it reflects very well the uncertainty of this type of situations, it also shows very well how leaving your comfort zone becomes a bridge to positive things; new situations, new friends, new life experiences and new situations to discover your purpose in this world.

Speaking of the book’s plot, this is an adventure story, but it's not a typical hero's journey, it's much more complex and entertaining. In addition, many times it made me laugh a lot (mind that I am a difficult person to make laugh).

This book is more than an adventure, it is a journey. A journey to different places and a journey of self discovery.

It reminded me of 80's adventure movies where the plot mattered more than the special effects (although in this book the FX would be great if it were a movie). It reminds me of a mix among movies such as Lost Generation, Back to the Future and Flash Gordon movies, but crossed by a strong component of romance and development of the protagonists.

In summary: It was very entertained, it was a story that left me with a lot of things on a personal level, and I would definitely recommend it.

[Me, My Shelf, & I]

I kinda soft DNFd this over a year ago, then decided to pick it up today so I could finish it and officially unhaul it.

I'm not gonna rate it, but this is rough. The sentences are composed everywhere from simply (at best) to incoherent (at worst). I think I can imagine a world in which this same story could be written differently to feel more adult? It's not necessarily the ideas so much as the writing that feels childish.

The way the characters reacted constantly reminded me of an over-the-top cartoon or anime-- their eyes widened with shock, burying their face under the sheet to hide their emotions, etc. The emotional reactions were always very outsized and unnatural for the situation, the way you might portray them in animation to convey to the watcher. Maybe it would have been okay if they were written as metaphor instead of as what the character was actually doing? But it's hard to say; all I know is that I didn't enjoy the execution as is.

It also had this quirk where they would think several questions to themselves in succession. All the time. The questions were very simple and poorly crafted and just started to grate on me.

There were a few times while reading that I questioned if the author is a native English speaker. Just a few things that weren't quite how it would be said naturally, and some definite instances of playing fast and loose with punctuation and the tone it imparts on the sentence. Based on the bio it seems like they're probably ESL, so that's fair. It's not choppy and they're clearly fluent in English, just with a shrunken vocabulary and not a fully native mastery.

I still adore the cover-- the artist did an excellent job. But as for the book... no. I did not like this.

[KMart Vet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a surprising blend of romcom and an epic clash between angels and demons. At first, it feels like you're settling in for a fun, quirky romance with an odd couple—Dagon, a demon warrior, and Josephine, a former lawyer trying to reclaim her life. But the book quickly takes a turn into something far bigger and more intense than a simple love story.

What really worked for me here was how seamlessly the plot shifts between the lighthearted moments and the darker, action-packed elements. The story starts with this humorous setup: Josephine inherits a rundown, demon-infested manor, and Dagon—a disgraced noble demon—plotting his return to Hell. Their interactions are funny and sweet. But just when you're expecting it to stick to the romcom script, it dives into much deeper territory.

Overall, Easy Guide to Escape Hell strikes a great balance between humor, romance, and an epic conflict. It’s definitely one of the more unique books I’ve come across, and I was surprised at how well it worked!

[Ilona · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing story! I loved reading it! I loved seeing these worlds come together and all of them finding ways to get along.
The love story is also so cute and sweet and I loved how it progressed.
It's also so much more than that. The characters growth is amazing, breaking free of their past and learning to find themselves.
Fighting for what they believe in and not letting anyone or anything make those decisions for them.
I'm honored that I got to arc read this amazing book and I definitely recommend it to everyone looking for a fun read that has everything you need in a fantasy book! I
It comes out November 8th so be sure to look out for this one! 🤩

[Jenny Grey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t even know where to start because I loved this book so much!

Josephine is such a sweet, shy character who steps into her own. I love seeing a character go through a journey of finding their voice while taking on a noble cause.

Dagon, ( lol Horns) is the best! I loved the struggles he had coming to the human world and how Josephine put him in his place in the demon house.

The writing and story of the book were prediction! I have to say the version of Lucifer in this book is one I have never read before and it was done beautifully!! I loved the plot twists that took me by surprise. All of the secondary characters made this story so endearing and gave the perfect small town vibes.

I loved this so much and although this book has names of characters you may have heard before, the story of them, I guarantee, is one you haven’t read before!!

[Angela Bauman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not get enough of this book. An odd set of circumstances bring two people together in a wonderfully written romcom. The characters were funny and endearing. Congrats to the author for another beautifully written book!

[Emeres · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a crazy, funny, sometimes scary, sometimes creepy, sometimes sweet and always hilarious bunch of misfits. This was a unique twist on this genre. Love the authors imagination in this world she created. Im gonna miss those little freaks.

[Readers Life · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun book to read! Definitely recommend it.😊

[Laverne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so fun and cute! The characters and charming and Dagon made me laugh. The plot can be a little simplistic at times but I really enjoyed it anyways.

[B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a little light, fun read with a bit more adventure than anticipated. Perfect if you're looking for a romcom with a little bit more than just smooching.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

At the beginning months ago I really liked this book. I enjoyed the humour and the romance but around the halfway point I got really bored with it and kind of lost interest. Funnily enough, there was so much plot that I lost interest. I think I enjoyed it way more with the cosy vibe than the war vibe. Don't get me wrong it is still an enjoyable book I just believe it was too long and I had to force myself to actually finish it.

[Shell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book via voracious readers in exchange for an honest review

I was intrigued by the book's title and glad I gave it a read, as it's a very cute, funny little rom com that had me laughing out loud. The characters are memorable with some nice character development that makes them very relateable, and I love how the roles of the demons vs angels are somewhat flipped in this rather charming story

[the cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay I guess I got so bored and quit at some point

[Courtney (moyashi_girl) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Easy Guide to Escape Hell.
It was the perfect read to help me come out of my book slump as it was such a fun and easy read!

The book had a grumpy x sunshine romance, demons, angels, found family, and more!
It had really great characters, and I pretty much loved them all!
Josephine and Dagon had such a sweet romance, and all the side characters were just amazing!
I definitely have a soft spot for the Kobold as they were so cute!

I was actually surprised with how cozy this book was as it had war and battles in it, but I would definitely personally count this as a cozy fantasy.
I definitely highly recommend you check out this book!

[Danni Deguire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I seriously loved this book. It came out of nowhere and joined my list of favourites! I knew nothing going it and it was so much fun. Its so wild and genuine and such an adventure. The originality of the story was wonderful, it kind of reminded me of stories like Good Omens with it’s wild quirky nature. I’m so attached to so many of the characters, it gave it all such heart. And to wrap it all up, it is so beautifully told.

[Nico bookreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amé mucho el libro, me llevé todo el viaje de emociones, desde la incredulidad, la empatía por otros, la adoración de la amistad sincera y unas carcajadas que me sacó jajajaja me encantó la historia, su desarrollo y todo lo que vivieron mis personajes durante el desarrollo, jo es obviamente una reina jajajajaja fue muy bueno y aunque sé que es autoconclusivo, me gustaría ver una pequeña novela sobre carrion y los muchos ships a los que lo uní muajajaaja 🤭🤭 que viva Dagon y Jo y que vivan los kobolds! 🫶 tkm gárgola Dobby 🥹🥹🥹

[T.L. Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elisa Menz is the New Queen of Fabulous Plot Twists!

What a gem of a book! Easy Guide to Escape Hell by Elisa Menz is one of the best books I’ve read this year. I downloaded a sample to check it out and was immediately hooked. Main character, Josephine Gardiner, decides to ditch her parents’ overwhelming demands and expectations when she gets a chance to start a new life in a new town in an inherited—and very old—manor house. The catch? She needs to fix the place up to code and commit to not selling it for at least 20 years. Sounds easy enough, right?

Before the reader is introduced to Josephine, chapter one features yet another main character, Dagon Gunthersson, a demon warrior hailing from a noble family in Hell. Dagon is arrogant, threatening, and arguably unreasonable, and Josephine is not afraid to stand up to him. While sometimes she feels fragile on the inside, she’s willing to pull herself up by the bootstraps and do what’s right. The two find themselves living in the same house along with a gargoyle named Rosier (I adore him), the Brona (quite interesting), over 375 enthusiastic kobolds (I would like some), and one loveable lust demon. Together, the motley group of roommates faces more than one massive challenge, leaning on odd neighbors and leveraging hope. And elbow grease.

This is one of those books that is so hard to review because there is much to love and many scenes (spoilers) that can’t be shared. However, I was so over the moon with the author's wit and innovative storyline I frequently described the scenes—and sometimes reenacted them—in the kitchen to my husband’s amusement. I was *that* invested in the plot. Author Menz explored some of my favorite themes—navigating difficult family dynamics, stretching outside comfort zones, found family (Menz truly excels here), and learning to find courage and not abandon hope when all seems lost.

The story is clever, and *just* when I thought I couldn’t be wowed by another revelation, Menz zipped in another shocker. Here’s the cool part: NOTHING felt forced. It all fit together and was believable. The author pulled it off with a crisp efficiency that propelled me through the chapters at a blazing pace. Josephine is relatable as a main character, and you want her to succeed—to make it despite the roadblocks her parents are behind. Dagon is…Oh, I’ll just say it: I fell for him early on. There was a true sweetness buried under his demands and behavior. I started rooting for Dagon soon after meeting him.

There are real bad guys and complications, rogue angels and heartache, loss and reconciliation. I even had a smidgen of compassion for a truly vile character as some of his backstory was revealed. In other words, Menz knows how to draw out readers’ emotions and sometimes challenge them. You will get a lump in your throat when Josephine first plays the piano and when Dagon’s “innocence” (of sorts) is revealed.

Some great lines:

* “Oh, god…please be a rat,” she whispered.
* “Hey Horns!” she shouted. “The name is Josephine!”
* Humans, angels, demons. The same unimaginative macho bravado was disappointing.
* Because nothing says ‘fatherly love’ more clearly than beheading.
* “Praise seitan.” “Oh, thank you, darling.” (You have to know what seitan is—this is so seriously funny.)

Easy Guide to Escape Hell is exciting, incredibly humorous—I really did laugh out loud more than once, and completely satisfying! The heat level is about a 2 out of 5 and adds a nice touch to the story, but it’s not explicit.

Fans of paranormal-meets-everyday-life stories, enemies-to-lovers plots, Alpha males who really aren’t jerks underneath it all, and supernatural beings like demons and angels will love this book. Go grab a copy now!

A total 5-star read. I can’t wait until Elisa Menz releases her next book!