"I Hope This Email Finds You in Hell" by Mackenzie Reed

 


















I admit, I picked the book based on the title, but I stayed for the ride. I Hope This Email Finds You in Hell by Mackenzie Reed is a dark fantasy about a road trip through hell - literally. Guess what? Demons are real, and so is hell. And you are about to experience both. Exciting, isn't it?!

After her parents' death, twenty-seven-year-old Brie quit medical school, broke off her engagement, cut contact with her friends, and found work as a receptionist at a life insurance company. One night, she witnesses her hot boss, Luke, performing an exorcism on Debra from accounting, who apparently has been possessed by a demon. She can't stop thinking about it, despite Luke's request to forget it.

When her best friend is kidnapped and dragged to hell, she joins forces with Luke, who turns out to be a demon hunter, against his will (and common sense) on a rescue mission. The mission starts in Times Square, New York, which is the entrance to hell. Kind of fitting, I would say. As if that weren't enough, Luke also needs to repair the veil between the worlds to prevent demons from entering our world. Shenanigans, monster fights, hellhounds, faulty fax machines, and corporate bureaucracy in both the overworld and underworld grace the pages of this book. And yes, hell has bureaucracy as well, which is to be expected. After all, bureaucracy is hell.

I enjoyed the book very much. The story starts with a bang - an exorcism - and then builds into a wild ride through hell. It is told in the first-person POV from Brie's perspective. There is only one steamy scene, which suited me just fine. I prefer my fantasy dark and low on spice. I enjoyed the mishmash of genres - romance, paranormal, fantasy, mystery, and light horror - which worked surprisingly well.
 
I loved the banter between the characters, the humor, and the slow-burn romance. The romantic tension between the two made their interactions more engaging. The world-building was vivid and original, and I especially enjoyed the descriptions of hell and its inhabitants. The night market, the ghosts, and the use of souls as currency enriched the world.

The author weaves vivid imagery and important themes about grief, survivor's guilt, and hope into this whimsical tale. The plot races along from the beginning, constantly picking up pace and growing darker as it goes. There is plenty of adventure and action, and never a dull moment. The characters are finely drawn. I liked both main characters and rooted for them.

The book promised one wild ride and delivered. It was well written, well plotted, and kept me interested throughout. One of the things I really enjoyed was how easy it was to slip into this world. Fans of dark fantasy with humor and a touch of romance will surely enjoy it. So what are you waiting for? Buckle up and take a ride into hell.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book: "I Hope This Email Finds You in Hell" by Mackenzie Reed