Title: Hell Bound
Author: Alina Ray
Genre: Paranormal Erotica
ISBN: 9781627570664
Length: Short Story (11K)
Publisher: Storm Moon Press (October 22nd, 2013)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3 Hearts
Reviewer: Thommie
Blurb: Craig Peters finds himself destined for an eternity of torture at the hands of the demon Karawan, despite having no memory of the sin that condemned him to this existence. Over time, though, those memories return, along with an unnatural attraction to Karawan, which leads them both down a path neither of them could have possibly imagined.
Product Link: http://www.stormmoonpress.com/books/Hell-Bound.aspx
Review: This was an interesting short story challenging the view of the Devil and his demons quite a bit. I liked its approach and it made for a refreshing read.
According to the theme of this story, people who have committed sins are sent to Hell with a memory loss. All they know are their names and generic information about life, but nothing about their life and how or why they find themselves to Hell. The idea is that they are there to be punished for their sins while they slowly recollect each memory of their life and they should strive to repent in order to ascend Heavenward. The demons are there to dish punishment while the remorse is an individual’s inner work and solely depended by their inclinations.
The idea was intriguing and the story more so because Craig, our main character, finds quickly that his life up until his death was perfect and there was no reason for him to be in Hell. The final moment of his death, though remain elusive making him wonder what might have happened to cause him his descend. Meanwhile he causes one heck of a confusion to Karawan, the demon responsible for his punishment, when every session leads to arousal. Be it a whipping to the point of breaking or a flesh carving with razors, the result is the same, a very turned on Craig. Karawan is a young demon and having never before encountered such reaction from any of his charges is troubled, even more so when he finds himself developing emotions for the human.
There is a great passage of time there that goes by as if mere seconds, giving the illusion of time having no significance in Hell. At first read it seems as if this is an instant-love story, but one must keep in mind that possibly years go by, while Craig tries to find and cope with his death.
The story has quite a sweet ending and overall I enjoyed it a lot.