Hell's Unveiling by Laura Solomon
Buy Hell's Unveiling by Laura Solomon at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
Category: Short Stories
Reviewer: Sue Magee
Summary: The sequel to Marsha's Deal is best read in the order in which the books were written, but is another example of Laura Solomon's ability to create character in very few words.
Buy? Yes Borrow? Yes
Pages: 96 Date: May 2018
Publisher: Woven Words
External links: Author's website
A little while ago I really enjoyed Marsha's Deal and I was delighted by the opportunity to read the sequel, Hell's Unveiling. It's probably not much of a spoiler to say that Marsha bested the devil in Marsha's Deal, but the devil is not one to take defeat lying down. He's out to wage war on Planet Earth and particularly on Marsha (who's thought of as a 'goody two shoes' in Hell). Although a strong person, she's vulnerable where her foster children are concerned. Daniel is framed for a crime he didn't commit and sent to juvenile detention and refused permission to return to live with Marsha. Then, of course there are all the other children who are not only targeted, but - worst of all - subverted to the devil's evil ends. He's out to prey on their fears and weaknesses and as with many foster children, their self esteem is very fragile. This is no small-scale operation, either - the devil has set up a training complex on earth, complete with an elevator to Hell.
Despite being the centre of a large family, Marsha's been lonely since Don died and when Loki (who's determined to take the devil's place in Hell) comes to earth in the form of property developer Julian Renshaw, she's all too easily seduced. She's a nun. She's taken a vow of chastity, but none of that counts when a handsome, charming man finds you attractive, and it's the first time that's happened in a long, long time. The outcome could hardly have been worse as Marsha's actions put her and the children's home at risk.
You could read Hell's Unveiling as a standalone, but you'll get a lot more out of it if you've read Marsha's Deal first. There are a few spoilers for the first book but, more importantly, it becomes a richer read when you have the knowledge of what's gone before. Don't be put off by the low page count: Laura Solomon has an excellent talent for creating character in very few words. Loki/Julian Renshaw came off the page particularly well: it was easy to see why Marsha fell for him and why she turned against him so quickly. Solomon's plotting is good and fans will be pleased to see that this isn't the end of Marsha's quest.
The story's a gentle allegory for modern life, with all its pitfalls and general unfairness. It's not unusual for the weak to suffer unreasonably, for them to get the worst of any deal: if only everyone had a Marsha who would fight for them.
I'd like to thank the publisher for sending a copy of the book to the Bookbag.
You can read more about Laura Solomon here along with reviews of other books she's written.
You can read more book reviews or buy Hell's Unveiling by Laura Solomon at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy Hell's Unveiling by Laura Solomon at Amazon.com.
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Laura Solomon
Reviewed by Sue Magee