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Hell: A Splatter Novel
The weirdest and goriest book by Judith Sonnet! The demented mind behind THE CLOWN HUNT, SUMMER NEVER ENDS, and NO ONE RIDES FOR FREE!
Welcome... to HELL!
The Gate has been opened.
Strange things are happening in the town of Downwich. An abandoned house suddenly comes to life. A child wakes up from terrible dreams, which serve as premonitions of the horrors to come, and the horrors that are already striking. Innocent people are being murdered in unspeakable ways. A demon with glowing eyes and leather gloves uses any weapon he can get his hands on to torture and maim. The dead are rising, stalking the night with unholy hunger.
While all of this happens, a horror author arrives in town. She's driven by her own visions and is certain that something awful is happening. And that only she can stop it from spreading outside of Downwich.
But is she too late?
HELL is a novel unlike any other. Inspired by a special brand of Italian splatter film, this is a book that is intended to read as an extended nightmare. Hold on tight and keep a barf bag nearby, as the undead and the demonic ravage a small town in increasingly disturbing ways... before they set their sights on YOU.
Warning: this is a splatterpunk novel. It is supposed to disgust and offend.
Welcome... to HELL!
The Gate has been opened.
Strange things are happening in the town of Downwich. An abandoned house suddenly comes to life. A child wakes up from terrible dreams, which serve as premonitions of the horrors to come, and the horrors that are already striking. Innocent people are being murdered in unspeakable ways. A demon with glowing eyes and leather gloves uses any weapon he can get his hands on to torture and maim. The dead are rising, stalking the night with unholy hunger.
While all of this happens, a horror author arrives in town. She's driven by her own visions and is certain that something awful is happening. And that only she can stop it from spreading outside of Downwich.
But is she too late?
HELL is a novel unlike any other. Inspired by a special brand of Italian splatter film, this is a book that is intended to read as an extended nightmare. Hold on tight and keep a barf bag nearby, as the undead and the demonic ravage a small town in increasingly disturbing ways... before they set their sights on YOU.
Warning: this is a splatterpunk novel. It is supposed to disgust and offend.
- GenresHorrorSplatterpunkDemons
268 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 28, 2023
76 people are currently reading
255 people want to read
About the author
Judith Sonnet
64 books1,328 followersUsed to write extreme horror but now I write WEIRD horror and I'm having a blast with it! Check out OUR SARNATH on November 22nd!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
January 23, 2024
3.5 stars
April 5, 2023
Nightmare Fuel!
I've read over a dozen of her books now, and this one ranks as one of Sonnet's best. If you enjoy extreme horror, transgressive fiction, or Italian splatter films, you're gonna have an infernal blast with HELL. Highly recommended!
I've read over a dozen of her books now, and this one ranks as one of Sonnet's best. If you enjoy extreme horror, transgressive fiction, or Italian splatter films, you're gonna have an infernal blast with HELL. Highly recommended!
April 5, 2023
So, what we have here is a goddamn Italian masterpiece. You like Fulci? You do? Cool. Then you found the right book. This is a great piece that gives you all the Fulci vibes and retains that Sonnet style. Splatter and perfection. GRAB THIS AND READ IT NOW!
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March 31, 2023Not gonna rate this as I definitely am not the target audience for this type of book. Still, I love Judith’s books and will definitely continue to support all her fantastic work! 👏
September 1, 2024
I really couldn’t get into this story- some of the characters were irritating and the writing was not what I’m used to with Judith’s other work. There were some weird descriptions that totally threw me off too:
“You sound like a bunch of… castrated jellyfish!”
“The innards spanked each other as they squirmed for freedom.”
“You sound like a bunch of… castrated jellyfish!”
“The innards spanked each other as they squirmed for freedom.”
January 28, 2024
Italian horror nightmare!!! Full of blood, guts, and maggots.
I had a blast!!!!
Bonus: I was unalived in this bookie wookie
I had a blast!!!!
Bonus: I was unalived in this bookie wookie
March 31, 2023
Elizabeth Bedlam thinks it's hilarious to torture me by reading me samples of Sonnet's consistently poorly-written books. She has a sick sense of humour. Usually I can only get her to stop by plugging my ears and wailing in despair. And usually I don't leave reviews. But today I can't help myself.
It is a testament to the appalling cronyism of indie publishing that an author this lacking in basic technical ability has amassed so many glowing reviews. But the circle-jerkers and sycophants in this scene are not doing themselves or anyone else any favours. How can writers - especially indie writers - ever improve without honest criticism? So here is some actual constructive feedback -
Adverbs are the enemy
Go easy on the adjectives
Make sure sentences actually make sense, if not while writing them, at least during the copy edit (e.g. "Rather than assisting it from its explosive demise")
It is a testament to the appalling cronyism of indie publishing that an author this lacking in basic technical ability has amassed so many glowing reviews. But the circle-jerkers and sycophants in this scene are not doing themselves or anyone else any favours. How can writers - especially indie writers - ever improve without honest criticism? So here is some actual constructive feedback -
Adverbs are the enemy
Go easy on the adjectives
Make sure sentences actually make sense, if not while writing them, at least during the copy edit (e.g. "Rather than assisting it from its explosive demise")
October 21, 2024
As a huge fan of giallos and Italian horror, I'm not sure why I waited so long to read Hell: A Splatter Novel, which, as advertised, is a love letter to Fulci nightmares and all the surreal happenings within the genre.
After immersing myself in the weird world of Italian horror while recuperating from a nasty bout of Covid (No better cinema while hovering in a haze of meds and fever dreams), I was summoned by the incantations found within the book of Eibon to visit the town of Downwich which lies at the dark heart of Hell. Downwich is fun homage to Fulci's fabled Dunwich, the town found in his Gates Of Hell trilogy. Sonnet has cleverly borrowed and expertly put her own spin and created a mythos around her town's inception.
If it seems I'm rambling on instead of reviewing this tale of woe, well, so be it. Hell: A Splatter Novel is a fun, gory, sleazefest that screams for an adaptation to the big screen. I'm talking full retro treatment from someone with an eye for maggot filled sockets dripping of occular fluids while basking in all things eurotrash and dubious dubbing.
After immersing myself in the weird world of Italian horror while recuperating from a nasty bout of Covid (No better cinema while hovering in a haze of meds and fever dreams), I was summoned by the incantations found within the book of Eibon to visit the town of Downwich which lies at the dark heart of Hell. Downwich is fun homage to Fulci's fabled Dunwich, the town found in his Gates Of Hell trilogy. Sonnet has cleverly borrowed and expertly put her own spin and created a mythos around her town's inception.
If it seems I'm rambling on instead of reviewing this tale of woe, well, so be it. Hell: A Splatter Novel is a fun, gory, sleazefest that screams for an adaptation to the big screen. I'm talking full retro treatment from someone with an eye for maggot filled sockets dripping of occular fluids while basking in all things eurotrash and dubious dubbing.
May 20, 2023
I loved this writing experiment. It felt like watching The Beyond, bad dubbing and all. It's hard to explain how it works, but it works for me very well. I definitely copied down the list of Judith's film inspirations.
April 2, 2023
Italian Giallio in book form. So much gory goodness!!
May 7, 2023
Amazing
This really does need to be a movie.
Thank you for keeping me on the edge of my seat for the last 2 nights.
This really does need to be a movie.
Thank you for keeping me on the edge of my seat for the last 2 nights.
March 30, 2023
Hell is hungry.
On the anniversary of the death of a wealthy, eccentric occultist, a party is planned at her now abandoned castle. Thing is, the invitations went far and wide. Pulling in clairvoyants, psychics, mediums and a writer, Lily Lyric. As the date of the celebration comes closer, things get...Weird.
Judith Sonnet lets the reader in on the fact that things will get weird right from the start, sharing that the main influence for the style of the book are the Italian splatter films from masters like Lucio Fulci, Andrea Bianchi, Bruno Mattei, Claudio Fragasso, Joe D'Amato, Michelle Soavi and others. If I were to hone in a little bit further, it feels like it would be right at home as a fourth chapter in Lucio Fulci's Gates of Hell trilogy. If you've seen these you know the drill. Demons, zombies, possession, wild animals, ghosts, pocket universes, time travel - it's all fair game. Logic is a bonus, not a necessity. Anything that would be memorable is welcome, though, plot holes be damned.
With this in mind, expect the shit to hit the fan - frequently and in copious, fragrant amounts. The story starts quick and never slows down, frequently spiraling out of control - but that's the fun part. The characters find themselves in a scenario where the rules keep changing and the consequences of failure are dire. Worse than death. But, similar to the movies that inspired it, while the scenarios are full of terror and grue, the gonzo spirit and free-for-all tone stop it from feeling mean spirited. You'll frequently wince, then chuckle a bit.
So, in the end I had a great time with this book and highly recommend it, but I'm squarely in the target audience, having a love for the same movies that shaped this story. If you prefer "true crime" style books, something that feels like it could/can/does happen - this may not be for you. But if you love a good, old fashioned horror movie with gooey practical effects and colored lighting that seems to come out of nowhere for no reason, then come get some Hell.
On the anniversary of the death of a wealthy, eccentric occultist, a party is planned at her now abandoned castle. Thing is, the invitations went far and wide. Pulling in clairvoyants, psychics, mediums and a writer, Lily Lyric. As the date of the celebration comes closer, things get...Weird.
Judith Sonnet lets the reader in on the fact that things will get weird right from the start, sharing that the main influence for the style of the book are the Italian splatter films from masters like Lucio Fulci, Andrea Bianchi, Bruno Mattei, Claudio Fragasso, Joe D'Amato, Michelle Soavi and others. If I were to hone in a little bit further, it feels like it would be right at home as a fourth chapter in Lucio Fulci's Gates of Hell trilogy. If you've seen these you know the drill. Demons, zombies, possession, wild animals, ghosts, pocket universes, time travel - it's all fair game. Logic is a bonus, not a necessity. Anything that would be memorable is welcome, though, plot holes be damned.
With this in mind, expect the shit to hit the fan - frequently and in copious, fragrant amounts. The story starts quick and never slows down, frequently spiraling out of control - but that's the fun part. The characters find themselves in a scenario where the rules keep changing and the consequences of failure are dire. Worse than death. But, similar to the movies that inspired it, while the scenarios are full of terror and grue, the gonzo spirit and free-for-all tone stop it from feeling mean spirited. You'll frequently wince, then chuckle a bit.
So, in the end I had a great time with this book and highly recommend it, but I'm squarely in the target audience, having a love for the same movies that shaped this story. If you prefer "true crime" style books, something that feels like it could/can/does happen - this may not be for you. But if you love a good, old fashioned horror movie with gooey practical effects and colored lighting that seems to come out of nowhere for no reason, then come get some Hell.
August 17, 2024
Judith Sonnet is an author who I always find to be such a delight to read from, her approach to the splatterpunk and extreme horror genres is entertaining and unique to her tastes. Hell much like Magick is a love letter to the Italian horror movies of the 70s, 80s, and 90s and I have been incredibly excited to read it!
It's 1989 and it's nearly the one-year anniversary since a well-known witch in Downwich committed suicide, a party is being set for such an occasion and people of unique abilities and traits have been invited. Lori a horror author and shy individual arrives after having nightmares of a terrible catastrophe about to take place. Across the town, people are being picked off one by one by a mysterious demon by the name of Mr. Gloves and becoming zombies. The witch's house in Downwich is above a gateway that leads into one of the sixth dimensions of hell and it's up to Lori to make sure it doesn't open.
Judith Sonnet has written a brilliant and exciting novel that is gruesome, violent, explosive, action-packed, funny, and insane. The author said this is very much an Italian horror movie done in prose, so it's a story that's deliberately left a little plotless, insane, and with poor grammar to help capture the mood and atmosphere of the dubs. It's a terrific read that was honestly so much fun and engaging, the characters were great, my favorite being Lori who's a transwoman author in the 80s trying to live her best life while struggling in a country that's bigoted and hateful. It's an outlandish story with many terrifying scenes and a jaw-dropping ending.
Overall: I adored this novel so much, it may not be the most plot-heavy book out there, but that's the point and it succeeds perfectly at what it's trying to do. Bravo Judith, bravo you've done an amazing job! 10/10
It's 1989 and it's nearly the one-year anniversary since a well-known witch in Downwich committed suicide, a party is being set for such an occasion and people of unique abilities and traits have been invited. Lori a horror author and shy individual arrives after having nightmares of a terrible catastrophe about to take place. Across the town, people are being picked off one by one by a mysterious demon by the name of Mr. Gloves and becoming zombies. The witch's house in Downwich is above a gateway that leads into one of the sixth dimensions of hell and it's up to Lori to make sure it doesn't open.
Judith Sonnet has written a brilliant and exciting novel that is gruesome, violent, explosive, action-packed, funny, and insane. The author said this is very much an Italian horror movie done in prose, so it's a story that's deliberately left a little plotless, insane, and with poor grammar to help capture the mood and atmosphere of the dubs. It's a terrific read that was honestly so much fun and engaging, the characters were great, my favorite being Lori who's a transwoman author in the 80s trying to live her best life while struggling in a country that's bigoted and hateful. It's an outlandish story with many terrifying scenes and a jaw-dropping ending.
Overall: I adored this novel so much, it may not be the most plot-heavy book out there, but that's the point and it succeeds perfectly at what it's trying to do. Bravo Judith, bravo you've done an amazing job! 10/10
December 31, 2023
My last review of 2023 is reserved for my favorite Judith Sonnet book to date, H-E-double hockey sticks! Even though I haven’t met a Sonnet book I didn’t like, this one ticked all the boxes for me. Being a huge fan of gialli, like mega-super-ultra fan, I can and do watch them all day. So I kinda feel like she wrote this for me unintentionally.
She warns the reader from the first page that this is written in order to translate like a giallo. Poorly dubbed, odd dialogue and an overall overstimulating atmosphere. Call it the power of suggestion or she’s just a master at the placebo effect, but my brain instantly shifted into buckle-up-mode. Glad I did too, because this was a pedal-to-the-metal story from start to finish. An old woman who can see through the eyes of killer living on top of a supposed portal to hell. A horror writer drawn to this town through her dreams. A clairvoyant child who can see things no child should have to. Townspeople start dying violent deaths in some of the most depraved ways possible. Worst yet, they’re not staying dead. Hell is hungry, and it’s up to the lone survivors to stop this gateway from blasting open.
Probably one of the most vivid books I’ve ever read. I watched the whole movie in my head & it was exhilarating! Some of the most gruesome deaths ever and equally white-knuckle action sequences. So many nods and references, my mind was eating it all up. This will probably be one of my top recommendations for the foreseeable future, I enjoyed every page. Thank you to Judith Sonnet for writing this book and so many others for weirdos like us! 🖤
May 29, 2023
I keep seeing people talk about how amazing Judith Sonnet’s books are! I mean, I should already have been reading her—honestly. I first met her at 2022’s Killercon where I competed with her in the Gross-out contest. She won it easily! I should have jumped on reading her work asap. Well, it’s never too late to start. Reading HELL was a blast!
If you’re a ‘70s Italian Horror fan, this book is a MUST READ! From the opening page I was hooked. Boy, does she capture the vibe and presentation of those movies. I’m normally a fairly slow reader, but I tore through this book a quick as a violent prolapse down a bloody Slip-n-Slide. I feel like I binge watched an entire season of an Italian Gore revival. And this is a great thing!
Please, don’t hesitate to pick up this book. They aren’t making movies like these anymore, but Judith has it down to a work of art. Art with trigger warnings, but beautiful nonetheless.
MLD
If you’re a ‘70s Italian Horror fan, this book is a MUST READ! From the opening page I was hooked. Boy, does she capture the vibe and presentation of those movies. I’m normally a fairly slow reader, but I tore through this book a quick as a violent prolapse down a bloody Slip-n-Slide. I feel like I binge watched an entire season of an Italian Gore revival. And this is a great thing!
Please, don’t hesitate to pick up this book. They aren’t making movies like these anymore, but Judith has it down to a work of art. Art with trigger warnings, but beautiful nonetheless.
MLD
April 22, 2023
“Not for Everyone” is Right On
The forward is where the author says that this book is not for everyone. Judith Sonnet spoke truth.
I met Judith Sonnet at the KillerCon in 2022. Among the awesome authors I met, she was among the nicest. Yet I had not a hint about the stuff she writes.
Putting that aside because some of you would love this book, in places it contains examples of a pet peeve of mine. When a noun is made plural, sometimes an “s” is added, and sometimes “‘s” is added. This may be insignificant to some readers, but it annoys me and possibly others like me who are “grammar Nazis”.
For those who love splatterpunk and carnage and gore for no reason, then this book is for you. Sonnet has done a masterful job of portraying Italian zombie films and Italian gore on paper.
The forward is where the author says that this book is not for everyone. Judith Sonnet spoke truth.
I met Judith Sonnet at the KillerCon in 2022. Among the awesome authors I met, she was among the nicest. Yet I had not a hint about the stuff she writes.
Putting that aside because some of you would love this book, in places it contains examples of a pet peeve of mine. When a noun is made plural, sometimes an “s” is added, and sometimes “‘s” is added. This may be insignificant to some readers, but it annoys me and possibly others like me who are “grammar Nazis”.
For those who love splatterpunk and carnage and gore for no reason, then this book is for you. Sonnet has done a masterful job of portraying Italian zombie films and Italian gore on paper.
April 27, 2023
I cannot recommend his book enough nor sing high enough praises for it. This is possibly my favourite Sonnet book to date, and my first read of hers, The Clown Hunt, was a hard one to beat. I loved it from start to finish and read it all in one go. This needs to be a movie or something because I can't get enough. Sonnet really outdid herself. And though she says there isn't really a plot (and that's on purpose), I saw one and loved it. She recently got me into Italian horror movies, and this book is a great homage to the genre. I even picked up a few references! If you love extreme horror splatterpunk books/movies, Sonnet delivers a must-read with HELL. (Not for the faint of heart, but do yourself a favour and snag a copy today).
August 27, 2023
This is Judith Sonnet's literary tribute to Italian Horror Cinema and it shows just how much love the author has in her heart for such films. Sonnet plays tribute to directs like D'Amato, Argento, Fulci, and many more while laying out a rich tapestry of mayhem and gore like only she can.
While this is probably Sonnet's most violent book that I've read it is not the most sinister or unrelenting, There's no human monster like The Man from No One Rides For Free because there doesn't need to be. It would only distract from the unearthly horrors seeking to bring an end to the human race.
No spoilers here, but the last page, wow, not even a jaded old horror senior citizen like me wasn't ready for the last page.
I highly recommend checking out this novel.
While this is probably Sonnet's most violent book that I've read it is not the most sinister or unrelenting, There's no human monster like The Man from No One Rides For Free because there doesn't need to be. It would only distract from the unearthly horrors seeking to bring an end to the human race.
No spoilers here, but the last page, wow, not even a jaded old horror senior citizen like me wasn't ready for the last page.
I highly recommend checking out this novel.
December 12, 2024
I’m so glad I read the authors note at the end of this! I’d give it 3.5 out of 5. Judith is amazing and I love pretty much anything and everything she does. This one was definitely different from her other work, although it was compared to Magick (and Torture the Sinners but I haven’t read that) in her note at the end, I feel like it was very different and way more old Italian splatter. I really enjoyed it though! There were a lot of characters and jumping around from place to place but that was certainly the vision and she sold it well. I also really enjoyed seeing Zombies reimagined this way. Solid little read!!!
September 19, 2023
This book. A good old fashioned gore fest. The thrill of which? No. One. Is. Safe. There are some creative deaths that were fun. One word: toes. Read it and see for yourself! I was laughing and disgusted all in one. Sonnet also really shines in pulling the rug out from under you just when you think you're safe, or when you think you know a character, etc. I can't believe this was my first Judith Sonnet!
April 12, 2025
I think this is my new favorite Sonnet book.
Zombies, demons, hell being unleashed, and fantastic characters all around.
If you’re a fan of Lucio Fulci movies, you’ve come to the right place. A lot of the plot is clearly inspired from city of the dead/gates of hell down to the name of the town.
I strongly encourage you to give a few Italian horror films a watch if you haven’t and follow up with this book. Such a fun gory read!
Zombies, demons, hell being unleashed, and fantastic characters all around.
If you’re a fan of Lucio Fulci movies, you’ve come to the right place. A lot of the plot is clearly inspired from city of the dead/gates of hell down to the name of the town.
I strongly encourage you to give a few Italian horror films a watch if you haven’t and follow up with this book. Such a fun gory read!
July 4, 2023
splatter punk with a plot
Some would say splatterpunk is just for shock factor and has nothing of any substance regarding a plot line. Normally you be right, except in this book. Hell had a great mix of a good horror novel with a solid plot along with miles of entrails . I thoroughly enjoyed hell and look forward to reading many more Judith sonnet books
Some would say splatterpunk is just for shock factor and has nothing of any substance regarding a plot line. Normally you be right, except in this book. Hell had a great mix of a good horror novel with a solid plot along with miles of entrails . I thoroughly enjoyed hell and look forward to reading many more Judith sonnet books
July 10, 2023
Do you like Fulci films? Do you like Italian splatter from the 70's and 80's? Well then get into, Hell: A Splatter Novel! This book was so fun, I had to limit myself to only a few chapters at a time so I could savor it and make the excitement last. Sort of like a zombie saving some brains in Tupperware for later.
October 9, 2023
This is classic horror!
Reading Judith Sonnet is like time traveling back to the golden era of pulp horror fiction that was the 70's, 80's and early 90's. The writing is fluid, the pace is relentless and the cocktail of gore, terror and sex is so well executed. 'Hell is no exception, it is a heavy metal rollercoaster ride of horror.
Reading Judith Sonnet is like time traveling back to the golden era of pulp horror fiction that was the 70's, 80's and early 90's. The writing is fluid, the pace is relentless and the cocktail of gore, terror and sex is so well executed. 'Hell is no exception, it is a heavy metal rollercoaster ride of horror.
March 10, 2024
Perfect!
This is an astonishing piece of work! You can tell Sonnet is a true Italian horror devotee. She manages to create a terrifying, hallucinatory, surreal dive into Hell and terror. If you’re into Italian splatter from the 70s-90s, this book will delight you and gross you out!
This is an astonishing piece of work! You can tell Sonnet is a true Italian horror devotee. She manages to create a terrifying, hallucinatory, surreal dive into Hell and terror. If you’re into Italian splatter from the 70s-90s, this book will delight you and gross you out!
August 10, 2024
I like Sonnet’s stories. I really do. This one had so many typos that I gave up at 50%. It was distracting and annoying. I’ve noticed this problem with a lot of splatterpunk and extreme horror books. Do the editors just not want to read them? There are an egregious amount of typos and mistakes.
Also, has anyone EVER met a man named LOUISE? That’s a woman’s name. Louis, Luis, Louie….those are men’s names. Get with it.
Also, what preteen boy says “gobbledygook”?!
Also, has anyone EVER met a man named LOUISE? That’s a woman’s name. Louis, Luis, Louie….those are men’s names. Get with it.
Also, what preteen boy says “gobbledygook”?!
April 15, 2023
Italian influenced splatter done right
Fantastic gory non sense. I mean, what more could you ask for? I'm excited to read other stuff by this author. The kills in this thing are seriously next level.
Fantastic gory non sense. I mean, what more could you ask for? I'm excited to read other stuff by this author. The kills in this thing are seriously next level.
May 6, 2023
Demons, zombies, and possessed children, oh my! Judith has another winner in her homage to Italian film director Lucio Fulci. If you love extreme horror then pick this one up. It’s a splattery good time!
August 26, 2023
“Hell of a Book!!!”
What can I say, this is the first Judith Sonnet book, I’ve ever read, and it was a doozy. It started out like a serial killer, then supernatural demons, and then Zombie book. Great read.
What can I say, this is the first Judith Sonnet book, I’ve ever read, and it was a doozy. It started out like a serial killer, then supernatural demons, and then Zombie book. Great read.
January 21, 2024
This is clearly inspired by 80's Italian splatter movies. And it delivers. A lot of splatter, zombies, demons and a story which is all over the place. Reminds me very much of the work of director Lucio Fulci. His movies are full of the same, including the story thing. I had my fun with this story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews