#Inferno

by L.M. Strauss

Beatrice Allegra, a social media influencer who’s #LivingHerBestLife, is haunted by the superstition she’ll die on her birthday, just like her twin brother Dante did nine years ago.

She might not be wrong.

After falling from a Paris balcony while taking a selfie, Bea finds herself in an updated Nine Circles of Hell, where gluttony is binge watching Netflix and heretics are flat-earthers. Bea must journey through the netherworld, attempt to locate her brother, and with him, try and make their escape. But her every move through the treacherous pit is broadcast as a game show for the denizens of Hell. As the contest turns violent, she races to find Dante before her competitors.

Accompanied by a possibly traitorous guide (#NeverTrustADeadRoyal), she navigates a surreal world of dark circuses, post-apocalyptic theme parks, and roving gangs of tech moguls in skinny jeans, all while determining what’s reality and what’s illusion. When she discovers what Hell really is, she’s forced to make a choice: #WinTheGame or #BringItAllDown.

Genres: Fantasy

332 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 16, 2023

Reviews

[Bookaholic__Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

“If I understand what you’re saying, we all did things in life we hoped would ease our human pain, but, rather than helping, it pulled us further from what would truly salve it—connection. So, now it’s our task, after death, to face this and study it. Perhaps… eventually to move on?”



#INFERNO is a modern retelling of a classic, and it left me #speechless. I am a sucker for modern retellings of the classics, and I dare say that this version of the 9 circles of hell is absolutely #horrifying in its own right. In many ways, this hell is much worse than its predecessor. Who knew that even in death, we wouldn't be able to escape the demands of social media? What a freaking nightmare! Trying to escape the throws of hell, rescue your twin all while dealing with demons and still having to keep up an image on your socials? Talk about torture!!!


Truthfully, this book is a great debut and a lot of creepy fun! Strauss is a phenomenal storyteller and world builder. There wasn't a moment that I didn't feel immersed into the story. It's obvious that it is heavily inspired by Dantes' classic, but for me personally, it had a vibe similar to the musical the Devils Carnival. If you enjoyed this book and like musicals, then I definitely recommend taking a look at that, too! Those are the types of images that this story painted for me, and I loved every minute of it!


I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Caity · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to L.M Strauss for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

#Inferno by L.M Strauss follows the journey taken by influencer, Beatrice Allegra, through the Nine Circles of Hell to find her beloved twin brother, Dante and escape the nightmare that is Hell, in this wonderful modern retelling of Inferno by Dante Aligheri.

Just to preface this review #Inferno is a dark fantasy with themes of deaths, self harm, violence, and other potentially triggering concepts so please be safe in your reading journey and check the trigger warnings listed on the author’s website ❤️

I absolutely loved this story! I especially loved the modernization Inferno to fit today’s world with AntiVaxxers, Climate Change Deniers, Netflix Bingers, and the dreaded social media influencer being added to the denizens of Hell. Not only did I love the modernization but it was great to see the recurrent connection to the original work and how somewhere like Hell would evolve to meet today’s climate. Along with the overall premise I found myself cheering on and falling in love with all of the characters Bea met to help her along her path. Even though they were side character’s, characters' like Dante and Sanjay Patel tugged at my heart strings and had me wishing for the best of these characters. Ultimately I enjoyed the fact I walked away feeling positive I can be the driver of my change and growth just as Bea and the rest experienced with the amazing message at the end of the story.

With that I look forward to reading more from L.M. Strauss!

This review is also posted to my Instagram, thecasualavidreader.

[Sara Vohlken · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/4.25 ⭐️(I figure an emoji is appropriate for this book). I don’t know that I would have ever described a book about traveling through the 9 levels of hell “fun”, but here we are. I had a good time with this read! I enjoyed the modern interpretation of the levels of hell and how they translate in the present to be a very smart choice.
🔥😈☠️#hashtag

[Emily Vuong · Rating 4 out of 5]

eARC review
#Inferno was not what I was expecting at all. I am pleasantly surprised with this book. We see Beatrice go through these trials to discover herself and her own greatness in a very fast-paced story. Her adventures through each level happen so quickly and only pauses for flashbacks of her or Toni. The flashbacks to get a better understanding of tbe characters background were done in a way that didn't confuse me as a reader and I was easily able to picture every scene in the book because of how well done the world building was. Fantastic story

[Kimberley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my. I am speechless.

4🌟 -arc- Releases Oct 16!

Okay wow. I have never read a book like this.

We follow Beatrice in the afterlife, as she has ended up in Hell. This book is modern contemporary fantasy based on the classic ‘Inferno’ by Dante Alighieri, which explores the nine layers of hell.

I can’t really tell what this is about, besides Beatrice trying to survive going through nine layers of hell, with her ‘tour guide’, while being live broadcasted. The vibes were what most got me. The post-apocalyptic, kind of scary, disturbing images that were portayed.

At first I didn’t really understand what was happening, but the main character also didn’t understand. Later when we explore everything, it made more sense. I really liked the characters, they were all so different, but because they were all in the same place they had a connection. I also really like how everything was so well described. It was action-packed and kept me hooked. I really needed to know how it was going to end.

I also kind of made me think of Erin Morgenstern (The Night Circus, The Starless Sea) and Piranesi by Susanna Clarke. But then way darker and with much more action. And because Beatrices journey was live broadcasted, you could think about ‘The Hunger Games’.

I could not believe this is her debut novel. The writing was so advanced, and the story really sucked me in.

I don’t know if this review made any sense, but it is hard to describe. When I think about the book, I mostly think about the terrible feelings the place (hell) gave me. And that I was able to take over those feelings, is SO well done by L.M. Strauss. I just think about the vibes, and the characters. Also, there was a lot of character development, which was good to see.

Read this if you like:

-Dark fantasy

-Action packed

-The best descriptions

-Creepy circus vibes

-Illusions

-Character development

Don’t read this if:

-You are not okay with that this is a DARK fantasy

-You are not okay with the trigger warnings (which you can find on Strauss’s page)

Last but not least, I’d like to thank L.M. Strauss for gifting me this arc! I still cannot believe this is your debut, you have such advanced writing. It also made me realise I won’t read dark fantasy for a while, it is a bit too heavy for me. So I am much more looking forward to you next romantasy!

[Alissa]

Soft dnf at 58%. It’s not bad, it’s just not gripping me and i cant put my finger on why and now my KU subscription is expiring so i may pick this back up next time i sign up but its on pause for now.

[Katie Bush · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the time jumps in this book a lot I felt like it added to the plot. Bea’s journey was so wonderful to see!

[Anna Gallman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC copy: This book was so much more than I expected! The FMC, Beatrice Allerga, is a popular social media influencer that is celebrating her 30th birthday in Paris with her best friends. While that sounds like every girl’s dream, Beatrice has struggled with the overwhelming fear of her untimely death on her birthday ever since her twin brother, Dante, died nine years prior. Throughout this modern tale of Dante Alighieri’s Inferno, L. M. Strauss gives us an thought-provoking journey through the amazingly descriptive circles of Hell. Strauss’s characters make you think about our own humanity and the “illusions” in our own lives that we choose to see or, sometimes, not see! I really enjoyed each twists and would definitely read this book again.

[Jessica (Read book. Repeat) · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can find this review and all my others over at Read Book. Repeat

I received a complimentary copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Actual rating of 4.75

Beatrice Allegra, a social media influencer who seemingly has it all. The glitz, the glamour, the hundreds of thousands of followers. On the outside she is happy, smiling in every photo that documents her life in squares on a feed. A curated life, picture perfect. But in reality, she's lived the last nine years with a hole inside of her. A missing piece of her puzzle - her twin brother, Dante. For nine years, she's existed, with the superstition hovering over her head that she'll die before she turns 30 years old. The thing is, she's almost made it. And when the clock strikes midnight in Paris, she rejoices, knowing that she won, she's still breathing. When a slip on an unsteady chair causes her to tumble over the balcony, on her way down, she realises that she was always going to die, it didn't matter what she did, it was always going to happen. When Bea wakes, she finds herself in some weird version of Dante's Inferno, modernised to match the changing times. With her guide, who is hiding something from her, they will travel through the 9 circles of hell, as Bea has been granted a boon, make it through the 9 circles and out the other end, and let the denizens of hell be entertained by her journey, and they'll let her leave. Now she finds herself racing through hell, trying to find her brother, and trying to get them both home. When she learns the truth of how hell really works, will she take the chance to escape? Or will she try to burn the whole thing to the ground? As they say, the road to hell is paved with good intentions...

When I read the blurb for this one, I jumped at the chance to snag an ARC. Even though I've been in a huge horror kick for over a year and a half now, this fantasy really piqued my interest. I haven't read Dante's Inferno, but I do know the basic premise of the whole thing, so I was super keen to read a modernised version of it and see what Strauss would create with it. I was not disappointed.

This story is told in dual timelines, we get the present-day goings on of Bea, as well as the past timeline that shows us the relationship between Bea and her twin brother, Dante. I found this worked fantastically for this story as it gave us pertinent information without info dumping it on us all at once. It allowed me to take in the history and what was happening in the present in a way that I would remember the details. We don't get to see a lot of Bea's present life as she falls from the balcony right at the start of the story, but we get to see snippets during the flashbacks which I felt really gave a strong insight into the life that she had created for herself while trying to fill the hole that losing her twin had created. She was dreadfully empty and unhappy, trying to fill that void with strangers on the internet, with her curated lifestyle that looked so picture perfect from the outside, and she couldn't understand why she still felt so empty. I felt that the way the circles of hell change with the times to be so clever. The punishments in the different levels were so well thought out. For example: Gluttony saw a soul watching season 54 of Stranger Things on Netflix, because the true punishment is never being able to finish a TV show or finish a video game. The imagination behind the circles and the fun way that Strauss played with it was super enjoyable. I did find that the pacing in the beginning lacked a little bit, so for a little bit there it was difficult for me to get into the story, but once it began to move and we followed Bea into the circus, I had trouble putting it down.

This story for me really showed true character development, and that's one of my favourite things in books. I love to see characters go through situations that allow them to grow and evolve as a person, and this book had that in spades. The difference between Bea at the start of the book, to the Bea we see at the end was huge, and I love that we got to see it happening along her journey through hell. Bea, in the beginning and for some of the story, was not a super likeable character for me, the REAL Bea, I could relate to, and I found intriguing, but the front that she put on for the world, annoyed me. Though I feel it really does illustrate that what you see of someone online, or what someone is posting on social media, it's just a tiny fragment of their reality. It doesn't show you what their life is really like, and it doesn't show you who they really are as a person. It's literally a curated snapshot of their life. This story did a great job of illustrating this point. I also feel that the way that Bea would use hashtags throughout her inner narrative, and sometimes in her dialogue with other characters, illustrates how, if someone wears the mask long enough, they do start to become that persona, even if it's only a little bit of the persona. To me, that really shows the 'fake it till you make it' mindset in action. Getting to see her growth throughout the story was fantastic, and I was so proud of her by the end of it. Her guide was so interesting and while I knew that she wasn't forthcoming with everything about her actual identity and history in the beginning, I did know that she was someone important. I absolutely loved the guide's story, which we got to see told through present day timeline as well as the past timeline. I don't know a great deal about this person, but it was fun to get to know about her more in this story. The different characters that we meet as we follow Bea through the levels were incredibly well thought out and executed, and I felt that Strauss did a fantastic job of building certain characters and making them come across so real.

All in all, I felt like this was a well-executed fantasy take on Dante's Inferno and the 9 circles of hell. Strauss' imagination knows no bounds and they did such a wonderful job at world and character building. I loved the growth we see in the characters, though the ending did leave me wanting, and the beginning was a little slow going, it was a well thought out story that I found to be an enjoyable read, and really illustrates Strauss' ability in their craft.

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

**4.5 stars**

With the cover art and the hashtag plus the social media influencer angle, I was worried this would be written in a much younger voice that I would find repetitive and irritating - boy was I wrong! The FMC is 30 years old and the writing doesn't rely on social media references to carry the plot.

This is such a unique spin on the classic Divine Comedy. I absolutely loved this book and am impressed that this is a debut novel. There are some fantastic and relevant modern references (updating the sins in the circles) as well as pulling from history. I don't want to spoil anything but I loved the dead royal!

One HELL of a story… see what I did there? #Getoutoflimboandgetacopy

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Taylor Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars - I LOVED the use of modern day things in this book (TikTok, Instagram, etc). The overall message in this book can be relatable for all readers! The way the main character Bea discovers her worth is heartwarming and eye opening! The book also has flashbacks to the characters past which give insight to their current struggles. Would definitely recommend!

[Rachel Fallon · Rating 5 out of 5]

#Inferno was nothing that I expected and everything I needed! As a giant fan of the original Inferno (I read it over and over again in high school, like the secret nerd I was/am), I’ve always loved the depictions of the seven circles of hell. This modern take on Dante’s trip through the inferno was absolutely enchanting! It is so creative and yet so true to it, that I’m left speechless. Not to mention that as of late, I can’t connect to a story without a romantic storyline. And yet, this wasn’t focused on romance at all, and I loved it so much! There are enough of other relationship types here that I was able to connect with, and that’s a huge feat to me! This book is a journey, and it’s one with a message I can 100% get behind. It will enthrall you. It will delight you. It will shock you. It will make you sob. And you’ll love every minute of it!

The story follows Bea (Beatrice), and yes, she’s totally named for Dante’s Beatrice! And she has a twin brother named Dante, to really drive that home! She’s a social media influencer, who uses it to fill the void left behind after her twin died 9 years ago, leaving her feeling incomplete. When she dies on her birthday, same as her twin, she finds herself with the unique opportunity to journey through the circles of Hell to get to a better afterlife. The goal is to go all the way through and out the other side, but the real trick is you must reach enlightenment. Self actualization. You’re forced to face who you really are. She must face her own feelings of feeling incomplete without her brother, and her diving into social media to fill that hole, in order to move on. Bea is given a guide, who, I won’t spoil who she is, but she’s named Toni and I absolutely loved the parallels between them! And how that parallels Dante and his guide! It was so clever and fun, and gave us such an interesting dynamic between the two.

This story is so, so entertaining and seriously creative! How she managed to make all the circles so unique and updated to a modern day human’s idea of hell filled with society’s modern day sins, was fabulous! I was left in awe of how each circle was depicted. Hell as a whole actually! I’m trying to avoid spoiling anything here, as I absolutely think the journey through this book and learning all its twists and turns is one you must take yourself, just like Bea! But know that it has incredibly cool takes and phenomenal imagery! Plus, a game show is made of Bea’s time in the underworld, and it provides some really interesting challenges for her!

There’s also some real emotional gut punches here! And some wonderful relationships. Bea’s relationship with Dante is a big focus, and a big motivator for her. Hell also ties her search for him into the game, and that search becomes even more important when her chance out of Hell is threatened! Bea’s relationship with Toni is fraught, but also very heartfelt. Toni is dealing with her own issues, and it’s heartbreaking as we find out more about her. There are others they meet along their way, some for only a short time, and some for longer, but each makes an impact. On both Bea and myself! A certain male in the second circle truly broke my heart!

This story is obviously very similar to the Divine Comedy, but it also has some major differences, outside the obvious. The end goal here may seem similar, but it’s different to Bea. And then there’s how the story itself ends. So much of the plot is focused on why people are in Hell and why they are receiving the punishments they are. There’s a bigger answer, a bigger realization, at the end of this. Finding out how this all works and Bea’s next steps was such a fabulous diversion from the original format. It would have been very easy to tell a modern version of the Inferno where Bea follows the original Dante’s footsteps. But this is definitely more impactful to me. Sometimes the easiest route is not the right one. Sometimes you must fight harder to ensure the wellbeing of others, not just your own. Lessons are learned, things are dramatically changed, and I’m left with the feeling that no one here is going to abandon hope, ever again.

I cannot recommend this story highly enough. As a lover of the original, I couldn’t have been more pleasantly surprised and subverted by this retelling! I loved everything about this, from the crazy visuals it brings to life in your mind, to the unique interpretations of the circles, to the idea of how Hell operates and those trying to find their way out, to Bea’s personal journey, Dante and Toni, Jesse, Benny, and even the guy from the second circle who just wanted some human connection—I loved every single bit of it. I laughed. I cried. (A lot, actually, I couldn’t believe this made me cry so much!) and I would implore you, read this! Especially in today’s world and its environment, I think the message here is incredibly important. At the end of the day, it all comes down to human connection and love. And isn’t that what life (and our afterlives) should be all about?

I received an eARC of this book. This is my honest review.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

First and foremost I would like to thank the author for allowing me an ARC of this book. From the moment I heard about it, I was drawn to the plot and had to get my hands on it.

The premise of the book is essentially a modern take on Dante’s inferno. The story follows Bea and her journey through the 9 circles of hell as she tries to escape purgatory and find her brother along the way. Through her journey through hell she meets friends, demons, and all kinds of interesting characters, most of which I did enjoy. I liked how each of the circles of hell related to a sin which also related to a chakra. That was a very interesting take for me.

Unfortunately the story kind of fell flat for me. I wanted to be scared. I wanted to feel the terror and gore and despair that was hell, and this book honestly read a little too young and innocent for my personal taste. Another thing that I just could not get behind was the modernized language and internet slang/lingo used throughout. I totally get and respect why it was “hashtag used” for the story but honestly it made the main character insufferable for me and I just wanted to close the book every time “hashtag” was said. You can even tell by the description on the good reads page, # is used at least 4-5 times in 2 paragraphs.

I honestly think this book would be great for a younger audience and someone who could appreciate the lingo and life of a social media influencer a little more than myself.

[Tyler | bookishwithty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader copy of this book, and I am pleased that I did. I have come to absolutely love discovering emerging authors and becoming inspired by their talent. I finished reading this book in less than a day! I spent some time reflecting on this read as the story left quite an impression.

The female main character, Beatrice (Bea) is a social media influencer who is plagued by the superstition that she will die on her birthday like her twin brother Dante did years before. The story begins on Bea’s 30th birthday where she & her social media team are filming birthday shenanigans for her followers while celebrating in Paris; she believes she finally escaped her fate with destiny only to meet her demise seconds later, considering the technicality of the time zone of her birth she had forgotten to take into consideration.

Bea finds herself in the afterlife of Hell, meeting many challenges she must face and overcome in order to escape, especially once she discovers her long-deceased brother’s fate is in her hands as well as her own.

The plot is well-crafted and the writing style is articulate. I found this reading experience most enjoyable. It prompts consideration of one’s own life and the choices we make daily that could well affect our eternal destiny.

Definitely give this book a read! Coming 10.16

[Amber Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as an ARC (thank you to L.M. Strauss!), and it was such a whirlwind!

Bea is a superficial influencer who tragically dies when she falls over the edge of a hotel balcony in Paris, France. After losing her twin, Dante, nine years prior, she awakens in Alighieri's modern version of Inferno where the administration provides her with an irresistible opportunity: with the help of her guide, Toni, she will traverse the nine circles of Hell on a live broadcast and if she makes it to the end, she'll return to the world of the living.

The action is nearly non-stop, and the characters are equally spunky, stubborn, and conniving, and it's hard to figure out who is trustworthy and who has ulterior motives. The depictions of Hell are eerie, disgusting, and terrifying at once, never straying from Alighieri's original intention while modernizing it for current readers: influencers, gamers, and celebrity billionaires are seen as often as corrupt politicians, murderers, and con artists, representing the various sins each circle houses.

The ending features more than one twist, and it leaves the reader wondering if they've finally reached the true end or if it's yet another one of Hell's elaborate illusions. It's highly creepy, so I do recommend being in a good mental state before reading it, but if you're looking for a spooky Halloween read, this should be your next TBR.

[DemiReads_ · Rating 3 out of 5]

#inferno
🎢 Thriller
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ✨ 3.5 Stars
🫑 Spice Level
Plot
Bea is a popular influencer trying to celebrate her birthday. It can be hard to celebrate when it’s also the anniversary of your twin brother's death. Bea has spent most of her birthdays in bed hiding from the death she knows is chasing her. When she goes to take a photo on the balcony of her hotel room, she falls and the death finally claims her. She awakes in a twisted Hell resembling Dante’s inferno. With the help of her guide she has a chance to play a game and make her way through and out of Hell.

I preordered this book a few weeks ago and was super excited to get my hands on it today! I’ve always been intrigued with Dante’s inferno so the premise of this book really appealed to me. I really liked the main character Bea. She was a great mix of brave and realistic. There was also a surprise character from history that I’ve always loved, so I really enjoyed that element.

I think I did expect this to feel a bit darker. Which parts are but other parts are kind of whimsical. I still really enjoyed the book. I couldn’t put it down and it was a quick easy read. I definitely recommend checking it out.

[Samantha Picaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

This imaginative take on the Nine Circles of Hell was a page-turner. Bea, an influencer, has to literally go through Hell to win her freedom and find her twin Dante along the way. The author adds a modern twist by having Bea’s journey being broadcast as a game show for the denizens of Hell.

As can be expected in a book taking place in Hell, themes of morality and atonement are explored. The author did a wonderful job exploring the potential harmful effects of social media through the broadcast of Bea’s adventure as well as Bea’s influencer job in life. Although there is horror and heartbreak, there is also hope and determination.

I recommend this dark fantasy if you enjoy:
• Redemption themes
• Great world-building and how certain sins and Circles of Hell have become modernized
• books about siblings saving siblings
• hope

[Danielle Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was NOT prepared for the self-reflective impact that this book had on me. The adjustment of the levels of hell and individualized torment to modern correlations was not only very creative (and also twisted, Strauss please see a therapist omg I’m concerned for your dreams) but really impactful. It truly made me think “What things am *I* doing that are removing me from relationship?” Absolutely wild. Strauss’s world building was beautifully done, especially with such a complex concept. I could easily imagine the rich, twisted levels of pain and suffering vividly. Bea is a lovable, annoying, mildly self absorbed, relatable woman and I loved seeing her growth in death. I had to pause before reading the final chapter because I just didn’t want this book to end. L.M. Strauss, you are a genius. Thank you for creating such a glorious story and sharing it with the world.

[Christin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inferno by L.M. Strauss

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What a debut! Inferno was such a smooth and easy read and boy was it creepy!

This book was like nothing I have ever read before! I quickly fell in love with the characters and could not stop reading! The authors writing style heavily appealed to me and the imagery she used throughout the novel made it so easy to picture the setting and all of the things happening in each chapter! I also loved that this book kept me guessing! I love a book where I don’t know for sure where it’s going to end and this one did not disappoint!

Inferno is definitely going on my read again TBR and I can’t wait to see what L.M. Strauss does next!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, wow, wow. This was such a fun read. I love this take on the nine circles of hell. Plus the circus aspect of it, it was a fun. Made me think of the Devil's Carnival, a movie I love. Bea is trying to be the best at the game as she is trying to help Toni get to the end along with trying to find her twin brother who died nine years earlier. I love the fact we see her past along with Toni's after we get all of Bea's information. The social media aspect truly felt so real since people do take to it and just spread whatever they want. I loved the characters and the world. I am so glad I was able to get an advance reader copy because this book just called to me the moment I saw the cover.

[Vicky Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A captivating and immersive dark, modern fantasy with the odd historic reference. L. M. Strauss has done a beautiful job at world building - and for people like me who love a book like this to have a map, there is a stunningly detailed image of the nine circles at the beginning.
I'd advise people to check the trigger warnings beforehand - as it's a dark fantasy through the nine circles of hell so there's quite a few!
You go on a gripping, emotional rollercoaster with these well written characters as it hits you with all the feels!
I loved it. Huge thanks to L. M. Strauss for the arc ebook - I can't wait to read more from you.

[Dzana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

(spoiler free)
At first, I found this book a little weird at the beginning with the Beatrice (MC) being a social media influencer, but I was pleasantly surprised. The book seemed to have a sort of freshness to it with it’s modern twist. A complete opposite from the fantasy series that we see where there are knights, and princes, and no plumbing… The flash backs in the story help build up Beatrice’s character foundation, as well as give us insight. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised and thoroughly enjoyed this book. Great job to L.M. Strauss on her debut novel!

*This ebook was received as an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review.*

[Alliyah Beisell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highlights: Dystopia, afterlife, gameplay, mind over matter
Favorite Character: Bea
Honorable Mentions: Toni and Jesse
Favorite Scene: My favorite scene was the end when everyone’s souls were connected via the gold ribbons. The scene was very well written and easily imagined.
Overall thoughts: Overall the book was great - a journey through the afterlife, and self growth. I really enjoyed the authors take on the afterlife.
Star Rating: 4 out of 5
Why: I only gave the book a 4 out of 5 because I felt slightly let down by the fact that Bea didn’t get her absolute fairy tale ending. The ending was a happy one just not what I was hoping for.

[Kate | Date With A Thriller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this might have been my first dark fantasy read and I absolutely loved it!! 🧡

This book is a modern day retelling of Dante Alighieri’s Inferno with excellent world building - I truly felt immersed throughout the entire story! 👏

This book has much of a Hunger Games vibe to it, except it’s set in the underworld! It was definitely a thought-provoking read as well! I highly recommend it!!! 🧡

Thank you to L.M. Strauss for the eARC in exchange for my honest review! I will definitely be reading more of your work in the future!!

[Ada Castle · Rating 5 out of 5]

when I signed up for the ARC of Inferno I had no idea what the story was about. I don't really read summaries I like to be surprised. Inferno did not disappoint me! There was not a dull page to read. I had many favorite parts in the story. several characters I fell in love with. but I am left with this thought. When we enter places that have no exit , we can always show ourselves out. there is always a way. if not in front of us to find then we must seek it out from inside of us.

[Lillian Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you L.M. Strauss for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

I loved seeing this unique retelling of Dante's Inferno and the modernization and futuristic elements made the plot so much more relatable to today's readers. The flashbacks included of Bea's life and the addition of the characters of brother Dante and other side characters made me cheer as I rooted for Bea to complete her task! I highly recommend reading this one!

[Kate Forest · Rating 5 out of 5]

A surreal place that makes meaning of real life:
I’ll admit that this isn’t the typical kind of book I would read. But I was intrigued by the idea of a modern-day retelling. So many of the challenges faced by the characters ring true and resonate with the issues we are grappling with in real life. The author is so skillful at creating this bizarre world, the reader doesn’t think to question it. This book really made me think about our problems of connection in our cyber-filled lives.

[Kimberly Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I just finished reading an arc copy of this and I absolutely 💯% loved this book so so much.it has post apocalyptic themes, game show from hell I really love the fmc Beatrice she absolutely feisty. I highly highly highly recommend this book by L.M.Strauss can’t wait to have a physical copy in had and read more books from this author

[Bekki's Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vivid and detailed rendition of traveling through the nine rings of hell! I was a little confused through the first half of the book. As Bea traveled through the rings, learning and influencing and giving others hope, she experiencing personal growth and gaining confidence,

[Kyla Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was instantly hooked, finished the book in under a week and will say that I loved it. SO much happened and with the twists and turns, I could not wait for the next chapter.