Being Luciferous

by Helgie Kosca

A man burdened by exceptional potential finds his mundane life upended when a gateway to Hell opens beneath his mining operation. An unlikely encounter with a demon sets him on a path of self-discovery, role-swapping, and moral reckoning.

What would a man do with absolute power over condemned souls—even if only for a couple of weeks? And if a demon takes his place in the world above, how well will he handle the tedium of daily life and the pile of long-postponed problems now begging to be solved? Most importantly, what would Heaven and Hell do with all that, both intent on keeping things exactly as they are?

Being Luciferous weaves wit, drama, and metaphysical intrigue into a tale that challenges familiar notions of good and evil, promising a story as thought-provoking as it is entertaining.

107 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 21, 2024

Reviews

[A.D. Andreea · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very first chapter, I knew I'd be giving Being Luciferous a five-star rating, not just because of the premise, but because of the way Helgie Kosca weaves together foreshadowing, world-building, and character development within a witty, captivating narrative.

At first, I sympathized with Dan and hoped to see him better himself, but soon enough, the demon became my favourite character. I really enjoyed how his and Dan's story intersected with the broader schemes of the higher beings (and talking of such entities, I loved that the angel and demoness avoided falling into old, overused tropes)

This book strikes a compelling balance. It’s sharp, sarcastic, and clever, yet it also explores topics like depersonalization and the tension between self-perception and societal roles (both in human and demonic terms)

I found the portrayal of Hell particularly refreshing as well. Helgie Kosca flips expectations and presents a version that isn’t simply about evil for the sake of evil, making the world-building all the more fascinating.

The final chapters had me hooked. I was so immersed that the twists genuinely surprised me, which made the ending even more satisfying.

This is a book I wholeheartedly recommend. It was an outstanding read from start to finish!

[Abhay Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

⚫️Being Luciferous by Helgie Kosca starts off like you’re watching someone just vibe through a regular boring job until a literal portal to Hell opens up and everything goes off the rails. Main character Daniel Quinthorne is that guy who’s kind of stuck, full of potential but not really doing anything with it… and suddenly, the universe forces his hand.

⚫️Scumfrey Nastyson. Yes, that’s really the demon’s name and somehow it totally works. Scumfrey is chaotic, snarky, and honestly kind of steals the whole story. From that point on, Daniel is dragged into a strange war between cosmic forces, but what really sticks is how personal the whole thing feels. This isn’t some over-the-top epic it’s intimate, awkward, hilarious, and full of those “wait… am I okay?” moments.

⚫️The writing is sharp and quick but layered with deeper questions. You get bits of philosophy, grief, self-doubt, and free will tucked between punchy dialogue and surreal events. It’s kind of like a therapy session wrapped in dark fantasy with a demon doing the talking.

⚫️If you like books that are fast but meaningful, with morally grey characters and that “what would I do?” kind of vibe, this one’s definitely worth your time. It’s a short, strange, and surprisingly thoughtful ride.

Happy reading ❤️✨

[Sneha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, so imagine you're just vibing at your job… and then a literal gateway to Hell opens up. Like, oops? That’s Daniel Quinthorne’s life—and it only gets wilder from there. He meets a demon (with the best worst name ever—Scumfrey Nastyson), and suddenly he’s stuck in the middle of a cosmic tug-of-war between Heaven and Hell.

But this isn’t your typical angels vs. demons story. It’s weird, witty, deep, and somehow super relatable?? Daniel’s got this massive potential, but he’s done basically nothing with it. And now the universe wants to know: is he finally gonna step up, or nah?

Helgie Kosca gives us a ride that’s part dark fantasy, part identity crisis, and part sarcastic therapy session. There’s drama, mind-bending questions, unexpected laughs, and a demon who honestly steals the show.

This book had me thinking and laughing at the same time—which is honestly my fave combo. If you like morally messy characters, clever writing, and stories that make you ask “wait… what would I do?”, this one’s a must-read.

[Will Dorey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Portraying heaven and hell as battling bureaucracies is always a fun mechanism for story telling. Similar in style to Tom Holt although the story would have benefited from more room to breathe. At 107 pages there just isn't enough time for the ideas to fully develop in a truly satisfying way.