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A Cup of Tea at the Mouth of Hell
BRIEFLY, A WORD ABOUT ORDER
Order is the focal point around which existence revolves. Without order there is only chaos. And in the halls of Damnation (pronounced Dam-NAWT-ion, thank you kindly) the first sign of impending chaos is a cup of tea made without the water having first been well and properly boiled in a kettle.
Why is this relevant, O nameless narrator, you ask? Who cares about the preparatory order of tea in the fires of Hell?
Lucifer, dear reader. After all, how does one expect to properly greet the newcomers to Hell without having first had a hot cup of tea to bulwark the cold?
Behold The Morning Star, frantic on the annual Morning of Souls, the arrival of Damnation’s newest recruits.
Someone has misplaced the kettle.
Order is the focal point around which existence revolves. Without order there is only chaos. And in the halls of Damnation (pronounced Dam-NAWT-ion, thank you kindly) the first sign of impending chaos is a cup of tea made without the water having first been well and properly boiled in a kettle.
Why is this relevant, O nameless narrator, you ask? Who cares about the preparatory order of tea in the fires of Hell?
Lucifer, dear reader. After all, how does one expect to properly greet the newcomers to Hell without having first had a hot cup of tea to bulwark the cold?
Behold The Morning Star, frantic on the annual Morning of Souls, the arrival of Damnation’s newest recruits.
Someone has misplaced the kettle.
ebook
Published August 27, 2022
2 people are currently reading
109 people want to read
About the author
Luke Tarzian
30 books81 followersFantasy Author. Long Doggo Enthusiast. Snoot Booper. Shouter of Profanities. Drinker of Whiskey.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
February 19, 2025
First of all, I just want to point out how much I love the cover art of this book. Luke smashes it out of the park with every new design and I’d go as far as to say he’s one of my favourite artists. If I ever write a book I’ll be begging him to take my money and give me a cover.
I began reading this book, full title A Cup of Tea at the Mouth of Hell (Or, An Account of Catastrophe By Stoudemire McCloud, Demon) not really knowing what exactly it was. A few pages in and I still wasn’t sure!
Step by step though, all is revealed – the whimsical, at times abstract elements of the first few chapters are a metaphor for grief and loss and those feelings that accompany tragedy.
I was casually reading, trying to wrap my head around what was going on exactly, and threads of thought all came together at once. At first what I thought was Lucifer’s lament, I soon realised were the honest, burning, painful memories of the author. And for the first time ever for me as a reader, and it came out of nowhere, with the closing of chapter 5 I felt moved to tears.
It wouldn’t be the first time the author left me in an emotional mess during the course of this novelette but he made me laugh several times too and I genuinely feel like I gained some added perspective on life and on the things other people go through behind closed doors. I was also able to smile in knowing empathy for The Drug in me is me chapter, in which Tarzian explores self doubt and overthinking. The author’s forthright and honest self assessment will serve to bring comfort to other people who question their own sanity at times; yeah we know other people have anxiety or struggle with their mental health, but how often do we have a light shone on the individual experience?
Tarzian candidly explores his trauma and grief as well as his mental health in the closing chapters. I hope it doesn’t sound condescending but there’s a lot to admire about the way the author has laid down his heart and soul on the page for his readers to bear witness to, the inner workings of his heart and mind.
Of course, despite being an especially moving book for the most part, Luke Tarzian wouldn’t write a book in which he is able to break free of the bonds of traditional storytelling… And not dream up a Phallic Forest.
I imagine writing this book has acted as a form of therapy for Luke Tarzian and I really hope that it has helped to ease the burden on his overworked mind.
What Luke may not have envisioned though, is that his book gives the reader a will to be kinder, to have more humanity. His words reassure you that how you’re feeling is ok and valid, with an honesty that everything isn’t always just going to be alright, but that others are fighting the same battles. To inspire people to be kinder in the world we live in is a beautiful thing, and that in itself is a huge achievement.
Luke Tarzian speaks about a fear of being forgotten.
This book ensures that will never happen.
I began reading this book, full title A Cup of Tea at the Mouth of Hell (Or, An Account of Catastrophe By Stoudemire McCloud, Demon) not really knowing what exactly it was. A few pages in and I still wasn’t sure!
Step by step though, all is revealed – the whimsical, at times abstract elements of the first few chapters are a metaphor for grief and loss and those feelings that accompany tragedy.
I was casually reading, trying to wrap my head around what was going on exactly, and threads of thought all came together at once. At first what I thought was Lucifer’s lament, I soon realised were the honest, burning, painful memories of the author. And for the first time ever for me as a reader, and it came out of nowhere, with the closing of chapter 5 I felt moved to tears.
It wouldn’t be the first time the author left me in an emotional mess during the course of this novelette but he made me laugh several times too and I genuinely feel like I gained some added perspective on life and on the things other people go through behind closed doors. I was also able to smile in knowing empathy for The Drug in me is me chapter, in which Tarzian explores self doubt and overthinking. The author’s forthright and honest self assessment will serve to bring comfort to other people who question their own sanity at times; yeah we know other people have anxiety or struggle with their mental health, but how often do we have a light shone on the individual experience?
Tarzian candidly explores his trauma and grief as well as his mental health in the closing chapters. I hope it doesn’t sound condescending but there’s a lot to admire about the way the author has laid down his heart and soul on the page for his readers to bear witness to, the inner workings of his heart and mind.
Of course, despite being an especially moving book for the most part, Luke Tarzian wouldn’t write a book in which he is able to break free of the bonds of traditional storytelling… And not dream up a Phallic Forest.
I imagine writing this book has acted as a form of therapy for Luke Tarzian and I really hope that it has helped to ease the burden on his overworked mind.
What Luke may not have envisioned though, is that his book gives the reader a will to be kinder, to have more humanity. His words reassure you that how you’re feeling is ok and valid, with an honesty that everything isn’t always just going to be alright, but that others are fighting the same battles. To inspire people to be kinder in the world we live in is a beautiful thing, and that in itself is a huge achievement.
Luke Tarzian speaks about a fear of being forgotten.
This book ensures that will never happen.
October 17, 2022
A short story filled with heart, oddity, and profound realization.
This story is difficult to review, because by the end it’s not just words on a page. It’s Tarzian’s soul laid bare, beautiful and heartbreaking. There was no relief at the end. There was no happily ever after. There was just the overwhelming desire to give the author a hug. To sit beside him, arm over his shoulder, offering him a warm cup of tea.
It’s profound; it’s haunting; it’s ridiculous; and it’s entrancing. Absolutely worth your time.
This story is difficult to review, because by the end it’s not just words on a page. It’s Tarzian’s soul laid bare, beautiful and heartbreaking. There was no relief at the end. There was no happily ever after. There was just the overwhelming desire to give the author a hug. To sit beside him, arm over his shoulder, offering him a warm cup of tea.
It’s profound; it’s haunting; it’s ridiculous; and it’s entrancing. Absolutely worth your time.
November 29, 2024
Had some time to spare this afternoon between Thanksgivings so I wanted to finally give Luke the chance he has deserved for years, and for whatever reason, I’ve never given him.
Guys, this little novelette freaking wrecked me. I’m still picking up the emotional pieces as I write these tweets.
Luke, holy shnikies your writing is sensational and how dare you have the audacity rip my heart out at the stroke of a pen.
Know that you are loved, my friend.
Your writing deserves way more credit and readership than it gets and I sincerely hope that changes come 2025.
In short order, I’ll be diving into the rest of your library and count me in for your next project.
Guys, this little novelette freaking wrecked me. I’m still picking up the emotional pieces as I write these tweets.
Luke, holy shnikies your writing is sensational and how dare you have the audacity rip my heart out at the stroke of a pen.
Know that you are loved, my friend.
Your writing deserves way more credit and readership than it gets and I sincerely hope that changes come 2025.
In short order, I’ll be diving into the rest of your library and count me in for your next project.
December 23, 2022
Beautiful, heart-breaking & haunting. Tarzian has laid his soul bare in this book and its all the more special for that
February 2, 2023
I might have to read this again to figure out what I just read. It's hard at least until the end to figure out who is talking at times, and I think the version we were given for the blog tour wasn't extremely compatible with my e reader 😳
I don't really think something this personal should be judged by content and typos, but like, who actually stole the kettle? Did he get it back when he went to heaven? I think I was too tired to grasp most of what was going on since after my initial read, my main reaction is ... What? To the first half anyway. He lost me some time between the letter to someone who died (was that Lucifer speaking?) and when he started just writing personal thoughts. That part made sense.
Anyway, I like his writing, I liked Adjacent Monsters, and parts of this short, odd little story went right over my head
I don't really think something this personal should be judged by content and typos, but like, who actually stole the kettle? Did he get it back when he went to heaven? I think I was too tired to grasp most of what was going on since after my initial read, my main reaction is ... What? To the first half anyway. He lost me some time between the letter to someone who died (was that Lucifer speaking?) and when he started just writing personal thoughts. That part made sense.
Anyway, I like his writing, I liked Adjacent Monsters, and parts of this short, odd little story went right over my head
November 23, 2022
I came upon this book after reading that Luke Tarzian used it as a way to explore and deal with his grief. It comes off as a comedy at first, but there's a large dose of honesty that quickly springs forth. Even at only 90 pages, it's a heavy book. I hope the overall experience of writing this novelette helped Tarzian heal.
I'm not sure if this helps, but I think you are an excellent writer, Luke. I think you bring a voice to the world that deserves to be read, and I'm grateful that you continue to write. I'd gladly drink more of this tea you make.
I'm not sure if this helps, but I think you are an excellent writer, Luke. I think you bring a voice to the world that deserves to be read, and I'm grateful that you continue to write. I'd gladly drink more of this tea you make.
January 1, 2023
This is one of those stories that touch the very essence of your soul as it is an exploration of trauma and grief in the most beautiful way.
"Trauma was not a memory; it was a reaction to a memory."
This wonderful story and essays will remain with me for a very long time and will be one I revisit again and again throughout the years.
Read my full review here
"Trauma was not a memory; it was a reaction to a memory."
This wonderful story and essays will remain with me for a very long time and will be one I revisit again and again throughout the years.
Read my full review here
August 17, 2022
I will admit I was a little trepidatious before reading this one. On the one hand, Tarzian is an absolute must-read author for me, and probably one of my most re-read authors nowadays, and I know without a doubt that the writing will sweep me up into the weird and profound and everything else I have come to associate with his work. My concern – if it can even be called that is that I wasn’t sure how I would do with absurdism as it is something that I generally struggle with and is a subgenre of fantasy I tend to avoid.
I needn’t have been worried.
Yes, there are those elements, but A Cup of Tea at the Mouth of Hell is so much more – A delicate blend of profound and weird, whimsy and reality, grief and humour and truth and metaphor.
This book was a joy to read for so many reasons, not least because it allowed me to feast on one of my favourite author’s writing again. It was also devastating. An emotional gut punch that I was both expecting, and yet still utterly unprepared for, and A Cup of Tea at the Mouth of Hell has officially joined the short list of books that have brought me to actual tears.
Tarzian’s prose has always been one of my favourite aspects of his books, especially the balance between raw emotion and poetry, and that remains true here. There is a little less description than in previous books, and not just because of the shorter length of this work. A Cup of Tea at the Mouth of Hell is written and feels very much like a story being told to us, an oral recollection of multiple threads, and it is very true to that style that the description is a little more dialled back; and what it does mean is that the description and imagery that Tarzian does give us, is more potent because of that. It also does an exceptional job of creating an otherworldly setting, and a vision of hell that is utterly unique (and I still laugh at the pronunciations…and the endnotes. Yes, there are endnotes and they are glorious).
‘He unfurled them, six brilliant lengths of inscribed parchment tipped with scarlet plumes. His body was of the same configuration, myriad sheafs of parchment tattooed with divinity, each glyph unique in its purpose.’
What I also loved, however, intentional or unintentional it was, is that you can see the influence of the Adjacent Monsters and Shadow Twins in this book. Or maybe that should be vice versa. This is a separate work, yet the imagery, the writing, and the knife-edge precision with which the author wields words and emotions make this an utterly Tarzian book.
‘Trauma was not a memory; it was a reaction to a memory.’
It is that emotional knife. The weight of sheer humanity, for all that we are following Lucifer’s search for his teapot…and so much more, that sets this book apart. And makes it so devastating. Tarzian has always trodden that boundary between dark fantasy and psychological fantasy, and in many ways, A Cup of Tea at the Mouth of Hell feels like it has crystalised those aspects.
‘… misery is ever-shifting; it subtly decays the mind, rewrites memories like a virus in a lullaby.”’
Perhaps, it is the juxtaposition of the fantastical with the weight of the real-world recollections, or that the absurdism casts a light on the reality of the emotions. Or maybe it is that the emotions explored in this book – predominantly, but not solely Grief – will resonate with everyone. Not in the same way. These are not emotions that can ever be experienced in the same way by different individuals, but the core understanding can be shared; and I think that is why it works so well here, the absurdism allowing each person to find their own sense in the madness.
‘“Fiction,” says the silhouette. “It’s all real, just to varying degrees.”
I love this line, and the more I have thought about it, the more I feel it reflects Tarzian’s books and writing across all his books, but especially here, where reality is enshrouded in metaphor and surrealism. It is fiction, and yet at the same time it’s not, it’s more and less, and how far it leans to either side is one of the many aspects that I think will differ from reader to reader.
A Cup of Tea at the Mouth of Hell is a pulsing, bleeding heart that you cradle in your hands. It’s such a raw, personal story, and intimate for all the whimsy and wonder of the fantastical elements, and yet, it never feels as though you are invading. It feels as though you have been invited in to sit down for that cup of tea, and it is a tale, and a sharing of emotions that will resonate, and reflect differently in each reader that sits down to enjoy it – and each visit will be different.
I read this book multiple times while beta reading, and again while working on this review, and each time I have found a different point has hit home. This re-readability has always been a hallmark of Tarzian’s writing for me, and this book continues that tradition. Not, only that, but I think that it is an essential part of what this book is, because the emotions it delves into and exposes in their rawest forms, are not those that are a one-time experience, they can lie dormant, they can soften to a murmur, but they are ones that will return or that will need to be revisited, and it is entirely fitting therefore that this book has taken on that aspect too.
*
A brief interlude…
The second part of this book is not fantasy, although the influence and connections can still be seen. Instead, this section titled ‘Thoughts on Grief and Mental Health’ has several non-fiction essays on the topic, some I had read previously, and others were new to me. Each was important and powerful, and when paired with the story of A Cup of Tea at the Mouth of Hell, even more so. They are all incredibly personal and fitting for this book, and the story – and more importantly the emotions that were shared, and I feel as though they add another level to this book, especially when you look back after reading them. It’s a little like seeing the curtain pulled back in the Emerald City, to see the wizard as they really are – and there again you have that humanity shining through and raising this book to new heights.
*
A Cup of Tea at the Mouth of Hell (Or, an Account of Catastrophe by Stoudemire McCloud, Demon) as one must give it its proper name at the end, was an incredibly difficult book to review (hence the rambling), partly because as with many of Tarzian’s books there is so much of it that must be experienced and felt by the individual. Perhaps it is heightened here because of the sheer emotional rawness it shares with the reader. It’s a book that will have you soul searching alongside Lucifer, it will have you looking at your dreams, yourself, and your demons, and make you feel. This is a small book that packs one hell of a punch, and it’s a book that examines and talks about so much that we often keep buried, that we try to hide from even to our detriment. It’s an incredibly important book, that’s so personal and yet so encompassing at the same time. A stunning addition to Tarzian’s body of work, one that is simultaneously both lighter and more whimsical, and yet in some ways just as dark.
I cannot recommend it highly enough, just maybe have some tissues on hand.
I needn’t have been worried.
Yes, there are those elements, but A Cup of Tea at the Mouth of Hell is so much more – A delicate blend of profound and weird, whimsy and reality, grief and humour and truth and metaphor.
This book was a joy to read for so many reasons, not least because it allowed me to feast on one of my favourite author’s writing again. It was also devastating. An emotional gut punch that I was both expecting, and yet still utterly unprepared for, and A Cup of Tea at the Mouth of Hell has officially joined the short list of books that have brought me to actual tears.
Tarzian’s prose has always been one of my favourite aspects of his books, especially the balance between raw emotion and poetry, and that remains true here. There is a little less description than in previous books, and not just because of the shorter length of this work. A Cup of Tea at the Mouth of Hell is written and feels very much like a story being told to us, an oral recollection of multiple threads, and it is very true to that style that the description is a little more dialled back; and what it does mean is that the description and imagery that Tarzian does give us, is more potent because of that. It also does an exceptional job of creating an otherworldly setting, and a vision of hell that is utterly unique (and I still laugh at the pronunciations…and the endnotes. Yes, there are endnotes and they are glorious).
‘He unfurled them, six brilliant lengths of inscribed parchment tipped with scarlet plumes. His body was of the same configuration, myriad sheafs of parchment tattooed with divinity, each glyph unique in its purpose.’
What I also loved, however, intentional or unintentional it was, is that you can see the influence of the Adjacent Monsters and Shadow Twins in this book. Or maybe that should be vice versa. This is a separate work, yet the imagery, the writing, and the knife-edge precision with which the author wields words and emotions make this an utterly Tarzian book.
‘Trauma was not a memory; it was a reaction to a memory.’
It is that emotional knife. The weight of sheer humanity, for all that we are following Lucifer’s search for his teapot…and so much more, that sets this book apart. And makes it so devastating. Tarzian has always trodden that boundary between dark fantasy and psychological fantasy, and in many ways, A Cup of Tea at the Mouth of Hell feels like it has crystalised those aspects.
‘… misery is ever-shifting; it subtly decays the mind, rewrites memories like a virus in a lullaby.”’
Perhaps, it is the juxtaposition of the fantastical with the weight of the real-world recollections, or that the absurdism casts a light on the reality of the emotions. Or maybe it is that the emotions explored in this book – predominantly, but not solely Grief – will resonate with everyone. Not in the same way. These are not emotions that can ever be experienced in the same way by different individuals, but the core understanding can be shared; and I think that is why it works so well here, the absurdism allowing each person to find their own sense in the madness.
‘“Fiction,” says the silhouette. “It’s all real, just to varying degrees.”
I love this line, and the more I have thought about it, the more I feel it reflects Tarzian’s books and writing across all his books, but especially here, where reality is enshrouded in metaphor and surrealism. It is fiction, and yet at the same time it’s not, it’s more and less, and how far it leans to either side is one of the many aspects that I think will differ from reader to reader.
A Cup of Tea at the Mouth of Hell is a pulsing, bleeding heart that you cradle in your hands. It’s such a raw, personal story, and intimate for all the whimsy and wonder of the fantastical elements, and yet, it never feels as though you are invading. It feels as though you have been invited in to sit down for that cup of tea, and it is a tale, and a sharing of emotions that will resonate, and reflect differently in each reader that sits down to enjoy it – and each visit will be different.
I read this book multiple times while beta reading, and again while working on this review, and each time I have found a different point has hit home. This re-readability has always been a hallmark of Tarzian’s writing for me, and this book continues that tradition. Not, only that, but I think that it is an essential part of what this book is, because the emotions it delves into and exposes in their rawest forms, are not those that are a one-time experience, they can lie dormant, they can soften to a murmur, but they are ones that will return or that will need to be revisited, and it is entirely fitting therefore that this book has taken on that aspect too.
*
A brief interlude…
The second part of this book is not fantasy, although the influence and connections can still be seen. Instead, this section titled ‘Thoughts on Grief and Mental Health’ has several non-fiction essays on the topic, some I had read previously, and others were new to me. Each was important and powerful, and when paired with the story of A Cup of Tea at the Mouth of Hell, even more so. They are all incredibly personal and fitting for this book, and the story – and more importantly the emotions that were shared, and I feel as though they add another level to this book, especially when you look back after reading them. It’s a little like seeing the curtain pulled back in the Emerald City, to see the wizard as they really are – and there again you have that humanity shining through and raising this book to new heights.
*
A Cup of Tea at the Mouth of Hell (Or, an Account of Catastrophe by Stoudemire McCloud, Demon) as one must give it its proper name at the end, was an incredibly difficult book to review (hence the rambling), partly because as with many of Tarzian’s books there is so much of it that must be experienced and felt by the individual. Perhaps it is heightened here because of the sheer emotional rawness it shares with the reader. It’s a book that will have you soul searching alongside Lucifer, it will have you looking at your dreams, yourself, and your demons, and make you feel. This is a small book that packs one hell of a punch, and it’s a book that examines and talks about so much that we often keep buried, that we try to hide from even to our detriment. It’s an incredibly important book, that’s so personal and yet so encompassing at the same time. A stunning addition to Tarzian’s body of work, one that is simultaneously both lighter and more whimsical, and yet in some ways just as dark.
I cannot recommend it highly enough, just maybe have some tissues on hand.
December 23, 2022
A Cup of Tea at the Mouth of Hell
Going in blind to a read is equivalent to the blind bag toys of your favorite movie/anime/game/I know I must be missing another genre of these things so place it here. It's only backfired, I would say 2% of the time for me (I also am terrible at math, I made up this number), so I won't be stopping this method anytime soon.
Jumping in I felt this back-and-forth between Stoudemire and the Morning Star that gave me Good Omens vibes. As we moved through hell together I would reflect on other authors and their takes on hell; Edward Lee had built a city, and Nathan Ballingrud had built parts of his hell more to this sprawling wildness. Not sure if Ballingrud would have a penis tree forest option in his.
While I'm smiling, traipsing along in this well-written and delightful tale when it starts to deliver on the meat of what it promised from the author's note. The warning I conveniently pushed to the corner of my mind while I lost myself in the quest for the kettle, while serious, led us through wondrous sights. Tendrils of grief, fingers of pain were reaching for us dear reader, and when they found us, would not let go until well past when the reading was done. My maternal grandmother shared the same day with me for a birthday, she taught me how to curse, bowling, and saved me from a sinking relationship with no judgment. Her death hit me the hardest of all my grandparents.
The way Tarzian explains and shows the way grief can unspool a person so completely, and quickly; took me back to those moments of grief for me once again. I was once more crying for my lost loved one, I'm doing it as I write this. So you've been warned, for those that need a heads up. This will churn your insides like butter, even if you feel that you're handling it for almost all of the book, it's sneaky. It's the best kind of emotional bleeding on the page, as the reader you can not help but understand, and connect with it.
So go in knowing that it may be painful depending on your loss history. But it also makes you lighter. I'm going to be buying a physical copy so I can hold the pages in my hand. It's a thing I prefer when a title is one I know I'll reread, have both options. I'm also going to be reading his whole catalog. I just have a feeling that they are all going to be this quality, I haven't been wrong yet.
Going in blind to a read is equivalent to the blind bag toys of your favorite movie/anime/game/I know I must be missing another genre of these things so place it here. It's only backfired, I would say 2% of the time for me (I also am terrible at math, I made up this number), so I won't be stopping this method anytime soon.
Jumping in I felt this back-and-forth between Stoudemire and the Morning Star that gave me Good Omens vibes. As we moved through hell together I would reflect on other authors and their takes on hell; Edward Lee had built a city, and Nathan Ballingrud had built parts of his hell more to this sprawling wildness. Not sure if Ballingrud would have a penis tree forest option in his.
While I'm smiling, traipsing along in this well-written and delightful tale when it starts to deliver on the meat of what it promised from the author's note. The warning I conveniently pushed to the corner of my mind while I lost myself in the quest for the kettle, while serious, led us through wondrous sights. Tendrils of grief, fingers of pain were reaching for us dear reader, and when they found us, would not let go until well past when the reading was done. My maternal grandmother shared the same day with me for a birthday, she taught me how to curse, bowling, and saved me from a sinking relationship with no judgment. Her death hit me the hardest of all my grandparents.
The way Tarzian explains and shows the way grief can unspool a person so completely, and quickly; took me back to those moments of grief for me once again. I was once more crying for my lost loved one, I'm doing it as I write this. So you've been warned, for those that need a heads up. This will churn your insides like butter, even if you feel that you're handling it for almost all of the book, it's sneaky. It's the best kind of emotional bleeding on the page, as the reader you can not help but understand, and connect with it.
So go in knowing that it may be painful depending on your loss history. But it also makes you lighter. I'm going to be buying a physical copy so I can hold the pages in my hand. It's a thing I prefer when a title is one I know I'll reread, have both options. I'm also going to be reading his whole catalog. I just have a feeling that they are all going to be this quality, I haven't been wrong yet.
December 23, 2022
'A Cup of Tea...' is a clever, at times surreal, hard-hitting exploration of grief. If you have ever experienced loss, you may see yourself reflected in Lucifer as he deteriorates over a missing kettle. A kettle given to him by his mother. It is often small, surprising things, that drag us back into our grief: a Christmas card, a certain drink, the passing thought "I bet they'd love this" that jars us into remembering that person is gone. Tarzian has expressed this perfectly within A Cup of Tea at the Mouth of Hell.
It feels almost odd to offer praise for such a raw and vulnerable piece of work. It becomes very personal as Tarzian explores specifically his own grief and mental state following the sudden loss of his mother. It feels perhaps crass to say "well done!" when reading through such intimate thoughts and experiences. I can only hope a review goes some way to counteracting the heavy imposter syndrome Tarzian speaks of that is so synonymous with creative pursuits.
There is no real resolution because grief doesn't have a real resolution. Tarzian talks about his ongoing recovery from loss and the use of Lucifer and his kettle shows that loss can surprise us and take back over. It is inspiring to see the truth laid out bare in this novella both as an exercise in recovery and as a confirmation that we are not alone in how grief can derail us. As someone who lost a grandparent this year, I found 'A Cup of Tea...' to resonate strongly with my experiences and I found this somewhat of a comfort to see some reflection of my losses in Tarzian's words.
Whether it's through the dreamlike, chaotic sequences in Hell or the raw, unbridled, journal-like entries from the author that follow; A Cup of Tea at the Mouth of Hell will take you on a journey through grief. At 90 pages, it is a short and impactful story that I certainly recommend as a window into grief and the toll it can take on us mentally, physically & spiritually.
It feels almost odd to offer praise for such a raw and vulnerable piece of work. It becomes very personal as Tarzian explores specifically his own grief and mental state following the sudden loss of his mother. It feels perhaps crass to say "well done!" when reading through such intimate thoughts and experiences. I can only hope a review goes some way to counteracting the heavy imposter syndrome Tarzian speaks of that is so synonymous with creative pursuits.
There is no real resolution because grief doesn't have a real resolution. Tarzian talks about his ongoing recovery from loss and the use of Lucifer and his kettle shows that loss can surprise us and take back over. It is inspiring to see the truth laid out bare in this novella both as an exercise in recovery and as a confirmation that we are not alone in how grief can derail us. As someone who lost a grandparent this year, I found 'A Cup of Tea...' to resonate strongly with my experiences and I found this somewhat of a comfort to see some reflection of my losses in Tarzian's words.
Whether it's through the dreamlike, chaotic sequences in Hell or the raw, unbridled, journal-like entries from the author that follow; A Cup of Tea at the Mouth of Hell will take you on a journey through grief. At 90 pages, it is a short and impactful story that I certainly recommend as a window into grief and the toll it can take on us mentally, physically & spiritually.
January 20, 2023
First off: I really love the cover for this book. It is easily one of my favorite covers recently.
Now to the book itself: I have a little bit of mixed feelings about it. I can both see and not see what this book is trying to do. I see the emotion. I see the trauma. I see the personal exploration in this and that it’s meant to be really deep. But at the same time, I just really wasn’t following the story at all and it didn’t really click for me at the end of the novella either. Things didn’t fall into place for me like it did for some other readers. But something did feel really clever about it. I’m not really sure how to explain it. I don’t have a lot of experience with absurdist writing and I like to overthink and understand everything so that can be a bit difficult to put together with this subgenre (for me personally). My own mind tends to grasp for logic and sense when it comes to working through the themes this book revolves around.
As a regular reader of memoirs though, the essays at the end are where it felt more personal to me and where it really hit home and had me thinking more deeply. That’s where I felt kinship, and heartache and my own grief bubbled up. I actually read the whole book twice and even knowing what was coming at the end, it still happened again. What I do know after reading this twice is that I am very curious about his other books now and can’t wait to jump into those.
Now to the book itself: I have a little bit of mixed feelings about it. I can both see and not see what this book is trying to do. I see the emotion. I see the trauma. I see the personal exploration in this and that it’s meant to be really deep. But at the same time, I just really wasn’t following the story at all and it didn’t really click for me at the end of the novella either. Things didn’t fall into place for me like it did for some other readers. But something did feel really clever about it. I’m not really sure how to explain it. I don’t have a lot of experience with absurdist writing and I like to overthink and understand everything so that can be a bit difficult to put together with this subgenre (for me personally). My own mind tends to grasp for logic and sense when it comes to working through the themes this book revolves around.
As a regular reader of memoirs though, the essays at the end are where it felt more personal to me and where it really hit home and had me thinking more deeply. That’s where I felt kinship, and heartache and my own grief bubbled up. I actually read the whole book twice and even knowing what was coming at the end, it still happened again. What I do know after reading this twice is that I am very curious about his other books now and can’t wait to jump into those.
Read
August 28, 2022I finished beta reading an early version of this, and will be going through it again. I will add more to this review the closer to release date. A Cup of Tea at the Mouth of Hell is aptly named and damn if it didn't make me cry.
July 2, 2025
“And yet…. it was what I hated most, because the only thing that I knew how to do was say “I love you” in return, despite the countless times you broke my heart.”
I don’t know how to review this book. I loved reading it though. That’s it.
I don’t know how to review this book. I loved reading it though. That’s it.
December 23, 2022
What happens when tragedy strikes? When you’re feeling at your lowest? When your whole life comes crashing down? What happens? You will have a cup of tea. You make it for yourself, or someone else makes it for you. But you have a cup of tea. It’s meant to help. Soothe. Make things ever so slightly better. Help you face the demons.
But, the kettle is missing in Hell, there’s no tea to be had, tragedy has struck. What else left but to spiral into madness and misery?!
***
Ye gods, this is an absolute mindfuck novelette… and that in a good sense, from a my perspective. I mean, I like to be in ribbons after reading words on pages. I cried. Thrice. I laughed, more than thrice. Laughed… chuckled. Phallos Forest, flying wanking foxes and sadness. Grief.
I’m laughing, I’m crying.
Did you look at that cover, even? Did you see the cover? Look again – it’s magnificent!
Truly, though, this book hit the soft spot with the hardest punch because it is, in a sense, a purge. A purge of grief. And my heart was so, so sore. Also, I think, sadly, it’s grief and misery, strong emotions, that are often the most powerful muse to fuelling beautiful and bittersweet creation. It just is this way. Strong emotions open the floodgates… You have to let the emotion out. With tears, through a pen, on to paper. Purge. And it can be nothing else than hell, madness, going through the notions, misery, crying, laughing, crying again… A Cup of Tea at the Mouth of Hell is the written form of emotions that makes you feel like your skin is about to split when you can no longer contain the swirl and hurricane of emotions within you.
And who needs drugs anyway when you have stories like this? It’s an out of body experience in many ways.
I read this short story. I want to read absolutely everything by Luke Tarzian.
But, the kettle is missing in Hell, there’s no tea to be had, tragedy has struck. What else left but to spiral into madness and misery?!
Being the Lord of Hell was not easy, especially when you had demons of your own.
***
Ye gods, this is an absolute mindfuck novelette… and that in a good sense, from a my perspective. I mean, I like to be in ribbons after reading words on pages. I cried. Thrice. I laughed, more than thrice. Laughed… chuckled. Phallos Forest, flying wanking foxes and sadness. Grief.
I’m laughing, I’m crying.
Did you look at that cover, even? Did you see the cover? Look again – it’s magnificent!
Truly, though, this book hit the soft spot with the hardest punch because it is, in a sense, a purge. A purge of grief. And my heart was so, so sore. Also, I think, sadly, it’s grief and misery, strong emotions, that are often the most powerful muse to fuelling beautiful and bittersweet creation. It just is this way. Strong emotions open the floodgates… You have to let the emotion out. With tears, through a pen, on to paper. Purge. And it can be nothing else than hell, madness, going through the notions, misery, crying, laughing, crying again… A Cup of Tea at the Mouth of Hell is the written form of emotions that makes you feel like your skin is about to split when you can no longer contain the swirl and hurricane of emotions within you.
And who needs drugs anyway when you have stories like this? It’s an out of body experience in many ways.
We sipped, listening to the melody of dying Heaven whisper through the cracks. Have you ever heard a blue whale mourn its stillborn calf?
I read this short story. I want to read absolutely everything by Luke Tarzian.
Read
June 16, 2025rtc
August 22, 2022
I'm going to keep this brief because frankly you can probably read the book quicker than you can read the reviews and you should, what are you even waiting for.
This book is little bit of brilliance. It's absurd and surreal and in parts crude and humorous, but also deep and moving and rather dark. Tarzian has done an excellent job of using storytelling to explore raw emotion in a poetic manner – it's fiction as an art form, with its own rules, and makes sense all in its own right. To discuss exactly how well it works gets into the realm of spoilers that would undercut its central themes. I'll just say that with the way book trundles along in divergent directions, I wondered how it would come together in such a tight space. Effectively, is my answer. Very effectively.
Bravo to Tarzian on a brave, unique and powerful story wrapped in a surrealist sheep's clothing.
Also I just love that cover.
This book is little bit of brilliance. It's absurd and surreal and in parts crude and humorous, but also deep and moving and rather dark. Tarzian has done an excellent job of using storytelling to explore raw emotion in a poetic manner – it's fiction as an art form, with its own rules, and makes sense all in its own right. To discuss exactly how well it works gets into the realm of spoilers that would undercut its central themes. I'll just say that with the way book trundles along in divergent directions, I wondered how it would come together in such a tight space. Effectively, is my answer. Very effectively.
Bravo to Tarzian on a brave, unique and powerful story wrapped in a surrealist sheep's clothing.
Also I just love that cover.
January 13, 2023
I laughed. I cried. I wrote a cliche review.
But this is no common book. My throat tightened while reading the introduction. The story hadn't even started. I foolishly picked up a bookmark along with the book when pulling it off my shelf. I didn't need one, and neither will you.
Read this book, if not because it's only going to take like an hour of your time (and what the hell else are you going to do that's better?), then for the entirely unique experience that's sure to move you to tears.
Absolute respect to the author for publishing something so deeply personal. I don't think I'd have the guts to do the same.
But this is no common book. My throat tightened while reading the introduction. The story hadn't even started. I foolishly picked up a bookmark along with the book when pulling it off my shelf. I didn't need one, and neither will you.
Read this book, if not because it's only going to take like an hour of your time (and what the hell else are you going to do that's better?), then for the entirely unique experience that's sure to move you to tears.
Absolute respect to the author for publishing something so deeply personal. I don't think I'd have the guts to do the same.
January 2, 2025
Fucked me up. When a story feels this personal to the author, it becomes difficult to rate it objectively. I just wanna give him a hug. Damn it.
September 7, 2023
A Cup of Tea at the Mouth of Hell is chaos in a pot of tea. Considering I read this mere hours after being jabbed in the eye by British plantlife, for which I wore a makeshift eyepatch, it was the perfect book for me to read with my one good eye.
The book is hard to explain, so I'll keep it simple: Lucifer loses his pot of tea, setting off a chain of chaos both in and beyond the book. It starts off as a quirky, whimsical comedy and ends up roller coaster dropping you into an in-your-face portrayal of trauma and personal grief.
It's a hard book to review because I know it won't be everyone's cup of tea (sighs, sorry. Bad joke to make when someone has stolen the kettle). The story is full of emotions but not linear at all, and at some point it stops being about the tea, which may... oddly... disappoint some? (I know there are some hardcore tea drinkers out there)
BUT, if you're in the right mindset for it and are up for an honest spotlight on personal grief in all its ugly, potentially cathartic, and very human glory, give it a go. It is raw, visceral, and brutally transparent.
I read it in one go, with one eye. Incidentally, it's a really bizarre feeling having both eyes burning to cry at the same time, but for different reasons.
P.S. Both eyes are fine now. Neither of them are crying.
The book is hard to explain, so I'll keep it simple: Lucifer loses his pot of tea, setting off a chain of chaos both in and beyond the book. It starts off as a quirky, whimsical comedy and ends up roller coaster dropping you into an in-your-face portrayal of trauma and personal grief.
It's a hard book to review because I know it won't be everyone's cup of tea (sighs, sorry. Bad joke to make when someone has stolen the kettle). The story is full of emotions but not linear at all, and at some point it stops being about the tea, which may... oddly... disappoint some? (I know there are some hardcore tea drinkers out there)
BUT, if you're in the right mindset for it and are up for an honest spotlight on personal grief in all its ugly, potentially cathartic, and very human glory, give it a go. It is raw, visceral, and brutally transparent.
I read it in one go, with one eye. Incidentally, it's a really bizarre feeling having both eyes burning to cry at the same time, but for different reasons.
P.S. Both eyes are fine now. Neither of them are crying.
June 16, 2023
Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don't have the strength. ~Theodore Roosevelt
December 23, 2022
There are many reasons that writing a cohesive review for Luke Tarzian's books can be difficult. For one, you don't have the luxury of being able to fit them into a category of this or that. At times the prose is difficult to describe, the story may have no discernible points as it goes backwards, forwards, sideways and sometimes into itself. However, there is always constant, they are viscerally emotive and raw. They exude honesty and strip the soul bare. They are like reading an exposed nerve, but ultimately they are brave.
Whether that being for Luke Tarzian's willingness to try something that he doesn't know will work or if it is due to the fact that he puts his whole self on show like an exhibit at a Gunther Van Hogen exhibit.
No matter how hard it is to describe Luke Tarzian's work, he is without doubt one of the most interesting authors I have read. He brings that quality that I have only read a few times, that willingness to bring experimentation to the table, to try something new. This is what makes him interesting. At times I can get lost, not knowing what the hell is going on and be totally confounded, and at other times I have been totally disorientated in his labyrinthine imagination, not being able to find the string that will lead me out safely. Do I care? The short answer is no! There are many other things I like about Luke Tarzian's stories and sometimes not knowing what is going on doesn't particularly phase me.
The story of A Cup of Tea at The Mouth of Hell centres around Studemire, secretary to the Morningstar, the Lord of Hell. It all kicks off when Lucifer's kettle is stolen by the agents of heaven. This causes Lucifer to spiral into a fit of depression that affects the kingdom of Hell, and all those around him. Now this may seem like an insignificant matter, but it is really important as it was Lucifer's mother's kettle and holds a special significance to the Lord of Hell. The story then spirals out of control bringing in lots of different elements.
However, essentially A cup of tea at the mouth of Hell is an Anatomy of grief, a soul laid bare, how even the smallest of things can affect an individual and whilst there is plenty of humour in there, we know that it is a front and the humour is just papering the cracks, a sticking plaster for the hurt underneath.
As usual, the book is full of Luke Tarzian's wonderful prose, his ability to convey emotion and some cuttingly absurdist scenarios.
Following the actual story there is a series of personal essays that denote the authors fragile recovery, a roadmap to Luke Tarzian's mental state, a sinewy map of one step forward and two steps back that plague anyone that has had to deal with trauma and how dragging yourself out of the quagmire of dismay is at best soul crushing and at worst soul destroying, and sometimes defeat is the only winner in this competition.
I have to say that it has taken me a while to read this book knowing the subject matter, but once I took in that mental whoosh of breath I felt ready to explore this book, and it has taken me a while to digest this story. Like I said, it's hard to review, It's a dichotomy of feelings, on the one hand it is like an open wound, but within this there is outright silliness and absurdity, like the phallic forest. I mean .... At times, the book is an ordeal, because grief is exactly that. It is an ordeal, one at times that can at times seem insurmountable and this is conveyed through the book. However, I wish more people would come to Luke Tarzian’s books and experience them, because that is exactly what they are - an experience. They are a miasma of thought, emotion and ideas beautifully wrapped in elegant prose.
Whether that being for Luke Tarzian's willingness to try something that he doesn't know will work or if it is due to the fact that he puts his whole self on show like an exhibit at a Gunther Van Hogen exhibit.
No matter how hard it is to describe Luke Tarzian's work, he is without doubt one of the most interesting authors I have read. He brings that quality that I have only read a few times, that willingness to bring experimentation to the table, to try something new. This is what makes him interesting. At times I can get lost, not knowing what the hell is going on and be totally confounded, and at other times I have been totally disorientated in his labyrinthine imagination, not being able to find the string that will lead me out safely. Do I care? The short answer is no! There are many other things I like about Luke Tarzian's stories and sometimes not knowing what is going on doesn't particularly phase me.
The story of A Cup of Tea at The Mouth of Hell centres around Studemire, secretary to the Morningstar, the Lord of Hell. It all kicks off when Lucifer's kettle is stolen by the agents of heaven. This causes Lucifer to spiral into a fit of depression that affects the kingdom of Hell, and all those around him. Now this may seem like an insignificant matter, but it is really important as it was Lucifer's mother's kettle and holds a special significance to the Lord of Hell. The story then spirals out of control bringing in lots of different elements.
However, essentially A cup of tea at the mouth of Hell is an Anatomy of grief, a soul laid bare, how even the smallest of things can affect an individual and whilst there is plenty of humour in there, we know that it is a front and the humour is just papering the cracks, a sticking plaster for the hurt underneath.
As usual, the book is full of Luke Tarzian's wonderful prose, his ability to convey emotion and some cuttingly absurdist scenarios.
Following the actual story there is a series of personal essays that denote the authors fragile recovery, a roadmap to Luke Tarzian's mental state, a sinewy map of one step forward and two steps back that plague anyone that has had to deal with trauma and how dragging yourself out of the quagmire of dismay is at best soul crushing and at worst soul destroying, and sometimes defeat is the only winner in this competition.
I have to say that it has taken me a while to read this book knowing the subject matter, but once I took in that mental whoosh of breath I felt ready to explore this book, and it has taken me a while to digest this story. Like I said, it's hard to review, It's a dichotomy of feelings, on the one hand it is like an open wound, but within this there is outright silliness and absurdity, like the phallic forest. I mean .... At times, the book is an ordeal, because grief is exactly that. It is an ordeal, one at times that can at times seem insurmountable and this is conveyed through the book. However, I wish more people would come to Luke Tarzian’s books and experience them, because that is exactly what they are - an experience. They are a miasma of thought, emotion and ideas beautifully wrapped in elegant prose.
December 31, 2022
My first experience of Luke Tarzian will definitely not be my last!
Some words to describe this story:
Metaphysical, autobiographical, abstract, emotional, absurd, sad, hopeful, poignant, cathartic, honest, bold, raw, surreal... a very good brew 🍵
An imaginative exploration of grief and mental health. This novella is well worth your time.
Some words to describe this story:
Metaphysical, autobiographical, abstract, emotional, absurd, sad, hopeful, poignant, cathartic, honest, bold, raw, surreal... a very good brew 🍵
An imaginative exploration of grief and mental health. This novella is well worth your time.
August 20, 2022
Follow me on Twitter: Twitter.com/wolfmantula
For more reviews, go to www.wolfmantula.com/book-reviews
🚨 I received an advanced reader copy, provided by the author for an honest review. 🚨
This did not impact my rating in any way.
I’m a sucker for good covers, so when I saw this cover, I knew immediately that I HAD to read it. Along with the name which is very unique as well, I knew this was going to be something different and interesting. It had that feel of being a whimsical yet an oddity of a story. What I got was a beautiful tale that was tragic and emotional that demanded my attention the moment I started reading it. There is a lot of passion put into the pages by Tarzian, and I noted early on that it felt almost as if it was real life experiences being used to tell this, and once it ended I realized that this was more than just a story, but a metaphoric autobiography. I wasn’t expecting to be in tears reading this, but Tarzian did that to me with this story. I resonated a lot with this story since I lost my dad in 2015 to colon cancer, so it definitely hit a string for me, and I too have a song by The Beatles that is actually tough for me to listen to now, The Long and Winding Road. I cry every time I hear it.
“There was a boy with a fishing rod who wished to catch a star, for doing so would make his wildest dreams come true. However, try as he might, he could not catch a star. He asked his mother why and she told him stars, like all things, are free-willed.”
It wasn’t all emotional though, there were many parts that made me laugh, like the aptly named phallic Forest, there was so much in that sequence that I just kept giggling at. The names of chapters and the “sub-name” I don’t know what else to call it, so I’ll just go with that. Also, the pronunciation of certain words that Stoudemire, the MC, lets us know about. Tarzian’s prose is very eloquent and at times poetic, I could probably read this over and over with how smooth and harmonious the words fell onto paper. While reading this I also felt like it had a very Neil Gaiman, Sandman-like quality to it, as it had a certain type of darkness to it that still told a beautiful story. Reading this has made me a big fan of Tarzian and I plan to read much much more of his work going forward.
For more reviews, go to www.wolfmantula.com/book-reviews
🚨 I received an advanced reader copy, provided by the author for an honest review. 🚨
This did not impact my rating in any way.
I’m a sucker for good covers, so when I saw this cover, I knew immediately that I HAD to read it. Along with the name which is very unique as well, I knew this was going to be something different and interesting. It had that feel of being a whimsical yet an oddity of a story. What I got was a beautiful tale that was tragic and emotional that demanded my attention the moment I started reading it. There is a lot of passion put into the pages by Tarzian, and I noted early on that it felt almost as if it was real life experiences being used to tell this, and once it ended I realized that this was more than just a story, but a metaphoric autobiography. I wasn’t expecting to be in tears reading this, but Tarzian did that to me with this story. I resonated a lot with this story since I lost my dad in 2015 to colon cancer, so it definitely hit a string for me, and I too have a song by The Beatles that is actually tough for me to listen to now, The Long and Winding Road. I cry every time I hear it.
“There was a boy with a fishing rod who wished to catch a star, for doing so would make his wildest dreams come true. However, try as he might, he could not catch a star. He asked his mother why and she told him stars, like all things, are free-willed.”
It wasn’t all emotional though, there were many parts that made me laugh, like the aptly named phallic Forest, there was so much in that sequence that I just kept giggling at. The names of chapters and the “sub-name” I don’t know what else to call it, so I’ll just go with that. Also, the pronunciation of certain words that Stoudemire, the MC, lets us know about. Tarzian’s prose is very eloquent and at times poetic, I could probably read this over and over with how smooth and harmonious the words fell onto paper. While reading this I also felt like it had a very Neil Gaiman, Sandman-like quality to it, as it had a certain type of darkness to it that still told a beautiful story. Reading this has made me a big fan of Tarzian and I plan to read much much more of his work going forward.
June 7, 2025
Bittersweet, profound
I’m going to need some time to sit with this one. Quietly, and with my dog at my side. Luke, you have brought something as banal as a teapot, and made it into the most important thing, metaphorically.
This started in one place, Hell, with Lucifer lamenting the loss of his tea kettle. The narrator is his demon “secretary”, Stoudemire, and it’s his job to keep Lucifer grounded and happy as he prepares to meet the newest arrivals. Which he always has done with a cup of tea. But a missing tea kettle throws Lucifer into a tail spin, and thus begins the spiral down to the depths of despair, through the telling of a cheeky demon.
Take your time after closing this, dear reader. It confronts grief, and if you have a mirror close by, you will probably find yourself in the shadows. It’s an homage to a mother who was taken too soon, and the realization that it’s ok to grieve. It’s NECESSARY, and cathartic. Acceptance that one needs the comfort of friends and loved ones, and maybe a soothing cup of tea, made by the kettle that was a gift from your mother.
The chapters contain snapshots of the moments frozen in time which mark the arrival of grief, and the walking through the remains of what was left behind. They are profound and brutal, and shared without a nice coating of whitewash. They are raw, and bloody, and I’m humbled to have read them. Thank you for making it ok to be depressed, full of anxiety, but with the prescience to know that help is out there. I’m going to make myself a cup of tea, in a salute to your bravery and openness, Mr. Tarzian. Thank you.
I’m going to need some time to sit with this one. Quietly, and with my dog at my side. Luke, you have brought something as banal as a teapot, and made it into the most important thing, metaphorically.
This started in one place, Hell, with Lucifer lamenting the loss of his tea kettle. The narrator is his demon “secretary”, Stoudemire, and it’s his job to keep Lucifer grounded and happy as he prepares to meet the newest arrivals. Which he always has done with a cup of tea. But a missing tea kettle throws Lucifer into a tail spin, and thus begins the spiral down to the depths of despair, through the telling of a cheeky demon.
Take your time after closing this, dear reader. It confronts grief, and if you have a mirror close by, you will probably find yourself in the shadows. It’s an homage to a mother who was taken too soon, and the realization that it’s ok to grieve. It’s NECESSARY, and cathartic. Acceptance that one needs the comfort of friends and loved ones, and maybe a soothing cup of tea, made by the kettle that was a gift from your mother.
The chapters contain snapshots of the moments frozen in time which mark the arrival of grief, and the walking through the remains of what was left behind. They are profound and brutal, and shared without a nice coating of whitewash. They are raw, and bloody, and I’m humbled to have read them. Thank you for making it ok to be depressed, full of anxiety, but with the prescience to know that help is out there. I’m going to make myself a cup of tea, in a salute to your bravery and openness, Mr. Tarzian. Thank you.
October 12, 2022
When I got this book I sat down and looked at the first page, I wasn’t going to read it yet, I just wanted to look at the first page or so and see what it was all about. I ended up reading it all right then.
This is a very quick read, and it is near impossible to put down once you start it. This book is so beautifully written and so raw and honest about grief, trauma, and depression. It is rare to find something like this where the author talks so openly about mental health topics and brings their own experience to the forefront. It isn’t sugarcoated, nor is is romanticized. Tarzian doesn’t dance around the uglier parts of mental health struggles, he puts them on full display in a way that reminds us that grief is necessary, but grief is ugly, painful, and at times all consuming.
I think it’s funny that a book about Lucifer losing his tea kettle might just be the most real piece of literature that I’ve read.
This is a very quick read, and it is near impossible to put down once you start it. This book is so beautifully written and so raw and honest about grief, trauma, and depression. It is rare to find something like this where the author talks so openly about mental health topics and brings their own experience to the forefront. It isn’t sugarcoated, nor is is romanticized. Tarzian doesn’t dance around the uglier parts of mental health struggles, he puts them on full display in a way that reminds us that grief is necessary, but grief is ugly, painful, and at times all consuming.
I think it’s funny that a book about Lucifer losing his tea kettle might just be the most real piece of literature that I’ve read.
September 2, 2022
There are books written to entertain, there are books written to explore a theme, and then there are books that exist for the author to bare their soul.
This book is an example of the last category. Yes there is a forest of phallic snakes, there is clever wordplay, and surreal, beautiful imagery, but at the heart of the book is a searing look at trauma and it's lingering impact. The plot of this book does not develop linearly, it evolves according to the authors own emotional experience of writing, unpacking layers of grief in a way that sweeps the reader up. I couldn't help but feel some of my own pain resonate with Luke's while reading.
This experience is brought to a close with a series of essays that more fully explicate the author's reasons for writing the story, and I highly recommend reading them.
A harrowing, but deep and compelling read.
This book is an example of the last category. Yes there is a forest of phallic snakes, there is clever wordplay, and surreal, beautiful imagery, but at the heart of the book is a searing look at trauma and it's lingering impact. The plot of this book does not develop linearly, it evolves according to the authors own emotional experience of writing, unpacking layers of grief in a way that sweeps the reader up. I couldn't help but feel some of my own pain resonate with Luke's while reading.
This experience is brought to a close with a series of essays that more fully explicate the author's reasons for writing the story, and I highly recommend reading them.
A harrowing, but deep and compelling read.
February 15, 2025
While A Cup of Tea at the Mouth of Hell started as a hilarious, snarky story about Lucifer and his stolen tea kettle, it quickly morphed into a deeply personal and relatable soul-baring on the topic of trauma and grief. It was both hard to read and hard to put down, in all the best ways. It's quirky and trippy (there's a dick forest...), but this is a story about far more than just the plot.
Read so you can laugh, cry, and remind yourself what it means to be human.
9/10
5/5 ⭐️
Read so you can laugh, cry, and remind yourself what it means to be human.
9/10
5/5 ⭐️
January 6, 2024
This is an amazing look into Luke’s life and his thoughts. The story is amazing! I am still in tears as I write this.
Luke is an amazing person and always brings such joy and happiness to everyone he comes in contact with. I know his mom is proud of him for all his accomplishments. I am lucky to be able to call Luke my friend!
Luke is an amazing person and always brings such joy and happiness to everyone he comes in contact with. I know his mom is proud of him for all his accomplishments. I am lucky to be able to call Luke my friend!
February 7, 2023
Gathering my thoughts and forming a cohesive review for this book is a difficult task. The weight and profundity of A Cup Of Tea At The Mouth Of Hell, is juxtaposed by its brevity and small page count. It is also a difficult book to review because each and every reader will interpret and be affected by this book in differing ways. But here follows my thoughts and reaction, nonetheless.
A Cup Of Tea At The Mouth Of Hell is a heart-breaking, deeply profound meditation of grief and pain in all its facets. Laced with absurdist concepts, cutting humour and moments of revelation and lucidity, this story hit me in a way I never expected. Author Luke Tarzian lays his soul bare for 90 and I can only applaud and relate. I lost my dad to leukaemia nearly 25 years ago and there were moments in this book that floored me, lines that hit me in a place that I had almost forgotten I had been too. Places that I knew I had to go back to in my grief and in that sense, this read was deeply cathartic for me.
Grief is an abstruse, complex, kaleidoscopic emotion that comes and goes when it pleases, regardless of where you are or what you are doing, regardless of whether you want to cope with it that day. Luke’s anger, rage, depression and feeling of loss permeates through the story, and underlies the thematic and symbolic nature of the tale, pouring from the page like tears.
The story itself follows Stoudemire McCloud, the secretary to Lucifer (Or has he preferred, The Morning Star) and their quest to find the missing kettle to make a cup of tea. What follows is a tragic, fantastically surreal yet cathartic, exploration of loss, its overwhelming nature and how it affects us.
I find myself connecting with this book in a way I never expected, laughing out loud to a scene involving debaucheries between archangels and cherubs, to several outpourings of pain and anguish that had tears rolling down my cheeks. I realised that, at times, I had, or still do, experience what Luke does even 25 years on, as he conveys his grief either directly or allegorically.
As heavy as the themes are, Luke writes with a whimsical pen and his prose is delightful to read. At times lyrical, other times searing with an underlying rage of loss, his words seep into your very soul, making this a deeply personal piece of writing that I feel honoured to have read. Fiction has the unique power of channelling ones deepest and darkest pain and to have that shared and connect with it, is palpable, unforgettable, and profound.
There are some short essays at the end of this book, which are also deeply personal and echo Luke’s grief from a contextual point of view but are no less hard hitting. Once again, I found a real connection with his words and memories surfaced of how I coped or didn’t cope with the death of my dad for the first few years. I really appreciated reading these essays and they really emphasised the importance of memory and how that is indelibly linked with grief and pain. That one song that you can’t listen too because it unearths a pain you aren’t willing to suffer, or a place or meal that will forever be associated with someone you love who is no longer there. It plays havoc with your day to day life at times.
I feel your pain Luke and I join you in solidarity over a hot cup of tea.
A Cup Of Tea At The Mouth Of Hell is a heart-breaking, deeply profound meditation of grief and pain in all its facets. Laced with absurdist concepts, cutting humour and moments of revelation and lucidity, this story hit me in a way I never expected. Author Luke Tarzian lays his soul bare for 90 and I can only applaud and relate. I lost my dad to leukaemia nearly 25 years ago and there were moments in this book that floored me, lines that hit me in a place that I had almost forgotten I had been too. Places that I knew I had to go back to in my grief and in that sense, this read was deeply cathartic for me.
Grief is an abstruse, complex, kaleidoscopic emotion that comes and goes when it pleases, regardless of where you are or what you are doing, regardless of whether you want to cope with it that day. Luke’s anger, rage, depression and feeling of loss permeates through the story, and underlies the thematic and symbolic nature of the tale, pouring from the page like tears.
The story itself follows Stoudemire McCloud, the secretary to Lucifer (Or has he preferred, The Morning Star) and their quest to find the missing kettle to make a cup of tea. What follows is a tragic, fantastically surreal yet cathartic, exploration of loss, its overwhelming nature and how it affects us.
I find myself connecting with this book in a way I never expected, laughing out loud to a scene involving debaucheries between archangels and cherubs, to several outpourings of pain and anguish that had tears rolling down my cheeks. I realised that, at times, I had, or still do, experience what Luke does even 25 years on, as he conveys his grief either directly or allegorically.
As heavy as the themes are, Luke writes with a whimsical pen and his prose is delightful to read. At times lyrical, other times searing with an underlying rage of loss, his words seep into your very soul, making this a deeply personal piece of writing that I feel honoured to have read. Fiction has the unique power of channelling ones deepest and darkest pain and to have that shared and connect with it, is palpable, unforgettable, and profound.
There are some short essays at the end of this book, which are also deeply personal and echo Luke’s grief from a contextual point of view but are no less hard hitting. Once again, I found a real connection with his words and memories surfaced of how I coped or didn’t cope with the death of my dad for the first few years. I really appreciated reading these essays and they really emphasised the importance of memory and how that is indelibly linked with grief and pain. That one song that you can’t listen too because it unearths a pain you aren’t willing to suffer, or a place or meal that will forever be associated with someone you love who is no longer there. It plays havoc with your day to day life at times.
I feel your pain Luke and I join you in solidarity over a hot cup of tea.
February 20, 2024
Because it is so personal in nature, Luke Tarzian's poignantly introspective and metaphorical novelette A Cup of Tea at the Mouth of Hell is a difficult book to rate with stars or critique in the traditional sense, but I can say with confidence that it is beautifully written, packed with raw and honest emotion, gut-wrenching, powerful, and, ultimately, life-affirming.
Written as a response to the passing of his mother after a fight with leukemia, Tarzian has produced a dreamlike semi-autobiographical piece that helped him cope with his grief. It starts out as a lighthearted story about how Lucifer, the Morning Star, lost his prized tea kettle, but it drifts into extremely heavy material about loss, depression, and the struggle to move forward. This short book contains disturbing imagery and themes, so be warned. Not my usual kind of read, but I highly recommend this novelette for its honesty, its courage, and for the stunning beauty of its heartfelt prose.
Written as a response to the passing of his mother after a fight with leukemia, Tarzian has produced a dreamlike semi-autobiographical piece that helped him cope with his grief. It starts out as a lighthearted story about how Lucifer, the Morning Star, lost his prized tea kettle, but it drifts into extremely heavy material about loss, depression, and the struggle to move forward. This short book contains disturbing imagery and themes, so be warned. Not my usual kind of read, but I highly recommend this novelette for its honesty, its courage, and for the stunning beauty of its heartfelt prose.
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