If you want to just cut right to the chase this is basically just Supernatural but with women. However, as someone who likes Supernatural but hates that they kill off all their female characters, this is right up my alley and I know a lot of other people who feel similarly.

I really liked the world building with this. The demons in this universe are in a kind of mafia with nine different circles corresponding to Dante's nine circles of hell and they each run different businesses [strip clubs, casinos, bookkeeping, etc] that correspond with the sin for each one of their circles. I thought this was really cool and liked watching them interact with the different levels of demons throughout the book. There's also some stuff from other mythologies thrown in but it's a bit of a spoiler so I don't want to go too much into it, but all of it was very interesting and well done.

If i had to give one criticism I would say it was a little bit long. There's a lot happening so it doesn't necessarily feel like it's dragging on but I was very aware when I was reading it that it was a 400+ page book whereas sometimes you are reading a long book but it feels like it flies by. Still it was a fun read and I liked the relationship between the sisters and I definitely am planning to pick up the next book when it comes out.

If the TV show Supernatural had female protagonists and was in book format, this would be it. I used to be a big fan of the show, and I have to say that the similarities are uncanny. Both deal with family members who have gone missing on a "hunting" trip, and involve siblings coming together to discover the truth and fight supernatural creatures along the way. There are some unique elements, like the fact that Aiva can scry and make protection spells, but not much else. Was this an interesting read? Yes. It was fast-paced and action-packed. However, it was just too similar to the show for me to appreciate it as its own unique entity. Even the characters themselves resembled the Winchester brothers. And while I have no problems with authors being influenced by other ideas/stories, this was a little too much for me. Since it was still written well and exciting, I'm going to give this a 2/5/5 stars, rounded up to 3.

The book reminded me a lot of Supernatural the TV show. There was a lot of action, but I never felt connected to the characters.

Descent into the Ninth Circle of Hell
When I saw the synopsis of this book, I was fairly excited to begin reading it since I’m definitely a sucker for books about kick ass female demon hunters! The book had all the usual ingredients for success in this genre: strained family relationships due to the need to hide the fact that you hunt demons from the rest of the world, budding romance, sins of the parents coming back to haunt the children, and the possibility of a plot by the underworld to take over the human world. But,Image result for Angry Wolf Fire Wolf GIF unfortunately, it failed to deliver for roughly the first 75% of the book, leaving me unsure if I’m done with the series, or if I want more.

First, let me discuss my criticisms. Honestly, it’s hard to say what exactly turned me off to the book for the first three quarters of the story. The characters were not unlikable, although they were somewhat one dimensional. Personally, I find overly predictable characters to be annoying…I like to be surprised and to see the dual nature present in all of us reflected in both protagonists and antagonists (barring demons since they are evil by definition). These characters are, for the most part, very one-sided, making it difficult to develop any affection towards them. As for the plot, it flowed well, but lacked the edge- of- my- seat suspense that I am used to with this type of book, up until almost the end. The last 25% of the book however, was fast paced and intense, if somewhat predictable (mostly because the characters themselves are so predictable).

Despite my criticism regarding the characters and lack of early action, the book did have some very redeeming qualities. The story had a well detailed back story, about why each of the Image result for the morrigan triple goddess gifcharacters feels the way they do about their role as demon hunters, and about how the damned conduct their business on earth. Tala’s and Aiva’s battle against the various representatives of the nine circles of hell was well done, with each playing a specific role in the advancement of the story and the reader’s understanding of the relationships among Tala, Aiva, and the missing Hartley. The sister’s relationship if a crucial element of the story, pairing well with the use of Irish mythology, to put a fresh spin on the genre: each of the sisters represents an important aspect of the mythological balance needed to defeat evil. Because I like Irish mythology, this aspect was particularly appealing, and is one of the reasons I may read future books in the series, since I’m curious how that angle will be developed, given the rather violent conclusion to the book. The other reason I may come back for more? Romance finally shows up for Aiva with another demon hunter…and the chemistry was just intriguing enough, that I want to see what happens next.

All in all, this is a fun book for the season, full of demons, magic, and mythology. Happy Samhain!

The story follows three demon hunting sisters, one of whom has gone missing under mysterious circumstances. The remaining two now have to set aside their distances and face the supernatural to get her back - when I read the synopsis for this novel I was sure it was just the thing for me! I thought that this book would be more focused on the mythology and supernatural aspects, particularly the circles of hell (as the title suggests!) but it was more of an action novel than anything else.

I struggled to engage with the writing style or connect with either of the sisters as their dialogue and interactions didn't flow naturally, so their actions didn't make sense to me as we went along. They didn't really fit into their surroundings and it raised the same issues as the Henry Cavil Superman film... wondering why nobody was really bothered about the collateral damage and body count they were racking up as they went along in Ireland.

This is one of those picks that you know other people will really enjoy, but misses the mark entirely for you!

When I first started this book, I was admittedly a little put off by it. I’m a huge Supernatural fan, and the first chapter or so had me wanting to go watch the season premiere and see how similar the dialogue was, because the initial premise of both is pretty much the same. Once I got through the beginning of the story, though, it became different enough that I wasn’t as annoyed by the similarities.

Tala and Aiva are interesting characters, though I don’t feel like we get to go as deep into Tala as a character as we do Aiva. We get more of Aiva’s backstory and more information about events that have shaped her into who she is. Tala is a little more one-dimensional, but still understandable as a character, though I’d love to see more of her thoughts and/or background (and maybe we will get this in subsequent installments).
The story itself is told in a series of chapters that are more like vignettes or episodes of a TV show, and I really liked this. It allowed me to put together the pieces of the mystery on my own and also kept the story moving forward quickly. The fast pace is honestly I think what sucked me in despite my misgivings about the similarities to Supernatural. It got me invested enough to want to actually sit and finish the book, and the story was really interesting. Tala and Aiva encounter a lot of interesting monsters and villains and the thrilling fight scenes translate really well to the page, which I feel like doesn’t always work in action-oriented stories.

Overall, this was a well-paced interesting read. The two sisters and their relationship were well written, and their quest to find their other sister is a great adventure with interesting monsters. I also really loved the setting of Dublin, because I’m kind of obsessed with Ireland. If you like shows like Supernatural, this book is right up your alley. It’s a fun read, but tense and heartbreaking at times. I’m really interested to see how the next installment goes.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Note:
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I will say that while I generally enjoyed this book, it wasn't as enthralling as I had hoped. I had to constantly force my attention back to it time and again.

I enjoy some of the banter between the sisters but was consistently confused as to which sister was which (who was missing, who is the one who walked away from the family business and who stayed? Who left a demon in a chalk circle?)

That I had to continuously go back and clarify was disruptive enough.

The action was ok, but again, confusing and I didn't find myself dying to read the next book.

Tala, Aida and Hartley Morgenstern grew up with learning to do demon hunting and magic under their mother's teaching. Tala becomes the demon hunter. Alva wants nothing to do with it. Hartley also hunts demons. When Hartley disappears looking for her father. Tala finds Aiva and has her help find Hartley. Will they figure out where to find Hartley is? Will they be able to rescue her?

The author has written a fascinating story about three girls who don't know who their fathers are. Each girl had the same mother but different fathers. At times, the novel is creepy due to their adventure to find their sister. This is more than a book about demon hunters, it is also about family relationships. It's an interesting novel that has been written. Enjoy!

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a fun, quick read. I really enjoyed the relationship between the sisters. I can see where other reviewers make connections to similarities to Supernatural and I do think this book is a good read for fans of that show.

Initial Thoughts: Sick-looking cover, and a vague title were enough to draw me in to read the synopsis. The synopsis (read below) gives the impression of Dante’s Inferno meets Clare’s Shadowhunters series meets Supernatural. The one thing that drew me in was the idea that there were three protagonists, all sisters, and I could tell that they were some bad-ass ladies. I think the thing that really pushed me over the edge to request this book was that because the protagonists were all related, romance wasn’t going to be the main driving force of the story. This in particular is refreshing because so many YA fantasy books feature romance as a major plot device. Not to say that I dislike romantic books, because I do, but this felt like a nice break from the norm.

SYNOPSIS FROM GOODREADS:

Tala Morgenstern lives for the hunt, embracing her heritage as a demon hunter. When her younger sister, Hartley, disappears while on the trail of her long-lost father, Tala must seek the help of her other sister Aiva, who has turned her back on the underworld of magic and hunting. Suspecting demonic involvement, Tala and Aiva race to find Hartley before she can be claimed by hell.

Their search takes them deeper into the bowels of Dublin’s criminal underground, where the gangs are led by demons, and the currency is souls. With each Circle of hell bringing new dangers, and new revelations about their own place in the demon hunting world, Tala and Aiva have to rely on each other if they are to stand a chance of fighting their way to the Ninth Circle, and the demon lord who is waiting for them.

MY REVIEW OF…

…The Plot and Pace:

I find that the plot of a story, ironically, isn’t what I like best, it’s the characters that really get me through a book. Luckily for me, The Ninth Circle had both excellent characters and an engaging plot. From the very start of the story, the action was present. The first few pages established the problem (missing sister) and an end-game (find her and bring her home). There were no glaring plot-holes that broke immersion, and I had very little trouble with maintaining focus. The plot twist felt a little obvious to me, and I had pegged the ending (sort of) before I reached the half-way point, but it was no less satisfying.

…The Characters and Relationships:

Tala and Aiva were my favorite part of this story, and in particular, how they interacted with each other. Their relationship was truly dynamic, archetypal rivalry and repressed feelings were obvious, and were only made more visceral by the stress brought on by the events of the story. The hallmark of this story is the ride-or-die mentality between Tala and Aiva no matter how at-odds they may be. Aiva, in spite of the suffering that the Nighthunter lifestyle brought her, she returned to that life when Tala and Hartley needed her, with almost no hesitation. And Tala, who has dedicated her entire life to hunting demons, faces a life-altering crisis that threatens everything she knows to be true, comes out the other side stronger and more steadfast than before. Even Hartley, who was absent for the majority of the story is painted in a clear light, her characterization concretely defined. Harland did beautifully in crafting complex, relatable characters, and wrapping them in a story where they shine in a light all their own, instead of being squeezed into a box of stereotypes.

…The Writing Style and Mechanics:

The e-ARC I was provided contained a few errors that may have been the result of data lost during transition from pdf to ePUB. Aside from that, Harland’s writing was rich with imagery, grit, and strength of character, Harland effortlessly makes her characters shine.

…The Message(s) and Theme(s):

The Dangers of Corruption: In a world where the criminal underworld is run by demons, and each circle of hell has jurisdiction over a different sector of crime, humans lose not only their money when they gamble, buy drugs, or sell their bodies; they lose their soul too.

The Bond Between Family: Tala and Aiva are testaments to the strength of the bond between family. When you share so much of your life with another person (or people), as you do with your family, it’s not surprising to see such a strong connection between siblings.

Courage in the Face of Danger: When faced with demons, both literal and metaphorical, it is easy to want to give up and hide–or even run–away. And being afraid is not weakness, being able to admit fear in the face of adversity is the very definition of courage.

OVERALL:

This story is one about family, about strength, and about compassion. Harland makes it clear that strength is not just physical, but emotional as well. With a plot that has both purpose and clarity, characters that are real and complex, and themes that are ubiquitous and important, The Ninth Circle is a story of family, of hardship, of tragedy, and of hope that will make you laugh, cry, and sigh with a mixture of disappointment and exasperation. I enjoyed watching the Morgenstern girls face both the demons of hell and their own internal demons and come out the other side stronger and more resolute than ever.

“As Tala stared at the name, she tried to figure out how she felt. It was something she’d never had to do before. She always knew what she was feeling. She didn’t have questions about herself. But now, she was unsure. There was sadness, obviously, and pain, and regret, and several other things that were so tangled up she couldn’t identify them. She wondered if Ava was experiencing the same thing, and if she would explain it. Aiva was better at things like feelings. But as she looked at her sister, Tala couldn’t bring herself to ask.”

Unfortunately, I decided to not finish this book.

What started like a strong, albeit a bit unoriginal story (due to the blatant similarities to Supernatural) quickly dissipated afteer a few chapters of cliches, recycled plots and deus ex machinas.

Personally, I could not connect to the characters, which sadly was a deal-breaker. With the premise and plot being quite commonplace, character development is where this book really had a chance to shine. I did not like Aiva and Tala from the start, especially due to the weak attempt to create tension based on them being estranged. Judging by the information provided about Hartley, I doubt I would like her any better. I definitely did not care if she ends up being found or not.

All in all, this may be interesting for someone who hasn't seen Supernatural and doesn't mind some tropes.

If I read fiction its generally the fantasy/supernatural genre.
I haven't read any in a while but I wanting a bit of escapism I chose this book.
I absolutely loved it it was fast paced and action packed and although pretty descriptive violence throughout due to killing multiple demons and other beings it never felt gratuitous and the couple of times when it was were integral parts of the character's journey.
Sometimes you read a book and you think about it when you're not reading it and take every opportunity to read a bit more.
This is one of those books! I read it in 4 days.
The writing and pace of the story reminded of a mixture of two of my favourite authors gena showalter and karen marie moning.
I will definitely be reading the next in the series when it is available!

Well. This whole thing was eerily familiar.

You may see people compare this book to Supernatural but with women, and honestly, they’re not wrong. Filling the role of Dean Winchester is Tala Morgenstern, a demon hunter who is all about the business, about family, who’s got a foul mouth, a chip on her shoulder, and a sacrificial streak. Sam Winchester is played by Aiva Morgenstern, the sister who tried to get out of the business and lead a normal life, who gets dragged back in after the third sister, Hartley (Castiel? An OC?), goes missing. Like Sam, Aiva’s secretive, unsure of herself, often gets in over her head, and tries to steer Tala’s morality toward something more to Aiva’s liking. The sisters even have an old family friend, a once-hunter, to help guide them whenever they need help, like Bobby does for the Winchesters.

Normally, I might have given this book a pass, but I found a free copy of it on NetGalley, and I do like stories of demons as antagonists. But those stories are a dime a dozen and tend to blend together in terms of unoriginality. However, The Ninth Circle, Book 1: Fire seemed to offer an interesting twist: demons engaged in organized crime, and if that ain’t my speed, I don’t know what is.


C. A. Harland presents an earthbound version of Dante’s Inferno where demons, fae, sirens, and other paranormal creatures are organized into Nine Circles, each representing the nine circles of hell and crimes associated with them. For example, the Fourth Circle deals with demonic creatures running casinos and other gambling dens, promoting the sin of greed. I was looking forward to the sisters exploring these circles, going deeper and deeper until they actually reached hell and rescued Hartley. The reality was… much less exciting and original.

The book is split up into twelve parts, and they are extremely episodic—another reason for the Supernatural comparison. Tala and Aiva get a lead, they go and investigate said lead, they get into a world of trouble, demon-fighting ensues, the girls win, they find some small clue about Hartley’s disappearance or their own developing powers, cue next episode.

After a few parts, I saw the repetition and started to skim, only reading the dialogue—and I never skim. I’m an incredibly visual reader. I like reading every word and retaining it, so the book plays out like a film in my head. With this book, I didn’t have to do that because everything significant going on plot-wise was in the dialogue.

Overall, this book wasn’t terrible. I’d just experienced the characters and story-style through another medium before, and the ending itself was extremely anti-climactic. All through the book, the sisters were building up to a confrontation with a Ninth Circle demon lord named Furfur. (I know, right? Ridiculous name. He could’ve been a cool antagonist, but I could not take him seriously with a name like that, and his full name, Furcifur, wasn’t much better.)

Furfur killed their expert demon-hunting mother and ended up also being the demon holding Hartley in his grasp. Once Tala and Aiva finally got there, the conflict was solved far too easily, and the twist with Hartley was disappointing and unbelievable. I wasn’t at all bothered about what happened to her.

Neither, it seemed, were the sisters. In fact, they were emotionally distant about their actions and potential consequences throughout the story. The worst example of this was with Tala when she accidentally killed a human, her first ever, because she mistook him for a demon. What was supposed to morally shake her was played off a few pages later as an “Oh well!” moment and was never brought up again. The little sympathy I had for her died and never came back after that, hurting my investment in all three sisters’ journeys because, after all, if nothing has consequences, then nothing really matters, right?

Unremarkable though it turned out to be, I’m glad I gave this one a shot. I do think it has the potential to be a better story, one without so many Supernatural comparisons, and maybe that’s what the author has planned for future books. Since I didn’t click with Aiva and Tala like I once did with Sam and Dean, though, I’ll be giving those a pass.

"You don't really think about how hard it is to kill a demon, until you realize how easy it is to kill a man.

The Ninth Circle, Book 1: Fire is a fast-moving, action-packed, intense novel. It is overflowing with the supernatural and paranormal, full of surprises, and plot twists that drive the reader into wanting the next book right this moment.

Set in Dublin, Ireland, three sisters, Aiva, Tala, and Hartley are Nighthunters. Better known as the Morgensterns sisters, these demons and other evil-natured creature hunters are involved in a network of Nighthunters. Even if they are widely known for their success in the industry, the three sisters haven't always seen eye to eye.

When Hartley goes missing into the circles--the local demon-run gang rings, Tala is desperate to get her back. Enlisting the help of her somewhat estranged sister Aiva, the two embark on a long and difficult journey into the dark recesses of rings. Along the way, the two encounter all sorts of beings: sirens, harpies, vampires, werewolves, and of course, demons. What they don't expect is what they learn along the way; the truth about their parents, themselves, and their sister.

The three sisters, all very different from one another, create an interesting atmosphere which crosses the introvert with the extroverted, as well as the bold with the meek. Each possessing their own nature and talents, their roles play into a much larger game than they could have imagined.

"Nemain, Badb, and Macha. Those were their names in the old world. They were said to be sisters and were represented by a wolf, a crow, and a deer."

It's clear that a book that is about demons has to do with religion. Hell is a very real thing to the characters in the book. But so are the mythical Trinity-like beings. I definitely didn't like the fact that the Trinity was reduced to a mythological level. Being the ultimate enemy of Hell and its residents, a wolf, a crow, and a deer (more figuratively speaking here) hardly seem valiant enough opponents. Yes, this is fiction, and I did appreciate the creative license behind the idea. However, many of the details behind these beings were left in the dark, and I am expecting a full explanation later on in the series.

In tandem with my issues with the lack of information with the "Trinity" figure, much of the plot seemed to be lost in the action. Rather than there being fluid and steady arcs of plot and character building, decreases and plateaus in the plot's fruition were covered up by another crazy fight-scene. I will be looking forward to more detail and revelation, than action in the books to come.

Vulgarity: Too much for my liking.
Sexual content: Some, but without any detail.
Violence: Quite a bit.

3.5 stars.

A big thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Ninth Circle, Book: 1 Fire by C.A. Harland is a unique take on the supernatural. The plot revolves around three sisters, the differing levels (circles) of Hell and a Demon Lord. I'm not a huge YA fan but the entertainment value of the story is definitely not lacking. I felt there was real consideration in naming the main characters in their relation to their fathers, until I got to Furfur. I think I missed the correlation along the way. That aside, I give this a solid four stars for the entertainment value alone. Thank you to netgalley for providing a copy of this book for review.

All in all a good read, if you like that sort of thing. I saw many reviewers calling it the female version of Supernatural, and I couldn't agree more. There is the more reckless sister that embraced the life of the demon hunter, and the younger one that wanted out, to pursue a more 'regular' life but personal matters draw her back into the old ways. Each chapter is like a new episode bringing a new monster/demon.
For me lacking a bit of a romance, or something personal apart from the sisterly bond.

This was a solid book and a first in a series. Tala is a nighthunter and when one of her sisters, Hartley, disappears she is on the hunt to find her. Aiva, Tala's other sister, and Tala start hunting in Dublin's underground following the path Hartley took. They start in the First Circle and make their way up.

This was a decent story, a lot of world building and character development. It was just okay for me though. I am not sure if it was the story line or the writing but it did not grab my interest the way I had hoped. It was entertaining though and maybe a younger reader would have enjoyed it a little more.

As more people have said, this book reminded me of the TV show 'Supernatural'. I enjoyed the characters and the story, and I liked the writing. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

I was super excited to read this book, but unfortunately it fell far short of my expectations. I love bad ass girls kicking some demon butt, and I love PNR and UF, be it YA or not. Case in point would be the Mortal Instruments series. This book features the Morgenstern sisters, who are Nighthunters, and one has protective runes tattooed on her, as they battle fae, vampires, demons, etc. Hmmmm......I did think trying to fit in the 9 circles/ Inferno was interesting, but for me the progression through the Circles felt forced. The characters, especially the sisters, felt very flat to me. In fact the entire book didn't have the emotion and tension I wanted. Lastly, and this may just be me, but the big bad is named.....FurFur? I kept seeing a jackalope in my mind....