I wasn't exactly sure what to expect with this book. It was listed as horror, which I enjoy very much. What I got out of it wasn't exactly horror, but a very interesting and visceral violent thrill Ride. The author has a very firm grasp on world-building and character development. I didn't sense any contrivance or "cookie cutting" in the development.

This book put the ideas of sin, Satan and redemption in a kind of new light for me.

in some ways it's very much a good guys versus bad guys with the world as the prize. But not in any kind of black and white way.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and if you're looking for a darkly religious-themed action-filled type of book, I totally suggest it.

The Portal is a bone chilling horror story of what happens when our sins come back for us!

This fast paced story went straight for the action and mayhem from the very beginning! Shouldn’t expect less when the book you’re reading is about the consequences of making deals with the devil! In this bone chilling story you have many points of view and each character has their role to play! That’s what really added to the story!

As each character came into the story it added a sense of mystery as you pieces together what exactly their role was! Now if they have a conversation with the damned himself you were left wondering what debt they owed!

I will say that some events left me speechless and utterly in shock (I’m still trying to get certain scenes out of my mind) but I can not take stars off for that! I knew what I was getting myself into and I knew that sinister events were going to take place and well they did so consider this a warning!

I will say though that I loved how religion came into play! It wasn’t about being the most devout or perfect! It was about what you decided to do! Would you be coerced or would you meet your end to save those around you?

This book is one that will have you on the edge of your seat and though points of view change the author makes it easy enough to follow and keep up with all events as they unfold!

This religious horror was a quick paced, high tension read.

Life is tranquil on the small island of Stone Harbor. Allie Layton has returned from LA to restart her life and escape the pressures of Hollywood. Scott Tackett has taken over his father's hardware store and is ready to settle down. All is well until a mysterious man wearing all black and going by the name of Joey Oates appears. It's obvious to everyone he's the devil. Literally. Now, Scott and Allie must race against the clock to keep Oates from opening a portal to hell and unleashing death and torture on their small community.

This book is fast paced with disturbing scenes of violence. It's a battle of good versus evil where the devil is constantly tempting the characters to give in to their worst desires. The dialogue is realistic, the characters are interesting and I was pleased with the ending. If you enjoy religious horror and don't mind a little gore, this book is the right pick for you.

Note: Trigger warnings are child death and rape.

The Portal is a B feature covered in cheese. Seemingly unashamedly so. It takes the good old devil in a small town premise and utilizes the kitchen sink approach to bring it to life. Or death, technically. So behold…a small island somewhere off the US Atlantic Northern coast where the separation between the good and evil is thin. For some reason it’s only every 300 years that the devil can take advantage of it and bring his troops through. For some reason the devil likes to play dress up while doing so. And in this incarnation he is, hilariously so, a Brooklyner named Joey Oates, gold chain and all. So Joey Oates comes to the island in a black speedboat, of course, and proceeds to collect his debts, the evil souls that are all around to incorporate them in his plans. Turn out quite a few islanders are in his debt, especially the local sheriff. So in the end it’s down to a washed up actress who came back home to recuperate after a cocaine haze of fame and a hardware store owner who came back home to take over the family business to stop Oates in his evil tracks. They’ll have some help, but basically they are the designated heroes here. Enter the kitchen sink approach, what would a story about the evil usually have? Manipulating deals…check, hastily thrown together backstory featuring Vikings…check, witches…throw them in too, make that five virgin witches. Sacrifices…sure, that too. But also, some safe outs, just so our heroes can actually save the day. And so it goes, a very silly story, if you pause to think about it, so try not to pause in reading it. Just kind of go with it. It’s very reminiscent of the old school horror, something maybe from the 80s or 90s, from a lesser publisher, a paperback with a lurid cover. And yet, the writing is surprisingly decent, at least the character writing, which really goes a long way in enhancing the overall enjoyment of the novel. It’s still a long way from what one might call a literary horror and the devil goes by Joey and all that, but it doesn’t take itself too seriously either and neither should you. It’s silly, cheesy and offers plenty of guts and gore and genre prerequisites for the fans and it’s kinda sorta fun in a very undemanding way. So there you go. I’m the first to review this book and I really did try to be generous and objective. Thanks Netgalley.