Title: The Ninth Circle: A Horror Novel
Author: Luke Walker
Publisher: Wicked House Publishing
Paperback/Hardback/eBook: eBook (Kindle)
Fiction/Non-Fiction: Fiction
Genre: Horror
Rating: ⭐⭐


Trigger Warnings:
Sexual Violence/Rape
Nuclear Weapons
Pandemic Talk

Thank you so much to Wicked House Publishing for providing me with this ARC via NetGalley in return for my honest review.

I was drawn to this book initially by the description, and let's be honest - the cover is pretty rad as well. I love a good apocalypse/rapture/end times story. I was also pleasantly surprised to find the epigraph of the novel is a passage from Dante's Inferno, which furthered my assumption that the book was going to be some sort of Hellscape filled with demons and fire.

The concept of the book is actually really cool. The first chapter was written very well and really grabbed my attention, but as I got further into the book I just felt like I was reading a first draft. There was little to no character development (that includes the demons) which left me feeling like there was no protagonist of the story. Most interactions between characters are spent asking each other what they did before the apocalypse, or yelling at each other and apologizing immediately. The writing was extremely redundant, causing the storyline to feel stagnant. As much as I love gore, I felt like the author put way too much into the book without properly building up to the events.

I really wanted to like this book, but it was extremely hard for me to read.

Horror isn't usually my preferred genre, but this book hit me harder than I thought it would. It wasn't because of what was hidden in the dark, but more because the reality of nuclear weapons dropping is stronger now than it ever has been.

The book was easy to read, well written and the characters were all people you got to know well.

A great book... But I don't want to read it again. The fear is too strong.

In The Ninth Circle, a horror novel by Luke walker we meet Steven and his wife Amy who are visiting his childhood village and discussing whether they should move there he wants to move there more than she does but while in the local diner/pub they hear what sounds like a bomb and know instantly something is wrong they all head to the basement it’s Steve and his wife Rachel two sisters the pub owner John and his wife and some regulars. When they come out the village of Buxley looks unlike anything Steven remembers from his childhood. The buildings are the same except everyone is in chaos mode, except for those who are spontaneously combusting while black shadows crawl all over them and then there are those who go crazy don’t feel pain and fight until they can’t fight anymore. The latter or the ones that sound is the scariest to me but on with the review the best bet is to get to the woods so they can try and head out to the country but it seems every time they move from one place to another they lose one of their group and this is after gaining some at the grocery store. Everywhere they turn their something to fear I read this book a few weeks ago but totally remember that Stephen emerges as a true hero and someone the group can depend on despite his own inner turmoil and the ending is a total mic drop and comes out of left field because OMG I totally didn’t see that coming groups of the strange folks find them and have their own demands will they make it to safety and if they do what did they have to give up. I do believe this is going to be the first book in the series but then again I DK this is not my usual type of book but I must admit I found it hard to put down I really thoroughly enjoyed this book I love horror but world devastation it’s not something I look for in my reading but I’m still glad I read this one if there is a second book I will read it because I do like Stephen and Rachel, The grocery store owner and his nephew and one of the two sisters I cannot remember the one I dislike I just know she is bossy and says the most ridiculous things are either way this is a great book and one I definitely recommend if you’re a big on sci-fi end of the world scenarios you will definitely like this book I am baffled as to the low rating I seen for the book because as someone who has read the book I just don’t know what to say about that that’s ridiculous this was a really great book or at least that’s my humble opinion. I want to thank the publisher the author Annette Galli for my free art copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

The Ninth Circle: A Horror Novel by Luke Walker is a gruesome horror story set in a post apocalyptic world where the darkest creatures are taking over the Earth.

The book begins with Sam and his wife Rachel at a bar, when a nuclear blast hits. They seek refuge in the basement of the bar with other survivors. When they finally get up the courage to go up stairs, they begin to discover the devastation that has occurred throughout England.

“This is the Emergency Broadcast Service. This country has been attacked with nuclear weapons. I repeat: this country has been attacked with nuclear weapons. Seek shelter immediately. Do not leave your homes or places of business. Do not attempt to reach loved ones. Do not travel in your cars. Take shelter and await further instruction.”

The reports on the shortwave radio suggest staying in place, but this bunch of survivors decide to go out and see if they can help others. Things quickly go downhill as they begin to see just how devastated the country has become.
“Nothing good here, Sam. This is all the way inside us. This is where we all belong. She smiled. It split her face in two. Her eyes, bleached white, rolled back into her head, and the lines cut deep into her face widened to become pits. This is where we come from and where we’re going. Welcome home.“
They begin to see creatures that instill fear just by looking at them. The worst parts of the depths of the underworld are now walking freely on earth.

The book is graphic and gruesome, relying on the horror of the images the words evoke. The story falls flat for a post apocalyptic story, it relies more on gruesome imagery than a story line. Most of the book is just blood and gore. The story could easily have been a great horrifying story.

This had everything that I was looking for in a horror novel, it had a great overall concept and worked with the characters that I was looking for. It uses the historical elements perfectly and I thought everything worked with the story. Luke Walker wrote a strong story and I thought the demon aspect worked with what was going on.

This was unfortunately a let down. The only thought after finishing is why?! What was the point of this story. The plot was a mess. I would not recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and Wicked House Publishing!

his was an okay read. Something to pass the time but didn't feel like anything more, unfortunately. It personally felt like all of the writing went into the horror scenes and was lackluster outside of that. I wanted to enjoy this book but for some reason, it just didn't catch my attention enough. To me, we were introduced to what seemed like way too many characters at once throughout the first few chapters and that led to confusion as to who was who. And the book had multiple points where things would die down and the writing would get dry. These are the points where I'd feel like not finishing it. It did have vibes reminiscent of The Walking Dead throughout and the ending was pretty interesting

Thank you NetGalley and Wicked House Publishing!

Though the plot may seem far fetched I was on board with it because I love me a good apocalyptic story. The beginning and middle had an excellent build up and the ending just fell flat. There was also very little character development or involvement which made it hard to connect with the characters and the story. Overall I finished The Ninth Circle neither loving it nor hating it.

The basic concept of this book was good. However, the way it was portrayed was not the best. There was no character development, I felt like they were just random people going through a tragic event with no background to them other than some very few basics.

The basic plot of the book is that an atomic bomb attack happens in a little village. The main character, Sam, his wife, Rachael, and a few of his father's old friends survive the attack and set off trying to find other survivors and a potential place to go that hasn't been affected. There is something else they didn't account for and that is this bombing brought unknown creatures of an unknown origin into their world that are terrorizing and killing off the survivors.

There are a lot of components to this book that I simply do not understand how they fit into the main concept. Somehow these creatures are communicating with Sam in his head, there is a random attack on one of the women in the group by a human man with no connection to the creatures at all, it just kind of seemed thrown in there for something to disrupt the characters' plan.

Overall, this book just seemed fragmented without one cohesive plot line with no background on the characters and not much development of them as the story goes on. I can understand why it is categorized in the horror genre, but I didn't feel much of the horror element really shining through. It was not really my type of book.

This was an okay read. Something to pass the time but didn't feel like anything more, unfortunately. It personally felt like all of the writing went into the horror scenes and was lackluster outside of that. I wanted to enjoy this book but for some reason, it just didn't catch my attention enough. To me, we were introduced to what seemed like way too many characters at once throughout the first few chapters and that led to confusion as to who was who. And the book had multiple points where things would die down and the writing would get dry. These are the points where I'd feel like not finishing it. It did have vibes reminiscent of The Walking Dead throughout and the ending was pretty interesting so that pulled it up to a 2.5-3☆.

Thank you to NetGalley and WickedHouse for the ARC in exchange for an honest rate and review.

The Ninth Circle by Luke Walker was an interesting and intriguing thriller.
I was reeled in from the very beginning and found myself unable to put it down.

Thank You NetGalley and Wicked House Publishing for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Prepare yourself for a thrilling and chilling ride through the depths of the human psyche in Luke Walker's gripping novel, "The 9th Circle." This dark and atmospheric tale delves into the shadows of the mind, exploring the darkest corners of human nature with unflinching honesty and raw intensity.

Walker's writing is sharp and evocative, drawing readers into a world that is both mesmerizing and terrifying. The author's ability to create a sense of foreboding and unease is masterful, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as the story unfolds. From the eerie setting to the complex characters, every aspect of "The 9th Circle" is crafted with precision and skill.

"In the depths of despair, we find our true selves, stripped bare of pretense and facade." This haunting line encapsulates the central theme of the novel, exploring the darker aspects of human nature and the choices we make when faced with our innermost fears and desires.

The characters in "The 9th Circle" are deeply flawed and utterly compelling, each grappling with their own demons and inner turmoil. As the story progresses, their paths intertwine in unexpected ways, leading to shocking revelations and heart-pounding moments that will keep readers guessing until the final page.

While the novel's dark themes and intense atmosphere may not be for everyone, those who enjoy psychological thrillers and dark fiction will find "The 9th Circle" to be a captivating and thought-provoking read. Walker's exploration of the human psyche is both unsettling and illuminating, offering readers a glimpse into the depths of the soul.

Overall, "The 9th Circle" is a gripping and atmospheric novel that will leave a lasting impression on readers. With its richly drawn characters, evocative prose, and spine-tingling suspense, this book is a must-read for fans of psychological fiction and dark thrillers.

If you're looking for a book that will challenge your perceptions and keep you on the edge of your seat, don't miss out on "The 9th Circle" by Luke Walker. It's a four-star gem that is sure to haunt your thoughts long after you've turned the final page.

To be quite honest I was disappointed as the description and cover were amazing. But having a nuclear attack with supernatural themes. I wasn’t quite sure. I struggled a lot with this. I do want to thank Netgalley and the publishing house Wicked House Publishing for allowing me to ARC read this book. I guess I was just expecting something else and I was just caught off guard as well as the writing style was hard to get through at times

The cover is amazing, everything else is a mess. I have no idea why Wicked House Publishing would publish such a book, after some excellent horror novels. Lately they seem to have given up. Luke Walker's book is badly written (no sense of pacing, no room for character development, no explanations given for what's going on, just one dull scene after another), uninspired (shadows moving on their own? that's the best you can come up with as the villains of the piece?), and rather ill-conceived (people moving freely around, on the ground, just after a nuclear holocaust; mentioning radiation once or twice, as an afterthought). What a disappointment.

This book just felt disjointed and lackluster to me. I just didn’t like it at all.

I do want to thank NetGalley and Wicked House publishing for letting me read this book in return of a review.

*Netgalley ARC*
SPOILERS

I have many thoughts on this. The first, a definite pro is that I read this book in one night. It grabbed me from the first chapter and wouldn’t let me put it down. Really because I was waiting to find out what the heck was happening. I don’t feel I ever got a good answer there.

Now for the cons.
1. I really hate not knowing what the black shadows are or why they’re suddenly here. Was what brought them engineered by man or supernatural?
2. I disliked the ending. Why were the shadows fixated on Sam? What tie did he have to them? My ultimate takeaway was that he abandoned the group at the end to save the group. If he would have stayed they’d all be damned but him leaving saved them and he wanted, above all, to save Rachel. But once again, why did they choose Sam to fixate on and become their “king”?
3. Are the shadows the same as the humans massing at the woods and Bob, the old man who kills Eric at the beginning of the book? Are they possessing the humans? It seems that at the start the humans are being “possessed” by the shadows but then the shadows just start appearing on their own? Why the change?
4. Why did the shadows do things like making the human body “one” and taking Naajy’s coat and putting it on the dead child? So much is unexplained.
5. Nothing much happens. This whole book is set (to my understanding) within a 2-3 day period but aside from moving from place to place within the town, fighting off these shadows and having searing interior monologues, not much else happens.

Will I read more from this author? Yes. Do I wish I had more clarity and that more happened within the story? Also Yes.

I wanted to like this really bad. I think the action was good and it did a great job at jumping into it. The premise was interesting and I'm always down for an apocalyptic read. Unfortunately, I just found the writing to be a bit disjointed at times and I couldn't find myself caring about anything that was happening to the characters.

I’ll be honest, I wasn’t really sure how a nuclear attack would tie in any supernatural themes. Even after finishing the book, I still can’t answer that. I mean the horror aspect was spot on- there was a lot of bloody scenes, and the sheer descriptiveness throughout the entire book gave me reader’s anxiety till then end. But I can’t even start to explain the “others”. It may be part of the appeal of the story, similar to Bird Box where we never get a complete understanding of the monsters. But honestly it frustrates me more than anything else. It’s clear from early on that the detonating of the bomb is the catalyst of their rising up, but I’m truly lost on everything else. The ending was especially frustrating for me, as I felt even more lost at how everything came to a finish.
I really appreciated the raw emotions that were consistently portrayed. It not only differentiated everyone’s own personality, but it felt truly authentic and gave a glimpse into how people act when they are pushed in times of insanity. Many choices made sense, and some didn’t. It only begs the question of how truly can you be prepared for disaster? Something that I was not expecting to find much less appreciate was the bond between Sam and Rachel. It was a welcome surprise, and I think it was such a positive spot in such a heavy plot. I think I highlighted way more of their interactions/conversations more than is appropriate.
I felt like the writing was particularly disjointed, especially between Sam’s dialogue, visions and then reality. It makes me wonder if this was done on purpose, to help the reader fully submerge in the environment and feel as lost as the characters were. I will admit that I had to go back quite a few times to the previous paragraph or even the last chapter just so I could understand what I was reading in the moment. I can see the vision, but it just made me even more confused.
All in all, I wasn’t thoroughly impressed with the story. The idea was definitely a unique twist on apocalyptic horror. The execution of the storyline unfortunately had just one too many flaws that prevented me from fully appreciating it.

Bit of a disappointment this.
It starts off well...gets to the action immediately, but really that might be the book's downfall. A guy with his wife in a bar in some town in England when a nuclear strike happens. We don't know why. Some talk about a dispute between China and USSR.
So Sam, that's the guy's name, and his wife, Rachel, get together with some other survivors and try to get to Norwich where they hear on a CB that miraculously still works there might be other survivors.
Except it's not just the nukes. The fire seemed to cause some demonic shadow entities to rise from the depths of the earth and cause mayhem, especially burning anyone they touch to smithereens.
They walk around, seek shelter in a church, where they meet more people and the entities trap them. Sam seems to have some connection with these entities, they talk to him in his head. We're not sure why.
This book could be good...but I felt none of the characters really moved me. Maybe if the author spent some time developing them BEFORE the nukes fell--sort of like what Stephen King did with The Stand, I might care more. But the further I got into this book, the less I really cared. Too many characters, none of them really likeable.

This was an interesting book. The author did well with his settings and characters. Would've loved more descriptions on the evil ones. But it was well written and Ill definitely be picking up future books by this author as well. 4.5 stars.
Vicki Rose- Platinum Book Reviews