I would like to thank Perseid Press for providing me with a free electronic ARC of this book, via Netgalley. Although I required their approval, the decision to read this book is my choice and any reviews given are obligation free.

Okay, honesty time… this is one of the DOZENS of books I read sometime last year and never got around to writing a review for. See my post about my year on the couch… Reading was a life saver, writing a review was not. So, apologies for the delay, but here we are. Oh, and I’m Neuro Diverse, so I can read something 10 years ago and chat to someone who has just read the same book and remember it as easily as they do. So my reviews from last year are still valid. Trust me. ;-)

To the review! ‘Doctors in Hell’ is an anthology, where the connecting theme is… doctors in hell. Literally. I mean, yes some of the stories did bleed into each other with sub-themes, but the main one is in the title. As with any anthology I’ve read, there were stories I liked more than others. I refuse to give examples and I refuse to use terms like “good” or “bad” as it’s just my opinion and I don’t want to say a story is bad, just because it wasn’t my thing. Anthologies are one of the only times I am this lenient as I expect to not be a fan of every story… as long as the majority of the stories were enjoyable, then it was a good book.

AND… ‘Doctors from Hell’ was indeed a good book. I loved seeing historical characters, who wouldn’t have met in real life, getting together to deal with a mysterious illness wiping out hell’s residents. With eras relived… sometimes spliced together with eras you’d never think would gel so well, and the ever underlying wonder as to what was happening in hell, who was causing the illnesses (and other things) and why the Doctors were suddenly in such high demand.

If I focus on how enjoyable it was as a whole, it definitely was. To me, it was a unique theme, which made it an even more enjoyable book. Not everyone can write stories about what’s happening in hell and make it so entertaining and unsettling all at once. ;-)

Would I recommend this book to others?

Yes I would. Lovers of anthologies with a difference – check it out. Lovers of many genres will also enjoy ‘Doctors from Hell’ as the genre hodge podge is blended so well that I feel there is something for everyone in there. But, lovers of speculative fiction will probably enjoy it the most. Who doesn’t love a good “what if?” like ‘Doctors in Hell’?

Would I buy this book for myself?

Probably not… but that is because I tend to prefer to borrow anthologies from libraries as a taster box to learn of new authors… if that makes sense? This is not me saying ‘Doctors in Hell’ is a bad book, not worthy of buying. I’m just saying, with my limited physical and electronic bookshelves, I’d rather have the option to borrow it from a library. Saying that, it is also a book I can see myself enjoying again and again… from the library. To me, anthologies and libraries complement each other, so it’s a compliment I see this more as a library book. Hey, I’m weird, okay?

In summary: An enjoyable speculative fiction anthology on hell and what may have happened to the historical people who deserved to be there… and some who didn’t. ;-)