Reviewed by: Sue Eaton
TITLE: Sons of Heaven and Hell
SERIES: Hammer Falls
AUTHOR: Tal Frost
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 489 pages
RELEASE DATE: December 12, 2022
BLURB:
Ever since Jin met his demon father, Ashmedai, and noticed how similar they are, he’s been plagued by the idea he’s bad. He can see it in the deceiving effects of his lust-demon eyes, the friendship he ruined with best friend Sam, and in the many, horribly obvious differences between himself and his noble part-angel boyfriend Nate. And now, even his fledgeling ‘good’ magic seems to have vanished – smothered and replaced by something with sinister, evil-feeling intentions…
As animals turn up mutilated in the woods and Ashmedai’s plans to avenge his banishment become clearer, Nate leaves for a place at the oppressive Seminary and Jin begins to spiral – doubting Nate, doubting himself, fighting his own impulses about love, sex, good and evil. But nothing is what he thinks: not the Seminary, not his magic, and certainly not Ashmedai’s plans.
Can Jin overcome his fears about what being ‘good’ enough means in time to save not just himself but all the other people implicated, before his father’s schemes bear their terrible fruit?
REVIEW:
I was happy to dive back into the Hammer Falls series, wondering where the books were going next after the climax of the first book, and I wasn’t disappointed. This book really digs into each of the main characters, their motivations, their emotions, so many teenage angst emotions, their insecurities and jealousy. Set against the weird Seminary, and the ongoing threat from Ashmedai. This is a book that builds and builds towards a thrilling climax.
After Jin and Nate, love conquers all, especially against Demon Fathers, are separated, Nate to go to the Seminary, which feels more prison than school. Jin to stay and continue with mastering his magic. Unfortunately, Jin’s magic is acting up and feels strange, which Jin takes to mean evil. Nate is landed in the Seminary where everyone, teachers included hate and revile him. The sins of his Father coming back to haunt him. It also seems everyone is conspiring to keep Jin and him apart and not communicating.
Jin’s relationship with his group of friends is strained after the events of the last book and his best friend Sam, hasn’t forgiven, or forgotten what happened between Jin and Marshall. Leaving Jin isolated feeling vulnerable and alone.
Against the backdrop of all these emotionally charged situations, supernatural events keep occurring, what do they all mean and who is behind them. The obvious answer is that they are messages from Ashmedia for Jin but is, everything as it seems.
The more Nate is kept away from Jin, the more Nate hides what he is going through from Jin. Insecurities and jealousies from both sides emerge. Jin mends his bridges with his friends and starts to rely on them more and more. The less he interacts with Nate the more he leans on his friends, the closer he gets to Sam and Marshall. The clock is ticking down and you are aware of the impending deadline approaching for everyone. Whilst the relationships of the characters are front and centre, you can’t stop wondering what will happen by the end, who is to be trusted, who has an endgame that no one knows about, what lengths they will go to keep their loved one safe.
I felt so much emotional pain from Nate and Jin, the miscommunication that lay at the heart of their relationship and the fear that they both had to voice their mis-givings and concerns, so much was made of what they thought was happening instead of asking questions to find out what was actually happening.
I really enjoyed this book and didn’t see the ending coming at all, in fact up until pretty much the end, I thought it would be a very different ending. To ignite all those emotions, to litter it with jealousy and half truths and to still have a great ending was a writing feat that I applauded.
RATING: 
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