 An epic tale of love, loss, friendship, and survival under the most hellish of conditions
Action-packed and with a strong emotional core and relatable characters, the multi-award-winning, stand-alone prequel to the Hell Holes series of alien invasion novels is a moving story about the power of the human spirit, not merely to survive but to overcome extreme adversity and achieve redemption. If you enjoy science fiction books like The Hunger Games and Divergent that stay with you long after you finish them, you will love Hell Holes: A Slave’s Revenge. A typical Alaskan teenager, Paul’s greatest joy is hunting and fishing with his father. But when alien demons attack his family’s isolated cabin, they shatter Paul’s comfortable life. After killing his father and enslaving Paul, his twin sister, and their mother, the demons teleport their three captives to a desert world in the Demonic Empire. Once on the planet Hell, the captives’ survival is far from certain, and they face one of two terrible fates. They can either live as useful slaves or be immediately slaughtered as food for the merciless demons. With his demon masters demanding their slaves’ absolute obedience to their brutal human overseers, Paul soon learns to hide his burning hatred and desire for revenge behind the stoic expression of a servile slave. But as the years slowly pass, Paul adapts to survive, first as a field slave and then as a gladiator. Will he live long enough to take his revenge, or will Paul’s years of slavery rob him of his will to resist and cost him his humanity? |
Genres
Fiction > Science Fiction > Alien Invasion
Fiction > Science Fiction > Apocalyptic
Fiction > Science Fiction > First Contact
Fiction > Fantasy > Dark Fantasy
Fiction > Fantasy > Paranormal & Urban
Literature & Fiction > Horror
#AlienAbduction #AwardWinning #Canibalism #ComingOfAge #Death #Demon #Gladiator #Hell #Horror #Love #Revenge #ScienceFiction #Slavery #Survival #Torture
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Click one of the following buttons to use PayPal to safely buy an autographed paperback or hardback copy of Hell Holes: A Slave’s Revenge directly from the author. The cost will be $16.99 (PB) or $19.99 (HB) USD plus $3.99 shipping via USPS to US shipping addresses only. If your shipping address is not within the United States, email the author at (donfiresmith@gmail.com) to learn the shipping cost to your country.
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Excerpts
Book Trailer
Awards
Praise
Kirkus Reviews
“Firesmith jam packs his engaging story with otherworldly beasts… The author deftly describes a bleak but colorful hell… An engrossing dystopian thriller with a vibrant, beastly cast.” — Kirkus Reviews Read the complete Kirkus review here.
Midwest Book Review
“Readers receive a powerful, action-packed introduction to the series… Vivid color drawings of these monsters pepper the account… The unexpected injection of wisdom from various sources lends a philosophical tone to this survival story that gives Paul courage as he rises to the position (and dubious privilege) of being a slave that oversees others… Prior series readers will appreciate the attention to detail that flushes out both the invasion specifics and Paul’s youth and coming of age, while newcomers will find Hell Holes a fitting introduction to the books that follow… It’s a riveting read for newcomers and prior fans alike, highly recommended for horror and sci-fi fans, who will enjoy blends of both in a coming-of-age story like few others.” – D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
US Review of Books
“The author’s book blends science fiction with an action-based thriller into an entertaining and exciting read. With the momentum of Independence Day and a setting reminiscent of Total Recall, the novel carries readers through a brutal spacescape where psychological strength is just as vital as physical prowess. Paul is an insightful, strong narrator, and his conversational tone invites readers into the book. Paul’s narration is fast-paced, which also bolsters the action that occurs in the book. What will also attract readers is Paul’s strength in the face of intense adversity, especially as he resolves, “Should the demons dare attempt another invasion, we will be ready.” Readers of dystopian science fiction will appreciate this book, and those looking for a thriller that will keep them quickly turning the pages will need to look no further than this one.” – Nicole Yurcaba, Original review.
BooksShelf.com
“A great addition to the Hell Holes series! A Slave’s Revenge is an adventure – in fact, the whole series is. I fell in love with the first of the series and read all the others in one breath. This book answered so many questions I had, it is a prequel to the series. It was exciting, and I’m glad the author did it. An absolute must-read for the fans of Hell Holes and all the readers who enjoy quality, compelling books.” Original review
Wishing Shelf Editorial Review
“A thrilling fantasy packed full of danger, and with a strong, memorable protagonist. Very enjoyable!” Original Wishing Shelf review
Wishing Shelf Book Awards
“A superbly plotted dystopian thriller with a strong cast of characters. A FINALIST and highly recommended!” Original review
ReadFREE.ly’s October 2022 Book of the Month
“I have never read anything like Donald Firesmith’s Hell Holes: A Slave’s Revenge – and I, like you, am a person who has read a lot of books. But never anything like this. It is a book that is unafraid to present itself as a rip-roaring tale of fantasy adventure, all the while hinting at subcutaneous depths of allegory. It is a book that will simultaneously have you wanting to speed through to its final pages, while also taking your time to chew over every word. … I don’t know if I’ve made it clear how much I loved this book. Cos I really, really did.” Original review
Amy Shannon – Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews
“Firesmith pens a magnificent prequel to his Hell Holes Series. What I like about the story, besides the characters, the ultimate evil alien devils, is there are underlying plots, that are more than just part of the story, they are the story. This author has a great imagination, and I’m glad it’s being shared with stories. It is a very well-written story, and I enjoyed it. It is always a joy to read this author’s stories. A definite attention-grabber, so much I couldn’t put it down. It’s literally out of this world! Action-packed and it takes the reader on a superb journey. This read is more than just words on a page. Hell Holes: A Slave’s Revenge is a definite recommendation by Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews. I look forward to reading many more stories by this author.” Original review
Readers’ Favorite
“Donald Firesmith’s strength as an author lies in his ability to create a cornucopia of races, all of whom are depicted in sketch work art and further described in a character appendix at the end of the novel. The brutality is unabashedly dished out and, as a reader, I really appreciate Firesmith’s courage. Gore is tricky and there is hardly any middle ground between a reader’s tolerance or inability to tolerate what is, without question, torture. This includes children, which it is sometimes easy to forget Sarah and Paul are initially. Paul is resilient from such a young age and to a degree with the potential to embarrass Maximus Decimus Meridius who, in my mind, Paul parallels as a coming-of-age slave turned gladiator, turned revolutionary escape artist, among aliens instead of Romans. Overall, this is a really well-plotted and presented novel that will please those who enjoy witty dialogue, creative characters, and solid underdog stories. Recommended.” Original review
Online Book Club
“I rate this book five out of five stars… Readers who love to read horror, sci-fi, and action-packed books will find this piece interesting and intriguing.” Official Online Book Club review
M. L. Dunker – Author
“I read this prequel as a stand-alone and was sucked into the horror of life on Hell. The world-building was five stars all the way – imaginative monsters, situations that aren’t choices at all, and Paul’s creeping collaboration with the enemy in order to survive… If triumph over really dark and grim is your jam, this book is for you.” Original review
The Chrysalis Books, Reviews, and Everything Written (BREW) Project
“Hell Holes: A Slave’s Revenge is an innovative novel penned by Donald Firesmith. The extensive book is a testament to Firesmith’s immense talent as an author…. Hell Holes: A Slave’s Revenge boasts an excellent cast of characters…. Overall, Hell Holes: A Slave’s Revenge is an amazing read…. [I] recommend Donald Firesmith’s highly engrossing Hell Holes: A Slave’s Revenge to fans of science-fiction, dystopian, fantasy, and survival novels.” Original review
Tony Leslie Duxbury – Author
“An epic story of survival in Hell. Very imaginative and terrifying. Recommended read.” Original review
Book Reviews
Total Reviews from All Sources
Read all 69 reviews. (4.7 Stars)
- Amazon* (39 Reviews, 4.6 Stars) US-28, IN-11, UK-5, CA-2, and AU-0
- BookBub (6 Reviews, 5 Ratings, 5.0 Stars)
- Goodreads (55 Reviews, 59 Ratings, 4.8 Stars)
Quotes from the Book
- “One only truly fails to succeed if one fails to try. Anything more, no matter how small it might seem, is a partial success.”
Author’s Commentary
After writing the Hell Holes trilogy, which takes place over a time frame of only about two weeks, I wanted to write a story that followed the main character over multiple years. This would allow me to examine how he would evolve and change after spending so much time under such hellish conditions. I also wanted to do some serious world building to examine demon culture and the environment of the planet Hell.
Publishing Information
Publisher: Magical Wand Press
Edition: First edition
Publication Date: August 2021
Language: English
Pages: 455
Words: 105,000
Size: 5×8
Formats
Hell Holes: A Slave’s Revenge is available in the following formats:
| Format | Source |
| eBook (.epub) | |
| eBook (.epub) | |
| eBook (.pdf) | Not Available |
| Paperback | |
| Hardback | |
| Audiobook | |
Cataloging in Publication (CIP) Data Block
Name: Firesmith, Donald.
Title: Hell Holes: A Slave’s Revenge / by Donald Firesmith.
Description: First edition. | Pittsburgh : Magical Wand Press, 2021. | Series: Hell Holes, Volume 4. | Summary: When demonic aliens kill his father and teleport 15-year-old Paul Chapman, his sister, and mother to Hell as slaves, he learns just how far he’ll go to survive, get revenge, and regain his freedom. | Audience: Adult. | Language: English.
Identifiers: ISBN 979-8497552799 (Hardback – Amazon KDP) | ISBN 979-8527374209 (Paperback – Amazon KDP) | ASIN B09416M34X (Kindle ebook – Amazon KDP).
Subjects: BISAC: FICTION / Action & Adventure. | FICTION / Fantasy / Paranormal. | Fiction / Science Fiction / General. | LCSH: American–Fantasy–Fiction. | American–Paranormal–Fiction. | American–Science Fiction–Fiction.
Classification: DDC 813.62 F57 2021
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