PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Music to the ears of fans of Fangoria… The beloved legendary magazine is being revamped and with the reboot, they have announced that they will be releasing a series of horror novels under the “Fangoria Presents” banner. One of the first books, Our Lady of the Inferno, is the debut novel from one of our favorite authors, Preston Fassel. This three time Rondo Award nominated journalist is a talented force in the writing world, serving as the assistant editor of the website Cinedump.com. In 2017, he joined Cinestate as a story editor and staff writer for Fangoria magazine. As for his novel, Our Lady of the Inferno, the title intrigued me instantly, even before I saw the breathtaking cover art. Does this book live up to the title and cover? Read on to find out!
Book Synopsis:
Spring, 1983. Sally Ride is about to go into space. Flashdance is a cultural phenomenon. And in Times Square, two very deadly women are on a collision course with destiny — and each other.
At twenty-one, Ginny Kurva is already legendary on 42nd Street. To the pimp for whom she works, she’s the perfect weapon — a martial artist capable of taking down men twice her size. To the girls in her stable, she’s mother, teacher, and protector. To the little sister she cares for, she’s a hero. Yet Ginny’s bravado and icy confidence hide a mind at the breaking point, her sanity slowly slipping away as both her addictions and the sins of her past catch up with her…
At thirty-seven, Nicolette Aster is the most respected woman at the Staten Island Landfill. Quiet and competent, she’s admired by the secretaries and trusted by her supervisors. Yet those around her have no idea how Nicolette spends her nights — when the hateful madness she keeps repressed by day finally emerges, and she turns the dump into a hunting ground to engage in a nightmarish bloodsport…
In the spring of 1983, neither Ginny nor Nicolette knows the other exists. By the time summer rolls around, one of them will be dead.
My Thoughts:
When asked if I’d like to read this book, I said, “Yes,” based on the title alone. I took a leap of faith, as I knew nothing of what Our Lady of the Inferno was about. This is one of the best decisions I have made in a long time. This book is astounding. I read it in two days, and the only reason I didn’t finish it in one was because I had to work. The first night, I stayed up until 2AM reading. I can’t remember the last time I stayed up that late to read a book. I had been in a reading slump, and this book brought me right out of that rut. So, now you may be asking yourself, why do you say this? I’m glad you asked!
The world that Preston Fassel created is dark and gritty, and the recreation of 1980s New York is uncanny. The characters are all dynamic. Ginny is a personal favorite for me. She is the “good” of the story, but is also flawed. I love the realism of the humans in this book, because we are all imperfect and that is what makes us human. All of the characters in this book are dynamic and compelling, and that makes the story flow and kept me interested. The story is character-driven with two women who are polar opposites. Ginny is a woman who didn’t plan on being a prostitute but makes the best of the situation by helping other prostitutes. Nicolette put on a façade that she is hard-working and has it all together, but on the inside, she is completely manic. She focuses on making herself appear as a “normal” person in society, but in fact, she could care less about anyone or anything. Preston Fassel did a superb job creating characters and that come alive inside the reader’s head.
The story transports you immediately into this bleak and dreary world, and you are right there in the midst of it all. It is rare that you can take a trip right along with book characters, but that is exactly what you do in Our Lady of the Inferno. Preston Fassel created a great-paced story with dynamic characters, including a villain that is genuinely horrifying.
This book will creep you out. There will be blood. The story will take your mind to places that you have never been. Our Lady of the Inferno is dark, steely and uncompromising with a grindhouse essence to it, complete with powerful characters you care about and perfectly placed ’80s pop culture references within the story. What is the best way I can describe this book and why you should read it in one sentence?
A dark tale with one of the most disturbing villains ever… a true page-turner… a must read for both horror fans and fans of great storytelling.
This is a must read not only for horror fans but fans of exceptional storytelling. I’m impatiently awaiting more from Preston Fassel and other titles that Fangoria is releasing! Be sure to pick up your copy today on Amazon!
