REVIEW: 'Breaking Hell's Rules' by Lyssa Dering
Title: Breaking Hell’s Rules
Author: Lyssa Dering
Published: October 10, 2016
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Erotic Romance; Paranormal Romance
Length: 84 Pages
Tags: Gay; M/M; Genderqueer; Fantasy; Paranormal: Succubus; May/December
BLURB: Freedom wasn't supposed to be this dangerous... When succubus Reth finally meets their soul quota and gains freedom from Hell, they decide to take up residence in New Orleans. Immediately they discard the body they've been wearing since 1952 and slip into something a little more virile, pleased to find they get a cozy apartment for their trouble. Too bad the apartment has a joint lease with their body's ex-boyfriend Jude. Jude is walking around with a black eye and a bad attitude, and when Reth tries to explain things, Jude doesn't believe them. Plus, he refuses to move out. Reth doesn't want to take Jude's soul, and they really like this body. So they show him some succubus action minus the soul-grabbing, hoping to scare him off. But they never expected for the mortal to take a liking to them. And they never could have predicted just how pure Jude's soul would be. When Reth unwittingly commits a sin against Lucifer, they'll need Jude's help to avoid an eternity of suffering... For them both. WARNING: Contains abuse themes (but not between the main characters) and graphic content.
4 HEART READ
REVIEW: Lyssa Dering gives you a beastly little read with Breaking Hell’s Rules.
What I tend to enjoy about paranormal reads is that they expand our reality and believability. With Lyssa’s story about a succubus, she mixes both worlds and makes you question what you yourself might do given certain circumstances.
As the book opens Reth has met their soul quota and taken over a new “host”. When they arrive at their apartment, in their host body, they are greeted with a less than happy boyfriend. Their intention is to scare Jude off by being honest with him that they are a beast. A plan that quickly backfires.
At first Jude does not believe Reth but when he comes to the succubus in the middle of the night all things change – for both of them!
With nary a thought to the fact that Reth is here in the form of his ex, Tyler, after taking his soul and in effect killing him, Jude is smitten; And Reth is taken by Jude’s soul. The purest, whitest soul they have ever seen.
Here is where the story takes off with added twists for both Reth and Jude that have you rooting for each of them to be able to be together.
There is not a lot of “hot” sex, more of a little lead up and fast finish, but Dering captivates you with Jude’s snarky attitude and great attention to detail. Such as when the story is being told from Jude’s POV Reth is referred to as “he”. The body they possess. But when in Reth’s POV it is “they” as a succubus. Or when Jude is being introduced to another demon, “Who’s she?” said Jude. “You’re supposed to do it the other way, too, you know. That’s how introductions work.”
The author also uses fun and witty side characters that help build up the “world” and begin to explain how things work between heaven and hell. Even Jude’s best friend, Brett, has a surprise for him.
It’s this detail and build up that lead to a book that is just - fun. What’s more interesting than watching an entity and a human try and save each others souls?
In reading Breaking Hell’s Rules you have to keep an open mind to believe the unbelievable. This is paranormal after all. I mean who could believe in falling in love with a demon? But the twist of divine intervention at the end is just beautiful: “……this is the risk of all humans. Darkness beckons but God grants them free will.” Breaking Hell’s Rules is definitely worth the quick read!
An advanced reader copy of Breaking Hell’s Rules was provided to Kimmers’ Erotic Book Banter, by Lyssa Dering, in exchange for our fair and honest opinion.
Lyssa Dering is an author of queer erotic romance. She writes about damaged characters in impossible situations who, despite often horrifying struggles, will always get their happy ending.
