Judith‘s review of Risking Eternity by Voirey Linger.

For two hundred years, Dominicus has lived in isolation, sentenced to take human souls to hell. But this night’s victim is unlike all the others. She tempts him. One kiss and she comes apart in his arms. One taste, and he can’t walk away.

But Maggie isn’t the only temptation he faces. Dominicus fights an attraction to Renatus, his best friend through the eons and a male with whom sex is forbidden. With her, he risks Hell; with him, losing the only piece of Heaven he has left.

Maggie cannot begin to understand what Dominicus has done. Demons covet her soul and Lucifer won’t give up his prize. In claiming her, he has not only compounded his sin, he has sparked a war between heaven and hell. Angels battle demons, and Domincus must make a choice. Does he deliver to Lucifer the human whose soul calls to him and ensure his salvation, or save her and risk eternal damnation?

This is a somewhat complicated tale that brings the reader into a confrontational awareness of the best and the worst of the celestial world–Renatus and Dominicus as representative of the blessedness of Heaven, and Lucifer and his minions as the beasties of Hell. Caught in the middle is a normal, work-a-day, pay-her-taxes-and-go-to-work kind of woman who has little if any concept of or awareness of this hidden world of good and evil that is swirling around her. That an angel teetering on the brink between redemption or damnation may fall in love with her is totally beyond her mental or emotional consideration. She just wants to live a nice, normal life, and she would like someone who would love her and for whom she would be special, someone who would welcome her affection and trust. Little does she realize that the Prince of Darkness has claimed her soul, one that Dominicus realizes is pure and clean, one that has been consigned to Hell and one that Dominicus is determined to keep from Lucifer at all costs.

This is not a benign book but is, rather, full of the intensity of the supreme struggle between good and evil. That Dominicus is divided in his affections makes for a good story, but it also brings the reality of dual attractions into play. Renatus, his best friend, is a staunch believer in keeping everything proper and bound by strict rules. Dominicus’ desire to save this soul from Lucifer goes over like a cement canary. Yet in spite of his growing awareness that his friendship with Renatus weighs in the balance, Dominicus just can’t abandon Maggie to the evils that lust after her pure soul.

There is much in this novella that is bracing and good–the intensity of true friendship, the true goodness of genuine love, a love that is able to give more than it needs to take. Yet there is also sadness and in large part, betrayal and dishonesty. There is a reason that Lucifer is called the “Father of lies.” Maggie’s ultimate destiny is truly in jeopardy because she fell for one of those lies and invited evil into her domicile. Is there a lesson there? This novella is alive with the push/pull between the forces of Heaven and Hell, the pull toward Maggie on the one hand, and the attraction of restoration and eternal friendship with Renatus. Dominicus is as caught in the throes of the two poles just as much as is Maggie.

This is a very readable and enjoyable novella, one that fantasy readers will enjoy and find quite satisfying. It moves along well and contains lots of action. The dialogue is relevant and believable. The conflicts are resolved in creative ways. There are twists and turns in the story and sufficient suspense to keep the reader’s interest. What’s not to like? This story will not entail a major time commitment, but it will be time well spent. I give this book a rating of 4 out of 5.

This book is available from Ellora’s Cave. You can buy it here in e-format.

You can read more from Judith at Dr. J’s Book Place.