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It's rare that I read a book which transports me beyond enjoyment to pure excitement, but Burn in Hades by Michael L. Martin Jr. does just that. Martin tells a compelling story about a former slave and convict's journey through the underworld in search of redemption. In reading Burn in Hades, I was amazed at the depth and breadth of Martin's vision of the underworld and all its realms, from the ancient Egyptian Duat to an updated version of the Greek Charon to the magical calabash tree of the Mayan Xibalba. As Cross is tormented with his memories of the life and people he left behind and the confusion around what led to his untimely death, he must also deal with underworld bounty hunters who prize those very rare memories his head contains--including one very special lady con-artist, The Raven, who becomes is mercurial partner and primary adversary. Through Cross' initial journey to rid himself of these tormenting memories, then his fight to keep the treasured knowledge those memories guard, he sorts through ideas of trust, forgiveness, and redemption. In the end, he must decide if he can trust The Raven to guide him to lead the resurrection of the dead, or if she has conned him into the ultimate, and final, second death. I'm not sure if I'm more impressed with Martin's fully-alive (but dead!) characters, his insightful concepts, his fast-paced storytelling, or his incredibly detailed world building, but what I know for sure is that I thoroughly enjoyed this read and cannot wait for the second book of the series!
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Overview
Cross never forgives because he never forgets.Haunted by the Hell of his past transgressions, he sets out on an epic journey across the underworld to paradise—not to frolic in the gardens with the righteous, but to drink from the river Lethe which causes complete forgetfulness. He's a rare soul who remembers his life before death, known throughout the underworld as "The Man Who Remembers". There's a bounty on his memories, and envious spirits hunt his head to steal them.
Erasing his mind will get the spirits off his neck and allow him to keep his crown on its throne, but he will ...