This was hard to get onto. The nuclear blast blast happens right in through the first chapters, and the pace doesn't change much from there. Characters moving from store to store with bats and guns running from monsters. Nothing much happens. No character build; I really didn't care for this bunch, drinking and going about with their weapons and bashing some skulls. Felt very zombie apocalyptic; not very original, not very convincing either. You've got cell phones being used with unlimited juice, it seems in a world that's gone to shit. Just wasn't into this story. Great cover.

Thank you, Netgalley, for the opportunity to read this copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley, Wicked House Publishing and Luke Walker for the eArc of The Ninth Circle.

Even though Im not really into apocalyptic horror ( Its usually something Id watch rather than read ) I thought Id give this a go. The narrative itself is a medium to fast paced with a strong start. The first few chapters really has me turning the pages as the fallout starts right from the first few pages, a nuclear fall out actually raised the hairs on my arms which gets you thinking of what if? I enjoyed the aspect of the supernatural elements which seemed to mix well in the beginning. Unfortunately for me, the 2 didn't seen to mash very well which was a shame. I would have loved to of found out more about our characters and our supernatural entities so found the ending a little rushed.

I really do hope we see more of Luke Walker's writing in the future.

3 stars

This was NOT my cup of tea at all. That does not mean that you would not love it so I would encourage others to read it. I hate to give such a low rating to an author but this is an ARC and the writing and story was subpar to me. I had a hard time finishing reading it.

This was an ARC read from Netgalley. Thank you to the Author and Netgalley for allowing me to read this.

**⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Engaging Concept with Mixed Execution**

Luke Walker’s *The Ninth Circle: A Horror Novel* presents a gripping and imaginative premise, blending elements of horror and supernatural suspense. The book’s atmosphere is effectively eerie, and the plot keeps readers engaged with its dark and mysterious elements. However, the execution can be inconsistent, with some characters feeling underdeveloped and certain plot twists lacking impact. While the novel delivers moments of genuine suspense and intrigue, it doesn’t fully capitalize on its potential, making it a solid but somewhat uneven read for horror enthusiasts.

This was hard to get onto. The nuclear blast blast happens right in through the first chapters, and the pace doesn't change much from there. Characters moving from store to store with bats and guns runing from monsters. Nothing much happens. No character build; I really didn't care for this bunch, drinking and going about with their weapons and bashing some skulls.

Truly terrifying.
Not many books make the hairs on my arms stand the way The Ninth Circle did.
I just became a huge Luke Walker fan!!

I always love a good horror story but mixing supernatural elements with a post-apocalyptic end of the world situation just didn't mesh very well. If the author had concentrated on just one idea or the other than this probably would have been a better story. The writing was very well done but the two themes just didn't mix very well for me.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the chance to read this ARC.

Trigger Warnings:
Sexual Violence/Rape
Nuclear Weapons
Pandemic Talk


a post-apocalyptic tale and the shadows brought hell to earth. must read!!

Title: The Ninth Circle: A Horror Novel
Author: Luke Walker
Publisher: Wicked House Publishing
Paperback/Hardback/eBook: eBook (Kindle)
Fiction/Non-Fiction: Fiction
Genre: Horror
Rating: ⭐⭐


Trigger Warnings:
Sexual Violence/Rape
Nuclear Weapons
Pandemic Talk

Thank you so much to Wicked House Publishing for providing me with this ARC via NetGalley in return for my honest review.

I was drawn to this book initially by the description, and let's be honest - the cover is pretty rad as well. I love a good apocalypse/rapture/end times story. I was also pleasantly surprised to find the epigraph of the novel is a passage from Dante's Inferno, which furthered my assumption that the book was going to be some sort of Hellscape filled with demons and fire.

The concept of the book is actually really cool. The first chapter was written very well and really grabbed my attention, but as I got further into the book I just felt like I was reading a first draft. There was little to no character development (that includes the demons) which left me feeling like there was no protagonist of the story. Most interactions between characters are spent asking each other what they did before the apocalypse, or yelling at each other and apologizing immediately. The writing was extremely redundant, causing the storyline to feel stagnant. As much as I love gore, I felt like the author put way too much into the book without properly building up to the events.

I really wanted to like this book, but it was extremely hard for me to read.

Horror isn't usually my preferred genre, but this book hit me harder than I thought it would. It wasn't because of what was hidden in the dark, but more because the reality of nuclear weapons dropping is stronger now than it ever has been.

The book was easy to read, well written and the characters were all people you got to know well.

A great book... But I don't want to read it again. The fear is too strong.

In The Ninth Circle, a horror novel by Luke walker we meet Steven and his wife Amy who are visiting his childhood village and discussing whether they should move there he wants to move there more than she does but while in the local diner/pub they hear what sounds like a bomb and know instantly something is wrong they all head to the basement it’s Steve and his wife Rachel two sisters the pub owner John and his wife and some regulars. When they come out the village of Buxley looks unlike anything Steven remembers from his childhood. The buildings are the same except everyone is in chaos mode, except for those who are spontaneously combusting while black shadows crawl all over them and then there are those who go crazy don’t feel pain and fight until they can’t fight anymore. The latter or the ones that sound is the scariest to me but on with the review the best bet is to get to the woods so they can try and head out to the country but it seems every time they move from one place to another they lose one of their group and this is after gaining some at the grocery store. Everywhere they turn their something to fear I read this book a few weeks ago but totally remember that Stephen emerges as a true hero and someone the group can depend on despite his own inner turmoil and the ending is a total mic drop and comes out of left field because OMG I totally didn’t see that coming groups of the strange folks find them and have their own demands will they make it to safety and if they do what did they have to give up. I do believe this is going to be the first book in the series but then again I DK this is not my usual type of book but I must admit I found it hard to put down I really thoroughly enjoyed this book I love horror but world devastation it’s not something I look for in my reading but I’m still glad I read this one if there is a second book I will read it because I do like Stephen and Rachel, The grocery store owner and his nephew and one of the two sisters I cannot remember the one I dislike I just know she is bossy and says the most ridiculous things are either way this is a great book and one I definitely recommend if you’re a big on sci-fi end of the world scenarios you will definitely like this book I am baffled as to the low rating I seen for the book because as someone who has read the book I just don’t know what to say about that that’s ridiculous this was a really great book or at least that’s my humble opinion. I want to thank the publisher the author Annette Galli for my free art copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

The Ninth Circle: A Horror Novel by Luke Walker is a gruesome horror story set in a post apocalyptic world where the darkest creatures are taking over the Earth.

The book begins with Sam and his wife Rachel at a bar, when a nuclear blast hits. They seek refuge in the basement of the bar with other survivors. When they finally get up the courage to go up stairs, they begin to discover the devastation that has occurred throughout England.

“This is the Emergency Broadcast Service. This country has been attacked with nuclear weapons. I repeat: this country has been attacked with nuclear weapons. Seek shelter immediately. Do not leave your homes or places of business. Do not attempt to reach loved ones. Do not travel in your cars. Take shelter and await further instruction.”

The reports on the shortwave radio suggest staying in place, but this bunch of survivors decide to go out and see if they can help others. Things quickly go downhill as they begin to see just how devastated the country has become.
“Nothing good here, Sam. This is all the way inside us. This is where we all belong. She smiled. It split her face in two. Her eyes, bleached white, rolled back into her head, and the lines cut deep into her face widened to become pits. This is where we come from and where we’re going. Welcome home.“
They begin to see creatures that instill fear just by looking at them. The worst parts of the depths of the underworld are now walking freely on earth.

The book is graphic and gruesome, relying on the horror of the images the words evoke. The story falls flat for a post apocalyptic story, it relies more on gruesome imagery than a story line. Most of the book is just blood and gore. The story could easily have been a great horrifying story.

This was unfortunately a let down. The only thought after finishing is why?! What was the point of this story. The plot was a mess. I would not recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and Wicked House Publishing!

Thank you NetGalley and Wicked House Publishing!

Though the plot may seem far fetched I was on board with it because I love me a good apocalyptic story. The beginning and middle had an excellent build up and the ending just fell flat. There was also very little character development or involvement which made it hard to connect with the characters and the story. Overall I finished The Ninth Circle neither loving it nor hating it.

The basic concept of this book was good. However, the way it was portrayed was not the best. There was no character development, I felt like they were just random people going through a tragic event with no background to them other than some very few basics.

The basic plot of the book is that an atomic bomb attack happens in a little village. The main character, Sam, his wife, Rachael, and a few of his father's old friends survive the attack and set off trying to find other survivors and a potential place to go that hasn't been affected. There is something else they didn't account for and that is this bombing brought unknown creatures of an unknown origin into their world that are terrorizing and killing off the survivors.

There are a lot of components to this book that I simply do not understand how they fit into the main concept. Somehow these creatures are communicating with Sam in his head, there is a random attack on one of the women in the group by a human man with no connection to the creatures at all, it just kind of seemed thrown in there for something to disrupt the characters' plan.

Overall, this book just seemed fragmented without one cohesive plot line with no background on the characters and not much development of them as the story goes on. I can understand why it is categorized in the horror genre, but I didn't feel much of the horror element really shining through. It was not really my type of book.

This was an okay read. Something to pass the time but didn't feel like anything more, unfortunately. It personally felt like all of the writing went into the horror scenes and was lackluster outside of that. I wanted to enjoy this book but for some reason, it just didn't catch my attention enough. To me, we were introduced to what seemed like way too many characters at once throughout the first few chapters and that led to confusion as to who was who. And the book had multiple points where things would die down and the writing would get dry. These are the points where I'd feel like not finishing it. It did have vibes reminiscent of The Walking Dead throughout and the ending was pretty interesting so that pulled it up to a 2.5-3☆.

Thank you to NetGalley and WickedHouse for the ARC in exchange for an honest rate and review.

The Ninth Circle by Luke Walker was an interesting and intriguing thriller.
I was reeled in from the very beginning and found myself unable to put it down.

Thank You NetGalley and Wicked House Publishing for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Prepare yourself for a thrilling and chilling ride through the depths of the human psyche in Luke Walker's gripping novel, "The 9th Circle." This dark and atmospheric tale delves into the shadows of the mind, exploring the darkest corners of human nature with unflinching honesty and raw intensity.

Walker's writing is sharp and evocative, drawing readers into a world that is both mesmerizing and terrifying. The author's ability to create a sense of foreboding and unease is masterful, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as the story unfolds. From the eerie setting to the complex characters, every aspect of "The 9th Circle" is crafted with precision and skill.

"In the depths of despair, we find our true selves, stripped bare of pretense and facade." This haunting line encapsulates the central theme of the novel, exploring the darker aspects of human nature and the choices we make when faced with our innermost fears and desires.

The characters in "The 9th Circle" are deeply flawed and utterly compelling, each grappling with their own demons and inner turmoil. As the story progresses, their paths intertwine in unexpected ways, leading to shocking revelations and heart-pounding moments that will keep readers guessing until the final page.

While the novel's dark themes and intense atmosphere may not be for everyone, those who enjoy psychological thrillers and dark fiction will find "The 9th Circle" to be a captivating and thought-provoking read. Walker's exploration of the human psyche is both unsettling and illuminating, offering readers a glimpse into the depths of the soul.

Overall, "The 9th Circle" is a gripping and atmospheric novel that will leave a lasting impression on readers. With its richly drawn characters, evocative prose, and spine-tingling suspense, this book is a must-read for fans of psychological fiction and dark thrillers.

If you're looking for a book that will challenge your perceptions and keep you on the edge of your seat, don't miss out on "The 9th Circle" by Luke Walker. It's a four-star gem that is sure to haunt your thoughts long after you've turned the final page.

To be quite honest I was disappointed as the description and cover were amazing. But having a nuclear attack with supernatural themes. I wasn’t quite sure. I struggled a lot with this. I do want to thank Netgalley and the publishing house Wicked House Publishing for allowing me to ARC read this book. I guess I was just expecting something else and I was just caught off guard as well as the writing style was hard to get through at times

The cover is amazing, everything else is a mess. I have no idea why Wicked House Publishing would publish such a book, after some excellent horror novels. Lately they seem to have given up. Luke Walker's book is badly written (no sense of pacing, no room for character development, no explanations given for what's going on, just one dull scene after another), uninspired (shadows moving on their own? that's the best you can come up with as the villains of the piece?), and rather ill-conceived (people moving freely around, on the ground, just after a nuclear holocaust; mentioning radiation once or twice, as an afterthought). What a disappointment.