I expected so much more from this book—or maybe I just expected different.

In the beginning, I was super confused about what was going on. Lots of characters, short sections, nothing explained. And this went on for quite a lot of pages.

Finally, I grasped, sort of, as to what this story was supposed to be. I still wasn't enjoying it, not really, but I was intrigued enough to continue.

Then I got to a point where it was clear the entire plot hinged on the miscommunication / lack of communication trope. This is my least favorite plot device. And it's big here. And dumb. And lazy.

I'm sorry, but that was it for me.

DNF

To Reign in Hell is a reformat and reprint of the original classic fantasy novel by Steven Brust. Originally published in 1984, this re-release forms part of a library of classic, important SF/Fantasy historical works as part of the Tor Essentials, and was republished 15th Oct 2024 in this edition, by Macmillan on their Tor/Forge imprint. It's 288 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

This is an incredibly ambitious novel about the upheaval and creation in Heaven, the angels' personifications, and the structure of the divine. There aren't a lot of authors who could honestly pull off a cohesive story without being trite and tiresome. Brust manages to do so with both wit and pathos. The characterizations are amazing, distinct, and moving.. and the prose is often sublime (hence its inclusion in a collection of speculative fiction classics). It's truly wonderfully well done.

The forward is by Roger Zelazny, and if it's a little bit "fanboy-ish" it's no less than well deserved. He is, as always, insightful and writerly, and he makes some good points.

Five stars. It's not an -easy- read, despite the relatively short length. It's a great book, and classic, and should be (and often is) taught in speculative fiction literature classes at the collegiate level. It would be an excellent choice (with the sister volumes) for public library acquisition, for home library collection building, and for book club study.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Drawn to this book due to its inclusion in the Tor Essentials series, To Reign in Hell is a retelling of the revolt in Heaven that led to the creation of Hell. Or phrase another way,
To Reign in Hell is a modernized version of Paradise Lost .

As even in the Bible, the story begins with the creation of heaven. Through Cacoastrum, the raw stuff of chaos, and through the stuff of order, illiaster, consciousness develops. Firstborn Angels rise and create Heaven fending off waves of Cacoastrum. After each wave, those who survive expand and develop their talents. As the action begins, the fourth wave threatens but instead of the formerly united front, there is dissension about how it should be handled. Through political machinations, lie and outright destruction Abdiel seeks to change the status quo.

From the work of this one angel, the harmony splinters into factions. Yaweh creates armed forces and a son to secure his reign. Satan avoids confrontation until forced to choose a side through Lucifer and his faction.

It has it's point in making this tale more accessible to a modern reader and a more sympathetic approach to Lucifer. But aside from those two points it doesn't feel like it offers much else, we know how it ends before we even start.

Recommended to readers of religious fantasy, political machinations and intrigue, small actions leading to irreparable difference.

To Reign in Hell by Steven Brust is a bold, inventive take on the celestial rebellion that delves into philosophical themes and the nature of divine conflict, but it doesn’t come without its flaws.

For those familiar with religious texts or fascinated by reinterpretations of biblical figures, Brust’s novel will immediately pique interest. It reimagines the story of the revolt in Heaven, led by Satan, and the fallout of these events as they unfold. The novel’s strongest points lie in its daring premise. Brust paints the traditional Christian figures—Yahweh, Satan, Lucifer, and other angels—not as untouchable divinities but as flawed, deeply human-like beings. This choice makes them relatable, but also, for some, perhaps a little too mundane.

The characters are fascinatingly flawed. Satan is depicted as more indecisive than outright evil, trapped by doubt and moral confusion. Yahweh is not omnipotent, but insecure and unsure of his own plans. Mephistopheles is a clever schemer, while characters like Michael and Raphael are almost caricatures of themselves—strong but simple, with little depth beyond their given roles. It’s this humanization of these larger-than-life figures that gives the book its unique charm. Yet, this is also where some of the frustrations lie: many readers may find it hard to sympathize with these characters, especially when the entire plot hinges on avoidable misunderstandings between them.

The story falters with its over-reliance on miscommunications and lack of direct confrontation between the main players. The plot often feels frustrating, as characters repeatedly fail to simply talk things out. Misunderstandings spiral into cosmic conflict, which could have been more impactful if there was a deeper philosophical exploration, rather than just the characters’ inability to communicate.

Additionally, the novel’s pacing can be uneven. It starts slow, and while it eventually picks up, there’s a sense that the emotional depth and complexity of the plot could have been more fully developed. The central conflict—a divine disagreement over "The Plan" to safeguard Heaven—feels somewhat contrived. Why a whole new environment must be created for safety is never fully explained, and this plot device weakens the story’s foundation.

On the positive side, Brust’s audacity in reimagining core religious concepts is impressive. His portrayal of Yahweh as a faltering, all-too-human figure, and his exploration of Satan’s moral struggle, offer an intriguing perspective on the heavenly rebellion narrative. His dialogue-heavy writing style keeps the story accessible, though at times it sacrifices the emotional depth and world-building that could have made the conflict more compelling.

The novel also shines in its moments of humor. Brust plays with Christian archetypes and expectations, offering moments where omnipotent figures behave more like everyday people, with doubts and quirks. There’s a sharpness in the satire that will appeal to readers who enjoy deconstructing religious themes and finding humanity in divine characters.

In the end, To Reign in Hell is both engaging and frustrating. For readers who enjoy bold takes on religious lore and don’t mind character-driven plots laden with miscommunications, it can be a thought-provoking read. However, for those seeking more action or a tighter narrative structure, it may fall short.

**A copy of this book was provided by the publisher**

I liked this a lot. I'm really enamored of the way the dialogue heavy prose and the minimal description of the surroundings makes it feel kind of like you're watching a play.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher,Tor Publishing Group, for an advance copy of this book that looks at a very important point of in quite a lot of theology, from a different point of view.

Growing up I never really was into horror until my teens. There weren't a lot of books around then, most of them seemed for boring adults. Frankly my neighbors read Stephen King, that made his books seem old to me. I was raised a Catholic, and my father had minors in theology and philosophy, but religion wasn't much discussed, nor did I have an idea who Satan was. Advertisements for the Omen movies, the original with Gregory Peck, might have given me an idea on Satan and Lucifer. I was more into fantasy stories with dragons and elves, not demons, or even angels. I was a fan of the author Steven Brust, his Vald Taltos books were really good stories, mixing three musketeers action with European myths. One day I found a Brust book I didn't know, grabbed it and started it that night. I was confused, but really got into it. My Dad liked it also, and started reading the book before I finished, and began to talk to me about the heavenly hosts, and all sorts of weird things. I've read it a few times over the years, still impressed by how ahead of its time the book was, and how it still holds up. The last probably twenty years ago. I am very glad that Tor Essentials is bringing back To Reign in Hell from the Limbo it has unfairly been banished.

The book starts at the beginning of all things, with a story of creation, a mixing of both chaos and order, and from that sprung the firstborn of the angels: Yaweh, Satan, Michael, Lucifer, Raphael, Leviathan and Belial. There are problems with the cacoastrum, the chaos material that is used to create them, and to protect themselves from it's power the angels create Heaven. The reactions of the cacoastrum are called Waves, and three Waves have taken place. These have lead to the death of angels, creating more angels, and in some ways have become accepted. Signs are appearing that a Fourth Wave might be coming, and to protect themselves, Yaweh has come up with a bold building plan. Earth. The areas of Heaven have been broken into four separate areas, called regencies, with Satan being leader of the Southern Regency. Yaweh explains his ideas, The Plan as he calls it to Satan, and asks for Satan's helps in getting all the angels to agree to Earth. Satan has doubts, one of which is the many angels that might lose their life, something Satan is uncomfortable with. As the time of the Wave gets closer, others are also working on schemes, schemes that might destroy both Heaven and this new Earth.

Reading this again I am still amazed that in the time of Satanic Panic, when Oprah and the like was on tv screaming about the children, that anyone would publish this kind of book. Not being a religious scholar, I am not sure about the validity of some of the the statements, but even now the story still holds up, as well as the writing. Brust was always a good writer, able to keep the plot balanced with humor, action, and scenes that made one care, and here Brust really out does himself. I can see where some people would take exception, but I don't think that Brust puts in anything that is too sacrilegious. That said there is a lot of humor and word play. There are lines from famous works, the bible poems, fitted into the story that makes one go, wait a second, before going oh I get it. A book that really seems ahead of its time.

In these post-Sandman times where DC comics has comics and television shows featuring Lucifer, this book might not seem as different as it was. However it still holds up, and fans of Vertigo comics will probably get a lot out of it. Fantasy fans or readers of authors like James Morrow, or Jonathan Carroll will definitely enjoy this work also. I am glad that Tor Essentials brought this back into print, I can't wait to recommend it to to others.