Inferno: A Novel

Todd Riemer
Todd Riemer (2010)
ISBN 9780984482702
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (12/10)

 

“Inferno” takes place at a time in our future when a Great Magistrate, claiming to have God speak through him, rules the people the Democracy.  The Democracy isn’t as democratic as it sounds.  The Great Magistrate and those under him commit genocide to “purify” the world of heathens, who are comprised of people who do not agree with their ways.  Using a large army of Black Boots, people are savagely tortured and murdered, all for this cause.  The people who do follow the way of the Democracy are kept under control by means of a white powder that drugs them into submission through addiction.  People live in fear of the reprisals that they will face if they do not partake in this powder.

One man, named Blum, sets himself above all this.  Originally a Black Boot soldier himself, he finds himself changing his ways for the love of a woman.  When they are separated for a long time; Blum still hangs on to his love for her. This woman, named Isabel, is part of a group that wants to destroy the Democracy.  When Blum finds her again, she enlists his help in her cause.  Their plans take them deep into the realms of where people live on drugs, sex and violence.  Having to play a role to accomplish their goals, they both have to participate. 
           
Behind everything, Blum has a demon after his soul.  The demon knows that the best way to manipulate Blum is to get to him through the woman that he loves most.  As Blum struggles through all of the obstacles that are set in front of him, he learns a great deal about his heritage and about his own inner strengths.  Having lost everything, he realizes that he still has his humanity to hang on to.
           
“Inferno” is an incredibly written book.  Riemer does an excellent job of taking us into this dark world.  As he describes the events that are unfolding around the hero, I felt like I was in the room watching, instead of reading a book.  As the hero goes through his struggles, I would find myself holding my breath. When he fights through drug induced hazes and hallucinations, I also felt drugged.  Reading “Inferno” definitely made a huge impact on my being.  I highly recommend this novel.

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