An Interesting Take on a Post-Apocalyptic Tale
3.5 out of 5 stars
Hell’s Requiem tells the story of Tom and his fight for survival after a solar storm takes the lights and seemingly peoples sanity from them. He was prepared but he still lost everything. His son is dead and his wife left him. How much does he have to live for?
I wrote that this is an interesting take on a post-apocalyptic tale because Banner wrote it from the point of view where each chapter was a new song on an apocalyptic playlist. Tom lives out his life to the themes that are presented in different songs. This felt like a really cool and different idea. (It reminded me a little bit of I Am Legend where Will Smith’s character has a playlist that is really the only way that he gets through life alone in a world that is out to get him.
Tom as a character was hard to like. Not that he was unlikable — I just didn’t feel like I was given enough reason to be following him until the story was almost over. Honestly, the last 50ish pages were where Tom became a tolerable main character. That frustrated me a bit since I’d followed him for the other 200 already. I actually took a break from Hell’s Requiem because I found myself getting frustrated and asking “but, why?” I just couldn’t figure out why Tom was the main character.
This isn’t the first time that I felt like I was thrown into a story without some back story. The first time was with Banner’s main series — of course, I started with book two there, so I assumed that I just jumped into the story too late. I just think that this book (and any future books) could benefit from some more backstory or character building in the opening chapters. I appreciate that Banner throws us into the action in this story quickly (especially because I hate books that drag on). I just wanted a little more!
The story itself (especially after figuring out why we were following Tom) was a conglomeration of lots of other post-apocalyptic stories with some new ideas and thoughts sprinkled in. Banner is able to write an enjoyable story that just fell a little short for me. That being said, I still finished it and by the end, I was glad that I did. The ending was kinda a mind-eff. I was like, “Wait, seriously?!” by the last chapter. So, the book definitely redeemed itself in the final pages.
Overall, Hell’s Requiem was a new take on a genre that I read a lot of! I think if I wasn’t a PA veteran this book would have rated higher — but being someone who reads 1 PA book a week this one wasn’t my all-time favorite. That being said, the ending was worth getting too and since the book itself isn’t too long I’m glad that I got there.
Kevin Pierce narrating it didn’t hurt either. Pierce could narrate me the instructions on the back of my shampoo and I’d be riveted to my chair. Pierce definitely shined in this story.
Book Description:
Hell's Requiem by M.L. Banner
Narrator: Kevin Pierce
Length: 4 hrs and 48 mins
Published by Toes in the Water Publishing on July 19, 2017
Genres: Post-Apocalyptic
Pages: 168
Format: Audiobook
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His world was about to go to hell
His son died, and his wife left him.
Then the world ended.
It was about to get much worse.
Tom was already prepared for society’s collapse when the nonstop solar storms arrived. He just hadn’t planned on the loneliness.
When a woman and a little boy show up, they bring with them much more than Tom had bargained for. He’ll not only have to battle for his life; he’ll need to fight for a reason to live, as he recalls the painful memories and the songs linked to them in HELL'S REQUIEM.
I received this book for free. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Also by this author: MadnessAbout the Author:
ML Banner is an award-winning and best-selling author who writes what he loves to read: apocalyptic thrillers which thrust regular people into extra ordinary circumstances, where their actions may determine not only their own fate, but that of the world.
The Highway and Stone Age Series’ (including three #1 best-sellers) are those kinds of stories. Not only fast moving, each has regular and amazing characters who have to make life changing decisions, all while the earth is experiencing an apocalyptic event unlike anything imagined.
