Review: Souls for Sale by Asta Idonea

Souls For Sale by Asta Idonea
Nine Star Press
Novella: 139pgs

2.5 Pants Off

Blurb: When demon Saul persuades comic book artist Tom to sign over his soul in exchange for a night of passion, little does he know what lies in store. Demons can’t fall in love—or so he’s been told—but he finds himself smitten and attempts to destroy the contract, desperate to save Tom from an eternity of torture.

With Saul and Tom forced to run, a showdown between Heaven and Hell ensues as the angels and demons argue over who owns Tom’s soul. But does either party have a stronger claim than Saul?



Review

NO RETURNS. NO REFUNDS

I can say I was intrigued by the cover of this book and the blurb also pulled me in. A rogue demon who falls in love and goes back on a soul deal (gasps). It had me at hello but I wanted to be telling it goodbye way quicker than anticipated. 

Saul is in the soul buying business and he’s the best at it. He wins them over with sophistication and killer looks and without any real push, people just sign their soul over to spend one night in the sack. What can he say he’s just that good (rolls eyes). When he spots the geeky looking guy in a bar Saul knows he’s gonna land himself another soul without lifting a finger. He’s gonna go finesse the shit out of him because who can turn down a night of carnal delights with him? He’s got this dude hook, line, and sinker. 

Tom dear old Tom. Looking for love, looking for lust, just out here looking for whatever. He can’t even bring himself to talk to the waiter he has a crush on, so he spends his time just staring at him. When he’s approached by a very handsome man Tom can’t believe his luck, but he realizes that something is up because in no way would a man like Saul ever be interested in him. When talks of soul selling pops up It doesn’t surprise him but he’s set in his conviction that a night with Saul is worth a eternity in hell (rolls eyes x2). 

Then the crazy ensues!! Saul realizes that he can’t let a sweet guy like Tom have an eternity burning, plus he’s starting to feel things in his demon heart for Tom and he wants to keep experiencing it. They find themselves on the run trying to out maneuver demons but also trying to live their best life and the icing on the cake is that Heaven has also taken notice. Can Tom soul be saved and can our men have their happily ever after? 

This book was just…I don’t even have the words. Can I call it pretentious? Because it really freaking was. The writing is first person and crazy because you’re invited to be apart of the world and by apart of, I mean Saul tries to drag you into his crazy. Sorry dude, all that shit is most definitely on you alone.  

You’re just as culpable as me, you know—you stayed for the show, after all. You wanted excitement, wanted to see me in action. 

Look, I can sense you rolling your eyes, making out you’re not convinced, but who’re you to talk? You keep following me around like a stray dog. We both know you can’t get enough of little old moi 

I would go to the ends of the earth for that boy. I would attempt impossible deeds for his sake. Not that I’ve been horsewhipped or house-trained. I’m still the man, still wearing the pants, still in control. Don’t think for one second that Tom has neutered me. 

There’s something about the writing that’s just too formal and I couldn’t get as caught up in the story as much as I wanted to. It also gets too OTT which really suck because if there was ever a story with potential, Souls for Sale is it. A demon falling in love and going rogue that’s the making of something sexy, but alas I didn’t get any of that here.  

I just kept reading to see where it would go and it didn’t go anywhere I truly enjoyed. The idea behind Soul for Sale might have been a good one but the executing was weak, and the characters forgettable, and the writing way too pretentious. The boys did get their HEA but by then I had stopped caring.

 

Release Blitz: Souls for Sale by Asta Idonea

Title: Souls for Sale
Author: Asta Idonea
Publisher: NineStar Press
Release Date: March 26, 2018
Heat Level: 3 - Some Sex
Pairing: Male/Male
Length: 51600
Genre: Paranormal, LGBT, humor, demons, angels, nerds-geeks, artists, hell
Goodreads 

Synopsis

When demon Saul persuades comic book artist Tom to sign over his soul in exchange for a night of passion, little does he know what lies in store. Demons can’t fall in love—or so he’s been told—but he finds himself smitten and attempts to destroy the contract, desperate to save Tom from an eternity of torture.

With Saul and Tom forced to run, a showdown between Heaven and Hell ensues as the angels and demons argue over who owns Tom’s soul. But does either party have a stronger claim than Saul?

Excerpt

Souls for Sale
Asta Idonea © 2018
All Rights Reserved

Prologue
Saul

It’s tough being a demon in this day and age. Times are hard and souls just aren’t what they used to be. I should know; it’s my job to collect them. Or try to, anyway. What I wouldn’t give to go back to the good ol’ days when you could buy a soul as easily as an apple at the marketplace. And I mean a proper apple, plucked straight from the tree that morning. None of this modified, refrigerated crap that passes as fresh fruit nowadays.

I know what you’re thinking. Trust me; I’ve heard it all before. You’re wondering how it could be so hard to get someone to sign away their soul in an age when everything can be obtained for a price, when everything is for sale. Actors, bankers, politicians. You’d think rich pickings; am I right? Well, you’d be wrong.

Problem is that no one believes anymore. Picture this: I walk up to someone and offer to grant them anything their heart desires in exchange for their soul. Now, in times past they’d either
tremble in fear and drop to their knees, praying to the guy upstairs (my cue to leave), or they’d tremble in fear for a moment and then sign on the dotted line. Simple. Everyone knew where they stood. But if I were to try that today, most people would laugh in my face and walk off, or else they’d look uneasy and slink away from the ‘deranged lunatic’ as soon as possible. Hell, I miss the fear.

The faith is gone, you see, supplanted with technology, gizmos, and gadgets. An age of information. Everything you want, obtainable at the press of a button. What is there to long for anymore? What is there worth selling your soul for that you couldn’t get another way? Sure, you still have the old standards, the favourites—riches, power, and sex—but as I said, the belief is sadly lacking.

Every passing year it gets harder and harder to fill my quota. I have the boss breathing fire down my neck—both metaphorically and literally—and damned if I know how to get around the problem. It’s not just me. My colleagues are equally exasperated. It won’t be too much longer until it’s impossible to sign up even one new soul to burn in everlasting Hell. Then what’s a conscientious, hard-working demon to do?

Anyhow, I guess it’s about time I introduced myself. The name’s Saul. Yeah, I know, but it’s not like I picked it. We get what the boss dishes out, and I drew the short straw that day. Guess he was in one of his funny moods. I’m here today following a mark. I’m actually pretty stoked I found this guy, as he’s shaping up to be the most promising potential soul-seller I’ve seen in several months. Hey, try saying that three times fast! The trick now is not to rush things, not to push him too hard or too fast.

Oh, here he comes. See if you can pick him from the crowd. No? Hard, isn’t it? Everyone looks the same these days. It used to be so much easier to tell a sinner from a saint. Now the line is so blurred it barely exists at all.

But I digress. Just wait a moment… There! See the guy heading into the pub? The one in the Marvel T-shirt? With the blond curls? That’s our man. Bit of a stereotype of a comic-book nerd, isn’t he? Unlikely to sell his soul, you think? Well, we’ll soon see.

Purchase Links

NineStar Press
Amazon
Smashwords
Barnes & Noble
Kobo

Meet the Author

Asta Idonea (aka Nicki J Markus) was born in England but now lives in Adelaide, South Australia. She has loved both reading and writing from a young age and is also a keen linguist, having studied several foreign languages.

Asta launched her writing career in 2011 and divides her efforts not only between MM and mainstream works but also between traditional and indie publishing. Her works span the genres, from paranormal to historical and from contemporary to fantasy. It just depends what story and which characters spring into her mind!

As a day job, Asta works as a freelance editor and proofreader, and in her spare time she enjoys music, theater, cinema, photography, and sketching. She also loves history, folklore and mythology, pen-palling, and travel, all of which have provided plenty of inspiration for her writing. She is never found too far from her much-loved library/music room.

Author Links

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NickiJMarkus
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NickiJMarkus 


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