NOT TODAY, SATAN

In Joyce’s YA novel, breaking a human out of Hell isn’t easy—even for Satan’s teen daughter.

Devica will one day take over for her father, the infamous demon who runs the Underworld. She’d rather forge her own path, but Satan insists she hone the skills she’ll likely inherit, like conjuring fire. Devica has no sympathy for the suffering human souls (called shadelings once they reach Hell), as she only sees sinners who deserve punishment. But the handsome, 17-year-old new arrival, Nate Reynolds, catches her eye; he says he’s innocent of the murder that sent him to Hell, but, of course, many of the shadelings make similar claims. Devica, however, starts to question her dad’s possibly flawed method of judging sin by mere sight. When Devica uncovers a startling secret about the mother she’s never known, she plans a trip to Earth—specifically, Los Angeles, Nate’s former home. He can help her get around LA if she can manage to lead a condemned shadeling across the Underworld’s four precarious cities to reach the exit. Joyce’s swiftly paced, demon-narrated tale is, in essence, a lighthearted romance. Periodic screams of agony come from the tortured shadelings, but the violence is mostly subdued and not graphic. The focus is on Devica and Nate, who develop a closeness organically as they help one another through Dante-inspired “lots” (Lot Eight: Greed). There’s plenty of entertaining wordplay, from demon “souldiers” to such expressions as, “What the here?” The serious moments are just as rewarding; readers will sympathize with Nate, who was an orphan on Earth, as well as Devica, whose friendships crumble because every demon, it seems, is terrified of her father. While the latter half leads to a predictable plot turn, there’s also abundant suspense, choices with severe consequences, and a particularly insufferable demon who makes for a great villain.

This romantic fantasy proves as thrilling as it is delightful.