Hell Kat

In a post-apocalyptic Earth sometime in the vague future, Kat – known as Hell Kat – is a treasure hunter who seeks out remnants of the ruined civilization of the planet. One of her rivals is Hades, a big, sexy man who threatens Kat where she can least afford it – her heart. Kat and Hades, along with Kat’s sidekick Damian and a guide named Darquiel set off for ruined Vanquished City, populated only by hideous mutants created by the nuclear weapons that hit the city. They seek a relic called the Monolith, a piece of ancient technology that can pay enough to get out of the hell of the outer rims. Will they survive to collect?

This is a new take on traditional visions of a future after a nuclear holocaust. Told from the viewpoint of Hell Kat and the people around her, the reader becomes closely acquainted with the characters, whose personalities and pasts are gradually revealed in bits and pieces throughout the story. I was also pleased to see that this story flowed very well and showed that the author had worked hard on the plot and its execution. This is a very violent story and is extremely gory in very explicit terms, so it is not for the squeamish. In comparison, the few sex scenes seem relatively mild, although they are quite explicit. This book will please science fiction readers a great deal, although I do not think romance readers will find it satisfying. Ms. Anna’s forecast of our civilization’s future was very interesting, and it was told in a way that kept me engaged and involved through to the end. As for predictions -- I am prognosticating that this novel is the first of a series, so we will be able to read more about Kat and the rest in the future.

Reviewed by: Jean