Book Review | All The Fiends of Hell by Adam L.G. Nevill

A red night of bells, an infestation of bloodthirsty creatures, and deserted places where people have vanished. Karl is one of the few who survived the event. He finds two children and they attempt to flee to safety. But the creatures are not the only horror he will encounter, as desperation and fear strike at the end of the world.

People he recognised from the village, and others he didn’t, had gathered below. Standing still and in silence, they’d assembled on front paths or in the road. Each face was raised to the moon.

All The Fiends of Hell frames an alien invasion through the supernatural lens and it works so well. The nightmarish red sky looming across the desolate landscapes is vividly drawn. The terror of cosmic creatures ripping through woods and houses, only to be eclipsed by more creatures, each worse than before. There are apparitions of those who have gone, reminders of lives lost. Per the author’s note, the book is inspired by War of the Worlds. While some scenes are reminiscent of HG Wells’ classic, this book stands on its own.

Karl is a lonely, ordinary man with no specific skills. The book opens with him being sick and hallucinating, to the extent that he doesn’t believe the strange scenes that take place outside his house. But when he finally wakes up, it’s to a desolate world where nothing is the same anymore. He is then forced to be responsible for two children: a 12-year-old boy and his 6-year-old sister. I was so invested in their fate and the book put me through the wringer! Karl’s thoughts are not easy to read, as his anxiety and fear scream off the page. But he surprisingly rises to the occasion.

The survival element and complicated human nature provide visceral scares beyond the appearance of these otherworldly creatures. The book shows how desperation and greed force people to do horrible things. The writing is unflinchingly detailed in its portrayal of the violence and trauma that this group have to face. Make no mistake, the pain and ugliness don’t spare anyone in this book. Yet there’s a glimmer of hope at the end, and I couldn’t love it more.

All The Fiends of Hell is a fantastic addition to the alien invasion horror, perfect for fans of A Quiet Place and The Mist.

I received an advanced reading copy from the author for review purposes.

About the author: Adam LG Nevill

Photo by Micah Williams via Unsplash