by
Enslaved by demonic aliens, a teenage boy must first survive if he is to avenge his murdered father.
A typical Alaskan teenager, Paul’s greatest joy is hunting and fishing with his father. But when alien demons attack his family’s isolated cabin, they shatter Paul’s comfortable life. After killing his father and enslaving Paul, his twin sister, and their mother, the demons teleport their three captives to Hell, a desert world in the Demonic Empire. Once there, they face one of two terrible fates. They can either live as useful slaves or be immediately slaughtered as food for the merciless demons.
With his demon masters demanding their slaves’ absolute obedience to their brutal human overseers, Paul soon learns to hide his burning hatred and desire for revenge behind the stoic expression of a servile slave. But as the years slowly pass, Paul adapts to survive, first as a field slave and then as a gladiator. Will he live long enough to take his revenge, or will Paul’s years of slavery rob him of his will to resist and cost him his humanity?
Action-packed and with a strong emotional core and relatable characters, this multi-award-winning, stand-alone prequel to the Hell Holes series of alien invasion novels is an epic tale of love, loss, friendship, and survival under the most hellish of conditions. If you enjoy science fiction books like The Hunger Games and Divergent that stay with you long after you finish them, you will love Hell Holes: A Slave’s Revenge.
Awards:
Winter 2022 Pinnacle Book Awards - Winner
2023 Cygnus Science Fiction Book Awards - Finalist
2023 Chrysalis BREW Project – Seal of Excellence
2021 Top Shelf Magazine Book Awards – Runner-up – Fiction/Fantasy Subcategory
July 2022 BooksShelf Writing Awards – Finalist – Fiction Category
2021 The Wishing Shelf Book Awards – Finalist – Adult Category
2023 ReadFree.ly Best Book We’ve Read All Year – Finalist
2021 ReadFree.ly 50 Best Indie Books
2023 Kindle Book Award – Semifinalist – Science Fiction Category
Illustrators:
Cover Artists:
Narrators:
Genres:
Tropes: Alien Invasion, Interstellar Travel, Killer Aliens
Word Count: 105,000
Languages Available: English
Series Type: Continuous / Same Characters
Tropes: Alien Invasion, Interstellar Travel, Killer Aliens
Word Count: 105,000
Languages Available: English
Series Type: Continuous / Same Characters
on Kirkus Reviews:“Readers receive a powerful, action-packed introduction to the series… Vivid color drawings of these monsters pepper the account… The unexpected injection of wisdom from various sources lends a philosophical tone to this survival story that gives Paul courage as he rises to the position (and dubious privilege) of being a slave that oversees others… Prior series readers will appreciate the attention to detail that flushes out both the invasion specifics and Paul’s youth and coming of age, while newcomers will find Hell Holes a fitting introduction to the books that follow… It’s a riveting read for newcomers and prior fans alike, highly recommended for horror and sci-fi fans, who will enjoy blends of both in a coming-of-age story like few others.”
Nicole Yurcaba on US Review of Books wrote:“Firesmith jam packs his engaging story with otherworldly beasts… The author deftly describes a bleak but colorful hell… An engrossing dystopian thriller with a vibrant, beastly cast.”
on BooksShelf.com:“The author’s book blends science fiction with an action-based thriller into an entertaining and exciting read. With the momentum of Independence Day and a setting reminiscent of Total Recall, the novel carries readers through a brutal spacescape where psychological strength is just as vital as physical prowess. Paul is an insightful, strong narrator, and his conversational tone invites readers into the book. Paul’s narration is fast-paced, which also bolsters the action that occurs in the book. What will also attract readers is Paul’s strength in the face of intense adversity, especially as he resolves, “Should the demons dare attempt another invasion, we will be ready.” Readers of dystopian science fiction will appreciate this book, and those looking for a thriller that will keep them quickly turning the pages will need to look no further than this one.”
on WishingShelf:“A great addition to the Hell Holes series! A Slave’s Revenge is an adventure – in fact, the whole series is. I fell in love with the first of the series and read all the others in one breath. This book answered so many questions I had, it is a prequel to the series. It was exciting, and I’m glad the author did it. An absolute must-read for the fans of Hell Holes and all the readers who enjoy quality, compelling books.”
on Wishing Shelf Book Awards:“A thrilling fantasy packed full of danger, and with a strong, memorable protagonist. Very enjoyable!”
on ReadFREE.ly Book of the Month:“A superbly plotted dystopian thriller with a strong cast of characters. A FINALIST and highly recommended!”
Amy Shannon on Amy's Bookshelf Reviews wrote:“I have never read anything like Donald Firesmith’s Hell Holes: A Slave’s Revenge – and I, like you, am a person who has read a lot of books. But never anything like this. It is a book that is unafraid to present itself as a rip-roaring tale of fantasy adventure, all the while hinting at subcutaneous depths of allegory. It is a book that will simultaneously have you wanting to speed through to its final pages, while also taking your time to chew over every word. … I don’t know if I’ve made it clear how much I loved this book. Cos I really, really did.”
on Readers Favorite:“Firesmith pens a magnificent prequel to his Hell Holes Series. What I like about the story, besides the characters, the ultimate evil alien devils, is there are underlying plots, that are more than just part of the story, they are the story. This author has a great imagination, and I’m glad it’s being shared with stories. It is a very well-written story, and I enjoyed it. It is always a joy to read this author’s stories. A definite attention-grabber, so much I couldn’t put it down. It’s literally out of this world! Action-packed and it takes the reader on a superb journey. This read is more than just words on a page. Hell Holes: A Slave’s Revenge is a definite recommendation by Amy’s Bookshelf Reviews. I look forward to reading many more stories by this author.”
on OnLine Book Club:“Donald Firesmith’s strength as an author lies in his ability to create a cornucopia of races, all of whom are depicted in sketch work art and further described in a character appendix at the end of the novel. The brutality is unabashedly dished out and, as a reader, I really appreciate Firesmith’s courage. Gore is tricky and there is hardly any middle ground between a reader’s tolerance or inability to tolerate what is, without question, torture. This includes children, which it is sometimes easy to forget Sarah and Paul are initially. Paul is resilient from such a young age and to a degree with the potential to embarrass Maximus Decimus Meridius who, in my mind, Paul parallels as a coming-of-age slave turned gladiator, turned revolutionary escape artist, among aliens instead of Romans. Overall, this is a really well-plotted and presented novel that will please those who enjoy witty dialogue, creative characters, and solid underdog stories. Recommended.”
“I rate this book five out of five stars… Readers who love to read horror, sci-fi, and action-packed books will find this piece interesting and intriguing.”