Book Review: The Eighth House

The Eighth House is not a mystery in the "whodunnit" sense, but more of a suspense story enhancing the classic theme of good versus evil. Here, in Sealy's debut, the stakes are higher and take on apocalyptic dimensions, mixing astrology with prophecy and turning upside-down the lives of a struggling new family.

In the first third of the story, we are introduced to Edward Hastings, an enterprising lad in turn-of-the-century New York who founds a successful brothel before he is of legal age and gains a notarious reputation. His untimely death spirals him down to a pact with the Devil, which offers Edward an avenue to vent anger left over from his mortal days while aiding the Devil in bringing about the ruin of civilization. Sealy offers an imaginative view of Hell and its residents (including the Devil's wife, interestingly named Angelica), not to mention Edward's detailed demonic training.

By the turn of the 21st century, Edward is enjoying his supernatural power and using and abusing it with relish. His one mistake comes from writing all of his plans down in a diary (coded with astrological charts and ancient languages), which is ultimately lost and bought at auction by a college professor. Aaron Jacobs presents said diary to his fiance, Terecita Ellis, as a gift. Guess what...she's an astrologer!

The second two-thirds of The Eighth House concern Edward's hunt for the diary and consquently for Terecita, who turns out to be more than an innocent participant, as she slowly comes to realize her role in preventing future cataclysmic events. Terecita's knowledge of astrology is focal in explaining the novel's events and action; though I have not had interest in astrology or prophecy beyond select books of the Old Testament, I nonetheless found interesting and entertaining how Sealy wove these concepts into what could likely become a favored story in the growing genre of "end times" books.

Ms. Sealy's debut is a compelling, suspenseful story that might even qualify as a romance (considering the great tension between Terecita and Aaron). She is also quite clever in setting up the story for a sequel, leaving the reader wanting more. Regardless of your views on astrology or any sort of divination, The Eighth House is good escapist fiction and a unique twist on a classic theme.

Kathryn Lively is the publisher of Phaze, romance novels in eBook and paperback. She offers book promotion advice for authors.

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