I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Elle Fields comes from a long line of thieves who specialize in breaking into the Afterlife to steal secrets—and magic—from the dead. But after her parents’ disappearance and her brother’s death, Elle is left adrift, without even her crew to rely on.

Until a mysterious stranger offers her a job she can’t refuse: stealing a soul from the Afterlife. If Elle can get it done, it could be the key to restoring the life she lost.

The only problem is getting her crew back together. Oh, and the fact that the job’s impossible—but Elle is confident that she’ll be able to work it all out.

After all, how hard could it be to raise the dead?

Short and Sweet Review

Hell to Pay was such a fun surprise. Between the magical heists, the Afterlife, and a crew of lovable misfits, this book hooked me almost immediately. The premise alone is incredibly creative, and it delivered the kind of fast paced adventure that kept me wanting to know what ridiculous situation the characters would end up in next.

One of my favorite parts of the book was the crew itself. Every member had their own personality, strengths, and motivations, so they all felt important instead of fading into the background. Their banter and loyalty to one another made the found family dynamic one of the strongest parts of the story. I especially loved Crowlene, who constantly managed to steal the scene whenever she appeared. The world building was another highlight. The idea of thieves breaking into the Afterlife to steal magic and secrets was such a unique concept, and I loved how Greek mythology was woven into the magic system. There were moments early on where I felt a little overwhelmed trying to keep track of all the different syndicates and rules, but once everything clicked into place, I found myself completely invested in the world. Elle was a fun protagonist to follow. She’s impulsive, sarcastic, and constantly thinking several steps ahead, even if those plans don’t always work out. I enjoyed her narration and how she kept both the other characters and sometimes even the reader guessing. The twists throughout the story genuinely caught me off guard, which made the heist feel even more exciting. I also appreciated that the romance stayed in the background. It added to the story without ever taking over, allowing the focus to remain on the heist, the friendships, and the emotional journey surrounding grief and found family. The only thing that kept this from being a full five stars for me was the beginning. There was a lot of information thrown at the reader all at once, and it took me a little while to fully understand the world and all of its moving pieces. Once I got past that learning curve, though, I was completely on board.

Overall, Hell to Pay is a clever, action packed fantasy full of magical heists, found family, humor, and an incredibly imaginative world. If you enjoy ensemble casts, unpredictable twists, unique magic systems, and adventures that blend heart with humor, this is definitely one worth picking up.