“The flames of Hell scorched and licked every fibre of my body. I hated being summoned. It hurt like hell. Instantly put me in a bad mood.” – J.P. Jackson, Devil’s Due

DOMINIC Ronove is a centuries-old “Contract Demon” scouring the city of Edmonton, Alberta, on Hell’s order, seeking desperate and/or corruptible humans willing to trade their souls for 6 years of great success before the contract comes due. Also, as author J.P. Jackson writes, “a small token of [their] appreciation” will be required in the deal-making. What does Dom mean? Pleasure or pain? Maybe both? It’s different for everyone. I’ll let your imagination play it out. Now, everything changes for Dom when he encounters handsome Malik Parsa, a laid-back gay man in his twenties with a typical everyday life and a sexy, outdoorsy best friend—with benefits—who may just have an issue with Dom entering the picture.

Despite his primary mission of fulfilling contracts for souls for Hell while also contending with a coven of sibling witches who have it out for him, Dom becomes increasingly preoccupied with this alluring man who seems to possess an inexplicable allure. And our demon isn’t the only one who has taken notice.

The trope of “making a deal with the devil” is commonly explored in literature in both horror and comedic form; it can be tricky to make this feel fresh in contemporary fiction. That said, Jackson is in no way beating a dead horse here, so to speak. He has managed to entertain me and convince me that there’s still a way to feature both the contractual negotiations between Hell and humans and the inevitable consequences of said agreement in a fascinating new light. His book explores more than the conventional “you get what you deserve when entering into a contract with Hell” scenario, though you see the process and drama attached to the “collecting.” There are layers, people, and as I said before, you want to overlook Dom’s nature and see so much more in him.

Jackson has penned a narrative that compels you to empathize with, though maybe not cheer for—yet, the villain or the supposed love interest who is, at the very least, deeply morally questionable. (Umm, did I mention he’s a demon?) It’s a tale that dares to question the very fabric of Good and Evil and authenticity and manipulation—or do I mean persuasion? It’s a thought-provoking journey that will leave you pondering long after you’ve turned the last page. Devil’s Due is a quick read, more novella than a novel, and the ending is a cliffhanger, so there’s definitely potential (and a desire from this reader) to continue Dom and Malik’s story. And not just theirs. There’s a plethora of intriguing B-characters who have just begun to reveal their secrets and agendas.

Devil’s Due showcases a diverse range of supernatural beings, some exploding onto the page without much secrecy, like witches and vampires, and one or two that were a delightful, clandestine surprise, like—nope, nice try. No spoilers here! This rich tapestry of supernatural entities will keep you on the edge of your seat, eager to discover more about their roles in the story. Enemies, allies and frenemies, OH MY!

The book strikes a perfect balance, feeling sexy without crossing over into explicit smut, which appealed to me as I was drawn to this work for the queer paranormal theme over explicit M/M sexual content. That said, the narrative delivers just the right combination of grit and mature content, offering a thrilling mix of tantalizing, shocking, and awe-inspiring moments, whether in the form of intimate scenes or intense action (aka sex and violence! lol). That this is an unapologetically diverse and queer world, both natural and supernatural, is precisely what I expect from J.P. Jackson.

Something I really like about this story is that it shows young queer men having a variety of interests and personal callings that drive them. Malik is looking for a sensual connection and monogamous relationship; Dom is basically omnisexual (he’s a demon in human flesh, after all) with an anything goes mentality; and Scott, Malik’s best friend and fuck-buddy, is never treated like a whore for wanting a gay relationship that isn’t emotionally compatible with what Malik wants. And the fact that both men can recognize this so that it doesn’t fracture their friendship is awesome. Perhaps it’s not integral to the horror story, per se, but these moments of realism—intimacy, conversation, and connection—strengthen the text by driving complexity.

Despite some minor proofreading issues, Devil’s Due is an emotionally charged, exhilarating story. The contemporary ideas and intriguing character design make it a great read, with, in my opinion, nothing detracting from the overall impact of J.P.’s compelling queer urban paranormal horror story.

Devil’s Due is available for purchase online at amazon.ca and amazon.com. For more information about this author, follow J.P. Jackson on Facebook, Instagram, and also his Website.