The highly anticipated conclusion of the Hell Night Series. Emo’s story.Death. Destruction. Pain. A soulless void. It’s his life. It’s his reality.Emo doesn’t feel. Anything. His soul is dark and filled with hatred. People in the small town of Malus watch him with fear, with reverence. Exactly the way he prefers it.Guilt surrounds him, caging him in an ominous past he refuses to let go. Can’t let … refuses to let go. Can’t let go. His past is responsible for the shell of the man who now exists. He doesn’t know any other way to survive.]
The woman who haunts his dreams is his only salvation. He’s hurt her over and over again. He didn’t have a choice.
The key he holds on to, the one he uses to carve into his flesh, is the key to his hell. It’s his reminder of the pain he’s suffered and inflicted.
Will there be retribution? Can Emo be saved? Or is he destined to live in this dark hell he’s surrounded himself in for the rest of his life?
DISCLAIMER: Intended for readers 18 years and older do to adult language, dark and harsh situations, and sexual content.
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The Grand Finale. I felt like I waited for forever for this book but boy was it worth it.
Emo was the most complex character in this series so we knew his book was going to be the most challenging. And we weren’t wrong. This story was brutal in more ways than one. It was by far the darkest of the series but that suited me to a tee.
Emo & Rella broke my heart so many times during this emotional rollercoaster I’m still trying to piece it all back together. They suffered through so much in life that it’s a wonder they were still alive let alone able to function in any way.
These 2 outstanding characters are the true definition of Soul Mates. They clung to each other as children until fate showed her hand. They became even more broken in the intervening years they spent apart. But no matter what life threw at them they never forgot the other, even though Emo and his brothers thought Rella was dead.
This authors writing has a way of pulling you body and soul into her stories and this one was no exception. Watching from the sidelines as Emo & Rella came together again after over 20 yrs and became closer than they were as kids, helping to heal each other was true beauty.
This final installment of the Hell Night Series tied everything together for all the brilliant characters we’ve met and I’m sad to see it end, but I’m so glad I took this journey and can’t wait to see what his author sucks me into next.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review for Stephanie’s Book Reports.
Death. Destruction. Pain. A soulless void. It’s his life. It’s his reality. Emo doesn’t feel. Anything. His soul is dark and filled with hatred. Peple in the small town of Malus watch him with fear, with reverence. Exactly the way he prefers it.Guilt surrounds him, caging him in a ominous past he refuses to let go. Can’t let go. His past is responsible for the shell of the man who now exists. He doesn’t know any other way to survive. The woman who haunts his dreams is his only salvation. He’s hurt her over and over again. He didn’t have a choice. The key he hold on to, the one he uses to carve inot his flesh, is the key to his hell. It’s his reminder of the pain he suffered and inflicted. Will there be retributon? Can Emo be saved? Or is he destined to love in his dark world he’s surrounded himself in in for the rest of his life?
Can I just take a moment and say since the beginning of this series I have been so curious about Emo. Now that we finally have his book, half of me is so giddy and excited that I about can’t stand myself, and the other half of me is so so so sad. I don’t have the words to explain how amazing this book or the rest of the series for that matter. I didn’t read a bad book the entire four books. Emo to me is the guy you root for. You know a smidge of what he has been through but that smidge isn’t quiet enough to know the full story of him and Rella.I fell so hard from Rella because my heart just shattered for her at times. And even thought I knew even if this was real life and she couldn’t stand touch I still wanted to wrap that woman in my arms and let her let it all out. These ople have done more adn experienced more evil than anyone ever should. I love how the revived theri town. I love how they look out for each other. I love the way they look out for each othere. Heck I just love them. I do not want to give away anything in this book as I went in blind to it . I didnt’ want to know a thing about it. If your read for this last book then go ahead and get one with it. Your missing greatness if your not reading. If you are new to the series, I suggesst you start with the first book. Each of these four guys are so worth knowing in the fictional sense of course but they read better and you get fresh glimpses of their lives if you start with the first book. Alex Grayson has blown me away and found a forever fan while I was experiencing these book. Thank you so much for writitng the books that have stolen my heart.
what an incredible emotional roller coaster ride!
I have loved this series from the start. It is an incredible journey through Malus’s town of misfits. Emo’s story is like no other and in my opinion the darker of all the hell night books.
You really need to read all of them in order to fully understand and enjoy the entire series.
Emo has been through so much and is the most damaged character I have read in a long time. If you want cupcakes and puppies this isn’t it. I was shocked by what happened and who popped up in Key to Hell because you will get one of the biggest shocks right from the start.
I don’t want to spoil this for anyone so you need to just one click Key to Hell and grab tissues and buckle up. Emo and his lady have a rough journey back to where they need to be and it is one of the most broken roads I have ever seen.
Finally the story of Emo, the most broken of the four boys who just like so many other children have suffered absurdities in the hands of those who should care is to watch over them.Throughout the journey of the other characters we learned a little what they had and we had little glimpses of him and how much his past still tortured him, so I will not say that I was surprised when I finished the previous book and I could see that what I always suspected since the book one was really right.And now when I finish reading the book of these two characters I think there would be no other way for Emo to get past the past that was not this one.
Key to hell is the story of two characters who are damaged and who share a difficult and painful past and here we can see these two broken souls healing each other and finding the happiness no one else they deserve.Along with these characters I smiled, I cried, I felt revulsion for what they spent so young at the same time that I felt hope to see them little by little healing each other.Like the other books in this series, this story is not easy to read, it’s been hours that I had to take a deep breath to read certain scenes, I think it’s as well as they say: with this story the author broke my heart to gradually put it whole again. The journey of these characters is dark, difficult and at the same time beautiful and deserved.
Emo and Rella are characters that have stolen my heart, not only by those who have both passed by but also by seeing little by little both discovering love and managing to put aside some of the darkness that the past brought to them.
Key to hell came to close with the story of these characters and I think they did perfectly, leaving no loose end and still leaving space for a new series and story to come.The story of Emo and Rella was very well built, developed and that aroused in me the most diverse feelings throughout the reading. Without a doubt, it’s my favorite book of this series and it goes to my list of favorites of 2019.
This whole series was amazing but Emo’s story was the most horrific and heartbreaking. Emo held a very special piece of my heart from the beginning and reading his story made me love him even more.
He had it the worse out of all the brothers, this things that were done to him and what he had to do to his friend Rella were unspeakable, he was just living day by day with no feeling for himself. Emo thought he didn’t deserve to be happy at all from what happened all those years ago but when Rella comes back into his life you see change little by little in him. There was much healing for him and Rella and they were able to get that from each other.
I was hooked from the beginning to the end and was on such emotional roller coaster , i cried, i screamed and wanted to through my kindle out the window at times, but this series is one of my best that I have read. I love Alex Grayson, her writing is truly amazing and she keeps you captivated with her stories. I highly suggest reading all of the Hell Night series, you will NOT be disappointed.
This book….no not just this book the entire Hell Night series is Phenomenal.
It’s incredibly raw and at times painful to read. The Author doesn’t hold back when it comes to the brutality needed to make the abusive situations realistic.
I applaud and admire her for that, it can’t of been easy.
I seriously have no words for how much I loved Emo and Rellas heartbreakingly beautiful story. It was captivating, haunting and unforgettable. It has to be my favourite from the series.
They completely slayed me wide open in a way that I felt physically numb and emotionally drained. I expected that going into this book but it still hurt regardless.
Emo is one of the most tormented broken characters I’ve ever met. Throughout the series he has always been an enigma. That bloody Key was always a pivotal part of his story, now we know why.
Emo captured my attention and my heart from the beginning and he has definitely left his mark.
Rella is just as broken as Emo she has her own demons to deal with. As we get all of her back story in more detail it’s easy to understand why. Rella has a beautiful soul, one that was almost destroyed by her past. I thought she was incredibly brave and a lot stronger than she gave herself credit for.
Together they have literally gone through Hell. Both emotionally, physically and mentally damaged they are each others salvation. They absorb each others pain slowly seeking comfort for their tortured souls.
Their story is EVERYTHING.
Emo is the Key and Rella is his Lock. They fit perfectly together. &
I can’t wait for what comes next from Alex Grayson it’s going to be amazing.
Omg I couldn’t wait for this book to hit my kindle…literally like it was my most anticipated book in a really long time; and this author did not disappoint. In fact it surpassed my expectations. The emotions that poured from the pages had my heart bleeding for Emo and Rella.
Key to Hell is the 4th book in the Hell Night series and throughout the first three we learn that Emo is the one that who has the hardest time overcoming their past. He has never given himself a chance to get over what happened with Rella. And now he has to face that head on.
Rella is an extremely tortured soul who has been through more nightmares than anyone could imagine. But she has remained an amazing person with a an almost impenetrable shield of fear surrounding her.
But these two who have so much pain are only capable of feeling again with each other and story was amazingly beautiful to watch unfold. Then to see everything finally come to a close…ahhh I can’t wait to re-read it over and over again!
Death. Destruction. Pain. A soulless void. It’s his life. It’s his reality. When the girl who haunts him returns it will wreak havoc on his darkness.
Perfection.
That is all I can say about the last book of the Hell Night Series. It sums up Emo and Rella perfectly. It takes their broken souls and creates a world for those two to find peace, well as much peace as they can.
It can’t even put into words what this book did to my feelings as I read it. Ms. Grayson wrote perfection for these two. This story will bring tears. The ending was such love!! She even threw in a few surprises along the way.
I will miss all of these characters.
I absolutely loved this book and have to say I think this one was my favorite. I will say that I loved the entire series but Emo story is just so heartbreakingly perfect. We had so much build up to this story because of the ending of book 3 and it was so worth the wait. So much emotion in this book it draws you in and makes you feel. This book just as all the key points that a good story has.
I loved this book. It was a great end to the series. The whole series was addicting.
Some books I read to escape from reality for a while and others like Key To Hell sweep me away, tug and pull at my emotions, break my heart only to slowly piece it back together again and I loved every enthralling moment.
From the beginning of this series Emo has been the enigmatic brother that piqued my curiosity and made me want to delve further into his story. Dark, disturbed and broken from a horrific childhood that left its mark on him I realized quickly Emo’s story would never be an easy one.
After the ending of the previous book I anticipated a wild ride and boy did Key to Hell deliver! I squealed so loud when I realized what I had been hoping for all along was about to play out with their story. I loved watching both Emo and Rella grow throughout this book as they found the strength they needed in each other.
I thought I was prepared for the emotional rollercoaster these two would take me on but I was quickly proven wrong. My emotions were constantly careening all over the place. I lost my breath, felt a bit sick to my stomach, shed quite a few tears and by the end these two had stolen my heart completely. Key to Hell was the perfect conclusion to this heartgripping and gutwrenching series that held me as a willing captive from beginning to end. If you love hauntingly beautiful reads that don’t pull a punch and will have your emotions twisted every which way then this book and the rest in the series are definite mustreads!
Key To Hell by Alex Grayson is book number 4 AND the final installment to the Hell Night Series. All 4 books are standalones BUT they are all interconnected and should be read in order. If you have not read the first three books in the series, do not read this review because there will be spoilers. There are some triggers, i.e child assault, self-harm, violence, murder, etc. but, although not an easy read, I still recommend giving it a shot, the way it’s written while some parts are gruesome and graphic the story is so worth it.
I have been waiting for Emo’s story since we first met him in Trouble in Hell and now we FINALLY have his heartbreaking, gut-wrenching tale. Told in dual POV, Key To Hell is Emo and Rella’s story and it is EVERYTHING that I hoped it would be.
We first met these four brothers back in Trouble in Hell. Judge, Trouble, JW, and Emo all grew up together in a town called Sweet Haven. Once a month they suffered horrific abuse at the hands of the adults that were supposed to protect them. Until one night the town is raided and the boys make their escape with an elderly couple that never participated in the horrible night but was always there to tend to them afterward. Only to come back years later and turn the town they renamed Malus, into a safe haven of sorts for victims and to take revenge on their abusers as well as others abusers.
Throughout the series, we see glimpses of Emo and how troubled he is. While the other boys seem to have somewhat coped with the demons from their childhood, Emo has not. Emo has never been able to forgive himself for the things he was forced to do to Rella during Hell Night when they were children. He’s always felt as if he should have done more, fought him off harder. But he was just a child, there was NOTHING that he could have done differently and he did the best he could to make things as easy as possible for her, no matter how much he was being hurt in the process. But although everyone else understands that, Emo refuses to think that way. All he’s capable of seeing is the wrong that he did. The guilt he lives with is killing him inside… and the scars on the outside are proof.
But then in walks Rella.
The little girl that has supposedly been dead for the past 24 years. But Rella didn’t die that day and unlike the boys, her pain didn’t stop when the town was raided that night. Although only Trouble was her actual brother, Rella was a little sister to them all. All four boys held hands during her funeral and mourned for the loss of her. But unbeknownst to them, Rella had already been sent to another horrible home in another town, but instead of once a month the way the adults in Sweet Haven did things… then it was happening every single day.
Rella and Emo are both so broken and damaged, but if either of them has a chance to heal, it’s with one another.
Can Emo get over his self-loathing and guilt to give Rella what she needs?
Can Rella overcome the trauma, both mentally and physically enough to give Emo what he needs?
You’ll have to read Key To Hell to find out.
“This is his and my story … this is something he and I need to get through on our own.”
At the end of book three, Judge of Hell (Hell Night Series, #3), when Rella walked in, I just knew that this book was going to break me down and I wasn’t wrong. This was no easy read. Emo’s story completely devastated me in the best way possible, just like I knew it would. Rella and Emo are the most intense, raw, and real, story of this whole series. While I enjoyed the others immensely and rated them all 5-stars, Key To Hell literally shattered me.
“You were always my hero, even when you couldn’t be.”
Emo, God that man breaks my heart. I have always been interested in Emo’s story the most and it’s fitting that the author left his story for last, while I was impatient for it, after reading his story I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Rella, my heart hurts for her. She has been through hell and although may have come out a little worse for wear on the other side, she survived. While some may have hated Emo, Rella saw it for what it was, Emo may have been the one inflicting her pain but he was saving her from a fate much, much worse. The fate that he was suffering himself.
“I’ve never, not once, been afraid of you. I’ve never regretted knowing you. I’ve never not felt safe when I’m with you.”
The love between these two people who were so completely broken, it just… I don’t even have the words to describe it. Although the romance aspect moved rather quickly for as much as these two have endured, their connection was honestly unlike anything I have ever read before and from the moment Rella walks back in, they are inseparable. Watching them heal together while supporting and pulling strength from one another, amazing.
USUALLY, I would be upset about the author throwing in the “other woman” thing, but although Grace appeared, it wasn’t for drama and I actually feel like that was such an important scene. I think Grace always knew that Emo could never love her the way she loved him, but she was there for him in the only way he would allow her to be, the way he needed her to be at that point in time. I am glad that once Rella came back that there were no scenes of them together, that would have been too far for me. But I am glad that the scene near the end between Rella and Grace was added to the story.
The key… finding out the darker significance of that key. I never could have anticipated that, in this story, I started thinking it was something along those lines but for all of its appearances in the rest of the series, NEVER could have imagined.
Alex Grayson is an amazing writer, I have ONLY read this series but I plan on checking out much more of her work, and since the epilogue hinted at a spin-off series, which I am sooo excited to find out more about, I know for sure I’ll be checking that out.
This is one of those books, those series for that matter, that will stay with you for a long time to come. I’m not a big re-reader, once I’ve read a book I’m usually done with it but I can see that I will be re-reading this series again. To say that I loved this series and these brothers as well as the ladies that helped heal them and were healed themselves, would be an understatement. I admire them, fictional or not.
Absolutely unforgettable read for sure.
Without a doubt, Key To Hell is at the very top of my favorite reads of 2019 list! 5-stars and I would give way, way more if I could. What an amazing journey this series has been.
I HIGHLY recommend Key To Hell as well as the rest of the Hell Night series.
“Do you love me?” I ask, my voice raw with emotion.
“You know I do.”
“No.” I shake my head and elaborate, needing him to understand. “Do you love me more than just a friend?”
His Adam’s apple moves up and down as he swallows. “With everything in me.”
The pain in my heart lessens.
“If we didn’t share the past that we do and we were just a man and a woman, would you want to be with me?”
“I’d never fuckin’ let you go.”
“You’ll never convince me that I deserve you … But you were right; there’s not a man alive I trust to take care of you like I will or who will love you as much as I do.”
I voluntarily reviewed an advance complimentary copy of this book.
And so it comes to this. The end of our damaged and tortured men from Malus – the last to fall is Emo.
Quick reminder, we learned in Judge of Hell that Rella, Trouble’s sister, was not dead as they all had thought for decades. To say she and Emo had history would be an understatement.
I knew Key to Hell would be hard to read. All of the men have terrible pasts and stories, but I knew Emo’s would be the worst of all. Of all of them, he’s the one who is still punishing himself for what he was forced to do as a child.
And Rella? Her life hasn’t been a bed roses either. Which is why it makes perfect sense that they are so drawn to each other – salvation, healing, understanding.
A dark, twisted, and intensely emotional read, Key to Hell is the perfect ending for the series. Well worth the wait!
WOW-ZA
What an ending!! I am totally drained after becoming enthralled in this twisted haunting beauty!
The long awaited conclusion of this exciting and thrilling series did not disappoint!
This is book 4 and these books must be read in order to understand and appreciate. It begins right after the mother of dragons cliffhanger from book 3 and the raw, wtf moments just kept on coming.
Dark, raw, and gritty, the intense developments as Emo’s story evolved was mesmerizing.
Such a a haunted, dark, broken and heartless man.
Can new discoveries change the man he has become?
Or will be become worse?
This emotional roller coaster was unputdownable despite the frequent pauses as this book was dark.
4.5 stars!
Key to Hell is the last book in The Hell Night Series, as much as it can be read as a Standalone, I strongly suggest Reading the previous books in the series to get a full understating of the town of Malus TX, and the four brothers, Trouble, JW, Judge & Emo. It is a Dark Read and may not be for all readers.
I knew from the 1st that Emo’s book was going to be the one to utterly destroy me, yet I early awaited its release. Out of all of the leading men in the series, he is the one who carries the heaviest burden of guilt. He says he doesn’t feel emotions, yet the truth is, he feels them deeply. When the brothers enact their form of justice, he is the one who takes the greatest joy in not being quick & easy.
Key to Hell picks up exactly where Judge of Hell dropped off with Rella walking into the Hill. Talk about a cliffhanger!
I’m not sure who is broken more, Rella or Emo. Their connection formed when they were very young children, and only they can heal each other. But they are both scared, scarred, and guilt-ridden that they can’t seem to deal with their own issues. Until Trouble tells Rella that she & Emo are the only ones who can help heal each other & in the process they will start to heal themselves. However, as with all of Alex’s writing, she takes the reader on an Emotional Roller Coaster before they get there. She does an amazing job in tying up this series & laying down the groundwork for a spin-off.
WOW, what a mind blowing end to this series!!! This book and the series will stay with me for a while.
This book was dark, twisted, and an emotional ride that was worth every page. With that being said this book was not for the faint of heart.
Emo was the most perfectly written un-perfect man! He has more demons than most could handle. He has been through Hell from the hands of his own father. Emo is the mysterious bad boy that most women want to claim and love. The only problem is that this can’t happen when the one you want to claim refuses to let anyone in.
Rella turns Emo’s world upside down when she enters his life. Rella is a beautiful young women who has also survived Hell. When this hell comes back for her all the boys do what they do and protect the one they all love.
The road these two have traveled is long and had many bumps in it. One decision carved a future of hell for Rella. When she comes back Emo comes to realize that she is really the one for him. With everything these two have gone through I am so glad that they got their HEA!!!
This was the best way to end a series, and I can’t wait to see what Alex comes up with next.
Alex Grayson’s book was beautifully haunting and soul crushing!! Emo has been haunted by the death of Rella since they where children but to everybody’s suprised Rella is alive!!
This book is so emotional, it had me all twisted up I couldn’t breath at times! With an ending of epic proportions!!
I don’t know how Alex writes books like this. So many different emotions reading this one. This one was about Emo. I have been patiently waiting for his story. But never realized what I was going to get. I had to put this down many different times. I was in tears so many times reading this one. The story of Emo and Rella is heart wrenching emotional gripping truly powerful. This was an amazing book from difficult shocking beginning to amazing end. I loved the end of this series altogether. Alex definitely wrote one amazing character when she wrote Emo. I just don’t know how she does it . This is definitely a book you must read. Tissues lots of them on hand. But a book you won’t regret reading. Going on this journey with these two amazing characters was like going on a journey of a lifetime. Knowing what each of them overcomes and how strong they are. Just so well written . Alex blew me away with this one. My favorite from this series.
Absolutely speechless!!! I don’t know how she does it but this is her best writing to date. Since this series started I’ve had a soft spot for Emo and she delivered his story perfectly. Rella and Emo are broken souls that need one another to heal. The twists in this story had me on the edge of my seat and gasping out loud. Along with that brings a lot of closure and healing. Beautiful and soul stirring with such a range of emotions that I’m having one hell of a major hangover. I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next.
I just want to start off by saying that Ms. Grayson did one phenomenal job with this book.
She brought everything together with such precision.
Everything fit and tied in like a complex puzzle.
Everything was answered and there were no lingering questions or issues that were unresolved or not answered for me in this very emotional book and and quite frankly the whole series.
Emo stole a piece of my heart from bk.1 Trouble in Hell.
He endured more pain and more trauma then all the others.
Add to all that he feels so much guilt for sins committed that were no fault of his own.
Emo was used,abused and endured.
But the one thing that shredded his heart was what he was made to do to Rella.
Rella was precious to them all.
But to Emo she was like a delicate,fragile flower that should be treated with care and nourished.
His guilt is an ever present being.
It lives in his mind,his heart and his soul.
Eating him alive from the inside out.
Rella is a remarkable woman.
She’s been to Hell and stayed a resident there for years.
Until finally she gets to surface into the light.
Like Emo she’s also endured so much pain and suffering.
But Rella is so much stronger than she gives herself credit for.
The journey of Emo and Rella is so emotional.
I was crushed for them.
My heart torn.
My spirit devastated.
And my mind shattered reading and thinking about their horrific life.
My tears were flowing throughout the book.
Key to Hell is an outstanding ending to a superb series.
The Hell Night Series is one of the best series I’ve ever read.
It’s raw.
It’s gritty.
It’s extremely intense.
It’s a subject that’s real and scary.
Standing ovation to this incredibly gifted author.
I can’t wait to see what she takes on next!