Reviews
"A century before the events of Claree(tm)s Mortal Instruments trilogy . . .this crowdpleasere(tm)s tension-filled conclusion ratchets toward a new set of mysteries." - Kirkus Reviews, "A century before the events of Clare's Mortal Instruments trilogy . . . this crowdpleaser's tension-filled conclusion ratchets toward a new set of mysteries." -Kirkus Reviews, "Mysteries, misdirection, and riddles abound. . . . Fans of the Mortal Instruments series and newcomers alike won't be disappointed." -Publishers Weekly, "A century before the events of Clare's Mortal Instruments trilogy . . . this crowdpleaser's tension-filled conclusion ratchets toward a new set of mysteries." - Kirkus Reviews, "Top Pick! Readers will be thrilled and amazed with this prequel to The Mortal Instruments, tearing their way through a beautifully constructed story of action, magic, mayhem, and romance. Fans and newcomers alike will be enchanted by Clare's fantastical world and left begging for more!" -Romantic Times Book Reviews, "[Bill Scheft] plays both ends against the middle, satirizing our glib and cynical pop culture in a glib and cynical novel. Phil grows on us despite himself."—Amanda Heller,The Boston Globe, "A century before the events of Clare's Mortal Instruments trilogy . . .this crowdpleaser's tension-filled conclusion ratchets toward a new set of mysteries." - Kirkus Reviews, "Pain is king and laughter is his fool. . . . The book achieves a subtle poignancy."—Chicago Sun-Times, "A century before the events of Clare’s Mortal Instruments trilogy . . . this crowdpleaser’s tension-filled conclusion ratchets toward a new set of mysteries." - Kirkus Reviews, "Compulsively readable . . . Packed with battles, romantic entanglements, and tantalizing foreshadowing, this will have readers clamoring for the next installment." -Booklist, "Letterman writer Scheft skewers physical and emotional pain with a mercilessly comic touch and a bit of poignancy. . . . Phil is a wonderful protagonist, and Scheft's biting wit coexists nicely with the undercurrent of uplift."—Publishers Weekly, "The writing is swift and breezy but with an underlying message that deals with guilt and pain. Because it's a novel, it's more sit-down comedy than stand-up. . . . Sometimes you laugh only when it hurts."—Charles Lee Boyd,The Post and Courier(Charleston, SC), "Top Pick! Readers will be thrilled and amazed with this prequel to The Mortal Instruments, tearing their way through a beautifully constructed story of action, magic, mayhem, and romance. Fans and newcomers alike will be enchanted by Clare's fantastical world and left begging for more!" - Romantic Times Book Reviews, 'I have lived this story in real life, though mine wasn't nearly as funny, poignant, or compelling as his. On the other hand, I believe I'm much better looking than the fellow in this book and could probably take him in a fight.'—Larry David, "Mysteries, misdirection, and riddles abound. . . . Fans of the Mortal Instruments series and newcomers alike won't be disappointed." - Publishers Weekly, "Like [Woody] Allen, Scheft seems to know his way around the psychiatrist's couch; he has a keen sense of the emotional pathways of depression and of how therapy awkwardly leads people into and out of their worst experiences. . . . Scheft's rendering of family dysfunction is consistently sturdy. Much like Phil's fictitious self-help book: meant as a gag, but with enough smarts to be taken seriously."—Kirkus Reviews, "A century before the events of Clare's Mortal Instruments trilogy . . . this crowdpleaser's tension-filled conclusion ratchets toward a new set of mysteries." - Kirkus Reviews, "Compulsively readable . . . Packed with battles, romantic entanglements, and tantalizing foreshadowing, this will have readers clamoring for the next installment." - Booklist, "How rare it is for a novel to be both hilarious and profoundly moving. InEverything Hurts, Bill Scheft is firing on all eight rumbling, throaty cylinders." -- Richard Russo
