Franku Cottonovi, požitkáři, jenž vyčerpal veškeré možnosti zábavy v této realitě, se podařilo odhalit tajemství Lemarchandovy kostky, bájného hlavolamu, který otevírá dveře k absolutním rozkoším jiných sfér. Stanul na prahu a vyčkával příchodu svých průvodců, cenobitů, příslušníků tajného řádu těch, kdo rozkoš také hledali, našli a už také pochopili, že s vypjatou smyslností je neodmyslitelně spjata i její věčná souputnice: trýznivá bolest. Hrůzná, nesnesitelná kombinace však Franka přivede za hranici života, zpoza níž mu může pomoci pouze Julia, žena, která kdysi podlehla kouzlu jeho osobnosti.

This story commands some respect for the committed trashiness of the writing. The Lovecraftian italics, the sadomasochistic bodice-ripping! And for shameless use of Hollywood horror tropes: The tinkle of a music box in the opening scene. The walking back into The House of Horrors alone, unarmed, and without a plan. The characters with soap opera relations and no backstories. The classic “Come out come out wherever you are” structure of the denouement.
It also has me re-evaluating the most elemental conviction of my existence as a sentient being: that the book is always better than the movie unless Stephen King. I give two more stars for the identity crisis it triggered. The characters are mere empty husks (lol!) and it was impossible not to contrast the ways the lead actresses made this story real for me, in film version. ( )

I really enjoyed this book. I do wonder if it would have been a bit creepier if I hadn't been familiar with the movie.

Also, now I will always feel slightly unsettled whenever I hear church bells. ( )

This reminds me of an r-rated Goosebumps book: cool idea, but doesn't have the greatest dialogue, and lacks general description (honestly, the cenobites get about a sentence each worth of description). But, with that being said, it sure makes a kick-ass movie. Happy Halloween! ( )

Always loved the Hellraiser movie and wanted to see how the book compared. It's pretty close with the major difference being the relationships (ie the daughter in the movie is a friend in the book) but I would absolutely read this novella again. It's dark and bloody and good. ( )