Hell to Pay
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- Pre-Order
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- Expected Jul 28, 2026
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- $10.99
Publisher Description
Oceans Eight meets Six of Crows in this YA fantasy heist novel about a teenage con artist and her ragtag crew teaming up for their toughest job yet: stealing a soul from the Afterlife.
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?
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Johnson (Devil in the Device) weaves a searing fantasy novel about a teenage con artist who reunites with her former crew for their biggest heist yet. Following her brother's death, her parents' inexplicable disappearance, and her self-imposed isolation from old friends, white-cued Elle Fields is foundering, taking on odd jobs to make ends meet. But when enigmatic magic-user Rook Crawford recruits her to retrieve his dead sister's soul from the Afterlife, Elle gathers her companions from previous cons to take on the job. Unbeknownst to Rook and her crew, however, Elle doesn't agree to the gig for the promise of a hefty paycheck; if Rook successfully reanimates his late sister, that means Elle might be able to resurrect her own brother, too. Secrets come out and tensions rise as the team's infiltration of the Afterlife progresses, jeopardizing the job and resulting in devastating repercussions. Unique worldbuilding relayed via Elle's tongue-in-cheek humor and biting narration keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Rapid-fire action and surprising twists further invest the audience in this dog-eat-dog heist with high stakes and deadly consequences. The resulting found family narrative is a heartening reminder of the resilience of the human spirit. Ages 14–up.
