Return of the Devil

by Michael Harbron

In Return of the Devil, the cracks in Joseph Banbury’s universe have unleashed chaos.

Six years after the Epoch, a parasitic force—born of the Abstract and feeding on the instability of creation—threatens to consume reality itself. As nightmares spill into the world, the new Morningstar Tribe must reunite with Joseph, the God who abandoned them, and uncover the truth he tried to bury.

Now, with Earth collapsing and Hell unraveling, the only hope for restoring balance lies in the unthinkable—the return of the Devil. Their journey will take them through the Axis Mundi, across a scorched and broken Earth, and into the inferno Joseph created to forget. Together, they must survive the Infernum Trials, confront their deepest traumas, and rally behind the very being Joseph once condemned.

Because only the Devil can save them now.

318 pages, Paperback

Published March 28, 2025

About the author

Michael Harbron is an American fiction writer who brings a unique, yet traditional approach to the horror and supernatural genres. From a young age, Harbron was captivated by the eerie and unexplained, a fascination that has deeply influenced his writing. His works aim to unsettle readers through suspense and psychological depth, revisiting the shadowy corners of childhood fears. His debut novel, "Interview with the Devil," exemplifies the blurred lines between reality and the unimaginable. Harbron’s storytelling resurrects dormant fears, proving that true horror lies not in what is seen, but in what is felt.

Reviews

[Katie Burrows · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keep em coming!

Ahhh, im ready for the next chapter already. This is my favorite series. That ending, lost a few greats. I must know how it ends.

[Elane Grimoire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last year, when Epoch was published, it felt pretty much the same as when I walked out of the theater after watching Avengers: Endgame. The massive story arc of Thanos was over and done with. Some of the heroes left us forever. And no matter what was going to happen afterward, we'd never get something like Endgame again. It was more than a decade in the making.

That's what I felt when I finished Epoch. There. All the good stuff had already happened. The arc was over. I got that same squelchy feeling in my heart and throat that I got when I finished reading Stephen King's The Dark Tower series or Patrick Rothfuss's Kingkiller Chronicles (when's the third book coming out, Patrick!?).

We got some great books afterwards.

I finally got to read in detail about The Witch in a whole novel of her own.

I got to read other stories from the IWD universe, besides just Joe's or Lillys. That Anthology was something else entirely. It introduced a new threat. The Parasite. Harbron knows exactly what he's doing, and that's the mark of an excellent storyteller. His readers weren't ready to stop reading, and he was not ready to stop writing.

And then out comes Return of the Devil.

Set six years after the events of Epoch, it sheds light on an enlightened world, one where science and scientific progress have taken the reins, one where dark shadows creep from the far flung depths of the cosmos.

While reading the book, I was like, how on earth was Harbron going to bring the Devil back? Wasn't he eviscerated?

And then, the pieces of this macabre puzzle started to fit one by one.

It was nothing short of an immense ride through the Axis Mundi, hell, and everywhere in between. It was bittersweet meeting the old characters, being introduced to new ones, and experiencing the story as it unfolded at breakneck speed.

I don't know what happens next, but I do know this. Mr. Michael Harbron has got yours truly deep. Hook, line, and goshdarn sinker. I am on the edge of my seat, wondering what happens next!

Completely unexpected! Total rollercoaster, and batsh*t crazy. 5/5 from me.

[Stormy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I "absolute" - ly LOVE this series! Please don't let this be the end of it!

I'm in love with ALL of the characters, and stay on the edge of my seat while gorging on every sentence! I can't get enough of it!

Please write another!

[Scott Morningstar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best one yet

Best book out of the series. Very well done. So much detail in this book, I deliberately slowed down reading it. I wanted to absorb every detail and I didn’t want the story to end! Can’t wait for more!!

[Tiffany McDonald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now I know what the last book and most of this one was lacking……the devil. The title “interview with the devil” was what first drew me to this series and why I continued to read it. When the devil was banished, I lost interest. Now that he is back I do hope the story gets better.

[Glen Davis · Rating 1 out of 5]

I loved the series! However the ending was uneventful, the series needed/deserved a proper ending! I might be missing something about another book in series to close it out 🤞

[Daniel Penrod · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gettin' kinda frustrated with the cliffhangers here, Mike!

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best book in the series so far, in my opinion.

[Jamie Colclasure · Rating 5 out of 5]

was so good I hate having to wait months for the next one

[Jessica Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

read this series!

Every book in this series has its own great story within the story that is the complete series. Looking forward to what the last book holds

[Dana Bartram · Rating 5 out of 5]

can't wait for the next book