Diagnosis and Defiance

Lily's life is upended when she receives a terminal cancer diagnosis. Alone in her car, she cycles through shock, rage, and a dark humor that's become her shield. She's always been a fighter, but this is a battle she can't win. With no money for treatment and a family she dreads hurting, Lily faces her mortality with a mix of resignation and defiance. She's determined to give her loved ones good memories, even as she prepares for the end. Her tattoos—symbols of her independence and self-love—are a comfort, but even they can't shield her from the reality that her time is running out.

Death's Unwelcome Arrival

As Lily's illness progresses, she tries to shield her family from her suffering, even as she's forced to move back in with her parents. Well-meaning but misguided attempts at comfort from religious relatives and old friends only deepen her sense of isolation. The pain is relentless, but the knowledge that it will end is a strange comfort. When death finally comes, it's bittersweet—she's free from pain, but the cost is everything she's ever known.

The Afterlife's Front Desk

Lily awakens in a vast, cathedral-like lobby—the Afterlife's "Front Desk." Here, souls from every era and belief system await their next step. She meets Siedah, a gentle guide who explains the rules: souls choose their own judgment system, and the Afterlife is shaped by belief, justice, and the universal constants of kindness and consequence. Lily's tattoos are gone, but she's promised she can reclaim them—if she passes judgment. The process is both comforting and daunting, and Lily's irreverence and curiosity set her apart from the other souls.

Judgment and Justice

Lily chooses Universal Judgment, confronting the totality of her actions, motivations, and regrets. She relives moments of kindness and cruelty, triumph and failure, love and loneliness. The Afterlife's justice is not punitive but restorative—souls who have caused harm are given a chance to grow, while those who have suffered are offered peace. Lily's honesty and self-awareness earn her a place in Paradise, but the experience leaves her questioning what comes next.

Paradise, But Not Peace

Lily's Paradise is a blend of her favorite fantasies: a cozy home, a lush garden, a beloved cat returned to her, and a library filled with every book she's ever loved. Yet, even in this idyllic setting, she feels restless and incomplete. The absence of her heartbeat is a constant reminder of what she's lost, and the memories of her family and her own mortality linger. Paradise offers comfort, but not closure.

Exploring the Afterlife

Boredom and a need for connection drive Lily to explore beyond her personal Paradise. She discovers the Universal Hallway—a bustling hub connecting every afterlife realm, from Valhalla to the Underworld. Here, she meets gods, demons, and souls from every culture, each with their own stories and struggles. Encounters with Persephone, Aphrodite, and other deities challenge her assumptions about divinity and the nature of existence. The Afterlife is vast, diverse, and far more complicated than any mortal religion ever imagined.

Hell's Customer Service

Drawn by a sense of justice and her background in customer service, Lily volunteers at the gates of Hell. She finds the demons are not monsters, but weary, compassionate workers tasked with guiding souls through their own healing or punishment. Lily's sharp wit and empathy make her a natural fit, and she quickly becomes an indispensable part of the team. She helps sort the entitled, the lost, and the truly evil, wielding a baseball bat and her tongue with equal skill. The work is grueling but meaningful, and for the first time since her death, Lily feels a sense of purpose.

Facing Evil, Finding Purpose

Lily's role at the "Hellp Desk" brings her face-to-face with the darkest aspects of humanity—abusers, bigots, and monsters in human form. She dispenses justice with a mix of compassion and ferocity, earning the respect of the demons and the gratitude of the souls who are ready to change. Her work is a form of healing, both for herself and for those she helps. She forms deep bonds with her demon colleagues, especially the gentle giant Krun and the fierce Moura, and finds unexpected joy in the camaraderie of Hell's staff.

Demons, Drinks, and Games

Outside of work, Lily is drawn into the social life of the Afterlife—pubs, trivia nights, and online games with demons and gods. She becomes close friends with Bel (Beleth), a demon general with a voice that makes her weak in the knees and a heart as big as his wings. Their banter is electric, their connection immediate, and their mutual nerdiness a source of endless delight. Through games, drinks, and shared stories, Lily finds a chosen family among the denizens of Hell.

Unlikely Friendships

As Lily's relationships deepen, she learns the true nature of the Afterlife's denizens. Demons are not evil, but complex beings with families, dreams, and wounds of their own. Gods and goddesses are flawed, often more human than divine. Lily's irreverence and honesty win her friends in high places, and her willingness to help—whether it's Persephone with a sex joke or Lucifer with a bureaucratic headache—makes her indispensable. She also confronts her own trauma, finding healing in the acceptance and understanding of her new friends.

The Child Called Sharkie

Lily encounters Sharkie, a traumatized child soul convinced she belongs in Hell. Recognizing her own pain in the girl, Lily takes Sharkie under her wing, offering her the love and safety she never had in life. Together, they build a family—one forged not by blood, but by choice and healing. Sharkie's journey from fear to confidence mirrors Lily's own, and their bond becomes the heart of Lily's new existence.

Family, Found and Forged

Lily, Bel, and Sharkie become a family, navigating the joys and challenges of the Afterlife together. They celebrate victories, mourn losses, and support each other through grief and growth. The Afterlife is not free from pain, but it offers the chance to heal and to choose one's own path. Through rituals, traditions, and everyday moments, Lily learns that family is not defined by biology, but by love, loyalty, and the willingness to fight for each other.

Love in the Afterlife

Lily and Bel's friendship deepens into love, but both carry wounds that make intimacy difficult. Bel's past—marked by loss, survivor's guilt, and the burden of leadership—mirrors Lily's own struggles with self-worth and the fear of abandonment. Through honest conversations, shared vulnerability, and a lot of humor, they learn to trust each other. Their love is passionate, nerdy, and fiercely supportive, culminating in Lily's decision to stay in the Afterlife and build a future with Bel and Sharkie.

War and Wounds

The peace of the Afterlife is shattered by an invasion from another Universe. Bel and the armies of Hell are called to war, leaving Lily and Sharkie to wait and worry. The battle is brutal, with devastating losses on all sides. Bel returns home gravely wounded, haunted by the horrors he's witnessed. Together, the family navigates the aftermath—grief, survivor's guilt, and the slow process of healing. The Afterlife is forever changed, but the bonds they've forged prove stronger than any trauma.

Choosing to Stay

Lily faces a final choice: to reincarnate and return to mortal life, or to yield her mortality and become a true denizen of the Afterlife. With Lev's help, she discovers a rare path—deification—that would allow her to live, love, and even have children with Bel. The decision is not easy; it means giving up the possibility of new mortal experiences, but it also means embracing the life and family she's built. Lily chooses to stay, her heartbeat restored, her future open.

The Price of Forever

Lily's choice is celebrated by her friends, family, and the entire Afterlife. She and Bel look forward to eternity together, raising Sharkie and dreaming of more children. The Hellp Desk continues to thrive, with Lily and Sharkie guiding lost souls and dispensing justice with compassion and wit. The scars of war remain, but so does the hope of healing and growth. In the end, Lily finds what she always sought—not perfection, but a home, a family, and the courage to live and love without fear.

Characters

Lily

Lily is a woman marked by trauma, resilience, and a relentless drive to find meaning. Her terminal diagnosis strips her of illusions, but not of her humor or her stubbornness. In the Afterlife, she is both outsider and catalyst—her irreverence, empathy, and sharp wit make her a force for change. She is haunted by loss and self-doubt, but her willingness to confront pain—her own and others'—is her greatest strength. Through her journey, Lily learns to accept love, build family, and choose her own destiny, ultimately embracing the Afterlife as her true home.

Bel (Beleth)

Bel is a demon prince and general, powerful and respected, but deeply scarred by loss and the burdens of leadership. His outward confidence masks a profound vulnerability—he fears abandonment and questions his worth, especially after being left behind by his father. Bel's love for Lily and Sharkie is transformative, giving him the courage to face his wounds and claim his place in the world. He is playful, nerdy, and fiercely protective, embodying the paradox of strength and tenderness. His journey is one of healing, acceptance, and the discovery that he is worthy of love and happiness.

Sharkie

Sharkie is a young soul who arrives in the Afterlife convinced she belongs in Hell. Her early life was marked by abuse, neglect, and religious trauma, leaving her fearful and self-loathing. Through Lily's unwavering love and patience, Sharkie learns to trust, to play, and to believe in her own worth. Her growth from a terrified child to a confident, curious young adult is a testament to the power of chosen family and the possibility of healing. Sharkie's journey mirrors Lily's, and their bond is the emotional core of the story.

Siedah

Siedah is one of the Afterlife's front desk attendants, helping souls navigate the bewildering bureaucracy of eternity. She is gentle, patient, and deeply empathetic, offering Lily both practical guidance and emotional support. Siedah's own journey through the Afterlife has made her a source of wisdom and comfort, and her friendship with Lily is a model of mutual respect and understanding.

Moura

Moura is a demon captain at the gates of Hell, overseeing the intake of souls with a mix of toughness and compassion. She is blunt, irreverent, and unafraid to call out bullshit, but her loyalty to her team and her willingness to help souls grow set her apart. Moura becomes one of Lily's closest friends, offering both camaraderie and a model of leadership that balances justice with mercy.

Krun

Krun is a massive, scarred demon who works at the gate, intimidating in appearance but deeply kind. He is haunted by his own experiences of war and loss, but finds purpose in helping others. Krun's friendship with Lily is built on mutual respect and a shared understanding of pain. He is a steadying presence, offering comfort and wisdom when it's needed most.

Lucifer

Lucifer is the ruler of Hell, a being of immense power and surprising warmth. He is both administrator and advocate, working tirelessly to ensure justice and growth for all souls. Behind the scenes, he orchestrates connections and opportunities, nudging Lily and Bel together and supporting their family. Lucifer's own loneliness is hinted at, making his support of others all the more poignant.

Persephone

Persephone, queen of the Underworld, is both powerful and approachable. She befriends Lily, offering her a glimpse into the lives of deities and the complexities of the Afterlife. Persephone's humor, sensuality, and wisdom challenge Lily's assumptions and help her embrace her own desires and worth.

Lev (Leviathan)

Lev is a prince of Hell and a stickler for rules, procedures, and double-spaced reports. His awkwardness and formality mask a deep care for the people and systems he oversees. Lev's discovery of the deification loophole is a turning point for Lily, and his sincere (if clumsy) apologies and support reveal a heart as big as his briefcase.

Gregorith (Greg)

Greg is Bel's oldest friend and the master of Hell's most brutal punishment level. He is reserved, intense, and often intimidating, but his loyalty and depth of feeling run deep. Greg's own loneliness and struggle with connection mirror Bel's, and his support for Lily and Bel is a quiet but essential thread in their story.

Plot Devices

Bureaucratic Afterlife

The Afterlife is imagined as a sprawling, bureaucratic system, complete with front desks, soul files, and endless paperwork. This device grounds the fantastical in the mundane, allowing for humor, satire, and a critique of both mortal and divine systems. It also provides a framework for Lily's journey, as she navigates the rules, loopholes, and opportunities of eternity.

Judgment as Growth

Judgment in the Afterlife is not about punishment for its own sake, but about growth, healing, and the chance to become better. Souls are given opportunities to confront their actions, make amends, and choose their own paths. This device allows for nuanced explorations of morality, trauma, and redemption, and underpins the story's central message of hope.

Found Family

The theme of found family is woven throughout the narrative, as Lily, Bel, and Sharkie build a home together. The Afterlife is a place where blood ties matter less than the bonds forged through love, loyalty, and shared struggle. This device allows for deep explorations of healing, belonging, and the power of chosen relationships.

Humor and Irreverence

Lily's sharp wit, sarcasm, and refusal to take eternity too seriously infuse the story with humor and humanity. The juxtaposition of the sacred and the profane, the divine and the mundane, allows for both comedy and insight. This device keeps the narrative lively and accessible, even as it tackles heavy themes.

Trauma and Healing

The story does not shy away from the realities of trauma—abuse, loss, religious harm—but insists that healing is possible. Through therapy, friendship, and the willingness to be vulnerable, characters move from pain to peace. This device grounds the fantastical in emotional truth and offers a roadmap for readers facing their own wounds.

Deification and Choice

The rare loophole of deification—yielding reincarnation to become a true denizen of the Afterlife—serves as both plot twist and metaphor. It represents the ultimate act of agency: choosing where and how to belong, and what to sacrifice for love. This device allows for a satisfying resolution that honors both the longing for life and the acceptance of death.

Analysis

For Whom the Belle Tolls is a bold, irreverent, and deeply compassionate reimagining of the afterlife as a place not of judgment and fear, but of growth, healing, and chosen family. Through Lily's journey—from terminal diagnosis to bureaucratic afterlife, from trauma to love—the novel explores the messy, beautiful work of living and dying well. It challenges traditional notions of heaven and hell, offering instead a vision of justice rooted in empathy and the possibility of change. The story is unflinching in its portrayal of pain, but insists that humor and irreverence, love, and community are not only possible, but essential, even in the face of death. Ultimately, the book is a celebration of agency, resilience, and the power of found family to transform even the bleakest of fates into a home.

Last updated: July 22, 2025