“The Book of Ira” by Nachash Keeper

The Book of Ira

Nachash Keeper                     
Stone Pulp Press (2024)
ISBN: 979-8989874941
Reviewed by Alaina Reschka for Reader Views (09/2026)

The Book of Ira by Nachash Keeper is a funny and thought-provoking supernatural fiction that switches the roles of hero, villain, and victim with complex characters, an intriguing mystery, and a surprising analysis of religious rules on who goes to Heaven or Hell. With its witty dialogue and identifiable imagery, it’s a great read for those who are looking for something fast-paced, fun, and exciting.

Part of the Mystic Island Stories series, the novel follows Ira, a demon of Wrath who punishes child abusers named in his book. One day, a mysterious silver-eyed victim comes to Hell with no name in the book and constantly repeats that it wasn’t his fault. His pleading gets the other abusers to say the same thing, blaming other people or even God. Furious at their unaccountability and wanting to do his job well, Ira goes to the surface and hunts down the names in his book. With the help of a witty and resourceful teen named Raven, they work together to find the missing names and figure out why some, specifically priests, are exempt from Ira’s punishment. Meanwhile, Detective Jacobs, along with his partner and a Christian conspiracy theorist named Callahan, are trying to stop them, believing it’ll be the start of the apocalypse or the end of everything they believe.

Right from the very first line in the dedication section, where it insults the main character, I knew it was gonna be a fun read. The humor latches on and doesn’t let go until the very end. Its strongest form of humor is the quippy dialogue that feels like they come from a well-written sitcom. Some are blunt, some are creative, and some have simple but hilarious deliveries. For example, when the first victim’s niece calls the police, the dispatcher asks about the screaming woman. The girl simply tells the dispatcher that’s her uncle. The matter-of-fact delivery shocked a laugh out of me, especially knowing the uncle’s crimes against the niece and satisfied with his comeuppance.

When it’s not being funny, the creative descriptions and imagery stimulate the imagination. There are moments where the description is artistically beautiful with its use of colors and light, like when Ira first surfaces during a cloudy, starry night. Other times, the simplest descriptions and scenes are the most impactful. My favorite description is when Ira’s voice rumbles in the 911 call; it’s described as ‘tectonic plates before an earthquake’, and when he roars, it’s simply described as becoming an earthquake. The simple image is brilliant in showing the impending and immediate danger with an event that would set anyone on edge. By using relatable and creative images, whether for scares or for humor, it helps connect with the audience and emotionally connect to the characters.

Speaking of the characters, each major character is set up well. Each one has a solid backstory, personality, motivations, and a unique thinking process. Detective Jacobs is straightforward, thinks logically, but is weighed down by a tragedy. Ira may be a demon, but he is a likable one. He protects children, follows his job’s rules well, is caring (especially to Raven), and is socially awkward. There is something endearing about a demon that is fearsome at his job, but adorably awkward in slice-of-life events. Raven is the most compelling character, and my personal favorite. She has faced many hardships, from losing her parents to constantly being sold for services, but she’s resilient, adaptable, street-smart, and keeps her sense of humor. The personality clash between Raven and Ira is where most of the humor comes from, but it’s also the strongest relationship. They learn from one another; they both have a sense of justice, and sometimes Raven is the leader while Ira is her sidekick. This dynamic is the heart of the story and what kept me going to the end.

When I started reading the book, I thought it was going to be a funny read and nothing more. But after getting to know the characters, when I got to the end, it got me thinking about religion. It flips the script on who is truly good or evil based on their intentions. Callahan, the conspiracy theorist helping the detectives, sees himself as a good Christian and a warrior of God, yet is racist, judgmental, narrow-minded, and has no problem threatening to burn a teenager because he ‘knows’ she’s a witch. Ira the demon, on the other hand, is a caring being with a strong sense of justice and responsibility, and is brave enough to break from his role if it means saving a friend. It’s all about perception and how one should do their best no matter what role is assigned to you. Each ‘sinner’ character breaks their assigned role: Raven follows Ira and becomes more assertive to break out of her victim role, Jacobs breaks away from his neglectful detective role by taking responsibility for his past actions, and Ira breaks the role of Wrath through his friendship with Raven. The only one who doesn’t break from their role is Callahan, and his fate justly fits his role.

While the funny dialogue and impactful imagery keep the novel at a decent pace, a few scenes slow down based on segment placements. For example, when Raven looks for a ride to the Eastern US, it jumps to her riding with a motorcyclist but then goes back to show how she did it. It disrupts the flow of the story for a moment, but it quickly picks it up without losing focus on the characters and story.

This book can be enjoyed by those of any age who love role reversals, quippy dialogue, quirky but likable characters, and a poignant message about fate vs. free will. Nachash Keeper’s The Book of Ira is like a well-written comedy sketch: it hooks you with funny jokes and colorful characters, but it also teaches an important lesson that will keep you thinking long after the joke is over.