Viila and the Doomsday Affair by Roger Danchik is both quirky and pulsating. The world as we know it faces a new threat and a ragtag set out to save it. The group is composed of a rabbi, an alluring vampire, a demon called Barnabas, a teraphim, Queen Pharaoh the original cat, and Jasper the belly crawler. They have little time left as eternity looms ahead and before them are riddles to solve and challenges to lift. The Sacred Mount holds the key to saving the world, but getting there will involve defeating the acolytes of the Master of Death, the Angel of the Three D's — Death, Destruction, and Dismal Doom — and avoiding falling into the philosophical trap. But there is more to face, including fanatics who have waited for this moment for too long and unexpected twists no one will imagine. Which path leads to the salvation of the world?

Viila and the Doomsday Affair is a fun read, a story that is as thought-provoking as it is entertaining. The plot is cleverly written and readers find themselves navigating between different worlds. There is a magical world that unfolds before the reader, one filled with mystery and magic. Then there is the world of the characters — and even if they are eccentric and unusual, they have traits that are resonant. From the intriguing opening:  “Rabbi Benjamin was having a mild sexual fantasy caused by his evening’s dinner....” I knew I will love this book. The fact that a rabbi drools about sex and even toils with the idea that there “is plenty of screwing in the Torah and the many related texts. Some exquisitely described in the secret parts...” had me intrigued. Characters like Benjamin come alive in this novel. There is a beauty in language and rawness in character that are characteristic of this enthralling narrative. Roger Danchik's memorable novel has a special appeal to fans of humor, romance, and fantasy tales that are ingeniously plotted.