The concept here is excellent, but the writing very much feels like it's hitting the same note over and over again. And don't get me wrong, it's a good note. I like the whole story here a lot. But there's no real buildup, and consequently no sense of progression. The occupation of the capital of Hell is a wonderful concept, but since you begin with it, it makes the ending — the potential occupation of Heaven — seem roughly on the same level as the start. The descriptions of different atrocities committed against the Holy and Unholy alike are good, but got same-y for me around the description of the wheel in Chicago. Which then made the relatively short ending, with barely a sentence devoted to Point Aquinas, stick out as a rushed conclusion to a story which hadn't really been going anywhere anyway.
So, yeah. I'm conflicted. No-vote for now; I'll probably come back and read it again before settling one way or the other.
