Johannes Cabal the Necromancer by Jonathan L. Howard #TuesdayBookBlog

My Rating: 4-1/2 of 5 Stars

Because I have so little time to read right now, I’m digging back through books I’ve read over the last year or so, and haven’t yet reviewed. This one popped up in my Unreviewed Books folder, and I decided it would be a quick, easy one for today. It’s good. Read it.

What, you want more? Okay, you asked for it.

Blurb

A charmingly gothic, fiendishly funny Faustian tale about a brilliant scientist who makes a deal with the Devil, twice. 
 
Johannes Cabal sold his soul years ago in order to learn the laws of necromancy. Now he wants it back. Amused and slightly bored, Satan proposes a little wager: Johannes has to persuade one hundred people to sign over their souls or he will be damned forever. This time for real. Accepting the bargain, Jonathan is given one calendar year and a traveling carnival to complete his task. With little time to waste, Johannes raises a motley crew from the dead and enlists his brother, Horst, a charismatic vampire, to help him run his nefarious road show, resulting in mayhem at every turn.

My Thoughts

Fiendishly funny, yes. Gothic, sort of. Charming? Not so much. Disturbing? Check. Weird? Check. Relentless? Double checks, with stars beside them. But Charming? Nope. Didn’t see that at all. Instead, I would describe Cabal as entertaining and thought-provoking, and frighteningly capable of pursuing his unknown goal with a  vengeance.

There are many things in this book to make you laugh. Deliciously clever one-liners, coupled with Cabal’s falling apart (Literally, believe me!) companions, make for laugh out loud moments galore. But make no mistake. This book is dark. There’s an undercurrent of horror running through it, and you are never quite sure where the tale is headed. If this type of thing intrigues you as much as it does me, you probably should give Johannes Cabal a go. Getting to the end and finding out what’s really driving his actions is like being on one of the truly terrifying rides in his traveling carnival. My only serious complaint with the book is the loss of a character that really touched me, and I doubt Johannes Cabal will be able to bring him back from the dead, no matter how skilled he is at necromancy. That’s the reason I dropped half a star. I always hate losing characters I like.

If you are looking for something very, VERY different, I highly recommend you check this one out. If you enjoy it, there are several more books in the series, always a good thing to know.

Johannes Cabal the Necromancer

Saint Odd by Dean Koontz: A Sad Farewell

My Rating: 5 of 5 Stars

I’ve had this book since the day it came out, but couldn’t work up the nerve to read it. Of everything Dean Koontz has ever written (and I’m a huge fan), the Odd Thomas series has been my very favorite. I found Oddie to be one of the most endearing and special characters I’ve ever enjoyed reading about, so I’ve been very reluctant to read the final book in the series, knowing I would have to say goodbye. Finally, I worked up my nerve and plunged in headfirst.

As always, Koontz’s writing touches me deeply. No matter the nature of the bad guys, horror or alien, four-footed & furry or merely evil to the core, what Dean Koontz does best is remind us that there is nothing more powerful than love. That’s why he’s my favorite horror/ghost/urban fantasy writer of all time. Bar none. This series has been no exception, and anyone who was surprised at the ending of Saint Odd hasn’t been paying attention. It ended exactly the way it needed to, even though it broke my heart to read it.

If you have followed Oddie from the beginning, you’ll want to read this, and see him come full circle, doing everything he set out to do. If you haven’t read any of these books, you really should. There’s no other character out there quite like Odd Thomas. And I doubt there ever will be again. I’m going to miss him.

Saint Odd is definitely NOT a standalone story. Do yourself a favor. Start with Odd Thomas, and read the entire series.

Saint Odd

Odd Thomas

Ghost in the Canteen by Jen Rasmussen

My Review: 5 of 5 Stars

This is a difficult review to write. How can I tell you how terrific Ghost in the Canteen is, without giving away anything of importance? Should be easy, but the trouble is, everything in this story is of importance. Nothing is a throw-away, and it all ties together so very nicely, I’m left floundering for something to say. (Alert the media! She has nothing to say!)

Okay, I do have a few things to say. First, Jen Rasmussen’s writing is first-rate. The story pulled me in immediately, and the characters were interesting and engaging, especially the snarky heroine, ghost hunter Lydia Trinket. Lydia’s been doing her job of sending recalcitrant spirits through to the Other Side for years. Or so she thinks. Turns out, Lydia has been somewhat misled about what she’s actually doing, and therein lies a tale. A really scary tale.

The canteen referred to in the title is a switchel ring–a clay container designed to slide over one’s arm to hold switchel, a very unusual drink you’ll learn more about when you read this book. Which I hope will be soon, because…did I mention?…it’s good. Lydia’s switchel ring is a portal through which ghosts can move on to their next stop. (Heaven or hell, presumably.) Or is it? Sometimes things are not what they seem. “A kiss is still a kiss, a sigh is just a sigh”…but a switchel ring might be more than a container for a cooling drink. And a portal…well, I think you should find out about that for yourself. Personally, I’ll never look at even a Thermos bottle the same way again. 😯

Along Lydia’s journey, you’ll meet all sorts of interesting and creepy…and downright terrifying…characters. I loved every single word of this book, and I suspect most of you will, as well. Go get it. But maybe leave all the lights on while you’re reading. And definitely be sure you’re not alone in the house.

I can’t wait for the next Lydia Trinket book, Peak of the Devil. (You gotta love the title.) And what are you waiting for? Click on the Buy Link below, and start reading Ghost in the Canteen today. You’ll be glad you did.

Ghost in the Canteen

What Are You Reading?

 

It’s not Friday…I missed that, sadly…but I figure it’s never too late to let you know what I’m reading, especially when it’s something really, really good. So, here it is. This week, I’m reading Jen Rasmussen’s Ghost in the Canteen, and it’s brilliant! Jen’s writing is strong, sharp, funny, and engaging. And great goobley-oobley! This story is scary! Horror fans will love it, for sure, and anyone who likes ghost stories, tales of the supernatural, and unique world building will, as well. Plus, you might learn a thing or two you didn’t know before. Like…what is a switchel ring? In fact, what is switchel? Do you know? I didn’t. But now I do!

Ghost in the Canteen is so good, I’m going to recommend you go right ahead and buy your copy today, even before my full review comes out next week. I don’t think you’ll be sorry.

Now, it’s your turn. What are YOU reading this week? Inquiring minds wanna know!

Four Summoner’s Tales by Kelley Armstrong, et al

My Rating: 4 of 5 Stars

This four-novella anthology appealed to me from the first moment I saw it on Amazon. The cover caught my eye, and the premise behind each tale jumped out at me: A strange visitor comes to town, offering to raise the townsfolk’s dearly departed from the dead–for a price . . .   And therein lies

Deeply Odd by Dean Koontz

My Rating 4 of 5 Stars

I have always enjoyed Dean Koontz more than any other writer of modern horror, bar none. In addition to his ability to scare the bejeebers out of me, he always writes with compassion, and with a great respect and love for the women in his stories. It never fails to convince me that Koontz is a man who actually understands both love and grace. The entire Odd Thomas series

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

 

My Rating: 4 of 5 Stars

Neil Gaiman says of himself, “I make things up and write them down.” What I say about him is that he does a darn fine job of it. At least he certainly does in The Graveyard Book. I read this book last year, and somehow

Anyone Read This Yet?

Now In My To Be Read Basket

Just got this for Christmas, and I’m eager to get to it soon.  It’s coming up right after I finish the two I’m reading now.  I couldn’t help but notice this blurb