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kermit_the_wrong's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
So close to being 5 stars for me- it just needed a little something extra to give it a boost. The stakes did not reach quite high enough for me. I LOVED the characters in here. So much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Child death, Antisemitism, Mental illness, Animal death, Blood, and Violence
andromeway's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I had a bit of a hard time getting into the book, not because it wasn't interesting, but the dialogue wasn't believable AT ALL! It was just non-stop cursing that constituted about 90% of the sentences. Every other word was a bomb and even the heaviest cursers don't talk like that. It was so jarring each time that it kept taking me out of the story. I did find it interesting though, like the movie "Constantine" in a way. The plot twist was interesting too but everything was too fast paced. Characters trusted one another too quickly, moved too quickly, and the book was wrapped up in only 176 pages.
bobbyclark's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
All These Subtle Deceits is a wonderful Noir-esque supernatural horror. Brimming with all the classic occult horror tropes you can imagine, it’s basically a scary (and flat out fun) homage to the genre. Exorcists, demons, magic, monsters, secret libraries, and nazis. It’s wild how much is packed into this short novella. I only had a small issue with the ending and what it meant for one of the characters, but this is otherwise an amazing story and I’m excited to read the next one in the series.
If you’re a fan of shows like supernatural and characters like Constantine, this is a must read. Just don’t expect anything new.
4 demons in my prison.
paulmoore's review
fast-paced
4.5
Have you ever read a book and then suddenly realised that you have finally found that story you never knew you had wanted to read for ages? Because that is exactly what this one did for me!
For someone that really isn't religious, I eat up tales of Heaven Vs Hell, Angels and Demons and the occult. Exorcism is way up there with the best of these tropes.
As for the characters, this book is like Constantine (DC Comics) in some places. The characters introduced in just this short first novel are varied and interesting leaving me wanting to read books about each of them too.
The most interesting character was that of the city of Black Wells itself. I want to know all its history, why these things are so normal there. There's a mechanic that doubles as a cryptid hunter, a huge library that holds books on the occult so old they are handled with tweezers and a librarian that will shoot you if he needs to. This city is just full of potential stories and I want to read them all!
I wasn't even 60% through this book before I ordered book 2 in the series, it's that good. The only fault I could pick with it is that it left me wanting to know more about this place and its characters and I was sad when it ended.
Highly recommended to all fans of the occult and exorcisms.
raforall's review
4.0
Reading for Booklist review, but I am reading a different edition that will be coming out in the Fall. details with review.
Review in the October 1, 2022 issue of Booklist and on the blog: http://raforall.blogspot.com/2022/10/what-im-reading-study-in-ugliness-and.html
This edition will come with a bonus short story by the author.
Three Words That Describe This Book: supernatural Noir, demonic possession, series characters
This will be a perfect read for you Harry Dresden [Butcher] and Sandman Slim [Kadrey] fans-- of which libraries have many.
A first book in a projected series from Sadie Hartmann's new imprint Dark Hart Books, featuring "Horror with heart." All of the books from this imprint will be suitable for libraries for this reason-- they are horror with strong characters and empathy at their heart.
Review in the October 1, 2022 issue of Booklist and on the blog: http://raforall.blogspot.com/2022/10/what-im-reading-study-in-ugliness-and.html
This edition will come with a bonus short story by the author.
Three Words That Describe This Book: supernatural Noir, demonic possession, series characters
This will be a perfect read for you Harry Dresden [Butcher] and Sandman Slim [Kadrey] fans-- of which libraries have many.
A first book in a projected series from Sadie Hartmann's new imprint Dark Hart Books, featuring "Horror with heart." All of the books from this imprint will be suitable for libraries for this reason-- they are horror with strong characters and empathy at their heart.
bookish_satty's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I don't have words to express how awesome this story really is. I'm a fairly new horror reader and it took sometime to figure out which horror subgenres I like and this story was the perfect fit for a supernatural horror fan. If you like horror stories about ghosts/demons/black magic then you would love this because to me this is one of the masterpieces of supernatural horror. I can't say much without spoiling the storyline because it's so short already so I'll just point out the positives in this book and surprisingly I didn't find any negatives in it.
1. The characters were awesome and well fleshed out and had unique personalities
2. The pacing was awesome. I just couldn't put it down even for a minute.
3. The world building and the descriptions used to bring to life the eerie atmosphere surrounding Black Wells and the Gray World was A+. I could picture it vividly in my mind which was an added bonus. I loved the writing style which wasn't too poetic or flowery for my taste but wasn't juvenile either.
4. The horror elements were present from the start and that ending showdown will shock you to the core. I didn't see it coming and neither will you!
5. Already grabbed a copy of Book 2 in this series. Will read anything C.S. Humble writes in the future as well as the backlist titles.
Highly recommend!
1. The characters were awesome and well fleshed out and had unique personalities
2. The pacing was awesome. I just couldn't put it down even for a minute.
3. The world building and the descriptions used to bring to life the eerie atmosphere surrounding Black Wells and the Gray World was A+. I could picture it vividly in my mind which was an added bonus. I loved the writing style which wasn't too poetic or flowery for my taste but wasn't juvenile either.
4. The horror elements were present from the start and that ending showdown will shock you to the core. I didn't see it coming and neither will you!
5. Already grabbed a copy of Book 2 in this series. Will read anything C.S. Humble writes in the future as well as the backlist titles.
Highly recommend!
lloydhanneman's review
5.0
Wow! I want to draw comparisons to THE EXORCIST, but this is so much more (and maybe better?). All you'd expect from a possession story, but wholly original, and adds some fantastic historical elements. Can't wait to see what happens next in Black Wells.
rbz39's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
An entertaining horror novella where a woman suffering from possessions and hauntings meets an unusual exorcist. I really enjoyed the world of Black Wells and the different characters in the story, especially Marvin the archivist! William Daniels was quite memorable and I liked the gradual uncovering of his backstory. Would recommend to fans of occult horror/thrillers. A promising start for a new series!
schokoladeistgut's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
pbanditp's review
5.0
“I help people who have experienced something unfamiliar to their perceived reality. These things include possession, hauntings, supernatural abductions; things like that.” -William, an excommunicated priest.
Sometimes you can tell that you are reading something special. This is one of those books. I am not going to tell you anything about this story because you need to experience it for yourself. Humble knows how to write horror and tense situations. His writing compels you to check your surroundings, making sure that, yes, that is just a shadow. I got so absorbed into this story that my dog scared me when she came up next to me.
This was a race to the finish right from the start. I don’t think I have ever read this fast, trying to keep pace with the action and the characters.
Welcome to Black Wells, a town that has many stories to tell. When I started reading this book I began to hope that there would be several books set here. I am happy to say that there will be five according to the author.
Order this book, and when it arrives put down what you are reading and start this.
Sometimes you can tell that you are reading something special. This is one of those books. I am not going to tell you anything about this story because you need to experience it for yourself. Humble knows how to write horror and tense situations. His writing compels you to check your surroundings, making sure that, yes, that is just a shadow. I got so absorbed into this story that my dog scared me when she came up next to me.
This was a race to the finish right from the start. I don’t think I have ever read this fast, trying to keep pace with the action and the characters.
Welcome to Black Wells, a town that has many stories to tell. When I started reading this book I began to hope that there would be several books set here. I am happy to say that there will be five according to the author.
Order this book, and when it arrives put down what you are reading and start this.