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jamesbullinger's review
5.0
Really fun ideas written well. I just wish it was the third book in a series instead of just throwing us into the action and relationships already in progress. But otherwise very good. 4.5
johnald1266's review
4.0
I thought this was very well done "urban fantasy". However, one thing that annoyed me was the sometimes unbalanced level of exposition. What happened exactly in Russia? Where did Marina and Andrew meet? What was the relation between the demonic farmers and Baba Yaga? Did Ichabod just go away because now he was free of the original curse (which by the way, felt like it came out of nowhere). Despite these "holes", if you will, it was a fund read. And the death of Rahda was one of the most unsettling ones I've read in a while. Probably because Buehlman took the time to develop her as a person as much as a user.
nedhayes's review
4.0
Christopher Buehlman weaves together some truly fascinating mythology with the gritty reality of a "modern" warlock to create a downbeat story of love, loss, addiction and magic.
I love the concept of a modern-day set of wizards who use materials at hand -- like Skype and videotapes -- to talk to the dead, and who have to wrestle with modern problems to be a fascinating new approach to wizardry and magic. I also love the way Buehlman plays with stereotypes and refuses to let standard "romantic" situations constrain his story. He also has a knack for just the right amount of withholding.
The book is also very well written, and I learned a lot watching Buehlman's expert hand at work. The story is about Baba Yaga, but he approaches her "reality" from such a fresh perspective he makes her truly horrifying. Bravo!
However, I didn't find the story as compelling as I'd like, because the characters were all very broken in not very appealing ways. And the character's motivations are less clear than I'd like -- they just stumble from one thing to another without a clear direction, it seemed to me.
I did find the characters very well-written and quite believable, but an AA-attending wizard whose dark past activities aren't well illuminated (and not in a suspenseful way) is not a character I want to live with for a long time. I do like that he is self-deceiving and this is his fatal flaw. That part is perfectly done.
A fantasy / horror writer to watch. Great ideas... modern insight, a real grasp of mythology and terror.
I love the concept of a modern-day set of wizards who use materials at hand -- like Skype and videotapes -- to talk to the dead, and who have to wrestle with modern problems to be a fascinating new approach to wizardry and magic. I also love the way Buehlman plays with stereotypes and refuses to let standard "romantic" situations constrain his story. He also has a knack for just the right amount of withholding.
The book is also very well written, and I learned a lot watching Buehlman's expert hand at work. The story is about Baba Yaga, but he approaches her "reality" from such a fresh perspective he makes her truly horrifying. Bravo!
However, I didn't find the story as compelling as I'd like, because the characters were all very broken in not very appealing ways. And the character's motivations are less clear than I'd like -- they just stumble from one thing to another without a clear direction, it seemed to me.
I did find the characters very well-written and quite believable, but an AA-attending wizard whose dark past activities aren't well illuminated (and not in a suspenseful way) is not a character I want to live with for a long time. I do like that he is self-deceiving and this is his fatal flaw. That part is perfectly done.
A fantasy / horror writer to watch. Great ideas... modern insight, a real grasp of mythology and terror.
foiltheplot's review against another edition
1.0
I've gotta be honest... there is SO much rambling and incoherency that I have no idea what's even happening. The book is SUPER long, and though the writing isn't bad, I just can't get into the story. I'm giving it 2 stars because there is this amazing scene in the beginning with an undead rusalka that is worth mentioning.
pleasuretoast's review
didn't enjoy writing style or formatting. see content warnings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, and Transphobia
daverate's review
3.0
Worked very well as a collection of character portraits. I never really got into the plot but the characters were pretty compelling.
ecooper99's review
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
From the moment I opened this book, I was enthralled. Buehlman showcases a talent that, in my opinion, hasn't received the acclaim it deserves in the realm of modern horror fiction. His prose is crisp, clear, and evocative, as well as beautifully fast-paced. It's like watching a master magician at work – you know there's a trick, but the execution is so flawless you're left wondering if maybe, just maybe, magic is real.
This is a well-crafted, imaginative, and gripping novel. It's a blend of horror and fantasy that manages to be both entertaining and thought-provoking. While not a book with universal appeal – its dark themes and intense scenes won't be everyone's cup of tea – for those who dare to walk through the necromancer's door, it's a journey worth taking
jeffy_spaghetti's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
thefartking87's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bunnieslikediamonds's review
5.0
There are many lovely and bisarre characters in this novel: a seasoned warlock with awfully unpleasant enemies, his lovable wooden manservant who used to be his lovable dog, an undead but fetching mermaid with an aversion to littering. Strange and upsetting things happen to them, proving that revenge is a dish best served with a side of advanced magic. I was so pleased to find that the story was surprising and original, and not just weird for weird's sake.
So there I was, happily humming along, chuckling at the funny bits, clutching my pearls at the shocking bits, but all in all feeling quite comfortable with the unpredictability of it all, when these little fellas showed up:
Oh? Not familiar with Gena and Cheburaska, you say? Perfectly understandable. I imagine these darling Russian puppets never reached international fame, but for some reason they were imported to Sweden in the seventies and made some very unsettling television appearances. All I remember is my older sister being terrified of Gena, the crocodile, and me gleefully mocking her for it. Running into these long buried childhood memories while reading a fantasy novel late at night was most unexpected, and a little disorienting. Which, when you think about it, is what one wants when reading. Anyway, it's a blink-and-miss thing, just one of many wonderful details in this terrific novel.
I loved pretty much everything about it: the characters, the plot, the magic and the excellent ending. It's one of those books where you really wish for a sequel, not because of unresolved issues but simply because you want to spend more time with characters.
So there I was, happily humming along, chuckling at the funny bits, clutching my pearls at the shocking bits, but all in all feeling quite comfortable with the unpredictability of it all, when these little fellas showed up:
Oh? Not familiar with Gena and Cheburaska, you say? Perfectly understandable. I imagine these darling Russian puppets never reached international fame, but for some reason they were imported to Sweden in the seventies and made some very unsettling television appearances. All I remember is my older sister being terrified of Gena, the crocodile, and me gleefully mocking her for it. Running into these long buried childhood memories while reading a fantasy novel late at night was most unexpected, and a little disorienting. Which, when you think about it, is what one wants when reading. Anyway, it's a blink-and-miss thing, just one of many wonderful details in this terrific novel.
I loved pretty much everything about it: the characters, the plot, the magic and the excellent ending. It's one of those books where you really wish for a sequel, not because of unresolved issues but simply because you want to spend more time with characters.