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capnlinnius's review
3.0
I received an e-ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.
Rated 3.5/5
This book was what I generally refer to as a hammock-read: something that is entertaining but doesn't really require too much thought to enjoy. I requested it because anything lovecraftian has my attention, and this book definitely delivered. I sort of doubt anyone with no clue about the mythos would enjoy this read, seeing how it mentions places, objects, happenings and institutions etc that are central to the world built around what Lovecraft created, and make little sense without some idea of the backstory.
At the very heart, this is less a mystery or a whodunit (as it may seem to be throughout the first third of the book), and more a reiteration of how actions have consequences, and that no one can really escape that fact.
The things that made me enjoy this book was mainly the ease with which I was pulled into the story, despite having to suspend my disbelief several times (many of the relationships seemed vague and shallow, probably because of the first-person narration that means that the reader will just have to accept that there is a past, yet it felt inconsequential a lot of the time), and the language was a little too on the nose sometimes for the period the story is supposed to be set in. The author definitely knows how to write a page-turner, with the pacing keeping the story from going stagnant.
The things that bring the rating down have mostly to do with the fact that I was never surprised or caught unawares by any of the supposed twists. The first major plot twist I had a hunch of from the beginning, and the rest I had figured out early on. I'm not sure of whether it is because I have read a lot of stories using similar twists, or if it's because the author telegraphed the twists too hard, but it did make my enjoyment of the plot go down every time I was proven right.
The book ends on what could well be a cliffhanger engaging enough to warrant a sequel, and I might end up reading that sequel as well, but I honestly don't think we need one.
TL; DR
Entertaining and easy read, with no surprises. For fans of stories set in the world of the lovecraftain mythos.
Rated 3.5/5
This book was what I generally refer to as a hammock-read: something that is entertaining but doesn't really require too much thought to enjoy. I requested it because anything lovecraftian has my attention, and this book definitely delivered. I sort of doubt anyone with no clue about the mythos would enjoy this read, seeing how it mentions places, objects, happenings and institutions etc that are central to the world built around what Lovecraft created, and make little sense without some idea of the backstory.
At the very heart, this is less a mystery or a whodunit (as it may seem to be throughout the first third of the book), and more a reiteration of how actions have consequences, and that no one can really escape that fact.
The things that made me enjoy this book was mainly the ease with which I was pulled into the story, despite having to suspend my disbelief several times (many of the relationships seemed vague and shallow, probably because of the first-person narration that means that the reader will just have to accept that there is a past, yet it felt inconsequential a lot of the time), and the language was a little too on the nose sometimes for the period the story is supposed to be set in. The author definitely knows how to write a page-turner, with the pacing keeping the story from going stagnant.
The things that bring the rating down have mostly to do with the fact that I was never surprised or caught unawares by any of the supposed twists. The first major plot twist I had a hunch of from the beginning, and the rest I had figured out early on. I'm not sure of whether it is because I have read a lot of stories using similar twists, or if it's because the author telegraphed the twists too hard, but it did make my enjoyment of the plot go down every time I was proven right.
The book ends on what could well be a cliffhanger engaging enough to warrant a sequel, and I might end up reading that sequel as well, but I honestly don't think we need one.
TL; DR
Entertaining and easy read, with no surprises. For fans of stories set in the world of the lovecraftain mythos.
kellyvandamme's review
4.0
Sins of the Father is a kind of horror I haven’t read in a long while: I usually read contemporary horror, but Sins of the Father is set in the Victorian era and as a consequence it has an extremely Gothic and broodingly atmospheric feel to it, like you’d turn a corner and bump into Jack the Ripper. Although in truth, turning a corner in Innsmouth you would more likely bump into a bunch of walking dead or find yourself entrapped by some tentacles.
Henry once had a promising future. And then he found his father elbow deep in his mother’s insides, claiming all the while that he could save her, bring her back from the dead. And just like that, Henry’s present and his promising future fell apart. Now, Henry has to live under the dark cloud of his brilliant but seemingly insane father’s actions. All things considered he’s done alright for himself, he has a job, good friends and a woman he loves, although he’s not the only one vying for her attention. However, Innsmouth is not a safe place, there is evil lurking from the waters and when Henry finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, things go to hell in a handbasket faster than you can say: oh boy it reeks of dead fish in here.
Sins of the Father has a lot going on. It’s partly Gothic, partly Frankenstein inspired, partly Lovecraftian, it has monsters, it has zombie like beings, and underneath it all, it even has star-crossed lovers. I have to admit, I loved some angles more than others. Regular visitors won’t be surprised that I adored the Gothic bits, but I also found myself enthralled by the love story, which is exactly the kind of romance I like in books, not the cheesy, lovey-dovey kind, but the cruel and mostly doomed kind.
If you like slow-burning horror, move right along, this is fast-paced, action-packed horror. The action scenes are so vividly depicted that I felt like I was watching a film, the events playing out effortlessly before my mind’s eye.
If you’re in the market for an entertaining high-octane horror story that is all-encompassing yet quick, be sure to check out Sins of the Father!
Henry once had a promising future. And then he found his father elbow deep in his mother’s insides, claiming all the while that he could save her, bring her back from the dead. And just like that, Henry’s present and his promising future fell apart. Now, Henry has to live under the dark cloud of his brilliant but seemingly insane father’s actions. All things considered he’s done alright for himself, he has a job, good friends and a woman he loves, although he’s not the only one vying for her attention. However, Innsmouth is not a safe place, there is evil lurking from the waters and when Henry finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, things go to hell in a handbasket faster than you can say: oh boy it reeks of dead fish in here.
Sins of the Father has a lot going on. It’s partly Gothic, partly Frankenstein inspired, partly Lovecraftian, it has monsters, it has zombie like beings, and underneath it all, it even has star-crossed lovers. I have to admit, I loved some angles more than others. Regular visitors won’t be surprised that I adored the Gothic bits, but I also found myself enthralled by the love story, which is exactly the kind of romance I like in books, not the cheesy, lovey-dovey kind, but the cruel and mostly doomed kind.
If you like slow-burning horror, move right along, this is fast-paced, action-packed horror. The action scenes are so vividly depicted that I felt like I was watching a film, the events playing out effortlessly before my mind’s eye.
If you’re in the market for an entertaining high-octane horror story that is all-encompassing yet quick, be sure to check out Sins of the Father!
bmacenlightened's review against another edition
4.0
Henry Gilman's had a bad go of it, mostly thanks to his father whose crimes shook the community of Innsmouth. He's just trying to get by when he ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time and suddenly finds himself in the middle of a plot involving the undead and a monstrous creature floating beneath the city. And, when the chips are down is he going to follow in the madness of his fathers footsteps? Will he atone for his father's sins or will he carry along the "family business".
That conflict waxes and wanes throughout the story, with it sometimes being a foregone conclusion but at others perhaps not as much. The character of Henry is flawed and human and even as he is motivated by things less than pristine there is still empathy that can be felt for his character.
Beyond Henry, the other characters are also well done, and their reactions as evens transpire are realistic. The story starts in a hurry with action right off the bat and for the most part keeps up a frenetic pace charging between set pieces and keeping the tension high. As a Lovecraft-inspired novel it was good to see that it managed to balance the existential horror at the heart of Lovecraft with the more visceral first person horror in the moment.
In the end it was very entertaining and a pretty fast action packed read that I certainly enjoyed. Definitely recommended.
That conflict waxes and wanes throughout the story, with it sometimes being a foregone conclusion but at others perhaps not as much. The character of Henry is flawed and human and even as he is motivated by things less than pristine there is still empathy that can be felt for his character.
Beyond Henry, the other characters are also well done, and their reactions as evens transpire are realistic. The story starts in a hurry with action right off the bat and for the most part keeps up a frenetic pace charging between set pieces and keeping the tension high. As a Lovecraft-inspired novel it was good to see that it managed to balance the existential horror at the heart of Lovecraft with the more visceral first person horror in the moment.
In the end it was very entertaining and a pretty fast action packed read that I certainly enjoyed. Definitely recommended.
natalier3's review
2.0
This was too much of the 'horror' genre for my taste. The premise was a good one, someone wanting to make amends for his father's sins but in my view could have been executed better (pardon the pun) and was too far moving away from the crime drama that I like. I think others will enjoy this more!
elles_shelves's review against another edition
5.0
Many thanks to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for allowing me to read an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Sins of the Father by JG Faherty is as if Dr Frankenstein met HP Lovecraft to create a wild ride of thrills and chills. Henry Gilman is a lowly morgue attendant in the fictional town of Innsmouth in a time period that still remembers the horrors of the plague. He was a medical student, but was expelled and pretty much shunned after it was discovered that his father was attempting to reanimate the dead. One night Henry is out walking when he witnesses an attack which leads him into a murder mystery that he is determined to solve. During his investigation, he learns the truth about his father, himself, and how sometimes the journey to save the ones we love leads to a path of madness.
Sins of the Father was so much fun! I read it in one sitting and didn't want the story to end. I like how relatable Henry was as the main character and how we could empathize with some of the choices that he made, even when we the reader knew it was a bad decision. This was a very enjoyable mystery creature feature and a must read for fans of Lovecraftian horror.
Sins of the Father was so much fun! I read it in one sitting and didn't want the story to end. I like how relatable Henry was as the main character and how we could empathize with some of the choices that he made, even when we the reader knew it was a bad decision. This was a very enjoyable mystery creature feature and a must read for fans of Lovecraftian horror.
annarella's review against another edition
4.0
A perfect read for any Lovecraft fan. Great setting and world building, interesting characters and a plot that kept me on the edge till the end.
I liked the plot, the creepy atmosphere and the character development.
It's recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
I liked the plot, the creepy atmosphere and the character development.
It's recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
mayhappily's review
3.0
This is going to be another of my "bear with me" reviews and for that I should probably apologize. If you do take the time to read this (or any of my other "bear with me" reviews), I'm sorry.
Let's get to it, shall we?
Recently I was told of Aphantasia ("a condition where one does not possess a functioning mind's eye and cannot voluntarily visualize imagery", according to Wikipedia who in turn credited an A.J. Larner). And I'm thinking that this might be one of the reasons - just maybe - that Lovecraftian horror doesn't do the trick for me. I can't for the life of me visualize what these cephalopod creatures look like, despite there being manyfold illustrations and despite my having browsed the web in search of visual understanding.
The irony of Lovecraftian horror being defined as "horror of the unknown or unknowable" isn't lost on me.
Another reason is, I say with all certainty, the cosmic element of Lovecraftiana. I feel like the opposite of Giorgio Tsoukalos (the Ancient Alien meme guy); where he goes "Aliens!" and looks pleased as punch - I go "Aliens!" and look utterly exasperated!
I love the Xenomorph of the Alien franchise, and I love the Predator of that franchise, but other than that? No, not a big fan of aliens in [horror] fiction.
Knowing this, you might say, why did I choose to read a book that is CLEARLY inspired by Lovecraft?
I fall so easily for an interesting plot line.
Some part of me thinks that Sins of the Father deserves "a better reader" than I. It's well written, it IS interesting, on a level, and I think that readers who do enjoy cosmic horror of the unknowable would probably enjoy this a whole lot more than I did.
If I were to give some objective criticism, it is that the main story - or at least the story that takes up most of the book - is less interesting than the conclusion, which feels more like a new beginning of another story (but maybe Faherty is setting us up for a sequel? In which case, I'm almost ashamed to admit, I'll probably read that too.). That's not to say that the "main" story isn't interesting in its own way; it's just not AS interesting.
And funnily enough, I found myself more sympathetic to Henry Gilman, the MC, as events were starting to wrap up - even before the grand finish, during which I most definitely sided with him. Possibly because it took that long for Henry to seem to even begin to understand his father's choices/sins.
I felt that, as a reader, I was confused and a little conflicted in regards to how I was supposed to feel about both Henry and his father, Silas: was I intended to feel sympathy for the choices Silas made? Was Henry meant to appear somewhat callous? What about the relationship between Henry and his friend, Ben Olmstead? And that between Henry and his former paramour, Callie Olmstead? Callie and Ben? Henry and The Mother? The Mother and He Who Dreams? I have questions!
It's hard to grade Sins of the Father, because I really do feel that in the right hands it would've been better received, and I can't actually fault the book for anything other than leaving me with so many questions and not even the satisfaction of knowing that they'll be answered in a coming book.
Let's get to it, shall we?
Recently I was told of Aphantasia ("a condition where one does not possess a functioning mind's eye and cannot voluntarily visualize imagery", according to Wikipedia who in turn credited an A.J. Larner). And I'm thinking that this might be one of the reasons - just maybe - that Lovecraftian horror doesn't do the trick for me. I can't for the life of me visualize what these cephalopod creatures look like, despite there being manyfold illustrations and despite my having browsed the web in search of visual understanding.
The irony of Lovecraftian horror being defined as "horror of the unknown or unknowable" isn't lost on me.
Another reason is, I say with all certainty, the cosmic element of Lovecraftiana. I feel like the opposite of Giorgio Tsoukalos (the Ancient Alien meme guy); where he goes "Aliens!" and looks pleased as punch - I go "Aliens!" and look utterly exasperated!
I love the Xenomorph of the Alien franchise, and I love the Predator of that franchise, but other than that? No, not a big fan of aliens in [horror] fiction.
Knowing this, you might say, why did I choose to read a book that is CLEARLY inspired by Lovecraft?
I fall so easily for an interesting plot line.
Some part of me thinks that Sins of the Father deserves "a better reader" than I. It's well written, it IS interesting, on a level, and I think that readers who do enjoy cosmic horror of the unknowable would probably enjoy this a whole lot more than I did.
If I were to give some objective criticism, it is that the main story - or at least the story that takes up most of the book - is less interesting than the conclusion, which feels more like a new beginning of another story (but maybe Faherty is setting us up for a sequel? In which case, I'm almost ashamed to admit, I'll probably read that too.). That's not to say that the "main" story isn't interesting in its own way; it's just not AS interesting.
And funnily enough, I found myself more sympathetic to Henry Gilman, the MC, as events were starting to wrap up - even before the grand finish, during which I most definitely sided with him. Possibly because it took that long for Henry to seem to even begin to understand his father's choices/sins.
I felt that, as a reader, I was confused and a little conflicted in regards to how I was supposed to feel about both Henry and his father, Silas: was I intended to feel sympathy for the choices Silas made? Was Henry meant to appear somewhat callous? What about the relationship between Henry and his friend, Ben Olmstead? And that between Henry and his former paramour, Callie Olmstead? Callie and Ben? Henry and The Mother? The Mother and He Who Dreams? I have questions!
It's hard to grade Sins of the Father, because I really do feel that in the right hands it would've been better received, and I can't actually fault the book for anything other than leaving me with so many questions and not even the satisfaction of knowing that they'll be answered in a coming book.
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