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A review by mmuutthh
Legio Damnati by Brandon Ketchum
5.0
This set of short stories reads like a pulp serial from the 1930s. If it were a comic strip I could see it drawn by either Hal Foster (Prince Valiant) or Chester Gould (Dock Tracy)… why not both: would that be Alex Toth? At any rate I hesitate to call the stories “fun” because they’re not quite that (I mean they are entertaining, but the subject matter isn’t slight like that word might connote.), but it’s a pleasure to read story to story. And the supernatural elements, when they appear, are quite engaging and I imagine it’s probably a richer text if you are more familiar with Ancient Roman and Gaul-ish (I love how close that word reads to “ghoulish”) mythology and lore. The book seems very well researched.
While continuous and building in a way from each other, the story’s development and character richness is a little lacking. (Part of where the serial feeling comes in.) The main character we follow through the book’s sole trait and development comes from the size and chafing of his helmet. It’s endearing but doesn’t quite enthrall me. I mean it’s more than halfway through the book when a character of any note dies, but that was kind of spoiled by the “dramatis personae” at the beginning of the book. (Yes I read those!)
Overall this very small and quick read is pleasantly surprising and the quality of the limited-run title is very impressive from both a local author and a local small press.
Definitely recommend!
While continuous and building in a way from each other, the story’s development and character richness is a little lacking. (Part of where the serial feeling comes in.) The main character we follow through the book’s sole trait and development comes from the size and chafing of his helmet. It’s endearing but doesn’t quite enthrall me. I mean it’s more than halfway through the book when a character of any note dies, but that was kind of spoiled by the “dramatis personae” at the beginning of the book. (Yes I read those!)
Overall this very small and quick read is pleasantly surprising and the quality of the limited-run title is very impressive from both a local author and a local small press.
Definitely recommend!