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heathenhearted 's review for:

The King in Yellow by Robert W. Chambers
3.0
dark mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

The first half of this collection is well worth the read. The cosmic horror shorts, while perhaps surpassed by later works that took inspiration from them, are still effectively mysterious and strange in their own right. The strong prose, antiquated language, and incomplete/unreliable narration really add to the unknowable dread that makes these sorts of stories effective.

Conversely, the dry Parisian romances that take up most of the second half are probably not worth your time unless you're specifically drawn to this style and setting.