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A review by es42
Creatures of Want and Ruin, Volume 2 by Molly Tanzer
2.0
I loved Creatures of Will and Temper, so I was looking forward to Want and Ruin! But ultimately I found it lacking when compared to its predecessor. Perhaps it would work better as a stand-alone book, if I didn't have such high expectations... What I liked about Will and Temper was that it centered around the human-demon relationship, and had a strong concept at its core (helped by the Dorian Gray allusions). The characters in Want and Ruin are likable, well-written. The setting is nice. The plot, however, is somewhat bland. But the main problem is that the book lacks in the demonology department, which was the most innovative and interesting element of Will and Temper. Molly Tanzer uses the same tactics: introduces in-universe texts ("The Demon in the Deep" and the poem "The Ginger-Eaters" - a connection to the previous novel), but we don't learn as much about the demons as I'd prefer. For the most part of the book, the characters are more like "investigators" of the demonic phenomena than active participants.
Overall, Creatures of Want and Ruin is still a fun, thrilling occult adventure novel, and the low rating I give reflects my subjective expectations.
I anticipate Tanzer's next book, Creatures of Charm and Hunger, with its promise ofliving deliciously "two girls living in the north of England during World War II, where they are studying to be master diabolists..." - I hope I will get to see more of the author's unique vision of demonology!
* Additional rant, with spoilers:
The main antagonist demon is just this vaguely Lovecraftian entity that wants to devour the world and is served by a mind-controlled cult. There is no additional lore. We get glimpses of the second demon through the aforementioned text, "The Demon in the Deep", but the actual entity makes its appearance quite late in the novel. It is more interesting, but, well, I'd have preferred for the novel to start at the end...
Overall, Creatures of Want and Ruin is still a fun, thrilling occult adventure novel, and the low rating I give reflects my subjective expectations.
I anticipate Tanzer's next book, Creatures of Charm and Hunger, with its promise of
* Additional rant, with spoilers:
The main antagonist demon is just this vaguely Lovecraftian entity that wants to devour the world and is served by a mind-controlled cult. There is no additional lore. We get glimpses of the second demon through the aforementioned text, "The Demon in the Deep", but the actual entity makes its appearance quite late in the novel. It is more interesting, but, well, I'd have preferred for the novel to start at the end...