The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle

The Ballad of Black TomThe Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle

LaValle created a novella that takes The Horror at Red Hook and improves on all it’s worst elements while staying true to the themes and tropes of the Cthulhu Mythos as made famous by H.P. Lovecraft. The central character of the novel, his struggles in a racially divided New York, and his fury, propel the reader through this tight read. The novella also does a fabulous job of explaining why elements of The Horror at Red Hook don’t sync up completely with The Ballad of Black Tom. I can’t recommend this story enough if you’re fan of the Cthulhu Mythos.

Read more of my work

View all my Goodreads reviews

Great Tales of Horror by H.P. Lovecraft

Great Tales of HorrorGreat Tales of Horror by H.P. Lovecraft

This collection has all the best of Lovecraft’s horror tales, and each story is introduced with a blurb by famed Lovecraft scholar S.T. Joshi. This is a great collection to own for any fans of the weird yarns of H.P.L. My personal favorites are The Shadow Over Innsmouth, The Colour Out of Space, and The Whisperer in Darkness.

Read more of my work

View all my Goodreads reviews

Winter Tide by Ruthanna Emrys

Winter Tide (The Innsmouth Legacy, #1)Winter Tide by Ruthanna Emrys

This novel has a great premise, and Emrys does impressive worldbuilding on top of Lovecraft’s existing canon. The protagonist was relatable and interesting throughout. I did feel there were a few too many characters though, and many of them seemed to serve similar roles in the story. The two standouts were a mind swapped professor and the protagonist’s employer. I also wished the novel had a slightly more exciting climax. The stakes just never felt very high. That said, I would certainly read the other books in this series because I enjoyed the world Emrys detailed.

Read more of my work

View all my Goodreads reviews