Kyle Carruthers

Anne Rice's mastery of angst and atmosphere continues to impress in this competing perspective to Interview with the Vampire. Its oppressive spirituality, sensuality, and shattered morality weave a reverie in which it explores existentialism and love. It is a soothing book in the way that a silent darkness is soothing and in the way that company to misery is soothing.

This is one of those books that is great because it introduces a new way of talking about what has always existed. You will either agree with the claims and conclusions and find yourself able to put words to things you likely already believed or, if you disagree, clarify your own perspective by creating a defense against a new and intriguing attack.

A concept as convoluted as this could easily get bogged down and become narratively unsatisfying, but the author is skilled enough to avoid going too heavy on the mind bending aspects while still making them integral to the identity of the work. The end is not quite as strong as the middle and beginning, but does well enough as a wrap up to a delightfully unsettling journey.

We are often sculpted by our rivals, perhaps more so even than our allies. I would say this is the idea that Holland explores as he presents a view of Christian history that often takes the time to look to the peripherals of burgeoning Christianity and point out its influence on its opponents. Any pop history book covering such an extensive time range will have large gaps, so it would be easy to quibble about what was left out, but I personally felt that Holland's selection of people and events contributed well to this sub-theme.

A satisfying fusion of progression fantasy and time loop shenanigans. The story cleverly avoids the pitfalls that usually come from messing with time with a justification that nestles seamlessly into the world and doesn't feel contrived. The plot is also remarkably cohesive for a gargantuan web serial. By the end, it's clear the author had the whole story in mind all along. Despite executing its core promise well, it has a myriad of weaknesses. If this is the type of novel that greatly appeals to you, you will likely be able to overlook its flaws and have an immensely enjoyable experience. If you are merely looking to explore new genres I would recommend Cradle as a more well-rounded entry point to progression fantasy.

If you're not familiar with progression fantasy, it's a genre where the focus is on the main character consistently growing in strength and skill over the entire narrative. You won't find much in the way of character work or anything in the way of polished prose, but, if you enjoy clever applications of magical abilities in a fleshed out fantasy world, give this behemoth a shot.