It's been a very long time since I've listened ro the podcast. I got this book a while ago becuase it was on sale and I recognized the names. I am not convinced that writing for a podcast, especially one scripted the way Night Vale is, translates well into a novel.

There was lots of telling. It was all narration, like the podcast, only slightly more structured and much much longer. While I was initially intrigued, I eventually grew bored, as I did with the podcast. I did not feel connected to the characters, and this book dragged on and on. The ending was interesting, especially tying it together with the present day. I enjoyed the present day part much more than the history of the Old Woman, partly becuase it was short partly becuase it did a good job at subverting my expectations. It also felt a lot like the podcast, while most of the story did not.

I don't know how this holds up to the other Night Vale novels, but I am not interested in reading them after this.