DNF @ p.144

This novel is formed by a series of interconnected accounts of events affecting young black veteran and geek Atticus Turner, his friend Letitia, and their families in 1950s Chicago. The protagonists fight a secret society of alchemists descending from Titus Braithwaite, a slaveowner from whom Atticus's ancestor escaped. Author Matt Ruff claims the influence of horror writer HP Lovecraft, who is both a pulp hero and an infamous racist.

I'm thoroughly unimpressed by this novel. Ruff's goal of addressing horror tropes through the lens of American racism and Jim Crow laws has potential, but the author's depiction of that racism seems like a caricature, accurate to some extent but oversimplified. Adding to this issue is the fact that the author is white and therefore probably shouldn't be writing from POC perspectives anyway.

The supernatural/horror elements were not particularly compelling either, with Atticus and Letitia unrealistically accepting the weird shit around them rather than being understandably freaked out. The mythos of the Braithwaites' secret society is completely underdeveloped, and many of the main characters' actions seem unfounded- they jump to (always correct) conclusions quickly and without any sort of explanation.

And on top of all that, the characters could have used much more development. None of them really have distinct personalities, a flaw which makes their responses to situations seem even less reasonable or realistic.

Don't bother with this one.