I had an extremely hard time deciding how to rate this book. I have settled (mostly) on a 3.5. This read is a dark and violent horror with a Lovecraftian influence and it was great to read. The pace is a whirlwind and there is constant action, never a dull moment. The characters are great and vibrant and engaged. The writing is atmospheric, descriptive, and results in extremely visceral scenes.

But. BUT. I think this was just too short of an exploration for me. I needed things to slow down slightly, just enough to get everything fully fleshed out. I wanted to be able to connect with the characters more deeply and see them as more than just comic-book like figures. I wanted to delve into this clever analogy and get more history and more future. It was a great exploration of evil and the darkness within, but I just. needed. more.

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *