
The Monster of Elendhaven
فرمت کتاب
audiobook
تاریخ انتشار
2019
نویسنده
Daniel Henningناشر
Macmillan Audioشابک
9781250243645
کتاب های مرتبط
- اطلاعات
- نقد و بررسی
- دیدگاه کاربران
نقد و بررسی

June 3, 2019
Full of foul, intoxicating odors and fouler characters, this disquieting short novel employs serial suicide and multiple homicides to offer criticism of its decadent setting. In vaguely Victorian, coal-grimed Elendhaven, Johann, a supernatural companion mistakenly summoned by sorcerer Florian Leickenbloom, becomes Florian’s assistant in crafting a plan to reintroduce a deadly plague. Florian, last heir of the fallen Leickenbloom fortune, schemes to collapse Elendhaven’s nouveau riche elites and take vengeance on the neighboring countries who profited on the devastation wrought by the previous plague outbreak. Opposing him and Johann is a Mage Hunter who’s charged with removing either Florian’s magic or his life. Giesbrecht tries for a sardonic tone in showing how societies deserve the monsters that they produce, but the imagery of pestilence and splattered bodily fluids tips the balance from picaresque to grotesque. Her work goes beyond grimdark to something more like grimglum, and few readers will be able to stick it out even for the brief length of this misery-marinated story.

Daniel Henning gives a compelling narration of this dark fantasy novella. The story follows Johann, a supernatural human-like monster who kills people for his own pleasure and education. Johann plans to murder Herr Leikenbloom, but they wind up unlikely cohorts in a revenge scheme against those who wronged them. Henning fully commits to this tale, providing a nearly breathless and deliciously evil-sounding narration while also developing unique voices and presenting surprisingly layered characters. Squeamish listeners should look elsewhere, though. This audiobook verges on the grotesque and is a difficult listen, despite its relatively short length. Those willing to stick around will find that the story is well served by Henning's theatrical performance. A.T.N. � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine
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