I’m fascinated by this series. Neither this nor its predecessor were in my power to put down. Though decidedly less opaque than The Vorrh, The Erstwhile manages to build upon Catling’s vague foundations beautifully. Here, Catling uses his poet’s sensibilities with a surgical precision, infusing the work with just enough of his bizarre, imaginative prose that made The Vorrh so entrancing to keep you on your toes while simultaneously allowing your a clearer view of his haunting world. Lingering questions are answered and clarified here, though Catling holds enough back and brings up entirely new questions to keep you wanting more. The more surreal elements of The Vorrh are tempered here, replaced by something a little more standard, but don’t let that dissuade you; The Erstwhile is every bit the haunting work of deep imagination as its predecessor. The final book in the trilogy, The Cloven, is scheduled for release in mere days, and for the first time in I don’t know how long I find myself excited to make my way to the bookstore to pick up a book on the day of its release.