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A review by mediaevalmuse
Johannes Cabal the Necromancer by Jonathan L. Howard
3.0
I’m torn because I love the premise of this book and its characters, I just felt disappointed by the way it played out. I love the idea of an unlikable protagonist who does awful things, and I love the idea of a dark comedy whatever the circumstances. I just wish more had been done to give this novel more shape and the characters more depth.
Things I Liked
1. Characters: All of Howard’s characters are a little eccentric and have their own quips - each one is unique and charming in a way that’s appealing. I especially loved Horst’s charisma and the way he interacted with Johannes, who is a bit more stony.
2. Humor: The Brothers Cabal are very witty and often sarcastic, which makes their interactions fun to read. Even the prose narration itself has its moments where it made me laugh aloud.
3. Genre: This book is delightfully macabre and gothic without leaning too heavily on the dark elements to make them depressing. I also like the idea of a demonic carnival, despite all the problematic aspects of something like a “freak show.”
Things I Didn’t Like
1. Lack of Clarity: I was thrown off for a large portion of the novel because I was never quite sure what kind of time period the story was set in. Is it steampunk? Modern day? Turn of the century? It was hard for me to feel oriented without some kind of guide - I know that’s trivial, but for me, I really like being rooted in a period in history (even if it’s somewhat fantastical).
2. Structure: I don’t think Howard quote mastered the ability to reveal information at the right time or to structure the book as a whole in a way that kept me engaged. Because there was a lack of characterization (see next point), I had to rely on the plot to keep me going, and the plot itself wasn’t as clever as I hoped nor as well-put-together as I wanted.
3. Characterization of Johannes: I love a morally grey protagonist, but I had a hard time feeling invested in Johannes’ mission to win back his soul. He’s not entirely likable, which is fine, but even so, there wasn’t much that led me to sympathize or connect with him. He always seems to have a witty comeback or sarcastic comment, and without much sense of vulnerability, he reads like a flat character.
Recommendations: I would recommend this book if you’re interested in carnivals and circuses, Faustian deals, bets with the devil, black comedy, dark humor, and Gothic tales.
Things I Liked
1. Characters: All of Howard’s characters are a little eccentric and have their own quips - each one is unique and charming in a way that’s appealing. I especially loved Horst’s charisma and the way he interacted with Johannes, who is a bit more stony.
2. Humor: The Brothers Cabal are very witty and often sarcastic, which makes their interactions fun to read. Even the prose narration itself has its moments where it made me laugh aloud.
3. Genre: This book is delightfully macabre and gothic without leaning too heavily on the dark elements to make them depressing. I also like the idea of a demonic carnival, despite all the problematic aspects of something like a “freak show.”
Things I Didn’t Like
1. Lack of Clarity: I was thrown off for a large portion of the novel because I was never quite sure what kind of time period the story was set in. Is it steampunk? Modern day? Turn of the century? It was hard for me to feel oriented without some kind of guide - I know that’s trivial, but for me, I really like being rooted in a period in history (even if it’s somewhat fantastical).
2. Structure: I don’t think Howard quote mastered the ability to reveal information at the right time or to structure the book as a whole in a way that kept me engaged. Because there was a lack of characterization (see next point), I had to rely on the plot to keep me going, and the plot itself wasn’t as clever as I hoped nor as well-put-together as I wanted.
3. Characterization of Johannes: I love a morally grey protagonist, but I had a hard time feeling invested in Johannes’ mission to win back his soul. He’s not entirely likable, which is fine, but even so, there wasn’t much that led me to sympathize or connect with him. He always seems to have a witty comeback or sarcastic comment, and without much sense of vulnerability, he reads like a flat character.
Recommendations: I would recommend this book if you’re interested in carnivals and circuses, Faustian deals, bets with the devil, black comedy, dark humor, and Gothic tales.