Evadare Volney's Blog - Posts Tagged "comedy"

My Grave Ritual by G.S. Denning

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I dithered over the number of stars because it didn't make me howl with laughter quite as much as the first two books in the series, but then I decided it was just that the novelty had worn off and this one is really just as good - and maybe even better in that it's definitively building towards a series finale that's probably going to be gruesome and painful. Anyway, if you like the premise - Watson is the real detective, Holmes is a rather dim but extremely powerful sorcerer who's usually completely riddled with demons - and you like continually surprising re-writes of the canon stories that turn them into pulpy slapstick horror, you'll enjoy this one just as much as the others.

You'll be rewarded by various cultural easter eggs too if you happen to catch them ("Bellinger leaned in with renewed vigor and insisted, “Destroy the doctor!” “Destroy!” Hope agreed, in high-pitched, strident tones. “Destroy! Destroy! Destroy!”), and droll asides on social behavior ("The man was an arch-conservative politician, but famous for his even temper and courtesy. His political reputation was for upholding basically indefensible beliefs by remaining calm and genial until his opponent’s patience ran out, he yelled, and by the laws of British propriety therefore forfeited the debate.")

But I'm worried. I love this universe, and yet I know I will fail to take Watson's very wise advice here: "To the reader who loves our world and wishes to believe it will continue, let me say: Stop. Stop, right now. Close this book, set it aside and never read anything else I write."



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