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The Dry Spell
It's the Spring of 1923. Chicago's cellars teem with animals seeking relief through the vices of liquor and prostitution. In the shadows beyond the all the gin and jazz of the post-war bacchanal dwell creatures who are even thirstier still. When a simple speakeasy raid goes badly awry, a mysterious French doe escort, a troubled wolf Prohibition agent and an ambitious fox mob-enforcer become entangled in a darker world of supernatural forces, secret societies, and a rabbit steel magnate's diabolical designs on a new world order. In a town declared dry, Chicago's taps and veins remain open. Better choose your libations carefully...
412 pages, Paperback
Published June 30, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 5, 2024
The Dry Spell is, as of writing this review, one of the best pieces of furry fiction out there at the moment. Beautifully written, researched, and organized, this is a must-read for lovers of furry fiction. I say that as someone who reads and reviews quite a lot of furry literature. It's an absolute ride; one I hope anyone reading this review gives a chance.
This is a book you'll want to read even if you're not a fan of prohibition or mob stories. I myself started this book feeling skeptical, as I'm not a fan of those genres. Turns out I didn't have to worry. I thought I was walking into a prohibition story with perhaps a light fantastical element. Instead I got a super intelligent paranormal excursion through Chicago with all manner of monsters, mortal and otherwise. So if you're still holding out on this book because of genre concerns like I was, I highly recommend you give it a shot anyway.
The highlight of this experience for me was the worldbuilding. The book seamlessly integrates anthropomorphism into the prohibition era in some extremely interesting and mysterious ways. For instance, Noah's Ark now seems to be the focus of Christianity rather than the Christ, which makes quite a lot of sense for a world of animal people. On top of the Christian reworking, there's additional mythology lingering in the background of this world that we only ever get glimpses of, and it works beautifully to give depth and intrigue to the world beyond the events of the story itself. It makes the world feel real.
To make the world feel even more realistic, it's extremely evident that a whole lot of research was put into this book. The historical events, the way prohibition operated, and even the way characters talk are meticulously tuned to the right pitch. But the "historical" never gets in the way of the "fiction". The book doesn't get caught up in educating the reader, which is a distracting part of many a historical novel. It instead strikes the perfect balance between history and fantasy. I loved that.
The characters are all unique, well crafted, and interesting, some with wild backstories told via some of the best flashback scenes I've ever had the pleasure of reading. Dialogue is distinct between them to the point that one could probably shirk the dialogue tags and still keep track of the conversations. The cast is so memorable, and I think most readers will find new favorites among them.
Altogether, a really fantastic gem of a read that will stick in my mind for a long while. I highly anticipate the eventual sequel, which I'm sure will similarly knock my socks off.
This is a book you'll want to read even if you're not a fan of prohibition or mob stories. I myself started this book feeling skeptical, as I'm not a fan of those genres. Turns out I didn't have to worry. I thought I was walking into a prohibition story with perhaps a light fantastical element. Instead I got a super intelligent paranormal excursion through Chicago with all manner of monsters, mortal and otherwise. So if you're still holding out on this book because of genre concerns like I was, I highly recommend you give it a shot anyway.
The highlight of this experience for me was the worldbuilding. The book seamlessly integrates anthropomorphism into the prohibition era in some extremely interesting and mysterious ways. For instance, Noah's Ark now seems to be the focus of Christianity rather than the Christ, which makes quite a lot of sense for a world of animal people. On top of the Christian reworking, there's additional mythology lingering in the background of this world that we only ever get glimpses of, and it works beautifully to give depth and intrigue to the world beyond the events of the story itself. It makes the world feel real.
To make the world feel even more realistic, it's extremely evident that a whole lot of research was put into this book. The historical events, the way prohibition operated, and even the way characters talk are meticulously tuned to the right pitch. But the "historical" never gets in the way of the "fiction". The book doesn't get caught up in educating the reader, which is a distracting part of many a historical novel. It instead strikes the perfect balance between history and fantasy. I loved that.
The characters are all unique, well crafted, and interesting, some with wild backstories told via some of the best flashback scenes I've ever had the pleasure of reading. Dialogue is distinct between them to the point that one could probably shirk the dialogue tags and still keep track of the conversations. The cast is so memorable, and I think most readers will find new favorites among them.
Altogether, a really fantastic gem of a read that will stick in my mind for a long while. I highly anticipate the eventual sequel, which I'm sure will similarly knock my socks off.
July 23, 2023
I am not someone normally intrigued by the setting of Chicago during the Prohibition.
Yet Dry Spell pulled me in almost immediately, and kept me there with great characterization and wonderful descriptions and imagery. These are well-developed characters in a meticulously crafted and researched world, and their threads weave amongst each other, hinting at things to come such that I was always curious to see what would happen next.
Yet Dry Spell pulled me in almost immediately, and kept me there with great characterization and wonderful descriptions and imagery. These are well-developed characters in a meticulously crafted and researched world, and their threads weave amongst each other, hinting at things to come such that I was always curious to see what would happen next.
January 16, 2024
The Dry Spell is a furry paranormal story set in Chicago during prohibition. The story follows a diverse cast of characters that keeps your attention and makes the story thrilling at almost every page. The prohibition aspect is only the surface-level problem of the story, with an underlying dark crisis lurking in the city's shadows.
The story is told from multiple points of view and each of them are unique characters with plenty of detail. I think The Dry Spell wins the award for the most points-of-view in any novel I have read. I believe there were five main character POVs we shifted between regularly, plus at least another four support character POVs we are treated to at least once in the book. There are a lot of characters to keep track of, and as such this is not a book you can linger on and spend a few months casually reading. You will forget some of the many details in it. But the story was so engaging, detailed, and exciting I don't see how anyone could take that long to read it anyway.
Sometimes when reading a story with shifting POVs, when you turn the page and move on to the next chapter you can groan to yourself and say, "I don't want to read about this person now. This part is boring." This never once happened in The Dry Spell. The chapters went by quickly because all of the stories were exciting and I wanted to know what each of the characters were getting into. They all had their own desires, attitudes, and mannerisms and it felt like I was living in prohibition Chicago with these characters as I read about their exploits.
This is Ryan Loup-Glissant's first full-length novel, and I have to give him huge props for the excellent world building he achieved in this story. The descriptors used, the character dialogue, the mannerisms, everything worked together so well to transport me to the time and place of this story. The author's command of English is noticeable, and I had to look up several words as I read the story, such as reconnoiter. It all felt period appropriate, and really helped sell the world to me.
The story was very engaging and entertaining, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in furry or paranormal novels. I have a few critiques but they are minor, this book was a great read overall.
Again these are minor critiques and would still warranty a 5-star review if that was all there was. What does not keep it at five stars, though, is the lack of grammatical editing. I don't believe there was a professional editor involved, Loup-Glissant gave thanks to a few, I assume, volunteer editors in the acknowledgements. Unfortunately, they missed more than a few mistakes. The last 100 pages of the book were particularly egregious. Maybe there was time pressure to get the book printed, I'm not sure of the reasoning, but the grammar errors were distracting. Especially considering the huge amount of effort the author put into the period-correct dialogue and adjectives, reading a misplaced hyphen destroying a sentence, or double words (in in), or inconsistent capitalization (is it the sisters or the Sisters?) takes the reader out of the story and back to looking at just ink on a page. It really hurts the fantasy of the world and takes away from the moment I am reading about. With proper editing this would be a 5-star book, and I hope the author can clean up some of the grammar mistakes before a second printing.
For so long Kyell Gold has been the reigning king of furry fiction, but I honestly think if Ryan Loup-Glissant (aka Slip-Wolf) can clean up his grammar and continue writing with such intensity, we are going to have to forge a second crown. This was a really great and engrossing story, and I am excited for more.
And in a totally poking-fun kind of way: I find the Sisters (sisters?) annoying in all the right ways, and I hope to never read their dialogue again. I'm not even going to try a cute rhyming comment.
The story is told from multiple points of view and each of them are unique characters with plenty of detail. I think The Dry Spell wins the award for the most points-of-view in any novel I have read. I believe there were five main character POVs we shifted between regularly, plus at least another four support character POVs we are treated to at least once in the book. There are a lot of characters to keep track of, and as such this is not a book you can linger on and spend a few months casually reading. You will forget some of the many details in it. But the story was so engaging, detailed, and exciting I don't see how anyone could take that long to read it anyway.
Sometimes when reading a story with shifting POVs, when you turn the page and move on to the next chapter you can groan to yourself and say, "I don't want to read about this person now. This part is boring." This never once happened in The Dry Spell. The chapters went by quickly because all of the stories were exciting and I wanted to know what each of the characters were getting into. They all had their own desires, attitudes, and mannerisms and it felt like I was living in prohibition Chicago with these characters as I read about their exploits.
This is Ryan Loup-Glissant's first full-length novel, and I have to give him huge props for the excellent world building he achieved in this story. The descriptors used, the character dialogue, the mannerisms, everything worked together so well to transport me to the time and place of this story. The author's command of English is noticeable, and I had to look up several words as I read the story, such as reconnoiter. It all felt period appropriate, and really helped sell the world to me.
The story was very engaging and entertaining, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in furry or paranormal novels. I have a few critiques but they are minor, this book was a great read overall.
Again these are minor critiques and would still warranty a 5-star review if that was all there was. What does not keep it at five stars, though, is the lack of grammatical editing. I don't believe there was a professional editor involved, Loup-Glissant gave thanks to a few, I assume, volunteer editors in the acknowledgements. Unfortunately, they missed more than a few mistakes. The last 100 pages of the book were particularly egregious. Maybe there was time pressure to get the book printed, I'm not sure of the reasoning, but the grammar errors were distracting. Especially considering the huge amount of effort the author put into the period-correct dialogue and adjectives, reading a misplaced hyphen destroying a sentence, or double words (in in), or inconsistent capitalization (is it the sisters or the Sisters?) takes the reader out of the story and back to looking at just ink on a page. It really hurts the fantasy of the world and takes away from the moment I am reading about. With proper editing this would be a 5-star book, and I hope the author can clean up some of the grammar mistakes before a second printing.
For so long Kyell Gold has been the reigning king of furry fiction, but I honestly think if Ryan Loup-Glissant (aka Slip-Wolf) can clean up his grammar and continue writing with such intensity, we are going to have to forge a second crown. This was a really great and engrossing story, and I am excited for more.
And in a totally poking-fun kind of way: I find the Sisters (sisters?) annoying in all the right ways, and I hope to never read their dialogue again. I'm not even going to try a cute rhyming comment.
July 13, 2023
Certainly there exists no shortage of stories featuring the bootleggers, gangsters, tycoons and general ne'er-do-wells of Roaring 20's-era Chicago, but their tales (and tails) have never been told quite like this! The genre gimmick of a "furrified" world may be mostly set dressing for the intended audience, but the plotting, prose and (especially) characterization rises far above the standard here. With a singularly engaging cast of morally complex critters who keep rearranging themselves into increasingly unlikely team-ups as they navigate a world soaked in blood and booze, you'll likely never be disappointed to leave one POV and enter another. The period-piece research is impeccable, even when the setting stretches beyond Chicago, and the author's illustrative descriptions and poetic turns of phrase are a pleasure to take in. Fangs in this world are not limited to the wolves and lions, and thus there are never too many pages that go by without a throat being drained, which may wear down some readers; in addition, the ending hardly puts a neat bow on every plot thread. However, by then you're likely to welcome the prospect of future time spent with this particular monstrous menagerie. Pour yourself your beverage of choice and give this one a read.
January 11, 2024
I decided to read The Dry Spell during October of last year to get me in the Halloween mood and it succeeded spectacularly. I've seen my fair share of the predator/prey dynamic in furry fiction and I can happily say that the author manages to put a new spin on it that I hadn't seen before. The way he handles lycanthropy for furry characters is also very cool and feels like it fits within the broader universe he's set up. Ryan captured the look and feel of 1920's Chicago in every sense and it really feels as though he's done his research into the history of the area at the time. I also wanted to shout out the way that religion plays a role in all of the characters lives. Either directly or indirectly through social pressures. The cast is incredibly strong with vampires (called nosfurs), werewolves, prohibition officers, gangsters, and a secret society of vampire hunters all contributing in some way. If you're looking for a supernatural furry thrill ride, I can happily recommend The Dry Spell.
January 3, 2024
I've admired Ryan's short fiction (written as Slip-Wolf) for a long time, so I was delighted to get a full novel, even though I knew his style tended to go gorier than I like.
And this is a full novel in every sense. It's well-structured, with a web of plots and sub-plots, but what makes it for me is the characters. Every one has a distinctive voice and personality, and while some are more likeable than others, nobody is pure good or pure evil and everyone has a motive for their actions. The sense of place and era were excellent, with unease and the supernatural squirming beneath the busy city streets.
I mentioned the gore factor? Vampires and werewolves, not to mention the Great War, meant I didn't always have a comfortable reading experience. Worth it, though.
And this is a full novel in every sense. It's well-structured, with a web of plots and sub-plots, but what makes it for me is the characters. Every one has a distinctive voice and personality, and while some are more likeable than others, nobody is pure good or pure evil and everyone has a motive for their actions. The sense of place and era were excellent, with unease and the supernatural squirming beneath the busy city streets.
I mentioned the gore factor? Vampires and werewolves, not to mention the Great War, meant I didn't always have a comfortable reading experience. Worth it, though.
October 21, 2023
Dry Spell is a story about supernatural horror set against the roar of 1920s Chicago. Its characters are fascinating and very fleshed out. The twists and turns the some of them go through to advance their goals will keep you spell bound, and the novel will surprise you more than once. This is also a very well researched book. The writing is evocative and brings you into the setting well, making you wish you too could stalk through these streets.
October 16, 2025
My impressions of The Dry Spell are extremely positive and I highly recommend this book to anyone who's a fan of furry fiction. Ryan Loup-Glissant does a fantastic job of creating a grounded, authentic-feeling universe set in the 1920s Prohibition Era with a supernatural twist. I can't say it's quite like anything I've read before, in the best possible sense.
Definitely give it a shot—it's quite a wild ride!
Definitely give it a shot—it's quite a wild ride!
June 1, 2024
4.5/5
This was a fun read for me in particular because I've always wanted to read a furry noir novel taking place during the prohibition era, but, until this one, such a tale didn't exist. (At least, not to my knowledge.) If you're a furry who enjoys hardboiled noir or horror like Hellboy or Hirano's Hellsing, then this one is for you.
The Dry Spell is a historical furry horror/noir taking place in prohibition-era Chicago. There are a lot of characters and plot threads, so it's difficult to crack into the plot without hemorrhaging spoilers, so I'll keep this part short and say it's got this lovely mix of 1920's Americana and European charm, spiced with German vampire hunting societies, werewolves, predator vs prey social dynamics, supernatural powers, and a heaping ton of classy grittiness.
Loup-Glissant's prose especially channels the latter -- he writes with a cutting, hard-boiled tone that's also unafraid to be poetic and lengthier when it needs to be. The attention to historical detail is also excellent and is reflected in the vocabulary used both within the dialogue and the descriptive narrative. By far one of the best and most evocative historical novels I've read from the fandom.
Additionally, the character development is excellent. As stated, there are a lot of them. (I believe another reviewer counted 60+ if we are to include supporting cast.) This can be hard to pull off, but in The Dry Spell I had no difficulty keeping track of them because they are incredibly distinct in their appearances, behaviors, speech, and their function within the story itself.
The one thing I did not like and that caught me by surprise, was
Aside from that one gripe, the rest of the manner in which the various plot threads of this story end up woven together is fantastic. I especially liked the way meets his end. Had me quietly whispering out loud "f&%# yes" when I read it. Sandy and Celeste absolutely pulled at my heartstrings. A thoroughly enjoyable experience from an author I'll definitely be keeping on my radar.
This was a fun read for me in particular because I've always wanted to read a furry noir novel taking place during the prohibition era, but, until this one, such a tale didn't exist. (At least, not to my knowledge.) If you're a furry who enjoys hardboiled noir or horror like Hellboy or Hirano's Hellsing, then this one is for you.
The Dry Spell is a historical furry horror/noir taking place in prohibition-era Chicago. There are a lot of characters and plot threads, so it's difficult to crack into the plot without hemorrhaging spoilers, so I'll keep this part short and say it's got this lovely mix of 1920's Americana and European charm, spiced with German vampire hunting societies, werewolves, predator vs prey social dynamics, supernatural powers, and a heaping ton of classy grittiness.
Loup-Glissant's prose especially channels the latter -- he writes with a cutting, hard-boiled tone that's also unafraid to be poetic and lengthier when it needs to be. The attention to historical detail is also excellent and is reflected in the vocabulary used both within the dialogue and the descriptive narrative. By far one of the best and most evocative historical novels I've read from the fandom.
Additionally, the character development is excellent. As stated, there are a lot of them. (I believe another reviewer counted 60+ if we are to include supporting cast.) This can be hard to pull off, but in The Dry Spell I had no difficulty keeping track of them because they are incredibly distinct in their appearances, behaviors, speech, and their function within the story itself.
The one thing I did not like and that caught me by surprise, was
Aside from that one gripe, the rest of the manner in which the various plot threads of this story end up woven together is fantastic. I especially liked the way meets his end. Had me quietly whispering out loud "f&%# yes" when I read it. Sandy and Celeste absolutely pulled at my heartstrings. A thoroughly enjoyable experience from an author I'll definitely be keeping on my radar.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews