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Lost Carcosa #2
The City of Corpses
Dark fantasy and horror combine in this epic narrative of war, betrayal, love, and spirituality...Reeling from betrayal, Alan, Cassilda, LeBarron, and Petruccio must go into hiding; the only place that seems safe is Alar, an underwater kingdom lying at the bottom of Lake Hali.But all is not well in Alar. Dangers lurk around every corner. And a sorceress now rules the city, one whose powers challenge even those of Carcosa’s princesses, Cassilda and Cali…Meanwhile, Pe’kar, the great enemy, unleashes his second legion upon Carcosa, intent to finally raze the city to the ground and become undisputed ruler of the black planet.How can Alan and his fellowship save Carcosa when they can hardly save themselves? The answer lies within…The City of Corpses is the second Book of Lost Carcosa, an epic fantasy-horror that reimagines the astonishing mythos of Robert W. Chambers. Combining Clive Barker’s eroticism and fantasy with Stephen King’s pulse-pounding narrative, The City of Corpses will please fans of Imajica, Weaveworld, The Dark Tower, H. P. Lovecraft, Eric LaRocca, and Alistair Rennie.
259 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 16, 2024
3 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Sale
59 books62 followersJoseph Sale is an author and filmmaker. He has published more than 30 books, including The Book of Thrice Dead, Virtue’s End, Dark Hilarity, and The Claw of Craving. He is drawn to the baroque, the spiritual, and the mythic like a moth to flame.
He lives in the south of England with his wonderful family, where he obsesses over table-top RPGs, trading card games, book bindery, esoteric Christianity, and anime.
He lives in the south of England with his wonderful family, where he obsesses over table-top RPGs, trading card games, book bindery, esoteric Christianity, and anime.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 22, 2024
Oh what an amazing continuation off of a fantastic first book. The City of Corpses is atmospheric, tension filled and so very well written. I’m loving the way Joseph Sale paints his environments on the page, I can see it all travelling through this city of corpses.
We have some more character development in this book, Cali becoming a very prevalent player in this story. This book is action packed with a great amount of fighting, a few sexy scenes sprinkled here and there, a good bit of banter, and another ending that just has me so excited for more!
Biggest thank you to Blood Bound Books for the eARC for The City of Corpses. Your team really does work with all stars, Joseph Sale is an author that walks with the best in my eyes! I cannot wait for the third book to release!
Also massive round of applause for the cover artist, what a breathtakingly beautiful cover.
We have some more character development in this book, Cali becoming a very prevalent player in this story. This book is action packed with a great amount of fighting, a few sexy scenes sprinkled here and there, a good bit of banter, and another ending that just has me so excited for more!
Biggest thank you to Blood Bound Books for the eARC for The City of Corpses. Your team really does work with all stars, Joseph Sale is an author that walks with the best in my eyes! I cannot wait for the third book to release!
Also massive round of applause for the cover artist, what a breathtakingly beautiful cover.
December 24, 2023
Huge, huge thanks to Joseph and Blood Bound Books for sending me an early eARC of this one. After how much I loved book one, I was eagerly awaiting the news for book two, so I shouted like Joaquin Phoenix’s character in Signs when he first saw the footage of the alien at the birthday party, when the email came through.
Now, as I said before my review of book one, I wasn’t too familiar with Robert W. Chambers The King in Yellow mythology. Saying that, I knew bits and pieces, but I wouldn’t have been able to describe to you in any meaningful way what Carcosa looked like or really was or any of the key figures. In book one, Sale does a wonderful job of doing that, while also introducing us to Alan, a man seeking a better place for him, having grown to loathe earth and when he finds the way in, he gets in completely.
With book two, I was looking forward to seeing where Sale went with it.
Saying ALL of that – from here on, it may be spoiler-ish for book one, so tread carefully if you’ve not read the first one yet. But you should. It was on my list of the best books of the year for a reason.
What I liked: I WARNED YOU – SPOILERS AHEAD!!
So, book one ended with a few things. Alan possessed the claw of craving, firmly formed onto his arm. He had developed a connection with Cassilda, and her sister Cali, had betrayed them all and was fleeing back to Carcosa to help fall the city and end her father’s life.
We pick up there, with the four – Alan, Cass, LeBarron and Petruccio heading to the mythical city of Alar, looking for answers and a way to stop Cali.
Look, I can’t state this enough and I think I’ve been saying this in every review of Sale’s books I’ve done since the first book I read of his – but nobody out there has his gift of imagination and description. Many writers have the imagination. Many have the mastery of prose. But none of them can put the two together like Sale can and I’d honestly fight anyone to the death over the fact that he is both criminally underrated and under read. Once again here, much like book one, we get a solid story that cinematically rivals the greatest fantasy writers of all time. Pick any writer – most recently would be Martin or Rothfuss I’d guess – and what Sale’s done here is bigger in scope and depth. He just doesn’t fill pages and pages of story with descriptions of food – looking at you Martin. Couple that with the Chambers mythology fully formed and realized and you can taste the air, smell the stench and feel the ground underfoot as we go from Alar, back to Carcosa for the last stand of the mighty tower.
The last quarter of this rivals any of the big battles we encounter in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings world, massive creatures, thousands of undead and blood and shredding in every sentence. The difference here, between Sale’s books and those masters – the horror element. Sale’s mind is firmly entrenched in the horror world and as such we get darker turns, betrayal and lascivious moments that would make even the most depraved master blush.
It all comes to a head at the end, first we see what happens with Cali and then the aftermath, which sets things up for a third book. I’m elated that we’ll be getting more, as at first I thought this was purely a two series set, and I was worried Sale would have to rush through this one to get to a solid conclusion.
What I didn’t like: Having just read book one not long ago, the main characters were completely fresh in my mind. Saying that, the secondary characters not so much. A refresher at the beginning I think would’ve been great and I think something almost necessary when dealing with fiction that has the scope that this one does.
Why you should buy this: I’ve had this conversation with Joseph in the past, but I feel like he’s a writer currently writing in the wrong decade or even century. I think if he was releasing this stuff in the 60s and 70s, awards would be named after him and entire magazines would be devoted to his mythology and imagination. I suspect in another thirty or forty years we’ll be seeing this happening, but I hope beyond hope that these books take up the mantle NOW and more and more reviewers latch on to what he’s crafting and give him the praise he so rightly deserves.
As for this novel, once again, Sale has sold his soul to a god elsewhere who watches through the thin crack in the veil, allowing him to deliver a knock out. This story, these characters and this world was made for Sale to play in and he’s having a blast doing just that.
An absolute beast that is a must-read for all horror fans.
Now, as I said before my review of book one, I wasn’t too familiar with Robert W. Chambers The King in Yellow mythology. Saying that, I knew bits and pieces, but I wouldn’t have been able to describe to you in any meaningful way what Carcosa looked like or really was or any of the key figures. In book one, Sale does a wonderful job of doing that, while also introducing us to Alan, a man seeking a better place for him, having grown to loathe earth and when he finds the way in, he gets in completely.
With book two, I was looking forward to seeing where Sale went with it.
Saying ALL of that – from here on, it may be spoiler-ish for book one, so tread carefully if you’ve not read the first one yet. But you should. It was on my list of the best books of the year for a reason.
What I liked: I WARNED YOU – SPOILERS AHEAD!!
So, book one ended with a few things. Alan possessed the claw of craving, firmly formed onto his arm. He had developed a connection with Cassilda, and her sister Cali, had betrayed them all and was fleeing back to Carcosa to help fall the city and end her father’s life.
We pick up there, with the four – Alan, Cass, LeBarron and Petruccio heading to the mythical city of Alar, looking for answers and a way to stop Cali.
Look, I can’t state this enough and I think I’ve been saying this in every review of Sale’s books I’ve done since the first book I read of his – but nobody out there has his gift of imagination and description. Many writers have the imagination. Many have the mastery of prose. But none of them can put the two together like Sale can and I’d honestly fight anyone to the death over the fact that he is both criminally underrated and under read. Once again here, much like book one, we get a solid story that cinematically rivals the greatest fantasy writers of all time. Pick any writer – most recently would be Martin or Rothfuss I’d guess – and what Sale’s done here is bigger in scope and depth. He just doesn’t fill pages and pages of story with descriptions of food – looking at you Martin. Couple that with the Chambers mythology fully formed and realized and you can taste the air, smell the stench and feel the ground underfoot as we go from Alar, back to Carcosa for the last stand of the mighty tower.
The last quarter of this rivals any of the big battles we encounter in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings world, massive creatures, thousands of undead and blood and shredding in every sentence. The difference here, between Sale’s books and those masters – the horror element. Sale’s mind is firmly entrenched in the horror world and as such we get darker turns, betrayal and lascivious moments that would make even the most depraved master blush.
It all comes to a head at the end, first we see what happens with Cali and then the aftermath, which sets things up for a third book. I’m elated that we’ll be getting more, as at first I thought this was purely a two series set, and I was worried Sale would have to rush through this one to get to a solid conclusion.
What I didn’t like: Having just read book one not long ago, the main characters were completely fresh in my mind. Saying that, the secondary characters not so much. A refresher at the beginning I think would’ve been great and I think something almost necessary when dealing with fiction that has the scope that this one does.
Why you should buy this: I’ve had this conversation with Joseph in the past, but I feel like he’s a writer currently writing in the wrong decade or even century. I think if he was releasing this stuff in the 60s and 70s, awards would be named after him and entire magazines would be devoted to his mythology and imagination. I suspect in another thirty or forty years we’ll be seeing this happening, but I hope beyond hope that these books take up the mantle NOW and more and more reviewers latch on to what he’s crafting and give him the praise he so rightly deserves.
As for this novel, once again, Sale has sold his soul to a god elsewhere who watches through the thin crack in the veil, allowing him to deliver a knock out. This story, these characters and this world was made for Sale to play in and he’s having a blast doing just that.
An absolute beast that is a must-read for all horror fans.
March 17, 2024
This is the 2nd book in the Lost Carcosa series, and you really need to read the first book before reading this one.
This is one of the best dark fantasy books I've ever read!
The action is outstanding rivalling that of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings but with a stronger emphases on the horror and gore, as opposed to the fantasy side, you have a huge creature, thousands of reanimated corpses, cannibals, and demons, and that is just in one battle, but there is more to this book than a huge bloody battle, there is also betrayal, kinship and a fairly explicit sex scene.
The writing is smooth and polished and despite being less than 300 pages and a quick read his writing makes it feel epic in nature, the first book gives you the feeling of reading something secret and forbidden, and this one expands on that, we start to get to know the characters better, almost like you are right there with them.
It’s hard for me to describe how these books make me feel, the best I can do is that it resinates with a part of me that has always had a feeling of nostalgia for a place that I have never been to, and people that I have never met.
If you are a fan of Clive Barkers work such as Weaveworld, The Hellbound Heart (Hellraiser) or Cabal (Nightbreed) or of H.P. Lovecraft, than you will love these books.
This is one of the best dark fantasy books I've ever read!
The action is outstanding rivalling that of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings but with a stronger emphases on the horror and gore, as opposed to the fantasy side, you have a huge creature, thousands of reanimated corpses, cannibals, and demons, and that is just in one battle, but there is more to this book than a huge bloody battle, there is also betrayal, kinship and a fairly explicit sex scene.
The writing is smooth and polished and despite being less than 300 pages and a quick read his writing makes it feel epic in nature, the first book gives you the feeling of reading something secret and forbidden, and this one expands on that, we start to get to know the characters better, almost like you are right there with them.
It’s hard for me to describe how these books make me feel, the best I can do is that it resinates with a part of me that has always had a feeling of nostalgia for a place that I have never been to, and people that I have never met.
If you are a fan of Clive Barkers work such as Weaveworld, The Hellbound Heart (Hellraiser) or Cabal (Nightbreed) or of H.P. Lovecraft, than you will love these books.
January 30, 2024
This book took me on a ride full of betrayal, the fate of a city,, and so much more. This book has such a great balance of adventure, thriller, and suspense you get a little bit of everything enjoyable. This book was out of my comfort zone but I loved this book because it helped me take a step forward in reading something I normally don't read. All the characters in my opinion portray very powerful and strong backgrounds and the heroic actions that are taking place. I can say that for me there are moments where the pacing of the book slows down which causes great moments to be lost. But I craved more plotlines within the story. But I can say this Joseph Sales's storytelling skills are phenomenal.
Thank you netgalley for eARC this book I really enjoyed it
Thank you netgalley for eARC this book I really enjoyed it
March 31, 2024
This is the 2nd Book of the Lost Carcosa series. This book is fantasy horror and has its fair amount of horrific bloody and gory scenes. We are still following Alan Chambers on his next journey with his friends to Alar an underwater kingdom, but there are dangers just lurking around the corner. Will he find the answer to save Carcosa from the Pekar army.
This book definitely has a lovecraftian feel to it that the author has created this world. It draws you in and doesn't let go to the last page. There's even a very steamy scene in it, too ...!!!
I really enjoyed this book continuing with Alan's journey. I'm totally excited to hear there's a book 3. Hurry up, pretty please, I need to know. Absolutely loved this read!!!!
This book definitely has a lovecraftian feel to it that the author has created this world. It draws you in and doesn't let go to the last page. There's even a very steamy scene in it, too ...!!!
I really enjoyed this book continuing with Alan's journey. I'm totally excited to hear there's a book 3. Hurry up, pretty please, I need to know. Absolutely loved this read!!!!
April 15, 2025
If you're looking for a series that gets better as it goes then you'll want to dive into this one! The continuing story ramps up even more in this installment to deliver a pulse pounding battle to save Carcosa. From a battle with the dead in an underwater kingdom to the front lines of the battle between demons and Carcosans, you get blood, betrayal, unlikely allies, leviathans and magic. It's fantasy and horror all in the horrifyingly stunning world of the black planet!
January 29, 2024
What a fabulous book to open 2024. The horror is unrelenting, with creatures and cities both terrifying and fantastical. The ever developing story, with the introduction of many new characters, immerses us while battle scenes of great proportions hold us in hair-raising suspense right until the final chapter. A powerful tale of discovering one’s true self, set in Sale’s bewitching literary universe.
March 31, 2024
ARC from NetGalley.
It’s a satisfying blend of intrigue and adventure. It has its faults. Sale perhaps writes more for himself at times. But fun? Yes.
It’s a satisfying blend of intrigue and adventure. It has its faults. Sale perhaps writes more for himself at times. But fun? Yes.
February 22, 2024
Much like its predecessor, The Claw of Craving, the sequel The City of Corpses is a wildly imaginative dark fantasy that’s beautifully written and imagined. It has it all: twisting plotline, vivid characters, unholy magic, a touch of romance, and a huge, blood-soaked battle that Conan himself would have enjoyed. Above all, it’s the author’s magical touch with his prose that puts this saga in a league of its own. This is a must read for any fantasy/horror fans. You need to read the first one before this one, though.
City continues the journey of Alan Chambers, the unlikely hero (and possibly saviour) of Carcosa. The first book established Alan as a power, with the fabled Claw of Craving as his weapon. In this one, it’s up to him to decide how to wield that power, as he is needed to prevent the Yellow King’s treacherous daughter Cali from causing the overthrow of the king. Alan really comes into his own as the driving force in this book. In the first one, his companions Cassilda (and Cali, at that time) called most of the shots. Here, Alan steps up as the leader of the group, thankfully, he still has Cassilda, Petruccio the dwarf, and the irascible actor LeBarron along for help. The characters are well developed from the first book to now, getting bigger and more interesting roles. Cassilda has grown into her role as a big player, in the first book, she was often overshadowed by Cali. Not anymore, she’s a leader in her own right, and she and Alan make a formidable team-and more, as they discover personal feelings for each other. There are a few new characters along as well, the enchantress Scarleth is particularly intriguing.
The story itself does a great job of continuing the first, the world of Carcosa is so well drawn you can see and feel it. One good example is when the characters cross the icewater lake to the hidden city, it’s so perfectly written you can almost feel the cold of the lake bite into your feet. That’s a testament to the author’s ability, this is higher level writing, the kind that not only reads well, it sounds good also. This isn’t standard fiction writing, it’s edging towards the level of Clark Ashton Smith, who was on the Charles Dickens level of writing. In other words, you won’t find writing like this often, which is another reason this is a must read for fantasy fans. There is a lot of imagination built into the story, examples include the entrances to the hidden city, and all the wildness of the final battle, complete with a deranged dinosaur sort of creature that annihilates everything. Personally, I loved the battle sequences, it made me feel like I was there when the enemies poured over the walls. It’s a good, messy battle, with enough to satisfy the gorehounds out there.
There really isn’t a flaw in this, other than it ends. But…thankfully it will continue as there seems to be a ways to go, and many questions to be answered. Let’s hope the ride continues a long time, this is something special.
City continues the journey of Alan Chambers, the unlikely hero (and possibly saviour) of Carcosa. The first book established Alan as a power, with the fabled Claw of Craving as his weapon. In this one, it’s up to him to decide how to wield that power, as he is needed to prevent the Yellow King’s treacherous daughter Cali from causing the overthrow of the king. Alan really comes into his own as the driving force in this book. In the first one, his companions Cassilda (and Cali, at that time) called most of the shots. Here, Alan steps up as the leader of the group, thankfully, he still has Cassilda, Petruccio the dwarf, and the irascible actor LeBarron along for help. The characters are well developed from the first book to now, getting bigger and more interesting roles. Cassilda has grown into her role as a big player, in the first book, she was often overshadowed by Cali. Not anymore, she’s a leader in her own right, and she and Alan make a formidable team-and more, as they discover personal feelings for each other. There are a few new characters along as well, the enchantress Scarleth is particularly intriguing.
The story itself does a great job of continuing the first, the world of Carcosa is so well drawn you can see and feel it. One good example is when the characters cross the icewater lake to the hidden city, it’s so perfectly written you can almost feel the cold of the lake bite into your feet. That’s a testament to the author’s ability, this is higher level writing, the kind that not only reads well, it sounds good also. This isn’t standard fiction writing, it’s edging towards the level of Clark Ashton Smith, who was on the Charles Dickens level of writing. In other words, you won’t find writing like this often, which is another reason this is a must read for fantasy fans. There is a lot of imagination built into the story, examples include the entrances to the hidden city, and all the wildness of the final battle, complete with a deranged dinosaur sort of creature that annihilates everything. Personally, I loved the battle sequences, it made me feel like I was there when the enemies poured over the walls. It’s a good, messy battle, with enough to satisfy the gorehounds out there.
There really isn’t a flaw in this, other than it ends. But…thankfully it will continue as there seems to be a ways to go, and many questions to be answered. Let’s hope the ride continues a long time, this is something special.
August 23, 2024
The City of Corpses by Joseph Sale, the second installment in the Lost Carcosa series, is a gripping dark fantasy horror novel infused with elements of war, betrayal, love, and spirituality. This book delivers an exhilarating roller coaster of emotions, adventure, suspense, and thrills. The narrative is engaging and easy to follow, while the well-developed characters add significant depth to the story. Overall, it's a captivating read that enriches the series and keeps readers on the edge of their seats.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews