In late-16th Century Europe, a mysterious swordsman known as Raven the Night Watchman, a man damned by the fates to battle eternally against the forces of darkness, is summoned to a cursed town in the United Dutch Provinces to confront a powerful supernatural entity whose existence threatens not only the town's general populace, but perhaps the lives of every man, woman and child on the face of the earth.
Keith B. Thompson kept it interesting throughout the whole novel. At first, a gothic horror feel, it went into a nightmare with action, sword-&-sorcery, and discourse of sin and faith. It wasn’t a black-and-white environment, though in some instances I question why some bad actors are redeemed and others are irredeemable, some removed from the road to hell, others expedited through it. I do like what seems like Biblical renderings of scenes with the characters (pigs possessed and drowned, Abraham stopped from killing his son, Jesus pierced, etc.) but I may have associated two things that aren't. Yada, yada, yada, I look forward to future installments and adventures. The Epilogue definitely made it seem like an ongoing serial could pique my interest for the different monster hunts and human camaraderie.
The Angel of Death versus the Grim Reaper. The Pied Piper and the Potter's Field, among plagued pits, among empty brothels and empty church pews.
A Dutch town plays the night as purse liners and body sellers, masking the day as doctors, reverends, and medaled captains. Rats by any other name. Spanish invaders and German mercenaries are always around the corners but from within the shadows of an eclipse lies the true curse of a plague of rats unmatched.
An interesting cast of characters, first what could be considered the
The imagery and action of this novel is outstanding. The author is descriptive but doesn't slow the pace down. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and can't wait for the next in the series. It seems to me that it would be freaking PERFECT as an audio book. Good job Keith Thompson keep em coming sir.
Keith B. Thompson's The Midnight Watch was a highly enjoyable read that leaves you wanting more, which is a plus since this is the start of a planned series.
The setting and tone are truly the stars, featuring a strong mix of Gothic horror and European locales. It permeates throughout the pages and is one of the story's biggest accomplishments, among a list of many. There's elements of horror, mystery, adventure, and action throughout this vampire-and-monster tale. Often when writers try to blend across genres, the writing can suffer in their weaker areas, but that's not the case for Thompson. I was continuously engaged, often on the edge of my seat, and wondering where Raven's thrilling story would go next.
Don't hesitate to pick up this gem. As the best books often do, it'll transport you right into the thick of an exciting, sometimes gruesome, and memorable page-turner.