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Arkham Horror #17
In the Coils of the Labyrinth
An unnatural terror penetrating our reality preys on the dreams of its victims, in this darkly captivating novel set in the world of Arkham Horror
Professor Miranda Ventham is having bad dreams—nothing new in 1920s Arkham—but hers are horrifying glimpses of a dark future. Now seriously ill, she books herself into the new sanatorium, Stroud Home. With luck, the town's eldritch taint won't reach her there. And yet the nightmares worsen. Aided by her friend, Agatha Crane, they delve into the background of the sanatorium's enigmatic director, Donovan Stroud. Plagued by doubts, delusions, and terrifying visions, Miranda must unravel the shrouded history of the Strouds before she is trapped in a labyrinthine nightmare. Something sinister lurks at its heart, and it longs to be set free.
Professor Miranda Ventham is having bad dreams—nothing new in 1920s Arkham—but hers are horrifying glimpses of a dark future. Now seriously ill, she books herself into the new sanatorium, Stroud Home. With luck, the town's eldritch taint won't reach her there. And yet the nightmares worsen. Aided by her friend, Agatha Crane, they delve into the background of the sanatorium's enigmatic director, Donovan Stroud. Plagued by doubts, delusions, and terrifying visions, Miranda must unravel the shrouded history of the Strouds before she is trapped in a labyrinthine nightmare. Something sinister lurks at its heart, and it longs to be set free.
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Published September 13, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
November 23, 2022
⭐⭐⭐ -- Most excellent cover on this one!
What can i say about this one? I didn't love it. I didn't hate it. On the positive side, it was very atmospheric and creepy. The tuberculosis stuff was well written. On the other hand, it felt like a slog to get through. 🤷🏻♀️
**ARC Via NetGalley**
What can i say about this one? I didn't love it. I didn't hate it. On the positive side, it was very atmospheric and creepy. The tuberculosis stuff was well written. On the other hand, it felt like a slog to get through. 🤷🏻♀️
**ARC Via NetGalley**
February 5, 2023
I read “In the Coils of the Labyrinth” because my husband picked it up from the library on a whim, and it looked like a slim-enough book to tuck into my backpack for air travel. And let’s face it, that cover is absolutely gorgeous. I neither loved nor hated this book. My husband, who is a fan of Lovecraft and knew more about his works and Arkham Horror, enjoyed it and found it to be pretty accurate to the Lovecraft style of writing. There’s an almost dream-like quality to a large portion of it (sometimes literally, with waking nightmares), and a general heavy sense of foreboding. The ending was both a little weird and, oddly, a little anticlimactic. I said as much to my husband and he replied: which was a fair enough point, because objectively that does sound like a shocking conclusion. I’m accepting I probably was just not the target audience for this one.
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October 3, 2022I went back and forth on this one. On one hand, the first half of the book was interesting enough and set the scene very well. I also thought this was interesting because it was based on a board game. The horror scenes were really well done and definitely creeped me out.
However, I feel like this was a missed opportunity. It would have been fantastic as a graphic novel, and I thought it was one prior to reading it.
The second half had so many POVs that it was hard to follow so I had no idea what was going on. Neither did any of the characters. They couldn't articulate what was going on well enough for me to really care about the solution. The characters also fell kind of flat for me.
All in all, interesting premise but wasn't for me. 2.5 🌟
thank you to NetGalley and Aconyte books for this Advanced Readers Copy, this title is available now.
However, I feel like this was a missed opportunity. It would have been fantastic as a graphic novel, and I thought it was one prior to reading it.
The second half had so many POVs that it was hard to follow so I had no idea what was going on. Neither did any of the characters. They couldn't articulate what was going on well enough for me to really care about the solution. The characters also fell kind of flat for me.
All in all, interesting premise but wasn't for me. 2.5 🌟
thank you to NetGalley and Aconyte books for this Advanced Readers Copy, this title is available now.
March 15, 2024
Arkham Horror! In book form! What's not to love? If you don't know Arkham Horror, it's a series of board games and card games (for adults) that are all H.P. Lovecraft world-themed. But wait, will that really adapt itself back into book format, given that it was based on books (ok, ok, stories) to start with? The answer is yes.
I think that this could also be very enjoyable for Lovecraft fans who aren't familiar with the games, since it's not about the games - it's about the world of the games. So you have all of the creeping dread, strange shapes, and other Lovecraftian themes that any Lovecraft fan will enjoy.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC.
I think that this could also be very enjoyable for Lovecraft fans who aren't familiar with the games, since it's not about the games - it's about the world of the games. So you have all of the creeping dread, strange shapes, and other Lovecraftian themes that any Lovecraft fan will enjoy.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC.
November 27, 2025
Another solid Arkham Horror novel!
One of this book’s greatest strengths, in my opinion, is its tone. It follows a professor named Miranda who’s experiencing frequent nightmares, and generally follows a story of unveiling some mystery. That’s got Lovecraft written all over it, but what worked about the tone of the book is how it feels almost light and mundane for much of it, following the professor as she becomes ill and has to be admitted to a sanatorium, getting to know the people there and going through her everyday experience. I love the sense of relative normalcy that’s established through much of the book’s first half, as it gives the tone a relatively pleasant feeling, which I think makes the mysterious and unsettling atmosphere of the second half much more impactful. The mystery that drives the plot is a very intriguing one, essentially being that something seems not quite right about this sanatorium, and as the story goes it becomes quite clear that there’s more going on than what meets the eye. It’s a really interesting plot that ends up building to a solid climax. I loved the dialogue as well, as it does a great job of establishing Miranda’s character, as well as her friend Agatha, alongside the many other cast members.
The main thing that brings this book down just a little for me is actually the climax. It is done well, but to me it felt almost a little bit anticlimactic. All the elements are there for it to land, but something about the way the back half of the book progresses the story just makes it feel a bit unsatisfying. It’s not poorly done necessarily, but I think it should have and could have been much more impactful and terrifying. It’s a great buildup that leads to just a decent end.
Overall, a very enjoyable book that I liked quite a bit, despite its shortcomings in the later portions. I’d certainly recommend it if you want a decent take on Lovecraftian horror with a strong sense of mystery and atmosphere.
Rating: 8.5/10
One of this book’s greatest strengths, in my opinion, is its tone. It follows a professor named Miranda who’s experiencing frequent nightmares, and generally follows a story of unveiling some mystery. That’s got Lovecraft written all over it, but what worked about the tone of the book is how it feels almost light and mundane for much of it, following the professor as she becomes ill and has to be admitted to a sanatorium, getting to know the people there and going through her everyday experience. I love the sense of relative normalcy that’s established through much of the book’s first half, as it gives the tone a relatively pleasant feeling, which I think makes the mysterious and unsettling atmosphere of the second half much more impactful. The mystery that drives the plot is a very intriguing one, essentially being that something seems not quite right about this sanatorium, and as the story goes it becomes quite clear that there’s more going on than what meets the eye. It’s a really interesting plot that ends up building to a solid climax. I loved the dialogue as well, as it does a great job of establishing Miranda’s character, as well as her friend Agatha, alongside the many other cast members.
The main thing that brings this book down just a little for me is actually the climax. It is done well, but to me it felt almost a little bit anticlimactic. All the elements are there for it to land, but something about the way the back half of the book progresses the story just makes it feel a bit unsatisfying. It’s not poorly done necessarily, but I think it should have and could have been much more impactful and terrifying. It’s a great buildup that leads to just a decent end.
Overall, a very enjoyable book that I liked quite a bit, despite its shortcomings in the later portions. I’d certainly recommend it if you want a decent take on Lovecraftian horror with a strong sense of mystery and atmosphere.
Rating: 8.5/10
September 20, 2022
4,5/5 stars (rounded up)
Another book immersed in the 1920's Arkham Horror universe. In this story, you follow Professor Miranda Ventham who unfortunately becomes sick with tuberculosis. She then gets herself into the Stroud Institute in which the treatments sound promising. Her nightmares becoming more frequent and confusing, she gets help from her parapsychologist friend, Agatha Crane. Together, they will try to solve the mystery of the strange things happening in the walls of the Stroud Institute.
I really enjoyed my read. I have not ready any of the other books from this serie and I hadn't heard about the Arkham Horror universe before receiving this arc. I did do a little bit of research on the board game before diving into the book which I'm glad I did.
I think the author really set the tone in this unique universe. With the introduction of the main charactar, Miranda, I was quickly invested in the story. I enjoyed how the author took the time to develop the characters and they were really fun to read. I have to admit that I was expecting a bit more horror from the beginning of the book. I don't feel like the first half was very scray, but the second half definitely made up for it. It kind of reminded me of a "Buffy-the-Vampire-Slayer-End-of-the-World" type of vibe which I really enjoyed. It just took a little while to go into it. The staff and other patients in the Institute were definitely creepy and helped set the thriller tone fo the book. I think the pacing was a bit slow in the first half but it definitely picked up as it went.
I also really enjoyed Agatha's journey and research she did overseas. I think it brought some interesting elements and was really fun to see her character grow and evolve as her journey went on. I was weary at first of how the "healing" part of the tuberculosis was dealt with in the book but it was eventually dealt with. I loved the metephor of the labyrinth that was thouroughly thought of in the book and all the life reflexions it brought up. I thiknk it was a very interesting aspect to add to the book and it brought a little bit more depth to the story.
Overall I really enjoyed the read. It was creepy, it was fun and I was invested in the characters. I would highly recommend this book to fans of historical fiction horror/thriller as well as fans of supernatural phenomenons. This ARC definitely got me interested in reading more books from the Arkham Horror serie.
Thank you to NetGalley and Aconyte for the digital ARC in exchange of an honest review.
Another book immersed in the 1920's Arkham Horror universe. In this story, you follow Professor Miranda Ventham who unfortunately becomes sick with tuberculosis. She then gets herself into the Stroud Institute in which the treatments sound promising. Her nightmares becoming more frequent and confusing, she gets help from her parapsychologist friend, Agatha Crane. Together, they will try to solve the mystery of the strange things happening in the walls of the Stroud Institute.
I really enjoyed my read. I have not ready any of the other books from this serie and I hadn't heard about the Arkham Horror universe before receiving this arc. I did do a little bit of research on the board game before diving into the book which I'm glad I did.
I think the author really set the tone in this unique universe. With the introduction of the main charactar, Miranda, I was quickly invested in the story. I enjoyed how the author took the time to develop the characters and they were really fun to read. I have to admit that I was expecting a bit more horror from the beginning of the book. I don't feel like the first half was very scray, but the second half definitely made up for it. It kind of reminded me of a "Buffy-the-Vampire-Slayer-End-of-the-World" type of vibe which I really enjoyed. It just took a little while to go into it. The staff and other patients in the Institute were definitely creepy and helped set the thriller tone fo the book. I think the pacing was a bit slow in the first half but it definitely picked up as it went.
I also really enjoyed Agatha's journey and research she did overseas. I think it brought some interesting elements and was really fun to see her character grow and evolve as her journey went on. I was weary at first of how the "healing" part of the tuberculosis was dealt with in the book but it was eventually dealt with. I loved the metephor of the labyrinth that was thouroughly thought of in the book and all the life reflexions it brought up. I thiknk it was a very interesting aspect to add to the book and it brought a little bit more depth to the story.
Overall I really enjoyed the read. It was creepy, it was fun and I was invested in the characters. I would highly recommend this book to fans of historical fiction horror/thriller as well as fans of supernatural phenomenons. This ARC definitely got me interested in reading more books from the Arkham Horror serie.
Thank you to NetGalley and Aconyte for the digital ARC in exchange of an honest review.
May 9, 2023
In the Coils of the Labyrinth had so much potential. I really enjoyed the writing style and the way the atmosphere of Arkham was built. I felt like I was in Arkham myself. The first few chapters were really well done and piqued my curiosity. My problem was as the story progressed, things stopped making sense. Sure, the characters had no idea what was happening, which means I had no idea, too. This way, it was hard to even be interested in the outcome because there didn't seem to be a proper build-up. The main characters, Agatha and Miranda, were strong at the start, but they started to become flat as the book progressed. Lastly, the ending was just too convenient. There wasn't any struggle at all.
Overall, this wasn't so bad, but it wasn't good either. 2.5/5 stars!
Overall, this wasn't so bad, but it wasn't good either. 2.5/5 stars!
January 5, 2023
A Slow Burn Horror........................
In The Coils Of The Labyrinth by David Annandale takes you back to Arkham Asylum. Although, the plot is an immersing one, as it caught me right from the beginning. But, by the time I reached the middle of the story, it seemed like ages. I was too disappointed that I had to drag myself to the climax. If I talk about the characters, then they are fantastic. Agatha and Miranda are the pillars of the story. Also, at some points the plot takes an abrupt change which confused me. Maybe the book was not for me.
I would like to give the book 3 stars. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me an opportunity to read and review the book.
Read more on https://bibliophileverse.blogspot.com...
In The Coils Of The Labyrinth by David Annandale takes you back to Arkham Asylum. Although, the plot is an immersing one, as it caught me right from the beginning. But, by the time I reached the middle of the story, it seemed like ages. I was too disappointed that I had to drag myself to the climax. If I talk about the characters, then they are fantastic. Agatha and Miranda are the pillars of the story. Also, at some points the plot takes an abrupt change which confused me. Maybe the book was not for me.
I would like to give the book 3 stars. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me an opportunity to read and review the book.
Read more on https://bibliophileverse.blogspot.com...
February 17, 2024
This was another creepy novel, but rather more creepy than the previous Arkham novel I read. The conceit is that there’s something sinister happening in a tuberculosis sanatorium, which is a neat way to get a lot of the vibes of a psychiatric hospital without risking the negative stereotypes associated with mental illness.
October 4, 2022
Hospitals are pretty scary places, and having to stay in one because you're too sick to get by on your own is probably one of the more frightening experiences that most people will come up against at some point in their lives. So when the hospital you're staying in starts to have strange things happening it it, gives you freaky nightmares, and may be connected to otherworldly beings intent upon the destruction and subjugation of mankind, it's not going to be a fun time.
In the Coils of the Labyrinth isn't your average Arkham Horror title. It's a book that plays things pretty close to its chest for much of the novel, and relies on a more subtle, insidious kind of horror to get under your skin.
It tells the story of Miranda Ventham, a professor at Miskatonic University. She lives alone in her modest apartment, teaches literature, and has a decent, enjoyable life. However, as she begins to grow more and more sick, she has to face the possibility that perhaps she's suffering from more than just a simple cold. When she gets diagnosed with tuberculosis she has the choice of either going to the local hospital, or trying out the new Stroud Insitute, a building that Miranda has watched slowly constructed on a plot of empty land in the middle of the city.
Having heard that patients at the hospital haven't been doing too well, and that the new Stroud Institute has had a few successes with its more unusual methods, Miranda decides to take her chances at the Institute. When she arrives she finds a building that's brand new, but that looks like it's been there for decades or more, ancient and modern at the same time. The interior layout is filled with twists and turns that seem designed to confuse. And she begins to have strange dreams about the place. Whilst she does begin to improve at the Institute, the uneasy feelings she has only intensify when more and more usual stuff starts to happen. Convinced that there's more to the Stroud Institute than there first appears, Miranda becomes determined to get to the bottom of it.
One of the things that this particular story does it capture the strange feeling of being sick. I'm sure we've all had at least one time when we can remember being sick enough that reality seemed to bend and warp around you. Whether it's a fever making patterns on the wall move, being convinced that someone's there to hurt you, or even just being that sick that you think you're going to die. Illness can have horrible effects on the mind. And David Annandale uses this to torment both Miranda and the reader. There are times in this novel where you start to question what you've read. Did that really happen, or was it just Miranda's illness messing with her?
And this is where the book excels, as taking those mundane moments, of living through hospital, of being stuck in your bed for hours at a time, unable to do anything, unable to talk to people, going through the same routines over and over and feeling like nothing is improving, and making them even worse by injecting the paranormal. If it wasn't for the fact that Miranda has a friend in the outside world who's investigating and finding paranormal horrors this story could believable pull a twist where there was nothing wrong at all.
Speaking of her ally, I have to talk a bit about Agatha Crane, her friend and fellow professor at Miskatonic. An expert in parapsychology, Agatha latches onto Miranda's stories of her experiences, having lived in Arkham for years she knows that the city is more than it first appears. Using her ability to actually get around in the real world, Agatha is able to do the legwork that Miranda can't and gets to go off on a particularly great side-adventure that's easily my favourite part of the book.
I won't spoil it too much, but Agatha and her husband, Wilbur, set off on a journey that will take them around the world, investigating ancient sites, and dealing with horrors that can bend and warp reality. They are some of the more tense and action heavy parts of the book, and also have the more overt horror elements, and it's great seeing an older couple getting into adventures and scrapes like that; especially Wilbur who is absolutely not equipped for it, but supports his wife through anything. I would love to see more stories with the two of them involved.
In the Coils of the Labyrinth is a slow, insidious horror that plays more on fears of hospitals and loss of health than having cthulian monsters chasing people down corridors (though there is some of that), and stands out amongst the other entries in the series. It takes risks, and tells a very different kind of story about two women rising up to take on forces beyond their comprehension. It might not be for everyone, it might freak you out a bit too much, but for me, it was a wonderfully twisted reading experience.
In the Coils of the Labyrinth isn't your average Arkham Horror title. It's a book that plays things pretty close to its chest for much of the novel, and relies on a more subtle, insidious kind of horror to get under your skin.
It tells the story of Miranda Ventham, a professor at Miskatonic University. She lives alone in her modest apartment, teaches literature, and has a decent, enjoyable life. However, as she begins to grow more and more sick, she has to face the possibility that perhaps she's suffering from more than just a simple cold. When she gets diagnosed with tuberculosis she has the choice of either going to the local hospital, or trying out the new Stroud Insitute, a building that Miranda has watched slowly constructed on a plot of empty land in the middle of the city.
Having heard that patients at the hospital haven't been doing too well, and that the new Stroud Institute has had a few successes with its more unusual methods, Miranda decides to take her chances at the Institute. When she arrives she finds a building that's brand new, but that looks like it's been there for decades or more, ancient and modern at the same time. The interior layout is filled with twists and turns that seem designed to confuse. And she begins to have strange dreams about the place. Whilst she does begin to improve at the Institute, the uneasy feelings she has only intensify when more and more usual stuff starts to happen. Convinced that there's more to the Stroud Institute than there first appears, Miranda becomes determined to get to the bottom of it.
One of the things that this particular story does it capture the strange feeling of being sick. I'm sure we've all had at least one time when we can remember being sick enough that reality seemed to bend and warp around you. Whether it's a fever making patterns on the wall move, being convinced that someone's there to hurt you, or even just being that sick that you think you're going to die. Illness can have horrible effects on the mind. And David Annandale uses this to torment both Miranda and the reader. There are times in this novel where you start to question what you've read. Did that really happen, or was it just Miranda's illness messing with her?
And this is where the book excels, as taking those mundane moments, of living through hospital, of being stuck in your bed for hours at a time, unable to do anything, unable to talk to people, going through the same routines over and over and feeling like nothing is improving, and making them even worse by injecting the paranormal. If it wasn't for the fact that Miranda has a friend in the outside world who's investigating and finding paranormal horrors this story could believable pull a twist where there was nothing wrong at all.
Speaking of her ally, I have to talk a bit about Agatha Crane, her friend and fellow professor at Miskatonic. An expert in parapsychology, Agatha latches onto Miranda's stories of her experiences, having lived in Arkham for years she knows that the city is more than it first appears. Using her ability to actually get around in the real world, Agatha is able to do the legwork that Miranda can't and gets to go off on a particularly great side-adventure that's easily my favourite part of the book.
I won't spoil it too much, but Agatha and her husband, Wilbur, set off on a journey that will take them around the world, investigating ancient sites, and dealing with horrors that can bend and warp reality. They are some of the more tense and action heavy parts of the book, and also have the more overt horror elements, and it's great seeing an older couple getting into adventures and scrapes like that; especially Wilbur who is absolutely not equipped for it, but supports his wife through anything. I would love to see more stories with the two of them involved.
In the Coils of the Labyrinth is a slow, insidious horror that plays more on fears of hospitals and loss of health than having cthulian monsters chasing people down corridors (though there is some of that), and stands out amongst the other entries in the series. It takes risks, and tells a very different kind of story about two women rising up to take on forces beyond their comprehension. It might not be for everyone, it might freak you out a bit too much, but for me, it was a wonderfully twisted reading experience.
July 11, 2024
2.5/5, right in the middle between good and bad.
This book took me up and down, back and forth, and around in around (Like a labyrinth, hur hur hur) in terms of what I thought of it. I'd just come off 'The Deadly Grimoire', which I regarded as the weakest of the 'Arkham Files' novels (Its weakness borne in not having a single gribbly monster or outer god of any kind in it), so the bar was set suitably low, and I was primed to be entertained.
The prologue was suitably weird and creepy, and put me in the right mood. "Ooh, what's this then eh? What's going on here?" I wondered, as the book described a spooky patch of property people didn't like to go to, and a guy who was being puppet-walked over the edge of a cliff. "I wonder what this is all about!"
Then chapter One rolled around, and the problem I often have with Arkham Files books reared its head: The Characters. They're just... well, a lot of the time they don't feel quite... ...of their time?Here, let me quote from the book:
---
"Miranda?"
She jerked awake and upright, blinking, trying to shrug off the python. It responded by squeezing even harder. Agatha Crane stood in the doorway, frowning with concern.
"Hey," Miranda said. "Sorry."
---
First, for clarification, 'the python' is the metaphorical fatigue she's feeling. That's fine enough. My problem is that Miranda - a professor of, if not elderly age, at least mature age - responds to her friend with 'Hey'.
Maybe this is the nitpickiest of nitpicks, but... Well, it sounds so 'modern', doesn't it? Especially from a lady professor of wise years. I'd expect more of "Oh goodness, sorry dear!" or something more Jessica-Fletcher-ish? I mean, not to be sexist and say old women from old times can't be gruff or terse, but it's a bit of dialogue that so lacks flavor, and feels like something *I* would say, and not a learned woman of the roaring twenties who's been caught day-napping by her friend.
Small things like this peppered the characters and their often curt dialogue. I even heard the phrase "I think that's a cop-out!" in a far later chapter. I'm no historian, and I could be entirely wrong, but saying something is a 'cop-out' just... well, it doesn't really sound very 1920's. I don't need everyone to be 'mugs and dames, ya gosh-darn mug!' But... well, SOMETHING a little more 'of the past'.
Add to this the other problem a lot of Arkham Files characters have, and its that they're HEROES, more than they are are characters. A great deal of time is spent on their inner monologues as they evaluate each and every word and action they take, fact-checking the story for possible flaws that the author is worried a reader might point to, leaping up and saying "AHA! That don't make no sense! Why would a character think that when CLEARLY this has happened in the story that SHOULD make them think otherwise?" It creates this phenomena where characters operate like logic machines- they're never deceived, they're never wrong, they're rarely unsure. Worse still was the constant narrative that the characters had to 'Fight the evil going on in Arkham, because someone has to!' Why not instead fight because your life is in danger? Because people you care about are about to be eaten by an evil god? Why not some far more human motivations, instead of lofty, but logically pure heroic reasonings of "Someone has to do something!"
But, whenever I was in danger of getting terminally bored with the dull, logical characters, the mystery and the creepy bits would sneak up and reel me back in. I found the monstrosity to be quite interesting, at least in a pulpy, big scary-monster kinda way, and its whole deal of labyrinths and hypnotizing people into following the fated paths of their lives was pretty neat. It was a fun concept with some eldritchy ideas that were appropriately Lovecraftian, enough to keep me going all the way to the end.
So, averaged out, I end up with a complete 2.5, right in the middle. Better than others in the Arkham Horror library, but not as good as some.
This book took me up and down, back and forth, and around in around (Like a labyrinth, hur hur hur) in terms of what I thought of it. I'd just come off 'The Deadly Grimoire', which I regarded as the weakest of the 'Arkham Files' novels (Its weakness borne in not having a single gribbly monster or outer god of any kind in it), so the bar was set suitably low, and I was primed to be entertained.
The prologue was suitably weird and creepy, and put me in the right mood. "Ooh, what's this then eh? What's going on here?" I wondered, as the book described a spooky patch of property people didn't like to go to, and a guy who was being puppet-walked over the edge of a cliff. "I wonder what this is all about!"
Then chapter One rolled around, and the problem I often have with Arkham Files books reared its head: The Characters. They're just... well, a lot of the time they don't feel quite... ...of their time?Here, let me quote from the book:
---
"Miranda?"
She jerked awake and upright, blinking, trying to shrug off the python. It responded by squeezing even harder. Agatha Crane stood in the doorway, frowning with concern.
"Hey," Miranda said. "Sorry."
---
First, for clarification, 'the python' is the metaphorical fatigue she's feeling. That's fine enough. My problem is that Miranda - a professor of, if not elderly age, at least mature age - responds to her friend with 'Hey'.
Maybe this is the nitpickiest of nitpicks, but... Well, it sounds so 'modern', doesn't it? Especially from a lady professor of wise years. I'd expect more of "Oh goodness, sorry dear!" or something more Jessica-Fletcher-ish? I mean, not to be sexist and say old women from old times can't be gruff or terse, but it's a bit of dialogue that so lacks flavor, and feels like something *I* would say, and not a learned woman of the roaring twenties who's been caught day-napping by her friend.
Small things like this peppered the characters and their often curt dialogue. I even heard the phrase "I think that's a cop-out!" in a far later chapter. I'm no historian, and I could be entirely wrong, but saying something is a 'cop-out' just... well, it doesn't really sound very 1920's. I don't need everyone to be 'mugs and dames, ya gosh-darn mug!' But... well, SOMETHING a little more 'of the past'.
Add to this the other problem a lot of Arkham Files characters have, and its that they're HEROES, more than they are are characters. A great deal of time is spent on their inner monologues as they evaluate each and every word and action they take, fact-checking the story for possible flaws that the author is worried a reader might point to, leaping up and saying "AHA! That don't make no sense! Why would a character think that when CLEARLY this has happened in the story that SHOULD make them think otherwise?" It creates this phenomena where characters operate like logic machines- they're never deceived, they're never wrong, they're rarely unsure. Worse still was the constant narrative that the characters had to 'Fight the evil going on in Arkham, because someone has to!' Why not instead fight because your life is in danger? Because people you care about are about to be eaten by an evil god? Why not some far more human motivations, instead of lofty, but logically pure heroic reasonings of "Someone has to do something!"
But, whenever I was in danger of getting terminally bored with the dull, logical characters, the mystery and the creepy bits would sneak up and reel me back in. I found the monstrosity to be quite interesting, at least in a pulpy, big scary-monster kinda way, and its whole deal of labyrinths and hypnotizing people into following the fated paths of their lives was pretty neat. It was a fun concept with some eldritchy ideas that were appropriately Lovecraftian, enough to keep me going all the way to the end.
So, averaged out, I end up with a complete 2.5, right in the middle. Better than others in the Arkham Horror library, but not as good as some.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2022
As always I want to start by saying that I was given an ARC of this to review. My review is honest and left voluntarily and all thoughts are my own. Thank you to Aconyte Books and Netgalley for giving me access to this.
I should start this review by stating two facts. First I adore David Annandale’s Marvel Untold Doom books so I was more than a little excited when I saw he had penned an Arkham Horror novel. Second I adore the Arkham Horror game and anything Lovecraft inspired (despite Lovecraft’s failings himself). So I was almost certain I would adore this book. Thankfully I was not wrong.
The novel starts with Professor Miranda Ventham having bad dreams, not a surprise in Arkham, but could they be more than just horrifying nightmares. Soon finding herself seriously ill with Tuberculosis Miranda books herself into the new sanatorium in Arkham, the Stroud Institute. It should be the perfect place to recover from her illness but things seldom go right in Arkham. Soon her nightmares worsen and it is only thanks to the help of Miranda’s friend, Agatha Crane, a parapsychologist, that they have any hope of uncovering the horrifying truth. Not all is as it seems and to find the truth both Miranda and Agatha will have to follow the twists and turns presented to them to find the truth at the centre.
Obviously this book is set in the world of Arkham Horror so of course it has some brilliant horrifying and terrifying moments (I’ll come back to those later) but one thing Annandale did that I personally adored, but can see why some might not, was juxtapose the growing dread and doubts with the, what may be considered, mundane world of the sanitorium. We see the day to day life of what it was actually like on a TB ward, perhaps with some embellishment, in fact Annandale confirms that he was inspired by a memoir of someone who was on a ward themselves. I personally adored this since it grounded the novel in reality and gave it a feeling of something that COULD have happened, even with the added elements of horror. The sections that focus on life on the ward for Miranda I found created a perfect breeding ground for Miranda’s doubts and fears. Hours spent in bed just reading or waiting for check-ups, fellow patients whom could either be friends or enemies (or at least make the stay unpleasant) and nurses who seem to impose rules with an iron fist. For me it all made the story that much more tense as we start to almost wonder with Miranda if something is happening or it is all in her mind because of the conditions of the ward.
On the other side to this we have Agatha’s side of the story. Seeing her do field work that Miranda cannot due to her illness. As a quick aside I want to add that Wilbur Crane is probably one of my favourite side characters and a brilliant husband figure, I absolutely adored him and his devotion to Agatha as well as his rather brilliant acceptance of life in Arkham, everybody needs a Wilbur! But back to Agatha, while Miranda is suffering nightmares and twisting hallways of the institute Agatha has her own horrors to deal with. Now as always I do not like spoiling the novel but there is a bit that really did terrify me. Partly because of the superb suspense and writing of Annandale and partly because of the location this scene took place at. It was superb even if it did make me uncomfortable.
Again, not wishing to spoil the novel too much, I adored the tie in to Miranda’s lectures and specialism, Romanticism (a favourite of mine too), to the plot. I am sure it was intentional but it perfectly made The Coils of the Labyrinth come full circle with everything seemingly making a connection one way or another.
All in all this is another fantastic entry to the Aconyte Books Arkham Horror novels. I honestly adored every bit of it. They’ve done it again, but at this point I’m not even surprised!
I should start this review by stating two facts. First I adore David Annandale’s Marvel Untold Doom books so I was more than a little excited when I saw he had penned an Arkham Horror novel. Second I adore the Arkham Horror game and anything Lovecraft inspired (despite Lovecraft’s failings himself). So I was almost certain I would adore this book. Thankfully I was not wrong.
The novel starts with Professor Miranda Ventham having bad dreams, not a surprise in Arkham, but could they be more than just horrifying nightmares. Soon finding herself seriously ill with Tuberculosis Miranda books herself into the new sanatorium in Arkham, the Stroud Institute. It should be the perfect place to recover from her illness but things seldom go right in Arkham. Soon her nightmares worsen and it is only thanks to the help of Miranda’s friend, Agatha Crane, a parapsychologist, that they have any hope of uncovering the horrifying truth. Not all is as it seems and to find the truth both Miranda and Agatha will have to follow the twists and turns presented to them to find the truth at the centre.
Obviously this book is set in the world of Arkham Horror so of course it has some brilliant horrifying and terrifying moments (I’ll come back to those later) but one thing Annandale did that I personally adored, but can see why some might not, was juxtapose the growing dread and doubts with the, what may be considered, mundane world of the sanitorium. We see the day to day life of what it was actually like on a TB ward, perhaps with some embellishment, in fact Annandale confirms that he was inspired by a memoir of someone who was on a ward themselves. I personally adored this since it grounded the novel in reality and gave it a feeling of something that COULD have happened, even with the added elements of horror. The sections that focus on life on the ward for Miranda I found created a perfect breeding ground for Miranda’s doubts and fears. Hours spent in bed just reading or waiting for check-ups, fellow patients whom could either be friends or enemies (or at least make the stay unpleasant) and nurses who seem to impose rules with an iron fist. For me it all made the story that much more tense as we start to almost wonder with Miranda if something is happening or it is all in her mind because of the conditions of the ward.
On the other side to this we have Agatha’s side of the story. Seeing her do field work that Miranda cannot due to her illness. As a quick aside I want to add that Wilbur Crane is probably one of my favourite side characters and a brilliant husband figure, I absolutely adored him and his devotion to Agatha as well as his rather brilliant acceptance of life in Arkham, everybody needs a Wilbur! But back to Agatha, while Miranda is suffering nightmares and twisting hallways of the institute Agatha has her own horrors to deal with. Now as always I do not like spoiling the novel but there is a bit that really did terrify me. Partly because of the superb suspense and writing of Annandale and partly because of the location this scene took place at. It was superb even if it did make me uncomfortable.
Again, not wishing to spoil the novel too much, I adored the tie in to Miranda’s lectures and specialism, Romanticism (a favourite of mine too), to the plot. I am sure it was intentional but it perfectly made The Coils of the Labyrinth come full circle with everything seemingly making a connection one way or another.
All in all this is another fantastic entry to the Aconyte Books Arkham Horror novels. I honestly adored every bit of it. They’ve done it again, but at this point I’m not even surprised!
August 28, 2022
My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Aconyte Books for an advanced copy of a novel set in the world of the game Arkham Horror.
Horror stories are unique in that well outside of unkillable maniacs with sharpened kitchen accessories, much that bothers us in the normal world can be turned against us in stories of the macabre. The dark, the strange, the odd, the different and the oddly different. Long hallways in strange institutions that go forever. The health of ourselves or loved ones, suddenly without insurance, or being only one cough away from leaving this mortal coil. Or even the fear of something coiling around us, dragging us down, being social media, political discourse or something much, much worse. David Annandale author of In the Coils of the Labyrinth: An Arkham Horror Novel, based on the popular board and card game, has written a story that will leave readers gasping for breath, and looking a little more closely at the paths that one takes everyday.
Miranda Ventham, a professor at Miskatonic University, whose subject is writers of the Romantic era, is having both problems sleeping and breathing. Miranda's nights are filled with horrible dreams of bleak futures, and dark creatures, while dealing with tuberculosis, a disease that leaves her fighting for breath and exhausted. Living in the town of Arkham she is fortunate that a new sanatorium the Stroud Institute has just opened, offering novel treatments and care for those suffering from the disease that killed so many in the early part of the century when this is set. Miranda finds herself slightly better, but off. The building and hallways don't make sense, the treatments are getting odder, and while some patients leave healthy, others just disappear. With the help of her friend Agatha Crane, a parapsychologist, Miranda must gather her strength and her wits to defeat the dark forces that surround her and the strange director of the hospital who has taken an unhealthy interest in Miranda.
A creepy story, very atmospheric and dark from those things that are unseen and undiscussed. Plus there is mention of a sickness that makes one cough constantly and exhausts a person, so enjoyed the topical reference. The horror is both real, but more psychological, Miranda is sick, and she can not tell if what she is feeling is from her mind or the evil that is around here. Annandale is a very good writer, with a good grasp of how to keep a story moving, and yet letting it breath, giving the story time to develop, and the characters too. Also the main characters are all women, which is rare, but something that I have found in most books by this publisher, and something I quite enjoy. A spooky tale, told well.
I've enjoyed everything that I have read in this series, and how they all draw on different ideas of horror to scare and entertain. I particularly like the author as his book series featuring Doctor Doom by this same publisher are some of the best characterizations of Doom since Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. I enjoy this series and can't wait for more, nor can I wait for more books by David Annandale.
Horror stories are unique in that well outside of unkillable maniacs with sharpened kitchen accessories, much that bothers us in the normal world can be turned against us in stories of the macabre. The dark, the strange, the odd, the different and the oddly different. Long hallways in strange institutions that go forever. The health of ourselves or loved ones, suddenly without insurance, or being only one cough away from leaving this mortal coil. Or even the fear of something coiling around us, dragging us down, being social media, political discourse or something much, much worse. David Annandale author of In the Coils of the Labyrinth: An Arkham Horror Novel, based on the popular board and card game, has written a story that will leave readers gasping for breath, and looking a little more closely at the paths that one takes everyday.
Miranda Ventham, a professor at Miskatonic University, whose subject is writers of the Romantic era, is having both problems sleeping and breathing. Miranda's nights are filled with horrible dreams of bleak futures, and dark creatures, while dealing with tuberculosis, a disease that leaves her fighting for breath and exhausted. Living in the town of Arkham she is fortunate that a new sanatorium the Stroud Institute has just opened, offering novel treatments and care for those suffering from the disease that killed so many in the early part of the century when this is set. Miranda finds herself slightly better, but off. The building and hallways don't make sense, the treatments are getting odder, and while some patients leave healthy, others just disappear. With the help of her friend Agatha Crane, a parapsychologist, Miranda must gather her strength and her wits to defeat the dark forces that surround her and the strange director of the hospital who has taken an unhealthy interest in Miranda.
A creepy story, very atmospheric and dark from those things that are unseen and undiscussed. Plus there is mention of a sickness that makes one cough constantly and exhausts a person, so enjoyed the topical reference. The horror is both real, but more psychological, Miranda is sick, and she can not tell if what she is feeling is from her mind or the evil that is around here. Annandale is a very good writer, with a good grasp of how to keep a story moving, and yet letting it breath, giving the story time to develop, and the characters too. Also the main characters are all women, which is rare, but something that I have found in most books by this publisher, and something I quite enjoy. A spooky tale, told well.
I've enjoyed everything that I have read in this series, and how they all draw on different ideas of horror to scare and entertain. I particularly like the author as his book series featuring Doctor Doom by this same publisher are some of the best characterizations of Doom since Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. I enjoy this series and can't wait for more, nor can I wait for more books by David Annandale.
May 22, 2023
I have been provided with an advance copy of the new Arkham Horror book In the Coils of the Labyrinth by David Annadale, published by Aconyte Books, so here is the honest review I promised in exchange for the book.
So here is an important disclaimer which is always important to put out there first. I have a casual work contact with Asmodee to demonstrate board games for them in stores and at conventions. Asmodee being the parent company of Aconyte the publisher.
I am going to try my best to not let that cloud my judgement in this review, but I accept that subconsciously it might.
What is Arkham Horror
Anyway that put to one side, let’s look at this book, by first looking at the game Arkham Horror which is a cooperative game, originally designed by Richard Launius, and is now in its third edition which was released in 2019.
It’s published by Fantasy Flight Games, a subsidiary of Asmodee, and is set in 1926 in the town of Arkham, Massachusetts. Each player takes on the role of an investigator, who are working to stop the Ancient Ones, eldritch horrors which lurk in the void beyond space and time.
It’s a 1-6 player game and you work together to gather clues and defeat the evil of the Ancient Ones and save the world.
As I said I haven’t actually played Arkham Horror but I do own its spin off Elder Sign the cooperative dice game.
The Story
In this story we find Professor Miranda Ventham, seriously ill with TB as she books herself into the Stroud Institute, a new sanatorium with a new modern way to treat the disease and heal the patients of Arkham.
But dreams, bad dreams plague Miranda, and she cannot quite shake the feeling that something is wrong, deeply wrong with the Stroud Institute, especially with its mysterious director, Donovan Stroud.
With help from her friend, the parapsycholist Agatha Crane, they work to unravel the mystery of the Stroud Institute, in an investigation that takes them from Arkham, to Scotland and into the heart of the mysterious labyrinth, and the sinister secrets it holds, that is longing to be set free.
Conclusion
This is a subtle book, there aren't many cultists or monsters as with most Arkham Horror books, but a look at the blurring between dreams and reality with a smattering of Romantic poetry and a look at 1920s health care.
I have been very critical in the past of David Annadales books, but I must admit his Arkham Horror stuff is very good, in fact its probably his strongest stuff and this shows off what he does well, brilliantly. Its a subtle type of horror, almost insidious and it feels like its getting under your skin.
For me this book feels like an idea way to get into the Arkham Horror series, its not too in depth, but touches on and introduces key concepts in the series and the wider Lovecraft mythos is a way that is very apporachable.
The protagonists are really rather good, and I hope to see their further adventures in the future.
One negative, that very nearly had me give up right at the beginning, the prologue is set in Scotland and the local priest is involved, and the locals refer to him as a Vicar, and that annoyed me, because there is not a chance in hell a Scotsman in any day or age will use that word for a priest, and it did destroy any chance of immersion in that prologue and made me feel like the book was going to have been very poorly researched. It just felt lazy, so please rectify that for the next printing, that needs changing to minister, or rector.
But the thing is, the book is incredible well researched, I found myself checking things about the treatment of TB and yeah, they really did stuff like that, so gah, why do I let myself get obsessed over little things like that!
Regardless of that tiny issue, I really loved this book, incredibly good story and its so well written and flows really well.
4 out of 5 stars!
So here is an important disclaimer which is always important to put out there first. I have a casual work contact with Asmodee to demonstrate board games for them in stores and at conventions. Asmodee being the parent company of Aconyte the publisher.
I am going to try my best to not let that cloud my judgement in this review, but I accept that subconsciously it might.
What is Arkham Horror
Anyway that put to one side, let’s look at this book, by first looking at the game Arkham Horror which is a cooperative game, originally designed by Richard Launius, and is now in its third edition which was released in 2019.
It’s published by Fantasy Flight Games, a subsidiary of Asmodee, and is set in 1926 in the town of Arkham, Massachusetts. Each player takes on the role of an investigator, who are working to stop the Ancient Ones, eldritch horrors which lurk in the void beyond space and time.
It’s a 1-6 player game and you work together to gather clues and defeat the evil of the Ancient Ones and save the world.
As I said I haven’t actually played Arkham Horror but I do own its spin off Elder Sign the cooperative dice game.
The Story
In this story we find Professor Miranda Ventham, seriously ill with TB as she books herself into the Stroud Institute, a new sanatorium with a new modern way to treat the disease and heal the patients of Arkham.
But dreams, bad dreams plague Miranda, and she cannot quite shake the feeling that something is wrong, deeply wrong with the Stroud Institute, especially with its mysterious director, Donovan Stroud.
With help from her friend, the parapsycholist Agatha Crane, they work to unravel the mystery of the Stroud Institute, in an investigation that takes them from Arkham, to Scotland and into the heart of the mysterious labyrinth, and the sinister secrets it holds, that is longing to be set free.
Conclusion
This is a subtle book, there aren't many cultists or monsters as with most Arkham Horror books, but a look at the blurring between dreams and reality with a smattering of Romantic poetry and a look at 1920s health care.
I have been very critical in the past of David Annadales books, but I must admit his Arkham Horror stuff is very good, in fact its probably his strongest stuff and this shows off what he does well, brilliantly. Its a subtle type of horror, almost insidious and it feels like its getting under your skin.
For me this book feels like an idea way to get into the Arkham Horror series, its not too in depth, but touches on and introduces key concepts in the series and the wider Lovecraft mythos is a way that is very apporachable.
The protagonists are really rather good, and I hope to see their further adventures in the future.
One negative, that very nearly had me give up right at the beginning, the prologue is set in Scotland and the local priest is involved, and the locals refer to him as a Vicar, and that annoyed me, because there is not a chance in hell a Scotsman in any day or age will use that word for a priest, and it did destroy any chance of immersion in that prologue and made me feel like the book was going to have been very poorly researched. It just felt lazy, so please rectify that for the next printing, that needs changing to minister, or rector.
But the thing is, the book is incredible well researched, I found myself checking things about the treatment of TB and yeah, they really did stuff like that, so gah, why do I let myself get obsessed over little things like that!
Regardless of that tiny issue, I really loved this book, incredibly good story and its so well written and flows really well.
4 out of 5 stars!
September 14, 2022
Rating:
4 out of 5 stars
Summary:
Miranda and Agatha both work at university when Miranda falls ill. She is diagnosed with TB and needs to go to a sanatorium. A new one just happened to have opened in town, so that’s a great opportunity, right? Agatha brings her and they talk for a while in her new room, but then the time has come that Agatha needs to leave and Miranda is left behind. It feels as if the hallways are not linear, but that’s probably the fatigue… right?
More and more odd events happen at the sanatorium and both women don’t trust it. Agatha, who is parapsychologist, starts to do some research, because something just doesn’t add up here…
What the hell is going on here and will they solve it in time?
Review
The book is divided into three parts and each part shows a different state of the sanatorium and the people in it. We get to see most of the events through Miranda’s perspective, but sometimes also Agatha’s and seldom one of the other patients’. I like this alternation between perspectives, because it gives you an insight in different parts of the story. However, it is at times a bit confusing that he perspective shifts, because it also happens in the middle of a chapter and is not announced.
The chapters, then, are fairly short, which is great when you want to read for shorter periods of time as well (f.i. when waiting for the bus). You can literally pick up the novel anytime for a few minutes.
Lastly, before I start talking about the plot, this was definitely a cover-pick. LOOK AT IT, IT’S BEAUTIFUL. AND A GREAT STORY. WIN-WIN.
First thing I really like about the plot is the fact that the women are portrayed as very strong, powerful, independent and daring and the men as more scared and reserved. The women carry the story and know what to do. The leader of the so-called cult is a man with a female assistant, which is unfortunate in the feminist reading, but it doesn’t end well for him, so that makes up for it.
I also think that the characters are well-written, since they really have their own personalities and background stories and it feels as if they are real human beings. It makes the story that much more real and you can easier forget you’re reading.
The world is very well written as well. The descriptions are lively and really makes you think about the world as Miranda experiences it. Is the sanatorium build ‘correctly’ or is there really something wrong?
The only thing I didn’t quite like was the fact that the novel was labelled as ‘horror’, whereas I thought it was more a thriller or a psychological novel. Sure, there were some aspects that were gross and suspenseful, but it definitely wasn’t that scary.
Conclusion:
I really recommend this book, especially now we’re nearing spooky season! It’s a great novel with a suspenseful atmosphere and some mind-twisting concepts. It’s well-written and it has well-developed characters, not to mention the world-building!
4 out of 5 stars
Summary:
Miranda and Agatha both work at university when Miranda falls ill. She is diagnosed with TB and needs to go to a sanatorium. A new one just happened to have opened in town, so that’s a great opportunity, right? Agatha brings her and they talk for a while in her new room, but then the time has come that Agatha needs to leave and Miranda is left behind. It feels as if the hallways are not linear, but that’s probably the fatigue… right?
More and more odd events happen at the sanatorium and both women don’t trust it. Agatha, who is parapsychologist, starts to do some research, because something just doesn’t add up here…
What the hell is going on here and will they solve it in time?
Review
The book is divided into three parts and each part shows a different state of the sanatorium and the people in it. We get to see most of the events through Miranda’s perspective, but sometimes also Agatha’s and seldom one of the other patients’. I like this alternation between perspectives, because it gives you an insight in different parts of the story. However, it is at times a bit confusing that he perspective shifts, because it also happens in the middle of a chapter and is not announced.
The chapters, then, are fairly short, which is great when you want to read for shorter periods of time as well (f.i. when waiting for the bus). You can literally pick up the novel anytime for a few minutes.
Lastly, before I start talking about the plot, this was definitely a cover-pick. LOOK AT IT, IT’S BEAUTIFUL. AND A GREAT STORY. WIN-WIN.
First thing I really like about the plot is the fact that the women are portrayed as very strong, powerful, independent and daring and the men as more scared and reserved. The women carry the story and know what to do. The leader of the so-called cult is a man with a female assistant, which is unfortunate in the feminist reading, but it doesn’t end well for him, so that makes up for it.
I also think that the characters are well-written, since they really have their own personalities and background stories and it feels as if they are real human beings. It makes the story that much more real and you can easier forget you’re reading.
The world is very well written as well. The descriptions are lively and really makes you think about the world as Miranda experiences it. Is the sanatorium build ‘correctly’ or is there really something wrong?
The only thing I didn’t quite like was the fact that the novel was labelled as ‘horror’, whereas I thought it was more a thriller or a psychological novel. Sure, there were some aspects that were gross and suspenseful, but it definitely wasn’t that scary.
Conclusion:
I really recommend this book, especially now we’re nearing spooky season! It’s a great novel with a suspenseful atmosphere and some mind-twisting concepts. It’s well-written and it has well-developed characters, not to mention the world-building!
November 2, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley and Aconyte Books for the advanced copy. It is part of the Arkham Horror series, but that series is more a universe and not necessarily books with shared characters or cross-book plots. This one can be read as a standalone.
This book definitely caught me at just the right time, but it also just hit all of its beats, achieved what it set out to do, and did it well, so don't think I'm rating it 5 stars just because I was in the perfect mood for Lovecraftian horror. Though it really was a perfect read for my Halloween weekend this year, especially with me running my seasonal Call of Cthulhu game for the holiday.
For those who are unaware the Arkham Horror books, while obviously inspired by and derivative of the works of HP Lovecraft, are more specifically within the universe of Chaosium's tabletop role-playing game (think Dungeons & Dragons), Call of Cthulhu. Lovecraftian/cosmic horror is one of my favorite genres, especially in the hands of modern writers who eschew Lovecraft's barely disguised bigoted metaphors and euphemisms.
In the Coils of the Labyrinth, set in 1920s Arkham, Massachusetts, consists of a cast of mainly female characters. The main protagonist, Miranda Ventham, is a professor of literature (mainly romanticism) at Miskatonic University. Her BFF is a mid 60s parapsychologist, Agatha Crane, who is actually quite the badass. Miranda spends most of the novel holed up in a sanitarium for suffering tuberculosis, in a mindfunk. Occasionally she has moments of brightness, seen mainly in her conversations with Agatha or with the (human) antagonist, Donovan Stroud. It gets frustrating being inside her head so much, which actually works with Annandale's plot. Still, I liked Agatha better and wanted more of her lol Even the side characters were fascinating though!
The antagonist, Stroud, is mostly boring, and even a little sympathetic. The actual protagonist was genuinely terrifying though. I like that nowhere and nothing is safe, which is what I always found to be the most terrifying thing about Lovecraft's monsters.
This was a fun little read, very quick and enjoyable and scary. David Annandale is a great writer, and I look forward to checking out more of his work (and I hope he writes another Arkham Horror novel and brings back Agatha!).
This book definitely caught me at just the right time, but it also just hit all of its beats, achieved what it set out to do, and did it well, so don't think I'm rating it 5 stars just because I was in the perfect mood for Lovecraftian horror. Though it really was a perfect read for my Halloween weekend this year, especially with me running my seasonal Call of Cthulhu game for the holiday.
For those who are unaware the Arkham Horror books, while obviously inspired by and derivative of the works of HP Lovecraft, are more specifically within the universe of Chaosium's tabletop role-playing game (think Dungeons & Dragons), Call of Cthulhu. Lovecraftian/cosmic horror is one of my favorite genres, especially in the hands of modern writers who eschew Lovecraft's barely disguised bigoted metaphors and euphemisms.
In the Coils of the Labyrinth, set in 1920s Arkham, Massachusetts, consists of a cast of mainly female characters. The main protagonist, Miranda Ventham, is a professor of literature (mainly romanticism) at Miskatonic University. Her BFF is a mid 60s parapsychologist, Agatha Crane, who is actually quite the badass. Miranda spends most of the novel holed up in a sanitarium for suffering tuberculosis, in a mindfunk. Occasionally she has moments of brightness, seen mainly in her conversations with Agatha or with the (human) antagonist, Donovan Stroud. It gets frustrating being inside her head so much, which actually works with Annandale's plot. Still, I liked Agatha better and wanted more of her lol Even the side characters were fascinating though!
The antagonist, Stroud, is mostly boring, and even a little sympathetic. The actual protagonist was genuinely terrifying though. I like that nowhere and nothing is safe, which is what I always found to be the most terrifying thing about Lovecraft's monsters.
This was a fun little read, very quick and enjoyable and scary. David Annandale is a great writer, and I look forward to checking out more of his work (and I hope he writes another Arkham Horror novel and brings back Agatha!).
August 8, 2022
As a board gamer whose favorite board game is Eldritch Horror (part of the Arkham Horror universe) I really love these tie-in novels. Seeing the characters that I love to play as take part in adventures that I get to read is a real joy.
In the Coils of the Labyrinth by David Annandale is a bit of a deviation from the rest of the Arkham Horror novels that I've read so far. This one starts out a bit gothic and then veers back over in the cosmic horror genre. I really loved that. Plus one of my favorite settings for horror is in hospital/insane asylum/sanitorium.
The book opens with Professor Miranda Ventham suffering from tuberculosis and moving into the Stroud Institute, the new sanitorium in Arkham. Her friend and fellow professor (and playable character in Arkham and Eldritch Horror) Agatha Crane is Miranda's main source of support through the course of the book.
When Miranda starts to have visions and feels the growing dread that something is off about the newly built Stroud Institute, Agatha does research into the history of the Stroud family, turning over every stone she comes across, including traveling to Scotland (the ancestral seat of the family) to help solve the growing mystery of the sanitorium.
This book was a ton of fun. I loved reading this one. I really loved the gothic vibes when Miranda first comes to the institute and the growing dread she feels. I really would encourage anyone with an interest in Lovecraft, spooky gothic hospital horror, or a good mystery to read this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Aconyte Books for providing me with a free eARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
In the Coils of the Labyrinth by David Annandale is a bit of a deviation from the rest of the Arkham Horror novels that I've read so far. This one starts out a bit gothic and then veers back over in the cosmic horror genre. I really loved that. Plus one of my favorite settings for horror is in hospital/insane asylum/sanitorium.
The book opens with Professor Miranda Ventham suffering from tuberculosis and moving into the Stroud Institute, the new sanitorium in Arkham. Her friend and fellow professor (and playable character in Arkham and Eldritch Horror) Agatha Crane is Miranda's main source of support through the course of the book.
When Miranda starts to have visions and feels the growing dread that something is off about the newly built Stroud Institute, Agatha does research into the history of the Stroud family, turning over every stone she comes across, including traveling to Scotland (the ancestral seat of the family) to help solve the growing mystery of the sanitorium.
This book was a ton of fun. I loved reading this one. I really loved the gothic vibes when Miranda first comes to the institute and the growing dread she feels. I really would encourage anyone with an interest in Lovecraft, spooky gothic hospital horror, or a good mystery to read this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Aconyte Books for providing me with a free eARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
March 28, 2023
Another winner from the Aconyte Arkham series, this was an absolute pleasure to read. Well, perhaps pleasure isn't the right word...
Rather than some of the other recent novels in this series, this book stays mostly in the town of Arkham itself. Because in Arkham, people have a habit of going a bit mad sometimes. Most residents seem to take it in stride, but a new doctor has set up a special clinic that aims to help where others have not.
I don't want to give much more away, but we follow the adventures of two wonderful strong female protagonists - both academics of A Certain Age, so definitely not your typical heroines! One is investigating why patients in the clinic keep vanishing, why the dimensions of corridors seem to change daily, and what exactly is going on at the centre of the building. The other travels to explore the history of the doctor himself, venturing into a remote community with a broken-down stately home that harbours monsters.
This is 100% gothic Lovecraftian gorgeousness, and I sped through it because I really could not put it down. As the story progresses, the reader feels as if they're caught in the labyrinth as well, twisting and turning beyond the physical, with smart heroines determined to save themselves (and the world, natch) while everything conspires to stop them.
I love David Annandale's writing, and am watching for his next books eagerly. Meantime, this is definitely recommended, and I hope these characters return.
Rather than some of the other recent novels in this series, this book stays mostly in the town of Arkham itself. Because in Arkham, people have a habit of going a bit mad sometimes. Most residents seem to take it in stride, but a new doctor has set up a special clinic that aims to help where others have not.
I don't want to give much more away, but we follow the adventures of two wonderful strong female protagonists - both academics of A Certain Age, so definitely not your typical heroines! One is investigating why patients in the clinic keep vanishing, why the dimensions of corridors seem to change daily, and what exactly is going on at the centre of the building. The other travels to explore the history of the doctor himself, venturing into a remote community with a broken-down stately home that harbours monsters.
This is 100% gothic Lovecraftian gorgeousness, and I sped through it because I really could not put it down. As the story progresses, the reader feels as if they're caught in the labyrinth as well, twisting and turning beyond the physical, with smart heroines determined to save themselves (and the world, natch) while everything conspires to stop them.
I love David Annandale's writing, and am watching for his next books eagerly. Meantime, this is definitely recommended, and I hope these characters return.
October 20, 2022
To be short., I wanted to like this and didn’t. It takes place in a long line of Arkham books based on H.P. Lovecraft’s works and the game. I think this is the 17th book.
I’m not a fan. I didn’t like the characters. I just couldn’t get into their lives, I didn’t care. Then there’s the fact that the mystery element of the story, while well done, slogs. IT takes up so much time. I just got bored.
It takes place in an asylum but it isn’t the standard horror in an asylum fare and I just wanted to enjoy it. It feels like the way the plot is constructed and plays out gets in the way of actually enjoying it which was a disappointment.
I love seeing what other author’s do with Lovecraft’s work given his horribly racist self and the way it shows in his work. If I want to continue that, I think I’ll just read books by people he was racist against because the way they handle it is deft and beautiful and this, unfortunately, was not.
I give i a two (2) out of five (5).
I received this eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to them and the publisher.
I’m not a fan. I didn’t like the characters. I just couldn’t get into their lives, I didn’t care. Then there’s the fact that the mystery element of the story, while well done, slogs. IT takes up so much time. I just got bored.
It takes place in an asylum but it isn’t the standard horror in an asylum fare and I just wanted to enjoy it. It feels like the way the plot is constructed and plays out gets in the way of actually enjoying it which was a disappointment.
I love seeing what other author’s do with Lovecraft’s work given his horribly racist self and the way it shows in his work. If I want to continue that, I think I’ll just read books by people he was racist against because the way they handle it is deft and beautiful and this, unfortunately, was not.
I give i a two (2) out of five (5).
I received this eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to them and the publisher.
August 8, 2022
In the Coils of the Labyrinth is the latest release (#17) in the novel series based on the Arkham Horror board and card game - which is loosely set in fictional world of 1920s era H.P. Lovecraft.
Like many readers in the horror genre, the chance to explore new stories inspired by Lovecraft's world is an exciting one and this story, which tells the tale of a group of tuberculosis patients who uncover the hidden secrets of a dark Labyrinth at an old Sanatorium at which they are being treated, is ripe for this world.
Unfortunately, it's a tale that never gets out of second gear. Annandale does a good job driving the mystery element of the story but the detective heavy plot line unravels at too slow a pace and the otherworldly horrors seem Lovecraft-lite when they finally appear.
Admittedly, I haven't read any of the other books in this series but it felt a little too paint by the numbers for my liking without any strong characters to latch onto.
Like many readers in the horror genre, the chance to explore new stories inspired by Lovecraft's world is an exciting one and this story, which tells the tale of a group of tuberculosis patients who uncover the hidden secrets of a dark Labyrinth at an old Sanatorium at which they are being treated, is ripe for this world.
Unfortunately, it's a tale that never gets out of second gear. Annandale does a good job driving the mystery element of the story but the detective heavy plot line unravels at too slow a pace and the otherworldly horrors seem Lovecraft-lite when they finally appear.
Admittedly, I haven't read any of the other books in this series but it felt a little too paint by the numbers for my liking without any strong characters to latch onto.
August 6, 2022
This is my fourth arkham horror book I have read and this one tops the other 3 I have read in the past, this one deffo has a terrifying vibe throughout and has you guessing on what has happened to the patients that have went missing or presumed dead by the nurses.
From everything that has been happening in arkham this one tops them all until a read the rest, a mean a wasn't expecting half of the things that were written in this book, but my god it was so wonderfully written and I am not complaining at all I loved it.
The characters were amazing throughout the book especially Agatha wanting to protect her friend and husband from the beast that lurked within the institute and by the crazy dude Donovan.
I am sad that I have now finished this one but all a can say is, what next arkham read is going to be terrifying to read so that I won't be able to sleep at night.
From everything that has been happening in arkham this one tops them all until a read the rest, a mean a wasn't expecting half of the things that were written in this book, but my god it was so wonderfully written and I am not complaining at all I loved it.
The characters were amazing throughout the book especially Agatha wanting to protect her friend and husband from the beast that lurked within the institute and by the crazy dude Donovan.
I am sad that I have now finished this one but all a can say is, what next arkham read is going to be terrifying to read so that I won't be able to sleep at night.
July 30, 2022
This story is set in the world of "Arkham Horror", but the reader doesn't need to be at all familiar with that board game in order to enjoy the tale. Some feeling for H.P. Lovecraft's signature approach to eldritch horror is a plus, though, because this book's thrills turn on Annandale's keen ability to capture and channel the terror that exists on the other side of the veil. This was a fine and satisfying, and exceptionally well written, contribution to the Arkham mythos.
(Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
(Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
August 30, 2022
Another lovecraftian and cosmic horror filled story from Arkham Horror.
This was set in a Tuberculosis Sanatorium, which would have had me from the beginning. Sanatoriums are scary just because of the real life horror. Adding in a monster from another plane of existence is just the cherry on top.
Miranda and Agatha were lovely heroines and their friendship and fight against the evil of the Stroud Institute was engaging and I couldn’t wait to see that they’d uncover next. Of course they were both professors at Miskatonic University. I love all of the lore taking from HP Lovecraft but also the original story!
Dark Academia meets Lovecraft in this tale of friendship, doubt and monsters. I’ll be requesting more from Arkham Horror and David Annandale.
This was set in a Tuberculosis Sanatorium, which would have had me from the beginning. Sanatoriums are scary just because of the real life horror. Adding in a monster from another plane of existence is just the cherry on top.
Miranda and Agatha were lovely heroines and their friendship and fight against the evil of the Stroud Institute was engaging and I couldn’t wait to see that they’d uncover next. Of course they were both professors at Miskatonic University. I love all of the lore taking from HP Lovecraft but also the original story!
Dark Academia meets Lovecraft in this tale of friendship, doubt and monsters. I’ll be requesting more from Arkham Horror and David Annandale.
September 11, 2022
As with all of the Arkham Horror series this is set in the 1920s and loosely based on Lovecraftian horror. Lovecraft was a horrible racists so I love to see diversity set in his universe. This follows a woman, Professor Miranda Ventham, who has TB and she must go to a sanatorium to recover.
A horror set in a 1920s sanatorium is pretty much a recipe for success in my book but this isn't your typical "tortured by the horrible staff" kind of sanatorium. This one is actually pretty nice if you ignore evil god creating being summoned to destroy the universe.
I recommend if you like your horror mixed with a little mystery solving, a 1920s setting, and creepy worm vibes.
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley. I was not required to leave this review.
A horror set in a 1920s sanatorium is pretty much a recipe for success in my book but this isn't your typical "tortured by the horrible staff" kind of sanatorium. This one is actually pretty nice if you ignore evil god creating being summoned to destroy the universe.
I recommend if you like your horror mixed with a little mystery solving, a 1920s setting, and creepy worm vibes.
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley. I was not required to leave this review.
November 27, 2022
In the Coils of the Labyrinth is high suspense at its best. Miranda’s mind is very sharp and she is very aware of the danger around her. But her body is its own prison. The frustration she feels at her limitations and the ever-increasing pace of events around her creates a terrifying situation for her and us.
David Annandale’s thriller checks all the boxes for me. There are well-written, interesting characters. They get into all manner of bad situations that run the gambit from disquieting to terrifying. There is an ultimate evil that needs defeating and the stakes are high for not just the main characters but the entire world.
Read the full review at: https://www.thecosmiccircus.com/revie...
David Annandale’s thriller checks all the boxes for me. There are well-written, interesting characters. They get into all manner of bad situations that run the gambit from disquieting to terrifying. There is an ultimate evil that needs defeating and the stakes are high for not just the main characters but the entire world.
Read the full review at: https://www.thecosmiccircus.com/revie...
August 7, 2022
4*
Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book via Netgalley.
I really enjoyed In the Coils of the Labyrinth. I am always a little skeptical of books that are tie-ins to other properties, and David Annandale manages to put together a really excellent bit of eldritch horror set in the Arkham Horror universe. Annandale manages to put together a clever descent in to madness that includes an extended stay in a sanitarium, the strands of fate, and the question of choice.
Highly recommend, even if you've not spent anytime in the Arkham Horror universe.
Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book via Netgalley.
I really enjoyed In the Coils of the Labyrinth. I am always a little skeptical of books that are tie-ins to other properties, and David Annandale manages to put together a really excellent bit of eldritch horror set in the Arkham Horror universe. Annandale manages to put together a clever descent in to madness that includes an extended stay in a sanitarium, the strands of fate, and the question of choice.
Highly recommend, even if you've not spent anytime in the Arkham Horror universe.
July 11, 2025
"When you enter a maze, you must constantly decide what branching path to take. There are so many choices, but only one correct route. The maze is designed to be frustrating. The labyrinth, though is soothing. The labyrinth has only one path. No matter how many times it turns and twists, there are no forks in the road, no wrong decisions to make. When you enter the labyrinth, you know you will reach the center. In a maze you are lost. You might never find the way. In a labyrinth, you are never lost."
October 29, 2022
Not the first book I read by David Annandale but his first book in the world of Arkham . A creepy and highly entertaining book that kept me turning pages.
The author di an excellent job in mixing the cosmic horror with mystery and the atmosphere of the Twenties.
The characters are fleshed out, there's the right level of creepiness, and it's highly entertaining.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
The author di an excellent job in mixing the cosmic horror with mystery and the atmosphere of the Twenties.
The characters are fleshed out, there's the right level of creepiness, and it's highly entertaining.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
February 22, 2023
The pace seemed a little slow, but overall this was another excellent novel in Arkham horror. I think the back story that carries the overall plot is very important. As these stories serve as backgrounds to characters in the Arkham Horror card game, they do a good job of providing the right depth of information for main characters. Very frightening, and I think the characters are actually well-done. ;)
October 17, 2023
This was a pleasant surprise! Better than I was expecting in a good way.
The book was a simple, easy read. What you got on the tin. What elevated it above a 3 star rating for me was the descriptions and concepts! The whole maze Vs labyrinth theme (as an example) and descriptions of the horror were really great! Pacing dragged a bit in places but nothing horrendous.
If you want the spooky asylum vibe shenanigans and all be sure to give this a read!
The book was a simple, easy read. What you got on the tin. What elevated it above a 3 star rating for me was the descriptions and concepts! The whole maze Vs labyrinth theme (as an example) and descriptions of the horror were really great! Pacing dragged a bit in places but nothing horrendous.
If you want the spooky asylum vibe shenanigans and all be sure to give this a read!
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