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Arkham Horror #11
El último ritual (Arkham Horror)
Die Kunst eines wahnsinnigen Surrealisten droht das Gefüge der Realität zu zerreißen. Eine Schauergeschichte über unheimliche Schrecken und Verschwörungen, angesiedelt in der beliebten Welt von Arkham Horror, dem preisgekrönten Brettspiel von Fantasy Flight Games. Der aufstrebende Maler Alden Oakes wird eingeladen, sich einer geheimnisvollen Kunstkommune in Arkham anzuschließ der Neuen Kolonie. Als der gefeierte spanische Surrealist Juan Hugo Balthazarr die Kolonie besucht, geraten Alden und die anderen Künstler schnell den Bann des charismatischen Mannes. Auf dekadenten Partys beschwört er Illusionen herauf, die die Grenzen zwischen Albtraum und Realität verwischen. Alden kommt der Verdacht, dass Balthazarrs Rituale mehr als nur Schein sein könnten und tatsächlich darauf abzielen, diese Grenzen zu durchbrechen, um das, was dahinter lauert, freizusetzen. Alden muss handeln, doch es könnte bereits zu spät sein, um sich selbst zu retten – ganz zu schweigen von Arkham. Arkham Horror is a registered trademark or trademark of Fantasy Flight Games. 2021 Fantasy Flight Games.
367 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 3, 2020
45 people are currently reading
925 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
March 6, 2023
THE LAST RITUAL is the second novel of the Arkham Horror standalone novel series. I was a huge fan of Josh Reynold's WRATH OF N'KAI novel and was interested in seeing what more the series might do with the boardgame's version of Arkham, Massachusetts. Chaosium's CALL OF CTHULHU has a history of fiction but most of it is typical Lovecraftian horror, which is to say, "Everyone dies or goes insane at the end." Which has somewhat limited its mass appeal. Arkham Horror seems more keenly aware of the audience's love of pulpy fiction (or at least mine) so the stories are horror-adventures.
The Last Ritual by S.A. Sidor is a bit more typical of "classic" HP Lovecraft compared to its predecessor in that the protagonist isn't a classy cat burglar with an experience hunting occult artifacts. Instead, it is about a failed (or perhaps never was) painter named Alden Oaks. Thankfully, Alden Oaks has money and is of the "stupid rich" variety.
After a chance encounter with an occult festival in rural Spain, Alden returns home to Arkham, Massachusetts only to find a series of strange events occurring. I know, strange events in Arkham, perish the thought. Either way, he soon hooks up with an intrepid would-be crime reporter in Nina Tarrington and the two set out to unravel the mystery while beginning their romance.
I know that romance and Call of Cthulhu are not typically associated. The only romance that gets any real depth in Lovecraft is "The Thing on the Doorstep" (and arguably "Medusa's Coil" but we don't talk about that one). However, I really like Nina and she forms an interesting bond with the lay about rich boy who is one of the least likely occult investigators you're going to find in any version of the Mythos. I really liked the two and it helped set up the events for the finale that is strong.
The use of the 1920s environment is very well realized with period slang, artists, and a general "Great Gatsby" sort of feel to events. Alden has never worked a day in his life and wouldn't understand how to begin but that doesn't stop him from being a likable protagonist anyway. His encounter with Harry Houdini is one of the high points of the book, especially since Lovecraft wrote a story with Erich Weisz as the protagonist.
The antagonist of Juan Hugo Balthazar is a nice contrast to most Cthulhu cultists with his focus on magical paintings and "evil art" contrasting to the usual depraved cities or inbred hillbillies. A Spanish surrealist, he has a fascist bent despite his hippie commune-like environments. You also get the sense that he's not nearly as capable or talented at wielding occult forces as, say, Carl Sanford. That makes it credible that Alden might pose a threat, however inadvertent.
The GraphicAudio version of the book is the one I recommend over the regular audiobook or text version. The cast manages to capture the characters perfectly and really bring to life their 1920s ultra-wealthy lifestyles. There’s a naïve innocence to Alden that makes you regret that he’s going to encounter the Mythos in any form since that’s something that won’t last in the face of it. I also like Nina’s actress as her Bostonian accent is something few Lovecraft productions try to replicate.
In conclusion, The Last Ritual is a really enjoyable piece of work. While the first book was a pulpy action-mystery, these re about more typical ordinary citizens getting caught up in the supernatural. It’s lighter fair than most cosmic horror but still definitely in the horror genre. I definitely recommend readers pick it up if they have the chance in any format.
The Last Ritual by S.A. Sidor is a bit more typical of "classic" HP Lovecraft compared to its predecessor in that the protagonist isn't a classy cat burglar with an experience hunting occult artifacts. Instead, it is about a failed (or perhaps never was) painter named Alden Oaks. Thankfully, Alden Oaks has money and is of the "stupid rich" variety.
After a chance encounter with an occult festival in rural Spain, Alden returns home to Arkham, Massachusetts only to find a series of strange events occurring. I know, strange events in Arkham, perish the thought. Either way, he soon hooks up with an intrepid would-be crime reporter in Nina Tarrington and the two set out to unravel the mystery while beginning their romance.
I know that romance and Call of Cthulhu are not typically associated. The only romance that gets any real depth in Lovecraft is "The Thing on the Doorstep" (and arguably "Medusa's Coil" but we don't talk about that one). However, I really like Nina and she forms an interesting bond with the lay about rich boy who is one of the least likely occult investigators you're going to find in any version of the Mythos. I really liked the two and it helped set up the events for the finale that is strong.
The use of the 1920s environment is very well realized with period slang, artists, and a general "Great Gatsby" sort of feel to events. Alden has never worked a day in his life and wouldn't understand how to begin but that doesn't stop him from being a likable protagonist anyway. His encounter with Harry Houdini is one of the high points of the book, especially since Lovecraft wrote a story with Erich Weisz as the protagonist.
The antagonist of Juan Hugo Balthazar is a nice contrast to most Cthulhu cultists with his focus on magical paintings and "evil art" contrasting to the usual depraved cities or inbred hillbillies. A Spanish surrealist, he has a fascist bent despite his hippie commune-like environments. You also get the sense that he's not nearly as capable or talented at wielding occult forces as, say, Carl Sanford. That makes it credible that Alden might pose a threat, however inadvertent.
The GraphicAudio version of the book is the one I recommend over the regular audiobook or text version. The cast manages to capture the characters perfectly and really bring to life their 1920s ultra-wealthy lifestyles. There’s a naïve innocence to Alden that makes you regret that he’s going to encounter the Mythos in any form since that’s something that won’t last in the face of it. I also like Nina’s actress as her Bostonian accent is something few Lovecraft productions try to replicate.
In conclusion, The Last Ritual is a really enjoyable piece of work. While the first book was a pulpy action-mystery, these re about more typical ordinary citizens getting caught up in the supernatural. It’s lighter fair than most cosmic horror but still definitely in the horror genre. I definitely recommend readers pick it up if they have the chance in any format.
October 22, 2020
I will be keeping a close eye on Arkham Horror from now on.
The Last Ritual: An Arkham Horror Novel is the latest work from SA Sidor the mastermind author of The Institute for Singular Antiquities series. As a big fan of the series I knew straight away that I needed to get my hands on a copy of The Last Ritual and I was extremely fortunate to be approved for a eARC. I will note that this in no way swayed my review and I will not allow my love for Fury of from the Tomb to cloud my judgement. That being said The Last Ritual is a brilliantly eerie and well executed read.
This book was instantly recognisable as being written by SA Sidor. Sidor's style shines with this book and the prose are familiar yet original so don't fret that you will not get a unique story. You certainly will be.
I would like to point out that I had never heard of Arkham Horror prior to this read and I can certainly say I will be keeping an eye out for more in the future. Think 1920's detective looking into the strange goings on in a classic American setting. Arkham Horror is specifically set in Lovecraft's fictional Massachusetts town of Arkham in the 1920's.
“Depends what you mean by strange. Arkham’s no stranger to strangeness, is it?”
This read was incredibly enjoyable albeit slightly mind boggling at times. I often found myself in as much as a spin as our protagonist, Alden Oakes, as he makes his way around the city trying to puzzle together the odd occurrences that he happens across. This is all good however and it all adds to the mystery, placing us right in the middle of the action.
“Yet, even abject terror in the face of monsters reaches a lull over time. You manage somehow to get past it. The panic fades to background terror, a jumpiness. But it’s no less a threat once it gets behind you than it was when you faced it head-on. The lingering sense of the monstrous becomes worse than its actual presence. It surrounds you, and fills you with an inescapable pressure that builds and wrecks you inside and out. It’s personal, an invisible invader who might manifest at any moment. Expectation of evil is your new sickness. The worrying eats at you like acid. You and the monster become one thing, and that feels like the dirtiest trick of them all.”
Sidor's use of 1920's slang and terminology really helps build the world up around us and not for a second did I feel I like I was anywhere else but 1920's Arkham. The world building is just where it needs to be. Sidor hit the fine balance between over saturating the read with descriptions and leaving us needing more.
The Last Ritual has opened up a whole new genre for me and I can't wait to explore further. I fear that a lot of TBR piles will be growing to the point of tipping if readers pick up a copy. However you will not regret it if you do so.
If you are a fan of The Institute of Singular Antiquities as I am then you will love Sidor's latest novel. You would be forgiven for thinking that this was another adventure with Rom Hardy and the gang as it feels so familiar as previously stated. If you are already well established within Arkham Horror then I am sure you will enjoy this read. The Last Ritual is Book Vagabond Recommended, you will enjoy this book.
The Last Ritual: An Arkham Horror Novel is the latest work from SA Sidor the mastermind author of The Institute for Singular Antiquities series. As a big fan of the series I knew straight away that I needed to get my hands on a copy of The Last Ritual and I was extremely fortunate to be approved for a eARC. I will note that this in no way swayed my review and I will not allow my love for Fury of from the Tomb to cloud my judgement. That being said The Last Ritual is a brilliantly eerie and well executed read.
This book was instantly recognisable as being written by SA Sidor. Sidor's style shines with this book and the prose are familiar yet original so don't fret that you will not get a unique story. You certainly will be.
I would like to point out that I had never heard of Arkham Horror prior to this read and I can certainly say I will be keeping an eye out for more in the future. Think 1920's detective looking into the strange goings on in a classic American setting. Arkham Horror is specifically set in Lovecraft's fictional Massachusetts town of Arkham in the 1920's.
“Depends what you mean by strange. Arkham’s no stranger to strangeness, is it?”
This read was incredibly enjoyable albeit slightly mind boggling at times. I often found myself in as much as a spin as our protagonist, Alden Oakes, as he makes his way around the city trying to puzzle together the odd occurrences that he happens across. This is all good however and it all adds to the mystery, placing us right in the middle of the action.
“Yet, even abject terror in the face of monsters reaches a lull over time. You manage somehow to get past it. The panic fades to background terror, a jumpiness. But it’s no less a threat once it gets behind you than it was when you faced it head-on. The lingering sense of the monstrous becomes worse than its actual presence. It surrounds you, and fills you with an inescapable pressure that builds and wrecks you inside and out. It’s personal, an invisible invader who might manifest at any moment. Expectation of evil is your new sickness. The worrying eats at you like acid. You and the monster become one thing, and that feels like the dirtiest trick of them all.”
Sidor's use of 1920's slang and terminology really helps build the world up around us and not for a second did I feel I like I was anywhere else but 1920's Arkham. The world building is just where it needs to be. Sidor hit the fine balance between over saturating the read with descriptions and leaving us needing more.
The Last Ritual has opened up a whole new genre for me and I can't wait to explore further. I fear that a lot of TBR piles will be growing to the point of tipping if readers pick up a copy. However you will not regret it if you do so.
If you are a fan of The Institute of Singular Antiquities as I am then you will love Sidor's latest novel. You would be forgiven for thinking that this was another adventure with Rom Hardy and the gang as it feels so familiar as previously stated. If you are already well established within Arkham Horror then I am sure you will enjoy this read. The Last Ritual is Book Vagabond Recommended, you will enjoy this book.
March 15, 2021
This was a disappointing.
I can't really phantom giving the novel 5 stars because this has little to no horror. It's a story about a guy going around and not doing anything at all. The main character is a bit flashout but most other characters are not. I had to stop and read other novels inbetween because it was boring.
So supposedly something happening prior in spain that was otherworldly and upsets him. He returns to Arkham and the things that happen in spain are connected to the ones happening in arkham but who is to blame or is behind.
There are interesting characters like our main protagonist woman friend who is a investigador - not a real one from the game - although that is the point I will take from this.
There are some characters from the boardgame - like Calvin whereas in the game he is black and not white like in the game. If whitewashing was a very bad thing to do, what can I say about POC washing? To each it's own. I don't fvking care the colour of a skin unless it's relevant for the story.
The ending, so, spoilers, they went through a gate to somewhere?
Where N'Kai was more action, this is more investigation focus. I don't usually love action over investigation and slow pace BUT in this case it didn't work for me.
I've bought the third one Mask of Silver so let us see.
I can't really phantom giving the novel 5 stars because this has little to no horror. It's a story about a guy going around and not doing anything at all. The main character is a bit flashout but most other characters are not. I had to stop and read other novels inbetween because it was boring.
So supposedly something happening prior in spain that was otherworldly and upsets him. He returns to Arkham and the things that happen in spain are connected to the ones happening in arkham but who is to blame or is behind.
There are interesting characters like our main protagonist woman friend who is a investigador - not a real one from the game - although that is the point I will take from this.
There are some characters from the boardgame - like Calvin whereas in the game he is black and not white like in the game. If whitewashing was a very bad thing to do, what can I say about POC washing? To each it's own. I don't fvking care the colour of a skin unless it's relevant for the story.
The ending, so, spoilers, they went through a gate to somewhere?
Where N'Kai was more action, this is more investigation focus. I don't usually love action over investigation and slow pace BUT in this case it didn't work for me.
I've bought the third one Mask of Silver so let us see.
January 31, 2022
Lo más destacable de esta novela pulp es que se lee más o menos fácil y que está escrita de un modo clásico, sin grandes complicaciones en la trama, con personajes básicos y estereotipados, inspirada en los mitos de Lovecraft (como casi todo lo de hoy en día, si no es Lovecraft, es King, pero todos copian o se "inspiran", como si no fueran capaces de crear nada nuevo o quizás por marketing). El desarrollo es pausado por usar una expresión suave, y el final previsible cien por cien. Como puntos positivos no hay nada de gore, que es algo que me irrita. Es un mero entretenimiento ligero, sin más pretensiones, dedicado a aquellos que gusten de las narraciones góticas o similares.
September 28, 2020
I have never played any of the H. P. Lovecraft-inspired Arkham Horror cooperative games, so I have no idea how well this novel ties into the characters and mechanics. However, I have read a lot of Lovecraftian fiction and 1920’s detective fiction and, to be perfectly honest, this comes across as a watered down version of both.
There are some decent moments of surrealistic horror and creeping dread, but outside of those moments the writing and plotting did not impress. The investigation is desultory, characters react to disturbing events with unbelievable sangfroid, and the only real indication that we’re in the 1920’s is the presence of prohibition and bootleggers. Even “witch-haunted Arkham” seems watered down, deriving its sinister reputation primarily from prohibition-related crime and corruption rather than the sorts of things that Lovecraft et al. wrote about.
The horror set pieces saved this from being a complete waste of time, but its thirdhand nature (novel based on a game based on a writer’s works) weakened it to the point where it nearly slid into Scooby-Doo territory at times. If you’re a fan of Arkham Horror games you might want to give this a try, but if you’re just looking for Lovecraftian cosmic horror you can do much better elsewhere.
There are some decent moments of surrealistic horror and creeping dread, but outside of those moments the writing and plotting did not impress. The investigation is desultory, characters react to disturbing events with unbelievable sangfroid, and the only real indication that we’re in the 1920’s is the presence of prohibition and bootleggers. Even “witch-haunted Arkham” seems watered down, deriving its sinister reputation primarily from prohibition-related crime and corruption rather than the sorts of things that Lovecraft et al. wrote about.
The horror set pieces saved this from being a complete waste of time, but its thirdhand nature (novel based on a game based on a writer’s works) weakened it to the point where it nearly slid into Scooby-Doo territory at times. If you’re a fan of Arkham Horror games you might want to give this a try, but if you’re just looking for Lovecraftian cosmic horror you can do much better elsewhere.
September 18, 2020
Unapologetically Lovecraftian, this novel of terrifying Cosmic Horror, hypnotism, illusion, and mind control is based on the wildly popular board game. In 1925, in Europe and Arkham, Massachusetts, strange forces are afoot. Many individuals of one mind are attempting to "Open the Gate," to call forth an other-dimensional monstrosity. The sorcerer-leader, a Surrealist painter from Spain, chooses Arkham as the locale.
A tension-wrought horror novel, I was so engrossed I I devoured it in one session. There is violence but all intimacy is offstage.
A tension-wrought horror novel, I was so engrossed I I devoured it in one session. There is violence but all intimacy is offstage.
October 22, 2020
Combining the life and pluck of a Jazz Age still shadowed by the table-rapping spiritists of the Victorian Age, The Last Ritual reads like a story born of those times would, a sort of blend of Lovecraft meets the Great Gatsby. Sidor brings us into a world like but unlike our own, where things may be a dream or not, where we may be slipping into madness...or being hunted by madness. This book has all the elements that I associate with Lovecraftian fantasy/horror: including abrupt changes in pace and setting, strange insights and even more strange occurrences, demon (or alien-ish) rituals, black outs, strange visions, mysterious disappearances, dead bodies, shadowy monsters, horned Gods, and more - all against a cosmic/bigger picture backdrop.
And while the plot is interesting in that strange meandering sort of dreamy/nightmarish way, the scary high stakes moment that should have been a major wow/scare moment instead sort of flattens under the weight of a more cosmic crescendo: a statement/quest to the truth of reality and art (yes it's a "look at all the strange little things, but don't miss the big picture kind of story"). Overall it's Sidor's writing and actual descriptions that really stood out to me:
"Not that Minnie herself was obscene. See, she was like a piece of broken mirror. Small and shiny, and if you weren't careful she'd leave you bleeding. She reflected back places in yourself that were better left unexamined."
and on the main character summing up his recent paintings: "While they were good, they lacked something almost palpable, as if the real subject had wandered away just before I started to paint. Haunted by absences. I put them away."
or describing one of our Arkham-esque horrors: "The net blob hitched itself along, hauling forth its girth with maximum effort. It shambled onto the bridge. How sluggish it was, but how impressively persistent....A halo of flies buzzed around it, ignoring the cold to feast on morsels hidden in its collapsing chambers - it's honeycomb of well-aged slimes...Inside the rats tumbled round as if they were spinning on a wheel. Somehow I knew the swirling energy of their lifeforces fed and propelled this monster. The motion of their rat bodies animated its horror. If the blob were to consume me, then I would power it like the rats did."
and probably my favorite line from the book:
"I never want this woman angry at me, I thought. She's the kind of lady who might stab you with a pair of scissors if she figured you deserved it. Or she might die for you. It all depended."
A definite read for fans of the genre, Lovecraft, Arkham Horror, or those who like an elegant writing style that is both creatively observant AND creatively expressive.
And while the plot is interesting in that strange meandering sort of dreamy/nightmarish way, the scary high stakes moment that should have been a major wow/scare moment instead sort of flattens under the weight of a more cosmic crescendo: a statement/quest to the truth of reality and art (yes it's a "look at all the strange little things, but don't miss the big picture kind of story"). Overall it's Sidor's writing and actual descriptions that really stood out to me:
"Not that Minnie herself was obscene. See, she was like a piece of broken mirror. Small and shiny, and if you weren't careful she'd leave you bleeding. She reflected back places in yourself that were better left unexamined."
and on the main character summing up his recent paintings: "While they were good, they lacked something almost palpable, as if the real subject had wandered away just before I started to paint. Haunted by absences. I put them away."
or describing one of our Arkham-esque horrors: "The net blob hitched itself along, hauling forth its girth with maximum effort. It shambled onto the bridge. How sluggish it was, but how impressively persistent....A halo of flies buzzed around it, ignoring the cold to feast on morsels hidden in its collapsing chambers - it's honeycomb of well-aged slimes...Inside the rats tumbled round as if they were spinning on a wheel. Somehow I knew the swirling energy of their lifeforces fed and propelled this monster. The motion of their rat bodies animated its horror. If the blob were to consume me, then I would power it like the rats did."
and probably my favorite line from the book:
"I never want this woman angry at me, I thought. She's the kind of lady who might stab you with a pair of scissors if she figured you deserved it. Or she might die for you. It all depended."
A definite read for fans of the genre, Lovecraft, Arkham Horror, or those who like an elegant writing style that is both creatively observant AND creatively expressive.
October 2, 2025
Some good and some bad.
Good stuff. I liked the references to things from the time period. I liked a lot of the language and descriptors used. Also enjoyed the way the deaths are described.
The bad stuff. Some slow pacing for the first half, much of which felt pointless. Several rather redundant characters with no real purpose. The two lead characters especially seemed completely brainless at times, especially Alden after Nina disappears.
I did still enjoy it because I enjoy the universe, the time period, and I love the occult. I just felt it could have been better in some spots. Maybe it's more of a 3.5 stars story.
Good stuff. I liked the references to things from the time period. I liked a lot of the language and descriptors used. Also enjoyed the way the deaths are described.
The bad stuff. Some slow pacing for the first half, much of which felt pointless. Several rather redundant characters with no real purpose. The two lead characters especially seemed completely brainless at times, especially Alden after Nina disappears.
I did still enjoy it because I enjoy the universe, the time period, and I love the occult. I just felt it could have been better in some spots. Maybe it's more of a 3.5 stars story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 4, 2024
3.5 stars!
A solid read. I enjoyed it a lot! It contained fun locations, cool descriptions, and interesting characters. I liked Nina especially. She is my gatekeeping girlboss. I liked the main character, Alden, too, but he just makes questionable decisions at best lmao. Who the fuck finds out their girl goes missing in the middle of cult madness and decides to go painting for several weeks while worrying and moping instead of looking for her? Alden... Alden does... get a grip, dude...
I would have preferred to have experienced the story from Nina's perspective instead. I think that would've made an even better read.
I liked the ending. Very bitter sweet, but it was a little bit underwhelming for my taste. I expected more.
The writing was nice. I went through it like gliding on butter, but I did have an issue with the pacing. Sometimes, we just get teleported to another place without warning. Which left me a bit confused. The chapter cuts were placed illogically. They almost felt random.
I liked the book, but it could've been better! Hence, I am giving it 3.5 stars!
A solid read. I enjoyed it a lot! It contained fun locations, cool descriptions, and interesting characters. I liked Nina especially. She is my gatekeeping girlboss. I liked the main character, Alden, too, but he just makes questionable decisions at best lmao. Who the fuck finds out their girl goes missing in the middle of cult madness and decides to go painting for several weeks while worrying and moping instead of looking for her? Alden... Alden does... get a grip, dude...
I would have preferred to have experienced the story from Nina's perspective instead. I think that would've made an even better read.
I liked the ending. Very bitter sweet, but it was a little bit underwhelming for my taste. I expected more.
The writing was nice. I went through it like gliding on butter, but I did have an issue with the pacing. Sometimes, we just get teleported to another place without warning. Which left me a bit confused. The chapter cuts were placed illogically. They almost felt random.
I liked the book, but it could've been better! Hence, I am giving it 3.5 stars!
August 11, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this book even more than Wrath of N'Kai, the first book in the new Arkham Horror novel series. The consistent building atmosphere and better defined characters pulled me in and never really let me go. While some scene transitions were a touch awkward at times, I was still fully immersed in the locations and story. The antagonist in this narrative, Balthazarr, was a perfect adversary in this Arkham Horror universe. The pacing and twists were perfectly balanced throughout the book. I was disappointed the initial mass market paperback Arkham Horror books ended a few years ago, but so glad they started back up. I hope the editors incorporate even more authors in this playground and allow the good authors, like S.A. Sidor, to write even more stories. Fans of Lovecraft, pulp stories, and overall dangerous adventures with a cosmic bent should be more than satisfied. Keep 'em coming!
November 4, 2020
The second book in the new Arkham Horror series and another fun read!
Whereas Wrath of N’kai is a non-stop action romp, The Last Ritual has many more quiet moments- there aren't as many Mythos references or monsters. It delves into the realm of artists, as we know from other Lovecraft stories that artists seem to have a special sensitivity to Mythos influences. I always enjoy returning to this familiar setting with its memorable characters.
Each book in this new series by Aconyte Books is a standalone, so you can pick and choose whichever one sounds most interesting to you.
If a moody, end-of-year-seasonal Mythos story is what you’re looking for, then you should check out The Last Ritual.
Whereas Wrath of N’kai is a non-stop action romp, The Last Ritual has many more quiet moments- there aren't as many Mythos references or monsters. It delves into the realm of artists, as we know from other Lovecraft stories that artists seem to have a special sensitivity to Mythos influences. I always enjoy returning to this familiar setting with its memorable characters.
Each book in this new series by Aconyte Books is a standalone, so you can pick and choose whichever one sounds most interesting to you.
If a moody, end-of-year-seasonal Mythos story is what you’re looking for, then you should check out The Last Ritual.
November 14, 2022
Lest ihr gerne Horrorbücher? Welche Art an Horrorgeschichten mögt im am Liebsten? Sind euch Arkham Horror Werke und die dazugehörigen Brettspiele auch bekannt? Wem H.P. Lovecraft ein Begriff ist und wer langsam aber sicher sich in die Welt von Arkham begeben will, ist sicher bei „das letzte Ritual“ gut aufgehoben. Vielen Dank an dieser Stelle an Cross Cult für mein Leseexemplar.
Ich gehe diesmal mit sehr vielen und gemischten Gefühlen an mein Beitrag heran. Die Geschichte ist allemal schaurig und brutal, zwar nicht, wie ich es normalerweise gewohnt bin, dennoch gelungen und voller skurrile Begegnungen und merkwürdig geheimnisvollen Charakteren. Zu Beginn habe ich sehr viele Fragezeichen gehabt und hatte auch einiges nicht genau nachvollziehen können. Doch Eines nach dem Anderen.
Ich mochte die Welt, wie sie hier beschrieben wird und die Grundstimmung die dem Leser vermittelt wird sehr. Ich habe ständig eine düstere, bedrohliche und manchmal sogar sehr gruselige Momente beim Lesen gehabt. Ob das wahrer Horror ist, wage ich zu bezweifeln. Einige Situation gruseln sicherlich und auch muss ich zugeben, dass mich die gesamte Handlung eher etwas später beim Lesen in den Bann gezogen hat. Obwohl ich die Geschichte zum Ende sehr genossen habe.
Wenn man vor allen Dingen Interesse an Ritualen, Okkultismus, geheimnisvollen Machenschaften und durchaus regelmäßigem Gruseln hat, wird man ganz sicher in dieser Geschichte unterhalten. Ich habe es sehr gerne gelesen, und wenn meines Erachtens die Spannung und das Gruseln hin und wieder mal abnimmt, so kann ich das Buch doch empfehlen. Nicht der blanke Horror, aber definitiv unterhaltsam.
Ich gehe diesmal mit sehr vielen und gemischten Gefühlen an mein Beitrag heran. Die Geschichte ist allemal schaurig und brutal, zwar nicht, wie ich es normalerweise gewohnt bin, dennoch gelungen und voller skurrile Begegnungen und merkwürdig geheimnisvollen Charakteren. Zu Beginn habe ich sehr viele Fragezeichen gehabt und hatte auch einiges nicht genau nachvollziehen können. Doch Eines nach dem Anderen.
Ich mochte die Welt, wie sie hier beschrieben wird und die Grundstimmung die dem Leser vermittelt wird sehr. Ich habe ständig eine düstere, bedrohliche und manchmal sogar sehr gruselige Momente beim Lesen gehabt. Ob das wahrer Horror ist, wage ich zu bezweifeln. Einige Situation gruseln sicherlich und auch muss ich zugeben, dass mich die gesamte Handlung eher etwas später beim Lesen in den Bann gezogen hat. Obwohl ich die Geschichte zum Ende sehr genossen habe.
Wenn man vor allen Dingen Interesse an Ritualen, Okkultismus, geheimnisvollen Machenschaften und durchaus regelmäßigem Gruseln hat, wird man ganz sicher in dieser Geschichte unterhalten. Ich habe es sehr gerne gelesen, und wenn meines Erachtens die Spannung und das Gruseln hin und wieder mal abnimmt, so kann ich das Buch doch empfehlen. Nicht der blanke Horror, aber definitiv unterhaltsam.
March 16, 2021
The Last Ritual
S.A. Sidor
Aconyte Books
With every title that they release, Aconyte Books – the publishing arm of Asmodee Entertainment – becomes more and more impressive and more and more accomplished as a publisher. They’ve released some fantastic books in their relatively short history, all based on the board games and RPG systems that their parent company are licensed to produce. From the light-hearted craziness of the sci-fi/fantasy mashup that is the KeyForge CCG (the Tales of the Crucible anthology) to the spirit-haunted lands of the Legend of the Five Rings setting (Curse of Honor) and the dark fantasy RPG Descent: Journeys in the Dark (The Doom of Fallowhearth), Aconyte have blended together exciting settings with some of the best scifi and fantasy authors in the genre to create memorable, engaging and hugely entertaining novels and anthologies. But out of all of the properties that they are leveraging, by far my favourite is the occult detective, Lovecraftian setting that is Arkham Horror. I have fond memories of playing games of Arkham Horror in the ever-increasing distance of my teenage years, and the Occult Detective/Lovecraftian genre is perhaps one of my most favourites to read and review. The first book in the revamped Arkham Horror series, Wrath of N’Kai, perfectly set the tone for the series, in my opinion; written by veteran occult detective and sci-fi author Josh Reynolds, it delivered atmosphere and sinister characters in spades, and deserved to take pride of place in anyone’s occult horror collection.
Given how well the series had started, I was beyond eager to see how it would continue, and was deeply intrigued by S.A. Sidor’s upcoming The Last Ritual. The cover art is a lavish and detailed affair, illustrator John Coulthart perfectly bringing to life the Jazz Age decor of the Arkham Horror setting; and the back-cover blurb sounded hugely promising, mentioning surrealism, paintings that invoke occult rituals, and blurring the boundaries between nightmare and reality. Although I hadn’t heard of the author before now, his previous titles for Angry Robot had excellent reviews (and indeed The Institute for Singular Antiquities duology spoke so strongly to me that they’re now on my short-list to review later this year) which again pointed to Aconyte Books picking the cream of the crop when it came to this particular genre. All in all it seemed really exciting, and I couldn’t wait to dive in and get reading.
Our story’s protagonist is Alden Oakes, scion of one of the richest families in all of Arkham, and a man who has floated through life courtesy of the monies and luxuries provided by his parents and his family name. He is a talented artists, specialising in paintings, but has found himself struggling in the decadent, post-Great War years, unable to truly paint anything that seems memorable or truly talented. That all begins to change on the beaches of Cannes, when Alden suddenly finds himself confronted by Preston Fairmont, an old university friend and dilitante who unexpectedly invites Oakes back to Arkham, as a guest for Preston’s marriage to Oakes’ ex-fiancee. Oakes is surprised by the invitation, and even moreso by Preston’s bizarre and erratic behaviour, but agrees to travel back through Europe and then over the Atlantic, back to Arkham and his family and friends. His return journey takes him through isolated, rural towns and villages in Spain, and an attempt to tour through the crowded streets of Barcelona instead devolves into his attendance at a deeply unsettling and esoteric ceremony; he becomes enmeshed in a bizarre ritual involving strange, puppet-like figures, eerie chanting, and the presence of an intimidating figure with a forked beard that seems strangely familiar to Alden.
Making his escape after the end of the ritual and crossing the Atlantic, Alden returns to Arkham and his ancestral home, eventually joining up with Preston and his fiancée Minnie. But his friend’s behaviour becomes increasingly eccentric, worrying the painter, and to further compliance matters Alden becomes involved with Nina, a mysterious writer who wishes to investigate a series of accidents, suicides and murders involving artists that has suddenly occurred across the whole of Arkham. Slowly but surely drawn into a side of Arkham he had little awareness of, Alden is confronted by horrifying ritual murders, disappearing decapitated bodies, and inexplicable, inhuman monsters that pursue him across the murky backwaters of Arkham. Being invited to join the mysterious and secretive art commune known as the New Colony seems to be a huge break for Alden as an artist, inspiring him to great feats of painting, but his painting and the murders soon become inextricably twisted together in the New Colony. The arrival of the strange and highly charismatic surrealist artist Juan Hugo Balthazarr to the New Colony seems to promise new heights of pageantry and inspiration; but instead, Alden and Nina find themselves drawn into incomprehensible occult rituals, which begin to have terrifying implications for the residents of the New Colony, as well as all of Arkham.
Set in media res, Sidor opens the novel with Oakes a famous artist, returning to Arkham and the infamous Silver Gate Hotel to be interviewed by a young journalist. The newspaperman hopes to get a big story out of the painter, a man who seems to have aged far faster than his physical years, and who begins to describe the path that led him to fame and fortune. It’s a really effective framing device that neatly sets out the broad contours of the plot – surreal art, a strange fire, a reclusive and mysterious artist with a horrifying tale to tell – and irresistibly draws you into the rest of the story. Sidor has a way of writing prose that perfectly embodies the nightmarish and surreal themes of the Arkham Horror setting; throughout the novel, as the narrative deftly unwinds and hooks you in further, Sidor maintains an unsettling and even anxious atmosphere that greatly enhances a story brimming with unreal imagery and which forces the reader to question just which elements – if any – are real and actually occurring. His prose is superbly constructed, drawing you in without even realising it; I read the majority of The Last Ritual in the course of a single day, losing track of the hours as I turned the pages. That brilliant prose supports a deeply compelling narrative, one which develops quickly and effectively, always having a twist or turn to make you turn the page and begin the next chapter; you feel like you’ve been inducted into the ethereal world of the New Colony yourself, experiencing the frantic highs and terrifying lows of Alden’s investigation into the occult through his eyes.
The writing is superb, and the plot enthralling, but the characters are perhaps the finest part of The Last Ritual, and which for me elevated the book as one of the best Aconyte have published so far. It would have been so very easy for Sidor to fall into the clichés and tropes which litter the occult and Lovecraftian genres, and give us two-dimensional artistes who foolishly dabble with things they do not understand in the pursuit of their art. But instead, Sidor gives us some engaging and three-dimensional characters who always seem to act on their own initiative, and not just because the plot and page-count demand it. Alden is a detached and adrift protagonist, looking for meaning in his life, but importantly he is already a talented painter in his own right, even if looking for something to perfect his art; Sidor does not fall into the trap of giving us the generic ‘common-place artist desperate to be great’ protagonist so often seen in these sorts of tales. And Balthazarr makes for a memorable and delightfully bombastic antagonist, a wraithlike character who seems happy to taunt Alden and sting him with verbal barbs while turning the population of the New Colony into his willing puppets for his rituals and artworks. Indeed, all of the characters are fully fleshed-out and engaging – never a guarantee in the Lovecraftian genre, unfortunately – and Sidor also imbues them with this feeling of impermanence , a sort of semi-solidity that ties into the dream-like atmosphere of the novel as a whole. We’re never quite certain whether anything Alden is telling the journalist in the hotel room is real at all, or simply his own fevered and twisted imaginations, and the story is all the better for it. It creates a certain tension in the novel’s atmosphere, a certain expectation from the reader, which Sidor then deftly and unexpectedly shatters with an ending that I genuinely didn’t see coming. His knack for blending artist expression and Lovecraftian horrors really is the best that I’ve ever seen reading through the genre over the years, and is genuinely impressive.
Superbly written, deftly plotted, and imbued with Sidor’s absolutely phenomenal imagination and inherent understanding of the decaying, sumptuous décor of Jazz Age Arkham that hides a terrifying underside, The Last Ritual is one of the most enjoyable and memorable occult horror thrillers that I have read in a long time, and a fantastic addition to Aconyte’s Arkham Horror range. Sidor has delivered us a novel that perfectly embodies both Arkham Horror as a setting, and Lovecraftian Artistry as a concept, and I can only hope that editor Charlotte Llewelyn-Wells commissions further Arkham Horror books from him in the future. I would certainly pick them up and read them without hesitation, and I believe I would be far from the only one.
S.A. Sidor
Aconyte Books
With every title that they release, Aconyte Books – the publishing arm of Asmodee Entertainment – becomes more and more impressive and more and more accomplished as a publisher. They’ve released some fantastic books in their relatively short history, all based on the board games and RPG systems that their parent company are licensed to produce. From the light-hearted craziness of the sci-fi/fantasy mashup that is the KeyForge CCG (the Tales of the Crucible anthology) to the spirit-haunted lands of the Legend of the Five Rings setting (Curse of Honor) and the dark fantasy RPG Descent: Journeys in the Dark (The Doom of Fallowhearth), Aconyte have blended together exciting settings with some of the best scifi and fantasy authors in the genre to create memorable, engaging and hugely entertaining novels and anthologies. But out of all of the properties that they are leveraging, by far my favourite is the occult detective, Lovecraftian setting that is Arkham Horror. I have fond memories of playing games of Arkham Horror in the ever-increasing distance of my teenage years, and the Occult Detective/Lovecraftian genre is perhaps one of my most favourites to read and review. The first book in the revamped Arkham Horror series, Wrath of N’Kai, perfectly set the tone for the series, in my opinion; written by veteran occult detective and sci-fi author Josh Reynolds, it delivered atmosphere and sinister characters in spades, and deserved to take pride of place in anyone’s occult horror collection.
Given how well the series had started, I was beyond eager to see how it would continue, and was deeply intrigued by S.A. Sidor’s upcoming The Last Ritual. The cover art is a lavish and detailed affair, illustrator John Coulthart perfectly bringing to life the Jazz Age decor of the Arkham Horror setting; and the back-cover blurb sounded hugely promising, mentioning surrealism, paintings that invoke occult rituals, and blurring the boundaries between nightmare and reality. Although I hadn’t heard of the author before now, his previous titles for Angry Robot had excellent reviews (and indeed The Institute for Singular Antiquities duology spoke so strongly to me that they’re now on my short-list to review later this year) which again pointed to Aconyte Books picking the cream of the crop when it came to this particular genre. All in all it seemed really exciting, and I couldn’t wait to dive in and get reading.
Our story’s protagonist is Alden Oakes, scion of one of the richest families in all of Arkham, and a man who has floated through life courtesy of the monies and luxuries provided by his parents and his family name. He is a talented artists, specialising in paintings, but has found himself struggling in the decadent, post-Great War years, unable to truly paint anything that seems memorable or truly talented. That all begins to change on the beaches of Cannes, when Alden suddenly finds himself confronted by Preston Fairmont, an old university friend and dilitante who unexpectedly invites Oakes back to Arkham, as a guest for Preston’s marriage to Oakes’ ex-fiancee. Oakes is surprised by the invitation, and even moreso by Preston’s bizarre and erratic behaviour, but agrees to travel back through Europe and then over the Atlantic, back to Arkham and his family and friends. His return journey takes him through isolated, rural towns and villages in Spain, and an attempt to tour through the crowded streets of Barcelona instead devolves into his attendance at a deeply unsettling and esoteric ceremony; he becomes enmeshed in a bizarre ritual involving strange, puppet-like figures, eerie chanting, and the presence of an intimidating figure with a forked beard that seems strangely familiar to Alden.
Making his escape after the end of the ritual and crossing the Atlantic, Alden returns to Arkham and his ancestral home, eventually joining up with Preston and his fiancée Minnie. But his friend’s behaviour becomes increasingly eccentric, worrying the painter, and to further compliance matters Alden becomes involved with Nina, a mysterious writer who wishes to investigate a series of accidents, suicides and murders involving artists that has suddenly occurred across the whole of Arkham. Slowly but surely drawn into a side of Arkham he had little awareness of, Alden is confronted by horrifying ritual murders, disappearing decapitated bodies, and inexplicable, inhuman monsters that pursue him across the murky backwaters of Arkham. Being invited to join the mysterious and secretive art commune known as the New Colony seems to be a huge break for Alden as an artist, inspiring him to great feats of painting, but his painting and the murders soon become inextricably twisted together in the New Colony. The arrival of the strange and highly charismatic surrealist artist Juan Hugo Balthazarr to the New Colony seems to promise new heights of pageantry and inspiration; but instead, Alden and Nina find themselves drawn into incomprehensible occult rituals, which begin to have terrifying implications for the residents of the New Colony, as well as all of Arkham.
Set in media res, Sidor opens the novel with Oakes a famous artist, returning to Arkham and the infamous Silver Gate Hotel to be interviewed by a young journalist. The newspaperman hopes to get a big story out of the painter, a man who seems to have aged far faster than his physical years, and who begins to describe the path that led him to fame and fortune. It’s a really effective framing device that neatly sets out the broad contours of the plot – surreal art, a strange fire, a reclusive and mysterious artist with a horrifying tale to tell – and irresistibly draws you into the rest of the story. Sidor has a way of writing prose that perfectly embodies the nightmarish and surreal themes of the Arkham Horror setting; throughout the novel, as the narrative deftly unwinds and hooks you in further, Sidor maintains an unsettling and even anxious atmosphere that greatly enhances a story brimming with unreal imagery and which forces the reader to question just which elements – if any – are real and actually occurring. His prose is superbly constructed, drawing you in without even realising it; I read the majority of The Last Ritual in the course of a single day, losing track of the hours as I turned the pages. That brilliant prose supports a deeply compelling narrative, one which develops quickly and effectively, always having a twist or turn to make you turn the page and begin the next chapter; you feel like you’ve been inducted into the ethereal world of the New Colony yourself, experiencing the frantic highs and terrifying lows of Alden’s investigation into the occult through his eyes.
The writing is superb, and the plot enthralling, but the characters are perhaps the finest part of The Last Ritual, and which for me elevated the book as one of the best Aconyte have published so far. It would have been so very easy for Sidor to fall into the clichés and tropes which litter the occult and Lovecraftian genres, and give us two-dimensional artistes who foolishly dabble with things they do not understand in the pursuit of their art. But instead, Sidor gives us some engaging and three-dimensional characters who always seem to act on their own initiative, and not just because the plot and page-count demand it. Alden is a detached and adrift protagonist, looking for meaning in his life, but importantly he is already a talented painter in his own right, even if looking for something to perfect his art; Sidor does not fall into the trap of giving us the generic ‘common-place artist desperate to be great’ protagonist so often seen in these sorts of tales. And Balthazarr makes for a memorable and delightfully bombastic antagonist, a wraithlike character who seems happy to taunt Alden and sting him with verbal barbs while turning the population of the New Colony into his willing puppets for his rituals and artworks. Indeed, all of the characters are fully fleshed-out and engaging – never a guarantee in the Lovecraftian genre, unfortunately – and Sidor also imbues them with this feeling of impermanence , a sort of semi-solidity that ties into the dream-like atmosphere of the novel as a whole. We’re never quite certain whether anything Alden is telling the journalist in the hotel room is real at all, or simply his own fevered and twisted imaginations, and the story is all the better for it. It creates a certain tension in the novel’s atmosphere, a certain expectation from the reader, which Sidor then deftly and unexpectedly shatters with an ending that I genuinely didn’t see coming. His knack for blending artist expression and Lovecraftian horrors really is the best that I’ve ever seen reading through the genre over the years, and is genuinely impressive.
Superbly written, deftly plotted, and imbued with Sidor’s absolutely phenomenal imagination and inherent understanding of the decaying, sumptuous décor of Jazz Age Arkham that hides a terrifying underside, The Last Ritual is one of the most enjoyable and memorable occult horror thrillers that I have read in a long time, and a fantastic addition to Aconyte’s Arkham Horror range. Sidor has delivered us a novel that perfectly embodies both Arkham Horror as a setting, and Lovecraftian Artistry as a concept, and I can only hope that editor Charlotte Llewelyn-Wells commissions further Arkham Horror books from him in the future. I would certainly pick them up and read them without hesitation, and I believe I would be far from the only one.
November 8, 2021
Die Arkham Horror Games erfreuen sich ja großer Beliebtheit und nun steht das erste Buch der Reihe bereit und ich war wirklich gespannt, was mich hier erwartet:
Der aufstrebende Maler Alden Oakes wird eingeladen, sich einer geheimnisvollen Kunstkommune in Arkham anzuschließen: der Neuen Kolonie. Als der gefeierte spanische Surrealist Juan Hugo Balthazarr die Kolonie besucht, geraten Alden und die anderen Künstler schnell in den Bann des charismatischen Mannes. Auf dekadenten Partys beschwört er Illusionen herauf, die die Grenzen zwischen Albtraum und Realität verwischen. Alden kommt der Verdacht, dass Balthazarrs Rituale mehr als nur Schein sein könnten und tatsächlich darauf abzielen, diese Grenzen zu durchbrechen, um das, was dahinter lauert, freizusetzen. Alden muss handeln, doch es könnte bereits zu spät sein, um sich selbst zu retten - ganz zu schweigen von Arkham.
Ich muss sagen ich kenne die Spiele nicht, mich hat aber das Cover und der Inhalt direkt angesprochen. Arkham ist vor allem durch H.P. Lovecraft bekannt, der die fiktive Stadt damals erfunden hat, die sich bis heute großer Beliebtheit erfreut. Als großer Lovecraft Fan hatte ich natürlich hohe Erwartungen an die Geschichte. Alden Oakes ist der einzige Überlebende eines Hotelbrandes und erzählt rückblickend seine Geschichte und was wirklich in dem Hotel vorgefallen ist und wie es dazu kam.
Die beiden Protagonisten Alden und Nina werden hier sehr gut charakterisiert und sind interessant gestalten. Wir erhalten einen tiefer gehenden Einblick in die beiden so dass man ihre Handlungen auch besser nachvollziehen kann. Allerdings muss ich sagen, dass mir Nina hier deutlich besser gefallen hat, mit ihrer aufbrausenden Art weiß sie sich als Frau in der damaligen Zeit durchzusetzen. Die restlichen Charaktere bleiben dagegen leider sehr blass, da sie zu wenige Spielraum bekommen. Mir hat besonders gut gefallen wie mit der Wahrnehmung der Charaktere gespielt wird. Man weiß nie genau, was Realität ist und was Einbildung, wodurch es zu recht spannenden Szenen kommt.
Ich mochte den Erzählstil der Geschichte sehr gerne, vor allem die Welt, die hier entworfen wird, bietet großes Potenzial. Ich fand das Setting richtig grandios und konnte mich gut darin verlieren. Was mir allerdings ein wenig gefehlt hat war der Horror in dem Buch, dieser setzt erst relativ spät ein und das auch nur sehr subtil. Hier hatte ich mir deutlich mehr erwartet. Dennoch übt die Geschichte einen gewissen Sog aus und konnte mich mit der düsteren und mysteriösen Grundstimmung beeindrucken.
Wer bei Das letze Ritual eine Horrorgeschichte erwartet wird wahrscheinlich enttäuscht sein. Wer aber mit Okkultismus, Ritualen, subtilen Grusel und Surrealismus gut klarkommt, der wird mit einer interessanten Geschichte belohnt. Mich konnte vor allem das Setting in der Geschichte begeistern und ich freu mich schon auf den nächsten Band der Reihe "Litanei der Träume" der schon am 29.11.21 erscheint.
3,5 von 5 Sternen
Der aufstrebende Maler Alden Oakes wird eingeladen, sich einer geheimnisvollen Kunstkommune in Arkham anzuschließen: der Neuen Kolonie. Als der gefeierte spanische Surrealist Juan Hugo Balthazarr die Kolonie besucht, geraten Alden und die anderen Künstler schnell in den Bann des charismatischen Mannes. Auf dekadenten Partys beschwört er Illusionen herauf, die die Grenzen zwischen Albtraum und Realität verwischen. Alden kommt der Verdacht, dass Balthazarrs Rituale mehr als nur Schein sein könnten und tatsächlich darauf abzielen, diese Grenzen zu durchbrechen, um das, was dahinter lauert, freizusetzen. Alden muss handeln, doch es könnte bereits zu spät sein, um sich selbst zu retten - ganz zu schweigen von Arkham.
Ich muss sagen ich kenne die Spiele nicht, mich hat aber das Cover und der Inhalt direkt angesprochen. Arkham ist vor allem durch H.P. Lovecraft bekannt, der die fiktive Stadt damals erfunden hat, die sich bis heute großer Beliebtheit erfreut. Als großer Lovecraft Fan hatte ich natürlich hohe Erwartungen an die Geschichte. Alden Oakes ist der einzige Überlebende eines Hotelbrandes und erzählt rückblickend seine Geschichte und was wirklich in dem Hotel vorgefallen ist und wie es dazu kam.
Die beiden Protagonisten Alden und Nina werden hier sehr gut charakterisiert und sind interessant gestalten. Wir erhalten einen tiefer gehenden Einblick in die beiden so dass man ihre Handlungen auch besser nachvollziehen kann. Allerdings muss ich sagen, dass mir Nina hier deutlich besser gefallen hat, mit ihrer aufbrausenden Art weiß sie sich als Frau in der damaligen Zeit durchzusetzen. Die restlichen Charaktere bleiben dagegen leider sehr blass, da sie zu wenige Spielraum bekommen. Mir hat besonders gut gefallen wie mit der Wahrnehmung der Charaktere gespielt wird. Man weiß nie genau, was Realität ist und was Einbildung, wodurch es zu recht spannenden Szenen kommt.
Ich mochte den Erzählstil der Geschichte sehr gerne, vor allem die Welt, die hier entworfen wird, bietet großes Potenzial. Ich fand das Setting richtig grandios und konnte mich gut darin verlieren. Was mir allerdings ein wenig gefehlt hat war der Horror in dem Buch, dieser setzt erst relativ spät ein und das auch nur sehr subtil. Hier hatte ich mir deutlich mehr erwartet. Dennoch übt die Geschichte einen gewissen Sog aus und konnte mich mit der düsteren und mysteriösen Grundstimmung beeindrucken.
Wer bei Das letze Ritual eine Horrorgeschichte erwartet wird wahrscheinlich enttäuscht sein. Wer aber mit Okkultismus, Ritualen, subtilen Grusel und Surrealismus gut klarkommt, der wird mit einer interessanten Geschichte belohnt. Mich konnte vor allem das Setting in der Geschichte begeistern und ich freu mich schon auf den nächsten Band der Reihe "Litanei der Träume" der schon am 29.11.21 erscheint.
3,5 von 5 Sternen
November 14, 2023
This story really wasn’t for me. It was really random and nothing the main characters did seemed to really matter. I felt like the story was trying to continually convince me that the narrator/main character’s narration couldn’t be trusted but it never made any sense. Other people saw what he saw but it didn’t change what he did or how he acted.
I don’t know. Maybe I am missing something in the whole story. It just never connected for me.
I don’t know. Maybe I am missing something in the whole story. It just never connected for me.
November 21, 2021
Ich hatte nach dem Klappentext ein bisschen was anderes erwartet. Genug Lovecraft habe ich gelesen, ich liebe Geschichten die in dieser Welt spielen. Aber das hier war mir zu... subtil. Ich weiss nicht, wie ich es anders ausdrücken soll. Für zwischendurch okay, aber meinen Geschmack hat es nicht komplett getroffen. Schade.
September 18, 2023
I can't say much about this other than it was fine. The story never really pulled me in but it wasn't the worst thing I've ever read.
The cover is real pretty though.
The cover is real pretty though.
August 24, 2021
Fun occult adventure in the delicious Arkham Horror vein.
October 11, 2021
Kann man lesen, aber mag verpasst nix wenn man es lässt
February 14, 2022
Entretenida aventura de resonancias lovecraftianas, llena de referencias a los mitos. Disfrutable.
May 3, 2025
Yet another Arkham horror book that does its own thing in terms of the Great Old Ones, the end result is really mediocre.
July 16, 2023
The Last Ritual kicked off the more cosmic horror-esque side of Aconyte's Arkham Horror range with a tale of surrealist art and interdimensional darkness. It’s the story of an artist – Alden Oakes – in search of inspiration, which he finds once he returns to Arkham and takes up with a community of fellow artists, led by the charismatic Juan Hugo Balthazar. When decadent parties turn into ritualistic murders, however, Alden begins to suspect something dark may lie behind Balthazar’s genius.
It’s a fun read, and I liked the framing device of having a slightly older Alden relating his tale to a young journalist, but I’d have loved it to have just dug a little deeper into the weirdness and darkness.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2023/07/...
It’s a fun read, and I liked the framing device of having a slightly older Alden relating his tale to a young journalist, but I’d have loved it to have just dug a little deeper into the weirdness and darkness.
Read the full review at https://www.trackofwords.com/2023/07/...
May 24, 2021
So I knew about the game Arkham Horror, but did not realize this was a tie-in when I bought it. How it works as a tie-in I can't say, and I don't tend to read tie-in fiction, with the exception of the odd Warhammer novel here and there. For me this was just a Lovecraftian story that I confess drew me in because of the incredibly pleasing Jazz Age, pseudo-Deco cover and the intriguing blurb about a creepy artist colony on the outskirts of Arkham.
On to the review:
Sidor clearly knows the era, and his crisp, quick writing (so very different from its own) resonates with 20s lingo and little details, creating a style that is very much "Mythos-ala-Gatsby". The opening sequence in Spain hits all the right notes and has a bit of Ligotti, "Last Feast of Harlequin" feel that sucked me in as thoroughly as it did the narrator.
The entire novel zips along, and that is both its success and its failing. This book needed to be about 20 pages long or 50 pages shorter. It takes a little too long to really introduce the artist colony and its creepy goings on, and the colony and its inhabitants never really achieve their potential. Instead, we meet a number of characters, creatures that I am told are from the game (ex: Calvin Wright, a certain gargoyle, the Black Cave), and although all add some great scenes in the book, none REALLY serve the story. Calvin plays a minor Deux ex Machina role in the story, but he himself doesn't really make sense. Firstly, while empowered non-White characters are an important way to address Lovecraft's own raging racism, even in 1920s New England a Black stevedore just wouldn't feel free to call a White blue-blood he's just met by his first name, threaten him in public, etc. The risk in doing so was too high, but the novel never addresses this, and our status-conscious narrator is oddly (and unbelievably) oblivious to it. Further, we are led to believe that Calvin "knows things", including what is going on with the colony and its Dali-like, guru, but when we see him again he's oddly oblivious and seems shocked once more to here there are sorcerous doings afoot. The gargoyle (yes, a winged, humanoid monster) lists a series of warnings that draw the investigators to Calvin, then suggests that our narrator's paramour is more than she seems -- but again, nothing comes of it, and the gargoyle is then gone from the tale. Black Cave provides two of the best scenes in the book, but no real resolution -- whatever is there lurking plays no role in the story and the strange threats our hero and heroine receive are never clearly revealed as to their source, nor their purpose. All of this feels like things the author may have been compelled to work in for tie-in purposes, but for someone who doesn't know a thing about the game, it feels like padding of a story that would have stronger without it.
Interestingly, for a story about Lovecraft's imaginary city, the otherworldly entity is not a figure from the Cthulhu Mythos, or if it is, it is one of its avatars. But alas, we learn nothing about this figure, its goal, etc.; even the ramblings that our mysterious, Spanish art guru supplies really tell us nothing. The end result is almost the exact opposite of the usual Lovecraft pastiche, where authors name drop entities and books ad nauseum. Here, we learn so little that it's almost irrelevant, but it also makes the final encounter seem TOO clipped and vague. OTOH, the epilogue is perfect and hits just the right note.
The end result is an enjoyable, atmospheric and fast read that kept me turning pages but left me a little disappointed in missed opportunities. I would like to read some of Sidor's independent work, when he isn't constrained by the requirements of the publisher-client.
On to the review:
Sidor clearly knows the era, and his crisp, quick writing (so very different from its own) resonates with 20s lingo and little details, creating a style that is very much "Mythos-ala-Gatsby". The opening sequence in Spain hits all the right notes and has a bit of Ligotti, "Last Feast of Harlequin" feel that sucked me in as thoroughly as it did the narrator.
The entire novel zips along, and that is both its success and its failing. This book needed to be about 20 pages long or 50 pages shorter. It takes a little too long to really introduce the artist colony and its creepy goings on, and the colony and its inhabitants never really achieve their potential. Instead, we meet a number of characters, creatures that I am told are from the game (ex: Calvin Wright, a certain gargoyle, the Black Cave), and although all add some great scenes in the book, none REALLY serve the story. Calvin plays a minor Deux ex Machina role in the story, but he himself doesn't really make sense. Firstly, while empowered non-White characters are an important way to address Lovecraft's own raging racism, even in 1920s New England a Black stevedore just wouldn't feel free to call a White blue-blood he's just met by his first name, threaten him in public, etc. The risk in doing so was too high, but the novel never addresses this, and our status-conscious narrator is oddly (and unbelievably) oblivious to it. Further, we are led to believe that Calvin "knows things", including what is going on with the colony and its Dali-like, guru, but when we see him again he's oddly oblivious and seems shocked once more to here there are sorcerous doings afoot. The gargoyle (yes, a winged, humanoid monster) lists a series of warnings that draw the investigators to Calvin, then suggests that our narrator's paramour is more than she seems -- but again, nothing comes of it, and the gargoyle is then gone from the tale. Black Cave provides two of the best scenes in the book, but no real resolution -- whatever is there lurking plays no role in the story and the strange threats our hero and heroine receive are never clearly revealed as to their source, nor their purpose. All of this feels like things the author may have been compelled to work in for tie-in purposes, but for someone who doesn't know a thing about the game, it feels like padding of a story that would have stronger without it.
Interestingly, for a story about Lovecraft's imaginary city, the otherworldly entity is not a figure from the Cthulhu Mythos, or if it is, it is one of its avatars. But alas, we learn nothing about this figure, its goal, etc.; even the ramblings that our mysterious, Spanish art guru supplies really tell us nothing. The end result is almost the exact opposite of the usual Lovecraft pastiche, where authors name drop entities and books ad nauseum. Here, we learn so little that it's almost irrelevant, but it also makes the final encounter seem TOO clipped and vague. OTOH, the epilogue is perfect and hits just the right note.
The end result is an enjoyable, atmospheric and fast read that kept me turning pages but left me a little disappointed in missed opportunities. I would like to read some of Sidor's independent work, when he isn't constrained by the requirements of the publisher-client.
February 3, 2021
I bought this book because I wanted to read a horror novel that takes place in the 20s and back in July I was like, "Man, I would sure love to read a horror novel that takes place in the 1920s, surrounded by elaborate art deco, perhaps something that takes place in a hotel" and wouldn't you know it, I found this book which wouldn't be coming out until December or January. Not to be deterred, I added it to my TBR and waited. Now in all that time, my deep desire to read a horror novel with all the art deco glamor of the 1920s did not fade. No sir, it had held strong and I bought it soon after the release.
Now did I get what I had held out for months for? Nah. The setting what not what I thought it would be and we didn't get a ton of hotel art deco action but I could live with that. Go ahead, sprinkle in some other settings. All good. Not that much about the hotel, but I will live. What about the 1920s setting though? Did it deliver? Nah, it appears like the author has very little to no knowledge about 20s fashion, culture, or society. The language is wrong, the clothing is so wrong, he described a red dress that one of the women characters wear as tight like a second skin. This is 1926 my dude, ain't no woman of high society, or even low society wearing a skin tight dress. This is full on the era of the straight, boxy, dropped waist flapper look. The societal hierarchy is there, but in a weird way, like it is only used to explain them getting a good table at restaurants, not reflected in their actual attitudes or behavior. The author did delve into the art movement of the time which was great because that is what the book centers around.
The characters were flat, you didn't know that you were in the 1920s until the author reminded you, but the story line does play out like a rather interesting murder mystery cult. So the horror was alright, so check that box. Though, I never felt scared because the tension was kind of low and the characters didn't have too much emotion about it either. The conclusion was...unexpected? Weird? Something? It wasn't great but I didn't really mind too much. For most of the book I was entertained enough to offset disappointments. I still liked it, but it was a mild like, like how you may like 'cherry' flavored jolly ranchers but you only eat them when you have eaten all the other flavors first. I feel like more research about the time period would have improved the situation. There was bootlegging tossed in there so that helped put it in the right time period. There was, however, nothing said about the culture, politics, or social movements. This was a period of substantial change and it isn't even hinted at in the book. Could have been better, very average read.
Now did I get what I had held out for months for? Nah. The setting what not what I thought it would be and we didn't get a ton of hotel art deco action but I could live with that. Go ahead, sprinkle in some other settings. All good. Not that much about the hotel, but I will live. What about the 1920s setting though? Did it deliver? Nah, it appears like the author has very little to no knowledge about 20s fashion, culture, or society. The language is wrong, the clothing is so wrong, he described a red dress that one of the women characters wear as tight like a second skin. This is 1926 my dude, ain't no woman of high society, or even low society wearing a skin tight dress. This is full on the era of the straight, boxy, dropped waist flapper look. The societal hierarchy is there, but in a weird way, like it is only used to explain them getting a good table at restaurants, not reflected in their actual attitudes or behavior. The author did delve into the art movement of the time which was great because that is what the book centers around.
The characters were flat, you didn't know that you were in the 1920s until the author reminded you, but the story line does play out like a rather interesting murder mystery cult. So the horror was alright, so check that box. Though, I never felt scared because the tension was kind of low and the characters didn't have too much emotion about it either. The conclusion was...unexpected? Weird? Something? It wasn't great but I didn't really mind too much. For most of the book I was entertained enough to offset disappointments. I still liked it, but it was a mild like, like how you may like 'cherry' flavored jolly ranchers but you only eat them when you have eaten all the other flavors first. I feel like more research about the time period would have improved the situation. There was bootlegging tossed in there so that helped put it in the right time period. There was, however, nothing said about the culture, politics, or social movements. This was a period of substantial change and it isn't even hinted at in the book. Could have been better, very average read.
December 11, 2022
Reseña: El último ritual, de S.A. Sidor.
🕯️Hoy os traigo El último ritual, una novela del universo Arkham Horror, el popular juego inspirado en los mundos de Lovecraft!
🕯️La verdad que me ha sorprendido bastante, cada vez que leo una novela basada en algún juego o franquicia (Magic TG, WoW, Diablo,...) me llevo un chasco tremendo en cuanto a la calidad de la misma, ya que tienden a ser bastante básicas y simplonas. Sin embargo esta vez ha sido todo un acierto.
🕯️El último ritual es una novela cargada de misterio, de sectas y sacrificios, de toques oscuros y como no, de esencia del maestro Lovecraft.
🕯️Me ha resultado muy muy entretenida, sin grandes pretensiones ni esperar ser la novela del siglo, algo sencillo y original.
🕯️El protagonista me ha parecido super carismático, me ha hecho mucha gracia su forma de actuar durante la novela, ha sido un gran punto a favor.
🕯️Y como en muchos libros del género terror o misterio, lo importante no es el final, ya que podemos imaginar pronto por dónde van los tiros, sino el camino a recorrer, que ha sido genial.
🕯️Después de éste estoy deseando hincarle el diente al resto de las novelas de Arkham Horror.
🕯️Contadme si os llama la atención, si habéis leído algunos de los libros de AH o si conocéis el juego en el que se basa!
Para más reseñas como estas seguidme en mis redes sociales:
IG: @dani_rivera13
Twitter: @daniriv13
🕯️Hoy os traigo El último ritual, una novela del universo Arkham Horror, el popular juego inspirado en los mundos de Lovecraft!
🕯️La verdad que me ha sorprendido bastante, cada vez que leo una novela basada en algún juego o franquicia (Magic TG, WoW, Diablo,...) me llevo un chasco tremendo en cuanto a la calidad de la misma, ya que tienden a ser bastante básicas y simplonas. Sin embargo esta vez ha sido todo un acierto.
🕯️El último ritual es una novela cargada de misterio, de sectas y sacrificios, de toques oscuros y como no, de esencia del maestro Lovecraft.
🕯️Me ha resultado muy muy entretenida, sin grandes pretensiones ni esperar ser la novela del siglo, algo sencillo y original.
🕯️El protagonista me ha parecido super carismático, me ha hecho mucha gracia su forma de actuar durante la novela, ha sido un gran punto a favor.
🕯️Y como en muchos libros del género terror o misterio, lo importante no es el final, ya que podemos imaginar pronto por dónde van los tiros, sino el camino a recorrer, que ha sido genial.
🕯️Después de éste estoy deseando hincarle el diente al resto de las novelas de Arkham Horror.
🕯️Contadme si os llama la atención, si habéis leído algunos de los libros de AH o si conocéis el juego en el que se basa!
Para más reseñas como estas seguidme en mis redes sociales:
IG: @dani_rivera13
Twitter: @daniriv13
July 22, 2022
"I am dangerously close to buying every book and game they’ve produced for this world."
Gothically romantic, tastefully old-timey, and leaves you wondering whether you’ll jump up from your seat fist-pumping, or sitting on the couch reliving it to process, surely with a smile on your face. That is if you’re like me, and good horror surely makes you smile with its cleverness.
A string of mysterious murders has Arkham in the grip of something cosmically terrifying. Alden Oakes is enjoying the bachelor life in Spain, painting, and solo partying down the gorgeous coasts. On a wrong turn to Barcelona Alden finds himself in the middle of a ritual happening right before his eyes in a rundown village. Pyres are burning and robed individuals chant in bizarrely ancient and foreign tongues, while a menacingly enchanting man leads them all through it. Alden awakens the next morning, putting it all to the back of his mind, and meets up with an old friend, Preston, who invites him back to New England to attend a wedding. Upon arrival at his old stomping grounds, horrifying occurrences begin to flood Alden’s reality which makes him question his sanity and safety.
This novel surpasses the ordinary and brings new tropes to cosmic horror. It’s refreshing, spooky, and romanticizes the pearls and prohibition of the roaring 20s. There’s not one moment in this where you’ll feel bored, drowned by inner monologue, or unnecessary play-by-plays. Everything is meant to bring the narrative distance so close that you can imagine yourself as Alden Oakes navigating the treachery of Arkham. It’s written in 1st POV and told through Alden, interview style. Everything tantalizes and ignites your senses while reading. The wonderfully described landscapes and architecture, visceral mental paintings of Autumn in New England, and just the sheer giddiness of escaping back into the 1920s vicariously with period-correct dialect and wardrobe.
The pacing is brilliant to keep you roped in, making this 346-page novel a one-dayer, easily. I had never known of the Arkham Horror world until I picked this book up and I am dangerously close to buying every book and game they’ve produced for this world. It’s encapsulating, so much to the point you want to live inside it and pop bubbly with Alden and Nina like you’re their third-wheel sleuth, hungry for more cosmic trepidations.
S.A. Sidor’s descriptions and adjectives are satiable and leave you wanting more, a mystique branding of artful language grand enough to leave you with a lasting impression. I recommend this to anyone that’s a fan of the occult and vintage, a time lost in history we only hear from stories passed down the generations.
Gothically romantic, tastefully old-timey, and leaves you wondering whether you’ll jump up from your seat fist-pumping, or sitting on the couch reliving it to process, surely with a smile on your face. That is if you’re like me, and good horror surely makes you smile with its cleverness.
A string of mysterious murders has Arkham in the grip of something cosmically terrifying. Alden Oakes is enjoying the bachelor life in Spain, painting, and solo partying down the gorgeous coasts. On a wrong turn to Barcelona Alden finds himself in the middle of a ritual happening right before his eyes in a rundown village. Pyres are burning and robed individuals chant in bizarrely ancient and foreign tongues, while a menacingly enchanting man leads them all through it. Alden awakens the next morning, putting it all to the back of his mind, and meets up with an old friend, Preston, who invites him back to New England to attend a wedding. Upon arrival at his old stomping grounds, horrifying occurrences begin to flood Alden’s reality which makes him question his sanity and safety.
This novel surpasses the ordinary and brings new tropes to cosmic horror. It’s refreshing, spooky, and romanticizes the pearls and prohibition of the roaring 20s. There’s not one moment in this where you’ll feel bored, drowned by inner monologue, or unnecessary play-by-plays. Everything is meant to bring the narrative distance so close that you can imagine yourself as Alden Oakes navigating the treachery of Arkham. It’s written in 1st POV and told through Alden, interview style. Everything tantalizes and ignites your senses while reading. The wonderfully described landscapes and architecture, visceral mental paintings of Autumn in New England, and just the sheer giddiness of escaping back into the 1920s vicariously with period-correct dialect and wardrobe.
The pacing is brilliant to keep you roped in, making this 346-page novel a one-dayer, easily. I had never known of the Arkham Horror world until I picked this book up and I am dangerously close to buying every book and game they’ve produced for this world. It’s encapsulating, so much to the point you want to live inside it and pop bubbly with Alden and Nina like you’re their third-wheel sleuth, hungry for more cosmic trepidations.
S.A. Sidor’s descriptions and adjectives are satiable and leave you wanting more, a mystique branding of artful language grand enough to leave you with a lasting impression. I recommend this to anyone that’s a fan of the occult and vintage, a time lost in history we only hear from stories passed down the generations.
July 31, 2025
Eine düstere, Detective Noir-Geschichte, die sich wie eine atmosphärische Cthulhu-Spielerunde liest, bei der man selbst gerne in eine Rolle schlüpfen und den Verstand verlieren möchte. Nicht alles wird zu Tode erklärt, die Unwissenheit schürt bewusst die Angst und Antworten auf schockierende Ereignisse findet man als Leser überwiegend in der eigenen Vorstellungskraft.
Nur der Horror hat mir etwas gefehlt und hätte durchaus etwas mehr sein dürfen. Insgesamt hat mir „Das letzte Ritual“ sehr gut gefallen. Lovecraft hätte es wohl geliebt - oder selbst so geschrieben.
Nur der Horror hat mir etwas gefehlt und hätte durchaus etwas mehr sein dürfen. Insgesamt hat mir „Das letzte Ritual“ sehr gut gefallen. Lovecraft hätte es wohl geliebt - oder selbst so geschrieben.
April 8, 2022
Diese Geschichte bot eine andere Art von Horror als ich erwartet hatte, sobald ich mich jedoch darauf eingestellt hatte gefiel es mir richtig gut.
Statt jumpscares und bildhaften Schrecken ist es hier mehr ein schleichender Horror, der unter die Haut geht, mit dem Verstand spielt und vor allem beim darüber Nachdenken Gänsehaut beschert.
Ich fand die Geschichte sehr gut umgesetzt, die Art es als Bericht zu erzählen -mit eingeschobenen erzählerischen Anekdoten und Hinweisen- gefiel mir sehr und auch der Erzähler, ein exzentrischer Künstler mit dem Herz am rechten Fleck, war mir sympathisch.
Generell mochte ich die Art, wie die Charaktere beschrieben wurden. Auch ohne lange Erklärungen hatte man recht schnell einen Eindruck und konnte sich etwas darunter vorstellen.
Besonders gut war meiner Meinung nach das Ende, welches nicht nur sehr zufriedenstellend war sondern auch perfekt zu der Geschichte passte.
Danke an Netgalley, den Verlag und die Autorin/den Autor für das Rezensionsexemplar!
Statt jumpscares und bildhaften Schrecken ist es hier mehr ein schleichender Horror, der unter die Haut geht, mit dem Verstand spielt und vor allem beim darüber Nachdenken Gänsehaut beschert.
Ich fand die Geschichte sehr gut umgesetzt, die Art es als Bericht zu erzählen -mit eingeschobenen erzählerischen Anekdoten und Hinweisen- gefiel mir sehr und auch der Erzähler, ein exzentrischer Künstler mit dem Herz am rechten Fleck, war mir sympathisch.
Generell mochte ich die Art, wie die Charaktere beschrieben wurden. Auch ohne lange Erklärungen hatte man recht schnell einen Eindruck und konnte sich etwas darunter vorstellen.
Besonders gut war meiner Meinung nach das Ende, welches nicht nur sehr zufriedenstellend war sondern auch perfekt zu der Geschichte passte.
Danke an Netgalley, den Verlag und die Autorin/den Autor für das Rezensionsexemplar!
July 29, 2022
Oggi sono qui per parlarvi di un'altra bellissima opera arrivata nelle nostre librerie.
Come sapete sono una grandissima amante del genere quindi quando mi è stata data l'opportunità di leggere l'opera potevo mai rifiutare? Certo che no!
Il nostro protagonista è Alden, un aspirante pittore che viene invitato ad unirsi alla Nuova Colonia, firmata da altri artisti come lui.
Non appena però il surrealista spagnolo Jean Hugo Balthazarr, appare, tutto inizia a complicarsi poiché il suo fascino non ci mette molto a soggiogare tutti, specialmente perché è promotore di una serie di feste che attraggono l’interesse della élite della cittadina di Arkham.
Dietro ai numeri di illusionismo, però, Alden inizia a sospettare si nasconda qualcosa di oscuro ed è pronto a fermarlo.
Ma quale sarà il prezzo?
Ispirato ai racconti di Lovecraft, l'universo di Arkham Horror che proviene per l'appunto dal famoso gioco da tavolo, continua a stupire non solo per la
Super consigliato a tutti gli appassionati e a chi si avvicina al mondo per la prima volta.
Come sapete sono una grandissima amante del genere quindi quando mi è stata data l'opportunità di leggere l'opera potevo mai rifiutare? Certo che no!
Il nostro protagonista è Alden, un aspirante pittore che viene invitato ad unirsi alla Nuova Colonia, firmata da altri artisti come lui.
Non appena però il surrealista spagnolo Jean Hugo Balthazarr, appare, tutto inizia a complicarsi poiché il suo fascino non ci mette molto a soggiogare tutti, specialmente perché è promotore di una serie di feste che attraggono l’interesse della élite della cittadina di Arkham.
Dietro ai numeri di illusionismo, però, Alden inizia a sospettare si nasconda qualcosa di oscuro ed è pronto a fermarlo.
Ma quale sarà il prezzo?
Ispirato ai racconti di Lovecraft, l'universo di Arkham Horror che proviene per l'appunto dal famoso gioco da tavolo, continua a stupire non solo per la
Super consigliato a tutti gli appassionati e a chi si avvicina al mondo per la prima volta.
March 13, 2021
The Arkham Horror series has very strong links to the works of H.P. Lovecraft, with much of the games and their lore being adapted from the stories produced by the horror writer, and subsequent others who've come along after and added to the Cthulhu lore. Because of this, you might be likely to come to a book like The Last Ritual with certain expectations, but I found that S.A. Sidor was able to subvert these expectations, and gave me a much different story to the one I was expecting.
I'm sure we've all seen stories based upon Lovecraft's work that use the horror elements, that push the otherworldly strangeness of creatures like Cthulhu and his fellow entities. I think that readers come to expect that these creatures will eventually take centre stage in these stories, even if they only appear right at the end as our hero faces off against some tentacled monstrosity that pushes the limits of their sanity. Whilst this book does feature Lovecraftian beasts, it's less of a psychological horror and more of a mystery; and that definitely makes it stand out.
The Last Ritual follows the character of Alden Oakes, a young socialite from Arkham who's travelling across Europe and living the rich playboy lifestyle when he runs into his old friend, Preston, in France. He discovers that Preston has just become engaged, to Alden's former girlfriend Minnie, and encourages Alden to return to Arkham to celebrate with them and attend their wedding. Alden agrees, but decides to spend some more time in Europe for a while. However, after finding himself in a small town in Spain weeks later, he gets caught up in a local festival that takes a turn for the sinister. The event leaves him slightly shaken, and encourages him to return to his home.
Back in Arkham, Alden learns that there have been several strange incidents across the city, including disappearances, killings, and strange accidents. When he goes to the scene of the latest accident he meets Nina, and is soon drawn to her not just because of her beauty, but because of her notion that some strange things are happening in the city. When he meets her again at Preston and Minnie's engagement party the two of them stumble across a grizzly murder. Now they find themselves as the centre of a mystery that has the whole of Arkham on edge, has cult like connections, and may involve a mysterious surrealist painter from Spain.
Straight away it's clear that there's something strange happening around Alden, even before we've managed to get to Arkham itself. Whether it's him seeing bizarre symbols being drawn in the sand on a French beach, or the almost nightmarish events of the Spanish festival, it really feels like something is zeroing in on our hero. This makes the narrative somewhat more interesting, as it gives you a sense that whatever he chooses to do he can't escape from what's to come.
Some mystery horror stories have protagonists that are drawn into the narrative, either by making a strange discovery themselves or being asked to investigate something, and it tends to be their own desire to find answers, or their unwillingness to back down that leads them to trouble. But with Alden it seems that even if he were to try to run away from the horrors to come it wouldn't make much of a difference, and that there's no escaping this.
This makes for a story that feels a lot more personal, even though it doesn't seem to involve the people he cares about. He's not connected to this through friends or loved ones being put in danger, but rather because someone or something has chosen to make him a part of it. This ties into the sense of powerlessness that a lot of Lovecraft's stories utilised; the idea that we are unable to alter our own fates, or that we cannot fight the forces that are controlling everything because they rival our powers and abilities in ways that we could never match.
Fortunately, Alden isn't just content to be a pawn in someone's game, and actively goes about trying to get to the bottom of things alongside Nina. The two of them make for an engaging pair, and it's enjoyable to see them getting through their initial misgivings about the other to form a team; and eventually go on to become lovers. It's a pretty believable relationship, and it never once felt like it was being forced, and it was instead a natural progression of their journeys. The two of them are so isolated in a city where no one else wants to acknowledge that awful and bizarre things are happening, so of course they'll find strong affection for each other when they're the only person the other can turn to.
Despite the focus on Alden and Nina the book is filled with interesting characters, many of whom you'll end up wanting to learn more about and spend more time with. Whether it's Calvin, the dock worker who gets drawn into the mystery when his friend is killed, party animal Preston, who you're never quite sure is involved in the bigger mystery or not, or even Roland, Alden's butler and oldest friend; you end up wanting to learn more about the inhabitants of Arkham, and could easily see these characters going off and having their own strange stories in this cursed city.
The characters are definitely one of the strengths of Sidor's writing, and they really make the city come alive in interesting ways. It also helps a lot, as much of the book is focused on the mystery, rather than the horror elements of Arkham Horror. With the frightening moments being few and far between, though incredibly effective, it means that the mystery and the characters have to carry much of the book. With a lesser writer this could easily have fallen apart, but Sidor is able to make even the most mundane scenes interesting because you stop focusing on wanting answers to the mystery and just end up wanting to spend time with the characters instead.
The Last Ritual might not be the scariest story I've read, but it's one of the more interesting mysteries, with enjoyable characters, and a setting that felt completely alive. Whether this is your first introduction to the world of Arkham Horror or you're a long time fan I'm sure that it will keep you hooked right up to the end.
I'm sure we've all seen stories based upon Lovecraft's work that use the horror elements, that push the otherworldly strangeness of creatures like Cthulhu and his fellow entities. I think that readers come to expect that these creatures will eventually take centre stage in these stories, even if they only appear right at the end as our hero faces off against some tentacled monstrosity that pushes the limits of their sanity. Whilst this book does feature Lovecraftian beasts, it's less of a psychological horror and more of a mystery; and that definitely makes it stand out.
The Last Ritual follows the character of Alden Oakes, a young socialite from Arkham who's travelling across Europe and living the rich playboy lifestyle when he runs into his old friend, Preston, in France. He discovers that Preston has just become engaged, to Alden's former girlfriend Minnie, and encourages Alden to return to Arkham to celebrate with them and attend their wedding. Alden agrees, but decides to spend some more time in Europe for a while. However, after finding himself in a small town in Spain weeks later, he gets caught up in a local festival that takes a turn for the sinister. The event leaves him slightly shaken, and encourages him to return to his home.
Back in Arkham, Alden learns that there have been several strange incidents across the city, including disappearances, killings, and strange accidents. When he goes to the scene of the latest accident he meets Nina, and is soon drawn to her not just because of her beauty, but because of her notion that some strange things are happening in the city. When he meets her again at Preston and Minnie's engagement party the two of them stumble across a grizzly murder. Now they find themselves as the centre of a mystery that has the whole of Arkham on edge, has cult like connections, and may involve a mysterious surrealist painter from Spain.
Straight away it's clear that there's something strange happening around Alden, even before we've managed to get to Arkham itself. Whether it's him seeing bizarre symbols being drawn in the sand on a French beach, or the almost nightmarish events of the Spanish festival, it really feels like something is zeroing in on our hero. This makes the narrative somewhat more interesting, as it gives you a sense that whatever he chooses to do he can't escape from what's to come.
Some mystery horror stories have protagonists that are drawn into the narrative, either by making a strange discovery themselves or being asked to investigate something, and it tends to be their own desire to find answers, or their unwillingness to back down that leads them to trouble. But with Alden it seems that even if he were to try to run away from the horrors to come it wouldn't make much of a difference, and that there's no escaping this.
This makes for a story that feels a lot more personal, even though it doesn't seem to involve the people he cares about. He's not connected to this through friends or loved ones being put in danger, but rather because someone or something has chosen to make him a part of it. This ties into the sense of powerlessness that a lot of Lovecraft's stories utilised; the idea that we are unable to alter our own fates, or that we cannot fight the forces that are controlling everything because they rival our powers and abilities in ways that we could never match.
Fortunately, Alden isn't just content to be a pawn in someone's game, and actively goes about trying to get to the bottom of things alongside Nina. The two of them make for an engaging pair, and it's enjoyable to see them getting through their initial misgivings about the other to form a team; and eventually go on to become lovers. It's a pretty believable relationship, and it never once felt like it was being forced, and it was instead a natural progression of their journeys. The two of them are so isolated in a city where no one else wants to acknowledge that awful and bizarre things are happening, so of course they'll find strong affection for each other when they're the only person the other can turn to.
Despite the focus on Alden and Nina the book is filled with interesting characters, many of whom you'll end up wanting to learn more about and spend more time with. Whether it's Calvin, the dock worker who gets drawn into the mystery when his friend is killed, party animal Preston, who you're never quite sure is involved in the bigger mystery or not, or even Roland, Alden's butler and oldest friend; you end up wanting to learn more about the inhabitants of Arkham, and could easily see these characters going off and having their own strange stories in this cursed city.
The characters are definitely one of the strengths of Sidor's writing, and they really make the city come alive in interesting ways. It also helps a lot, as much of the book is focused on the mystery, rather than the horror elements of Arkham Horror. With the frightening moments being few and far between, though incredibly effective, it means that the mystery and the characters have to carry much of the book. With a lesser writer this could easily have fallen apart, but Sidor is able to make even the most mundane scenes interesting because you stop focusing on wanting answers to the mystery and just end up wanting to spend time with the characters instead.
The Last Ritual might not be the scariest story I've read, but it's one of the more interesting mysteries, with enjoyable characters, and a setting that felt completely alive. Whether this is your first introduction to the world of Arkham Horror or you're a long time fan I'm sure that it will keep you hooked right up to the end.
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