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The Labyrinth #2
The Order of Eternal Sleep
Three years after Max Elliot goes missing, an anonymous tip brings Detectives McCloud and O’Neil to a residential arson on the outskirts of Chinatown. The majority of the house survived, but the six bodies inside were reduced to gnarled heaps of blackened limbs. A hidden door to the basement reveals a strange ritual space. Sealing the room, is the image of a serpent and obelisk, reminiscent of Ming’s scarred palm. On the black altar, they find an unidentifiable language and symbols that lead to more questions. Dark magick. Suppressed news reports. Dirty cops. Besides the nightmares inspired by the crime, something else from the hidden basement is following them. Infecting them. Providing a glimpse to the mental anguish coming to consume us all. Meanwhile, a secret order is poised to complete their greatest ritual yet. The Rites of Eternal Sleep will usher in the long night. And when the Black Sun rises, the surface will never be the same. Under the influence of dark forces, McCloud will need all the help he can get to unravel the many veils of The Order before time runs out. Discover the true plans of the Mara today!
- GenresHorror
228 pages, ebook
Published January 31, 2022
15 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
S.C. Mendes
24 books99 followersS.C. Mendes is the co-owner of Blood Bound Books—an independent publisher whose mission is to spreading hope through dark fiction.
Find more about the mission at www.BloodGutsAndStory.com
Mendes has published dark fiction under various pen names since 2009. The Dawn of the Serpent Girl, the final book in The City series is slated for a Dec. 2024 release. His collaborations with Nikki Noir can be found in the New Adult Occult series.
Find more about the mission at www.BloodGutsAndStory.com
Mendes has published dark fiction under various pen names since 2009. The Dawn of the Serpent Girl, the final book in The City series is slated for a Dec. 2024 release. His collaborations with Nikki Noir can be found in the New Adult Occult series.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
April 18, 2022
Sometimes sequels don't live up to the first book, this one was just as good, if not better than the first book. I was so happy when this was released and I wasn't disappointed.
I'm not a big reader of detective stories, but I love how horror and turn of the century police work were beautifully combined. The author wrote it in a way that you don't focus on the era it's written in but on the mystery and horror elements.
I'm not a big reader of detective stories, but I love how horror and turn of the century police work were beautifully combined. The author wrote it in a way that you don't focus on the era it's written in but on the mystery and horror elements.
April 14, 2024
I am sorry to say this did not hit the mark for me. I thought it fell into the same traps as the first in the series. Nothing about the setting or world felt like early 20th century California, it felt like it wanted to be a gritty 1970s pulp detective story and the setting just felt like an incongruous afterthought. The characters were fine in so far as they had complicated inner lives, but it was all pretty much bog-standard. Even worse, the recurring characters from the first novel felt entirely different. Yes, there was a three-year gap in the timeline, but these characters were so wildly different you could have given them different names and not much would have changed. That transformation, whatever happened in those three years to make them who they are when this book opens; that would have been interesting and fun to explore. Instead, they fall into our laps newly and confusingly reformed. The writing felt very abrupt and clunky. The chapters jumped around among a number of different characters, and each chapter was quite short, which did give the book a decent pacing, it lent a feeling of momentum that served the plot. But there was so much that just seemed like it happened for the convenience of plot that it didn’t keep my attention, and all the tension just felt artificial and unearned. Maybe the most frustrating part, though, is that there is no reason this had to be a sequel to The City. This story introduces cults and magic and all these things that were not evenly remotely touched upon in the first story. Yes, in the very end they pull them all together in a way that makes sense, that was fine. But literally nothing in the first story hinted or telegraphed this type of world as a possibility. The stories felt disconnected, like a strained relationship, and the ties that connect them felt tenuous. Lastly, the whole story felt a little QAnon adjacent, what with a mysterious, ancient race of lizard people living in plain sight with plans to take over the world and enslave humanity, using sacrifice and dark powers to accomplish their aims… And that just gave everything a weird veneer that maybe was entirely fabricated from my side but definitely colored the experience.
I don’t mean this review to be so harsh. There is still a relatively compelling mythology created between these two books, even if I don’t feel like it was disclosed in an interesting or coherent way, and there is a lot more that could be explored in the world created. The writing isn’t bad, it is well-paced and certainly carries you along. There are a lot of events that feel too convenient and only half-baked, and those plot hiccups make it feel like the writing is choppy and inconsistent, but with better and more consistent plotting I think the writing would shine through. While the characters aren’t particularly surprising they are interesting, and in fact this story has almost too many characters, we don’t get enough time to get more than a surface-level experience of many of them. That said, the author has no difficulty putting out characters into peril, putting them on both side of dealing out and receiving gratuitous violence, which is a brazen style that fits the genre and mood of the story. Similar to my experience upon finishing the first in this series, I felt like there was a lot of potential that was untapped, in terms of world-building, character, and story. The author clearly has a lot of engaging ideas but the writing doesn’t feel like it explores them as robustly as I would have liked.
I want to thank the author, the publisher Blood Bound Books, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I don’t mean this review to be so harsh. There is still a relatively compelling mythology created between these two books, even if I don’t feel like it was disclosed in an interesting or coherent way, and there is a lot more that could be explored in the world created. The writing isn’t bad, it is well-paced and certainly carries you along. There are a lot of events that feel too convenient and only half-baked, and those plot hiccups make it feel like the writing is choppy and inconsistent, but with better and more consistent plotting I think the writing would shine through. While the characters aren’t particularly surprising they are interesting, and in fact this story has almost too many characters, we don’t get enough time to get more than a surface-level experience of many of them. That said, the author has no difficulty putting out characters into peril, putting them on both side of dealing out and receiving gratuitous violence, which is a brazen style that fits the genre and mood of the story. Similar to my experience upon finishing the first in this series, I felt like there was a lot of potential that was untapped, in terms of world-building, character, and story. The author clearly has a lot of engaging ideas but the writing doesn’t feel like it explores them as robustly as I would have liked.
I want to thank the author, the publisher Blood Bound Books, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 29, 2022
The Order of Eternal Sleep by SC Mendes picks up a couple of years after the climactic ending of The City. At the beginning of this story, the discovery of a crime scene starts Detective McCloud on a mystery that has strong connections to the case that led to the disappearance of Max Elliot two years earlier.
As detective McCloud is drawn further into his case, he begins to discover evidence of the supernatural beings, the Mara, that Elliot uncovered in the first book as well as a human cult devoted to serving the Mara’s purposes. In addition, there exists a network of people devoted to stopping the Mara and their cult.
This book contains so many amazing characters with many different motives. The pace is fast, the suspense is relentless, and the mystery is intriguing.
I absolutely can’t wait for the next instalment in the series.
As detective McCloud is drawn further into his case, he begins to discover evidence of the supernatural beings, the Mara, that Elliot uncovered in the first book as well as a human cult devoted to serving the Mara’s purposes. In addition, there exists a network of people devoted to stopping the Mara and their cult.
This book contains so many amazing characters with many different motives. The pace is fast, the suspense is relentless, and the mystery is intriguing.
I absolutely can’t wait for the next instalment in the series.
November 24, 2024
The Order of Eternal Sleep follows Detective McCloud three years after the events in The City as he struggles with a new case that is reminiscent of the events surrounding Max and Ming, whom he has also lost touch with. He reluctantly accepts the assignment of Detective O’Neil as his partner. O’Neil is quick to pick up on the supernatural elements of the case, but McCloud is resistant. As the two continue to chase bizarre clues and attempt to track down unsettling leads, it becomes clear that neither man knows exactly what they have gotten involved with.
Be prepared to revisit the Mara and learn more about their ultimate plot for all of humanity. This isn’t as graphic and violent as The City, but it’s still a bloody good time. I can’t wait to read the next book, as there are a lot of unanswered questions remaining.
Be prepared to revisit the Mara and learn more about their ultimate plot for all of humanity. This isn’t as graphic and violent as The City, but it’s still a bloody good time. I can’t wait to read the next book, as there are a lot of unanswered questions remaining.
September 24, 2024
I had an absolute blast with S. C. Mendes's debut novel, 'The City', which has reached quite an audience and I've recommended it often in horror groups. While that works well as a standalone novel, with clear beginning, middle and end, the mythology of the world Mendes created was too rich to leave alone and he chose to continue it here. While this novel also ends capably, it's even more clear that there will be a lot more to come, so this suffers the inevitable problem of being a middle book. It can't shine as a great opening, because 'The City' has already done that, and it can't shine as a grand finalé, because that's in the future somewhere however many books down the line.
Its biggest success is the continuing expansion of the mythology of what the City is, who runs it and why it's important not only to them and the clièntele they serve but to the world at large that doesn't know that it even exists. We spend a surprisingly small amount of time there, most of that following up to see what Max Elliott has been doing there after the decision he took at the end of 'The City', at the whim of Lord Valbas, one of the Mara.
I should add at this point that, while I remembered Max, this book is told from many perspectives and I couldn't recall all of the others, so I had to go back to re-read the last few chapters of 'The City'. Mendes assumes that we're up to speed and so doesn't help us out much. To be fair anyone who reads 'The City', whether for the first time or on a repeat visit, is going to want to roll straight into 'The Order of Eternal Sleep', so it's only a problem for those of us who read the first book when it was the only book.
Most of those other characters are above ground in San Francisco in what I believe is now 1913, so three years on from the events of the previous book. Ming made it to McCloud's house safely, but has moved on from there and is now working as an assassin for Shin Sho, who has his own dealings with the Mara. A massive change is coming for the Mara and their lieutenants and minions are preparing for the Rites of Eternal Sleep, which will usher in the long night and the rising of the Black Sun. What all that means we must be patient to discover, but Mendes drips information our way until we realise the true horror of it.
Many of these characters are Mara, working for them or at least aware of who they are. However, more are just regular Americans living their lives in blissful ignorance of the hidden world beneath them, so, when they stumble upon the strange and unusual, they see it as nothing more. For instance, McCloud is still on the force, and he and his partner, O'Neil, both SFPD detectives, are tasked with investigating a new ritual house of horror, a building on the fringes of Chinatown owned by Hisao Osoto, an underworld crime lord. Six burned bodies upstairs lead them to a hidden room below that contains a black altar and a traumatised child in a cage.
O'Neil is a religious man, so he takes his clues to the church, where we discover that Damian Wells isn't the Roman Catholic priest we think, and his connections to others have much deeper meaning. Mendes continues to throw characters at us until we start to attempt to organise them into good guys and bad, those who know about the City and those who don't, who's involved with the Rites of Eternal Sleep and who isn't. Even if we wouldn't have done this anyway, we're forced into it by the volume of plot strands. What are temples and what are nurseries? What's the Order of Eternal Sleep? Who's doing the Mara's bidding and who's just making a quick buck? Who's connected to whom and when and how will mutually connected friends meet? And, of course, who will stay alive long enough to do so?
In short, there's a lot here, making this a book to pay attention to. 'The City' led us relatively easily into a new secret world beyond what we knew and, while there were certainly plot strands to follow, it was a trivial task to keep up, allowing us to concentrate more fully on the vibrancy and decadence of what the City provides. While I remembered some characters and events, much of what stayed with me from 'The City' was imagery, both specific examples of it and the grand sweep of how wild and imaginative it was. Here, there are far more plot strands, far more primary characters driving them forward and far more ramifications to what might happen if they succeed or fail. We have to stay focused.
One criticism I'll echo from 'The City' is that we're very much in a historical setting, but it rarely feels as if it's a period piece. Sure, there's no internet or cellphones, so everything's done the old fashioned way but there's very little to identify this San Francisco as being 1913, beyond general hints that the change the Mara are preparing for might benefit from the world plunging into global warfare. It could be 1903 or 1923, even 1953 or 1963, as long as we think of it in black and white and, perhaps, red.
Not a criticism but a thought is that there's so much here that I wonder if keeping the book short was a good choice. 'The Order of Eternal Sleep' runs just shy of two hundred pages but there's story enough to fill four or five hundred. Maybe that would have allowed Mendes to flesh out the period backdrop and a lot more of the character of the many primary cast members. We know from 'The City' that character is a strong point for Mendes, but he just doesn't have the room here to do that and still weave all his plot strands together to wrap up the story in time. So many books would benefit from being shorter. This is a rare example of one that I think should have been longer.
At the end of the day, it's a good book. It's just a very different book to 'The City', even though it builds on what it began. I honestly can't tell at this point whether Mendes is aiming at a trilogy, with a beast of a third book to wrap everything up, or a series, which is completely viable with a mythology this rich. Either way, it's not going to end here and, as enjoyable as this book is, it's always going to end up being the volume that got us from here to there.
Originally posted at the Nameless Zine in September 2023:
https://www.thenamelesszine.org/Books...
Index of all my Nameless Zine reviews:
https://books.apocalypselaterempire.com/
Its biggest success is the continuing expansion of the mythology of what the City is, who runs it and why it's important not only to them and the clièntele they serve but to the world at large that doesn't know that it even exists. We spend a surprisingly small amount of time there, most of that following up to see what Max Elliott has been doing there after the decision he took at the end of 'The City', at the whim of Lord Valbas, one of the Mara.
I should add at this point that, while I remembered Max, this book is told from many perspectives and I couldn't recall all of the others, so I had to go back to re-read the last few chapters of 'The City'. Mendes assumes that we're up to speed and so doesn't help us out much. To be fair anyone who reads 'The City', whether for the first time or on a repeat visit, is going to want to roll straight into 'The Order of Eternal Sleep', so it's only a problem for those of us who read the first book when it was the only book.
Most of those other characters are above ground in San Francisco in what I believe is now 1913, so three years on from the events of the previous book. Ming made it to McCloud's house safely, but has moved on from there and is now working as an assassin for Shin Sho, who has his own dealings with the Mara. A massive change is coming for the Mara and their lieutenants and minions are preparing for the Rites of Eternal Sleep, which will usher in the long night and the rising of the Black Sun. What all that means we must be patient to discover, but Mendes drips information our way until we realise the true horror of it.
Many of these characters are Mara, working for them or at least aware of who they are. However, more are just regular Americans living their lives in blissful ignorance of the hidden world beneath them, so, when they stumble upon the strange and unusual, they see it as nothing more. For instance, McCloud is still on the force, and he and his partner, O'Neil, both SFPD detectives, are tasked with investigating a new ritual house of horror, a building on the fringes of Chinatown owned by Hisao Osoto, an underworld crime lord. Six burned bodies upstairs lead them to a hidden room below that contains a black altar and a traumatised child in a cage.
O'Neil is a religious man, so he takes his clues to the church, where we discover that Damian Wells isn't the Roman Catholic priest we think, and his connections to others have much deeper meaning. Mendes continues to throw characters at us until we start to attempt to organise them into good guys and bad, those who know about the City and those who don't, who's involved with the Rites of Eternal Sleep and who isn't. Even if we wouldn't have done this anyway, we're forced into it by the volume of plot strands. What are temples and what are nurseries? What's the Order of Eternal Sleep? Who's doing the Mara's bidding and who's just making a quick buck? Who's connected to whom and when and how will mutually connected friends meet? And, of course, who will stay alive long enough to do so?
In short, there's a lot here, making this a book to pay attention to. 'The City' led us relatively easily into a new secret world beyond what we knew and, while there were certainly plot strands to follow, it was a trivial task to keep up, allowing us to concentrate more fully on the vibrancy and decadence of what the City provides. While I remembered some characters and events, much of what stayed with me from 'The City' was imagery, both specific examples of it and the grand sweep of how wild and imaginative it was. Here, there are far more plot strands, far more primary characters driving them forward and far more ramifications to what might happen if they succeed or fail. We have to stay focused.
One criticism I'll echo from 'The City' is that we're very much in a historical setting, but it rarely feels as if it's a period piece. Sure, there's no internet or cellphones, so everything's done the old fashioned way but there's very little to identify this San Francisco as being 1913, beyond general hints that the change the Mara are preparing for might benefit from the world plunging into global warfare. It could be 1903 or 1923, even 1953 or 1963, as long as we think of it in black and white and, perhaps, red.
Not a criticism but a thought is that there's so much here that I wonder if keeping the book short was a good choice. 'The Order of Eternal Sleep' runs just shy of two hundred pages but there's story enough to fill four or five hundred. Maybe that would have allowed Mendes to flesh out the period backdrop and a lot more of the character of the many primary cast members. We know from 'The City' that character is a strong point for Mendes, but he just doesn't have the room here to do that and still weave all his plot strands together to wrap up the story in time. So many books would benefit from being shorter. This is a rare example of one that I think should have been longer.
At the end of the day, it's a good book. It's just a very different book to 'The City', even though it builds on what it began. I honestly can't tell at this point whether Mendes is aiming at a trilogy, with a beast of a third book to wrap everything up, or a series, which is completely viable with a mythology this rich. Either way, it's not going to end here and, as enjoyable as this book is, it's always going to end up being the volume that got us from here to there.
Originally posted at the Nameless Zine in September 2023:
https://www.thenamelesszine.org/Books...
Index of all my Nameless Zine reviews:
https://books.apocalypselaterempire.com/
March 25, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Blood Bound Books for a copy of this book!
The Order of Eternal Sleep is the sequel to SC Mendes' The City, which I read last year and loved. This book picks up the story two years after the events of the first book.
I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first, but overall I still enjoyed my experience reading it. It felt like there was a LOT of action getting crammed into what felt like a shorter book, which gave me whiplash at some moments. As a result it felt a bit disjointed at times. It was still an easy and enjoyable read despite my nitpicking.
It was great to see the characters from The City return, and they are definitely the stars of the show. McCloud, Ming, and Max are all great!
The ending was great, and that being said, I think it tees up a third novel really well, and I would definitely check that third novel out.
Also,
The Order of Eternal Sleep is the sequel to SC Mendes' The City, which I read last year and loved. This book picks up the story two years after the events of the first book.
I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first, but overall I still enjoyed my experience reading it. It felt like there was a LOT of action getting crammed into what felt like a shorter book, which gave me whiplash at some moments. As a result it felt a bit disjointed at times. It was still an easy and enjoyable read despite my nitpicking.
It was great to see the characters from The City return, and they are definitely the stars of the show. McCloud, Ming, and Max are all great!
The ending was great, and that being said, I think it tees up a third novel really well, and I would definitely check that third novel out.
Also,
September 3, 2022
The book picks up where we left it in The City, abet 3 years later. You are drawn back into the plotline with ease. Familiar faces abound, you honestly feel like you know these characters intimately. Once again there is a gruesome crime discovered, which links itself to the nefarious Mara and their sleeper groups. I particularly like how S.C gives us more details about these beings this time around, yet he hasn't revealed all yet, just enough to whet your appetite further. I typically do not like noir but the way these books are written I find compelling. Plenty of gore to go around as well. I personally cannot wait for the third installment, these books are a blast to read.
Thanks to S.C, Joe Spagnola and the team at Blood Bound Books for my copy of the novel. It's a true pleasure working with you folks.
Thanks to S.C, Joe Spagnola and the team at Blood Bound Books for my copy of the novel. It's a true pleasure working with you folks.
April 17, 2024
Enjoyed this one! Often I get nervous going into series because my brain refuses to let me DNF something and I like to complete what I start. Luckily, I ended up likely enjoyed this more than The City. The City was great but straddled that splatterpunk line at times a bit too close for my liking. This book had less of the graphic torture, but still nailed the pacing and action.
There was quite a bit going on, but it was easy to connect with the characters (even if they’ve evolved quite differently ) and the multiple povs didn’t throw me off.
Overall, this was a great read. Plus the story concluded on 4/17 and I, myself, am finishing on 4/17 so it felt like perfect timing.
Definitely recommend.
I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
There was quite a bit going on, but it was easy to connect with the characters (even if they’ve evolved quite differently ) and the multiple povs didn’t throw me off.
Overall, this was a great read. Plus the story concluded on 4/17 and I, myself, am finishing on 4/17 so it felt like perfect timing.
Definitely recommend.
I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 12, 2024
Review: This was built for the filler in the series. A waypoint preceding the End. Still, the writing is good but lacks a certain inventiveness that the original had in spades.
Max finally makes an appearance and since he is central to the theme, he makes the story line what it is. This exclusion paints a dreary picture as you get mired in McCloud's procedurals.
The Grand finale' is obvious. What is not, is whether they kill off Max. I swear if you do, I will never read another of your novels. And leave Ming alone too.
Max finally makes an appearance and since he is central to the theme, he makes the story line what it is. This exclusion paints a dreary picture as you get mired in McCloud's procedurals.
The Grand finale' is obvious. What is not, is whether they kill off Max. I swear if you do, I will never read another of your novels. And leave Ming alone too.
May 21, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a review copy.
I have to admit, I was not as enamoured with the second The City book as I was the first one. Characters come at you rapid-fire and none of them have the depth of characterization that made me root for Max and Ming. This one definitely means more crime than horror, and there is plenty of action. I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series. 3.75 stars
I have to admit, I was not as enamoured with the second The City book as I was the first one. Characters come at you rapid-fire and none of them have the depth of characterization that made me root for Max and Ming. This one definitely means more crime than horror, and there is plenty of action. I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series. 3.75 stars
June 11, 2024
★★★½ I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first. I think I enjoyed exploring The City more than learning more about what the Others are up to. Who'd'a thunk it. I was so very curious after book 1. I'm thrilled this is not the end. According to author, his finale will be The Dawn of the Serpent Girl coming out Dec 2024. I'm anxious for that one. I adore Ming. And, please ...
June 25, 2025
This second book in The City series takes place a few years after the first, in 1913. If you haven't read the first one I highly recommend you do as we have returning characters and get to delve further into The Mara, an ancient reptilian race with occult rituals.
This novel reads like a noir detective book but at it's core, it's a horrifying cosmic horror thrill ride and a race against time.
Detective McCloud is at the focus as a grisly crime scene with ritualistic artifacts becomes entangled with The City, an underground city beneath San Francisco which hosts unimaginable abominations.
Things start to go off the rails as McCloud gets closer to the truth and bodies start piling up in the wake. While taking place above ground, The City and The Mara are an always present threat and they are not your typical bad guys. They're bloodthirsty, power hungry, and will stop at nothing to bring about the end of humanity.
The action is thrilling and you never know if anyone will survive. We also get the continuation of Max's story and what happened to him after the first book. In fact, he's going to play a huge part here. Also Ming's arc is explored and, again, she has a big role to play as well.
Both The City and this one are fantastically paced, gritty, and give off those old school noir vibes. It's a great combination of detective story and dark cosmic terror. I highly recommend it
I received an ARC of this book from the author. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
This novel reads like a noir detective book but at it's core, it's a horrifying cosmic horror thrill ride and a race against time.
Detective McCloud is at the focus as a grisly crime scene with ritualistic artifacts becomes entangled with The City, an underground city beneath San Francisco which hosts unimaginable abominations.
Things start to go off the rails as McCloud gets closer to the truth and bodies start piling up in the wake. While taking place above ground, The City and The Mara are an always present threat and they are not your typical bad guys. They're bloodthirsty, power hungry, and will stop at nothing to bring about the end of humanity.
The action is thrilling and you never know if anyone will survive. We also get the continuation of Max's story and what happened to him after the first book. In fact, he's going to play a huge part here. Also Ming's arc is explored and, again, she has a big role to play as well.
Both The City and this one are fantastically paced, gritty, and give off those old school noir vibes. It's a great combination of detective story and dark cosmic terror. I highly recommend it
I received an ARC of this book from the author. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
July 11, 2025
As Above
I liked the quote at the beginning. I felt more anxious for Ming in the second novel, I really wanted things to improve for her. I felt empathetic towards her character. She still remains my favorite character in the series. I liked getting to see what Ming and McCloud had been up to once Ming got above The City. I was grateful for the people who were helping her behind the scenes. I felt conflicted with Shin Sho’s character, I went back and forth with him, but his warning made me worried for Ming. Although he might not have been the best character with ties, I was thankful for him being in there. The last job that she took had me feeling the most anxious after what she discovered.
I thought it was interesting to see how Ming, Max, and McCloud shared similarities between books 1 and 2, I like how connected it made all of them. I felt more hopeful for all the characters in this one, and I found myself rooting for most of them. McCloud’s scenes with Johnny Doe when he warms up to him made me smile, but Johnny Doe’s character had me feeling sad. I also liked how with McCloud’s help we got to see some more of Max’s backstory and it made me look at some of Max’s previous decisions differently. McCloud’s dreams seemed very vivid and they would’ve been terrifying to go through.
I was more unnerved and scared by The Mara in the first book, but I think I think the humans in the second one made me feel worse. I did like the introduction to the engineers and they gave me some hope on how the third novel may go.
I liked the quote at the beginning. I felt more anxious for Ming in the second novel, I really wanted things to improve for her. I felt empathetic towards her character. She still remains my favorite character in the series. I liked getting to see what Ming and McCloud had been up to once Ming got above The City. I was grateful for the people who were helping her behind the scenes. I felt conflicted with Shin Sho’s character, I went back and forth with him, but his warning made me worried for Ming. Although he might not have been the best character with ties, I was thankful for him being in there. The last job that she took had me feeling the most anxious after what she discovered.
I thought it was interesting to see how Ming, Max, and McCloud shared similarities between books 1 and 2, I like how connected it made all of them. I felt more hopeful for all the characters in this one, and I found myself rooting for most of them. McCloud’s scenes with Johnny Doe when he warms up to him made me smile, but Johnny Doe’s character had me feeling sad. I also liked how with McCloud’s help we got to see some more of Max’s backstory and it made me look at some of Max’s previous decisions differently. McCloud’s dreams seemed very vivid and they would’ve been terrifying to go through.
I was more unnerved and scared by The Mara in the first book, but I think I think the humans in the second one made me feel worse. I did like the introduction to the engineers and they gave me some hope on how the third novel may go.
June 17, 2025
The Order of Eternal Sleep is the 2nd book in The Labyrinth Series. We picked up the story 3 years later after Ming was released, but Max Elliot ended up being imprisoned and tortured. But he did this so that Ming could be free and have a chance of life above The City.
Detectives McCloud and O'Neill end up being called to an arson attack in a residential area. What they find is horrific bodies badly burnt and a strange secret door that leads to a cellar, but there is an altar with sigils and an image of a serpent. But what is more shocking is that what they find under the altar is truly shocking. When they end up leaving, they end up taking something that has attached to them both.
McCloud is hoping to get in contact with Ming and get back to talking terms. He feels he has let Ming and Max down badly. But where is Max?
We end up finding a world with demons and supernatural entities. That ends up affecting your mind into darkness. But there is a later picture which shocked me. What have the Mara and The Order of Eternal Sleep got in-store for the world above?
This book captivated me, I just couldn't put it down. I finished the last chapters, and I was gutted. The story had ended. But guess what? There is another sequel, so I'll be able to have my fix of this world again. Fantastic Read.
The ending, oh my god, you can't leave it there tut ... tut ...tut!!!
Detectives McCloud and O'Neill end up being called to an arson attack in a residential area. What they find is horrific bodies badly burnt and a strange secret door that leads to a cellar, but there is an altar with sigils and an image of a serpent. But what is more shocking is that what they find under the altar is truly shocking. When they end up leaving, they end up taking something that has attached to them both.
McCloud is hoping to get in contact with Ming and get back to talking terms. He feels he has let Ming and Max down badly. But where is Max?
We end up finding a world with demons and supernatural entities. That ends up affecting your mind into darkness. But there is a later picture which shocked me. What have the Mara and The Order of Eternal Sleep got in-store for the world above?
This book captivated me, I just couldn't put it down. I finished the last chapters, and I was gutted. The story had ended. But guess what? There is another sequel, so I'll be able to have my fix of this world again. Fantastic Read.
The ending, oh my god, you can't leave it there tut ... tut ...tut!!!
October 27, 2025
Ready for Book 3
When I started this series, I was not a huge fan of dark noir. I'm glad I started. This sequel picks up where The City ended. By the time you get to this book, you're invested. We are neck deep in the plans and schemes of the Order of Sleep and the Engineers. There is a war being battles in the shadows. I have no notes for this book. The pacing is great. There's no slow, sloggy parts. If you weren't already sucked in, you will be. Beware, there's a lot of moving parts. This keeps you intrigued and constantly waiting for the next meeting, mission, and villain to pop out around the corner. I absolutely loved this. Even more than the first book. On to book 3!
When I started this series, I was not a huge fan of dark noir. I'm glad I started. This sequel picks up where The City ended. By the time you get to this book, you're invested. We are neck deep in the plans and schemes of the Order of Sleep and the Engineers. There is a war being battles in the shadows. I have no notes for this book. The pacing is great. There's no slow, sloggy parts. If you weren't already sucked in, you will be. Beware, there's a lot of moving parts. This keeps you intrigued and constantly waiting for the next meeting, mission, and villain to pop out around the corner. I absolutely loved this. Even more than the first book. On to book 3!
September 1, 2025
This series really knows how to grip you. While this one didn't grip me the way the first one did, it's still really good. There's so much going and with Ming and Max, it's good. I do hope theres a book 3 coming and soon. I don't like the whole cliffhanger thing, and this felt like one for sure. I recommend this series, but definitely read them in order or you will be lost.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 6, 2022
I was excited for the release of this book and it did not disappoint. The Order of Eternal Sleep is the sequel to the book 'The City' by S.C. Mendes and it is a page turner. The suspense, the mystery, the characters were all captivating.
Waiting for the release of the third book in this Saga, Mr. S.C. Mendes!
Waiting for the release of the third book in this Saga, Mr. S.C. Mendes!
July 27, 2023
I love this series and can't wait for the next book. The reason I gave it only 4 stars were for the numerous spelling errors throughout the book.
July 29, 2023
I wasn't prepared for that ending.
March 4, 2024
ARC from Netgalley.
Perfectly serviceable pulp. A little hammy at points, maybe a little rough around the edges at points, but fun.
Perfectly serviceable pulp. A little hammy at points, maybe a little rough around the edges at points, but fun.
March 1, 2024
This is the 2nd book in the series the first being ‘The City’ which you should read before this one, there is also 2 short stories (which I have, but have not read as yet)
which I believe comes between this one and the upcoming 3rd book.
Noh Masks: Tales from The City, #1
Cat Scratch Fever: Tales from The City, #2
I really enjoyed the mix of horror and psychological thriller, there is not as much graphic content is this one, but it’s not missed, as this is there is so much going on and so many layers to this story you are captivated by the tension that slowly builds as the characters start to discover what the Mara are doing, which will keep you constantly trying to figure out what is going to happen next.
I cant wait for the 3rd book to come out.
There is no animal cruelty in this, so if that sort of thing bothers you this one is safe.
I want to thank S.C. Mendes and Bloodbound Books for the opportunity to read a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
which I believe comes between this one and the upcoming 3rd book.
Noh Masks: Tales from The City, #1
Cat Scratch Fever: Tales from The City, #2
I really enjoyed the mix of horror and psychological thriller, there is not as much graphic content is this one, but it’s not missed, as this is there is so much going on and so many layers to this story you are captivated by the tension that slowly builds as the characters start to discover what the Mara are doing, which will keep you constantly trying to figure out what is going to happen next.
I cant wait for the 3rd book to come out.
There is no animal cruelty in this, so if that sort of thing bothers you this one is safe.
I want to thank S.C. Mendes and Bloodbound Books for the opportunity to read a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 24, 2024
The Order of Eternal Sleep
by: SC Mendes
Blood Bound Books
2021/ Re-issue due 5-10-24
5.0 stars
#NetGalley #TheOrderOfEternalSleep
This is the second book in The City Series by SC Mendes, and my second time reading this book. I loved it bothe times.
The story of Max, from San Francisco, trying to find his way from the dark to the light, in 1913. He encounters evil and compelling darkness, that make the light more illuminating. The slick and diverse set of characters keep this fast paced and tense story going, and hard to put down.
Total enjoyment, highly recommend.
Thanks NetGalley and Bllod Bound Books for sending this E-book ARC for review.
by: SC Mendes
Blood Bound Books
2021/ Re-issue due 5-10-24
5.0 stars
#NetGalley #TheOrderOfEternalSleep
This is the second book in The City Series by SC Mendes, and my second time reading this book. I loved it bothe times.
The story of Max, from San Francisco, trying to find his way from the dark to the light, in 1913. He encounters evil and compelling darkness, that make the light more illuminating. The slick and diverse set of characters keep this fast paced and tense story going, and hard to put down.
Total enjoyment, highly recommend.
Thanks NetGalley and Bllod Bound Books for sending this E-book ARC for review.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews