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Eric Carter #9
Cult Classic
The ninth book of this dark urban fantasy series follows necromancer Eric Carter through a world of vengeful gods and goddesses, mysterious murders, and restless ghosts.
Eric Carter has a lot on his plate.
He's hunting the Oracle of Las Vegas, a literal talking head that manipulates the future to make its prophecies come true. But it has a new trick. It can change the past, too.
Now Jazz Age Los Angeles is invading the present. Long gone buildings suddenly restored, decommissioned Red Car trains appearing on paved over tracks, miles of the city changing back to orange groves.
Throw in a hundred-year-old doomsday cult, time magic, and a terrifyingly powerful spell to raise the dead and it makes for a busy week. Carter knows the Oracle is behind it all but he can't figure out how. Or why.
But he better figure it out soon or he, the city, and everyone he knows might be wiped from existence.
Eric Carter has a lot on his plate.
He's hunting the Oracle of Las Vegas, a literal talking head that manipulates the future to make its prophecies come true. But it has a new trick. It can change the past, too.
Now Jazz Age Los Angeles is invading the present. Long gone buildings suddenly restored, decommissioned Red Car trains appearing on paved over tracks, miles of the city changing back to orange groves.
Throw in a hundred-year-old doomsday cult, time magic, and a terrifyingly powerful spell to raise the dead and it makes for a busy week. Carter knows the Oracle is behind it all but he can't figure out how. Or why.
But he better figure it out soon or he, the city, and everyone he knows might be wiped from existence.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 11, 2023
41 people are currently reading
1768 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Blackmoore
27 books798 followersStephen Blackmoore is the author of the noir / urban fantasy Eric Carter series (DEAD THINGS, BROKEN SOULS, HUNGRY GHOSTS, and FIRE SEASON), about a necromancer in modern-day Los Angeles.
You can find him online at stephenblackmoore.com, or follow him on Twitter at @sblackmoore.
You can find him online at stephenblackmoore.com, or follow him on Twitter at @sblackmoore.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
May 19, 2023
Cult Classic
(Eric Carter Book #9)
By Stephen Blackmoore
I have read all Eric Carter books and have not been disappointed with any of them! This one is another great addition to the series! In here, Eric is chasing a talking head, the Oracle, something he helped make long ago. Now he regrets it. The power it has obtained is too great, he needs to deal with it. Of course it isn't that easy besides dealing with the time slips happening everywhere! But that's not all he is dealing with!
There is so much happening in here it's impossible to explain without spoiling the fun. The characters are exciting and unique! There is plenty of action, fantasy, science fiction, and craziness for all fans! Humor, wit, snark (but not too much to be annoying), and cleverness abound!
I wouldn't have stayed with this series for nine books if the series was boring! These books are terrific! I fear this may be the last Eric Carter by the way many things were tidied up in the book. Do yourself a favor and pick up book one and start the series now!
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this awesome book!
(Eric Carter Book #9)
By Stephen Blackmoore
I have read all Eric Carter books and have not been disappointed with any of them! This one is another great addition to the series! In here, Eric is chasing a talking head, the Oracle, something he helped make long ago. Now he regrets it. The power it has obtained is too great, he needs to deal with it. Of course it isn't that easy besides dealing with the time slips happening everywhere! But that's not all he is dealing with!
There is so much happening in here it's impossible to explain without spoiling the fun. The characters are exciting and unique! There is plenty of action, fantasy, science fiction, and craziness for all fans! Humor, wit, snark (but not too much to be annoying), and cleverness abound!
I wouldn't have stayed with this series for nine books if the series was boring! These books are terrific! I fear this may be the last Eric Carter by the way many things were tidied up in the book. Do yourself a favor and pick up book one and start the series now!
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this awesome book!
June 14, 2023
Where do I even start? This book was amazing even though it completely gutted me. I can't believe this is the end of the Eric Carter series. It's rare that I am still so invested in a series after 9 books but I have eagerly awaited each book in this series. Eric is the perfect anti-hero. He always seems to be just trying to stay out of the way but somehow finds himself in the middle of everything from mage family wars to poker games with deities to being married to a (sometimes) death goddess.
This book picks up where the last book left off with Eric trying to track down Jimmy, the Oracle he created thirty years ago that has a limited capacity to change the past. Jimmy has found a way to increase his ability to change events which would make him all-powerful and Eric, Gabriela and Amanda are trying to put a stop to it. As usual for this series, there's a ton of action and plenty of mythology weaved in to the story. A few old friends show up in this book as well as a new character who is a chronomancer, a mage who can affect time. Janna is a great addition to the cast of characters and would make a great star of a spinoff series if anyone in the publishing world is listening! I would have liked more of Gabriela kicking ass too because she's such an awesome character.
Eric also does a lot of soul-searching in this story. Some of it is about his relationship with Gabriela, but a good amount of it is him ruminating over his body count. He's killed a lot of people and there's a key moment in the book where he wonders if he's becoming immune to it all. He's also responsible for Jimmy's body count since he created him. Eric's crisis of conscience really complements the larger story about being able to change the past. I sometimes have trouble suspending my disbelief with time-travel stories but the author always brings the focus back to the characters and how their lives are affected by the changes which keeps the story from getting too convoluted.
The end of this story is perfect but was also a gut punch. It was heartbreaking in the best way possible. I'm so sad that I won't get to read any more of Eric Carter's adventures. Go out and buy this entire series right now so Mr. Blackmoore can keep writing it!
This book picks up where the last book left off with Eric trying to track down Jimmy, the Oracle he created thirty years ago that has a limited capacity to change the past. Jimmy has found a way to increase his ability to change events which would make him all-powerful and Eric, Gabriela and Amanda are trying to put a stop to it. As usual for this series, there's a ton of action and plenty of mythology weaved in to the story. A few old friends show up in this book as well as a new character who is a chronomancer, a mage who can affect time. Janna is a great addition to the cast of characters and would make a great star of a spinoff series if anyone in the publishing world is listening! I would have liked more of Gabriela kicking ass too because she's such an awesome character.
Eric also does a lot of soul-searching in this story. Some of it is about his relationship with Gabriela, but a good amount of it is him ruminating over his body count. He's killed a lot of people and there's a key moment in the book where he wonders if he's becoming immune to it all. He's also responsible for Jimmy's body count since he created him. Eric's crisis of conscience really complements the larger story about being able to change the past. I sometimes have trouble suspending my disbelief with time-travel stories but the author always brings the focus back to the characters and how their lives are affected by the changes which keeps the story from getting too convoluted.
The end of this story is perfect but was also a gut punch. It was heartbreaking in the best way possible. I'm so sad that I won't get to read any more of Eric Carter's adventures. Go out and buy this entire series right now so Mr. Blackmoore can keep writing it!
January 13, 2024
3.5 to 4. Maybe would have rated more highly if hadn’t been so long since I read (and therefore better recalled l) What Has Come Before (aka the prior books). Seems like maybe there will be one more to round out the series?
September 23, 2024
The series continues it's upward trend but not enough of one to really be good. I think the books do better in the second and third books of the arcs because Carter's antagonists are already set up so we don't have to go through his default hostility to everyone. Then I just need to try to forget that Carter is an antagonist jerk . . .
Anyway, the series is pretty much the same as it's been. The world building definitely goes for adding more concepts rather than exploring what's already there or even explaining the mechanics of how anything works.
Overall the series feels very style over substance, characters are very surface level, the magic isn't explored, concepts and settings aren't explored. It feels like the story relies on the reader ascribing more value to taking the books' word for it than I'm willing to. For example, villains are villains because we're informed of how bad they are and when they do get around to doing something truly villainous it's already well past Carter opposing them so it almost looks like Carter pushes them into villainy. That doesn't really apply to this book but several of the previous villains are done that way.
Then the magic works the way it does because it just does, there's very little examination of what Carter can or cannot do so it comes off like he can functionally do anything (except when he suddenly can't). Or what anyone's limitations are, and I think that can work for an antagonist to an extent but when the protagonist has super ill defined abilities then things go downhill fast. And the series just does not have the charm or appeal to distract me from that like some other series do.
Anyway, the series is pretty much the same as it's been. The world building definitely goes for adding more concepts rather than exploring what's already there or even explaining the mechanics of how anything works.
Overall the series feels very style over substance, characters are very surface level, the magic isn't explored, concepts and settings aren't explored. It feels like the story relies on the reader ascribing more value to taking the books' word for it than I'm willing to. For example, villains are villains because we're informed of how bad they are and when they do get around to doing something truly villainous it's already well past Carter opposing them so it almost looks like Carter pushes them into villainy. That doesn't really apply to this book but several of the previous villains are done that way.
Then the magic works the way it does because it just does, there's very little examination of what Carter can or cannot do so it comes off like he can functionally do anything (except when he suddenly can't). Or what anyone's limitations are, and I think that can work for an antagonist to an extent but when the protagonist has super ill defined abilities then things go downhill fast. And the series just does not have the charm or appeal to distract me from that like some other series do.
July 10, 2023
Dark, fast paced, entertaining and action packed. Another winner by Stephen Blackmoore that kept me turning pages and have fun.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
March 1, 2025
The end?
Is this the best Eric Carter book of the series? It just might be. I can genuinely say, for once, I found nothing to complain about in this one. Other than the fact that there aren’t any more books to read! Humph.
This story is really well put together. It feels like the author put a lot of time and effort into plotting, managing to pull everything together into a tightly finished book. There is a lot going on, many overlapping elements, past references, and the usual time-travelling headaches, but it doesn't feel confusing or overwhelming in the slightest. This, being the last of a three book story arc, ties everything up perfectly. And again, Blackmoore doesn’t over egg the pudding with an unnecessarily drawn-out climax. It’s short, does everything it needs to, and nothing more. Perfect.
Oh, but that last page! Talk about an ending I should have seen coming a mile away! But I didn’t, and yes, there were tears.
Through the entirety of Cult Classic, I couldn’t help but think Blackmoore was priming us for a new series of books starring one of the new characters he introduced here, Janna. She takes centre stage alongside Eric in this book, and we are given a lot of time with her, learning just who she is and what her potentials are, concerning her newly discovered mage abilities. She is a chronomancer and my imagination is just bursting with the possibilities of her escapades through time that this author could bring to the page. Unfortunately, it looks like I’m wrong because there’s no sign of this coming to fruition. But I can hope.
I’ve skimmed a few reviews which suggest this is obviously the final book of the series, and because of that I was expecting Eric to die at the end. Not the way he usually dies, but actually die, for good. But no. And to my knowledge, Stephen Blackmoore has never said there won’t be any more Eric Carter books, so I’m not sure where this idea comes from. I, for one, will continue to frequent the DAW website hoping to see a new title from my all-time favourite character in books. But until that happens I guess I’ll just have to reread the entire series again, and again, and again, and…
Is this the best Eric Carter book of the series? It just might be. I can genuinely say, for once, I found nothing to complain about in this one. Other than the fact that there aren’t any more books to read! Humph.
This story is really well put together. It feels like the author put a lot of time and effort into plotting, managing to pull everything together into a tightly finished book. There is a lot going on, many overlapping elements, past references, and the usual time-travelling headaches, but it doesn't feel confusing or overwhelming in the slightest. This, being the last of a three book story arc, ties everything up perfectly. And again, Blackmoore doesn’t over egg the pudding with an unnecessarily drawn-out climax. It’s short, does everything it needs to, and nothing more. Perfect.
Oh, but that last page! Talk about an ending I should have seen coming a mile away! But I didn’t, and yes, there were tears.
Through the entirety of Cult Classic, I couldn’t help but think Blackmoore was priming us for a new series of books starring one of the new characters he introduced here, Janna. She takes centre stage alongside Eric in this book, and we are given a lot of time with her, learning just who she is and what her potentials are, concerning her newly discovered mage abilities. She is a chronomancer and my imagination is just bursting with the possibilities of her escapades through time that this author could bring to the page. Unfortunately, it looks like I’m wrong because there’s no sign of this coming to fruition. But I can hope.
I’ve skimmed a few reviews which suggest this is obviously the final book of the series, and because of that I was expecting Eric to die at the end. Not the way he usually dies, but actually die, for good. But no. And to my knowledge, Stephen Blackmoore has never said there won’t be any more Eric Carter books, so I’m not sure where this idea comes from. I, for one, will continue to frequent the DAW website hoping to see a new title from my all-time favourite character in books. But until that happens I guess I’ll just have to reread the entire series again, and again, and again, and…
April 29, 2024
And the series is over.😭 Full RTC
August 11, 2024
Holy shit that ending
September 13, 2023
This is the first review I've ever written of an Eric Carter series book. Can't really fathom why, as there was plenty to tell about the previous ones. Mostly good though. Except for the 6th book, Bottle Demon, I would yell utter praise about all. It'll still get 4 stars, though. Book 6. But the beginning of the book... aaargh.
Let's just say I was pretty annoyed with the way people talked about Eric. I had been for a while. We all know he's no angel, but this?? As if he was a monster, the world better off without him. And the worst thing: him being written as a believer of that nonsense. For a second there I feared Stephen Blackmoore was going to make the Kevin Hearne - Iron Druid Chronicles mistake where all characters blame the atrocities of others on the MC just because he's not infallible. Just because he's usually the only one putting his life on the line. It absolutely ruined the ending of a fabulous series for me.
But... luckiky I was wrong. That same book, Bottle Demon, had a somewhat heartwarming surprise in store, as well as a great story arc. Somewhat the end of a series arc. With #7 starting a new one, both a redemption for Eric Carter and the almost-gone-wrong-author.
Which brings me to the last Eric Carter, Cult Classic, installment #9 in the series, as it's pretty much the continuation and fulfillment of everything that happened since Suicide Kings #7.
As for Cult Classic: So. Many. Good. Things.
I truly like the personal growth Blackmoore has written into all the important characters, most of which is quite visible in #9. They're very much the same people. Sometimes much harder, more vindictive. But at the same time...matured. Less reckless. This has been influencing the story arc as much as anyone could've hoped. The Eric we have now still does batsh*t crazy things others wouldn't dare, still puts his life on the line when others wouldn't. But he's less tortured about his past, has something to fight for. Someone to fight for.
As much as I didn't see the whole Gabriella-love (tri)angle coming, it fits. And it was about time someone truly *saw* him. I don't think there is any other woman more suited to him than she is. In many ways she IS Eric. Perhaps a little more level headed, and maybe even more ruthless in some ways. But the author has entered a romantic relationship into the story that feels right, even if there will be many who do not appreciate the 3rd person attached. Regardless of that, there's no lovey-dovey nonsense. Eric isn't suddenly aching to become a white picket fence husband, they're on equal footing, nor do his actions change - much - when the proverbial excrement hits the fan.
That's also obvious in Cult Classic, where the final battle (if you will) against Jimmy the Oracle plays out. Even knowing one tiny mistake will cost him his life - and most likely afterlife - and now quite possibly Gabriella as well, Carter still jumps in the fray. The fact he has more to lose than ever (even what he doesn't know yet, as we'll see on the final page), gives this story an extra edge instead of 'Love' softening things up. That's what's so well done of this part of the book(s) since Bottle Demon; we get the friendship, love and understanding our main character deserves, but the author leaves the rest up to the Paranormal Romances.
So, what's the story: with the help of a newly minted chronomancer, a time mage, Eric tries to undo the mistake he made decades ago when he created the Oracle, while thwarting the speaking head's plans. Jimmy has been a major thorn in our sides ever since Eric collapsed a mini universe on top off another a-hole, and it's now very obvious that Jimmy has been using time warps and reality breaks with the full intention to force the right pawns - a.k.a people - onto the checkerboard in order to become an ultimate power. Making Cult Classic the book that's either singing Carter 2.0's dirge, or yelling a yippie ki-yay. One thing's for sure: the Oracle will do anything to coerce Eric in doing his bidding - while our favourite necromancer won't play by anyone's rules if he can help it.
You'll see plenty of time magic (with a small role for Eric's granddaddy), many a wrong turn, Jimmy being two steps ahead, people dying who shouldn't have had to and Eric's life being terminated a gazillion times - but not (because...I still don't know). In other words, frustration all around. And often a "What on earth is going on?!" It's always wonderful when an author can keep me on my toes, with the MC figuring things out before *I* do! I'm sure I've missed several clues, but that's what an eventual re-read is for when the full series comes to a close. Eric Carter wouldn't be Eric Carter if his intelligence, and tenacity to undo wrongs and get a little vengeance in the process, finally does bring the bad guys to their knees. It's at those times I always realise my hyperempathetic self also has a bloodthirsty side...
As hinted at earlier, the Oracle story arch ends here. Cult Classic is therefore, in many ways, a satisfying book. Certain red threads come together, loose ends are tied and revenge (ish) was had. What needed to be solved was solved and as of now there aren't any arcs left (wait for it*). While the end can be read as some sort of cliffhanger, it can also be seen as an all's well that ends well. Leaving us with no more upcoming books. That would be less satisfying than this book is overall.
*Okay, except for one thing. [And those who haven't read the book yet, please don't click on the spoilers! It might ruin the experience of reading Cult Classic] There seems to be a whopper of a plothole in this book. With that I don't mean the less than satisfying explanation as to why Eric's demise doesn't stick this time - I guess it's the prerogative of those that write timetravel/fantasy - but the reason as to why Eric of yore had no choice but to go through with the Oracle thing. If said plothole is indeed there, that would annoy me to no end. It was mentioned several times and it's rather ehhh... let's go with 'important'.
Or... or this arc hasn't been played out as much as it seems.
During his very first talk with a girl from the past, who is involved in the whole time issue we've been fighting this book, Eric is warned about "major consequences". Now, that could point towards the two possible outcomes in Jimmy's scenario of which we were initially told , neither of which came true as Eric and the chronomancer found path 3. If it is, and that's that: plothole.
If it isn't, you could add "consequences" to the fact Eric gets to hear another scary comment during a time warped conversation with someone who'll be introduced as the Tree of Life. . Something Eric seems to have forgotten entirely...
That's all I can say without ruining the more intricate parts of the book. Knowing Blackmoore, as well as this very dark series, I'm beginning to think there isn't a giant plothole. If I'm right - please let me be right - that means two things: 1. more books coming in this awesome series (yay), and 2. Eric Carter is going to have very little time to enjoy the outcome of his battle, as he'll have a hellish new one on his hands sooner than he thinks.
Five stars 🌟.
(Possible amendments might be made to the amount of stars after book #10, or if this is indeed the last Eric Carter).
Let's just say I was pretty annoyed with the way people talked about Eric. I had been for a while. We all know he's no angel, but this?? As if he was a monster, the world better off without him. And the worst thing: him being written as a believer of that nonsense. For a second there I feared Stephen Blackmoore was going to make the Kevin Hearne - Iron Druid Chronicles mistake where all characters blame the atrocities of others on the MC just because he's not infallible. Just because he's usually the only one putting his life on the line. It absolutely ruined the ending of a fabulous series for me.
But... luckiky I was wrong. That same book, Bottle Demon, had a somewhat heartwarming surprise in store, as well as a great story arc. Somewhat the end of a series arc. With #7 starting a new one, both a redemption for Eric Carter and the almost-gone-wrong-author.
Which brings me to the last Eric Carter, Cult Classic, installment #9 in the series, as it's pretty much the continuation and fulfillment of everything that happened since Suicide Kings #7.
As for Cult Classic: So. Many. Good. Things.
I truly like the personal growth Blackmoore has written into all the important characters, most of which is quite visible in #9. They're very much the same people. Sometimes much harder, more vindictive. But at the same time...matured. Less reckless. This has been influencing the story arc as much as anyone could've hoped. The Eric we have now still does batsh*t crazy things others wouldn't dare, still puts his life on the line when others wouldn't. But he's less tortured about his past, has something to fight for. Someone to fight for.
As much as I didn't see the whole Gabriella-love (tri)angle coming, it fits. And it was about time someone truly *saw* him. I don't think there is any other woman more suited to him than she is. In many ways she IS Eric. Perhaps a little more level headed, and maybe even more ruthless in some ways. But the author has entered a romantic relationship into the story that feels right, even if there will be many who do not appreciate the 3rd person attached. Regardless of that, there's no lovey-dovey nonsense. Eric isn't suddenly aching to become a white picket fence husband, they're on equal footing, nor do his actions change - much - when the proverbial excrement hits the fan.
That's also obvious in Cult Classic, where the final battle (if you will) against Jimmy the Oracle plays out. Even knowing one tiny mistake will cost him his life - and most likely afterlife - and now quite possibly Gabriella as well, Carter still jumps in the fray. The fact he has more to lose than ever (even what he doesn't know yet, as we'll see on the final page), gives this story an extra edge instead of 'Love' softening things up. That's what's so well done of this part of the book(s) since Bottle Demon; we get the friendship, love and understanding our main character deserves, but the author leaves the rest up to the Paranormal Romances.
So, what's the story: with the help of a newly minted chronomancer, a time mage, Eric tries to undo the mistake he made decades ago when he created the Oracle, while thwarting the speaking head's plans. Jimmy has been a major thorn in our sides ever since Eric collapsed a mini universe on top off another a-hole, and it's now very obvious that Jimmy has been using time warps and reality breaks with the full intention to force the right pawns - a.k.a people - onto the checkerboard in order to become an ultimate power. Making Cult Classic the book that's either singing Carter 2.0's dirge, or yelling a yippie ki-yay. One thing's for sure: the Oracle will do anything to coerce Eric in doing his bidding - while our favourite necromancer won't play by anyone's rules if he can help it.
You'll see plenty of time magic (with a small role for Eric's granddaddy), many a wrong turn, Jimmy being two steps ahead, people dying who shouldn't have had to and Eric's life being terminated a gazillion times - but not (because...I still don't know). In other words, frustration all around. And often a "What on earth is going on?!" It's always wonderful when an author can keep me on my toes, with the MC figuring things out before *I* do! I'm sure I've missed several clues, but that's what an eventual re-read is for when the full series comes to a close. Eric Carter wouldn't be Eric Carter if his intelligence, and tenacity to undo wrongs and get a little vengeance in the process, finally does bring the bad guys to their knees. It's at those times I always realise my hyperempathetic self also has a bloodthirsty side...
As hinted at earlier, the Oracle story arch ends here. Cult Classic is therefore, in many ways, a satisfying book. Certain red threads come together, loose ends are tied and revenge (ish) was had. What needed to be solved was solved and as of now there aren't any arcs left (wait for it*). While the end can be read as some sort of cliffhanger, it can also be seen as an all's well that ends well. Leaving us with no more upcoming books. That would be less satisfying than this book is overall.
*Okay, except for one thing. [And those who haven't read the book yet, please don't click on the spoilers! It might ruin the experience of reading Cult Classic] There seems to be a whopper of a plothole in this book. With that I don't mean the less than satisfying explanation as to why Eric's demise doesn't stick this time - I guess it's the prerogative of those that write timetravel/fantasy - but the reason as to why Eric of yore had no choice but to go through with the Oracle thing. If said plothole is indeed there, that would annoy me to no end. It was mentioned several times and it's rather ehhh... let's go with 'important'.
Or... or this arc hasn't been played out as much as it seems.
During his very first talk with a girl from the past, who is involved in the whole time issue we've been fighting this book, Eric is warned about "major consequences". Now, that could point towards the two possible outcomes in Jimmy's scenario of which we were initially told , neither of which came true as Eric and the chronomancer found path 3. If it is, and that's that: plothole.
If it isn't, you could add "consequences" to the fact Eric gets to hear another scary comment during a time warped conversation with someone who'll be introduced as the Tree of Life. . Something Eric seems to have forgotten entirely...
That's all I can say without ruining the more intricate parts of the book. Knowing Blackmoore, as well as this very dark series, I'm beginning to think there isn't a giant plothole. If I'm right - please let me be right - that means two things: 1. more books coming in this awesome series (yay), and 2. Eric Carter is going to have very little time to enjoy the outcome of his battle, as he'll have a hellish new one on his hands sooner than he thinks.
Five stars 🌟.
(Possible amendments might be made to the amount of stars after book #10, or if this is indeed the last Eric Carter).
August 6, 2023
I had a dream one time, and... yes, I know, that "I had a dream one time" is not the ideal way to start a review of someone else's book, stay with me. It was about, of all people, H.F. Saint. And you may be saying at this point, who in the seven hells is H.F. Saint, and why do I care? Well, because he was the genius who wrote MEMOIRS OF AN INVISIBLE MAN, which you should drop everything right now and read if you haven't. And then after that - after he wrote a monstrously successful first novel and sold it to Hollywood (which made it into a very awful Chevy Chase movie) he quit. Left. Went to France and never wrote another word. That was it.
So in the dream, the idea was that he wasn't just an author, he was a time-traveler, and he used his money from the book to go back in time and buy stock options in Dell and Apple and suchlike. (He had a numbered Swiss bank account that was the ISBN number for his book, which is pretty slick if you can pull it off.) And it seemed like that dream was somehow the germ of a novel. And I thought I could write it... but I never did, because someone who was really smart and could do time travel could never be defeated. They would always be able to find some way to foul you up. And if you had a protagonist and an antagonist who could both do time travel, well, it would be like Spy Vs. Spy nonsense.
So CULT CLASSIC is mostly about time travel, and time travel is what we can call a complicating factor. (It certainly is for Eric, who spends a fair amount of time complaining about how chronomancy gives him a headache.) Second complicating factor: this is the last Eric Carter book, and the plot lines from the last several Eric Carter books have to be resolved one way or another. Combine all that, plus a 1920's cult that would have made Charlie Manson his own bad self say, "Man, those folks are kind of out there," and you've got the ingredients for... well, something, anyway.
I have been recommending this series for years now, and I still think that it's a worthwhile read. (You would not want to read this stand-alone, though - way too much backstory..) Carter is a great character - you wouldn't want to sit next to him on an airplane for two hours but he's got a wonderful voice and the action is crackling and nonstop. The novel works fine, there's everything you'd want in an Eric Carter novel - stolen cars, talking heads, enchanted straight razors - and the central conceit of having huge big dead chunks of 1920's Los Angeles run smack into the middle of 2020's Los Angeles is delightful. (At one point, an LAX terminal gets transmogrified into a wheat field, and the reader is left to draw the conclusion that this would have been an improvement.)
But there's no getting around it; time travel has complicating factor after complicating factor. (Blackmoore cheats a little by limiting his antagonist's power just enough to throw off the balance.)
There is a lot that happens in the Eric Carter novels that is shocking one way or another. Violence. Catastrophe. Mass murder. And you might expect more of the same here. What's shocking, though, is that Blackmoore somehow manages to end the Eric Carter books on a wholly unexpected grace note. It's unexpected, and in its own way, deeply disturbing. It may be an unearned grace note, but grace works that way.
So in the dream, the idea was that he wasn't just an author, he was a time-traveler, and he used his money from the book to go back in time and buy stock options in Dell and Apple and suchlike. (He had a numbered Swiss bank account that was the ISBN number for his book, which is pretty slick if you can pull it off.) And it seemed like that dream was somehow the germ of a novel. And I thought I could write it... but I never did, because someone who was really smart and could do time travel could never be defeated. They would always be able to find some way to foul you up. And if you had a protagonist and an antagonist who could both do time travel, well, it would be like Spy Vs. Spy nonsense.
So CULT CLASSIC is mostly about time travel, and time travel is what we can call a complicating factor. (It certainly is for Eric, who spends a fair amount of time complaining about how chronomancy gives him a headache.) Second complicating factor: this is the last Eric Carter book, and the plot lines from the last several Eric Carter books have to be resolved one way or another. Combine all that, plus a 1920's cult that would have made Charlie Manson his own bad self say, "Man, those folks are kind of out there," and you've got the ingredients for... well, something, anyway.
I have been recommending this series for years now, and I still think that it's a worthwhile read. (You would not want to read this stand-alone, though - way too much backstory..) Carter is a great character - you wouldn't want to sit next to him on an airplane for two hours but he's got a wonderful voice and the action is crackling and nonstop. The novel works fine, there's everything you'd want in an Eric Carter novel - stolen cars, talking heads, enchanted straight razors - and the central conceit of having huge big dead chunks of 1920's Los Angeles run smack into the middle of 2020's Los Angeles is delightful. (At one point, an LAX terminal gets transmogrified into a wheat field, and the reader is left to draw the conclusion that this would have been an improvement.)
But there's no getting around it; time travel has complicating factor after complicating factor. (Blackmoore cheats a little by limiting his antagonist's power just enough to throw off the balance.)
There is a lot that happens in the Eric Carter novels that is shocking one way or another. Violence. Catastrophe. Mass murder. And you might expect more of the same here. What's shocking, though, is that Blackmoore somehow manages to end the Eric Carter books on a wholly unexpected grace note. It's unexpected, and in its own way, deeply disturbing. It may be an unearned grace note, but grace works that way.
August 14, 2023
Well, here we are at book number nine in the Eric Carter series by Stephen Blackmoore. And it's about time - no really, a lot of this one is about time.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this one.
On the first page of the book, Eric makes this pronouncement:
"I’ve never really gotten the appeal of car racing. It’s like baseball. When it comes down to it, it’s all just a bunch of guys running around in a circle. Although racing at least has the added benefit of one of them occasionally flipping over and exploding. If that happened in baseball, I would watch the shit out of that."
This pretty much sums up Eric's outlook on his life, death, re-birth and continuing existence - things flipping over and exploding. And, like in the previous eight iterations a lot of the mayhem centres around our favourite necromancer.
Cult Classic brings together a whole lot of threads from the previous stories and, in the long run, feels like a wrapping up of sorts.
The Oracle must be stopped, as it continues to mess with the present by changing the past (in little ways that have big consequence). And added to the mix is the workings of a 100-year old Doomday Cult that threatens the very existence of the present day. The spell is described as an elastic band that has been continually stretching, but at some point will finally snap back - with possible disastrous consequences.
But Eric has a new ally - a chronomancer newly come into their powers. As well as his ex-wife, his new girlfriend(?), memories of his 'life' as Mictlanteculthi and the powers that he can tap into.
Don't want to give too much away, as there's an awful lot going on, but be prepared for talking animals, various deaths and near-deaths, and returns from the dead. Will Eric find Amanda Werther's father's soul and return it to the now? That's only one of the questions that will be answered in this - literally - explosive entry.
Oh, and be prepared for the final twist - I never saw it coming. If this is, indeed, the final book in the Eric Carter series I have only one word to say - BRAVO!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this one.
On the first page of the book, Eric makes this pronouncement:
"I’ve never really gotten the appeal of car racing. It’s like baseball. When it comes down to it, it’s all just a bunch of guys running around in a circle. Although racing at least has the added benefit of one of them occasionally flipping over and exploding. If that happened in baseball, I would watch the shit out of that."
This pretty much sums up Eric's outlook on his life, death, re-birth and continuing existence - things flipping over and exploding. And, like in the previous eight iterations a lot of the mayhem centres around our favourite necromancer.
Cult Classic brings together a whole lot of threads from the previous stories and, in the long run, feels like a wrapping up of sorts.
The Oracle must be stopped, as it continues to mess with the present by changing the past (in little ways that have big consequence). And added to the mix is the workings of a 100-year old Doomday Cult that threatens the very existence of the present day. The spell is described as an elastic band that has been continually stretching, but at some point will finally snap back - with possible disastrous consequences.
But Eric has a new ally - a chronomancer newly come into their powers. As well as his ex-wife, his new girlfriend(?), memories of his 'life' as Mictlanteculthi and the powers that he can tap into.
Don't want to give too much away, as there's an awful lot going on, but be prepared for talking animals, various deaths and near-deaths, and returns from the dead. Will Eric find Amanda Werther's father's soul and return it to the now? That's only one of the questions that will be answered in this - literally - explosive entry.
Oh, and be prepared for the final twist - I never saw it coming. If this is, indeed, the final book in the Eric Carter series I have only one word to say - BRAVO!
October 29, 2023
I'm happy that the book ended in the way that it did, but I am sad that this is the last time that we will see the loveable asshole that is Eric Carter.
I KNEW Rachel had something more to do with the plot rather than just being killed in the previous book. Something about her death in the previous book didn't sit right with me and I'm proud of my little brain for picking that up. I'm glad that Eric made her suffer, especially for what she did the the Twins and how she viewed them. Good riddance b**** Kinda wished that she had suffered more, but hey, at least she is dead!
I really like the way that the book ended with everything tied up all nicely. I was worried that Eric defeating Jimmy would have implication on the current timeline that would mean drastic changes for him when he came back. But where the book ended it seems like he still has everything that he had before, and then some bonus people. I am curious if the return of Lucy means that Eric is no longer 'King of the Dead'. After all, her death is what brought him back to LA in the first place and set him on that path. I like to think that he is still part Mictlantecuhtli, but unless another book comes out, we'll never know for certain...
I think that I said it when I reviewed the previous book in the series, but I love how the female characters are written. There are so many different women in this book, and they all kick ass.
Janna is a nice new addition to the story. Even though she struggles with discovering her powers and what that means for her view of the world, she is never useless. She doesn't waste time complaining, she just gets shit done, much like the rest of the women in this series.
I also like how we got to meet Eric's grandfather for a little bit. I wish they had a chance to get to know each other better rather than instantly disliking one another, but I guess that is just who Eric is (and his grandpa is an ass just like he is).
All in all, I love this book and this series. The ending wrapped everything up perfectly, however, I certainly wouldn't protest if we saw Eric Carter again in further books :)
I KNEW Rachel had something more to do with the plot rather than just being killed in the previous book. Something about her death in the previous book didn't sit right with me and I'm proud of my little brain for picking that up. I'm glad that Eric made her suffer, especially for what she did the the Twins and how she viewed them. Good riddance b**** Kinda wished that she had suffered more, but hey, at least she is dead!
I really like the way that the book ended with everything tied up all nicely. I was worried that Eric defeating Jimmy would have implication on the current timeline that would mean drastic changes for him when he came back. But where the book ended it seems like he still has everything that he had before, and then some bonus people. I am curious if the return of Lucy means that Eric is no longer 'King of the Dead'. After all, her death is what brought him back to LA in the first place and set him on that path. I like to think that he is still part Mictlantecuhtli, but unless another book comes out, we'll never know for certain...
I think that I said it when I reviewed the previous book in the series, but I love how the female characters are written. There are so many different women in this book, and they all kick ass.
Janna is a nice new addition to the story. Even though she struggles with discovering her powers and what that means for her view of the world, she is never useless. She doesn't waste time complaining, she just gets shit done, much like the rest of the women in this series.
I also like how we got to meet Eric's grandfather for a little bit. I wish they had a chance to get to know each other better rather than instantly disliking one another, but I guess that is just who Eric is (and his grandpa is an ass just like he is).
All in all, I love this book and this series. The ending wrapped everything up perfectly, however, I certainly wouldn't protest if we saw Eric Carter again in further books :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2025
The book clipped along as a continuation of book 8 and just as it got good at the wrap-up, I lost the thread. I just couldn't wrap my mind around what was happening in the last 20 or so pages. I had to read them 3 times before the ending stuck. Admittedly, my reading is before bed, so the first time was me pushing to finish the book and kept nodding off, going back to read what I'd been reading as I fell asleep, and nodding off again. The second time was purely those last pages and still nodding off during those pages. Third time was a charm.
While doing some searching about this book just now I came across Athena Scalzi's write up about this book. I'm not sure if I totally missed it, was reading too fast, or what, but I didn't realize/understand the whole woman with the dogs and people in a circle were not only connected and supposed to be a cult, but also an actual real L.A. cult of the 1920s, the Blackburn Cult! I think this contributed to my lack of the ending sticking. Very frustrating considering I'm usually not this thick about time travel. I don't know, I'm not sure if it was all me. But at least this time I finally made the connection between the plot and the book title!
In skimming over previous reviews to decide how I felt about this book, one thing is sure, it feels like an ending and it definitely felt like other characters being set-up for their own series, but I'm skeptical of that? If it's the end, I'm not complaining. Honestly, it was obvious as soon as what the unspoken plan was, it made clear that if it went off as planned the final 2 lines had to be a possibility. I can't see a clearer loop closure bringing it back to the beginning with an Eric Carter much wiser and prepared to be there as he wasn't at the start of the series.
Speaking of which, I've mentioned it in previous reviews, but I really appreciate the evolution of Carter. I also appreciate the writing of fully realized women in this series. Well done. As I said, if this is the end, then I'm good with it. But I wouldn't complain about more or spin-off character series!
While doing some searching about this book just now I came across Athena Scalzi's write up about this book. I'm not sure if I totally missed it, was reading too fast, or what, but I didn't realize/understand the whole woman with the dogs and people in a circle were not only connected and supposed to be a cult, but also an actual real L.A. cult of the 1920s, the Blackburn Cult! I think this contributed to my lack of the ending sticking. Very frustrating considering I'm usually not this thick about time travel. I don't know, I'm not sure if it was all me. But at least this time I finally made the connection between the plot and the book title!
In skimming over previous reviews to decide how I felt about this book, one thing is sure, it feels like an ending and it definitely felt like other characters being set-up for their own series, but I'm skeptical of that? If it's the end, I'm not complaining. Honestly, it was obvious as soon as what the unspoken plan was, it made clear that if it went off as planned the final 2 lines had to be a possibility. I can't see a clearer loop closure bringing it back to the beginning with an Eric Carter much wiser and prepared to be there as he wasn't at the start of the series.
Speaking of which, I've mentioned it in previous reviews, but I really appreciate the evolution of Carter. I also appreciate the writing of fully realized women in this series. Well done. As I said, if this is the end, then I'm good with it. But I wouldn't complain about more or spin-off character series!
May 13, 2023
This eARC was provided from Netgalley.com and I am giving an unbiased review.
As stated above in the plot synopsis, this is the ninth book in the Eric Carter series. And for a bit of a spoiler, it is the final one as well, per the author in a tweet from Twitter, unless someone "pays me a lot of money". This saddens me quite a bit, as I have gotten to truly love this series, and was hoping for more, or maybe some other sort of world tie-in.
Our man of Death, Eric Carter is back, and as usual, the least-loved necromancer has his hands full. Between a poly-type relationship that is a work in progress, time flipping things around from a hundred years ago, and just trying to survive, Eric is hunting down the Oracle, a being he helped create in his younger, 'dumber' days. The story is full of the usual snark we expect from this character, and the usual 'I'm figuring out what I can do along the way' attitude. Having been a God, dead (literally), and brought back to life in your grandfather's body, can sure make for an interesting life.
As I stated before, I am pretty sad this is the last book. That being said, I think Blackmoore did a wonderful job wrapping up some little bits that have been floating out there, in regards to certain events. I'm not going to truly spoil them, but there is information about his Grandfather, and his Sister. If you have read the series, you'll probably know what I referring to. As usual, the author has done a wonderful job of creating and maintaining a possibility of what the southwestern US could be (mainly LA and Las Vegas) after a necromancer has had a few battles. His use of snark and sarcasm were spot on, and I just loved how the main character has changed since the first book, into someone that can actually care not only about what happens to them, but about others, whether he knows them or not.
As stated above in the plot synopsis, this is the ninth book in the Eric Carter series. And for a bit of a spoiler, it is the final one as well, per the author in a tweet from Twitter, unless someone "pays me a lot of money". This saddens me quite a bit, as I have gotten to truly love this series, and was hoping for more, or maybe some other sort of world tie-in.
Our man of Death, Eric Carter is back, and as usual, the least-loved necromancer has his hands full. Between a poly-type relationship that is a work in progress, time flipping things around from a hundred years ago, and just trying to survive, Eric is hunting down the Oracle, a being he helped create in his younger, 'dumber' days. The story is full of the usual snark we expect from this character, and the usual 'I'm figuring out what I can do along the way' attitude. Having been a God, dead (literally), and brought back to life in your grandfather's body, can sure make for an interesting life.
As I stated before, I am pretty sad this is the last book. That being said, I think Blackmoore did a wonderful job wrapping up some little bits that have been floating out there, in regards to certain events. I'm not going to truly spoil them, but there is information about his Grandfather, and his Sister. If you have read the series, you'll probably know what I referring to. As usual, the author has done a wonderful job of creating and maintaining a possibility of what the southwestern US could be (mainly LA and Las Vegas) after a necromancer has had a few battles. His use of snark and sarcasm were spot on, and I just loved how the main character has changed since the first book, into someone that can actually care not only about what happens to them, but about others, whether he knows them or not.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 11, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
In Cult Classic, our favorite necromancer's past continues to haunt him as the Oracle he created decades ago starts messing with time, causing the past and future to overlap in deadly disasters. Eric teams up with old allies, makes new friends, and in a unique twist for this series, doesn't make everybody hate him.
I was almost reluctant to read this book, as I both hate time travel plots and I've been so disappointed with the previous few installments in this series. I'm pleasantly astonished to say I needn't have feared on either count! This was a satisfying page turner that flew by. Blackmoore blew me out of the water with a rise of talent that was a throwback to what hooked me on the series in the first place. The time travel plot was complicated, but the characters acknowledged how complicated it was and Blackmoore added the right elements to make it exciting, rather than annoying.
This was probably the first book in the series where Eric build and maintains healthy, positive relationships with other people. It wasn't everyone from his past who hated him for past misdeeds, or everyone in his current hating him for not playing by their rules. In Cult Classic, Eric has a sense of belonging that was previously missing, and it's done it a way that feels like character evolution, as opposed to forced. We also get a glimpse of Mictlan that keeps that story thread alive (always hoping for more!) without taking over the plot.
In Cult Classic, our favorite necromancer's past continues to haunt him as the Oracle he created decades ago starts messing with time, causing the past and future to overlap in deadly disasters. Eric teams up with old allies, makes new friends, and in a unique twist for this series, doesn't make everybody hate him.
I was almost reluctant to read this book, as I both hate time travel plots and I've been so disappointed with the previous few installments in this series. I'm pleasantly astonished to say I needn't have feared on either count! This was a satisfying page turner that flew by. Blackmoore blew me out of the water with a rise of talent that was a throwback to what hooked me on the series in the first place. The time travel plot was complicated, but the characters acknowledged how complicated it was and Blackmoore added the right elements to make it exciting, rather than annoying.
This was probably the first book in the series where Eric build and maintains healthy, positive relationships with other people. It wasn't everyone from his past who hated him for past misdeeds, or everyone in his current hating him for not playing by their rules. In Cult Classic, Eric has a sense of belonging that was previously missing, and it's done it a way that feels like character evolution, as opposed to forced. We also get a glimpse of Mictlan that keeps that story thread alive (always hoping for more!) without taking over the plot.
May 21, 2023
First book by this author and if his other books are this enjoyable I'll be getting them next. The main character is a mage in a world where mages tend to be egomaniacs with unfathomable powers and a hair trigger. He is no exception. With his undead troops and necromantic skills he finds himself in all sorts of insane and dangerous positions that he always seems to wiggle out of. The banter between him and other characters is witty, dark and extremely entertaining. the action is fast paced and keeps you going from chapter to chapter not wanting to put the book down. In this book, Time has gone amok, buildings, orange groves and people keep appearing from the past and it's all the fault of our main character. Well somewhat, because he's always responsible for it somehow. There is an undead Oracle trying to run the show as well, which is a problem because our lead created it SO, he is somewhat responsible. I can't dig too much deeper without spoiling things but many former characters return from previous books. If you like the series you will enjoy this book, If you like dark gritty and humorous urban fantasy, you will enjoy this book. If you like your anti-heroes in the style of Dresden Files, you will like this book. I myself liked it and thank the Author, Netgalley and the publishers for letting me read an ARC.
July 5, 2023
Stupendous ending for a Cult Classic book series. Now it's time to close the book and settle the accounts.
Here we are the final book in the series. Once again Stephen Blackmoore takes us on the rollercoaster that is Eric Carter's life. There is so much happening here that it's impossible to explain without spoiling the fun. From hunting down a crazy oracle head to dealing with time-travel-induced reality quakes, this book is one hell of a ride. The ending was a bit of a gut punch, but what a way to end it.
I have read all the Eric Carter books and have not been disappointed with any of them! Thank you Mr. Blackmoore for writing such an amazing series. Maybe it makes enough to continue, maybe it doesn't. Either way, I am thankful for what you provided by bringing Eric Carter out into the world
Thank you to NetGalley and DAW for providing me with this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
5 stars out of 5.
Here we are the final book in the series. Once again Stephen Blackmoore takes us on the rollercoaster that is Eric Carter's life. There is so much happening here that it's impossible to explain without spoiling the fun. From hunting down a crazy oracle head to dealing with time-travel-induced reality quakes, this book is one hell of a ride. The ending was a bit of a gut punch, but what a way to end it.
I have read all the Eric Carter books and have not been disappointed with any of them! Thank you Mr. Blackmoore for writing such an amazing series. Maybe it makes enough to continue, maybe it doesn't. Either way, I am thankful for what you provided by bringing Eric Carter out into the world
Thank you to NetGalley and DAW for providing me with this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
5 stars out of 5.
February 3, 2024
I'm kinda sad to realize this is the last book in the series, so after this no more Eric Carter books. On the other hand, it does mean that Eric finally gets to stop being put through more misery for our entertainment. If I had just discovered this series and gotten to binge all the books one right after the other the ending of this one would probably hit real hard. As it is, my brain only just remembers the event that kicks off Eric's return to L.A. So it takes a moment for me to realize just how big a deal this ending is. It's a good ending, I just think it would have hit me faster more like it should if I remembered the beginning more clearly.
Maybe I'll do a reread of the whole thing sometime.
Maybe I'll do a reread of the whole thing sometime.
June 14, 2024
Eric Carter has a lot on his plate.
He's hunting the Oracle of Las Vegas, a literal talking head that manipulates the future to make its prophecies come true. But it has a new trick. It can change the past, too.
Now Jazz Age Los Angeles is invading the present. Long gone buildings suddenly restored, decommissioned Red Car trains appearing on paved over tracks, miles of the city changing back to orange groves.
Throw in a hundred-year-old doomsday cult, time magic, and a terrifyingly powerful spell to raise the dead and it makes for a busy week. Carter knows the Oracle is behind it all but he can't figure out how. Or why.
But he better figure it out soon or he, the city, and everyone he knows might be wiped from existence.
He's hunting the Oracle of Las Vegas, a literal talking head that manipulates the future to make its prophecies come true. But it has a new trick. It can change the past, too.
Now Jazz Age Los Angeles is invading the present. Long gone buildings suddenly restored, decommissioned Red Car trains appearing on paved over tracks, miles of the city changing back to orange groves.
Throw in a hundred-year-old doomsday cult, time magic, and a terrifyingly powerful spell to raise the dead and it makes for a busy week. Carter knows the Oracle is behind it all but he can't figure out how. Or why.
But he better figure it out soon or he, the city, and everyone he knows might be wiped from existence.
April 12, 2025
Binged the entire series and wow that was a journey Eric went really matured. That cliffhanger was something makes me what other changes had occurred since he remade the timeline. One gripe I have is the sorta love triangle Amanda feels shoehorned just because. Gabriella and Eric relationship really developed well and grew into a strong bond makes me wonder why make it poly? I think it’s funny to give Eric a “apprentice” especially with his track record of everyone around him dies. Find it interesting she was the first person he ever brought to see Tabitha. Anyways, I wonder why people thought this would be the last book with so many plot threads that still haven’t been solved yet and now with a new altered tl so many new stories and baddies is ready to rear their heads 😭😂
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2023
I am so blown away by this ninth (!) book in the series. I really can’t say too much about what happened to do that as I don’t want to give away what happened. This is probably my favorite book in the series, and since I’ve loved all of them, that’s saying something. In this latest, Eric is up to his normal shenanigans, killing people and trying to stop the apocalypse while figuring out his love life. This one really packed a punch since we examine Eric’s past a little closer than normal. This is well-written, action-packed, wonderful dark urban fantasy at its finest. I can’t wait to see what happens next. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
July 12, 2023
3 1/2 stars. If you like your Urban Fantasies a bit dark, with some snark and a complicated love life, Eric Carter is just the guy for you. There is a lot going on here, but that is nothing new in this series, and some old threads are finally tied up. He's grown a lot from the first book, but lots of action and the core qualities of Eric stay the same. Now if he only can stay alive....
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion. I really enjoy this series and definitely recommend it for anyone looking for an action-packed urban fantasy series that's a bit different than the most.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion. I really enjoy this series and definitely recommend it for anyone looking for an action-packed urban fantasy series that's a bit different than the most.
August 23, 2024
Eric Carter, a necromancer able to manipulate the dead, once crafted an oracle from the remains of a deceased 'friend.' Now, strange occurrences are plaguing Los Angeles, and the fabric of time seems to unravel. Eric suspects these disturbances are connected to the oracle he created years ago. As he grapples with the chaotic consequences of altering time, Eric is forced to confront the deadly implications for the world and the people he cares about.
Immerse yourself in a fast-paced urban fantasy world where mystery and the supernatural collide to deliver a gripping and suspenseful tale. The novel is a rollercoaster of suspense, keeping you on the edge of your seat as the story unfolds.
Immerse yourself in a fast-paced urban fantasy world where mystery and the supernatural collide to deliver a gripping and suspenseful tale. The novel is a rollercoaster of suspense, keeping you on the edge of your seat as the story unfolds.
June 20, 2025
Plot & Story:
Cult Classics is the latest in the gritty urban fantasy series following necromancer Eric Carter. This time, Carter finds himself entangled with a powerful cult that's meddling with dark gods and ancient forces far beyond their control. The stakes are higher than ever, and Carter’s usual mix of black magic, sarcasm, and violent diplomacy is put to the test.
The story dives deeper into L.A.’s supernatural underbelly, with twisted rituals, deadly spirits, and Carter’s increasingly frayed morality. Expect bloody confrontations, ghostly encounters, and his signature “solve it with necromancy and a gun” attitude.
Ending (Spoilers):
The book ends with a chaotic confrontation where Carter is forced to make a devastating choice—kill someone close to him or let an unspeakable evil break loose. He chooses the lesser evil (again), but not without personal cost. The final pages leave him battered, more haunted than ever, and still cursed with the burden of saving a world that hates him.
Verdict:
A brutal, fast-paced ride with noir vibes, occult mayhem, and a protagonist who’s always one spell away from disaster. Not for the faint of heart—but I loved it .
Cult Classics is the latest in the gritty urban fantasy series following necromancer Eric Carter. This time, Carter finds himself entangled with a powerful cult that's meddling with dark gods and ancient forces far beyond their control. The stakes are higher than ever, and Carter’s usual mix of black magic, sarcasm, and violent diplomacy is put to the test.
The story dives deeper into L.A.’s supernatural underbelly, with twisted rituals, deadly spirits, and Carter’s increasingly frayed morality. Expect bloody confrontations, ghostly encounters, and his signature “solve it with necromancy and a gun” attitude.
Ending (Spoilers):
The book ends with a chaotic confrontation where Carter is forced to make a devastating choice—kill someone close to him or let an unspeakable evil break loose. He chooses the lesser evil (again), but not without personal cost. The final pages leave him battered, more haunted than ever, and still cursed with the burden of saving a world that hates him.
Verdict:
A brutal, fast-paced ride with noir vibes, occult mayhem, and a protagonist who’s always one spell away from disaster. Not for the faint of heart—but I loved it .
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 30, 2023
Took a long time to read this book, not because there was anything wrong with the book, but because of a minor disaster in my life.
I've read every single one of the books in this series and loved them all. Cult Classic was the best written of all nine books, and I loved this book too -- except for a few pages at the very end. They still made me laugh, because they were true to form.
My one disappointment was after everything he'd been through I wanted Eric Carter to be happy. But no spoilers from me.
Five stars minus five pages.
September 28, 2024
(5.0 Stars)
This rating is not only for this book, but for the entire series. I've had mixed reviews for the books in this series, but this last one really tied them all together nicely.
This was the best book of the series, but also closed a lot of the holes left open in the previous books. The narrator was good, and for my own preference, I liked the unabridged audiobooks much better than the graphic audio books.
So, if you are stuck in the middle of this series, stick with it... it gets better with every book!
I hope to read more by this author.
This rating is not only for this book, but for the entire series. I've had mixed reviews for the books in this series, but this last one really tied them all together nicely.
This was the best book of the series, but also closed a lot of the holes left open in the previous books. The narrator was good, and for my own preference, I liked the unabridged audiobooks much better than the graphic audio books.
So, if you are stuck in the middle of this series, stick with it... it gets better with every book!
I hope to read more by this author.
January 20, 2025
It’s a very great book, however, I think the ending needed a bit more. as I filled that and left me as a Cliff hanger, instead of actually having a great ending. I wish it explained what happened after he change the bed with Jimmy, not existing no more. I understand his sister came back, however, I’m curious to see what else he changed in his life. That wasn’t really explain. I wish there was a bit more to the series. Instead of lifting it as a Cliff hanger. I wonder if there will be more, but I understand that this is the last book for the series.
July 12, 2023
Highly anticipated sequel which more than delivered on the goods.
Surprisingly this made the last book make even more sense, a few ah ha moments when gut feelings pay off a book later.
Notes:
- Unexpectedly mature handling of relationships. Not a complaint, I'm here for it.
- I worry about the impact of that ending, but cant wait for the next one. There has to be a next one. I cannot handle there not being a next one.
Surprisingly this made the last book make even more sense, a few ah ha moments when gut feelings pay off a book later.
Notes:
- Unexpectedly mature handling of relationships. Not a complaint, I'm here for it.
- I worry about the impact of that ending, but cant wait for the next one. There has to be a next one. I cannot handle there not being a next one.
August 22, 2023
My second fav in the series.
Really. Now, this world feels coesive, tangible, lived in.
A few new characters, great dynamic with the love interest (nice poli also), doesnt feel forced.
It's not in a higher "ranking" coz I felt the resolution a bit... disapointing
Compared to my fav (Bottle Demon), it was too simple.
Loved the ending and the cliffhanger.
Also, this is NOT the last book in the series.
As far as I know, there'll be more.
And I'm glad for it
Really. Now, this world feels coesive, tangible, lived in.
A few new characters, great dynamic with the love interest (nice poli also), doesnt feel forced.
It's not in a higher "ranking" coz I felt the resolution a bit... disapointing
Compared to my fav (Bottle Demon), it was too simple.
Loved the ending and the cliffhanger.
Also, this is NOT the last book in the series.
As far as I know, there'll be more.
And I'm glad for it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2023
3.5 rounded to 4. Time travel plots are really hit or miss for me and sometimes it overly challenging to see what is actually going on. The Tree of Life bit really didn't land for me and the entire cult casting something weird was a strange premise. All that said, I still love Eric Carter as a main character and Gabriela, Amanda, and now Janna add really well to the story, as does Danny.
Looking forward to book 10!
Looking forward to book 10!
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