Status Updates From Prokletí rodu Usherů: Dům z...

Seeing the formula a bit more clearly. The embodiments of dark and light have been introduced and staged. This is such a go-to for McCammon. The story transpiring around it is great though with all sorts of fun, Southern tropes: high stakes card games, alcoholic blue bloods, debaucherous parties, duels, and even inbreeding.

Well-written and fun... but it has that sense of inevitability, and it's just so formulaic.

Beginning to notice some patterns in McCammon's novels. He likes to seed a couple of mythic boogie men or monstrous woodland creatures in many of his books, in addition to his "big bad". Then it's just an inevitable side quest or incidental when the beastie is finally found, or unveiled much as in Scoobie Do, and it's just some cranky white asshole under a hood.

Still enjoying. But, a bit predictable.