Jon Taylor’s Reviews > The Ceremonies > Status Update

The earth as an egg. Enjoyed the increasing size of the spider threat to Friers and the inhuman hatchling in the coop. Much pacier now.

Deborah is attacked. Don’t get all the sexual stuff with Deborah at the beginning of the novel - seems nothing but titillation at this point. The first person stuff is poor - don’t know why Klein does it, it’s laboured. The narrative voice makes Carol even more stupid. But looking forward to the huge beast arriving soon…

Unrest amongst the Brethren. Earth tremors. Badwa thwarted. God knows how ‘Rosie’ is going to explain why he’s lying naked on a bed in a filthy apartment…

Better pacing here. Like the swarm of snakes, like a Biblical plague, and the trance of the Old One. Also good rising tension around Friers’ presence with the Brethren. Definitely bubbling up to something.

There are some unpleasant thoughts expressed (particularly by Carol) regarding race. Is this meant to reflect her innocence? Hard to like her, as she is written as weak, pathetic and malleable. The dances are ridiculous. And now there’s a killer cat. Will finish, but this is bollocks.

Disco horror.

The cat is possessed - I liked the night visit with the flash of lightning. Also like all the references to old folk horror tales like Algernon Blackwood - going to give them a go.

Carol is pathetic. Klein has not done enough to convince us that she would trust the old man sufficiently to accept his guidance all the time - why would she wear the dress and, worse, change her underwear for him? Why would she go on a rollercoaster? Is it supposed to be some kind of hypnotic power he has over her? Cat’s cool though.

Honestly, this is nothing more than an American Folk Horror potboiler. The graphic sex is embarrassing. The Old One is laughable. No one is at all likeable, least of all Jeremy. But it is building some momentum and at least has its roots in some genuinely interesting arcana such as Machen’s ‘The White People’.