William Nesdale’s Reviews > Lovecraft Country > Status Update

Onto our next story: “Jekyll in Hyde Park”, where Ruby experiences a change.

Ok, I get that one of our characters, connected to Atticus, George, and/or Letitia, would come near one of the Beiathwhites and strike up an uneasy friendship with them, but this story take a look at and African-American woman’s life in another woman’s shoes, or race in this case. I’m pretty sure it has elements of Jekyll and Hyde

Hippolyta is given a parting gift.

Well, this story sure is more immersively moody than the previous chapters. Sure, the story is more exposition than cosmic/horror danger, but it’s a nicely written story that explores the cosmos & would make a great CGI set with Lucius cinematography. Anyway, we have a bit of rivalry between the two shady white families now. Hipolyta’s story rating: 7/10

Onto our next story “Hippolyta Disturbs the Universe”, about George’s wife, Hippolyta, as she goes on a trip to a mysterious observatory in Wisconsin, which I’m sure will be a normal journey, or is it?

I like that the book has time to do a backstory on Hippolyta, detailing her love of astronomy & her quest to look up into the stars. But, as it is connected to the name “Winthrop” something bad will happen

After a task given to them by Caleb Birthwright, George, Montrose, Atticus and the gang do a heist to get the “Book of Names” from the museum, but it isn’t easy as it looks.

Looks like we have a very interesting heist, played out with actual danger and some sweet Lovecraftian/horror vibes. Looks like these short stories are heating up and building to a startling climax. Abdul’s Book Rating: 8/10

Onto Story number 3: Abdullah’s Book. George & Montrose go to retrieve Adbull’s book from the vault, but unfortunately, the book went missing, and a ransom is at hand.

Looks like we have a simple ransom plot line, where the sacred book is taken & they are forced by the enemies to make an offer. I like where the story is going, with a nice backstory on the titular book, yet there’s no strange horror to be found

Now that the Winthrop house has scared off Ruby, Letitia is all alone as she tries to fend off a haunted house & some racist neighbours.

Ok, this story may be a bit more blander than the first story, but I do feel that there is a common thread that ties the anthology together, other than the trio of Atticus, Letitia & George. Let’s see if the next story keeps up the act. Which House rating: 6/10

Onto the next story: “Dreams of the Which House”, where Letitia and her sister Ruby get a fancy old house, named The Winthrop House. But with ghost stories surrounding the house & being situated in a white neighbourhood, living in the Winthrop House won’t be easy.

This story isn’t as attention grabbing as the first story, playing out like a typical haunted house story, but its underlying themes are good.

After Atticus finally finds his father, their rescue plan hits a snag when they are magically caught in a trap. Then a ritual begins with Atticus as a sacrifice.

Well, this was one heck of a story ending. Sure it isn’t the end of the book, per se, but it sure is a solid combination of otherworldly horror & real horror, even if the tension is underwhelming. Lovecraft Country story: 8/10

The trio looks around Ardham for a bit, then have dinner with some white guests. After a bit of quick-thinking, Atticus meets the Braithwhite patriarch.

Ok, so we have some eerie tension, a bit of racial allegory, and a few surprisingly solid quips from Atticus. I’m also convinced that the book take a strange turn. I love how it juxtapositions fantastical horror with the realistic horror of racism.

After a narrow escape from the sheriff of Bidewood, our trio arrive at Ardham and gets settled into the Braithwhite manor. But suspicions catches onto Atticus.

I’m loving this story so far, there references to racism that may be unsettling, yet it’s the eerie vibe & the underlying mystery that Atticus must uncover that keeps me hooked. There may be Lovecraftian horror in the mix, but we will wait and see.