This was the third book in a row to use a first-person present tense, I was fatigued. I understand for many people it puts them in the moment more deeply, more intensely. It creates a distance for me and slows everything down. This is prominent during the fight scenes where the immediacy drops off. (It may just be me, so if FP,PT works for you it will work well here). 

There is a unique mastery of the craft in the way the author uses vernacular I have never heard, I do not understand, but the way they have weaved it through dialogue and internal thoughts makes the meaning clear. I’m sure I am missing nuance and a wider understanding, but that is something to explore on a re-read. 

The only time I struggled was with the Bruh Fox references. I spent too long thinking it was an in-textual story being referenced and the context would be revealed later on. Eventually, when I realised it wasn’t going to be revealed, I looked it up. It is rare that major American culture doesn’t reach the UK if only in an off-hand way. 

I thought the layers of evilness was a special touch. Initially I was wondering if it was meant to be supernatural-as-metaphor, but it explored the subject matter through the horrors of the supernatural and the terrors of the real world. I also appreciated how unique the sword was, with an obstacle in using it. 

The moments of humour and joy are obviously needed. But really, it is how true to life they feel. The banter and in jokes put you amongst a group of friends or comrades better than many books of a much longer length. That connection directly influences how impactful the story of each of those characters is. Given that, I was left wanting to spend even more time with these characters, but only a skilled writer could leave me with that and at the same time entirely fulfilled. 

 

~1 Tracks 4 reele and Mary B are stand out accompaniment. 

~2 During the fight at the start of Chapter 5, this song fits well.