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ruthbrarian's review
5.0
What I appreciated most about this anthology was the breadth of the stories. I wasn't sure if I would actually enjoy a book entirely themed around Jack the Ripper. I was fascinated by Silvia Moreno-Garcia's "Abandon All Flesh" and its combination of the classic legend, the wax Ripper, and older, darker tales. In some ways, it made me think of Lovecraft's "Horror in the Museum." "Ripperology" captured the more academic side of my imagination and I plan to reread it. Given the premise, I was quite surprised by how much I liked "A Host of Shadows."
Others which hold my imagination a week after I finished include: "A Pretty for Polly," "Villains by Necessity," "Jack's Little Friend" (which is another I wasn't sure at the outset that I'd like), and "Hell Broke Loose"
Barron's "Termination Dust" is one which I know I'll need to read at least two more times to begin to put together, but it was a fiercely-evocative tale of death and isolation. Of the stories, it was the one I looked forward to the most, as it's the first I've read of his set in his native Alaska instead of the Pacific-Northwest or abroad.
I was pleasantly surprised that there were only a few stories I considered misses, but I won't mention them because others might feel differently when they read it.
Others which hold my imagination a week after I finished include: "A Pretty for Polly," "Villains by Necessity," "Jack's Little Friend" (which is another I wasn't sure at the outset that I'd like), and "Hell Broke Loose"
Barron's "Termination Dust" is one which I know I'll need to read at least two more times to begin to put together, but it was a fiercely-evocative tale of death and isolation. Of the stories, it was the one I looked forward to the most, as it's the first I've read of his set in his native Alaska instead of the Pacific-Northwest or abroad.
I was pleasantly surprised that there were only a few stories I considered misses, but I won't mention them because others might feel differently when they read it.
caidyn's review
3.0
This was an impulse buy for me. Saw it on Amazon. Realized that I hadn't read anything like this for Jack the Ripper, and decided I was going to get it for my Kindle to give it a shot.
I'm not sure how much I really enjoyed it.
Poems at the beginning and end were both good, perfect to set up the story and provide a close to it. The stories on the other hand...
In any anthology, there are hits and misses. To me, this one had more misses than hits. And I call them misses when they don't provide what I wanted them to be. As you'll see below if you decide to read more that my biggest complaint was that I wanted more from them. More details, more of a real ending, more explanation.
Overall, this book earned 3.4.
Possible spoilers could be below.
A Host of Shadows - 4/5: A good case of son being like the father.
Jack's Little Friend - 2/5: Not a huge fan of second person, and it wasn't done in an interesting way for this short story. It was just an okay tale.
Abandon All Flesh - 2.5/5: It was an odd story, I have to say. Very odd. It held promise if it actually had a touch more detail to it, more insight. I did like the mix of it with ancient rituals and I wish there had been more elaboration to it.
God of the Razor - 3/5: Another interesting story that mixed the legend of Jack the Ripper with something supernatural. This time, I felt it was better done since it had more meat to the writing.
The Butcher, The Baker, The Candlestick-Maker - 5/5: It reminded me almost of the show Whitechapel. A modern person killing as Jack the Ripper, except, unlike the show, it was in the point of view of the killer. Excellent writing.
Ripping - 4.5/5: For once I enjoyed the lack of details besides the dialogue. It was all the story needed, really. It was an interesting twist at that to the common assumption of Jack the Ripper. I did enjoy it.
Something About Dr. Tumblety - 4/5: Still a very interesting story, and it included a bit of history about a suspect that I personally didn't know about.
The Truffle Pig - 3/5: Loved the ending allusion to H.H. Holmes.
Ripperology - 3/5: Good writing, but I couldn't personally see the point of this short story. It felt lacking and it was just really a musing rather than a real story that I was looking forward to.
Hell Broke Loose - 4.5/5: I love psychology and this story was chock full of it. A good short story that involved two real murders that took place in the 1880's, and put them together in a way that really was good.
Where Have you Been All My Life? - 3/5: Lacked something. whole story felt like the opening to the real one. It was interesting, and I do wish that there was more.
Juliette's New Toy - 4/5: I loved the broken prose of it, yet this one lacked in something as well. Another opening that I felt could have been expanded.
Villian's, by Necessity - 2/5: I didn't really see the point of this one.
When the Means Just Defy the End - 4/5: I loved the back story for this one. Long, but not tedious, and interesting. Enjoyed the profile of Jack that a lot of people take credence to.
A Pretty for Polly - 3.5/5: The descent into madness was written brilliantly and I really enjoyed the twist to it.
Termination Dust - 2.5/5: I thought this one would never end. The whole time I read, I was waiting for it to become apparent to why this was included in the anthology. Only real reason I can come up with that is the theory the author blatantly used ofJack being within every single killer out there .
Once November - 3/5: Yet another one that I wish had more because I loved where it was going to find that it just cut off.
I'm not sure how much I really enjoyed it.
Poems at the beginning and end were both good, perfect to set up the story and provide a close to it. The stories on the other hand...
In any anthology, there are hits and misses. To me, this one had more misses than hits. And I call them misses when they don't provide what I wanted them to be. As you'll see below if you decide to read more that my biggest complaint was that I wanted more from them. More details, more of a real ending, more explanation.
Overall, this book earned 3.4.
Possible spoilers could be below.
A Host of Shadows - 4/5: A good case of son being like the father.
Jack's Little Friend - 2/5: Not a huge fan of second person, and it wasn't done in an interesting way for this short story. It was just an okay tale.
Abandon All Flesh - 2.5/5: It was an odd story, I have to say. Very odd. It held promise if it actually had a touch more detail to it, more insight. I did like the mix of it with ancient rituals and I wish there had been more elaboration to it.
God of the Razor - 3/5: Another interesting story that mixed the legend of Jack the Ripper with something supernatural. This time, I felt it was better done since it had more meat to the writing.
The Butcher, The Baker, The Candlestick-Maker - 5/5: It reminded me almost of the show Whitechapel. A modern person killing as Jack the Ripper, except, unlike the show, it was in the point of view of the killer. Excellent writing.
Ripping - 4.5/5: For once I enjoyed the lack of details besides the dialogue. It was all the story needed, really. It was an interesting twist at that to the common assumption of Jack the Ripper. I did enjoy it.
Something About Dr. Tumblety - 4/5: Still a very interesting story, and it included a bit of history about a suspect that I personally didn't know about.
The Truffle Pig - 3/5: Loved the ending allusion to H.H. Holmes.
Ripperology - 3/5: Good writing, but I couldn't personally see the point of this short story. It felt lacking and it was just really a musing rather than a real story that I was looking forward to.
Hell Broke Loose - 4.5/5: I love psychology and this story was chock full of it. A good short story that involved two real murders that took place in the 1880's, and put them together in a way that really was good.
Where Have you Been All My Life? - 3/5: Lacked something. whole story felt like the opening to the real one. It was interesting, and I do wish that there was more.
Juliette's New Toy - 4/5: I loved the broken prose of it, yet this one lacked in something as well. Another opening that I felt could have been expanded.
Villian's, by Necessity - 2/5: I didn't really see the point of this one.
When the Means Just Defy the End - 4/5: I loved the back story for this one. Long, but not tedious, and interesting. Enjoyed the profile of Jack that a lot of people take credence to.
A Pretty for Polly - 3.5/5: The descent into madness was written brilliantly and I really enjoyed the twist to it.
Termination Dust - 2.5/5: I thought this one would never end. The whole time I read, I was waiting for it to become apparent to why this was included in the anthology. Only real reason I can come up with that is the theory the author blatantly used of
Once November - 3/5: Yet another one that I wish had more because I loved where it was going to find that it just cut off.
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