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jordanbro1993's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
kafie's review
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
willrefuge's review against another edition
4.0
7.5 / 10 ✪
https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com/2023/12/20/the-pale-house-devil-by-richard-kadrey-review/
Ford and Neuland are a pair of supernatural mercenaries; one living—who kills the dead—and the other dead—what kills the living. It’s a business and partnership both, one that works.
Forced to leave New York in a hurry after a job goes south, the two relocate to sunny LA, where the work dries up. After a few weeks sitting around in California, the two are ready to leave, but an unsolicited gig gives them pause. The client: Tilda Rosenbloom, approaching the pair on behalf of her grandfather, some rich recluse, Shepherd Mansfield, that lives out in the hills.
The skinny: the Pale House has been in Mansfield’s family for generations. The old man grew up in it and wants to die there. But something is haunting the Pale House, something terrible, that not only drove the family out but that’s defeated everything Mansfield managed to throw at it. Until now. Ford and Neuland are among the best, though this will test even them.
For what lurks in the Pale House is unknown even to them, and borne of a legacy of violence, blood, and sacrifice sufficient to bind it to the house heart and soul. It won’t be easy to exorcise the demon, let alone kill it.
—
My thirteenth book by Richard Kadrey begins where all the others have: in California. Okay, okay, so it actually begins in New York, but we’re off to Cali inside of the first chapter. They say to “write what you know”, but I’m getting really sick of LA. The only book not set there thus far was the Grand Dark, and it was set in a drug-infested, hipster’s paradise so close to SoCal as to be indistinguishable. So when this book opens with us heading west, I groaned. Fortunately we weren’t in LA for long. Even better, it looks like this was only the first stop on a hopefully long road trip.
As I really did enjoy the Pale House Devil. Yeah, the gold-hearted killer trope is a bit old, but Ford and Neuland are likable enough while also undeniably being assholes—something Kadrey’s quite good at creating. So at least they’re not pretending. The world-building itself is likewise pretty good. Minimal—a supernatural in the shadows kinda Earth—but still decent, more than enough to suit the story.
The old man and the demon are where the story come alive. I loved the demon’s POV—it was truly spectacular, and weirdly immersive. The asshole old man was a good demon in his own right, so much so that it was difficult to know who to root for between the two. Then we get to the job itself. Now, I’d’ve liked a little bit more mystery, a bit more trial and error, but as a proof of concept, the Pale House Devil is a success. A good story, a good challenge, a good atmosphere, even a good bit of horror. I hope to see this series go places—hopefully non-California places—in the future.
https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com/2023/12/20/the-pale-house-devil-by-richard-kadrey-review/
Ford and Neuland are a pair of supernatural mercenaries; one living—who kills the dead—and the other dead—what kills the living. It’s a business and partnership both, one that works.
Forced to leave New York in a hurry after a job goes south, the two relocate to sunny LA, where the work dries up. After a few weeks sitting around in California, the two are ready to leave, but an unsolicited gig gives them pause. The client: Tilda Rosenbloom, approaching the pair on behalf of her grandfather, some rich recluse, Shepherd Mansfield, that lives out in the hills.
The skinny: the Pale House has been in Mansfield’s family for generations. The old man grew up in it and wants to die there. But something is haunting the Pale House, something terrible, that not only drove the family out but that’s defeated everything Mansfield managed to throw at it. Until now. Ford and Neuland are among the best, though this will test even them.
For what lurks in the Pale House is unknown even to them, and borne of a legacy of violence, blood, and sacrifice sufficient to bind it to the house heart and soul. It won’t be easy to exorcise the demon, let alone kill it.
—
My thirteenth book by Richard Kadrey begins where all the others have: in California. Okay, okay, so it actually begins in New York, but we’re off to Cali inside of the first chapter. They say to “write what you know”, but I’m getting really sick of LA. The only book not set there thus far was the Grand Dark, and it was set in a drug-infested, hipster’s paradise so close to SoCal as to be indistinguishable. So when this book opens with us heading west, I groaned. Fortunately we weren’t in LA for long. Even better, it looks like this was only the first stop on a hopefully long road trip.
As I really did enjoy the Pale House Devil. Yeah, the gold-hearted killer trope is a bit old, but Ford and Neuland are likable enough while also undeniably being assholes—something Kadrey’s quite good at creating. So at least they’re not pretending. The world-building itself is likewise pretty good. Minimal—a supernatural in the shadows kinda Earth—but still decent, more than enough to suit the story.
The old man and the demon are where the story come alive. I loved the demon’s POV—it was truly spectacular, and weirdly immersive. The asshole old man was a good demon in his own right, so much so that it was difficult to know who to root for between the two. Then we get to the job itself. Now, I’d’ve liked a little bit more mystery, a bit more trial and error, but as a proof of concept, the Pale House Devil is a success. A good story, a good challenge, a good atmosphere, even a good bit of horror. I hope to see this series go places—hopefully non-California places—in the future.
babymoomoocow's review
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I really enjoyed this, and I've be very quick to pick up a sequel. Or even a prequel to be honest. But I loved Ford and Neuland's banter. Tilda was a little annoying but by the end I liked her too. The granddad was a piece of work, that's for sure. And it was all on purpose.
I got this book from my library and like half the way through I ended up buying my own copy so I could reread it whenever I want.
I got this book from my library and like half the way through I ended up buying my own copy so I could reread it whenever I want.
typedtruths's review
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Blood, Murder, and Gun violence
Moderate: Racial slurs, Suicide, Antisemitism, Alcohol, Death of parent, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Pregnancy, Excrement, Vomit, and Slavery
philibin's review against another edition
dark
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
(3.25 Stars)
This was a quick, fun little story. Unfortunately there wasn't enough to it to really get a good feel of the characters. If it would have been a longer story, I might have liked it better.
This was a quick, fun little story. Unfortunately there wasn't enough to it to really get a good feel of the characters. If it would have been a longer story, I might have liked it better.
redeyesinferno's review
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0