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_fallinglight_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
charshorrorcorner's review
4.0
I've been on somewhat of a cosmic horror binge these last few weeks and I'm happy to report that Red Equinox stands up there with the best of the genre.
I'm not going to get into the plot too much, as several reviews and the synopsis already do . I'm just going to mention a few of my impressions and feelings and leave it at that.
Mr. Wynne makes the Cthulhu mythos his own with this contribution about first resurrecting the language of the Old Gods, and then the Old Gods themselves. They're not dead, exactly, just in another dimension. For me, the story is always about those humans who live to serve the Old Ones and those dedicated to stopping them. This book was no exception. I especially liked the characters of Becca and Rafael and appreciated the fact that the narrative didn't lead in all the usual directions.
One thing that flew low on my radar, but did register, was the mention of a company called Limbus. Since I read and enjoyed Limbus, Inc. and noting that it was also from Journalstone, I have to believe that this was on purpose and I felt like I was in on an inside joke.
Lastly, this story was set in a Boston of the future. I found myself wondering why the author set it there and I liked the answers I came up with. There might be a little more going on here than just the Old Ones, but what you find will be up to you and what you want to take from it.
In the midst of a couple of weeks where I've read several Lovecraftian titles, Red Equinox by Douglas Wynne stands out as a distinctive voice in the mythos. His style may not be as literary as some, but the gist of the story and the characters are spot on. I hope that he continues to dabble in this genre in the future.
Recommended for fans of cosmic horror!
*I received a free ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is it.*
I'm not going to get into the plot too much, as several reviews and the synopsis already do . I'm just going to mention a few of my impressions and feelings and leave it at that.
Mr. Wynne makes the Cthulhu mythos his own with this contribution about first resurrecting the language of the Old Gods, and then the Old Gods themselves. They're not dead, exactly, just in another dimension. For me, the story is always about those humans who live to serve the Old Ones and those dedicated to stopping them. This book was no exception. I especially liked the characters of Becca and Rafael and appreciated the fact that the narrative didn't lead in all the usual directions.
One thing that flew low on my radar, but did register, was the mention of a company called Limbus. Since I read and enjoyed Limbus, Inc. and noting that it was also from Journalstone, I have to believe that this was on purpose and I felt like I was in on an inside joke.
Lastly, this story was set in a Boston of the future. I found myself wondering why the author set it there and I liked the answers I came up with. There might be a little more going on here than just the Old Ones, but what you find will be up to you and what you want to take from it.
In the midst of a couple of weeks where I've read several Lovecraftian titles, Red Equinox by Douglas Wynne stands out as a distinctive voice in the mythos. His style may not be as literary as some, but the gist of the story and the characters are spot on. I hope that he continues to dabble in this genre in the future.
Recommended for fans of cosmic horror!
*I received a free ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is it.*
ewreck82's review
4.0
Synopsis from Amazon
The Red Equinox has dawned, and the old gods who have slept for aeons are stirring.
Urban explorer and photographer Becca Philips was raised in the shadow of Miskatonic University, steeped in the mysteries of her late grandmother’s work in occult studies. But what she thought was myth becomes all too real when cultists unleash terror on the city of Boston. Now she’s caught between a shadowy government agency called SPECTRA and the followers of an apocalyptic faith bent on awakening an ancient evil.
As urban warfare breaks out between eldritch monsters and an emerging police state, she must uncover the secrets of a family heirloom known as the Fire of Cairo to banish the rising tide of darkness before the balance tips irrevocably at the Red Equinox.
Review
I was instantly drawn in by the character of Becca Phillips. She is a strong albeit sometimes stubborn protagonist that has a heart of gold. You can tell she cares deeply for the people around her and tries to remain aware of how her interactions with them may impact their lives or feelings towards her. She is adventurous, smart and quick witted. She has a unique way of looking at the world that thrusts her into the middle of a brewing conflict between the old gods and a secret government agency that unknowingly has loose ties to her. Becca must delve into her family history if she wants to stop a massacre in her beloved city.
This book was well paced and as I said drew me in right away. Some odd names threw me off but that is not a notch against the book. I picked up the other 3 books in this series and I am looking forward to seeing what else the Spectra files have in store for me. Both in the future and in the prequel. 4 out of 5 stars
The Red Equinox has dawned, and the old gods who have slept for aeons are stirring.
Urban explorer and photographer Becca Philips was raised in the shadow of Miskatonic University, steeped in the mysteries of her late grandmother’s work in occult studies. But what she thought was myth becomes all too real when cultists unleash terror on the city of Boston. Now she’s caught between a shadowy government agency called SPECTRA and the followers of an apocalyptic faith bent on awakening an ancient evil.
As urban warfare breaks out between eldritch monsters and an emerging police state, she must uncover the secrets of a family heirloom known as the Fire of Cairo to banish the rising tide of darkness before the balance tips irrevocably at the Red Equinox.
Review
I was instantly drawn in by the character of Becca Phillips. She is a strong albeit sometimes stubborn protagonist that has a heart of gold. You can tell she cares deeply for the people around her and tries to remain aware of how her interactions with them may impact their lives or feelings towards her. She is adventurous, smart and quick witted. She has a unique way of looking at the world that thrusts her into the middle of a brewing conflict between the old gods and a secret government agency that unknowingly has loose ties to her. Becca must delve into her family history if she wants to stop a massacre in her beloved city.
This book was well paced and as I said drew me in right away. Some odd names threw me off but that is not a notch against the book. I picked up the other 3 books in this series and I am looking forward to seeing what else the Spectra files have in store for me. Both in the future and in the prequel. 4 out of 5 stars
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