He looked to Daniel Slaughter (a writer similar to RJ Stine of Goosebumps). (Sebastian is the old-school literary horror writer). “We’re already famous,” Sebastian countered, his posture stiffening. “Or you can come with me to Kill Creek and, by the first of November, you won’t just be the four most famous horror authors in the country you’ll be the four most famous authors on the planet.” Or you can stay the night-we have rooms booked for each of you at a hotel on the Plaza-and you can leave in the morning.” He leaned over the table, the spotlight overhead casting long streaks of shadow down his face. I think this quote will help give you an idea of what I mean without spoiling anything:īlog Host: “I can’t force you to do this. No, the Finch House haunts each author in a way that will resonate with any writer out there. Don’t think for a moment that this book repeats those old tropes of surviving a haunted house for the night.

KILL CREEK by Scott Thomas follows four horror authors as they spend the night in a haunted house for an “interview” conducted by an Irish trust fund baby.

I think it would’ve strengthened the overarching importance of/my interest in the plot itself.ĭuring my recent “haunted house” binge, I uncovered what may be one of my favorite works in the subgenre so far. Personally, I would’ve liked to see more agency from the main character rather than feeling left in the dust by Cord. It’s probably just a preference thing, seeing how well that work is generally received. I’ve seen this “Watson-to-Sherlock” style of narrating done in Scourge of the Betrayer, and had a problem there as well. As the leader of their job, it’s mostly him who pushes the plot along. Only problem is I found Cord more interesting than Nenn. “When you’re handling dead guys and dealing with bureaucracy, you have fun when you can.” “My brain drifted with them, wondering what a normal life might look like. It’s largely her voice and reflections that kept me turning the page: Expect plenty of heated banter and such lovely threats as, “If we get out of this, I’m going to wear your balls for earrings, Cord.” Whereas most thief duos in fantasy share strong bonds of friendship (such as Royce & Hadrian Jean & Locke), Snyder brings something different to the table with frenemies Nenn and Cord. Make the pews more comfortable, make the books more ornate, make the spire bigger so we can fuck the heavens with our giant phallic patriarchal metaphor.” “Not that Anaxos’ priests knew anything about that. “…the masts looked like they’d give you a splinter if you looked at them wrong.” There’s a lot to like about this book, particularly the colorful, nay, resplendent, use of language: Full of adventure, thiefcraft, and Pratchetesque humor, Clayton Snyder’s RIVER OF THIEVES is a picaresque caper set in a high fantasy world.

River of Thieves by Clayton W. Snyder