![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.monsterlibrarian.com\/TheCirculationDesk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Screenshot_20230924-170323_Chrome.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe Claw of Craving: The First Book of Lost Carcosa <\/span><\/i>by Joseph Sale<\/span><\/p>\n Blood Bound Publishing, 2023<\/span><\/p>\n ISBN: 9781940250595<\/span><\/p>\n Available: Paperback, Kindle edition\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Buy:\u00a0\u00a0Bookshop.org<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0\u00a0Amazon.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Some of the best horror novels of the 80s and 90s weren\u2019t really horror at all.\u00a0 They were, at heart, fantasy books with a dark core, with James Herbert\u2019s Once<\/em>, Clive Barker\u2019s\u00a0Weaveworld,<\/em> and Ronald Kelly\u2019s\u00a0Fear<\/em> being standout examples. Joseph\u2019s Sale\u2019s The Claw of Craving<\/em> is a beautifully crafted tale of darkness and light in the “world beyond our world” realm of Carcosa that could revitalize the genre.\u00a0 If you like dark fantasy, this is a must-read.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Alan Chambers is an ordinary guy convinced there has to be more to existence than his mundane life on earth\u2026it\u2019s there, somewhere, just beyond his grasp.\u00a0 His search ends when he is granted passage to the fabled land of Carcosa, ruled by the Yellow King (a nice nod\/tribute to author Robert W. Chambers in the choice of ruler). Alan and a few companions find themselves on a journey to recover the Claw of Craving, so they can rescue the wife of the Yellow King from her captors.\u00a0 Magic and mayhem abound, as the companions journey through the bleak land to the fortress where the Claw resides.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n It only takes 25 pages or so for Alan to get to Carcosa, afte suffering through a pain-soaked ritual.\u00a0 Once in Carcosa, the story takes off, pulling the reader along at a quick pace.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dark fantasy books work best when taking the standard elements of magic and demihumans, then warping them or shading them in gray.\u00a0 Author Sale does this throughout the book with impeccable skill:\u00a0 this is outstanding writing.\u00a0 The magic feels original, .the monsters are new creatures from old elements, and the fights are bloody enough for the gorehounds, but it\u2019s all in service to the story, not the other way around.\u00a0 One can catch hints of Lovecraft in the narrative, with the whole “describing things that cannot be described” style.\u00a0 Author Sale does this well, and makes it sound like his own style.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The characters and their development are what really elevate the story.\u00a0 At heart, this is a story about one man\u2019s need for redemption and becoming a better person, even if he didn\u2019t know he was looking for that.\u00a0 It\u2019s emotionally deep at times, and will give some fearsome yanks on the heart-strings, as Alan tries to put the damage from his past life behind him.\u00a0 The other characters are also emotionally complex, with Princess Cassilda being especially well done. Her insights on human nature would hold up in any philosophy discussion. It\u2019s Alan who is the star of the book, though, and an outstanding one he is.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bottom line: enough talkie-talkie!\u00a0 Just read this one: it\u2019s hard to imagine anyone disliking it, and should appeal to non-horror readers as well.\u00a0 The only problem is waiting for the next one in the series!\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Highly recommended.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Reviewed by Murray Samuelson<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Claw of Craving: The First Book of Lost Carcosa by Joseph Sale Blood Bound Publishing, 2023 ISBN: 9781940250595 Available: Paperback, Kindle edition\u00a0 Buy:\u00a0\u00a0Bookshop.org\u00a0 |\u00a0\u00a0Amazon.com Some of the best horror novels of the 80s and 90s weren\u2019t really horror at all.\u00a0 They were, at heart, fantasy books with a dark core, with James<\/p>\n