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Book Review of Voice of Our Shadow (Fantasy Masterworks S.)

Voice of Our Shadow (Fantasy Masterworks S.)
althea avatar reviewed on + 774 more book reviews


Joseph Lennox is a young, successful writer who is emotionally haunted by a childhood incident in which he somewhat accidentally caused his older brother's death. Against the backdrop of Vienna, the lonely young man meets an older couple with whom he develops an obsessively immersive friendship... I don't want to give too much away, but the scenario (about half way through the book) develops into a fairly tense and horrific ghost story. (although the book cover bills this as fantasy, I would definitely describe it more as 'literary horror'). However, I figured out the 'twist ending' fairly early - and although I guessed at it, I don't think it worked very well. Not all of the events and emotional turns of the characters' relationships make sense with the ending.
This was the second Jonathan Carroll book I've read, and I haven't really loved either of them, although he's quite critically acclaimed. What can I say? (I also read Bones of the Moon)