A review of “Herald of Ruin” & “The Twilight Magus”
written by Tim Pratt with cover art by John Coulthart

published by Aconyte Books.

Tim Pratt was first introduced to Arkham Files fans with the release of “The Ravening Deep”, and as my review of that book states, I was looking forward to his eventual return. Fortunately, Aconyte chose to follow that first book with 2024’s “Herald of Ruin” and the upcoming “The Twilight Magus”, branding the trilogy under the “Sanford Files” line. I enjoyed reading “Herald of Ruin” when it was published, but I chose to hold off on reviewing the book as it left me stunned, being a fan of the Arkham Files line, with the setting developments it wrought. When “The Drowned City” LCG campaign was announced by Fantasy Flight Games VP of Strategy, Jim Cartwright, the month after “Herald of Ruin” was released, he stated that…


“This is just a huge milestone for us as we take Arkham Horror the city into a new direction, into a new place, and I promise you, when the campaign is over, Arkham will truly never be the same.”

Having read the second book of the Sanford Files, I was excited about just how audacious the changes coming to the Arkham Files IP could be. Now that “The Drowned City” has been released and I’ve had an opportunity to read the third book in the series, “The Twilight Magus”, I feel comfortable putting down my opinion on what was done and how well it worked.


“Herald of Ruin” picks up the story of Carl Sanford in 1927, atop his seat of power, unchallenged in his dominion over the city of Arkham, as Mr. Pratt continued to put his stamp of ownership on Sanford with his tone-perfect dialogue and running internal monologue. Following the events of “The Ravening Deep,” the Magus of the Silver Twilight Lodge had made some slight alterations to his life, including taking on a new bodyman, only ever known as “Altman”, to drive him throughout his city and to deal with anything Sanford may have needed run down or stabbed. Whereas readers are given a brief glimpse of Altman’s brother, Reggie, in “Ravening Deep” this Altman takes the narrative real estate that had previously been reserved for Diana Stanley as we learn about how he came to be in the employ of the Silver Twilight Lodge, his past, and more importantly, his goals for his future. Thankfully, Ruby Standish marks her return in this follow-up novel, having come to an agreement with Sanford that allows her to operate out of his city. I appreciate that Mr. Pratt took the time to show how unsettled Ruby had become after her confrontation with the mythos the prior year. Not everyone deals with the occult on the same scale as Carl Sanford, so it makes sense that, after battling Comets and a Shogoth, Ruby would find her mental stability shaken to a degree. Mr. Pratt also brings the lodge’s Warden, Sarah Van Shaw, back in all of her inscrutable glory as the mystical embodiment of the Silver Twilight Lodge. Any one of these four characters could carry a story on their own, but Mr. Pratt paces the arc well so that not one of them feels like they were shortchanged in development throughout the adventure.


When Sanford gets word of a new esoteric enthusiast having set up shop in his city, Carl determines it is worthy of further investigation, which is what leads to the introduction of Randall Tillinghast, the titular Herald of Ruin. Throughout the story, readers are treated to an escalating battle of wills and strategy as Carl Sanford begins to understand just how capable his new opponent is. One of the recurring tools that Mr. Pratt likes to give page space to is the fantastical items of power wielded by Sanford, or gifted by Tillhast. The author uses these items to provide both unsettling moments of discovery as well as cinematic displays of power that mark some of the most entertaining and memorable moments across any of the Arkham Files novels.

With Randall Tillinghast’s appearance already having been locked in for “The Drowned City,” Mr. Pratt does a superb job of demonstrating why Randall is a worthy addition to the IP’s stack of elder gods and cultist adversaries as he confidently begins to dismantle Sanford’s once unassailable grip upon the witch-cursed city of Arkham, Massachusetts. Fans of the Arkham Files who strictly stick to the games will miss out on the introduction of the amazing Gloria Dyer, Tillinghast’s administrator, who also features prominently throughout the story as she facilitates her boss’s wishes. Bubbly and peculiar Gloria bumps up against every character in the story, always providing levity and insight into the machinations of her employer. One of the challenges that Mr. Pratt had to address in “Herald of Ruin” is the importance of Randall Tillinghast within the overall Arkham Files setting. “Herald of Ruin” takes place before the main “The Drowned City” event, and helps set the stage for elements of the LCG campaign, so that precludes Tillinghast being dealt a meaningful defeat within the pages of this story.


There appears to be an interest in Randall Tillinghast being an ongoing concern within the IP, so Mr. Pratt was also limited in terms of providing a definitive explanation of Tillinghast’s history and motivations. This results in a less fleshed-out antagonist than readers of the Aconyte Arkham line may be accustomed to. Readers are provided with a vibe check of who the character is without the details of what he is trying to accomplish or why. Readers are instead provided with multiple interactions with Tillinghast by the surrounding characters that establish his style and inscrutable nature. Having read comics for decades, I’ve been exposed to this style of “big bad” introduction numerous times, and you may be familiar with this as well. Mr. Pratt successfully gets the concept that Tillinghast matters, without providing the details to say why, and it was an interesting experience to see this style of introduction play out in the Arkham Horror setting. Fans of the “The Drowned City” event may have taken note that the narrative weaves in and around the classic “Call of Cthulhu” story itself, using elements and characters of Lovecraft’s most famous story to establish the actions of this overarching event. Mr. Pratt does a great job of using that process to tie Tillinghast and one of Sanford’s associates together, establishing a prior history between the two as well as showing readers that a change to the original Call of Cthulhu narrative is afoot.

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Having successfully staved off a challenge to his power barely a year before, Carl Sanford is as self-assured as ever as he aligns his agents against his newest adversary. It is truly enjoyable as the story escalates and the, at best, morally compromised antagonists manipulate each other in the hopes of claiming ownership of the City, more power, or freedom. As I stated earlier, “Herald of Ruin” breaks new ground in terms of escalated stakes that matter to the overall IP. Given the changes wrought by the story, I initially suspected that fans were in for some form of mythos-powered time travel that undid the events of this book in the subsequent story, because I doubt the finale of “Herald of Ruin” would have been allowed in a pre- “The Drowned City” world. Time travel and alternate realities were not a prospect that interested me, but now, a year after my initial read, I can say this book is necessary reading for fans of the Arkham setting and will be referenced as the start of a new stage of fiction for the IP.


That new stage continues in Mr. Pratt’s subsequent Arkham Files novel, “The Twilight Magus”. Narratively, enough time passes between these two novels that “The Forbidden Visions of Lucious Galloway”, “The Nightmare Quest of April May,” and the entire “The Drowned City” campaign in the LCG and Mansions of Madness system take place, making this the first novel to give fans a glimpse of a post-Cthulhu Arkham Files world. Readers pick up with Carl Sanford’s scheme from the LCG campaign, having turned to ash, and the occultist having fled Arkham, making his way to Spain. Now that his former seat of power in the Silver Twilight Lodge is no longer as welcoming or suitable to his needs, Carl has chosen to establish himself within an even more influential group, the Red Coterie. The Coterie, a collection of wizards, necromancers, conjurers, and mystics that wield items of incredible power, is one of, if not the most, influential organizations within the Arkham Files setting, so it makes perfect sense that Carl Sanford would feel he belongs in their company. With that premise, Mr. Pratt proceeds to take readers on a lovely tour of various Spanish destinations that are so well laid out that it becomes clear, the deeper you get into the story, that the author has taken this trip himself and left it feeling compelled to share the experience with the reader. With the beautiful seaside vista of Barcelona serving as the initial backdrop, readers are quickly reminded that even when diminished, Carl Sanford is still a force to be reckoned with.

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Bucking the expectations of what could have been a lesser, standard revenge story, “The Twilight Magus” instead directs Carl’s efforts with an eye to the future and what could be while applying an internal logic that makes sense as to the choices Carl has made to get to where he is. Whereas “Herald of Ruin” is a tightly contained story taking place, mostly, in Arkham, “The Twilight Magus” sprawls across the world as the remnants of the Silver Twilight Lodge, who were left behind in Arkham, seek out their former “Magus” for their own individual reasons. Mr. Pratt makes clear that Sanford expects an eventual reunion with his past associates and aligns his efforts to coincide with that inevitable reunion. This created an entertaining space in the narrative for me as the story progressed, and I tried to determine what exactly Sanford had planned for said reunion. Mr. Pratt’s handle on who Carl Sanford is, as a powerfully manipulative sociopath, works wonders throughout the story, and I found myself deeply enjoying the final meeting between the disparate members of the Silver Twilight Lodge.

The bulk of “The Twilight Magus” is tied to Carl Sanford’s pursuit of a newly introduced member of the Coterie, the Blood Moon. The tension that is established with the Moon’s ability to influence others leads to several exciting scenes of intrigue as Carl determines who he can and cannot trust, as well as some great chase scenes. In addition to the Moon’s rank and file minions, readers are also introduced to seventeen-year-old Estrella, a confused devotee of the Blood Moon who provides a unique perspective on the actions being taken as she wields otherworldly powers on her mission. Estrella is a unique addition to the Arkham mythos, and learning more about her, her powers, and her ideology always made for an entertaining perspective. Mr. Pratt has dialed in his writing style to accommodate the Arkham Files setting to such a degree that I found “The Twilight Magus” one of the most tone-perfect and entertaining reads I have experienced from Aconyte. Additionally, to avoid spoilers, I am choosing to skip talking in depth about a possession storyline that afflicts a point of view character that runs throughout this book, which was so well-executed in terms of horror, comedy, violence, and pacing that, in my opinion, it would have carried the book on its own to great effect.

I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that there is a canonical issue within the story that did leave me hanging as a fan. If you have been reading Aconyte’s Arkham Files line up to now, then you are aware that Carl has attempted to make inroads to the Coterie in the past. I am opting to be vague as the revelation of Carl’s plot is a fun surprise at the end of another book, and there is a reference within “The Twilight Magus” to that very story, however, at no point does any character reference that this isn’t Carl’s first time talking to the orginization nor does Carl’s running interior thoughts ever reference his past actions with the group. I found myself repeatedly waiting for the other shoe to drop in referencing that past association, in some form, but it never came. If you’re familiar with Carl’s actions in the past, know going into this that it has no bearing on this story.

Before I wrap up, I’d like to call out the intrinsic details of the covers for both of these books, which are provided by John Coulthart. Mr. Coulthart has maintained a fantastic design space between all three of Mr. Pratt’s Arkham novels, which are poster-worthy to me. If you would like to learn more about his process and intent, I encourage you to check out both of his blog entries for “Herald of Ruin” and “The Twilight Magus”.

I hope you enjoyed this look at the “Herald of Ruin” and “The Twilight Magus”. If you would like more updates about the history of Arkham, its residents, and the events tied to the area, please bookmark this site and check out Arkham Historian on Blue Sky for future updates. If you have any questions or wish to request specific content, please use this contact form.

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Best regards

Dude in Progress

Tim Pratt's Herald of Ruin isn't just another Arkham Horror tale; it's a literary shot of adrenaline to the heart of cosmic dread. Forget quaint New England; Pratt’s Arkham is a powder keg where occult kingpin Carl Sanford’s reign is violently challenged by the enigmatic Randall Tillinghast. This Hugo Award winner crafts a narrative that's both a thrilling power struggle and a chilling descent into darkness.

Sanford, long the undisputed lord of Arkham's shadows, expects to crush Tillinghast like an insect. But the newcomer, a dapper gentleman proprietor of an occult curiosity shop, is no mere gnat. Armed with potent artifacts and a cunning that borders on the preternatural, Tillinghast systematically dismantles Sanford's empire from within. His methods, reminiscent of Stephen King's Leland Gaunt, prey on desire and weakness, turning loyalties into weapons. The ensuing battle is a "gangster story" cloaked in eldritch horror, forcing Sanford to unleash every monster at his command.

Pratt "nails the atmosphere," immersing readers in an Arkham so vivid you can almost smell the brimstone beneath the speakeasy gin. His "phenomenal hold on the lore" enriches the narrative, making for a "fun read" that masterfully blends crime, the occult, and horror. The characters are "fantastically fleshed out," particularly the compelling female figures and Sanford himself, who evolves from a clear antagonist to a surprisingly ambiguous anti-hero as Tillinghast's deeper villainy is unveiled.

The novel explores the corrupting allure of power and the treacherous dance of loyalty and betrayal. As Tillinghast's "definitely evil" nature emerges, readers face a chilling "lesser of two evils" dilemma. This isn't just a turf war; it's a battle for Arkham's soul, played out under the indifferent gaze of slumbering Ancient Ones, with unsettling forays into realms like the Dreamlands.

Herald of Ruin doesn't tie things up neatly. It's a "warning of something much worse on the horizon," concluding with a cliffhanger that leaves both antagonists standing, their "Great Work" unfinished but the threat amplified.

More than mere game tie-in fiction, Herald of Ruin is an "eerie, gothic read with a large dollop of adventure" that sticks with you. It's a must-read for Arkham aficionados and a thrilling entry point for dark fantasy fans who appreciate complex villains and atmospheric dread. Pratt delivers a potent, unsettling promise of even greater horrors to come, making this a landmark in occult storytelling.

I'm not sure if Tim Pratt can write a bad book regardless of the genre but this is not the one who will change my mind.
Read and enjoy it
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This was my first foray into an Arkham Horror story, and I really enjoyed how immersive it felt. Such a different world, with interesting characters and underlying motivations. I hope to read more of these. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this.

Thank you for providing this ARC.
I enjoyed it very much! Would like more books from this author please.
The hint sprincling throughout the book was a lot of fun!

The Sandford Files continues with Carl Sandford finally meeting his match. I'm so hoping for another book! I love Tim Pratt's take on the world of Arkham Horror and the characters he had introduced.

Thank you to NetGalley and Aconyte for the ARC!

This is a delightfully-written piece of lovecraftian horror that does something quite nice, especially for IP fiction -- it hides the actual monsters until near the very end. The main story is of two sorcerers (if one of them IS a sorcerer) vying for power in Arkham. Both of these sorcerers are absolutely dreadful people, while those who serve them are engaging, interesting, and intriguing in a way that these 'powerhouses' aren't. I'd wanted BOTH of them to get some kind of comeuppance, but of course, it's horror, and they're the ones with power.

Loved the female characters throughout this especially. Every one of them was incredibly different from each other but they were all a delight and pleasure to read.

My only problem with it was that the pacing really slowed near the end once the Dreamlands came into it; I kind of wished that the whole Dreamlands section was another Sanford book entirely so we wouldn't just hear about a list of adventures we didn't see, all interrupting the intense sequence going on back in the house.

Still, 4.5 stars rounded up. Thank you to NetGalley and Aconyte Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Received as an ARC from Netgalley:

I am glad I went back to read the prior book in this series before I dove into this one, whilst not essential the story has a lot more impact when taken in tandem with the first novel.

Sanford is such a composed, threat who seems to never be phased during The Ravening Deep, so seeing him so far off his game here was a true treat. His rival Tillinghast is shrouded in so much mystery that you really don't get a good grasp of who or even WHAT he is, which works extremely well within the cosmic hellscape of the novel.

The rest of the cast are in a constant flux so much that you don't get the idea that any of them even know their own true loyalties.

As such this was a thrill ride, with some great descriptive set pieces, and an engaging plot. The only bummer about getting books early is when they end on a cliffhanger and you are left on the edge of your seat for even longer than the normal reader.

Can't wait to see how this story concludes in a subsequent volume.

Last year I read The Ravening Deep by Tim Pratt and found it to be one of the most engaging and entertaining books in the Arkham Horror series, with some great characters, superb world building, and a plot that kept me hooked throughout. I was surprised to find out that the book wasn't a stand-alone adventure, however, as Herald of Ruin sees the return of several of the characters that made the previous entry in the series such a delight. Whilst this return was a surprise, it was a thoroughly pleasant one.

One of the biggest changes is that this time round one of the antagonistic figures from the first book, Carl Sanford, who became something of an unwilling ally to our protagonists, steps into a lead role; forcing the audience to have to fully embrace the moral greys that make Arkham its home as you begin to root for a character you really shouldn't.

Carl Sanford runs the Silver Twilight Lodge, a secret society that makes Arkham its home, and whose study into the occult and the mystical can be considered dangerous at best, or downright evil at worst. Sanford is a man who is used to power, both in the world of men and in the world of the occult, and uses his position to gather as much as he can. As such, when a new occult book shop opens in the city it adds a wrinkle into Sanford's carefully crafted world. The shop owner, Randall Tillinghast, gives one of Sanford's followers an item that Sanford has always wanted it begins to form cracks in his carefully created kingdom.

It's easy to paint certain characters as truly bad, especially in works of horror where people tend to fall onto one side or another in moral alignment. Carl Sanford would absolutely be evil in the hands of a lesser writer, a character who would be almost cartoonish in his quest for power and dominance. However, Pratt has managed to craft a surprisingly layered character here, one who you absolutely wouldn't trust, but one that you can enjoy spending some time with. The same can be said for another returning character, Ruby, who was on the opposite side of Sanford for much of the first book in the series. A thief by trade, Ruby has come to work for Sanford, despite knowing what kind of person he is, both for the thrill of the work and the obscene amount of money that she can make working for him.

Whilst the book spends a great deal of time making you cheer Sanford on, much to your own surprise, you also start to lose some respect for Ruby, and she does some stuff during the book that makes you wonder just how many of her morals she's going to have to go against whilst on this path. It's an interesting journey to go on, seeing a villain from the last book become your protagonist, whilst one of your previous protagonists starts to lose her way more and more. Despite this, it's still great to see both characters return, and they make for some truly enjoyable additions to the Arkham Horror universe, and now that we've had one sequel I hope that this leads to more books featuring the two of them.

Much like the first book, the Silver Twilight Lodge is a great excuse to explore some fun parts of the universe, and there are a ton of tiny easter eggs and lore nuggets scattered throughout the book that grab your interest. Thanks to Sanford being a voracious collector there are a number of times throughout the book where you learn a little about the things he has in his private collection that could be the star McGuffin of its own story and you find yourself wanting to learn more about them. It's not just Sanford who brings this wealth of lore with him, however, as Tillinghast's shop is a plethora of cool items and interesting books that make this feel like a bit of a cameo-fest in the best possible way.

Pratt doesn't just fill the pages with these small treats and hints at bigger things though, as he also crafts a wonderfully enjoyable narrative. The story has twists and turns, surprises, betrayals, and plots that feel like they'd be at home in a gangster story as much as they do here. Sanford almost operates in a world of organised crime, just with dark magic, and Pratt really seems to know how to convey this on the page. You get small mentions of things early on in the book that come to matter in big ways later on, and expected tropes get subverted in surprising ways.

Fans of the Arkham Horror game series will get a lot out of this entry in the novel series, but it will absolutely appeal to non-gamers too. The story works well as a stand-alone too, and knowledge of the previous novel isn't vital to enjoy this one, meaning that anyone with a passing interest will be able to pick it up and have a brilliant time with it. Hopefully this won't be the last time that Tim Pratt gets to play in this universe, as he brings some fantastic things to the table when he does.

I have loved all the Arkham Horror novels so far that Aconyte have put out but I have to say that Herald of Ruin may just be my favourite so far. I didn’t think anything would knock my first Arkham Horror read from it’s pedestal (The Wrath of N’Kai) but I have to say this may have done it.

Firstly, Pratt manages to nail the atmosphere and setting. You really feel like you are walking the streets of Arkham or prowling the halls of the Silver Twilight lodge. Add to this that we basically have a face off between two mages or collectors of the occult and it is a surefire win. I adored everything about this one. It’s the perfect blend of crime, occult and horror to keep you hooked.


Secondly, the characters are all fantastically fleshed out. I have to say I ended up liking Sanford and that is saying something. The writing and characters are just superb. The pace suits the plot brilliantly as well, at times being twisting and turning and at times action packed.


It is safe to say this is another solid entry in the tie in fiction world that Aconyte are creating. If you are a fan of the games you will love this one. That said I think any horror fan or fan of occult capers will enjoy this as well.


Thank you as always to Aconyte Books and Netgalley for the ARC. This review is left voluntarily and is completely honest.

After the events of The Ravening Deep, Carl Sanford is living large. He's replaced Altman with...well...Altman (his brother) and even has a fairly positive relationship with Ruby. Diana and Abel have fled Arkham (who can blame them). Ruby, hired by Sanford to retrieve an object from a cargo ship in the Arkham docks is left with a forgery in the place of the real object and this starts a whole rollercoaster of events. An enigmatic occult shop owner named Randall Tillinghast has arrived in Arkham and is trying to usurp power from Sanford. Starting slowly with getting to objects before Sanford's associates can and then trying to turn those very associates against him (through force or promise). How can Sanford hope to defeat a man who seems omnipresent and omnipotent?

Just like The Ravening Deep, this book SLAPPED for me. Pratt has a really phenomenal hold on the lore of the Arkham universe and it is evident in his writing. I also loved having to root for a notoriously villainous man who runs The Silver Twilight Lodge, a notoriously selfish organization (often consorting with Eldritc entities as often as they fight against them). I WANTED Sanford to succeed in ousting Tillinghast from Arkham throughout the story despite rooting against him for the majority of The Ravening Deep. Seeing more of The Warden and seeing Ruby again, in general, was awesome. Tillinghast's associate Gloria was so much fun to watch.

Seeing some of Sanford's cool relics was really fun and pretty inspiring for things to add to a Call of Cthulhu or Dungeons and Dragons TTRPG campaign!

I really hope that Pratt continues to write in this universe. His books fly by and I find myself always wanting a bit more. In a good way, not like this book was lacking. His knowledge of the lore is very evident and I think he manages to combine many disparate parts of the mythos in a really fun and interesting way.

Thank you to Aconyte Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book was good overall. It kept my attention at certain points and others it didn’t. It was a fun, short read and I did enjoy characters like Altman, Ruby and Sarah Van Shaw. I liked how things came together at the end with some things left unanswered to leave room for the next book.

"The enigmatic Carl Sanford is the master of all things occult in Arkham, until a charismatic newcomer threatens to take everything away from him in this dark mystery set in the world of Arkham Horror.

Carl Sanford's mastery of the Silver Twilight Lodge gives him unbridled power and influence, but unforeseen turmoil is coming to Arkham... A new occult curiosity shop in the city, opened by newcomer Randall Tillinghast, draws Sanford's ire, challenging his formerly unrivalled authority. Sanford expects to crush the newcomer like an ant and take what he wants from the wreckage, but Randall Tillinghast isn't quite as humble and harmless as he seems. In possession of an array of magical artifacts, Tillinghast begins to subvert Sanford's reputation in more ways than one, forcing Carl Sanford to call all the monsters and magic at his disposal to stop him. Will it be enough?"

Oh my, occult curiosity shop? Yes please!

This fantastic sequel to the RAVENING DEEP continues to show the rise to power of Carl Sanford, the Master of the Silver Twilight Lodge. It's interesting to have the pulpy superhero-versus Cthulhu Mythos Arkham Horror books have a protagonist who is an outright villain but I actually think it works all the better for it here. Carl is a snide, arrogant, and deeply unpleasant person but that doesn't make him any less fascinating to read. Tim Pratt does a fantastic job bringing the character to life and all of the twists and turns that you expect in a duel between wizards trying to stay on the down low. I definitely recommend this book.

It was a pleasant surprise to realize that this book is the sequel to the Ravening Deep’.. it lit was nice to see some familiar faces and places. I’m usually all about the one off story but it was pretty to have something familiar to add in a new story. I want to go back and ravening deep and Gerald of ruin back to back to see the effect of it. Much like the ravening deep it is short and straight to the point. It was also nice to be back in Arkham again. Applause to Tim Pratt for a well done book.

This was so much better than I anticipated. It was short but the tale kept you on your toes wondering when all the hidden agendas and secrets would come to a head.

I oddly like Sanford, he is calculated and deceptive but he does what he must to succeed. Ruby is savvy and a little ruthless but again she does what she must. Some of the other characters feel a little too surface level to actually like them, but I hope there’s another book, maybe someone will have a redemption arc!

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Aconyte Books for an advance copy about a small town, an ancient order and a new store that opens up and promises overnight deliverance of people's darkest dreams.

Arkham, Massachusetts is a big city with a lot of small town appeal, one that would appeal to merchants with interesting wares to sell, or give, in hopes of making new customers. Arkham has a large port to bring cargo in, from far places, and perfect to bring in items that one does not want customs to know about. A good rail system, a prominent university, with lots of students with disposable income, especially for the esoteric. Lots of places to buy illegal hooch, and dance the night away. Sure there are the old ones in town, those who don't like to see the town change, like the Silver Twilight Lodge. They like the way things are going, and even more old Carl Sanford, likes telling people what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. However things are moving on, maybe the old ways should be left behind, new blood might make Arkham what it can be. Though some of that old blood might have to be drained away. Herald of Ruin: The Sanford Files by Tim Pratt sets off changes in the world of Arkham Horror, changes that while interesting, could be deadly for many people.

Carl Sanford is at the pinnacle of his power. Fresh off his defeat of the underwater creatures who tried to steal his town away, the Master of the Silver Twilight Lodge is feeling quite good. Sanford has a new bodyguard, the brother of his last one, and a new thief-in-residence, Rudy who has stolen from Sanford in the past, but now is under his control. Until reports come in of a new shop opening in town, in locations that seem all over the city. An occult bookshop, loaded with esoterica. This is something that Sanford can not allow. Soon an item that Sanford has coveted, has been taken by a once loyal minion, a minion who seems enraptured by a gift from this new business owner, Randall Tillinghast. Rudy, Sanford's thief, has had dealings with him, and she does not want to again. To Sanford this means war, however this war has many fronts, and Sanford is beginning to wonder not only who his enemy is, but who he can trust anymore.

A really clever and fun story that takes the old trope of the store with cursed items, and expands it in many ways. Pratt is a very good writer, dropping little things, that suddenly pay-off later in unexpected ways. In addition there are many twists and turns, betrayals, and moments of just hey wait a minute, ohh I see what he did there. In addition, Pratt uses the wild worlds of Lovecraft to great effect, using old characters, races, and older worlds to really add to the story. Diversity plays a part, and not only is their one great female role, there are three, all different, with motivations that are definitely not the same, but unique to the characters. More importantly all these characters make sense. Pratt really does a good job of building them up, while leaving the bad guy as a mysterious character of great menace, power and threat.

Fans of the Arkham Horror game will get quite a lot out of this, numerous ideas for game play and a good read. Also, people who love adventure stories will enjoy this, as the writer really has a good sense of pacing, and putting clues together. I really enjoyed this one, and look forward to more in the series.

In his follow-up to ‘The Ravening Deep’ (reviewed previously), we return again to an Arkham ruled by magus Carl Sanford and The Silver Twilight Lodge. While we might think that this town, of all places, would be a haven for cults and secret societies, Sanford is determined that his is primary above all others - so when an apparent challenger to his throne arrives about his own Great Work, it’s time to take decisive action!

I wasn’t aware that the first book would continue into a series, and it was a pleasant surprise to be reunited with these characters again, particularly master-thief Ruby and the mysterious Warden of the Lodge. Tim Pratt seems to agree, as these two strong, capable women are by far the most sympathetic characters in the book, seeking to make the best of their situations despite the tricks and bargains the egotistical magi work around them.

Because this is a book about egos. With some awareness of Aleister Crowley and his ilk, anti-hero Sanford is (to put it bluntly) so far up himself that he can’t see daylight! Master of his Domain, he is so threatened by newcomer Tillinghast that he charges in to battle the new dog in the park… and it’s such a pleasure to see him taken down as a result.

Those caught up in this reflect the reader as they try to determine who is the right horse to back. Who is the lesser of these two evils? Both are power-hungry magicians, seeking to harness the Great Old Ones for their own ends. The citizens of Arkham are practically pawns, as Tillinghast utilises a ‘Needful Things’-style approach to corruption rather than that of an bribing mobster.

It’s a hugely fun ride, and I’m certainly looking forward to how the story continues in future. This book leaves a lot of loose ends and unanswered questions, but this isn’t frustrating, I’m glad to say. While we have hints about what’s going on, this part of the journey is about how not to take on a master at his own game, and how far one might fall if they overreach in their bid for power.

I was also left wondering who/what Tillinghast’s assistant Gloria truly was. Perhaps the most chirpy and efficient lady I’ve ever seen in a Lovecraftian tale!

I read this in a couple of days and am definitely all in for what comes next. An easier read than its predecessor, it dives deeper… and I’ve no choice but to wonder what the next book will dredge up.

Writing a review without spoilers is hard for this one so I keep it short. I had my problems finding a way with the characters every now and then, even though I loved it was about the villains. The setting was great if you like the horror and mystery vibes.

Pratt elevates a fairly straightforward story by how fun he makes Carl Sanford. He is a villain undoubtedly, but one you still find yourself rooting for. Eager to see where this goes next.