The Angel Of The Grave

The Angel of the Grave by Richard Writhen. Originally published by Goodz Doll$, April 2019. Approx. 171 pages.

Back in December 2017, we were treated to an excerpt from author/awesome friend Richard Writhen's then-upcoming novella, The Angel of the Grave. You can visit that post here. Well, I am happy to announce that the novella has been released (it came out in April). TAOTG serves as a prequel of sorts, a "Book Zero" of his evocative Celestial Ways Saga, of which I've read and reviewed the exceptional The Hiss of the Blade.

Just a quick recap: Writhen's Celestial Ways Saga transpires on the fictional world of Cedron; a world which has benefited immensely from the years Writhen has spent developing and polishing it. Also, Writhen has coined the term "gothdark" to describe his genre, or niche, of writing. Gothdark, as the name implies, is an amalgamation of gothic and grimdark; and it is a fitting name, as these elements are nicely delivered in voice, tone, and subject matter.

Let's take a look at the synopsis first; which is less of a synopsis, and more of a listing of the storylines which will intertwine, overlap, and converge over the body of the work:

"BECOME THE FIRE. An intelligent little girl encounters a talented witch at the local fair and finds out that it's all in the family. Interconnected by dreams, two young orphans embark on the long path to find a bloody revenge. A wealthy lady travels hundreds of miles to become a baroness, but when she consults a diviner, she finds out that she may be in way over her head."

As you can see, instead of stating a thesis, it is more a summary of what shall befall the dramatis personae. Let's take a look at the book itself.

In The Hiss of the Blade, we were treated to a lot of politicking and power plays. There was lovely, visceral violence to be had, as well as hints at magic and sects.

The focus of TAOTG (which, as mentioned, transpires long befor Hiss) is on magic, witchcraft, and divination. In the book, we are introduced to four core characters, within three character arcs. We witness them grow; no, perhaps the best word is 'evolve'. Writhen does a masterful job in not only developing these women as characters, but charting the growth and potency (and ramifications of) their particular powers.

The first story arc focuses on Hilde Sontire. Hilde is a sharp young girl who takes on work, along with her sister and sister's boyfriend, at a traveling carnival caravan. There, she comes across an enigmatic witch (introduced in one of the best transformation scenes I've read). This witch's skill set runs a bit on the, um, sanguine side; and Hilde learns that a talent for it is literally in her blood.

The second story arc introduces us to Sadine and Rebecca, two young girls living in abject poverty. Rebecca is an orphan, taken in by Sadine and her mother. The mother has to do whatever she can to feed herself and the children, including prostitution. One day, her life is snuffed out at the hands of a john. Homeless and alone, the girls travel to the city, becoming Dickensian street urchin cutpurses. Along the way, their inherent talents are noticed by a local magician, who teaches them the art of manipulating fire. However, despite the struggle to survive, despite the learning of the arts, their focus remains on finding the man who murdered their mother, and unleashing retribution upon him.

This segment was especially strong; giving us a nice view of everyday life in one of Cedron's large cities. There is also a fantastic sub-plot involving a brutal cult, which I truly wish got a few more pages dedicated to it.

The third story arc tells the tale of Marissa Wallins, a young, naive woman who travels a great distance to become the wife of a local, powerful baron. As the years start to pass by, and the romantic luster erodes; Marissa becomes aware of a new power manifesting itself within her. While exploring a cavernous storeroom in their mansion, she comes upon a book on the arts of ice magic, and her life is forever changed. She has been chosen, and she will realize her destiny.

There was a lot of character development and evolution in this arc. Perhaps the best way I can describe it is that Writhen does a great job detailing how the 'old' Marissa is deconstructed as the 'new' Marissa blooms. She is a fantastic, compelling character, ultimately serving as the linchpin of the book.

So, those are the basic arcs. I won't go into too much more detail, as it's a short novel and I want to avoid spoilers. 

As for writing style, I will be repeating some of the same points I mentioned in the review for The Hiss of the Blade. Writhen's style is very evocative, and almost poetic. There is a deep, rich voice to the narrative, and it reads as though it is legend being recounted by a sage storyteller. While I enjoyed his prose in Hiss, you can see that his skill has improved over time, become more refined. 

Action scenes are still very solid. Writhen surprises in how well he can realize brutal moments of violence. It is often as ugly and messy as it is in real life. TAOTG also features scenes of violence predicated upon the arts learned by the protagonists. Writhen has given a lot of thought to the logistics of the magics he is introducing, giving them a feel both legitimate and genuine. It's all very organic, never arbitrary.

There you have it: strong, developed characters, a rich setting, and well-thought out magic system. It all combines to a greatly enjoyable read, which I recommend 100%. For sure, check it out.

Get it at Amazon.