The author lost me somewhere around the scientist cultist ritually masturbating while killing a pigeon.

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I've been on somewhat of a cosmic horror binge these last few weeks and I'm happy to report that Red Equinox stands up there with the best of the genre.

I'm not going to get into the plot too much, as several reviews and the synopsis already do . I'm just going to mention a few of my impressions and feelings and leave it at that.

Mr. Wynne makes the Cthulhu mythos his own with this contribution about first resurrecting the language of the Old Gods, and then the Old Gods themselves. They're not dead, exactly, just in another dimension. For me, the story is always about those humans who live to serve the Old Ones and those dedicated to stopping them. This book was no exception. I especially liked the characters of Becca and Rafael and appreciated the fact that the narrative didn't lead in all the usual directions.

One thing that flew low on my radar, but did register, was the mention of a company called Limbus. Since I read and enjoyed Limbus, Inc. and noting that it was also from Journalstone, I have to believe that this was on purpose and I felt like I was in on an inside joke.

Lastly, this story was set in a Boston of the future. I found myself wondering why the author set it there and I liked the answers I came up with. There might be a little more going on here than just the Old Ones, but what you find will be up to you and what you want to take from it.

In the midst of a couple of weeks where I've read several Lovecraftian titles, Red Equinox by Douglas Wynne stands out as a distinctive voice in the mythos. His style may not be as literary as some, but the gist of the story and the characters are spot on. I hope that he continues to dabble in this genre in the future.

Recommended for fans of cosmic horror!

*I received a free ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is it.*
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I wanted to like this more than I did. I picked it up because of the Cthulhu mythos. And the first half of the book I enjoyed very much. The lead up to summoning Cthulhu was very interesting. I especially liked the descriptions of how they were able to combine technology to summon the god.

The second half was not quite as interesting to me. Beings from the other side are coming into our dimension. How will they be stopped? Aside from some cool descriptions, this part was just ordinary.

I did find the very last chapter to be quite chilling and thought provoking. Would love to see it followed up on. ( )

Red Equinox is the rare modern update on the classic which actually works. Douglas Wynne draws heavy source material from Lovecraft and other classics, adds a dash of contemporary thriller/occult masters, and twists all into a compelling story. The book largely follows Becca as she uncovers the truths behind her late grandmother’s field of study in occultism. Life for her and the citizens of Boston changes dramatically when their reality and perception widen violently.

The writing is tight though there can be some heavy-handed use of adjectives. Wynne’s writing does have a visceral feel to it, especially when the plot calls for the introduction of mystical or surreal elements. This is a major strength and lends itself well to capturing the reader’s attention, especially in the later part of the book. Characters are thoughtfully developed and given enough personality to make the narrative breath. The book has a slow development in the first half as Wynne introduces threads of plot which he begins to tie together about a third of the way through. The book was a pleasant surprise and compelling even for a reader not normally prone to this genre.

For those of us who love, love, love that awesome stretch between Boston and Beverly, this novel was a little like returning home after a long time away in an unfriendly place... only to find the land you love occupied by the most horrific beings imaginable. Wynne does a competent job of mixing one part travelogue, two parts adventure story, and two parts genuine H.P. (Lovecraft, that is) in a fun, well-told story that kept me turning pages until the very end. ( )