I think I first heard about this SPFBO finalist via the Grimdark Readers and Writers Facebook page, the premise catching my eye. A cosmic horror story set in the midst of the Opium Wars. Yes, please, don’t mind if I do.
Not only did Piazza manage to pen a gripping detail rich with historical detail and atmospheric horror, but he also infused it with some Descartian philosophical musings that perfectly highlighted extensional dread.
This one earned a place among my favorite books of the year, and I’ll be looking forward to snagging more of Piazza’s work in the future.