Quirky Cat
Written on Jun 24, 2019
The Howling Twenties is the follow up novel to Late Night Partners by Fennel Steuert. So if you read that novel and enjoyed it, I strongly encourage you to continue the series. Both novels are perfect for fans of vampire lore looking for a unique telling.
Doris, Gesine, and Roger are back for more in The Howling Twenties. It would appear that the threat hasn’t been fully dealt with…and that isn’t a surprise to any of these characters. Least of all, Doris. She’s used to seeing everything turn back around.
The Howling Twenties was an amazing read by all accounts. I don’t normally let myself sit and reread a book on the spot (because if I did I’d never get through my reading list). But I made an exception in this case. There were just so many subtleties to reread and work through. It was worth the extra time and effort!
It can be so unbelievably difficult to find new and unique vampire stories. Especially if you want them to both be well written and have a strong basis in the lore itself. That’s why I’m so appreciative when I come across something that fits all of those requirements.
The Howling Twenties, like its predecessor, met all of my vampiric expectations, and then some. It’s beautifully written, full of lush details and long term character development. The characters are strong yet flawed – exactly like I would hope any older vampire (or any other long living being, for that matter) would be.
I love how Fennel Steuert isn’t afraid to use the passage of time with his characters. Many of them are old, but their backstories are still very relevant to the people, erm, vampires they’ve become today. And that is just perfect.
The Howling Twenties more or less picks up where Late Night Partners left off. For that reason, I’d urge you to read them in that order. Technically you probably don’t have to, but you’ll understand so much more about the characters and what they’re up to if you do.
While I’ve been fascinated with all of the characters, I have to admit that I have a certain preference for Doris. She’s so tortured, but not in any of the ostentatious or obvious ways so frequently shown with vampires. In a way, her pain was more…human almost. It’s really quite beautifully done.
The time and development spent on the secondary characters in this novel truly enhanced the plot. It made the world feel more real and alive – while giving some of the main characters more of a chance to show their true selves. It was a brilliant move.
I’m so happy I took the time to read The Howling Twenties. And I honestly can’t wait to see what Fennel Steuert comes out with next.
For more reviews check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks