Hiram Grange & The Chosen One by Kevin Lucia

It's very rare (for me) to find a novella that is not only fast paced enough to be utterly addictive, but also one that can satisfy both my horror and fantasy yearnings in one go. With Hiram Grange & The Chosen One - both are achieved, and my needs have been sated. For now...

From the back cover: Hiram Grange doesn't believe in fate. He makes his own destiny. That's a good thing, because Queen Mab of Faerie has foreseen the destruction of the world, and as usual... it's all Hiram's fault. He must choose: kill an innocent girl and save the universe... or rescue her and watch all else burn. Just another day on the job for Hiram Grange.

The above synopsis doesn't say enough about what you're getting into with Lucia's forway into the world of Hiram Grange, and I want to personally endorse this as one of the best stories I've read this year. The idea that Lucia decided to bring to the table has a very...Lovecraftian...feel to it that is surprisingly easy to follow, (unlike Lovecraft's stories - in my opinion), and is packed with so much action that you'll be sitting on the edge of your seat throughout. It's tough not to care about the characters that show up in this story, as Lucia has written them out to fit Grange's world perfectly - a world that is dark and cold, yet very familiar to each and every one of us.

Lucia's Hiram is at times thoughful, sensitive and kind, while also being hilarious (in a dry humor way), and as surly as a Belfast drunk. This is one character, and writer, that you're going to want to look out for in the future.

For those of you who don't know who this Hiram Grange character is, well...here's the gist of it:

From the Hiram Grange blog:

Hiram Grange, an awkward and gangly unlikely hero who suffers addictions to absinthe, opium, and sex. A man as flawed and complex as he is capable and deadly.

Hiram is a clandestine operative for a secret organization funded and controlled by a sect within the Freemasons.

Again, it's not enough to describe what you'll really receive when you crack open one of these novellas.

The cover art and production of the novella is incredible. I was expecting something special, but when I opened up the packaging on these, I was greatly impressed. From the sheer gloss cover, to the beautiful artwork within, this book feels like a special edition even when it's not. You're getting your money's worth here, folks.

Now, this is the fourth installment into the world of Hiram Grange. I'll be getting my hands on the rest of the series as soon as possible, and I suggest you do the same. Order online at Amazon or at Shroud Publishing. You can also follow Hiram on Blogger and on Twitter.

As for Kevin Lucia, you can find him at his personal website and on Twitter as well.

PBH.