Carl Sanford, late of Arkham, down but never out abroad.

Pratt's anti-hero rewards readers, sauntering into danger well dressed and with a trick up his sleeve, no matter the situation.

I hope this isn't the last we see of him.

"The enigmatic Carl Sanford is the master of all things occult in Arkham, until a charismatic newcomer threatens to take everything away from him in this dark mystery set in the world of Arkham Horror.

Carl Sanford's mastery of the Silver Twilight Lodge gives him unbridled power and influence, but unforeseen turmoil is coming to Arkham... A new occult curiosity shop in the city, opened by newcomer Randall Tillinghast, draws Sanford's ire, challenging his formerly unrivalled authority. Sanford expects to crush the newcomer like an ant and take what he wants from the wreckage, but Randall Tillinghast isn't quite as humble and harmless as he seems. In possession of an array of magical artifacts, Tillinghast begins to subvert Sanford's reputation in more ways than one, forcing Carl Sanford to call all the monsters and magic at his disposal to stop him. Will it be enough?"

I just can't get enough of Arkham Horror. Be sure to also check out the comics written by Cullen Bunn!

My thanks to both NetGalley and Aconyte Books for an advance copy of the third book in this series about a powerful man, driven from all that he knows, with only the rings of power on his fingers, an indomitable will, a need for vengeance, and an old world in which to regain his fortune.

If one goes for the head of a powerful occult society on best not miss. In the case of Carl Sanford the forces against him not only missed, but gave him something that Sanford had no idea he needed. A reason. Being a powerful magician one gets used to the prestige, the fear, the creatures of the night that serve. This breeds a certain complacency. Stripped of his cabal, his fortune, his library and his relics, and nearly his life, Sanford finds himself away from Arkham, Massachusetts, and back in the Old World of Spain. Sanford has a new thirst for power, a new drive to succeed, and revenge always at the top of his thoughts, even as enemies, both new and old, plan to erase his memory from the world. The Twilight Magus: An Arkham Horror Novel by Tim Pratt is the third book in the Sanford files, dealing with new eldritch horrors, new cultists, and a threat that could change history.

Carl Sanford was once head of the Silver Twilight Lodge, a powerful force in Arkham, Massachusetts, and one that gave him power in both the material and ethereal worlds. This ended with betrayal, his house shattered, his fortune taken, and nearly his life, Sanford has traveled to Spain to rebuild his strength and power base in order to take back what was once his. There is a rumor of an old group, made up of strong magicians the Red Coterie, one Sanford hopes to join, and eventually make his own. Sanford has also learned that old betrayers have learned that he is not dead, and are coming to Europe to finish what they started. An opportunity from the Red Coterie is offered. If Sanford is able to defeat one of the most powerful creatures in Madrid, the Blood Moon, Sanford would be brought into the Coterie, and given the power he craves. Though no one knows where the Blood Moon lurks, how their power works, or even how many followers they have. The mission sounds impossible, but Sanford loves a challenge, if he can only stay alive long enough, and sane enough to keep his head in the fight.

I truly enjoy these Arkham books, though I have only played the game maybe twice. These are some of the most fun, most interesting horror books that I have read, loaded with ideas, and characters that I really can't get enough of. I enjoy this series watching Carl Sanford go from a full of himself Aleister Crowley-like person, to a John Constantine-like character, sort-of-ahead of his enemies, thought failing and getting hurt more often than not. The setting is really good. Arkham has been played out, hence the flooding storyline that is running concurrent to these stories, opening the world to the writers. One can tell that Pratt really loves Spain. Both Madrid and Barcelona are travelled, with descriptions of places and people, that are as interesting as the story. Which is quite good, moving well at a good pace, never losing the reader even with the different POV's, and again never slowing down.

One can read this without reading the other books in the series, but I recommend the whole series as they are quite good. I always look forward to seeing Tim Pratt's name on these books as he is an author I quite like. Another solid book in the Arkham Horror series.