Book Review: Johannes Cabal the Necromancer by Jonathan L. Howard

 Johannes Cabal the Necromancer by Jonathan L. Howard

Johannes Cabal has sold his soul to the Devil in order to gain necromantic knowledge. His research into bringing the dead back to life has not worked out that well and he needs his soul back to get results. So he travels to Hell and negotiates a deal with the Devil. If Cabal can sign up one hundred souls for damnation in one year, then Satan will give Cabal's soul back. If Cabal fails, then Satan will kill Cabal and get his soul immediately. To give Cabal a sporting chance, Satan loans him a project that never got off the ground--a carnival designed to lure in likely candidates for damnation. Cabal agrees. He then frees his imprisoned brother (who is a vampire) and together they work the carnival so that Cabal can seal the deal.

Cabal is very arrogant and self-centered at the beginning of the book. So much so that I thought about bailing out after the first two chapters. He's perfectly happy to lure others into damnation with no care for them at all. I thought maybe the book is going to have Cabal grow as a character, into a more decent human being (any growth at all would be a big step in the right direction). He shows signs of being a better person but they mostly fade away by the ending. His final conflict with Satan is entertaining but not enough to redeem the book.

The style of writing is very erudite and self-satisfied, matching the prideful and disdainful character of Cabal. I found it a little wearing after a couple of chapters, much like Cabal's character.

Not recommended.