Booklist Review
*Starred Review* Moore's debut combines musicology and occultism in a fast-paced, frightening, and at times humorous adventure. The unnamed narrator is a little-known and slightly condescending music blogger who comes across a mesmerizing piece of music by the band Beautiful Remorse. Told in 10 tracks, the story gets progressively weirder as the narrator meets up with the band to do an interview and realizes that listeners, himself included, react oddly when exposed to the hypnotic rhythms of the music. The last third of the book explodes with tension as the future and present collide in a slightly rushed but entertaining conclusion. While readers would benefit from a more detailed explanation of the more obscure references, such as the occult philosopher John Dee and the angelic language Enochian, the crisp pacing and the endearing if slightly flawed narrator make for a good tale. Offer to fans of Chuck Palahniuk's Lullaby (2002), viewers of Warehouse 13, and to readers who enjoy quirky occult fiction laced with pop-culture references and grave implications.--Craig Clark Copyright 2019 Booklist
Library Journal Review
DEBUT A music blogger discovers a remarkable new track by an unknown band, Beautiful Remorse. It's more than hypnotic, literally entrancing the listener for hours. And it's only the first track from their new album. As Beautiful Remorse drops a track a day on Bandcamp for ten days straight, and the narrator joins them on tour, it becomes clear that something strange is going on. Each new song has a more powerful and destructive effect on those who hear it. Remorse's lead singer Airee Macpherson is aiming this album at the world like a loaded gun, for a bizarre purpose of her own. Playwright Moore puts together a fast-paced tale of an indie music scene and occult sf weirdness that doesn't lose momentum despite its rather frenzied conclusion. Its music-based supernatural elements are reminiscent of a 21st-century Ballad of Black Tom, but at a faster tempo. VERDICT This debut novella is a lean, quick read with no fat. The clever, exciting story mixes weird fiction with an engaging and mysterious plot.-Jason Puckett, Georgia State Univ. Lib, Atlanta © Copyright 2019. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
