Having exhausted the five full length novels in Howard's Johannes Cabal series, I found myself craving more stories involving the disdainful necromancer. This collection of seven short stories is surprisingly fresh and I like how well-formed Cabal is as a character, considering the first two short stories in this collection predate the publication of the first full-length novel. Howard does admit in the forward that Cabal was born as a short story character and that Howard continues to prefer the short story format... not surprising given that the fifth novel in the series reads like a loose collection of smaller stories. Favorite characters in this collection, other than Cabal, are the skirting board people and of course, Madam Zarenyia.

If you enjoy stories filled with dark, witty humor and are of a fanciful, paranormal nature, this collection of short stories would be the perfect introduction to the Johannes Cabal series.

.... I am now super sad that I have finished reading all of the published Cabal stories. Always sad when a great series is finished. ;-( ( )