Behrg Reviews: The Resurrectionists by Michael Patrick Hicks

The Resurrectionists is an ambitious project, but then again a historical cosmic horror novel has no chance existing without that ambition. Fortunately, Michael Patrick Hicks has the chops and delivers a story that is as frightening as it is unique.

There's a lot to discover and hone in on in this novella, from the rampant racism of the time period to the deviant plans of the "plague doctors" to our lead character, Salem Hawley, who commands your attention with every scene. Then there's the violence, and for horror fans, this will have you grinning from ear to ear. There are no heroes in this story, but rather flawed and broken characters, and even our protagonist walks past lines many authors wouldn't cross. I did feel I could have used a little more depth to some of the "villains" as the motivation for their plans didn't pull me all the way across the aisle onto their side, but other than that this is a spectacular start to what will surely be a successful and dreadful series. (The best kind).

Hicks consistently challenges himself rather than writing the same novel over and over, and it's been great to watch his growth from extreme horror to dystopian political fiction to sci-fi horror and now this. Incredibly researched while balancing story, characters, and the darker elements you might expect with Hicks' writing, this is a book you don't want to miss.