Dragon Award Finalist, Best Fantasy (HAH!): "Deep Roots"

Just two of my blessed grandsons: Joshua and Isaac

No pics of evil book!

If you are running an ad blocker, sorry. You aren't getting a link. Actually, NOBODY is getting a link.

I'll explain why in a second.

Greetings, friends and neighbors out there in Internet Land! And for those of you who came here to see because of the Dragon Awards reviews, sorry/not sorry. You ain't getting one in this. And to any family members peeking in, yes, I AM stopping this, before I have to go buy a dog to sleep with me tonight.

The book in question is "Deep Roots," by a person allegedly named  Ruthanna Emrys. I say 'allegedly named' because "Emrys" means "Immortal One" and is a title given to Merlin, and it just seems like the sort of pen-name a person writing ":Deep Roots" would find appealing. It doesn't matter, though.

What DOES matter, to me, is that this book was nominated for the Dragon Award in the 'Fantasy' category. It ain't fantasy. It's horror.

I want NOTHING to do with horror. Ever.

It has to do with lost monster people out of Innsmouth, which is a setting described by that most nasty person with the gigantic jaw, Mr. Howard Phillips Lovecraft.  As a person who actively avoids horror, the name "Innsmouth" didn't ring any bells, but then I encountered a reference to the two languages of "Enochian and R’lyehn."

Even a person who AVOIDS exposure is likely to have encountered those terms.

So, I did a quick scan of prior reviews, and discovered that this is a thoughtful piece about who the monsters really are.

If anyone wishes to paddle about in that pond, they are free to do so.

Not me, though. I don't read horror books, I don't watch horror movies,and I don't permit those in my house. It's a mental health issue. My adult bio-sons think my exclusions are silly, because I can watch folks getting shot without qualms, but draw the line at spooky stuff. That's okay; it's my line to draw.

And I don't watch just ANY folks getting shot: no women, no kids, no animals (except Ol' Yeller, still cry at that; and Bambi's mama).
No porn.
No horror.

And that's all I got to say about that.

(Edited to add:)

Special shout out to Jamie Ibson, for reminding me always to say:

Peace be on your household.