Season of Skulls is a novel written by Charles Stross. It is published by Little, Brown Book Group/Orbit, and was released originally in May 2023, with the paperback released in March 2024. It is the 12th book in Stross’ Laundry Files series… but also it’s kind of not. The 10th novel in that series, Dead Lies Dreaming, took the series in a different direction and was the start of the New Management series, of which this is the third book. I have read the book in ebook format. This review is intended to be free of spoilers for the book, but some events, characters, and themes from earlier in the series may be alluded to. A review copy of the book was provided. There are affiliate links at the end of this review.
Blurb:
Welcome to Britain under the New Management! The Prime Minister is an eldritch god of unimaginable power. Crime is plummeting, and almost every offense is punishable by death. And everywhere you look, there are people with strange powers, some of which they can control, and some, not so much.
Hyperorganised and formidable, Eve Starkey defeated her boss, the louche magical adept and billionaire Rupert de Montfort Bigge, in a supernatural duel to the death. At least, she has reason to hope he’s dead. But though she’s now in charge of the Bigge Corporation, she’s not free of him yet. Through the fecklessness of her brother Imp, combined with the intricate feudal law of a tiny Channel Island, it would appear that unbeknownst to her, she was married to Bigge – and that proving his death and releasing herself from his arcane bindings will take years and cost millions. Then an emissary of the Prime Minister arrives with an offer that she absolutely can’t . . . well, you know.
This is the final novel in the Laundry Files spin-off trilogy that began with Dead Lies Dreaming and continued with Quantum of Nightmares.
Review:
Stross’ Laundry Files series is a delightful mix of Lovecraftian horror and workplace humour, tempered with a little bit of good, old-fashioned British bureaucracy. The series follows a (hopefully) fictional division of the UK government that investigates occult goings-on. The series is very well established and well-received, with a dozen novels and a handful of novellas, stories and a roleplaying game building up to a really interesting and well-developed setting.
The thing is, as the series has progressed over the dozen novels, the setting has escalated somewhat from the relatively street level, . We see it in other long-running series, too. Dresden Files had this issue where it started out at street level before becoming much bigger, immensely impactful, and with unbelievably high stakes. The same has definitely happened with The Laundry Files.
But let’s zoom in and focus on this novel, specifically. Season of Skulls is the conclusion of the New Management spinoff trilogy form the larger Laundry Files series. The novel has a really cool mix of fantasy, horror, and political satire (a big plus for me, that!), set against the backdrop of a dystopian Britain where crime is almost non-existent due to draconian laws.
The protagonist, Eve Starkey, is a compelling character with a good amount of depth and complexity. Her hyper-organized nature and formidable strength make her a compelling lead. Her struggle against the arcane bindings of her deceased boss, Rupert de Montfort Bigge, adds a layer of intrigue and suspense to the narrative. The reader is drawn into her journey as she navigates the labyrinthine corporate world, battles supernatural forces, and grapples with her unexpected marital status.
Stross’s world-building is exceptional, with the 21st-century setting infused with ancient eldritch gods and individuals possessing strange powers. This is massively enhanced by the fact that this book is part of a very long series that has established the world over several years. The narrative is rich and detailed, immersing the reader in a world that is at once familiar and eerily alien; again, something I love in a good story. The author’s ability to blend the mundane with the fantastical is truly remarkable, and one of his hallmarks, creating a universe that is both believable and fantastical.
The plot is intricate and layered, with numerous subplots and characters that add depth to the story. Time travel always adds a bit of narrative complexity, but it’s handled pretty well. Each character is well-developed, with their own unique quirks and abilities. The interactions between the characters are engaging and often humorous, providing a welcome respite from the darker elements of the story.
The novel is not without its flaws, of course. The intricate plot can sometimes be overwhelming, with numerous subplots and characters that may confuse readers. The pacing of the story can be uneven at times, with some sections moving at a brisk pace while others seem to drag on. Ultimately, this book (this trilogy) does represent a departure from the usual feel of a Laundry Files novel. I enjoyed this book, but did I enjoy it as much as earlier books in the series? I’m not entirely sure that I did.
Despite these minor issues, Season of Skulls is a great read that successfully combines elements of different genres to create a unique and engaging story that works on its own, as part of the New Management trilogy (also consisting of Dead Lies Dreaming and Quantum of Nightmares), and as part of the overarching Laundry Files series, even if it doesn’t quite reach the heights of the best entries in that series.
Stross has the ability to create a riveting narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Truth be told, I hate that cliche, but it feels apt. The novel is a testament to his creativity and imagination, and to the work that he’s put in over the entirety of the series. There’s no question that this will be a better and easier read for those who have read the rest of the Laundry Files, but for those people, this feels like a bit of a must-read.
Rating: 4/5
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