These Nameless Things

June 1, 2020

Dan and the rest of his small village have escaped unspeakable horrors, but they are still living in the shadow of the mountain where they experienced so much pain. The rhythm of plowing, sowing, and harvesting helps some to heal, but many still do not remember life before the mountain or what exactly happened there. Dan knows only that his brother Adam is still suffering somewhere in the depths of the mountain. Each day, he waits patiently, hoping his brother will escape. When a beautiful and wounded stranger knocks on the door of his cabin, Dan suddenly begins to remember his brother more clearly and to consider the cost of mounting a rescue mission. Smucker (Light from Distant Stars; The Day the Angels Fell) carefully chooses names and descriptions to create a haunting and suspenseful tale. VERDICT Those who enjoy Jolina Petersheim, Carrie Stuart Parks, and Tosca Lee and who appreciate mind- and genre-bending fiction will want to add this to a reading list. However, readers who are not familiar with Dante's Inferno will miss a lot of symbolism and be confused by the plot, especially the ending. Recommended for those looking to try something completely different.--Christine Barth, Scott Cty. Lib. Syst., IA

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