For starters, can we talk about this cover art? It is gorgeous! This is from the Amazon Kindle edition, but I’ve seen other versions online. They are all beautifully professional, and since the author is an artist I’m sure he did them himself. This reminds me of the album art for Apocolyptica’s Cult, which is a very good thing. I’m also digging the title. Merriam-Webster defines hecatomb as “the sacrifice or slaughter of many victims,” which should give you an idea of what you’re in for with this novella. I had never heard the word before, and any book that can teach me a new word is already doing well. 

The Hecatomb consists of four short stories set in the same universe, which can be read in any order. It’s a neat little hook that’s fairly successful, though I recommend starting with The Old Man of Tessera. If you don’t, the book’s surprise twist won’t have the same impact. The world Neill has created is desolate and hopeless, with a ghoulish undercurrent that my warped little brain appreciates. I loved the focus on art as a major plot point. They say you should write what you know, and Neill takes that to heart with this tale. The tone and atmosphere are excellent, and the pacing well-handled. The suspense takes hold early and carries through to the end, though the writing doesn’t flow quite as well as I’d like. I think a lighter hand with the descriptors might have helped. I also think The Circle Macabre is a weak link here. It starts out strong, but I found the ending a bit confusing and wish it had been better explained. If you like some ambiguity in your horror, this might suit you better than it did me.