By J.M. McDermott
Night Shade Books, $14.99, 240 pages
The time is upon us again to travel to the land of Dogsland, a town of deep-seated evil and greed. This book is part two in a trilogy, a story that follows the executioners of Erin as they continue to rebuild the last days of Jona, a half-demon, from the memories in his lifeless skull. The plot weaves in past and present, and much of the story is told in Jona’s perspective. Jona’s past focuses more on his relationship with the half-demon Rachel, while his dark side begins to grow stronger. The present focuses on the consequences of Jona’s actions and how the wolf-skin executioners handle it.
The book holds to the same formula as the last. The narrative feels wobbly and forced, but this is intentional. Each page is wonderfully detailed but disjointed, for great contrast. Some points of Jona’s memories feel like a walking dream, while other parts are drastically real and graphic. The plot and pace are grand and can make for a short but well-balanced read. When We Were Executioners is a showcase of the supernatural with perfect writing coupled with an interesting plot. The ending hints the Walkers of Erin might take a more active role, and plenty of other surprises are in store for anyone who picks up this book.
Reviewed by Kevin Brown
