Blackcap
Kade Blackcap was once a famous detective. Overburdened with guilt at sending a man to the noose, he finds himself unable to take a case for fear of the consequences. But with the taxman breathing down his neck, he has to find work soon, or he'll lose the house his father left him.
He has one hope left.
Long has he suspected the myths of old were creeping back into the world, and with his detective background he has all the skills to hunt them. But once he finds himself on the trail of a monster, he realises how out of his depth he is.
He might have the skills to track such a creature, but what will he do when he catches up with it?-Goodreads
Title: Blackcap
Series: Rainfallen #0.5
Author: Benjamin Aeveryn
Page Count: 106
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4.0/5.0
Date Read: December 31st, 2023
Opening
The second novella chosen to finish out 2023 was Blackcap by Benjamin Aeveryn. I read book one Salt in the Wound back in June of 2023 and really enjoyed it. I figured this would be another nice easy way to slide into the end of the year.
This was a solid reminder of how interesting the Rainfallen world is. The constant fear of it's citizens to be caught out in the open during rain is in the forefront. However, this world also includes many other dangers.
Pacing
The pacing was solid. This was just a nice smooth shorter read. This was a page turner nestled into a novella package. We have a heaping spoonful of mystery and that ever present dread of the dangers in this world and a sprinkling of action here and there.
World Building
The world building simply brought me back to Salt in the Wound. I was once again reminded that this world holds many dangers and sometimes not the ones we first anticipate. I'll touch on this more in the character development. Blackcap focuses mostly within the city confines where some dangers are minimized and others or present. We also spend a bit of time in the surrounding more rural area since Blackcap (our protagonist) is one of the few willing to venture out of town.
Character Development
The character development was done really well for such a short read. Our main arc with Blackcap himself was good as to be expected. But we also had another arc or two in a bit of an abbreviated path but still great for supporting the story. I will just mention again that people and things within this world aren't always as they may first appear, whether good or bad. This was one of the things that interested me both within Salt in the Wound and now Blackcap.
Closing
I really do need to work in book two from Rainfallen (Secret of the Thistle) early in 2024.
Scoring
Pacing 4.0 / 5.0
Worldbuilding 4.0 / 5.0
Character Development 4.0 / 5.0
