Sadly I have not had the chance to read it just yet which I'm gutted about after reading some of the reviews. Once I have read it properly I will give my feedback on my booktube channel.

Creepy and atmospheric, In The Coils of the Labyrinth stuck with me for a while. Stricken with TB, Professor Miranda Ventham checks into a new treatment center in Arkham, where rather than being forced to stay still, patients are encouraged to walk the twisting halls. No stranger to occult horrors, Miranda feels something off and investigates. Dark, twisty, and satisfying.

Another lovecraftian and cosmic horror filled story from Arkham Horror.

This was set in a Tuberculosis Sanatorium, which would have had me from the beginning. Sanatoriums are scary just because of the real life horror. Adding in a monster from another plane of existence is just the cherry on top.

Miranda and Agatha were lovely heroines and their friendship and fight against the evil of the Stroud Institute was engaging and I couldn’t wait to see that they’d uncover next. Of course they were both professors at Miskatonic University. I love all of the lore taking from HP Lovecraft but also the original story!

Dark Academia meets Lovecraft in this tale of friendship, doubt and monsters. I’ll be requesting more from Arkham Horror and David Annandale.

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Aconyte Books for an advanced copy of a novel set in the world of the game Arkham Horror.

Horror stories are unique in that well outside of unkillable maniacs with sharpened kitchen accessories, much that bothers us in the normal world can be turned against us in stories of the macabre. The dark, the strange, the odd, the different and the oddly different. Long hallways in strange institutions that go forever. The health of ourselves or loved ones, suddenly without insurance, or being only one cough away from leaving this mortal coil. Or even the fear of something coiling around us, dragging us down, being social media, political discourse or something much, much worse. David Annandale author of In the Coils of the Labyrinth: An Arkham Horror Novel, based on the popular board and card game, has written a story that will leave readers gasping for breath, and looking a little more closely at the paths that one takes everyday.

Miranda Ventham, a professor at Miskatonic University, whose subject is writers of the Romantic era, is having both problems sleeping and breathing. Miranda's nights are filled with horrible dreams of bleak futures, and dark creatures, while dealing with tuberculosis, a disease that leaves her fighting for breath and exhausted. Living in the town of Arkham she is fortunate that a new sanatorium the Stroud Institute has just opened, offering novel treatments and care for those suffering from the disease that killed so many in the early part of the century when this is set. Miranda finds herself slightly better, but off. The building and hallways don't make sense, the treatments are getting odder, and while some patients leave healthy, others just disappear. With the help of her friend Agatha Crane, a parapsychologist, Miranda must gather her strength and her wits to defeat the dark forces that surround her and the strange director of the hospital who has taken an unhealthy interest in Miranda.

A creepy story, very atmospheric and dark from those things that are unseen and undiscussed. Plus there is mention of a sickness that makes one cough constantly and exhausts a person, so enjoyed the topical reference. The horror is both real, but more psychological, Miranda is sick, and she can not tell if what she is feeling is from her mind or the evil that is around here. Annandale is a very good writer, with a good grasp of how to keep a story moving, and yet letting it breath, giving the story time to develop, and the characters too. Also the main characters are all women, which is rare, but something that I have found in most books by this publisher, and something I quite enjoy. A spooky tale, told well.

I've enjoyed everything that I have read in this series, and how they all draw on different ideas of horror to scare and entertain. I particularly like the author as his book series featuring Doctor Doom by this same publisher are some of the best characterizations of Doom since Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. I enjoy this series and can't wait for more, nor can I wait for more books by David Annandale.

As always I want to start by saying that I was given an ARC of this to review. My review is honest and left voluntarily and all thoughts are my own. Thank you to Aconyte Books and Netgalley for giving me access to this.

I should start this review by stating two facts. First I adore David Annandale’s Marvel Untold Doom books so I was more than a little excited when I saw he had penned an Arkham Horror novel. Second I adore the Arkham Horror game and anything Lovecraft inspired (despite Lovecraft’s failings himself). So I was almost certain I would adore this book. Thankfully I was not wrong.

The novel starts with Professor Miranda Ventham having bad dreams, not a surprise in Arkham, but could they be more than just horrifying nightmares. Soon finding herself seriously ill with Tuberculosis Miranda books herself into the new sanatorium in Arkham, the Stroud Institute. It should be the perfect place to recover from her illness but things seldom go right in Arkham. Soon her nightmares worsen and it is only thanks to the help of Miranda’s friend, Agatha Crane, a parapsychologist, that they have any hope of uncovering the horrifying truth. Not all is as it seems and to find the truth both Miranda and Agatha will have to follow the twists and turns presented to them to find the truth at the centre.

Obviously this book is set in the world of Arkham Horror so of course it has some brilliant horrifying and terrifying moments (I’ll come back to those later) but one thing Annandale did that I personally adored, but can see why some might not, was juxtapose the growing dread and doubts with the, what may be considered, mundane world of the sanitorium. We see the day to day life of what it was actually like on a TB ward, perhaps with some embellishment, in fact Annandale confirms that he was inspired by a memoir of someone who was on a ward themselves. I personally adored this since it grounded the novel in reality and gave it a feeling of something that COULD have happened, even with the added elements of horror. The sections that focus on life on the ward for Miranda I found created a perfect breeding ground for Miranda’s doubts and fears. Hours spent in bed just reading or waiting for check-ups, fellow patients whom could either be friends or enemies (or at least make the stay unpleasant) and nurses who seem to impose rules with an iron fist. For me it all made the story that much more tense as we start to almost wonder with Miranda if something is happening or it is all in her mind because of the conditions of the ward.

On the other side to this we have Agatha’s side of the story. Seeing her do field work that Miranda cannot due to her illness. As a quick aside I want to add that Wilbur Crane is probably one of my favourite side characters and a brilliant husband figure, I absolutely adored him and his devotion to Agatha as well as his rather brilliant acceptance of life in Arkham, everybody needs a Wilbur! But back to Agatha, while Miranda is suffering nightmares and twisting hallways of the institute Agatha has her own horrors to deal with. Now as always I do not like spoiling the novel but there is a bit that really did terrify me. Partly because of the superb suspense and writing of Annandale and partly because of the location this scene took place at. It was superb even if it did make me uncomfortable.

Again, not wishing to spoil the novel too much, I adored the tie in to Miranda’s lectures and specialism, Romanticism (a favourite of mine too), to the plot. I am sure it was intentional but it perfectly made The Coils of the Labyrinth come full circle with everything seemingly making a connection one way or another.

All in all this is another fantastic entry to the Aconyte Books Arkham Horror novels. I honestly adored every bit of it. They’ve done it again, but at this point I’m not even surprised!

As a board gamer whose favorite board game is Eldritch Horror (part of the Arkham Horror universe) I really love these tie-in novels. Seeing the characters that I love to play as take part in adventures that I get to read is a real joy.
In the Coils of the Labyrinth by David Annandale is a bit of a deviation from the rest of the Arkham Horror novels that I've read so far. This one starts out a bit gothic and then veers back over in the cosmic horror genre. I really loved that. Plus one of my favorite settings for horror is in hospital/insane asylum/sanitorium.

The book opens with Professor Miranda Ventham suffering from tuberculosis and moving into the Stroud Institute, the new sanitorium in Arkham. Her friend and fellow professor (and playable character in Arkham and Eldritch Horror) Agatha Crane is Miranda's main source of support through the course of the book.
When Miranda starts to have visions and feels the growing dread that something is off about the newly built Stroud Institute, Agatha does research into the history of the Stroud family, turning over every stone she comes across, including traveling to Scottland (the ancestral seat of the family) to help solve the growing mystery of the sanitorium.

This book was a ton of fun. I loved reading this one. I really loved the gothic vibes when Miranda first comes to the institute and the growing dread she feels. I really would encourage anyone with an interest in Lovecraft, spooky gothic hospital horror, or a good mystery to read this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Aconyte Books for providing me with a free eARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

In the Coils of the Labyrinth is the latest release (#17) in the novel series based on the Arkham Horror board and card game - which is loosely set in fictional world of 1920s era H.P. Lovecraft.
Like many readers in the horror genre, the chance to explore new stories inspired by Lovecraft's world is an exciting one and this story, which tells the tale of a group of tuberculosis patients who uncover the hidden secrets of a dark Labyrinth at an old Sanatorium at which they are being treated, is ripe for this world.
Unfortunately, it's a tale that never gets out of second gear. Annandale does a good job driving the mystery element of the story but the detective heavy plot line unravels at too slow a pace and the otherworldly horrors seem Lovecraft-lite when they finally appear.
Admittedly, I haven't read any of the other books in this series but it felt a little too paint by the numbers for my liking without any strong characters to latch onto.

4*

Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book via Netgalley.

I really enjoyed In the Coils of the Labyrinth. I am always a little skeptical of books that are tie-ins to other properties, and David Annandale manages to put together a really excellent bit of eldritch horror set in the Arkham Horror universe. Annandale manages to put together a clever descent in to madness that includes an extended stay in a sanitarium, the strands of fate, and the question of choice.

Highly recommend, even if you've not spent anytime in the Arkham Horror universe.

I love the Arkham Horror novella’s 100%. I have never played the board or card games, but I always find myself with the novella’s and absolutely love them. This one is no different, I enjoyed every minute of it. If you like Lovecraft style fiction or gothic horror you will love this.

This story is set in the world of "Arkham Horror", but the reader doesn't need to be at all familiar with that board game in order to enjoy the tale. Some feeling for H.P. Lovecraft's signature approach to eldritch horror is a plus, though, because this book's thrills turn on Annandale's keen ability to capture and channel the terror that exists on the other side of the veil. This was a fine and satisfying, and exceptionally well written, contribution to the Arkham mythos.

ARC Copy...well it was a creepy Lovecraft trip into the nightmarish unknown as one would expect venturing into the world of Arkham horror. Did feel something sinister is coiling in the darkness.

A dark and gothic read that was chilling and creepy that I will think about for a while. I loved it, a great red for fans of dark/horror reads

Hits all the right notes of Lovecraft combined with the worldview and evolution of Cthulhu mythos that has evolved since Lovecraft's death. Creepy tale, will recommend.

David Annandale's IN THE COILS OF THE LABYRINTH is by far the strongest offering yet from Aconyte Books in their Arkham Horror line, but while the story delights with its invocation of the Romantic poets against the backdrop of cosmic horror, its pacing and energy fall short. So much of the book dwells on Miranda's time recuperating from TB (long chapters of Miranda in bed, long chapters of Miranda dreaming), and much of the actual investigation is conducted by her friend, Agatha, off stage. Annandale's prose is clear, and his intelligence shines through, but the story is hobbled by its plot.

Unfortunately, this book needs a lot of editing for grammar and awkward sentences. Otherwise it is interesting. Would be better with more intrigue and less talking to the nurses/staff. Cut out conversation regarding food and menial dialogue.

In the Coils of the Labyrinth by David Annandale

Starring Professor Miranda Ventham who, suffering from tuberculosis, becomes a patient at a new Institute in Arkham to be cured. Partnered with a favorite character of mine, Agatha Crane, we learn that the Institute may have darker intentions than we think.

David Annandale once again shows he is well versed in the Arkham Files universe. Using characters, themes, and ideas from the Arkham Horror games we are drawn into a story that would fit perfectly into a game scenario.

The beauty of this book is how perfectly it fits into the Arkham Files universe, it would still be very enjoyable if you have never played an AH game before. Annandale combines a claustrophic setting, haunting entities, and an unreliable narrator that combine to leave you guessing what is going on until the very end.