Season of Skulls

Laundry Files, Book 12

By: Charles Stross

Narrated by: Gideon Emery

Welcome to the sunlit uplands of the 21st century! Britain's avuncular Prime Minister is an ancient eldritch god of unimaginable power. Crime is plummeting as almost every offense is punishable by death. And everywhere you look, there are people with strange powers, some of which they can control, and some, not so much.

Hyperorganized and formidable, Eve Starkey defeated her boss, the louche magical adept and billionaire Rupert de Montfort Bigge, in a supernatural duel to the death. At least, she has reason to hope he's dead. But though she's now in charge of the Bigge Corporation, she's not free of him yet. Through the fecklessness of her brother Imp, combined with the intricate feudal law of a tiny Channel Island, it would appear that unbeknownst to her, she was married to Bigge—and that proving his death and releasing herself from his arcane bindings will take years and cost millions.

Then an emissary of the Prime Minister arrives with an offer that she absolutely can't...well, you know.

This is the final novel in the trilogy that began with Dead Lies Dreaming and continued with Quantum of Nightmares.

©2023 Charles Stross (P)2023 Recorded Books

Best of the series

I did not expect to like this book as much as I did. What a great surprise this was. It’s my favorite of the entire series.

I really hope there will be another something or other with these character. It certainly left the door open for that story wise.

If you have read the others with Imp, Eve, Wendy et al, this one, I feel, is a must read. If you have not, read the preceding couple of books before this one, for the background.

One of the best in the series

A mystery, adventure, escapes, inspiring heroes, complex villains. Best romance in the series thus far, too.

Quite enjoyable

Many moments of suspense, but with a good narrative.
Like the other books in this segment of the Laundry-verse, it will hold up well with multiple listen/reads.
Lovely twists throughout, that made me want to re-listen to the whole series.

Best of the Trilogy

The first two books in this sub trilogy of the Laundry Files, I slogged through because of the series legacy. This was by far the best of the three with a solid story, mostly singular POV from Eve, and built out more of the Laundry-verse. I’m interested to see where Stross takes us readers next. And if we’ll see more of Eve and #7.

a good ending to the new beggining

This one was well paced with gòod twists and turns. Deep but not too convoluted plot for a time travel escapade. very much an Eve book, without a lot of POV switching, we get some good world building and new characters. Not as much in the way of clever problem solving as most Laundry books but a well put together story. excellently acted as always,the reader is a joy!

These books just keep getting better

Surely God knows how many novels into the extended laundry verse, Stross couldn't keep getting better? Could he?

He can and he does. I am looking forward to the conclusion of Bob's story but honestly? Eve is the more interesting character and this book is incredible. Time travel, ancient evil deities, and a regency romance novel with a side of magical spy thriller. So good.

Charlie does it again!

To be fair, I was kind of gagging for this one. It was worth the wait and upon my second listen, it was even better and nuanced, highly recommended to be sure

Another winner

I enjoyed this book. I agree with the other reviewers that it makes you want to re-read the series. I liked the fact that we got to know more about Eve and her motivations. Some speculative fiction tropes were satirized in fun ways. I thought this was going to be the end of the Eve cycle, now I’m not so sure. Can’t wait for the next book.

Best of the new management

I’ve been missing the OG Bob squad but Stross finally hit his stride here with the new crew. I love the main focus on Eve.

Best of the last few

I really like this series, but I'm not the biggest fan of the last few books.
I almost didn't pick this one up, knowing it was a continuation of that story line, but figured I'd take a chance.
And I'm happy to say that I was actually surprised by it.

Granted, the best part of this book is that Imp and his gang are barely in it, and there is almost none of the "oh I have a traumatic life, don't you feel bad for how horrible my life is? Let me upstage everyone else's trauma with my completely irrelevant backstory that doesn't matter to the story but lets me pretend to have a personality. My personality is trauma, by the way."
I know Stross can write good characters with actual personalities. Do better.

The dream roads plotline is interesting, but mostly in a "time travel that doesn't matter, and I can't decide if it will have consequences or not" kind of way, but it does let him explore the whole archetypes in fiction thing again like when Bob was becoming Bond.

Gjdeon Emery is great as usual, and really makes everything work.