An October's Journey: Poe's Final Gift

A MASTERFULLY DARK ADVENTURE

Luring readers into a carefully crafted tale of supernatural mystery, author James McKenna delivers a profoundly puckish novel in An October's Journey: Poe's Final Gift.

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On October 1, 1849, on the occasion of his 22nd birthday, Jonathan Brandt's party is graced and haunted by his father's old friend “Eddy”, though the world better knows him as Edgar Allan Poe. In addition to his attendance, Poe also presents Jonathan with a macabre gift, an unbelievable story of witchcraft, and an invitation to join Poe on a nebulous (and undeniably dangerous) adventure.

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Poe is trying to figure out the ending to a new story—or perhaps an old one—and he requires Jonathan's specific skills as a barrister, but the case Jonathan agrees to argue will be anything but ordinary. For starters, the proceedings are being held in a place somehow fallen out of time, and the verdict of the case will determine the fate of many more than the three souls on trial. Navigating as a stranger in an even stranger land, Jonathan must piece together the truth of the most bizarre case of his career.

 

Giving fresh life to the raven-struck legend of Poe's personal demons and darkness, this novel is an homage to the author and his work, but also a bold declaration of McKenna's own word-bending and world-building abilities. A time-traveling, soul-searching novel about justice, purpose, and the transcendent power of writing, this book has a fearless originality and confidence that will pull readers inexorably onward.

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While much has been written about the poetic and narrative works of Edgar Allan Poe, there are far fewer fictionalized tales in which he plays a part. McKenna manages to pull off this storytelling feat with surprising grace, due in part to his marvelous creativity and ability to summon vivid images in the mind's eye of a reader. This transportive magic, in turn, is owed to the author's magnificent mastery of language, which immerses readers in the mood and cadence of a distant, more elegant era from the very first page.

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The overall consistency in linguistic gymnastics is impressive, capturing the solipsistic yet soothing style of literature from the 19th century in a way that few contemporary authors achieve. The depth of vocabulary is seemingly bottomless, peppered with rare gems like “obdurate”, “assent”, “intemperate”, “portend”, “gauche” and “leery”—all in the first few pages—which will send language lovers to their dictionaries with glee.

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McKenna has produced a sprawling, mind-bending, and deliciously ominous novel that echoes one of Poe's many quotable lines from the text, "a well-considered storyline might possibly change the course of your life.” — SPR  ★★★★★

 

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A MODERN POE NOVEL

James McKenna has used his love for words to craft a supernatural mischievous work with “An October’s Journey: Poe’s Final Gift.”

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Jonathan Brandt is a young man who is walking in his father’s footsteps as a barrister. Brandt’s father has long had a friendship with Edgar Allan Poe. On October 1, 1849, Jonathan turns 22 and his family throws him a party. Brandt’s father invites his long-time friend “Eddy” to the festivities against his mother’s wishes. Eddy is the author Edgar Allan Poe, and Poe has a special gift that will make a huge impact on Jonathan.

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After all the guests have left, Poe gives Jonathan his gift. This gift comes with a tale of witchcraft, adventure, and an era long past. Jonathan accepts the gift and is tasked with saving the lives of the Wrens. Mary and her two children Matthew and Anne have been accused of witchcraft. Jonathan goes to a strange town seemingly lost in time where he must navigate the customs of the Puritans in a time long since passed. His talent as a barrister is tested and his life dangles by a thread.

 

Words are pathways to the mind and heart. They connect people. McKenna amazingly has brought back the importance of words to all who read his work. He uses linguistics to sculpt a picture and tell a story, just as Poe did in his works. When Jonathan reaches the home where he is told of his task, I immediately thought about Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher” where we also encounter an ominous house.

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I appreciated it when McKenna used words like “gaunt,” “leery,” “insurmountable,” and “portend.” It was a thoughtful reminder of how words create art. His images of spooky forests and cemeteries give readers a feeling of anticipation and dread. It is a feeling that makes you believe you are there witnessing the entire plot play out. You are drawn in and pulled forward anticipating every move or action that is about to take place.

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James McKenna has crafted a story that brings us back to the reality that how words are used has a direct effect on how readers respond to a work. “An October’s Journey” is a story where faith, justice, and purpose are discovered. McKenna has mastered writing in the elegant language that I believe needs a revival in literature today. We can also applaud the author for placing an icon in the literary world in his story, and I believe Poe would have little criticism to present.

I loved James McKenna’s “An October’s Journey.” It was suspenseful, masterfully written, and transportive. McKenna has created an excellent specimen of literary genius earning it five out of five stars. — READER VIEWS  ★★★★★

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