156. (April 2026) The Works of Vermin by Hiron Ennis — The Tabletop Roleplayers' Book Club

The Works of Vermin F: A Certain Je-ne-sais-quoi

Apocryphal — Mon, 04 May 2026 18:10:06 +0000

And then finally there's that F-Factor, that special something that elevates a book to wow territory. This is hard to define, but it might be a really compelling Big Idea with implications I never imagined, or maybe the book can be read in more than one mode or some other transcending wow factor. If you've seen these modern tier lists that are popular now, it's the thing that elevates a book from the A tier to the S (special) tier. Usually books have it or they don't. Did this one? Can you name another book that did have the F-Factor for you?

The Works of Vermin E: World-Building

Apocryphal — Mon, 04 May 2026 18:07:00 +0000

What did you think of the setting? Is it imaginative or derivative? Well-thought out? Well-described? How compelling is it, esp. compared to settings you've loved?

The Works of Vermin D: Structure

Apocryphal — Mon, 04 May 2026 18:05:22 +0000

What did you think of the structure of the novel? Did the author do something creative with this? Does it flow, or is there something jarring about it?

The Works of Vermin C: Prose Style

Apocryphal — Mon, 04 May 2026 18:04:07 +0000

What's the writing like? Poetic? Plain? Busy? Purple? Overly adjectived? Is it nice to read? Does it serve the subject matter? Did you find yourself noting down passages from the book because I you them?

The Works of Vermin B: Plotting and Events

Apocryphal — Mon, 04 May 2026 18:02:44 +0000

How was the plotting of the novel? Are the events believable, interesting, dramatic? Are they coherent and well described? What about the pacing?

The Works of Vermin A: Characters

Apocryphal — Mon, 04 May 2026 18:00:48 +0000

As mentioned in our discord, I did not get on with this book (despite it being my pick) and didn't finish. It seems that most of you also didn't get on with it, though perhaps those who pushed to the finish may have found the post of gold at the end of the verminous rainbow.

Not having finished it, it's difficult for me to ask specific questions about the book, but it did cause me to reflect on the kinds of things I look for in fantastic fiction and allow us to discuss the book in those more generic terms. Naturally, if anyone has a specific topic they'd like to bring up, please feel free to start a new question topic.

In general, the things I evaluate in fiction are (A) Characters, (B) Plotting/Events, (C) Prose Styling, and (D) Structure. For fantastic fiction, I also add (E) World Building and (F) a transcendental quality, the F-Factor, if you will.

This question is about (A) The Characters Did you find them well-drawn, believable, or rich in personality? Are there too many or not enough?

About Hiron Ennes

RichardAbbott — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 16:28:32 +0000

Hiron Ennes is from the Pacific Northwest of the United States. They have a background in both physics and medicine, which heavily influences their writing, particularly in the realms of authenticity and realism. Ennes's storytelling is characterized by rich world-building and a compelling narrative style that often explores themes of identity, bodily autonomy, and the macabre.

Ennes's writing is noted for its straightforward yet immersive approach, often transporting readers to vividly imagined worlds. Their stories frequently incorporate elements of horror and suspense, creating an atmosphere that captivates and engages the audience. Ennes is also recognized for pushing genre boundaries, taking traditional tropes in new directions.

About The Works of Vermin

RichardAbbott — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 16:23:52 +0000

A dark, decadent horror adventure about revenge, decay and toxic bugs

He was sent to kill a pest. Instead, he found a monster.
'An intriguing work of whimsi-grotesquerie' – Olivie Blake, New York Times bestselling author of The Atlas Six

Monster hunters tangle with court politics in this horror adventure by the critically acclaimed author of Leech.

Enter the decadent, deadly city of Tiliard.

In a complex, chaotic metropolis, Guy Moulène has a simple goal: keep his sister out of debt. For her sake, he’ll take on any job, no matter how vile.

As an exterminator, Guy hunts the uncanny pests that crawl up from the river. These vermin are all strange, and often dangerous. His latest quarry is different: a worm the size of a dragon with a deadly venom and a ravenous taste for artwork. As it digests Tiliard from the sewers to the opera houses, its toxin reshapes the future of the city. No sane person would hunt it, if they had the choice.

Guy doesn’t have a choice.

'A lush and seductive story, rife with opulent horror and decaying decadence' – Sunyi Dean, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Book Eaters

'I will follow this writer anywhere going forward' – Gillian Flynn, New York Times bestselling author of Gone Girl