Review: A Madness Unmade by E.K. Larson-Burnett

Astoundingly clever and deftly penned, A Madness Unmade (The Deathly Inheritance Duology Book 1) by E.K. Larson-Burnett is a biting parody of life itself, and a youthful musing on the illogical nature of existence. Armed with a remarkably precocious protagonist and the narrative touch of a major writer in the making, this eccentric novel absolutely shines with confidence and originality.

As the sole living resident of the Underhallow, Laurel Rumbroom only keeps company with specters and her beloved ghost-cat Goose, but her relatively predictable days have been intriguingly disturbed by a mysterious string of necrotic deliveries. Each week, a new package arrives with its enigmatic contents, a dead moth, sending Laurel deep into a fit of ferocious investigation, research, and potential madness. After all, no one pays any attention to the Underhallow or its deceased denizens, but the morbid missives seem intended for Laurel, a mostly alive girl in the last sanctum of the dead.

Being one of the last Guardians of these disappearing sanctuaries, Laurel is already under pressure from ghostly refugees and a sudden spate of forgetfulness, but she’s far too curious to turn down this delectable dead moth mystery. Relying on her “delicate magic,” along with a cadre of helpful ghosts and parental phantoms, Laurel probes into the history of afterlife sanctums, and her own family, only to discover that Underhallow isn’t the first to receive ominous shipments. On top of that, she is processing the potentially unnatural passing of her father, navigating her increasingly loose grip on reality, and shouldering the responsibilities of providing a safe haven for a growing horde of homeless ghosts.

Exploring ideas of purpose in life and beyond the grave, the author plays with triggering themes in a safely satirical premise, allowing this ambitious story to work on multiple levels without losing its sense of humor for even a moment. The prose is playfully macabre, unfurling and lulling readers into a comfortable flow before casually commenting on the curious appearance of a corpse, or off-handedly musing on death and the necromantic arts. Larson-Burnett’s mastery of esoteric and delicious language is refreshingly erudite, yet still restrained enough to avoid stuffiness or pretension. Rarely does a contemporary author wield words with such dexterity, and this tour de force in lexicology is a master class for any lover of linguistics.

Unsurprisingly, the text has been meticulously edited, with nary a typo or stumble to be seen, nor any unnecessary tangents or flat stretches where a reader’s attention could wander. The author’s wry wit is embedded in every line, and readers will be hard-pressed to deny a smirking grin at the droll asides and tongue-in-cheek tidbits of narration. In the midst of such a mind-boggling tale, which seamlessly blends Gothic fiction and whimsical fantasy, the masterful turns of phrase and subtle prods of humor feel like a decadent addition to an already superlative work of fiction.

A stellar novel that stands up to any genre or method of publication, the only complaint from readers will be having to wait for the second piece of this darkly brilliant duology.

A Madness Unmade was the Winner of the 2024 SPR Book Awards.