Review: Transformation by Dusk Peterson

One of the things I have noticed about Peterson’s work is an interest in justice. In what it means. In how it can be carried out. In how it interacts with mercy. In this book we learn that they are divine concepts…deities.

And we are finally introduced to the third prong of gothic fiction - the threat of the supernatural.

Most of this book is about one of the characters being mad. Madness also threaded through the first book. We finally get a single female character, and she’s badass, but also written much the same as the men. Oh, and we also get some kink. Ahem.

Then suddenly we’re transported to literal, actual hell. It is introduced in a way which leaves it entirely ambiguous as to whether it’s real or a hallucination. (Spoiler: It’s not really either).

Except then Peterson leaves breadcrumbs of the actual supernatural. Not magic, no. This is the touch of powers and weird things from beyond, not spells and potions.

Now I’m very curious as to where this is going.

Content note: One of the places it’s going is very kinky.

Review: The Balance by Dusk Peterson

This book brings together some hints - Layle Smith may not be entirely human. His better night vision has been mentioned before, but…

It also explores more of the world outside the dungeon or, specifically, the politics outside the dungeon. The Industrial Revolution has been in full swing for a while…and, in fact, whether to electrify the dungeon has become a question.

And Peterson has decided it’s time for labor unions to show up. This book even explores the ethics of essential workers striking.

The balance of the title is about to be rather overset, although it doesn’t happen in this volume. Instead, the world Peterson has created teeters and totters and nobody can see what’s likely to happen.

(Note that we are back to an entirely male cast here, but this one is devoid of kink).

Here’s another thing I’ve realized we don’t see in these books: Animals. Nobody is, apparently, allowed pets in the dungeon, but you’d think there would be mousers…just saying.

But the story is definitely building up towards a crisis.