Book Review: Jigglyspot and the Zero Intellect by PD Alleva

It’s 2019, and Jigglyspot has got the important job of organizing the Summer Solstice celebrations for his employers. 

When you’re a half warlock carnival clown who works for demonic flesh eating entities from another dimension, you’ve got your work cut out for you (or should that be you have to cut up your work?). 

They may have zero intellect, but humans don’t like being the main course at a feast. Jigglyspot has a lot on his plate. Will he be able to pull off the event of the year at the cannibal cafe?

I love that this book takes place in the same universe as Golem, and could even be considered an unofficial sequel. Like Golem, Jigglyspot and the Zero Intellect is full of demons, rituals, powerful manipulators, and realistically flawed characters. 

Unlike Golem, there’s also a lot of humor in this book. It needs it, as a lot of the scenes are dark and intense, and others are graphic to the point of extreme horror. 

The plot is complex, with the characters caught in an inescapable web. Certain elements were unexpected, and very high concept, but they worked and combined to produce a story of epic proportions. 

It’s the characters that really make this book. Depraved and unlikeable as most of them are, they are well drawn. There are no two dimensional villains here. Each character has their motivations, strengths and weaknesses. You may not agree with their choices, but you can understand why they made them. I particularly liked when one main character tried to justify their behavior while condemning the same behavior in others. 

The themes about the nature of good and evil, free will and control, and taking responsibility for your behavior elevated this book above being pure entertainment. It’s an emotional rollercoaster, and the different layers satisfy the intellect in a way that stays with you long after the book is finished. 

I’m a fan of conspiracy theories, so I loved all the nods to the real world and the explanation for why things are the way they are. Perhaps the best example of this is the closing chapter, which is both humorous and chilling. 

Alleva is working on a follow up novel (working title The Sleepy Hollow Incident), and I can’t wait to read it.