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Review of Mind Like a Diamond

Cover Mind Like a Diamond

What if a federation of witches hosted a thirteen-level haunted house on Halloween? And what if making it through by the witching hour netted one survivor ten thousand dollars? Imagine the magic was real. What kind of horrors could exist in such a house?

This is the premise of Mind Like a Diamond, a new novel by Amanda Pavlov. Main character Lisette Starling Colbert is an intelligent student at a private school as well as an accomplished gymnast. She’s also as poor as a churchmouse, and her family is involved in some shady activities. After a series of bad luck, Lisette finds that she and her mom are about to be evicted from their apartment. After she’s expelled from her school, Lisette receives a flyer about the unusual haunted house and associated contest from some new friends. Trouble is, rumors state witches are in charge of the house, and some participants never make it out.

The hook of Mind Like a Diamond is captivating, one of the strongest on the market today. The premise checks a lot of horror reader’s boxes: Halloween, haunted house, list of victims (er, characters). The house has thirteen levels full of ghoulish fun, and some of the levels are more terrifying than others. The levels, both gruesome and chilling, are the beating heart of this novel.

The novel takes place in one of two the spookiest places in the United States—New Orleans, Louisiana. (For the record, the other is the entire state of Stephen King’s Maine). The city plays a large part in the creepiness factor of the book. The writing describes both New Orleans and the Halloween season and immerses Lisette in a world of chills and thrills right from the start.

For a first-published book, Amanda Pavlov’s style and technical skills read like a long-time professional. Snippets like “When it rains, it pours. It had been a soggy year.” concisely draws the reader in with few words. The dialog rings true from age to geographic location, and the emotions the teens are experiencing also feel authentic.

But horror novels live (or die) on whether they can bring the scares. Mind Like a Diamond delivers in this department too. Just about every conceivable creepy thing for the last three decades makes an appearance in this novel. If someone is afraid of it, it’s in here. Certain levels are extremely effective at drawing out the tension. So as not to give anything away, I’ll just say that level three and level nine were my two favorites.

The novel has a definitive first, second, and third act. One can draw a line where each one begins and ends. To me, the highlight of the book is the second act, but the third act is a surprising and pleasant change of pace. The narrative shifts abruptly between the acts from the establishment of setting and characters in act one, to the haunted house in act two, to resolution in act three. The assumption is most readers will enjoy act two the most, but act three effectively wraps up the plot and builds upon everything that has happened in the prior two acts. Certainly, act two is worth the price of the novel.

While the idea of going to a haunted house might sound like a middle grade or early young-adult novel, Mind Like a Diamond is neither. Lisette is an older teenager dealing with the situations often found in our younger age group in the inner city. Expect drug use, sexual situations, profanity, and violence, some more suited to adult novels. If you enjoy the grittier side of YA, you’ll relish this gem of a book. 

If you like supernatural horror novels, you’ll enjoy Mind Like a Diamond. The more you know of the horror genre, the more you’ll be entertained. And while the plot has pulse-pounding scares a-plenty, you’ll find it also has a well-rendered depiction of teenagers and the struggles they endure to fit into their world.

Amazon Review: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1736430068

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Review of Adventurer’s Spirit

Cover Adventurer’s Spirit

In Adventurer’s Spirit speculative novel by Amanda Schmidt, cultural tensions escalate between two races: the Sunstons and the Trilumas. Caught in the middle are Alyxzandra and Jared, two people who deeply care about each other. The book starts with a horrific genocide, leaving our main character, Alyxzandra without a family and home. The heartbreaking scenes in the first chapter of Alyxzandra finding her dead family warn the reader the way forward will be an uphill struggle.

The army responsible for the death of her people endangers Alyxzandra’s life. However, she is rescued by Jared, a soldier who refuses to kill her tribe, after she saves his life. From there begins a series of adventures for Alyxzandra as the last remaining of her race, the Sunstons. The Sunstons with their teeth and large jaws are considered savages by Jared’s people, the Triluma, who seek to destroy every last one of them. The Triluma’s main aggressor is Jonah, Jared’s father, who attempts to kill Alyxzandra at every turn.

With its themes of anti-colonization, ecology, and humanity, Adventurer’s Spirit flows from one surprising revelation to another. Not all is as it appears with the Sunston people. As Alyxzandra learns more about her origins, she must decide who she is to become: a fierce defender of her world or a person who cares more for another person than herself.

The exciting plot owes a lot to the deep world-building constructed by the author. As more and more elements are revealed from Alyxzandra’s perspective, the narrative expands and the results of the choices of the characters aren’t so clear-cut. The detailed thought that went into the Sunston people and Alyxzandra’s character help to increase the stakes as the plot unfolds. As the main character, Alyxzandra is both an innocent in the ways of the world and also a fierce warrior hardened by her past. This contrast builds the reader’s investment in her plight.

The anti-colonization is not heavy-handed yet always present. As with all moral tales of this type, replacing Earth and its history with another planet allows for a more objective view on the topic. At the same time, Adventurer’s Spirit is an intensely personal novel of a wronged young woman who must make her way in a foreign world. Her desperate situation rings true as the reader discovers more and more about her and the history behind the Sunstons and the Trilumas.

The novel properly escalates the tension from beginning to end, making Alyxzandra’s situation more and more dire. Each scene builds on the one before, and the characters’ options become increasingly limited. Suspense is at an enjoyable high at the climax.

Speaking of the climax, the book may surprise some readers in the penultimate chapter. However, this review believes the risk taken by author Amanda Schmidt pays off. Nine times out of ten, going an unconventional route often leads to frustration on the reader’s part, but this time it works. The final scenes will stick in one’s memory long after the final page is turned.

While Adventurer’s Spirit is full of action-packed scenes, the novel also slows down at times. In the middle, a character “catches the reader up” on what’s going on, and a major element is introduced in the middle of the plot that plays a key role at the climax. The rest of the book is strong with the majority of scenes full of self-revelation and action. In particular, one scene in the middle of the book where Alyxzandra realizes something important when following Jared on a mission is a highlight.

Adventurer’s Spirit, an unconventional take on racial tensions on a different planet, has many important things to say about our world. With an edgy main character, a healthy respect of culture, and some excellent world-building, this novel demonstrates a willingness to take risks. And its success is to the reader’s benefit.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XKVPMPS

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Review of Little Creeping Things

Cover

In the YA thriller Little Creeping Things by Chelsea Ichaso, a teenage girl named Cassidy (Cass) overhears a potential murder and hunts for the victim. Cass, also known as Fire Girl, is haunted by her past where she may have accidentally killed her best friend. Unfortunately for Cass, the high school bullies don’t believe she’s innocent. She’s targeted as the unstable girl. Things change rapidly when Melody, one of the bullies, goes missing. Was Cass hiding nearby when the abductor struck? And did it go down the same way as she outlined in a notebook days before?

Cass needs answers to these questions. She doesn’t trust her best friend Gideon enough to tell him about her investigation, she withholds evidence from detectives because her knowledge implicates her, and she continues to have flashbacks to the fire from when she was a small child. As she becomes more and more alienated from those closest to her, she uses her reasoning skills to try to guess who the kidnapper, and potentially murderer, could be. As the suspects change from day to day, the pressure increases as the person behind Melody’s abduction is sending her messages implying they planned it together.

This is a great “backyard” YA thriller. By backyard I mean the setting never varies from the small town where Cass lives, and the suspects are all people who she’s grown up with. Messages about bullying, especially its lasting effects, ring true throughout the novel, and Cass is both a victim and perpetrator. As Cass dives deeper and deeper into the mystery, she finds her actions are destroying the personal relationships in her life.

At 237 pages, this medium-sized novel is a quick read, capturing the readers’ interest from page one while also keeping them guessing to the end. A well thought-out whodunnit, the final reveal will come as a shock to some but logically builds from what came before. The one distracting element is the writing style is very matter-of-fact—one sequence after another. However, the style doesn’t deter from the thrills and twists of the plot.

Also, Little Creeping Things doesn’t rely on most tropes of the genre. With the exception of an abandoned mill, the settings are typical of a small town. A diner, a school, a woods with a hideout, neighborhood homes—typical small-town fare. Like it’s title, this is a creepy novel, and it earns its chills not from placing it in graveyards or faux haunted houses.

An accessible thriller with a complex hero, Little Creeping Things is a novel for YA mystery readers to enjoy. A solid whodunnit with a realistic setting. It’s one to put on your to-read list.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083ZLR5MH

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Review of The Traitor Prince

Cover The Traitor Prince

I read C. J. Redwine’s first novel, The Shadow Queen, as part of a goal I set for myself for “Tell a Fairy Tale Day.” I was going to read several Snow White retellings and review them. When I read the description, I thought I would hate The Shadow Queen because I’m not fond of Snow White being depicted as a warrior princess. I was completely wrong about this book. Review of The Shadow Queen.

I was so impressed by The Shadow Queen that I bought the next book in the Ravenspire series, The Wish Granter. Weeks later looking at it on my “to read” pile, I regretted it. I didn’t want to read another retelling, and I thought the novel would be a disappointment after the fabulous first entry in the series. I was wrong again. Review of The Wish Granter.

So after I finished The Wish Granter, I bought the third in the series, The Traitor Prince. Again, I regretted it. Why? Actually, I was eyeing the Cinderella-retelling fourth novel in the series but felt compelled to read the books in order. I wasn’t sure what Prince was retelling, and the premise didn’t hook me at first. Basically, I was reading it simply because I trusted the author. I probably wouldn’t like it. Guess what?

Three for three.

The Traitor Prince is a book that sucks you in from the beginning and doesn’t let go until the very end. Basically, a devious distant relative (Rahim) takes the place of returning son, Javan Samad Najafai who has been away at school for a decade. Rahim and Javan have a scuffle, and duplicitous affairs in the castle end up making Javan look guilty. He’s thrown into the infamous prison Maqbara and left to rot or die, more likely to die.

By helping another inmate, Javan gains the appreciation of the warden’s slave, Sajda. She’s one tough girl after being raised in Maqbara. Sajda has a secret, one that could end her life if revealed. Trusting this boy is the last thing Sajda wants to do, but slowly he begins to earn her respect.

Dangerous inmates, battles, political intrigue, and a winning (and complex) romance make up this third novel in the Ravenspire series. I enjoyed several changes. The first is having a male main character. So many retellings focus on the ladies, it’s nice to see a gentleman take center stage every once in a while. The second is Sajda’s character. The relationship between her and Javan comes across as authentic—each starting off each having a different agendas. The battles in the arena were also full of action and adventure. The battles are a great example of spectacular high fantasy for lovers of that genre.

Is there a downside? I’ll start with another strength of the book and that is how Redwine continues to defy my expectations at the end. Redwine’s done this with all three books, and The Traitor Prince is no different. When I think I know how it will end, the author throws a twist that I didn’t see coming. After the exciting and rewarding climax, the denouement, and last chapter, provides the reader with another surprise. But it felt right, and I went with it. But the epilogue is another story. I felt like an entire second novel should have been written between the final chapter and the epilogue. Maybe Redwine will write this one day.

Excellent pacing; gripping, complex characters; and wonderful plot twists describe The Traitor Prince. C. J. Redwine’s world is richly envisioned, her writing is prosaic, and her stories make you want to read late into the night. I was wrong three times in a row but never happier about it.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0716GZVVM

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Moonlight and Claws – What’s Inside

A Wolfman Anthology

The new novel, Moonlight and Claws, has eighteen tales all based on the classic monster the Wolfman (or werewolves, or any type of lycanthrope or shapeshifter). Full disclosure: I’ve written a short story in the book. Therefore, this is not a review, but a description of what awaits readers if they decide to read this book.

While space limits me to describing all eighteen (or seventeen, mine wouldn’t be included), I will choose a few stories that may capture your interest.

The Lykos Project by Kaitlyn Emery. We’ve seen zombies overrun the world. Vampires, too. What about werewolves? That’s the vision behind The Lykos Project. A science-slipup has werewolves overrunning society, and it’s up to a few dedicated humans to right the world.

Habitations of Violence by Deborah Cullins Smith. An alternate history world, this one with vampires, werewolves, and literary/historical characters come to life. This story sets up an exciting premise for a longer work.

Recovery by Michelle Houston. A beast-man rescue short story. The unique protagonist (not a werewolf precisely) and what he can do is interesting. And this occurs before the action starts. This answers the question “What happens when criminals start kidnapping shapeshifters?”

The Wolf and the Healer from the Sea by Michelle Levigne. Some of the prior stories are set in a world of science fiction. This werewolf story is set firmly in the world of fantasy. A wonderful incorporation of the werewolf legend into a larger fantasy tapestry.

Moonset by Lindsi McIntire is an exciting and tense action / adventure offering. If you are attracted to stories with a well-prepared main character, you’ll really enjoy this one.

Wolves and Vampires Don’t Mix by C. S. Watcher. Not what I expected from the title. Instead of a humorous party scene, this story tells a more fulfilling sweet tale of how we want to see others and how we should see them.

The Academy and the Kiss by A. J. Skelly – Another fantasy offering, again wildly creative. This has some wild sequences into a creative setting. I hope the author writes more in this world.

Purrfect Halloween by Wendy McLouth – This one stood out. I can’t say much about this one as I don’t want to give away the shock ending. I dog-eared this one to read it again in the future.

Dog Boy by Merri Destefano – I highly enjoyed the writing in this short story. The prose drew me into this world and the life of Dog Boy. The words carried the day here.

Under Two Moons – A grounded werewolf tale but filled with longing and hope, this does “The Wolfman” theme proud. Don’t expect the ordinary as the moon legend plays a part I never saw coming. Also, this offering is quite moving.

The stories I haven’t mentioned are also riveting reads, so pick up this anthology to start your classic monsters collection from Ye Olde Dragon Press.

On Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09H67SVJ5

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Review of The Mistake

The Mistake (Earth Girls Aren’t Easy) is a short novel by Leigh Royal detailing the humdrum lives of scientifically minded Harriet and drifting-through-life Ace. Harriet is a researcher working at a lab and Ace is a sales clerk at an (as he defines it) “adult entertainment” store. Harriet’s car breaks down outside Ace’s shop, she goes in to make a phone call, and then the power goes out. After that, both are sucked up by a blue light. Cue alien abduction, but this one accidentally sucked them up.

You see, the aliens on this planet want companionship with Earthlings, but they prefer much older Earth residents. These out-of-this-world beings partner with older prostitutes. Unfortunately, sending Ace and Harriet back isn’t simple, and first they must accomplish a few tasks for the aliens.

Harriet and Ace traverse this new planet from the surrounding countryside to a single room in a castle. I won’t mention the adventures that the two Earth people have, but as you may have surmised by now, their escapades are humorous. All the while, the uptight Harriet and the too-cool-for-his hair Ace start to warm up to each other. I’ll leave the rest to your imagination.

While not my usual read, I picked up The Mistake to try something completely different, hoping it would do the trick. It did. I enjoyed meeting and getting to know Ace and Harriet. Both come into their own as they experience this new planet together. While most of the episodes are predictable, the writing and setting carry the narrative along at a happy pace. 

The characters are honestly developed. Harriet speaks and acts like a researcher. I thought the legitimacy of her describing her job was a nice surprise. Ace’s background was also a departure from the norm. The two develop at a reasonable pace without anything happening too soon or too late in the novel.

While this story is about aliens and a different planet, it’s much more a romance than a science fiction novel. This should be obvious to the reader going in, and everything described seems to point in this direction. Multiple alien species exist on the planet Harriet and Ace are whisked to. An alien race a bit less human as the love interests to the main characters would’ve made an interesting twist on the narrative. However, this may have come across as unrealistic.

Overall, I enjoyed this story quite a bit. The novel is told well and I became invested in the characters quickly. The Mistake (Earth Girls Aren’t Easy) is sprinkled with humorous writing and likable characters, and those elements contribute greatly to its charm.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086PGNF49

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The Wolfman Movies

“I saw Lon Chaney walking with the queen doing the werewolves of London.” Psst, Warren Zevon. Lon Chaney never acted as a werewolf or wolfman. His son Crieghton, however, is a completely different story.

In celebration of the anthology Moonlight and Claws coming out, I’d like to reflect on the Universal Studios movies that made “The Wolfman” popular. One thing that hit me when the publishers called for books was they targeted “The Wolfman,” and not the more generic werewolves. In that spirit, I will examine only Universal’s Wolfman movies for this blog entry. And, I’m sorry, but the Benicio Del Toro remake and Van Helsing are not included. (Shakes head at both.)

The Wolfman (1941): Classic is too common a word to use on The Wolfman. Of the Big 4 (Frankenstien, Dracula, Wolfman, and The Mummy), the Wolfman comes later, nearly ten years after the other three. The movie shows in its production quality. Whereas the others lack a soundtrack and a less expressive style of acting, the Wolfman feels right at home with other classic black-and-white films, though clearly it’s B-grade. We know the story. Larry Talbot returns home and is bitten by a wolfman (played, ironically, by Bela Lugosi). The Wolfman is the movie that made Lon Chaney Jr.’s (real name Creighton Tull Chaney) career in monster films. Yes, today people scoff at the special effects and the lack of gore, but to me its part of the charm. The Wolfman was far more savage than prior monsters. I swear when Larry Talbot attack’s Gwen (Evelyn Ankers), it looks like he really hurt her. Kudos also to the very talented Evelyn Ankers. She, along with set design and decent acting by Claude Raines, really made this movie the masterpiece it is today.

Frankenstein Meets The Wolfman (1943): The sequel to The Wolfman sought to capitalize on Universal’s two hottest properties. Both Dracula and the Mummy were fading, so they brought their best star (in Frank) and their hottest star (in Wolfie) together. This movie should’ve never worked, but it does. They logically resurrect the Wolfman, give him even more pathos than in the first film, and construct a tale to have him meet Dr. Frankenstein to cure him. This excuse would provide the reason the Wolfman and the Monster would be together for the next two movies. With an abrupt but monstrous fight at the end, this movie has all the Universal Monster joy you’d hoped for in a movie. Of all the monster mashes, this one is the grooviest.

The House of Frankenstein (1944): The Wolfman loses title credit on this movie but you have the return of Boris Karloff, not as the monster, but as the doctor. Frank, Drac, and Wolfie come together for one fright fest, but Dracula’s role is so brief it could be a cameo. While I love Karloff and Chaney Jr., this film is a let down from the prior one. This is the movie that popularized killing the wolfman with a silver bullet and that scene is well done, but this movie feels like a repeat of Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman. Frank’s end, in particular, is a real let-down.

The House of Dracula (1945): This movie, though it treats its monster in new and unique ways, is bizarre. I liken it to the The Last Jedi of the Universal monster movies. Wanting to take their properties in a weird new direction, the story imagines a sane and kind doctor who is out to cure the various monsters. Unfortunately, one turns and the rest starts to unfold like most of the movies before it with one exception. Yes, the Wolfman has an interesting ending.

Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948): Yes, the classic, and a more fitting end to The Wolfman trilogy. Purists believe the real end is “House of Dracula” because this movie is a spoof. They’re not wrong, but “A&B meet F” still brings some fantastic scenes, including the Wolfman’s final. For my money, watch this after Frankenstein Meets The Wolfman for the best experience. This is what “The House of Frankenstein” should’ve been with Bela playing Dracula for only the second time and Chaney Jr. playing The Wolfman. If only Karloff would’ve played the monster one more time. Sometimes I wonder what this movie would’ve been like without the chuckles, though the jokes are great, too.

She-Wolf of London (1946): You thought Marvel making women versions of their superheroes was unique? No, Universal did it years before. I include this movie because Universal made it and it’s a cousin of the movies we’re talking about. This was a fun movie and well-made with June Lockhart (yes, she of the original Lost in Space fame) as the main Wolfwoman. While the end doesn’t live up to my expectations, this one is worth a watch. Of the Universal “female” monster movies (Dracula’s Daughter, She-Wolf of London, and The Invisible Woman) this one ranks third behind Dracula’s Daughter (which is excellent). If they had changed the ending, this one would’ve been great.

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Review of Silverweed

Silverweed by Dorlana Vann

Silverweed by Dorlana Vann is a pleasant surprise. I wasn’t sure what to expect from reading the blurb. Subtitled a “Supernatural Fairy Tale,” the plot centers on a few characters and one principle setting. Seventeen-year-old Aiden and his mother are visiting their long-estranged grandmother after Aiden’s aunt has died. While there, they meet Aiden’s cousin Diesel and Scarlet, his girlfriend. When Aiden’s mother is called away, the fates of Aiden, his grandmother, Diesel, and Scarlet come together in a shocking way.

This novel is hard to review without giving too much away. It ingeniously hearkens back to the Red Riding Hood fairytale with its chapter titles and sequences. The inspired titles accurately describe the increasingly desperate situation of the four snowed-in characters. As the novel continues, alliances shift, people change, and the four, especially the teenagers, have to deal with the fallout.

Silverweed refers to an ingredient in the muffins Aiden bakes for his grandmother. The muffins are a clever device that I haven’t seen used before in the legends, and they make for an interesting, and satisfactory, plot device early in the story. In fact, despite the usual beats of being trapped by snow and stuck with people you hardly know, Silverweed has a lot of new ideas. The novel keeps leading the reader on and is gripping to the climax.

The three younger characters are all distinguishable and act and talk like teenagers. They all enter into this snowbound situation with emotional baggage. Aiden’s guilty over the way he broke up with his girlfriend, Diesel feels he let his family down, and Scarlet wants to escape this two-bit town. They all must face their demons at some point in the story.

Everything escalates to a certain point and ends in a satisfying conclusion. Despite one small instance of a character finding exactly what he needs when he needs it, Silverweed doesn’t take shortcuts. It unfolds realistically with great suspense.

When I started Silverweed, I thought I was getting one thing, but ended up with something far more interesting. After a few chapters, the story unfolds into something both wondrous and frightening. The book takes its readers on a dark journey set in the harsh season of winter, and twists its narrative to its fascinating conclusion.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004D4ZXN8

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Review of Raventree Society Season Three

The third and final book in The Raventree Society Season trilogy must stand on its own and pay off the ten stories that came before in Season 1 and Season 2. Five segments comprise each Raventree novel, and each of the five is the length of a short novella. All fifteen episodes (as the book details them) across the three novels have a similar structure. They describe an encounter with a deadly spirit in different settings. They also move forward the overall narrative of a family targeted by an evil presence.

In Season One, the reader is introduced to the characters and world of Raventree. The author unfolds five thrilling encounters—each one unique and creepy. In Season Two, we start to learn why these things are happening to our main character, Kyle. Kyle starts to involve others to find a way out of the horrific events happening to him. Season Three starts with terror close to home, forcing Kyle to take his show on the road. Reasoning that ghosts lose power the further away they are from where they draw their energy, he travels to distant locations. The return of a favorite character from Season One, a last-ditch attempt at a way to save himself in New Orleans and Maine, and finally the last haunting encounter comprise this novel.

Again, Purrazzi instills the chills in each segment. The main adversary is more detailed in this collection, giving the antagonist a much larger presence. The one effective person on Kyle’s side is slowly losing leverage. The situation grows more and more desperate with each of the book’s mini-tales. Neither the reader nor Kyle have a clue of how to defeat the spirit at the end. This situation sets the states for a pulse-pounding climax.

Looking back on the entire series, the Raventree Series pulls off fifteen scary stories adeptly. The setup, the building of suspense, and the payoff work across all the tales. Purrazzi’s talent shines in each book.

Raventree as a trilogy is also a successful experiment. The author uses the unique structure to her advantage. Though the reader anticipates what’s coming in most of the stories, the segments still spin a compact horror experience. While all three books would benefit from a one more edit, the writing brings out little details in a prosaic way. For example, the description of Kyle’s figurative divorce of spirit and body in the episode of “Home,” or the depiction of the lingering evil in the last episode. Interesting characters, engaging settings, and a lot of entertainment is packed into each novel.

Does Raventree Season Three live up to its predecessors in terms of a solid horror novel? Yes. Does it bring the trilogy to a satisfactory ending? Again, yes. J.E. Purrazzi’s one-of-a-kind organization of horror novellas not only works, but sets Raventree apart from other ghost stories on the market.

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08H163HC2

Review of Season 1: Review of The Raventree Society Season One

Review of Season 2: Review of The Raventree Society Season Two

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A Writer Without A Tribe

It’s true. I have no tribe.

A writer’s tribe (as I understand it because I don’t have one) is a close-knit group who reviews each other’s work and provides useful feedback. Tribespeople are people you trust with that work that is most sacred to you…your story.

It would be wonderful to be part of a tribe, but alas I haven’t found mine. Instead, I travel across this lonely country made up of a white sheet with blue lines attempting to put two coherent words together on my own.

But all is not lost! Not at all, in fact. I have something different from a tribe. I have a network. And I have to tell you, I really appreciate my network because they’re there for me when I need them the most.

The advantages of a tribe are obvious, and I think the world of them. If you can find a tribe who really supports you, stick with them. But there are advantages to a network too. For one, the people in my network don’t have to get along, or even like each other. As long as I respect them and am interested in their work, and if they do me a good deed in return, they become part of my network. And knowing their strengths and preferences, I can call on them for a variety of projects.

Some people in my network I can ask a favor for just about anything. They’re my inner network—people I trust as a tribe member. We usually share mutual interests. They warn me when I’m skating too close to a trope, or when I use a phrase that’s out of vogue. These wonderful people are my superstars and writer friends. I appreciate every single one of them and would drop everything and read something they wrote immediately.

Some people are in my outer network. We’ve exchanged works and have a positive and professional relationship. This network I appreciate too and enjoy talking to them. My outer network is composed of good, uplifting people.

Let me be clear. I don’t have to share their views on the world. In fact, I often look for people who are different from me. In this divisive environment we’ve created, I try to look for people who don’t think like I do but who have interests that we share. I want to connect with them and not surround myself with a bunch of people like me.

I’m especially grateful for my network today as I publish this blog on October 7, 2021. My story “Words to Live By” is being published by Havok at https://gohavok.com. If it’s October 7, please go read my little thriller. If it’s beyond that date, you’ll have to be a member to read it. But my network really helped me out with this piece of flash fiction. Here’s how.

Havok publishes themes every month to write about. October 2021 was the Jester and Orphan theme. As I reflected on a story for this theme, my talented and published writer friend Amanda Pavlov came to mind and inspired me. Amanda is a standup comic and my mind went instantly to her profession when I thought “jester.” I reached out to Amanda and interviewed her about standup comedy and learned quite a bit. That background really fueled a desire to write “Words to Live By.” When I was done, Amanda did me a second favor by reviewing the story. Her comments made the piece 100% better. I’m convinced, without my network, this story wouldn’t have been published.

(And, despite the fact that both are standup comics and have “v”s in their names, my character Yvonne isn’t based on Amanda Pavlov.)

My advice if you’re a writer is to establish your network. How? “Give before you ask” is one way. Sometimes, never ask. “What? Are you crazy?” you say. “What if the person never reciprocates?” Then, they’re not part of your network. You want the people who offer back because they’re probably the match you’re looking for. However, even if they aren’t part of your network, the experience will enrich you in unexpected ways, I promise. Based on their answers, some people become part of my network, some people I just follow because I love their stories, and some people I part ways with.

Yes, use all the avenues at your disposal including writing groups and events on social media. Those are excellent ways to meet people and establish either a tribe or a network. However, I favor finding someone who writes books that I want to read, I read them, and then reach out to the author and offer a review. Sometimes that author becomes a part of my network, sometimes not. In either case, I end up reading a good book and practicing the art of writing through the review. I also have new material for my blog. For me, it’s never a negative experience.

It’s true that I’ve lost a few in my network along the way. It happens. But overall, I’m very proud to know and exchange ideas with such creative people in this industry. Much like we all had to learn to interact remotely in the pandemic, my network is a bit of a remote experience compared to the coziness of a tribe. But it’s my network and I’m proud to be connected to everyone in it.

Note: Amanda Pavlov is a soon-to-be published author (Mind Like a Diamond) agented author. If you like horror fiction, make sure to pre-order or order her books.