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Review of Legend of the Rainbow Eater

Cover for Legend of the Rainbow Eater

Kristiana’s Sfirlea’s second novel in The Stormwatch Diaries series, Legend of the Rainbow Eater, is like a dream. In fact, dreams pervade the story from the first chapter onward. But this isn’t what I mean. The book itself takes on the aspects of a dream. While reading it, the narrative and character’s actions and motivations make sense, but try to summarize it in a review and it’s like trying to describe that movie that unfolds in your head when sleeping. However, as in the best of dreams, it’s a marvelous book because of the emotional impact it has when it’s done.

Here goes a summary. In a fantasy world, a group of angels who live in an asylum, known as the Blackouts, seek out legends. This time they’re after the wishing mist—a mist that grants a user’s wish. They’ll have to follow the mischievous will-o-the-wisps to find it. The wisps, or wispies, may lead the Blackouts to the legend or to their untimely deaths depending on the wisps’ whims (say that three times fast).

Now throw in lumberjacks, maple syrup festivals, automatronic bears, gypsies, a mysterious hangman, time traveling, body snatchers, and last, but certainly not least, giant, people-eating squirrels and you have a middle grade book unlike any other.

While many other fantasy authors are enticing middle grade readers to experience a familiar world and common characters with supernatural elements (in the vein of “The football captain is a werewolf”), this story takes its readers someplace unfamiliar with larger-than-life characters and asks its readers to keep up. In many ways, it resembles M. T. Anderson’s Pals in Peril series. Legend of the Rainbow Eater challenges the reader in surprising ways. When the narrative is flowing, it interrupts it. When the big surprises seem to be done, even bigger ones are revealed. When you think it’s cute and cuddly, it rips off its fuzzy exterior to reveal its grinning skeleton underneath. Marvelous in world-building, dialogue, and description, Legend of the Rainbow Eater plops you into a one-of-a-kind adventure you never saw coming.

The two main characters here are Rose and Marek. Best of friends since the beginning of the last novel, these two are simpatico in every way. Rose is a relatable and sympathetic hero who is learning to live without her magic in a world where everyone else has theirs. She remains optimistic despite being terrorized by (I can’t reveal what) on a carousel playing a funeral dirge in high Bradbury-esque style. Marek reminds me of that older brother who acts like he doesn’t know what he’s doing but is smarter than everyone else. His friendship with Rose, and paralyzing fright of certain creatures, highlight his engaging personality.

Supporting characters are all solid. My favorites, Cade and Sephone, get a special scene apiece which adds to the overall joy of reading this novel.

The writing and style mirror the first book and are top notch. Words, pages, chapters flow by like water not because it writes down to its audience. Not at all. You won’t find the word “catafalque” in many books these days. But the narrative is an easy read because of the writer’s skill. Though this is Ms. Sfirlea’s second book, it reads like she’s written dozens before it. And it takes a special skill to write a meta-novel, but the author pulls that off too.

The novel is also illustrated in a beautiful way, arriving when least expected, and depict our beloved characters in the best of scenes.

And the humor. The book buzzes when it brings the funnies, and brings them it does. The quips and relatable humor exist as in the first book. Rose’s comment after playing Hangman for six hours straight, the clever word play with a galloping hobble, and Cade’s comment about growing silver hair from her purple tresses stand out.

Yet, Sfirlea takes advantage that others don’t in sequels and introduces some character humor. Building up her characters in the first novel and at the beginning of the sequel, she puts them at a disadvantage here with hilarious results. Prim and proper Cade, in particular, has a miserable night out with Rose because of her attire. And Aiden’s response to the Blackouts idea of who would make a good “date” for him to go to the gypsy camp had me in stitches.

As a second book, it dives directly into the events shortly after the end of the first book. If I had caught a wisp and made a wish, I would’ve wished that Rainbow Eater would orient the reader a bit more before rushing off. However, the length of the novel precludes this extra exposition, and most readers won’t miss the back story.

This all sounds like fun, but is it a rainbow-colored candy with no substance? Absolutely not. Despite the fantastic settings and extraordinary characters, the emotions they feel are as real and true as real life. Rose’s loneliness, Marek’s fear, and Cade’s concern all ring true. Later revelations on honoring the dead aren’t depicted in middle grade fantasy. A central theme of believing without knowing occurs throughout the novel. And the healing of a broken friendship near the end plays with the heart strings like they were harp strings. No matter your age, this novel has a lot on its mind, and it tells it in a deceptively light-hearted way.

Legend of the Rainbow Eater is a worthy sequel to the excellent Legend of the Storm Sneezer. Funny and poignant, creative and relatable, Legend of the Rainbow Eater is a novel to read before you sleep at night hugging a teddy bear (maybe) and dream a little dream of wishing tea kettles and rainbow promises.

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Review of Sensational

When Havok publishes an anthology, my son and I read them, approximately one a night, and then compare notes. We give a 1 to 10 rating after finishing each tale. We finished Havok’s latest, Sensational, where the usual blend of mystery, science fiction/fantasy, humor, and thriller offerings are centered on one of the five senses. Havok added a special category of sixth sense to make it an even half dozen.

Overall, most of the stories were rated highly. I consider a 7 rating memorable and well worth reading. Thirty-three of forty-nine received a 7 rating. The remaining were all in the 5 and up category. It’s difficult to rate anthologies because they’re usually uneven, but Havok’s are all in the good to excellent range. Both of us thought highly of this entry in the series.

Many honorable mentions here. Each one of these stories finished off our day on a high note so bravo to all these authors.  Mama Louise’s One-Eyed Gumbo (A. C. Williams), Eyes of the Blind (Rachel Ann Michael Harris), Flee Market (Andrew Winch), Color (Hannah Robinson). Dad was also especially fond of A Spoonful of Spice (Beka Gremikova) and Poisoned Melody (Kaitlyn Emery).

Not all was tranquility when it came to settling on a number. At times, one of us would rate a story higher than the other. This was due to Dad being more interested in mysteries and thrillers and Son being more inclined to humor. Both of us enjoy science fiction and fantasy. Dad’s list of stories that deserve a read even if you’re not a fan of the genre include the chilling and highly effective The Purple Dawn by Michael Teasdale. The Art You See (Kat Heckenbach) married an interesting concept with a powerful ending. The Unseen by Kaitlyn Carter Brown built a lot of action and heart into such a short story. And A Ghost’s Guide to Haunted Hugs (Kristiana Sfirlea) was sweet and sad—not your (para)normal haunted cave story.

Son’s list leaned toward humor. Where’s Santa? by Linda Jane Neidfeldt was a crowd-pleaser and entertained my son to its big “reveal.” Your Nosy Neighborhood Granny (Beka Gremikova) took an oft-overlooked character and made her the star to hilarious effect. And Komainu (Michael Erasmus) showed us that epic battles don’t always occur in the middle of wars.

We each had our favorites. Dad’s was the simple yet enthralling Always Beauty by Linda Sammaritan. All I have to say is “cicadas” and anyone who has ever read it recalls the plot. If the purpose of a story is to make the reader feel, this story succeeded admirably. Son’s choice was The Laundress by Ronnell Kay Gibson. The idea behind this story is what made it stand out. Charming, inventive, and spellbinding with a great and powerful concept, we hated to see it end.

So, delight your senses, especially your sense of sight, and pick up Havok’s Sensational. Sure to have something for everyone, and at least a handful of stories in each sense, this unique collection is worth a read. My sixth sense tells me you will enjoy it.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0942L8FV3

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Review of One By One

Mystery and thriller often go hand-in-hand, but some stories are excellent mysteries but not solid thrillers and vice-versa. And then there’s Ruth Ware’s One By One: a mystery, a thriller, and a great book.

Snoop, a company built on a music app, decides to hold its business retreat in the French Alps at a luxurious chalet. When the novel starts, the count is several employees plus two chalet employees—a caretaker and a chef—perched atop a mountain of snow. When a secret business deal is announced, tensions rise. From there, a member of the party is lost, and another member is murdered.

As a mystery, One by One is an offering worthy of a read by any Baker Street aficionado. All the little details add up to a satisfying conclusion. Even chapter introductions play their part. As a thriller, it’s even better. The mystery is solved well before the end of the novel, a nice twist, and leaves the rest of the novel in the world of suspense. How the author orchestrated the finale was better for this reviewer than the reveal of the murderer. The final segment of the book to the climax is exciting to say the least.

One of Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None” movies was set on the summit of a snowy mountain as well. I couldn’t help but think of that version as I started this novel. Don’t worry, this novel is quite different from that rendition of her excellent novel. The business subplot, the dual points-of-view, the skiing sequences, and the killer’s motivations differ from Christie’s classic. And how the author listed the cast of characters at the start was genius. From that page onward, I was hooked.

One by One is a spellbinder of a novel with engaging characters and a unique setting. Well-written, fast-paced, stylish, and packed with details mystery readers love, this novel is sure to satisfy even the most discerning bibliophile.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084G9Z5C3

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Review of Redeemed

Continuing the world started in Reformed, H. L. Burke offers this sequel in her superhero series. In the BCU (Burke’s Connected Universe), superheroes (called sables) are organized as law enforcers with all of the advantages and disadvantages bureaucracy brings with it. Some of these sables have a rehabilitation goal. What if you could take supervillains and turn them into heroes? What if a team could train those “evil gods among men” into law enforcers?

The first book of the series explored this premise with criminal Fade joining a small squad led by superhero Prism. This novel starts with an action-packed scene of the team working together to battle smugglers attempting to escape with some special cargo. After the opening chapter, we meet a teenage girl sable named Alma who is working in an Oliver Twist-like fashion but with an evil version of Fagan called Handler. Handler and his kids are all sables. Prism’s team connects with Alma and sponsors her into the rehabilitation program.

But don’t write “happy ending” yet as Alma hides secrets from the team. At the same time, two of the team members are falling in love. And hanging like a dark cloud over our cast of characters is a death of someone close. Alma’s defensive attitude, portrayed realistically here, threatens to disrupt the rehabilitation.

Redeemed is not a comic book or a Marvel movie for children. The politics of law enforcement and abandonment/foster care are depicted mostly for an adult reader. A frank—and quite refreshing view—on sexual intercourse is also a subtopic. The characters’ view on charity, religion, and grieving are all handled in a sensitive manner. This, more than the zip-bam-boff scenes, sets the series apart from other novels in the same genre.

Technically, H. L. Burke brings her A-game as always. If you’ve read any of her other novels, you’ll enjoy the style here. Multiple points-of-view, voice, nods to the genre—all of these elements work in the book’s favor. Don’t fret about the plot, though! Plenty of scenes contain the action one would expect from a superhero book.

Redeemed is a praiseworthy book in all ways but one. In the final resolution of the big battle, this reviewer had hoped the downtrodden had persevered in a different fashion. On the other hand, the climax of Alma’s fate was well-depicted—a fine denouement to one of our main characters.

Redeemed continues a superhero saga with heroes with foibles, fears, and faith like the normies, or normal people, in their world. An intriguing entry in a compassionate series, this book delights and advances the super characters who turn out to be a lot like us.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BCFQ12F

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Review of Don’t Marry the Cursed

Don’t Marry The Cursed is a sequel to Don’t Date the Haunted, a wonderful series by C. Rae D’Arc. In the Haunted Romance series, the world is divided into regions of literary genres and subgenres. Lands exist for Horror, Fantasy, Romance (both contemporary and regency), Mystery, etc. Cursed is primarily set in Fantasy. This review will contain spoilers for the first book.

After Pansy Finster and Lord Theodor (Theo) Fromm start dating, Theo’s brother’s ring appears on his finger. This strange event indicates that his older brother, the next in line to become the Duke of Margen, is dead and Theo The Trusted must ascend to the title. Friends and family think Theo unworthy of the family name because his ability to see people’s auras seems useless.

The ring’s presence disrupts Theo’s plan to settle quietly somewhere in Novel. Instead, he and Pansy head off to Fantasy to embark on a grand adventure of creatures, spells, and dark rituals. Told from both of their points of view, the reader is introduced to the world (Pansy’s POV) and drawn deep into its traditions (Theo’s POV) as the narrative progresses. In the first book, we met Pansy’s friends in her college dorm. In this one, we meet Theo’s family and friends—with a surprise from the past—as the events unfold. For a fantasy novel, the author packs a lot in a short number of pages.

While this book resembles a portal fantasy in many ways, the novel subverts some of the traditions of that subgenre. Pansy, a resident of Horror, is aware of Fantasy from the beginning. No one needs to convince her of magic or the supernatural. She regards fantasy creatures as monsters because of her birthplace, and she uses her survival skills from Horror effectively to fight in Fantasy. The novel progresses in the usual way for speculative fiction but with self-aware characters.

Multiple points-of-view is hard to pull off, but the author does an excellent job. The reader switches between Pansy and Theo, and each character’s voice is distinct and personable. Even when it happens within a chapter, the switch is easily identified and doesn’t disrupt the flow in action. The multiple POV was new to the middle book of the trilogy and a welcome addition.

For high fantasy enthusiasts, Don’t Marry the Cursed delivers as well. Different lands, titles and lineage, political and family squabbles, and unique settings are all part of the package. Some portal fantasies lean toward urban fantasies—not so here. Given the first book was a superb urban fantasy, this succeeds in its cousin genre, the high fantasy.

Though the reader starts in Romance and a bit of Sci-Fi is discussed, the majority of this tale takes place in the Fantasy corner of Novel. Book One’s setting was Romance but had many horror elements with nods across the regions. With such a premise, Don’t Marry the Cursed is surprisingly narrow-focused on fantasy though it references customs and characters outside. When it does reach outside its border, even as a reference, the book really shines.

Author D’Arc introduces a suite of new characters who will likely continue in the future. Many sentences could portend a future plot, sub-plot, or (possibly?) a branching series. The writing here is top-notch. Not only is it well-structured and easy to read, it’s fun. A four-word sentence with two words with over twenty characters wins as my favorite sentence of the year. The story is filled with witty remarks. Sure to delight is one involving Pansy and her friend Heather explaining post-marriage life with dolls. The author sprinkles similar little gems across the novel.

Don’t Marry the Cursed continues the tradition of excellent offerings in this series. Both as a standalone and as a sequel, it succeeds, driving the narrative of Pansy and Theo forward in a playful and exciting way. Getting in the spirit of the titles, this reviewer’s advice is “Don’t Pass Up This Series.”

On Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B091F5Q2J4

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Review of The Raventree Society Season Two

The second books in trilogies must serve the function of advancing the story without the benefit of starting or finishing it. The Raventree Society Season Two bears this burden. Season 1 introduced the winning idea of a five-story novel of faux ghost hunters looking for a lost member of their crew while encountering vengeful ghosts. Raventree Season Two moves the story in a slightly different direction. The formula that author J. E. Purrazzi created in the first book returns only for two of the tales. While this novel could be in danger of repetitiveness, the pattern works because of its creative plots and stylish technique. Purrazzi proves more ways exist to tell a ghost story than what she detailed in book 1. Book 2 spins five more unique ghost encounters.

Each story serves the purpose of pushing the overall narrative forward. The first sets up the trap for our main character, Kyle. A daring rescue in a graveyard makes up the tension in the opening segment, and the exciting prose brings the creep factor. The second turns the ghost story on its head, and its spider-laden theme reminds me of the scariest Japanese-inspired horror movies. We detour back into Kyle’s work life to experience two stories similar to the first book. While segments three and four continue to define our characters, they don’t advance the plot as much as the first two. Story four, based on a real location, slightly edges out story three. In the final offering, we get less of a spooky tale—we know how it will end—and more of an answer to our questions. This final “chapter” leaves the reader invested in the fate of our characters and a sense of closure now knowing the stakes for Kyle’s life.

Some of our favorite characters from book 1 are left with little to do, but we are compensated by meeting a few new characters. We also get a deeper dive into Rory and Josh. Some elements of book 1 (“The Cleo”) are clarified in book 2—a nice payoff. Also, in the last segment, a certain secret about Kyle is revealed, which explains the motivations behind many of his friends and family.

Settings are key in these stories. We have a graveyard but also a place the reader should feel safe (in story 2) in the middle of the day. The third story also presents an interesting twist for setting that evokes dread from more than the ghosts.

Raventree Season 2 is a gripping read, never slowing down for a moment. In this way it mirrors the first book of the trilogy. Other than a few technical issues, the book shines at the beginning and the end with a solid middle. If you want to enjoy a good ghost story, look no further.

URL: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZNDXJBY

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Review of Toga

One of the most unique titles for a book in a superhero series has to be Toga. By its name alone, a reader may assume this work is historical non-fiction, historical fiction, or possibly a fantasy about Roman gods ala Rick Riordan. The last guess is partially correct as it’s a superhero action novel where our main characters travel to a fantasy world and are assumed to be gods.

Book five of the Arca series involves all three of our heroes—Zita, Wyn, and Andy—on nearly all the pages. When a superhero spell goes awry, our three champions plus one wounded villain end up in a fantasy world as if concocted by Greco-Roman philosophers. They encounter a variety of mythological beings in their quest to return home. And I do mean “quest” because they embark on many of them throughout the narrative.

As it is quick to point out in multiple places, Toga isn’t interested in being historically accurate though it’s self-aware enough to refer to their clothes as chitons. The book would rather explore popular myths, introduce oddball supporting characters, stage exciting action sequences, and further the relationships between its central trio. Zita’s (Arca’s) conflicts, being the primary character, are the most interesting. Always proud of her athleticism, the book posits the question of what else she can do, and places her in a situation where that theory becomes her reality. Wyn also has demons (figurative, not literal) she must overcome, and Andy has a secret which he never has a chance to reveal, but I know where to place my money.

Author Karen Diem has taken her superheroes to different fascinating locations across the series. This one tops them all. She’s also kept a narrative thread moving forward and this tradition continues in the group of supervillains they meet, a powerful inventory item on said adversaries, and the relationships described at the beginning and the end. The author has produced short stories, also referenced in the novels and vice-versa. So reading her novels is like putting together a crossword puzzle because they’re a pastiche of a new idea, and references to her short fiction and prior novels. While sometimes it’s hard to remember details, Toga succeeds because it separates the characters from the rest of the world. If anyone were to step in the middle of the series and read one of the Arca books, I’d recommend Toga.

Does it work on its own? Toga knows how to set the stakes and the way the plot limits Zita every time she uses her powers was particularly clever. The creative quests, interesting subplots, and usual playing-against-trope characters make for a creative read. Certainly one of the highlights is the team is together through this novel. Always stronger when on the same page, the novel works well when its central trio are playing off each other. Only a few passages have one of the characters sidelined.

The setup, the world, the humor, and the action all make Toga one of the bright spots in Diem’s series. It also opens her Arca world to many possibilities for I’m sure the Greco-Roman world will be revisited in the future. Fun and fast, pick up Toga for a super read.

Now, let the Party (Arca #6) begin.

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0859JWC6L

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The Switcheroo

Many books, movies, and even songs have twist endings, but a few have the unique ability to be almost a completely different experience upon going through it a second time through. In the publication of my short story “Evicted” in June 2021, I tried to write a story which is different the second time you read it. This is what I call a “switcheroo.”

There’s a subtle difference between a tale with a twist at the end and a tale worth reading or watching a second time. The Twilight Zone, a well-known series, was known for its twists in such episodes as “To Serve Man” or “The Monsters are Due on Maple Street.” In the lesser-known episode  named “Spur of the Moment,” a young woman is frightened to death by an older woman who screeches at her and chases her on horseback. This episode too has a twist if you can remember it. When you finish the episode, it begs for a repeat viewing.

Not everyone loves switcheroos. The late, great Roger Ebert said “A lot of recent films seem unsatisfied unless they can add final scenes that redefine the reality of everything that has gone before; call it the Kaizer Soze syndrome.” (Referring to The Usual Suspects, on this list). His definition is as good as any, but I disagree with him in spirit. If a writer or director can do this well, it makes for an entertaining reading or viewing experience.

If you liked the idea of watching or reading a different version the second time around, here’s a list of movies and books that do just that.

  1. The Other, a novel by Thomas Tryon. A horror novel about identical twin boys, on the cusp of their teen years. The boys are completely different in temperament. One of them turns their farm home upside down. Hailed in its day next to Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorcist, The Other has faded from most of the collective’s consciousness (e.g. I had to search on “The Other Tryon” to get it to show in Amazon), yet it remains a solid switcheroo.
  2. The Sixth Sense, a film directed and written by M. Night Shyamalan – No list of switcheroos would be complete without M. Night Shyamalan’s masterpiece. If you haven’t seen it, then watch it immediately. If you have, then you know how good it is. Shyamalan’s other movies contain switcheroos as well, notably The Village.
  3. Memento, a film by Christopher Nolan – Most people moan how movies “aren’t made the way they used to be.” I suspect people will be complaining about this in the future about Christopher Nolan’s films. We’re fortunate to have such a visionary director in our age. This film, an early example of his skill and one of his best, is engrossing to watch. A movie that moves backward through its events through a clever use of a memory lapse until the viewer arrives at the end of the film. When you reach the “beginning at the end,” you understand just what you were watching for two hours.
  4. Magpie Murders, a novel by Anthony Horrowitz – Check out Andrew Horriwitz’s fantastic murder mystery with two plots happening simultaneously. A fascinating piece of razzle-dazzle which has a cozy mystery unfold at the same time as a contemporary mystery in the real world of the author. This novel is brilliantly staged. Inspired from Agatha Christie’s novels, Horowitz proves he can channel just about any mystery writer (having done Doyle and Fleming previously).
  5. Crooked House, a novel by Agatha Christie – Who can choose among Christie’s books? Most are straight-forward mysteries with a reveal at the end that is surprising but may not want to get you to read it again (e.g. The ABC Murders). There are others that may entice you for a second read. Among her most famous are And Then There Were None. Murder on the Orient Express, and Crookied House. I chose Crooked House as it’s the least known of the three, but when you get to the end and you say “what just happened?” you know you’ve just read a great switcheroo.
  6. The Usual Suspects, a film by Bryan Singer – Often people think these plots are only for fantasy, science fiction, or horror. Mystery is also fertile ground for switcheroos. The movie revolves around the mysterious figure of Kaiser Soze. The Usual Suspects has such an interesting reveal at the end that I dare you not to rewatch certain parts over. You may not like Kevin Spacey’s personal life, but he delivers one of his finest performances in this film.
  7. The Prestige, a film by Christopher Nolan. Another Nolan. In my mind, this is two different experiences the second time around. The movie splits its time between two magicians—both with secrets—that when revealed at the end, make you look at the same scene in a totally different light. The conversations and what they really mean are wildly different the second time through even though it’s exactly the same dialogue. This is my favorite personal switcheroo and cemented me as a Nolan fan for the rest of his career.

Runners-Up: Whatever Happened to Baby Jane, The Village (Shylamalan again), Inception (Nolan again), Vertigo (Hitchcock’s switcheroo), TV’s The Prisoner, and Shutter Island.

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Review of When Your Beauty IS the Beast

When Your Beauty IS the Beast is an anthology by Ye Olde Dragon Books and the first in their fairytale series. Instead of “give us retellings of Beauty and the Beast,” the editors have cleverly asked for stories where the beauty is the beast. How to interpret that directive—looks, personality, actual beast—was left to the author’s imagination. As such, the reader is treated to eleven varying tales on a theme.

The stories are not all fairytales either. Many were fantasy but some entries were thriller, science-fiction, and LitRPG/Game lit. While Beauty and the Beast is the guiding star, the stories didn’t necessarily have to reflect its plot. Stories where a prominent female character inhabited the role of “beast” is the only common thread woven through this tapestry of tales.

When I read an anthology, I judge based on both the quality of the stories and how it matches its theme. I may come across a superb mystery, but will be disappointed if it appears in an anthology that is hawking itself as all romance. So while I give more weight to the story itself, following the marketing of the book makes a difference.

Of the stories here, I’m happy to say that most nailed the theme. While a few strayed, a majority kept true to a theme of a “beastly beauty.” Some are retellings with a flip of genders, some don’t resemble the fairytale at all but have a savage female as its main character, and there’s even a couple of entries where the characters from Beauty of the Beast appear, but they’re not the main characters.

All the stories were well-written and creative. Most I would rate very good for an anthology—a great start to this fairytale series. The book starts on the right note with “After Happily Ever.” In this offering, marriage counselor Poly has clients such as Beauty and the Beast. Humorous, sweet, and breaking with the romantic tradition of B&B, the anthology is off to a good start.

As evidence of the variety of the novel, “The Beasts of Blackwell” takes a more high fantasy approach than the original fairytale. The “Shadow Of Cinchona Grove” creatively removes the original from its European origins into a South American setting. And both “Skin Deep” and “Daughter of the Beastly Beauty” are the results when authors think outside the box.

Beauty and the Beast in space? Not quite the same story, but the science-fiction offering of “Hen House” builds a world in a few short pages. Poignant and humorous, it’s a treat in the middle of the other tales.

“Gaston and the Beast” extends the Beauty and the Beast story. I’m a sucker for fairy tale continuations so this one caught my interest. What happened if Gaston lived at the end of that tale as old as time? This story answers that question.

“Curse of the Roses” is a delightful retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I was impressed with the way it unfolded and will remember the setting and characters for a long time afterward.

Finally, “Between Dog and Wolf” is something special. I was blown away with how this story took me by surprise. Every time I thought I knew where it was going, it went in a different direction. Very well-researched, gripping, and thought-provoking, this story is one to treasure.

The other stories are equally good and entertaining. I encourage you, whether Beauty and the Beast is your favorite fairytale or not, to give this a read. If you like variety, creativity, and a set of stories Belle would admire, try this anthology out.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B091QDB5PW

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Review of Don’t Date the Haunted

Every horror reader knows the basics: “Don’t go into the basement (or attic)”, “Don’t stare at your reflection in the lake for too long”, “Don’t play some creepy old game you found in a trunk (unless it’s Jumanji),” etc. Pansy Finster lives her life by these rules, and they have served her well as she resides on a continent called Horror. In Horror, approximately every six months, the residents encounter a Haunting. A Haunting is any horrifying, supernatural occurrence from werewolves to ghosts to murderous dolls. Pansy’s brother has written the book on how to survive in Horror, and Pansy knows the text by heart. As such, she’s a survivor.

But Pansy has experienced too many Hauntings in her young life and lost her fiancé to a Haunting. When she has the opportunity to move to another continent, she takes it. Pansy becomes a transfer student to the continent of Romance, where love is always en vogue. Now she must adopt new ways. Talking to handsome strangers is encouraged, dressing in heels is normal because nobody runs in fright, and people wear masks to dances but not to slaughter each other.

Don’t Date the Haunted by C. Rae D’Arc is a dark comedy big on both the laughs and thrills. The author uses the fish out of water theme of Pansy in Romance-land to her advantage for the early part of the novel. Several passages will evoke a chortle if not a belly laugh. The comedy builds out of the setup, but the characterization contributes to much of the humor. Enjoyable characters in a unique setting drives the novel forward to its conclusion. But make no mistake—this book isn’t a one-trick pony. It takes an interesting turn midway through that builds to a creative climatic scene.

I was impressed with the world-building in this novel. More than two continents, Horror and Romance, belong to the world of Novel. Mystery, Fantasy, Science Fiction, and others exist here too. I love the concept that the different continents represent literary genres. The world-building is such a unique concept that when I read the blurb for this book, I knew I had to buy it. The description of Pansy’s airport layover in Mystery in order to get to Romance had me in stitches.

Often light-hearted but also with surprising depth, Don’t Date the Haunted lives up to its promise of a dark comedy. The humor is earned, the darkness is delicious, and the payoff is legitimate. Clearly, no one should date the haunted, but everyone ought to read about those who do.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HSWYRMN