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Review of Havok World Tour

Havok’s new anthology promises to take us on a world tour of stories set around the Earth. For this Havok anthology, I rated each story based on three categories: story, mechanics, and theme. The story rating is how much it entertained, its creativity, the stakes/conflict. In essence, how moving was it? The mechanics rating measures how the writing supports the plot and characters. Did the author use a unique style, variety of words, or otherwise inject a lyricism to the story? The last category was if the location of the tale could be identified, if it matched the world theme, and if the setting lent some important element to the offering. For fun, I also captured the type and subtype (e.g. Fantasy / Urban Fantasy) and the country’s location.

Most stories averaged in the “exceeds expectations” tier, and I congratulate authors and editors for such an engaging anthology. The anthology was a quick read, and the variety of genre, tone, and setting elevated this above most anthologies.

I’d like to highlight a few entries that stood out. 

“In the Shadow of Ol Doinyo Lengai” by Lisa Godfrees.

“Man Nor Beast” by Rose Q. Adams.

“That’s the Spirit!” by Katie Hanna.

“Protocol One” by Caleb A. Robinson.

“Hinewai” by Deborah Bainbridge.

The following would’ve been “best in class” in any other anthology.

“New Jersey and You” by Austin Grisham. This story only works in New Jersey; it nailed the theme.

“The Worst Kind of Betrayal” by Rachel Dib. A rare mystery offering that plays like a Hitchcock episode.

“The Quest for Terlinvir” by Hailey Huntington. How did a story with such a large scope fit in a flash fiction word count?

“Perforation” by Ryan Helcoski. Horror writers take note of the writing in this piece.

“Gentleman Dracula” by J. L. Ender. Really enjoyed this idea, and it could only happen in London.

“The Secret in Kensington Gardens” by Mia Rumi. This drew me in. I wanted it to continue.

“Portage, Ohio, in Early Autumn” by Emma E. Murray. Absolutely stunning, and contrasts nicely with many other offerings.

My favorite offering had to be “Those Unseen” by Rachel Dib. The combination of idea, writing, and adherence to theme all worked wonderfully in this short, gripping tale. This is one I won’t forget for a while.

The stories were everything from funny to disturbing, from wildly fantastic to grounded in reality. Entering a new world in each piece was a highlight. But, near the end, I noticed the stories clustered in certain places: the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan. I would’ve preferred a few stories from different locations like Spain, Russia, or India. It would’ve made it seem more “worldly.” “Those Unseen,” for example, is set in Ukraine which stands out in the Europe section. However, in my last Havok review, I bemoaned the lack of horror entries. Someone listened, because Portage, Gentleman Dracula, and Perforation were all top-notch horror stories. Havok will publish a light fairy tale or a grim huis clos tale as long as it’s of high quality.

Again, many thanks to the editors and authors of Havok for creating such an interesting anthology. I hope their themes continue to be this inspiring.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CPJX9Z4H

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Review Blood Secrets

Morgan L. Busse’s Blood Secrets is the second of the Skyworld duology. In SkyWorld, the land has been overridden with a green mist containing deadly spores that reanimate corpses. Called “The Turned,” these zombie-like creatures roam the countryside. But the mist hasn’t reached the higher altitudes, so many people live on the sides of mountains. The wealthiest houses are on floating islands in the sky. Traveling in this world requires zeppelins, helicopter-like vehicles, or a new construction similar to a plane.

The second novel finds our main characters Theo and Cass on the run from those in power who want the world to stay the way it is. Though the mist is rising and everyone will be consumed in its grasp, the wealthy turn a blind eye to the oncoming peril. Theo has a solution, but it will require time and keeping the antidote—the McGuffin in this novel—safe. Meanwhile, Cass and Theo are learning to live with each other in their separate worlds. Are they so different that, even if they succeed, they can’t be together? And perhaps the greatest divide between them is Theo’s faith. Cass isn’t sure about the god Theo believes in. Does such a higher being really exist in this land of misery, brutality, and thirst for power?

The book is equal parts steampunk adventure, cozy romance, and faith-crisis drama. They balance nicely and the threads that intertwine them come naturally. Blood Secrets doesn’t shy away from the hard questions such as why do people live in poverty if there’s a loving God? Or if you save the world will it change for the better? This lesson is often overlooked in most novels where the end assumes a happily-ever-after. The narrative pokes at this concept.

The characters have depth and stakes, especially Cass. Though she’s unconscious for a small part of this novel, she is the main character. Her situation and struggles lend credence to both the plot and to the themes the author wants to explore. Cass is the figure most readers will gravitate toward.

The antagonist in the novel also tempts Cass with an idea of revolution and a new world order. This character comes across as both villainous yet credible. His actions, motivated by his past, fit into the overall story perfectly.

Overall, Blood Secrets wraps up the Skyworld series to a satisfying conclusion. The world building is ingenious and fascinating. The Turned, while not as frightening as in a horror novel, provides a constant source of tension. Most importantly, the themes explored in the narrative transcend the typical steampunk novel and elevate this offering to a must-read.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B3HLHF83

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Review Children of the Wild

Children of the Wild by debut author Krysta Tawlks is a historical fantasy about magic and creatures with a hint of steampunk. But what it’s really about is family, loss, guilt, and revelations. While the setting may adhere close to certain Steinbeck novels—a rare choice for a fantasy novel—the plot and characters are all original.

Our hero is Elbert, or Elby, Dowden. He’s developing a burning sensation in his body at the start of the novel that seems serious. Unfortunately, his parents are in no condition themselves to help him. And as a middle child, his older brother and sister aren’t adults yet. So Elby toughens it out at first. Meanwhile, his friend Harold tells him about rumors about a giant wolf and stag in the neighborhood that disappear when chased. Elby’s not sure about these disappearing acts because Harold was always one to believe in tall tales. That is, until the boys see it themselves.

This premise starts a journey of self-discovery and redemption for multiple characters while remaining deeply rooted in a grassroots farming family. The Dowdens are a tight knit clan but have secrets like most families. And Elby isn’t sure what’s happening to him until a paddle race in the river produces an encounter with someone who has information. A lot of seemingly unrelated threads weave together into an exciting last quarter of the book.

The writing is clean and gets its point across effectively. A mother pulls out her deceased daughter’s dress and holds it to her chest, or Elby’s father is described as carved from stone and lit with fire. Scenic descriptions down to a table in a poor family’s house teleport the reader into this world. Historical fiction is hard to write as it requires research, but author Tawlks has captured the details accurately and put the reader firmly in this world.

Historical fiction, even of the speculative type, takes its time. This novel, while short, also is a slow build. When everything comes together, however, the reader is hooked. My one quibble is that a certain set of interesting characters exit too quickly and mysteriously at the end. I’m not sure if this sets up a sequel—the book doesn’t read like a series—but if it does, I hope a certain threesome will return.

Children of the Wild is a rare offering these days. It’s not high fantasy or modern urban fantasy, it’s not a retelling, and it depicts a period of American life not often written about. A story about a farm boy, his Waltons-style family, and a metamorphosis is a gripping read. As a book about magic, this novel casts its own spell, one with a lasting effect.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CKX3XK8B

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Review My Brother’s Keeper

Tim Powers is a name more people should know. His The Annubis Gates and Declare novels are essential reading to any speculative fiction fan. And his On Stranger Tides populated many of the ideas of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, not only the fourth one. Now he’s back with a new novel, My Brother’s Keeper.

I’ve not read all of his novels, but I have read The Stress of Her Regard way back in my past. I only remember my feelings about the novel, but to this day, I cannot read Keats’ La Belle Dame Sans Merci the same way. And, though my rational mind knows Keats died naturally, my romantic mind thinks he died the way Powers depicted it.

I bring up The Stress of Her Regard because My Brother’s Keeper is quite similar to that novel. In Stress, the novel’s main characters are Keats, Shelley, and Lord Byron. In My Brother’s Keeper, Powers has made protagonists of the Brontë sisters. The heroine of the novel, Emily Brontë, is indeed the very same author of Wuthering Heights. If you read the history of the Brontë family, you’ll be amazed at what they accomplished in such a short time. Agnes Grey, Jane Eyre, and Wuthering Heights. We lost them all, sadly, much too young.

My Brother’s Keeper imagines an intrusion of the supernatural world into the moors and heaths where the Brontë sisters lived. When Emily finds a severely wounded man on the moors, she’s surprised to find him missing after she goes for help. He’s left behind a curious blade which Emily keeps. The Brontë sisters’ brother, Branwell, has secrets of his own he’s keeping from the family. How does all this tie to a ritual conducted by three of the children when they were young? And why does the family patriarch fire a bullet over the church’s graveyard at dawn?

One thing about Powers’ novels is they over-deliver on their premise. If I summarized this entire book’s plot, most readers would think it outrageous. But that’s the magic. Powers, with his accurate historical descriptions and fascinating characters, makes the narrative seem so real. The novel twists and turns with some characters growing in resolve and others weakening. And it’s evident that Powers has a true depth of feeling for the real Brontë family in this fascinating horror fantasy.

Wuthering Heights is a great novel and deserves its title of classic. It may be the most famous Brontë novel of them all. My Brother’s Keeper may not thrill fans of Wuthering Heights. Romance is missing in Keeper, and a rousing ghost story (mostly) missing in Heights. Yet, for that cross-section of speculative fiction readers who enjoy their classic literature, this book was made for them.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C32ZYFBT

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Review of Little Red and the Lumpy Bed

C. Rae D’Arc continues her Sleeping Princesses series with the third entry, Little Red and the Lumpy Bed. This series mashes together famous fairytale princesses in a fantasy land known as Somnus. All is well until someone starts poisoning the princesses. The oldest princess, Garnet, administers a potion to slow the poison but a side effect places the victim in a deep sleep. The sleeping princess awakens somewhere in our world, and from there, must find a way home.

The summary above has been the pattern for the first two books. The second book alternated chapters between Somnus and a location on Earth. Watching Sleeping Beauty or Snow White navigate our modern society has been a fun read, but could it last for a third outing? Fortunately, the third book provides enough variety to spice things up.

This novel introduces twins Ruby and Dot. As with some twins, they are jealous of each other, wanting what the other wants, lording over things the other doesn’t have. They “awaken” on Earth at different locations on the west coast of the United States. Dot wakes up deaf while Ruby finds herself blind, although neither are blind nor deaf in Somnus. They have “inhabited” another person’s life and happen to have the same looks, mannerisms, and names as that other person. The majority of the story is the two girls finding each other and learning the customs of this world.

Clearly, Ruby is the little girl from “Little Red Riding Hood” and Dot is the princess from “The Princess and the Pea.” Bringing these characters to life as rivaling fifteen-year-old sisters is ingenious, and their interactions make this book stand out from the first two. The fate of the two characters also differs quite a bit from the pattern of the prior offerings.

Meanwhile, back in Somnus, our gang of awakened princesses and heroes are trying desperately to find the sleeping versions of Dot and Ruby. They run away from old enemies while encountering a new one. This new threat is an epic, wonderfully described water creature. But not all of their adversaries are monsters. A huntsman is on their trail, and he has a surprising secret.

Little Red and the Lumpy Bed continues the Sleeping Princess series with everything the first two had: memorable characters, captivating settings, madcap situations, and a helping of romance. A grand adventure on two worlds, along with a healthy dose of relatable humor, make this fantasy offering one worth reading.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CKWFTRZD

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Review Legend of the Tempest Teaser

Cover for Legend of the Tempest Teaser

Legend of the Tempest Teaser is the third entry in the award-winning Stormwatch Diaries series. This MG / YA offering by Kristiana Sfirlea advances the characters and plot of the first two novels of a world populated by character angels, inherent magical abilities, ghost wargs, time paradoxes, sentient stormclouds, and legends that are true.

(Yes, all of this is described in the first two stories. Yes, the main character also speaks directly to the reader and breaks the fourth page-wall, similar to what I’m doing now. Yes, I made up the word page-wall and am proud of it.)

This third book finds not one, but two, main characters in Rose Skylar and Sephone Darrow. Not only are they retelling the events they’re living through, they’re communicating to each other via a diary, and referencing you, the reader, while doing it. While this may sound confusing, the author’s skill never allows this to descend into nonsense. In one thread, Sephone and her team are cast into a jail in search of an elusive legend as well as her friend Aiden’s aunt. Sephone has to deal not only with her dangerous surroundings but her feelings of betrayal from Aiden. In the other, Rose encounters a mysterious traveling waxwork museum that comes to her living quarters. She doesn’t trust the proprietors, Viren Well and Atlas Good (of Well and Good’s Waxworks) who have taken an unusual interest in Rose herself and her secret missions. The novel alternates between the two young ladies, negative Sephone playing off Rose’s sunny personality, until climaxing in a spectacular ending.

The last book ended on a cliffhanger, a personal pet peeve of mine, but all is forgiven as this book not only points out the teaser (pun intended) of an ending but markets it. This novel ends with a few dangling threads but manages to still conclude satisfactorily. I can’t say I liked one narrative (Sephone’s or Rose’s) over the other. What I can say is I enjoyed Sephone’s character over Rose’s this time around, and enjoyed Rose’s setting and plot line above Sephone’s.

While Rose is a superb character, I’ve always favored the series’ tough girl, Sephone. Sephone and Rose’s interactions bring out the proper balance between too sweet and too cynical—often with hilarious results (esp. The weird/leaving/goodbye combo). Sephone’s snarkiness to Rose’s innocence, or Sephone’s guardedness to Rose’s openness, makes for delightful reading in this third outing.

The settings in this series are some of the best I’ve ever seen. Haunted asylums, and funeral parlor ice cream shops populated the last two. In Tempest Teaser, we have a macabre waxwork museum. Not since Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes, or Morgenstern’s The Night Circus has someone come up with such a creative environment. And the setting is never window dressing; it has a purpose. One you’ll never see coming!

And the writing! Humor and horror sit side by side, sometimes within the same sentence. From an irritated teleporting carrier pigeon to a sadistic guard that loves to knit to a character who has to use her “womanly wiles”—something she’s never even heard of before—to acquire a magic elixir, the jokes and creativity never stops. Special kudos to the answer the door bit, Sephone’s sign off to Rose after calling her weird bit, and the bit on bits! And just when you think the book doesn’t have a dark side, the characters shrink and…well, that’s all I’ll tell you.

Threes are always hard. Sometimes the series loses its way by the third outing, sometimes they get repetitive. The third in the Stormwatch Diaries (not a trilogy) does neither. Introducing a fresh voice, advancing the overarching narrative, and describing yet more of this fascinating world, Legend of the Tempest Teaser ups the stakes. And by “ups the stakes,” the novel does this literally and figuratively, too. Seriously, nothing will be the same after the events in this book.

Does this third entry live up to the first two? Yes. Is this worth reading if I’m older than a middle grader or young adult? Yes. If, after waiting for a few years, does this book live up to its hype and cliffhanger? Yes! Send your teleporting carrier pigeon out right now and have it pick up a Legend of the Tempest Teaser from a bookstore near you. You’ll be happy you did.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1955060231

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Review of Unexpected Encounters of a Draconic Kind

Award-winning author Beka Gremikova has written many short stories that have been published online and in anthologies. In Unexpected Encounters of a Draconic Kind and Other Stories, she collects several of her stories into one offering. A reader who enjoys a variety of speculative fiction will certainly appreciate this gem of a book.

Inside, the reader will find offerings of science fiction to high fantasy, urban fantasy to fairy tales. What sets this apart from most collections is the wide variety of cultures Gremikova has tackled. Usually, when people speak of diversity, they are talking about different people’s cultures coming together in one country, often North America. This book travels the world and embeds the reader into cultures other than America. While countries are often not named, “A Spoonful of Spice” reads like a Chinese fable, “The Grave Dancers” has a European flair, and “No Man’s Jungle” feels very African. This is a strong point of the collection as the author adapts her style to each culture.

Variety continues in the tone of each of the stories. Some are sentimental, comforting, uplifting. Others are stark, message-driven, detached from the plight of its characters. The reader is never sure of the ending. One story of an abduction has both a hopeful and uncertain tone.

A person’s taste in the stories will vary in their interests. Those entries I enjoyed yet didn’t think were the best in the collection, others might rate as their favorites. I sense most readers will differ from my tastes.

Too little fairytale-inspired stories exist in modern collections, so I welcomed both “A Taste of Grace” and “Prince of Bees.” These two stories were both entertaining and cautionary, essential elements of a good fairy tale. “Mer-Child” is so honestly raw in emotion that its narrative should touch even the hardest of hearts. The Eastern-inspired “A Spoonful of Spice” is witty and clever. In “Tiger Bright,” you have the closest to an E.C.-inspired comic book, including an unexpected ending. Many light-hearted stories populate these pages, but I was drawn to “The Screwtech Letters,” in particular.

Two stories in this collection stood out. This book could have presented only tales that offer hope and acceptance to the downtrodden. But, to rise above, offerings like this must dare, must challenge, must experiment. I found two that do precisely that. First, the excellent “Change of Heart” tells its story in second person, pulling the reader into the narrative. This raises the stakes of a story where the reader drags their heels with the main character of the inevitable conclusion. Some may find the conclusion comforting; others, horrific. And another tale that dares to defy the rest is “Sea Claim.” After many other stories in this novel, the reader expects this to be in a similar vein. When The End comes, the finale works like the clattering of fallen dishes in a restaurant. The reader realizes they are in the hands of an author who wants you to feel, not simply enjoy.

In Unexpected Encounters of a Draconic Kind and Other Stories, author Gremikova takes us on a journey. To cultures we don’t often read about, to emotions of levity and sorrow, to souls lighting up with comfort…and dark corners of our heart where no light shines. If you enjoy a variety in your fantasy and science fiction, take a closer look at what this book has to offer.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CK3HKTG1

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Review Don’t Go in the Water

Full disclosure that I’m a contributor in this anthology. This review focuses on the other stories in the collection except mine.

Don’t Go in the Water is the third in the Classic Monster Series from Ye Olde Dragon Press. After tackling the wolfman and the Frankenstein monster, the publishers have turned their attention to the Creature from the Black Lagoon. This anthology offers thirteen tales of water-drenched horror, humor, fantasy, and drama. Don’t Go in the Water represents the entire spectrum of speculative fiction.

Mirroring the Universal Monster films of yore, this series isn’t necessarily meant to exclusively frighten its readers. Though some of its offerings are scary, many focus their attention on what it would mean if a watery creature lived on our world (or some other world) and how that “monster” would integrate into society. At times, the creature represents loneliness or isolation. Other plots have him as a valuable ally. Naturally, in several of the stories, he’s the adversary, a killing terror.

The Creature is not often associated with gothic castles or dark forests, so curling up with Don’t Go in the Water may be read anytime, not just in autumn. Do you want a humorous story of the classic Gill Man? Look no further than “Classic Monsters Anonymous: The Gill Guy Walks Among Us,” “A Fish Story,” or “Cure for the Creature.” How about something more poignant but not classically frightening? Then try “The Secret,” a girl and her fish story. Some readers, though, will demand a tale of terror. “Neher, Demon of the River” and “Bessie’s Revenge” fit that bill nicely.

One story of the thirteen touches multiple genres and packs a lot of emotion in a short story. “Siren Song” by C. S. Watcher really encapsulates the idea of a creature among us in a surprising way. Without giving away the twist, it wins the award of “not the story you were looking for but the story you enjoyed finding.”

There are many more wonderful tales within. For Halloween, or any time of the year, pick up Don’t Go in the Water for a wide range of entertaining and waterlogged tales.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CJN8ZMWJ

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Review of The Shadow Realm

Abigail Manning writes fairytale and nursery rhyme retellings set in many realms: the Emerald Realm, the Ruby Realm, etc. In this story, she weaves a tale out of not only fairy tales but Halloween, including monster archetypes. Welcome to The Shadow Realm.

The full title is The Shadow Realm: A Collection of Retold Halloween Tales (The Realm Collection). While I haven’t read many of Ms. Manning’s novels, I’ve finished enough to know she takes famous fairytale characters, puts them in a more realistic world, and imbues them with modern characteristics and problems. The Shadow Realm follows this outline with a Halloween twist. Take one fairytale character and two classic monsters, place them in a world that celebrates spookiness, and add a curse to mirror a horror archetype. That twist makes this offering stand out.

Two high society ladies and a princess (Aethera, Ebony, and Garnet) are out on a stroll near the time of the esteemed Shadow Ball. Overall, these three think themselves above nearly all other people in the kingdom of Umbria. When the princess turns down an invitation from a commoner, the man gets his revenge. He’s a mage, so he curses all three in unique ways.

Aethera becomes invisible, and no one may admire her beauty any longer. Small pieces of Ebony’s skin turn to wood when she lies. And the princess, Garnet? She can no longer walk in daylight and must siphon off energy from those around her. The story picks up three years later with the three young ladies dealing with their curses in their own ways. They no longer associate with each other; in fact, one has hidden away from her family and her home. And now, on the third anniversary of their curses, everyone is preparing for the Shadow Ball once again.

The author has stated that this novel is not scary nor should anyone pick it up hoping for a fright. This is a cozy romance story with supernatural undertones that celebrates the glee of Halloween. If you like a Halloween setting, but you aren’t wild about horror or the gore that may come with it, then this novel is for you. I’m reviewing it as a fairytale/monster retelling, not as a horror novel.

The novel is entertaining. Making an Invisible Woman and a Dracula figure a fairytale princess was inspired. Even the Pinocchio character felt more “monstrous” than fairytale in this setting. The chapters alternate between the three female characters. They each have their own narrative that weaves through the story leading up to the night of the Shadow Ball. This keeps the novel moving as each chapter gives you just enough to want to find out more about one character’s narrative, and then you’re onto the next.

The entire idea of a fairytale realm in a “cozy shadow” is fascinating, and the description of the town and the ball itself really lent to the atmosphere. Some sharp writing here really brought out the details (e.g. the dew hanging on the spiderwebs). Callbacks and in-jokes also round out the story in an engaging way. If you don’t know why a man named Griffin shows up at a pub with an invisible person, then you don’t know your monster lore.

I would’ve enjoyed more background on our three ladies before they were cursed, and potentially a deeper characterization of each. It would’ve lengthened the novel, true, but I found this a quick read. Nonetheless, wanting more from a novel is always better than wanting less.

The Shadow Realm has many elements I hoped it would have when I bought it: an enchanting Halloween storyline and setting, references to the original stories, humor, and heart. If Ms. Manning continues this series, I honestly hope she doesn’t change much. It’s a winning combination.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C9L7NQ44

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Review of Potion

Potion is the first in a set of planned novels by Dorlana Vann in the Witchy Fairy Tale series. The narrative was assembled from a Kindle Vella offering into a novel for consumers who binge watch an entire series rather than week by week (raises hand).

Melrose is a loner girl in high school who suddenly receives attention from three popular girls—Phoenix, Violet, Star—known as The Bitches. Star befriends her briefly after an argument with the other two in the clique. When someone comes between Star and Melrose, mostly Melrose’s brother Lucas, the other two Bitches swoop in on Melrose to help her become popular. Lucas expects ulterior motives because of horrific events he shared with his sister when they were younger.

Lost memories, disguised enemies, and parental relationships combine to form a witches-among-us narrative that owes to fairy tales, the movie Bell, Book, and Candle, and The Craft. The pacing and writing are solid, pulling the reader along chapter after chapter with one revelation after another. Note that the point-of-view changes in each chapter among three of the main characters, one of which knows more but isn’t telling.

The characters go beyond the stock archetypes you’d expect. I thoroughly enjoyed the shifting alliances, especially when one, at great cost, decides to lie to throw off the others. This character turned out to be one of my favorites at the end of the novel. The brother and sister relationship also struck a genuine chord. At first, Lucas seems like a typical older brother, but then as more is revealed, his loyalty toward his sister becomes more evident.

So what sets Potion apart from other teenage, witch-inspired stories? The way the story incorporates its fairytale roots, for one. The callbacks to popular fairy tales were a great addition. All the characters have a backstory, and it’s not the one you think it is. Their histories played an entertaining part in a major revelation at the end of the book. And the intertwining of witches and teenage life is always fascinating to compare and contrast.

Potion promises more at the end of the novel. With this delightful series, I’m keen to go back to this world and see the further adventures of these characters.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B2ZRR7L7