Book Reviews, Stories, Poetry and Nonsense
The Rook by Daniel O'Malley 2012. 496 pages. Series: The Checquy Files #1 Genre: Contemporary, Fantasy, Supernatural Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Summary: "The body you are wearing used to be mine." So begins the letter Myfanwy Thomas is holding when she awakes in a London park surrounded by bodies all wearing latex... Continue Reading →
Chimera by Jacob Madkiff Series: The Chimera Chronicles, Book 1 2012. 336 pages. Genre: Supernatural 3.5 out of 5 stars (story) 1.5 out of 5 stars (editing) Final Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars Summary: Kyle Evans' life had been one tragedy after another. No hope, no love, no one to count or lean on.... Continue Reading →
Glory Road by Robert A. Heinlein 1963. 294 pages. Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy My Rating: 2 out of 5 stars Summary: When "Scar" Gordon read a personals ad promising "very high pay, glorious adventure, great danger", with physical requirements, except for the part about being "handsome", that fit him to a T, he answered it,... Continue Reading →
Because these stories are so short and closely related, I decided to do a double review for them, so that they might be properly compared and discussed without the headache of switching back and forth between two different posts. Franz Kafa's Metamorphosis is a familiar classic that tells the tale of an overworked young man... Continue Reading →
Choice of the Cat by E. E. Knight 2004. 344 pages. Series: The Vampire Earth, Book 2 Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Speculative, Dystopian My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Summary: The alien Reapers have ruled Earth for forty-five years. David Valentine is a member of the human resistance, who is now being... Continue Reading →
A Witch's Guide to Murder by Aubrey Harper 2015. 246 pages. Series: Book & Candle Mystery, Book 1 Genre: Supernatural, Mystery, Paranormal Final Rating: 3 out of 5 stars Summary: When Rory Wiltz inherits her grandmother's house and shop, she sees it as a sign to move back to her hometown of Hazelville, Ohio. She... Continue Reading →
Pale Highway by Nicholas Conley 2015. 400 pages. Genre: Science Fiction Final Rating: 5 out of 5 stars Summary: Gabriel Schist is spending his remaining years at Bright New Day, a nursing home. He once won the Nobel Prize for inventing a vaccine for AIDS. But now, he has Alzheimer’s, and his mind is slowly... Continue Reading →
Clay Tongue by Nicholas Conley 2016 53 pages Genre: Fantasy, Visionary Fiction Final Rating: 5 out of 5 stars Summary: Katie Mirowitz is a small little girl with an even smaller little voice. She possesses a deep love for her grandfather, who suffers from aphasia after a bad stroke cuts loose the part of his... Continue Reading →
Way of the Wolf by E. E. Knight 2001. 400 pages. Series: The Vampire Earth, Book 1 Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Speculative, Dystopian My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars Summary: Louisiana, 2065. A lot has changed in the 43rd year of the Kurian Order. Possessed of an unnatural and legendary hunger, the bloodthirsty... Continue Reading →
