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Charlie’s identity is secret. Her very presence places all in danger. In this post-apocalyptic romantic short story where a friend might be an enemy and an enemy might be a friend, eighteen-year-old Charlie protects her baby sister and herself from grotesque monsters outside the community as well as human ones inside. Will the truth save her or ultimately doom her to a fate worse than death?
34 pages, ebook
First published March 29, 2012
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109 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 10, 2015
I got this short story for free on Amazon. I included both the names that I found the book because I had a hard time finding it on Goodreads and Amazon. Apparently she uses both.
This is a short story and as long as you understand this you go into the read your expectations should be right on track with the sudden and abrupt end to the story. I like short stories and am coming to learn that there are two different types (maybe more). The first type are those that begin and end within the read. They give you a sense of accomplishment and closure. The second type are those that are meant to continue from a previous book or introduce you to the next in the series. Okay, I guess there are three because there are also those that are meant as in between from one book to another, not really meant for stand alone books. I guess they are something the author gives to their fan base who need more.
This short story was the second type. It is an introduction into Cherie Mark’s new world of Draghould (her own version of a zombie like monster) and the new dark world of humans. At only 30 pages I felt that Cherie did a wonderful job drawing me into this world and begging for more. I do have to admit I was screaming at my kindle when I realized I was at the end of the short story! This is why I gave it a rating of 3 stars. The ending was just too sudden for me. I have already picked up the next in the series Edge of Mercy which is the first book in the series with 220 pages that I can get lost in.
So this story, like I said, introduces us to the Draghould who are zombie like creatures that are driven to infect and tear humans apart. For some scary reason they are extra sensitive to women and go ape shit crazy when women are near. In comes Charlie, a 17 year old girl, who is hiding her identity from the rest of the men in the community and pretends to be a boy. She is trying to look out for her baby sister, she is only 6 months old, and seems to have a hard time ‘manning up’ in front of others.
In the story she and her friend, Zeke, come across an old lady in the woods, promise to protect her and take her back to the compound. Charlie learns how bad bringing a woman into the compound is and is about to learn just how much trouble they are in. Want more… pick up this short story on Amazon I know you’ll love it!
If you are looking for a quick read for what ever reason I highly recommend this one. Even if it is just to get an idea about the full length book before you purchase.
Happy reading!!
Find this and other reviews on my blog
This is a short story and as long as you understand this you go into the read your expectations should be right on track with the sudden and abrupt end to the story. I like short stories and am coming to learn that there are two different types (maybe more). The first type are those that begin and end within the read. They give you a sense of accomplishment and closure. The second type are those that are meant to continue from a previous book or introduce you to the next in the series. Okay, I guess there are three because there are also those that are meant as in between from one book to another, not really meant for stand alone books. I guess they are something the author gives to their fan base who need more.
This short story was the second type. It is an introduction into Cherie Mark’s new world of Draghould (her own version of a zombie like monster) and the new dark world of humans. At only 30 pages I felt that Cherie did a wonderful job drawing me into this world and begging for more. I do have to admit I was screaming at my kindle when I realized I was at the end of the short story! This is why I gave it a rating of 3 stars. The ending was just too sudden for me. I have already picked up the next in the series Edge of Mercy which is the first book in the series with 220 pages that I can get lost in.
So this story, like I said, introduces us to the Draghould who are zombie like creatures that are driven to infect and tear humans apart. For some scary reason they are extra sensitive to women and go ape shit crazy when women are near. In comes Charlie, a 17 year old girl, who is hiding her identity from the rest of the men in the community and pretends to be a boy. She is trying to look out for her baby sister, she is only 6 months old, and seems to have a hard time ‘manning up’ in front of others.
In the story she and her friend, Zeke, come across an old lady in the woods, promise to protect her and take her back to the compound. Charlie learns how bad bringing a woman into the compound is and is about to learn just how much trouble they are in. Want more… pick up this short story on Amazon I know you’ll love it!
If you are looking for a quick read for what ever reason I highly recommend this one. Even if it is just to get an idea about the full length book before you purchase.
Happy reading!!
Find this and other reviews on my blog
October 23, 2015
It's a little hard to rate such a short beginning to what should be a great novel. I love the world of zombies and I am always looking for books that tell the story differently from the one before it. This one is about a gal named Charlie who has been forced to keep her true identity under wraps. She is a girl living as a boy in a dominant male community where a council determines how you live. The zombies in this short story are called Draghouls. These creatures are can only survive in the dark. And from what Thomas tells Charlie, Draghouls are attracted to women and that is why then men put the women on the other side of the wall. In other words these "men" put all the females on the other side knowing they wouldn't survive just to save their own asses. Disgusting. But now they see that was a mistake and are planning on using Charlie’s younger sister, Star, who is only six months old right now, to re-populate their community when she is able to bare children. It's pretty sick and Charlie is scared her secret will be discovered and they will use her in the same way. She refuses to let that happen to her or her sister.
The story ends way too soon and it definitely caught my attention. I look forward reading the novel in its entirety when I get a hold of it.
The story ends way too soon and it definitely caught my attention. I look forward reading the novel in its entirety when I get a hold of it.
May 28, 2012
Charlie an eighteen year who lives inside the walls of the community in the middle of The Dead Forest. Charlie and her little sister was sent there by her mother. When her mother sent her there she sent her in men's clothing which Charlie doesn't understand. The community is surrouned by monsters.
The women are used for breeding. Charlie is dertermind to take very good care of her little sister and never allow this to happen to her. She is very upset that they would allow the women to be used in this way. Charlie comes to understand why her mother sent her there in men's clothing and knows she must protect her idenity for as long as possible.
Mercy is a very short story but at the same time is a very good read. I wished that it had been longer and we could have know more about Charile and her little sister where they came from. What reason did her mother send her there to live this kind of life. Who was her mother? Why did they send them outside the walls? I hope Cherie Marks has more plans for Mercy and we can learn more of Charlie's life and the story that she has to tell.
The women are used for breeding. Charlie is dertermind to take very good care of her little sister and never allow this to happen to her. She is very upset that they would allow the women to be used in this way. Charlie comes to understand why her mother sent her there in men's clothing and knows she must protect her idenity for as long as possible.
Mercy is a very short story but at the same time is a very good read. I wished that it had been longer and we could have know more about Charile and her little sister where they came from. What reason did her mother send her there to live this kind of life. Who was her mother? Why did they send them outside the walls? I hope Cherie Marks has more plans for Mercy and we can learn more of Charlie's life and the story that she has to tell.
October 20, 2013
I liked this book a little more than Range of Mercy as it had the chance to explore some really interesting situations, such as when the Council gave their verdict to Charlie and to the woman, the latter of which was a creepy event. I think I would prefer if the two short stories were combined in third person so that you could read the extra scenes in one book rather than having to try to fit it in with what happened in the last story, but this format was also interesting and appropriate as it really differentiated between what Thomas and Charlie were experiencing in the same timeframe.
Also, the weird status thing was because I kept accidentally closing the review window and so changed it from read to currently reading etc and back to get it back up without having to find the other way into it.
Also, the weird status thing was because I kept accidentally closing the review window and so changed it from read to currently reading etc and back to get it back up without having to find the other way into it.
September 6, 2016
Mercy is a short story in the Edge of Mercy series, and I was really excited to read it. Until I started, and realized it was only three chapters taken directly out of the book Edge of Mercy. So, although it’s a great read, it’s the same material.
If you haven’t read Edge of Mercy, delve into this and get hooked on the series. If you’ve already read Edge of Mercy, maybe not so much. The story is about Charlie, and his fight for survival at the end of the world. He’s faced with the harsh reality of life as it is in the complex he and his baby sister have taken refuge in.
But hey, it’s free to try.
If you haven’t read Edge of Mercy, delve into this and get hooked on the series. If you’ve already read Edge of Mercy, maybe not so much. The story is about Charlie, and his fight for survival at the end of the world. He’s faced with the harsh reality of life as it is in the complex he and his baby sister have taken refuge in.
But hey, it’s free to try.
July 31, 2014
3.5 this is a very short story but it made me curious to read the next books.
Charlie has been pretending to be boy for months now, after her mother died giving birth to her baby sister she ended up in a man only complex.
The man think that the reason Draghoul's are attacking people is because woman attracts them.
her sister Star is kept for some reason.
The only thing that I didn't like so much was that I couldn't picture these Draghoul's, I don't know were they came from or what caused their existence?
Charlie has been pretending to be boy for months now, after her mother died giving birth to her baby sister she ended up in a man only complex.
The man think that the reason Draghoul's are attacking people is because woman attracts them.
her sister Star is kept for some reason.
The only thing that I didn't like so much was that I couldn't picture these Draghoul's, I don't know were they came from or what caused their existence?
November 5, 2014
I expected much more from this book. Though originally seeming to hold promise, the plot never fully develops itself, the characters remain relatively static, and the ending seems abrupt and unnatural. Furthermore, there were a lot of basic questions left unanswered (not the good kind) that left me frankly scratching my head.
May 28, 2012
This is a very good short story, with well-judged moments of suspense, and drama, in a very readable package. The only slight is that the story is not long enough, and would be dynamite if it was lengthened. Any which way, well done.
August 26, 2012
Pretty good overall. An interesting take on a zombie-apocalypse world,
although one aspect of the people's behavior seemed so terribly
short-sighted as to be almost unbelievable to me. But, that's pretty
common in short stories so it's a small negative.
although one aspect of the people's behavior seemed so terribly
short-sighted as to be almost unbelievable to me. But, that's pretty
common in short stories so it's a small negative.
April 24, 2013
I like this story. Interesting idea of not having the story focused mainly of the evil creatures outside but the evils of the inside. How the survivors did their terrible act to the women and children just to save there own lives which in fact doomed their future by their stupidity.
July 27, 2013
This book was very different, but in a good way; I hope to put up more from this author. This was a short story, but seemed to be full of promise for something truly amazing, I can't wait to see what happens next!!!
October 9, 2013
This can be skipped as it is three chapters from first full length book. However it underlines the valid fears Charlie has for hiding her gender and introduces key characters at the same time so as a "teaser" intro to series it fulfills its purpose quite well.
December 27, 2012
It was an enjoyable short read that peeked my attention. I definitely will be checking out the series that spin off of this. This also reminded me of the book "The Forest of Hands and Teeth".
May 24, 2013
Very interesting! A very different spin. I can't wait to read more of Charlie's story!
June 20, 2013
I can't wait to read Edge of Mercy if it is anything like this short story it will be great
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews