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Cryptid Bits
Cryptids. At the movies and at the bar, cryptids. In china shops and running for office, cryptids. Cryptids, cryptids everywhere.
76 pages, Paperback
Published January 3, 2024
4 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 5, 2024
If you’re puzzling over the title of this rib-tickling, lip-smacking urban fantasy by Jess Simms, here’s the scoop: A “cryptid” is an animal whose existence or survival is disputed or unsubstantiated, such as the yeti. Or in the case of Cryptid Bits, it could also be a werewolf, a vampire, or a chupacabra. A dragon running for the State House of Representatives. The Gorgon Sisters Hair Salon. Or maybe brownies who are on strike for better working conditions in the hospitality industry.
All of these and more show up in Fairy District, the setting for this delightfully fresh and original story. As readers join the narrator for a whirlwind tour of this fair (?) land, they’ll want to buckle up for an eclectic blend of adventure, travelogue, history, music, politics, pop culture and magic. It’s a highly readable and eminently entertaining collection of “around town” stories, observations, events, interviews, ratings, and um… creatures.
You may even find yourself swaying to the crypt metal rhythms of Banshee and the Siouxsies or sampling some homemade goodies at the BAKEAid Festival (proceeds go to assist striking brownies). There’s also sweetbread and haggis. Besides. Cryptid Bits showcases some of the best world-building talent I’ve seen in years, haggis notwithstanding.
Cryptid Bits isn’t a fantasy in the traditional sense, which concentrates on imaginary elements (the fantastic) and may include magic, the supernatural, alternate worlds, superheroes, monsters, fairies, magical creatures, mythological heroes—essentially, anything that an author can imagine outside of reality. Much of that appears in this light and luscious read. But it also offers up side-splitting parodies of current events, pop culture, and politics, to name a few.
Smart and sassy, Cryptid Bits is an eclectic blend of faerie fiction, tongue-in-cheek humor and wry wit. Told with a twinkle, the story is warm, whimsical, and all heart. Example: The dragon’s opponent in his bid for the state house is “George Saint.” Hilarious!
Fans of Harry Potter and/or Percy Jackson will enjoy Cryptid Bits. You may laugh so hard in places, you’ll snort lemonade out your nose (don’t ask how I know that).
So if you want to take a load off and lighten up, then grab a copy of Cryptid Bits. Pour yourself a cuppa. Pull up a chair. Sit down. Put your feet up. Dive into this book. It’s a “Calgon take me away” moment that’ll warm up your funny bone and smooth out those laugh lines. I loved it (except for the haggis)!
My Rating: 4.5.
All of these and more show up in Fairy District, the setting for this delightfully fresh and original story. As readers join the narrator for a whirlwind tour of this fair (?) land, they’ll want to buckle up for an eclectic blend of adventure, travelogue, history, music, politics, pop culture and magic. It’s a highly readable and eminently entertaining collection of “around town” stories, observations, events, interviews, ratings, and um… creatures.
You may even find yourself swaying to the crypt metal rhythms of Banshee and the Siouxsies or sampling some homemade goodies at the BAKEAid Festival (proceeds go to assist striking brownies). There’s also sweetbread and haggis. Besides. Cryptid Bits showcases some of the best world-building talent I’ve seen in years, haggis notwithstanding.
Cryptid Bits isn’t a fantasy in the traditional sense, which concentrates on imaginary elements (the fantastic) and may include magic, the supernatural, alternate worlds, superheroes, monsters, fairies, magical creatures, mythological heroes—essentially, anything that an author can imagine outside of reality. Much of that appears in this light and luscious read. But it also offers up side-splitting parodies of current events, pop culture, and politics, to name a few.
Smart and sassy, Cryptid Bits is an eclectic blend of faerie fiction, tongue-in-cheek humor and wry wit. Told with a twinkle, the story is warm, whimsical, and all heart. Example: The dragon’s opponent in his bid for the state house is “George Saint.” Hilarious!
Fans of Harry Potter and/or Percy Jackson will enjoy Cryptid Bits. You may laugh so hard in places, you’ll snort lemonade out your nose (don’t ask how I know that).
So if you want to take a load off and lighten up, then grab a copy of Cryptid Bits. Pour yourself a cuppa. Pull up a chair. Sit down. Put your feet up. Dive into this book. It’s a “Calgon take me away” moment that’ll warm up your funny bone and smooth out those laugh lines. I loved it (except for the haggis)!
My Rating: 4.5.
October 23, 2024
In Crypted Bits, readers are invited into a neighborhood unlike any other. It's a fantastical realm where creatures of myth and legend live side by side. Here, beings of different species coexist in a fragile harmony, often clashing but mostly managing to get along. That balance, however, begins to shift when humans start moving in. The gentrification of the Fairy District is underway, and with it comes an inevitable upheaval. What was once a peculiar but peaceful community is now facing change that will ripple through its very core. Opening the pages of this novel is like stepping into an enchanted world populated by unforgettable characters, each with their own unique story. The narrative feels like a rich mosaic where reality and fantasy intertwine, creating something fresh, strange, and delightful. Jess Simms draws the reader into a world that is both familiar and otherworldly, reminiscent of Neil Gaiman’s urban fantasy or the whimsical mischief of Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl series.
Rather than following a linear plot, Crypted Bits unfolds as a series of vignettes or episodic misadventures, each offering glimpses into the lives of the district’s residents. The narrative has a tendency to fragment and drift off in unexpected directions, which can be disorienting, but I found it captivating overall.
Simms deftly employs an array of literary techniques to build the Fairy District into a fully realized setting. Advertisements, listicles, social media posts, and news articles all serve as windows into this world, giving the reader a multifaceted view of a community where cryptids (mythical creatures from every corner of folklore) struggle to coexist both with each other and with the encroaching human population. Conflict arises, of course, but it’s handled with wit and charm rather than violence. The struggles of the district’s inhabitants, while real, never feel too heavy. Instead, they are infused with a whimsical energy that makes even the challenges feel endearing. There’s a certain magic to the way life in the Fairy District unfolds, and Simms invites the reader to experience it in all its quirky glory.
I think Crypted Bits isn’t meant to be a straightforward story. Instead, it’s an immersive experience, one that allows readers to wander through its dreamlike landscape, discovering new surprises at every turn. Jess Simms has crafted a world that is a joy to explore, and while the novel may be brief, the spell it casts lingers long after the final page is turned.
Rather than following a linear plot, Crypted Bits unfolds as a series of vignettes or episodic misadventures, each offering glimpses into the lives of the district’s residents. The narrative has a tendency to fragment and drift off in unexpected directions, which can be disorienting, but I found it captivating overall.
Simms deftly employs an array of literary techniques to build the Fairy District into a fully realized setting. Advertisements, listicles, social media posts, and news articles all serve as windows into this world, giving the reader a multifaceted view of a community where cryptids (mythical creatures from every corner of folklore) struggle to coexist both with each other and with the encroaching human population. Conflict arises, of course, but it’s handled with wit and charm rather than violence. The struggles of the district’s inhabitants, while real, never feel too heavy. Instead, they are infused with a whimsical energy that makes even the challenges feel endearing. There’s a certain magic to the way life in the Fairy District unfolds, and Simms invites the reader to experience it in all its quirky glory.
I think Crypted Bits isn’t meant to be a straightforward story. Instead, it’s an immersive experience, one that allows readers to wander through its dreamlike landscape, discovering new surprises at every turn. Jess Simms has crafted a world that is a joy to explore, and while the novel may be brief, the spell it casts lingers long after the final page is turned.
June 9, 2024
Mythical beings need to earn a living, too!
The world building was incredible. Getting glimpses of so many different residents, notable spots, and moments in time in this neighborhood gave me a well-rounded understanding of what it would be like to visit The Fairy District if it were a real place. If the author ever decides to write a sequel, I’d love to dive even more deeply into the many different species that call this area home and how they are being affected by human gentrification.
I would have loved to see more character development. Meeting the characters was a memorable experience, but there was never a lot of time to get to know most of them better due to how brief each section was and how many different folks there were to meet. Louise, a local mortician, was one such creature that I wish I could have had more time with as she seemed to have a fascinating life as an undertaker. This pattern was the only thing holding me back from choosing a full five-star review.
Some of this flash fiction was written in the style of online news articles or reviews of different businesses. What made these pieces even more unique were the comments included by various members of the community and visitors who had strong opinions about the event, business, or topic being discussed. I loved the originality of these sections, especially when it came to the many types of feedback that can be shared in such places. A kind commenter might be immediately followed by someone who had a harsher perspective, but the variety of it all made it feel incredibly realistic.
Cryptid Bits was delightfully creative. I can’t wait to read more from this author.
The world building was incredible. Getting glimpses of so many different residents, notable spots, and moments in time in this neighborhood gave me a well-rounded understanding of what it would be like to visit The Fairy District if it were a real place. If the author ever decides to write a sequel, I’d love to dive even more deeply into the many different species that call this area home and how they are being affected by human gentrification.
I would have loved to see more character development. Meeting the characters was a memorable experience, but there was never a lot of time to get to know most of them better due to how brief each section was and how many different folks there were to meet. Louise, a local mortician, was one such creature that I wish I could have had more time with as she seemed to have a fascinating life as an undertaker. This pattern was the only thing holding me back from choosing a full five-star review.
Some of this flash fiction was written in the style of online news articles or reviews of different businesses. What made these pieces even more unique were the comments included by various members of the community and visitors who had strong opinions about the event, business, or topic being discussed. I loved the originality of these sections, especially when it came to the many types of feedback that can be shared in such places. A kind commenter might be immediately followed by someone who had a harsher perspective, but the variety of it all made it feel incredibly realistic.
Cryptid Bits was delightfully creative. I can’t wait to read more from this author.
August 22, 2024
This collection is a thing after my own heart: speculative flash fiction social and political satires. The bits are interrelated, so there are plot lines moving from piece to piece. As the back cover explains, "The brownies are on strike. A dragon is running for the State House of Representatives. And hipsters of all species want to live in the Fairy District."
To make it even more sparkly, the approach is faux news (for years I wrote a faux news newspaper satire column) as it would appear on social media. So, we also get the responses, both from fans and from trolls (including literally, trolls), and, inevitably, spammers.
This brief collection is fun, imaginative, and oh so too much accurate. [You've been watching the news. You know that many of those politicians can't really be fully human. These stories are just preparing us for what we already know is going on...]
It's also helpful in practical ways, since the Chef from the Black Lagoon helps address a common hosting difficulty: "CHANNEL 6: You're all set to show off your culinary skills at your next dinner party -- then the dietary requests come in, and you have to find a meal to satisfy both vegans and vampires. What can you do?"
To make it even more sparkly, the approach is faux news (for years I wrote a faux news newspaper satire column) as it would appear on social media. So, we also get the responses, both from fans and from trolls (including literally, trolls), and, inevitably, spammers.
This brief collection is fun, imaginative, and oh so too much accurate. [You've been watching the news. You know that many of those politicians can't really be fully human. These stories are just preparing us for what we already know is going on...]
It's also helpful in practical ways, since the Chef from the Black Lagoon helps address a common hosting difficulty: "CHANNEL 6: You're all set to show off your culinary skills at your next dinner party -- then the dietary requests come in, and you have to find a meal to satisfy both vegans and vampires. What can you do?"
November 8, 2025
Charming micro-flash pieces. Some felt a little unfinished? But they paint a sort of boho casual cryptid-rich world.
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