Side Quest: Stories

by Jalyn Renae Fiske

2024 Reader Views Literary Award gold medal winner in Short Stories and regional winner for the Southern Region / 2025 BookFest Book Award silver medal winner in Short Stories / 2025 Literary Titan Gold Award winner

SIDE STORIES is the award-winning short story collection by Jalyn Renae Fiske that collects 14 speculative short stories and 1 poem that explore characters who yearn for a different life or a second chance amid magical curses, missing persons, dragon attacks, mad scientists, alien planets, human sacrifices, the undead, and silent gods. Fiske's wide range in writing style and subject matter makes for stories that are captivating and immersive for all types of readers. There's horror, there's adventure, there's whimsy, and there's tragedy. SIDE STORIES is for anyone who wishes to step into the fantastical shoes of another and experience different perceptions, struggles, and dreams. Are you ready to begin?



"Entwined" - Be careful where you step in the woods
"Heart Box" - What does it mean when the flower that blooms is dead and wilted?
"Soul Candy" - All it takes to forget your mediocre life is a single piece of candy
"Gather the Lightning" - A mad scientist, a golem, and a little bit of lightning
"A Grave of Wind and Leaves" - What would you do to find your missing daughter?
"Zipper Boy and the Girl Made of Light" - The only thing keeping him alive are the zippers on his skin
"This Our River, These Our Gods" - How many people must drown before it matters?
"Emry, the One Who Remembered" - Love, sacrifice, and someone else's body parts
"Verity's Faery Teas" - Delicious, but do you know where it comes from?
"Scarlet and Shadow" - Where treason, magic, and true love collide
"The Quiet and the Creeping" - In between life and death is a labyrinth
"The Search for Jedda Rose" - When bodies keep washing up on shore, who is to blame?
"Sweetbreads at Midnight" - A horrific retelling of the Greek myth of Lamia
"Dragon Disposal" - When a dragon falls dead in the city, someone has to clean it up
"Dark the Sky, Radiant the Road" - The gods are silent, and the dead begin to rise

++++++

“Gorgeously written, wondrous and harrowing, Jalyn Renae Fiske’s SIDE STORIES is filled with characters isolated from their true selves. Whether a creature who kills and drinks the blood of martyrs or a child grappling with the crimes of her father, the protagonists of these stories long to break free of the trap of their lives and distorted beliefs and identities. Dark, raw and radiant, Fiske’s genre-bending stories call to mind the work of Aimee Bender and Karen Russell and dive deep into the processing of grief and the paths to redemption. At the heart of each of these stories is a recognition that we share a unifying oneness no matter how foreign we may appear in our various guises.” - JoAnne Tompkins, bestselling author of What Comes After

“A strong new addition to the world of fantastical fiction, Fiske’s SIDE STORIES is deeply steeped in magic and heart.

224 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2024

Reviews

[Christopher Golden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely spell binding and a complete escape from reality in every story. 🐉❤️

[Catherine Van Der Kar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful collection of stories. My favorites were Entwined, A Grave of Wind and Leaves, Emory The One Who Remembered and Dragon Disposal. But picking just a few is hard. The stories vary from grim and disturbing to some showcasing growth, self-realization and hope. I will be picking this up again and again.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐ only because I only give 5 stars to two authors. But I will make a point for each of the four stars I do give it.

I was fortunate enough to buy a copy of SIDE QUEST STORIES from the author, Jalyn Renae Fiske, at the McKinney, Texas Literary Fest. It is a remarkable collection that proves the author has truly mastered the art of the short story. Though originally published separately, each tale flows and feels like you’re stepping through a different doorway into continuous worlds both familiar and strange. There are some dark themes throughout, but the stories are unified by exceptional storytelling craft and an eye for the profound hiding in plain sight.

Exquisite Attention to Detail -

The author's gift for meaningful description shines throughout. In This Our River, These Our Gods, a simple line, ”Also as usual, the sight of her chapped lips made me hand her a glass of water.”, carries subliminal weight that speaks volumes about the story. It's this kind of precise, loaded language that elevates the entire collection.

A Genre-Spanning Journey -

What impressed me most was her fearless genre-hopping. Scarlet and Shadow, delivers a delightful fairy tale adventure complete with derring-do, while managing to be both whimsical and surprisingly dark. Another tale of fairies and new flavor combinations is both enchanting and haunting.

The Sherlock Holmes meets Lovecraft atmosphere of The Search for Jedda Rose, creates a perfectly grim Victorian slum aesthetic that would make Arthur Conan Doyle hesitant to be alone in the dark. Meanwhile, The Quiet and the Creeping, tackles the often-overlooked setting of nursing homes with a sensitivity that only comes from genuine understanding of these spaces and the lives within them. And I won’t get into “a last meal … tender as cuts of veal.” It’s just creepy. Zipper Boy and the Girl Made of Light, is a heartwarming boy meets girl, in a fantastic Edward Scissorhands style tale.

Philosophical Depth -

Beyond the genre versatility, these stories grapple with profound questions. The collection seems to ask whether the whole of someone can be merely the sum of their parts. And explores transformation and identity through characters like a boatman-turned-demon who seeks to become another thing but evolves into something far more complex and mysterious.

Imagination Unleashed -

From glasses filled with rainbows and emotions to silver mud beneath distant stars, the author's imagination knows no bounds. Yet these fantastical elements never feel gratuitous. They serve the deeper emotional and philosophical currents running through each story.

Final Verdict -

Jalyn Renae Fiske's SIDE QUEST STORIES, is a guided tour through scenes, emotions, and imagination that left me wanting to stay in the reading. If you are a reader, you know the feeling. It's rare to find a collection that can make you worry for the safety of fairies in one story and contemplate existence in a nursing home in another, all while maintaining consistent quality and emotional resonance.

This is multi-genre fiction at its finest, stories that entertain, challenge, and linger in your thoughts long after the dreaded final page. If you like dark and deep reading, I highly recommend this collection of stories that ask the big questions while never forgetting to tell a compelling tale. It makes me want to read more and try my hand at short stories.

[Ariel Basom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Master of Speculative Fiction


Jalyn Renae Fiske, in Side Quest: Stories, displays her mastery of speculative fiction. Whether it is dystopian science fiction in "Soul Candy"; a dark fairytale in "Verity's Faery Tea"; occult mystery ala Edgar Allen Poe in "The Search for Jedda Rose; or zombie/vampire horror in "Dark the Sky, Radiant the Road", Fiske delivers time and again in this aptly named collection of stories. Playing with olde tropes and twisting expectations of those tropes, Side Stories is a dark romp through the deranged mind of a speculating genius.

"Soul Candy" opens on a Anton, clearly depressed, in a seedy bar. With artful world building, we soon learn he is a 'mid' and the currency of this world is emotions. How better to reflect our own world than through this dystopia where a clear caste system gives some people worth, others struggles, and still others complete ostracization. In "Soul Candy" only an elite few are allowed the precious drugs that inspire ecstasy while the rest of civilization must scrounge for it.

"Verity's Faery Tea", while playing with the likes of Tinkerbell, though she is not named, is not cute. These dainty creatures, so treasured in other stories by other authors from other times, are treated quite differently by Fiske. With her dark humor at play, as it almost always is in this treasure of a book, we soon learn the faeries are not safe. I won't ruin the twist, nor should I, but if you read this book for one story, read this one. I can assure you, if you are anything like me, you will be delighted if not a bit disturbed.

"The Search for Jedda Rose" is a study of mystery and it left me wanting more. More of Pryor, the surly, down on his luck detective who has to figure out why women are washing ashore the Thames with rocks in their throats. The writer's versatility and devoutness to the occult displayed in this story is astounding. Pryor rivals some of the detectives in the canon and, while likely inspired by Doyle and Poe, it is my belief that Pryor is just as compelling a character as Holmes or Dupin.

In the final story of the collection, "Dark the Sky, Radiant the Road", any doubt we may have stored up that Fiske is a master of horror could be put away for good. Playing again with ancient tropes and improving on them, we are doubled up with vampires and zombies and the scenery, the dark religious undertones, and the character building in protagonist, Warwick, had me wishing there were more stories, which I have no doubt there are in this wicked mind.

Jalyn Renae Fiske has earned my respect with these stories. Her 'Side Quest' as she states in the forward, of writing short stories (and a poem) while setting out to write a novel, has me wondering when this novel will come. I for one, am willing to wait for it. If these stories are any indication, we are in for a treat. Especially if the kind of treat you want is the kind that leeches blood onto your chin, or causes madness that can't be easily explained or understood, or tastes as good as tea even if you don't know the secret ingredient.

Purchase Side Quest: https://www.jrenaewriter.com/side-que...

[Reader Views]

The short stories in this collection of speculative fiction dance between magic, fantasy, revenge, and heartbreak. The author, Jalyn Renae Fiske, does a splendid job of taking the reader on a voyage that explores different worlds and varied characters, yet it all comes together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.

“Side Quest: Stories” isn’t your ordinary collection of short stories. I was expecting this to be mostly fantasy based on the title, but it’s far more than that. Yes, there are dragons and magic users, but there are also explorations of love, longing, family dynamics, and even a bit of mystery. The characters rise off the page like real people, and Fiske gives them all unique personalities, desires, and needs.

The mood also shifts with each story. Some are dark, moody, and even uncomfortable in a good way, like good gothic horror. Other stories are on the lighter side, giving the reader a respite before moving back into darker territory.

Fiske is also a brilliant storyteller. Each piece in this collection is unique and has its own voice. You won’t feel as if each story is being told by the same voice. For me, that shows mastery of craft, an author who knows her characters deeply. In a way, it almost feels as if each story was written by a different writer. Still, Fiske’s voice shines through.

Overall, this is one of the better story collections I’ve read. The stories feel as if they were written with passion and intent. There aren’t any tired old tropes here. Fiske elevates the fantasy and speculative fiction genres to another level, taking the reader to new and interesting places. Even the titles of many of these stories alert the reader that something unique is in store; Gather the Lightning, A Grave of Wind and Leaves, Zipper Boy and the Girl Made of Light, and Dragon Disposal, for instance.

This collection of fourteen stories (and one lovely poem) will appeal to readers who appreciate good storytelling. I don’t think you need to be a fan of speculative fiction or fantasy to appreciate Fiske’s storytelling ability and the brilliant characters she has developed. Not all short story collections are created equal, and “Side Quest: Stories” sets the bar even higher.

[Book Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jalyn Renae Fiske’s Side Quest is a spellbinding short story collection that threads together the fantastical, the bizarre, the sorrowful, and the hopeful into a vivid tapestry of speculative fiction. Each tale feels like its own little world, yet they all orbit the same sun. Stories about transformation, identity, and the human ache to find meaning in magic, or at least something just beyond reach. From haunted boxes that hold hearts to candy that can bend reality, Fiske’s writing thrives in liminal spaces where myth rubs up against memory and childhood wonder is soaked through with grown-up grief.

Fiske writes like she’s pulling you by the hand into each scene, whispering truths you’re not sure you’re supposed to know. The imagery is lush and often strange in the best way. Raw, dreamlike, sometimes grotesque, but always beautiful. Her story “Soul Candy” was one of my favorites. It dances between sci-fi satire and horror with a slow burn that leaves a pit in your stomach. It’s not just about mood-altering sweets; it’s about how easy it is to surrender yourself to illusion when reality offers so little warmth. And then there are stories like “Heart Box” that broke me open quietly, like a poem with a knife tucked between the lines. Fiske writes grief with a tenderness that hurts. She captures children in these moments of impossible emotion and makes them feel completely real. And she never talks down to her characters or her readers.

A couple of the stories leaned into allegory or felt like exercises in style rather than fully lived-in worlds. But even then, the writing kept me in it. Fiske knows her craft. She’s playful, she’s weird, and she’s sharp. I also loved the way she framed the whole collection as her “side quests,” which made me think differently about short stories, not as detours but as power-ups, each one leveling up the voice of a writer who’s still growing and pushing herself.

I’d recommend Side Quest to anyone who loves speculative fiction with a soft heart and a sharp edge. Fans of Kelly Link or Carmen Maria Machado stories will feel right at home here. If you’ve ever wanted to disappear into a story that feels like it a dream, this collection is a must.

[Jim Coke · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful bunch of short stories. I thoroughly enjoyed everyone. Jaylyn Renae Fiske’s ideas are inventive, the stories well-constructed, and her language precise without losing its heart.

Considering this book, I find myself thinking of furniture. There are many dressers out there, and on the surface they appear similar. But only a few are hand crafted to the highest standard of workmanship. The rest are flimsy, unsatisfying imitations hiding their poor quality under a disappointing veneer. Side Quest: Stories is the rarer top-quality dresser.

I am pleased to add this anthology to my collection. I know I will revisit these stories many times. And I expect them to be as delicious as my first read.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was sent a digital copy of this book for free as part of LibraryThings early reviewers program.

It was okay, I liked some stories more than others. There were some really fun ideas. I think my favourite story was Verity's Faery Teas it was something new and delicious. Soul Candy had a neat idea. It made me miss my dystopian era.

[Grillz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I happened across Fiske's table at a local book market and was intrigued. Dark fantasy and sci-fi are right up my alley and this collection of short stories didn't disappoint. Each story was so different that I never knew what I was in for next, yet they all fit so nicely together.

Fiske, you've inspired me to want write again, thank you.

[Maxine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice variety of different stories. Some were very much for me, some were not as much my jam, but all were entertaining and written wonderfully.

I especially liked Soul Candy, Gather the Lightning, This Our River, These Our Gods, Verity’s Faery Teas, and Sweetbreads at Midnight

[Jenny Forwark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each story stayed with me a long time, really making me think. Incredibly interesting collection and a special reading experience, unlike any other fiction I've read (honestly!). Jalyn's talent for storytelling was clear, and I really enjoyed every story in this book.

[Janna Felix · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of side stories and a poem by the author, some are more engaging than others. I like this concept, and maybe one of these stories could be expanded upon.

[Jessie Fiske · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful collection of dark fantasy short stories. Some are pretty dark! And others are fun and adventurous! I don’t read too much dark fantasy, but these are so well written and engaging, I was drawn in immediately. If you like movies like Pan’s Labyrinth and works by Guillermo del Toro, then this is right up your alley.
My favorite is the science fiction story A Grave of Wind and Leaves - so rich in world binding and heartbreaking yet redemptive.
My other favorite is Gathering the Lightning. It’s just so hauntingly authentic and real and sad but also has a heartwarming ending.
So, if you want a very interesting and unique read and like ghosts, vampires, golems, dragons, warriors, possession, princesses, and of course - a zipper boy - then you must make this your next read!