NEXT MOVE

by Mike Minicky, Stephanie James Publishing

Mike Minicky's ‘Next Move’, is an amazing novella in a “Choose Your Own Adventure" like series, where each author gets their own novella furthering one story. This allows readers to experience many writing styles from many authors while reading “one” story, and picking unlimited paths. Authors that want to participate, and readers who want to enjoy this endless adventure, visit StephanieJamesPublishing.com for more details. Seven-year-old Cynthia had lost her grandfather, whom she was very close to. When young Cynthia found her grandfather’s chessboard in the attic, she set it up while wishing to play the game with him one last time. The next day, Cynthia believed her wish had come true, when she saw a piece on the board had been moved. Filled with excitement and delight, Cynthia began to play the game. Quickly she realized it was not her grandfather she was playing, but something evil. In the end Cynthia beat her unseen opponent, saving herself, her family, and her friends' lives. Or so she had thought.
Now, years later with the sudden death of her father, Cynthia is forced to return to her childhood home, a place she vowed never to set foot in again. To the attic where it all began, to play the game of death once more. This time however, her son Bobbie, and her husband David are involved, making the stakes much, much higher. Will Cynthia be able to survive against an unseen foe who is much stronger, more skilled, and a lot more dangerous? How many of her loved ones will be lost with her this time if she does not prevail? Finally, how does Cynthia’s son Bobbie fit into all of it, and will his role change the tide of the outcome? Find out in this heart pounding, fast-paced suspense thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat the entire ride.

120 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 13, 2024

About the author

Author of suspense thrillers and so much more. Host of Nightwriter Myths and Legends LIVE on TikTok every Tuesday at 8 pm Eastern.

Reviews

[Ricardo Medina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is part of the series "Your Move" by this editorial, and I read it as a standalone before reading the first one. As starters, I must say that I did not miss any info, and it can be read perfectly on its own and makes perfect sense.

We have an amazing paranormal thriller novella by the author. Imagine that you are reading a "Stranger Things" versus "The Goonies" but mixed with a story about a magical chessboard and a crazy neighbor. Everything goes to hell when Bobbie's soccer ball ends up inside the house of this neighbor, and trying to recover it, Bobbie and his new friends break and enter into the house and discover the wicked chessboard. Cynthia, Bobbie's mother, realizes that his grandfather was involved as well with this chessboard.

It is worth mentioning the amazing ability of the author to create a thriller scenario with great action scenes. Do not miss the in crescendo last scene of the book. It will make you want more of this story.

[Natasha Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cynthia along with her husband David and young son Bobbie, have to return to Cynthia’s childhood home which she has been away from for many years. Her parents have been in a tragic accident, leaving her mother widowed and badly injured.
Events happened when she was very young to do with her grandfather and a game of chess that make Cynthia very anxious about returning.

Bobbie goes outside to play with his soccer ball and meets up with one of the neighborhood kids, Tyler.
They go in Bobbie’s backyard to kick the ball around and Bobbie kicks it, right into the neighbors window.
Tyler takes off, saying the rumours are the woman that lived there was a witch and her husband is a widowed,mean old man.
Well, Bobbie wants his soccer ball, so he finds a hole in the fence and starts going through, when he encounters, old Mr.Wilburn, Bobbie backs out and runs into his house.
Bobbie has no choice but to tell his parents what’s happened because as he was going through the fence, his abdomen got cut pretty bad so he needed help with bandages.
David goes to Mr.Wilburns house to apologize and let him know the window will be paid for. He asks for Bobbie’s ball back, answer is ,”No”.

Bobbie wants his ball, so he and Tyler and 2 of Tyler’s friends, Mark and Brad, come up with a plan to break in and get the ball.

So many events take place in this short read. Watch out for the Crows, 2 headed snake and oh yes…the game of chess

[Eric Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

From Stephanie James Publishing’s “Choose Your Own Adventures” series, the follow up to Your Move brings back chess mastermind Cynthia, now a grown up with a husband and son, who returns to her old home after the sudden death of her father. Although written by a different author, the sequel keeps the personality of Cynthia and doesn’t miss a beat by fast forwarding so many years. Once again, she’s playing chess with a paranormal entity and must win or risk losing everyone in her life. But now we discover the backstory of who she’s been playing with and why. Mr. Wilburn was a wonderful antagonist, and Bobbie was well drawn out (although I didn’t care too much for his friends). If you read the first book in the series, be sure to follow up with this next chapter.

[Kristen Moran · Rating 5 out of 5]

It isn't just a game

Mike took Your Move and transformed it into something more than just another horror. He added more POVS to help you get a feel for the things that were happening. He added a background of the magic left from the first book and made the story expand into something truly magical.

The characters are easily liked, giving you a sense of horror of what could happen to them. Hoping that everything will be okay in the end.

This interactive series gives you so much more than just one ending it gives you all the endings a reader deserves.

[Marianne Antonichuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mike minicky didn’t leave me without being creeped out those crows oh my god really the crows very quick enjoyable read this book was amazing had me wondering the whole time what was gonna happen never saw some of it coming and the neighbor and Cynthia is older with a husband and son and you left the ending with a bit of a cliffhanger there where there could be more written

[Jessica foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast paced read

This book was a very fast paced thriller with great plot twists. I couldn't put it down and read it within a couple of hours. If you like a quick fast paced book this is for you.