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Midnight Visitors
This short story is set in the world of The Green Woman. It follows naturally from the second volume of the series, The Subtle Fiend, but can be read as a stand alone story.
When Aisha learns the identity of her betrothed, something unheard of happens—her parents try to prevent the marriage. But in a city bounded by a crystal Hemisphere, where no rebellion is tolerated and every gesture is monitored, where can Aisha hide? Adam, her brother, believes the rumours of a resistance movement, the followers of the Green Woman, but to put his sister in their hands, first he has to make contact, and the Pure Ones have so much more practice at rooting out clandestine activity than he does.
The Green Woman is moving, but so is the evil generated by the the Elders of Providence. Many stories will end in tragedy before the fate of the world is settled.
When Aisha learns the identity of her betrothed, something unheard of happens—her parents try to prevent the marriage. But in a city bounded by a crystal Hemisphere, where no rebellion is tolerated and every gesture is monitored, where can Aisha hide? Adam, her brother, believes the rumours of a resistance movement, the followers of the Green Woman, but to put his sister in their hands, first he has to make contact, and the Pure Ones have so much more practice at rooting out clandestine activity than he does.
The Green Woman is moving, but so is the evil generated by the the Elders of Providence. Many stories will end in tragedy before the fate of the world is settled.
45 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 8, 2014
4 people want to read
About the author
Jane Dougherty
26 books49 followersJane Dougherty is a product of the Irish diaspora. She was brought up in Yorkshire and educated in Manchester and London before moving to France to work in the wine trade. She spent fourteen years in Paris where she married and had four children, studied Irish for a year and taught herself Italian. Next move was to Laon in Picardy, a medieval gem of a town set in beautiful countryside, where her fifth child was born. She now lives in Bordeaux with her family, a Spanish greyhound and a posse of cats.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 15, 2014
Believing themselves to be the sole survivors of an apocalyptic fate, the people of Providence labor their days away under their crystal dome. Watched by demons from without and near-demonic tyrants from within, the common folk live their lives in a daze of drudgery and cheerlessness. Who can say which is better–to end a fruitless, meaningless life, or to go on living and hoping something better will come along?
This short stories tells the tale of what one particular family has to go through for the love of each other. A young girl who wishes to flee the accursed life that has been planned for her, with the help of her family, gets away to a more remote area of Providence. Hiding out, she sees the poorer families and how happy they are. She assumes they don't live with the dreadful fear of the midnight knock on the door.
The people she left fear the Black Boys and the Pure Ones–midnight visitors that steal away any citizen who is too outspoken, or too old, or too…anything. In this way, the lawmaking Elite quell any hope or trust, making mindless workers of its citizens.
However, those in the comfort of the Approved cannot stop one thing, no matter how they try to quell it: love. For it is all too true–even though it cannot be publicly expressed and is indeed missing in a great many places, love is starting to put holes in the fabric of the society that the demons (in the guise of the law) have put up in the great city of Providence.
If there is anything I like more than Ms. Dougherty’s “The Dark Citadel”, it would be the short stories she writes as tangents from the main series. Every citizen of Providence, drab though his or her life may be, has a story to tell, and courage enough to carry out dreams that cannot be allowed expression. These two stories end on a very positive note, because the Green Woman is returning.
And I’ll be continuing to read each story, large or small, until she is victorious.
This short stories tells the tale of what one particular family has to go through for the love of each other. A young girl who wishes to flee the accursed life that has been planned for her, with the help of her family, gets away to a more remote area of Providence. Hiding out, she sees the poorer families and how happy they are. She assumes they don't live with the dreadful fear of the midnight knock on the door.
The people she left fear the Black Boys and the Pure Ones–midnight visitors that steal away any citizen who is too outspoken, or too old, or too…anything. In this way, the lawmaking Elite quell any hope or trust, making mindless workers of its citizens.
However, those in the comfort of the Approved cannot stop one thing, no matter how they try to quell it: love. For it is all too true–even though it cannot be publicly expressed and is indeed missing in a great many places, love is starting to put holes in the fabric of the society that the demons (in the guise of the law) have put up in the great city of Providence.
If there is anything I like more than Ms. Dougherty’s “The Dark Citadel”, it would be the short stories she writes as tangents from the main series. Every citizen of Providence, drab though his or her life may be, has a story to tell, and courage enough to carry out dreams that cannot be allowed expression. These two stories end on a very positive note, because the Green Woman is returning.
And I’ll be continuing to read each story, large or small, until she is victorious.
October 17, 2014
The third gripping short story of action within the city of Providence in parallel with the external events detailed in 'The Green Woman' series.
As with the other two short story books 'Insiders' and 'Lupa', the author skillfully gets the reader involved in the heart of what is happening.
See my review also at:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-revie...
http://www.amazon.com/ss/customer-rev...
http://www.amazon.ca/product-reviews/...
http://www.amazon.com.au/product-revi...
As with the other two short story books 'Insiders' and 'Lupa', the author skillfully gets the reader involved in the heart of what is happening.
See my review also at:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-revie...
http://www.amazon.com/ss/customer-rev...
http://www.amazon.ca/product-reviews/...
http://www.amazon.com.au/product-revi...
May 20, 2014
This short story gives a real taste of Jane’s The Green Woman series. I have reviewed the first book of the series called The Dark Citadel and you can see the review here.
Based in the world of The Green Woman this is the story of Aisha who learns she is to marry the cruel son of her father’s boss because of a law which must be obeyed. Refusal would mean a visit from the Black Boys and certain death. A decision must be made.
Jane Dougherty has a wonderful way with words. She describes scenes which come to life so vividly it feels as if one is part of the scene itself. This series has the YA genre attached to it but I personally think it is also suitable for grandmothers like me :-)
Based in the world of The Green Woman this is the story of Aisha who learns she is to marry the cruel son of her father’s boss because of a law which must be obeyed. Refusal would mean a visit from the Black Boys and certain death. A decision must be made.
Jane Dougherty has a wonderful way with words. She describes scenes which come to life so vividly it feels as if one is part of the scene itself. This series has the YA genre attached to it but I personally think it is also suitable for grandmothers like me :-)
August 10, 2014
Young Adult Fantasy
At fifteen, Aisha was betrothed. To a frightening sociopath.
"It was the unavoidable fate of all girls to marry a boy she did not know, bear his children, and look after his house. She was to do her duty without complaint, to ask nothing in exchange, not even a soft look. She could be beaten if she pulled a long face or if the food was cold or burnt. The lot of a wife was grey and joyless."
People did not rebel against their fate. The few rebels experienced Midnight Visits from the Pure Ones.
And the rebels ceased to exist.
Aisha, her parents, and her brother must make the most difficult choice in their world.
Jane Dougherty's Midnight Visitors is a powerful short story. Every word contributes to the whole. The reader hurtles through the story, feeling the gut-wrenching emotions of the entire family.
At fifteen, Aisha was betrothed. To a frightening sociopath.
"It was the unavoidable fate of all girls to marry a boy she did not know, bear his children, and look after his house. She was to do her duty without complaint, to ask nothing in exchange, not even a soft look. She could be beaten if she pulled a long face or if the food was cold or burnt. The lot of a wife was grey and joyless."
People did not rebel against their fate. The few rebels experienced Midnight Visits from the Pure Ones.
And the rebels ceased to exist.
Aisha, her parents, and her brother must make the most difficult choice in their world.
Jane Dougherty's Midnight Visitors is a powerful short story. Every word contributes to the whole. The reader hurtles through the story, feeling the gut-wrenching emotions of the entire family.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews