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Losing Air: Dark and Strange Tales
A man loses his daughter, only to find her alive and well one morning. But she is not as she seems…
A woman finds herself slowly cut off from the world by bricks only she can see…
Two World War II fighter pilots are shot down over the South Pacific and are rescued by an eerie ship with not a single sailor aboard…
A simulation goes too far as a veteran finds himself face-to-face with his most horrifying memory…
Losing Air: Dark and Strange Tales brings together 15 works of unsettling and odd fiction from horror and fantasy writer Ava Christina. Settle in, get comfortable, but don’t forget to leave the light on.
A woman finds herself slowly cut off from the world by bricks only she can see…
Two World War II fighter pilots are shot down over the South Pacific and are rescued by an eerie ship with not a single sailor aboard…
A simulation goes too far as a veteran finds himself face-to-face with his most horrifying memory…
Losing Air: Dark and Strange Tales brings together 15 works of unsettling and odd fiction from horror and fantasy writer Ava Christina. Settle in, get comfortable, but don’t forget to leave the light on.
211 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 30, 2026
About the author
Ava Christina
2 books4 followersAva Christina is a multi-genre writer with a special love for horror. She holds a certificate in Creative Writing from Cornell University. Her short fiction has been published in Dark Harbor, Tumbleweird, The Bleeding Margin, and Home Bodies: An Anthology of Domestic Horror. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and four cats.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 13, 2026
This collection by Ava Christina offers up exactly what it says on the cover. She displays a virtuosity of talent in this set of short stories that make me eager to see what she can do with a full length story. In fact, if she hasn't written it already, I'd really like to read a full-length Scout's Honor novel.
No collection is perfect, and there are a couple of scant misses, but the way the author presents them suggests she is aware of their shortcomings.
Below are my spoiler-free thoughts on each story. If you like Weird Fiction with a slight literary bent, ala Stephen King -- pick up LOSING AIR.
Our Happiness - a heartwarming little piece reminiscent of Starman. Again, I wanted this one to keep going, I would have happily read more.
Stephen is okay - I see what the author was going for, but this one didn't land with me.
Sunday - feels like a PSA, not so much a story
Scout's Honor - this setup was so good it didn't need that ending. I would have read a whole novel with this premise!
The Guardian - another favourite that's got me diving into colonial history.
Cinderella Auction - succeeds at being a heck of a Stephen King story, as intended. This could've been a sequel to King's Christine!
Brick - an upsetting view of mental health issues. I wish it had a more uplifting ending, but then, we don't always get that, do we?
The Sample Table - a cozy fantasy in the middle of this collection.
Head trauma and a big problem - a writing exercise, I agree with the author
Babydoll - Heartbreaking and horrifying all at once. Is this my future? No, I don't have children.
Kokopelli - I really liked the first half of this story.
No collection is perfect, and there are a couple of scant misses, but the way the author presents them suggests she is aware of their shortcomings.
Below are my spoiler-free thoughts on each story. If you like Weird Fiction with a slight literary bent, ala Stephen King -- pick up LOSING AIR.
Our Happiness - a heartwarming little piece reminiscent of Starman. Again, I wanted this one to keep going, I would have happily read more.
Stephen is okay - I see what the author was going for, but this one didn't land with me.
Sunday - feels like a PSA, not so much a story
Scout's Honor - this setup was so good it didn't need that ending. I would have read a whole novel with this premise!
The Guardian - another favourite that's got me diving into colonial history.
Cinderella Auction - succeeds at being a heck of a Stephen King story, as intended. This could've been a sequel to King's Christine!
Brick - an upsetting view of mental health issues. I wish it had a more uplifting ending, but then, we don't always get that, do we?
The Sample Table - a cozy fantasy in the middle of this collection.
Head trauma and a big problem - a writing exercise, I agree with the author
Babydoll - Heartbreaking and horrifying all at once. Is this my future? No, I don't have children.
Kokopelli - I really liked the first half of this story.
October 25, 2026
Losing Air is a collection of 15 “dark and strange tales” and the debut collection from author Ava Christina.
Ava delivers sharp yet simple prose, that feels almost classic in its delivery. Each story is so different, ranging from visceral to haunting, thought-provoking to entertaining, and everything in between. The topics are weighty but handled with care - exploring themes like grief, combat trauma, mental illness, and more.
I enjoyed this immensely and I’m so glad I picked it up this spooky season! I especially loved the personal anecdotes at the start of each story. I will definitely be reading her next collection, Cobwebs!
Full disclosure: I know the author personally, though I know her mostly as wizard named Kellinor from our D&D campaign. My friendship with Ava has no bearing on my opinion of her book!
Ava delivers sharp yet simple prose, that feels almost classic in its delivery. Each story is so different, ranging from visceral to haunting, thought-provoking to entertaining, and everything in between. The topics are weighty but handled with care - exploring themes like grief, combat trauma, mental illness, and more.
I enjoyed this immensely and I’m so glad I picked it up this spooky season! I especially loved the personal anecdotes at the start of each story. I will definitely be reading her next collection, Cobwebs!
Full disclosure: I know the author personally, though I know her mostly as wizard named Kellinor from our D&D campaign. My friendship with Ava has no bearing on my opinion of her book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
A wonderful debut horror collection, for enthusiasts and beginners alike. A must read for fans of horror, short stories, and things that make you the right level of uncomfortable.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews