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Castles Burning
Wil Warner is a tormented son tossed about by the waves of both parents. His father is a beautiful but simple father and husband, and his mother is a narcissistic woman obsessed with the art of acquisition and the relentless climb to the top of society. After his father’s death, an adult Wil is left to face the ultimate horror of his mother’s mental illness.
45 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 6, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 27, 2015
I wasn't sure what to expect when I started to read this short story. I was immediately struck by the thoughtful and elegant prose, and the exquisite attention to detail. As I continued reading I found myself becoming more and more anxious; I just knew that something horrible was about to happen, and of course it did!
The author manages to subtly build up the suspense whilst entertaining you with some extremely well written fiction. He also offers a touching insight into what matters most in life; is it the acquisition of wealth and material objects or the capacity to love?
All in all this is a wonderfully crafted short story that is both macabre and chilling, yet distinctly beautiful in its approach.
The author manages to subtly build up the suspense whilst entertaining you with some extremely well written fiction. He also offers a touching insight into what matters most in life; is it the acquisition of wealth and material objects or the capacity to love?
All in all this is a wonderfully crafted short story that is both macabre and chilling, yet distinctly beautiful in its approach.
May 14, 2015
This was an impressive story featuring a dysfunctional family, especially his mother who seemingly loses her mind attempting to climb high society. Wil is caught in the middle and it was interesting to see how he was shaped by his circumstances. A definitely brilliant set of characters as well as an intriguing theme have made this a really enjoyable book to read. I am glad I could find this one, it conveys a positive message and provides an important commentary on ultra-wealthy lifestyles. Highly recommended.
April 26, 2015
This brilliant novel was just what I was looking for! With plot twists and dynamic characters on every page, Keith Wayne McCoy's Castles Burning is a novel I won't soon forget. What I especially loved about this read was not only the author's fantastic writing style, but also the sense of mystery and horror he incorporated in the pages. Overall, I highly recommend this great read.
January 30, 2016
Great read!
You think your family has some crazies? This mama beats them all! I can actually think of a few people that remind me of some of the characters. I loved the language and descriptive writing. Worth the time to read!
You think your family has some crazies? This mama beats them all! I can actually think of a few people that remind me of some of the characters. I loved the language and descriptive writing. Worth the time to read!
October 19, 2017
Castles Burning is a forty-four-page literary work of magical realism. Written in first person, this tale, if true, would be considered a memoir of Wil Warner, the son of Tom and Kat Warner. While there are some slightly horrific items in this story, it is mostly a story centered on family dysfunction. I would not classify it within the genre of horror myself. Mostly this is tale of an adult son coming to terms with the past and making the final cut of any ties still binding him to his mother. The final thing Kat Warner had to entice a reunion with her son was his father’s remains and the story begins as she lures Wil back to her prominent estate in hopes that he can collect his father’s ashes.
Though I had expected to be reading a work of horror, I knew almost immediately that I was reading a literary piece. There is difference in style, rhythm, and word choice than one would find in most mainstream novels where the literary leans more toward the poetic, and where word choice and sentence structures are as important, sometimes even more important, than the plot or point of telling the story. If I can liken the mainstream novel writer to classic rock, the literary writer would probably liken themselves to opera. These are, generally speaking, different camps of consumers. I would not have purchased this book had I known it was a literary work of fiction. I am story driven and, while the words flowed beautifully, there is not enough of a story here for my tastes. This book is for fans of the more literary works of fiction who will find Keith McCoy to be a very talented writer indeed.
Though I had expected to be reading a work of horror, I knew almost immediately that I was reading a literary piece. There is difference in style, rhythm, and word choice than one would find in most mainstream novels where the literary leans more toward the poetic, and where word choice and sentence structures are as important, sometimes even more important, than the plot or point of telling the story. If I can liken the mainstream novel writer to classic rock, the literary writer would probably liken themselves to opera. These are, generally speaking, different camps of consumers. I would not have purchased this book had I known it was a literary work of fiction. I am story driven and, while the words flowed beautifully, there is not enough of a story here for my tastes. This book is for fans of the more literary works of fiction who will find Keith McCoy to be a very talented writer indeed.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews