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Darkness Echoes
Six spooky never before seen YA short stories just in time for Halloween!
Til Death Do Us Part by L.A. Starkey - Jennifer and Zach have been best friends since birth, but as their senior year approaches, things change drastically. With little time left to reveal her heart before college, Jen plans a night to remember at the old haunted Vandercamp Mansion for Zach's birthday. It's just to be the two of them, and no one was to know, but upon arrival, they realize that their presence was expected. Their connection is forged as realization of their past is granted. A love that stands outside of time and space will not rest - Til Death Do Us Part.
Witch Moth by Kelly Hall - Dominic Dane has endured his sister Dahlia's evil deeds for decades while the two serve out their hundred year punishment, but when she threatens to use his new-found crush as her Halloween sacrifice, he realizes she'll never change. Promising Kitty he will stop at nothing to save her and her friends, Dominic is forced to explain his curse, revealing it's not just Dahlia who must kill to survive.
The Coming of the Skin Walker by D.E.L. Connor - When warriors Walking Bear and Nine Fingers rescue amnesia-ridden Lina from the clutches of the immortal Skin Walker they must flee on a harrowing journey where ancient Native American secrets and mysticism unfold, innocence is lost, and the forever bonds of love and friendship are tested.
Lantern by Chess Desalls - Five days before Halloween, all sixteen-year-old Tori has on her mind is vacationing with her family and scoring lots of candy. Her grandmother's estate, with its Gothic spires and trails that lead out to the woods, holds an unexpected secret: a lantern that lights up for Tori and nobody else. Certain that it's a ghost or a prank, she investigates further and discovers a mysterious life that shines in the darkness.
Cloak of Echoes by CK Dawn - Just as Emma Kincaid came into some disturbing empathic powers, she lost her mother in a car crash. She is also pretty certain she's being followed, maybe even hunted. But, is it the shadowy creatures that haunt her nightmares or the mysterious guy, shrouded in darkness, who just enrolled at Jefferson High?
Hallowed Eve by DB Nielsen - Ten years after the sinister disappearance of her father, the turmoil begins again with the stealing of souls ... Seventeen-year-old Evee is forced to accept her birthright of dark secrets and death as she inherits the role of Soul Guardian; a role that brings her into the dangerous influence of a coven of witches and the enigmatic, alluring Hunter, Ben, to defeat the rise of dark magick.
These stories have never been published before and were written specifically for this anthology. Hope you enjoy this spooky adventure!!
Til Death Do Us Part by L.A. Starkey - Jennifer and Zach have been best friends since birth, but as their senior year approaches, things change drastically. With little time left to reveal her heart before college, Jen plans a night to remember at the old haunted Vandercamp Mansion for Zach's birthday. It's just to be the two of them, and no one was to know, but upon arrival, they realize that their presence was expected. Their connection is forged as realization of their past is granted. A love that stands outside of time and space will not rest - Til Death Do Us Part.
Witch Moth by Kelly Hall - Dominic Dane has endured his sister Dahlia's evil deeds for decades while the two serve out their hundred year punishment, but when she threatens to use his new-found crush as her Halloween sacrifice, he realizes she'll never change. Promising Kitty he will stop at nothing to save her and her friends, Dominic is forced to explain his curse, revealing it's not just Dahlia who must kill to survive.
The Coming of the Skin Walker by D.E.L. Connor - When warriors Walking Bear and Nine Fingers rescue amnesia-ridden Lina from the clutches of the immortal Skin Walker they must flee on a harrowing journey where ancient Native American secrets and mysticism unfold, innocence is lost, and the forever bonds of love and friendship are tested.
Lantern by Chess Desalls - Five days before Halloween, all sixteen-year-old Tori has on her mind is vacationing with her family and scoring lots of candy. Her grandmother's estate, with its Gothic spires and trails that lead out to the woods, holds an unexpected secret: a lantern that lights up for Tori and nobody else. Certain that it's a ghost or a prank, she investigates further and discovers a mysterious life that shines in the darkness.
Cloak of Echoes by CK Dawn - Just as Emma Kincaid came into some disturbing empathic powers, she lost her mother in a car crash. She is also pretty certain she's being followed, maybe even hunted. But, is it the shadowy creatures that haunt her nightmares or the mysterious guy, shrouded in darkness, who just enrolled at Jefferson High?
Hallowed Eve by DB Nielsen - Ten years after the sinister disappearance of her father, the turmoil begins again with the stealing of souls ... Seventeen-year-old Evee is forced to accept her birthright of dark secrets and death as she inherits the role of Soul Guardian; a role that brings her into the dangerous influence of a coven of witches and the enigmatic, alluring Hunter, Ben, to defeat the rise of dark magick.
These stories have never been published before and were written specifically for this anthology. Hope you enjoy this spooky adventure!!
442 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 6, 2015
41 people are currently reading
1290 people want to read
About the author
L.A. Starkey
14 books280 followersLA Starkey or Laurie is the author of the Amazon Best Selling series, The Soul Keeper, a supernatural young adult series, and The Liarus Detective Series, a supernatural middle-grade series.
She is a former-CPA turned full-time fiction writer. Writing and reading are passions she just can’t help but indulge in on a daily basis. She lives with her husband and teenage son in Nashville, TN, and enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, and coming up with new ideas!
Come find me:
Facebook => https://www.facebook.com/L.A.StarkeyA...
Email => la@lastarkeybooks.com
She is a former-CPA turned full-time fiction writer. Writing and reading are passions she just can’t help but indulge in on a daily basis. She lives with her husband and teenage son in Nashville, TN, and enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, and coming up with new ideas!
Come find me:
Facebook => https://www.facebook.com/L.A.StarkeyA...
Email => la@lastarkeybooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
October 8, 2015
Six spooky tales, six talented authors who have conjured up some magical reading from their boiling cauldrons just in time for Halloween reading! A coven of writers out to give nightmares to anyone who opens this tome or brilliant minds who have given nightmare-free reading to younger teens just in time for trick or treating?
Darkness Echoes with a short tale each from L.A. Starkey, Chess Desalls, Kelly Hall, D.E.L. Connor, C.K. Dawn and D.B. Nielsen is fun seasonal reading with a dark edge without being gory, overly violent or overly terrifying. Perfect fun reading for the timid, the young and I’d even let my mom read it!
A young man trapped for decades inside a lantern, all because of magic. Can he be saved from his tiny prison by a teen with a vivid imagination and her understanding Grandmother? He makes her feel special, but is he evil in disguise, simply toying with the heart of a young girl?
Haunted mansions, best friends and a birthday surprise. Jennifer and Zach have a long history together, but part of their past has been veiled and only the truth can set them free to be together.
Native American secrets, amnesia, young love, loss and a desperate run for their lives from an ancient mystical being will test the bonds of friendship and trust when three begins to feel like a crowd.
Another haunted house, a school project and a trio of friends who unknowingly have trespassed into a world of two young witches cursed to endure one hundred years of punishment for the crime of loving a different race. For Dominic, this punishment has been his worst nightmare, but for his sister, Dahlia, their Halloween sacrifice has become a twisted means to an end that even he doesn’t know about. Will his attraction to Kitty force him to stand against his sister or will the strains of a secret rip these three teens apart before Dahlia can?
Evee’s loving father disappeared ten years ago and she never understood why. When a handsome young man who claims to be a “hunter” of evil comes into her life, her father’s secrets are revealed and Evee is expected to become the Guardian of an ancient tome that protects the world from dark magick. As she becomes a pawn for a coven of witches, Evee is forced to take the fast track in the learning curve, as people she thought she knew reveal their true identities and the part she must play to perfection or risk unleashing evil on the world. Is this really the time to sprout a major crush on a boy who seems to find her repulsive?
Isn’t being a teen hard enough? Don’t the gossip mills overflow with too much information, already? Emma has gained the ability to read people’s thoughts and, well, just think about the cacophony of thoughts that are screaming in her mind? She definitely knows what people think about her, that’s for sure, but when she starts seeing her mother’s death as if she were there when it happened, she fears she is losing her mind. Enter a hot young man who is like a calming blank slate, no thoughts screaming her, and when he touches her, the voices go away. So how does she ask him about this phenomenon without sounding like she has a screw loose? Is Emma destined for something more in her life, perhaps in another world?
Definitely a treat, a good read for around a campfire, after school, heck even for classroom reading! Each tale is well-written and will raise just enough goosebumps to thrill any reader. My only suggestion would be to watch for low branches and flying heads when racing for your life in the woods!
I received this copy from C.K. Dawn in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: October 6, 2015
Publisher: J.S. Marx Publishing
Genre: Horror Anthology - Ages 12-18
Print Length: 499 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Darkness Echoes with a short tale each from L.A. Starkey, Chess Desalls, Kelly Hall, D.E.L. Connor, C.K. Dawn and D.B. Nielsen is fun seasonal reading with a dark edge without being gory, overly violent or overly terrifying. Perfect fun reading for the timid, the young and I’d even let my mom read it!
A young man trapped for decades inside a lantern, all because of magic. Can he be saved from his tiny prison by a teen with a vivid imagination and her understanding Grandmother? He makes her feel special, but is he evil in disguise, simply toying with the heart of a young girl?
Haunted mansions, best friends and a birthday surprise. Jennifer and Zach have a long history together, but part of their past has been veiled and only the truth can set them free to be together.
Native American secrets, amnesia, young love, loss and a desperate run for their lives from an ancient mystical being will test the bonds of friendship and trust when three begins to feel like a crowd.
Another haunted house, a school project and a trio of friends who unknowingly have trespassed into a world of two young witches cursed to endure one hundred years of punishment for the crime of loving a different race. For Dominic, this punishment has been his worst nightmare, but for his sister, Dahlia, their Halloween sacrifice has become a twisted means to an end that even he doesn’t know about. Will his attraction to Kitty force him to stand against his sister or will the strains of a secret rip these three teens apart before Dahlia can?
Evee’s loving father disappeared ten years ago and she never understood why. When a handsome young man who claims to be a “hunter” of evil comes into her life, her father’s secrets are revealed and Evee is expected to become the Guardian of an ancient tome that protects the world from dark magick. As she becomes a pawn for a coven of witches, Evee is forced to take the fast track in the learning curve, as people she thought she knew reveal their true identities and the part she must play to perfection or risk unleashing evil on the world. Is this really the time to sprout a major crush on a boy who seems to find her repulsive?
Isn’t being a teen hard enough? Don’t the gossip mills overflow with too much information, already? Emma has gained the ability to read people’s thoughts and, well, just think about the cacophony of thoughts that are screaming in her mind? She definitely knows what people think about her, that’s for sure, but when she starts seeing her mother’s death as if she were there when it happened, she fears she is losing her mind. Enter a hot young man who is like a calming blank slate, no thoughts screaming her, and when he touches her, the voices go away. So how does she ask him about this phenomenon without sounding like she has a screw loose? Is Emma destined for something more in her life, perhaps in another world?
Definitely a treat, a good read for around a campfire, after school, heck even for classroom reading! Each tale is well-written and will raise just enough goosebumps to thrill any reader. My only suggestion would be to watch for low branches and flying heads when racing for your life in the woods!
I received this copy from C.K. Dawn in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: October 6, 2015
Publisher: J.S. Marx Publishing
Genre: Horror Anthology - Ages 12-18
Print Length: 499 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
October 11, 2015
Six spooky YA stories by some of best indie authors of the time.
This is a perfect October read, and I have definitely enjoyed, curling up with a warm blanket and glass of wine this week. I'm not used to reading short story collections, so forgive me if this is a little long-winded!
Til Death Do Us Part by L.A. Starkey
Jennifer is trying to get her life in order, putting her arrogant boyfriend in place, and telling her best friend Zach how she truly feels about him.
I loved this, it was such a strong opening piece.
It has a perfect balance of high school drama, infused with the obsession Jennifer has with the local ruined mansion house. The threat of ghosts makes it an increasingly spooky story; and I absolutely loved the psychological developments.
I also like that, although I guessed one twist a couple of pages in, there was a second that I did not see coming! But it worked fantastically. I don't actually want to say any more on the subject, because it is so worth finding out for yourselves!
Best Spooky Story
5/5
Witch Moth by Kelly Hall
Kitty is having to re-evaluate her friendships, as her two best friends betray her. But into this space, the mysterious Dahlia and Dominic make an immediate impression.
Another winner, as you slowly uncover the truth of the beautiful, but long-living siblings.
It beautifully portrays the relationships of the five main characters. I thought Dahlia was a particularly interesting character, and how most of her actions seemed driven by jealousy, or supposed revenge. It was amazing how real these characters were in such a short story.
I also loved the creativity of Dahlia and Dominic's story, and how it all comes to a conclusion... I might just go read it again.
Best Characters
5/5
The Coming of the Skin Walker by D.E.L. Connor
Fate brings Walking Bear and the beautiful Lina together, and they must fight an invincible enemy, and risk their clan, to stay together.
This was... the story that didn't fit seamlessly with the others. It's good, it just stands out as the least spooky, and not in the modern YA setting.
I believe it's a sequel to Connor's Spirit Warriors series, and it felt like it.
Walking Bear comes across Lina on a hunting trip, and it is love at first sight. But Lina is being chased by a Skin Walker, a monster that kills and is practically invincible. Lina has lost her memory, but she is convinced that any danger will follow her and she cannot lead it back to Walking Bear's tribe. Except when they suddenly change their minds and go back.
This is the only story in the collection that feels like a short story, somewhat rushed, with a change of heart for no other reason that getting the plot where it needs to be within a certain word-count. I think this, along with overstated love of the couple, made this my least favourite out of the lot.
Best Romance
4/5
Lantern by Chess Desalls
While exploring her grandmother's estate, Tori is drawn to a mysterious light that belongs to a forgotten old lantern.
This was so much fun, and so creative!
I loved everything about it. Tori and her family life; Jared; the mystery of the lantern. They all worked together so well.
I will be the first to admit that I struggled to follow the logic and actions of the main character the last time I read Desalls' work - I only bring this up now, because I take my hat off to Ms. Desalls, this all works wonderfully in Lantern.
Tori has such a good relationship with her family, especially her adorable baby brother. But she disobeys her parents, repeatedly visiting the lantern in the middle of the night, as she tries to discover the truth.
She's a really likeable character who only wants to help release the boy trapped in the lantern.
It keeps you guessing throughout, who is the real threat, and why. And it leaves you with just enough questions (like why the grandmother is so supporting of Tori's obsession, and what Manchin is really up to), that Desalls could follow up with a novel, and I would be the first to read!
Best Creativity
5/5
Cloak of Echoes by CK Dawn
High school is hard enough, but Emma is the freak that is bombarded with the feelings of everyone around her. She didn't ask for this power, and drowns in it every day. Until the mysterious Mattox shows up, an emotional blank on her radar.
This is an accompaniment of Dawn's Netherwalker series, which I have been following. As such, I can only speculate on how easy it is to understand the krims, King Arthur's court, etc.
But for me, this was fun. I was hooked from the first chapter.
I felt so sorry for Emma, struggling with everyone else's high school trauma. You can feel her relief when Mattox promises that he can teach her to control it.
This was also the only story in the YA collection that broaches sexual topics - which I found hilarious, and very suitable for the intended readership, if you're curious.
Best Series
5/5
Hallowed Eve by DB Nielsen
Evee thought that her father was lost to her, when he dies ten years ago. But the souls are restless, when a demonic power rises again.
Evee has the typical troubled teenage life, but suddenly she's dragged into the middle of a fight between witches and a dark force. Evee has to unravel the mystery behind the true story of Sleepy Hollow, and she has to embrace her role as the Soul Guardian.
I thought this was very creative, and I was hooked from the start!
I loved the interactions between Evee and supernatural hunter Ben.
I glossed over some of the denser witchy sections, but I really enjoyed the clashes with the Headless Horseman.
Best Action
5/5
Ok, so that's that. I have to say that each short story left me wanting to know more, to know what happened next!
I would definitely recommend checking out the individual author's works.
This is a perfect October read, and I have definitely enjoyed, curling up with a warm blanket and glass of wine this week. I'm not used to reading short story collections, so forgive me if this is a little long-winded!
Til Death Do Us Part by L.A. Starkey
Jennifer is trying to get her life in order, putting her arrogant boyfriend in place, and telling her best friend Zach how she truly feels about him.
I loved this, it was such a strong opening piece.
It has a perfect balance of high school drama, infused with the obsession Jennifer has with the local ruined mansion house. The threat of ghosts makes it an increasingly spooky story; and I absolutely loved the psychological developments.
I also like that, although I guessed one twist a couple of pages in, there was a second that I did not see coming! But it worked fantastically. I don't actually want to say any more on the subject, because it is so worth finding out for yourselves!
Best Spooky Story
5/5
Witch Moth by Kelly Hall
Kitty is having to re-evaluate her friendships, as her two best friends betray her. But into this space, the mysterious Dahlia and Dominic make an immediate impression.
Another winner, as you slowly uncover the truth of the beautiful, but long-living siblings.
It beautifully portrays the relationships of the five main characters. I thought Dahlia was a particularly interesting character, and how most of her actions seemed driven by jealousy, or supposed revenge. It was amazing how real these characters were in such a short story.
I also loved the creativity of Dahlia and Dominic's story, and how it all comes to a conclusion... I might just go read it again.
Best Characters
5/5
The Coming of the Skin Walker by D.E.L. Connor
Fate brings Walking Bear and the beautiful Lina together, and they must fight an invincible enemy, and risk their clan, to stay together.
This was... the story that didn't fit seamlessly with the others. It's good, it just stands out as the least spooky, and not in the modern YA setting.
I believe it's a sequel to Connor's Spirit Warriors series, and it felt like it.
Walking Bear comes across Lina on a hunting trip, and it is love at first sight. But Lina is being chased by a Skin Walker, a monster that kills and is practically invincible. Lina has lost her memory, but she is convinced that any danger will follow her and she cannot lead it back to Walking Bear's tribe. Except when they suddenly change their minds and go back.
This is the only story in the collection that feels like a short story, somewhat rushed, with a change of heart for no other reason that getting the plot where it needs to be within a certain word-count. I think this, along with overstated love of the couple, made this my least favourite out of the lot.
Best Romance
4/5
Lantern by Chess Desalls
While exploring her grandmother's estate, Tori is drawn to a mysterious light that belongs to a forgotten old lantern.
This was so much fun, and so creative!
I loved everything about it. Tori and her family life; Jared; the mystery of the lantern. They all worked together so well.
I will be the first to admit that I struggled to follow the logic and actions of the main character the last time I read Desalls' work - I only bring this up now, because I take my hat off to Ms. Desalls, this all works wonderfully in Lantern.
Tori has such a good relationship with her family, especially her adorable baby brother. But she disobeys her parents, repeatedly visiting the lantern in the middle of the night, as she tries to discover the truth.
She's a really likeable character who only wants to help release the boy trapped in the lantern.
It keeps you guessing throughout, who is the real threat, and why. And it leaves you with just enough questions (like why the grandmother is so supporting of Tori's obsession, and what Manchin is really up to), that Desalls could follow up with a novel, and I would be the first to read!
Best Creativity
5/5
Cloak of Echoes by CK Dawn
High school is hard enough, but Emma is the freak that is bombarded with the feelings of everyone around her. She didn't ask for this power, and drowns in it every day. Until the mysterious Mattox shows up, an emotional blank on her radar.
This is an accompaniment of Dawn's Netherwalker series, which I have been following. As such, I can only speculate on how easy it is to understand the krims, King Arthur's court, etc.
But for me, this was fun. I was hooked from the first chapter.
I felt so sorry for Emma, struggling with everyone else's high school trauma. You can feel her relief when Mattox promises that he can teach her to control it.
This was also the only story in the YA collection that broaches sexual topics - which I found hilarious, and very suitable for the intended readership, if you're curious.
Best Series
5/5
Hallowed Eve by DB Nielsen
Evee thought that her father was lost to her, when he dies ten years ago. But the souls are restless, when a demonic power rises again.
Evee has the typical troubled teenage life, but suddenly she's dragged into the middle of a fight between witches and a dark force. Evee has to unravel the mystery behind the true story of Sleepy Hollow, and she has to embrace her role as the Soul Guardian.
I thought this was very creative, and I was hooked from the start!
I loved the interactions between Evee and supernatural hunter Ben.
I glossed over some of the denser witchy sections, but I really enjoyed the clashes with the Headless Horseman.
Best Action
5/5
Ok, so that's that. I have to say that each short story left me wanting to know more, to know what happened next!
I would definitely recommend checking out the individual author's works.
November 9, 2015
Darkness Echoes is an anthology if six YA short Halloween style stories.
Till Death Do Us Part by L.A Starkey involves Jennifer, cheer leader and troubled child after the death of her Grandmother. She has a school project to do and because she loves all things horror, she'd like to do it on the local haunted mansion. Friend Zack has been absent all summer and she persuades him to go with her to the mansion, where she gets more than one surprise.
Witch Moth by Kelly Hall. A teenage love triangle between Kitty and best friend Jenn over a boy called Colt, ends on the night they visit a haunted house. Kitty meets brother and sister duo Dahlia and Dominic Dane at the house and falls for Dominic's good looks and manners. But there is something more to this pair and danger lurks for all the teenagers.
The Coming Of The Skin Walker by D.E.L. Connor can be read as a prequel to her Spirit Warrior series. Walking Bear and Nine Fingers are early native American hunters. They spot a young girl being chased by a figure who turns into a wolf before their eyes. They rescue the girl who tells them of a powerful medicine man called a Skin Walker who wants her dead.
Darkness Echoes by Chess Desalls is about a strange glowing lantern in the garden of Tori's grandmother. She discovers that inside is a young man named Jared who was once a disabled apprentice to a clever man. Tori must find a way to help Jared escape from the lantern.
Cloak of Echoes by CK Dawn is the story of Emma. She is an empathy and can feel emotions of those around her. Mattox Daniels the new boy in school has eyes only for her. But he is more than just an ordinary boy, sent to protect Emma from the Netherwalkers he has come from Camelot and the Knights of the Round Table.
Hallowed Eve by DB Neilsen introduces us to Evee Hale, a troubled child who can see ghosts. Told to run by her dead father, Evee heads to the house of Dr Crane. Evee learns she has been chosen as a Soul Guardian and must face the real evil which surrounds the story of The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow.
A good mix of spooky tales for the YA market.
Till Death Do Us Part by L.A Starkey involves Jennifer, cheer leader and troubled child after the death of her Grandmother. She has a school project to do and because she loves all things horror, she'd like to do it on the local haunted mansion. Friend Zack has been absent all summer and she persuades him to go with her to the mansion, where she gets more than one surprise.
Witch Moth by Kelly Hall. A teenage love triangle between Kitty and best friend Jenn over a boy called Colt, ends on the night they visit a haunted house. Kitty meets brother and sister duo Dahlia and Dominic Dane at the house and falls for Dominic's good looks and manners. But there is something more to this pair and danger lurks for all the teenagers.
The Coming Of The Skin Walker by D.E.L. Connor can be read as a prequel to her Spirit Warrior series. Walking Bear and Nine Fingers are early native American hunters. They spot a young girl being chased by a figure who turns into a wolf before their eyes. They rescue the girl who tells them of a powerful medicine man called a Skin Walker who wants her dead.
Darkness Echoes by Chess Desalls is about a strange glowing lantern in the garden of Tori's grandmother. She discovers that inside is a young man named Jared who was once a disabled apprentice to a clever man. Tori must find a way to help Jared escape from the lantern.
Cloak of Echoes by CK Dawn is the story of Emma. She is an empathy and can feel emotions of those around her. Mattox Daniels the new boy in school has eyes only for her. But he is more than just an ordinary boy, sent to protect Emma from the Netherwalkers he has come from Camelot and the Knights of the Round Table.
Hallowed Eve by DB Neilsen introduces us to Evee Hale, a troubled child who can see ghosts. Told to run by her dead father, Evee heads to the house of Dr Crane. Evee learns she has been chosen as a Soul Guardian and must face the real evil which surrounds the story of The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow.
A good mix of spooky tales for the YA market.
October 11, 2015
DB NielsenCK DawnD.E.L. ConnorKelly HallL.A. StarkeyChess DesallsThere are six novellas to in this collection.
As one of the authors of this anthology you might say that I am somewhat biased, however, aside from the theme of 'Halloween' I had no idea of what the other lovely ladies actually wrote. Not until after the release.
All of the tales are so different but also so delicious, spooky and sharp.
Do I have a favourite? - I love them all.
If you like spooky tales then this is definitely one for your TBR.
Just add it now. You will find something to absolutely adore.
As one of the authors of this anthology you might say that I am somewhat biased, however, aside from the theme of 'Halloween' I had no idea of what the other lovely ladies actually wrote. Not until after the release.
All of the tales are so different but also so delicious, spooky and sharp.
Do I have a favourite? - I love them all.
If you like spooky tales then this is definitely one for your TBR.
Just add it now. You will find something to absolutely adore.
October 17, 2015
Darkness Echoes is an eclectic mix of six Halloween-centric stories written by six different authors. Suspense, horror, magic, and undying love are just a few of the wickedly good themes in these tales.
Get ready for a heroine fix! The female leads in these stories are strong three-dimensional characters with attitude and determination. I didn't have any trouble rooting for them to succeed.
Fans of paranormal romance will not be disappointed. There are plenty of male leads in the stories that put us "normal" guys to shame with their amazing good looks, supernatural abilities, and above average cooking skills.
I particularly enjoyed the diverse angles of spooky that were explored. From "don't look behind you now" moments to more subtle horrors, these stories shed different lights on what frightens people and what dangers lurk in the dark.
Great Halloween fun!
Get ready for a heroine fix! The female leads in these stories are strong three-dimensional characters with attitude and determination. I didn't have any trouble rooting for them to succeed.
Fans of paranormal romance will not be disappointed. There are plenty of male leads in the stories that put us "normal" guys to shame with their amazing good looks, supernatural abilities, and above average cooking skills.
I particularly enjoyed the diverse angles of spooky that were explored. From "don't look behind you now" moments to more subtle horrors, these stories shed different lights on what frightens people and what dangers lurk in the dark.
Great Halloween fun!
December 13, 2015
Darkness Echoes was a great Halloween anthology by six authors who each brought a great tale to the table. Having read some of these authors' work before, I was pretty excited to see some new installments of theirs. It's hard to choose a favorite, so I won't. I even enjoyed the fact that several of the stories were a part of the said authors' original universe. Overall, very enjoyable.
October 12, 2015
This was a great collection of short stories.
My favorite is Till Death do us Part.
This was such a great read that the ending just shocked me.
I have already recommended this book to others.
My favorite is Till Death do us Part.
This was such a great read that the ending just shocked me.
I have already recommended this book to others.
October 6, 2015
This was a great read! I like the paranormal/sci fi genre to a point. Scary stories or spooky stories, I tend to stay clear of. But this one? Was awesome!! And if this is what others in this genre are like, I have been missing out. I love when I think I have figured everything out in a story and then a surprise happens. And it is usually something that I slap my forehead and think "Why didn't I realize that?" A definite story I was unable to put down.
(I received a copy of this story in exchange for a fair and honest review)
(I received a copy of this story in exchange for a fair and honest review)
October 18, 2015
This was a fun read. This book has short stories by different authors and they are all spooky and fun. The authors do a really good job with the Halloween theme of the book.
January 5, 2016
Great collection of spooky stories. I could not put the book down. Once I finished one of the stories I wanted to read the next one. had to say which was my favorite, but loved them all.
December 2, 2015
A wonderfully well written collection. I loved every story. It is a roller coaster ride of emotions. Full of fun,excitement, and danger. I would recommend this to everyone.
December 13, 2016
Enjoyed the stories
An interesting collection of short stories, some pretty creepy and some magical. A fun read from some wonderfully talented authors!
An interesting collection of short stories, some pretty creepy and some magical. A fun read from some wonderfully talented authors!
October 6, 2015
Because it had so many stories in one, I'll be writing this review a little different, 6 reviews for each story then one final one.
Till Dead Do Us Part by L.A. Starkey:
This was honestly my most favorite story out of this whole book. I thought it was wonderfully written and everything just went together smoothly. I loved the whole story line though the ending did kinda throw my off, it took a while of thinking before I realized what was going on. Lol But I liked it anyway.
Witch Moth by Kelly Hall:
Oh come on! Really! You already know this story alone would get 5 stars. Mrs. Hall is beat when it comes to writing. All her books I've read so far, I've loved, so of course I would love this one as well. I liked it. It was different from her Light Keeper series, so of course I was eager to see how she wrote this story... it was awesome (of course!) I loved all the characters... Except Kitty's "best friends" ugh they were just down right horrible. Talk about heartbreaking! And of course Dominic (hubba-hubba! Haha) he gets 5 sexy stars alone. Hahah That ending bout ripped my heart out though *insert crying photo here*
The Coming of the Skin Walker by D.E.L. Conner:
I enjoyed this story so much. There was just something about it that reminded me of my best friend who I lost a few years ago. The story line was different, I admit, I haven't read anything like this before and it has defiantly peaked my curiosity.
Lantern by Chess Desalls:
For a short story, I found it adorable. But there were just to many things about this story that left me with questions and no answers. Like why is it the grandmother was not surprised when she started talking about what was in the Lantern? Why was Jared sent there and why did THAT help? I don't know.. I'm just kinda lost about a few things. The story was interesting though, just to many questions
Cloak of Echoes by CK Dawn:
I really can't say much about this one other than, I would have preferred to read this in a whole series. Lol. I really think it would make a awesome book all by itself because again, there were questions that needed answers that didn't get answering and it really had that "book" vibe and not a "short story" vibe to me.
Hallowed Eve by DB Nielsen:
I love pretty much all things having to do with the Headless horseman. So of course, I like this book. I want to love it, but I can't. I'm just not big into witchcraft stuff so closer to the end, I was having to skip a good bit to get past the coven and witchcraft things. If it weren't for that I would really label it as perfect. That's just my thoughts though.
All in all-
I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read and had very interesting stories in it. These six authors have mega talent and put a really great book together.
Till Dead Do Us Part by L.A. Starkey:
This was honestly my most favorite story out of this whole book. I thought it was wonderfully written and everything just went together smoothly. I loved the whole story line though the ending did kinda throw my off, it took a while of thinking before I realized what was going on. Lol But I liked it anyway.
Witch Moth by Kelly Hall:
Oh come on! Really! You already know this story alone would get 5 stars. Mrs. Hall is beat when it comes to writing. All her books I've read so far, I've loved, so of course I would love this one as well. I liked it. It was different from her Light Keeper series, so of course I was eager to see how she wrote this story... it was awesome (of course!) I loved all the characters... Except Kitty's "best friends" ugh they were just down right horrible. Talk about heartbreaking! And of course Dominic (hubba-hubba! Haha) he gets 5 sexy stars alone. Hahah That ending bout ripped my heart out though *insert crying photo here*
The Coming of the Skin Walker by D.E.L. Conner:
I enjoyed this story so much. There was just something about it that reminded me of my best friend who I lost a few years ago. The story line was different, I admit, I haven't read anything like this before and it has defiantly peaked my curiosity.
Lantern by Chess Desalls:
For a short story, I found it adorable. But there were just to many things about this story that left me with questions and no answers. Like why is it the grandmother was not surprised when she started talking about what was in the Lantern? Why was Jared sent there and why did THAT help? I don't know.. I'm just kinda lost about a few things. The story was interesting though, just to many questions
Cloak of Echoes by CK Dawn:
I really can't say much about this one other than, I would have preferred to read this in a whole series. Lol. I really think it would make a awesome book all by itself because again, there were questions that needed answers that didn't get answering and it really had that "book" vibe and not a "short story" vibe to me.
Hallowed Eve by DB Nielsen:
I love pretty much all things having to do with the Headless horseman. So of course, I like this book. I want to love it, but I can't. I'm just not big into witchcraft stuff so closer to the end, I was having to skip a good bit to get past the coven and witchcraft things. If it weren't for that I would really label it as perfect. That's just my thoughts though.
All in all-
I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read and had very interesting stories in it. These six authors have mega talent and put a really great book together.
November 6, 2015
I received a copy of this book from Hurricane Readers Review group in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed these short stories. Most of them were easy to figure out but still enjoyable. Great read for Halloween.
I enjoyed these short stories. Most of them were easy to figure out but still enjoyable. Great read for Halloween.
November 30, 2015
Paranormal collective of spooky
Great authors with great tales from the spooky side to tell. What Halloween is complete without tales of ghosts, witches, vampires, knights of the round table descendents, Skywalker, and just plain paranormal. I loved it
Great authors with great tales from the spooky side to tell. What Halloween is complete without tales of ghosts, witches, vampires, knights of the round table descendents, Skywalker, and just plain paranormal. I loved it
February 4, 2017
A wonderful collection of mysterious stories! Each one had its own voice, yet kept me turning the pages!
I loved every story, and even wanted more.
A fabulous read for anyone who enjoys a group of good short mysteries!
I loved every story, and even wanted more.
A fabulous read for anyone who enjoys a group of good short mysteries!
October 14, 2015
I received this book from the author for an honest review! Loved this book! Great short stories by great authors! I would love to read more like this!
May 13, 2016
I received this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways!
Just FYI, this book is free for Kindle. I was lucky enough to win the paperback edition through Goodreads!
This is a dark Young Adult short story collection, comprised of six short stories written by six different writers.
‘Til Death Do Us Part’ by L. A. Starkey is the first story. It’s a creepy and mysterious teenage love story; a thrilling ghost story about having the courage to be yourself, despite what other people might think. It’s about Jen, who from the outside is the typical popular girl, but she is really interested in horror and the paranormal. She is secretly in love with her nerdy friend Zack. She talks him into going to the town’s haunted asylum with her. But all along it’s like something is off…
‘Witch Moth’ by Kelly Hall is about Kitty, who feels betrayed when her crush chooses her best friend Jenny over her. But then she meets the mysterious Dominic and his sister Dahlia. The story is about witches and love, curses and friendship. The ending seemed a bit rushed, as though something just had to happen, which was a shame, since the story really had potential.
‘The Coming of the Skin Walker’ by D. E. L. Connor is about the Indians Walking Bear and Nine Fingers, who save the girl Lina from a Skin Walker. This story was very atmospheric and interesting. However, I found it rather confusing too. If that’s because of my lack of knowledge of traditional Indian folk lore and myths, I can’t say, but it got me intrigued nonetheless.
‘Lantern’ by Chess Desalls might actually be my favorite of the collection. It’s about Tori, who visits her grandmother’s old house. One night when she is exploring the grounds, she is lost and suddenly finds herself in front of the lantern, which glows all by itself. When she tells her grandmother about it, it turns out that no one else has ever seen the lantern light up. The atmosphere of the story is very atmospheric and mysterious, even fairy tale like. It also seemed a bit more well written and worked through than the other stories in the collection. The story itself was amazing and I kind of wish it was longer than just a short story, since the length did not leave much room for details and backstory, which I would have loved!
‘Cloak of Echoes’ by CK Dawn is about Emma, who has emphatic abilities. She feels very strongly what other people around her are feeling. The mysterious Mattox enters her life and from there, the story unfolds. It’s great, classic YA fantasy. As with ‘Lantern,’ the universe created by the author seems almost too big for just a short story, both have the potential to become an entire book or series. Many of the stories in this collection really seems to be parts of a larger universe, and it seems that at least ‘Cloak of Echoes’ has more books written in the same universe, which I would love to check out!
The last story is ‘Hallowed Eve’ by DB Nielsen, which is about Evee. It’s a sort of retelling or story based on the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. It was exciting and interesting, and made me want to read the original Legend of Sleepy Hollow as well.
Between the stories are small presentations of the authors and their other books, which is great for inspiration, but also seems a bit like easy advertising. I like the stories a lot, but the lack of proofreading and editing unfortunately is a reoccurring source of annoyance, and sort of drags down the overall experience a little bit. At least it’s an easy problem to fix!
Quality wise the stories varies, which is to be expected with collections of this sort, but overall I was greatly entertained throughout. My favorites are definitely ‘Lantern, ��Cloak of Echoes’ and ‘Hallowed Eve’.
Just FYI, this book is free for Kindle. I was lucky enough to win the paperback edition through Goodreads!
This is a dark Young Adult short story collection, comprised of six short stories written by six different writers.
‘Til Death Do Us Part’ by L. A. Starkey is the first story. It’s a creepy and mysterious teenage love story; a thrilling ghost story about having the courage to be yourself, despite what other people might think. It’s about Jen, who from the outside is the typical popular girl, but she is really interested in horror and the paranormal. She is secretly in love with her nerdy friend Zack. She talks him into going to the town’s haunted asylum with her. But all along it’s like something is off…
‘Witch Moth’ by Kelly Hall is about Kitty, who feels betrayed when her crush chooses her best friend Jenny over her. But then she meets the mysterious Dominic and his sister Dahlia. The story is about witches and love, curses and friendship. The ending seemed a bit rushed, as though something just had to happen, which was a shame, since the story really had potential.
‘The Coming of the Skin Walker’ by D. E. L. Connor is about the Indians Walking Bear and Nine Fingers, who save the girl Lina from a Skin Walker. This story was very atmospheric and interesting. However, I found it rather confusing too. If that’s because of my lack of knowledge of traditional Indian folk lore and myths, I can’t say, but it got me intrigued nonetheless.
‘Lantern’ by Chess Desalls might actually be my favorite of the collection. It’s about Tori, who visits her grandmother’s old house. One night when she is exploring the grounds, she is lost and suddenly finds herself in front of the lantern, which glows all by itself. When she tells her grandmother about it, it turns out that no one else has ever seen the lantern light up. The atmosphere of the story is very atmospheric and mysterious, even fairy tale like. It also seemed a bit more well written and worked through than the other stories in the collection. The story itself was amazing and I kind of wish it was longer than just a short story, since the length did not leave much room for details and backstory, which I would have loved!
‘Cloak of Echoes’ by CK Dawn is about Emma, who has emphatic abilities. She feels very strongly what other people around her are feeling. The mysterious Mattox enters her life and from there, the story unfolds. It’s great, classic YA fantasy. As with ‘Lantern,’ the universe created by the author seems almost too big for just a short story, both have the potential to become an entire book or series. Many of the stories in this collection really seems to be parts of a larger universe, and it seems that at least ‘Cloak of Echoes’ has more books written in the same universe, which I would love to check out!
The last story is ‘Hallowed Eve’ by DB Nielsen, which is about Evee. It’s a sort of retelling or story based on the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. It was exciting and interesting, and made me want to read the original Legend of Sleepy Hollow as well.
Between the stories are small presentations of the authors and their other books, which is great for inspiration, but also seems a bit like easy advertising. I like the stories a lot, but the lack of proofreading and editing unfortunately is a reoccurring source of annoyance, and sort of drags down the overall experience a little bit. At least it’s an easy problem to fix!
Quality wise the stories varies, which is to be expected with collections of this sort, but overall I was greatly entertained throughout. My favorites are definitely ‘Lantern, ��Cloak of Echoes’ and ‘Hallowed Eve’.
February 24, 2016
Six different stories of spooky hauntings, love, tragedy, and magic. All by six different talented authors.
One tells of a tragic tale of the descendants of Icabob Crane and his enemy. The girl may of lost her father but when she finds out she has to defeat the headless horseman all bets may be off. Will she be able to do it and save the souls that were promised to hell?
The second story about a girl who discovers the two kids living in a haunted house are more than what they seem. Now if only she can stay alive long enough to enjoy Halloween.
A third tale of two lovers who for some reason always gravitate towards a haunted house in town.
The fourth tale of two Indians who must out smart the evil skin walker. Who wants all the power in the world and will kill everyone to get it. Even the girl that they rescue. But why is it after her in the first place?
The fifth tale is about a girl who visits her grandma and finds a old lantern that last lights up by itself... And it appears to have a tiny many inside?? How did he get there and why?
The sixth tale is about a girl who loses her mother and acquires powers she don't know about and also is that shadows following her every move. And what of the mysterious boy that seems to pop up everywhere?
One tells of a tragic tale of the descendants of Icabob Crane and his enemy. The girl may of lost her father but when she finds out she has to defeat the headless horseman all bets may be off. Will she be able to do it and save the souls that were promised to hell?
The second story about a girl who discovers the two kids living in a haunted house are more than what they seem. Now if only she can stay alive long enough to enjoy Halloween.
A third tale of two lovers who for some reason always gravitate towards a haunted house in town.
The fourth tale of two Indians who must out smart the evil skin walker. Who wants all the power in the world and will kill everyone to get it. Even the girl that they rescue. But why is it after her in the first place?
The fifth tale is about a girl who visits her grandma and finds a old lantern that last lights up by itself... And it appears to have a tiny many inside?? How did he get there and why?
The sixth tale is about a girl who loses her mother and acquires powers she don't know about and also is that shadows following her every move. And what of the mysterious boy that seems to pop up everywhere?
March 1, 2016
Darkness Echoes: A Spooky YA Short Story Collection L.A. Starkey
A great collection of short spooky stories. Each by different Authors, with their own style and touch. There is something for everyone in this fantastic collection. I highly recommend Darkness Echoes: A Spooky YA Short Story Collection to Y/A and Adult readers. Titles and Authors listed below.
Til Death Do Us Part by L.A. Starkey - Jennifer and Zach
Witch Moth by Kelly Hall
The Coming of the Skin Walker by D.E.L. Connor
Lantern by Chess Desalls
Cloak of Echoes by CK Dawn
Hallowed Eve by DB Nielsen
A great collection of short spooky stories. Each by different Authors, with their own style and touch. There is something for everyone in this fantastic collection. I highly recommend Darkness Echoes: A Spooky YA Short Story Collection to Y/A and Adult readers. Titles and Authors listed below.
Til Death Do Us Part by L.A. Starkey - Jennifer and Zach
Witch Moth by Kelly Hall
The Coming of the Skin Walker by D.E.L. Connor
Lantern by Chess Desalls
Cloak of Echoes by CK Dawn
Hallowed Eve by DB Nielsen
December 17, 2016
Interesting YA Stories.
I will be breaking down each story, so this will be long.
-Till Death Do Us Part by L.A. Starkey. 4 out of 5.
A history of immortal love. Besides spelling errors, this story was great in the beginning, but halfway through when the story was unfolding it felt unnaturally rushed. It was hard to absorb the story at that point, which caused me to continuously reread sentences in order to understand what I was reading.
-Witch Moth by Kelly Hall. 3.5 out of 5.
A tale of betrayal and love. I came across misspellings, missing words, extra spaces, a name misspelled, which threw me off, one case of head hopping, a confusion in Chapter 3 on who was talking in certain areas, and quite a bit of repeated sentences but wrote in different ways, that kept taking me out of the story. But, it was a comforting story with likable characters that were well written.
-The Coming of the Skin Walker by D.E.L. Connor. 2 out of 5.
Uncovering a past to save a village. This story was not spooky and didn't fit the theme in this collection. There was misspellings, missing capital letters on names, missing periods, and a lot of tabs in the formatting front that pulled me from the story. Way too many exclamation points that made the characters unbelievable in their speech. They were Native Americans who don't speak in excited voices. The romance felt forced. You have Lina desiring Nine Fingers, then she finds out he is married so then goes for Walking Bear and then claims love. It was unrealistic when there was no building of this said love. There was no separation of POV's which made it hard to connect with the characters. A point in the story I had no idea who was talking, and also quite a few places of author intrusion that seemed as if the author wanted to tell me what to read instead of showing it.
-Lantern by Chess Desalls. 4 out of 5.
Finding hope in the smallest of places and bringing forward new life. In the first half of the story I noticed, misspellings, too many tabs, a case of author intrusion and head hopping that brought me out of the story. The use of the word "baby" was annoying and glad that it was used less later in the story. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and when Tori found out "what" was in the lantern I couldn't put it down.
-Cloak of Echoes by CK Dawn. 4 out of 5.
Secret lives with an old tale. Noticed misspellings, extra words, lack of commas in certain places and one comma in the wrong place that pulled me from the story. I liked the vivid detail of the story and the characters that the author wrote. It was a different take of Camelot and the Knights of the Round Table and the history behind it.
-Hallowed Eve by DB Nielson. 4 out of 5.
A tale of a hidden past that leads to a destined future. This story was first person present tense which made it hard to read through. There being apostrophes instead of quotation marks kept throwing me off, as well. I noticed few misspellings, missing words and content issues. Some inner thought was italicized while other parts weren't, which was confusing. It was like reading a diary from the main character but the description was thorough and well knowledgeable. This was also a story on an old tale of Sleepy Hallow.
Overall, this collection was spot on with spooky stories, apart from the one mentioned above. I enjoyed each story in its own way by how well the stories were put together.
I will be breaking down each story, so this will be long.
-Till Death Do Us Part by L.A. Starkey. 4 out of 5.
A history of immortal love. Besides spelling errors, this story was great in the beginning, but halfway through when the story was unfolding it felt unnaturally rushed. It was hard to absorb the story at that point, which caused me to continuously reread sentences in order to understand what I was reading.
-Witch Moth by Kelly Hall. 3.5 out of 5.
A tale of betrayal and love. I came across misspellings, missing words, extra spaces, a name misspelled, which threw me off, one case of head hopping, a confusion in Chapter 3 on who was talking in certain areas, and quite a bit of repeated sentences but wrote in different ways, that kept taking me out of the story. But, it was a comforting story with likable characters that were well written.
-The Coming of the Skin Walker by D.E.L. Connor. 2 out of 5.
Uncovering a past to save a village. This story was not spooky and didn't fit the theme in this collection. There was misspellings, missing capital letters on names, missing periods, and a lot of tabs in the formatting front that pulled me from the story. Way too many exclamation points that made the characters unbelievable in their speech. They were Native Americans who don't speak in excited voices. The romance felt forced. You have Lina desiring Nine Fingers, then she finds out he is married so then goes for Walking Bear and then claims love. It was unrealistic when there was no building of this said love. There was no separation of POV's which made it hard to connect with the characters. A point in the story I had no idea who was talking, and also quite a few places of author intrusion that seemed as if the author wanted to tell me what to read instead of showing it.
-Lantern by Chess Desalls. 4 out of 5.
Finding hope in the smallest of places and bringing forward new life. In the first half of the story I noticed, misspellings, too many tabs, a case of author intrusion and head hopping that brought me out of the story. The use of the word "baby" was annoying and glad that it was used less later in the story. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and when Tori found out "what" was in the lantern I couldn't put it down.
-Cloak of Echoes by CK Dawn. 4 out of 5.
Secret lives with an old tale. Noticed misspellings, extra words, lack of commas in certain places and one comma in the wrong place that pulled me from the story. I liked the vivid detail of the story and the characters that the author wrote. It was a different take of Camelot and the Knights of the Round Table and the history behind it.
-Hallowed Eve by DB Nielson. 4 out of 5.
A tale of a hidden past that leads to a destined future. This story was first person present tense which made it hard to read through. There being apostrophes instead of quotation marks kept throwing me off, as well. I noticed few misspellings, missing words and content issues. Some inner thought was italicized while other parts weren't, which was confusing. It was like reading a diary from the main character but the description was thorough and well knowledgeable. This was also a story on an old tale of Sleepy Hallow.
Overall, this collection was spot on with spooky stories, apart from the one mentioned above. I enjoyed each story in its own way by how well the stories were put together.
August 31, 2017
The first two stories were wonderful (5*), I couldn't put them down. Unfortunately I cannot say the same for the rest of the book. My breakdown of each short story is as follows;
Till death do us part: I loved loved Loved this story. A budding romance, creepy setting within modern times along side some mystery. Perfect!
Witch Moth: Despite the title, this story was great! Old abandoned house, creepy back story, the mysterious love interest. Yes please!
The coming of the skin walker: Compared to the others this story was disappointing. It took me a while to get into and I was not overly drawn to any character. As I read on it improved, until I reached the epilogue. Totally unrelated to the story. It serves as an opening to read D. E. L. Connery Spirit Warriors Series, which frankly this short story does no compel me to read.
Lantern: To start with I didn't love it, but I didn't dislike it either, and to be honest that feeling never really changed. I warmed once the characters met but that ended to quickly for me. I thought the epilogue would give an incite as to what happened next but instead just rounded up the short story from the prologue.
Cloak of Echo's: I enjoyed the gist of Emma's abilities and her and Mattox's connection but not the back ground story line. Overall this story was okay, nothing better, nothing less.
Hallowed Eve: This story could have been good, there was a potentially interesting plot but I couldn't get past the writing style. Clusters of adjectives and metaphors banded together until sentences did not quite make sense. It was like the writer did not quite make the word count and tried fill out the story. It reminded me of when Joey in Friends used a thesaurus to make his letter seem more intelligent. It didn't.
Till death do us part: I loved loved Loved this story. A budding romance, creepy setting within modern times along side some mystery. Perfect!
Witch Moth: Despite the title, this story was great! Old abandoned house, creepy back story, the mysterious love interest. Yes please!
The coming of the skin walker: Compared to the others this story was disappointing. It took me a while to get into and I was not overly drawn to any character. As I read on it improved, until I reached the epilogue. Totally unrelated to the story. It serves as an opening to read D. E. L. Connery Spirit Warriors Series, which frankly this short story does no compel me to read.
Lantern: To start with I didn't love it, but I didn't dislike it either, and to be honest that feeling never really changed. I warmed once the characters met but that ended to quickly for me. I thought the epilogue would give an incite as to what happened next but instead just rounded up the short story from the prologue.
Cloak of Echo's: I enjoyed the gist of Emma's abilities and her and Mattox's connection but not the back ground story line. Overall this story was okay, nothing better, nothing less.
Hallowed Eve: This story could have been good, there was a potentially interesting plot but I couldn't get past the writing style. Clusters of adjectives and metaphors banded together until sentences did not quite make sense. It was like the writer did not quite make the word count and tried fill out the story. It reminded me of when Joey in Friends used a thesaurus to make his letter seem more intelligent. It didn't.
October 29, 2015
A compilation of stories that "stand" on their own (airquotes intended).
Question: Do all mothers call their teenage daughters "baby" nowadays?
Till Death Do Us Part - No stars - I should have known from the title this was going to be bad..."Till"? Maybe I was hoping for an agricultural/punny/spooky story? Alas, it was just a homophonic disaster without an editor. The dialogue was stilted, I figured out the twist almost immediately, and the sketchy outline of how the characters got themselves into this situation was completely unsatisfying.
Witch Moth - Did not read. "Till" was so bad that my tolerance was gone, so a few paragraphs made me stop reading.
The Coming of the Skin Walker - Didn't get through more than a few paragraphs of this one, either.
Lantern - 3 stars - I think I got through this one because I liked the main character (and no glaring grammatical errors until the very end). Cute story. The beginning is somewhat spooky, and there's a little suspense about where our heroine will end up at the end of the story.
Cloak of Echoes - 2.5 stars - Less spooky story and more "paranormally gifted teen gets discovered by soulmate". What is up with these secret societies that send opposite-sex mentors?? I made it through this one. Belabored similes. Unexplained prologue texting. Very juvenile heroine behavior.
Hallowed Eve - I got through half (?) of this. Then the writing was too much (weird sentence structure, more simile meltdown, seemed to be written by a British author--single quotes, 'bloody hell'--but was supposed to be set in America? Because, descendants of Brom Bones in Legend of Sleepy Hollow, of course).
Question: Do all mothers call their teenage daughters "baby" nowadays?
Till Death Do Us Part - No stars - I should have known from the title this was going to be bad..."Till"? Maybe I was hoping for an agricultural/punny/spooky story? Alas, it was just a homophonic disaster without an editor. The dialogue was stilted, I figured out the twist almost immediately, and the sketchy outline of how the characters got themselves into this situation was completely unsatisfying.
Witch Moth - Did not read. "Till" was so bad that my tolerance was gone, so a few paragraphs made me stop reading.
The Coming of the Skin Walker - Didn't get through more than a few paragraphs of this one, either.
Lantern - 3 stars - I think I got through this one because I liked the main character (and no glaring grammatical errors until the very end). Cute story. The beginning is somewhat spooky, and there's a little suspense about where our heroine will end up at the end of the story.
Cloak of Echoes - 2.5 stars - Less spooky story and more "paranormally gifted teen gets discovered by soulmate". What is up with these secret societies that send opposite-sex mentors?? I made it through this one. Belabored similes. Unexplained prologue texting. Very juvenile heroine behavior.
Hallowed Eve - I got through half (?) of this. Then the writing was too much (weird sentence structure, more simile meltdown, seemed to be written by a British author--single quotes, 'bloody hell'--but was supposed to be set in America? Because, descendants of Brom Bones in Legend of Sleepy Hollow, of course).
December 10, 2015
Til Death Do Us Part by L.A. Starkey - This had to be my favorite story of the collection. I had an idea of what was going on but there was a nice twist at the end. The characters were likable and interesting.
Witch Moth by Kelly Hall - This was an entertaining tale about revenge and love.
The Coming of the Skin Walker by D.E.L. Connor -At first I did not think I would like this one but it became very interesting. I have not seen very many YA Native American tales that take place in historical times.
Lantern by Chess Desalls - I thought this was an okay tale but I was left with some questions I would have liked answered. Overall the story was charming with a likable main character.
Cloak of Echoes by CK Dawn - At times I found this story gripping at other times I could not remember what I just read. I felt there should have been a better transition at the end of the story with her figuring out who she was and then jumping right into that life.
Hallowed Eve by DB Nielsen - An okay story that I had trouble getting absorbed in. I felt at times lost and uninterested. However I did like the introduction of the Headless Horseman.
Witch Moth by Kelly Hall - This was an entertaining tale about revenge and love.
The Coming of the Skin Walker by D.E.L. Connor -At first I did not think I would like this one but it became very interesting. I have not seen very many YA Native American tales that take place in historical times.
Lantern by Chess Desalls - I thought this was an okay tale but I was left with some questions I would have liked answered. Overall the story was charming with a likable main character.
Cloak of Echoes by CK Dawn - At times I found this story gripping at other times I could not remember what I just read. I felt there should have been a better transition at the end of the story with her figuring out who she was and then jumping right into that life.
Hallowed Eve by DB Nielsen - An okay story that I had trouble getting absorbed in. I felt at times lost and uninterested. However I did like the introduction of the Headless Horseman.
February 18, 2016
Darkness Echoes is a book of short Paranormal romances that is great for teenagers through adults. I enjoyed each story in the collection. I did not like the ending of the first story and almost did not go on but I am so glad I did. The stories include vampires, ghosts, shape shifters, witches and empathic powers. Six spooky tales to enjoy for Halloween or any time. I would recommend it to anyone who loves paranormal romances.
February 9, 2016
A collection of six stories, starting of quite good. I enjoyed most stories withing the collection except a few, dragging the total rating down some. Another downside I thought was that a huge part of the stories were filled with highschool drama about boys and crushes.... You'd get sick of less.
That being said, there were some good storylines too, despite the drama making me curious to check out other work by some of the authors.
That being said, there were some good storylines too, despite the drama making me curious to check out other work by some of the authors.
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May 6, 2016These stories were too cheesy and the plot lines were poorly developed. I had to quit reading and move onto something more time worthy.
June 14, 2016
So-So!
Good book until the end with no end. Seriously I truly enjoyed it until the non-end. The author is a good writer though.
Good book until the end with no end. Seriously I truly enjoyed it until the non-end. The author is a good writer though.
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