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The End of the Trail
A barren land of salt and snow; a castle where underground paths twist and turn in endless circles and a reclusive king has not shown his face in years; a forest where few things are what they seem. An unnamed hero must navigate through these places as he takes on the task of tracking down a supposed witch, in a story that blends dream and reality, rumor and truth, danger and hope.
26 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 15, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
July 18, 2015
I wasn’t disappointed. The only criticism I have of this story is that I wanted it to be longer. There are more original ideas and imagery in The End of the Trail than some authors put into a full-length novel, and the author could easily have fleshed it out if he’d wanted to. Having said that, the story’s brevity gives it a haunting quality that leaves the reader wondering about this world he’s been given a glimpse of and the characters who populate it.
The story tells of the unnamed narrator who lives and works in a salt mine, until being summoned by the Queen and told he’s the only man who can save the dying King. To do this he must track down the witch who the Queen believes has put a curse on her husband. This mission takes him on a strange dreamlike journey where he’ll encounter a strange creature and a mysterious woman.
The End of the Trail reads like a dark, adult fairytale. Though short, it’s packed with tiny details which bring the world and the people in it to vivid life. The author shows an admirable knack for ‘world-building’ and fills his tale with striking and memorable imagery. I especially liked this:
“As I fought to stay awake, her eyes were looking at me like the eyes of an animal in the dark. They were still there when I drifted off.”
An quick, enjoyable read; and a writer worth keeping an eye on for the future. Louis Rakovich is an extremely promising writer emerging in the horror/dark fantasy field.
The story tells of the unnamed narrator who lives and works in a salt mine, until being summoned by the Queen and told he’s the only man who can save the dying King. To do this he must track down the witch who the Queen believes has put a curse on her husband. This mission takes him on a strange dreamlike journey where he’ll encounter a strange creature and a mysterious woman.
The End of the Trail reads like a dark, adult fairytale. Though short, it’s packed with tiny details which bring the world and the people in it to vivid life. The author shows an admirable knack for ‘world-building’ and fills his tale with striking and memorable imagery. I especially liked this:
“As I fought to stay awake, her eyes were looking at me like the eyes of an animal in the dark. They were still there when I drifted off.”
An quick, enjoyable read; and a writer worth keeping an eye on for the future. Louis Rakovich is an extremely promising writer emerging in the horror/dark fantasy field.
December 14, 2016
Ace, loved this - powerful, atmospheric writing and quite unnerving, looking forward to Louis' next novella!
July 28, 2015
I've read quite a few of Louis Rakovich's short stories and they seem to be typified in two specific ways: one is a deft hand at gorgeous, evocative description and the other is a thoughtful, fascinating central concept. In Rakovich's self-published novelette, these two aspects are on full display. The story itself concerns a sort of dreamy, ice-covered land, and a disenfranchised man sent on a quest for a dying king. Some of the prose is so effective it demands to be read twice. The core of the story is the exploration of what creates loyalty, and which lies we choose to believe. The framework of the quest—which is handled in a much less predictable way than I imagined—helps to circle these concepts and never bothers to prosthelytize.
At first blush this is a familiar tale, but The End Of The Trail is exceptional for its execution, not the logline. Rakovich builds his world with swift, sharp strokes, creating a fully realized place and time without belaboring the establishment. It does take nearly half the very short volume's length to get to the heart of the story, the plunge into the forest that leads our hero to his inevitable confrontation with the mysterious creatures who live there. But the layers of meaning and character piled into this second part would suffice for a standalone story, and the context provided by the compelling opening separate this from your typical short-format fiction anthology entry.
It did take me a few days after finishing to collect my thoughts enough to decide what I felt about the story as a whole. There is a heavy hallucinatory quality to the whole thing, captivating like a poet relating a dream, but hard to pinpoint effectively. I did think this was more than what I would have expected from, say, a story in a fantasy shorts collection, but maybe less than I hoped for from a completely standalone work. Perhaps I simply struggled to connect entirely with the unnamed (or enough so that I can't recall it) protagonist. It's lovely to read, exceptionally well-paced, fresh and compelling, but there is perhaps a bit too much of the "please accept what is happening, because it is what's happening" for my personal taste. But this isn't the first time one of his stories has left me feeling I just didn't quite "get" it, while simultaneously thinking how much I enjoyed reading it anyway. In any case, Rakovich is one to watch, and The End Of The Trail is one to read, well worth the low cost.
Disclaimer: A free copy of the novelette was provided in exchange for an honest review.
At first blush this is a familiar tale, but The End Of The Trail is exceptional for its execution, not the logline. Rakovich builds his world with swift, sharp strokes, creating a fully realized place and time without belaboring the establishment. It does take nearly half the very short volume's length to get to the heart of the story, the plunge into the forest that leads our hero to his inevitable confrontation with the mysterious creatures who live there. But the layers of meaning and character piled into this second part would suffice for a standalone story, and the context provided by the compelling opening separate this from your typical short-format fiction anthology entry.
It did take me a few days after finishing to collect my thoughts enough to decide what I felt about the story as a whole. There is a heavy hallucinatory quality to the whole thing, captivating like a poet relating a dream, but hard to pinpoint effectively. I did think this was more than what I would have expected from, say, a story in a fantasy shorts collection, but maybe less than I hoped for from a completely standalone work. Perhaps I simply struggled to connect entirely with the unnamed (or enough so that I can't recall it) protagonist. It's lovely to read, exceptionally well-paced, fresh and compelling, but there is perhaps a bit too much of the "please accept what is happening, because it is what's happening" for my personal taste. But this isn't the first time one of his stories has left me feeling I just didn't quite "get" it, while simultaneously thinking how much I enjoyed reading it anyway. In any case, Rakovich is one to watch, and The End Of The Trail is one to read, well worth the low cost.
Disclaimer: A free copy of the novelette was provided in exchange for an honest review.
July 26, 2015
The beginning caught me immediately. It's a beautiful passage, reaching for a poetry in a way that is uncommon in genre writing, and in a way which I appreciate.
The ending was slick. I was confident I guessed the twist pretty early in the story, but then it twisted on the twist! So, that was a pleasant surprise. I felt like that twist could have been worked a bit more, given a little time to breathe, but it was still good.
The salt world evokes some interesting imagery that suits the book's cover image well. I think the biggest thing I would have liked to have seen was more in-depth exploration of the main character's personality and emotion. I don't feel like I got to know him as well as I would have liked.
Not really related to the story itself, but I love the cover image.
The ending was slick. I was confident I guessed the twist pretty early in the story, but then it twisted on the twist! So, that was a pleasant surprise. I felt like that twist could have been worked a bit more, given a little time to breathe, but it was still good.
The salt world evokes some interesting imagery that suits the book's cover image well. I think the biggest thing I would have liked to have seen was more in-depth exploration of the main character's personality and emotion. I don't feel like I got to know him as well as I would have liked.
Not really related to the story itself, but I love the cover image.
July 31, 2018
4.5 stars
Wow, what a surprising little short story. I'd love to read more in this world. It's so dark and imaginative and creepy. I won't write more because I don't want to give anything away, but I will say that if you like dark fantasy then you should absolutely read this.
Wow, what a surprising little short story. I'd love to read more in this world. It's so dark and imaginative and creepy. I won't write more because I don't want to give anything away, but I will say that if you like dark fantasy then you should absolutely read this.
August 7, 2015
See the whole review at The Dark
The End of the Trail is a novelette that has a lot going for it. It thrust you into a cold world of salt, among superstitious folks who tell wild tales and have many misconceptions. It's not a nice place. Neither is the weather. It's brutal. I loved the way I was able to feel the cold seeping through my skin as I read. Very descriptive prose. We are introduced to a nameless man, a reader, a lord, who happens to be bitter. And who can blame him? He has lost many relatives, and some of the neighbors have speculations on what his parents did with the deceased children. Would you eat your own dead kids or starve? Was that ever an option? Who knows. The salt drillers, fishermen, petty merchants, and the gossiping women of the cold have stories for everything and everyone. (This actually reminded me of the town a grew up in. Except that it was super hot instead of cold.) This is the type of land and time where survival is a way of life:.
It was better to fall asleep to death and have your body buried by your family, than to drown in freezing water.
A year is three months of mild summer and nine months of uncompromising winter.
Rumor this and rumor that. A true fact: No one has seen the king in years. Our hero is then summoned to the castle by a thin man. He doesn't know what to expect or who he's going to see. He does meet the 'young' queen. His mission: to track a witch. There have been many rumors about this witch. None of them good. He is cautious entering the forest, the weight of the world rests on his shoulders. His mission is almost impossible to complete in such harsh conditions. But the reward of a new, warm, better life that awaits him if he succeeds is a good enough motivator to help him get through the thick of it all. He might or might not come out of the forest alive.
Like I said above, I liked the poetic way the story was told. At times I had to stop and think about a certain thought or phrase. I don't just mean the more poetic lines of thought, but what seemed like simple ones too:
She chuckled without making a sound.
These characters are nameless, and the story itself is timeless. So are the themes. Deception. Love. Danger. Courage. Honor. Sacrifice. I would have liked to have read more, to have seen our hero deal with the consequences of his decisions, or if he had any later on. It's left to our imagination. And if you really think about it, most of the story has been left to our hero to suppose about since he never really knows what awaits him or what's true or not. Snow and salt are extremely deceptive in their own right. Perfect setting for a story about how appearances can fool. The mood of the story resembles the one of the narrator and the atmosphere. Bleak. It fits well.
This tale is a decent read. And it does a good job of seamlessly merging you into the setting without having to waste time trying to ease you into it. The same can be said about the passages relating to our hero's past. It swirls around like snow drizzle but gets its point across. A good read. Beautiful and poetic.
The End of the Trail is a novelette that has a lot going for it. It thrust you into a cold world of salt, among superstitious folks who tell wild tales and have many misconceptions. It's not a nice place. Neither is the weather. It's brutal. I loved the way I was able to feel the cold seeping through my skin as I read. Very descriptive prose. We are introduced to a nameless man, a reader, a lord, who happens to be bitter. And who can blame him? He has lost many relatives, and some of the neighbors have speculations on what his parents did with the deceased children. Would you eat your own dead kids or starve? Was that ever an option? Who knows. The salt drillers, fishermen, petty merchants, and the gossiping women of the cold have stories for everything and everyone. (This actually reminded me of the town a grew up in. Except that it was super hot instead of cold.) This is the type of land and time where survival is a way of life:.
It was better to fall asleep to death and have your body buried by your family, than to drown in freezing water.
A year is three months of mild summer and nine months of uncompromising winter.
Rumor this and rumor that. A true fact: No one has seen the king in years. Our hero is then summoned to the castle by a thin man. He doesn't know what to expect or who he's going to see. He does meet the 'young' queen. His mission: to track a witch. There have been many rumors about this witch. None of them good. He is cautious entering the forest, the weight of the world rests on his shoulders. His mission is almost impossible to complete in such harsh conditions. But the reward of a new, warm, better life that awaits him if he succeeds is a good enough motivator to help him get through the thick of it all. He might or might not come out of the forest alive.
Like I said above, I liked the poetic way the story was told. At times I had to stop and think about a certain thought or phrase. I don't just mean the more poetic lines of thought, but what seemed like simple ones too:
She chuckled without making a sound.
These characters are nameless, and the story itself is timeless. So are the themes. Deception. Love. Danger. Courage. Honor. Sacrifice. I would have liked to have read more, to have seen our hero deal with the consequences of his decisions, or if he had any later on. It's left to our imagination. And if you really think about it, most of the story has been left to our hero to suppose about since he never really knows what awaits him or what's true or not. Snow and salt are extremely deceptive in their own right. Perfect setting for a story about how appearances can fool. The mood of the story resembles the one of the narrator and the atmosphere. Bleak. It fits well.
This tale is a decent read. And it does a good job of seamlessly merging you into the setting without having to waste time trying to ease you into it. The same can be said about the passages relating to our hero's past. It swirls around like snow drizzle but gets its point across. A good read. Beautiful and poetic.
April 14, 2021
Interesting
I think this could be developed into a bigger story and that there could be more to know about the Ppl on the salt flats but also as a short story I think it’s pretty close to perfect. If feels like a fairy tale, with witches and kings.
I think this could be developed into a bigger story and that there could be more to know about the Ppl on the salt flats but also as a short story I think it’s pretty close to perfect. If feels like a fairy tale, with witches and kings.
March 28, 2017
A pretty decent read
Though details are rarely used to describe the characters and setting, the general air of bleakness and emptiness is well conveyed. The manner in which the story is told gives it a fairy tale kind of feeling, but with a probing horror in the way the stories used to be told. I very much enjoyed this short story.
Though details are rarely used to describe the characters and setting, the general air of bleakness and emptiness is well conveyed. The manner in which the story is told gives it a fairy tale kind of feeling, but with a probing horror in the way the stories used to be told. I very much enjoyed this short story.
November 22, 2016
Good stuff!
I would rate this 3.5. I really liked it. I liked the folk tale feel it has. It comes across as an episode of Conan The Barbarian. There's a few grammar issues, but to me they were non-issues because it was fun and well told story. I recommend it. It's a good half hour read.
I would rate this 3.5. I really liked it. I liked the folk tale feel it has. It comes across as an episode of Conan The Barbarian. There's a few grammar issues, but to me they were non-issues because it was fun and well told story. I recommend it. It's a good half hour read.
February 4, 2019
The world the author built and the characters within it was so compelling that I couldn't put my Kindle down.. Then the tale abruptly finished. So much positivity that was ruined at the final hurdle.
Another reader left a review stating that it felt like the author gave up at the end and I think that echoes my sentiments.. After developing this strange gruelling world divided between the rich and poor, then sending the protagonist on a quest bestowed upon him by the queen herself where he encounters a strange beast which nearly resulted in his end.. just to end the story out of nowhere.. such a shame.
This really should have been a full length book. There is so much of this world and the characters that was not explored. I'm left wanting more and feeling disgruntled about where the author left the tale.
Another reader left a review stating that it felt like the author gave up at the end and I think that echoes my sentiments.. After developing this strange gruelling world divided between the rich and poor, then sending the protagonist on a quest bestowed upon him by the queen herself where he encounters a strange beast which nearly resulted in his end.. just to end the story out of nowhere.. such a shame.
This really should have been a full length book. There is so much of this world and the characters that was not explored. I'm left wanting more and feeling disgruntled about where the author left the tale.
October 17, 2017
There isn't much to say about this book, because it's so short that I don't want to give anything away. It's not too short, though: the length is just right. And not because it was bad. Quite the contrary, it's a fully composed story, with a beginning, a middle, and an end.
It was creepy, but not too creepy. It was beautifully written. It made me think. And the ending, while somewhat predictable, was utterly satisfying. You can't go wrong.
It was creepy, but not too creepy. It was beautifully written. It made me think. And the ending, while somewhat predictable, was utterly satisfying. You can't go wrong.
July 31, 2017
A strange story that will make you want to read till the end
This must be one of the weirdest stories I've read. It was set in a landscape so strange. The story telling was very basic and yet compelled me to read on. The story is extremely short and I was disappointed it finished so soon as I wanted to read more about this bizarre land.
This must be one of the weirdest stories I've read. It was set in a landscape so strange. The story telling was very basic and yet compelled me to read on. The story is extremely short and I was disappointed it finished so soon as I wanted to read more about this bizarre land.
May 16, 2017
A fairy tale-ish novella.
Don't know how, or where/when I picked this up?
Probably a cheap Kindle deal?
Pleasantly surprised by this short story, not my usual sort of thing but worth a "quick" read.
Don't know how, or where/when I picked this up?
Probably a cheap Kindle deal?
Pleasantly surprised by this short story, not my usual sort of thing but worth a "quick" read.
October 16, 2017
The world building in this story is phenomenal, the descriptions are mysterious yet dripping with atmosphere. I enjoyed this dark fantasy though I hated some of the language, it got choppy and confusing in some places. I loathed the ending. After such an incredible build, I wanted more. It was too simple, too final.
February 18, 2018
The End of the Trail
This read like old folk lore. But you will enjoy it. It's very short however. I offer no more as it would give away the ending. Happy I took the time. I RECOMMEND
This read like old folk lore. But you will enjoy it. It's very short however. I offer no more as it would give away the ending. Happy I took the time. I RECOMMEND
March 25, 2017
A slow start gives way to a quick, twisted, enjoyable fairy tale.
May 20, 2017
I am glad that I stumbled across this gem on the amazon.
March 7, 2018
Cool
Not bad. The pic on the cover does not convey the subject if the book. Very good despite this. Ya!
Not bad. The pic on the cover does not convey the subject if the book. Very good despite this. Ya!
April 1, 2018
A short story that nevertheless packs a lot in - a different society, an interesting social set up - and a tantalising glimpse at the myths and folklore of that world.
August 13, 2018
I thought it was a very nicely written short story. It was just what I needed after reading all the “deep” ancient history I’ve been reading lately. It fit right in with the magic and it was fun!
March 9, 2020
This was a really great read! I would love to read a full length novel though.
July 24, 2015
End of the trail is what I would call a long short story and, as such, sets a challenge for a dark fantasy writer. Fantasy worlds often require a sophisticated skill of world-building to provide the backdrop to the story, without intruding like a ham-fisted voice-over (cue James Mason overtones). Rakovich immerses the reader in his world straight away. The story is told in the voice of the main character, so we know he's going to survive until at least the last few paragraphs. Within a couple of pages we are dropped into the wintery world of a community that has its subsistence in the mining and refining of salt. This, as far as I am aware, is a unique angle and with just a few masterfully rich phrases, Rakovich has the reader wrapping up in a thick sealskin and smelling the salt-laden air. This brings me to the real strength of Rakovich's writing - the crisp, metaphor-laden descriptions of the scenes and the characters. I have read a great deal of epic fantasy and it's often a chore wading through the long descriptions, backstory and complex, unpronounceable names. Rakovich enchants you with his imagery in the way that Le Guinne or Moorcock used to, and there is no sense of having to work hard to engage with the story.
The atmosphere created in the tale reminded me a lot of Robert E. Howard - bleak, unforgiving but very human. The sense of magic is subtly woven into the narrative without it coming across as 'comic-book' or cliched. I particularly loved the character of the witch and the nameless beast that the MC meets in the forest. Rakovich has also created a folklore feel to the story. You almost feel that this could be a tale told around viking campfires - such is the authenticity.
If you're looking for an ending that fulfils every foreshadowing and neatly ties together all the elements of the plot, then you might be disappointed. I was left feeling that there were a lot of questions I still wanted answers to, like this was an enticing pilot episode to a whole season that would develop this world and it's characters. This is not to say that the ending is unsatisfying, just that it promises more. Indeed, I hope that Rakovich dips into this world in future stories; if not with these characters, then with others that will tantalise and speak their story as these nameless ones have.
The atmosphere created in the tale reminded me a lot of Robert E. Howard - bleak, unforgiving but very human. The sense of magic is subtly woven into the narrative without it coming across as 'comic-book' or cliched. I particularly loved the character of the witch and the nameless beast that the MC meets in the forest. Rakovich has also created a folklore feel to the story. You almost feel that this could be a tale told around viking campfires - such is the authenticity.
If you're looking for an ending that fulfils every foreshadowing and neatly ties together all the elements of the plot, then you might be disappointed. I was left feeling that there were a lot of questions I still wanted answers to, like this was an enticing pilot episode to a whole season that would develop this world and it's characters. This is not to say that the ending is unsatisfying, just that it promises more. Indeed, I hope that Rakovich dips into this world in future stories; if not with these characters, then with others that will tantalise and speak their story as these nameless ones have.
January 17, 2016
Welcome to another case of me not knowing what I was getting into when I picked up a book. In the case of The End of the Trail, I thought I was about to read a somewhat creepy and fantastical short story about the adventures of some random guy, which turned out to be true. What I didn’t know, however, was that it was going to be done in the form of contemporary poetry/prose. This completely changed the game, turning what could have been a simple novella into a piece that stands out from the rest in a big way.
The End of the Trail uses a type of contemporary poetry/prose mix that refuses to let the reader get comfortable. You are never certain what is a fanciful dream, tall tale, twisted nightmare, or harsh reality. Also, the genius of not giving anyone a name, but only titles, made it possible to imprint any likeness that I wanted onto each and every character. That freedom was both intoxicating and exhilarating. The worst people you know can be the MC, or the King, and likewise your best friends and loved ones. Anything is possible.
The world Rakovich creates is equally thrilling, if incredibly dark. Cannibals, witches, disfigured creatures that were once great men, and beasts in sheep’s clothing (nicely done re-imagining here specifically) fill this skeletal frame of a land. Even the dead are not safe or kept sacred here. However, no matter how desolate, there is something compelling here, some value to be had in the wake of such suffering.
The quest the MC goes on matters little, and that’s fine, as it is just a means to the end of sharing this medieval apocalyptic nightmare. The ending is the green icing on a Troll 2 cake, cheeky and twisted, and providing the one laugh that Rakovich is kind enough to give. It’s all in fun, sick and perverse fun, but fun nonetheless.
Give it a go and see what you think, it’s certainly worth your time!
The End of the Trail uses a type of contemporary poetry/prose mix that refuses to let the reader get comfortable. You are never certain what is a fanciful dream, tall tale, twisted nightmare, or harsh reality. Also, the genius of not giving anyone a name, but only titles, made it possible to imprint any likeness that I wanted onto each and every character. That freedom was both intoxicating and exhilarating. The worst people you know can be the MC, or the King, and likewise your best friends and loved ones. Anything is possible.
The world Rakovich creates is equally thrilling, if incredibly dark. Cannibals, witches, disfigured creatures that were once great men, and beasts in sheep’s clothing (nicely done re-imagining here specifically) fill this skeletal frame of a land. Even the dead are not safe or kept sacred here. However, no matter how desolate, there is something compelling here, some value to be had in the wake of such suffering.
The quest the MC goes on matters little, and that’s fine, as it is just a means to the end of sharing this medieval apocalyptic nightmare. The ending is the green icing on a Troll 2 cake, cheeky and twisted, and providing the one laugh that Rakovich is kind enough to give. It’s all in fun, sick and perverse fun, but fun nonetheless.
Give it a go and see what you think, it’s certainly worth your time!
July 20, 2015
After reading 'The End of the Trail,' you'll be left with the taste of salt in your mouth
A man goes in search of a witch in order to lift a curse. It's a familiar trope, but author Louis Rakovich manages to make an old story new again. In just over fifty pages, there are enough twists and turns to make this short story unique and intriguing. What's refreshing about this read is that while many other fantasy authors attempt to lace their stories with an overabundance of description and intricate plot lines, 'The End of the Trail' keeps things pleasantly simple. It's enough to leave you satisfied, yet thirsting for more.
Where 'The End of the Trail' truly succeeds is in its sense of place. The story is dripping with dread. Images stick in your mind as they're painted vividly on the page; skeletons caked in salt, seaside villages being slammed by icy waves in the dead of night. In a lot of ways the scenery becomes another character with its own sinister motives. These images, almost more-so than the actual story, are what you'll remember after you've finished it.
It's a read that not only made me glad I put the two dollars forward to buy it, but something that makes me look forward to whatever the author has planned for us next.
A man goes in search of a witch in order to lift a curse. It's a familiar trope, but author Louis Rakovich manages to make an old story new again. In just over fifty pages, there are enough twists and turns to make this short story unique and intriguing. What's refreshing about this read is that while many other fantasy authors attempt to lace their stories with an overabundance of description and intricate plot lines, 'The End of the Trail' keeps things pleasantly simple. It's enough to leave you satisfied, yet thirsting for more.
Where 'The End of the Trail' truly succeeds is in its sense of place. The story is dripping with dread. Images stick in your mind as they're painted vividly on the page; skeletons caked in salt, seaside villages being slammed by icy waves in the dead of night. In a lot of ways the scenery becomes another character with its own sinister motives. These images, almost more-so than the actual story, are what you'll remember after you've finished it.
It's a read that not only made me glad I put the two dollars forward to buy it, but something that makes me look forward to whatever the author has planned for us next.
January 9, 2016
This story is about a saltminer living on the cliffs above his saltmine, a barren wasteland (like North Dakota in the winter) that’s claimed the lives of everyone he loves. He lives on because of inertia and the belief that maybe, someday, there’ll be more for him. He doesn’t fit in with the people around him in the dying kingdom, and he doesn’t fit in with the nobility in the nearby castle with a dying king. He wants to, though. He doesn’t want to accept his fate – to die amid rumors, only to be forgotten as time takes the vivacity from the stories – but he’s not adverse to holding onto happiness in any form he can, even if he’ll end up in obscurity more quickly in the end.
The prose in this story is beautiful, and it’s worth picking up for that alone. Throw in a story about when to fight and when to settle, when to press on and when to give up, and this could be one of the best shorts you read.
The prose in this story is beautiful, and it’s worth picking up for that alone. Throw in a story about when to fight and when to settle, when to press on and when to give up, and this could be one of the best shorts you read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2017
Nameless characters and rumor. Cold and dark and salt.
This novelette is called, incorrectly, a long short story--rather, it is too short. The opening passage lingers in my mind, as it connects back to the end. I read this quickly, and when it was over I thought, "What?" But this story is like the stories we pored over in English class. We double back, looking over the images and characters. Why did the author do this? What does this passage mean? It opens like the slow numb of winter, and ends like a cold snap. It tells you what is happening as it lies to your face. It is a rumor, but it's true. There's a lot to unpack in these ~30 pages, if you let the atmosphere bring you deeper in. The more I looked and thought on it, the more I appreciated how much was done in so little a space.
Rakovich is a hard-working author, and the effort and polish in this story is clear. Wherever you get it, "The End of the Trail" is worth the price.
This novelette is called, incorrectly, a long short story--rather, it is too short. The opening passage lingers in my mind, as it connects back to the end. I read this quickly, and when it was over I thought, "What?" But this story is like the stories we pored over in English class. We double back, looking over the images and characters. Why did the author do this? What does this passage mean? It opens like the slow numb of winter, and ends like a cold snap. It tells you what is happening as it lies to your face. It is a rumor, but it's true. There's a lot to unpack in these ~30 pages, if you let the atmosphere bring you deeper in. The more I looked and thought on it, the more I appreciated how much was done in so little a space.
Rakovich is a hard-working author, and the effort and polish in this story is clear. Wherever you get it, "The End of the Trail" is worth the price.
January 24, 2016
Louis Rakovich has created a unique and fascinating world and one heck of a good story.
I love the idea that the people live in a kingdom made from salt. He has even been able to give the reader a sense of history and of the permanence of their settlement.
For a story that only consists of 26 pages, the amount of detail included is incredible. This world of salt and snow could easily become the setting for a full-length novel or for many more short stories.
Even though the main character is never named, readers will empathize with the struggles he has had to endure throughout his lifetime. This is achieved through skillful writing and the strategic doling out of information.
The ending was a surprise which is always a good thing.
I rate THE END OF THE TRAIL as 5 out of 5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I love the idea that the people live in a kingdom made from salt. He has even been able to give the reader a sense of history and of the permanence of their settlement.
For a story that only consists of 26 pages, the amount of detail included is incredible. This world of salt and snow could easily become the setting for a full-length novel or for many more short stories.
Even though the main character is never named, readers will empathize with the struggles he has had to endure throughout his lifetime. This is achieved through skillful writing and the strategic doling out of information.
The ending was a surprise which is always a good thing.
I rate THE END OF THE TRAIL as 5 out of 5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 30, 2016
It is a very rare thing when I take a break from reading postapoc fiction. Recently I was contacted by the author and asked if I might be interested in reading his short story, The End of the Trail. This happened at an opportune time as I was just thinking "I could use a little break".
This is just a wonderfully dark fairy tale. I kept finding myself wondering "Where are we?", "Is this our world?", "Is this some dark future hundreds of years after an apocalyptic event?"...the think the writer leaves it up to the reader, which is an awesome thing. I really dig it when writers don't answer all of the questions.
If you're a fan of dark tales, I can recommend this highly. It was a wonderful break from my normal reading fare even though I placed it in my own postapoc world... hey, what can I say, I'm the Wasteland Man. ;)
This is just a wonderfully dark fairy tale. I kept finding myself wondering "Where are we?", "Is this our world?", "Is this some dark future hundreds of years after an apocalyptic event?"...the think the writer leaves it up to the reader, which is an awesome thing. I really dig it when writers don't answer all of the questions.
If you're a fan of dark tales, I can recommend this highly. It was a wonderful break from my normal reading fare even though I placed it in my own postapoc world... hey, what can I say, I'm the Wasteland Man. ;)
July 28, 2016
Louis Rakovich’s The End of the Trail is a novelette, a very short piece of work, but it is interesting. The main character has no name. One day he’s sent for, only to find out that the king is quite ill. The king’s young queen sends the man on an errand–find the witch who cursed him; take off her head if she won’t cure it. Then go to a second man who might have the power to undo the witch’s curse.
Nothing, of course, is quite what it seems–sometimes several times over. This is a short book, however, so there isn’t much more I can say without giving too much away. This is very fairy tale-ish in style. If you have a half an hour to fill and like dark fairy tales, I’d give this one a shot.
Original review on my site: http://www.errantdreams.com/2016/07/s...
Nothing, of course, is quite what it seems–sometimes several times over. This is a short book, however, so there isn’t much more I can say without giving too much away. This is very fairy tale-ish in style. If you have a half an hour to fill and like dark fairy tales, I’d give this one a shot.
Original review on my site: http://www.errantdreams.com/2016/07/s...
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