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Darkscapes
Curiosity Quills Press explores yearning, regret, and fear with the Darkscapes Anthology — a spellbinding collection of dark fantasy, sci-fi, cyberpunk, horror, and detective fiction.
Delve into worlds of terrible family secrets, unexpected doppelgängers, a home invasion on an alien planet, androids and assassins, places and people who aren’t as stable as they seem, frustrated musicians going to desperate lengths — and more.
Jordan Elizabeth and W.K. Pomeroy - EXLEY AVENUE
In 1920s upstate New York, a tormented girl learns that her family’s new stone castle was built on a former cemetery, and in 2014, a former police detective uncovers horrible secrets
Benjamin Sperduto - LENA’S SONG
In the near future, two frustrated musicians and creative partners get in on the ground floor of neural firestreaming — but an old guitar creates an unexpected effect
Mark W. Woodring - SORRY FOR THE MOUSE
A veteran back from Afghanistan develops a strange hobby to stay sane — but it doesn’t work as well as he had hoped
J.R. Rain - SKELETON JIM
A skeleton detective who leads a double life as an Internet sensation takes a beautiful woman on as a client — and gets more than he bargained for
S.E. Bennett - OF LUSHER AND SLEEP
In this modern, alternative imagining of Romeo and Juliet, a veteran from an old-money family returns to London for his mother’s funeral and is confronted with a toxic history of two warring families — and a lost love
B.C. Johnson - ROOMIES
Housemates experience something deeply unsettling during an earthquake
Piers Anthony - IN THE SHADOW OF THE SONG
An American’s car is rear-ended by a lost Muslim traveler with diplomatic immunity; the traveler sings in the American’s place at his daughter’s school recital — with surprising results
Robert J Defendi - THE GIOVANNI EFFECT
A man who lives alone with his family on a terraformed wind turbine farm receives a disturbing visitor
J.E. Anckorn - FOUR HUNDRED EYES, SIXTY-FOUR HUNDRED TEETH
An existentially anxious former star of a London goth rock band, missing fame and creativity, regains something he thought was lost
Darin Kennedy - CIRCULAR ARGUMENT
A severely dehydrated man is trapped in an endless loop on an external tram-shuttle around his base — and his patience with the on-board AI is fraying
Andrew Buckley - MOSES AND THE TALKING BUSH THAT WAS INCONVENIENTLY ON FIRE
An exhausted Moses herds sheep for his father-in-law until a burning bush gives him a holy quest he’s rather reluctant to do
J.P. Sloan - FAIL HOUSE
On the night the Chinese land the first mission to Mars, unemployed roommates in a crumbling American city navigate through riots to their government-subsidized housing — but is it the safe place they thought it would be?
James Wymore - ICU
A workaholic lawyer wakes up in an intensive care unit with painful regrets
Tegan Wren - BOOTHEEL
An aged German soldier returns to the Missouri Bootheel where he picked cotton as a POW, digs up an old mirror — and dares to look at his reflection
Nathan Croft - SECOND SENTIENCE
In this New Weird goat fantasy, two caprifauns explore a lost city — and their possible past lives
Rena Rocford - LANDING A JOB IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR
When an Imperial assassin’s Keeper betrays the Empire, the assassin goes off-planet — to transition out of government work as fast as possible
Ann M. Noser - TRAPPED
A woman is trapped inside a body with Alzheimer’s disease
Matthew S. Cox - OUT OF SIGHT
Unwanted kids wake up in an escape pod after years in stasis, and an AI bracelet is their only chance to make sense of a wild uncharted planet
Randy Attwood - A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN
A processing plant worker on a cattle farming planet boards an interstellar ship to bring back a wife — and learns a hard lesson
Katie Young - THE ONE YOU FEED
A wolf hunter offers his services to a professional steer roper, hoping the cowboy will be his champion at the right time
Richard Roberts - HEART OF THE HARVESTER
A boy’s father sends him to a dangerous city populated with machines in order to bring back the heart of a harvester — but will the boy pass his test and become a man?
Delve into worlds of terrible family secrets, unexpected doppelgängers, a home invasion on an alien planet, androids and assassins, places and people who aren’t as stable as they seem, frustrated musicians going to desperate lengths — and more.
Jordan Elizabeth and W.K. Pomeroy - EXLEY AVENUE
In 1920s upstate New York, a tormented girl learns that her family’s new stone castle was built on a former cemetery, and in 2014, a former police detective uncovers horrible secrets
Benjamin Sperduto - LENA’S SONG
In the near future, two frustrated musicians and creative partners get in on the ground floor of neural firestreaming — but an old guitar creates an unexpected effect
Mark W. Woodring - SORRY FOR THE MOUSE
A veteran back from Afghanistan develops a strange hobby to stay sane — but it doesn’t work as well as he had hoped
J.R. Rain - SKELETON JIM
A skeleton detective who leads a double life as an Internet sensation takes a beautiful woman on as a client — and gets more than he bargained for
S.E. Bennett - OF LUSHER AND SLEEP
In this modern, alternative imagining of Romeo and Juliet, a veteran from an old-money family returns to London for his mother’s funeral and is confronted with a toxic history of two warring families — and a lost love
B.C. Johnson - ROOMIES
Housemates experience something deeply unsettling during an earthquake
Piers Anthony - IN THE SHADOW OF THE SONG
An American’s car is rear-ended by a lost Muslim traveler with diplomatic immunity; the traveler sings in the American’s place at his daughter’s school recital — with surprising results
Robert J Defendi - THE GIOVANNI EFFECT
A man who lives alone with his family on a terraformed wind turbine farm receives a disturbing visitor
J.E. Anckorn - FOUR HUNDRED EYES, SIXTY-FOUR HUNDRED TEETH
An existentially anxious former star of a London goth rock band, missing fame and creativity, regains something he thought was lost
Darin Kennedy - CIRCULAR ARGUMENT
A severely dehydrated man is trapped in an endless loop on an external tram-shuttle around his base — and his patience with the on-board AI is fraying
Andrew Buckley - MOSES AND THE TALKING BUSH THAT WAS INCONVENIENTLY ON FIRE
An exhausted Moses herds sheep for his father-in-law until a burning bush gives him a holy quest he’s rather reluctant to do
J.P. Sloan - FAIL HOUSE
On the night the Chinese land the first mission to Mars, unemployed roommates in a crumbling American city navigate through riots to their government-subsidized housing — but is it the safe place they thought it would be?
James Wymore - ICU
A workaholic lawyer wakes up in an intensive care unit with painful regrets
Tegan Wren - BOOTHEEL
An aged German soldier returns to the Missouri Bootheel where he picked cotton as a POW, digs up an old mirror — and dares to look at his reflection
Nathan Croft - SECOND SENTIENCE
In this New Weird goat fantasy, two caprifauns explore a lost city — and their possible past lives
Rena Rocford - LANDING A JOB IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR
When an Imperial assassin’s Keeper betrays the Empire, the assassin goes off-planet — to transition out of government work as fast as possible
Ann M. Noser - TRAPPED
A woman is trapped inside a body with Alzheimer’s disease
Matthew S. Cox - OUT OF SIGHT
Unwanted kids wake up in an escape pod after years in stasis, and an AI bracelet is their only chance to make sense of a wild uncharted planet
Randy Attwood - A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN
A processing plant worker on a cattle farming planet boards an interstellar ship to bring back a wife — and learns a hard lesson
Katie Young - THE ONE YOU FEED
A wolf hunter offers his services to a professional steer roper, hoping the cowboy will be his champion at the right time
Richard Roberts - HEART OF THE HARVESTER
A boy’s father sends him to a dangerous city populated with machines in order to bring back the heart of a harvester — but will the boy pass his test and become a man?
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First published January 31, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 5, 2017
This is a great collection of short stories that I enjoyed immensely!
I needed a break from my traditional mystery/suspense reads and shorties usually do it for me. Thankfully this was no exception. While the majority tend to have a futuristic theme throughout, it really is quite an eclectic mix that thoroughly entertained me. Some were very insightful with hidden meanings that were revealed at the end. No horror or suspense here-just on odd mix of stories coverering anything from a talking skeleton who happens to be a detective, to a soldier who finally comes to terms with the fact he was a killer, and a whole lot of other creative nonsense.
As with most collections there were some duds (Second Sentence) but there were many more standouts (Bootheel, Match Made in Heaven) and my absolute fav Out of Sight. I didn't want that one to end!
I'm hoping there was a final editing done on this though as several of the stories had spacing and punctuation errors.
I'm also hoping this is the start of a series and there will be more to come from Curiosity Quills.
ARC provided by NetGalley
I needed a break from my traditional mystery/suspense reads and shorties usually do it for me. Thankfully this was no exception. While the majority tend to have a futuristic theme throughout, it really is quite an eclectic mix that thoroughly entertained me. Some were very insightful with hidden meanings that were revealed at the end. No horror or suspense here-just on odd mix of stories coverering anything from a talking skeleton who happens to be a detective, to a soldier who finally comes to terms with the fact he was a killer, and a whole lot of other creative nonsense.
As with most collections there were some duds (Second Sentence) but there were many more standouts (Bootheel, Match Made in Heaven) and my absolute fav Out of Sight. I didn't want that one to end!
I'm hoping there was a final editing done on this though as several of the stories had spacing and punctuation errors.
I'm also hoping this is the start of a series and there will be more to come from Curiosity Quills.
ARC provided by NetGalley
February 7, 2017
I have been on a short story kick the last month but this book is the best book for short stories I have read in years! Curiosity Quills: Darkscapes by J.R. Rain and other wonderful authors came together and have such a awesome collection of stories! I so enjoyed each and everyone. I don't think I have ever been so happy with a short story collection like I have with this one and I have been going through short story books like crazy lately. My favorite stories, and it was so hard picking them out, included:
1. EXLEY AVENUE- a very creepy story that I loved!!! House on cemetery, psychic, young girl....
2. SKELETON JIM - a walking, talking skeleton that just came alive one day in a science class room and now is a P.I.
3. OUT OF SIGHT - escape pods crash carrying kids, no adults and they have to survive on a new planet, sooo scary!!! LOVED IT!!!
I loved them all but those are the ones that stuck with me after I finished reading the book. This is one short story book I am so glad Curiosity Quills let me read! Every story is a 5 star story, some are more! Loved this book so much!
1. EXLEY AVENUE- a very creepy story that I loved!!! House on cemetery, psychic, young girl....
2. SKELETON JIM - a walking, talking skeleton that just came alive one day in a science class room and now is a P.I.
3. OUT OF SIGHT - escape pods crash carrying kids, no adults and they have to survive on a new planet, sooo scary!!! LOVED IT!!!
I loved them all but those are the ones that stuck with me after I finished reading the book. This is one short story book I am so glad Curiosity Quills let me read! Every story is a 5 star story, some are more! Loved this book so much!
February 6, 2017
Darkscapes is an eclectic mix of stories touching on horror, sci-fi, religion, and fantasy. All were enjoyable, some were truly exceptional. My favorites in this collection were "Skeleton Jim" by J.R. Rain in which a skeleton hanging in a classroom has somehow come to life.
"Roomies" by B.C. Johnson was a chilling tale of friends suddenly finding themselves trapped in their apartment. Nobody can get in or out until the blood curdling conclusion.
"In the Shadow of the Song" by Piers Anthony sounds almost like the start of an off color joke to say that a Christian and a Muslim get into a car accident but in light of recent events this story takes on a life of it's own.
"Moses and the Talking Bush That Was Inconveniently On Fire" by Andrew Buckley was the much needed satirical comedy relief in the midst of so many dark stories.
"Trapped" by Ann M. Noser was both frightening and heartbreaking, and if you should read the author's notes at the end you will probably not be surprised to find the reason it was so well written is because the subject matter is sadly well known to her.
I received a complimentary copy for review
"Roomies" by B.C. Johnson was a chilling tale of friends suddenly finding themselves trapped in their apartment. Nobody can get in or out until the blood curdling conclusion.
"In the Shadow of the Song" by Piers Anthony sounds almost like the start of an off color joke to say that a Christian and a Muslim get into a car accident but in light of recent events this story takes on a life of it's own.
"Moses and the Talking Bush That Was Inconveniently On Fire" by Andrew Buckley was the much needed satirical comedy relief in the midst of so many dark stories.
"Trapped" by Ann M. Noser was both frightening and heartbreaking, and if you should read the author's notes at the end you will probably not be surprised to find the reason it was so well written is because the subject matter is sadly well known to her.
I received a complimentary copy for review
January 14, 2018
3.5 Stars
Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com
As the name suggests contains Darkscapes many a dark tale from the minds of many well known Curiosity Quills authors that I've read before. As always in anthologies, some work better than others, but in this particular anthology I thought they were all quite good and there was a nice mix although some were a bit too bizarre even for me. This would make a nice introduction I guess for whose planning to read more by these authors. I'm personally not always in the mood for short stories, but when I am, I think I would take up another of the Curiosity Quills Presents series.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com
As the name suggests contains Darkscapes many a dark tale from the minds of many well known Curiosity Quills authors that I've read before. As always in anthologies, some work better than others, but in this particular anthology I thought they were all quite good and there was a nice mix although some were a bit too bizarre even for me. This would make a nice introduction I guess for whose planning to read more by these authors. I'm personally not always in the mood for short stories, but when I am, I think I would take up another of the Curiosity Quills Presents series.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
August 14, 2017
Anthologies. They are all a little bit similar in the fact that there are some stories you’ll like more than others, and some that you won’t like at all. For the most part I thoroughly enjoyed these stories! They were bizarre and strange, and sometimes didn’t make any sense till the very end, and a couple that never made any sense at all (at least to me).
I would definitely read more Curiosity Quills Press anthologies because I really thought this one was well put together, and really ranged between the sci-fi/fantasy/horror genres. Definitely something for everyone in this.
Copy received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I would definitely read more Curiosity Quills Press anthologies because I really thought this one was well put together, and really ranged between the sci-fi/fantasy/horror genres. Definitely something for everyone in this.
Copy received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 26, 2017
Rated 3.5 really.
Excerpt from my review - originally published at Offbeat YA.
Pros: A bunch of often imaginative, at times surprising stories, covering a wide range of genres and eras.
Cons: On the other hand, maybe the collection is a tad too eclectic and lacks focus. Also, the quality spectrum varies from high to less impressive.
Will appeal to: Those who enjoy a wide selection of tales, some bolder than the others.
First off...DISCLAIMER: I received this anthology from Curiosity Quills in exchange for an honest review. To be more precise, I specifically requested a review copy. That didn't affect my opinion and rating in any way. Here goes...
ON THE FENCE
Confession/disclaimer: when it comes to spinning a tale, short stories are not my favourite medium. Anthologies can be hit or miss for me. I requested this one because 1) I had previously read and loved another Curiosity Quills collection called Windows into Hell, and 2) I saw that Darkscapes featured a couple of authors whose novels I appreciate(d). All in all, I had a good time reading most of these stories (and the authors I mentioned above didn't disappoint), but honestly, I wasn't able to connect with all of them. I suppose this says more about me than about their quality though, in most cases. Anyway, there are a bunch of stories in here that mean more to me than the others, and a few of them actually went in unexpected directions. Here is what worked for me and what left me wanting more... [...]
Whole review here.
Excerpt from my review - originally published at Offbeat YA.
Pros: A bunch of often imaginative, at times surprising stories, covering a wide range of genres and eras.
Cons: On the other hand, maybe the collection is a tad too eclectic and lacks focus. Also, the quality spectrum varies from high to less impressive.
Will appeal to: Those who enjoy a wide selection of tales, some bolder than the others.
First off...DISCLAIMER: I received this anthology from Curiosity Quills in exchange for an honest review. To be more precise, I specifically requested a review copy. That didn't affect my opinion and rating in any way. Here goes...
ON THE FENCE
Confession/disclaimer: when it comes to spinning a tale, short stories are not my favourite medium. Anthologies can be hit or miss for me. I requested this one because 1) I had previously read and loved another Curiosity Quills collection called Windows into Hell, and 2) I saw that Darkscapes featured a couple of authors whose novels I appreciate(d). All in all, I had a good time reading most of these stories (and the authors I mentioned above didn't disappoint), but honestly, I wasn't able to connect with all of them. I suppose this says more about me than about their quality though, in most cases. Anyway, there are a bunch of stories in here that mean more to me than the others, and a few of them actually went in unexpected directions. Here is what worked for me and what left me wanting more... [...]
Whole review here.
April 5, 2017
While I love a long, detailed story as much as the next person, one thing I always feel the need to have handy is a good anthology. The kind where you can read, from start to finish, a story in the span of sitting in a waiting room, or waiting for takeout, or trying to ignore the screaming kids at the park. This allows for the mind to be absorbed, but not so much that it pushes out the world, or makes you tardy.
Not only did Darkscapes Anthology perfectly fit that role, it also filled my stolen moments with glimpses into different authors, different worlds, and so many different writing styles. From the shadows of world leaders and children to the chaos of a rioting world trying to survive an inevitable apocalypse. The terror of being trapped inside your own home, trying to hide from the terrors that await you on the outside to waking up trapped on a new planet. This was a thrill ride from horror to science fiction, things that go bump in the night to terrible possible realities.
I found several authors I already loved, and some that were new to me, and that I'll hopefully enjoy as fully when I finally dive into their full length works. This is a wonderful collection, something to please everyone, and enough diversity that it kept me satisfied story after story.
~ George, 4 Stars
Not only did Darkscapes Anthology perfectly fit that role, it also filled my stolen moments with glimpses into different authors, different worlds, and so many different writing styles. From the shadows of world leaders and children to the chaos of a rioting world trying to survive an inevitable apocalypse. The terror of being trapped inside your own home, trying to hide from the terrors that await you on the outside to waking up trapped on a new planet. This was a thrill ride from horror to science fiction, things that go bump in the night to terrible possible realities.
I found several authors I already loved, and some that were new to me, and that I'll hopefully enjoy as fully when I finally dive into their full length works. This is a wonderful collection, something to please everyone, and enough diversity that it kept me satisfied story after story.
~ George, 4 Stars
March 8, 2017
I'll start by saying I thought this book would be going in a different direction when I read the summary and saw the title. I was personally thinking along the lines of 'dark fantasy' instead of mystery or supernatural. While the stories are of good quality and wonderful prose, I simply was not very interested because I found most of the stories falling under "supernatural"....and true fantasy is much different than the supernatural genre.
I suppose many of the stories also had a suspense aspect to them, a sense of 'who done it' or mystery. Personally, that is just not to my taste, as I tend to prefer high fantasy / fantasy novels and short stories. I did not find much of that in this book. If you really enjoy supernatural or urban fantasy novels, you will enjoy many of these short stories.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review via the Publisher through NetGalley.
I suppose many of the stories also had a suspense aspect to them, a sense of 'who done it' or mystery. Personally, that is just not to my taste, as I tend to prefer high fantasy / fantasy novels and short stories. I did not find much of that in this book. If you really enjoy supernatural or urban fantasy novels, you will enjoy many of these short stories.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review via the Publisher through NetGalley.
March 1, 2017
Curiosity Quills Presents: Darkscapes is a unique collection of short stories that run the gambit of darkness, strange and intriguing. Each story is unique in it's own way with interesting characters that draw you in and quite often leave you wanting more. There are ghosts, skeleton men and so much more.
These stories really aren't for the faint of heart or those who are sensitive to certain subject matters. Each author brings their uniqueness to each story and you feel yourself get swept away with each storyline that you dive into.
I have to say that I really enjoyed these stories and just wished that I could have had more on certain ones.
If you are looking for something dark, intriguing and really interesting then I recommend this anthology to you!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a voluntary review.
These stories really aren't for the faint of heart or those who are sensitive to certain subject matters. Each author brings their uniqueness to each story and you feel yourself get swept away with each storyline that you dive into.
I have to say that I really enjoyed these stories and just wished that I could have had more on certain ones.
If you are looking for something dark, intriguing and really interesting then I recommend this anthology to you!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a voluntary review.
May 20, 2017
An interesting and entertaining collection of stories. I like to read short tales in between heavier books so I read this book over some time. I only know of one of these authors so it was a good way to see who I might want to look up for further stories.
This set had a great variety of dark and unusual tales, some good some ok.
If you need to step away from the norm for a while then grab this book for a decent read.
This set had a great variety of dark and unusual tales, some good some ok.
If you need to step away from the norm for a while then grab this book for a decent read.
April 24, 2017
What great stories. I loved it. I can't wait to read more from the authors I havent ever heard of.
June 9, 2017
this was amazing.. a ton of short stories into one collection and all of them were soo amazing. i loved the writing and found several new authors to enjoy. amazing and im so glad i got to review it
April 25, 2017
I received a free copy for an honest review. I read through this really enjoyed the stories. Jordan Elizabeth Mierek and W.K. Pomeroy ' s story stuck out. The had a great supernatural taste with a pinch of mystery. Great story.
August 17, 2018
This anthology is full of excellent short stories exploring yearning, regret and fear, covering a wide range of genres including dark fantasy, cyberpunk, horror and mystery, many with a scifi twist (but not to an extent that non-scifi people are turned off!). I'd definitely recommend it to readers who likes shorter stories, who are looking for new authors, or anybody who's just looking for something a bit different.
NB I received a complimentary copy of this book, but I always give an HONEST review based wholly on my own opinions
Individual:
Exley Avenue by Jordan Elizabeth & W.K. Pomeroy
A story that's both spooky and weird. Loved it!
Lena’s Song by Benjamin Sperduto
Brings a whole new twist to music reaching into our hearts and minds! Kinda gross.
Sorry for the Mouse by Mark W. Woodring
Makes you think about veterans mental health provision. Brilliantly written.
Skeleton Jim by J.R. Rain
I LOVED this story!! Please can we have more Skeleton Jim stories? Please?? Xxxx
Of Lusher and Sleep by S.E. Bennett
Excellent story, giving insight into PTSD as well as the story itself. Had echoes of a modern Romeo and Juliet (or should that be Romeo and Romeo?).
Roomies by B.C. Johnson
This was an excellent, very dark mini psychological horror story. Loved it.
In the Shadow of the Song by Piers Anthony
A beautiful story, wonderfully told. If only it were so easy to bring about world peace!
The Giovanni Effect by Robert J Defendi
A great little story combining mild scifi with a murder thriller, all in a short story! Excellent writing.
Four Hundred Eyes, Sixty-Four Hundred Teeth by J.E. Anckorn
A sad, has-been musician and what he'd give to be his youthful, famous self again. A great story.
Circular Argument by Darin Kennedy
Short scifi story. Reminder what happens when computers are in control!
Moses and the Talking Bush That Was Inconveniently on Fire by Andrew Buckley
This was a very funny reimagining of the events when Moses spoke to God through the burning bush. Had me laughing out loud. Would love to read more stories like this.
Fail House by J.P. Sloan
This story, set in a weird dystopian future, was scary in both the events and the possibility of the events based on current world status. Ask not what the party can do for you...
ICU by James Wymore
A sad story about feeling alone at the worst time in life.
Bootheel by Tegan Wren
A story that's both sad and has a twist of happiness/new beginnings to it as well. Reminds us that not all Germans fighting in the war were Nazis, there by choice because of true belief - even those who enlisted sometimes did it more out of fear than true choice.
Second Sentience by Nathan Croft
A great little story that makes the reader think about reincarnation too.
Landing a Job in the Private Sector by Rena Rocford
This is slightly longer than most of the other stories, but you don't tend to notice while reading as its a good story. Scifi/dystopian in nature, it's also interesting for the insight into the characters' personalities and minds.
Trapped by Ann M. Noser
This excellent short story gives a glimpse into what it may be like to live in the mind of someone with dementia. Beautiful tale wonderfully told.
Out of Sight by Matthew S. Cox
This is an excellent short story (albeit one of the longer ones in the collection), and a great read. You're definitely left wanting to know what happens to the characters next!
A Match Made in Heaven by Randy Attwood
This story definitely feeds the debate about when a machine can gain 'life'. Very touching.
The One You Feed by Katie Young
A well-written short story that has great twists to it.
Heart Of The Harvester by Richard Roberts
This is a beautiful story to finish the boxset with. Lovely.
NB I received a complimentary copy of this book, but I always give an HONEST review based wholly on my own opinions
Individual:
Exley Avenue by Jordan Elizabeth & W.K. Pomeroy
A story that's both spooky and weird. Loved it!
Lena’s Song by Benjamin Sperduto
Brings a whole new twist to music reaching into our hearts and minds! Kinda gross.
Sorry for the Mouse by Mark W. Woodring
Makes you think about veterans mental health provision. Brilliantly written.
Skeleton Jim by J.R. Rain
I LOVED this story!! Please can we have more Skeleton Jim stories? Please?? Xxxx
Of Lusher and Sleep by S.E. Bennett
Excellent story, giving insight into PTSD as well as the story itself. Had echoes of a modern Romeo and Juliet (or should that be Romeo and Romeo?).
Roomies by B.C. Johnson
This was an excellent, very dark mini psychological horror story. Loved it.
In the Shadow of the Song by Piers Anthony
A beautiful story, wonderfully told. If only it were so easy to bring about world peace!
The Giovanni Effect by Robert J Defendi
A great little story combining mild scifi with a murder thriller, all in a short story! Excellent writing.
Four Hundred Eyes, Sixty-Four Hundred Teeth by J.E. Anckorn
A sad, has-been musician and what he'd give to be his youthful, famous self again. A great story.
Circular Argument by Darin Kennedy
Short scifi story. Reminder what happens when computers are in control!
Moses and the Talking Bush That Was Inconveniently on Fire by Andrew Buckley
This was a very funny reimagining of the events when Moses spoke to God through the burning bush. Had me laughing out loud. Would love to read more stories like this.
Fail House by J.P. Sloan
This story, set in a weird dystopian future, was scary in both the events and the possibility of the events based on current world status. Ask not what the party can do for you...
ICU by James Wymore
A sad story about feeling alone at the worst time in life.
Bootheel by Tegan Wren
A story that's both sad and has a twist of happiness/new beginnings to it as well. Reminds us that not all Germans fighting in the war were Nazis, there by choice because of true belief - even those who enlisted sometimes did it more out of fear than true choice.
Second Sentience by Nathan Croft
A great little story that makes the reader think about reincarnation too.
Landing a Job in the Private Sector by Rena Rocford
This is slightly longer than most of the other stories, but you don't tend to notice while reading as its a good story. Scifi/dystopian in nature, it's also interesting for the insight into the characters' personalities and minds.
Trapped by Ann M. Noser
This excellent short story gives a glimpse into what it may be like to live in the mind of someone with dementia. Beautiful tale wonderfully told.
Out of Sight by Matthew S. Cox
This is an excellent short story (albeit one of the longer ones in the collection), and a great read. You're definitely left wanting to know what happens to the characters next!
A Match Made in Heaven by Randy Attwood
This story definitely feeds the debate about when a machine can gain 'life'. Very touching.
The One You Feed by Katie Young
A well-written short story that has great twists to it.
Heart Of The Harvester by Richard Roberts
This is a beautiful story to finish the boxset with. Lovely.
November 16, 2018
Curiosity Quills Presents: Darkscapes by Jordan Elizabeth is an amazing box set to read. This is an amazing box set to read with a bunch of amazing authors I never heard of before this box set. I recommend this box set to everyone who loves reading dark fantasy, sci-fi, cyberpunk, horror, and detective fiction.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 12, 2018
There isn’t a dull story in these or any of the 21 stories included in this book, an impressive feat for an anthology with such a variety of genres.
Read full review in the 2018 June issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2018 June issue of InD'tale Magazine.
November 17, 2018
This is a wonderful collection of dark tales which you will fall in love with. They are dark and scary in places so best read during the day and with the lights on
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 25, 2017
Overall, this was a good collection - some uneven bits, some overlong parts, and a few that read more like a treatment that a complete story. After a pair of those in the beginning, I was beginning to question the wisdom of picking this title. But it gets much better as it continues.
Some of my personal highlights are the aforementioned Of Lusher And Sleep, Roomies, Circular Argument, and Landing a Job In The Private Sector. These were the most compelling, or entertaining, in the collection. There really weren't any that were bad, although Second Sentience lost me early, and the Skeleton Jim had to work too hard to overcome my dislike of the concept. But that's me.
The surprise close is Heart of the Harvester - this I didn't see ending the way it did. It was different than I thought, and a nice surprise.
So, as with other collections, CQ has managed to pull together a good stable of authors for their books, and keep (generally) to a theme. I didn't see the 'yearning, regret, and fear' so much in some of these, while others were prime examples of the form.
So, again, a good CQ read, and one worth picking up soon.
Some of my personal highlights are the aforementioned Of Lusher And Sleep, Roomies, Circular Argument, and Landing a Job In The Private Sector. These were the most compelling, or entertaining, in the collection. There really weren't any that were bad, although Second Sentience lost me early, and the Skeleton Jim had to work too hard to overcome my dislike of the concept. But that's me.
The surprise close is Heart of the Harvester - this I didn't see ending the way it did. It was different than I thought, and a nice surprise.
So, as with other collections, CQ has managed to pull together a good stable of authors for their books, and keep (generally) to a theme. I didn't see the 'yearning, regret, and fear' so much in some of these, while others were prime examples of the form.
So, again, a good CQ read, and one worth picking up soon.
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