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Hero Lost: Mysteries of Death and Life
Can a lost hero find redemption?
What if Death himself wanted to die? Can deliverance be found on a bloody battlefield? Could the gift of silvering become a prison for those who possessed it? Will an ancient warrior be forever the caretaker of a house of mystery?
Delving into the depths of the tortured hero, twelve authors explore the realms of fantasy in this enthralling and thought-provoking collection. Featuring the talents of Jen Chandler, L. Nahay, Renee Cheung, Roland Yeomans, Elizabeth Seckman, Olga Godim, Yvonne Ventresca, Ellen Jacobson, Sean McLachlan, Erika Beebe, Tyrean Martinson, and Sarah Foster.
Hand-picked by a panel of agents and authors, these twelve tales will take you into the heart of heroes who have fallen from grace. Join the journey and discover a hero's redemption!
What if Death himself wanted to die? Can deliverance be found on a bloody battlefield? Could the gift of silvering become a prison for those who possessed it? Will an ancient warrior be forever the caretaker of a house of mystery?
Delving into the depths of the tortured hero, twelve authors explore the realms of fantasy in this enthralling and thought-provoking collection. Featuring the talents of Jen Chandler, L. Nahay, Renee Cheung, Roland Yeomans, Elizabeth Seckman, Olga Godim, Yvonne Ventresca, Ellen Jacobson, Sean McLachlan, Erika Beebe, Tyrean Martinson, and Sarah Foster.
Hand-picked by a panel of agents and authors, these twelve tales will take you into the heart of heroes who have fallen from grace. Join the journey and discover a hero's redemption!
226 pages, Paperback
Published February 26, 2024
160 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 11, 2017
Each story, and the collection entire, is haunting and atmospheric. Some stories were stronger than others, and some simply spoke to me more with their style and nuances in plot and character, but that's normal for any anthology. These fantastical, thoughtful tales will have something for everyone. I was introduced to some wonderful new authors I haven't read before, and I also had a fantastic experience reconnecting with familiar ones.
March 4, 2017
Can a lost hero find the way out of the darkness and into the light again? In this marvelous collection of speculative fiction, we journey through twelve wonderfully written tales to find out if the tortured hero can be redeemed.
The title story, "The Mysteries of Death and Life" by Jen Chandler is a compelling tale of a young homeless writer who meets a dying Death. It hooked me with the first line and wrenched my heart. Depression and loneliness, but yet in that, the wonder of life.
"The Silvering" by Ellen Jacobson has a young man named Caestu who is hiding a terrible secret. He believes he has violated the principles of the Others and is being punished, but all is not what it seems to be. I love seeing how he struggles with what he's always known and the truth come to the light.
A dragon remembers what brought him to his current situation in "Memoirs of a Forgotten Knight" by Renee Cheung. I love that this is a traditional fantasy tale with a curse twined with a twist in the modern world of tech and magic.
In "Sometimes They Come Back" by Roland D. Yeomans, there is the Caretaker who has been in an ancient goddess' house for a very long time he has almost forgotten himself. So much whimsy and humor mingled with the dark in this tale.
"The Wheat Witch" by Erika Beebe has Ethan wondering if he should ever go home, and when he does, he finds something most unexpected. Is what he's discovered worse than what he's running from? Wonderful imagery and a sympathy for a man who's lost everything drew me with wide eyes through this story.
Raynor and his twin sister journey to find their missing dragon slaying uncle in Sarah Foster's "The Last Dragon." They discover the truth about why their uncle left, and it's far more frightening than any dragon. The bond between the twins is strong, and I loved how it played out through the action. Fantastic tension.
We have a great fantasy romance in "Mind Body Soul" by Elizabeth Seckman. But it isn't what the old king thinks it is. I particularly enjoyed the queen, her wisdom, and her persistence. Love stories are even better with age.
A magical Finder named Alternay must find a long lost hero named "Captain Bulat" in Olga Godim's tale. Using an item as her compass, Alternay is pulled in more than one direction and must uncover the truth amidst the confusion. The twist was cleverly done and left me wanting to see more of the fascinating Alternay.
"The Witch Bottle" by Sean McLachlan brings us a pining husband using his servant to help bring back his wife. The wife is a witch and one the servant seems very eager to help the husband catch. Magic battles magic, and I did so like the wicked ending.
In "The Art of Remaining Bitter" by Yvonne Ventresca we meet a young girl named Sylvia who is always in the shadow of her perfect older sister. Sylvia is to undergo a treatment that will make her free of negative feelings, and this story lays out her emotional struggle with it all beautifully.
A once great warrior has become a poet in Tyrean Martinson's "Of Words and Swords." Yet is Maud as good with poetry as he with fighting? His internal struggle is enthralling as he goes off to battle a dragon. Great fantastical fighting action.
The final story is "Breath Between Seconds" by L. Nahay. It is a slow motion moment in time of a fallen soldier at the end of a grand battle realizing the truth of the entire war. Beautifully written with each breath, quite like a poem.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The title story, "The Mysteries of Death and Life" by Jen Chandler is a compelling tale of a young homeless writer who meets a dying Death. It hooked me with the first line and wrenched my heart. Depression and loneliness, but yet in that, the wonder of life.
"The Silvering" by Ellen Jacobson has a young man named Caestu who is hiding a terrible secret. He believes he has violated the principles of the Others and is being punished, but all is not what it seems to be. I love seeing how he struggles with what he's always known and the truth come to the light.
A dragon remembers what brought him to his current situation in "Memoirs of a Forgotten Knight" by Renee Cheung. I love that this is a traditional fantasy tale with a curse twined with a twist in the modern world of tech and magic.
In "Sometimes They Come Back" by Roland D. Yeomans, there is the Caretaker who has been in an ancient goddess' house for a very long time he has almost forgotten himself. So much whimsy and humor mingled with the dark in this tale.
"The Wheat Witch" by Erika Beebe has Ethan wondering if he should ever go home, and when he does, he finds something most unexpected. Is what he's discovered worse than what he's running from? Wonderful imagery and a sympathy for a man who's lost everything drew me with wide eyes through this story.
Raynor and his twin sister journey to find their missing dragon slaying uncle in Sarah Foster's "The Last Dragon." They discover the truth about why their uncle left, and it's far more frightening than any dragon. The bond between the twins is strong, and I loved how it played out through the action. Fantastic tension.
We have a great fantasy romance in "Mind Body Soul" by Elizabeth Seckman. But it isn't what the old king thinks it is. I particularly enjoyed the queen, her wisdom, and her persistence. Love stories are even better with age.
A magical Finder named Alternay must find a long lost hero named "Captain Bulat" in Olga Godim's tale. Using an item as her compass, Alternay is pulled in more than one direction and must uncover the truth amidst the confusion. The twist was cleverly done and left me wanting to see more of the fascinating Alternay.
"The Witch Bottle" by Sean McLachlan brings us a pining husband using his servant to help bring back his wife. The wife is a witch and one the servant seems very eager to help the husband catch. Magic battles magic, and I did so like the wicked ending.
In "The Art of Remaining Bitter" by Yvonne Ventresca we meet a young girl named Sylvia who is always in the shadow of her perfect older sister. Sylvia is to undergo a treatment that will make her free of negative feelings, and this story lays out her emotional struggle with it all beautifully.
A once great warrior has become a poet in Tyrean Martinson's "Of Words and Swords." Yet is Maud as good with poetry as he with fighting? His internal struggle is enthralling as he goes off to battle a dragon. Great fantastical fighting action.
The final story is "Breath Between Seconds" by L. Nahay. It is a slow motion moment in time of a fallen soldier at the end of a grand battle realizing the truth of the entire war. Beautifully written with each breath, quite like a poem.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 1, 2017
Anytime I read a short story collection, if I find even one good, entertaining or thought-provoking story, I consider that collection a success. I’m happy to say Hero Lost: Mysteries of Life and Death is well ahead of the curve. The Insecure Writer’s Support Group has no reason whatsoever to feel insecure about their story-telling chops. In Hero Lost, they serve up an even dozen of stories that remind us we can’t escape our myths, our internalized ideas of what saviors and heroes ought to be—knights who slay dragons, gods who carry out their lofty tasks uncomplainingly, kings who always make good decisions.
These ideals aren’t wrong. Sometimes, we do need a guy in shining armor to rush in and protect the villagers. But more often, heroes are something entirely else. It’s the other heroes these stories celebrate, such as a homeless girl trying to help a fellow street person or siblings protecting one another against a cadre of cruel overlords. In two stories, characters refuse to cave to societal pressures—in “The Silvering,” the culture demands that people wear gloves to prevent their hands from turning to a magical alloy. In “The Art of Remaining Bitter,” a little girl living in a Giver-type dystopia clings to her negative (but authentic) emotions before they are siphoned out of her by some arcane medical procedure.
Sometimes, a heroic act can have dramatic and far-reaching implications, like the queen risking everything to rescue her royal husband in “Mind Body Soul.” Other times, it’s those small actions that make a crucial difference, like the boy who learns to believe in himself in “The Last Dragon.”
Certainly, heroes are capable of mistakes. In the title story, Death grants immortality to his beloved, who does not requite him. In “The Wheat Witch,” a man, believing he has committed a heinous crime, returns to his hometown in Kansas, where a witch holds sway over his family farm. (Being from the Midwest, I was pleased to see an Old World legend brought to the Heartland.) His tie to the land evoked the Fisher King; his penance to the witch brought to mind Hercules’ tasks and Psyche’s trials. I’m a sucker for re-tellings, for writers who find fresh ways to connect us to our past beliefs, thereby capturing something universal.
There were only a few stories in this collection that left me cold, but if there is a sin that several of them committed, it’s that they left me wanting more. “The Silvering” definitely felt like it was laying the groundwork for a fantasy epic, which I would really love to see fleshed out.
I particularly enjoyed “Memoirs of a Forgotten Knight,” an interesting intersection of old school fantasy and technology, also superbly written. “The Witch Bottle” was a unique take on witchcraft in colonial America, and the most morally ambiguous of the bunch—it was a classic horror story in the sense that no one is good and the bad guy gets away. I’m not sure how that ties into the hero theme, unless one considers everyone is a hero in his/her own mind?
But, hands-down, the standout for me was “Sometimes They Come Back,” (not to be confused with the Stephen King story/film, and not a reference to it either—at least, not as far as I can tell). It’s the tale of an Einherjar (soldiers out of Norse mythology) who now goes by the Caretaker, servant to a mysterious Grande Dame in a shadowy underworld that exists uncomfortably close to our own plane of existence. Other gods and mythological creatures make appearances, but his closest companion is a humble mouse that rides around in his pocket. This story was brilliantly written, and by turns fascinating, funny, and disturbing. I was a bit disappointed that it turned into a run-of-the-mill love story—I could spend a whole book just hanging out with the Caretaker while he tends to his dark duties.
If these writers are insecure, I can’t wait to see what they’ll be like when they gain a bit of confidence.
These ideals aren’t wrong. Sometimes, we do need a guy in shining armor to rush in and protect the villagers. But more often, heroes are something entirely else. It’s the other heroes these stories celebrate, such as a homeless girl trying to help a fellow street person or siblings protecting one another against a cadre of cruel overlords. In two stories, characters refuse to cave to societal pressures—in “The Silvering,” the culture demands that people wear gloves to prevent their hands from turning to a magical alloy. In “The Art of Remaining Bitter,” a little girl living in a Giver-type dystopia clings to her negative (but authentic) emotions before they are siphoned out of her by some arcane medical procedure.
Sometimes, a heroic act can have dramatic and far-reaching implications, like the queen risking everything to rescue her royal husband in “Mind Body Soul.” Other times, it’s those small actions that make a crucial difference, like the boy who learns to believe in himself in “The Last Dragon.”
Certainly, heroes are capable of mistakes. In the title story, Death grants immortality to his beloved, who does not requite him. In “The Wheat Witch,” a man, believing he has committed a heinous crime, returns to his hometown in Kansas, where a witch holds sway over his family farm. (Being from the Midwest, I was pleased to see an Old World legend brought to the Heartland.) His tie to the land evoked the Fisher King; his penance to the witch brought to mind Hercules’ tasks and Psyche’s trials. I’m a sucker for re-tellings, for writers who find fresh ways to connect us to our past beliefs, thereby capturing something universal.
There were only a few stories in this collection that left me cold, but if there is a sin that several of them committed, it’s that they left me wanting more. “The Silvering” definitely felt like it was laying the groundwork for a fantasy epic, which I would really love to see fleshed out.
I particularly enjoyed “Memoirs of a Forgotten Knight,” an interesting intersection of old school fantasy and technology, also superbly written. “The Witch Bottle” was a unique take on witchcraft in colonial America, and the most morally ambiguous of the bunch—it was a classic horror story in the sense that no one is good and the bad guy gets away. I’m not sure how that ties into the hero theme, unless one considers everyone is a hero in his/her own mind?
But, hands-down, the standout for me was “Sometimes They Come Back,” (not to be confused with the Stephen King story/film, and not a reference to it either—at least, not as far as I can tell). It’s the tale of an Einherjar (soldiers out of Norse mythology) who now goes by the Caretaker, servant to a mysterious Grande Dame in a shadowy underworld that exists uncomfortably close to our own plane of existence. Other gods and mythological creatures make appearances, but his closest companion is a humble mouse that rides around in his pocket. This story was brilliantly written, and by turns fascinating, funny, and disturbing. I was a bit disappointed that it turned into a run-of-the-mill love story—I could spend a whole book just hanging out with the Caretaker while he tends to his dark duties.
If these writers are insecure, I can’t wait to see what they’ll be like when they gain a bit of confidence.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2017
Within the over-arching theme of the Hero Lost there is a wide range of stories and styles, something for everyone, and each well-crafted.
From social commentary about unquestioned customs (Ellen Jacobson’s The Silvering) to touching romance with magical twists (Elizabeth Seckman’s Mind Body Soul), the reader is in for either thought-provoking experience or a chance to slip away from the real world and enter one of enticing fantasy. In other stories, there are poignant moments about family bonds (Sarah Foster’s The Last Dragon), there are heroic moments when we are reassured about the power of good or love or the life force that drives us.
While this speculative collection has its share of knights and dragons, they aren’t the ordinary “black v white knight” or “slay that critter” kind of stories. One that I really liked was Renee Cheung’s Memoirs of a Forgotten Knight. It was a dragon slayer story with amazing twists and turns that take place over centuries.
The stylistic variety lends texture to this anthology. There are two stories that carried me away with their literary talent. Jen Chandler’s The Mysteries of Death and Life was a lyrical account about the angel of death who longs for the very thing he metes out daily and is denied it. You’ll have to read it if you want to know how this one ends.
If you enjoy mega doses of myth and legend accompanied by the joy of richly developed language, you’ll love Roland Yeoman’s Sometimes They Come Back. I hated to leave this one.
At the other end of writing style is that of Yvonne Ventresca with the clean bones of the contemporary story, The Art of Remaining Bitter. In this tale, you enter dystrophia-land that makes you pause and postulate, “What if?”
With variety, there is always a chance the reader will enjoy some stories more than others, and in this anthology that is, of course, the case. However, on a star scale of 1-5, I had a 4.5-star experience.
From social commentary about unquestioned customs (Ellen Jacobson’s The Silvering) to touching romance with magical twists (Elizabeth Seckman’s Mind Body Soul), the reader is in for either thought-provoking experience or a chance to slip away from the real world and enter one of enticing fantasy. In other stories, there are poignant moments about family bonds (Sarah Foster’s The Last Dragon), there are heroic moments when we are reassured about the power of good or love or the life force that drives us.
While this speculative collection has its share of knights and dragons, they aren’t the ordinary “black v white knight” or “slay that critter” kind of stories. One that I really liked was Renee Cheung’s Memoirs of a Forgotten Knight. It was a dragon slayer story with amazing twists and turns that take place over centuries.
The stylistic variety lends texture to this anthology. There are two stories that carried me away with their literary talent. Jen Chandler’s The Mysteries of Death and Life was a lyrical account about the angel of death who longs for the very thing he metes out daily and is denied it. You’ll have to read it if you want to know how this one ends.
If you enjoy mega doses of myth and legend accompanied by the joy of richly developed language, you’ll love Roland Yeoman’s Sometimes They Come Back. I hated to leave this one.
At the other end of writing style is that of Yvonne Ventresca with the clean bones of the contemporary story, The Art of Remaining Bitter. In this tale, you enter dystrophia-land that makes you pause and postulate, “What if?”
With variety, there is always a chance the reader will enjoy some stories more than others, and in this anthology that is, of course, the case. However, on a star scale of 1-5, I had a 4.5-star experience.
May 3, 2017
Heroes come in many forms. As you're reading Hero Lost: Mysteries of Death and Life, you can't help but have that thought. These 12 stories show us heroes in a wide variety of settings, all in the fantasy genre. Best of all, the stories are each so different, you never know where the next tale will take you! If you love fantasy, this is definitely a book you MUST pick up.
July 25, 2017
A full review with each story follows. Good anthology with overall excellent reads; some tales surprised me while others stood out. Some typos threw me - like reigns for reins. But we all make 'misteaks'.
February 23, 2017
Review to come.
September 20, 2022
There are stories included that don’t fit the premise of ‘hero lost’ and the anthology needs proofreading (e.g. ‘lessons’ instead of ‘lessens’ being one of many errors I picked up on). Also, using night mode means the titles don’t show – as I do most of my reading in night mode, this is highly inconvenient. Now for each story on its own:
The Mysteries of Death and Life by Jen Chandler
An interesting tale of Death who needs the kindness of a stranger – whether he realises or wants it or not. Rich worldbuilding and some interesting twists. 4 stars
The Silvering by Ellen Jacobson
I liked the premise of the guardians and priests using rules steeped in myth to control everyone. Not a very satisfying end, though. 3 stars
Memoirs of a Forgotten Knight by Renee Cheung
I liked the twist of the dragon’s curse. Not sure I liked the tech involvement, though. 3 stars
Sometimes They Come Back by Roland D Yeomans
So much fun to read! This is what I expected when I read the blurb. I liked the use of various myths, history and a touch of magic. 5 stars
The Wheat Witch by Erika Beebe
I stopped reading as the Lord’s name was used as an expletive. Not cool. DNF.
The Last Dragon by Sarah Foster
An interesting medieval-esque tale of oppression and fighting for freedom. The title actually has more than one meaning. 4 stars
Mind Body Soul by Elizabeth Seckman
A cute romance. But not sure how it fits with the theme… 3 stars
Captain Bulat by Olga Godim
An interesting story of finding something lost – just not what the finder thought she was looking for. 4 stars
The Witch Bottle by Sean McLachlan
Not a good short story – jumping POV so much was irritating at best. And the premise wasn’t all that interesting. I’m not sure how it fits the theme of ‘hero lost’ at all – there were no heroes. 2 stars
The Art of Remaining Bitter by Yvonne Ventresca
A dystopian (utopian?) tale of how feelings are taken away and replaced with blissful emptiness. No idea how it fits the theme… 3 stars
Of Words and Swords by Tyrean Martinson
I liked this story. It delivered on the anthology title and I liked the use of words and actions together to slay the beast. 5 stars
Breath Between Seconds by L Nahay
A recap of events before whatever happened to the MC when the story started. Meh. DNF.
The Mysteries of Death and Life by Jen Chandler
An interesting tale of Death who needs the kindness of a stranger – whether he realises or wants it or not. Rich worldbuilding and some interesting twists. 4 stars
The Silvering by Ellen Jacobson
I liked the premise of the guardians and priests using rules steeped in myth to control everyone. Not a very satisfying end, though. 3 stars
Memoirs of a Forgotten Knight by Renee Cheung
I liked the twist of the dragon’s curse. Not sure I liked the tech involvement, though. 3 stars
Sometimes They Come Back by Roland D Yeomans
So much fun to read! This is what I expected when I read the blurb. I liked the use of various myths, history and a touch of magic. 5 stars
The Wheat Witch by Erika Beebe
I stopped reading as the Lord’s name was used as an expletive. Not cool. DNF.
The Last Dragon by Sarah Foster
An interesting medieval-esque tale of oppression and fighting for freedom. The title actually has more than one meaning. 4 stars
Mind Body Soul by Elizabeth Seckman
A cute romance. But not sure how it fits with the theme… 3 stars
Captain Bulat by Olga Godim
An interesting story of finding something lost – just not what the finder thought she was looking for. 4 stars
The Witch Bottle by Sean McLachlan
Not a good short story – jumping POV so much was irritating at best. And the premise wasn’t all that interesting. I’m not sure how it fits the theme of ‘hero lost’ at all – there were no heroes. 2 stars
The Art of Remaining Bitter by Yvonne Ventresca
A dystopian (utopian?) tale of how feelings are taken away and replaced with blissful emptiness. No idea how it fits the theme… 3 stars
Of Words and Swords by Tyrean Martinson
I liked this story. It delivered on the anthology title and I liked the use of words and actions together to slay the beast. 5 stars
Breath Between Seconds by L Nahay
A recap of events before whatever happened to the MC when the story started. Meh. DNF.
September 4, 2017
This is a fun and thought provoking anthology. It’s not the same old hero worship that many tales of this nature tend to be. These are complex stories that make you think about what makes a hero, how a hero reconciles who they are with what their purpose is, and how heroes are often lost in one way or another. I love the diversity of characters in this collection.
The title story is the most unusual personification of death I’ve encountered. - Awesome.
The Silvering is a hunting tale of superstition and a need for liberation, but there’s also a sense of sacrifice. - Good.
Memoirs of a Forgotten Knight is a tale with a twist, connecting past and future. - One of my faves.
Sometimes They Come Back is kind of a haunted house tale with an element of sorrow. - Good.
The Wheat Witch was a different kind of tale with a ‘folklore’ type feel. Didn’t see the end coming. - Great.
The last Dragon is a sweet story with a powerful twist, plus it has twins in it and I love twins (twins are either sweet or creepy). - Really enjoyed this.
Mind Body Soul is an odd love story and a cautionary tale of trying to determine the fate of others. - Good.
Captain Bulat is a mystery with a vibrant setting. - One of my faves.
The Witch Bottle is clever tale of manipulation, not exactly good vs evil. - Fun.
The Art of Remaining Bitter is a science fiction tale in a futuristic setting. There is a cautionary element to the way emotions are dealt with. There’s also a question of human will. - Great.
Of Words and Swords is a sword and sorcery fantasy about finding and or accepting oneself. - Very entertaining.
Breath Between Seconds is a sad reflection on the after effects of battle (the sadness of war). - Good.
Recommended to fans of short fiction and those seeking a different interpretation of the ‘classic’ hero.
The title story is the most unusual personification of death I’ve encountered. - Awesome.
The Silvering is a hunting tale of superstition and a need for liberation, but there’s also a sense of sacrifice. - Good.
Memoirs of a Forgotten Knight is a tale with a twist, connecting past and future. - One of my faves.
Sometimes They Come Back is kind of a haunted house tale with an element of sorrow. - Good.
The Wheat Witch was a different kind of tale with a ‘folklore’ type feel. Didn’t see the end coming. - Great.
The last Dragon is a sweet story with a powerful twist, plus it has twins in it and I love twins (twins are either sweet or creepy). - Really enjoyed this.
Mind Body Soul is an odd love story and a cautionary tale of trying to determine the fate of others. - Good.
Captain Bulat is a mystery with a vibrant setting. - One of my faves.
The Witch Bottle is clever tale of manipulation, not exactly good vs evil. - Fun.
The Art of Remaining Bitter is a science fiction tale in a futuristic setting. There is a cautionary element to the way emotions are dealt with. There’s also a question of human will. - Great.
Of Words and Swords is a sword and sorcery fantasy about finding and or accepting oneself. - Very entertaining.
Breath Between Seconds is a sad reflection on the after effects of battle (the sadness of war). - Good.
Recommended to fans of short fiction and those seeking a different interpretation of the ‘classic’ hero.
May 13, 2017
This anthology contains twelve tales based on the same theme, but the only thing these stories really have in common is the level of writing skill demonstrated by their authors. In this smorgasbord of fantasies, in which each writer offers a unique interpretation of heroism, every reader has the opportunity to find something to suit his palate.
If you enjoy good writing, this book is for you. If you love fantasies, it's practically a must-read.
If you enjoy good writing, this book is for you. If you love fantasies, it's practically a must-read.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews