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Winter Teller #3
Voopyre
"Voopyre" is a short fantasy story inspired by Russian folklore, where men and wild spirits play fateful games, and nothing is what it seems.
- GenresShort Stories
20 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 1, 2017
17 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
February 20, 2017
Makes me want to build a snowman
I loved this folktale, and I do not want to spoil any more of this story than what I revealed in the headline. It is a secret for us to learn by entering the world we are invited by N.C. Stow. The ability of the author to weave natural beauty and the sense of a magical realty, only existing in folklore, is inspirational.
I loved this folktale, and I do not want to spoil any more of this story than what I revealed in the headline. It is a secret for us to learn by entering the world we are invited by N.C. Stow. The ability of the author to weave natural beauty and the sense of a magical realty, only existing in folklore, is inspirational.
October 8, 2017
This was a sweet short story, and I wanted more :( I loved the elements and would love to read something else that included fire and all the rest, pleaseee.
March 3, 2017
There's a word from the Bible - Selah, meaning pause and reflect. I'll come back to that word in a moment.
Voopyre is the latest story from this explorer of myth - whose novel Balancers I must dive into soon.
It deals with the fearful Voopyre, with its yellow reptilian eyes and terrible screech, whose bite can sunder the fabric of the world.
More than that, it wraps it all up alongside creation myth and the question of what we value the most.
For a short story, that packs a lot in - and I'm not sure I entirely gathered all the implications of the tale. Which, though it springs from a different heritage, brought me back to that Biblical word. This story made me want to pause and reflect upon it, and so I close the pages on it and say to myself Selah.
Voopyre is the latest story from this explorer of myth - whose novel Balancers I must dive into soon.
It deals with the fearful Voopyre, with its yellow reptilian eyes and terrible screech, whose bite can sunder the fabric of the world.
More than that, it wraps it all up alongside creation myth and the question of what we value the most.
For a short story, that packs a lot in - and I'm not sure I entirely gathered all the implications of the tale. Which, though it springs from a different heritage, brought me back to that Biblical word. This story made me want to pause and reflect upon it, and so I close the pages on it and say to myself Selah.
February 9, 2017
A spellbound read with uncounted enchanting characters.
It’s a verified purchase through different kindle id with which I don’t put reviews.
It was definitely a great story to read and enjoy. I was captivated from the first to the last page. Though I lacked character building but this could be ignored in short stories like this. The writing was illustrious and author pulled me in the story. I appreciate her for this. The end made my heart melt.
It’s a verified purchase through different kindle id with which I don’t put reviews.
It was definitely a great story to read and enjoy. I was captivated from the first to the last page. Though I lacked character building but this could be ignored in short stories like this. The writing was illustrious and author pulled me in the story. I appreciate her for this. The end made my heart melt.
February 3, 2017
This short story has such an authentic, ancient feel to it. I was transported to another time and place full of magic and fantastic spirits. It wasn't predictable at all, and I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. I can certainly see how this was inspired by folklore from long ago, as it has a perfectly genuine presence. A must read for Fantasy fans, or anyone who loves to be told great stories. Curl up by the fire, and enjoy this one!
February 3, 2017
This wonderfully atmospheric short story had me gripped from first page to last. The author was born and raised in Siberia and you get a real sense of the culture and folklore from that vast, isolated region. I love classic Russian literature and NC Stow's prose is written in the same stylish vein, although the fantasy world she has created here is a far cry from the Tsarist Russia so memorably captured by the likes of Chekov and Dostoyevsky. This is a realm of beast masters, witches and monsters, where the elements converse with the people and nothing is quite as it seems. That NC Stow manages to cram so much into such a small number of pages is a testament to her skills as storyteller. I'm not usually a fan of the fantasy genre but this was so well written that I'm sure I will be returning to see what else NC Stow has managed to conjure up.
August 28, 2017
You know how your grandma tells you stories when you're a little kid? Like maybe hundreds of stories. You know how the stories would all interconnect, based on bits and pieces of each other that you already know? You'd soon come to know the settings, the characters, the situations. Eventually the stories could become so intertwined that no one new to the sequence could hear just one out of context and make any sense out of it, because all the characters or character classes are described in different stories you didn't hear.
That's what this feels like. If you don't mind not knowing quite what's going on, and what every type of character represents, then this is a cute fun little romp of a story. Well worth the fifteen minutes or so of reading it, assuming you also got it for free.
That's what this feels like. If you don't mind not knowing quite what's going on, and what every type of character represents, then this is a cute fun little romp of a story. Well worth the fifteen minutes or so of reading it, assuming you also got it for free.
July 7, 2017
This beautiful little short story is inspired on Russian Folklore. I'll admit that not having any knowledge of the subject, or area, I felt a bit lost at the start, as the short story jumps right in with no time for scene setting or character introductions. That said, I was soon swept up in the beautiful imagery and the stylistic writing which absolutely screamed "fairy tale".
If you are interested in learning more about Russian Folklore, I would say give N C Stow's short stories a chance. In her own words she "use[s] elements of it in a fictional Slavic setting to make something new." It was a quick enjoyable read, and a good introduction to Stow's other works.
If you are interested in learning more about Russian Folklore, I would say give N C Stow's short stories a chance. In her own words she "use[s] elements of it in a fictional Slavic setting to make something new." It was a quick enjoyable read, and a good introduction to Stow's other works.
February 9, 2017
A young girl is one with the elements and makes a hard decision so that her village can be restored after devastation from the directive of Zverovoy, the master of Malachite Mountain. Author Stow's prose is refreshing, "Fire leaned longingly toward Zlata, crackling with puppy enthusiasm..."
A truly delightful short story.
A truly delightful short story.
May 24, 2017
This is a beautifully-written short story that takes the reader into a magical realm, where Fire and Snow come alive and a young girl must appease the Beastmaster.
To go into too much detail would give away the story, but N.C. Stow has a way of drawing you into her stories and losing yourself in their magic, with bitter-sweet endings that will leave you wanting to read more.
To go into too much detail would give away the story, but N.C. Stow has a way of drawing you into her stories and losing yourself in their magic, with bitter-sweet endings that will leave you wanting to read more.
February 14, 2018
I started Voopyre a little nervously, because I knew nothing about it, but I needn’t have worried because it entranced me right from the start. This is gorgeous, lyrical and dark, and reminds me of nothing so much as the very finest Norse mythology. I’ve read dozens of books since Voopyre, and yet it stays in my head, which I believe is the mark of a seriously talented writer.
November 16, 2017
I was confused by the first couple of pages until I got into the story. This is a traditional style fairy-tale. There are no prince charmings or happily ever afters, only consequences for dealing with spirits. An interesting little read.
May 22, 2017
Russian folklore.
A moral to this tale. Maybe more than one. A quick read. Brilliant when you short on time and like to dip into a story to relax.
A moral to this tale. Maybe more than one. A quick read. Brilliant when you short on time and like to dip into a story to relax.
February 20, 2019
This short story has been sitting on my kindle TBR pile for ages. It's interesting but I don't see myself every re-reading it.
March 18, 2017
Mesmerizing
I truly enjoyed this story. It was so mesmerizing and magical. The story telling was great and the tale itself kept me enraptured until the end
I truly enjoyed this story. It was so mesmerizing and magical. The story telling was great and the tale itself kept me enraptured until the end
March 6, 2017
This story was very interesting.
I liked the mystery of the characters and I liked the ending! The story was short but very good! Good read!!!
I liked the mystery of the characters and I liked the ending! The story was short but very good! Good read!!!
February 13, 2017
I was graciously given the opportunity to review Voopry by N.C. Stow. This book is based on Russian folklore and was seamlessly adapted. I found this book to be very good, engaging and well written. The characters (real and magical) interacted with each other naturally and none of it seemed forced or contrived, all of it believable. I will say that, for me personally, I found it hard to keep the characters straight due to their names, but like i said, that was my only issue. I got lost in the story and before I knew it, I was done. I give this book 4 stars and would highly recommend it for anyone who loved the fantasy/folklore genre. Thank you for this amazing opportunity
February 12, 2017
I liked this fairy tale very much. From the get go you got a sense of foreboding and doom. At one point one of the characters says ‘if you go looking for trouble, trouble will find you.’ I love the way the writer described the scenery, but I could have maybe done with a little more explanation as to what the Voopyre and the beast-master are. Maybe if you’re familiar with Russian folklore you will know what all the terms the writer uses are, but I am not. That said, with a bit of imagination you can fill in the blanks and enjoy this story. I certainly did.
February 7, 2017
What a delightful & magical tale! I confess to not knowing very much about Russian folklore but now I am very interested to read more. The elementals were rendered perfectly, the beast master had the right amount of raw animalistic power about him and the Voopyre itself - a large lizard that can eat the fabric of the universe? That I need to know more about! At first the writing seemed a little complex, using complicated words for the sake of imagery however that's probably just me getting used to the writing style. A short story that transported me from my dining table to the wilds of snow covered Dol plus I loved the little snowman!
February 3, 2017
A foreboding tale based around Russian folklore!
This story is based around Russian folklore. It tells of a girl/woman, called Zlata, who has been put into such a position, that there is no escaping what was in store for her. The lengths she had to go to to save her village from the 'Voopyre'. The moral of this story is never trust the spirit called beast master. He will take everything from you from doing one favour.
All in all, I loved this short, foreboding tale. It was well written, had a nice twist at the end.
I recommend it wholeheartedly.
This story is based around Russian folklore. It tells of a girl/woman, called Zlata, who has been put into such a position, that there is no escaping what was in store for her. The lengths she had to go to to save her village from the 'Voopyre'. The moral of this story is never trust the spirit called beast master. He will take everything from you from doing one favour.
All in all, I loved this short, foreboding tale. It was well written, had a nice twist at the end.
I recommend it wholeheartedly.
February 4, 2017
Love this
What a beautiful written story on folk lore I was captured by the nature of this story "She makes us all" with she being the woman in the sun. Great descriptions of the elements and a fitting end to the tale.
I would love to read a full length novel by this unique writer
What a beautiful written story on folk lore I was captured by the nature of this story "She makes us all" with she being the woman in the sun. Great descriptions of the elements and a fitting end to the tale.
I would love to read a full length novel by this unique writer
March 28, 2017
Great details on Russian folklore
This was a fascinating short story, wonderfully embroidered with details from the fabric of Russian folklore. My only complaint , and it is a minor one, is that a few of the Russian terms were pretty obscure . Luckily you can just highlight a word on the Kindle and have it display the meaning which was very helpful. However I think that the reading would've flowed better if those terms had been defined the first time they were used in the text .
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This was a fascinating short story, wonderfully embroidered with details from the fabric of Russian folklore. My only complaint , and it is a minor one, is that a few of the Russian terms were pretty obscure . Luckily you can just highlight a word on the Kindle and have it display the meaning which was very helpful. However I think that the reading would've flowed better if those terms had been defined the first time they were used in the text .
Read via Kindle Unlimited
April 4, 2017
An intriguing read, with talking elementals (snow, rain, fire) and spirits who don't live on the same plane of the world, but can still see it.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews