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Fault Lines
Crimson Snow: A Short Story
Green Valley was once known for its fertile farming, picturesque mountains, and abundant wildlife. Now snow and ice cover all but the tallest homes. The only sounds are Maverick’s boots clumping through the snowdrifts and the frigid wind hissing down the mountain. Even the beasts in the woods have gone utterly silent.
But the path forward is clear, especially for one emboldened by optimism. So Maverick keeps moving, trudging through the abandoned town toward the desolate tundra beyond the forest, marring the snow with his bloody footprints.
To leave is a risk. To stay might be suicide.
Either way, no one leaves these mountains alive.
But the path forward is clear, especially for one emboldened by optimism. So Maverick keeps moving, trudging through the abandoned town toward the desolate tundra beyond the forest, marring the snow with his bloody footprints.
To leave is a risk. To stay might be suicide.
Either way, no one leaves these mountains alive.
52 pages, Unknown Binding
First published February 10, 2017
101 people are currently reading
159 people want to read
About the author
Meghan O'Flynn
171 books665 followersWith books deemed “visceral, haunting, and fully immersive” (New York Times bestseller, Andra Watkins), Meghan O’Flynn has made her mark on the thriller genre. Meghan is a clinical therapist who draws her character inspiration from her knowledge of the human psyche. She is the bestselling author of gritty crime novels and serial killer thrillers, all of which take readers on the dark, gripping, and unputdownable journey for which Meghan is notorious. Perfect for fans of Dexter, Chelsea Cain, and Gillian Flynn. Learn more at https://meghanoflynn.com!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
January 10, 2018
The reader meets the narrator, Maverick, in the middle of a snowstorm. His cabin is in an isolated location, he’s growing weaker by the day, and he’s made the decision to leave the home he once shared with his wife, Christy. It’s evident as the story continues on that Christy did not die of natural causes and Maverick is paranoid about someone or something following him.
This is a short story with a bleak tone and is 99% inner monologue. I liked this author’s writing style but the ending was confusing. May re-read at another time.
*Amazon freebie.
This is a short story with a bleak tone and is 99% inner monologue. I liked this author’s writing style but the ending was confusing. May re-read at another time.
*Amazon freebie.
March 5, 2017
Umm
This book really didn't make any sense to me.... I'm really confused on what the purpose was and I don't think I will read anything else by the author....
This book really didn't make any sense to me.... I'm really confused on what the purpose was and I don't think I will read anything else by the author....
December 28, 2021
This short story was a mystery, but only to me.
I think it was supposed to be horror....
It didn't have the necessary details to make sense to what had happened, what was going on and what was to happen.
Also, the ending leaves you hanging; so don't expect a good wrap up.
February 14, 2017
I received this book as a proofreader. It is an easy read. Good when you are short on time, yet want a gripping read. The rich descriptions of the cold and snow will make you feel a chill to your bones! Sometimes we can't run away, no matter how hard we try!
October 5, 2025
Quando non sai esattamente come iniziare una recensione perché non ti ricordi nemmeno come finisce questo racconto che di "oscuro" ha ben poco ma anche di sensato.
In un mondo che è diventato freddo e pieno di ghiaccio, Maverick, un ex soldato, si sposta dalla sua casa nel bosco (credo) ad una cittadina vicina. In cerca di cosa esattamente? Non lo so visto che il mondo è tutto uguale, freddo ed inospitale, dove gli uomini hanno paura degli altri, che sopravvivono a stento. Pensa sempre al passato, quando tutto era normale, la moglie gli era vicina...
Direi che alcune parti, alcuni pezzi, evocano la solitudine ed il freddo inospitale ma non basta per niente. Perché non vedo il senso di questa storia.
Devo dire che la trama su Amazon sembra migliore del libro stesso e trae in inganno il lettore che pensa di stare per leggere qualcosa di diverso e che poteva essere veramente un buon breve racconto.
Peccato, le premesse c'erano ma non si sono nemmeno palesate in nessuna delle righe.
In un mondo che è diventato freddo e pieno di ghiaccio, Maverick, un ex soldato, si sposta dalla sua casa nel bosco (credo) ad una cittadina vicina. In cerca di cosa esattamente? Non lo so visto che il mondo è tutto uguale, freddo ed inospitale, dove gli uomini hanno paura degli altri, che sopravvivono a stento. Pensa sempre al passato, quando tutto era normale, la moglie gli era vicina...
Direi che alcune parti, alcuni pezzi, evocano la solitudine ed il freddo inospitale ma non basta per niente. Perché non vedo il senso di questa storia.
Devo dire che la trama su Amazon sembra migliore del libro stesso e trae in inganno il lettore che pensa di stare per leggere qualcosa di diverso e che poteva essere veramente un buon breve racconto.
Peccato, le premesse c'erano ma non si sono nemmeno palesate in nessuna delle righe.
August 4, 2018
"A grim view of the future"
All rather depressing. The descriptive passages were there in abundance to demonstrate that the author is very intelligent. Which was a shame, because the bleak imagery might have suited a more spartan writing style. Sometimes less is more, especially if you're trying to get a message across. It wasn't the wood that got in the way, it was the words.
All rather depressing. The descriptive passages were there in abundance to demonstrate that the author is very intelligent. Which was a shame, because the bleak imagery might have suited a more spartan writing style. Sometimes less is more, especially if you're trying to get a message across. It wasn't the wood that got in the way, it was the words.
May 6, 2020
Cool.story
I enjoyed this story and it was a great length for a 1 sit read. I've been looking for some great.short stories and this easily meets that criteria
I enjoyed this story and it was a great length for a 1 sit read. I've been looking for some great.short stories and this easily meets that criteria
March 9, 2017
Not my cup of tea
Very gory and ended to erruptly for a short story. I doubt that I will read more by this author.
Very gory and ended to erruptly for a short story. I doubt that I will read more by this author.
August 31, 2025
In questo breve (per fortuna) racconto seguiamo il soldato Maverick nella sua lotta per la sopravvivenza tra montagne innevate e villaggi abbandonati.
Ripetete con me: non leggete un racconto di m. solo perché è corto, perché avrete comunque sprecato minuti preziosi della vostra vita. Questo è il caso principe: un racconto abborracciato, scritto male e tradotto ancora peggio, in cui non si capisce quasi nulla, tranne che Maverick è un soldato (l'autrice lo ripeterà venti volte in 33 pagine) e che "qualcosa" ha fatto sparire la civiltà nella zona in cui si trova il protagonista. Solo alla fine si scoprirà di cosa si tratta, ma scritto così il racconto non regge, non sta in piedi, non si capisce nulla delle azioni di Maverick. Dove è diretto? Perché? Esattamente com'è andata la storia con sua moglie (non scrivo altro in merito per non spoilerare, sia mai che qualcuno voglia leggere 'sto capolavoro). Io veramente mi chiedo perché Amazon abbia il coraggio di vendere queste porcate. Va bene l'auto pubblicazione, ma questa roba è veramente imbarazzante, senza neanche fare ridere come, magari, qualche erotico di cui ho letto la recensione da queste parti. Insomma, se volete il mio modesto parere, lasciate perdere.
February 14, 2017
I'm mesmerized by this story. Quick read that captures the readers attention from the first sentence.
March 4, 2017
I could feel the cold from this story deep in my own bones. O'Flynn did a superb job of making me wonder what the central character was running from. Someone? Something? Himself?? This is one of those stories that makes you second-guess yourself so that you have to go back and read it again.
May 18, 2018
Crimson Snow is a dystopian short story by Meghan O’Flynn that I liked especially for several passages of description. Here is one example that occurs in the first few pages and led me to say “Wow, I wonder if she continues this type of writing throughout the story?”
“Hidden behind clouds, the rising sun bleached the heavens a pale, sickly gray and turned every barren tree into a slash of black against the dusty sky, as if a bear had torn the tapestry of the horizon with razor-sharp claws.” (Kindle Locations 32-34).
Maverick was a survivor. An ex-military type who had survived many dangerous missions and situations, he was left with a negative perspective on many things when he thought about them. But he didn’t think about them. Maverick relied on instinct. His “philosophy” might vary in words but it boiled down to “No thoughts. Only action. Action was his only hope.” (Kindle Locations 285-286). His wife, Cristy, had a different viewpoint. No matter the action, there was something good in everything. She may have been right, but she was also dead. Maverick was left alone to survive in a severely altered world.
Maverick wasn’t sure what had happened or what was carrying the sickness that killed everyone in the town of Green alley. As far as he knew, Maverick was the last resident left. He, Cristy and Cristy’s brother Larry had moved to the semi-isolated area to become one with the land. That same quality of remoteness now made Maverick a kind of prisoner. He might make it to the next town of Crystal Bluff; he might find some food, or he might be captured or killed by the soldiers responsible for keeping the infected people inside a quarantine area
It was time to lock the door to his house (checking the lock twice) get his few possessions together and begin the eight-hour trek to Crystal Bluff. He would succeed as he always had if only he didn’t stop to think about it.
No thoughts. Only action.
This is an interesting short story that left me with a question. Does the ending of the story reflect Meghan O’Flynn’s view of life? I will be sure to read more of her work while I wonder how much of this is pure creative fiction and how much of it is an author’s point of view. I gave this four Amazon stars plus because of the powerful descriptive terms used when painting pictures of nature.
“Hidden behind clouds, the rising sun bleached the heavens a pale, sickly gray and turned every barren tree into a slash of black against the dusty sky, as if a bear had torn the tapestry of the horizon with razor-sharp claws.” (Kindle Locations 32-34).
Maverick was a survivor. An ex-military type who had survived many dangerous missions and situations, he was left with a negative perspective on many things when he thought about them. But he didn’t think about them. Maverick relied on instinct. His “philosophy” might vary in words but it boiled down to “No thoughts. Only action. Action was his only hope.” (Kindle Locations 285-286). His wife, Cristy, had a different viewpoint. No matter the action, there was something good in everything. She may have been right, but she was also dead. Maverick was left alone to survive in a severely altered world.
Maverick wasn’t sure what had happened or what was carrying the sickness that killed everyone in the town of Green alley. As far as he knew, Maverick was the last resident left. He, Cristy and Cristy’s brother Larry had moved to the semi-isolated area to become one with the land. That same quality of remoteness now made Maverick a kind of prisoner. He might make it to the next town of Crystal Bluff; he might find some food, or he might be captured or killed by the soldiers responsible for keeping the infected people inside a quarantine area
It was time to lock the door to his house (checking the lock twice) get his few possessions together and begin the eight-hour trek to Crystal Bluff. He would succeed as he always had if only he didn’t stop to think about it.
No thoughts. Only action.
This is an interesting short story that left me with a question. Does the ending of the story reflect Meghan O’Flynn’s view of life? I will be sure to read more of her work while I wonder how much of this is pure creative fiction and how much of it is an author’s point of view. I gave this four Amazon stars plus because of the powerful descriptive terms used when painting pictures of nature.
August 12, 2021
DID YOU LIKE CRIMSON SNOW? There are plenty more short stories to choose from! Try the others in the Fault Lines short story collections!
SHORT STORY COLLECTIONS
AFTERTASTE: https://meghanoflynn.com/book/afterta...
LISTENERS: https://meghanoflynn.com/book/listene...
PEOPLE LIKE US: https://meghanoflynn.com/book/people-...
THE ASH PARK SERIES
SALVATION: https://meghanoflynn.com/book/salvati...
FAMISHED: meghanoflynn.com/book/famished-an-ash...
CONVICTION: meghanoflynn.com/book/conviction-an-a...
REPRESSED: meghanoflynn.com/book/repressed-an-as...
HIDDEN: meghanoflynn.com/book/hidden-an-ash-p...
REDEMPTION: meghanoflynn.com/book/redemption-an-a...
RECALL: https://meghanoflynn.com/book/recall-...
IMPOSTER: https://meghanoflynn.com/book/imposte...
COMPOSED: https://meghanoflynn.com/book/compose...
WITNESS: https://meghanoflynn.com/book/witness...
SAVAGE: https://meghanoflynn.com/book/savage-...
THE BORN BAD SERIES
DEADLY WORDS: https://meghanoflynn.com/book/deadly-...
INTENDED VICTIMS: https://meghanoflynn.com/book/intende...
HIDDEN WOUNDS: https://meghanoflynn.com/book/hidden-...
BORN BAD: https://meghanoflynn.com/book/born-bad/
STAND-ALONE THRILLERS
THE JILTED: https://meghanoflynn.com/book/the-jil...
SHADOW'S KEEP: https://meghanoflynn.com/book/the-sha...
THE FLOOD: https://meghanoflynn.com/book/the-flood/
SHORT STORY COLLECTIONS
AFTERTASTE: https://meghanoflynn.com/book/afterta...
LISTENERS: https://meghanoflynn.com/book/listene...
PEOPLE LIKE US: https://meghanoflynn.com/book/people-...
THE ASH PARK SERIES
SALVATION: https://meghanoflynn.com/book/salvati...
FAMISHED: meghanoflynn.com/book/famished-an-ash...
CONVICTION: meghanoflynn.com/book/conviction-an-a...
REPRESSED: meghanoflynn.com/book/repressed-an-as...
HIDDEN: meghanoflynn.com/book/hidden-an-ash-p...
REDEMPTION: meghanoflynn.com/book/redemption-an-a...
RECALL: https://meghanoflynn.com/book/recall-...
IMPOSTER: https://meghanoflynn.com/book/imposte...
COMPOSED: https://meghanoflynn.com/book/compose...
WITNESS: https://meghanoflynn.com/book/witness...
SAVAGE: https://meghanoflynn.com/book/savage-...
THE BORN BAD SERIES
DEADLY WORDS: https://meghanoflynn.com/book/deadly-...
INTENDED VICTIMS: https://meghanoflynn.com/book/intende...
HIDDEN WOUNDS: https://meghanoflynn.com/book/hidden-...
BORN BAD: https://meghanoflynn.com/book/born-bad/
STAND-ALONE THRILLERS
THE JILTED: https://meghanoflynn.com/book/the-jil...
SHADOW'S KEEP: https://meghanoflynn.com/book/the-sha...
THE FLOOD: https://meghanoflynn.com/book/the-flood/
February 6, 2024
Masih dalam rangka menghabiskan TBR digital, yang ternyata baru aku sadari banyak juga cerita pendek yang jadi TBR aku di Google Play Books, aku memutuskan untuk membaca judul yang satu ini.
Ternyata di dalam sini selain ada cerita yang berjudul Crimson Snow, kita juga bisa membaca tulisan lain dari penulis yang bisa dibilang semacam snippet gitu sih. Tapi cerita itu juga termasuk cerita pendek gitu sih, jadi bisa kubilang buku ini memuat beberapa kisah alias kumpulan cerita pendek.
Di sini yang mau aku highlight mungkin adalah cerita yang berjudul Crimson Snow itu sendiri. Aku dibuat bisa merasakan bagaimana atmosfer cerita di sini karena setting tempatnya ada di sebuah hutan gitu yang mana pada saat itu bertepatan dengan badai salju, dan kita akan mengikuti kisah tokoh utamanya, Maverick, yang mencoba untuk survive di tengah kondisi tersebut.
Jujur sih menurut aku setelah membaca semua cerita di sini, aku cukup kesulitan untuk menemukan makna atau inti dari ceritanya. Kayak, konfliknya tuh menurut aku sedikit kurang bisa aku cerna jadi aku juga at some point merasakan lost sama ceritanya.
2,5 stars.
Ternyata di dalam sini selain ada cerita yang berjudul Crimson Snow, kita juga bisa membaca tulisan lain dari penulis yang bisa dibilang semacam snippet gitu sih. Tapi cerita itu juga termasuk cerita pendek gitu sih, jadi bisa kubilang buku ini memuat beberapa kisah alias kumpulan cerita pendek.
Di sini yang mau aku highlight mungkin adalah cerita yang berjudul Crimson Snow itu sendiri. Aku dibuat bisa merasakan bagaimana atmosfer cerita di sini karena setting tempatnya ada di sebuah hutan gitu yang mana pada saat itu bertepatan dengan badai salju, dan kita akan mengikuti kisah tokoh utamanya, Maverick, yang mencoba untuk survive di tengah kondisi tersebut.
Jujur sih menurut aku setelah membaca semua cerita di sini, aku cukup kesulitan untuk menemukan makna atau inti dari ceritanya. Kayak, konfliknya tuh menurut aku sedikit kurang bisa aku cerna jadi aku juga at some point merasakan lost sama ceritanya.
2,5 stars.
February 14, 2018
After reading It by Stephen King I needed something short to wind down. So short story time!
I found this for free on Amazon and decided to give it a try.
Like in any short story there is of course no room for proper character development and world building and usually this doesn't really bother me, but here there just seemed to be something lacking. Sure there probably is a war going on and I don't need to know what kind of war. But there also seems to be a major natural catastrophe where entire villages are snowed in? And then there is the main character's weird realtionship with his brother in law...
I don't know, there just seemed to be something missing in order for me to really enjoy it.
I found this for free on Amazon and decided to give it a try.
Like in any short story there is of course no room for proper character development and world building and usually this doesn't really bother me, but here there just seemed to be something lacking. Sure there probably is a war going on and I don't need to know what kind of war. But there also seems to be a major natural catastrophe where entire villages are snowed in? And then there is the main character's weird realtionship with his brother in law...
I don't know, there just seemed to be something missing in order for me to really enjoy it.
July 17, 2019
When the mountains turn from beautifully plentiful to dangerously stark, survival hinges on continually moving in the quiet of Meghan O'Flynn's Crimson Snow: A Short Story.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Once an area of abundant farming and mountainous beauty, Green Valley has succumbed to copious amount of snow and ice, ushering in a pervasive quiet and emptiness. Despite the struggles and sacrifices that were needed to have been made, Maverick keeps moving forward, trying to find a temporary refuge in the kindness of the few remaining inhabitants for a place to warm up and eat. Both leaving and staying on the mountain spells danger for continued living and the trend is that no one leaves alive.
This short story sets up what could be a dark and interesting premise; however, the brief introduction to Maverick and the situation leaves too much unanswered, specifically as to how the world came to this point and just why people are so frightened to leave their homes or help others. Descriptive language made the cold, bleak setting come to life and while aspects to the story were presented in a manner that builds suspense there was a lack of context to help situate characters and events into the larger narrative, which could benefit from some further development.
Overall, I'd give it a 2.5 out of 5 stars.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Once an area of abundant farming and mountainous beauty, Green Valley has succumbed to copious amount of snow and ice, ushering in a pervasive quiet and emptiness. Despite the struggles and sacrifices that were needed to have been made, Maverick keeps moving forward, trying to find a temporary refuge in the kindness of the few remaining inhabitants for a place to warm up and eat. Both leaving and staying on the mountain spells danger for continued living and the trend is that no one leaves alive.
This short story sets up what could be a dark and interesting premise; however, the brief introduction to Maverick and the situation leaves too much unanswered, specifically as to how the world came to this point and just why people are so frightened to leave their homes or help others. Descriptive language made the cold, bleak setting come to life and while aspects to the story were presented in a manner that builds suspense there was a lack of context to help situate characters and events into the larger narrative, which could benefit from some further development.
Overall, I'd give it a 2.5 out of 5 stars.
March 29, 2020
This is an exciting short story about a soldier trying to survive in the frozen wilds of the mountains. He only encounters a few other humans but tries t0 avoid them as he hides from bands of other soldiers. The descriptions of his coldness are well written as are his mental gyrations. This is a decent short read.
April 10, 2020
I know this is a short story, but while the middle was super enthralling, the beginning was odd and the ending left me totally hanging. The bulk of the story, though, was really great and suspenseful. Overall, a great short read if you're limited on time or just want something to go through quickly.
April 23, 2020
Don't Bother
Waste of time and effort. No storyline no ending. I'm just glad I didn't pay for it. Really and truly don't bother. I sometimes say about books I've read and not enjoyed - read it and make your own decision. I simply cannot recommend this short "story" in any shape or form....
Waste of time and effort. No storyline no ending. I'm just glad I didn't pay for it. Really and truly don't bother. I sometimes say about books I've read and not enjoyed - read it and make your own decision. I simply cannot recommend this short "story" in any shape or form....
April 3, 2022
I didn't enjoy this one as much as I did Rearview. Simply for the fact that this one felt more disjointed. It took entirely too long to even surmise what was going on. And it felt vaguely overdone. I gave it 3 stars simply for the writing style. I do like the author's descriptiveness. The imagery is very well done.
March 15, 2018
Good story
This is a dystopian story. Maverick is trying to survive against insurmountable odds. It is clean but has some graphic content. I don’t usually read this genre so I might be overly harsh. Rated PG15
This is a dystopian story. Maverick is trying to survive against insurmountable odds. It is clean but has some graphic content. I don’t usually read this genre so I might be overly harsh. Rated PG15
March 16, 2018
This story was fantastic! I had no idea what to expect when I started it but, as usual, Meg took me on a dark and twisty path. It left me begging for more! I would love to see additional stories fleshed out in this post-apocalyptic world.
October 25, 2018
A dark postapocolyptic story
A short story of survival in a world gone crazy after an infection takes most people. Dark story dealing with the choices one must take as the end draws near. For those who read about the world after a catastrophe occurs.
A short story of survival in a world gone crazy after an infection takes most people. Dark story dealing with the choices one must take as the end draws near. For those who read about the world after a catastrophe occurs.
November 24, 2018
Crimson Snow: A Short Story
A very confusing story about
Nd very depressing. Hopefully the world will never get to that point. I kept hoping the story would end with something positive instead of a nothing ending
A very confusing story about
Nd very depressing. Hopefully the world will never get to that point. I kept hoping the story would end with something positive instead of a nothing ending
January 18, 2019
A short story that leaves the Reader wondering what caused the contagen that quarantined this township and it's people. Happy reading..................Annemarie
I received a free copy from the author and have chosen to leave a review.
I received a free copy from the author and have chosen to leave a review.
September 25, 2020
What a waste of time... Story makes no sense whatsoever. Kept reading expecting some twist to happen. Those who are giving this 5 stars and calling it 'gripping' is really lost or heavily biased for some unknown reasons.
February 20, 2018
I loved the descriptions in this story, I was sucked in shivering, it is so well written. The suspense was never ending, I was turning pages like crazy. I loved Maverick and his story. This was an absolute triumph of a read.
May 6, 2018
Short suspense/horror story. Your guess what happened to the town.
June 11, 2018
Winter's decline.
Good short story. This writer really pulls the reader into the thick of it and makes them think.
Very intense.
Good short story. This writer really pulls the reader into the thick of it and makes them think.
Very intense.
December 1, 2018
A great short
Though a short doesn't give a lot of space for character developement or a lot of detail, this one sucks you right in.
Though a short doesn't give a lot of space for character developement or a lot of detail, this one sucks you right in.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews