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Extraordinary Lessons: A Horror Novella
Sometimes children read things that they shouldn’t. Sometimes children do things that they shouldn’t. Sometimes children learn lessons that they shouldn’t…the hard way.
94 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 9, 2018
12 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Gail Gernat
5 books6 followersGail Gernat lives in Northern Ontario, in the country with her beloved husband, Norman, a crazy dog and two aging tom cats. While being involved in many projects, this award winning author enjoys being very close to nature. Gail is also living with lymphoma and these factors inform much of her writing.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 20, 2018
Love is a fundamental sentiment in our lives. If you are a child, you expect to receive plenty of it from your parents. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen.
Al and Josh are best friends; they live in the same neighbourhood and they pass their days playing together. They also have a sad reality in common: their problematic mothers. Al’s mum is drunken. She’s continuously drunk and she doesn’t take care of him properly, although she claims that she loves him.
Josh lives with his father. He moved on and he now has a new partner: Millie. She is an arrogant, violent, and wicked woman who treats Josh badly and meanly.
Al and Josh decide to perform a magic ritual to change their lives and their mums, but things don’t go as they planned. The immense power the ritual gave to them corrupts Josh. He firstly takes his revenge on Millie, then decides to punish the parents of all the children in town. Al realises the foolishness of the plan and fights his friend back.
The friendship binding the two children is the only force that can save them, but the salvation comes at a high price.
Gail Germat faces a sensitive topic - children abuse - in an unusual, but effective way. The story – although it’s barely seventy pages long – is a page-turner novella. In a simple, but appealing style, Germat describes the fears and thoughts of the two young characters and what brought them to take their decisions. Spreading violence and hatred doesn’t work, Love is the real overwhelming force that wins over everything.
Al and Josh are best friends; they live in the same neighbourhood and they pass their days playing together. They also have a sad reality in common: their problematic mothers. Al’s mum is drunken. She’s continuously drunk and she doesn’t take care of him properly, although she claims that she loves him.
Josh lives with his father. He moved on and he now has a new partner: Millie. She is an arrogant, violent, and wicked woman who treats Josh badly and meanly.
Al and Josh decide to perform a magic ritual to change their lives and their mums, but things don’t go as they planned. The immense power the ritual gave to them corrupts Josh. He firstly takes his revenge on Millie, then decides to punish the parents of all the children in town. Al realises the foolishness of the plan and fights his friend back.
The friendship binding the two children is the only force that can save them, but the salvation comes at a high price.
Gail Germat faces a sensitive topic - children abuse - in an unusual, but effective way. The story – although it’s barely seventy pages long – is a page-turner novella. In a simple, but appealing style, Germat describes the fears and thoughts of the two young characters and what brought them to take their decisions. Spreading violence and hatred doesn’t work, Love is the real overwhelming force that wins over everything.
April 9, 2018
*****CONTAINS SPOILERS *****
Extraordinary Lessons is an interesting and raw account of two young boys (Josh & Alvin) who find a spell book, summon Beelzebub and carry out revenge on parents who abuse their children. It deals with sensitive topics such as child abuse and the real impact on the victims. The lengths that victims can be driven to in an attempt to regain a sense of peace and security in their lives. It showcases the fractures that occur within a personality when exposed to abuse trauma. It had me asking questions and eagerly reading on to see what happens to the boys as the story unfolds. This book is well written and executed and full of beautifully written scenes of gore and horror. A mashup between horror and fantasy, Extraordinary Lessons is sure to please readers of all sorts. The characters are well developed and center mainly on the Josh & his stepmom Millie & Al and his mom, Alicia. Josh's dad is in the periphery, away on business and I felt that just enough info was given about him, as the story is meant to focus on the boys, not the additional characters. Josh's real mom died in a car accident when he was a baby and he carries that trauma & guilt as well. Alicia was left by Al's real dad and she can't cope with day to day life and resorts to being drunk all the time and affairs with married men to mask the pain. Once they get the hang of summoning the power with the chant, they take care of their #1 concern, Millie. Josh begins to indulge too much and becomes "drunk with power" as he starts carrying out revenge on "innocent" parents. Although, Josh doesn't consider parents who hit their children innocent. Al never wants to hurt his mother because although she's a drunken sot she's never hurt him and loves him in her own "boozy way." Al must stop Josh from killing her. In the end, Josh must pay a price for using the Beelzebub's power. Al refuses to let Beelzebub take Josh. In the end, he sacrifices himself to pay Josh's debt. I would highly recommend this book. You won't be disappointed!
Extraordinary Lessons is an interesting and raw account of two young boys (Josh & Alvin) who find a spell book, summon Beelzebub and carry out revenge on parents who abuse their children. It deals with sensitive topics such as child abuse and the real impact on the victims. The lengths that victims can be driven to in an attempt to regain a sense of peace and security in their lives. It showcases the fractures that occur within a personality when exposed to abuse trauma. It had me asking questions and eagerly reading on to see what happens to the boys as the story unfolds. This book is well written and executed and full of beautifully written scenes of gore and horror. A mashup between horror and fantasy, Extraordinary Lessons is sure to please readers of all sorts. The characters are well developed and center mainly on the Josh & his stepmom Millie & Al and his mom, Alicia. Josh's dad is in the periphery, away on business and I felt that just enough info was given about him, as the story is meant to focus on the boys, not the additional characters. Josh's real mom died in a car accident when he was a baby and he carries that trauma & guilt as well. Alicia was left by Al's real dad and she can't cope with day to day life and resorts to being drunk all the time and affairs with married men to mask the pain. Once they get the hang of summoning the power with the chant, they take care of their #1 concern, Millie. Josh begins to indulge too much and becomes "drunk with power" as he starts carrying out revenge on "innocent" parents. Although, Josh doesn't consider parents who hit their children innocent. Al never wants to hurt his mother because although she's a drunken sot she's never hurt him and loves him in her own "boozy way." Al must stop Josh from killing her. In the end, Josh must pay a price for using the Beelzebub's power. Al refuses to let Beelzebub take Josh. In the end, he sacrifices himself to pay Josh's debt. I would highly recommend this book. You won't be disappointed!
July 12, 2018
This book was ok. I didn't like it as much as I wanted too but there were some great parts in this book for me. The relationship these boys had through the good and the bad was great. Al had the best heart in the end but children learn from mistakes so this will be a lesson for sure. Sad ending for me. I wish the ending could've been different but I see what the author was doing.
April 10, 2018
Wow!...Just wow!
This was such an unexpected read! It just riveted me to the pages. A great play on how real power can affect us, especially in small children. Thank you for allowing me to read ARC you shared with me. Please keep writing!
This was such an unexpected read! It just riveted me to the pages. A great play on how real power can affect us, especially in small children. Thank you for allowing me to read ARC you shared with me. Please keep writing!
April 30, 2018
An awesome read!
It wasn't as long as I prefer but the story was amazing. I would like to see this mini book where the characters continue. Great job!!
It wasn't as long as I prefer but the story was amazing. I would like to see this mini book where the characters continue. Great job!!
October 16, 2018
Wow this book was amazing. It was intriguing, suspenseful and kept me rapidly turning those pages until the very end. I managed to devour this in one sitting. Definitely will be interested in reading their other works.
March 11, 2018
Extraordinary Lessons was a quick and chilling read. It follows two young boys and a dog through their quest to get revenge and justice on the people who have hurt them. The cost of the power they discover versus the innocence of the boys is an interesting plot that the author tells brilliantly. This was a well written, shocking and horrifying read and I would definitely recommend it for those horror fans out there.
March 12, 2018
Okay, it's book talk time. NON-SPOILER REVIEW!
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Extraordinary Lessons By Gail Gernat - ⭐️⭐️.5 (2.5/5 stars)
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First of all, I want to thank @andreajamespublishing for sending me an e-arc copy of this book. I finished this recently and it didn't take me long to finish it since this is a very short novel. So here's my thoughts. I do not like it. It's not that I hate it, it's just missing something. I could say the story is incomplete. And I'm going to talk about that soon. This book could have been a great middle grade fantasy but here's the thing, the book shifted from realistic fiction to paranormal then to fantasy. And for that reason I have problem reading the story. 😕
:
The premise sounds very interesting and I really like the way how the book started. But I just can't accept the story as a whole. The whole settings just didn't work for me. Also I have issues with the characters - lacking developments. For example Josh's mom, what exactly happened to her? Alvin's mother, why is she a drunk? There must be reasons for that. Even Millie, how did she end up with Josh's dad? So we're lacking many backstories. Also I didn't like how the "Black Magic" system works. Like I said, the story shifted again from horror to superhero fantasy. And yeah the whole lot just didn't work for me. Even at the ending, there's a part where a moment of life and death, suddenly turns into humor. That transition just didn't make any sense. 😧
:
If this book could have been given more time, it'll be a much better read. I didn't hate the book, it just didn't live up to my expectation. Again I need to remind everyone, this is not an attack toward the author or whatsoever, I only happen not to like the book. I would like to give the author another chance with her other books! 🙌🏻 This is my personal opinion, if you like the book, then I'm happy for you. You are entitled to your own opinion. 😇👍🏻
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Extraordinary Lessons By Gail Gernat - ⭐️⭐️.5 (2.5/5 stars)
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First of all, I want to thank @andreajamespublishing for sending me an e-arc copy of this book. I finished this recently and it didn't take me long to finish it since this is a very short novel. So here's my thoughts. I do not like it. It's not that I hate it, it's just missing something. I could say the story is incomplete. And I'm going to talk about that soon. This book could have been a great middle grade fantasy but here's the thing, the book shifted from realistic fiction to paranormal then to fantasy. And for that reason I have problem reading the story. 😕
:
The premise sounds very interesting and I really like the way how the book started. But I just can't accept the story as a whole. The whole settings just didn't work for me. Also I have issues with the characters - lacking developments. For example Josh's mom, what exactly happened to her? Alvin's mother, why is she a drunk? There must be reasons for that. Even Millie, how did she end up with Josh's dad? So we're lacking many backstories. Also I didn't like how the "Black Magic" system works. Like I said, the story shifted again from horror to superhero fantasy. And yeah the whole lot just didn't work for me. Even at the ending, there's a part where a moment of life and death, suddenly turns into humor. That transition just didn't make any sense. 😧
:
If this book could have been given more time, it'll be a much better read. I didn't hate the book, it just didn't live up to my expectation. Again I need to remind everyone, this is not an attack toward the author or whatsoever, I only happen not to like the book. I would like to give the author another chance with her other books! 🙌🏻 This is my personal opinion, if you like the book, then I'm happy for you. You are entitled to your own opinion. 😇👍🏻
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March 10, 2018
The true horror of this story is its truth. It resonates
through actions and reactions of the two young
boys. Once again Ms. Gernat takes real people who could be our next door neighbours and places them in situations of pure fantasy and adventure. In this dark and twisted world we realize the depths that victims can be driven to, and still, the characters stay true to themselves.
-ANDREA JAMES PUBLISHING
through actions and reactions of the two young
boys. Once again Ms. Gernat takes real people who could be our next door neighbours and places them in situations of pure fantasy and adventure. In this dark and twisted world we realize the depths that victims can be driven to, and still, the characters stay true to themselves.
-ANDREA JAMES PUBLISHING
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews