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Three Strikes
Three Strikes is a collection of three dark novellas from three star YA authors.
The Darkness - Lucy Christopher
Kasha has answered the advert for The Tribe. Now she sits writing alone in the darkness of the jungle. Is she the only one left? Then she spots a red light blinking at her from the darkness. Cat’s eyes? A camera?
The Twins of Blackfin - Kat Ellis
Every evening Bo visits her best friend Sky’s grave. One night she hears a girl’s voice. Following it leads her to a journal and a crypt.
Matchgirl - Rhian Ivory
A modern YA retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Match Girl. Busking, runaway Nia is mugged and left badly hurt in a tunnel. All she has is three matches, and she starts seeing pictures in the light... A story of grief, love and music.
The Darkness - Lucy Christopher
Kasha has answered the advert for The Tribe. Now she sits writing alone in the darkness of the jungle. Is she the only one left? Then she spots a red light blinking at her from the darkness. Cat’s eyes? A camera?
The Twins of Blackfin - Kat Ellis
Every evening Bo visits her best friend Sky’s grave. One night she hears a girl’s voice. Following it leads her to a journal and a crypt.
Matchgirl - Rhian Ivory
A modern YA retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Match Girl. Busking, runaway Nia is mugged and left badly hurt in a tunnel. All she has is three matches, and she starts seeing pictures in the light... A story of grief, love and music.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 11, 2018
4 people are currently reading
290 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Christopher
14 books2,267 followersLucy Christopher was born in Wales but grew up in Australia. She obtained an Undergraduate degree at Melbourne University. She moved to the UK to earn a distinction in a Creative Writing MA from Bath Spa University. The novel she wrote for this class, The Long Flight, was picked up by a publisher under a new name of FLYAWAY.
Lucy’s debut novel, Stolen, was written as part for her PhD degree. Stolen explores her thoughts on the Australian desert through the story about a teenage girl who is kidnapped and taken there.
Lucy is working on another teen novel. When she is not writing, Lucy spends her time daydreaming, emailing friends and horseback riding a mare named Topaz as well as helping to run a kid’s wildlife group at Newport Wetlands.
Lucy’s debut novel, Stolen, was written as part for her PhD degree. Stolen explores her thoughts on the Australian desert through the story about a teenage girl who is kidnapped and taken there.
Lucy is working on another teen novel. When she is not writing, Lucy spends her time daydreaming, emailing friends and horseback riding a mare named Topaz as well as helping to run a kid’s wildlife group at Newport Wetlands.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 13, 2018
I was sent a physical copy for review via the publishers Firefly Press!
Three Strikes is made up of three YA novellas, offering a fast-paced story-line and interesting concepts. I was hoping that all of the stories would be spooky, however, I only felt extremely spooked out by the second novella The Twins of Blackfin. I would say that Three Strikes does have a story for everyone. The first story by Lucy Christopher called The Darkness has a jungle setting, so would be perfect for readers who love adventure. The final story Matchgirl by Rhian Ivory has more of a contemporary feel to it. They were enjoyable to read but I felt a little something missing from the collection as a whole. I love scary stories but at most points, did not feel scared. I enjoyed the dialogue and the various settings however.
Three Strikes is made up of three YA novellas, offering a fast-paced story-line and interesting concepts. I was hoping that all of the stories would be spooky, however, I only felt extremely spooked out by the second novella The Twins of Blackfin. I would say that Three Strikes does have a story for everyone. The first story by Lucy Christopher called The Darkness has a jungle setting, so would be perfect for readers who love adventure. The final story Matchgirl by Rhian Ivory has more of a contemporary feel to it. They were enjoyable to read but I felt a little something missing from the collection as a whole. I love scary stories but at most points, did not feel scared. I enjoyed the dialogue and the various settings however.
September 30, 2018
A collection of dark, compelling novellas which are perfect for Halloween, or anyone who enjoys a chilling read. I first heard of this book on social media and was intrigued by the promise of Rhian Ivory's Matchgirl, a retelling of one of my favourite fairy tales. I read this one first, and found it to be a poetic, musical tale with the themes of the original cleverly interwoven into a modern setting. The ending is beautifully haunting, yet full of hope.
I read Lucy Christopher's The Darkness next, and rediscovered how much I like Christopher's direct, sharp style from having read her debut, Stolen, some years ago. This tale of troubled teens lured away to a remote island is sure to appeal to a reality TV generation of teens, and has a sting in its tail. The flashbacks to the relationship between Kasha and her mother reminded me of The Everafter by Amy Huntley, another book I really enjoyed and would recommend to fans of Three Strikes.
The Twins of Blackfin by Kat Ellis was my favourite of the three stories. Despite being modern in style and setting, it captures the dark essence and magic of a traditional fairy tale. I loved the strange little quirks about Blackfin, such as the Penny Well which pickpockets coins from passers by, as well as the way that the characters all have some strange ability that at first seem useless and mundane, but which might just end up saving their lives. There's a great past-to-present mystery which sensibly connects to the main character, Bo, and unfolds in a satisfying way. While this prequel paves the way into Ellis's novel, Blackfin Sky, there's enough to form the impression that the strange things about the town all have their roots and reason.
Recommended, and with thanks to Firefly Press for sending me an early copy of the book.
I read Lucy Christopher's The Darkness next, and rediscovered how much I like Christopher's direct, sharp style from having read her debut, Stolen, some years ago. This tale of troubled teens lured away to a remote island is sure to appeal to a reality TV generation of teens, and has a sting in its tail. The flashbacks to the relationship between Kasha and her mother reminded me of The Everafter by Amy Huntley, another book I really enjoyed and would recommend to fans of Three Strikes.
The Twins of Blackfin by Kat Ellis was my favourite of the three stories. Despite being modern in style and setting, it captures the dark essence and magic of a traditional fairy tale. I loved the strange little quirks about Blackfin, such as the Penny Well which pickpockets coins from passers by, as well as the way that the characters all have some strange ability that at first seem useless and mundane, but which might just end up saving their lives. There's a great past-to-present mystery which sensibly connects to the main character, Bo, and unfolds in a satisfying way. While this prequel paves the way into Ellis's novel, Blackfin Sky, there's enough to form the impression that the strange things about the town all have their roots and reason.
Recommended, and with thanks to Firefly Press for sending me an early copy of the book.
September 2, 2018
Three deeply compelling, dark tales that twist and snare the imagination. Three tales of love, loss, heartache and page turning mystery.
Kat Ellis' contribution to this novella compilation, The Twins of Blackfin, is a prequel novella to her amazing Novel, Blackfin Sky. Bo is mourning the death of her friend, Sky, but unusual happenings are occurring in Blackfin, which is saying something as Blackfin is the definition of strange! Perfect prequel.
The Darkness by Lucy Christopher is a chilling tale of a girl struggling with her grief whilst also being stranded in the Jungle in the middle of nowhere. This tale deals with difficult topics such as mental health and parental abuse, so be aware of this before you go in. It was well executed and kept me gripped the entire way through.
Matchgirl by Rhian Ivory is a retelling. I'll admit I've not read the original so I can't comment on that. Like The Darkness, the main character Nia is dealing with the death of a parent, though that's where the similarity ends! A tale of grief, Nia's love of music is her solace, whilst it's too raw to her father.
Overall this book of novellas is gripping and I'd definitely recommend - yes, even though it isn't science fiction! I do read other genres too ;)
Kat Ellis' contribution to this novella compilation, The Twins of Blackfin, is a prequel novella to her amazing Novel, Blackfin Sky. Bo is mourning the death of her friend, Sky, but unusual happenings are occurring in Blackfin, which is saying something as Blackfin is the definition of strange! Perfect prequel.
The Darkness by Lucy Christopher is a chilling tale of a girl struggling with her grief whilst also being stranded in the Jungle in the middle of nowhere. This tale deals with difficult topics such as mental health and parental abuse, so be aware of this before you go in. It was well executed and kept me gripped the entire way through.
Matchgirl by Rhian Ivory is a retelling. I'll admit I've not read the original so I can't comment on that. Like The Darkness, the main character Nia is dealing with the death of a parent, though that's where the similarity ends! A tale of grief, Nia's love of music is her solace, whilst it's too raw to her father.
Overall this book of novellas is gripping and I'd definitely recommend - yes, even though it isn't science fiction! I do read other genres too ;)
October 18, 2018
DNF after first story. May continue later.
February 15, 2019
I enjoyed each of the stories. Each author pulled you in and each story had a unique twist. Great read!
January 5, 2019
Exceptionally gripping, each of these stories quickly establishes their own unique voices that will haunt the reader for some time to come. The first is unsettling with familiar allusions to an iconic 'reality tv' scenario, but shocking as it reaches its' end, revealing that, in the 'coming-of-age' we all must face, not everything is as it seems. The second is a brilliant, eerie ghost story that sends shivers right to the core. And Matchgirl has to be one of the best fairytale revamps I have read in a very long time, causing a very real fear and chilling conclusion. Each also approaches its' subject with a subtle, well-crafted psychological construct and an insightful view into the culture of young adults. Truly brilliant fare, I would highly recommend Three Strikes.
February 28, 2019
My favourite story was the middle one, the Twins of Blackfin, and I have already added Kat Ellis’ main book to my tbr lol! It’s so creepy and perfect. Blackfin sounds like a wonderfully weird place to live. And I loved the way the town accepts the odd things that happen.
The Tribe is an odd one - I was frustrated by the lack of answers and the unreliable narrator but I did enjoy the story. But we never learn anything about why or what and in the end that frustrated me too much.
And finally Matchgirl - I liked this but again wanted more resolution. Though this time just in the form of it being slightly longer - there’s a lot left unsaid and undone at the end of the novella, especially between Nia and her dad.
The Tribe is an odd one - I was frustrated by the lack of answers and the unreliable narrator but I did enjoy the story. But we never learn anything about why or what and in the end that frustrated me too much.
And finally Matchgirl - I liked this but again wanted more resolution. Though this time just in the form of it being slightly longer - there’s a lot left unsaid and undone at the end of the novella, especially between Nia and her dad.
October 31, 2025
Three haunting novellas filled with ghosts, cults, and secrets that smoulder long after you close the book. Each story is distinct yet bound by the same atmosphere of mystery, menace, and melancholy.
From the eerie beauty of a ghostly haunting to the disturbing devotion of a hidden cult and a darkly reimagined Little Match Girl, these stories are seductive and unsettling in equal measure. Perfect for Halloween or any stormy night when you crave something spine-tingling and lyrical.
A masterful collaboration between three powerful voices in YA fiction. Chilling, beautiful, and impossible to forget.
From the eerie beauty of a ghostly haunting to the disturbing devotion of a hidden cult and a darkly reimagined Little Match Girl, these stories are seductive and unsettling in equal measure. Perfect for Halloween or any stormy night when you crave something spine-tingling and lyrical.
A masterful collaboration between three powerful voices in YA fiction. Chilling, beautiful, and impossible to forget.
February 25, 2020
Im giving this 4 stars because I absolutely adored the second story by Kat Ellis. I picked up a sample of the book at YALC 2018 and was super excited when I found it the following year and had a nice chat with Kat Ellis who also signed the book for me. However I didn’t like the conclusion of the first story at all and the last story left me with so many questions. I did finish the book on one day because all of the stories really hooked me. I’m glad I finally read it and it definitely was a quick read but I just feel like I need a sequel to the last story.
February 21, 2020
I really enjoyed all the stories but my favourite was the middle one.
February 2, 2025
I wasn’t a big fan of the first story but I really liked the second and third
August 24, 2023
I dont know about this one... the first story was kinda interesting but the ending was a little meh. It just didn't pick up well from the climax the plot was building. The 2nd story was my favourite I think. Quite chilling and suspenseful. The last one was... a little bland to me.
January 11, 2019
I’m always wary of anthologies. They tend to be a real mixed bag, with some great stories and some not so good.
Thankfully, I enjoyed all 3 in this collection! I’ll give a brief review on them individually.
The Darkness by Lucy Christopher ⭐⭐⭐⭐
A really suspensful story, moving between Kasha in the jungle and reflecting on how she got there. While she tries to figure out what is actually going on and if she’ll ever get out of there, we slowly learn what actually happened to her mother.
The Twins of Blackfin by Kat Ellis ⭐⭐⭐⭐
As the paranormal story of the 3, this was naturally my favourite! We get a glimpse into the strange town of Blackfin, and follow Bo as she tries to find out what is causing the kids in town to walk through the streets at night. I can’t wait to read more about this town in her full length novel Blackfin Sky.
Matchgirl by Rhian Ivory ⭐⭐⭐
I wasn’t familiar with The Little Match Girl before, so gave it a quick read before moving on to this story (definitely worth doing, you can find it online for free and it’s super short). This was the closest to a ‘standard’ contemporary, all be it with a very dark ending. While it was my least favourite of the three because of that, it’s purely because of personal taste. The writing was strong, and the ending heart wrenching.
Thankfully, I enjoyed all 3 in this collection! I’ll give a brief review on them individually.
The Darkness by Lucy Christopher ⭐⭐⭐⭐
A really suspensful story, moving between Kasha in the jungle and reflecting on how she got there. While she tries to figure out what is actually going on and if she’ll ever get out of there, we slowly learn what actually happened to her mother.
The Twins of Blackfin by Kat Ellis ⭐⭐⭐⭐
As the paranormal story of the 3, this was naturally my favourite! We get a glimpse into the strange town of Blackfin, and follow Bo as she tries to find out what is causing the kids in town to walk through the streets at night. I can’t wait to read more about this town in her full length novel Blackfin Sky.
Matchgirl by Rhian Ivory ⭐⭐⭐
I wasn’t familiar with The Little Match Girl before, so gave it a quick read before moving on to this story (definitely worth doing, you can find it online for free and it’s super short). This was the closest to a ‘standard’ contemporary, all be it with a very dark ending. While it was my least favourite of the three because of that, it’s purely because of personal taste. The writing was strong, and the ending heart wrenching.
February 24, 2021
This is a collection of three novellas from three separate authors. Honestly the first story 'The Darkness' and the third story 'Matchstick Girl' were both very disappointing for me. I didn't like either of them, the characters were unlikable in both and The Darkness in particular just seemed to have a weird, rambling plot. Matchstick Girl was more my style, but the main character was so horrid that I actually wanted it to end the same way that 'The Little Match Girl' did. (It is a retelling of that story.) Harsh? Maybe. But I have no problem wishing death on fictional characters that irk me. There is however one gem in this collection which all three of my stars are aimed at. The Twins of Blackfin was a great story! It has a spooky, weaving plot that gripped me from the start. I loved it so much! To the point where I will be buying 'Blackfin Sky' by Kat Ellis, which is somewhat of a continuation from this novella. Highly recommend just for The Twins of Blackfin! Quite frankly the other two stories you can skip.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews