Island Tales: Caribbean Folklore Stories

by Amber Drappier

"The lingering smell of wet mould hung in the air, and under the glow of the streetlight, her once shapely form was now a series of lumps and bumps clad in dirty old rags that dragged along the floor." FROM THE AUTHOR OF UNNATURAL ONLY IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO… Island Tales, a series of twenty-seven folklore stories featuring supernatural beings and characters from across the Caribbean region. Characters who have no doubt haunted the dreams and nightmares and maybe even lives of most Caribbean-born people. Stand among the watchful army of pop-culture statues in “The Sculptor” or join the mob against Blue, the thieving shopkeeper in “Tipping the Scales”. Stroll along the riverbanks with Nerida in “Water Baby” or maybe just kick back and enjoy a special feature article in the Sunday newspaper entitled “Endless Cycle”. But, however you choose to spend your time here, just be sure to remember one always cast a wary eye behind you, lest you end up like poor Mr. Gundy in “Piggy Back Rides for Mr. Gundy”.

Genres: Folklore

301 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 25, 2018

About the author

With a variety of passions and interests, Amber tries to not limit herself to one specific genre. Poetry, art, novellas and short stories categorized as; fiction, experimental, fantasy, horror, surreal, romance, action/adventure, folklore and short stories are just some of the categories under which her work falls.

Some of the major influences in her life and work includes, Stephen King, Michael Crichton, Lewis Carroll, H.G. Wells, Dr. Seuss, Roald Dahl, Chuck Palahniuk, Friedrich Nietzsche, Brian Warner of Marilyn Manson, J.R.R. Tolkien, Robert Frost, Stephen Hawking, Vladimir Nabokov etc.

Amber has her degree with full honors in Human Resource Management and currently lives with her husband in Florida, USA.

With a backlog of ideas and projects, she aims to publish at least five (05) books per year.

Reviews

[Regine S · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had such a great time reading these tales! The index was also a great addition. Coming from a Jamaican background I found it so interesting how all of the stories throughout the islands connect and overlap.

[Renz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally enjoyed this book

I enjoyed reading about folklore , most of which I knew but some I had never heard of and the stories were very imaginative and believable. Loved it

[Maëlla K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was delightful to read Caribbean tales. Most of them try to give a new perspective of the motivations behind some "wicked" characters actions. Some of stories actually got me wondering if it was a good idea to read it at night.

[Shadon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Because the universe demands balance. Nothing is done for nothing, what you take you must give back. There has to be a push and a pull.

Spooky, atmospheric, and wholly Caribbean in the most wonderful of ways. Island Tales was full of interesting and unique stories, rich in regional folklore and featuring a flavorful dialect, much like a familiar song, but was unfortunately a tad too uneven. For most of the short stories, I found the concept to be better than the lacking execution. I left nearly all of them wanting a little bit more than they each stubbornly refused to give. In fact, the quality of each short story varied so wildly that it was always a toss-up for my enjoyment. I was either completely entranced and sucked in, or a bit bored and quickly turning pages so it would end. Only a few really creeped me out at all (though almost all of them were suitably eerie), and even fewer stayed with me once I'd turned the page to the next one. Ultimately, some really cool ideas in this made for an overall cohesive anthology and an immersive, quick-enough read, but a less-than-stellar depiction of regional mythology, and a lack of editing left me grasping for more. Still, I'm quite glad I chose not to read this at night. Sleep would not have been had.

[Camille Jackman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amber Drappier has to be Trinidadian, and someone that is very tied to the region and its folklore, way beyond just deep research. The way she weaves her words and the steady rhythm of her writing voice is almost lyrical. Very reminiscent of the rhythm of our language.

Each story began and ended almost flawlessly and had me reading for more, though I resonated with some stories more than others the overall folklore theme did not disappoint.

Overall this was a great read, I fully enjoyed it.
4.5/5

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the overview of creatures from Caribbean folklore and will come back to it. The book has a mix of stories and a few poems.