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Monsters at Dusk
There’s no monster under your bed, but there are several in this book. The debut short story collection from “Gerald Barkley Rocks” author Kyle A. Massa, “Monsters at Dusk” offers answers to several important questions, such Do vampires use Snapchat? Can sports franchises set in epic fantasy worlds make better hiring decisions than real ones? What is a Megrim and why does it keep taking everyone’s kids? Balancing fantasy, science fiction, horror, and humor, each of the collection’s 10 stories concerns a different monster—some familiar, some original, some literal, some metaphorical, all strange and wonderful in their own way.
180 pages, paperback
Published September 5, 2019
6 people are currently reading
738 people want to read
About the author
Kyle A. Massa
14 books80 followersKyle A. Massa is a comedy author of some sort living somewhere in upstate New York with his wife, their daughter, and three wild animals. His published works include numerous books, short stories, essays, and poems. When he’s not writing, he enjoys reading, running, and drinking cheap coffee.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
April 11, 2022
A delightful collection for SFF lovers.
I had not heard of this author before, but the cover of this book created a high level of curiosity in my mind. I appreciate indie authors who take time out to invest in apt covers for their works. Thankfully, in this case, the book not only matches but exceeds the expectations set by the cover.
This anthology contains 9 short stories and a novella. Each belongs to the SFF genre but is still quite different from the rest. The stories start off pretty innocently and it's only after a few paras that you realise there's something stunning/sinister/sad/horrifying underneath that casual beginning. The tales come from horror, dark humour, satire, and fantasy, and each deals with a specific type of monster, not necessarily the kind you have been exposed to commonly in these genres. Some of the stories are hilarious, some are scary, some are reflective. All of them kept me engaged from start to end. None went into needless digressions but stayed true to the purpose of the narrative; very few short story writers can manage this art perfectly.
Of the 9 short stories, only one story failed to reach the 3 star mark for me, and that too was because it ended abruptly without satisfying my mind, not because of any paucity of writing imagination. Six stories (including the novella) reached a rating of 4.5 stars and above for me. My favourite story was the very first one, “Several Messages from Abby to God (Regarding her Cat)”. The title itself should give you a clue about how funny the story is. Never have I laughed so much at a story in ages! I read it twice in a row and wouldn’t mind rereading it once in a while to get my regular fix of intelligent humour.
I simply loved the creativity and writing skills of this author and I look forward to reading more of his works. Definitely a recommended collection for SFF lovers and those on the lookout for a fabulous indie anthology.
My rating: 4.25 stars, based on the average of my ratings for all the stories and the novella.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author through ‘Voracious Readers Only’ and these are my honest thoughts about it.
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Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
I had not heard of this author before, but the cover of this book created a high level of curiosity in my mind. I appreciate indie authors who take time out to invest in apt covers for their works. Thankfully, in this case, the book not only matches but exceeds the expectations set by the cover.
This anthology contains 9 short stories and a novella. Each belongs to the SFF genre but is still quite different from the rest. The stories start off pretty innocently and it's only after a few paras that you realise there's something stunning/sinister/sad/horrifying underneath that casual beginning. The tales come from horror, dark humour, satire, and fantasy, and each deals with a specific type of monster, not necessarily the kind you have been exposed to commonly in these genres. Some of the stories are hilarious, some are scary, some are reflective. All of them kept me engaged from start to end. None went into needless digressions but stayed true to the purpose of the narrative; very few short story writers can manage this art perfectly.
Of the 9 short stories, only one story failed to reach the 3 star mark for me, and that too was because it ended abruptly without satisfying my mind, not because of any paucity of writing imagination. Six stories (including the novella) reached a rating of 4.5 stars and above for me. My favourite story was the very first one, “Several Messages from Abby to God (Regarding her Cat)”. The title itself should give you a clue about how funny the story is. Never have I laughed so much at a story in ages! I read it twice in a row and wouldn’t mind rereading it once in a while to get my regular fix of intelligent humour.
I simply loved the creativity and writing skills of this author and I look forward to reading more of his works. Definitely a recommended collection for SFF lovers and those on the lookout for a fabulous indie anthology.
My rating: 4.25 stars, based on the average of my ratings for all the stories and the novella.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author through ‘Voracious Readers Only’ and these are my honest thoughts about it.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
October 3, 2020
Not all monsters live under our beds…
Nine short stories weaving powerful narratives of love tested by monstrosities. Monsters that hide in the shadows and, the unspoken, spine-chilling nightmares of adults, monsters in our heads. Some had me laughing out loud - your beloved pet dying, then being reincarnated to eat your vet, yikes! - and one made me genuinely cry. There's also substance addiction, “reality” TV, inequality against lycanthropes and a novella at the back to really sink your teeth into.
Perfect for Terry Pratchett fans. Anyone who's ever played Blood Bowl will appreciate the nod to it in the short story A Good Fit in Penbluff City.
Thank you to the author for a review copy via Voracious Readers Only
Buy this book at: Amazon
Support the author on Twitter or via their website
Read more reviews on Velvet Opus
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Nine short stories weaving powerful narratives of love tested by monstrosities. Monsters that hide in the shadows and, the unspoken, spine-chilling nightmares of adults, monsters in our heads. Some had me laughing out loud - your beloved pet dying, then being reincarnated to eat your vet, yikes! - and one made me genuinely cry. There's also substance addiction, “reality” TV, inequality against lycanthropes and a novella at the back to really sink your teeth into.
Perfect for Terry Pratchett fans. Anyone who's ever played Blood Bowl will appreciate the nod to it in the short story A Good Fit in Penbluff City.
Thank you to the author for a review copy via Voracious Readers Only
Buy this book at: Amazon
Support the author on Twitter or via their website
Read more reviews on Velvet Opus
Find us on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn
December 15, 2021
I received a free review copy of this book from Voracious Readers Only and am leaving this review voluntarily.
So the first few stories or so disappointed me, as they seemed to stop just before they reached a proper conclusion, or answer to some question posed in the story, or anything really. I enjoyed the story about memories but felt as though it was over before it had really begun, and that - though it was supposed to be a short story - it was simply just a bit too short, a bit too rushed in its conclusion. The story about coffee didn't really seem to mean anything, at least to me. A Good Fit in Penbluff City really seemed to go nowhere. It was interesting the whole way through, and I thought there might be some action involved as at least one match was described, but in the end Wings was interesting and I wanted to learn more about the other victims, but it was over in a few short pages and I felt really disappointed by it. I did enjoy the last story, The Megrim. It was the longest story and the most interesting by far. I enjoyed the characters - even being annoyed by the main character, Pureman Wendyll and amused by Nairn Lockwood. Overall, a great story, and a smart choice to end the collection with, earning this story collection 4 stars instead of 3.
So the first few stories or so disappointed me, as they seemed to stop just before they reached a proper conclusion, or answer to some question posed in the story, or anything really. I enjoyed the story about memories but felt as though it was over before it had really begun, and that - though it was supposed to be a short story - it was simply just a bit too short, a bit too rushed in its conclusion. The story about coffee didn't really seem to mean anything, at least to me. A Good Fit in Penbluff City really seemed to go nowhere. It was interesting the whole way through, and I thought there might be some action involved as at least one match was described, but in the end Wings was interesting and I wanted to learn more about the other victims, but it was over in a few short pages and I felt really disappointed by it. I did enjoy the last story, The Megrim. It was the longest story and the most interesting by far. I enjoyed the characters - even being annoyed by the main character, Pureman Wendyll and amused by Nairn Lockwood. Overall, a great story, and a smart choice to end the collection with, earning this story collection 4 stars instead of 3.
September 28, 2019
Nice wee collection of scary stories. Really loved the 1st one in the book. wasnt really that scary but i chuckled all the way through it. Each story has it very own unique tale to tell and they are all done superbly and i wished a few were longer more on depth.
November 23, 2019
This collection of stories covers a variety of genres, themes, and ideas. A few are only a page or two long, but the author is excellent a tconveying an engaging story in such a limited space. I enjoyed all but one of the works; The Megrin is a novella included at the end and was my favorite part of the collection. The protagonists are eccentric and no two are the same, making for a refreshing read - you have no idea what the next story will be like! Highly recommend this work.
I received a complimentary copy through Voracious Readers Only in exchange for my honest opinion.
I received a complimentary copy through Voracious Readers Only in exchange for my honest opinion.
January 29, 2020
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
4.5*
I definitely had my favourites and ones that weren't really for me. Some of the stories felt unfinished in the way that I wanted it to keep going and they had more potential but the next one had already started. Overall though I really enjoyed them and thought most of them were inventive and well written
4.5*
I definitely had my favourites and ones that weren't really for me. Some of the stories felt unfinished in the way that I wanted it to keep going and they had more potential but the next one had already started. Overall though I really enjoyed them and thought most of them were inventive and well written
February 17, 2022
these made me giggle and made me happy to read. i enjoy a good horror story but its fun to find a good silly horror also.. this was a lot of fun to read.
November 28, 2020
A collection of horror stories that fortunately is not gonna keep you up at night.
‘Monsters at Dusk’ includes nine short stories and a novella of diverse themes. Although not blood curdling, the stories contain materials relating to fear and wildness with humor sprinkled over many of them.
The book starts off with a rather unusual story where one can see the exchange of letters between a young kid, God, Satan, and others. The concept would appear to be hilarious to many readers. Although the story did not quite work for me as it proceeded, the initiation was pretty good, and I must say the author did a smart job with the letters from the young girl. Another notable story from the collection is the one about wings. The idea was fascinating and it did not fail to show us how our sense of judgement can truckle to our wild desires, and how some people crave to derive pleasure and benefits from our weaknesses. The author is pretty good with sealing a story, and he has managed to prove it several times throughout the book. In the novella, he has broken a number of stereotypes, portrayed an insanely strong female character, and once again put a pretty unexpected and beautiful ending.
The style of narration in the stories could no doubt be a little better. I think it's the only thing that unfortunately might work as a turn off for some readers. The author has done a much better job with the novella which proves his potential, so it is certainly not impossible for him to put a little more effort in this case.
I really liked the mindset of the author that worked behind creating characters like Wendyll and Lockwood in the novella. Although I cannot really call myself a fan of Lockwood, she is actually kinda hilarious and by the end, the reader is bound to gather some respect for her. I appreciate the presence of several strong and bold female characters throughout the book.
Recommended for readers looking for a bearable amount of fear.
(I received a copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily)
‘Monsters at Dusk’ includes nine short stories and a novella of diverse themes. Although not blood curdling, the stories contain materials relating to fear and wildness with humor sprinkled over many of them.
The book starts off with a rather unusual story where one can see the exchange of letters between a young kid, God, Satan, and others. The concept would appear to be hilarious to many readers. Although the story did not quite work for me as it proceeded, the initiation was pretty good, and I must say the author did a smart job with the letters from the young girl. Another notable story from the collection is the one about wings. The idea was fascinating and it did not fail to show us how our sense of judgement can truckle to our wild desires, and how some people crave to derive pleasure and benefits from our weaknesses. The author is pretty good with sealing a story, and he has managed to prove it several times throughout the book. In the novella, he has broken a number of stereotypes, portrayed an insanely strong female character, and once again put a pretty unexpected and beautiful ending.
The style of narration in the stories could no doubt be a little better. I think it's the only thing that unfortunately might work as a turn off for some readers. The author has done a much better job with the novella which proves his potential, so it is certainly not impossible for him to put a little more effort in this case.
I really liked the mindset of the author that worked behind creating characters like Wendyll and Lockwood in the novella. Although I cannot really call myself a fan of Lockwood, she is actually kinda hilarious and by the end, the reader is bound to gather some respect for her. I appreciate the presence of several strong and bold female characters throughout the book.
Recommended for readers looking for a bearable amount of fear.
(I received a copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily)
May 3, 2020
A pleasant collection of some short stories about a handful of uncomfortable "monsters": a demonic cat, vampires, a spectre who steals your memories, addiction... Some odd, some original ideas, and mostly they were good. My favourite was the novella at the end titled 'The Megrim', a dark fantasy kidnapping mystery. It was very good.
Ratings for the individual stories:-
Several Messages from Abby to God (Regarding Her Cat) - A fun story with a Good Omens feel to it. 4*
Unbelievable - This one I definitely wanted more from. 4*
We Remember - This one made me feel very uncomfortable. 5*
Large Coffee, Black - I know people who say they couldn't live without coffee, but I doubt they'd go as far as Osborne! 3*
A Good Fit in Penbluff City - This one felt like the opening chapter of a fantasy sports story I would definitely read. I wanted more of Pren and Henge! 4*
Alice - Another story that felt frustratingly like the opening chapter of a bigger story. 2*
Thespian: A Tale of Tragedy and Redemption in Three Acts - See above comment. 2*
Virus/Affliction/Condition/Curse - I feel like this story is important and opens up a discussion about race equality. It was perhaps a little boring though. 3*
Wings - Human "monsters" are the worse. There's nothing more terrifying than what humanity chooses to do. 3*
The Megrim - By far the best story of them all. I loved everything about this one: the plot, the pace, the characters, the conclusion. 5*
Ratings for the individual stories:-
Several Messages from Abby to God (Regarding Her Cat) - A fun story with a Good Omens feel to it. 4*
Unbelievable - This one I definitely wanted more from. 4*
We Remember - This one made me feel very uncomfortable. 5*
Large Coffee, Black - I know people who say they couldn't live without coffee, but I doubt they'd go as far as Osborne! 3*
A Good Fit in Penbluff City - This one felt like the opening chapter of a fantasy sports story I would definitely read. I wanted more of Pren and Henge! 4*
Alice - Another story that felt frustratingly like the opening chapter of a bigger story. 2*
Thespian: A Tale of Tragedy and Redemption in Three Acts - See above comment. 2*
Virus/Affliction/Condition/Curse - I feel like this story is important and opens up a discussion about race equality. It was perhaps a little boring though. 3*
Wings - Human "monsters" are the worse. There's nothing more terrifying than what humanity chooses to do. 3*
The Megrim - By far the best story of them all. I loved everything about this one: the plot, the pace, the characters, the conclusion. 5*
October 3, 2019
With any short story collection you're going to have your favorites (Wings; Large Coffee, Black) and the ones that didn't speak to you as much (A Good Fit in Penbluff City) but overall this collection was fascinating and hypnotic. Easily readable with enough creativity in Massa's little pinky, I will certainly taken note of future stories and appreciate the compactness of the "nine short stories and a novella" with a killer cover to boot.
There was an ease and flow to each story that created an entire world in the span of just a few short pages that could be a story before bed or read all at once without issues either way because just as they stand alone, they're also weirdly connected too.
Enjoyed it! Blog Post here
There was an ease and flow to each story that created an entire world in the span of just a few short pages that could be a story before bed or read all at once without issues either way because just as they stand alone, they're also weirdly connected too.
Enjoyed it! Blog Post here
March 13, 2022
Monsters at Dusk is a hilarious, bizarre, creepy, and thoughtful collection of short stories, a little bit for everyone can be found in its pages.
Several Messages from Abby to God (Regarding Her Cat) had me laugh out loud. Throughout reading it, I could picture the Demon Crowley (Good Omens) being responsible for bringing the hell cat around and enjoying every minute of the ensuing mayhem.
These stories have twists and turns that are not expected, from vampire kidnappings, losing one's memories, to mad butchers promising flight, and unknown creatures feared and misunderstood.
I received an ARC and am leaving this review on my own accord. I truly look forward to reading more from this author.
Several Messages from Abby to God (Regarding Her Cat) had me laugh out loud. Throughout reading it, I could picture the Demon Crowley (Good Omens) being responsible for bringing the hell cat around and enjoying every minute of the ensuing mayhem.
These stories have twists and turns that are not expected, from vampire kidnappings, losing one's memories, to mad butchers promising flight, and unknown creatures feared and misunderstood.
I received an ARC and am leaving this review on my own accord. I truly look forward to reading more from this author.
May 7, 2020
This is a great collection of fantasy and science fiction short stories. Massa imagination seems endless when you read each story. I love how each one is unique and the novela at the end was awesome. I thought the Megrim was a well thought out story and I would want to see more of Lockwood and Wendyll. Both characters are polar opposites, yet I find their conversations with each other make me laugh and smile. I would be interested to see how they would interact as traveling companions. Overall, this was a great collection and I am happy that through Voracious Readers, I had a chance to receive a free copy to read this book.
May 7, 2020
I just read the author's short story, Past, Present and Future which he emailed me for agreeing to review this Monster novel and I devoured both like a fat kid at an all you can eat dessert buffet. This is the funniest writer I've read in ages...comedic genius and a fresh, unique style of writing we see very rarely but are so blessed when we do. The letters between Satan and God had me cracking up like a loon on loon tablets.
Exhilarating silliness by a comic genius.
Exhilarating silliness by a comic genius.
July 26, 2023
This collection of nine short stories and a novella contains a mixture of different genres and styles, all centred loosely around the theme of monsters.
While some of the stories are clearly monster-horror, others veer more towards humour, fantasy, mystery or slice-of-life in both content and tone. None of the stories are really scary or gory – the monster motif is used to explore other, more reality-based issues like addiction (coffee) or inequality (werewolf rights) via a fantastical framework.
My personal favourites are: ‘Unbelievable’, a funny twist-in-the-tale featuring vampires and werewolves; ‘Wings’ which explores body horror via a man requesting extreme modifications, transforming himself into a monster; ‘The Megrim’, a mystery story about disappearing children with a great odd-couple investigating and ‘Alice’, for the writing and idea, despite the story cutting off abruptly far too soon and leaving me desperate to know more!
If you are looking for an eclectic mix of SFF, horror, humour and mystery in short form, this is an intriguing little selection and a great introduction to Kyle A. Massa’s writing.
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
While some of the stories are clearly monster-horror, others veer more towards humour, fantasy, mystery or slice-of-life in both content and tone. None of the stories are really scary or gory – the monster motif is used to explore other, more reality-based issues like addiction (coffee) or inequality (werewolf rights) via a fantastical framework.
My personal favourites are: ‘Unbelievable’, a funny twist-in-the-tale featuring vampires and werewolves; ‘Wings’ which explores body horror via a man requesting extreme modifications, transforming himself into a monster; ‘The Megrim’, a mystery story about disappearing children with a great odd-couple investigating and ‘Alice’, for the writing and idea, despite the story cutting off abruptly far too soon and leaving me desperate to know more!
If you are looking for an eclectic mix of SFF, horror, humour and mystery in short form, this is an intriguing little selection and a great introduction to Kyle A. Massa’s writing.
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
March 31, 2020
*I received a free review copy in exchange for an honest review*
This was a tough one for me. I struggled to enjoy it but kept going back to read more. Some of the stories were good. Some were odd. Many felt incomplete to me. As an avid fantasy reader I struggled with the stories not being in the same “world” with the same magic systems. I wish there was more to the fantasy aspect of the stories. I also did not find them scary. Overall I kinda viewed this one as a bad car wreck, didn’t want to read but I kept going back for more.
This was a tough one for me. I struggled to enjoy it but kept going back to read more. Some of the stories were good. Some were odd. Many felt incomplete to me. As an avid fantasy reader I struggled with the stories not being in the same “world” with the same magic systems. I wish there was more to the fantasy aspect of the stories. I also did not find them scary. Overall I kinda viewed this one as a bad car wreck, didn’t want to read but I kept going back for more.
May 10, 2020
This collection of short stories was very entertaining! My favourite is Several Messages from Abby to God (Regarding Her Cat). The idea of Satan and God exchanging letters was incredibly funny to me! I also like Wings which sent a shiver down my spine even if the story isn’t that long. Monsters at Dusk was a really enjoyable read!
May 7, 2020
I received a copy of this through Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review and honestly I really liked it! The first story especially, it had me laughing out loud. They other stories were also good, some were pretty short, felt more like a snapshot of a different world instead of a entire story from one. I would definitely read a whole book that was based on one of the short stories.
September 13, 2020
A fantastic collection of short stories whose themes include vampires, werewolves and other monsters. I thoroughly enjoyed the authors vivid writing style and the fact that these aren't your average monster/ scary stories. While these are short stories I loved how the author was able to create characters that you invest in quickly.
I was lucky enough to receive a free digital copy of this book via Voracious Readers
I was lucky enough to receive a free digital copy of this book via Voracious Readers
June 29, 2021
Great stories, I really enjoyed it.
May 4, 2020
Loved this! I don’t generally read anthologies or books about monsters but maybe I should. The humor layered throughout the book was great; there was certainly tension at times, but it wasn’t outright horror. I enjoyed the variety of ideas and length and style in each short story. Well done!
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I received a free copy of this book through Voracious Readers Only.
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I received a free copy of this book through Voracious Readers Only.
September 11, 2020
A collection of short stories of “monsters”; some funny and some using the metaphor that monsters can also be lurking around in shadows etc.
Cleverly written and VERY entertaining ... I would highly recommend this book.👍🏼 😁😁
Cleverly written and VERY entertaining ... I would highly recommend this book.👍🏼 😁😁
November 17, 2020
An excellent and well-written collection of short stories covering fantasy, science fiction and horror; with the ancient meeting the modern. Balanced between the human and the monstrous, there's humour, twists, witty observations and poignant moments. The highly amusing opening story hooked me in and the quality throughout never waned. It was almost a shame when it came to an end, I thoroughly enjoyed it and would love to read more like it.
April 1, 2020
Interesting read. Very imaginative stories.
July 29, 2020
It's hard to rate story collections, because there inevitably are some that you love, and some you don't, and then your rating fluctuates like crazy and gets bogged down even though you might have really really enjoyed some of the stories. I am happy to say though, that despite one or two that I didn't like quite as much ('Alice', 'Unbelievable'), most stories in here were great, with my favourites being 'We Remember', and 'Virus / Affliction / Condition / Curse'. And even if I set aside my personal enjoyment of each story, I can still say that they were all extremely well written and that the author definitely has a knack for unique and compelling world-building. The collection was cohesive, grounded in its themes and its whimsical nature, but each story was different and inventive (some definitely have the potential to be full-fledged novels that I would unquestionably love). Just really fantastic overall!
(I received a free copy from the author via Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review)
(I received a free copy from the author via Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review)
May 21, 2020
Book received from Voracious Readers Only. This is a delightful collection of stories. Some of them were funny! I liked them a lot! :)
January 21, 2021
Wonderful collection of quirky and humorous short horror stories that won't keep you up at night.
April 11, 2020
Very different little stories. I really enjoyed the first and the last one
May 9, 2020
I really enjoyed the stories in Monsters at Dusk. The stories are unique and quirky. However, I was looking to get my scare on and these stories are not what I had hoped, as far as scary goes. This book is labeled as horror genre but with a few language changes (cursing) I think this book would make a great YA book. I highly recommend this book for some very entertaining short stories.
January 3, 2020
A collection of short stories. I took a few notes.
This copy was provided free from Voracious Readers in exchange for a review.
Several Messages - 4/5 - a series of letters and, I assume, emails between Pickles the Cat, Abby, God and Satan. Abby's cat Pickles dies one day and she asks God to bring it back to life. He doesn't read her letter for a while and so asks Satan to help her. Humorous and cute. Happy I had a chance to read it.
Unbelievable - 3.5/5 - A duo kidnap a man to feast on in their secret party. The ending might have been obvious, just like the movie reference. Current slang will not be current in a few years. Gucci. Gucci.
We Remember - 3/5 - At night, a man's memories are consumed by a monster. Good concept. Might make a cool comic.
Large Coffee, Black - 3/5 - A man drinks upwards of 10 cups of coffee a day. You can die after a week of no sleep. Can't imagine what would happen in real life with continually smashing coffee. Funny, but the "foreshadowing" was somewhat unnecessary.
10:00 - 3.5/5 - An assertive CEO looks to hire a new general manager for her "Questing" team. It was light and easy to read.
Alice - 🤷🏾♀️
Thespian - 3/5 - An actor is fired because holographic robots have replaced real actors due to efficiency. Perhaps it could be real one day. We've had virtual concerts with Hatsune Miku.
VACC - 3.5/5 - Just a series of interviews with individuals on their ideas of lycanthropy to make one long article. There is no real conclusion, it was good to substitute perhaps a real condition with lycanthropy and think about what people may conclude.
Wings - 2/5 - A body horror story. Only 2 pages.
The Megrim - 4.5/5 - A folklore-based tale about a village with children that go missing. The mercenary made me think of Kratos. The setting reminds me of the village in The Bear and the Nightingale. It was the longest story in the book and I really enjoyed it
This copy was provided free from Voracious Readers in exchange for a review.
Several Messages - 4/5 - a series of letters and, I assume, emails between Pickles the Cat, Abby, God and Satan. Abby's cat Pickles dies one day and she asks God to bring it back to life. He doesn't read her letter for a while and so asks Satan to help her. Humorous and cute. Happy I had a chance to read it.
Unbelievable - 3.5/5 - A duo kidnap a man to feast on in their secret party. The ending might have been obvious, just like the movie reference. Current slang will not be current in a few years. Gucci. Gucci.
We Remember - 3/5 - At night, a man's memories are consumed by a monster. Good concept. Might make a cool comic.
Large Coffee, Black - 3/5 - A man drinks upwards of 10 cups of coffee a day. You can die after a week of no sleep. Can't imagine what would happen in real life with continually smashing coffee. Funny, but the "foreshadowing" was somewhat unnecessary.
10:00 - 3.5/5 - An assertive CEO looks to hire a new general manager for her "Questing" team. It was light and easy to read.
Alice - 🤷🏾♀️
Thespian - 3/5 - An actor is fired because holographic robots have replaced real actors due to efficiency. Perhaps it could be real one day. We've had virtual concerts with Hatsune Miku.
VACC - 3.5/5 - Just a series of interviews with individuals on their ideas of lycanthropy to make one long article. There is no real conclusion, it was good to substitute perhaps a real condition with lycanthropy and think about what people may conclude.
Wings - 2/5 - A body horror story. Only 2 pages.
The Megrim - 4.5/5 - A folklore-based tale about a village with children that go missing. The mercenary made me think of Kratos. The setting reminds me of the village in The Bear and the Nightingale. It was the longest story in the book and I really enjoyed it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 15, 2021
Several short stories, some good some not so good and others left me wanting more.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews