Sensational: Havok Season Four

by Andrew Winch (Contributor), Laura VanArendonk Baugh (Contributor), Kat Heckenbach (Contributor)

IMMERSE YOURSELF IN A JOURNEY OF THE SENSES

Our five senses shape our entire human understanding of life. But this is fiction, so you can listen to the world through the ears of a dragon. Smell the odor from outer space. Watch ripples form where another dimension touches ours.

Could an exotic purple flower invade earth and transform the entire human race? What if you were cursed by a jilted aromancer to smell only coconut and vanilla for the rest of your life? Discover the mess King Midas left behind for his heir. Hear the siren call of the sea as the poisoned melody changes Ariella into one of them. Cheer for the invisible girl as she fights to be seen. Experience the mysterious sixth sense.

Forty-nine sensational tales written for fans of science fiction, fantasy, mystery, thriller, and comedy by authors from all over the world. Somewhere hidden in these pages is an experience we hope you’ll never forget.

"What an absolutely breathtaking tale...filled to the brim with such rich culture and emotion—and I was soaking in every second of it! This one truly awakens the senses." ~ Christine Smith on “The Language of Sound”

"Oh my word, this made me laugh. I love Phantom [of the Opera], and I love a good funny ghost story.” ~ Kristiana Sfirlea on “Of Masks and Macarenas”

"This is amazing! The ability to taste emotions is absolutely brilliant!” ~ Ryan Ouellette on “A Taste of Grace”

Genres: Anthologies, Short Stories, Science Fiction, Fantasy

229 pages, Paperback

Published April 30, 2021

Reviews

[Beka · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars! I enjoyed this collection a lot! These authors really know how to punch you right in the Feels. Just a few of my favourites include “A Ghost’s Guide to Haunted Hugs,” “The Laundress,” “Serpents,” and “The Language of Sound.” 🧡


Author's Note:

I have 6 stories in this anthology, so any rating/review I give it will be reflective of my feelings for the other stories included - I'll leave the grading of my own tales to others. ;-)

Here's a bit about my stories in this collection:

1) Made With Love - about a deathrow inmate who receives more than he bargained for with his final meal;

2) A Taste of Grace - a woman struggling with an addiction must make peace with her past to fully embrace her future;

3) A Spoonful of Spice - when a young girl puts too much spice in their family's offering to the house spirit, she fears the spirit's reprisal;

4) Of Masks and Macarenas - an opera singer turns ghost hunter to stop a Phantom of the Opera wannabe from ruining her show;

5) Your Nosy Neighborhood Granny - an elderly Southern spinster suspects her young neighbor is dating a vampire and determines to save her from him;

and

6) The Perfumers of Qukamar - a desert fantasy involving a man who seeks help from a perfumer to lift the curse on his sense of smell.

I hope you'll get the chance to check out this anthology and all its mesmerizing stories - I'm excited to read what my fellow contributors have written!

[Cassandra Hamm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Havok anthologies continue to surprise me with their quality and bingeability. I finished this one in two days. I loved writing for this season and loved reading the stories other people made, full of sensory descriptions and fascinating powers.

Favorites: “A Spoonful of Spice” (Beka Gremikova), “Midas’ Heir” and “Serpents” (Hannah (now Ro) Robinson), “A Recipe for Disaster” (L. G. McCary), “The Art You See” (Kat Heckenbach), “The Monstrous Illusion” (R. F. Gammon), “The Laundress” (Ronnell Kay Gibson), “Dragon’s Best Friend” (Cynthia Wilfert), “Poisoned Melody” (Kaitlyn Emery), “The Unseen” (Kaitlyn Carter Brown), “Senseless Love” (Lisa Godfrees), “The Purple Dawn” (Michael Teasdale), “Komainu” (Michael Erasmus), and “A Ghost’s Guide to Haunted Hugs” (Kristiana Sfirlea). (Yes, I know that’s a lot.)

My absolute favorite is “Serpents” by Hannah (Ro) Robinson. It is so incredibly powerful. “Midas’ Heir” cracks me up (also, the whole “everything I touch will turn to gold” is truly impractical and I love how it dealt with that). “A Recipe for Disaster” is a must read for anyone who loves puns. “The Laundress” is very unique. I loved the bonding between a dragon and a yappy dog in “Dragon’s Best Friend” as they help their sickly prince. “The Monstrous Illusion” is a beautiful portrayal of escaping from an abusive relationship. And “The Purple Dawn” is absolutely terrifying. O.o

I have two stories (“Stone Skin” and “The Language of Sound”) in this anthology.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great collection of flash fiction featuring a broad range of speculative genres. There's something here for everyone. And I loved that I could read them when I had a spare minute or two.

Like with any anthology, I enjoyed some stories more than others, but they were all unique, thought-provoking and well written.

Some of my favorites were Window by Sarah Wilson, Poisoned Melody by Kaitlyn Emery, A Recipe for Disaster by L.G. McCary, The Alien Mask by Paul Regnier, and Dolor of Defeat by Ronie Kendig. (Kendig's story is connected to her Droseran Saga, and it really made me want to dive right into the main story. I can't believe I still haven't read it. I've gotta remedy that soon.)

This anthology was a fun way to discover new authors. It always amazes me when an author can pack so much story into such a small space.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Introduction of this book says that the Sensational theme "was one of the most absorbing, awe-inspiring, and unforgettable seasons we’ve ever had." and they weren't joking. I usually make a list of my favorite stories from anthologies but it would be nearly impossible for this one because I liked almost every story. They made me laugh out loud, moved with emotion, or exciting action. The anthology is packed with fantastic flash fiction stories by wonderful authors and is a collection well worth the read.

Note: I am the author of "Eyes of the Blind" in this anthology and volunteer with Havok, but my opinions on this anthology as a whole are my own.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son and I read Havok’s anthology Sensational and were impressed with its high quality stories. Well worth reading are Mama Louise’s One-Eyed Gumbo, Eyes of the Blind, Flee Market, Color, A Spoonful of Spice, and Poisoned Melody.

Other standouts included Where’s Santa?, Your Nosy Neighborhood Granny, Komainu, The Purple Dawn, The Art You See, The Unseen, and A Ghost’s Guide to Haunted Hugs.

Our two favorites were the heartfelt Always Beauty and the creative The Laundress.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I downloaded this book mainly to read the latest "Shard of Elan" story, but I ended up enjoying the other stories in this compilation, as well. Each story could be read in under five minutes, and almost every one held my attention. I would recommend this to anyone who likes quick reads and enchanting tales.

[Leslie McKee]

I really enjoyed this fun collection of flash fiction stories, all based on senses. The stories are short, so they're quick to read and easy to fit into a busy schedule. There is a broad range of genres, including mystery, techno, wacky, thriller, and fantasy. It's a fun way to find new authors!

Author's Note: I have a story included in this collection ("A Squeak in the Night."), so I'm not including a star rating.

[Noah Litle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, I suppose. I don't know. Maybe I need a break from Havok.
~
When I'm reading short fiction, I want to stretch what I imagine is possible. Like Ted Chiang does with Stories of Your Life and Others. Give me something original. Something that makes me think.
I guess I must be somewhat alone in that regard.
~
Understandably, I think the editors of Havok are looking for more... emotionally satisfying stories. Which, of course, can sometimes translate to "dramatic," or "bland world-building." Sometimes. Sometimes. Most of the time the drama and world-building is great. But sometimes...
~
Anyway. A few of my favorites from this anthology were:
- Komainu, by Michael Erasmus (I'll always love Samurai stories.)
- Into the Jonahverse, by Michael Teasdale (An extremely memorable story. I'm not sure why.)
- Flee Market, by Andrew Winch (I love all the colors.)
- Lost in Translation, by Teddi Deppner (Top notch sci-fi right here, folks.)
- 50UL, by Izzy Varju (Sentient robotic penguin tries on a soul for size. I absolutely love his reaction.)
~
There were quite a few others that I really enjoyed, but I don't have time right now to list them. I would recommend this if you like fantasy/sci-fi flash fiction.

[Isabella Roh · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable collection of flash fiction stories. Because this is an anthology of many authors, the themes, tones, and genres of the story are all very different, which provides a delightful salad of fiction to breeze through in odd moments of time. The shortness of the stories (all of them are under 1,000 words) makes them convenient for small windows that one wishes to fill by reading.