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SMITH: Beginnings
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 23, 2022
An entertaining, quick read novella full of mystery & classic 'dark fantasy' characters. The main character, Smith, was written as a kind, caring young man who ultimately must fight an evil that lurks deep inside himself. I found the storyline interesting & if you can get past some editing issues and are looking for an easy-to-read, dark fantasy story, a first in a series, I believe, this novella would hit the mark.
January 5, 2022
A captivating, quick read!
Smith is a caring, conscientious, and courageous young man, hoping to seek absolution for his mother and himself from his father’s immoral acts years ago. When Smith and his best friend, Elias, are called upon to hunt for the village, Smith feels that something is amiss, but follows the Chef’s orders to gain the villagers’ trust.
On his way to the hunt, Smith learns more about his father’s and the Chief’s true natures, but isn’t sure which story to believe. From this point, the readers follow Smith and Elias on a mythical adventure with intriguing twists.
If you like reading mythical mystery, thriller, and suspense stories, I’m sure you’ll love the subsequent books in S. McC’s Elements series.
With that said, I struggled with the unintentional tense shifts but was able to ignore the additional editing errors. There are also two contexts in the short story that S. McC breezes over, but I’m fairly certain I unraveled them.
Smith is a caring, conscientious, and courageous young man, hoping to seek absolution for his mother and himself from his father’s immoral acts years ago. When Smith and his best friend, Elias, are called upon to hunt for the village, Smith feels that something is amiss, but follows the Chef’s orders to gain the villagers’ trust.
On his way to the hunt, Smith learns more about his father’s and the Chief’s true natures, but isn’t sure which story to believe. From this point, the readers follow Smith and Elias on a mythical adventure with intriguing twists.
If you like reading mythical mystery, thriller, and suspense stories, I’m sure you’ll love the subsequent books in S. McC’s Elements series.
With that said, I struggled with the unintentional tense shifts but was able to ignore the additional editing errors. There are also two contexts in the short story that S. McC breezes over, but I’m fairly certain I unraveled them.
January 6, 2022
I loved this origin story of the Elements series. It can be read as a stand alone introduction or as a spin-off from the original series. Once again S.McC manages to bring you along with the characters and finding out with them what is happening. You really feel part of the story. Little morsels of information are dotted around in the story to tease you into the world of Smith and Elijah and finishes off with a tense reveal. I want more!
January 4, 2022
As someone who has read ALL of S. McC's portfolio, I've gotten to watch her kind of grow and develop. Every time I read something new from her, it's better than the one before it, and I cannot wait to see how much further she can go.
I really, really enjoyed the storyline here. It's a foundation story for the rest of her series, and I liked being able to connect two and two. I really want to sit down one day and read S. McC's work in order instead of out, just to see how well it all flows. Because I know it'll be beautifully thought out. Plot is definitely where her strong suit lies.
That being said, let's tackle the real stuff. "Smith" isn't without its faults. There are quite a lot of typos--missing periods and commas, mistyped words, tense shifts. It's easily fixable but does need to be tackled by an editor. If you can overlook that, you'll enjoy a quick, engaging story.
I really, really enjoyed the storyline here. It's a foundation story for the rest of her series, and I liked being able to connect two and two. I really want to sit down one day and read S. McC's work in order instead of out, just to see how well it all flows. Because I know it'll be beautifully thought out. Plot is definitely where her strong suit lies.
That being said, let's tackle the real stuff. "Smith" isn't without its faults. There are quite a lot of typos--missing periods and commas, mistyped words, tense shifts. It's easily fixable but does need to be tackled by an editor. If you can overlook that, you'll enjoy a quick, engaging story.
January 5, 2022
S. McC’s short novella, Smith, Beginnings, is a great introduction to the Elements series. As Smith and his mother are outcast from the village struggling to survive, only after the village Chief calling on all able-bodied men to become hunters does Smith find a way to return to the village’s good graces. He and his only friend Elia are assigned a hunt only to become entangle with the mysterious forces outside the village. Well written and exciting you will yearn to continue the next chapter immediately.
January 7, 2022
I really enjoyed this short novella. So easy to read and follow it was great bedtime reading. It isn’t a story I would normally pick up. Read as part of a book club. Its clever balance of blood, gore and friendship really worked for me. The story was a great introduction to the series. I look forward to reading more.
Even though the story was filled with sadness as Smith’s quest for food to try to sustain his mother’s poor health leads him to go hunting with his best friend in secret, for fear of his aunt being ostracized as well as him. Smith and Elias’s friendship develops into a wonderful exchange of secrets and family truths.
The meagre rationing that he and his mother are allocated are not enough to keep both him and his mother alive. With the numbers of the Official Hunt members dwindling, Smith is given the chance to join the Hunt and clear his father's name. This would make him and his mother eligible for greater rations and a better standing in the community.
In their eagerness to journey deeper into the forest to catch the white faun they become captured, and many unexpected events occur to them both.… Will their friendship withstand? Certainly, worth reading to find out.
Your Recommendation is Well worth reading and exploring the series.
Your Rating 5
Well Done Vx
Even though the story was filled with sadness as Smith’s quest for food to try to sustain his mother’s poor health leads him to go hunting with his best friend in secret, for fear of his aunt being ostracized as well as him. Smith and Elias’s friendship develops into a wonderful exchange of secrets and family truths.
The meagre rationing that he and his mother are allocated are not enough to keep both him and his mother alive. With the numbers of the Official Hunt members dwindling, Smith is given the chance to join the Hunt and clear his father's name. This would make him and his mother eligible for greater rations and a better standing in the community.
In their eagerness to journey deeper into the forest to catch the white faun they become captured, and many unexpected events occur to them both.… Will their friendship withstand? Certainly, worth reading to find out.
Your Recommendation is Well worth reading and exploring the series.
Your Rating 5
Well Done Vx
January 10, 2022
A Good Start
I really enjoyed reading this tale of adventure and suspense.
The author did a great job with scene description, building suspense, and character development. It was a good start to what I expect will be a great series.
I gave this book four stars because it would benefit from some editing.
I really enjoyed reading this tale of adventure and suspense.
The author did a great job with scene description, building suspense, and character development. It was a good start to what I expect will be a great series.
I gave this book four stars because it would benefit from some editing.
January 6, 2022
Exciting and enigmatic!
Living in a village on the verge of death, Smith wonders about his life. Dreams of better food and water. His mom and Elise are the only two things that kept him going. But he knew, one of them was going to be stole second from him, just like his father.
To save what he loves, Smith joints the hunt for the white stag and discovers the horrible truth behind his fathers death and the evil that lurks in the darkness!
This short novella is exciting, and full of mystery and I wish it was longer. I have read all books by this a writer, and they just keep getting better and better.
Smith Is an excellent short read for dark fantasy readers.
Living in a village on the verge of death, Smith wonders about his life. Dreams of better food and water. His mom and Elise are the only two things that kept him going. But he knew, one of them was going to be stole second from him, just like his father.
To save what he loves, Smith joints the hunt for the white stag and discovers the horrible truth behind his fathers death and the evil that lurks in the darkness!
This short novella is exciting, and full of mystery and I wish it was longer. I have read all books by this a writer, and they just keep getting better and better.
Smith Is an excellent short read for dark fantasy readers.
January 7, 2022
A brilliant short story
This short story was brilliantly written. I was hooked from the first chapter, real page Turner and I'm looking forward to reading more from this author. Read as part of a book club
This short story was brilliantly written. I was hooked from the first chapter, real page Turner and I'm looking forward to reading more from this author. Read as part of a book club
July 11, 2021
An amazing read!
From a young man and his family that had been disgraced by a Chief. Smith goes out to try and become a hunter but get caught up in something more dangerous and sinister. An amazing short story that I wish was longer as I want to know what happens next and if Smith gets his revenge for his lived ones. Beautifully told and thought out. Great work and well done. I look forward for more.
From a young man and his family that had been disgraced by a Chief. Smith goes out to try and become a hunter but get caught up in something more dangerous and sinister. An amazing short story that I wish was longer as I want to know what happens next and if Smith gets his revenge for his lived ones. Beautifully told and thought out. Great work and well done. I look forward for more.
July 16, 2021
This author is amazing. It was a delightful read. Smith was on a journey. Wanting to become a hunter in any way possible. Wanting always to find his next meal and make sure there would be no starvation. I wish this story was longer! I want to see more of Smith. I hope the author writes another short story with this amazing character in some way.
January 13, 2022
Beautiful dark fantasy, great start for the Elements series
I enjoyed this short read and was pleasantly surprised as I read Fire, the first book in the series before this prequel. I got lots of things explained now. The bond between Smith and Elias is endearing and full of emotion. I read it as part of a book club and I look forward to the other books in the series.
I enjoyed this short read and was pleasantly surprised as I read Fire, the first book in the series before this prequel. I got lots of things explained now. The bond between Smith and Elias is endearing and full of emotion. I read it as part of a book club and I look forward to the other books in the series.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews