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Parachute
Angela Rodriguez and her friends aren’t sure what they want out of life now that they’ve graduated high school, but they think there is plenty of time to figure it all out. When a trip to an abandoned elementary school leads to a break-in, they discover an old gym parachute.
Raising the fabric above their heads, the group expects it to balloon out around them like it did when they were younger. But instead, the parachute reveals alternate universes and terrifying worlds.
There’s only one rule…
DON’T LET GO
Raising the fabric above their heads, the group expects it to balloon out around them like it did when they were younger. But instead, the parachute reveals alternate universes and terrifying worlds.
There’s only one rule…
DON’T LET GO
151 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 20, 2022
10 people are currently reading
350 people want to read
About the author
Holly Rae Garcia
29 books160 followersHolly Rae Garcia is the author of Flesh Communion and Other Stories, Parachute, Come Join the Murder and The Easton Falls Massacre: Bigfoot’s Revenge (co-written with her husband and fellow author, Ryan Prentice Garcia). Her shorter fiction has been published online and in print for various magazines and anthologies. Holly is a member of the Alliance of Independent Authors.
She lives on the Texas Coast with her husband, three dogs, and two birds. You can often find her reading, watching horror movies, or playing poker.
More information can be found at www.HollyRaeGarcia.com
She lives on the Texas Coast with her husband, three dogs, and two birds. You can often find her reading, watching horror movies, or playing poker.
More information can be found at www.HollyRaeGarcia.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
June 26, 2022
Available at The Mort Report:
https://www.uncomfortablydark.com/bla...
Don’t know exactly why, but this cover spoke to me the moment I saw it. I have looked at it many times over the last two weeks and I still can’t tell you why it drew me so much, but I’m glad it did.
Going into this, I just needed a break from the Splatterpunk/extreme horror scene. This cover popped up on Amazon, I read the blurb and thought: Why the hell not?
Which means I’ve never heard of this author or story before.
PARACHUTE reads like an episode of THE TWILIGHT ZONE. Or, if you are of a younger generation, THE OUTER LIMITS. Or, if you are even younger still, BLACK MIRROR. And if you are too young to know any of these, use your damn innernet to look it up, kid.
This story is about a teen called Angela Rodriguez, who just graduated high school. They head to an abandoned elementary school, where they break in and discover an old gym parachute. When they start playing a childhood game, things starts to go off the rails.
It gets interesting form there.
My thoughts on this story is that it was interesting. While it didn’t blow my mind, it was something that kept my interest throughout and I am glad I gave it a shot. This is definitely an author I will have to keep my eye on.
The ending was right up my alley and I am really glad Miss Garcia ended it this way.
Recommended to those who like their stories on the weirder side, but not to the point where you can call it bizarro.
4 STARS
https://www.uncomfortablydark.com/bla...
Don’t know exactly why, but this cover spoke to me the moment I saw it. I have looked at it many times over the last two weeks and I still can’t tell you why it drew me so much, but I’m glad it did.
Going into this, I just needed a break from the Splatterpunk/extreme horror scene. This cover popped up on Amazon, I read the blurb and thought: Why the hell not?
Which means I’ve never heard of this author or story before.
PARACHUTE reads like an episode of THE TWILIGHT ZONE. Or, if you are of a younger generation, THE OUTER LIMITS. Or, if you are even younger still, BLACK MIRROR. And if you are too young to know any of these, use your damn innernet to look it up, kid.
This story is about a teen called Angela Rodriguez, who just graduated high school. They head to an abandoned elementary school, where they break in and discover an old gym parachute. When they start playing a childhood game, things starts to go off the rails.
It gets interesting form there.
My thoughts on this story is that it was interesting. While it didn’t blow my mind, it was something that kept my interest throughout and I am glad I gave it a shot. This is definitely an author I will have to keep my eye on.
The ending was right up my alley and I am really glad Miss Garcia ended it this way.
Recommended to those who like their stories on the weirder side, but not to the point where you can call it bizarro.
4 STARS
August 11, 2025
3.5 stars. This was a really fun, old school horror concept. And I, for one, hated that parachute game in gym class. It always smelled funny and had wierd stains on it. Bleh! So we go back in time here to a period where pagers, Butthole Surfers, and such were commonplace. Take a few teenagers who were typical placeholders in a horror concept, all banging around with each other, trying to figure their lives out, as they broke into a school and used narcotics. That’s how I always make big decisions. They find the activity parachute that transports them to all sorts of strange worlds, where the body count starts to add up. The characters were all forgettable, but that didn’t matter much. What really struck a nerve was how there was no satisfying pay off after all the wonderful build up that the author created. Some really cool creatures and situations, all pretty much rushed through, with a very bland finale and ending. I wanted and hoped for so much more here. The pacing needed to be slowed and, while the characters were fine as is, the parachute’s offerings really needed much more development. Still a good effort by the author, with much more to like than dislike, but it still left me with a a strong sense of yearning.
July 14, 2022
Move over H.P Lovecraft there’s a new cosmic horror genius in town! A pitch black concept that beguiles and unnerves in equal measure.
Parachute came along at just the right time. In a genre that can be incredibly hard to stand out from the crowd, Holly Rae Garcia has done just that. She hasn’t just stood out but she’s floating into space. She has proven that stories can still be unique, can still scare you, it can make you fall in love with reading again.
Horror is like a drug, well it’s my drug of choice. It stops me from catastrophising life, dwelling on all the hurt and anguish in the world. It’s addictive. I couldn’t live without it – I want to experience other dimensions, I don’t want to walk in the woods unless I’m checking if there’s a serial killer behind me, I can’t walk through an abandoned house without making the connections to the dead. Horror has saved me on more than one occasion. With that comes the sameness in horror – you can see things coming at you, the patterns within the dialogue you quickly recognize the bad guy. Parachute was so original that I didn’t make assumptions, I took the road less travelled and slit my throat at what I found in an abandoned school.
It’s a coming-of-age story of kids reminiscing about a Parachute game they all played, the newbie to the group, Jason, had never heard of it let alone played it. Their dogged determination to show him what it’s all about forced them forward. Told from the perspective of Angela Rodriguez who is entangled in a bit of a love triangle with her boyfriend and Jason. Garcia did a great job of encapsulating those angsty teenage years within the pages of a novella. They break in and begin to play the childhood game – with dire consequences.
The scenes under the Parachute are sublime. It totally reminded me of those cooky episodes of The Twilight Zone or for us brits, Tales of the Unexpected. As they get deeper and deeper under the spell of the game a threatening cloud hangs over the group of friends. They all witness their world becoming darker, there seem to be no rules in this world.
The ending left me hanging, but I completely loved it. It leaves it up to your imagination and let me tell you – I was imagining all sorts. It was refreshing. You could spend all day trying to dissect but Holly Rae Garcia is a mastermind at messing with your head!
Parachute came along at just the right time. In a genre that can be incredibly hard to stand out from the crowd, Holly Rae Garcia has done just that. She hasn’t just stood out but she’s floating into space. She has proven that stories can still be unique, can still scare you, it can make you fall in love with reading again.
Horror is like a drug, well it’s my drug of choice. It stops me from catastrophising life, dwelling on all the hurt and anguish in the world. It’s addictive. I couldn’t live without it – I want to experience other dimensions, I don’t want to walk in the woods unless I’m checking if there’s a serial killer behind me, I can’t walk through an abandoned house without making the connections to the dead. Horror has saved me on more than one occasion. With that comes the sameness in horror – you can see things coming at you, the patterns within the dialogue you quickly recognize the bad guy. Parachute was so original that I didn’t make assumptions, I took the road less travelled and slit my throat at what I found in an abandoned school.
It’s a coming-of-age story of kids reminiscing about a Parachute game they all played, the newbie to the group, Jason, had never heard of it let alone played it. Their dogged determination to show him what it’s all about forced them forward. Told from the perspective of Angela Rodriguez who is entangled in a bit of a love triangle with her boyfriend and Jason. Garcia did a great job of encapsulating those angsty teenage years within the pages of a novella. They break in and begin to play the childhood game – with dire consequences.
The scenes under the Parachute are sublime. It totally reminded me of those cooky episodes of The Twilight Zone or for us brits, Tales of the Unexpected. As they get deeper and deeper under the spell of the game a threatening cloud hangs over the group of friends. They all witness their world becoming darker, there seem to be no rules in this world.
The ending left me hanging, but I completely loved it. It leaves it up to your imagination and let me tell you – I was imagining all sorts. It was refreshing. You could spend all day trying to dissect but Holly Rae Garcia is a mastermind at messing with your head!
May 17, 2022
** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **
I could’ve sworn I’d read some of Rae Garcia’s short fiction previously, but when I looked on Goodreads, it turns out she’s not been in the Kandisha Press Anthologies I’ve read so far, and the other anthologies she’s appeared in, I haven’t read either.
Sheesh, right?
Either way though, the synopsis for ‘Parachute’ had me really intrigued and as a fan of reading (and writing) about portals, this was one I was super excited to check out.
What I liked: Having graduated the day before, a group of friends heads out to hang out and party, in a sort of ‘one last hurrah all together’ moment at an old elementary school. Once there, they decide to break in and see what’s left, and it’s while there that they find an old parachute.
It’s funny, because just the other day my wife and I were telling our 5 year old about how much he loved the parachute game when we had him in a baby music class a few years back, but I hadn’t thought of the parachute in school for years otherwise. You all remember that? Everyone would grab onto the parachute edge, raise it up and then run towards the middle, creating this massive balloon effect. You’d then sit on the edge and it would say filled. Lots of fun, right? Well not in Holly’s story. In here, each time they do it they get transported to crazy worlds, and as things escalate we get to see how they attempt to work together to figure out the “rules” of these other worlds and how to safely make it back.
I really loved these snippets (and while I would’ve actually preferred waaaaaaay more of these worlds, it worked well in this context) and it really kept the group guessing as to what was going to happen. I could actually see some of these worlds making for great sequels/set-in-the-same-world stories to see what happens to each of the characters who entered those places.
What I didn’t like: The novella itself opens up with a lot of detail regarding what the main character’s house looks like and it really felt a bit too much, especially given the length of the story.
Additionally, there was a love-triangle aspect that felt under-utilized, especially when odd portal related things occurred.
And lastly, there is zero resolution at the ending. I actually thought my Kindle had skipped ahead and I’d missed something, but alas the chapter ends and a prologue arrives, leaving me with SOOOOOO many questions.
Why you should buy this: ‘Parachute’ is a ton of fun, with some incredibly intriguing aspects that Rae Garcia really amplifies to keep you on the edge of your seat. I really dug how the group came together and vowed to keep going back to save each other. This is one that a lot of folks will read in a single sitting and find themselves breathless when they finish.
Definitely one to check out.
I could’ve sworn I’d read some of Rae Garcia’s short fiction previously, but when I looked on Goodreads, it turns out she’s not been in the Kandisha Press Anthologies I’ve read so far, and the other anthologies she’s appeared in, I haven’t read either.
Sheesh, right?
Either way though, the synopsis for ‘Parachute’ had me really intrigued and as a fan of reading (and writing) about portals, this was one I was super excited to check out.
What I liked: Having graduated the day before, a group of friends heads out to hang out and party, in a sort of ‘one last hurrah all together’ moment at an old elementary school. Once there, they decide to break in and see what’s left, and it’s while there that they find an old parachute.
It’s funny, because just the other day my wife and I were telling our 5 year old about how much he loved the parachute game when we had him in a baby music class a few years back, but I hadn’t thought of the parachute in school for years otherwise. You all remember that? Everyone would grab onto the parachute edge, raise it up and then run towards the middle, creating this massive balloon effect. You’d then sit on the edge and it would say filled. Lots of fun, right? Well not in Holly’s story. In here, each time they do it they get transported to crazy worlds, and as things escalate we get to see how they attempt to work together to figure out the “rules” of these other worlds and how to safely make it back.
I really loved these snippets (and while I would’ve actually preferred waaaaaaay more of these worlds, it worked well in this context) and it really kept the group guessing as to what was going to happen. I could actually see some of these worlds making for great sequels/set-in-the-same-world stories to see what happens to each of the characters who entered those places.
What I didn’t like: The novella itself opens up with a lot of detail regarding what the main character’s house looks like and it really felt a bit too much, especially given the length of the story.
Additionally, there was a love-triangle aspect that felt under-utilized, especially when odd portal related things occurred.
And lastly, there is zero resolution at the ending. I actually thought my Kindle had skipped ahead and I’d missed something, but alas the chapter ends and a prologue arrives, leaving me with SOOOOOO many questions.
Why you should buy this: ‘Parachute’ is a ton of fun, with some incredibly intriguing aspects that Rae Garcia really amplifies to keep you on the edge of your seat. I really dug how the group came together and vowed to keep going back to save each other. This is one that a lot of folks will read in a single sitting and find themselves breathless when they finish.
Definitely one to check out.
October 13, 2023
For such a quick read Parachute contains a lot of story while not skipping characterization. I really enjoyed the nostalgia aspect of it and the ending was just chef's kiss!
4.5 rounded up.
4.5 rounded up.
March 24, 2022
Garcia gave me feelings about Bigfoot in The Easton Falls Massacre Bigfoot's Revenge I read a couple years ago so when given the opportunity to read her latest, PARACHUTE, I jumped at the chance. JUMPED! (honestly, no pun intended.. parachute, jump.. get it? Yeah, I'll see myself out.... (ahem). I LOVE it when a book brings back childhood memories and I had completely forgotten about the Parachute game from my childhood gym class. Do they even do this anymore??? I mean, they SHOULD... but maybe not so much in the way this novella shows it. 😉
Could you imagine? Every time you lifted the parachute to be in this cute and fun air bubble with your friends, you're instead sent to varying worlds... and none of them seem that pleasurable the further you go along. You think you figured out the rules but maybe it isn't as clear cut as you thought. PHEW! I felt the heaviness of the gravity of it all in varying ways. I understood the plight to want and need to go back and back and back and.... I'm also so curious as to how many other adventures lay waiting underneath the thick, colorful cloth.
The more I read, the more I wanted more. And that ending... it was a *bit* abrupt ... I have feelings and wants about it all. But what a fun, FUN novella!!! I'm going to heed the author's advice in the acknowledgments and "just, you know, try to avoid old gym parachutes." Though, knowing me, if I ever came across one..... 😏
September 10, 2022
An excellent read.
I’d never heard of the parachute game until I came across Holly Rae Garcia’s novella Parachute. The premise intrigued me so I dove right in. Right away, I loved her writing style and found myself flying through it, completely captivated by the world she’d built. The sense of dread I felt every time they went under the malevolent parachute only grew the further I delved into the novella. Some may find the ending a bit ambiguous but I felt it was perfect and only added to the horror of the “Parachute.” An excellent read that I would highly recommend.
I’d never heard of the parachute game until I came across Holly Rae Garcia’s novella Parachute. The premise intrigued me so I dove right in. Right away, I loved her writing style and found myself flying through it, completely captivated by the world she’d built. The sense of dread I felt every time they went under the malevolent parachute only grew the further I delved into the novella. Some may find the ending a bit ambiguous but I felt it was perfect and only added to the horror of the “Parachute.” An excellent read that I would highly recommend.
May 30, 2022
Parachute by Holly Rae Garcia is a fast-paced tale of teenage curiosity, terror, and the old gym-class favorite, the parachute, that will have you gripping your book, afraid to let go of the edges as if you had a piece of the fabric in hand.
Whether you were a fan or dreaded the day the parachute came out in gym class as a kid, this tale is sure to chill you!
I highly recommend this one to fans of horror novellas that will leave you with a deep sense of unease.
Check out my full review here: https://www.ericarobynreads.com/book-...
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book from the author per request of an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way.
Whether you were a fan or dreaded the day the parachute came out in gym class as a kid, this tale is sure to chill you!
I highly recommend this one to fans of horror novellas that will leave you with a deep sense of unease.
Check out my full review here: https://www.ericarobynreads.com/book-...
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book from the author per request of an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way.
July 10, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this romp. What a novel idea! The execution was excellent, and it certainly gave me nostalgic pangs of a time not littered with worries. For a while, anyway :)
The characters were fun and flawed, making for a more palatable experience as the tension escalated.
A fun time!
The characters were fun and flawed, making for a more palatable experience as the tension escalated.
A fun time!
January 20, 2023
This story hooks you in pretty quick. The dynamic between the main characters felt real, even if they're lives weren't relatable for me specifically, and I wanted to know early on what was going to happen to them. I had this moment around chapter 9 where I sat back in my chair and mumbled, "Oooooh, I wonder who's gonna die first..." A delicious sense of tension built steadily throughout the novella, leaving a deep-seated sense of dread behind. This trippy rollercoaster of a ride definitely pulled me with it, keeping me reading. And with every new succinctly described situation/world or creature (Oh, how I love me a good scary creature) that arose, my dread steadily morphed into horror, which is exactly what I want in a solid horror read. I did find I wanted a bit more from the love triangle throughout, but that didn't stop me from enjoying it one bit. I devoured Parachute in two sittings. Highly recommend!
March 22, 2022
This was such a riveting novella! A recent high school grad and her friends decide to play the parachute game, and things go very, very wrong. Then add in some nostalgia (complete with the Butthole Surfers and Pearl Jam), likeable characters, a well-paced story, and a whole lot of creativity.
So much plot and characterization is jammed into this novella that it feels much longer than it is in the best way possible, and nothing is rushed. The characters in Parachute are extremely well-developed for the page count; I grew to know them and care about what happened to them.
I enthusiastically recommend this to anyone who wants to read a creative and unique story and to anyone who likes some horror mixed in with their nostalgia.
Thank you so much to Holly Rae Garcia for the advanced copy of your book in exchange for an honest review.
So much plot and characterization is jammed into this novella that it feels much longer than it is in the best way possible, and nothing is rushed. The characters in Parachute are extremely well-developed for the page count; I grew to know them and care about what happened to them.
I enthusiastically recommend this to anyone who wants to read a creative and unique story and to anyone who likes some horror mixed in with their nostalgia.
Thank you so much to Holly Rae Garcia for the advanced copy of your book in exchange for an honest review.
April 24, 2022
Video Review:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKtyl...
I got a lot of enjoyment out of Parachute. A lot of nostalgia. I also got some anger, reading how a punk teenager has the audacity to wipe a nasty, greasy hand on his Pearl jam shirt. Some things should be outlawed. Banned. Punishable by hard labor.
The story reminds me of several teen movies where the characters are leaving school soon and they all are trying to figure out what they’re going to do in life. Some will go to college, while some will start working right away. Yada yada. Parachute is much different from those movies though because before the characters can do any of those plans, they need to survive. Dun Dunn Dunnn.
We are introduced to a list of characters early, all meeting up at a central location before making their way to an abandoned school to hang-out. I never got the “hanging out at school after hours” routine myself. Kids fought to stay out of school. Why go after hours? But it happens.
Teens will be teens, as they start reminiscing about the past. About their life. Because after all, they’ve lived a long, long time and they’ve experienced so much. OK, maybe I’m being a tad sarcastic, but c’mon kids. Live a little first.
The parachute game from gym class becomes the topic of conversation, as each gives their ohh’s and aww’s remembering how something so simple was the highlight of their day. And, of course there is the one kid who doesn’t have a clue, because he comes from a place that apparently was too cool to have a ginormous parachute taking up most of the floor in the cafe-gym-torium.
Needless to say someone has the genius idea to break into the school in hopes of finding the parachute. But this is a horror story so of course those fun memories are soon erased with nightmarish realities. Instead of the overhead fluorescent lights creating a kaleidoscope of colors under the parachute, alternate universes creepy enough to make Clive Barker stop and notice appear to engulf our unsuspecting characters.
Parachute is short, but damn, it hits like bare knuckles to the jaw. It makes me wonder what if something like this were to really happen, or maybe it did way back many decades ago when I experienced the parachute for the first time. I remember playing the game, but I don’t remember much of what was in the game. I don’t recall if the same number of kids who entered the cafe-gym-torium on parachute day equaled the same number of kids who went back to class.
Garcia brings us a chilling and unsettling tale of teenagers not knowing what their future will bring them, or if they will get to experience their future at all. Dark fantasy elements appear with different worlds under this mysterious parachute, causing not only questionable expressions and panic attacks, but causing some to go missing, making the others realize the only way they can try to save everyone is to work together.
But it goes much deeper than the brewing nightmare unfolding in front of these kids just wanting to have fun one more time before losing touch with each other. It’s an original spin on an old story, highlighting the bond sometimes made between friends at an early age. Although these kids don’t realize it, they will all go their separate ways, drift apart, and live their own life. But until then, they’re living in the moment, and their bond is too tight and solid to just leave anyone behind without a fight.
This story will have your mind drifting off at times, thinking about “the good old days,” where you didn’t have a worry in the world. Having fun with your friends was so much more important than anything else. Looking back, you may question some of your friend’s actions and think how much smarter you are now. You may wonder how whatser’ name is doing, or whatever became of whatsis’ name.
And the panic-inducing storyline will have you thinking “why the eff are you making a childhood favorite into a cold-hearted emotionless killer?”
Fair warning, take your blood pressure medicine before reading, and double check your oxygen tank. There are several moments you will need to remind yourself to breathe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKtyl...
I got a lot of enjoyment out of Parachute. A lot of nostalgia. I also got some anger, reading how a punk teenager has the audacity to wipe a nasty, greasy hand on his Pearl jam shirt. Some things should be outlawed. Banned. Punishable by hard labor.
The story reminds me of several teen movies where the characters are leaving school soon and they all are trying to figure out what they’re going to do in life. Some will go to college, while some will start working right away. Yada yada. Parachute is much different from those movies though because before the characters can do any of those plans, they need to survive. Dun Dunn Dunnn.
We are introduced to a list of characters early, all meeting up at a central location before making their way to an abandoned school to hang-out. I never got the “hanging out at school after hours” routine myself. Kids fought to stay out of school. Why go after hours? But it happens.
Teens will be teens, as they start reminiscing about the past. About their life. Because after all, they’ve lived a long, long time and they’ve experienced so much. OK, maybe I’m being a tad sarcastic, but c’mon kids. Live a little first.
The parachute game from gym class becomes the topic of conversation, as each gives their ohh’s and aww’s remembering how something so simple was the highlight of their day. And, of course there is the one kid who doesn’t have a clue, because he comes from a place that apparently was too cool to have a ginormous parachute taking up most of the floor in the cafe-gym-torium.
Needless to say someone has the genius idea to break into the school in hopes of finding the parachute. But this is a horror story so of course those fun memories are soon erased with nightmarish realities. Instead of the overhead fluorescent lights creating a kaleidoscope of colors under the parachute, alternate universes creepy enough to make Clive Barker stop and notice appear to engulf our unsuspecting characters.
Parachute is short, but damn, it hits like bare knuckles to the jaw. It makes me wonder what if something like this were to really happen, or maybe it did way back many decades ago when I experienced the parachute for the first time. I remember playing the game, but I don’t remember much of what was in the game. I don’t recall if the same number of kids who entered the cafe-gym-torium on parachute day equaled the same number of kids who went back to class.
Garcia brings us a chilling and unsettling tale of teenagers not knowing what their future will bring them, or if they will get to experience their future at all. Dark fantasy elements appear with different worlds under this mysterious parachute, causing not only questionable expressions and panic attacks, but causing some to go missing, making the others realize the only way they can try to save everyone is to work together.
But it goes much deeper than the brewing nightmare unfolding in front of these kids just wanting to have fun one more time before losing touch with each other. It’s an original spin on an old story, highlighting the bond sometimes made between friends at an early age. Although these kids don’t realize it, they will all go their separate ways, drift apart, and live their own life. But until then, they’re living in the moment, and their bond is too tight and solid to just leave anyone behind without a fight.
This story will have your mind drifting off at times, thinking about “the good old days,” where you didn’t have a worry in the world. Having fun with your friends was so much more important than anything else. Looking back, you may question some of your friend’s actions and think how much smarter you are now. You may wonder how whatser’ name is doing, or whatever became of whatsis’ name.
And the panic-inducing storyline will have you thinking “why the eff are you making a childhood favorite into a cold-hearted emotionless killer?”
Fair warning, take your blood pressure medicine before reading, and double check your oxygen tank. There are several moments you will need to remind yourself to breathe.
May 5, 2022
Parachute by Holly Rae Garcia
A quick novella that will leave you in suspense…
The name of the game is parachute. We all played and loved it in grade school. Wouldn’t you jump at the chance to relive such amazing moments through the eyes of your inner child? Well, this group of friends did, and what they found was much more mischievous than the memories kept. The rules of the game seem simple until the thin fabric of life starts slipping through your fingers!
Overall, creative and suspenseful, with an ending that leaves you yelling at the characters to stop in their tracks. There are moments you don’t want to see but simply can’t look away from! A bit slow at first but really picks up at the end. I was a bit confused about the focus on a love triangle at the beginning of the book, which made me think, this relationship would somehow influence the plot. However, the horror didn’t follow nor was really influenced by the romantic trio. The premise of the horrific game, however, did not disappoint!
I recommend this book for those of you who enjoy YA Horror as it has a similar feel to that of twisted child’s games like the movie Truth or Dare or the 2005 remake of House of Wax
A quick novella that will leave you in suspense…
The name of the game is parachute. We all played and loved it in grade school. Wouldn’t you jump at the chance to relive such amazing moments through the eyes of your inner child? Well, this group of friends did, and what they found was much more mischievous than the memories kept. The rules of the game seem simple until the thin fabric of life starts slipping through your fingers!
Overall, creative and suspenseful, with an ending that leaves you yelling at the characters to stop in their tracks. There are moments you don’t want to see but simply can’t look away from! A bit slow at first but really picks up at the end. I was a bit confused about the focus on a love triangle at the beginning of the book, which made me think, this relationship would somehow influence the plot. However, the horror didn’t follow nor was really influenced by the romantic trio. The premise of the horrific game, however, did not disappoint!
I recommend this book for those of you who enjoy YA Horror as it has a similar feel to that of twisted child’s games like the movie Truth or Dare or the 2005 remake of House of Wax
April 12, 2023
Parachute is a fun cosmic horror novella. What starts off as a nostalgic trip quickly unfolds into realms of unknowable terror. Each new world that the teenagers venture into is worse than the last. Garcia does a fantastic job of disorienting the reader, as the standard momentum of time is thrown out the window as the teens hop in and out of realities. It could be minutes, it could be days. In a lot of ways, Parachute reminded me of an episode of The Twilight Zone or The Outer Limits. My only complaint is that I wish we could have spent more time in some the worlds – they were fascinating! Overall, I greatly enjoyed this little novella and I think you will to.
Full Review: https://tatteredandbroken.com/2023/04...
Full Review: https://tatteredandbroken.com/2023/04...
May 5, 2022
Not only was I honoured to have read a beta version of this book, but I was also involved in designing the cover. So, for that, I feel very lucky indeed. This one is truly special. It just does something that bit different, you know? Proper originality here, and that's a win for me every time. Even if a story isn't written well, originality always raises the score.
Anyway, this one is written extremely well, and it never lets up. You won't stop until it's finished. It's that good, and it doesn't outstay its welcome either.
I've enjoyed every one of Holly's books. Three for three.
You'll be hearing great things about this one for the rest of the year.
Promise.
Easy five stars.
Anyway, this one is written extremely well, and it never lets up. You won't stop until it's finished. It's that good, and it doesn't outstay its welcome either.
I've enjoyed every one of Holly's books. Three for three.
You'll be hearing great things about this one for the rest of the year.
Promise.
Easy five stars.
March 28, 2022
I received this as an ARC.
I loved this book one million percent.
The best way to describe Parachute is if a really bad acid trip Alice in Wonderland had a baby with a demon version on Jumanji. It’s fun, fast paced, edge of your seat, heart racing goodness (or badness). If you grew up in the ‘80s or ‘90s you’ll also get a good dose of nostalgia.
I highly recommend this book.
I loved this book one million percent.
The best way to describe Parachute is if a really bad acid trip Alice in Wonderland had a baby with a demon version on Jumanji. It’s fun, fast paced, edge of your seat, heart racing goodness (or badness). If you grew up in the ‘80s or ‘90s you’ll also get a good dose of nostalgia.
I highly recommend this book.
May 1, 2022
The author kindly gave me a copy of this novella to read and I absorbed every second of it. It took me back to my days playing this game with friends in gym class and I could feel the awe that the characters in this story felt going through the fight of their lives. Truly superb plot that left me feeling for each of the characters as they struggled through until the end. Highly recommend.
May 15, 2022
I told myself I was going to take my time reading this but it was physically impossible. Such a crazy, fast-paced story that will make you think twice about revisiting those old childhood games. Don't miss out on this one. Coming to a TBR near you soon!
May 10, 2024
I thought I reviewed this when I originally read it, but apparently not. Perfect slice of 90s nostalgia, with cosmic horror elements. To me it was like reading an episode of The Twilight Zone, never has that grade school gym parachute been so creepy!
May 22, 2022
Fun, Fast, and Unique!
I had a blast with this one. If you haven't read Garcia before, PARACHUTE is a great place to start. Highly recommended!
I had a blast with this one. If you haven't read Garcia before, PARACHUTE is a great place to start. Highly recommended!
August 17, 2023
This was a really fun read! It was definitely a page turner. I won’t look at the schools parachute the same way anymore. It brings back a lot of childhood memories. I really thought this book was neat and how the author came up with all the different alternate universes. It kept me on the edge of my seat. Parts of it were creepy. I highly recommend if you want a quick, fun, and creepy read!
May 20, 2022
Elementary school gym class, man those were the days. Back when you and all of your classmates got to play kickball, red rover, dodgeball, and tag. When we danced to the macarena and the electric slide. There was one activity though that topped all of the others, something that the gym teacher only pulled out of that forbidden storage room every so often. That folded up mass of multi-colored nylon that would unfurl into a parachute. I don’t know what it was about grabbing hold of that parachute and all of us throwing our arms up in unison, feeling the upward pull as the parachute filled with air, and then running underneath into a kaleidoscopic world of colors. It almost was, in an imaginative sort of way, like being transported to another place.
Author Holly Rae Garcia takes the notion of “another place” quite literally in her novella PARACHUTE. A close group of friends break into an abandoned elementary school for one last adventure together before going their separate ways after highschool graduation. Stumbling upon a timeworn parachute and deciding to play with it for old times sake things take an unexpected and terrifying turn. PARACHUTE warps what was once an innocent children's game into something unnatural and bizarre, like looking at your distorted reflection in a funhouse mirror. There is something recognizably familiar about it, yet oh so very wrong.
The seemingly innocuous parachute acts as a catalyst to transport anyone grasping on to alternate worlds that are simultaneously fantastical, beautiful, and deadly. These alien landscapes the group of teens find themselves within are not only environmentally dangerous but can be emotionally oppressive as well. This jumping from world to world was reminiscent of DARK MATTER by Blake Crouch for me, though Garcia’s style, presentation, and execution are utterly unique. There was an element of tension and anticipation, of being on the edge of your seat, every time the group lifted the parachute because we the readers did not know what to expect, knowing that absolutely anything was in the realm of possibility.
The ending of PARACHUTE is a bit ambiguous and abrupt, which I dug. It felt consistent with the rest of the story that has been told up until this point, of jumping in and out of these different worlds in the blink of an eye (or the drop of a parachute). Like we the readers have broken that one golden rule of never letting go and now we have been left behind, cut off. The ambiguity leaves the opportunity for Garcia to revisit this world(s) and characters (those whose hearts are still beating) again in the future if she so desires while also allowing the readers' imaginations to run wild picturing what horrible things may happen next.
A dark fantasy horror mashup. PARACHUTE by Holly Rae Garcia takes our nostalgic childhood memories and corrupts them with a dreadful sense of malevolence. Garcia’s imagination and creativity brilliantly shine through in this white knuckled, hold your breath, page turning thrill ride. I am a big fan of Garcia’s writing and am looking forward to reading whatever else she releases in the future.
I received an eARC of this book from the author for review consideration.
Video review: Coming soon!
Author Holly Rae Garcia takes the notion of “another place” quite literally in her novella PARACHUTE. A close group of friends break into an abandoned elementary school for one last adventure together before going their separate ways after highschool graduation. Stumbling upon a timeworn parachute and deciding to play with it for old times sake things take an unexpected and terrifying turn. PARACHUTE warps what was once an innocent children's game into something unnatural and bizarre, like looking at your distorted reflection in a funhouse mirror. There is something recognizably familiar about it, yet oh so very wrong.
The seemingly innocuous parachute acts as a catalyst to transport anyone grasping on to alternate worlds that are simultaneously fantastical, beautiful, and deadly. These alien landscapes the group of teens find themselves within are not only environmentally dangerous but can be emotionally oppressive as well. This jumping from world to world was reminiscent of DARK MATTER by Blake Crouch for me, though Garcia’s style, presentation, and execution are utterly unique. There was an element of tension and anticipation, of being on the edge of your seat, every time the group lifted the parachute because we the readers did not know what to expect, knowing that absolutely anything was in the realm of possibility.
The ending of PARACHUTE is a bit ambiguous and abrupt, which I dug. It felt consistent with the rest of the story that has been told up until this point, of jumping in and out of these different worlds in the blink of an eye (or the drop of a parachute). Like we the readers have broken that one golden rule of never letting go and now we have been left behind, cut off. The ambiguity leaves the opportunity for Garcia to revisit this world(s) and characters (those whose hearts are still beating) again in the future if she so desires while also allowing the readers' imaginations to run wild picturing what horrible things may happen next.
A dark fantasy horror mashup. PARACHUTE by Holly Rae Garcia takes our nostalgic childhood memories and corrupts them with a dreadful sense of malevolence. Garcia’s imagination and creativity brilliantly shine through in this white knuckled, hold your breath, page turning thrill ride. I am a big fan of Garcia’s writing and am looking forward to reading whatever else she releases in the future.
I received an eARC of this book from the author for review consideration.
Video review: Coming soon!
May 15, 2022
Six recently graduated high school friends, decide to spend one of their few remaining nights together before they head off to their own post-secondary schools. As they did throughout high school, they head to an abandoned elementary school and crawl up on the roof to drink and smoke a little weed. While they are up there, the begin to reminisce about the days of elementary school and the fun they had with various games in Gym class. This leads to a discussion about the "parachute" game and when one of the friends doesn't understand (he grew up in another state), they decide to commit a B & E to see if they can find an old parachute in the gymnasium's equipment room. Sure enough, they locate one that is in fantastic shape. They take it into the gym to demonstrate the game. However, they quickly discover this parachute can take them to alternate dimensions/alternate worlds. Is this too good to be true, or is exploring these other realms taking them on a dangerous journey?
After reading, and thoroughly enjoying, The Easton Falls Massacre: Bigfoot's Revenge, a year-and-a-half ago, I was thrilled to see Ms. Garcia offering ARC of her newest novella. I couldn't wait to dive into this one and I wasn't disappointed. This is a quick and engaging read that pulls you in immediately. I think for all readers over 40 years old, can reflect back on their youth and perhaps see a bit of themselves in one or more of the characters. I loved the short, intense chapters and appreciated that each one took us on a slightly different path. The cliffhanger effect in the chapters was like a vacuum pulling the reader in. I wasn't sure how the story would end, but it did and in a hurry. I had mixed feelings about this, but upon reflection, see that it came to a close perfectly.
Thank you Ms. Garcia for the honor or previewing your novella. 5 stars.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
After reading, and thoroughly enjoying, The Easton Falls Massacre: Bigfoot's Revenge, a year-and-a-half ago, I was thrilled to see Ms. Garcia offering ARC of her newest novella. I couldn't wait to dive into this one and I wasn't disappointed. This is a quick and engaging read that pulls you in immediately. I think for all readers over 40 years old, can reflect back on their youth and perhaps see a bit of themselves in one or more of the characters. I loved the short, intense chapters and appreciated that each one took us on a slightly different path. The cliffhanger effect in the chapters was like a vacuum pulling the reader in. I wasn't sure how the story would end, but it did and in a hurry. I had mixed feelings about this, but upon reflection, see that it came to a close perfectly.
Thank you Ms. Garcia for the honor or previewing your novella. 5 stars.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 27, 2022
Garcia has written a novella that manages to strike several cords at once. For one, it proves heavy with nostalgia, reflected in her characters discovering an old parachute, but also in its setting of an abandoned school, signifying an aching need to rediscover lost innocence. Her characters also struggle with impending adulthood, knowing that their lives must change as they cross certain thresholds, even in terms of the relationships they have with each other. For me, this novella also brought back pleasant memories of The Twilight Zone--and not Rod Serling's version, but rather than the 1980s incarnation. Something about Garcia's narrative seems perfect for that particular incarnation, perhaps because of a plot that becomes increasingly dire and fraught with tension as it continues, with no solace of a moral or a rational universe in sight. This novella is wonderfully written and should be read and enjoyed by all who love horror.
June 25, 2022
I absolutely love the idea of skipping through worlds with every flick of a piece of fabric, and the dimensions on display are interesting, if all too brief.
This is a short novella, and a lot of time is spent describing the characters and their dynamic, so I was disappointed there wasn’t a bigger payoff once things got strange. I didn’t buy the way they behaved, even for stoned 17 year olds. Most of them seemed to be intelligent, and I was surprised at their reactions.
An argument could be made that the story is a metaphor for growing up, growing apart, life getting serious and adults losing their way. I like the idea of this extra dimension to the story, and I wish more had been made of it.
I enjoyed this quick read with some interesting ideas, but without the nostalgia for the parachute game or having any life experience in common with the characters, it didn’t quite hit the right notes for me.
This is a short novella, and a lot of time is spent describing the characters and their dynamic, so I was disappointed there wasn’t a bigger payoff once things got strange. I didn’t buy the way they behaved, even for stoned 17 year olds. Most of them seemed to be intelligent, and I was surprised at their reactions.
An argument could be made that the story is a metaphor for growing up, growing apart, life getting serious and adults losing their way. I like the idea of this extra dimension to the story, and I wish more had been made of it.
I enjoyed this quick read with some interesting ideas, but without the nostalgia for the parachute game or having any life experience in common with the characters, it didn’t quite hit the right notes for me.
April 1, 2022
What a unique and tense story! Absolutely loved it. The characters have a wonderful bond of friendship and that bond gets put to the test when they find an old parachute in an abandoned school.
There are not enough words to tell you how much I loved this book. The nostalgia, the wonder, the imagination, and the fear. Holly has such a great writing style. You just feel at home in her stories right from the beginning. The group of friends in Parachute are so real, I swear these are people I hung out with in high school.
Grab your handle, lift it high and run underneath but whatever you do, don’t let go. See the world tinted by a PARACHUTE.
There are not enough words to tell you how much I loved this book. The nostalgia, the wonder, the imagination, and the fear. Holly has such a great writing style. You just feel at home in her stories right from the beginning. The group of friends in Parachute are so real, I swear these are people I hung out with in high school.
Grab your handle, lift it high and run underneath but whatever you do, don’t let go. See the world tinted by a PARACHUTE.
May 2, 2022
Angela and her friends have a party after graduating high school. Their favorite place to party is a abandon elementary school. After talking about games they played in school,they decide to check out the school's gym. They find a Parachute and begin to play. This is a special parachute it takes them to dangerous places. One of the friends vanish. The others race to find her. Creepy spine chilling read.
March 27, 2022
I was fortunate enough to score a copy of this before the release date. I was already a big fan of Garcia going into her new work, and this did not disappoint! It’s creepy, paranoia-inducing, and original. Definitely worth picking up if you’re looking for a mind-bending story: Garcia is the real deal.
March 27, 2022
Garcia is a damn good writer and she continues to prove it here. This is an ARC, so don’t pay attention to reviews that complain about typos. Weird that writers would point that out in their reviews; they ought to know better.
June 20, 2024
Mini blurb: Six teens who just graduated (class of '97) break into an abandoned elementary school, find a parachute and decide to play with it, only to find themselves transported to a series of increasingly strange and scary worlds and pay a terrible price...but not everything is as it seems.
***
Rated 3.5 really.
Original, genuinely creepy, with believable teen rep...and a twist that I didn't get.
Seriously...there's a number of things that this novella does right, and a few minor hiccups, like the amount of details about the main character's house in the first chapter (they would probably have been out of place even in a longer book, or even if they had carried any weight at all in the long run, which they didn't. For more than one reason...😶). On the other hand, most of the alternate universe experiences were very brief, but the story didn't suffer because of that, since what mattered most was the impact they had on the protagonists. I found the '90s references to be a tad overdone for such a short book (also, what's with the favourite-band-t-shirts galore? because nearly every character wears one...), and I found a continuity error (I guess Angela's "very best friend" Haley was supposed to be Val...maybe Garcia changed the character's name at the last minute), but they were small annoyances. The twist, though...could have been clever if this were a meta-narrative, which doesn't seem the case - especially if you consider the age of a certain character mentioned in the epilogue - while if Parachute is a "simple" multiverse story, it doesn't compute on a few levels (on a side note, I wonder if "RPG" in the "RPG Junk Removal" business name from the epilogue means "Role-Playing Game" - but even then...?). That said, if you're a fan of unsettling stories where the horror creeps up and ultimately goes all-out, and you enjoy Twilight-Zone-like switching endings, you shouldn't miss this one.
Note: definitive review (I don't have enough to say to justify writing a full-length one later; also, due to time commitments, I've decided not to write full-length reviews anymore for short stories, novellas and anthologies, except in special cases or unless they're part of a series).
***
Rated 3.5 really.
Original, genuinely creepy, with believable teen rep...and a twist that I didn't get.
Seriously...there's a number of things that this novella does right, and a few minor hiccups, like the amount of details about the main character's house in the first chapter (they would probably have been out of place even in a longer book, or even if they had carried any weight at all in the long run, which they didn't. For more than one reason...😶). On the other hand, most of the alternate universe experiences were very brief, but the story didn't suffer because of that, since what mattered most was the impact they had on the protagonists. I found the '90s references to be a tad overdone for such a short book (also, what's with the favourite-band-t-shirts galore? because nearly every character wears one...), and I found a continuity error (I guess Angela's "very best friend" Haley was supposed to be Val...maybe Garcia changed the character's name at the last minute), but they were small annoyances. The twist, though...could have been clever if this were a meta-narrative, which doesn't seem the case - especially if you consider the age of a certain character mentioned in the epilogue - while if Parachute is a "simple" multiverse story, it doesn't compute on a few levels (on a side note, I wonder if "RPG" in the "RPG Junk Removal" business name from the epilogue means "Role-Playing Game" - but even then...?). That said, if you're a fan of unsettling stories where the horror creeps up and ultimately goes all-out, and you enjoy Twilight-Zone-like switching endings, you shouldn't miss this one.
Note: definitive review (I don't have enough to say to justify writing a full-length one later; also, due to time commitments, I've decided not to write full-length reviews anymore for short stories, novellas and anthologies, except in special cases or unless they're part of a series).
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