The Mermaid and the Shoe by K.G. Campbell


The Mermaid and the Shoe by K.G. Campbell
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Genre: Childrens, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (32 pages)
Age Recommendation: 6+
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Each of King Neptune’s 50 mermaid daughters boasts a special talent, except for little Minnow, who seems to be good only at asking questions. When she finds a strange object, Minnow follows her questions to a wondrous place and finds answers, including the answer to the most important question of all: Who am I? A gorgeously illustrated story about finding one’s purpose.

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Minnow was such a likeable character. She lived in a society that had strict rules about what mermaids should and should not be capable of doing. Unfortunately, she wasn’t naturally good at any of the things that were valued by other mermaids, and her talents involved stuff that her people rarely, if ever, thought about. The most interesting thing about this to me was how she reacted to it. She was dismayed by not fitting in anywhere, of course, but she was also determined to figure out where she did belong. That part of her personality was so endearing that I couldn’t wait to see if she’d be successful.

There was a major conflict in this story that was never resolved. It had to do with Minnow’s strained relationship with one of her sisters, and it played such an important role in the early scenes that I was pretty surprised when it wasn’t picked back up again after she returned from her adventure. Leaving it out made the ending feel unfinished to me.

The best part of the plot for me happened after Minnow decided to go on an adventure to see if she could figure out the purpose of the strange object she’d found floating around in the sea. She was such a brave girl that I looked forward to seeing what she’d discover about it and if she’d get answers to her questions about how it worked.

If you enjoy modern fairy tales, I’d recommend giving The Mermaid and the Shoe a try.

Reverse Documentary by Marisela Navarro


Reverse Documentary by Marisela Navarro
Publisher: Tor Books
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (31 pages)
Rating: 3 Stars
Review by: Astilbe

Dino is a documentary filmmaker, haunted by the ghost of his ex-girlfriend who was killed in a car crash while with another man. As Dino shoots his latest documentary on the vandalism occurring in the woods of his hometown, he tries to move on from her unexpected death. But when his life starts to look up, the ghost encroaches on his property. The focus of the film begins to blur as the lens of the camera shifts onto Dino, the director succumbing to his ghostly obsession.

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The documentary style of storytelling was what first caught my attention when I read the blurb for this piece. It wasn’t something I’ve personally seen being used in this genre before, and I was curious to find out how Ms. Navarro was going to use that format in something that was intended to be read silently instead of watched on a screen. She found so many inventive ways to mix the two different styles together in ways that made sense and pushed the plot forward exactly when it needed a nudge. I was impressed with all of the tricks she came up with to appeal to book and film lovers alike.

I would have preferred to see more attention paid to the ghost’s motives for haunting Dino. Jennifer was simultaneously the most important and the least discussed character in this tale. Nearly everything I learned about her came from her ex-boyfriend’s ruminations about her death. Dino had such a narrow perspective that this didn’t give me all of the information I needed in order to figure out why Jennifer was behaving the way that she was.

While it wasn’t what I was expecting to find, the ending fit the unconventional tone of this story nicely. I appreciated the fact that the author was so creative when coming up with a satisfying resolution for the conflicts the characters were dealing with. She did a good job explaining why things ended the way that they did and hinting at what was to come for the main characters.

Reverse Documentary should be read by anyone who has ever lost someone they deeply cared about.

Temptation Trials Revolution by B. Truly


Temptation Trials Revolution by B. Truly
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Sci-Fi (Dystopian), Romance
Length: Full (326 pgs)
Heat: Hot
Rated: 4 stars
Review by Poppy

There are always two sides to a story. Can love withstand the ultimate temptation?

A new Regime has arisen from the havoc and destruction of World War III. Society now has to follow the strict mandates, reign under the dictatorship of His Highest Eminence or suffer the consequences.

Tobias and Kincade are part of a cryptic organization that’s trying to uncover the secrets behind the Regime. Something is suspicious with the new world order—why else would they want to control the most powerful emotion of love? With mandatory arranged marriages at the age of twenty-one, the only way to fight for love is through the Temptation Trials—a government-sponsored reality TV show.

Kincade and Tobias know the rules, but after they meet the women of their dreams, they face a difficult decision. With their impending birthdays around the corner, the guys have to decide if they will bend to the Regime’s will or fight for their relationships.
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Lust, mistaken for love, will lead to down a treacherous path. They soon learn that the spirit may be willing, but the flesh is weak.

Can love save their souls, or is lust too tempting?

After reading the first book in this series (told from the women’s POV), I was interested to get the other side of the story. Years ago, there was a failed reality show named “Temptation Island” which basically put people in committed relationships into deliberately sexy circumstances with others to see if they’d cheat. This book series reminds me of that show … on steroids.

As with most dystopian novels, the government is bad here. I’m still not 100% certain why the government chose this particular “rule” for their own, but I’m suspending my disbelief here and running with it since that is sort of the mystery the characters are trying to solve themselves. In the first book, I actually liked the guys better than the girls, for the short time I saw them, so was glad to get to see them again. One thing I enjoyed was the guys’ sense of humor and snark about things. It’s pretty typical (especially for “tough guy” Tobias). However, there was a lot of emotional stuff with them thinking sappy thoughts about the girls that felt a little off. Not that guys aren’t romantic or loving, but it’s not typically the focus, the be-all-end-all of their thoughts.

I suppose this can stand alone in the series, but I think the world-building in this one wasn’t as strong. Possibly because the author assumes the reader has read past books in the series. Other that that (and wondering what was going on with the women) though, I think this could be read alone.

Since Tobias and Kincade were undercover to find out what was going on with this governmental rule, there was a little more digging into the mystery of “how” and “why” here. We got it in the women’s book, too, but not as frequently.

Also, in my own personal set of preferences, I hate romances about cheating. Here, though, it doesn’t feel wrong, exactly, and I’m not sure why that it. Maybe because the guys aren’t around their women here? I’m not sure why. Also–and I had this same issue in the women’s book–I’m not entirely certain I want our main characters to end up with the women they originally loved. It’s true! The author has done a good job selling the other characters here.

While perhaps not as violent and bloody as most dystopian novels, it’s still a decent entry into the genre. Add in plenty of sex and sexual innuendo, and you have a book any adult could enjoy. It’ll be interesting to see where the story goes next.

Glome’s Valley by Peggy Chambers


Glome’s Valley by Peggy Chambers
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Young Adult
Length: Full length (167 pages)
Age Recommendation: 10+
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Orchid
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When Ethan and his dad to go Heavener, Oklahoma to read an ancient runestone, he is sure he’s going to be bored all summer. But Ethan quickly makes new friends, at least one of them a ghost. What began as a trip to Dullville suddenly becomes a fantastic adventure. There are other creatures living in the valleys near the runestone – energetic fairies, beautiful wood nymphs, and smelly old trolls. Ethan stumbles into the midst of an ancient war, and the only person who can save him is his archaeologist dad and the phone app that summons Thor.

Ethan is spending his summer with his father father who is studying ancient stones, Ethan wanders off to amuse himself. His daytime world then becomes entwined with a ghost, fairies, a huge dog and stinky trolls. Unknown to Ethan, Loki the mischief maker is watching his every move.

This book sounded interesting which is why I wanted to read it. The characters, the settings and even the grown ups promised a good story, but when I started reading I found it a little flat. There didn’t seem to be much excitement or suspense, and even the evil trolls didn’t appear to be three dimensional.

Maybe a rewrite would bring it to life as I really think the idea has great potential. Everything needed is in the story – a boy, a dog, a ghost, fairies, trolls and an evil god. The author even took care to make sure the boy didn’t just wander off without an adult keeping an eye on what he was doing. Good start and good idea.

A Ghost Story by Mark Twain


A Ghost Story by Mark Twain
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Horror, Paranormal, Historical
Length: Short Story (30 pages)
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

“A Ghost Story” is one of the best-known humorous stories by Mark Twain (pen-name of Samuel Clemens, 1865-1936). First published in 1870, it is set in Nineteenth-Century New York City.

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The world-building was phenomenal, and it happened for a character who spent the entire plot in an old, dusty bedroom of a house whose upper floors hadn’t been used in years! All of the descriptions of the home and the things that happened in were so vivid, though, that I could picture exactly what it would be like to stay there. I was pretty impressed by how the author was able to do this given the fact that there was only one setting for the entire storyline.

There aren’t a lot of characters out there who react sensibly when they realize that a ghost is haunting them. Luckily, one of these such individuals was the narrator of this tale. While he was definitely concerned about all of the scary noises he was hearing, he didn’t overreact. I liked reading about his thought processes as he attempted to figure out how to respond to his late-night visitor. He stayed as calm and logical as anyone could reasonably expect to under those circumstances, and that was refreshing.

Not only did the ending fit the tone of this book perfectly, it also made me laugh. I appreciated the narrator’s sense of humor even more once he realized what was actually making all of the frightening noises outside, and later inside, of his bedroom. Honestly, I didn’t want to stop reading his descriptions of what was going on. While I was satisfied with how everything was resolved in the end, I was also left yearning to know what happened next in a very positive sense.

I’d heartily recommend A Ghost Story to anyone who loves the paranormal genre.

Beyond a Veiled Reflection by Christine Church


Beyond a Veiled Reflection by Christine Church
Anachronistic Dimensions Book Two

Publisher: Grey Horse Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (175 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

Prepare for a new world, and a new Dimension.

Dane and Meirah are back, but they are not alone…

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After a fight separates Dane & Meirah, they discover their enemy has survived the death of Mikaire and he is out for revenge. And this time he has powers …Wizard Powers! Creating his own Dimension in the folds of time, he is unstoppable in his quest to make Meirah his Queen and Dane his blood slave.

This story is an exciting fantasy romance filled with heart-rending angst and enough surprises to keep readers wondering what is going to happen next.

It may be the second in the series, but there is just enough information given to make the situation understandable. Dane, a sexy rock star, has issues and is struggling, but even with his weakness, he’s likeable right at the start. Meirah, his wife, is intriguing, and from a very different world. Reading about how she struggles to fit in is enchanting.

The physical details of the tale are descriptive and immediate, making the reader sense what the characters sense. There is a lot of action and high emotion, moving the pace along.

When Dane gets tricked into doing something, readers see his weak side. Does that make him less likable? What happens as a result includes frolicking action and high emotions.

The magic and the mystical weave around the human, the mundane, to add mystery and enhance the world, or rather worlds, created in the story. When the likeable secondary characters show integrity and courage, they find themselves facing serious trouble and a well-developed, complex villain.

It’s hard to put down this book. Fans of the talented author, Christine Church, will not be disappointed with this exciting story. It ends on a cliff-hanger. The next book in the trilogy promises to be a good one.

Everything That Isn’t Winter by Margaret Killjoy


Everything That Isn’t Winter by Margaret Killjoy
Publisher: Tor Books
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Short Story (29 pages)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Does a renewed world still have a place for those who only know how to destroy? While defending a tea-growing commune in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest, one person seeks an answer.

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The world building was wonderful. I was delightfully shocked by how many details about the post-apocalyptic society Aiden and her people lived in were included in less than thirty pages of storytelling. It felt like I’d read an entire novel’s worth of descriptions and development instead of what is typically found in a short story. Based on Ms. Killjoy’s ability to create such a detailed world so quickly, I’m going to be keeping a close eye out for more stories from her.

Since the final scene could have been interpreted in two wildly different ways, it would have been helpful to have a few more hints about which one of those possibilities was actually the correct one. I was equally intrigued by both of the ways that scene could be understood. Had it been clearer to me which one I should be assuming was the correct one, I would have given this tale a much higher rating.

Aiden’s personality was well developed and fascinating. Just as I would have expected from someone who grew up experiencing uncertainty and violence, there were little hints in their behaviour and mannerisms that they’d experienced a lot of pain in their past. I was impressed by how much I figured out about their current emotional state even though something as simple as their gender was never revealed and this character only rarely mentioned their childhood at all. This isn’t something that’s easy to pull off, but the author made it look effortless.

I’d recommend Everything That Isn’t Winter to anyone who enjoy post-apocalyptic fiction.

Beating Heart by Linda Palmer


Beating Heart by Linda Palmer
Publisher: Uncial Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (108 pages)
Age Recommendation: 14+
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

When Dani Donovan got a new heart, she also got something else–psychic abilities. Knowing things she shouldn’t know has taken some getting used to, the reason she hasn’t told her parents. They’d definitely flip out or, worse, take her to another doctor. The head kind this time.

Wanting to know more about her gifts, Dani decides to answer a World Security League call for psychics to help in the capture of the world’s most wanted criminals. She heads to a Birmingham hotel so her new abilities can be tested. There she meets another psychic, Ren Mallett, who bursts into her mind while she’s trying to read his. Their connection is so incredible that the WSL agents testing them promise to recommend that they work together.

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To make her parents happy, Dani finishes her current semester of college before heading to Rutledge. Ren, on the other hand, starts there immediately. When their mental conversations become less frequent and finally stop altogether, she chalks it up to whatever training and work he’s been assigned. They’ll talk face-to-face when she finally gets to The Rutledge Institute, herself. But when she gets there, Ren is nowhere to be found. She finds out that he’s working undercover and seems to have lost contact not just with her, but with everyone.

Being a psychic isn’t always as easy as it might seem.

The physical descriptions of the characters were right on point. I appreciated how much effort the narrator spent describing what everyone looked like. Each character had such a unique style and physical appearance that I figured out how to tell them all apart very quickly. This is something I always appreciate when I jump into a new series.

I would have liked to see more time spent on character development, especially when it came to Dani. The number of characters was perfect for a short story of this length, but I didn’t feel like I got to know any of them well even if they were a protagonist. Their personalities weren’t described in a lot of detail, and they didn’t seem to grow or change much as a result of all of the unusual things they experienced.

Ms. Palmer did a great job balancing out the fantasy and romantic elements of the plot. It would be tricky for me to decide which of these labels to use first, and that’s a good problem to have with tales that are written in more than one genre. I always enjoy it when authors are willing to blend things together like this. Not only can it make the final product appeal to a much wider audience, it’s fun to see what tropes from each genre they decide to use and how they mix it all together.

This book is the fifth in a series, but it can be read on its own or out of order. I hadn’t read any of the previous instalments, and I had no trouble jumping into this world right away.

I’d recommend Beating Heart to fans of the fantasy and romance genres alike.

Caitlin’s Cat by Barri Bryan


Caitlin’s Cat by Barri Bryan
Publisher: Chavelbooks, LLC
Genre: Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Sci Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal
Length: Short story (105 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Aloe

Fifi, a lovely little lilac cat, has a new mistress, one Caitlin Miller, a trusting, naïve young woman with an overabundance of talent and beauty, and a scarcity of good judgment and common sense.

Leo Legrand is a handsome, rakish rogue with too much charm and too few scruples. He sets out to seduce Caitlin and to steal her portfolio of designer originals.

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When their mother unexpectedly dies, the three sisters go home for the reading of the will. The oldest takes the house, the middle one takes the jewels and the youngest one ends up with the cat. The fascinating part about it is that it’s lilac in color…

This is a charming romance with a paranormal cat who can talk and who really is lilac colored. It can even wear high heels. I really liked the way the author made it sound believable (even if far-fetched) and how they wound the romance around the cat’s influence. Fifi makes a pretty good matchmaker and she even manages to get Caitlin a business deal.

The pace is fast enough to keep your interest and the romance fluctuates. The man is extremely good looking and knows it, has lots of money, and doesn’t often sleep alone. Caitlin almost got raped as a child and is still a virgin. She also repairs clothes for a living. Could two people be more different?

The best part is the fashion show where Caitlin is showing off her designs and his former girlfriend is modelling them. As you can imagine, there’s a conflict.

With an outspoken cat who says what she thinks, romance in the air and plenty of interesting conversations, the author keeps you reading and smiling until the end.

The interesting premise is enjoyable, the tale is well written and love is in the air. As you read, you wait to see if they can overcome their differences…Recommended.

The Loud Table by Jonathan Carroll


The Loud Table by Jonathan Carroll
Publisher: Tor Books
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (25 pages)
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

“The Loud Table” by Jonathan Carroll is an sf-fantasy about four elderly men who regularly hang out. One of the men is worried that he’s getting Alzheimer’s, but the truth might be even more discomforting.

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The plot twists in this story were well done. Based on the blurb, I knew something out of the ordinary was going to be happening to one of the characters, but I never would have guessed what was truly bothering him. There was so much creativity included in the author’s descriptions of what was bothering this character and why his doctor’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease might not have been as accurate as he originally thought.

I often found myself mixing up the four main characters. While I expected them to have a lot in common due to their similar ages, interests, and personalities, they shared so many similarities that I couldn’t keep everyone straight. Over and over again I’d misremember a detail from one of their lives as something that happened to someone else instead. It would have been helpful to have more context clues about who was who. Even something as simple as giving one of them an unusual hobby or describing him as much more or less outgoing than his friends would have gone a long way in helping me keep them separate in my mind.

With that being said, the friendships between all four characters felt incredibly genuine. Despite their occasionally snarky comments to one another, I caught a strong sense of how much they cared about each other. They’d known each other for so many years that they could often predict what their friends were going to say and do ahead of time. Little details like this showed the audience the result of such long friendships without needing any of the characters to say much out loud about their feelings at all. This was the perfect way to describe four men who probably wouldn’t have been comfortable talking about their emotions in such a deep way, too.

I’d especially recommend The Loud Table to anyone who has ever come down with strange symptoms that were hard to pin down to one cause.