Tag: microfiction

October Book Reviews! #DanAntion #PatriciaFurstenburg #DawnPasturino #SylviaKayRose #NicholasCRossi #LindaBroday #MaggieWatson #whattoread #mustreads #bookreviews #writingcommunity

Here are the books I read in September that I rated four or five stars.

The Museum Murders: A Rascal Todd Mystery

By Dan Antion

Rascal the journalist is back with a new mystery. She is pulled into a case where a woman’s sister disappears, and a man dies in an accident. The story has many twists and turns as Rascal tries to figure out what is going on. I love the setting and learning about Pittsburgh, including an old canal and the underground railway. There is lots of good food along the way, even for Bonkers the cat, and sports mixed in. Makes me feel like I’ve been to Pittsburgh, but I haven’t yet. Rascal is a favorite character along with Bonkers, and I love her relationship with both her boss and boyfriend. I changed my mind more than once about who I thought the killer was, but in the end I was surprised by how it all played out. This is a good cozy mystery that I can easily recommend!

 

Hermannstadt, 1241: The Mongol Invasion – A Short Story

By Patricia Furstenberg

I have been enjoying the historical fiction stories set in Transylvania. I was eager to read this short story that focused on the Mongolian attacks. Katharina and her family lived in a new settlement, full of hope. Rumors of village attacks circulated, but they dismissed them as gossip. Katharina spent time exploring the forest and met a new friend. Her new friend taught her which plants were safe to eat and where to find things. The setting was so beautifully presented that I could imagine being there with them, walking through the forest. The research is woven in so nicely that I learned and was entertained at the same time. I couldn’t put the story down as I had to know what happened to this girl and her village. This is a group of people that I would love to know more about. I can highly recommend this read!


The Punishment: A Gothic Horror Microfiction Story
by Dawn Pisturino

This is a very short Halloween read for a lunch break, during advertisements, or when you just need a quick break from what you are doing. This little story takes the throwing rocks at an old house theme in a new direction. I could easily imagine the setting, which was accomplished in very few but meaningful words. The ending surprised and upset me, which means it was able to touch my emotions. I couldn’t check out the interactive link on my old Kindle, but it’s a good idea to add that at the end of the story. A good scary read for the season.

Killer Compost

By Sylvia Kay Rose

“Killer Compost” cleverly blends sci-fi, drama, comedy, and horror in an apocalyptic story. On Earth, an apocalyptic war rages between humans and robots led by a human; meanwhile, the hidden space station Pharos houses scientists. The group works on a living compost to repair the damage the robots are causing as they try to kill or capture humans. When one of the scientists goes missing, things change quickly. While on Earth, Druscilla and her sidekick scientist, Leo, want to control the world. Leo is creating a huge robot to kill the pockets of humans they haven’t already put in camps to chip and control. Lance, a cargo and mercenary space captain, arrives at the space station with supplies and gets caught up in what is going on aboard the ship. In the mix is a hidden rebel base on Earth that works with the space station, trying to save humanity and the planet, plus pockets of the super-rich who found ways to survive. The story has a big cast of characters, but the ones that stood out to me were a helpful, lovesick android named Mary Lou and Lance, who kind of reminded me of Han Solo. I could sympathize with the compost, ERCA, as well. This is a well-written, entertaining read, and I was rooting for the good robots and humans to save the world and themselves. I can easily recommend this page-turner!

Infinite Waters: A Collection of Science Fiction/Speculative Fiction Short Stories

Nicholas C. Rossis

“Infinite Waters” is a short story collection tied together by the “Infinite Waters” story. In this story, a writer goes in to get her future read and advice. Her story is told between the other stories, making this a unique read. I won’t pick a favorite because I enjoyed them all. Although it was a quick read for me, there was a lot packed into those stories. Well written and hard to put down. I can easily recommend this collection!

Bright is the Light: A Christmas Novel

By Linda Broday

A former Civil War soldier, Calder couldn’t escape its horrors. He drifted from town to town, ending up in a Texas town called Jubilee right before a snowstorm was about to hit. He found a family renting out a room and only planned to stay a while before moving on. Kate is the daughter who is caring for her disabled mom and a younger brother, Micah, who most people believe is simple-minded and should be institutionalized. My favorite relationship that develops is between Micah and Calder, and of course, the pup. Both the family and Calder have been through trauma, and how they interact is so heartwarming. The story offers a chance to heal, second chances, and a realistic setting, but the focus on the lantern and the tradition behind it captured my imagination. What a wonderful tradition to try to recreate on Christmas Eve. This is a beautifully written story of broken people and hope. It is the perfect read for the holidays, and if you need inspiration, this is the story for you. I can easily recommend it.

Pieces of Me: A Collection of Poems

By Maggie Watson

“Pieces of Me” is a painful yet beautiful written collection of poetry broken into three parts that centers on mental abuse suffered in a relationship. The raw emotion paints a picture of how words can chip away at the soul. The words stirred so many emotions in me, including anger, sadness, and admiration for being able to not only move past it but share it. Here are some that touched me: “She was me, but she could have easily been you./Like a hunter, that stalk their prey before they choose their next victim./I don’t call myself a victim…”—SHE, “Her ink is the light on her darkest nights./It is her anchor when she is drowning…”—HER STORIES,  “For years, a marionette on a string./With sadness in her eyes./ A plea for freedom unheard by all…”—MARIONETTE, “A candle extinguished./ I relinquished my soul./The flame of my spirit I did forego…”—EXTINGUISHED, “Rivers of pain once eroded my spirit/while oceans of tears flowed from my eyes…”—FIGHTBACK, and “I am a leaf blowing in the wind./ I am a bird that soars and flies…”—I AM (BECOMING). Heartfelt poems that not only show what gaslighting is but make us feel it. I can easily recommend this.

Feed that inner child by reading a great book! Denise

October Book Reviews! @TWDittmer @SueColetta1 @ninsthewriter @Dwallacepeach @SarahBrentyn @alliepottswrite #writingcommunity #bookreviews #whatyoushouldbereading

The Valley Walker

By T.W. Dittmer

Teri Altro who is a part of a government drug enforcement team, is almost gunned down at a store. A mysterious man steps in, saves her, and then disappears. This man turns out to be John Walker Micheals, who is an ex-Vietnam vet. John also has close ties to the Hmong community who call him the Valley Walker. He is wanted by the government for desertion, but Teri is protective of the man who not only saved her life, but she shot. The settings and descriptions of the Vietnam War and the Hmong culture were very detailed and added a depth that made this story hard to put down. The flowing time and locations in the book include mysticism, politics, and powerful drug traffickers. Teri worked hard but forgot about her heart. John’s character is unpredictable until the end. I loved how this complex tale unfolded so skillfully on many levels. It is a story I can easily recommend.

Wings of Mayhem (The Mayhem Series #1)

By Sue Coletta

 

I started this series with book six, “Restless Mayhew” and was immediately drawn into the story. After that, I wanted to know what happened before, so I started with book one and found the beginning equally compelling. Shawnee is a cat burglar who steals from criminals to give back to their victims—she also works for the police department. When she was a cat burglar, she discovered the identity of a serial killer. Unfortunately, he found out that she had broken into his house and taken his prized possession, along with some cash and gems. Although the killer is known right away, the book is still a page-turner, and I couldn’t wait to find out how she survived. At first, I wanted her to turn the killer in to save his victims from his creative yet inhuman and painful deaths. Shawnee was in a dangerous position and not only had to save herself but those she loved. Plus, she dates a detective who can easily throw her in jail if he finds out too much about her. Shawnee is not only a flawed individual but a determined one who had me on her side. A well-written thriller that kept me up late into the night, wanting to know what was going to happen next. I can’t wait to read the next in the series and can easily recommend this to those who love fast-paced mysteries with graphic details of being a victim and a survivor.

 

Dark Eyes

By Nina Romano

“Dark Eyes” is set in the Soviet Union in the 1950s. Anya is a young, unwed mother who struggles to provide food for her daughter after escaping an abusive relationship. After her daughter’s grandmother is brutally murdered, Anya wants to find the killer. This pulls her into a corrupt criminal world that ventures into the police department and includes dolls, diamonds, and drugs. Andrei is a police photographer trying to get hired onto the force. They meet during the investigation and seem drawn to each other. I didn’t like Andrei at first because of his initial interactions with Anya. Later, as I got to know Andrei and Anya better, I became invested in these characters and rooted for their survival. Ms. Romano paints a vivid picture of how it would have been to be living in those times in the Soviet Union, especially as a woman. In the Soviet Union, shortages of food, heat, and jobs made life difficult. It was also risky to disagree with the KGB or be Jewish. A couple of scenes with Anya were graphic and brutal but showed her strength and determination to survive for her mentally challenged daughter and to find the truth. This story draws you into a world we are lucky we don’t live in and offers hope amongst cruelty. A historical fiction love story I can easily recommend.

The Shadows We Breathe (Volume 3)

By Sarah Brentyn and various authors

This is the first anthology I’ve read of “The Shadows We Breathe (Volume 3)” and really enjoyed it. I recognized a couple of the authors but was also introduced to new ones. The book is put together with first flash fiction and then micro-fiction with the theme of power. I loved all the different perspectives that were taken in the stories. Some touched on some very dark subjects, but all were well told. I enjoyed them all so I don’t have a favorite story, but the micro-fiction was compelling in what could be told in fewer words. Although a fast read, it wasn’t light on entertainment or depth. I can easily recommend this collection to those who want to explore the shadowy side of life.

Embrace your inner child by reading a good book! D. L. Finn

‘Fiction In A Flash Challenge 2021.’ Week #41. @pursoot #IARTG #FlashFiction #WritingPrompts #WritingCommunity #99words #flashfiction

Here’s Suzanne Burke’s ‘Fiction in a Flash Challenge 2021’ #41.

This week I decided to write a very short story where I used 99-words. No more, no less.

WAITING

I stood every night on the edge of the precipice. My tears had stopped flowing, but the valley hadn’t stopped burning. Everything I’d known was gone. Only my father heeded the signs and prepared our escape. Unfortunately, he could only take my baby brother and sisters. He sent mother and me to the mountain, promising to return. Mother never left the cave but kept our fire going. I caught fish and lugged our water from the icy stream. She insisted we were the only ones alive, but I believed. Tonight, my dreams were answered as my father’s balloon appeared.