Book Review: Spirits of Suburbia

-

Original review written Oct. 25, 2014 on Goodreads

Original review (with updated comments)

I picked up this little anthology at ConBravo this past summer as a way to support several authors and get a taste of their writing without breaking my bank account. As the title, "Spirits of Suburbia" suggests, the stories deal with fantasy in an urban setting and how that affects the characters. Some gain a new understanding of the world, while find an unlikely answer to some of their own problems.

My favourite story in the book is "No Good Deed Goes Unpunished" by Tecuma Macintyre. A young lady invites her witch friend to cleanse her bookstore of evil spirits. The author does an excellent job of teasing out the back story of both these women in a way that intrigues the reader, but still feels like a complete tale. When Abby, the witch, is going through the cleansing ritual, I was actually a little scared. There is a lot of depth to this world, and I would be interested in following up on Abby's story if I can.

The weakest story, in my opinion, is "Dakota is a Dryad's Name". This story is only a page long, which does not allow for a lot to happen. A little boy is bullied at a daycamp and runs away. He finds a little fairy and then he's happy again. It's cute. It's just short. I do have to note here my personal bias against super short stories since I'm the girl who will read books with well over 1000 pages multiple times (I no longer have this bias as I have come to appreciate flash fiction).

Overall, none of the stories are duds. The anthology is a bit short, but the editor has provided some "bonus material" to flesh out the volume. Also, of the seven tales featured, three of them are about dryads. While each story does work on its own and all are well-written, I would have liked a little more variety.

I do think this volume is nice if you like urban fantasy.

 

 

Note: ConBravo is a convention I attended a few times many years ago.  


Thanks for reading! Want to keep in touch? Sign up for my newsletter. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Monthly Microfiction - December 2021 - Billy's Special Blanket

-
Billy's Special Blanket       Billy tightened the blanket his mother made him around his head. She promised no monsters could hurt him through his special blanket.    The closet door creaked open and all of the monster’s legs spilled out. It crawled across the floor and up onto the bed. A multitude of legs prodded Billy. The monster roared when it could not breach the blanket’s power.  In fury, the monster flailed about, destroying Billy’s room.   His parents charged down the hall and through the door. Then screamed in terror when the creature attacked.    Billy was safe under the blanket, but his parents were not.       Originally published in Beneath from Ghost Orchid Press on May 5, 2021  
Read more

Monthly Microfiction: Under the Ice

-
 Under the Ice  I came to the lake to rescue my sister. Ice covers its surface and I drop to my knees. Together, we bang against the icy barrier between us as I spout useless apologies. Her angry eyes gut me. I didn’t mean to condemn her to this when I brought her body here. Local legend claimed she would come back on the thirteenth day of winter. It did not mention the ice. With a loud crack, her hands break through. Joy fills me but quickly turns to terror when instead of escaping, she pulls me down under the ice with her.   Originally published in Beneath from Ghost Orchid Press on May 5, 2021
Read more

Review: It Calls from the Veil by Eerie River

-
Image
“Eighteen terrifying tales of what lurks behind the veil.” I’ve now read several collections from Eerie River and even with one theme, they always deliver a wide variety of stories, characters, and chills. In our daily lives, the veil separating us from death seems strong, but in this collection, the curtain is little more than thin gauze and dark creatures have no problems creeping through.   Typically when I review an anthology, I try to pick my favourite three stories to highlight, but there were five stories that really stood out for me.   Little Feet by RB Kelly   Alison, her husband, Ben, and their daughter, Mia visit an isolated cabin for Christmas. Setting this tale in the heart of winter, far from their home, added the element of isolation. When they arrive, little Mia finds a creepy doll and becomes obsessed with it. The doll terrifies Alison and begins to torment the family. Alison has to face her seemingly irrational fears to keep her family safe. I appreciated
Read more