Book Review – Dustlands Book One - Blood Red Road by Moira Young

• Blood Red Road
• (Dustlands Book One)
• Moira Young
• Margaret K. McElderry Books
• Scheduled Release Date: June 7, 2011
• Trade Paperback
• ISBN: 9781442431386
• (Review copy: ARC uncorrected proof direct from publisher.)
• 498 pages
• Tags: Young Adult (YA); Dystopian Fiction, Action-Adventure, Quest Fiction

Blood Red Road, a Young Adult dystopian title scheduled for release June 7^th, 2011, is a fast paced action-adventure filled with dark, post-apocalyptic settings and truly likable characters on a quest. Written in the first person perspective with the voice of an illiterate, but not unintelligent, main character the narrative is presented entirely in the dialect of the uneducated. While it may take some readers a while to get beyond the trimmed-down minimalistic language the quaintness of the dialogue holds a certain sui generis charm and is what really made this book an exceptional read for me. It was unusual enough to catch and hold my interest from the start and once it had my attention I was hooked. In some ways this novel reminded me a little of Cormac McCarthy’s works Outer Dark and Suttree which contain their own flavor of dialect and Blood Red Road will inevitably be compared to The Road for its murky settings, ruined landscapes, and quest motifs. Another remarkable thing about this book is that while it is admittedly aimed at the 14+ crowd of young adults there is no doubt that it will appeal to almost every age group. Take it from someone who’s been in almost every age group. It’s a catchy, well-written story and I still find it hard to believe it’s a debut novel. The author’s narrative voice, lurking beneath the dialect, is a surprisingly mature one. Add the fact that it can be read almost overnight (it really is that fast-paced and readable) and you’ll find that Moira Young has created a decidedly fresh and enjoyable novel that will not disappoint.

Somewhat predictable (the deaths of two main characters, a heated, young romance, and somewhat clichéd characters) Blood Red Road never-the-less kept me entertained throughout with its many unique and uncommon elements. The crow that thinks and acts as if it is human is a wonderful, inventive character that tends to steal the show whenever in scene. Jack, the mysterious thief, embraces untold secrets which we hope to see revealed in the later books of the series. The dark and foreboding ninja-like Tontons have yet to show their dark side and there is a mystifying familiarity between Saba, the main character, and the Tonton leader DeMalo. There are some really nasty and evil antagonists as well, especially The King and Miz Pinch. Far be it for me to reveal any spoilers here but there’s a lot of potential in this series and I for one can’t wait to read and review the future exploits of this band of survivors.

Blood Red Road is the first book in the planned Dustlands trilogy but even so Moira Young does a great job of making the book stand alone without resorting to one of those aggravating cliff-hanger endings that have become so prominent in serial novels. I truly enjoyed this read and finished the book in only a few nights. As a result I will definitely make note to purchase the remaining books in the series when they’re released.

At its heart, Blood Red Road is an old story of new love, loss, and friendship in a world where survival seems next to impossible. And perhaps that’s why it’s so interesting to me. I am, after all, a huge fan of post-apocalyptic narratives and this one mixes the very best elements of familiar stories like City of Ember, Mad Max, Desolation Road, and 70’s spaghetti westerns and turns it upside down. I should also mention that the film rights were optioned by Ridley Scott (Black Hawk Down, Kingdom of Heaven, etc.) It’ll be interesting to see what Scott makes of it and, of course, I’ll also make a mental note to look for the movie in the coming years.

Blood Red Road is a fast paced, intelligent, and fun read.

4 ½ out of 5 stars

• The Alternative
• Southeast Wisconsin

Additional reading:

The Story

Excerpt of Blood Red Road

Short GalleyCat Article

Review of Blood Red Road at Dark Fairie Tales.com

Purchase at Amazon.com

Goodreads Review

Snarky Mama Blog Review

The Author

About Moira Young

Official Publishers Page for Moira Young

Author Interview (Video)

Book Review - Contra Alliance Book One – Shadows of the Past by Tom Kolega

1. Contra Alliance Book One – Shadows of the Past


2. Tom Kolega


3. BCH Fulfillment & Distribution (2010)


4. Edition: 1st Edition


5. Hardcover


6. 376 pages

2035 A.D. The United States has lost status as a world-dominating superpower. A global struggle for supremacy, hybrid high-tech warfare, and rogue genetic laboratories on two continents has split America’s focus from maintaining world order to combating insurrection. If that’s not enough chaos for one planet there’s also the looming threat of global warming, the mass depletion of natural resources, and a mysterious faction known as The Revolution that has only one goal – total world domination. But that’s just the tip of the action iceberg in Tom Kolega’s debut novel Shadows of the Past. In the midst of this turmoil the worst of the Earth’s problems are just beginning to come to light. A specialized group of NATO freedom-fighters known as CONTRA has just uncovered a conspiracy that apparently began out in the void of space. Could the Contra Strike Force be the catalyst that starts a galactic war?

One of the many things I found particularly fascinating about this book and its entire accompanying concept is the obvious amount of time, preparation, and meticulous attention to detail taken in creating it. The characters are wholly fleshed out in narrative form and have been beautifully illustrated by renowned comic artist Joe Benitez (Lisa Mechanika, Weapon Zero, and G.I. Joe.) in the cover art. The members of each faction (The Revolution, The Nerrial, and the Contra Strike Forces) have been painstakingly illustrated each with their own unique physical features, wardrobes, and weapons. [See media guide P.R. kit here: http://www.contraalliance.com/contraalliance/prkit/prkit.pdf ] It would also appear that a monthly comic, Contra Alliance # 0 adapted from the novels, is set for release in late 2011. The worlds and galaxies Tom Kolega has created here are in-depth and thoroughly studied. The events leading up to the so-called “Revolution” are uncannily believable, hopelessly frightening, and entirely plausible. To believe that the United States, a leading world power for over 100 years, could fall apart so quickly becomes even more frightening as recent real-world events unfold in Japan. (A sobering thought indeed.)

The only real critique I have concerning this book, and it’s a minor one at best, is that there are a lot of acronyms and government agency names sprinkled throughout the narrative which slightly bogged down the pace of the story for me. Fortunately, while Mr. Kolega seemed to understand the need to include them for clarification’s sake he more importantly knew when to transition back to the narrative which is done smoothly and effortlessly.

The Contra Alliance universe will be issued in two separate but related trilogies. The first, Contra Alliance, consists of Book I: Book of Shadows, Book II: Blue Star, and Book III: Return of the Starforce. The second trilogy is a prequel called War of the Stars and consists of Book I: Time of Legend, Book II: Union of Adena, and Book III: Rise of the Alliance. Contra Alliance # 0 is the much-anticipated comic book.

Apparently Kolega has been working on this for almost ten years and his dedication and hard-work has paid off. This is a great story with an imaginative premise and a promising future. I recommend this to every fan of X-Men, future world politics, superhero comics, Star Trek, high-tech war, Space Opera, Star Wars, genetic manipulation, or general Science Fiction. I, for one, totally enjoyed this book cover to cover and will be purchasing all the upcoming releases, including the comic.

4 out of 5 stars

1. The Alternative


2. Southeast Wisconsin

Additional Reading:

Contra Alliance website (Feel free to explore this site. It’s packed with lots of information and you can download a preview of the first few chapters.)

Contra Alliance Blog site

Market Watch Review

Review at Sci-Fi Fan Letter

Contra Alliance # 0 – The Comic

Save These Books

If you had to leave your house in a hurry, and you could only grab five volumes off your shelf, which five would they be and why?

We answered that question over at Grasping For The Wind a Science Fiction and Fantasy Blog we follow.

Here’s my 2 cents worth but there are a lot of other blogs represented there. Please visit by clicking the link above and perusing the list. Its eclectic and catholic in scope.

The Alternative @ The Alternative One: The five books I’d have to take if fleeing a fire are (in no particular order):

• Dhalgren by Samuel R. Delany (fantasy and poetry – just can’t beat that combination)
• The Stand [Complete and Uncut version] by Stephen King (because, you know, it’s 1150 pages and like 4 books long)
• Gateway by Fredrik Pohl (one of my all-time favorites)
• Old Man’s War by John Scalzi (great story –well worth re-reading over and over again)
• Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood (ditto)

If I could squeeze in five more I’d take:

• Midnight at the Well of Souls by Jack L. Chalker
• Mindbridge or The Forever War by Joe Haldeman
• A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller
• Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
• Foundation by Isaac Asimov

Which books would you take?

Music Reviews – Six in One Album Reviews

Music Review #1 – Barton Hollow by The Civil Wars

•  The Civil Wars
• Album: Barton Hollow
• Genre: Alternative/Punk
• Style: Folk Singer-Songwriter, Singer-Songwriter, Contemporary Folk
• Label: sensibility music LLC / TuneCore

The Swell Season’s lyrical American cousin but with more bluegrass/folk undertones. Astounding harmonies, perfect pitch, and beautiful lyrics make this duo’s performance a must for your music collection. The first track, 20 Years, and the title track, Barton Hollow, stand out but the entire album is a solid collection of great songs. Also, Poison and Wine may be the most haunting love/hate song ever scored.

5 stars out of 5

• 01. 20 Years 3:02
• 02. I've Got This Friend 3:24
• 03. C'est la Mort 2:30
• 04. To Whom It May Concern 3:31
• 05. Poison & Wine 3:40
• 06. My Father's Father 3:21
• 07. Barton Hollow 3:26
• 08. The Violet Hour 3:25
• 09. Girl With the Red Balloon 3:50
• 10. Falling 3:58
• 11. Forget Me Not 2:57
• 12. Birds of a Feather 3:09
• 13. I Want You Back (Bonus) 3:15
• 14. Dance Me to the End of Love (Bonus) 3:05

The Civil Wars Official Website

Music Review #2 – All Alone In An Empty House by Lost In The Trees

•  Lost In the Trees
• Album: All Alone In An Empty House
• Genre: Rock/Pop
• Style: Alternative, Indie Rock, Commercial Alternative
• Label: Anti/Epitaph

Classic/Alternative/Orchestral combination of highly lyrical music by songwriter Ari Picker. Evidently, the lyrics from the title track are bits and pieces taken from arguments Picker's parents had when he was growing up. But that’s not to say that the album is an indictment of despair and depression. For all that the album is packed with optimism and courage. Oh, it also has lots of stringed instruments. Check out Mvt. I Sketch and Mvt. II Sketch for a glimpse of what Mozart might be doing today (had he lived that long.) Don’t get the wrong idea though in my comparison to Mozart… this is not your father’s classical music.

4 ½ stars out of 5

• 01. All Alone In An Empty House 5:44
• 02. Walk Around the Lake 2:57
• 03. Mvt. I Sketch 3:12
• 04. Song for the Painter 3:20
• 05. Fireplace 3:32
• 06. Love on My Side 3:25
• 07. Wooden Walls of this Forest Church 1:51
• 08. A Room where your Paintings Hang 3:25
• 09. We Burn the Leaves 2:44
• 10. Mvt. II Sketch 5:35
• 11. For Leah and Chloe 2:03

Lost in the Trees Official Website

Music Review #3 – The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles by Aeroplain

•  Aeroplain
• Album: The Wind-up Bird Chronicles

Inspired by the literary works of Haruki Murakami and found on his website Aeroplain’s The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles is an interesting contrast between classical/jazz/electronica music and the literary works of an exceptional writer. Each tune corresponds to a different section of Muakami’s book of the same name, but of course, you don’t have to read the book in order to enjoy the music.

P.S. Free download at the site: http://aeroplain.interiority.com/

4 stars out of 5

• 1. the wind-up bird theme 6:32
• 2. quiet 6:17
• 3. mr. wind-up bird 5:48
• 4. kumiko 3:04
• 5. music of words (the creta kano song) 6:11
• 6. reunion 4:43
• 7. the well 4:36
• 8. jellyfish from all around the world 5:43
• 9. a dangerous place 7:00
• 10. goodbye, may kasahara 6:08

Music Review #4 – Hunger and Thirst by Typhoon

•  Typhoon
• Album: Hunger and Thirst
• Genre: Alternative/Punk
• Style: Indie Rock
• Label: Tender Loving Empire / IODA

Fertile instrumentation (horns/strings/guitars) and soulful vocals by front-man Kyle Morton make this an exceptional album and one I listen to over and over again. There’s a hint of Bright Eyes to their sound but only a hint. This is truly unique and fun. My favorite cut is the poignant Old Haunts, New Cities. Great harmonies, haunting guitars, and a story (for a change). P.S. Also, Typhoon had a song on the American re-make of the BBC program Being Human, which is where I first heard them (using the Shazam app on my iPhone).

5 out of 5 stars

• 01. Starting Over (Bad Habits) 3:33
• 02. White Liars 4:46
• 03. CPR / Claws Pt. 2 6:59
• 04. Ghost Train 2:58
• 05. Body of Love 3:52
• 06. Intermission 1:13
• 07. Happy People 4:08
• 08. Old Haunts, New Cities 4:39
• 09. Mouth of the Cave 0:44
• 10. Belly of the Cavern 7:11
• 11. The Sickness Unto Death 3:20

Typhoon Official Website

Music Review #5 – Alexander by Alexander

•  Alexander
• Album: Alexander
• Genre: Rock/Pop
• Style: Alternative
• Label: Community Music
• Copyright: (C) 2011 Community Music (US)

Perhaps the oddest sound of the six bands listed here Alexander may also be my new favorite. Its quirkiness alone demands attention. This album is Beatlesque-Dylanesque-Clashesque (from their fun years), lyrical, nostalgic, playful, full of pop hooks, and totally endearing and amusing. Alexander is that rare combination of songs that both sound great and entertain at the same time.

5 out of 5 stars

• 01. Let's Win! 2:57
• 02. Awake My Body 5:04
• 03. Truth 4:21
• 04. In The Twilight 3:14
• 05. Bad Bad Love 3:29
• 06. Old Friend 5:02
• 07. A Million Years 4:51
• 08. Remember Our Heart 3:17
• 09. Glimpses 5:40
• 10. Lets Make A Deal To Not Make A Deal 3:15

Alexander @ MySpace

Music Review #6 – Brothers by The Black Keys

•  The Black Keys
• Album: Brothers
• Genre: Rock/Pop
• Style: Alternative, Commercial Alternative, Indie Rock
• Label: Nonesuch
• Copyright: 2010 Nonesuch Records, Inc.

All I can say about this album is “Freakin’ Awesome!” Okay, that’s not all I can say about it. How about this: This is an exceptional album that A) sounds better every time you listen to it, B) every song on the playlist is better than the last, C) is a smoky, haunting blues album that will last the test of time, D) has some of the best lead guitar work I’ve heard in a very long time, E) has great bass rifts (probably because they’re performed by the lead guitarist), F) should be on every iPod, MP3 player, and computer in the world, G) has no contemporary comparison, H) did I mention it’s freakin’ awesome!, and I) this is a duo (unbelievable!). My favorite cuts are “Ten Cent Pistol” and “I’m Not the One” but that may change later today when I listen to this for the third time. Locate it, download it, listen - find bliss!

5 out of 5 stars

• 01. Everlasting Light 3:24
• 02. Next Girl 3:18
• 03. Tighten Up 3:31
• 04. Howlin' For You 3:12
• 05. She's Long Gone 3:06
• 06. Black Mud 2:10
• 07. The Only One 5:00
• 08. Too Afraid To Love You 3:25
• 09. Ten Cent Pistol 4:29
• 10. Sinister Kid 3:45
• 11. The Go Getter 3:37
• 12. I'm Not The One 3:49
• 13. Unknown Brother 4:00
• 14. Never Gonna Give You Up 3:39
• 15. These Days 5:12

The Black Keys Official Website

The Alternative

Southeast Wisconsin

Book Review – The Vampire Federation – Uprising by Sean McCabe (Scott Mariani)

 

·       The Vampire Federation – Uprising

·       Sean McCabe (Scott Mariani writing as Sean McCabe)

·       Paperback: 480 pages

·       Publisher: Avon (10 Jun 2010)

·       ISBN-10: 1847562124

·       ISBN-13: 978-1847562128

 

 

The Three Laws of the Vampire Federation:
1. A vampire must never harm a human
2. A vampire must never turn a human
3. A vampire must never love a human

 

With a system of bylaws like that you just know they’re all going to get broken…

If you are looking for two-hundred year old vampires full of angst pretending to be teenagers or glowing, angelic creatures who want to better mankind, or romantic walkers of the night pining for their human lovers then I suggest you take your reading proclivities elsewhere. You’ll find none of that here. In fact, what you will discover in Uprising are vampires on both sides of the law (those who abide by the three laws and those who don’t) who’ll stop at nothing to get what they want. And when they meet you know it’s going to get damn bloody. As a result, a war that could jeopardize the peaceful co-existence between the vampires of the Federation and humans by those who wish to cultivate human-kind as a food supply becomes more and more of a reality.

 

In my opinion the beginning of The Vampire Federation – Uprising suffers from the introduction of too many characters too quickly in too many too short chapters. (Yes, that’s exactly how I felt [at first].) However, after the swift introductions are over the story develops rather well into a fast paced urban fantasy thriller that just happens to contain vampires. Mr. McCabe manages to deliver an adventure story that reads like a Hollywood blockbuster. As a matter of fact, it took very little imagination to visualize the all-to-vivid scenes being played out on the big screen in my head as I read this. There are a lot of surprises, some unconventional vampire thinking (drugs to walk in daylight, etc.), and lengthy scenes of heartless, plot-provoking violence. Finally, here be vampires with bite (pardon the pun.)

 

I rather enjoyed the character development, interaction, and dialogue that McCabe created in this story but was absolutely fascinated and captivated by his descriptive, action-packed scenes of violence. (I’m a guy – what can I say! And McCabe certainly knows his audience.) Gabriel Stone, the main antagonist in this story is, to me, quite the evil character and while Joel, the human detective and Alex, the vampire agent, struggle with their own emotional baggage we find that their problems are those many of us struggle with ourselves. There’s plenty of page-turning action here and more then a few thrilling exploits that make up for some of the obvious plot twists and re-cycled devices but there are some surprises thrown in for good measure, as well. One of the more interesting scenarios involves a sleazy politician who more-or-less sells his soul to a vampire and then, realizing the price he’ll have to pay, attempts to redeem himself in an unconventional manner.

 

Fast-paced and fun.

 

3 ½ out of 5 stars

 

The Alternative

Southeast Wisconsin

 

 

Additional Reading:

 

Vampire News

 

Scott Mariani Uprising site

(Note: Sample Chapters can be downloaded from this site.)

 

LibraryThing.com book site

 

Author's website (Scott Mariani)

 

Blog Review

 

Please report broken links.

 

 

 

 

Book Review–Two-Fisted Tweets by James Hutchings

• Two-Fisted Tweets
• James Hutchings
• EBook
• Smashwords
• February 2011

I’ve never really read much flash fiction before but in my opinion James Hutchings has crafted thirty short, remarkably humorous, entertaining, and thought-provoking micro-fiction stories in this much, too-brief anthology. The brevity of these stories forces the author to tell us as much in what isn’t written as what is. And Hutchings does this wonderfully. While Two-Fisted Tweets fits into the category of sudden, micro, or short-short-fiction it is so very much more. Structured to be less than 140 characters in length these thirty mini-stories were created to fit within the parameters of a Tweet, which in and of itself is quite a unique notion. I’m not sure if they were ever sent as actual Tweets but if they were Mr. Hutchings followers are certainly an entertained bunch.

Some might scoff at this type of fiction, and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect either when first approached with a request to review it but you might be surprised to learn that flash fiction has roots that are as old as Aesop’s Fables and that some of the world’s leading writers practiced the skill. Among them Anton Chekhov, O. Henry, Franz Kafka, H.P. Lovecraft, Ernest Hemingway, Arthur C. Clarke, Ray Bradbury, Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., and Fredric Brown, to name a few. Perhaps the most famous was reportedly penned by Hemmingway in the example. “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”

One sample from the book which might give you an idea of the creativity involved and which made me chuckle out loud is this one:

“Rotting hands reached from the darkness. At last, someone was attracted to her for her brains.”

And here’s one of my own:

Two–Fisted Tweets by James Hutchings, in short, is a unique, humorous and satisfying, though too brief (puns intended), read.

4 stars out of 5

• The Alternative
• Southeast Wisconsin

P.S. In addition, the author has graciously agreed to give away 10 copies to the loyal readers of this blog. The first 10 readers to send me an e-mail with a request and format choice will receive a free electronic copy of the book direct from the author. For everyone else, the book can be found at Smashwords for .99.   Two-Fisted Tweets

(Note: My e-mail address can be found in my profile at the top right sidebar.)

Additional Reading:

Flash Fiction entry at Wiki

Evidently, Flash Fiction is even more popular than I thought. Here are a few websites dedicated to the craft. Some are actual flash writing while others are informational blogs and others are tutorials. I had no idea…

Flash Fiction Online

Flashfiction.net

Fiction Factor.com

Flash Fiction

Flash Fiction Blog

ZenVirus.com Flash-Fiction

Percontra.net Flash Fiction

R Jane Flash Fiction Blog

S Joan Popek.com

Flash Fiction Forums

Book Review - Equinox- Six Declinations by Richard S. Freeland

• Equinox- Six Declinations
• Richard S. Freeland
• Short Story Collection
• Dragonlyre
• 125 pages

Book Contents

• Equinox
• Family Tradition
• Anomalies
• The Last Angel
• Garbage Man
• Bygones

Equinox – Six Declinations is a solid collection of six short stories generally categorized as horror, fantasy, suspense, or the macabre. But don’t let the genre tags mislead you. This is one complex and unique anthology containing superior stories that should appeal to just about everyone. Forget that they’re listed as horror stories. All you really need to know is that each story is highly creative, tightly woven with strong, unforgettable dialogue, and has that unique “hook” ending (or segue) that so many short stories lack these days. If you like your macabre fiction complete with twists, turns, and a slightly off-kilter bite than Richard S. Freeland’s Equinox – Six Declinations is a short story collection just waiting for you. In one way or another each of the stories presented here reminded me a bit of Stephen King’s early works. The characters all live in the real world, have that working-man’s mentality, speak not like characters in a novel but like genuine people, and will frequently be subjected to the worst terror of their short lives.

“Equinox,” the title story, was nostalgic for me personally in the sense that it brought back memories of the classic vampire movies I used to watch as a kid. Don’t get me wrong, this is a modern tale not an old classic but taking a tired cliché like “Look into my eyes!” and making it fresh is always a difficult task yet Freeland manages to do just that with exceptional skill. The seduction inherent in Vampire films literally jumps off the page in this story (even though we’re never really sure that the antagonist is actually a vampire at all) and the depiction of the victim’s disorientation by supernatural hypnosis is chilling.

“Family Tradition,” the second story, is a cautionary tale of poaching in the wrong place and time. It’s also an uncommon rite-of-passage fairy-tale with a unique and lycanthropic surprise ending. You’ll never hunt on your neighbor’s land again…

“Anomalies” is by far the strangest story in the collection yet is remarkably amusing and decidedly entertaining. The residents of Booster’s Roost, an eclectic lot if ever there was one, experience a very strange and fantasy-filled day. Fire-and lightning-storms, nano-bots, and a boulder with a mind of its own blend with the characters and round out the action. The strong suit of this particular yarn is the punch ending and the smooth and believable dialogue leading up to it. In fact, Freeland’s strongest asset is, in my opinion, his use of free-flowing dialogue which reeks of realism and sounds, in my head, like people I know speaking to each other.

“The Last Angel” is the very best of the stories here and in my opinion really deserves to be more completely fleshed out and written into a full length novel (or even a series – wink to Mr. Freeland.) Set in a post-apocalyptic America this is a haunting quest story of heroic proportions with an unlikely mission. I’ve always loved post-apocalyptic tales that delve into the differences between our world today and the new world forced upon our descendants after a devastating environmental change. The Last Angel does not disappoint. The story left me eager to learn more about the ravaged, dying land. What happened to the world so many years before that turned it backward? Who or what is the angel? Where is it from? Where is it going to? Hopefully, Freeland will see fit some day to tell us more of this story. I, for one, can’t wait.

In “Garbage Man,” Henry Hatcher is a garbage man and an unlikely serial killer who can hear the voices of those wrongly murdered. Watch him take vengeance on their behalf. (Warning: This is not a story for the squeamish or faint of heart. Reader beware. There is a tragic scene here that will be heart-rending to those of you with small children.)

“Bygones,” the last story in the collection, deals with mortality, regret, and fear. After his oldest and closest friend dies of a stroke in a nursing home an elderly man confronts the denizens of a crack house as he rushes head-long to meet his own fate.

Equinox – Six Declinations is an engaging and compelling collection and I thoroughly enjoyed each of the six stories included in the anthology. The only real criticism I have is that the book lacked only one thing - another ten or twelve stories for me to enjoy.

Highly recommended.

4 out of 5 stars

• The Alternative
• Southeast Wisconsin

Additional reading:

Author’s website

Preview of Freeland’s upcoming novel Seed

Author site at AuthorDen.com