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Book Review: 12 Hours (Selected Papers from the Consortium for the Study of Anomalous Phenomena #2) by L. Marie Wood

Cover art for 12 Hours by L. Marie Wood

12 Hours (Selected Papers from the Consortium for the Study of Anomalous Phenomena #2) by L. Marie Wood

Raw Dog Screaming Press, 2024

ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1947879652

Available:  Paperback, Kindle edition

Buy:  Bookshop.org |  Amazon.com

 

Series editor RJ Joseph prefaces 12 Hours by explaining that the Consortium for the Study of Anomalous Phenomena publishes its Selected Papers when it finds evidence that something  “unattainable or previously disbelieved” has become reality, and introducing L. Marie Wood as an established academic and creative writer.

 

Wood’s creativity and mastery of the uncanny are evident in this stream-of-consciousness narrative of thoughts and observations by a foulmouthed cabbie attacked late at night by addicts in ski masks, and the aftermath. This is horror of the ordinary: events like this happen every day, although not from this particular point of view. Wood gives us clues to what is happening while revealing the cabbie to the reader as a complex and nuanced character with strong emotions, and using minute details to describe his state of being and the world he experiences. The novella length is perfect for this story focused on one character and what he goes through in a very short length of time, although the very end may frustrate some readers. It’s’ difficult to say more without spoiling the story and much of what makes it a fascinating read, so you’ll have to read it yourself to discover that.  Recommended.

 

 

Reviewed by Kirsten Kowalewski

 

Posted on August 3, 2024 by , Reply

Book Review: LGBT: Lust, Gore, Bloodshed & Terror by Wol-vriey

cover art for LGBT: Lust, Blood, Gore &Terror by Wol-vriey

 

LGBT: Lust, Gore, Bloodshed & Terror by Wol-vriey

Burning Bulb Publishing, 2024

ISBN: 9781964172002

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition

Buy:  Bookshop.org | Amazon.com

 

The author himself has referred to his writing as ‘bizarro fiction,’ and this story certainly qualifies.  It also qualifies as a good improvement over his last two novels.  The book feels like a Greek tragicomedy of errors, with a lot of raunch, blood, and hilarious irony mixed in.  Oh, and a vampire, too.  And a witch.  And a crazed scientist/artist.  It’s a good read, for the excitement as well as the laughs, and it keeps you guessing all the way.

 

This is a ‘character web’ story, with four disparate main characters who barely know each other, and a host of secondary characters that slowly tie their fates together.  The main players are: Lavelle, a sex-crazed lesbian porn actress who is hounded by a lovestruck ghost; Greg, the elderly gay man cuckolded by his young trophy husband; Bryn, a lovelorn bisexual vampire eternally searching for her soulmate; and Tammi, a trans woman short on cash for gender affirmation surgery. It’s certainly an eclectic crew!   The four of them all plan on doing not-so-nice things to others to improve their lives, but…things just never seem to quite work out according to plan.  What makes the story fun, is all the unexpected ways things just go to hell in a handbasket.  Just when it seems that it might get predictable, the story swings off in an unexpected fashion.

 

The story does an excellent job pulling all the plot threads together a little at a time, and heaping delicious irony at every turn.  The characters are great fun, often due to their deadpan way of looking at things.  My personal favorite: one character’s initial response to winding up in everlasting Purgatory is, “this sucks already.”  None of the four main characters are particularly nice or sympathetic (well, maybe Greg, but only at first) and that works very well for the plot.  It makes it more fun when each of them reaps what they sow.  The whole story is completely over the top. The entire thing is a puzzle, guessing who is going to get killed, condemned, or cursed next, and it usually doesn’t happen the way you would expect it to.  The unpredictability of the story is one of its big selling points, and that alone makes it worth the read.

 

Bottom line time: it’s a good book from an author with a pretty large catalogue of stories to his credit This certainly ranks in the upper echelon of his works.  Just remember, this is ADULTS ONLY material, it’s not for your kids!

 

Reviewed by Murray Samuelson

 

 

Posted on July 31, 2024 by , Reply

Book Review: Serwa Boateng’s Guide to Vampire Hunting (Serwa Boateng #1) by Roseanne A. Brown

Cover art for Serwa Boateng's Guide to Vampire Hunting by Roseanne A. Brown

Serwa Boateng’s Guide to Vampire Hunting (Serwa Boatang #1) by Roseanne A. Brown

Rick Riordan Presents, 2022

ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1368066365

Buy: Bookshop.org | Amazon.com

 

 

This is a wild ride of a book. Serwa Boateng is a Ghanaian-American (born in Ghana) 12 year old, the daughter of Slayers of vampires called adze, who look like fireflies and can possess people, and obaifyo, witches who use black magic. She has always been homeschooled, but after a supernatural attack on her home, her parents are sent on a mission she can’t be a part of and she is sent to live with her Aunt Latricia and cousin Roxy in Rocky Gorge, Maryland, a supernatural dead zone, where she will have to attend middle school and deal with microaggressions, hostility, racism, and an adze who has crossed into the dead zone, without help from her parents or the council that directs their missions.

 

When Serwa accidentally starts a food fight in home ec, she and four other students end up with detention, picking up trash in and around the school. While picking trash in the woods, they are attacked by an adze, and when Serwa explains what’s happening, they want to help. Eujun used to be friends with Roxy but when forced to pick between friends picked popular mean girl Ashley. Gavin is Black and a jokester. Mateo is Guatemalan and a model student, who stutters. Roxy’s father has been deported to Ghana. Their teacher, Mrs. Dean, has it out for Serwa, who she calls Sarah Boating, and Serwa thinks she is the adze.

 

The kids are terrible fighters and have no magic. Serwa calls on the earth goddess with a request to bless them with divine wisdom. They are sent to the underworld to retrieve her sword, which never stops fighting. Their mission is successful, and also incredibly funny. The goddess gives the kids divine wisdom and an elemental blessing that will let them draw on the power of their element.

 

The art teacher, Mr. Riley. reveals that the origin of the dead zone is unique because his ancestor, who had divine wisdom, and Roxy’s, who had black magic, combined them to protect enslaved people during a rebellion.

 

Ghanaian mythology is not something I was familiar with, so this was a fresh approach to the “chosen one” storyline. Serwa has a distinct voice and point of view that make her stand out from the current crop. While the story is sometimes predictable, I was wowed by the energy and rage at the end. Never underestimate a teenager in an emotional storm. Highly recommended.

 

Reviewed by Kirsten Kowalewski

Posted on July 28, 2024 by , Reply
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