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Book Review: Night in Our Veins by Paul Edwards

cover art for Night In Our Veins by Paul Edwards

Night In Our Veins, by Paul Edwards

Gravestone Press, 2023

ISBN: 9781786958617

Available: Paperback

Buy: Bookshop.org | Amazon.com

 

Night in our Veins is a short story collection that is a mixed bag in terms of quality.  Some are pretty darn good, some are not.  Enjoying this will depend on the type of short stories you like, to be clarified below.  They are horror stories, but tend towards a particular style.

 

The author’s general focus in most of the stories is usually on the interactions between the characters, not on what they are doing, or what is done to them.  Interesting things DO happen to the protagonists, but that’s not usually the primary point of the story.  Plot devices are used to facilitate communication between the characters, and how they react to outside stimuli.  In other words, these stories tend to be the “”character study” sort.  There are some really good ideas in here, such as going back to WWI to visit dead relatives, and random holes in reality that simply appear for a time.  But these ideas take a backseat to the characters themselves, and what they say and think.

 

Enjoying this collection will hinge on the reader.  Those that like stories with a lot of human interaction and the drama it brings will probably be quite satisfied with most of the stories, while those more interested in a dynamic plot might want to pass on this one.  There are a few stories where both sides of that coin marry together perfectly, “Without You I’m Nothing” and ‘”he Unseen” are the ones that spring to mind. I really liked a lot of the ideas, and would have liked to seen some of them fleshed out more and made into the primary focus of their stories  The ‘”random holes” one was a great idea, but I was left with questions. Where did they come from?  What REALLY happens when you step into one?  The writing for the stories was reasonable, but I was left wanting these intriguing ideas more fully developed.

 

Bottom line: recommended for fans of character-driven stories.

 

 

Reviewed by Murray Samuelson

 

 

Posted on September 7, 2024 by , Reply

Book Review: The Dreams of Demhe (Lost Carcosa #3) by Joseph Sale

The Dreams of Demhe (Lost Carcosa #3) by Joseph Sale

Blood Bound Books, 2024

ISBN: 2370015765491

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition

Buy: Amazon.com

 

This is the third book in the Lost Carcosa series.  Reviews for the prior two books, The Claw of Craving and The City of Corpses can be found on this site.

 

When we last left off, protagonist Alan Chambers and his companions had won a great victory over the forces of darkness, but the evil Princess Cali had escaped after killing her father.  The Dreams of Demhe covers their pursuit of Cali through the fabled Desert of Demhe, to stop her before she can join forces with the Demon King.

 

Not surprisingly, the book stacks up well against the previous two installments.  No doubt, Joseph Sale is a superbly gifted writer, and his prose is strong, as always.  The story does have a somewhat different feel from the prior two.  It’s more introspective, and focuses more on the inner strengths and weaknesses of the characters, as opposed to having them surmount various obstacles in the Carcosa world.  This is facilitated in the story by the Desert of Demhe, where most of the book takes place.  It’s a place of visions, where the apparitions seen are tailored to each character, and prey upon their deepest fears.

 

The setting is what gives the book its unique flavor, and is also likely to divide readers of the series.  Those that prefer stories that focus on what makes the main characters tick will likely have this ranked as the best in the series, while readers that prefer more action-oriented stories will probably prefer the previous volumes.  It’s a very good read, but an altered direction for the series.  There’s plenty of internal conflict built into the story, especially in Alan’s case.  He has to contend with the Claw he bears on his arm, which has an intelligence of its own, and is often in opposition to what Alan’s heart tells him.  Also, the visions of the Desert cause Alan to learn some things about his companions that would have been better left hidden, in the interest of keeping the companions unified in their purpose of stopping Cali.

 

The viewpoints of the other characters also factor in: can they keep supporting Alan, even though he knows their worst fears and failings?  People in the book (and in real life) keep secrets for a reason. When the veil of secrecy is lifted, it has the potential to tear the group apart, and the cracks start to show by the end of the story.  There are also two notable twists to the narrative that are likely to become pivotal in the series. One concerns Alan, the other concerns LeBarron, the actor in the group.  It’s an inward-looking book, and an entertaining one.

 

The bottom line here is, it’s another good entry in one of the best series to come out in a long time, in the dark fantasy genre.  Now, when do we get the next one?  Recommended.

 

 

Reviewed by Murray Samuelson

 

 

Posted on August 29, 2024 by , Reply

Book Review: The Little Season by S.C. Mendes

cover art for The Little Season by S.C. Mendes

The Little Season by S.C. Mendes

Blood Bound Books, 2024

ISBN: 9798878808958

Available: Kindle edition

Buy:  Amazon.com

 

You have to give S.C. Mendes credit: in a genre that has some repetitive plotlines, he always comes up with an original one, and this is no exception.  It’s quite imaginative, and trying to figure out how it ends will keep the reader busy till the final pages.  There are enough questions on life in this one that it would actually make for a good choice for a horror book club discussion group.  The book isn’t shallow: it has some good depth to it.  There are some pretty nifty illustrations, too!

 

The protagonist, Jordan Carter, is one of those aimless sorts drifting through life, just hopscotching from one job to the next, with no real clear plan, other than trying to help take care of his ailing mother.  He finds an ad that seems like a godsend– get paid to eat one meal, (sponsored by a company called Talons) give reactions, and pocket $600, with the possibility of further meals.  His problems start with the horrible physical and mental reactions he has to the meal, but the possibility of money is too good to turn down.  It becomes a mystery, with Jordan trying to find out why the food causes such odd reactions.

 

That’s where the story really hits its stride, since there are a few competing ideas as to why the meals cause reactions.  Jordan’s New Age, mystic, neighbor, Michelle, has a theory; the occult doctor in the story has another; and of course, there is the actual reason behind Talons, which the reader will get eventually.  This is a good example of combining a few different ideas into one new one, with parts of all included.  Most people have heard the idea of ‘good karma’ and ‘bad karma’: most people know that everything is made of atoms that vibrate under certain stimuli; and, most people have heard of demons and angels.  What Mendes has done is combine seemingly disparate ideas into one that makes perfect sense for a fiction story, and tied that in to a new definition of what exactly sin is, and why bad things happen in the world.  It’s a good amount of material to ponder over in a 150 page book, and it certainly holds your attention until the end.  Surprisingly, this actually has a sort of happy ending, not something usually found in a Mendes book!  The whole book is a strong contrast in light and shade, in terms of the characters.  None of them are really bad people, but they aren’t saints either.  They are what they seem to be– realistic people, each with there own strengths and flaws.

 

The bottom line is, this is quite good, and won’t bottom you out, like the author’s masterpiece The City did.  For readers of this book: for a bonus, try finding the Easter egg hidden in there referencing Mendes’s fellow author Lucy Leitner.  It’s well hidden, but it’s there.

Recommended.

 

 

Reviewed by Murray Samuelson

 

 

Posted on August 28, 2024 by , Reply
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