Indie Book Review: Unknown Sender by Ryan Lanz

Unknown Sender by Ryan Lanz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this short story in exchange for an honest review.

Unknown Sender by Ryan Lanz is a horror/suspense short story in which Jessica, a college student, begins receiving threatening text messages from a blocked number. The story only takes around half an hour or 45 minutes to read, making it a fast-paced thrill.

Given that the story is short and relies on a few twists, there is not much I can say about the plot without revealing spoilers. However, I will say that it was quick-paced, suspenseful, and kept me hooked all the way through. While I do feel a college student and university setting is a bit overdone in horror and suspense novels (and movies especially), the twist at the end provides a refreshing spin and saves the story from becoming too cliché. My one criticism of the story is that I feel it would benefit from being a bit longer, not only for my own enjoyment, but for there to have been more development leading up to the end, as the conclusion felt a bit rushed.

The writing is strong and concise. Likewise, Lanz’s characters are well-developed, especially considering how little space he gives himself to craft them. The characters play well with each other – the relationships are multi-faceted and believable.

Overall, Unknown Sender by Ryan Lanz is an enjoyable and quick horror/suspense short story that will keep fans of the genre captivated until the end…and wishing the end didn’t come quite so soon.

View all my reviews

---

If you are interested in reading Unknown Sender and would like to help sponsor my writing and research, you can purchase it through my Amazon Associates Store. By doing this, you will not pay a cent extra, nor will the author receive a cent less, but I will receive a small commission on the sale. Simply click the book’s title or the book’s image.

Indie Book Review: The Fairy Wren by Ashley Capes

The Fairy Wren by Ashley Capes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

The Fairy Wren by Ashley Capes is a fantasy novel. It follows Paul Fischer during one of the worst times of his life. Paul is separated from his wife, about to lose his bookstore, nagged by a shady friend, and dealing with an Italian runaway. On top of all of that, he receives a mysterious phone call that makes him concerned for his ex-wife and seems to be stalked by a fairy wren, who appears to be more than just a normal bird.

Paul is the working person’s hero. While he is not in a blue collar field, he has that “real” person charm, which is most strongly reflected in his fights (both literal and figurative) with the rich real estate tycoons. Paul is a complex, imperfect character, and I mean “imperfect” in the best way. He is flawed, and he recognizes it. He reacts poorly under stress, and he quickly becomes the underdog that the reader cannot help but root for.

There are a lot of secondary characters in The Fairy Wren, and Capes does a fantastic job of balancing them. Each character feels fleshed out, even the ones we do not see often, and fits firmly in his/her place in the community. Likewise, the relationships between Paul and the supporting characters feel organic and filled with history. This chemistry makes the story that much more compelling.

As far as the plot goes, there is a lot going on in The Fairy Wren. Paul’s life is falling apart, piece by piece, and he is juggling conflict from all angles. However, Capes masterfully leads the reader down each path and manages to interweave them in a way that is simultaneously creative, sensible, and satisfying. There is rarely a dull moment in the novel, and with the wide variety of Paul’s problems, there is something that will interest nearly every reader in this novel.

That being said, my one critique of The Fairy Wren is that I think the author’s classification of it as a fantasy novel isn’t entirely accurate. There are fantasy elements, most notably at the end, but the rest of the novel reads much more like literary fiction, or perhaps light magical realism. Likewise, there is a thriller element to the novel, especially with the plots around Paul’s friend and Paul’s ex-wife. This was a pleasant and captivating surprise, and I think advertising the thriller edge might attract even more readers.

Overall, The Fairy Wren is a compelling and complex novel. It grapples with serious themes—everything from life, death, and love to financial problems, psychological imbalance, and criminal activity. The novel is captivating and will pull readers through to the end quickly. With the diverse plot points, there is something for everyone (specifically readers of fantasy, literary fiction, magical realism, and thrillers) in The Fairy Wren.

View all my reviews

---

If you are interested in reading The Fairy Wren and would like to help sponsor my writing and research, you can purchase it through my Amazon Associates Store. By doing this, you will not pay a cent extra, nor will the author receive a cent less, but I will receive a small commission on the sale. Simply click the book’s title or the book’s image.

Indie Book Review: The Sleeping Angel by Margarita Morris

The Sleeping Angel by Margarita Morris
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

The Sleeping Angel by Margarita Morris is a young adult supernatural mystery that perfectly mixes past and present to reveal the sinister secrets surrounding Highgate Cemetery.

In the present, the novel follows Lauren and Tom as they search for the connection between Isabelle Hart, a woman who used to live in Lauren’s house, and the death of Tom’s father. In the past, the novel recounts the life of Isabelle through her diary as well as provides glimpses into those around Isabelle through their journals and memoirs. Despite having seven different narrators throughout the novel, the past and present pieces fit together seamlessly, each divulging just enough information to keep the reader desiring more. The sections of the novel are short, action-packed, and end on such intriguing notes that I frequently couldn’t put the book down.

Unfortunately, that is all I can say about the plot without risking spoilers. However, there is much to comment on in relation to the writing of The Sleeping Angel. Morris does a fantastic job of writing to suit the voices of each of her characters. Even if they were not named, it would be easy for the reader to identify the narrator, as each is so distinct and personable. Morris also had a great knack for writing in time-appropriate language. Her word choice feels authentic whether she is writing from the perspective of a young woman or gravedigger in 1870, a teenager in 1970, or a teenager or professor in present time.

My one critique about The Sleeping Angel is that, at times, it was difficult to tell what the supernatural “rules” of the world were, so-to-speak. The novel features paranormal elements, namely ghosts or spirits, but the characters themselves were unsure about how much of what they experienced was real, and other supernatural subjects were considered to be highly unrealistic by the characters. While it is clear which paranormal elements were “real” in terms of plot, I still found it a bit unbalanced in terms of the world Morris created (which was strongly based in present day reality). However, this seems to be a mostly subjective critique, and it did not detract from my enjoyment of the novel.

Overall, The Sleeping Angel is a well-written, well-executed paranormal mystery. The multiple story lines intertwine perfectly for an enjoyable journey and satisfying conclusion. If you love young adult paranormal/supernatural tales, historical fiction, and a dash of mystery, you will adore The Sleeping Angel.

View all my reviews

---

If you are interested in reading The Sleeping Angel, it is FREE on Amazon! Simply click the book’s title or image to be taken straight to the sales page. As always, if you would like to help sponsor my writing and research, you can purchase other books at my Amazon Associates Store. By doing this, you will not pay a cent extra, nor will the author receive a cent less, but I will receive a small commission on the sale.

Indie Book Review: The Art of the Imperfect, a murder mystery set in Scarborough by Kate Evans

The Art of the Imperfect, a murder mystery set in Scarborough by Kate Evans
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

The Art of the Imperfect, a murder mystery set in Scarborough by Kate Evans follows the lives of characters in a seaside town after the murder of a well-known psychotherapist, Dr. Greene. While the novel certainly is a murder mystery, as a fair portion of the plot revolves around solving Dr. Greene’s murder, the reader should note that the novel is more than just a crime novel. In fact, I daresay this novel may not be for fans of dark, gritty, police procedural novels. The purpose of the novel lies much more in how Dr. Greene’s murder affects the residents of Scarborough and the way their lives intertwine because of the crime.

The Art of the Imperfect has multiple narrators, but the protagonist is Hannah, the woman who first discovers Dr. Greene’s corpse. Despite training to be a counselor herself, Hannah struggles with depression and possibly a bit of post-traumatic stress after the experience. The reader watches, as if from the outside, as Hannah battles her own insecurity, her inability to trust and connect with others, family problems, and darker demons that lurk within her psyche.

The other primary narrators of The Art of the Imperfect are Detective Sargeant Theo Akande, who is investigating Dr. Greene’s death, and Aurora, a solicitor who is experiencing postpartum depression. Theo seems to be the most reliable narrator, and the reader follows him on the journey to solve Dr. Greene’s murder, which hits numerous dead ends and reveals more unreliable suspects. Aurora, who happened to be my favorite character, believes her husband may be Dr. Greene’s killer. Evans writes Aurora’s passages poetically and with some of the most unique descriptions I have read. It is through Aurora’s eyes that the language truly shines.

Given the various and psychologically unstable characters, the plot of The Art of the Imperfect is a bit difficult to follow. I found it difficult to separate the facts from the delusions, which at times made me lose focus on the action and left me uncertain as to who actually killed Dr. Greene. For me, the murder mystery itself was the weakest part of the novel, but the characters and their fascinating journeys made up for it. (On a cultural note, I should also add that, as an American, I did not know all of the abbreviations used and places referred to, which may have taken some of the depth of the novel away from me.)

Overall, The Art of the Imperfect is a beautifully-written psychological journey into the minds of characters after a trauma. The way Evans writes from unstable perspectives is poetic, and the way she interwove the lives of the characters is clever. While I found the actual crime mystery lacking, Evans more than makes up with it with her language and understanding of the human mind. I recommend this novel to anyone interested in psychology, psychological issues, and light crime.

View all my reviews

---

If you are interested in reading The Art of the Imperfect and would like to help sponsor my writing and research, you can purchase it at my Amazon Associates Store. By doing this, you will not pay a cent extra, nor will the author receive a cent less, but I will receive a small commission on the sale. Simply click the book’s title or the book’s image.