So Many Short Stories!

How are you today? Did you have a nice week?

Although the rain stuck around last weekend, it eventually went away during the week. So we finally got a chance to catch up on the washing and went for walks around the river without pesky umbrellas. But it's supposed to come back. 🙄

The last time I posted, I talked about finishing another short story. Surprise, surprise, I ended up doing the same thing again.

Last Sunday, between sorting a bunch of stuff, I ended up writing a new shortie (1,550w) on my phone. And then worked on it some more, and more... until I completed the final read-thru on Thursday night.

Total word count: 3,395.

This story came to me pretty quickly and during my afternoon walks, I ended up coming up with several twists and turns that strengthened the narrative. I'm very excited about how it turned out. And of course, I've already started another short story.

Yeah, the vampire world I created keeps getting bigger and bigger. The best thing about it is how much fun I'm having with the many characters who won't stop whispering their stories directly into my brain.

So, here's the update: two novels, one novelette, and eleven short stories.

Asides from that, I spent most of the week reading the rest of the Carniepunk anthology. The book contains fourteen stories and I enjoyed thirteen of them. There's a single awful story that I can't believe was included. I mean, eleven of these stories are absolutely fantastic. This is definitely one of the best anthologies I've ever read because the majority of the tales were so interesting and well-written.

You can read all of the individual reviews below.

I also read a novella and started another one. 

Yeah, I'm reading as much as I can between writing and sorting. And grabbing whatever book I feel like at the time. I love reading and books and stories so much.

Well, that's about it. I'm going to enjoy a three-day weekend with my husband.

Have an awesome one! 😁

A PSALM FOR THE WILD-BUILT by Becky Chambers

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've had this novella on my TBR pile for a while and decided to get stuck into it last night.

Monk has a good life in the City, but feels like there's something missing. So they venture out to the villages to become a tea-monk. But that's still not enough. So they venture out into the Wilderness, where they encounter Mosscap...

I found this story to be so philosophical. It's also bittersweet, but so very cozy. And somehow calming. Like a comforting blanket on a cold winter night. And that's before Mosscap is introduced. This self-aware robot adds a lot of awesome to this tale of pursuing more, even if you're not sure what that more happens to be.

There's some wonderful conversations between Monk and Mosscap. Things that make you think, and question the purpose of existence. Or if we even need to question it.

Such a well-written story set in an interesting world that I thoroughly enjoyed.


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THE DEMON BARKER OF WHEAT STREET by Kevin Hearne & THE SWEETER THE JUICE by Mark Henry

Carniepunk: The Demon Barker of Wheat Street by Kevin Hearne
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This great short story is part of The Iron Druid Chronicles. I've read the first two books in this series, as well as a few other short stories, so it was good to catch up with Atticus.

The druid, Atticus, his apprentice, Granuaile, and the Irish wolfhound, Oberon, are in Kansas because Granuaile is hoping to catch a glimpse of her mother. They don't see her, but end up in the middle of a demonic problem...

Great story! It's an interesting and gnarly standalone tale set in this intriguing world. Lots of freaky demonic characters, plenty of unsuspecting humans, and a lot of magical action.

Atticus is such a cool character and so is Granuaile. Not to mention the adorable and always hilarious Oberon.

Yeah, I really enjoyed this!

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Carniepunk: The Sweeter the Juice by Mark Henry
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

OMFG.

I have to start with this: all the bad things the other reviewers mentioned here are right.

This is a terrible story. Not only because of the obvious transphobia, but also because it's a really shitty story. It's all over the place. It makes no sense. It's not even about a CARNIVAL. Like, at all. If the author was trying to be funny and witty, that's even worse.

I hated it. And actually can't understand how such a gross short story made it into a high-quality anthology featuring a great collection of stories. Except for this one, of course.

Total disappointment.


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RECESSION OF THE DIVINE by Hillary Jacques & DAUGHTER OF THE MIDWAY, THE MERMAID, AND THE OPEN, LONELY SEA by Seanan McGuire

Recession of the Divine by Hillary Jacques
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I love Greek mythology so I was looking forward to reading this one.

Olivia does inspections for an insurance company, but she wasn't always human. She's bound her powers while living in the human world and the day she inspects an accident in a travelling carnival, everything unravels...

You know, I should've loved this tale because, like I mentioned above, I love when Greek mythology is mixed into modern narratives. Olivia was interesting enough and so was the muse that keeps popping in and out, but there was something about this story... I'm not even sure what it was, but it's missing something.

Yeah, I liked many of the elements and carnival descriptions, even the writing style, but I didn't love it.

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Carniepunk: Daughter of the Midway, the Mermaid, and the Open, Lonely Sea by Seanan McGuire
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

With a title like this one, I was intrigued instantly.

When Ada’s carnival passes through Alabama the secrets buried in the past rise to the surface...

Wow. What a stunning tale. The melancholy storytelling is as thick as the wonder about Ada's family and the world she lives in. The carnival is all she's ever known, but stopping at this town changes everything.

I especially found her mother's story to be the saddest, but of course that carries forward to her daughter as well. And Ada is such a lovely character that my heart broke.

Loved this. Very moving. And that ending. 😫


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