Blodeuedd's Book Review: Teeth Long and Sharp

A collection of tales sharp and pointed.

IVORIES by Aria M. Jones - Eleanor resents the afternoons sacrificed to piano lessons and a disagreeable teacher who gloats over her failures and humiliations. Today, it’s Mrs. Lundemann’s turn for a sacrifice of a very different nature…

NIGHT TIDE by Grace Draven - Something hunts the surf at night, luring villagers to their deaths with a lullaby of sorrow and the torture of nightmares. Blessed with the gift of water-sight, Zigana Imre senses the presence of an ancient predator possessing a taste for human flesh sweetened by grief. With the help of a child of earth, she will battle a spawn of the sea to protect a loved one and save a man who will one day save a world. 

THE NOISE OF FUR by Jeffe Kennedy - The first time, it came at night…

In the forest, a Thing prowls, picking off members of young Raven’s tribe. If they flee their home, they face starvation. If only Raven can answer the question of what kind of fur makes that noise.

VENETRIX by Antioch Grey - A merchant and a poet come to the City, seeking justice for the murder of a relative, and if justice cannot be found, they will have revenge. They collude with vampires, negotiate with mermaids, share ale and meat pies with gargoyles and navigate the prisons, waterways and court system of a city ruled by a Master possessing long life and even longer teeth.

The City will make you a fortune, or it will kill you, but it will always change you.

THE VAMPIRES OF MULBERRY STREET by Aria M. Jones - Living the simple life in small town Indiana, Mrs. H has everything she could possibly ever want: a cozy house, peace and quiet, and a garden that is the envy of Mulberry Street. But when sinister outsiders disrupt the tranquility of her neighborhood, it might be time for her to come out of retirement and take up tools more deadly than pruning shears and a trowel.

VOICE OF THE KNIFE by Mel Sterling - Biologist Charles Napier doesn’t mind getting lost in a Florida swamp—it’s part of a scientist’s job. Logic and training will get him out safely. Except lurking in this swamp, there’s a monster Napier’s science can’t explain...a lonely, exquisite, desperate monster.

My thoughts:

This anthology has a couple of novellas in it. Scary? Not really. Just you know, stories. With some creepy paranormal vibes.

IVORIES by Aria M. Jones

A kid hates playing the piano. And something strange will happen during the lesson. To be honest I am still not sure what happened. I must have missed something.

NIGHT TIDE by Grace Draven 

I liked this one. Something is out there in the water, our heroine has water sight or what it was called, and something needs to be done. We also learn about her village and family. But there was one thing that rubbed me the wrong way, certain feelings she had. It just made me dislike her at the end.

THE NOISE OF FUR by Jeffe Kennedy - The first time, it came at night…

There is something hunting in the forest killing. What is it? 

I was reading and noticed 3 names that means Raven in other languages, so I checked, and yes it was a theme. I liked that, very cool. Nice twist too.

VENETRIX by Antioch Grey 

It has promise, but it went on too long. Which is a weird thing saying about a novella. I just wish they had cut to the chase. But the world was interesting and it would be a good fantasy novel.

THE VAMPIRES OF MULBERRY STREET by Aria M. Jones - 

This one was a bit, what is happening? The whole X thing came around so what? Anyway vampires, a nice old lady next doors. What will happen?

VOICE OF THE KNIFE by Mel Sterling - 

This one had a really slow beginning, but then it picked up as the guy goes further into the swamps, and there is something there...there it did get interesting.

So yes, not scary. Just paranormal stuff with no happy endings. Bad things will happen, bad things are out there and want blood. Some good, some got better. As always then.

Interesting stories .

Kindle Edition 276
Published October 4th 2016
Paranormal, fantasy
For an honest review

Book Reviews: The Brothers Path by Martha Kennedy

Author: Martha Kennedy
Title: The Brothers Path
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: ebook
First Published: July 2016
Where I Got It: My shelf (Given to me by the author/publsiher for my honest and unbiased opinion)

The world-shattering tumult of the Protestant Reformation enters the Schneebeli household when Rudolf Schneebeli is born two months early and dies a few minutes later without being baptized. Named for the well trodden track linking the Schneebeli farmhouse to the old Lunkhofen castle, The Brothers Path is set in a Swiss village near Zürich, between 1524 and 1531. It chronicles the lives of the six Schneebeli brothers, Heinrich, Hannes, Peter, Conrad, Thomann and Andreas. Each brother navigates his own path through, around or directly into the deadly drama of the Protestant reformation. 

This story follows the tale of six brothers during a turbulent time in Switzerland during the Protestant Reformation. The brothers are all very different, but they do share love for each other and the land. They all have different paths that they need follow. 

I'm really glad there were clear indications of when the POV would change. It would've been rough if there hadn't been, because there are a lot of characters running around. The brothers, their wives, and etc. So thank you, author for making it clear when the POV would change. Even with all the POVs it wasn't too hard to keep track of the whos and whats. Surprising!

Ooooooooooh I wanted to slap Andreas' stupid wife! UGH! I can't say what, but she was a fool and I felt so bad for Andreas...I liked him and he deserved better. However, there is a lesson to learn there! Do not fall for a pretty face. Tsk. 

Peter was an asshat. Sure he redeemed himself later, but still...ugh. 

Heinrich was okay. Kinda boring sometimes. 

Loved Hannes and Thomann!

I think what really makes this book stand out is the setting. There are not a crazy amount of books set in Switzerland, so it was a nice and refreshing. The author did a wonderful job bringing the world to life and I felt like I was really there. 

Now...I have two major issues. 1) SO MANY DRY SPOTS! 2) A lot of God talk. OK - I mean it is a given that there is going to be some talk of God since it set during this time period and religion is a biggy and the main topic of the time. It is also the big plot of the story. Yes, I understand...however sometimes it really dragged down the plot and the conversations with the characters. I'm not really a religious person at all so I can't really say much about this topic. However, as a writer...it did slow things down majorly. 

All-in-all, this was good. It was certainly different location and I liked it. Sure there were slow moments and maybe too much God-talk, but I enjoyed the people and their stories. I shall stamp this with 3 stars overall. 

Blodeuedd's Monday Review: The Book of Summers by Emylia Hall

For nine-year-old Beth Lowe, it should have been a magical summer-sun-kissed days lounging in rickety deck chairs, nights gathered around the fire. But what begins as an innocent vacation to Hungary ends with the devastating separation of her parents. Beth and her father return home alone, leaving her mother, Marika, behind. 

Over the next seven summers, Beth walks a tightrope between worlds, fleeing her quiet home and distant father to bask in the intoxicating Hungarian countryside with Marika. It is during these enthralling summers that Beth comes to life and learns to love. But at sixteen, she uncovers a life-shattering secret, bringing her sacred summers with Marika abruptly to an end.  

Now, years later, Beth receives a package containing a scrapbook, a haunting record of a time long forgotten. Suddenly, she is swept back to the world she left behind, forced to confront the betrayal that destroyed her-and to search her heart for forgiveness. 

 My thoughts:

This was a beautifully written book. It got me hooked with its language and style, and I could not put it down.

I want to say so many pretty things, but I am at a loss for words so... it was great prose. Done!

Beth gets a book from her mother in Hungary, and we learn what happened, why she stopped going there at 16. Each beautiful summer from 10 to 16 is told, and it makes it sounds like a magical happy place filled with sunshine and laughter.

But something went wrong, why does she still think about it 14 years afterwards? She was torn between the love of her father and their English home and those wonderful weeks every summer abroad. There is first love and well sunshine. It made me long for summer again.

Conclusion;
A wonderful book. I do recommend it.

Cover
Pretty

• Paperback, 348 pages
• Published May 29th 2012 by Mira 
• Fiction
• Library

2-in-1 Short Story Reviews: Markheim & The Body Snatcher by Robert Louis Stevenson

Author: Robert Louis Stevenson
Title: Markheim
Genre: Short Stories, Classic, and Horror
Pages: 48
First Published: 1885
Where I Got It: On my shelf (Been on my shelf so long - its collected dust...I can't remember)

At Christmastime, Markheim, the protagonist, comes to a dealer’s shop, pretending that he is looking for a present for a lady. His real plan, however, is to murder the dealer so he can steal his merchandise and money. 






A horror story set during Christmas time? Yes! Perfect for everyone. 

Now, this short story was not to horror-y. It was much more thought-provoking and creepy. Markheim is not a nice man, but he is very charming and handsome, but he gets a true glimpse at his soul through a mirror that the dealer shares with him. 

At first I was very confused by what was going on and why Markheim decides to kill the dealer, but it all made sense after the introduction of the "devil".

This was good overall. I stamp this with 4 stars.

Author: Robert Louis Stevenson
Title: The Body Snatcher
Genre: Short Stories, Classic, and Horror
Pages: 22
First Published: 1884
Where I Got It: On my shelf (Been on my shelf so long - its collected dust...I can't remember)

A young man studying medicine in Edinburgh is asked by his professor to be responsible for receiving the cadavers to be dissected by the school's students. Though he knows many are stolen from graves, he keeps his silence. Then one night he recognizes one of the cadavers as the victim of murder. Instead of turning in the culprit, he allows himself to be drawn deeper into the gruesome intrigue. But justice has the last laugh when the evidence of the man's crimes -- evidence he thought long since dissected and disposed of -- mysteriously resurfaces to his everlasting horror.

Now...now this was creepy and horrifying! At first I was okay with the story. Kinda grossed out with these fellas and then it quickly and suddenly turned scary! I wanted more...I wanted to story to continue. I really feel that the author could have done more with the story. Maybe I am just being spoiled? But the story was good and the concept was intriguing. 

There is for sure a lesson to be learned with this story....leave dead bodies alone dammit. Bad things happen

This was very good and I recommend it if you are looking for a quick, creepy, horrifying, Halloween read. I stamp this with 5 stars.