Dreamfisher by Nancy Springer

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Dreamfisher by Nancy Springer
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Historical
Length: Short Story (13 pages)
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Ostracized for speaking her mind and standing up against a man she doesn’t wish to marry, a young girl is cast out of her village and forced to fend for herself in the mountains. When she ventures too closely to a lake and nearly drowns, she is rescued by a man from Athens who introduces himself as Herodotus. What transpires after the rescue is an education for the young girl, providing names for the things that surround her. When an encounter with a fish leads her to discover her own true name, she soon discovers the gift she can take back to her village to be accepted once again.

Is it better to walk away from a community that hurts and rejects people it doesn’t understand or to stay and attempt to transform it from the inside out? There’s no one right answer to this question. Every individual who has been discriminated against or hated for who they are must decide what works best for his or her life.

The tension between the way things have always been and how they could be improved upon is something almost everyone will experience at one point. What makes Dreamfisher unique, though, is that the main character isn’t influenced by what anyone thinks of her choices. It takes an incredibly strong will to resist the labels human beings often paste on one another and I deeply admired her unwavering self confidence.

I do not know if Ms. Springer intends to write a sequel but I would be quite interested in learning more about the pale-eyed man that the main character meets after being exiled from her village. Readers are given just enough information about this gentleman to whet our appetites. While it wasn’t necessary for plot development I would have enjoyed seeing how certain scenes played out from his point of view and actually caught myself imagining what the pale-eyed man had to say about the girl he met when he returned to the city or village where he lived. These two characters will remain lodged in my imagination for a long time and I hope one day we will know more about their adventures!

Dreamfisher is a modern day parable. Brew a pot of tea, invite some friends over and read it aloud after dusk. This is a story best enjoyed and understood in the company of others.

The Gift of the Snow by Anne Brooke

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The Gift of the Snow by Anne Brooke
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Short Story (9 pages)
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

When Andi moves into her new house, she knows from the outset that it’s different. One autumn night, she discovers how different it is when she wakes to find that her past, and the woman she left behind so long ago, aren’t quite so far away after all. Will she succumb to her own fear of the unknown or will an old love be strong enough to protect her?

This is a story that starts with a little bit of mystery and ends with a little bit of magic. Andrea, “Andi” lives in an odd house with an Inuit name meaning “Frost”. In this short story, it’s shown early on that Andi has a heart, making her a likeable character. Andi is single, in her early fifties, so has a bit of maturity, which she’ll need for the adventure ahead of her.

This tale has a storybook style to it, creating an air of mystery with its old-fashioned presentation. It’s a bit wordy, even for such a short story, and some telling rather than showing is seen throughout, giving it an on-the-surface feel at times, but it is suspenseful. Weird things happen, making it unpredictable. What direction is this story going to take? Will it turn into something scary, something magical etc.?

Mystical, sensual details at times add some up-close sensations. These could have been spread out throughout the whole text.

A reader may find her or his self asking often, “What is this?” or “What’s happening to Andi?” It’s very strange. Andi shows courage, facing the mysterious creature. Near the end, the reader discovers that she had a female lover. Negative memories come back to Andi; then these melt into something nice. There is a bit of sensuality in these memories, adding a touch of spiciness to the story. Symbolism is used well here, and the tale has an interesting ending.

It’s an unusual story, not like many others of its genre.

The Hudson Diaries: The Life and Times of a Baker Street Resident by Kara Barney

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The Hudson Diaries: The Life and Times of a Baker Street Resident by Kara Barney
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: mystery/suspense, historical
Length: Short Story (47 pgs)
Rating 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Stephanotis

Victorian England, 1880—Sherlock Holmes is at it again! But this time, instead of his faithful chronicler Watson at the helm, his tales come from another source…Mrs. Hudson, the housekeeper. A new set of tales for a new generation, Sherlock Holmes is given to us in a whole new light: “The Great Detective” before he became great. From their first meeting to her place as a permanent resident of Baker Street, Mrs. Hudson helps us rediscover the ever-logical detective who has become a literary icon.

As a fan of Sherlock Holmes mysteries, I was eager to read this short novel. What I liked most about it, besides it containing the usual suspense surrounding Holmes and Watson, was it focused more heavily on another character, that of Holmes’ housekeeper, Mrs. Hudson…well, actually before she was Mrs. Hudson.

The story allows us to get to know her well, and I enjoyed the way Ms. Barney expanded this sometimes lesser known character in the original books. The novel contains a series of short stories, all of which are intriguing and clever whodunnits which got me thinking about the clues. The dialogue, like any Holmes’ story, is witty, and the pacing fast.

The author also did a wonderful job of recreating the London in which Sherlock Holmes existed. The scenes are all very descriptive which I think added to my enjoyment.

It’s the ideal read for any mystery reader, but a must read for die-hard Sherlock fans.

The Secret of Willow Lane by Virginia Rose Richter

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The Secret of Willow Lane by Virginia Rose Richter
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: mystery/suspense, recent historical
Length: Short Story (47 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 10+
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Stephanotis

Two eleven-year-old amateur detectives set out to solve the mystery of a deceased neighbor’s missing will and to identify a stranger snooping around the house where the will is thought to be hidden. What begins as an excuse to use their new detective kit turns into a frightening experience that has the girls running for their lives.

This was a fun read from beginning to end.

There’s nothing more mysterious than a book that begins with a light shining in an attic of a house that’s supposed to be empty. The opening scene drew me in and I felt myself wanting to read it in one sitting. The characters were all well developed and I liked the family setting and how the main character and her father interacted. There’s mystery, suspense, even some danger, and you find yourself looking for clues too, which I might add were cleverly placed by Ms. Richter. I thought the plot was heading one way and that I’d solved the mystery, but it proved that I was wrong. It’s fast paced and the ideal length for the 9-12 year old reader.

I liked the setting of this story too. I’m glad to hear that this is the beginning of a series featuring these two amateur sleuths because I’d like to read more about their adventures. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if adults and children choose to read this one together.

Bones by Pat Murphy

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Bones by Pat Murphy
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Historical
Length: Short Story (38 pages)
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

The Irish Giant – that’s what Londoners called Charlie Bryne, an enormous country lad standing 8 feet tall in his bare feet. He made his fortune by exhibiting himself, but Bryne was far more than a human oddity. He had the magical power of healing, a deep connection to the natural magic of the earth, and the blood of Irish kings in his veins. In 1782, he came to London with a single goal — to bring the Irish home to the island they had left.

John Hunter was a man of science and insatiable curiosity — a surgeon, a natural philosopher, and a tireless collector of natural oddities. With analysis and dissection, Hunter strove to understand the natural world — and he wanted to add the bones of a giant to his collection.

To quote Elie Wiesel, “some stories are true that never happened.” That is, certain stories speak so clearly about the human experience that the difference between truth and fiction becomes meaningless. What matters is is the hope and joy they ignite in anyone who reads them. This is one of those sagas.

Charlie’s quest to bring Irish people back to Ireland sounds like a traditional folk tale in the best possible sense of the term. It sounds like something that has been passed on from one generation to the next for as far back as anyone can remember. The imagery is so vivid and memorable that the events softly unfolded in my imagination. I didn’t read this so much as I experienced it.

Is Charlie mentally ill, a charlatan, or is he exactly who and what he claims to be? The opinions that swirl around him about his identity and intentions brought a touch of humour to this piece. The men and women who doubt him have good reasons for their assumptions. In their shoes I’d be just as suspicious of a tall stranger who wants to take me back to a land my parents or grandparents left many years ago. It is in these interactions where Mr. Murphy’s writing shines the brightest.

The only issue that kept me from giving Bones a higher rating was the large number of secondary characters that were rapidly introduced to the plot. While nearly all of them eventually came to be important witnesses to or participants in Charlie’s adventures I did have a little trouble keeping them straight at first as well as getting to know their individual personalities and quirks.

Even with this dab of confusion Bones easily made it onto my top five reading list of 2012. It’s a heart-warming, rib-tickling romp through a world I so desperately wish I could visit in person.

Blood Mercury by Malachi King

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Blood Mercury by Malachi King
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Action/Adventure, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (11 pages)
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

The whole world has been terrorized and we wallow in terrible fear of getting sick. We placed our faith in medicine and now we pray for redemption. That’s why our police kidnap the sick and send them to the furnaces.

After we conquered a return of the Black Death, our scientists celebrated the triumph of modern medicine and the awesome power of antibiotics. But our bodies became weaker and the bugs became stronger and soon they were immune to anything our doctors could throw at them. It wasn’t long until just the right conditions, high mercury levels in our food to be precise, came along and gave the super germs the breeding grounds for the elimination of the human race. That’s what’s happening to the United States; that’s what happening to my family.

First, Dad went missing, presumably dead overseas, then Mom caught the common cold and the Sanitary Police came and took her. Now I’m all alone. And I’m tired of wasting away, day-by-day, waiting for my turn to fall ill and be taken to the incinerators. I’ve decided I’m going to rescue her, even if it means the death of all of us. She deserves it. I deserve it. And the whole world deserves another chance to live.

How far would you go to save a loved one? At what point does a mission become a lost cause?

Some dystopian stories are about watching the characters disintegrate under pressure. This one’s about love. Caleb’s attachment to his mother is endearing without ever crossing the line into something too mushy for the average teenager. The interactions between these two characters are heartfelt and provide a real sense of urgency for Caleb’s mission later on in the plot.

The action was well-paced. Just enough details were given about what was happening in the rest of the world to keep this reader interested but I never felt bogged down by unnecessary subplots. The information that was provided could easily be expanded into a sequel or full-length novel in the future, though, and I’d be excited to read it if Mr. King ever decides to return to this universe.

My only criticism involves the explanation for how everyone’s health was so quickly weakened. Although an overdose of mercury can affect one’s immune system I didn’t quite understand how this poison spread through the food supply so thoroughly and from where the super bacteria originated. I found myself mulling over alternative theories rather than continuing on to see what happens next. I would have preferred to either have no explanation or for more time to be spent detailing how such a thing could occur.

Blood Mercury is a chilling glimpse into a future populated by fear and death. I’d highly recommend it to anyone who has ever wondered how he or she would really react to a highly communicable and fatal disease that was killing everyone around him or her.

One of Us, Old Boy by L. Joseph Shosty

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One of Us, Old Boy by L. Joseph Shosty
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Short Story (10 pages)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

A wise old professor, facing forced retirement, passes on his greatest secret to his protégé in this moving story of two disparate generations affected by war.

Whether we die as children, adults or senior citizens nearly all of us are going to leave behind the loose ends of everything we weren’t able to finish in time. What if this didn’t have to be the case, though?

As someone who has several very ill relatives this wasn’t an emotionally easy tale to read. It’s difficult to accept that a loved one may not be around in the near future or that not everyone in this world is destined to live a long and healthy life. Don’t let this scare you off, though. Sometimes sad stories teach lessons that less somber tales would never be able to communicate as effectively.

Dr. Trotter and and Thomas’ interactions were the lynchpin of this piece. From the first paragraph I felt as if I was standing in the room listening to their conversation. The relationship between a professor and his or her pupils can be tricky to explain to the outside world but Mr. Shosty did an excellent job capturing the nuances of the professional and personal connections that can develop in this type of situation.

To be honest the ending caught me off guard but it fit in well with the tone and characterization that had been established earlier.

I would have liked to see some sort of explanation given for how a certain object works. It’s presence was the lynchpin of the main character’s interactions and while I understand that there wasn’t room for lengthy backstory it would have been nice to read a few sentences about where this item came from and why it works the way it does.

One of Us, Old Boy stirred up memories and emotions I’d long since forgotten. I’d highly recommend it to anyone who has ever taken a nostalgic glimpse of his or her past.

A Loyal Companion by Barbara Metzger

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A Loyal Companion by Barbara Metzger
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Historical, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Short Story (100 pgs)
Heat Level: sweet
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Aloe

SPOILED AND UNGOVERNED, FITZ WAS NOT SUITABLE COMPANION FOR A LADY OF FASHION….

And certainly no proper chaperon. Fitz begged to disagree–after all, a dog was a true Incomparable as far as friendship, loyalty, and protection–and soon lovely Miss Sonia was plucked by her rusticated roots and packed off, dog and all, to London. Perhaps there she would find a husband to tame her free-spirited ways–and keep her out of trouble.

Sonia, however, always had a soft spot for the underdog, and Darius Conover was such a fellow. Scorned by society for a scandalous deed, Conover was not redeemed even by his heroics in battle. Until he met Sonia and Fitz, two passionate souls undaunted by even the most odious circumstances–and decidedly determined to undo the shackles binding his heart.

Sonia was going to pick her own spouse, not get matched up with some high toned gentleman who wanted her money. She was going to marry for love. However, that was never going to happen if her grandmother had anything to say about it…

This book is set in Victorian times, when the ton could make or break any member of society. I find this time period interesting to read about, but I’d never survive there. I’m too outspoken and make my own decisions. That’s why I liked Sonia. She was just like me and her antics and softly spoken snide comments made me grin.

Sonia’s father has spoiled her. When Sonia let his prize dog out during heat and the prize dog from the farm next door impregnated her, he was furious. But Sonia saved the puppies from death and even claimed one for her own. Here’s where the book gets really good: The new puppy, Fitz, has his own contribution to the story. Have you ever read a book where an animal tells the tale? I enjoy those and enjoyed Fitz’s contribution to this story, too. Fitz tells you about how a dog views life and how silly humans are. With all that goes on in this story, you almost have to agree with him.

The author introduces Sonia to a wounded war veteran that has been slandered and is scorned by the ton. She then takes her main character through a variety of attempts to help clear his name. Add in a newly remarried father who goes off on his honeymoon, three children who are living with their uncle (Sonia’s love interest) and a ton member who wants Sonia’s money for his gambling debts and the story gets very interesting indeed.

Amusing and heart-warming, this tale grabbed me. The dog’s voice is a great addition, and I found it very easy to relate to the young woman and her “impossible” love. In fact, I liked this story so much I have purchased a copy for my library. I’ll re-read it. Any story that leaves me with a big smile on my face is a winner in my book.

Miss Locks by Eric Arvin

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Miss Locks by Eric Arvin
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal
Length: Short Story (6 pages)
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Miss Virginia Locks has a date tonight, but something is wrong. She finds herself standing outside her home without any knowledge of how she got there. But what waits for her once she is back inside, a crawling, gasping thing, is even more unsettling.

Imagine you’re home alone after dark and hear an unfamiliar noise coming from the next room. How would you react?

One of my favorite types of science fiction is horror stories that are bone-chillingly frightening without the use of blood or gore. It can be difficult to accomplish this but Mr. Arvin clearly understands that sometimes the scariest thing in the world is imagining what’s lurking around the corner.

I sympathized with Virginia Locks from the first paragraph. Her racing thoughts feed into the tension and fear of this piece beautifully and while at times I wondered why she didn’t think through her reactions to certain events more rationally it’s easy to panic when something you don’t understand happens.

It would have been nice, though, to have a female protagonist who doesn’t overreact in this situation. This trope is used quite a bit in the science fiction and horror genres and as much as I enjoyed the plot and Virginia as an individual I kept hoping she’d calm down and think about the decisions she was making instead of stumbling from one reaction to the next.

Unfortunately the ending felt abrupt to me and it didn’t seem to match the tone of previous events. It wasn’t what I had expected to happen and I was a bit disappointed by how little foreshadowing had been included earlier in the tale. The beginning and ending could have been used in any number of other stories and while they were both well done there didn’t seem to be a good reason for them to be linked to one another.

Looking for a good scare? Miss Locks nearly made my heart thump out of my chest and even though I would have preferred a better bridge to the final scene this is still one of the most terrifying stories I’ve read in 2012.

The Girl in the Portrait by Rekha Ambardar

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The Girl in the Portrait by Rekha Ambardar
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Suspense/Mystery, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (14 pages)
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewer: Astilbe

Peggy Maynard goes down to the basement one morning to find her husband working on the painting of a young woman. He covers the painting as if to conceal it from her. Then, one day, both Will and the painting disappear from her home and from her life. This initiates a long journey of self-searching, while Peggy wonders why she didn’t see warning signs in her marriage, why she didn’t leave him before.

One day, Detective Byers, who’s on the case, tracks down a doctor who attended a former student of Will’s – Irma Vasquez. Eighteen years prior, she had a baby, and it appears the father is Will.

Peggy’s search for her missing husband leads her to Queretaro, Mexico, where a startling discovery forces her to decide what her relationship with Will was truly made of, or if they ever really had one.

How well do you know your spouse? After twenty-five years together Peggy thought she knew everything about her husband Will but when he disappears under mysterious circumstances she’s forced to reexamine her assumptions.

I was sucked into this mystery before the first paragraph ended. Peggy’s conversation with the police officer investigating her husband’s disappearance expertly wove her anxiety, grief and fear into a few short sentences. It’s difficult to accurately portray the mixed, occasionally conflicting emotions the average person experiences when being interviewed about an alleged or potential crime but Ms. Ambardar captures this experience beautifully.

Peggy and Will’s relationship is described as “mellow.” They’ve been a couple for many years and while they care for one another their chemistry isn’t particularly passionate or romantic. While I’ve known people who ended up in this sort of situation there was something about Peggy and Will’s interactions that never quite felt genuine. Peggy’s memories of their years together made their arrangement sound more like a business decision than two people falling in love and creating a life together.

To be honest I expected it to end with the revelation that these characters were a lesbian and gay or bisexual man who married one another to give the appearance of heterosexuality. Had they been involved in a plot that wasn’t concerned with love and marriage this wouldn’t have been an issue but my misunderstanding of the nature of their relationship did dampen my enthusiasm for this story.

The actual ending wrapped up enough plot points to satisfy this reader but I still walked away from it wondering why Peggy and Will chose to remain together for so many years. This puzzled me so much I reread the story and was pleasantly surprised to find myself enjoying it more the second time around when I could enjoy these characters for the individuals they were instead of spending so much time thinking about what I thought they should be doing instead.

The Girl in the Portrait can be read in one sitting. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a compelling mystery that is not easily solved and grows better each time you read it.