The Forward Collection - Various

 This is a collection of Science Fiction short stories, that have been collated by Blake Crouch and released as a series by Amazon. These a free of charge to read, if you have Prime Reading or Kindle Unlimited.

Please find below links to my reviews, that are on goodreads. The series order, follows the links order

Ark - Veronica Roth

Summer Frost - Blake Crouch 

Emergency Skin - N. K. Jemisin
You Have Arrived at Your Destination - Amor Towel
The Last Conversation - Paul Tremblay 

 RAND0M1ZE - Andy Wier

Scarlet Traces - Various Authors

Scarlet Traces: A War of the Worlds Anthology.

A collection  of short stories based around War of the Worlds, by H G Wells, and Scarlet Traces an idea from I believe, Ian Eddington.

Based loosely, around war of  the worlds. Each author provides their ideas around what they thought might have happened in the years following the failed alien invasion. Be that massive empire gains for the British, due to re-engineering alien weaponry. Fighting wars against the aliens on Mars and Venus. Having Holmes and Watson on the case. Or simply finding T S Elliot and Thomas Edison making cameo appearances. This book has it all.

Each story, at my reading speed took about half an hour. Not too short, to think about skipping. And, not too long, to loose interest.

If your a fan of Wells. This could provide some interest, as to how things could have developed. If your not give it a go. There maybe something there for you.

Rating: 3.8 / 5.0

Status: Completed.

The Temple House Vanishing - Rachel Donohue

The plot-line may have come straight from what could have been a trashy YA novel. However, the story telling was absolutely second to none and made it more than it originally seemed it was going to be.

16 & 41, one persons tale of a life that once was, and has become. A journalist writing a piece on a disappearance and tale of lust. The majority of the story focuses on a teacher, a want to be muse and a new girl at a catholic boarding school.

 

The teacher, grooming, the muse besotted and drawn into it all... the new girl. Predictable, yes. Twisted, in ways you wouldn't have thought of. Enjoyable, definitely.

 

This is one spanking debut novel. I take my hat off to you.

 

Rating: 4.7 / 5.0

 

Status: Completed   

I Dare You - Sam Carrington

Disclaimer: As I am doing this on a more regular basis. I received a copy of this book free of charge for an honest review to be made public.

This, is a tale of two stories. Separated by thirty years. Child and adult. Running alongside each other. The style that it was written in, gave you very short chapters, with each differing by the said thirty years. It may have been better, for some length to have been adopted, giving slightly more detail. Unfortunately, it seemed to be more skittish than having an air of continuity.

However, that being said. It was an enjoyable read. With the plot and the characters within, being shaped well. 

On the basis of the above -

Rating: 3.8 / 5.0

Status: Comleted

Starve Acre - Andrew Michael Hurley

Disclaimer: I am not afraid to admit that I had to reach for the dictionary a couple of times during the progress of this book.

This is a tale, within a tale. A parallel, with several hundred years between them. The constant, Jack and the Hare.

The setting, is God's own country, Yorkshire, England.

The setting, is described and the tale told, in such a way that you are almost there with the characters. I suppose it also helped that I know the area a little.

Intertwined with almost a 50/50 split between the two and the interlinking that takes part, progressing together at a considerable rate.

The only drawback, the ending. Obscure.

Rating: 4.1/5.0

Status: Completed.