Review: Promising Story Line. . .Strong Observance of Human Psychology
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 27, 2012
I've thought about this review for several days.  At first, I was ambivalent to the concept of skeletons in the paranormal romance genre, and even after reading this prequel to "Skeleton Lake", I was unclear on the ultimate premise of the concept.  However, now that I've read 50% of "Skeleton Lake", I have to say that in some ways, I wish I had waited to read this prequel until after I'd read the full novel.  I'm retentive, and to me, a prequel means "before", but the actual novel is more cohesive and explanatory in ways obviously a short story can't be.All that being said, I give this story a 4-star rating.  I might have gone as far as 5-star, but for two things: (1) editing.  Both the prequel and the novel need a good, solid editor.  The mistakes are not heinous, but they do stand out.  We all know this is common in self-published ebooks (it's even prevalent in major publishing house novels these days).  I can understand the excitement and rush to get a new author and his/her book out "there", but a little dedication to a finely polished end-product says so much more in the long run.(2) some of the language/syntax is bulky, awkward and rough - at first I put it down to the author's personal way of speaking, but decided overall, again, it's primarily a lack of editing.What the author does present, from the outset of this novella, is a finely honed sense of human psychology, mainly depression and primarily adolescent depression.  I admit to going through a personal dark time of my own during the reading of Skeleton Song, and instead of making my mood bleaker, I found it fascinating.  Difficult, yes, but self-affirming also.For a novella, I had many, many favorite quotes that I felt summed up the author's insight.  I don't believe these offer any spoilers, but for those not wishing to read them, skip these:My favorite is the author's dedication page: "To my many regrets""I let him change the subject with a kiss. Mouths were better used for kissing than bringing up painful memories, and Raiden tasted like taffy and the best kind of daydreams.""Of course, if Raiden was a bit of an ass, then his brother was seated firmly in the dictionary next to 'complete douche-bag.' And that was the least of Conrad's faults.""I didn't know how someone could just vanish like that - but maybe if you feel you don't exist for long enough, you can really make it happen.""Cass - you know I can't live without you. But that doesn't mean I won't try. It doesn't mean I won't die trying. Then, maybe - maybe you can see what you do to me, and you will continue to do to me. Maybe you deserve it.""I felt even colder and more miserable when he left. It was always the absence of a thing that made me realize its worth. I believed the brothers knew that, too, because they kept making themselves absent. Like they thought it would sway me one way or the other.  Which one couldn't I do without? My heart, or my mind? Body or soul? Whole or holes?""Humans are rarely influenced by supernatural events. They just go on without seeing what really happened around them.""Even when you aren't really there, you haunt me.  You are behind my eyelids and I can't sleep. You won't leave me alone.""I'm sorry. I love you. I'm sorry I love you. And I'm sorry I hurt you, but I am sorrier that I let you hurt each other. One of those was a lie, I'd have to tell twice. Another reason why it's best not to say goodbye.""I don't know if I could die with that. I surely couldn't live with it.""My body was a traitor. If it could make the eerie song that skeletons sing, it would. It would sing for the other half of its soul to find it, to save it, to love it.""But oh, the things I do when I am really desperate."As I said, a LOT of quotes! All in all, a terrific story, especially now that I'm halfway through the novel and so much more of the premise behind "Skeleton Song" makes sense.  In summary, I personally would recommend reading "Skeleton Lake" first, then reading "Skeleton Song" for Cassie, Raiden and Conrad's backstory. Also, not really liking the "skeleton" concept of paranormal romance at first, I give Angela Kulig kudos for coming up with a new twist to the genre, and I look forward to the sequel.