Review: Nothing is set in stone...
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 22, 2014
You get a large variety within this collection with stories set both in the past, as well as the modern day - in distant settings, as well as familiar ones. The idea immediately grabbed my interest - the common theme being something "Haunting", but other than that the stories can take any imaginable direction.My favourites were "May I Go Play?" - a spooky story in which the main characters outlook on reality gets more and more blurred, and the parts of her life she thought were solid gradually begin to crumble. It's a well paced story which is definitely one to creep you out. Also, "Franscesca" - Again a good build up in this story, and one that gives you the unsettling knowledge that all is not going to end well. It has a clever ending which leaves the story able to continue (as I read it does in a full novel called "Girl Blue") while managing to remain a complete short story in it's own right. All the other stories were biting on the heels of these however, and they are -1) Empty Vessel (8/10) When the captain of a cargo ship brings back a keepsake from an abandoned boat, it seems as though his fate is set in stone.2) The Smell of Death (8/10) A young girls special gift is put to good use in a house with many secrets.3) Safe (9/10) A gang YurIof grave robbers find that they may have opened a can of worms when they target the grave of a dead girl.4) Cupcake Goddess: Soulfully Sweet (8/10) When a ghost is determined to get a second stab at life, she soon finds out that modern life isn't all it's cracked up to be.5) May I Go Play? (10/10) When a family inherits an old mansion, they discover that the previous families problems haven't moved out.6) Blehdward, the Vampire Who Couldn't Sparkle (8/10) A (used to be) cool Vampire hopes to bring his past status back to life after a chance meeting in a bar.7) Franscesca (10/10) When a beautiful witch doctor is betrayed in the worst way she can imagine, she prepares a revenge that is set to rock future generations.8) Soul Eaters (8/10) A woman suddenly finds herself in a strange forest where human beings are fair game.I would definitely read more from this group and have already downloaded "The Apocalypse Collection" which also has stories from the same authors.