Review: Otherworldly
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 8, 2013
Otherworldly is a collection of lovely shorts by upcoming author Nicua Shamira.  These four wonderful anecdotes are quick but packed with several layers and depth.  I was going to read through them as I had time, but each time I started a story, I couldn't stop until I completed it.  Then I had to take a moment to soak it in before beginning the next, processing all the things that happened- and truly everything I felt as I read them.  Her narrative style is wonderful, with an easy natural flow. The descriptions and the scenery are vivid, though wildly different in each.  I'm fairly certain the characters, time frame, and settings are completely unrelated in each tale.  However, some commonalities are found in every one.  The reader is dropped into some "other world", in an unfamiliar character, perhaps human or not.  A plot line starts to develop, and as it moves forward, the backdrop begins to be filled in.  Each story ends differently than expected, some with several twists.  Admittedly, I didn't understand everything from "Red Ribbon" until sometime after finishing it.  What I really think speaks to Ms Shamira's talent is the sentiment found in her writing.  Each fable has considerable emotional depth, with a mix of wonder, happiness, sadness and warmth.  I was particularly impressed that she is able to maintain that element, while still creating an intellectually stimulating scheme.She opens with "Cascade," a tale of two strangers meeting in an aquatic habitat on some lush green world.  As the events of their forbidden encounter unfold, the surreal haven is eloquently described and the identities of the characters are revealed.  Ms Shamira seems to make an ecological commentary about the richness and wonder of nature, the impact of man and his intrusion on it, but still appreciates the benevolence of all living beings and love of life.  This is craftily woven into this tale of discovery and wonder.The next is "Red Ribbon", my favorite of the four.  The setting for this adventure is a much harsher terrain, also brilliantly described, but much more foreboding. The character is on a search for a loved one, and escapes death with help from some unexpected allies.  This narrative expresses the longing for a lost, intimate companion, followed by the fear of failing, the physical pain of enduring, and finally the joy of success that was so different than the desired outcome.  I cannot say anymore about this story without giving away too much, but certainly a wonderful tale with a happy ending."Footsteps" is perhaps the world which is most closely our own, but certainly not our time.  This may perhaps be more in the science fiction genre than the fantasy, though doesn't really fit into the typical classification scheme.  It is about an exceedingly optimistic woman who has faced some significant adversity, but continues to appreciate what she has. There is both sadness and hope in this moving tale, and she perseveres gracefully in a seemingly hopeless situation.Finally, Otherworldly ends with "Untamed."  This dark fantasy describes a strong warrior who loses his love.  Rather than being a mournful account (though not without sorrow), it is more mysterious, affrighting, and cryptic with a hint of celebration.  This story, unlike the others, seemed to leave much unanswered, giving life to the reader's own imagination.I found that each of these short stories is worth rereading.  Otherworldly could be read as bedtime stories for pre-adolescent children, easing them into the arms of Morpheus with their magical dreamscapes.  Just as easily, the stories can be read as respite or escape for adults, stuck in our sometimes tedious reality.  Viewed either as a sampling of Ms Nicua's writing, or stand alone fairy tales, Otherworldly is certainly worth owning.