Review: Grim and Dark Themes with a Literary Style
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 30, 2012
The following is an excerpt from a full review on the strangeamusements blog:Some kinds of horror shock you with their graphic depictions of violence or gore, and some kinds of horror shock you with surprise twists and turns. Natalie G. Owens, though, offers her own kind of horror in her short story "A Kind of Judgment." The darkness at the heart of her somber tale is the sadness of a life gone wrong, a life lost to the kind of predators who feed on the dreamy eyes of the young and innocent. And the many shocks contained within come from the knowledge that most of what transpires in this story is not only plausible, but also probably a reality for many.With "A Kind of Judgment," Owens offers a story that features grim and dark themes presented with a style more akin to literary fiction than genre work. She offers a deep and complex characterization in her central character of Lena, and she clearly seems to have a message behind her words as well. In this story that focuses on one life lost to the darkness, we see a cycle of despair at opposite ends. In the beginning we witness, through Lena's eyes a young girl starting the same road she took herself, and in the end we see where that road unhappily leads, knowing that it will continue to be travelled. For genre readers out there looking for something that will affect you in a more emotional way than most horror fare, "A Kind of Judgment" is a perfect addition to your kindle library.P.S. The author of this story was kind enough to provide me with a copy to review free of charge.