Review: A ghoulish whirlwind dedicated to the child in all of us
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 31, 2013
Reminiscent of the cyclone in the land of Oz, An Ill Wind Blows takes you a step higher, as if on steroids... As the ghoulishly dark cover suggests, this is no children's story but rather, it is dedicated to the child in all of us.Recounted by Arletta Trimble, the story sweeps us into a whirlwind of whimsy, mixing up fantasy and reality, creating quirky characters such as zombie piranhas, ghosts, an alien, a witch, an axe-wielding elf, mad stalkers, a root monster, and a the ill wind itself, and bringing them to life in the most delightful, fun ways. Here is how Arletta introduces herself: "It isn't that I'm Snoopy like some people think. I'm just naturally curious. Which tends to make me prone to an abundance of problems, because following your nose can be a dangerous proposition."I found it fascinating that the story was written in response to a challenge to draft a novel in thirty days, for which the author, Lori R. Lopez, won the Vicious Novel Writing Month award. The frenzy with which she conjured things up lends itself to the theme of the book, and makes An Ill Wind Blows a dynamic read.Five Stars.