Review: From "Red Adept Reviews"
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 21, 2010
Plot/Storyline: 5 StarsThere were a multitude of different topics covered in this short story collection from child abuse to rape to the supernatural. They did all have themes of abuse, violence and cruelty in common. They were also all dark and disturbing.Two stories in particular stood out for me. The first portrayed a scene of a violent rape from the viewpoint of the victim. The second showed the same scene from the viewpoint of the rapist. This contrast was jarring.While most, if not all of the stories, dealt with violence and sex, Ms. Farrell managed to convey the tales with respect, never drifting into the trap of trying to shock the reader with gore.  The stories managed to be vivid and shocking in a muted way.  It was the casual handling of violence that was the most disturbing.Each of the many stories in this collection were very short. Ms. Farrell managed to inject meaning and nuance behind every sentence, utilizing the short story form in an expert manner. There is even one story told in verse.Writing Style: 5 StarsThe sentence structuring was wonderfully done in every story. The tones changed in each, depending on the narrator. There were stories told from the viewpoints of children and adults, both male and female. Each of these viewpoints was made obvious through the voice.The descriptions were sparse, yet powerful. Every word seemed to have been chosen carefully to give the right impression.Rating: R for Adult Situations, Violence, Rape, Sex, Child Abuse