You have to see this even if it’s just for Hugh’s facial expressions!!! Reblog of Hugh’s short book Glimpses which is available for pre-order and is to be released in kindle format on 6th December. There is something for everyone!!!
My Kyrosmagica Review of Horns by Joe Hill
Goodreads Synopsis:
Ignatius Perrish spent the night drunk and doing terrible things. He woke up the next morning with a thunderous hangover, a raging headache . . . and a pair of horns growing from his temples.
At first Ig thought the horns were a hallucination, the product of a mind damaged by rage and grief. He had spent the last year in a lonely, private purgatory, following the death of his beloved, Merrin Williams, who was raped and murdered under inexplicable circumstances. A mental breakdown would have been the most natural thing in the world. But there was nothing natural about the horns, which were all too real.
Once the righteous Ig had enjoyed the life of the blessed: born into privilege, the second son of a renowned musician and younger brother of a rising late-night TV star, he had security, wealth, and a place in his community. Ig had it all, and more—he had Merrin and a love founded on shared daydreams, mutual daring, and unlikely midsummer magic.
But Merrin’s death damned all that. The only suspect in the crime, Ig was never charged or tried. And he was never cleared. In the court of public opinion in Gideon, New Hampshire, Ig is and always will be guilty because his rich and connected parents pulled strings to make the investigation go away. Nothing Ig can do, nothing he can say, matters. Everyone, it seems, including God, has abandoned him. Everyone, that is, but the devil inside.
My review:
I began reading Horns after James Fahy Author tagged me on Instagram: #backofthebook – Horns Joe Hill.
Horns is one of those books that captures your attention right from the start in a spectacular way. The main protagonist Ig, wakes up after a night of drunken debauchery with more than a mighty hangover. He finds a set of horns attached to his head, and these act like antennae giving him the ability to coerce people to tell him their darkest, most deeply hidden secrets. Time and time again the result is unequivocally shocking, making the reader reel at the depths to which people will have a hidden dark side. It makes us question just how much we really know our dear neighbours, friends, and family, who we love so much. Undoubtedly, we are all flawed human beings even the ones amongst us who we look up to are wretched sinners.
Horns is in part a love story, a tragic one, as Ig’s girlfriend, Merrin has been raped and murdered, and Ig is the prime suspect. Through the antennae effect, we get to learn the true reaction of his family, friends and the community to his possible culpability.
Horns isn’t easy reading and at times I definitely flinched. But it’s one of those books that draws you in and keeps you reading even though you want to look away. The villain is well crafted and engagingly horrible. If you have a phobia of snakes I don’t recommend you read this novel! It will give you nightmares!
The faster pacing of the earlier chapters gives way to a slower mid section that explores Ig’s relationship with his long-term girlfriend Merrin, who by all accounts is his soul mate, the love of his life. Given her importance to the narrative, this weightier middle section is understandable but does slow down the pace of the novel somewhat.
There is a reveal with regard to Merrin which ties some of the loose threads together in a very interesting way. But I am still a bit unsure about the ending…. perhaps this is a novel that would benefit from a second reading. I did feel that the ‘happier’ ending didn’t quite fit with the rest of the book, but I wonder if it was added as a device to make it less grim and more marketable – particularly with regard to a potential film contract – the film was released in 2014.
I’d definitely read more from Joe Hill, and it’s not just because he’s Stephen King’s son! This is ‘my first,’ Joe Hill novel. With this introduction, I can see that he weaves a wonderfully enthralling tale that explores the darker side of humanity, which continues to fascinate me.
Would I recommend Horns? Yes, most definitely but only if you like novels that explore the darker, murkier side of life.
My rating: 4.5 stars.
Bye for now,
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Shortlist Revealed…
I made the shortlist of Esther Newton’s flash fiction competition!!! Nice to know, cheered me up a bit after all the Trump election misery..
Well, I can’t do much about the election result, but I can spread a little cheer among a few of you. A few weeks ago, I set my first mini-competition (a flash fiction story on the theme of The Discovery). I was overwhelmed by the number of entries I had and the quality of the writing. So I decided to first whittle it down to a shortlist…and here it is. Well done to all these talented writers and their wonderful stories. The winners will be chosen soon. Watch this space!
The Discovery Flash Fiction Competition Shortlist:
In no particular order:
Ditrie Sanchez The Girl with the Stick
Melissa Lawrence The Hostage
Lucy Mitchell The Secret
Glynis Smy The Discovery
Suzanne Forman Space
Geoff Le Pard The Discovery
Helen Gaen Sea-Scanners and Processors: Input from…
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Fireworks!!! Nearly Missed Them!!
Just a quick blog post to share this photo of the Fireworks on Midsummer Common in Cambridge. We had it all planned, a quick meal, and then straight to the fireworks. What could possibly go wrong? Everything! We had a long wait to be seated at our chosen restaurant, as it was ridiculously busy. Then when we finally managed to get our table, they lost our food order. Luckily they gave us 25% off the bill plus two free drinks. After all that I was getting quite tipsy, and needed to eat something. Luckily the food did come, and was very tasty. But, time was running out. I had to pop to the toilet and by the time I’d taken two phone calls, (whilst in there,) we nearly missed it all!!!
All was not lost I just managed to capture this beauty lighting up the skies between the houses.
Do you enjoy fireworks? I love them. They always make me feel positive, as if they light up the sky with their little rays of hope. The only problem with fireworks and bonfire night is the wretched temperature. I can’t cope with being cold… I have to wrap up!
I have lots of plans for November, it’s my birthday later this month! So more about that nearer the time. I will be having a little birthday reveal on my Instagram – my little treat to myself! We all need to have something special to look forward to…
Before I go perhaps I should leave you with my Instagram link: https://www.instagram.com/kyrosmagica/
Hope Monday is treating you well and not squashing the life out of you! Very amused to see that a bodybuilder/personal trainer is following me on twitter. Is he trying to tell me something? I know I need to get fit but… knowing me I’d get crushed by the weights or drop them on my foot or something.
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My Kyrosmagica Review of Abomination by Jane Dougherty
Goodreads Synopsis:
Book 1 in The Pathfinders series
As the end of the world begins, Carla and Tully hurtle through a wormhole five years forward in time, only to find they haven’t missed the Apocalypse after all.
Carla and Tully are picnicking in the quad of their international high school in central Paris when the end of the world begins. They are sucked into a wormhole that spits them out five years later to find that the world is a freezing desolation but still hanging on, waiting for something even worse to finish it off. The something worse turns out to be the Burnt Man and his horsemen. Taken prisoner by the Flay Tribe to their lair in the ruins of a shopping mall, Tully is forced to become a warrior, while Carla joins the other girls as a kitchen slave and comfort woman.
Tully might like the idea of playing soldiers, but Carla knows what is waiting for the girls when the food runs out, and it isn’t pleasant. The supermarket holy man’s vision of the return of the Burnt Man and his demon friends drags Tully back to reality. When the four fiends are reunited, the Apocalypse will really begin. Carla and Tully don’t plan on being there when that happens.
But in this post-Abomination world where only the young and brutal have survived, where food and fuel are running out and the climate is plunging into another final ice age, there is nowhere to run—except down another wormhole, with no idea of what might be waiting for them at the other end.
My review:
Isn’t that the most stunning cover? You know what they say, a cover helps sell the story, and this one certainly drew me in.
Abomination is the first book in the Pathfinders series. The two main characters teenagers Carla and Tully, are trying to cope with the challenges and uncertainties of a shocking post-apocalyptic world in which only the strongest and fittest will survive. Abomination demonstrates Jane Dougherty’s talent for writing powerful descriptive passages combined with believable dialogue. There are a whole bunch of characters to keep the reader entertained. But be prepared for some hard hitting scenes as this YA novel packs some less than tender punches. The novel draws to a gripping close and revelation. In truth, I am a bit of a novice in terms of post-apocalyptic novels so it was interesting to challenge myself to try something new. Abomination will appeal to both male and female YA readers who enjoy post-apocalyptic narratives, and to readers like myself who sometimes like to step out of their usual genre comfort zone to broaden their reading experience.
It is perhaps more suitable for the upper age limit of the YA market rather than the lower end due to some upsetting scenes.
My rating : 4 stars.
DISCLAIMER: “As of 13th September 2017 we are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.”
My opinions are my own and any reviews on this site have not been swayed or altered in any way by monetary compensation, or by the offer of a free book in exchange for a review.
Do check out Jane Dougherty’s poetry, and writing blog link : Jane Dougherty and her author blog : Wild Geese Books.
Have you read Abomination or Jane Dougherty’s The Green Woman series? Do let me know I’d love to hear your opinions.
Have a lovely weekend, enjoy!
Bye for now,
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Winnie-the-Pooh: The Forgotten Connection
Very interesting post from James Osborne about the origins of Winnie the Pooh, if you are a fan then read on….
Special thanks to CBC Radio for an interview that resurrected this little known story about the origins of Winnie-the-Pooh. Here’s a summary.
Winnie-the-Pooh was born in Canada! Well, sort of.
It all began in 1914. The First World War was underway in Europe. The Canadian Army was in desperate need of trained personnel to care for the thousands of horses used by the cavalry.
A young veterinarian in Winnipeg heeded the call.
Harry Colebourn soon found himself on a train with scores of other young men destined for the army base in Val Cartier, Quebec. A few hours into their journey the train stopped in White River, Ont., to take on water and coal for the steam engine. Like many other soldiers, Harry stepped off the train to stretch his legs.
Standing beside the tracks was a man who turned out to be a trapper. He was holding a…
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Meet the Sponsors! #November
Pressing this as I’m part of Jenny in Wonderland’s Meet the sponsors#November gang. Do check out the other bookish sponsors and share our love of books. 🙂
Wow, can you believe we’re in November already?! I absolutely can’t. This year has flown by and I’m failing to comprehend how we’ve already had Easter, Summer, Halloween and…
Source: Meet the Sponsors! #November
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Happy Halloween! Flash Fiction: The Ghostly Jacket of Discovery
Happy Halloween everyone!!!
I’ve written a Halloween themed piece of flash fiction for Esther Newton’s flash fiction competition. Here is the link if you’d like to find out more. Esther Newton Blog: Last Call for Flash Fiction Entries. But today is the last day for entries so get on your witch’s broom and hurry up. The prompt is discovery, so doesn’t have to be Halloween related!
The Ghostly Jacket of Discovery
Last night the sliding wardrobe had been closed but this morning it lay open. All of Ed’s shirts were freshly laundered and ironed. His ties neatly arranged in perfect rows, his shoes polished and shiny. Iris pulled his biker jacket off the hanger. It was his one aberration, the one piece of clothing that was different. He had loved that jacket, had said that it carried special memories of freedom, laughter, and happiness. He had refused to throw it out, long after the leather had cracked, and its colour had faded. Iris laid it on the bed, pulling at the tiny threads that held loose buttons. For some odd reason, it soothed her to stretch the thread to its furthest point and to hear it snap. Soon the jacket button’s hung in shame, one more pull and it would be over. There’d be no snap back, no ping and return. She gently placed it back on the bed, caressing the threads as if asking for forgiveness.
Musing about her long happily married life she knew she had gone beyond mourning Ed’s death. She might as well have died with him. She hadn’t answered the phone, read her emails, or engaged in any way with anyone. This had gone on for months. She had survived on infrequent sips of water, tinned food, and crackers.
Her eyes returned to the crumpled jacket. She hadn’t moved it, but now it lay with its two sleeves pointing in opposite directions. She touched the left sleeve; it ached with a strange heaviness. The right side felt light and airy, tingling with the promise of fresh discovery.
She picked up Ed’s jacket and hugged it, inhaling the faint but familiar scent of his aftershave. She smiled; Ed had always worn the same scent, oaky, masculine, and liberating. Walking out into the night air she drew in a deep breath, she shook, tears cascading like released diamonds onto the hard concrete slabs. Each breath nearly killed her with its fierceness, but she courageously took another and another. Soon she was giddy with recklessness. A ghostly shudder gripped her by the shoulders and tingled down her arms before reaching her widowed heart. She reached up standing on tiptoes, longing for Ed’s kiss. She was rewarded by the gentlest of caresses, feather light but exquisite. She melted in his ghostly arms and smiled a happy but fleeting smile.
Ed’s ghost saw her sudden sadness and sighed. He touched her cheek saying, ‘My love. Ditch the jacket. It’s time to buy a new one. You wear it this time. Discover all there is to know about the liberating thread of a life well lived.’
She looked at the jacket, and noticed that the loose threads had drawn together in a heart shaped goodbye.
© Marjorie Mallon 2016 – aka, Kyrosmagica. All Rights Reserved.
Hope you enjoyed my piece of flash fiction.
Bye for now,
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The Spam Monster
This is for all of you have come under the threat of the spam monster. It has been quite a problem recently for several bloggers, our well intentioned comments not appearing on blogs…. So I wrote this little poem with that and Halloween in mind.
The Spam Monster
It’s all hallows eve,
You’ve no time for a pet peeve,
The wretched spam monster making curds,
Of your well thought out words.
He insidiously turns your comments into mush,
Sweeps them all away with a hot-wired brush,
He’s all wires and circuitry,
His gadgetry puts you into purgatory.
But, don’t fret, don’t worry, help is at hand,
The Happiness Engineers Askimet band,
Party together, they’ll help you out.
No need to storm, stamp, and shout!
Stick your perky pumpkin by your computer,
Light it with a ferocious candle to neuter,
That bloody spam monster with his big hooter,
Mr snooty, snotty, snooper.
© Marjorie Mallon 2016 – aka, Kyrosmagica. All Rights Reserved.
If you need any help with this problem Hugh has written a great post how to contact the Askimet engineers – here’s the link: Hughs Views And News: What To Do If your Comments Are Ending Up in Spam Folders
Bye for now,
Hope you liked the silly poem!
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Never Better: a Halloween Story
Excellent Halloween story from Nicholas Rossis. A must read. 🙂
Following this blog’s tradition, this is this year’s Halloween story. Enjoy!
Never Better
African Mask Print by S.J. Fleck (fineartamerica.com)
“Hey, Pat.”
The sun in my eyes blinds me as I squint to see Anne approach. “Hey.”
She throws her bag onto the grass and sits down beside me with a little hop. “So, are you going to Sarah’s Halloween party?”
I let out a growl and roll my eyes to remind Anne how I feel about my nemesis. “Sure.”
“What are you dressing up as? I’ll dress up as Vampirela,” she continues at her usual machinegun speed before I can answer. She claws her fingers to strike a threatening pose. “Argh!”
I chuckle, her silly mirth contagious. “I haven’t picked up anything yet.”
“Well, you’d better hurry. Only three days left till Saturday. Why don’t you—” A bell’s shrill ring interrupts her. “Oops, gotta fly. Don’t wanna be late…
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M J Mallon YA Author and Poet 