Voices in the Snow

Voice in the Snow (Black Winter #1)

Let me start off by saying that I am a fan of Coates' work. She is currently the only author that I read all of her books because she wrote them, not because they are part of a series that I'm currently reading by an author. Despite this though, I liked this book, but did not love it. I suspect this is due to how many of her works are primarily ghost stories. Also, most of her works are not serialized where this one is the first in a series. These two facts are the crux of why I think I did not like this book more. I felt that it moved at a slower pace than her other works, but I am okay with this since I am expecting more stories to follow. I also felt that she was figuring out how to do other horror beyond the ghost story. Many times I wondered if this was in fact going to be a ghost story, so I struggled with what to expect. However, by the end of the book, I was pleased to see the direction she had taken the horror creature in. These thing being said, I am excited for the sequels. (Three are planned). I also feel the sequels will do better because this book has competed the set up and development of the horror creature and how this type of creature came into being in the story's world.

I also enjoyed the dynamic between the main character, Clare, and her host, Dorran, who had rescued her when she became stranded in a driving accident. It is very intriguing to see how their initial mistrust and barriers between each other breaks down as the story goes on. Dorran's back story was quite interesting and the revelations were quite satisfying. I look forward to finding out what is happening to Clare's family, who she was on her way to find when her accident occurred.

As a final note, Coates does an excellent job creating suspense and terror in this book, which is supplemented for the reader since the reader doesn't quite know what threat Clare is dealing with alongside her.

I'd recommend reading this story for those that like stories with ghosts, monsters, the paranormal, or the supernatural in general.While these genres may not fit exactly, this story will deliver many of the same thrills and chills that those genres do.

Rating:
Story: 3 Stars
Characters: 4 Stars
Settings: 3 Stars
Literary Quality: 3 Stars
Overall Quality: 3 Salmon

Nerdy Details:
Author: Darcy Coates
Publisher: Black Owl Books
Published: 18 November 2019
Page Length: 352
Genre: Horror
Sub-Genre: Monsters
Awards and Nominations: None

Horrorstör

Horrorstör

Coming to this book, I did have somewhat mixed feelings about whether or not to pick it up. Some people seem to love it and others seem to hate it. Having read it, I find that I'm somewhere in the middle. So the basic idea is that there is an American knock-off IKEA that sells cheaper products. In Ohio the is a particular IKEA that has some strange things happen with increasing frequency while the store is closed. As a result, one of the managers gets some "volunteers" together to see who is breaking in at night and catch them. Needless to say, ghoulies and ghosties and long-legged beasties ensue.

So here's the bad. First, the characters are mainly okay. They aren't too deep and anyone who works retail could easily put themselves in their shoes. The limited cast only really sees the main two characters getting any sort of development or really any page time. The extras, after being introduced, don't really appear much after the chaos ensues except for a few pages where something bad can happen to them. I also didn't like how these extras stories didn't really get resolved although this could be explained over easily if a sequel were to explore this. As for the story, it starts out strongly, but then kind of just drops off and feels rushed. The reveal of the terror is great and the portion with the main character being restrained to the chair is chilling. The author does a good job getting into the psyche of someone not able to move. But after that, it's just kind of a race to escape the store, try to get others out, and a little bit of exposition about why the store is haunted and a glimpse at the other side. The amount of building up didn't match the juice yielded from the squeeze. Not to mention the villain just kind of gets "dealt" with and there is never any explanation of how he and is insane domain led to him and it having supernatural ghost powers.

However, these negatives are what hold it back from greatness and this is a greatness that certainly could have been achieved. This is probably why it was an award nominee after all. While the characters and story are just okay, the setting and premise is where this story really shines. Admit it after all, the concept of a Haunted IKEA is what drew you to this story in the first place. At the beginning of each chapter there's an advertised Swedish product. Once the haunting begins these products take on a sinister tone and look like medieval torture devices. The reader can easily imagine themselves in the story simply because many of us have been in an IKEA, which is pretty uniform in appearance across the country. Whereas other horror stories have to describe the setting to you and might succeed in allowing you to insert yourself if they have a great author, this one simply requires you to imagine the IKEA that you've actually been in.

I will also point out that this story does make a great commentary on modern labor and the differences and impacts of hourly and salaried work. It also features commentary on both the effort put for to succeed in life as well as how many people in life are trying to overcome a very difficult position despite exerting themselves. For every successful person there are hundreds supporting them to get to that level of success and trying to make it themselves to varying levels of exertion and success based on their circumstances. This book will make you see your own life in a different perspective and appreciate what you have if only for a moment.

So in the end, it's a decent enough story that you shouldn't get your expectations up for too much. If you can come to it seeking a moderate, novel horror thrill, then it will serve you just fine.

I'd recommend reading this story for those that like stories with ghosts, the paranormal, or the supernatural in general.

Rating:
Story: 3 Stars
Characters: 3 Stars
Settings: 4 Stars
Literary Quality: 3 Stars
Overall Quality: 3 Salmon

Nerdy Details:
Author: Grady Hendrix
Publisher: Quirk Books
Published: 23 Sep 2014
Page Length: 240
Genre: Horror
Sub-Genre: Ghosts
Awards and Nominations:Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Horror (2014)

Star Wars: The Truce at Bakura

Star Wars: The Truce at Bakura (Legends, New Republic Era #1)

Overall, this is an okay Star Wars story. While it isn't great, it isn't as bad as a few entries that appear later in the series. Mainly, this entry explores what happens right after Return of the Jedi and how the rebellion begins to gain new world's support in order to from the New Republic. This particular entry see the main trio of Luke, Han, and Leia going to an imperial controlled planet under invasion by a foreign power known as the Ssi-Ruuk. Basically, space dinosaurs. Yes, you heard me correctly, space dinosaurs. While this makes for an interesting team up between the Rebellion and the Empire, it does feel somewhat out of place in Star Wars as well. Still, the action is pretty decent and the story is acceptable enough stand on its own as a kind of pass-over "episode" in the greater Star Wars Legends "TV Series" if you will.

I'd recommend reading this story if you are a die hard Star Wars fan who wants to get the whole picture or if you are an in general sci-fi fan.

Rating:
Story: 3 Stars
Characters: 3 Stars
Settings: 3 Stars
Literary Quality: 3 Stars
Overall Quality: 3 Salmon

Nerdy Details:
Author: Kathy Tyers
Publisher: Bantam Spectra
Published: January 1994
Page Length: 341
Genre: Science Fiction
Sub-Genre: Space Opera
Awards and Nominations:  None