Heart of Chaos by Avery Stiles

Heart of Chaos by Avery Stiles

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I received an ARC of this book from Less Than Three Press and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

First off: This is the first story I’ve read by this author. What did I know going in? Not much – something about a business partner proposing marriage to Rin, Rin not wanting to marry, turns to a Goddess for help, who tells her to marry her instead. Or . . I think that last part was something I read somewhere the story was about. Sounded interesting enough. Oh, and the cover indicated an interracial relationship of some kind.

What did I find? Well, I immediately knew my impression was off. From the ‘this is what the story is about’ I pictured some Middle Ages (knights and castles level) level fantasy world. And the story opens with Rin turning off a computer. Soooo… Oh, and the people in this world are super focused on business matters (’the Empire of Alhira was a corporate country through and through. Business was expected to be her first love’).

Oh, and that business partner who proposed marriage is male (with Rin 2being female).

So this is a ‘modern’ world with computers, technology, people living for their jobs, etc. etc., mixed with an active polytheistic religion with multiple Gods and Goddesses – who can be seen in person (‘the goddess walked the earth just as all gods did’ – so said after seeing the goddess Hina walking around picking up pastries to eat late at night).

….

Forgot to mention the Goddesses name (God/Goddess, whatever, they are/can be both, heck when first meet, they were a cat licking up milk) – that name being Vistri.

Not sure I particularly like either main character. Rather than saying no to Jarrod, the man who proposed marriage, Rin went to the Gods for help. Um, eh? Saying no is harder than making a plea for help from a trickster god? And the other, Vistri, appears to be a pompous asshole. Eh, whatever.

…

Vistri uses terms of endearment, like ‘dear’ way too much.
…
Right, so, short story read. Unfortunately I never really got into it as much as I thought I would. I was a little too detached from what was going on.

Rating: 3.44

July 2 2018



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Beast by Rachel Frank

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Less than Three in exchange for an honest review.

This is a short story of roughly 44 pages in length that involves a dragon, a knight, a witch, and evil. An abusive evil bastard. But, let's not get ahead of ourselves.

The story, even after it opened the way I expected (a witch being left out for a dragon to find), was not really at all what I thought it would be. Though why I thought it'd be any particular story, I'm not sure.

Other than what I've already stated, that the story involves a dragon, witch, knight, evil bastard, I can't really say anything more. For, you see, there are several twits to the story. Most of which keep me from elaborating on the content.

So: Well written story that was, to a certain extent, a lot more 'horrible and abusive' than I expected, but still an entertaining story (yeah, I know, horrible and abusive is not entertaining).

I'll have to keep an eye on what else this author puts out - it's not every day you read a competently written short story, turn to the afterward (wait, I think it was the 'about the author' section) and see something about how the author still lives with her parents - as she has not yet even entered high school (I might be mis-remembering how exactly that was worded).

Rating: 3.66

August 21 2017

Walking on Knives by Maya Chhabra

*I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Less Than Three Press in exchange for an honest review.*

I actually read this a short time ago, I think on the 9th of June. But had been putting off marking the read since the story itself won't be out until the end of July. A review will appear here closer to June 26th (month before publication).

This story here, like another recently read short story released through Less than Three Press, is a Fairy Tale Retelling. The Little Mermaid was originally written and released April 7 1837 by Hans Christian Andersen. Based on what I recall of the story, I'd have assumed that it was by the Brothers Grimm, considering it's bloody nature, though maybe all fairy tales are deeply and graphically bloody and violent. I know less of Andersen's stories, though. Though I have read a few non-Grimm Fairy Tales, and while the Beauty and the Beast story is deeply misogynistic (the good pretty girl is destined, and happy for it!, to be bound to a whiny violent ugly brat (really, read the original story some time, that original story beast could give some of the modern day 'alphaholes' a run for their money in being a bastard asshole)) but, other than threatening it, wasn't deeply graphically bloody.

Right, sorry, got distracted there. The original tale and the retelling is remarkably similar - though there is an addition of a sister for the Sea Witch in this story here. She takes on some of the role that had originally been given to others in the original story (with the addition of lesbianism).

Looking at the original story, this story, and the Disney film - this story here is much closer to the original story (both the original and this one promise death to the mermaid if she fails in her quest; the film promised servitude to the sea witch).

An interesting and super quick story. Satisfying.

Rating: 3.75

June 12 2017