Of Witches...

Of Witches, authored by Steve Stred, cover artwork by vergvoktre, forward and inner artwork by Miranda Crites, is one I own. What follows below is my honest review, freely given. I rated this collection 4.5 stars. “How do you know she’s a witch?” History has shown us that proof was often a suggestion, not a requirement, in wrecking someones life with a charge of witchcraft. I enjoy stories where their power is terrible and swift. IN WAVES First read through I thought, “How tragically romantic?” The second time had me feeling more like after that episode of Futurama when you learn Fry’s dog sat on the curb all those years. I kept thinking on how the title could mean different things about the story too: where he is always bound to look towards, where all he loves lies, how his emotions travel in him, changing even, from loneliness to yearning to devotion. A CAVE, IN THE WOODS Don’t go looking for trouble, don’t find trouble. My husband’s creed and survival plan for any horror movie type situations he may find himself near. Not in, because he would run, I swear that’s another creed of his. I can’t help but wonder if they could have had a different ending, if Mark had acted more respectfully, but all fangs point to no. GRANDMA’S LETTERS Nannie, my maternal gran, threatened to disown anyone she found to have a tattoo, of which I have several. Made holiday meals fun, my mom always trying to get her to look at my ankle (tattooed), citing an injury she was concerned about. But inside she was a big cream puff, full of fierce love. So the yin to this yang. THREE WORDS My favorite in this collection. I may have said an expletive or two while reading this, a thing I do when a story is tense, or freaking me out, or you know, both. So a good thing. Can you just imagine being either one of this couple? THE WITCH This and The Tree have been the hardest to review for me. They are good, but not my favorites. I loved the more offensive, blood thirsty, re-vengeance is mine sayeth the witch this time around. THE TREE (THE WITCH 2) I loved that the author gave us more to the story of The Witch. I missed where he specifies what happens to Rachel. I don’t know if it was implied in some way that I didn’t catch. Justice for Rachel if not, I’m nosy and I need to know. WON’T YOU OPEN THE DOOR? No good deed goes unpunished to the 11th power. Debatable, the goodness of the errand, from where you are standing in relation to it, right? There were happenings in this story that chilled the blood for me. Bad idea to read around that magical hour of 0300, but really added to the experience. THE ASSISTANT The author note notes the connections to this story and the movie The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016), and as he suggests, if you haven’t seen the movie give it a go! I thought it very unique, and well acted. When looked at together, I would almost say they seem like two paths in a choose your own adventure novel, diverging quickly from the starting point of a funeral home. Another favorite.