Tag: short story

— Adult, ARC review, book review —

Old Romantics by Maggie Armstrong (ARC Review)

May 20, 2025

Like Dubliners, if Dubliners were “Cat Person” as a feminist mock-epic about a writer’s coming of age—and every Dubliner was named Margaret.

A woman pursues the man who cut ahead of her in line. Two nice people report that a child has been left unsupervised at a local beach. Romances, old and new, shift and sour. Following Maggie Armstrong’s intrepid hero, Margaret, through first love, first bad date, first job, first extremely bad date, and on into midlife and its attendant disillusionment and revelations, Old Romantics is an acutely observed and hideously entertaining collection of linked short stories from an astonishing new talent. Endearingly flawed and perilously honest, Armstrong’s characters navigate a world of awkward expectation and latent hostility with piercing insight and indelible wit… Read More Old Romantics by Maggie Armstrong (ARC Review)

— ARC review, book review, young adult —

The Gathering Dark edited by Tori Bovalino (ARC Review)

January 11, 2023

A cemetery full of the restless dead. A town so wicked it has already burned twice, with the breath of the third fire looming. A rural, isolated bridge with a terrifying monster waiting for the completion of its summoning ritual. A lake that allows the drowned to return, though they have been changed by the claws of death. These are the shadowed, liminal spaces where the curses and monsters lurk, refusing to be forgotten.

Hauntings, and a variety of horrifying secrets, lurk in the places we once called home. Written by New York Times bestselling, and other critically acclaimed, authors these stories shed a harsh light on the scariest tales we grew up with… Read More The Gathering Dark edited by Tori Bovalino (ARC Review)

— ARC review, book review, young adult —

His Hideous Heart edited by Dahlia Adler (ARC Review)

November 21, 2019

Thirteen of YA’s most celebrated names reimagine Edgar Allan Poe’s most surprising, unsettling, and popular tales for a new generation. Edgar Allan Poe may be a hundred and fifty years beyond this world, but the themes of his beloved works have much in common with modern young adult fiction. Whether the stories are familiar to readers or discovered for the first time, readers will revel in Edgar Allan Poe’s classic tales, and how they’ve been brought to life in 13 unique and unforgettable ways… Read More His Hideous Heart edited by Dahlia Adler (ARC Review)

— contest —

Plot Monster Short Story Writing Contest: “Jerome of the Rosary” by Steven Spitzer (2nd Place Winner)

September 21, 2018

As some of you might have seen, I published some info posts at the end of July and start of August about a short fiction writing contest hosted by Plot Monster in celebration of their one year blogiversary! I was honoured that Plot Monster asked me to be a judge for this contest, and I agreed…… Read More Plot Monster Short Story Writing Contest: “Jerome of the Rosary” by Steven Spitzer (2nd Place Winner)

— contest —

Plot Monster Short Story Writing Contest: “Love Drunk” by Miranda Rider (3rd Place Winner)

September 14, 2018

As some of you might have seen, I published some info posts at the end of July and start of August about a short fiction writing contest hosted by Plot Monster in celebration of their one year blogiversary! I was honoured that Plot Monster asked me to be a judge for this contest, and I agreed…… Read More Plot Monster Short Story Writing Contest: “Love Drunk” by Miranda Rider (3rd Place Winner)

— backlist blast, weekly meme —

Backlist Blast #19: The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo

September 13, 2018

Happy Friday Junior, and Backlist Blast day! Today I decided to feature a backlisted book that I’ve been wanting a copy of ever since it was announced. Well, I recently won a gift card, and decided to finally buy The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo for myself with that gift card! Yay! I liked the Grisha… Read More Backlist Blast #19: The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo

— blog tour, book feature, teaser —

Mirrors & Thorns: A Dark Fairy Tale Anthology (Blog Tour: Teaser)

November 1, 2017

I’m so excited to tell you all about this awesome anthology that was published on October 25th, just in time for Halloween! If you enjoy dark fantasy/fairytales and short stories, then this is the anthology for you! Described by the publisher as “fourteen stories from fourteen different authors [which] will have you curled up on… Read More Mirrors & Thorns: A Dark Fairy Tale Anthology (Blog Tour: Teaser)