Midnight Rides by Shannon Mayer is a self-authored anthology
riddle with nasties and delights. By this, I mean, the anthology is a
fantastically. Now those who follow this blog or happen to enjoy a
review or two know how I operate. The one thing that kills me in reading works
of an advertised genre is that so many of them are far from my idea of the genre.
So, comparatively, Midnight Rides is more fantastical and provides a clever feel for the genre. It is well written, perfectly placed frights and interesting twist
and turns along the way. I found most every tale with something to offer enough
to maintain my interest. I am a skimmer, of section jumper be the tale boring
or I feel impatient while I read. I want action, substance ort descriptive
voice that has me visualizing the scene the author is trying to present.
Mayer has an eye for description. One that is not to dense
or to vacant – meaning, I can see what she is saying. Now, my inpretation may
not be on target with the author’s but she delivers enough to allow me to peel
her words off the screen and piece together the scene. Amazing, in a word.
Nocturnaphobia is enchanting in the fears it conjures. The
mood is intense and dripping with mood. A wonderfully crafted tale that spoils
many a short story from other less talented pen, than that of Mayer’s. Cursed
is another story of particular attention, in that it delivers in the vein of
traditional tales of fantasy. I was drawn in through Mayer’s distinct
descriptive voice and the woven fantasy of her character development.
For the reader – I say this all the time, $0.99 is a drop in
the bucket when it comes to book sales. Supporting such authors, really any
Indie author for a scant $0.99 is well worth the donation. This of course isn’t
the case as most are tight with that less than buck in their support of the
genre or Indie authors. Here – you are getting a bargin, drop the buck and
enjoy the talent before that buck becomes more traditional as Mayer won’t be a
$0.99 author for long!
For the writer – Mayer has a way with descriptive voice,
character development in short spaces and atmosphere. Read her and take note of
this talent, cause it is truly a talent.
