Wrathbone and Other Stories by Jason Parent
My Rating:
Wrathbone sat on my mantel for a full month tempting me to read it, but I was determined to save it for Halloween night and I'm so glad that I did. I couldn't put it down and almost read it in one sitting, but instead, I saved the last story for the following day in order to make it last a little longer. I didn't want it to finish.
These are my kinda short stories! I find that many short stories read like they are incomplete or are a small part of something larger, but not so with Wrathbone. Each story felt complete and they were all so different both in style and subject matter.
Wrathbone - I loved the writing style of this one. I could feel the horror and madness building as the story progressed. Was it evil or madness? You'll have to read it to find out.
The Only Good Lawyer - I want to say this one was my favourite, but I loved all of them for different reasons. I do have a thing about stories with anything voodoo in them so this one hit all the right spots for me.
Dorian's Mirror - A modern take on The Portrait of Dorian Gray. Be careful what you wish for! I'm starting to sound like a broken record, yes, I loved this one too!
For the Birds - See, this right here makes me glad that I don't like birds! Poor Nev. I did have a good chuckle at this one, at Nev's expense of course.
Revenge is a Dish - This was my ultimate favourite from the collection, even though I loved them all this is the one that I found myself engrossed in the most. I think it's because the descriptions were so vivid and easily pictured while reading, and it went down a completely different route from what I was expecting.
This is how you write a short story collection! I can honestly say that each story was easily 5 star worthy on its own.
Wrathbone is not only going into my Best of 2016, but it's also the first short story collection ever to make it onto my favourites list.
Highly recommended!
Reviews also posted to my blog: Scarlet's Web
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Synopsis - Print Length: 160 pages
- Publisher: Comet Press
- Publication Date: October 3, 2016
Terror follows those who let it into their hearts.
Wrathbone
Guests of President Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln, Major Henry Rathbone and Clara Harris attend a showing of Our American Cousin at Ford's Theatre on April 14, 1865. On that fateful night, a great man falls, but he is not alone. For Henry and Clara, the night is only the beginning of lives wrought with jealousy, madness, and horror.
The Only Good Lawyer
Bradley is a savvy defense attorney with no scruples. Under his representation, many a guilty man has gone free. But when a voodoo priest takes the stand, Bradley soon discovers that he, too, is on trial, and the punishment for guilt may be more than he could bear.
Dorian's Mirror
Dorian loves himself, and why wouldn't he? Every guy wants to be him, and every girl wants to be with him. He would trade all he has to make his looks last forever, but bargaining with the devil may leave him short a soul.
For the Birds
Nev's best friend is his parrot. In fact, it's his only friend… and his only ally when his home is invaded.
Revenge is a Dish
Maurice has landed a dream job, chef for a rich couple on their yacht. The wife has carnal desires for him. Maurice has some carnal desires of his own.
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Biography
In his head, Jason Parent lives in many places, but in the real world, he calls New England his home. The region offers an abundance of settings for his writing and many wonderful places in which to write them. He currently resides in Southeastern Massachusetts with his cuddly corgi named Calypso.
In a prior life, Jason spent most of his time in front of a judge . . . as a civil litigator. When he finally tired of Latin phrases no one knew how to pronounce and explaining to people that real lawsuits are not started, tried and finalized within the 60-minute timeframe they see on TV (it's harassing the witness; no one throws vicious woodland creatures at them), he traded in his cheap suits for flip flops and designer stubble. The flops got repossessed the next day, and he's back in the legal field . . . sorta. But that's another story.
When he's not working, Jason likes to kayak, catch a movie, travel any place that will let him enter, and play just about any sport (except that ball tied to the pole thing where you basically just whack the ball until it twists in a knot or takes somebody's head off - he misses the appeal). And read and write, of course. He does that too sometimes.
Please visit the author on Facebook, on Twitter, or at his website for information regarding upcoming events or releases, or if you have any questions or comments for him.
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Praise for Wrathbone and Other Stories
From the eerie opening tale to the grisly closer, and all of the wonderfully mean-spirited tales in-between, Wrathbone is a winner!” — Jeff Strand, author of Dead Clown Barbecue
“Wrathbone and Other Stories is a hard-hitting collection that you can completely immerse yourself in. The title story is a beautifully written period tale of love and tragedy. I finished and realized that I was breathing shallowly because I was genuinely affected that much. A tale that leaves you breathless? Yes, please!” - Mercedes M. Yardley, author of the Bram Stoker Award winner Little Dead Red.
"An elegantly written novella of madness, murder, and demons, Jason Parent's Wrathbone reads like Edgar Allan Poe's take on 'Jacob's Ladder.'" --Adam Howe, author of Tijuana Donkey Showdown, Die Dog or Eat the Hatchet, and Black Cat Mojo
“Jason Parent is a master of controlling how you perceive the characters and the events in these stories, making sure you read it exactly how he wants you to read it. It’s like mind control. Powerful stuff!” – Nev Murray, Confessions of A Reviewer
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Media, information and graphics provided by Erin Al-Mehairi from Hook of a Book Media & Publicity.
I KNEW you would love the book!
ReplyDeleteHe just keeps getting better and better the more he writes. Easily my fav horror author atm.
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