Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Book Review: When It Leaves by Savannah Rayne...

Title: When It Leaves

Author: Savannah Rayne

Publisher: Hellfire Publishing, Inc.

Pages: 32 (Print), File size: 60 kb

ASIN: B006CXG8ZU

Purchase: Amazon



Summary from Amazon:

Playing in the leaves is something all children do; twins Steven and K.C. are no different. One autumn evening, the five year olds ask to go out to play until dinner is ready. What happens that night will haunt Steven for the next twenty years
.
Now with a daughter of his own, Steven is left to struggle with the painful, guilt ridden choice of keeping his daughter safe or help the brother he lost, long ago, the one person Steven always thought he would do anything to have back.

This tale solidifies the old adage, “be careful what you wish for…”

My Thoughts:

Just a note, this is obviously a short story. Now that's out of the way, this was a good story! I'm a sucker for a good scare, and this was the perfect short story with the change in the air and knowing Halloween isn't far off.

The twin boys are typical. One is more dominant than the other and the taunting reminds me of my kids when they were that little. While not giving too much away, this story centers on something that takes one of the twins when they're five years old. Fast forward to twenty years later and you've got the remaining twin married, living in the same house and having nightmares every time the leaves begin to turn colors. He has a three year old daughter and when the anniversary of his twins' disappearance comes around, the dreams get worse. The elemental being (that's the only way I can describe what took the one twin) has become the twin and in order to free him, he demands that his brother sacrifice his own daughter.

On the creepy scale, this didn't give me nightmares or make me skirt blowing leaves, but in all fairness, it did creep me out. Like I said, it's an awesome story and one I would highly recommend now that Halloween is on the horizon. Strong writing, good flow, good characters developed quickly but not lingered on for a short story... I give it:

5 skull and crossbones.

Yay! I'm so happy to find good, well written books deserving of such reviews! Well done!

5 comments:

Michael Offutt, Phantom Reader said...

I'm looking for a good Halloween tale to get me in the mood for the changing of the leaves. This sounds fun.

Unknown said...

This sounds like a creepy read, I like it :)

Keira Kroft said...

This story is awesome and all of the things that you said Mel thank you. I am so jealous, I love fall and would love to write a great fall story. But I got nothing. Savannah cornered that market... and killer leaves...who knew? Not even Stephen King, that's all I gotta say :)

Have an awesome day ladies and I will be back, today.
Cheers,
Dawn
P.S. Savannah try not to burn down Mel’s, blog like you did mine, LMAO :-)

Keira Kroft said...

Jamie Gibbs, it's very creepy.

Mel Chesley said...

Hahaha! Burn my blog... down... wait, what?!