Mini-reviews: Red At Night by Katie McGarry and The Snake Charm by Laura Lam

Today sees the return of my mini-reviews! Mini-reviews used to be a regular thing on Fluttering Butterflies but I haven't written any in awhile. As I recently read two short novellas/short stories by two of my favourite recent authors I thought that it would make sense to review both in the same post.  They are both very different but very interesting at the same time.

Red At Night by Katie McGarry

I really enjoy Katie McGarry stories.  I think she has a great skill for bringing her readers really interesting characters who have great relationships with each other.  Red At Night is no exception to this. It tells the story of Stella and Jonah, two teenagers who meet at the cemetery and forge this connection despite leading very different lives.

What I liked about this short story is that within a very short period of time I felt very emotional about both Stella's story and also about Jonah's.  Stella has dyed hair and has been bullied for years because she doesn't have much money and is just generally different to the other students at school. Whereas Jonah is popular at school and leads a privileged life where it's more possible to take things for granted. When Stella and Jonah meet at the beginning of this novella, it is in the cemetery after Jonah experiences this life-altering car accident and begins to question the direction he's taking in life.

While I would have liked to have explored more about these characters and their experiences and lives and friends and family before Red At Night, I do also appreciate that most things are resolved by the end. I thought this novella was hopeful and emotional and it re-confirmed my love of Katie McGarry's skill as a writer.

The Snake Charm by Laura Lam

When I first head about Laura Lam's decision to self-publish a collection of Vestigial Tales, I was incredibly excited. I love the world she created in Pantomime and Shadowplay. I loved the characters and Vestige and I couldn't wait to read more and find out every bit of new information about this world that I could...

And The Snake Charm did not disappoint. This story focuses on Drystan, the White Clown, before Micah Grey shows up at RH Ragona's Circus of Magic. It tells this story of unrest amongst the clowns and how Drystan finds himself in the middle of this fight between one of the other clowns and Bil, the ringmaster involving an incredibly powerful piece of Vestige.

I think what The Snake Charm does so well is that not only does it show us the dangers and consequences that come with owning this particular piece of Vestige but it also gives a bit fuller of a back story to a really well-loved character.  Drystan has always been one of my favourite characters from Pantomime and Shadowplay and I loved that he gets the full spotlight in this novella.  It was fun to see his role in the circus a little better and to see his perspective on some of the other key players in the circus before Micah Grey shows up.

I thought The Snake Charm was a wonderful addition to this world.  It was a fun adventure and I can't wait to read the other Vestigial Tales, The Fisherman's Net, The Tarot Reader and The Card Sharp.

Review: Unlocked Valentine's Novellas

I recently won a Twitter competition in which @UnlockedBooks were giving away their three special Valentine's Day-themed e-novellas. I was quite excited as I'd read several of the Christmas-themed novellas and really enjoyed them, in particular the story from Esme Taylor (Keris Stainton), All I Want For Christmas.  So with those high expectations, I waited until Valentine's Day in order to start these cute, romantic, sexy short reads. 

Despite the pink covers and the publication of these novellas around Valentine's Day, these both could easily be read and enjoyed at any time of the year.  Both Baby, One More Time by Esme Taylor and In Too Deep by Bea Longworth mention Valentine's Day but only in an off-hand sort of way. There is nothing overtly Valentine's-y at all and I would encourage you to read either of these if you are a fan of contemporary romance. 

Baby, One More Time by Esme Taylor 

 I started off the Valentine's Day e-novellas with Baby, One More Time by Esme Taylor. It's only 66 pages or so and I absolutely flew through the pages.  I was hooked from the very first chapter in which our main character, Cass, is browsing in a book store at the airport and she looks up to see her her ex-boyfriend, Nick. 

Cass and Nick decide to get some coffee together and catch up and what follows is this wonderful, tense exchange between two people with a messy, complicated history but who also seem to still to be deeply attracted to each other.  I loved Cass and Nick right from the start.  It was fun to see them try to navigate this weekend away in New York in which they experiment with being together again despite the reasons in which they broke up.  It was also quite hot without being overly explicit. 

I also really loved the setting of New York.  As the reader, you can tell how much the author loves New York based on the way she has written Cass and Nick exploring the city with such joy and enthusiasm. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more stories from Esme Taylor!

In Too Deep by Bea Longworth

Next up in my journey through the Valentine's-themed novellas from Unlocked Books, I picked up In Too Deep by Bea Longworth.  I wasn't familiar with the author beforehand but decided to dive right in anyway. 

In Too Deep tells the story of a girl, Daisy, who is feeling all kinds of conflict. First, she's nervous about her rowing try-outs at university, but also, she keeps seeing photos online of her ex-boyfriend which makes Daisy remember the things her ex told her about it being at fault for that unsatisfactory sex life.  While she is out rowing, she crashes into Ben, another rower who blows a bit hot and cold. Sometimes he's sexy and flirty with her and other times very arrogant. 

While there is less sexy times in this book than I expected, the thing that I really enjoyed about this book is how much of it is focused on providing Daisy with more confidence.  There's an extended make-over scene in the middle which really made me happy and I really loved the changes in Daisy after her encounters with Ben!