Melody Hewson

Biography

I am an author, a teller of stories both long and short, real & imagined. So for the sake of my own amusement, here’s a bit of information about me, written in the form of a short story. Whatever information you can gleam from these words is what you are worthy of knowing about it's writer.

Hazel eyes stared up at a cloudless sky before falling to take in the house a few feet away. To some, it would be judged by its flaws ; it's fading paint and scuffed floors. But to her it was perfect. It was hers. And it was home. To one side, a wild forest whispered sweet nothings in the breeze, which was answered by some distant bird's call. "Life is good." She said softly to no one. "And today is a good day."
The sudden squawking of wild fowl pulled her attention to the young white german shepherd that rarely strayed far from her side.
"God damn it, Sutter Cain! Quit chasing those turkeys!"

"I looked heavenward for angels, while beautiful demons showed me the way." - Shannon Nacyl

Books

The Moon At Noon
You set the price! Words: 19,840. Language: English. Published: May 23, 2021 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Short stories, Fiction » Romance » Fantasy
(5.00 from 2 reviews)
A handsome, mysterious stranger fleeing for his life, crashes into Lady Rissa's life one day, running away with her imagination and her heart. When an ambitious hunter threatens to separate them, Rissa is willing to do anything and give up everything to keep them together.
Death's Rejected Child
Series: The Wolfcaller Chronicles. Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 82,700. Language: English. Published: February 27, 2020 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Dark
(5.00 from 2 reviews)
Nadirah Wolfcaller, the tarin doe, has been raised from death to become a MidKnight, one of the self-crowned undead king's most elite soldiers. After being granted immortality and vast powers under her control, she escapes the clutches of Malthamus and makes a run for freedom, but the necromancer is not the only one chasing her.
Zombiology
Price: Free! Words: 10,560. Language: English. Published: December 12, 2019 . Categories: Fiction » Horror » Undead, Fiction » Humor & comedy » General
(5.00 from 1 review)
A collection of short stories featuring zombies in the wild. Animals such as raccoons, bighorn sheep, box turtles and even an orca are just a few of the species who have to deal with the invasion of the undead into their lives and their homes. Fair warning, not all of these short stories have happy endings, for the animals or the undead.
A Sakti's Smile
Price: Free! Words: 3,800. Language: English. Published: August 21, 2019 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Short stories
(4.50 from 2 reviews)
A mysterious race of cat people, called the sakti, have finally opened their borders and wish to trade with their neighbors. Ethan Dunn is a human ambassador sent to open trade negotiations, but he finds much more than he ever expected, and realizes that a smile is not always pleasant.
Misery And Woe Ho Ho
Price: Free! Words: 2,290. Language: English. Published: December 10, 2018 . Categories: Fiction » Holiday » Christmas, Fiction » Holiday » Humorous
(3.33 from 3 reviews)
Young Alice is about to make a life-altering decision. Driven by an unbreakable dare, she goes to see the local mall Santa, with a borrowed item in her pocket. She knows that when she's done, life as she knows it is over. But if she doesn't go through with her plan, her friends will never talk to her again! And that's a lot worse, isn't it? At least all of them promised to visit her in jail.
When The Sun Sets For Thee
Price: Free! Words: 5,580. Language: English. Published: November 2, 2018 . Categories: Fiction » Women's fiction » General
A young girl fighting a rare form of cancer. A mother who refuses to give up. The promise of a possible cure. Christine can't remember a time when she wasn't sick, and she wants nothing more than to be normal like her friends. Her mother refuses to give up and does her best to keep her daughter's spirit up, even when her own are setting like the sun.
The Shade Sister
Price: $2.99 USD. Words: 19,690. Language: English. Published: February 17, 2016 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Short stories, Fiction » Romance » Fantasy
Young Bethia has always led a sheltered life in her small village, but everything changes when a mysterious and handsome man is dragged through the market, pleading for help. Driven by curiosity and a fear for her soul, Bethia agrees to help the shade, but soon finds herself falling for the stranger. In exchange for her help, she plans to free him from his master's service.
The Storms of Aqua Luma
Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 3,080. Language: English. Published: September 15, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » General, Fiction » Science fiction » Utopias & dystopias
In a world of darkness, the smallest spark of light shines brightly. In a strange, dark world, humans have set up a colony and somehow managed to thrive in the darkness, yet they still yearn for the light brought to them with the storms. The coming of a large storm promises an end to a several year drought, but is it really over, or has it just begun?
Vacant Faith
Price: $1.99 USD. Words: 9,720. Language: English. Published: April 10, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Short stories
(5.00 from 2 reviews)
As with most children, little Alina is curious about the world around her and those that fill it. Full of questions, she learns a family secret that holds those she loves in a terrible grip. When she finds out that the man who was supposed to protect her from monsters is the very thing she fears, she knows she must be strong to save him, but her faith may not be enough.
Angel of the Abyss
Price: $1.99 USD. Words: 9,830. Language: English. Published: January 16, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Short stories, Fiction » Adventure » Action
(5.00 from 3 reviews)
This is a short story in the The Wolfcaller Chronicles collection. Born into a society where males are seen as a lesser and disposable species, and the females lead with callus brutality, a young colt must prove not only to his herd, but to himself, that he is more than his fate demands. This is the story of Jori the kentaur before he meets Nadirah.
Learning To Fly Without Wings
Price: Free! Words: 9,120. Language: English. Published: July 17, 2014 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Short stories
(4.67 from 3 reviews)
Taiyra Sunmourn is a young tarin doe in training to become a druid, but it is also her dream to learn how to take on the forms of other animals and even to fly. Taiyra's unwavering determination and keeps her coming back after every failure, and hope keeps alive her dream of learning to fly on eagle's wings.
Uprising
Series: The Wolfcaller Chronicles, Volume 1. Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 62,620. Language: American English. Published: January 12, 2014 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Epic
(5.00 from 1 review)
A young tarin warrior must learn how to survive in a hostile world. To make things worse, a dark entity has her in its sight, and will not stop until it gets what it wants. Meeting a variety of others along the way, the warrior must overcome many challenges before she can face the evil that pursues her.
Closer Than Kin
Price: Free! Words: 4,460. Language: English. Published: August 19, 2013 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Short stories
(4.00 from 1 review)
The final conclusion to the Wolfcaller Chronicles Promotional series. After finding an injured bird, a young tarin decides to protect it from anything, even the most dangerous predator in the world. But did she ever really have a choice?
Love's Darkest Corners
Price: $1.99 USD. Words: 5,990. Language: English. Published: July 17, 2013 . Categories: Fiction » Horror » Crime
(5.00 from 4 reviews)
A simple bus ride home from work leads Amber to some of the best, and worst, days of her life. It is there that she meets her adoring husband Todd, but it is also there that she encounters another man. A man who wants Amber for himself, and will do anything to have her. Whether she likes it or not. And even after five years, he is determined not to let anything stand in his way.
Echoes Of War
Price: Free! Words: 1,440. Language: English. Published: June 14, 2013 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Short stories
(4.00 from 2 reviews)
Another short story in the Wolfcaller Chronicles promotional collection. When facing down a horde of undead, Zimbai remembers a similar event, an echo of a distant past.
Glass Heart
Price: Free! Words: 1,070. Language: English. Published: June 5, 2013 . Categories: Fiction » Horror » General, Fiction » Young adult or teen » Drama
(4.00 from 1 review)
This story is a very old bit of short fiction I did for an English class assignment in High School and recently uncovered. The human heart is made of glass, precious and fragile. It's not a good idea to treat it too badly. Following is the confession of a young person who had their own heart broken too many times.
Innocence Lost For Love
Price: Free! Words: 2,610. Language: English. Published: May 1, 2013 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Short stories
(4.50 from 2 reviews)
Growing up in a small corner of paradise, a young couple don't realize what they have until they are forced to leave it all behind. Another Wolfcaller Chronicles short story.
Mourning The Sun
Price: Free! Words: 1,950. Language: English. Published: April 3, 2013 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Short stories
(4.25 from 4 reviews)
The tarous are a peaceful and gentle race who unfortunately share their land with some not so gentle or peaceful neighbors. A clear and beautiful day is interrupted when a tarous village is a attacked, and a young calf gets her first glimpse of war.
A Gift of Thorns
Price: Free! Words: 1,750. Language: English. Published: March 20, 2013 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Short stories, Fiction » Science fiction » Short stories
(4.50 from 4 reviews)
Meet a race called the Kin. Forced to live in harsh conditions, the Kin have become a hard and vicious race who must constantly fight, not only for their own survival, but that of their entire race. Even more so with their only true enemy, the Sakti, ever planning their extermination. This is a brief glimpse into a day of their lives.
Tooth & Claw
Price: Free! Words: 2,460. Language: English. Published: March 15, 2013 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Short stories, Fiction » Science fiction » Short stories
(4.00 from 5 reviews)
The orks are a savage race who live short, hard lives. From the moment they are born to the day they die, life is a struggle for survival and honor. Tooth & Claw is about the coming of age ritual of a young ork boy who wants to become a brun. But to join the ranks of the adults, he must first prove his worth by taming the most dangerous creature in their world.
Lifetimes of Adventure
Price: Free! Words: 2,340. Language: English. Published: October 2, 2012 . Categories: Fiction » Children’s books » Fairy tales & fables
(4.25 from 4 reviews)
Reading can be a gateway to adventure. No one knows this better than Teralina McBannon and Jackie.
An Angel Named 'Dog'
Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 52,900. Language: English. Published: September 22, 2012 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » Apocalyptic
(5.00 from 4 reviews)
The Earth is dying after an unspecified disaster. The land is cold and barren, hostile to the life it once nourished. But there are still a few survivors who hold on to life in any way they can. An Angel Named ‘Dog’ follows the journey of two such survivors; a woman who is simply too stubborn to die, and the mysterious black dog who loves her.
Strange Strangers
Price: Free! Words: 4,100. Language: English. Published: May 28, 2012 . Categories: Fiction » Horror » Occult
(4.00 from 4 reviews)
Gloria and Joe are on their way to see their grandson's graduation, but as usual, Joe takes a wrong turn and gets lost, even though he continues to insist he knows exactly where he is. They take on a strange passenger after almost running him over. But things are not quite what they seem.
Side Effects May Vary
Price: Free! Words: 5,800. Language: English. Published: March 11, 2012 . Categories: Fiction » Thriller & suspense » Psychological thriller
(4.33 from 6 reviews)
Carol-Anne Lee wants nothing more than to see, and she is willing to do anything to fulfill her dream. When an experimental operation is offered, she accept the risks. But after 42 years, is it worth it to change?
Eyes of the Wolf
Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 49,310. Language: English. Published: March 2, 2012 . Categories: Fiction » Thriller & suspense » Action & suspense, Fiction » Horror » Occult
(4.50 from 2 reviews)
Jeremy Kaine is not like anyone else he has ever met. He's always been different as far back as he can remember. For Jeremy carries a secret. One he has kept his entire life. A secret that keeps him separate from everyone else. A secret he would kill to protect. (NOT your average werewolf book)
Curiosity Killed the Cat
Price: $0.99 USD. Words: 9,650. Language: English. Published: March 1, 2012 . Categories: Fiction » Horror » Occult, Fiction » Horror » Weird fiction
(4.00 from 3 reviews)
(Warning! Contains Suicide and the word "Marijuana") After accidentally stumbling upon a mysterious journal in a hidden room, five friends realize that sometimes, not knowing is better. Curiosity killed the cat, and this time, satisfaction did NOT bring it back.
The Dog Lady
Price: Free! Words: 4,320. Language: English. Published: February 24, 2012 . Categories: Fiction » Horror » General
(3.75 from 4 reviews)
Everyone knows that a dog is man's (and woman's) best friend, but brothers Jake and Hank find out the hard way that they can also be their worst enemies.

Melody Hewson's tag cloud

adventure    agwa    angel dog    apocacylptic    apocalylpse    apocalyptic    apocalyptic thriller    army of undead    bandits    battle    blind    brun    cancer    cannibalism    cannibals    cat    cat people    children    christmas    coming of age    confession    crime    curiosity    curious    danger    dark fantasy    darkness    day in the life    death    detective    dog    dog lady    dogs    dragon    drama    druid    dwarf    dwarves    eagle    elder    emo    emotions    end of the world    experimental operation    eyes of the wolf    fantasy    feline    fiction    fight    fighting    forbidden love    free    full moon    funny    ghoul    gnomes    golem    halfbreed    heartbreak    horror    horse    hospital    human    human habitation    humor    hyolf    hyolfs    insanity    journal    kentaur    kentaurs    killed    kin    last unicorn    light rain    lost    lupine    lycanthropy    madness    magic    maiden    mall santa    mare    meth    midknight    murder    mystery    nadirah wolfcaller    necromancer    night    obsession    occult    ork    orks    overcoming hardship    paladin    pirates    rainbows    reading    relationships    revenge    romance    sabotage    sacrifice    sad    sakti    santa    santa claus is coming to town    sci fi    scifi    sexism    shade    shape shifter    shape shifting    shifter    short story    social expectations    social media    stalker    stalking    stallion    storms    suicide    tarin    tarous    the road    the wolfcaller chronicles    undead    undead army    unicorn    vision    war    warrior    werewolf    witchwolf    wolf    woman    wood elf    woods    you are my sunshine    zombie    zombies    zombies versus animals   

Melody Hewson's favorite authors on Smashwords

Smashwords book reviews by Melody Hewson

  • Where the Cloud Meets the Mountain and the Mountain Disappears on Feb. 23, 2012

    I LOVED this collection! All of the stories had engaging characters, & the descriptive scene-setting drew me in almost from the first word. My favorite was the guide for the end of the world, but all of them were spectacular. I loved that I never knew what to expect from any given story when I started reading it, it kept me on an emotional edge as I waited to find out if the story was a horror, a comedy, a drama, & what could possibly happen next! Thank you so much for sharing this epic collection!
  • Zombpunk: STEM on Feb. 24, 2012

    I LOVE this book! From the very first sentence it drew me in to a futuristic world filled with engaging, believable characters. Elder Tull was my favorite. Even in the midst of chaos and violence, he was like a comic relief with his absent-minded bumbling. Like the part where he disappears in the bar full of paniced Pukes, only to pop back up, safe and sound, still clutching his precious plate of food, or how he accidentally blows up the busiest hub of the city. I also love how the "Pukes" aka unstemmed minority, are painted as more noble than the "stems", who gave in to peer pressure & gave up so much. And yet, even knowing the ultimate fate of both sides, the entire time I read I kept asking myself "Which side would I be on? Would I submit to being stemmed?" I still haven't come up with an honest answer. I plan to reccommend this book to my freinds.
  • Sweet Revenge on Feb. 24, 2012

    Epic short story! But there's a problem.... Now I'm craving chocolate cake!!
  • The Short Straw on Feb. 25, 2012

    Ok, I am about the biggest dog lover I know.... but I could not help laughing hysterically at this short. For one, because I KNOW a few dogs like the story's Bella, but also because the wording was very well done. Although the dog's death was regretable, it was not described in a gruesome manner, nor was the act done out of cruelty. Also the thought of a bunch of men sitting around selecting colorful straws with cartoon heads on them is hilarious. I only regret that it's not longer! Wonderful job! Even as an animal advocate and lover of dogs of any shape, size, & behavior, I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
  • Easy Come, Easy Go on Feb. 27, 2012

    Poor Jo. Life is harsh when the world insists that you're something you feel that you're not, and when the truth is beyond their grasp of understanding, it only makes it that much harder. Disturbing and harsh, but well worth reading.
  • Howling for the Vampire: MM Paranormal Erotica on Feb. 27, 2012

    I suppose it's completely my fault for not paying closer attention. I was expecting an actual storyline in there somewhere among the sex. Instead there was about 3 paragraphs worth of anything even remotely resembling a plot, then came a short, fairly poorly written porn, and then the other 5 pages were self advertisements for other stories that I had not the slightest inclination to read. Although it wasn't all bad. This one line made it all worth it. ""If you don't mind, I'm going to fuck you now," I announced." Well, at least the big, savage, face-licking mongrel has manners. I suppose if what you want is a very quick cheap thrill with no words over 5 letters, it MIGHT be worth a look, but personally, I was less than unimpressed.
  • Wolves Abound: A Short Story on Feb. 28, 2012

    A cute little short. Some interesting twists to the old legends, but often felt a little too vague for me. Almost felt like certain situations or descriptions were skipped to hurry along with the story, leaving it with a very shallow feel. But maybe that was just me. Cute overall.
  • Cats, Dogs, Ninjas and Fire-Hydrants. Twitter-Sized Jokes, Oneliners, Punchlines and Observations. With a Foreword by a Random Dude who wanted $10 for it but settled on $5 and a Taco. on March 02, 2012

    Maybe it's just that I'm not familiar enough with twitter and it's uses, but I thought the funniest thing in this collection was the guy with the taco. At least he got a breif smirk of amusement.
  • Cwn Annwfn: The Gabriel Hounds on March 03, 2012

    I greatly enjoyed this story. The vivid details and the glimpse of small town life and what lies beyond the often cheerful, innocent facade. The ending was particularly clever.
  • Tales of the Absurdid on March 03, 2012

    "Any fool can build a house of cards and knock it down again, but it takes a genius to make a person laugh." I have no idea who said that, but I was laughing before I even got to the first story in this collection. By the third I could not even see the screen through the blur of tears, I was laughing so hard. But thankfully the world is safe from those deadly, planet-eating bugs! I needed a good laugh and this ebook delivered from the very beginning. Definitely going on my "To Be Reccomended" list.
  • The Shower on March 05, 2012

    Wow. I lack the ability to say why I like this little short so much, but it is a very powerful story in so few words. Even though the reason for the shower or it's barren landscape is never really explained, it doesn't need to be for the short story itself to really hit home.
  • Bone Soup on March 18, 2012

    This short story is GREAT! Caught me COMPLETELY by surprise. I plan to pass this one along.
  • A Madness of Kentaurs on May 28, 2012

    I really rather liked this book. A very fresh and unique look at centaurs/Kentaurs. I especially loved the "adoption", both as a kentaur and as a shaman. Very good book and well written.
  • A Witch Shall Be Born Once More on May 28, 2012

    I was terribly disappointed with this story. I loved that it was a world dominated by women, however, the story itself felt clumsy and confusing, and it felt like the author couldn't remember who was who nor what gender they were supposed to be. Not to mention the final segment went partly unexplained.
  • Once More, From the Beginning on May 28, 2012

    Since everything I could think to mention has already been said, I'm simply going to add that I also loved this book. The wit and humor was well done. I've already begun recommending this e-book to several family members.
  • Circe's Pool on June 02, 2012

    A very cute short story with a great moral to it. I love the myth also woven in to tell this story. A very enjoyable short read.
  • Bound on June 10, 2012

    This story was sad, but it was a very good message. A little confusing in some places, but well worth reading. We all feel it can't possibly happen to us. But sometimes it does.
  • One Plus One Makes Me on June 10, 2012

    As the reviewer before said, I had to read this twice, but I loved it both times. VERY well done. I thoroughly enjoyed it. This story is a very accurate glimpse into solitary induced madness.
  • Shit that Pisses Me Off on June 10, 2012

    I really can't add much that the previous reviewer left out. This was funny and almost painfully accurate, pointing out so many things that most of us try NOT to notice, or wish we didn't. Well written and amusing, I enjoyed this book immensely.
  • A Perfect Madness on June 10, 2012

    I don't think I have the ability to accurately describe how I felt about this book, so I'll just have to say that I was deeply moved by it. I really felt like I was following the lives of real people and the things they went through, how it affected the choices they made and their attitudes toward what happened to them. I admit, I was terribly upset at the part where the doctor met his girlfriend's parents again. It made me wonder what I would do in his place. What would I do in ANY of their places. A very good and yet disturbing book, well worth reading to get a look into yet another side of the holocaust and those caught in it.
  • Old Jack's Tale on June 10, 2012

    I REALLY liked this short story. I'm not familiar with the narrating character but he sounds like someone I would enjoy reading about and I plan to look into the author's other works. Very traditional werewolf tale brought into a CSI world. Also very detailed. Great job on this one.
  • Once Upon Another World on June 20, 2012

    I forget how I stumbled across this book, but I couldn't put it down once I started reading it. Full of twists and turns, and I love a good twist. Yes, it has it's fair share of typos, but she took the time to write up a long explanation about that and they did not, for me, in any way detract from the quality of the storyline. I can't wait to start on book two!
  • What Could Have Been on July 21, 2012

    A cute and fairly charming story, although a bit predictable. The differences could have been a little more outlined to make more sense but not a bad story by any stretch.
  • So You Think You Can Tell on July 21, 2012

    Very cute and painfully accurate. I greatly enjoyed this reminder of what consumes most people today and how they interact with each other.
  • Beyond The Age Of Mythology on July 21, 2012

    I was actually quite enthralled with this story. At times the characters seem a little plastic(unreal), and the story feels a little idealistic at times, but a great message and some very good points. This story brings up some fascinating concepts and a lot of things to think about. Well worth reading despite the occasional typos and minor flaws.
  • Living for Damn Near Ever with the #%@&*! Dog on July 22, 2012

    I happen to be a dog lover, and one of those "dog people" the author dislikes so much, and yet I STILL enjoyed this story. I understand and empathize with just about everything. The stains on furniture, fur all over the place, getting into things they shouldn't and loitering in the middle of high traffic areas are just a few of the things that make living with a dog taxing. But the author states all his woes with such good natured humor that you just can't help but be amused while he tells his tale of woe. Very good and entertaining book for just about anyone.
  • 3 + 3 on July 22, 2012

    Very cute story with an interesting concept. The ending was good and it was a fairly unique Idea. I greatly enjoyed reading it and I felt bad for the guy when tragedy finally struck.
  • Blood on July 22, 2012

    I am so completely enamored by this short story. The language is beautiful, descriptive, the characters (both of them) so cold and realistic. This felt like a condensed novel all in a short story. An entire life, plot, landscape, political system, everything explained with the barest shadows of detail. This is the kind of writing I aspire to. Loved this story and plan to recommend it to others.
  • The Bible Naked: Genesis on July 23, 2012

    I'm afraid I was terribly disappointed with this book. I really wanted to like it. Being an ex-christian, I actually enjoy learning about conflicts and mistranslations of the religion. Unfortunately, this was a less than enjoyable experience. The author's points were random and their thoughts were fairly random and all over the place. Rather than citing legitimate issues, he instead added what were supposed to be humorous shortened versions of the stories, tossing in insults like a bitter spectator, and using a lot of crass, unnecessary expletives. You don't have to be a biblical scholar to write about what's wrong with christianity or its "holy" book, but this is NOT the way to do it. This is more like a blog posting than a book, or even a sample of a book. If the full novel follows suit, I would recommend for anyone to just completely skip it.
  • My Boss Is A Zombie (A Short Story) on Aug. 02, 2012

    This short story was HYSTERICAL!! I LOVED IT!! Even the exaggerations were really not that far off the mark. This is one of the best zombie stories I've read in a while and the characters were great.
  • Uncle Hank's Cabin and the Citrus County Zombie Apocalpse on Aug. 02, 2012

    This was a REALLY hilarious story, from the gator-zombies to the manatee, and I wish I could give it a higher rating, especially as I'm a floridian myself, but the errors almost made it unreadable, even for me! spelling and grammar errors, twitching randomly from past to present tense, and flipping from third to first person view and back again. With a good proof read and clean up, this will make for an EXCELLENT story! Also, the two endings could have easily been used together without needing to be separate at all.
  • A Date in History on Aug. 14, 2012

    This was an adorable story and I quite enjoyed it. The phone calls near the end were also very humorous. A little predictable at times, but the depth of details in historical happenings really made up for it. I was genuinely glad that the characters were able to have a "happily ever after" ending despite that little mishap. Great work from this author!
  • Gathering of Imbeciles: Book One on Aug. 25, 2012

    This was hilarious! Beautifully done drawings and great characters! I just wish it was longer! Plan to grab books 2 & 3 in the near future. If they're anything like book 1, I won't be disappointed.
  • Of Forgotten Days and Lost Worlds on Sep. 28, 2012

    Well, I don't know if there's anything I can add that wasn't already covered in the other reviews. Just got done reading this book last night and LOVED it! Also, I blame Shiva for making me want to have a kitten around again. I was enchanted by the description of the firecats and wish they were real, even if I could not have one as a companion of my own. Wonderful story over all and Monorth remains the snarky, lovable, wonderful character we met in the first of the series. A few typos but not enough to detract from the story. I recommend these books to anyone who is fond of adventures on other worlds. Can't wait to begin the next one!
  • At the Gates of the Worlds' Rim on Oct. 02, 2012

    I have to agree that so far, this is the best in the series, and the most entertaining. FORTUNATELY, one of my neighbors has a cat who recently had a litter, so I was able to get my kitten fix over there. Not at all a complaint, but I was surprised that Alya was a blond. I must have missed it when it was mentioned before, because I always imagined her with black hair and blue eyes. Not sure why. Also, I fell COMPLETELY in love with Ferin! I could just picture him, inbetween fuzzy ball of fluff and that awkward adolescence, standing up all proud, his tail high in the air.... and then he gives this little squeak of a meow to activate the gate. BEST part of the whole book was picturing that proud squeak. My only complaint, actually was that I couldn't understand why Sarath and Alya were always so upset with him. "Monorth! How DARE you do something useful and make people happy! How DARE you teach our children useful tricks and spells! You may have given me a priceless, one of a kind sword, but how DARE you give me that piece of junk when you had a LEGENDARY lying around?! You ass!" Maybe it was just me? I didn't see a reason for anyone to be upset with him. Also, LOVED the Saki. Brilliant! Excellent book all round and can't wait to start the next one!!!
  • Tidewater Moon on Oct. 02, 2012

    This is a powerful short story. And in his usual style, he tells more with fewer words, and yet still painting a very vibrant picture. Dark and gritty is quite a good way to describe this short. Definitely a recommended read.
  • The Twisted Strands of Time on Oct. 12, 2012

    Ferin... you adorable little trouble maker. Gonna really miss you. *sniffle* Keep bringing down the walls. It's very rare that a character that is not the main of any series has enough depth to pull off an entire chapter dedicated to them, yet Sian, Monorth's daughter, dominates this entire book beautifully. She is entertaining and captivating, and yet still just innocent and vulnerable enough to also make her endearing. She is definitely her father's daughter. A few minor things, ignoring the usual minor typos, it may be that I'm simply easily confused, but when things got technical, I found it hard to follow. Maybe that was just me. I was also a bit disappointed in the secret of Rin's name, so I'm just going to assume he was lying. There was one continuity error, but it was minor and I forget what it was so not important. And OH MY GOD THE CRUELTY OF THAT ENDING!!! HOW COULD YOU LEAVE US ALL HANGING LIKE THAT?!! You are COLD woman! ICE cold! Loved it and can't wait for the next one! (So glad I wasn't left waiting a few months)
  • Smashwords Writing Duel on May 04, 2013

    While “Clever Trever” would give this story a scathing 1 star, I found it perfectly readable despite the errors and thought it deserved a bit more. After receiving several very appreciated reviews from this author, I decided to take a well earned break and look into a few of their own stories, and what better story to start with than one about Smashwords? While not quite what I was expecting, I found the story to be quite amusing, and could almost be convinced that the errors were intentional, put there to annoy the various “Clever Trevers” that we've all come across. Interesting twist about the other character in the story as well. Overall, very cute and creative short story with a rather amusing ending. Admittedly, the odd use of the apostrophes threw me a bit at first, but once I got past that, the rest was easy to overlook. I would definitely recommend this short to others and looking forward to my next break to read another one.
  • The Unforgettable Names Of the Forgotten Gods on May 05, 2013

    This was a very cute story! Like the others I would have enjoyed a bit more detail about certain things, but I understand the brevity. Greatly enjoyed the puns and the creative deities as well as the methods used to defeat them. Look forward to reading more when time permits.
  • Ride The Wild Worm on May 15, 2013

    Not quite what I expected, but a very good read! I did see the Lovecraft influence, especially with the dreaming. Very good imagery and fascinating concept with the worms. Overall I rather enjoyed this short.
  • The Queen and the Castle on July 09, 2013

    This short story had GREAT action scenes, and I enjoyed reading it despite a few minor typos. However, I found the ending both predictable and confusing. Predictable in the cavalry coming to the rescue (so to speak) and confusing in the hostile way they were suddenly interacting with each other. Overall, however, it was quite an enjoyable read.
  • Forgotten on July 20, 2013

    Beautiful story with hints of a much larger tale interwoven with it, but the first one feels unfinished. Why was he special? What was special about him? There were far too many things that remained unexplained and seemed to have no relevance. Good read, although a bit sad, but simply feels far too unfinished. More like a summary than an actual story.
  • Zero Coder on Aug. 16, 2013

    From the amount that I managed to read, this sounds like it might be a great story, but I'm afraid I couldn't manage to finish it. Uniquely written, half of the story is kept in a collection of "Classified Notes" that are linked to throughout the story, and someone with better comprehension and attention span than myself will have better luck in sticking this together. I don't want to discourage anyone from reading this short, but I personally could not finish it as I kept getting lost. Read it yourself and judge it by it's own merits.
  • Unsweet Sixteen on Nov. 19, 2013

    A very touching and endearing tale about growing up. While the exact detail are not relatable to everyone, (how many of us grew up in wealthy families with famous parents, for example?) the trials of approaching adulthood apply to all of us. Reading the story of this young woman certainly took me back to my days in high school and that delicate time of becoming a woman. The pressures of sex and the conflicted way society views it. My only real complaints were mostly for minor things. Nik's (the boy friend) outfit for the party was never revealed to the reader. It was to be a big surprise but then it seemed to be forgotten. Not even a further mention of the dreaded suspenders. My other complaint was that there were parts where the writing began to feel overly-simplified, almost like it was taken right from the first draft and not refined. Both of these complaints are minor and did not detract from the overall enjoyment of the story. I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a coming of age type story. It not only deals with the usual trials, but also brings about the importance and meaning of family.
  • The Raft on June 02, 2014

    This review is long overdue, but I'm afraid I've had a lot of demands on my time. As with his Zompunk books, I could NOT get enough of The Raft! I'm not usually a fan of murder mysteries but this entire story was something that felt fresh and new. And the idea of the raft itself, as well as their idea of currency, was fascinating to think about. The entire two days it took me to read this book, I kept telling everyone I know that they had to read it too and I will continue to recommend his work to everyone I know. Soon as I get some MORE free time I plan to start The Cordwainer!
  • The Old Warrior on June 05, 2014

    This was a beautiful story and I loved it. The imagery was vivid and the sentence "They were rabid wolves dressed as men." Really struck me. Over all, a wonderful read despite being left hanging a bit at the end. I also enjoyed how no one had a name until near the end, and there was very little dialogue. It made the story feel much more natural somehow and flow easily. However, about half way through I got sick and tired of the words "sky blue eye". I got the point several sentences ago and such redundancy only grew tiresome. Had it not been for the "sky blue eyes" issue this would have been a 5 star. Definitely worth a read despite that issue.
  • The Sixth Line of Defense on July 02, 2014

    As a long-time fan of Shiva Winters' Slak'patan series, I was eager to start this one as well. Her wit and wisdom are amusing and sometimes I like a good happy ending. I think I'm going to stick to the Salak universe, however. First I'll start with what I liked about this book and say that it's not an inherently bad book, but it's not my thing. First off, I loved the main character (Also named Shiva) from the start when she was surrounded by much larger and very violent bullies and immediately put them into their places. I also greatly enjoyed how both Shiva (the character) and her girlfriend both turned out to be lesbians and literally NO ONE CARED! I want to live in a world like that some day. I also enjoyed the action scenes when they happened. I could picture the flying debris, Shiva's rising rage and that becoming the source of her energy in an endless hail of bullets, again surrounded by an enemy much larger than herself and incredibly aggressive. What I did NOT like, and Shiva (the author) will hate me forever for saying this, but it's true, is how Shiva (the character) immediately turned into a giant marshmallow in the second chapter. If the character had a name in this story, they seemed to either be the enemy or a cuddle buddy. Hardened military personnel can't seem to keep their hands off of a teenaged girl. I can only assume that this is also part of this type of world but it just didn't sit well with me. There were the usual amount of typos, but my brain automatically corrects those as I read, so they did not detract from the story for me. Those who are jarred out of their reading experience by a misplaced comma or missing word will have a hard time here. Overall, I recommend this book if you like something light with occasional outbursts of vague violence, you will likely greatly enjoy this book and may even find a new favorite author in the creative and talented Shiva winters. It was simply not my kind of fiction.
  • The Cursed Sun on Jan. 05, 2018

    This was actually an interesting read. In a post apocalyptic world, which is described as being so bleak and lonely. The mutated creatures described were certainly both interesting and terrifying. The plot itself was certainly plausible and I would love to know more about what truly happened to the "ancients". I don't want to go into any spoilers, but I would have preferred more details in some areas, and I would have liked Than and his arc to be expanded on a little more, but overall it was a good read and I was entertained despite the ambiguous ending that is no doubt leading to a sequel that I'm not currently aware of.
  • You Are The Monster on June 18, 2021

    I have always loved greek myths and monsters, so I not only greatly enjoyed this story, I also greatly enjoyed the little nods to them here and there. Short, but well worth the read. And the second person view from the ( monster's view, including flashbacks and memories, was such a fresh new take. It didn't really make me think of those old Choose-Your-Own-Adventure books (I used to have a HUGE collection of those) but I can see a connection.