Scan barcode
waywardskyril's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
3.0
The rating for this short ranged from a 5-star to 2-star while I was reading it, and I'm honestly sitting here so confused how it could start so atmospheric and delicious, taper into drab monotone about 40% in, and then leave me with the suggestion of a great twist at the end without following through and confirming it.
From page one, I was thrilled as how I was plunged into this nightmarish snowstorm where monsters roamed with glowing yellow faces. I was hooked, highlighting passages there at the start, and then again, a few pages later, for how scene-setting and enticing they were.
Then, as I continued reading, that descriptive language devolved into simple, blunt action sentences with no description. These felt awkward and monotone and hugely different from the start. I kept waiting for the description to pick up again, but it just didn't.
Then, for a moment at the end, I was intrigued by the implied twist and turned the page, excited to read how that would play out or at least wrap up, with a confirmation/explanation. Instead, I was met with the author bio leaving me hanging, confused, and unsatisfied.
I don't know what to say. Clearly this author has the ability to write beautifully, but I'm so disappointed that didn't carry through the whole short. I LOVED the atmosphere at the beginning and the monsters he created here. That's my favorite kind of horror, and I would love to see more like it, but not if I'm left jarred and lacking by the end.
I'd be willing to give this author's stories another try sometime but only if the opportunity presents itself.
Through Flickering Lights, A Silhouette ***Trigger Warnings***
~Past murder/suicide, witnessed by a child
~Brief blood/gore
~Past, implied abusive/toxic relationship between parents
~Monsters
~Swearing
~Death
~Smoking
From page one, I was thrilled as how I was plunged into this nightmarish snowstorm where monsters roamed with glowing yellow faces. I was hooked, highlighting passages there at the start, and then again, a few pages later, for how scene-setting and enticing they were.
Then, as I continued reading, that descriptive language devolved into simple, blunt action sentences with no description. These felt awkward and monotone and hugely different from the start. I kept waiting for the description to pick up again, but it just didn't.
Then, for a moment at the end, I was intrigued by the implied twist and turned the page, excited to read how that would play out or at least wrap up, with a confirmation/explanation. Instead, I was met with the author bio leaving me hanging, confused, and unsatisfied.
I don't know what to say. Clearly this author has the ability to write beautifully, but I'm so disappointed that didn't carry through the whole short. I LOVED the atmosphere at the beginning and the monsters he created here. That's my favorite kind of horror, and I would love to see more like it, but not if I'm left jarred and lacking by the end.
I'd be willing to give this author's stories another try sometime but only if the opportunity presents itself.
Through Flickering Lights, A Silhouette ***Trigger Warnings***
~Past murder/suicide, witnessed by a child
~Brief blood/gore
~Past, implied abusive/toxic relationship between parents
~Monsters
~Swearing
~Death
~Smoking
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide, Murder, Domestic abuse, and Blood
maritza_reads's review
tense
fast-paced
4.0
Really atmospheric cosmic horror short story. I really enjoyed this author’s writing style.