(High Fantasy) Rescued from men who tried to kill her, Merav struggles to understand why and to adjust to life with her rescuer: a widely feared witch.
(7,453 words)
Rating: 3,
Good, ordinary, story
"Longsleeves," by Mike Allen appeared in the January 7, 2016 issue of Beneath Ceaseless Skies (Issue 190).
Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)
Pro: The world is interesting and well-described. The writing is good, the dialogue sound. All the loose ends are resolved at the end, although a terrible price is paid for four centuries of desecration.
Con: The story is simple and linear; nothing is foreshadowed. Olderra's limitations on what she can tell Merav seem rather arbitrary and challenge disbelief a time or two. Longsleeves seems unimportant to the story except for providing the key that unlocks Olderra's tongue.
Con: The story is simple and linear; nothing is foreshadowed. Olderra's limitations on what she can tell Merav seem rather arbitrary and challenge disbelief a time or two. Longsleeves seems unimportant to the story except for providing the key that unlocks Olderra's tongue.
As you say, it's an interesting world. But I never felt much for the characters. I also found the idea of Longsleeves more amusing than scary.
ReplyDeleteIt's a little bloodthirsty too. The "victory" at the end involves killing every male in two households, even innocent boys.
ReplyDelete