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4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
5/5 Stars
Hungry Business: A Gothic Story about the Horrors of Dating by Maria DeBlassie
This isn't the first book I've read by the author. The author had a twisted mind when it comes to the stories they tell. This book was a quick read and I enjoyed it.
This book makes it seem like you are the character. Everyone you know is a zombie. You carry grave dirt to send them back. Will you turn into one?
Highly recommended for Gothic Horror lovers.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Read this if you:
*Enjoy a quick read over your lunch break
*Like tales involving humans and hungries
*Believe love can exists in a dark world
Meet the Author: Maria DeBlassie is a native New Mexican blogger, award winning writer, and aware winning educator. When she is not practicing her own brand of brujeria, she’s reading, teaching, and writing about bodice rippers and things that go bump in the night. She is forever looking for magic in her life and somehow always finding more than she thought was there.
Reader’s Thoughts: “What does it take to find another beating heart in this city? All you want is one. But hearts are a hot commodity these days, and you have to be careful who you share them with.” This action-packed short story had so many meaningful concepts expressed in less than 20 pages. The fingernail scene made me cringe with its extensive detail. Just a tad bit of gore, just the way I like it! And the odd relationship with the tabby cat had me hooked. This would make an awesome prologue to the beginning of something much more. I would love to see this turned into a full novel. I look forward to seeing what else DeBlassie has up her sleeve.
Favorite Quote: “That’s the way of this world: be a hungry or be food.”
Available Now in eBook
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
*Enjoy a quick read over your lunch break
*Like tales involving humans and hungries
*Believe love can exists in a dark world
Meet the Author: Maria DeBlassie is a native New Mexican blogger, award winning writer, and aware winning educator. When she is not practicing her own brand of brujeria, she’s reading, teaching, and writing about bodice rippers and things that go bump in the night. She is forever looking for magic in her life and somehow always finding more than she thought was there.
Reader’s Thoughts: “What does it take to find another beating heart in this city? All you want is one. But hearts are a hot commodity these days, and you have to be careful who you share them with.” This action-packed short story had so many meaningful concepts expressed in less than 20 pages. The fingernail scene made me cringe with its extensive detail. Just a tad bit of gore, just the way I like it! And the odd relationship with the tabby cat had me hooked. This would make an awesome prologue to the beginning of something much more. I would love to see this turned into a full novel. I look forward to seeing what else DeBlassie has up her sleeve.
Favorite Quote: “That’s the way of this world: be a hungry or be food.”
Available Now in eBook
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A quick read that gets the gears turning in your noggin. Only fifteen pages long but the way in which the writer shares the tale it feels like you have read a much longer story. We don't want to be alone as humans and we don't want to be with any random person in the dating pool. Especially so when it is dating in the zombie apocalypse. At first you pick it up asking yourself what in the world are you reading about to find that very quickly you feel connected to the main character in an emotional way and that you fully understand the story. Then once it is over the concept sinks in while you digest it and most likely start to compare your experiences to it.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
This story is told from a second person point of view which makes the story different. I liked the unique dating during a pandemic plot and how this storyline could metaphorically be compared to how one work l would feel dating in the real world. The dating life of the main character is dark but humorous at the same time! I enjoyed the dating game adventure and recommend this short story!
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It would be hard to trust anyone. Considering there is some tales you need to watch out for you would have to always be on guard. It would be lonely like only having a cat for company who lives across the street. Then any cut you have to be careful it’s not going to turn you. Short and to the point story.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a very quick read, but it is worth every word! It is a horror comedy and I can’t think of a more fitting genre. Maria DeBlassie will have you hooked from the very first page to the very last.
Our main character is on a date with a dead guy. Literally. She’s hoping that maybe this one will work out and have some semblance of a brain. Maybe a spark or two to help keep his lifeless body warm. But just like dating the living, something is just missing...besides his pulse. It is easy to correlate the zombie dating life with our current situations. A woman must be careful in both worlds. Can our main living lady find someone that makes her heartbeat faster or will she be destined to see the end of the world alone?
Who knew dating would be such a riveting story during the zombie apocalypse? I love Maria’s books and this one is no different. She nailed it again on a topic that never even crossed my mind but surely won’t leave it anytime soon. You know you’ve got the time for this short story so pick it up! You won’t be disappointed.
dark
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is a short story told in first person by a woman who is one of very few humans left alive after a zombie apocalypse. She is lonely and tries to find someone to spend her time with. Date after date it seems there are no good men left. Zombies pretending to be human just to try to get a taste of her, literally, going through the motions of what they remember from being human. The woman states that she is done with dating but loneliness gets the best of her and she once again tries the dating world. Her only joy is the cat who lives across the road as he symbolizes hope of fellow humans.
This short story was not what I was expecting at all but I still liked it. It was a very quick read but was still very detailed.
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A short, but detailed story that tells the horrors of dating after a zombie apocalypse. Our protagonist is searching for love in a world that is full of the lifeless, cold, and undead. Although the undead try their very best to cover up their imperfections through their clothing and by covering them up with makeup she sees right through them. Pushing her fears and paranoia aside, she goes on date after date in the hopes that Mr. Right is out there somewhere but that she just has yet to find him. The only real bright spot in her dreary world is the cat in the window across the street that she has formed a bond with.
The author does a great job of world building and drawing the reader into the story from the first page. She so accurately describes the very real horrors of dating while using zombies as a metaphor. Time and time again throughout this short story I found myself relating to the protagonist as I recall back to my own dating experience. How many times did I go on a date with a lifeless “zombie” who tried so hard to hide his imperfections behind his sweet talk and the clothes he wore? This short story was interesting, unique, creepy, and fun to read. Another great and unique story by this author!
When the dating world irl mimics that of the zombie world of this story! This was a short read but very deep. Our main character is just trying to find love in a zombie world but each of her dates, despite clever disguises, can’t hide their hunger. It isn’t until the end that our girl finds the comfort she was looking for, and it was what she already had. Quick and good read!
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is the first short story I have read from this author. I was hooked by the very first page. The woman in the beginning is describing a dead man across from her at a dinner table. Why? How? When? Did she do it? As you continue to read you find out all these answers. The story is based on humans and hungries and what has made this phenomenon happen. The woman is lonely and trying to come to terms with the eventuality of her life. I love that she has an odd relationship with a cat across the way. Never give up hope.