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thebookwormsfeast's review
5.0
I had never read any work by these authors before but I absolutely loved their work - not a bad story in here, unlike many anthologies I have read. Definitely expanded my to be read list.
selinadragonair's review
3.0
Now this was an Anthology which had everything in it: Storys I absolutely enjoyed and storys I found either middle-rate or did not work for me at all.
No Fairytale by Ben Galley 2/5
I was a bit confused at the start because I thought the protagonist was like 6 and not 16, the way she behaved. I like the idea and setting overall, but it felt like something special was missing to make this story unique.
And They Were Never Heard From Again by Benedict Patrick 4/5
Wow, the story and the prose captivated me from the very start. Although the idea of self-imagined monsters is not new, I really enjoyed the read and will probably read more from the author.
A Tree called Sightless by Steven Kelliher 1/5
This one was absolutely nonsense for me. What was this story even about? It could have been written in another language, because the prose was that confusing and ambiguous. I had no connection to the character or the story at all.
Barrowlands by Mike Shel 3/5
I liked the not-so-likeable characters and where the story went. Nice.
Into the Woods by Timandra Whitecastle 3/5
What a Grimms-fairy-tale mashup. I am not sure whether I liked it or not. Parts of the story were very fascinating and dark, others troubling and gross!
Paternus: Deluge by Dyrk Ashton 4/5
Now that’s something else. Although I do not like biblical storys, this one was executed well, the prose impressive. It had a Silmarillion-esk touch of storytelling for me.
I, Kane by Laura M Hughes 4/5
I really enjoyed this story! Funny, dark and enthralling. I finally understand why everyone raved over her „Dans macabre“. Now I want to read it too.
The Huntress by Michael Miller 3/5
I liked the setting and the characters from the beginning, but I also had a few issues with the story. I kept feeling like there were important descriptions missing. I am not talking about knowledge from the books – since this novella takes place before them. For example, first Alec is mentioned and because the couple is not married yet I assumed Alec was her brother or something. After that we see her with a babe at night and again I have to assume whether this is actually her babe or someone elses. Because there is not a clear description. It felt like „the reader should know this already, so why bother mentioning it“. And that happened a couple of times, which really irritated me.
The Prisoner by Phil Tucker 4/5
I think because this story was so short – short but well done – I need to read more of the author in order to build myself a proper opinion.
A Simple Thing by Bryce O’Connor 5/5
Ohhh … loved it! Liked the voice and the pace and the thrill of this assassin story. The author was obviously inspired by Robin Hobb and Brent Weeks ( There is an Assassin and even a Fool!) Obviously I devoured it. Obviously I want more of it. Give me the books!
Palesword by TL Greylock 5/5
If you love Vikings and Norse mythology and something dark, this is ideal. I enjoyed it very much.
The Light in the Jungle by Jeffery Hall 2/5
Although this is a story of a group of friends traveling, I did not feel much friendship between them. The setting in the jungle and the totems and animels were very interesting, but I did not connect with the characters.
Black Barge JP Ashman 3/5
I liked the prose, the setting on a barge and gnomes for protagonists. I felt like the family-stuff was a bit too much and out of place.
Making a Killing by David Brenan 2/5
The thing that unsettled me most was that this story lacked one oft he essentials of a story: the conflict, the twist, the tension! Everything went too smoothly. Plus, what has this story to do with the topic of "Lost Lore"? I liked the rest.
The First Thread by Alec Hutson 5/5
Amazing asian setting, characters and prose. Impressed me and got me immerged into the story. It felt like the beginning of a much bigger tale, which is why I want to read more of the author.
No Fairytale by Ben Galley 2/5
I was a bit confused at the start because I thought the protagonist was like 6 and not 16, the way she behaved. I like the idea and setting overall, but it felt like something special was missing to make this story unique.
And They Were Never Heard From Again by Benedict Patrick 4/5
Wow, the story and the prose captivated me from the very start. Although the idea of self-imagined monsters is not new, I really enjoyed the read and will probably read more from the author.
A Tree called Sightless by Steven Kelliher 1/5
This one was absolutely nonsense for me. What was this story even about? It could have been written in another language, because the prose was that confusing and ambiguous. I had no connection to the character or the story at all.
Barrowlands by Mike Shel 3/5
I liked the not-so-likeable characters and where the story went. Nice.
Into the Woods by Timandra Whitecastle 3/5
What a Grimms-fairy-tale mashup. I am not sure whether I liked it or not. Parts of the story were very fascinating and dark, others troubling and gross!
Paternus: Deluge by Dyrk Ashton 4/5
Now that’s something else. Although I do not like biblical storys, this one was executed well, the prose impressive. It had a Silmarillion-esk touch of storytelling for me.
I, Kane by Laura M Hughes 4/5
I really enjoyed this story! Funny, dark and enthralling. I finally understand why everyone raved over her „Dans macabre“. Now I want to read it too.
The Huntress by Michael Miller 3/5
I liked the setting and the characters from the beginning, but I also had a few issues with the story. I kept feeling like there were important descriptions missing. I am not talking about knowledge from the books – since this novella takes place before them. For example, first Alec is mentioned and because the couple is not married yet I assumed Alec was her brother or something. After that we see her with a babe at night and again I have to assume whether this is actually her babe or someone elses. Because there is not a clear description. It felt like „the reader should know this already, so why bother mentioning it“. And that happened a couple of times, which really irritated me.
The Prisoner by Phil Tucker 4/5
I think because this story was so short – short but well done – I need to read more of the author in order to build myself a proper opinion.
A Simple Thing by Bryce O’Connor 5/5
Ohhh … loved it! Liked the voice and the pace and the thrill of this assassin story. The author was obviously inspired by Robin Hobb and Brent Weeks ( There is an Assassin and even a Fool!) Obviously I devoured it. Obviously I want more of it. Give me the books!
Palesword by TL Greylock 5/5
If you love Vikings and Norse mythology and something dark, this is ideal. I enjoyed it very much.
The Light in the Jungle by Jeffery Hall 2/5
Although this is a story of a group of friends traveling, I did not feel much friendship between them. The setting in the jungle and the totems and animels were very interesting, but I did not connect with the characters.
Black Barge JP Ashman 3/5
I liked the prose, the setting on a barge and gnomes for protagonists. I felt like the family-stuff was a bit too much and out of place.
Making a Killing by David Brenan 2/5
The thing that unsettled me most was that this story lacked one oft he essentials of a story: the conflict, the twist, the tension! Everything went too smoothly. Plus, what has this story to do with the topic of "Lost Lore"? I liked the rest.
The First Thread by Alec Hutson 5/5
Amazing asian setting, characters and prose. Impressed me and got me immerged into the story. It felt like the beginning of a much bigger tale, which is why I want to read more of the author.
queenterribletimy's review
4.0
When I plunged into reading Lost Lore, I only knew two of the authors' work beforehand: Benedict Patrick, who clawed his way into my favorite authors list last year and Steven Kelliher. Others I heard about but haven't gotten around to read their work: Dyrk Ashton, T. L. Greylock, Timandra Whitecastle, Michael R. Miller, Ben Galley, Phil Tucker. I looked forward to read their stories, and discover some new authors to keep my eyes on. Thankfully, this book give me plenty of them: Laura M. Hughes, Alec Hutson, Jeffrey Hall, Bryce O'Connor. But I'll come back to this in a minute.
Usually I'm not into anthologies and/or short stories, because they always leave me wanting more, and unsatisfied. Plus, the quality of the stories tend to vary too much. Well, in this case all the stories were well written, and although not every one of them was up my alley, I could find something to enjoy in every one of them. Some will stay with me for a while, because of their uniqueness, their wit, their concept, their style of writing.
My 5 favorite short stories (in no particular order):
Paternus: Deluge by Dyrk Ashton
I was always fond of mythology and found them fascinating. The imagination of humankind is pretty awesome. Some elements can be found in most nations' tales and mythology. The Flood is one of those. I liked the approach of that well known biblical story in Deluge and that it wasn't only about Cessair and her people, but we also got a glimpse of how the whole world was affected. I can see a lot of research behind this one and I always appreciate it. This was my first time reading one of Dyrk's writing and it appealed to me, so it lead me to reading Paternus: Rise of Gods and later Wrath of Gods.
The Light in the Jungle by Jeffrey Hall
I quite enjoyed this story and liked the totem magic system, which was an interesting concept. I would like to learn more about that and what can be achieved with it. This story is about a band of treasure hunters who go into the abandoned city called Hathis to retrieve something. But what they found didn't make them happy all that much. That they have a strained relationship is an understatement. They all have their own agenda and although Scrape, the MC considered them friends or even family, none of them were that, save for Tama, his best friend. They were all driven by their own greed. Scrape no exception of course. But they all would have abandoned him the moment their treasure was in danger. Still not talking about Tama who was the real hero here. I think his treasure was the real one: his friendship with Scrape.
The name Flaw, which haunts the city seems like an interesting choice of name. It made me think of Hathis as the symbol of treasure, something which is desired and the Flaw as the human greed, which destroys everything in order to get what it desires no matter the consequences. As Tama said, Scrape's hubris was indeed their fate as the Flaw was the result of humankind's hubris when they built Hathis. At least that's what I was thinking while reading.
As for the characters, I had a hard time picturing them. I couldn't decide if they were animals, humans, humans with animal characteristics or what? Considering everything this was an interesting read and despite its flaws (pun totally intended, hah) I pretty much enjoyed it.
I, Kane by Laura M. Hughes
Well, this was something else entirely. At first it was confusing to only read one side of the conversation, but by the end I pretty much enjoyed it. Kane, our MC talks about his time on Earth during WWII, while in prison. Liked how the story played out and the different approach to the well known story of creating the world. And the few twist Hughes added to it, beginning with the dragons. Also, I loved the humor! I chuckled while reading. This was hands down one of my favorites of the whole anthology.
The Prisoner by Phil Tucker
Now, this was a surprising little gem. Short, effective, emotional, interesting, a punch in the gut. I am kind of ashamed I never read anything from Phil Tucker before. I will definitely check his work out.
I adored Enderl at the beginning, as he tried to be a good knight, to be noble and everything he read in books about them. Then he faced reality, that there is no honour in battle and unless he receives respect from the Wolfes they will never acknowledge him as their leader. Only then can he show them his ways. Maybe a better way even. So he made decided to make sacrifices. I guess at that point he made peace with himself and learned that sometimes you have to do things against your better judgement to be the man you are supposed to become. This short story really showed a large scale of emotions, and I didn't want it to end. I was pretty much drawn into it.
And They Were Never Heard From Again by Benedict Patrick
We are back in the Magpie King's Forest! Yay! Benedict had become one of my favorite authors last year so I was pretty much looking forward to his short story. I wasn't disappointed at all.
I think there are only a few writers out there who can put together a short story which leaves you with the feeling of completeness. I mean we've got an interesting story, fully fleshed out characters and some things to think about. A story about how stories are made. Nice one. I think this is how most of humanity's mythological tales came around with time. Two boys are lost in the forest and they have to face the consequences of their actions and learn how powerful words can be together with faith. This story had a few lessons you had to let sink in at the end.
Let's not forget about the others, whose stories I also enjoyed but couldn't make it to the short list:
No Fairytale by Ben Galley
A Tree Called Sightless by Steven Kelliher
Barrowlands by Mike Shel
Into the Woods by Timandra Whitecastle
The Huntress by Michael R. Miller
A Simple Thing by Bryce O'Connor
Palesword by T.L. Greylock
Black Barge by J.P. Ashman
Making a Killing by David Benem
The First Thread by Alec Hutson
You are looking for something new to sink your teeth into? Don't look anymore! Lost Lore has it all: mythology, epic fantasy, grimdark, twisted fairy tales, cool assassins, unusual worlds, humor and a lot to think on! Sure, some of them has flaws, and won't be your taste, but on the other hand, you'll find some treasure which will make it worth. Besides, it's free and all of these indie authors are talented as hell. Give them a chance and you might find your next favorite author/series!
Usually I'm not into anthologies and/or short stories, because they always leave me wanting more, and unsatisfied. Plus, the quality of the stories tend to vary too much. Well, in this case all the stories were well written, and although not every one of them was up my alley, I could find something to enjoy in every one of them. Some will stay with me for a while, because of their uniqueness, their wit, their concept, their style of writing.
My 5 favorite short stories (in no particular order):
Paternus: Deluge by Dyrk Ashton
I was always fond of mythology and found them fascinating. The imagination of humankind is pretty awesome. Some elements can be found in most nations' tales and mythology. The Flood is one of those. I liked the approach of that well known biblical story in Deluge and that it wasn't only about Cessair and her people, but we also got a glimpse of how the whole world was affected. I can see a lot of research behind this one and I always appreciate it. This was my first time reading one of Dyrk's writing and it appealed to me, so it lead me to reading Paternus: Rise of Gods and later Wrath of Gods.
The Light in the Jungle by Jeffrey Hall
I quite enjoyed this story and liked the totem magic system, which was an interesting concept. I would like to learn more about that and what can be achieved with it. This story is about a band of treasure hunters who go into the abandoned city called Hathis to retrieve something. But what they found didn't make them happy all that much. That they have a strained relationship is an understatement. They all have their own agenda and although Scrape, the MC considered them friends or even family, none of them were that, save for Tama, his best friend. They were all driven by their own greed. Scrape no exception of course. But they all would have abandoned him the moment their treasure was in danger. Still not talking about Tama who was the real hero here. I think his treasure was the real one: his friendship with Scrape.
The name Flaw, which haunts the city seems like an interesting choice of name. It made me think of Hathis as the symbol of treasure, something which is desired and the Flaw as the human greed, which destroys everything in order to get what it desires no matter the consequences. As Tama said, Scrape's hubris was indeed their fate as the Flaw was the result of humankind's hubris when they built Hathis. At least that's what I was thinking while reading.
As for the characters, I had a hard time picturing them. I couldn't decide if they were animals, humans, humans with animal characteristics or what? Considering everything this was an interesting read and despite its flaws (pun totally intended, hah) I pretty much enjoyed it.
I, Kane by Laura M. Hughes
Well, this was something else entirely. At first it was confusing to only read one side of the conversation, but by the end I pretty much enjoyed it. Kane, our MC talks about his time on Earth during WWII, while in prison. Liked how the story played out and the different approach to the well known story of creating the world. And the few twist Hughes added to it, beginning with the dragons. Also, I loved the humor! I chuckled while reading. This was hands down one of my favorites of the whole anthology.
The Prisoner by Phil Tucker
Now, this was a surprising little gem. Short, effective, emotional, interesting, a punch in the gut. I am kind of ashamed I never read anything from Phil Tucker before. I will definitely check his work out.
I adored Enderl at the beginning, as he tried to be a good knight, to be noble and everything he read in books about them. Then he faced reality, that there is no honour in battle and unless he receives respect from the Wolfes they will never acknowledge him as their leader. Only then can he show them his ways. Maybe a better way even. So he made decided to make sacrifices. I guess at that point he made peace with himself and learned that sometimes you have to do things against your better judgement to be the man you are supposed to become. This short story really showed a large scale of emotions, and I didn't want it to end. I was pretty much drawn into it.
And They Were Never Heard From Again by Benedict Patrick
We are back in the Magpie King's Forest! Yay! Benedict had become one of my favorite authors last year so I was pretty much looking forward to his short story. I wasn't disappointed at all.
I think there are only a few writers out there who can put together a short story which leaves you with the feeling of completeness. I mean we've got an interesting story, fully fleshed out characters and some things to think about. A story about how stories are made. Nice one. I think this is how most of humanity's mythological tales came around with time. Two boys are lost in the forest and they have to face the consequences of their actions and learn how powerful words can be together with faith. This story had a few lessons you had to let sink in at the end.
Let's not forget about the others, whose stories I also enjoyed but couldn't make it to the short list:
No Fairytale by Ben Galley
A Tree Called Sightless by Steven Kelliher
Barrowlands by Mike Shel
Into the Woods by Timandra Whitecastle
The Huntress by Michael R. Miller
A Simple Thing by Bryce O'Connor
Palesword by T.L. Greylock
Black Barge by J.P. Ashman
Making a Killing by David Benem
The First Thread by Alec Hutson
You are looking for something new to sink your teeth into? Don't look anymore! Lost Lore has it all: mythology, epic fantasy, grimdark, twisted fairy tales, cool assassins, unusual worlds, humor and a lot to think on! Sure, some of them has flaws, and won't be your taste, but on the other hand, you'll find some treasure which will make it worth. Besides, it's free and all of these indie authors are talented as hell. Give them a chance and you might find your next favorite author/series!
ababoglo's review
5.0
A very-very delightful collection of short fiction from the new authors in the beloved fantasy/sword&sorcery genre. This book, effectively, is a 'tasting menu' of different worlds and writing styles. A great way to discover new authors to follow!
Great kudos to the editors/organisers of this release. This is an excellent job!
Other reviewers already noted the overall strength of this collection. It is unusually well rounded (for the anthology) and good quality throughout. Well worth your time and attention. If you are short on either one of those, I would recommend (at least) reading my top-5:
Ben Galley - ‘No Fairytale'
Benedict Patrick - 'And They Were Never Heard From Again'
Dyrk Ashton - 'Deluge'
Laura M. Hughes - 'I, Kane'
T.L. Greylock - ‘Palesword’
Here you encounter storytelling and worldbuilding at their best (in my opinion, obviously).
Thanks again to all the authors for the fantastic experience!
Great kudos to the editors/organisers of this release. This is an excellent job!
Other reviewers already noted the overall strength of this collection. It is unusually well rounded (for the anthology) and good quality throughout. Well worth your time and attention. If you are short on either one of those, I would recommend (at least) reading my top-5:
Ben Galley - ‘No Fairytale'
Benedict Patrick - 'And They Were Never Heard From Again'
Dyrk Ashton - 'Deluge'
Laura M. Hughes - 'I, Kane'
T.L. Greylock - ‘Palesword’
Here you encounter storytelling and worldbuilding at their best (in my opinion, obviously).
Thanks again to all the authors for the fantastic experience!
secre's review
5.0
Lost law; another fantasy anthology for my collection. It's been a year for the short stories it seems. This one based on the forgotten stories in the background. And Ben Galley certainly catches my attention in the opening lines of No Fairytale as he tells us that we are all stories; line after line and written at the speed of your heartbeat. It's a poetic start and one that bodes well, as indeed does the tone and style of the tale which is fast paced and engaging. I found And They Were Never Heard From Again equally fascinating as it explores the roots of stories and how in growing from mouth to mouth we can lose control of them. It's a bitter sweet little tale and shows both love, loss and hope.
A Tree Called Sightless never caught my attention but the story of ruin hunters and an insane Syraeic agent caught Nd held me in Barrowlands. The characters here are wonderfully drawn and the beginnings of the world building fascinated me. We move into the realms of faith and fantasy in Paternus: Deluge and I, Kane. I don't need much of an excuse to read Dyrk Ashton's works and this is an interesting look at the story of the Biblical flood, bringing in various different cultures and myths, whilst the latter puts a whole different spin on the epic conflict between and what we know as the devil and God, for the story we tend to remember is of he who shouts the loudest. From the almost scholarly approach of Deluge, this is definitely tongue in cheek with a dragon devil taking credit for creation, but rather entertaining and certainly well written.
We are back into more standard fantasy fare with The Huntress and Michael R. Miller effortlessly draws you into his fantasy world, despite the tale being set hundreds of years before his main series. A war between dragons and humans is raging and we step into the shoes of one huntress forced to abandon her child and go to the front lines; the world building here is superb, as indeed are the characterisations and whilst there is definitely a significant amount of action, it works to build up the tension and the characters rather than descending into mindless violence.
Phil Tucker keeps things short and sweet in The Prisoner as he depicts a young prince trying to find a balance between his piety and control of his far more brutal men and we stay on the darker edges of fantasy with A Simple Thing, as an old assassin thinks back on his first assignment and muses that killing a man is a simple thing... except for when it isn't. These two pieces juxtapose each other well, one highlighting the harsh brutalities of war and the other the far more methodical act of planning to kill a man. I found that Palesword took a slightly different turn, almost into the realm of a prequel to epic fantasy. It certainly had mire emotion and depth than the follow up, The Light In Jungle which fell into an almost Indianna Jones style... just where more people die. I found this and Black Barge lacking somewhat - both too preoccupied with violence and swearing to offer any real depth.
Both Making a Killing and The First Thread however are excellent. The first being a very dark little tale documenting an assassination and the second equally dark but exploring the beginning of the end for a kingdom. There is particular power in The First Thread and it manages to be both heart wrenching and distinctly creepy, offering a glimpse at the depth of this land and the beginning of some wonderful world building.
All in all, this is an excellent anthology with some real gems in it. There are a few weaker links but by and large near all of these tales offer something to catch your attention and draw you in. I've found myself purchasing some of the full works of several authors here and that is always a testament to quality.
A Tree Called Sightless never caught my attention but the story of ruin hunters and an insane Syraeic agent caught Nd held me in Barrowlands. The characters here are wonderfully drawn and the beginnings of the world building fascinated me. We move into the realms of faith and fantasy in Paternus: Deluge and I, Kane. I don't need much of an excuse to read Dyrk Ashton's works and this is an interesting look at the story of the Biblical flood, bringing in various different cultures and myths, whilst the latter puts a whole different spin on the epic conflict between and what we know as the devil and God, for the story we tend to remember is of he who shouts the loudest. From the almost scholarly approach of Deluge, this is definitely tongue in cheek with a dragon devil taking credit for creation, but rather entertaining and certainly well written.
We are back into more standard fantasy fare with The Huntress and Michael R. Miller effortlessly draws you into his fantasy world, despite the tale being set hundreds of years before his main series. A war between dragons and humans is raging and we step into the shoes of one huntress forced to abandon her child and go to the front lines; the world building here is superb, as indeed are the characterisations and whilst there is definitely a significant amount of action, it works to build up the tension and the characters rather than descending into mindless violence.
Phil Tucker keeps things short and sweet in The Prisoner as he depicts a young prince trying to find a balance between his piety and control of his far more brutal men and we stay on the darker edges of fantasy with A Simple Thing, as an old assassin thinks back on his first assignment and muses that killing a man is a simple thing... except for when it isn't. These two pieces juxtapose each other well, one highlighting the harsh brutalities of war and the other the far more methodical act of planning to kill a man. I found that Palesword took a slightly different turn, almost into the realm of a prequel to epic fantasy. It certainly had mire emotion and depth than the follow up, The Light In Jungle which fell into an almost Indianna Jones style... just where more people die. I found this and Black Barge lacking somewhat - both too preoccupied with violence and swearing to offer any real depth.
Both Making a Killing and The First Thread however are excellent. The first being a very dark little tale documenting an assassination and the second equally dark but exploring the beginning of the end for a kingdom. There is particular power in The First Thread and it manages to be both heart wrenching and distinctly creepy, offering a glimpse at the depth of this land and the beginning of some wonderful world building.
All in all, this is an excellent anthology with some real gems in it. There are a few weaker links but by and large near all of these tales offer something to catch your attention and draw you in. I've found myself purchasing some of the full works of several authors here and that is always a testament to quality.
barb4ry1's review
3.0
The short story is a wonderful art-form entirely different from the novel. And yet, sometimes it's treated as an hors d’oeuvre, tasty but not as satisfying as a full meal. I guess that's one of the reasons anthologies aren't, in general, very popular.
Personally, I love the idea of anthologies. I've bought quite a few of them over the years, but I’m always left feeling a little disapointed with them. I tend to approach anthologies with high hopes and big appetite, expecting my mind to be blown and literary tastes buds fully satisfied.
However, it never happens. Usually, the change of pacing, tone from story to story is jarring. Some short stories are exciting and brilliant, others not so much. As a result, when you've just read something brilliant and want to sustain this state of enjoyment a bland short story appears. And suddenly, you loose appetite.
That's why I plan to read Lost Lore one story at a time and give each story time to settle before reading the next. I'll review them as I go.
Ratings: my personal belief is that many people give 5* too easily. I know it's oftentimes a sign of sympathy and kinship. I know most of Lost Lore authors from r/fantasy (AMAS, interactions) but I won't show them any leniency.
You guys are awesome. All of you. But I'll be blunt and honest. I'll stick to goodreads scale (1 - I didn't like it; 2 - it was ok; 3 - I liked it; 4 - I really liked it; 5 - it was amazing).
Dr Love, Ph.D. Preface was quite hilarious. As a gentle reader I don't want to get into specifics of how ten SPFBO authors multiplied into much more. Mark is right. Some questions are better left unanswered.
No Fairytale by Ben Galley - 3/5
Hereni has a knack for magick. The problem is magick is forbidden and prosecuted. Also, she may have misinterpreted the way magic works in this world. As a result she's draws attention od opposing sites of the ongoing conflict.
The story is nicely written and set in the world of Emaneska. I haven't read the novels, so I didn't know some of the characters that, Uncle Google says, appear in the series. I liked the prose, the way the magic was introduced and a bigger conflict hinted. I might be interested in Hereni's future - will her future count or will she become one of many gifted youngsters who'll die in the background og bigger events? I'd like to know that.
The story feels like a setup for the novel. Hereni comes to terms with her place in the world and chooses sites a bit too easily. I would say this short story would work better as novella. Or maybe my questions are answered in Emaneska series?
Overall, I liked it but didn't love it.
And They Were Never Heard from Again by Benedict Patrick - 4/5
There was a boy and there was a girl. The boy dreamed about the girl. He wanted to meet her and he brought his little brother for a trip through dangerous forest. Things didn't go exactly as planned.
The story reads a bit like a dark fairy tale. It's the aspect of Benedict Patricks prose I enjoy. Despite short length, dialogues and characters felt nicely established. The story didn't feel rushed and feels self-contained in a nice way. At times quite poetic, at times more precise the prose added to the story's slightly disquieting ambiance.
My only cryticism is a glaring example of using Deus ex Machina to solve the problem. In order to fully understand the situation, knowledge of They Mostly Come Out At Night is helpful.
All in all, not predictable and memorable.
A Tree Called Sightless by Steven Kelliher - 3/5
A boy called Maro isn't a thinker. Instead, his fast and skilled fighter who wants to win a prize -
Emerald Blade. In order to do that, he'll probably have to slay his competitors.
Steven Kelliher's prose is good. Some nice ideas are here. On the other hand, there's also quite a bit of info-dumping and way too many characters for such a short read. My belief is that short stories are best when they're made simple. This one tried to do too many things.
Barrowlands by Mike Shel - 2/5
Trio of morons plans to raid the tombs of the lost nation. When a stranger appera near their campfire, they change plans. They consider selling him and the disturbing content of his bag.
Dialogue felt off to me. I didn't connect to any of the characters. None of them intrigued me. There was quite a bit of info-dumping and unnecessary descriptions. Once they're in the tombs pacing becomes breakneck but I felt nothing. No thrill. No fear. Nothing.
I'm sorry to say it but tomorrow, when I wake up, I won't remember it.
Into the Woods by Timandra Whitecastle - 4/5
Jelena changes. After her first blood appears her mom sends her on an errand to her grandma.
The story has drawn me in. I enjoyed descriptions of the forest and the story inside the story was quite creepy and disturbing. There's a sudden shift in a language and the tone of the story. Dark fairy story turns into very dark and not so fairy story.
It's a story about changes in the woman body. The changes we're shown, though, were more than unexpected. I like this one.
Paternus: Deluge by Dyrk Ashton - 2/5
On the one hand, it’s impressive. It seems Dyrk Ashton possesses encyclopedic knowledge of world mythology and is able to wove it into short story retelling Deluge. On the other hand, there’s just too much of everything.
It's, undoubtedly, an interesting combination of myths known around the world. They're connected in an interesting way. As a short story, though, it just doesn’t work for me. Changes in POV are jarring, there’s way too many names mentioned to keep track of them. It’s just not what I expect from short story as a literary art-form.
I, Kane by Laura M. Hughes - 5/5
It was awesome. Witty, surprising and intelligent. And self-contained.
The story is told from first-person perspective of Kain. He’s inhuman. He’s pompous and delightfully supercilious. It seems that people have somehow managed to capture him and plan to execute him. Chained and seemingly defeated, he delivers his final testimony to an interrogator and a scribe. Kain speaks, corrects himself, his style of speech and makes a bit of haughty fun of puny humans.
I loved his voice. I loved the twist. I laughed loud few times.
It’s excellent, short story with more than a spark of brilliance. I’ll have to keep an eye on this Hughes gal and her literary endeavors.
The Huntress by Michael R Miller – 2/5
Human and dragons fight. During fights people die. Such is a fate of Elsie’s beloved one. We observe as Elsie copes with personal and professional issues in a time of war.
The story is well written but it didn’t manager to engage me. It felt a bit linear and simple - despite being divided in chapters / parts dealing with different things. There’s more than a fair share of world-building that didn’t particularly impress me. All in all, it just didn’t engage me.
The Prisoner by Phil Tucker – 3.5/5
Probably the shortest story in the anthology. Young lord Enderl wants to lead his father’s company of cruel, battle hardened warriors called Black Volves to battle. The thing is his upbringing and idealistic scholarship may not fit well the needs of war. He must embrace darker side of humanity in order to lead. In just few hours of action Enderl makes a transition that’ll change him forever.
It was violent and brutal story. It’s done skillfully and doesn’t feel rushed. It doesn’t feel like a setup to a bigger story. It works well on its own.
A Simple Thing by Bryce O’Connor -5/5
I loved this one. It’s written with bravado and dark humor. An experienced assassin writes in and to his journal about his first job. The assassin tries to learn his Walker daily routine in order to be prepared for every turn of events. Prepare. Plan. Plot. These words were instilled in him by his Master. He treats them seriously.
I enjoyed the voice of assassin. It felt light and humorous, even though the subject of first kill shouldn’t be treated as such. I enjoyed the plotting and excellent internalizations. There’s more than few great sentences in here and, above all, I felt totally immersed in the story and assassin’s voice – even though I don’t even know his name.
Excellent short story and an author to follow.
Palesword by T L Greylock - 3/5
There’s too little fantasy books and worlds inspired by Norse mythology. Fjords doesn’t appear often enough in fantasy literature. But have no fear, T.L. Greylock is here. And she brings some Nordic-inspired goodies.
Eyja is a fisherman’s daughter and a priestess in training. The thing is she’s also feisty, impulsive and, sometimes, careless. Soon, she finds herself in bad books of a local priest. There’ll be a price to pay to make things right.
It’s nice to see strong and determined female characters like Eyja and Gunnlief. On the other hand, I didn’t genuinely care for them. Truth be told, I found Eyja a bit irritating. I’m sure many readers will root for her. I’m not one of them, though.
The Light in the Jungle by Jeffrey Hall - 4/5
I really liked this one. And it’s surprising as it contains more than a bit of world-building and a gallery of monstrosities. And yet, I was literally glued to the pages.
Imagine a band of inhuman adventurers on a quest. Not a noble one, though. Their goals are more egoistic – they want to plunder the treasures of forgotten city. Each band member has different goals and desires – some want money, some more power, others different things. Their inhuman, although we don’t learn about the races – whiskers and tusks are mentioned but the author focus lies elsewhere.
Even though the story structure was simple, almost D&D alike, I loved it. Characters motivations were varied and the ruins of Hathis had something each of them desired. It wasn’t cheerful story and it probably made some shortcuts. What I read, though, is enough to add the author’s work to my TBR list.
Black Barge by J. P. Ashman - 3/5
Tips’ is a gnome who, together with her family, rides a steam powered barge down a canal. The travel turns much darker and dangerous than expected and some secrets are unraveled.
Lively action scenes are one of the story's strengths - the atmosphere is fraught with tension and danger. Despite this, I didn’t feel fully immersed In the story. It was lacking something I can’t precisely describe.
Making a Killing by David Benem 2.5/5
Fencress Fallcrow teams up with Karnag Mak Ragg to do a killing job in The Dead Messenger inn. She thinks seriously about her career and is motivated to kill. As usually in this kind of jobs things don’t go exactly as planned. Killing a man is easy, really. Except, of course, when it isn’t.
While the story was well written and concise I didn’t enjoy characters and tone of the story.
The First Thread by Alec Hutson 3/5
The story has unique, oriental setting. Jhenna is a consort of the Emperor. The ways and traditions of the Empire are cruel and bloody. Emperor’s son Prince Ma wants to change it.
There’s quite a lot of world building, a bit too much to my liking. The prose is good and it flows nicely through descriptions and dialogue. Overall, it’s nice story. In places it feels slightly inflated and it lacked a punch that would left an imprint on my mind.
So. Here we are.
The end.
Final thoughts?
Yes, a few. It’s fantastic that Lost Lore was published. There’s a lot of skilled writers who self-publish their work. Short story format allows the readers to check their writing styles and see if they enjoy it. Most stories were enjoyable for me. I’d like to name four (and four makes for 25% of this book!) favorites. They left a mark on me and I’ll definitely reread them.
I, Kane by Laura Hughes – exceptionally entertaining. A great mix of humor and underlying terror. There’s more than a spark of brilliance here.
A Simple Thing by Bryce O’Connor – humorous, well plotted, entertaining. Many quotable sentences. Excellent.
Into the Woods by Timandra Whitecastle – strong and bold story with darker story placed in the story. Very good.
And They Were Never Heard from Again by Benedict Patrick – nice story with disquieting ambiance.
Many of the stories in this anthology should be treated as an introduction to the various worlds each of the writers has cultivated in his own series. And that’s part of the problem. Some of these stories loose punch when a reader doesn’t know the lore.
Outside of those that I loved or liked, the stories generally felt a bit rushed or contained way too many information’s. Lots of these stories come from series / lores with loads of world-building associated with them, and writing a short story in a setting like that without alienating / disorienting new reader isn’t an easy task to accomplish.
Issues I had with some of the stories ranged from there not being enough information to understand fully what was going on or the significance of what was going on, to getting all of that information in a massive info-dump. Or to having too many characters to keep track of.
Ok, that’s enough. You may get an impression I disliked the anthology and it’s simply not true. It’s good anthology with mostly entertaining stories. I give it three stars and it means that I liked it. It also means that not all stories worked for me. They can work for you, though. Given that the Lost Lore is free in most places and 0.99$ on Amazon there’s no risk involved.
Personally, I love the idea of anthologies. I've bought quite a few of them over the years, but I’m always left feeling a little disapointed with them. I tend to approach anthologies with high hopes and big appetite, expecting my mind to be blown and literary tastes buds fully satisfied.
However, it never happens. Usually, the change of pacing, tone from story to story is jarring. Some short stories are exciting and brilliant, others not so much. As a result, when you've just read something brilliant and want to sustain this state of enjoyment a bland short story appears. And suddenly, you loose appetite.
That's why I plan to read Lost Lore one story at a time and give each story time to settle before reading the next. I'll review them as I go.
Ratings: my personal belief is that many people give 5* too easily. I know it's oftentimes a sign of sympathy and kinship. I know most of Lost Lore authors from r/fantasy (AMAS, interactions) but I won't show them any leniency.
You guys are awesome. All of you. But I'll be blunt and honest. I'll stick to goodreads scale (1 - I didn't like it; 2 - it was ok; 3 - I liked it; 4 - I really liked it; 5 - it was amazing).
Dr Love, Ph.D. Preface was quite hilarious. As a gentle reader I don't want to get into specifics of how ten SPFBO authors multiplied into much more. Mark is right. Some questions are better left unanswered.
No Fairytale by Ben Galley - 3/5
Hereni has a knack for magick. The problem is magick is forbidden and prosecuted. Also, she may have misinterpreted the way magic works in this world. As a result she's draws attention od opposing sites of the ongoing conflict.
The story is nicely written and set in the world of Emaneska. I haven't read the novels, so I didn't know some of the characters that, Uncle Google says, appear in the series. I liked the prose, the way the magic was introduced and a bigger conflict hinted. I might be interested in Hereni's future - will her future count or will she become one of many gifted youngsters who'll die in the background og bigger events? I'd like to know that.
The story feels like a setup for the novel. Hereni comes to terms with her place in the world and chooses sites a bit too easily. I would say this short story would work better as novella. Or maybe my questions are answered in Emaneska series?
Overall, I liked it but didn't love it.
And They Were Never Heard from Again by Benedict Patrick - 4/5
A story is a dangerous thing(...). We must value them, we must be careful with them. Set one loose on the world, and you lose all control over your own creation
There was a boy and there was a girl. The boy dreamed about the girl. He wanted to meet her and he brought his little brother for a trip through dangerous forest. Things didn't go exactly as planned.
The story reads a bit like a dark fairy tale. It's the aspect of Benedict Patricks prose I enjoy. Despite short length, dialogues and characters felt nicely established. The story didn't feel rushed and feels self-contained in a nice way. At times quite poetic, at times more precise the prose added to the story's slightly disquieting ambiance.
My only cryticism is a glaring example of using Deus ex Machina to solve the problem. In order to fully understand the situation, knowledge of They Mostly Come Out At Night is helpful.
All in all, not predictable and memorable.
A Tree Called Sightless by Steven Kelliher - 3/5
A boy called Maro isn't a thinker. Instead, his fast and skilled fighter who wants to win a prize -
Emerald Blade. In order to do that, he'll probably have to slay his competitors.
Steven Kelliher's prose is good. Some nice ideas are here. On the other hand, there's also quite a bit of info-dumping and way too many characters for such a short read. My belief is that short stories are best when they're made simple. This one tried to do too many things.
Barrowlands by Mike Shel - 2/5
Trio of morons plans to raid the tombs of the lost nation. When a stranger appera near their campfire, they change plans. They consider selling him and the disturbing content of his bag.
Dialogue felt off to me. I didn't connect to any of the characters. None of them intrigued me. There was quite a bit of info-dumping and unnecessary descriptions. Once they're in the tombs pacing becomes breakneck but I felt nothing. No thrill. No fear. Nothing.
I'm sorry to say it but tomorrow, when I wake up, I won't remember it.
Into the Woods by Timandra Whitecastle - 4/5
Jelena changes. After her first blood appears her mom sends her on an errand to her grandma.
The story has drawn me in. I enjoyed descriptions of the forest and the story inside the story was quite creepy and disturbing. There's a sudden shift in a language and the tone of the story. Dark fairy story turns into very dark and not so fairy story.
It's a story about changes in the woman body. The changes we're shown, though, were more than unexpected. I like this one.
Paternus: Deluge by Dyrk Ashton - 2/5
On the one hand, it’s impressive. It seems Dyrk Ashton possesses encyclopedic knowledge of world mythology and is able to wove it into short story retelling Deluge. On the other hand, there’s just too much of everything.
It's, undoubtedly, an interesting combination of myths known around the world. They're connected in an interesting way. As a short story, though, it just doesn’t work for me. Changes in POV are jarring, there’s way too many names mentioned to keep track of them. It’s just not what I expect from short story as a literary art-form.
I, Kane by Laura M. Hughes - 5/5
I, Diabolos kane, shall hereby tell of the final great events of this blue planet. This account will include a full description of the fell cat - No!No, I was most definitely NOT about to utter the word "cataclysm".
It was awesome. Witty, surprising and intelligent. And self-contained.
The story is told from first-person perspective of Kain. He’s inhuman. He’s pompous and delightfully supercilious. It seems that people have somehow managed to capture him and plan to execute him. Chained and seemingly defeated, he delivers his final testimony to an interrogator and a scribe. Kain speaks, corrects himself, his style of speech and makes a bit of haughty fun of puny humans.
I loved his voice. I loved the twist. I laughed loud few times.
It’s excellent, short story with more than a spark of brilliance. I’ll have to keep an eye on this Hughes gal and her literary endeavors.
The Huntress by Michael R Miller – 2/5
Human and dragons fight. During fights people die. Such is a fate of Elsie’s beloved one. We observe as Elsie copes with personal and professional issues in a time of war.
The story is well written but it didn’t manager to engage me. It felt a bit linear and simple - despite being divided in chapters / parts dealing with different things. There’s more than a fair share of world-building that didn’t particularly impress me. All in all, it just didn’t engage me.
The Prisoner by Phil Tucker – 3.5/5
Probably the shortest story in the anthology. Young lord Enderl wants to lead his father’s company of cruel, battle hardened warriors called Black Volves to battle. The thing is his upbringing and idealistic scholarship may not fit well the needs of war. He must embrace darker side of humanity in order to lead. In just few hours of action Enderl makes a transition that’ll change him forever.
It was violent and brutal story. It’s done skillfully and doesn’t feel rushed. It doesn’t feel like a setup to a bigger story. It works well on its own.
A Simple Thing by Bryce O’Connor -5/5
Killing a man is a simple thing
I loved this one. It’s written with bravado and dark humor. An experienced assassin writes in and to his journal about his first job. The assassin tries to learn his Walker daily routine in order to be prepared for every turn of events. Prepare. Plan. Plot. These words were instilled in him by his Master. He treats them seriously.
I enjoyed the voice of assassin. It felt light and humorous, even though the subject of first kill shouldn’t be treated as such. I enjoyed the plotting and excellent internalizations. There’s more than few great sentences in here and, above all, I felt totally immersed in the story and assassin’s voice – even though I don’t even know his name.
Excellent short story and an author to follow.
Palesword by T L Greylock - 3/5
There’s too little fantasy books and worlds inspired by Norse mythology. Fjords doesn’t appear often enough in fantasy literature. But have no fear, T.L. Greylock is here. And she brings some Nordic-inspired goodies.
Eyja is a fisherman’s daughter and a priestess in training. The thing is she’s also feisty, impulsive and, sometimes, careless. Soon, she finds herself in bad books of a local priest. There’ll be a price to pay to make things right.
It’s nice to see strong and determined female characters like Eyja and Gunnlief. On the other hand, I didn’t genuinely care for them. Truth be told, I found Eyja a bit irritating. I’m sure many readers will root for her. I’m not one of them, though.
The Light in the Jungle by Jeffrey Hall - 4/5
I really liked this one. And it’s surprising as it contains more than a bit of world-building and a gallery of monstrosities. And yet, I was literally glued to the pages.
Imagine a band of inhuman adventurers on a quest. Not a noble one, though. Their goals are more egoistic – they want to plunder the treasures of forgotten city. Each band member has different goals and desires – some want money, some more power, others different things. Their inhuman, although we don’t learn about the races – whiskers and tusks are mentioned but the author focus lies elsewhere.
Even though the story structure was simple, almost D&D alike, I loved it. Characters motivations were varied and the ruins of Hathis had something each of them desired. It wasn’t cheerful story and it probably made some shortcuts. What I read, though, is enough to add the author’s work to my TBR list.
Black Barge by J. P. Ashman - 3/5
Tips’ is a gnome who, together with her family, rides a steam powered barge down a canal. The travel turns much darker and dangerous than expected and some secrets are unraveled.
Lively action scenes are one of the story's strengths - the atmosphere is fraught with tension and danger. Despite this, I didn’t feel fully immersed In the story. It was lacking something I can’t precisely describe.
Making a Killing by David Benem 2.5/5
Fencress Fallcrow teams up with Karnag Mak Ragg to do a killing job in The Dead Messenger inn. She thinks seriously about her career and is motivated to kill. As usually in this kind of jobs things don’t go exactly as planned. Killing a man is easy, really. Except, of course, when it isn’t.
While the story was well written and concise I didn’t enjoy characters and tone of the story.
The First Thread by Alec Hutson 3/5
The story has unique, oriental setting. Jhenna is a consort of the Emperor. The ways and traditions of the Empire are cruel and bloody. Emperor’s son Prince Ma wants to change it.
There’s quite a lot of world building, a bit too much to my liking. The prose is good and it flows nicely through descriptions and dialogue. Overall, it’s nice story. In places it feels slightly inflated and it lacked a punch that would left an imprint on my mind.
So. Here we are.
The end.
Final thoughts?
Yes, a few. It’s fantastic that Lost Lore was published. There’s a lot of skilled writers who self-publish their work. Short story format allows the readers to check their writing styles and see if they enjoy it. Most stories were enjoyable for me. I’d like to name four (and four makes for 25% of this book!) favorites. They left a mark on me and I’ll definitely reread them.
I, Kane by Laura Hughes – exceptionally entertaining. A great mix of humor and underlying terror. There’s more than a spark of brilliance here.
A Simple Thing by Bryce O’Connor – humorous, well plotted, entertaining. Many quotable sentences. Excellent.
Into the Woods by Timandra Whitecastle – strong and bold story with darker story placed in the story. Very good.
And They Were Never Heard from Again by Benedict Patrick – nice story with disquieting ambiance.
Many of the stories in this anthology should be treated as an introduction to the various worlds each of the writers has cultivated in his own series. And that’s part of the problem. Some of these stories loose punch when a reader doesn’t know the lore.
Outside of those that I loved or liked, the stories generally felt a bit rushed or contained way too many information’s. Lots of these stories come from series / lores with loads of world-building associated with them, and writing a short story in a setting like that without alienating / disorienting new reader isn’t an easy task to accomplish.
Issues I had with some of the stories ranged from there not being enough information to understand fully what was going on or the significance of what was going on, to getting all of that information in a massive info-dump. Or to having too many characters to keep track of.
Ok, that’s enough. You may get an impression I disliked the anthology and it’s simply not true. It’s good anthology with mostly entertaining stories. I give it three stars and it means that I liked it. It also means that not all stories worked for me. They can work for you, though. Given that the Lost Lore is free in most places and 0.99$ on Amazon there’s no risk involved.
richard_nell's review
4.0
Very much enjoyed this. As with most anthologies some didn't work for me, others I savored, but then that's the beauty of so many stories/writers together. I should also note that this was my first experience with most of the writers, save for T.L. Greylock (read 1 book), and Ben Galley (his story in Art of War anthology). Yet again, my TBR has grown more monstrous. My top 5:
5. And they were never heard from again - Benedict Patrick
A sort of dark fairytale. I enjoyed the characters and prose, but I loved the magic and creativity. If one can expect the same from [b:They Mostly Come Out At Night|29743933|They Mostly Come Out At Night (Yarnsworld #1)|Benedict Patrick|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1459364987s/29743933.jpg|50098128], it should be a fascinating read.
4. I, Kane - Laura M. Hughes
This was great, though it's kind of hard to explain and should really just be read and enjoyed (I'm not sure it even needed the little introduction at the start!). I assume my approval of Kane and his writing style makes me terrible, but I don't care. Also that's the most dedicated scribe ever. [b:Danse Macabre|36605041|Danse Macabre|Laura M. Hughes|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1510828289s/36605041.jpg|47224110] officially on the list.
3. Paternus: Deluge - Dyrk Ashton
Wow. If you're into mythology, or if you're a Neil Gaiman fan, this is your guy. I get a sort of prequel-to-American-Gods vibe, and a brief glance at the blurb of [b:Paternus: Rise of Gods|35621572|Paternus Rise of Gods (Paternus, #1)|Dyrk Ashton|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1499505402s/35621572.jpg|49023845] makes me think it's going to be a similarly wild, insane, enjoyable journey. Also the descriptions were great, for a minute there I really felt like I was on that damn boat.
2. Palesword by TL Greylock
Unsurprisingly (I've read Ms. Greylock before) this is a norse fantasy story done right. The characters are interesting, the plot intrigues. I really can't recommend her [b:The Blood-Tainted Winter|25773101|The Blood-Tainted Winter (The Song of the Ash Tree, #1)|T.L. Greylock|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1438636019s/25773101.jpg|45621733] enough, but this is a great taste of the writing if you need to see for yourself.
1. The First Thread - Alec Hutson
I was certainly not expecting this. The writing is absolutely excellent, and Mr. Hutson accomplishes a hugely impressive story in very few words. I was kept awake reading, and pulled through it as just a fantasy-fan and not a fantasy-writer, which is both rare and exceptionally welcome. You can be sure I'll be reading [b:The Crimson Queen|33237983|The Crimson Queen|Alec Hutson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1480858986s/33237983.jpg|53952944].
5. And they were never heard from again - Benedict Patrick
A sort of dark fairytale. I enjoyed the characters and prose, but I loved the magic and creativity. If one can expect the same from [b:They Mostly Come Out At Night|29743933|They Mostly Come Out At Night (Yarnsworld #1)|Benedict Patrick|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1459364987s/29743933.jpg|50098128], it should be a fascinating read.
4. I, Kane - Laura M. Hughes
This was great, though it's kind of hard to explain and should really just be read and enjoyed (I'm not sure it even needed the little introduction at the start!). I assume my approval of Kane and his writing style makes me terrible, but I don't care. Also that's the most dedicated scribe ever. [b:Danse Macabre|36605041|Danse Macabre|Laura M. Hughes|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1510828289s/36605041.jpg|47224110] officially on the list.
3. Paternus: Deluge - Dyrk Ashton
Wow. If you're into mythology, or if you're a Neil Gaiman fan, this is your guy. I get a sort of prequel-to-American-Gods vibe, and a brief glance at the blurb of [b:Paternus: Rise of Gods|35621572|Paternus Rise of Gods (Paternus, #1)|Dyrk Ashton|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1499505402s/35621572.jpg|49023845] makes me think it's going to be a similarly wild, insane, enjoyable journey. Also the descriptions were great, for a minute there I really felt like I was on that damn boat.
2. Palesword by TL Greylock
Unsurprisingly (I've read Ms. Greylock before) this is a norse fantasy story done right. The characters are interesting, the plot intrigues. I really can't recommend her [b:The Blood-Tainted Winter|25773101|The Blood-Tainted Winter (The Song of the Ash Tree, #1)|T.L. Greylock|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1438636019s/25773101.jpg|45621733] enough, but this is a great taste of the writing if you need to see for yourself.
1. The First Thread - Alec Hutson
I was certainly not expecting this. The writing is absolutely excellent, and Mr. Hutson accomplishes a hugely impressive story in very few words. I was kept awake reading, and pulled through it as just a fantasy-fan and not a fantasy-writer, which is both rare and exceptionally welcome. You can be sure I'll be reading [b:The Crimson Queen|33237983|The Crimson Queen|Alec Hutson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1480858986s/33237983.jpg|53952944].
clairisa's review
5.0
Amazing Anthology of Lost Lore
1. No Fairytale - Ben Galley 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Very interesting story I really enjoyed reading about the Mages called the Written especially Farden. The only downside I didn't like the curse words the reason was that the words it felt to modern. It felt it didn't fit the medieval feel of the story.
2. And they were never heard of again - Benedict Patrick🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Totally love the theme of the story and it had my stomachs in nots. I have They Mostly Came Out Night from the author will definitely be reading it.
3. A tree called Sightless - Steven Kelliher 🌟🌟🌟
A strange story about a tree but mostly children fighting each to be the rightful owner of the Emerald Blade
4. Barrowland -Mike Shell🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Heskia and he's two companions are mercenaries are grave robbers. A mysterious older soldier stumble upon them and a trek to the city where the stranger comes from to pick up a reward but instead they find a old grave and find out they are not alone. Very dark and scary story I enjoyed it very much.
5. Into the Woods - Timandra WhiteCastle 🌟🌟🌟🌟
A interesting and disturbing story that got me thinking what was real and what was fiction. Jelena visit's her grandmother and she tells her a story but she wonders if it's true or not.
6. Paternus Deluge - Dyrk Ashton🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Interesting story and take on Noah's ark and the flood. I like the character Fintán.
7. I, Kane - Laura M Hughes 🌟🌟
I didn't quite get this story I think it was from the Devil's POV in a interview format which was weird.
8. The Huntress -Michael R Miller🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I really liked learning of Elsie and her journey and the dragons. Looking forward to reading Dragon's Blade
9. The Prisoner - Phil Tucker 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Interesting story about a young lord and a prison.
10. A Simple Thing - Bryce O'Connor 🌟🌟🌟🌟
A story following a young assassin and it's target. I didn't there where so many hassles in killing someone.
11. Palesword- T L Greylock🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I'm a big fan of Norse Mythology and I loved reading about the priestess Enja and the discovering the Palesword
12. The Light in the jungle -Jeffrey Hall 🌟🌟🌟🌟
A interesting story of a few friends looking for a totem in the jungle. But greed and betrayal stands in their way and tests their friendship.
13. Black Barge - J.P. Ashman 🌟🌟🌟
It was difficult to get into the story and a lot of things happened at the same time. But I do wonder what will happen to Tips.
14.Making a Killing - David Bennett🌟🌟🌟🌟
Two assassin's getting ready to kill they're target. A very dark story
15. The First Thread - Alec Hutson 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I loved the mysteriousness of the story and I'm a big fan of Asian Mythology.
1. No Fairytale - Ben Galley 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Very interesting story I really enjoyed reading about the Mages called the Written especially Farden. The only downside I didn't like the curse words the reason was that the words it felt to modern. It felt it didn't fit the medieval feel of the story.
2. And they were never heard of again - Benedict Patrick🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Totally love the theme of the story and it had my stomachs in nots. I have They Mostly Came Out Night from the author will definitely be reading it.
3. A tree called Sightless - Steven Kelliher 🌟🌟🌟
A strange story about a tree but mostly children fighting each to be the rightful owner of the Emerald Blade
4. Barrowland -Mike Shell🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Heskia and he's two companions are mercenaries are grave robbers. A mysterious older soldier stumble upon them and a trek to the city where the stranger comes from to pick up a reward but instead they find a old grave and find out they are not alone. Very dark and scary story I enjoyed it very much.
5. Into the Woods - Timandra WhiteCastle 🌟🌟🌟🌟
A interesting and disturbing story that got me thinking what was real and what was fiction. Jelena visit's her grandmother and she tells her a story but she wonders if it's true or not.
6. Paternus Deluge - Dyrk Ashton🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Interesting story and take on Noah's ark and the flood. I like the character Fintán.
7. I, Kane - Laura M Hughes 🌟🌟
I didn't quite get this story I think it was from the Devil's POV in a interview format which was weird.
8. The Huntress -Michael R Miller🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I really liked learning of Elsie and her journey and the dragons. Looking forward to reading Dragon's Blade
9. The Prisoner - Phil Tucker 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Interesting story about a young lord and a prison.
10. A Simple Thing - Bryce O'Connor 🌟🌟🌟🌟
A story following a young assassin and it's target. I didn't there where so many hassles in killing someone.
11. Palesword- T L Greylock🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I'm a big fan of Norse Mythology and I loved reading about the priestess Enja and the discovering the Palesword
12. The Light in the jungle -Jeffrey Hall 🌟🌟🌟🌟
A interesting story of a few friends looking for a totem in the jungle. But greed and betrayal stands in their way and tests their friendship.
13. Black Barge - J.P. Ashman 🌟🌟🌟
It was difficult to get into the story and a lot of things happened at the same time. But I do wonder what will happen to Tips.
14.Making a Killing - David Bennett🌟🌟🌟🌟
Two assassin's getting ready to kill they're target. A very dark story
15. The First Thread - Alec Hutson 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I loved the mysteriousness of the story and I'm a big fan of Asian Mythology.
nooralshanti's review
3.0
Lost Lore: A Fantasy Anthology is made up of several novellas written by some well known fantasy authors who have been involved in the SPFBO (Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off). The best thing about it is that you can get this anthology for free and sample the work of these authors, and you might, like me, find a few whose other works you want to check out! Many of these stories are introductions to worlds or characters in the author's novel series and so they give a good taste for the worlds and writing styles.
Overall, I found the whole anthology a bit long and dense, and I ended up reading the stories one by one, taking breaks in between. Some stories impressed me and made me curious, some of them were just ok, and others I couldn't get through without some heavy skimming. Because of this I gave the entire anthology a 3 but you should definitely check it out because there's some great stuff in there and it's a good way to introduce yourself to these big names in fantasy.
I'm going to comment on each of the stories separately in the order they appear in the Anthology because they were all so different:
1. No Fairytale by Ben Galley
This was a well-written solid prequel to what seems to a fantasy world and tale. It stood alone enough to be its own little story but at the same time it is definitely just a taste for what's to come. Based on this story I would definitely check out some of the author's other works.
2. And They Were Never Heard From Again by Benedict Patrick
There were a lot of little atmospheric things I didn't like too much about this story when I first read it. I'm not a fan of horror and I felt like the main characters were being put through some unnecessarily horrifying situations, but to be honest, this is one of the few stories from this anthology that I still remember vividly and will probably remember later on. The writing style is great, the fairytale and horror atmosphere really works, and the ending was interesting and satisfying. I think someone who likes that type of story more would absolutely LOVE this and I think it's one of the stand-out stories in this anthology.
3. A Tree Called Sightless by Stephen Kelliher
There were so many terms used in this story that I had no idea what was going on. There were things called Willows, also called crows at one point, and then later on I got the feeling they were just old ladies... or maybe even the main character is non-human?... no clue what's happening. I tried to hang in there for a bit, it seemed like kids were going to fight to the death or something. It didn't take long for me to quit... In my opinion the world-building in this completely failed because it was so incomprehensible.
4. Barrowlands by Mike Shel
Some less than pleasant characters were roaming the wastelands looking for treasures or something. They meet some interesting people and go through creepy situations. The writing was ok and the story wasn't bad, but it just felt a little random, like it was a single chapter in a much longer book that would have been more interesting to read as a whole. Still, in terms of the world-building it seemed like an interesting world and I might check out the author's other, longer, works set in the same world.
5. Into the Woods by Timandra Whitecastle
This was a pretty pointless story that just didn't work for me. A girl gets her period and then her mother sends her to her grandmother's house and her grandmother tells her a random story with some very strange beings/some pretty horrifying events in it. What I got from this story within the story was that it was stupid to burn all your bridges and jump into the unknown, but then the grandmother tells the girl that the exact opposite is supposed to be the moral and sends her back telling her to definitely stray into the forbidden area where all those horrifying events supposedly happened in the story within the story. And for some reason the girl taking off the red headscarf her mother gave her is supposed to symbolize this carefree version of womanhood where you stray into ancient ruins and such... oooooook. I think the author was just trying way too hard with this and failed.
6. Paternus: Deluge by Dyrk Ashton
The story starts off with some characters on an ark and they're traveling from Sumeria to Ireland. I liked it at the start, but was confused by one of the characters because he seemed to be in love with a human, but not from her tribe, but then it started feeling more and more like he wasn't even human and I just couldn't picture what he actually looked like. The ark turns out to be one of Noah's (apparently many) arks and we get to see the great flood and there are little tidbits from other parts of the world that kind of interrupt the main events to tell us how other cultures preserved certain aspects of the flood in their own oral histories or whatever. There's a lot of action, some character development, and some interesting hints at Irish lore and mythology that I wish would have been delved into more. Overall, I liked this one, but I feel like it would have been much better as a novel because there was so much to it that could have been further explored. It's definitely made me curious about the author's other works, though.
7. I, Kane by Laura M. Hughes
A dragon, or the devil, is being held prisoner and some poor scribe is recording his monologue but for some reason not recording any of the questions that an interrogator comes in and asks him unless the devil repeats or comments on the question. And he's recording it in first person as a stream of consciousness. And he's so committed he keeps writing this nonsense stream-of-consciousness even as he's dying. We don't really get any information (and I thought this was on earth the entire time until I re-read the tiny little thing at the beginning that said it was in "Draguna" so maybe a different planet?) and I got the sense that the author was trying to make the main character amusing or super clever or something. This would have to the story in this collection that I hated the most.
8. The Huntress by Michael R. Miller
This was a well-written story that takes place in an interesting world. There's a war between dragons and humans that the main character gets roped into because of her hunting skills and the humans' desperation. At the same time the main character has a toddler who is the illegitimate son of a lord or something and there's a whole kind of side-story about that whole situation that I think was supposed to make me sympathize even more with the main character, but I didn't quite get there, I think maybe because of how little time we spent with her before the events unfolded. Anyway, it was well-written and interesting and I would check out the author's works in this world.
9. The Prisoner by Phil Tucker
The author of this story did a great job of keeping it short but still telling a more complete story that some of the other, much longer tales in this anthology. The main character seems to be somewhat lost on a brutal battlefield as he's studied how to be an honorable knight, but the reality of the soldiers he's with is very different from those ideals. The soldiers don't have an ounce of respect for him even though he will supposedly be their leader one day. He ends up solving his problem in what I think was the worst - and most cowardly - way possible. So yeah, the story itself was kind of meh for me personally, but the writing style was great. Kind of reminiscent of a Brandon Sanderson battle I read (I think in the Way of Kings) but then Brandon Sanderson would have spent 500 pages trying to go through the same amount of story that Phil Tucker got through in like 10 pages. Will check out other works by this author for sure.
10. A Simple Thing by Bryce O'Connor
This was the point in the anthology when I realized just how focused on killing this genre is. The story details an assassination from start to finish. The writing was ok, I'm just not sure what the point was.
11. Palesworld by T. L. Greylock
Eyja is a girl living in a viking-like land. Her father wants her to become a priestess so she can have a better life than he did as a simple fisherman. The priest she's learning from is pretty messed up and hates her guts. The story that ensued was very gripping from a character perspective. I would have to say Eyja was the character I most sympathized with and wanted to see their story through in this entire anthology. Great characterization and world-building as well. Loved it. Will have to check out the author's other works.
12. The Light in the Jungle by Jeffrey Hall
This was another one that was well-written and a complete story that stood well on its own. The only problem for me was that I didn't care at all about any of the characters, especially the main character. They're a group of very different people going on a quest together, each after their own thing. I guess your typical D&D style tale, which isn't necessarily my type of thing. Maybe if a bit more of the background between the main character and his best friend had been front-ended I might have cared more, but by the time it happened I had already skimmed through half the action and found it a bit too late to care about their story. But it's really well-written for those who like the style and sub-genre and those who like more action in their stories. It had kind of an Indiana Jones feel to it.
13. Black Barge by J. P. Ashman
The first half of this story is focused so much on the main character (a gnome) and her family getting their barge up a canal and being attacked by goblins and other monsters (they're called hobyahs guys!) that by the time reasons and stuff got revealed I really didn't care. I'm not a fan of overly technical details... ok, you're in a boat and you're an expert at working it, move on. If you're less anti-description than I am you'll enjoy this one, though. It's nothing earth-shattering, but it's not bad. I just wish the author had found a better name for those creatures than hobyahs....>.>)
14. Making a Killing by David Benem
Another assassin tale. This time the main character is working with someone to get it done. And they discuss, but don't want to worry about, the ramifications of what they're doing and how it could cause a potential war and so on. And their target is a little kid. Again, it seemed a little pointless, but I think if viewed as a prequel to another tale it might be an interesting character tidbit on like "how did this cold-blooded assassin come to be what they are?" or something. But with not having any attachment to the main character I, again, did not care and just wondered why the fantasy genre's so focused on random killing.
15. The First Thread by Alec Hutson
I stayed up to read this, passed out from tiredness a couple of times, and insisted on finishing it and then I re-read the last few pages the next day to make sure I hadn't missed anything. Haha. For me, this was the best story in this anthology. It had some excellent writing, excellent world-building, some great growth of character, and the world and its magic was revealed at just right pace. It's a great, stand alone tale that gives a preview to a whole new world/set of adventures. It's actually hard to believe the author fit so much story and so much characterization and world-building into such a short form. Excellent. I don't just want to check out the author's work in general, I need to read what happens in this world next. I realize this tells you nothing about what the story is, but you just need to go read it. Excellent stuff.
Well, that's it. I highly encourage all fantasy fans to check out this anthology and see if there's something in there that will draw your attention. And definitely read at least Palesworld and The First Thread if nothing else from this anthology!
Overall, I found the whole anthology a bit long and dense, and I ended up reading the stories one by one, taking breaks in between. Some stories impressed me and made me curious, some of them were just ok, and others I couldn't get through without some heavy skimming. Because of this I gave the entire anthology a 3 but you should definitely check it out because there's some great stuff in there and it's a good way to introduce yourself to these big names in fantasy.
I'm going to comment on each of the stories separately in the order they appear in the Anthology because they were all so different:
1. No Fairytale by Ben Galley
This was a well-written solid prequel to what seems to a fantasy world and tale. It stood alone enough to be its own little story but at the same time it is definitely just a taste for what's to come. Based on this story I would definitely check out some of the author's other works.
2. And They Were Never Heard From Again by Benedict Patrick
There were a lot of little atmospheric things I didn't like too much about this story when I first read it. I'm not a fan of horror and I felt like the main characters were being put through some unnecessarily horrifying situations, but to be honest, this is one of the few stories from this anthology that I still remember vividly and will probably remember later on. The writing style is great, the fairytale and horror atmosphere really works, and the ending was interesting and satisfying. I think someone who likes that type of story more would absolutely LOVE this and I think it's one of the stand-out stories in this anthology.
3. A Tree Called Sightless by Stephen Kelliher
There were so many terms used in this story that I had no idea what was going on. There were things called Willows, also called crows at one point, and then later on I got the feeling they were just old ladies... or maybe even the main character is non-human?... no clue what's happening. I tried to hang in there for a bit, it seemed like kids were going to fight to the death or something. It didn't take long for me to quit... In my opinion the world-building in this completely failed because it was so incomprehensible.
4. Barrowlands by Mike Shel
Some less than pleasant characters were roaming the wastelands looking for treasures or something. They meet some interesting people and go through creepy situations. The writing was ok and the story wasn't bad, but it just felt a little random, like it was a single chapter in a much longer book that would have been more interesting to read as a whole. Still, in terms of the world-building it seemed like an interesting world and I might check out the author's other, longer, works set in the same world.
5. Into the Woods by Timandra Whitecastle
This was a pretty pointless story that just didn't work for me. A girl gets her period and then her mother sends her to her grandmother's house and her grandmother tells her a random story with some very strange beings/some pretty horrifying events in it. What I got from this story within the story was that it was stupid to burn all your bridges and jump into the unknown, but then the grandmother tells the girl that the exact opposite is supposed to be the moral and sends her back telling her to definitely stray into the forbidden area where all those horrifying events supposedly happened in the story within the story. And for some reason the girl taking off the red headscarf her mother gave her is supposed to symbolize this carefree version of womanhood where you stray into ancient ruins and such... oooooook. I think the author was just trying way too hard with this and failed.
6. Paternus: Deluge by Dyrk Ashton
The story starts off with some characters on an ark and they're traveling from Sumeria to Ireland. I liked it at the start, but was confused by one of the characters because he seemed to be in love with a human, but not from her tribe, but then it started feeling more and more like he wasn't even human and I just couldn't picture what he actually looked like. The ark turns out to be one of Noah's (apparently many) arks and we get to see the great flood and there are little tidbits from other parts of the world that kind of interrupt the main events to tell us how other cultures preserved certain aspects of the flood in their own oral histories or whatever. There's a lot of action, some character development, and some interesting hints at Irish lore and mythology that I wish would have been delved into more. Overall, I liked this one, but I feel like it would have been much better as a novel because there was so much to it that could have been further explored. It's definitely made me curious about the author's other works, though.
7. I, Kane by Laura M. Hughes
A dragon, or the devil, is being held prisoner and some poor scribe is recording his monologue but for some reason not recording any of the questions that an interrogator comes in and asks him unless the devil repeats or comments on the question. And he's recording it in first person as a stream of consciousness. And he's so committed he keeps writing this nonsense stream-of-consciousness even as he's dying. We don't really get any information (and I thought this was on earth the entire time until I re-read the tiny little thing at the beginning that said it was in "Draguna" so maybe a different planet?) and I got the sense that the author was trying to make the main character amusing or super clever or something. This would have to the story in this collection that I hated the most.
8. The Huntress by Michael R. Miller
This was a well-written story that takes place in an interesting world. There's a war between dragons and humans that the main character gets roped into because of her hunting skills and the humans' desperation. At the same time the main character has a toddler who is the illegitimate son of a lord or something and there's a whole kind of side-story about that whole situation that I think was supposed to make me sympathize even more with the main character, but I didn't quite get there, I think maybe because of how little time we spent with her before the events unfolded. Anyway, it was well-written and interesting and I would check out the author's works in this world.
9. The Prisoner by Phil Tucker
The author of this story did a great job of keeping it short but still telling a more complete story that some of the other, much longer tales in this anthology. The main character seems to be somewhat lost on a brutal battlefield as he's studied how to be an honorable knight, but the reality of the soldiers he's with is very different from those ideals. The soldiers don't have an ounce of respect for him even though he will supposedly be their leader one day. He ends up solving his problem in what I think was the worst - and most cowardly - way possible. So yeah, the story itself was kind of meh for me personally, but the writing style was great. Kind of reminiscent of a Brandon Sanderson battle I read (I think in the Way of Kings) but then Brandon Sanderson would have spent 500 pages trying to go through the same amount of story that Phil Tucker got through in like 10 pages. Will check out other works by this author for sure.
10. A Simple Thing by Bryce O'Connor
This was the point in the anthology when I realized just how focused on killing this genre is. The story details an assassination from start to finish. The writing was ok, I'm just not sure what the point was.
11. Palesworld by T. L. Greylock
Eyja is a girl living in a viking-like land. Her father wants her to become a priestess so she can have a better life than he did as a simple fisherman. The priest she's learning from is pretty messed up and hates her guts. The story that ensued was very gripping from a character perspective. I would have to say Eyja was the character I most sympathized with and wanted to see their story through in this entire anthology. Great characterization and world-building as well. Loved it. Will have to check out the author's other works.
12. The Light in the Jungle by Jeffrey Hall
This was another one that was well-written and a complete story that stood well on its own. The only problem for me was that I didn't care at all about any of the characters, especially the main character. They're a group of very different people going on a quest together, each after their own thing. I guess your typical D&D style tale, which isn't necessarily my type of thing. Maybe if a bit more of the background between the main character and his best friend had been front-ended I might have cared more, but by the time it happened I had already skimmed through half the action and found it a bit too late to care about their story. But it's really well-written for those who like the style and sub-genre and those who like more action in their stories. It had kind of an Indiana Jones feel to it.
13. Black Barge by J. P. Ashman
The first half of this story is focused so much on the main character (a gnome) and her family getting their barge up a canal and being attacked by goblins and other monsters (they're called hobyahs guys!) that by the time reasons and stuff got revealed I really didn't care. I'm not a fan of overly technical details... ok, you're in a boat and you're an expert at working it, move on. If you're less anti-description than I am you'll enjoy this one, though. It's nothing earth-shattering, but it's not bad. I just wish the author had found a better name for those creatures than hobyahs....>.>)
14. Making a Killing by David Benem
Another assassin tale. This time the main character is working with someone to get it done. And they discuss, but don't want to worry about, the ramifications of what they're doing and how it could cause a potential war and so on. And their target is a little kid. Again, it seemed a little pointless, but I think if viewed as a prequel to another tale it might be an interesting character tidbit on like "how did this cold-blooded assassin come to be what they are?" or something. But with not having any attachment to the main character I, again, did not care and just wondered why the fantasy genre's so focused on random killing.
15. The First Thread by Alec Hutson
I stayed up to read this, passed out from tiredness a couple of times, and insisted on finishing it and then I re-read the last few pages the next day to make sure I hadn't missed anything. Haha. For me, this was the best story in this anthology. It had some excellent writing, excellent world-building, some great growth of character, and the world and its magic was revealed at just right pace. It's a great, stand alone tale that gives a preview to a whole new world/set of adventures. It's actually hard to believe the author fit so much story and so much characterization and world-building into such a short form. Excellent. I don't just want to check out the author's work in general, I need to read what happens in this world next. I realize this tells you nothing about what the story is, but you just need to go read it. Excellent stuff.
Well, that's it. I highly encourage all fantasy fans to check out this anthology and see if there's something in there that will draw your attention. And definitely read at least Palesworld and The First Thread if nothing else from this anthology!