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jay9813's review
4.0
It’s time for a truly strange and odd little book! Cut Corners – Volume 3 is a pocket-sized delight.
If you like unpredictable horror, this book is definitely for you. It’s creepy and fun, likely to get your mind racing, but not shock-at-any-cost, like I find a lot of modern horror can be.
Cut Corners – Volume 3 contains three stories:
Andromeda by Kealan Patrick Burke
I had my doubts as I began this one – stories of irritating school girls stalking boys on Instagram aren’t really my thing. But Andromeda becomes a gripping story with gorgeous imagery and an impending sense of doom.
It’s Halloween (always a good setting) and the adults are starting to act a little strangely… Horror descends and the teens have the edge, although they haven’t realised it yet! It was very easy to have this story play along in my mind like a fun horror film or perhaps one of the better episodes of Tales of the Unexpected.
The Barrel by Bryan Smith
A truly unique little gem of a tale! The first two-thirds of The Barrel is really just a man wondering what’s inside a mystery barrel… and it’s great. The suspends builds and I could really imagine myself in this guy’s shoes. Yes, I should probably call the police and wait for them to deal with it, but… I want to know what’s in the barrel!
The ending is quick-paced comedy genius, a wonderful contrast to what comes before. You get an inkling at what may be coming, but you really won’t guess it all. Cut Corners – Volume 3 is worth buying for The Barrel alone. I’ll definitely be keeping ’em peeled for Bryan Smith in the future.
Afterparty by Ray Garton
This is the more sophisticated story of the three. Afterparty is full of strange little nuggets, weird scenes and imagery. This works really well as a short story and, although I often disagree when people say they wish a short was longer, I would love to get more stuck in to this tale as a novel.
It’s a serious horror piece with truly unlikable aspects (in a good way) and it gets under your skin. I found myself wondering why the main character struggled with the guilt of one act so strongly, whilst he seemed to flick away other acts so easily. At first I thought it was bad writing (not fitting with the rest of the story) but then I realised it was a clever piece of character building. Part of the story is set in a creepy, lavish mansion with art that belongs in A Clockwork Orange – I can still wander around the corridors in my mind.
https://examiningtheodd.com/2017/05/16/cut-corners-volume-3/
If you like unpredictable horror, this book is definitely for you. It’s creepy and fun, likely to get your mind racing, but not shock-at-any-cost, like I find a lot of modern horror can be.
Cut Corners – Volume 3 contains three stories:
Andromeda by Kealan Patrick Burke
I had my doubts as I began this one – stories of irritating school girls stalking boys on Instagram aren’t really my thing. But Andromeda becomes a gripping story with gorgeous imagery and an impending sense of doom.
It’s Halloween (always a good setting) and the adults are starting to act a little strangely… Horror descends and the teens have the edge, although they haven’t realised it yet! It was very easy to have this story play along in my mind like a fun horror film or perhaps one of the better episodes of Tales of the Unexpected.
The Barrel by Bryan Smith
A truly unique little gem of a tale! The first two-thirds of The Barrel is really just a man wondering what’s inside a mystery barrel… and it’s great. The suspends builds and I could really imagine myself in this guy’s shoes. Yes, I should probably call the police and wait for them to deal with it, but… I want to know what’s in the barrel!
The ending is quick-paced comedy genius, a wonderful contrast to what comes before. You get an inkling at what may be coming, but you really won’t guess it all. Cut Corners – Volume 3 is worth buying for The Barrel alone. I’ll definitely be keeping ’em peeled for Bryan Smith in the future.
Afterparty by Ray Garton
This is the more sophisticated story of the three. Afterparty is full of strange little nuggets, weird scenes and imagery. This works really well as a short story and, although I often disagree when people say they wish a short was longer, I would love to get more stuck in to this tale as a novel.
It’s a serious horror piece with truly unlikable aspects (in a good way) and it gets under your skin. I found myself wondering why the main character struggled with the guilt of one act so strongly, whilst he seemed to flick away other acts so easily. At first I thought it was bad writing (not fitting with the rest of the story) but then I realised it was a clever piece of character building. Part of the story is set in a creepy, lavish mansion with art that belongs in A Clockwork Orange – I can still wander around the corridors in my mind.
https://examiningtheodd.com/2017/05/16/cut-corners-volume-3/
wellwortharead's review
4.0
This was a quick and creepy read, containing 3 short stories that are sure to give you chills.
It's hard for me to say too much more than what is already in the description without ending up giving anything away. Suffice it to say that these well written, ominous tales are brought to you by 3 masters of horror who know how to keep the suspense level high and make your heart pound.
It's hard for me to say too much more than what is already in the description without ending up giving anything away. Suffice it to say that these well written, ominous tales are brought to you by 3 masters of horror who know how to keep the suspense level high and make your heart pound.
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