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reads_vicariously's review against another edition
3.0
Woah, that synopsis really doesn’t come close to describing the insanity in this book! I’m going to be purposefully vague in this post because this book needs to be experienced and the best way of going into this is with no expectations
I thought the book had an interesting premise in the beginning. It’s fantasy grounded (poor word choice) in realistic human emotion. I felt for the main character and what she was experiencing. But then the book hits a certain spot and soars into apocalyptic speculative horror with a mix of stunning revelations and events
Not everything in this book worked for me (some awkward moments and dialogue, etc), and I felt like it could have used more meticulous world building. But to be fair it’s going from a single person waking from a tragic accident to an epic war between species in less than 130 pages. I promise if you read this book it’s not one that you will soon forget!
I thought the book had an interesting premise in the beginning. It’s fantasy grounded (poor word choice) in realistic human emotion. I felt for the main character and what she was experiencing. But then the book hits a certain spot and soars into apocalyptic speculative horror with a mix of stunning revelations and events
Not everything in this book worked for me (some awkward moments and dialogue, etc), and I felt like it could have used more meticulous world building. But to be fair it’s going from a single person waking from a tragic accident to an epic war between species in less than 130 pages. I promise if you read this book it’s not one that you will soon forget!
johnlynchbooks's review
5.0
Slaves to Gravity is my introduction to both Somer Canon and Wesley Southard, and what an introduction it is. If you follow my reviews at all, you know by now I’m a huge fan of silver shamrock, so for me to sit here and say that this might be the most “fun” I’ve had reading one of the publishers books, should tell you something.
This is a very brisk read, both in the length of the title and the way the pages just fly by. Pun intended. The story I found to be highly original, and can’t recall having read anything quite like it. The characters were fun, and while one of them might rub people the wrong way with some of his dialogue, there are people who banter that way, and I thought some of it was funny. Once the pages start going and the story picks up, more and more just keeps unraveling and to be honest I had zero clue where it was going until we got there.
When this reached its conclusion, I immediately wished that there was more. It was that fun. Like I mentioned before, this is the most fun I had with a Silver Shamrock, a publisher who is quickly becoming one of the most prolific in the indie horror scene. Kudos to everyone involved in making this book happen, I’ll be picking up more from both authors ASAP.
This is a very brisk read, both in the length of the title and the way the pages just fly by. Pun intended. The story I found to be highly original, and can’t recall having read anything quite like it. The characters were fun, and while one of them might rub people the wrong way with some of his dialogue, there are people who banter that way, and I thought some of it was funny. Once the pages start going and the story picks up, more and more just keeps unraveling and to be honest I had zero clue where it was going until we got there.
When this reached its conclusion, I immediately wished that there was more. It was that fun. Like I mentioned before, this is the most fun I had with a Silver Shamrock, a publisher who is quickly becoming one of the most prolific in the indie horror scene. Kudos to everyone involved in making this book happen, I’ll be picking up more from both authors ASAP.
n0rmann's review against another edition
4.0
I had no idea what to expect from this - it was an impulse download. But the story was very unique and maybe a little out there, but I really enjoyed it.
catra121's review against another edition
3.0
I feel bad rating this only three stars. I really liked the beginning and the characters. It was a unique premise with a main character who is paralyzed from the waist down. I thought the story really had a lot of potential...but in the end it wasnt fully realize...at least not for me. The story just gets...weird...but in a cartoonish sort of way. I dont know...it was well written but just sort of missed the mark for me.
readingvicariously's review against another edition
3.0
Woah, that synopsis really doesn’t come close to describing the insanity in this book! I’m going to be purposefully vague in this post because this book needs to be experienced and the best way of going into this is with no expectations
I thought the book had an interesting premise in the beginning. It’s fantasy grounded (poor word choice) in realistic human emotion. I felt for the main character and what she was experiencing. But then the book hits a certain spot and soars into apocalyptic speculative horror with a mix of stunning revelations and events
Not everything in this book worked for me (some awkward moments and dialogue, etc), and I felt like it could have used more meticulous world building. But to be fair it’s going from a single person waking from a tragic accident to an epic war between species in less than 130 pages. I promise if you read this book it’s not one that you will soon forget!
I thought the book had an interesting premise in the beginning. It’s fantasy grounded (poor word choice) in realistic human emotion. I felt for the main character and what she was experiencing. But then the book hits a certain spot and soars into apocalyptic speculative horror with a mix of stunning revelations and events
Not everything in this book worked for me (some awkward moments and dialogue, etc), and I felt like it could have used more meticulous world building. But to be fair it’s going from a single person waking from a tragic accident to an epic war between species in less than 130 pages. I promise if you read this book it’s not one that you will soon forget!
spookyoctopusreads's review against another edition
4.0
I've always thought it would be absolutely exhilarating and amazing to have the ability to soar through the skies, to fly anywhere that I wanted at any moment, but.....after reading this book, I am pretty sure I am rethinking that idea.
One of the immediate things that I loved about this book was the pacing. I FLEW through this novella (pun intended- hehe). With each turn of the page I became more and more invested and interested in Charlie Snyder's story and new found power of flight after surviving a tragic accident. When everything seemed to be on the up and up for Charlie, this sense of dread, a feeling like something is watching her, sets in. Something wants to keep her grounded and out of the skies. Then, she's warned never to fly above the cloud line by a friend. The questions started mounting in my head, and I wanted (no, needed) to know what was going on.
I don't know why, but I got to thinking about this book as a metaphor once I wrapped up my reading. Could Charlie's experiences with flight and the creatures battling to keep her chained to the ground be a metaphor for the free spirited tendencies of many of us and the forces that try to squash that spirit? Maybe, maybe not....but, I do really appreciate books that allow me to think.
My only complaint with this story lies in the ending. It really took a turn in the end that I wasn't expecting, and I was fully rooting for it to be more "horrific" rather than the sci-fi/pseudo-fantasy that it turned in to. The ending didn't completely sour my taste for the story, but it just wasn't something that I enjoyed as much as the story leading up to it.
**Thank you @silvershamrockpress for providing me with a copy of this novella in exchange for an honest review.**
One of the immediate things that I loved about this book was the pacing. I FLEW through this novella (pun intended- hehe). With each turn of the page I became more and more invested and interested in Charlie Snyder's story and new found power of flight after surviving a tragic accident. When everything seemed to be on the up and up for Charlie, this sense of dread, a feeling like something is watching her, sets in. Something wants to keep her grounded and out of the skies. Then, she's warned never to fly above the cloud line by a friend. The questions started mounting in my head, and I wanted (no, needed) to know what was going on.
I don't know why, but I got to thinking about this book as a metaphor once I wrapped up my reading. Could Charlie's experiences with flight and the creatures battling to keep her chained to the ground be a metaphor for the free spirited tendencies of many of us and the forces that try to squash that spirit? Maybe, maybe not....but, I do really appreciate books that allow me to think.
My only complaint with this story lies in the ending. It really took a turn in the end that I wasn't expecting, and I was fully rooting for it to be more "horrific" rather than the sci-fi/pseudo-fantasy that it turned in to. The ending didn't completely sour my taste for the story, but it just wasn't something that I enjoyed as much as the story leading up to it.
**Thank you @silvershamrockpress for providing me with a copy of this novella in exchange for an honest review.**
ericarobyn's review against another edition
5.0
Slaves to Gravity by Wesley Southard and Somer Canon is a fun cosmic horror that will keep throwing you curveballs as the story progresses!
In this book, the main character, Charlie Snyder, wakes up in a hospital bed and to her horror, she learns that she is paralyzed from the waist down. While recovering, she feels broken, frustrated, and a bit useless…
One night, she wakes up from a nightmare to her face hitting the ceiling. At first she thinks it was just a fluke, but she soon realizes that she can actually control this! From there, she tests her limits and learns more and more about herself. But she’s on a tricky path that is full of danger, and not just around the discovery of her new abilities.
My goodness. This was such a fun and bizarre read! I very highly recommend going into this one dark so you can enjoy all of the twists and turns! I will keep my last few notes light to prevent spoilers.
One of my favorite elements of this story were all of the pop culture references! They had me laughing right out loud.
The characters were all wonderful and I loved their dynamic with one another. I would have happily read more about their adventures, but I also liked that this book was short and sweet.
I also really appreciated the scenes that sent chills down the back of my neck. There were so many of those! And that one scene in the park in NYC? I won’t be forgetting that any time soon!
My Favorite Passage
Charlie croaked out a laugh. “This isn’t some Stephen King book, Sean. This is real life.”
“We all float up here,” Doggo giggled.
My Final Thoughts
There was never a second during my time with this book that I had any inkling as to what was going to happen next. I absolutely love that!
If you enjoy cosmic horror that will keep you on your toes and make you shout, “WHAT IS GOING ON?!” then I highly recommend this to you!
If this were ever adapted, I could see it going along with films like Cabin In The Woods or Life After Beth as there were plenty of elements that were scary, but loads of lighter scenes that took you out of the horror for a bit before plunging you right back in.
In this book, the main character, Charlie Snyder, wakes up in a hospital bed and to her horror, she learns that she is paralyzed from the waist down. While recovering, she feels broken, frustrated, and a bit useless…
One night, she wakes up from a nightmare to her face hitting the ceiling. At first she thinks it was just a fluke, but she soon realizes that she can actually control this! From there, she tests her limits and learns more and more about herself. But she’s on a tricky path that is full of danger, and not just around the discovery of her new abilities.
My goodness. This was such a fun and bizarre read! I very highly recommend going into this one dark so you can enjoy all of the twists and turns! I will keep my last few notes light to prevent spoilers.
One of my favorite elements of this story were all of the pop culture references! They had me laughing right out loud.
The characters were all wonderful and I loved their dynamic with one another. I would have happily read more about their adventures, but I also liked that this book was short and sweet.
I also really appreciated the scenes that sent chills down the back of my neck. There were so many of those! And that one scene in the park in NYC? I won’t be forgetting that any time soon!
My Favorite Passage
Charlie croaked out a laugh. “This isn’t some Stephen King book, Sean. This is real life.”
“We all float up here,” Doggo giggled.
My Final Thoughts
There was never a second during my time with this book that I had any inkling as to what was going to happen next. I absolutely love that!
If you enjoy cosmic horror that will keep you on your toes and make you shout, “WHAT IS GOING ON?!” then I highly recommend this to you!
If this were ever adapted, I could see it going along with films like Cabin In The Woods or Life After Beth as there were plenty of elements that were scary, but loads of lighter scenes that took you out of the horror for a bit before plunging you right back in.
charshorrorcorner's review against another edition
3.0
Did you ever have those flying dreams when you were a kid? I did and they always gave me such a thrill. The first half of this book did too!
Charlene, (aka Charlie), gets into an accident and when she wakes up, she's lost the use of her legs. It's a terrible blow for a woman in the prime of her life. Her husband Marcus is by her side the whole time, during her hospital stay, and during her months of physical therapy. He even makes sure everything is within her reach once she's able to return home. Then one night, Charlie wakes up and finds she's levitated off the bed. How did she get there? How does she get down? You'll have to read this to find out!
I just loved the first half of this novella. I really liked the characters of Charlie and Marcus. They seemed like real people, trying their best to deal with a terrible situation. But then, in the second half the story got wonky for me. I can't say too much about why, without spoilers, but it didn't work for me. It seemed almost like the second half wasn't connected to the first, other than these two characters.
I've read short stories from both of these authors before, and I've enjoyed them. It's just that this one didn't work for me. Your mileage may vary.
A note regarding the cover and illustrations-LOVED them! Silver Shamrock puts out nothing but great looking books and this is no exception.
Get your copy here: https://amzn.to/2Rh7kIF
*Thanks to Silver Shamrock for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it!*
Charlene, (aka Charlie), gets into an accident and when she wakes up, she's lost the use of her legs. It's a terrible blow for a woman in the prime of her life. Her husband Marcus is by her side the whole time, during her hospital stay, and during her months of physical therapy. He even makes sure everything is within her reach once she's able to return home. Then one night, Charlie wakes up and finds she's levitated off the bed. How did she get there? How does she get down? You'll have to read this to find out!
I just loved the first half of this novella. I really liked the characters of Charlie and Marcus. They seemed like real people, trying their best to deal with a terrible situation. But then, in the second half the story got wonky for me. I can't say too much about why, without spoilers, but it didn't work for me. It seemed almost like the second half wasn't connected to the first, other than these two characters.
I've read short stories from both of these authors before, and I've enjoyed them. It's just that this one didn't work for me. Your mileage may vary.
A note regarding the cover and illustrations-LOVED them! Silver Shamrock puts out nothing but great looking books and this is no exception.
Get your copy here: https://amzn.to/2Rh7kIF
*Thanks to Silver Shamrock for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it!*
brennanlafaro's review against another edition
4.0
An abandoned room, bathed in purple light - the only item visible is a wheelchair whose occupant is unaccounted for. Out the window, we see the St. Louis Arch at night, lightning illuminating it. Take the title, Slaves to Gravity, the cover art, two indie horror darlings in Wesley Southard and Somer Canon, and Silver Shamrock publisher Ken McKinley’s word that this story is different than anything your wildest imagination might conjure, and you have all the ingredients for a seriously promising novella.
As is my custom, I really wanted to dive into this one knowing little more than what’s listed in the previous paragraph. From the word go, this is an unconventional book. Charlie Snyder wakes up after an accident to find out she’s lost the use of her legs. With the aid of her husband, she tries to come to terms with the new normal, with limited success. Then Charlie discovers she may have had a few gains along with all the losses she suffered.
Toward the beginning and into the middle, I couldn’t help but be reminded of Josh Malerman’s A House at the Bottom of a Lake, not because of any plot similarities, but due to the sense of magic and wonder the authors were able to instill throughout. The set up is nothing short of magnificent, and the ominous appearances and forewarnings of the various creatures and the warnings about Charlie’s use of her newfound abilities are well dispersed throughout. If it seems like I’m being intentionally vague here, that’s because I’m being intentionally vague here. Like I mentioned before, this is an unconventional book and the discoveries are best left to the reader.
The dynamic exploring Charlie finding common ground with new friends, a group of people who understand what she’s going through post-accident, adds quite a bit as Charlie finds herself drifting from her husband. There’s a lot of subtext here for those looking for it about treating those with disabilities as people - not talking down to them or acting as though help is needed with every little task when it’s not asked for. Kudos to the authors for making this a focal point at the heart of the book.
While I enjoyed the nature of the ride, the ending - namely the last thirty pages or so didn’t resonate with me. I emphasize the words “with me” here because I believe there will be a lot of readers out there who adore the beginning, and keep that delight throughout. To me, it leaned a little too heavily into fantasy without sufficient warning, effectively pulling a Hancock (Reference included for fans of 2008 dramas masquerading as a superhero movie). As such, I feel good about giving this a 4 star rating, and if Southard and Canon opt to write more in the universe/mythos they’ve designed, I’ll sign up for it.
I was given a copy by the publisher for review consideration.
Rating/review coming soon
As is my custom, I really wanted to dive into this one knowing little more than what’s listed in the previous paragraph. From the word go, this is an unconventional book. Charlie Snyder wakes up after an accident to find out she’s lost the use of her legs. With the aid of her husband, she tries to come to terms with the new normal, with limited success. Then Charlie discovers she may have had a few gains along with all the losses she suffered.
Toward the beginning and into the middle, I couldn’t help but be reminded of Josh Malerman’s A House at the Bottom of a Lake, not because of any plot similarities, but due to the sense of magic and wonder the authors were able to instill throughout. The set up is nothing short of magnificent, and the ominous appearances and forewarnings of the various creatures and the warnings about Charlie’s use of her newfound abilities are well dispersed throughout. If it seems like I’m being intentionally vague here, that’s because I’m being intentionally vague here. Like I mentioned before, this is an unconventional book and the discoveries are best left to the reader.
The dynamic exploring Charlie finding common ground with new friends, a group of people who understand what she’s going through post-accident, adds quite a bit as Charlie finds herself drifting from her husband. There’s a lot of subtext here for those looking for it about treating those with disabilities as people - not talking down to them or acting as though help is needed with every little task when it’s not asked for. Kudos to the authors for making this a focal point at the heart of the book.
While I enjoyed the nature of the ride, the ending - namely the last thirty pages or so didn’t resonate with me. I emphasize the words “with me” here because I believe there will be a lot of readers out there who adore the beginning, and keep that delight throughout. To me, it leaned a little too heavily into fantasy without sufficient warning, effectively pulling a Hancock (Reference included for fans of 2008 dramas masquerading as a superhero movie). As such, I feel good about giving this a 4 star rating, and if Southard and Canon opt to write more in the universe/mythos they’ve designed, I’ll sign up for it.
I was given a copy by the publisher for review consideration.
Rating/review coming soon
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