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vondav's review
5.0
One of my favourite reads is an author’s short story collections. It gives you the chance to fit in a short story if real life is getting in the way. In this collection, there are 8 short stories with one thing in common, Witches. Each story was unique to the collection and they all ended with a twist that I never saw coming.
When I read a collection, there may be one story that I don’t enjoy. However, in Game of Crones, I loved them all and it was hard to pick a favourite. Even whilst writing this review I keep changing my mind of the one story that stood out for me. Bonfire of the Vanities and Prince Charming had me laughing how the stories ended, both for different reasons. Although my favourite ending to a story was Changling and I am sure that if I was not reading it on public transport, I would have gasped out loud.
At just over 100 pages this was a quick read and you can read a story in your coffee break. The stories are all set in a different time and place and due to the author’s fine detail gives you the feeling that you are there. One thing I could not get over was how much was crammed into each story. There was comedy, intrigue, suspense, vengeance and so much more, that kept me hooked. As I said at the beginning of my review, Jay Raven is a new to me author and they have just gained another fan
This is a perfect read for anyone that enjoys fantasy
When I read a collection, there may be one story that I don’t enjoy. However, in Game of Crones, I loved them all and it was hard to pick a favourite. Even whilst writing this review I keep changing my mind of the one story that stood out for me. Bonfire of the Vanities and Prince Charming had me laughing how the stories ended, both for different reasons. Although my favourite ending to a story was Changling and I am sure that if I was not reading it on public transport, I would have gasped out loud.
At just over 100 pages this was a quick read and you can read a story in your coffee break. The stories are all set in a different time and place and due to the author’s fine detail gives you the feeling that you are there. One thing I could not get over was how much was crammed into each story. There was comedy, intrigue, suspense, vengeance and so much more, that kept me hooked. As I said at the beginning of my review, Jay Raven is a new to me author and they have just gained another fan
This is a perfect read for anyone that enjoys fantasy
jessica42980's review
4.0
All my reviews can be found at: http://jessicasreadingroom.com
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I received a copy for being part of the blog tour.
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Game of Crones is a short novel of 110 pages comprised of eight short stories that range from having magicians to princes and witches. If you enjoy your ‘fairy tales’ with a macabre twist to them then Game of Crones is for you!
These short stories could be read in no more than 20 minutes each, but usually shorter. I was able to read it quickly and each story is unique in its own way and has varying twists at the end that you may not see coming! My two personal favorites were Suggestion of Evil and Prince Charming. They were two very different stories and I especially loved the ending of Prince Charming.
If you enjoy dark ‘fairy tales’ give Game of Crones a shot, you are sure to find a story you will enjoy!
~~~~
I received a copy for being part of the blog tour.
~~~~
Game of Crones is a short novel of 110 pages comprised of eight short stories that range from having magicians to princes and witches. If you enjoy your ‘fairy tales’ with a macabre twist to them then Game of Crones is for you!
These short stories could be read in no more than 20 minutes each, but usually shorter. I was able to read it quickly and each story is unique in its own way and has varying twists at the end that you may not see coming! My two personal favorites were Suggestion of Evil and Prince Charming. They were two very different stories and I especially loved the ending of Prince Charming.
If you enjoy dark ‘fairy tales’ give Game of Crones a shot, you are sure to find a story you will enjoy!
stephbookshine's review
4.0
*I received a free copy of this book with thanks to the author and Rachel Gilbey at Rachel’s Random Resources blog tours. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
Game of Crones is a collection of eight short stories that feature the dark and dangerous aspects of witchcraft through the ages.
The blurb accurately describes and sums up the contents here: there are witches, seers, hags, necromancers, a Cassandra, a Pandora, curses, potions, rituals and poisons. The overarching theme celebrates the wily intelligence and precarious favour of women with power; following traditional fairytale and folklore templates, but often adding a new and unexpected twist to a familiar tale.
I particularly enjoyed the shivers I got from ‘Clutching at Straws’ and ‘Suggestion of Evil’ which cleverly channel the reader’s own imagination against them to highlight and magnify the horror presented. Some of the attitudes in the stories are disconcertingly un-PC (in ‘Prince Charming’, for example) but the attribution of such thoughts and feelings are reasonable in the context of the character perspectives and the periods in which the stories are set. These are not modern, but medieval horrors.
Fans of short, dark, frisson-inducing tales of haggard crones and sly sirens will enjoy this varied collection of wicked witchery and twisted folk stories.
“I have a patient to urgently examine. A young woman. She was one of the few to live through the earthquake.”
“Oh yeah, and what’s so damned important about her?”
Geoff paused for a second, aware how bizarre it would sound. He let out his breath in a low hiss.
“They claim,” he said, “that she caused it.”
– Jay Raven, ‘Quaking with Fear’ in Game of Crones
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpress.com/2019/06/08/blog-blitz-game-of-crones-jay-raven/
Game of Crones is a collection of eight short stories that feature the dark and dangerous aspects of witchcraft through the ages.
The blurb accurately describes and sums up the contents here: there are witches, seers, hags, necromancers, a Cassandra, a Pandora, curses, potions, rituals and poisons. The overarching theme celebrates the wily intelligence and precarious favour of women with power; following traditional fairytale and folklore templates, but often adding a new and unexpected twist to a familiar tale.
I particularly enjoyed the shivers I got from ‘Clutching at Straws’ and ‘Suggestion of Evil’ which cleverly channel the reader’s own imagination against them to highlight and magnify the horror presented. Some of the attitudes in the stories are disconcertingly un-PC (in ‘Prince Charming’, for example) but the attribution of such thoughts and feelings are reasonable in the context of the character perspectives and the periods in which the stories are set. These are not modern, but medieval horrors.
Fans of short, dark, frisson-inducing tales of haggard crones and sly sirens will enjoy this varied collection of wicked witchery and twisted folk stories.
“I have a patient to urgently examine. A young woman. She was one of the few to live through the earthquake.”
“Oh yeah, and what’s so damned important about her?”
Geoff paused for a second, aware how bizarre it would sound. He let out his breath in a low hiss.
“They claim,” he said, “that she caused it.”
– Jay Raven, ‘Quaking with Fear’ in Game of Crones
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpress.com/2019/06/08/blog-blitz-game-of-crones-jay-raven/
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