Lucy A. SnyderReseñas

Thank you to netgalley for the ARC!

WHAT A FUN BOOK. Everything I hoped Lovecraft would be, spooky, gory, all over the place chaos. Finally a book that surprised me and I had no idea what would happen next! What a treat.

There's just something about SPELLBENT that seemed...off to me. I read it twice through, with a couple months between reads, but it wasn't until the second read through that I understood what it was. The main character, Jessie, is unbalanced as a 'person'. She goes from one extreme (emotional anguish) to another (she barely bats an eye at losing a limb), but doesn't seem to connect with those emotions.

Premise wise, SPELLBENT worked as a good start up to Lucy's new series. I'm a sucker for novels that have a girl going all-out to save her lover, and the book doesn't disappoint on this. Jessie is tough and ballsy and powerful. She's also a resourceful person who knows more ways to screw a person using what she can find in the average trash can than anyone else I've read about. Sometimes her spells verged on the too much information side, and I didn't really need to know what one could do with a maxi-pad.

Yet, through it all, Jessie remains vague. Not her intentions or motivation, but more who she is. The fight against the demon went badly the first time, and that's when there was two of them, so why is she so set on going another round? I'm all for flying by the seat of your pants, but when another option is given—a much more reasonable one, where the chances at succeeding are higher--shouldn't she have paused to think?

In the end, SPELLBENT didn't satisfy my curiosity and left me with more nagging questions than is healthy. The next book, SHOTGUN SORCERESS, is due out in the fall, so maybe more answers will be given then.

The PVG pandemic has left a trail of destruction in its wake. Those infected have to adapt to their new lives depending on which Type they are determined to be - asymptomatic Type Ones, or Types Two or Three whose bodies have been so destroyed by the disease they now require a gorier solution to manage their symptoms.

The story follows 3 women - Erin, Savannah and Mareva- whose lives become entwined with each others. Erin and Savannah are helping usher in this new world, while Mareva has been burdened with a very special task...

I don't want to give much more away here. I went in blind to this weird, wild ride and recommend you do too.
SMM is a cosmic, body horror and such a fun twist on the post-COVID pandemic stories. It was gross, sexy, gory, and creepy all at the same time!

A very weird 4 stars

Sister, Maiden, Monster was a decent book that follows three women as they navigate a new pandemic hitting the world, one that is extremely different from the previous one. Considering our current climate with regards to pandemic thinking, I think it is very difficult to write about, but I thought the author handled it quite well and I enjoyed that aspect of the book. Where I had difficulty was with the repetitive narrative and the lack of character development; all of the characters just started blending in together and I think to really pull this off, the women needed distinct voices and not just because one was into BDSM or the other one liked to eat brains.

While I did like each of the characters, I did feel like the author used what they were to make them seem distinct as opposed to who they were. This didn't allow for a lot of character development as there wasn't really much to define them with regards to their personalities to begin with. And if you are looking for queer lust and power in your novels, this one definitely has it in spades, unchecked and uncontrolled at times. Personally, I enjoyed Erin's story the best, but I wonder if it's because it was first and I had no idea what was happening when I started the book so it had a deeper impact on me for that reason. I think this is why the other two women really needed powerful voices to be heard as the story kind of went sideways for me when I started Savannah's POV.

The plot itself was definitely interesting for the first half of the book and I had a hard time putting it down. The other two women don't get as much attention as Erin and the stories aren't interconnected the way I thought they would be. I get what the author was doing, but execution-wise, I don't think it quite worked. I really wanted to enjoy the second half more than I did, which was a shame as that half had most of the horror elements in it, elements that I love. I also felt like some descriptions were thrown in for shock purposes rather than for story substance and I found it jarring, throwing me out of the narrative, which was sometimes difficult to stay focused on anyways due to the repetitiveness of it. I think I liked the idea of what was happening rather than on what was actually happening and I found myself drifting off at times, reflecting on the social impacts of what was occurring, another aspect I think the author could have developed a bit more.

Verdict
Sister, Maiden, Monster had a lot of potential, but ultimately it was a bit disappointing. There was a lot going on in this novel, and I think the author missed the mark by not focusing on character development as well as cultural impact and social commentary. The horror aspect of this novel was actually interesting, involving both cosmic and body horror, but the world is falling apart, so shouldn't there be more focus on existential crisis? Great ideas, but overall, missed the mark.

This is everything I've ever wanted in a story all rolled up like a tasty burrito.½

That was interesting… some good Body Horror, and okay social commentary. The humor, prose, and sex were all… eh. And then the characters were all just bad…

I’m rating this a bit higher solely because I did still enjoy reading it, in an odd grotesque way.

So I’m a little conflicted here. On one hand Lucy Snyder is a great writer. Her writing voice is so strong, and every story exudes a style that is whimsical, engaging, and very approachable. There’s also a pleasant variety of genres here, from cosmic horror to dark comedy to science fiction and fantasy. The stories that are really good are a lot of fun to read.

On the other hand, not every story really worked for me. Typically they would begin with furious activity but then fall flat by the end. Also, and this may not be a qualm for some, but in a collection that would appear so Halloween-centric there are very few stories that actually involve the spookiest of seasons in any meaningful way. And the inclusion of two Christmas stories felt...wrong.

Overall it’s an uneven group of stories, as collections tend to go, but there’s certainly much worth reading. In fact with such a wide variety there’s probably something here for everyone! Certain stories I’d even like to see as full novels! Favorites include:

“Cosmic Cola”
“Visions of the Dream Witch”
“What Dwells Within”
“In the Family”

Sister, Maiden, Monster by Lucy A. Snyder is one of those stories that continues to haunt me. It was so dark and insane that I frequently had to stop reading to process what I had just read. Yet, as uncomfortable as it made me at times, I liked this creepy story about a virus, a pandemic, and the fate of humankind.

Sister, Maiden, Monster is one grotesque story. Within the first chapter, upon Erin getting sick, Ms. Snyder does not let a scene pass without bringing forth some of the most gruesome body horrors I think I have ever read. Throughout the story, you experience cannibalism, blood lust, vicious killings for pleasure, growths that erupt, and the most eldritch of human evolution. Not for the squeamish or faint of heart, there should be all manner of trigger warnings on the cover of this book. However, since it firmly falls into the horror category, that is its warning.

To describe the plot of Sister, Maiden, Monster is almost an effort in futility. Not only would doing so spoil the suspense, but the story is also batshit crazy. I mean that most endearingly because I enjoyed the crazy. Crazy does make for a good story, albeit weird, but there is something fun in the weirdness.

As for the three main characters, they are easy to like. Ms. Snyder introduces us to each one in record time in a way that makes it easy to understand who they are and their motivations. As Erin is the first one we meet and watch her maneuver the beginnings of the pandemic through to the end, we know her the most. Even Savannah, with her lust for killing, has redeeming qualities. The three women’s fates are the story’s driving force, and they make quite an unusual trio.

Based on the synopsis, I thought I would be reading another horror story involving a pandemic. Sure, certain phrases made me understand that Sister, Maiden, Monster would not follow in the same vein as Stephen King’s version or Chuck Wayward’s. I don’t think I was prepared for just how different it was. This is one horror story that did horrify me. As a bonus, I will never look at people eating sushi in quite the same way again. Kudos to Ms. Snyder for creating a bizarre and gory story that terrified me, grossed me out, and kept me entertained.½

Thoughts: This was an incredibly weird and demented collection of three interconnected novellas that I ended up really enjoying. Snyder always comes up with some crazy stuff and doesn't shy away from the gory details. I really enjoyed her Jessie Shimmer series and continue to enjoy her writing here as well.

The synopsis does a decent job describing the plot, so I won't reiterate it here. This is pretty much an apocalyptic set of stories where a strange virus starts to manifest in people in different ways.

This is viciously twisted and gory, and at times you will think, "Did I really just read that?" It is also incredibly creative and intriguing since Snyder delves into depths of depravity that most authors wouldn't be comfortable delving in to. I love it for its uniqueness and just how much fun it ends up being to read.

The characters here are easy to engage with and come across as intelligent and introspective in their own ways, even when they are vicious and amoral. There is plenty of action and suspense, as you sit back and wonder how everything will play out. The ending is open-ended but I thought it fit the story tone well. Most endings to an apocalyptic tale like this are a bit open-ended.

My Summary (5/5): Overall I loved this and was so happy to see Snyder back to writing full-length books (even if it is more of a novella series in one novel). The weirdness and creativity here is awesome, but stomach turning at times. This is not a book for the faint of heart, but if you are a fan of Snyder you already know that. She does not turn away from gore or uncomfortable strangeness. I loved this and am excited to see what she writes next!

I am in love with this book! I own the paperback of it and have read it 3 times! It is very detailed and pulls you into the world that Lucy created. I cant wait to get my hands on the next book!

This review first appeared on scifiandscary.com. I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

‘Garden of Eldritch Delights’ is packed with stories that are nearly great. It contains more of a mix than I was expecting. Horror is definitely at the forefront, but science fiction and fantasy are also represented here, with mixed results.
I think that in many ways short stories are more difficult for a writer to pull off than novels. The requirement to establish characters, convey ideas and weave a compelling story around it all in a limited number of pages presents challenges and constraints that writers of longer form fiction don’t have to worry about. Balancing those three elements is the key to a great short story, and in too many of these tales Snyder only manages one or two out of three. That’s a real shame, as there are flashes of brilliance here.

My favourites of the collection were the first two stories. ‘That Which Does Not Kill You’ is a weird, effective, horrific musing on love. It’s packed with great imagery and has a couple of moments that had my skin crawling. The second story, ‘Sunset on Mott Island’ is Lovecraftian and wonderfully creepy. What makes it brilliant is the weaving of emotion and modern sensibilities into the tale. It really does feel like eldritch horror for the 21st century.
It was with the third story that things started to slip. ‘Gentleman Caller’ has a great heroine in Janie, a disabled woman who works on a phone sex line. The story’s central concept is interesting too, but the execution in the last third of the story didn’t work for me at all. As with many of the other stories I ended up with a “so what” feeling at the end.

That’s not to say all of the other stories don’t work, they just don’t work as well. ‘Executive Functions’ is a creepy and often effective dissection of workplace misogyny with a nightmarishly fantastic twist. ‘Blossoms Blackened Like Dead Stars’ is a bite sized sci fi/horror epic about humanity’s last effort to defeat a terrible alien foe. It swept me along right up until the ending, which was interesting but felt rushed. ‘Dark of the Moon’ was similar, a cyberpunk heist romp that’s great fun until it falls apart at the end.
The other seven stories are various shades of “not as good as the above”. Most of them have either a good concept, or great characters, or a rousing story, but none of them achieve that elusive perfect blend of all three elements. So as a collection ‘Garden of Eldritch Delights’ is very much a mixed bag. It’s often enjoyable, is creepy and exciting at times and has a humanity woven into many of its stories that is really engaging. Too often though, the stories end up being unsatisfying. This is made even more of a shame by the fact that when Snyder is good, she’s very good indeed.

An excellent collection, from start to finish! With tales ranging from a child escaping the clutches of Devil's Night to an elven toy-maker's popular new invention, I dug 'em all.

Normally I would list off which tales I liked the most, but because I liked them all, I'm having some difficulties.

Certainly the funniest story has to go to THE TOYMAKER'S JOY because...well, you'd have to read it.

Let's see...we have an evil twin, a telepathic ferret, witches and magic, zombies, a lonely, intolerant space traveler and a singer in the swamp. Both good people and bad inhabit these pages, all just waiting for your discovery.

Very well written, inventive and imaginative, Halloween Season was a fantastic addition to my October reading and it would be to yours as well!

Highly Recommended!

Get your copy here: https://amzn.to/36TlIjc

*Thanks to Erin and to Raw Dog Screaming Press for the paperback in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it!* (less)

OK story

I don't know about you but I often find it difficult to find an easy but absorbing Halloween short story collection to read on that special evening/night. A novel is too big for one evening, and I find that most short stories are long winded. All I want is a quick short story that I can enjoy which has a Halloween theme. Halloween Season by Lucy A. Snyder offers the perfect solution.

There is a poem to set the tone and then it is on to the essence of the book which are stories which range from humorous, nostalgic, classic, sheer horror and back again. It is akin to going door to door on Halloween night, and receiving a story at each house where you rung the doorbell.

Each story is a world in itself and the writing reflects the sometimes surreal and the more often horrific circumstances of each tale being told. I found all of the stories in the collection interesting and enjoyable.

Thank you to Erin Sweet Al-Mehairi for a copy of this book. I really did like reading it. It was refreshing to read short stories that don't feel like the author was trying to write a condensed book but more of a sitting by the campfire roasting marshmallows while telling scary stories type of treat.

For a novella that was written by five different authors in a short period of time this was really very entertaining. Others have said it before me, this is a marketing ploy to get you acquainted with the authors, but it's a fun ploy and I like it.

I was surprised at how well the story hung together. There were definitely places were authors pulled things through a plothole so they could be used but I suppose that's better than just giving up because your character was written into a corner. There was also a definite unevenness in the writing but that's why editors exist so don't be put off by that when deciding to try an author's other writings.

Anyway, this was a fun novella with a well-developed world, an interesting villain, and a surprise twist.

It was a great idea- You take some of todays best authors and have them each write a chapter based of the precious authors chapters. Each author would twist the tale in their own special way. I had to read it, Stacia Kane one of my personal favs contributed. It was going along well, each author wrote a very interesting new twist to the main characters plot. Then it was just over ?!?!?! Yes, i know it is a novella, and short is what it is, but it could have been a really good novel. I would have loved to see each of these authors keep going writing another chapter or two when their turn came up.
All in all it was good but could of been great.

And you thought Harry Dresden had bad luck...

The only book I'd read by Lucy Snyder before this was Installing Linux on a Dead Badger, which was geeky fun but a bit dry and awkward. This is much more polished, a solidly innovative start to an urban fantasy series. I'm about to start the second book, and I've got the third ordered.

This story is written as a news report, involving the latest fad pet, flying faery cats, and some of their hidden dangers. This was funny - I thought the news story format was an interesting twist, and this played on some of the stereotypes about cats without assuming everyone has one and loves them.

This is a collection of erotic tales that sizzles with passion.

Dark fantasy weaved into thirteen spells of seduction that include three new tales about characters from Lucy A Snyder’s Jessie Shimmer urban fantasy series.

These short tales simmer with passion and red hot sex scenes that leave the reader sizzling with heat. The tales tease the reader with short glimpses of dark erotic fantasy and horror that capture the imagination.

I liked some of the short stories and found that some were just kind of there. Read all together they keep the momentum started at the beginning and they could lead to some good stories, but I guess I like a little more plot to my stories than these provided for me. But overall the book was a delightful and erotic short read that tickled my fancy and lead to some heated dreams. And of course the three Jessie Shimmer shorts make delightful evening reads to add to the series.

I suppose this counts as a short story collection, although only the last three pieces are traditional stories. The rest of the book consists of fake news features (or, in the case of the title piece, a technical manual), all of which seem to be set in the same universe: one where technology and necromancy have become intertwined, where zombies can be controlled by computer, and where corporate IT is outsourced to demons. The humor is a bit variable, and may work best if you're a hardcore computer geek (which I'm not, exactly), but the best bits are brilliantly funny, and the entire thing (all 101 pages of it) would be worth it just for the satirical piece about relatives of dying people signing them up to labor after death in zombie sweatshops to cover their medical bills.

Difficult to rate, because I liked the author's ideas, but sometimes the dialogue and situations seemed a little... unpolished. Still, Snyder has imagination and her work is certainly... original, despite the weird magic system that is very reminiscent of Harry Potter's.

This series is one of my favorite. I loved both "Spellbent" and "Shotgun Sorceress". I was eager to read this installment. In fact I had a gift card from Christmas and I ordered 19 books. This is the first one I grabbed to start reading when that package came in the mail. These books have been progressively becoming darker and more twisted. I am okay with that but I did realize that I don't necessary care for the concept of torture in the 'hellement' or a mental plane in which the person can just wake up and be unscathed in the real world. And a few times the magic just seemed too easy. Oh we have such and such a problem but wham! We can use this magic that has never been mentioned before to make it all better!

I don't mean to sound like I am picking on this book because I really did enjoy it. I was very happy to see the Miko perspectives which were handled so beautifully and gave quite a lot of substance to the villain. In fact, she could have had an entire book about her past. I also loved the scene where Jessie tries to save the souls that Miko has taken. I was also super pleased with the characters. I love these character so much and I believe that they are why this series stands out above so many others for me. Pal, Jessie's familiar, is present most of this book and I just love him. I also like the Warlock a lot and wish he had been more in this book even though he did play a good part. I have not been a big fan of Coopers. I haven't ever gotten a sense of why he is good enough for Jessie. Jessie is a kick-butt heroine with a good heart. She needs a strong good man. I am not convinced Cooper is the man for her but he does make great strides by the end of the book.

I know the author plans to do more with these characters but I strongly hope that there will be another installment of this series. I feel like there is a lot more that can be done with this wonderful world and its inhabitants. I wouldn't mind if some of the darkness lets up at least enough for some more of the sass and humor that was so strong in the first novel. I also think the hellement part has been done to death and I am ready for Jessie and the gang to find something new to become involved with.½