Absinthe & Arsenic

Absinthe & Arsenic: A Penny Dreadful Review

            On a dark and stormy night, I picked up a fantastic anthology of short stories by horror writer Raven Dane. On that dark and stormy night, I did not sleep. Part of that was Ms. Dane’s mastery of the eerie and gothic, and part of that was the fact that I simply enjoyed the book too much to put it down. I highly recommend Absinthe & Arsenic from Telos publishing.

            There is some glorious horror in this book. The stories will stick with you. I will never look at fog in the same way after reading “Annie By Gaslight.” The title image comes from the surreal “A Taste Of Almonds,” wherein absinthe fuels a descent into murder and madness.

            Not every story is doom and gloom. “An Inspector Falls” is a bit of silliness involving a theory, a bloody death, and a cat. Many stories have happy resolutions. “The Chill” has a sweet ending that will make you weep, and is one of the most evocative in tone and texture.

            Each story leaves a vivid impression on the psyche. The reader can see the eerie marsh ghosts; can taste the desperation in the stifling air of the zombie-besieged farmstead. I truly love Raven Dane’s vivid settings.

            I give this sampler of gothic nibbles four gears out of five. Well-executed, spooky, and captivating, it is perfect for that time when you don’t want to pick up a new novel, but you do want to read some good horror. Best of all, the anti-hero of one of Raven Dane’s novel series, Cyrus Darian, appears in several of these stories! He is always a joy to read about. I definitely recommend that you scare up a copy of Absinthe & Arsenic for your collection.

Your Correspondent From The Bookstore,

Penny J. Merriweather

Shanghai Sparrow

Shanghai Sparrow: A Penny Dreadful Review

A young girl living by her wits and light fingers in London might hold the key to ultimate empire. A half-breed fanatic bent on subjugating the fairy kingdom that spurned him. A handsome trickster. Add a madhouse, a school that trains girls in spycraft, a creation of etheric science, and the clever author Gaie Sebold, and you have a tasty adventure called Shanghai Sparrow.
I fell in love with the scrappy Eveline Duchen, otherwise known as Evvie Sparrow. She’s a quick-thinking, clever girl with a gift for languages. A life on London’s unforgiving streets hasn’t yet robbed her of all kindness, and she is the sort of character a reader instantly roots for. Her opponent, the sinister Mr. Holmforth, is a frightening man. He is supposed to be on the side of law and justice, but he is revealed as a corrupt and hateful person. Disturbing as he is, I would have liked a little more about him a little earlier in the book.
This is a book for those who like a little magic in their Steampunk. Evvie’s friend Liu is not what he appears to be. Or rather, he is much more than he seems. I would love to read more about him and more about the fairy kingdom, here called the Crepuscular. I do hope a sequel comes out soon.
I rather like Gaie Sebold’s distinctive narrative style. She combines the characters’ pasts and presents into a deep, fascinating story. Once you pick up one of her books, you cannot help but keep reading until the last tangle is unwound, the last revelation discovered.
I highly recommend this book. I give Shanghai Sparrow four and a half gears out of five. It is an excellent adventure for all ages, or rather, all ages able to read books that come in chapters.

Your Correspondent From The Bookstore,
Penny J. Merriweather