Maria Savva's Blog - Posts Tagged "flash-fiction"

New Release: Extra-Curricular: Tales Told Out Of School, by Marc Nash

Marc Nash, one of the authors who was featured in Triptychs (Mind's Eye Series- book 3), has a new release.

"Extra-Curricular: Tales Told Out Of School" contains 44 flash fiction tales.

About the book:

Marc Nash's fifth collection of flash fiction and his most daring and innovative yet. Tales of Military Bands, Flea Circuses, Dying Languages, Witch Trials, Drones, Gumshoes, Bedroom Physics, Death Squads, Blind Lovers, Junky Angels, Poker Tics, Thermal Imaging Voyeurism, Recycling Etiquette, Plastic Surgery Zombies... 44 tales they didn't teach you at school but should have been on the curriculum.

Buy on Amazon worldwide:

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/ebooks/dp/B01...
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/ebooks/dp/B0145...

Author links:

Blog: http://sulcicollective.blogspot.co.uk/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/21stCscribe

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Published on September 18, 2015 14:20 • Tags: flash-fiction, marc-nash, new-release

Book Review: Dark Flash, by Maria Haskins

Dark Flash by Maria Haskins

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Dark Flash is a collection of 8 flash fiction stories that originally appeared on R.B. Wood's Word Count Podcast. I remember reading a couple of them when the author posted them on her website and I enjoyed them, so I jumped at the chance to read an e-book with all of the stories in it. The first story "The Unicorn" was one of those that I had already read. It's a fantasy tale that contains a touch of magic and horror. It is a wonderfully imaginative story that has an unexpected twist at the end. A common thread running through most of these stories is that of memories, and sometimes memories from past lives or other worlds.

The second story,"Nemesis", is a fascinating and entertaining story that looks at the idea of reincarnation and past lives. It's followed by the poignant "Miriam and Cat". This story was one I'd read before but on re-reading I picked up on another theme that runs through the story, one which I'd missed on the first reading. It's a wonderful fantasy tale about loyalty and dependence, told in an enchanting way with a cat being the main character.

"Treasure Island" is another story where different worlds and timelines collide in the most interesting way. This one will have you guessing until the end and even then you won't be sure; it's a multi-layered and thought-provoking tale about dreams and revenge.

"True Words (Kirke's Bed & Breakfast)" is a dark, speculative fiction tale that builds slowly. Chloe has returned to a beach that holds a secret from her youth. The author weaves a mystical tale with a breathtaking ending.

"Chiaroscuro" is probably my favourite story in this collection. It's a story of obsession and secrets that will keep you guessing up until its surprising ending.

"OK Computer" is an awesome science fiction story about computers, future technology, and precognition. The ending again is one that creeps up on you unexpectedly.

The final story, "The Demon", is a bit of a thriller, and it also contains elements of fantasy and magic. It has a satisfying and unexpected ending; a great way to end this brilliant collection of stories.

Maria Haskins' tales are short but full of substance. These are the sort of stories that you could read again and again, and each time you'll take something else from them. They are full of imaginative, thought-provoking ideas and otherworldly characters. The prose is eloquent and draws the reader in with intriguing storylines and fantastical journeys to other worlds and timelines. It will make you think.

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Published on February 08, 2017 13:38 • Tags: book-review, dark-flash, flash-fiction, maria-haskin, r-b-wood-s-word-count, short-stories

Favourite reads 2017

Here's a list of ten of the best books I read this year.

If you're looking for something to read, try one of them - you won't be disappointed!

(Slight Return) - Neil Schiller

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

Buy links:
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B075PBR6F6/
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075PBR6F6/

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Dark Flash - Maria Haskins

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

Buy links:
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Flash-M...
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Flash-Mar...

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Redhead - Jason McIntyre

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

Buy links:

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Redhead-Dove...
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Redhead-Doveta...

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Condemned - Darcia Helle

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

Buy links:

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07562J92P
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07562J92P

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Dark Flash 2 - Maria Haskins

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

Buy links:

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0776NSXR2
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0776NSXR2

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Forever Freaky - Tom Upton

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

Buy links:

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Forever-Frea...
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Forever-Freaky...

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Deathbed - Jason McIntyre

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

Buy links:

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01N1QQSDJ/
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N1QQSDJ/

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Invisible Victims - Kat McCarthy

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Buy links:

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01...

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The Power of Now - Eckhart Tolle

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Buy links:

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002361MLA
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002361MLA

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Stuff The Turkey - Tara Ford

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

Buy links:

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01...

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Published on December 20, 2017 12:11 • Tags: condemned, darcia-helle, dark-flash, deathbed, eckhart-tolle, favourite-books, fiction, flash-fiction, forever-freaky, invisible-victims, jason-mcintyre, kat-mccarthy, maria-haskins, neil-schiller, non-fiction, recommended, redhead, reviews, short-stories, slight-return, stuff-the-turkey, tara-ford, the-power-of-now, tom-upton, top-ten

Book review: Dark Flash 3, by Maria Haskins

Dark Flash 3 by Maria Haskins

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I usually try to catch Maria Haskins' flash fiction when it's posted online or on the R.B. Wood podcast because I know it's always enjoyable. I did manage to catch quite a few of the stories from Dark Flash 1 & 2 when they were posted, but this year I somehow missed them all, so I was very happy to find that the 9 recent flash fiction stories she'd written for the podcast were available in this collection. I was eager to read it and it didn't disappoint. If you've ever read any of this author's fiction you'll know how brilliant it is. This collection of stories is quick to read, and the word that springs to mind for most of the stories is 'strange'. Strange in a thought-provoking, evocative, and intriguing sense.

There are shapeshifting wolves, dragons, and other strange other-worldly delights. Maria Haskins' talent is to take the ordinary and distort it to create something extraordinary. Stories that will definitely make you think. I enjoyed all the stories, but I think my favourite is "Sunlit Surface, Depths Below". That one is poignant and masterly in the way it uses imagery to express feelings and emotions.

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