Anexis Matos's Blog, page 5

An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good by Helene Tursten: Quietly Removing Problems

I found this short story collection through a video. Honestly, I want to read more short stories, both individual ones and other collections. I need to figure out how to find them. If you know of any way, let me know in the comments.

Synopsis

This collection contains five stories following an elderly woman solving problems through murder.

Book Information

Genre: Fiction
Category: Adult
Explicit violence: Some
Explicit sex: None
Content warnings I noticed: Some graphic violence
This is a short story collection.

Review

The prose is good. Accessible and easy to read.

Each story follows a different situation. Each situation affects the 88-year-old woman. Each title gives the reader an idea of what to expect. The titles are also engaging.

Four of these stories are written in third person past. However, one is written in first person past. This is the fourth story which follows a different character. That one, along with the fifth, follow the same events. I would normally not bring this up since it’s a short story collection and each story is individual, but this is unique. It follows the events of one character, so the change of POv makes no sense to me, even if it follows someone else. It didn’t ruin my experience, but it’s strange.

I’m not sure if these stories were supposed to be funny, but they were. I think it has to do with the scenarios. While they’re unlikely, they make sense because of who we’re following. Also, it’s just funny that an elderly woman is killing people and no one suspects her because of her age. The very idea only occurs to one person.

Because these are short stories, we don’t delve into the character the same way we would in a novel. However, there’s a lot to her. Readers get a great idea of who she is.

Conclusion

Overall, this is a great short story collection. It’s a very fast read in audio. It’s about three hours and I read it in one sitting. I rate it four stars.

The Best Version of Me

I buried you.
Destroyed you.
Why are you here?
Quiet.
Weak.
Unsure.
Why are you here?

I’m back to being you,
the version of me
I never wanted to be.
Quiet.
Weak.
Unsure,
but here I am.
Here you are.

You hold my hand.
Yours is soft.
You are a child.
Your smile is warm.
You offer me kindness
when I don’t deserve it.

I’ve abandoned you.
Pushed you away.
Buried you.
Destroyed you.
I made sure
you stayed in my past.
You were weak.
I needed to be strong.

Your voice is soft
when you ask me what’s wrong.
You touch my shoulder
and kneel beside me.

I tell you I’m lost
and have nowhere to go.
I’ve been lost for some time now,
letting others guide me
to the destination they wanted.
That I wanted at some point.

I realized too late
how easy it was to get rid of me.
The same way
I got rid of you.

You extend your hand.
I hesitate,
staring up at you.
Why offer your hand
when I abandoned you?

I take it
and you help me stand.

I was wrong.
You’re not weak.
You just may be
the best version of me.

I Will Burn Down the World for You

I will burn down the world for you, he says.
He says this
with confidence,
leaving no room for argument.

He’s arrogant.
Delightfully so.
Annoying,
but incredibly appealing.
It turns me on.

He may be a little toxic,
but he always,
without failure,
says the right things.
Does the right things.
He’s toxic,
but he’s perfect.

He’s probably fae.
In fantasy, anyway.
If he’s human,
definitely rich.

He’ll hand me the match.
All I have to do
is ask.
He’ll watch.
Encourage me
as the world bends to my will.

He’ll fight me.
Ask me to fight him
and enjoy every moment of it.
It turns him on.

But most importantly,
he’s mine.
Only mine.
His world
revolves around me.
My word
is his law.

He can be a villain,
but he’s my villain.
The world will only see what he wants,
but I get everything.
I get all of him.

I will burn down the world for you, he says.
I smile to myself,
knowing it’s true.
If I want it,
he’ll burn down the world for me.

But he should remember
that he offered.
I didn’t ask.

The Rightful Bride Chapter 22

“Let’s not have the cameras follow you yet,” Sebastian says. “Since you’ve outsourced preparations, let’s have the cameras follow the people working on it. You’ll be seen at the ball.”

“Okay,” Harald says. “Has anyone signed up?”

“People started signing up at 00:00. They’re still signing up.”

Harald nods.

“I’m going to have lunch with Rose later,” he says. “She already saw the cameras and seems to be getting worried. I was going to tell her on Wednesday, but she got sick. I didn’t mention it yesterday.”

“Did she seem upset?” Sebastian asks.

“No. Just worried.”

“I can ask her if you want. Do you want to meet for dinner?”

“Sure. Thanks.”

“No problem. She might be overwhelmed because there’s more people than usual.”

Harald nods. Rose has gotten better with people over time, but she still doesn’t enjoy being around so many. He’s found her hiding in the office of his staff when there have been too many.

Rose didn’t arrive at the palace in the best condition. Hurt and scared, she bit, scratched, or burned anyone who touched her, except him. She was hesitant when approaching him, but she eventually realized it was okay.

As a baby, it was rare for her to be away from him. At first, it was fear. It still is sometimes, but it mainly happens during thunderstorms.

“Harald?”

He blinks.

“Sorry,” he says. “What?”

“I asked if you wanted to meet in your dining room or mine,” Sebastian says.

“Rose might feel a little more comfortable in my suite.”

“Okay. I’ll see you at 19:00.”

“Perfect.”

Sebastian leaves the study. Harald takes a deep breath and continues working.

Did you enjoy today’s chapter? Let me know in the comments. Feedback is also welcome.

I’m currently posting a first draft of a story. However, if you’re interested in seeing what my final products look like, check out my debut, Daughter of Death. It’s available in many retailers, including Apple, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo in eBook and audiobook formats. It’s also available in my shop.

I’ll leave you for now. Make sure to come back for the next chapter.

A Letter to Younger Me

You were right.
I’m sorry to say you were.
It’s hard to admit
you always were,
but you were.

Surprisingly,
you understood
before I ever did.
You understood
how things were.
How things can still be.
What I refused to
for many years.

Somehow,
I couldn’t see.
It took exploration.
A story.
A character.
Someone similar to me.

Things have changed,
but not by much.
Things are better,
but not always.

My advice is not helpful,
but here it is anyway.
You deserve an apology
more than anything else.

I’m sorry.
I understand now.
I understand.
I understand.
I’m sorry.

You’re wonderful.
Intelligent.
Beautiful.
Very talented.
No,
it won’t be over,
but you’ll grow up.
You’ll learn.

Remember,
you can’t change everything,
but you can change what happens around you.
You can change who is around you.
You can change how you react.

That’s all I can give you
because that’s all I know,
but knowing you,
you’ll learn something I didn’t.

The Rightful Bride Chapter 21

The contract arrives in Melanie’s inbox Monday morning. She reads it, nodding to herself. She takes a deep breath before signing.

In most circumstances, she wouldn’t have agreed to be a king’s safe bride. No matter what, it will be a marriage of convenience. She can, of course, seek out other lovers. It’s not uncommon in arranged marriages.

Her choice is the safest for now. No one in the court knows she’s a shadow dragon. Her boss knows. The king knows. Marie knows. Sebastian knows.

When Marie came to her office, she assumed they would discuss plans to go out that Wednesday.

“Hey,” Melanie said.

“Hey,” Marie said. “You have a minute?”

Melanie nodded and Marie sat across from her.

“I have a favor to ask,” she said.

“Okay,” Melanie said.

Marie explained King Harald’s plan.

“He needs a safe bride,” she said. “I suggested you might agree.”

Melanie considered, her mind spinning. She would be safe for a while if she chose not to marry King Harald, but…

“Okay,” she said. “I’m safe now, but we can’t predict the future.”

“You know,” Marie said, “if you don’t want to do it, it’s perfectly fine. We’ll make sure you’re safe no matter what.”

“I know you’ll try.”

Marie stood, rounded the desk, and embraced Melanie.

“I love you very much,” she said. “Of course I’ll keep you safe.”

Melanie stood and hugged her friend.

“I love you, too,” she said.

Melanie looks over the contract one more time and sends it to the king. Being recorded will be a small price to pay for safety. She can escape the cameras if it gets too bad. It’s not impossible.

A knock on the door interrupts her thoughts.

“Come in,” she says.

The door opens and Marie strides in.

“Hey,” she says. “You want to have lunch together?”

Melanie smiles.

“Sure,” she says. “Where do I meet you?”

“My suite?” she says.

“Alright. Do you want me to bring something?”

“Unless you want something specific, no.”

Melanie nods.

“Okay,” she says. “I’ll meet you at 12:00.”

“Great,” Marie says.

Did you enjoy today’s chapter? Let me know in the comments. Feedback is also welcome.

I’m currently posting a first draft of a story. However, if you’re interested in seeing what my final products look like, check out my debut, Daughter of Death. It’s available in many retailers, including Apple, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo in eBook and audiobook formats. It’s also available in my shop.

I’ll leave you for now. Make sure to come back for the next chapter.

The Girl From the Dark Side

I never liked her,
but she’s still there.
Just waiting
to be released.
She bides her time
until she knows she can come out
and release her rage
upon her target.

Her dark eyes
stare out into the world.
She constantly looks at her surroundings
and glares at those
who have made her who she is.
She remembers her past
and glares at her memories
while she plunges
into an ocean of grief
where she wonders
what she could have done differently
to change the events
that made her who she is.

She’s a monster with poisonous fangs,
created by pain and suffering.
She’s filled with resentment
and a strong desire for revenge.
A strong desire
to make those who hurt her
feel guilt.
A strong desire
for them to apologize
and truly mean it.

When someone attacks,
her poisonous fangs
sink sharply into her target.
She takes over like a ghost
and dominates my every move.
I can’t think
I can’t stop her
when she decides
to let out all her anger.

The grudge she holds
increases her resentment
towards those in her past
who have already hurt her
and increases her desire
to stop others
from inflicting more pain.

When her attack is over
and her rage has gone down to a minimum,
she returns to her lair,
her mind filled with dark thoughts.
I return to my previous state
when she’s gone.
A state
where I’m calm,
knowing she’ll return once more
to deliver another attack.

The Rightful Bride Chapter 20

Eva leaves her tower at 00:00. She slowly climbs down the steps. A hooded figure waits for her.

“Are you ready, My Lady?” they say.

Eva extends her hand.

“Let’s go,” she says. “We have a lot to discuss.”

The hooded figure nods, taking her hand. Together, they walk toward the palace gate. The guard lets them pass. Eva passes him 20 notes.

“That’s not necessary, My Lady,” he says.

“Keep it,” she says. “I appreciate your discretion.”

They get into a black runner and drive away from the palace.

“Where would you like to go?” the figure asks.

“We can talk as we drive if you like,” Eva says. “It’s up to you.”

The figure nods.

“How is she?” they ask.

“She’s well,” Eva says. “I believe my grandson’s plan has grabbed her attention. She vaguely asked for my help. She has taken a position as my lady-in-waiting.”

“And you believe you can keep her safe?”

“I do. She seems to have her own plan, but she didn’t specify. She told me she needs to make arrangements for her safety.”

The figure nods.

“My Lady,” they say, “she must marry the king. It’s her only chance to remain safe. It will also be the easiest way for her to claim her rightful place as the duchess of Libsia.”

“I understand,” Eva says. “She will marry my grandson. I assure you of that. She has her own plan, but I do as well. I’ll make sure she’s safe.”

“I can only do something from out here, but it’s limited.”

“What do you have for me?”

“I still have not been able to locate Leila and Laila. They’ve left no trace, but they haven’t left the kingdom.”

“That’s at least good. They might be closer than we think. What about Miley?”

The hooded figure sighs.

“She’s very adamant about taking over Libsia,” they say. “I believe she’s working on another appeal.”

“Of course she is,” Eva says. “Do you have any suggestions?”

“I believe she should be eliminated, but we may be able to gather information from her.”

Eva considers.

“Perhaps,” she says. “Eliminating her would remove an obstacle. We could not do anything for Rita, Angela, or Oliver, but we can do something for their girls.”

“Should I ask my source?” they ask.

“It would be too suspicious if we eliminate her now. Let’s wait. I’ll keep you updated.”

The figure nods.

“You know where to find me,” they say. They pause. “I think it’s time to ask my source if they can locate Leila and Laila.”

Eva nods.

“Alright,” she says. “Keep me updated.”

The figure drives Eva back to the palace and waits until she’s inside the tower. They nod to the guard before leaving. They must find a way to guard their lady. She must continue to remain safe.

Did you enjoy today’s chapter? Let me know in the comments. Feedback is also welcome.

I’m currently posting a first draft of a story. However, if you’re interested in seeing what my final products look like, check out my debut, Daughter of Death. It’s available in many retailers, including Apple, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo in eBook and audiobook formats. It’s also available in my shop.

I’ll leave you for now. Make sure to come back for the next chapter.

Somewhere I Know

Imagine sitting on an empty land.
A mysterious pathway welcomes you.
A world you know like the back of your hand.
A place of light and joy for only two.

A planet of alien emotions.
A fantastic mystical dimension
where feelings are like clouds of deep oceans.
A different state of no deception.

A stunning picture of tranquility
that only comes through imagination.
An image of your best ability
where a melody is your creation.

A legendary place of peace and love.
This is the place I have always dreamed of.

Podcast Recommendation: Read Me Romance

During my teenage years, I had so many books available to me when I got my first laptop. As such, I believe literature should be accessible to everyone, no matter what. This is why I’m making my books as accessible as I can, including having the audiobook available on YouTube.

With that in mind, I want to take a moment to recommend a podcast I’ve recently discovered. I’ll probably recommend others if I find them, but this one is specifically for romance readers or those interested in getting into the romance genre.

Read Me Romance is a podcast hosted by author duo Alexa Riley. Every week, they play a professionally narrated romance audiobook. From what I’ve gathered, they play romance novellas, so they’re pretty short and you should be able to get through them in one day.

So, if you want to read a short romance every week, give this podcast a listen. Check out their web site for more information and links to where you can find it here.