All My Crimes in Riptide Publishing

Feb 16, 2014 Angel Martinez rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: gay-fantasy

The Art of the Short Story: All My Crimes by Tal Valante I know what the objections will be to this story. No need to read other reviews. There will be complaints about the lack of romance, the lack of sex and the length.If I read those reviews, I will react badly. So. It's quite simple.This is how a short story is meant to be written. THIS. Every movement, every detail furthers the action, the characterization, the central themes. Every word is there for a reason. Every scene is necessary.We're ...more

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Apr 09, 2013 Leanne rated it it was ok

Shelves: mm, fantasy, too-short, short

This one was unsatisfying. Lots of potential in the plot but it just didn't deliver. Too much crammed into too few pages. The hero was recovering his memory and his flashbacks came thick and fast- they showed glimpses of what might have been an amazing fantasy story. The MC seemed intriguing - he'd been through hell and back, apparently. Captured by elves and betrayed by his lover (...oooh...this could have been soooo good!)I wanted to be a part of that adventure. Instead, we get dumped into the ...more

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Jun 23, 2012 Dee Wy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: m-m, short-story, m-m-fantasy

Excellent short story that kept me on the edge of my seat and left me feeling like I'd just read a much longer book. So much story in so few pages. Nicely done! ...more

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Jul 01, 2012 Jody rated it really liked it

For her debut work Tal Valante has created a very atmospheric story that draws you into a world of fantasy amidst the horrors and memories of war. For Teregryn Eve, the war has left him traumatized and even after being proclaimed cured he's still suffering the afteraffects of the acts he was forced into committing in the name of warfare.

As a reader we don't see the actual acts of torture done to him but by his demeanor, the anguish he still feels utterly oozes from him. He goes from depressed to ...more

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Aug 21, 2013 Evaine rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, e-books, m-m

Why is this only 30+ pages long???? I loved it and wanted more, more and more! Were's my damned .5 star because I want to give this 4.5 stars. :) I had picked this up as a part of a bundle sale from Riptide Publishing in my quest to broaden my author base and really had no idea what it was about. What a terrific surprise! So much crammed into a short story - I was certain that it was a prequel story or a .5 story for some established universe and as soon as I was finished, went on the hunt to ac ...more

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May 26, 2012 Rachel Haimowitz added it

Shelves: fantasy, dark, m-m, action-adventure, multi-genres, short, multi-pairing

Tal Valante was my editor for Counterpoint and Crescendo--absolutely, stunningly brilliant beyond compare. If you enjoyed those titles, I think you'll really love her first piece :) ...more

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Aug 02, 2013 Laylah Hunter added it · review of another edition

Shelves: m-slash-m, sword-and-sorcery

Beautiful and wrenching look at PTSD in a fantasy setting, and how trauma tangles with magic.

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May 27, 2012 Aija rated it it was amazing

Shelves: own, favourites, riptide, revved

How so few pages can be so packed with heavy questions? They are asked throughout the story and answers are given from both sides, but still I'm left alone with my conscience to find answers of my own.
I was very moved by this story.. Not an easy read, but so rewarding!

P.S. I absolutely love the cover! One of the most beautiful.. :) ...more

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May 26, 2012 Adara rated it it was amazing

This packed a lot of oomph and tough questions into a short space. By the end of it, I don't know what is truth and what is fiction any more than Teregryn does. There's really nowhere to go except forward, so he has to make a decision on what to believe and go with it. So does the reader. There's no other way.

I debated 4 or 5 stars on this and finally settled on 5 for how thought-provoking it is in such a short story. Excellent read. ...more

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