A Sliver of Darkness

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This was during the pandemic, so it was a “staycation cruise.” It only lasted four days, and the ship never left British waters. But it was fun and very family friendly. It was bound to be. It was organized by the major operator in the family entertainment market. (Think mouse). I...I'd heard you were still alive, but I scarcely dared believe it. Still, even with little but tavern tales and market rumors to guide me, I had to look, had to find out if it was true. I've left no flagstone unturned, Player, no idle gossip unexamined. Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House-Ballantine, and C.J.Tudor for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 11.8!**

So, this is Player, the Daeva of whom Icaronix spoke. I've been waiting for you but now that you're here, I'm more than a little concerned. You will find all my notes, all my findings in a box in the cave over there. Please, fly there as soon as you can.I was utterly alone. My greatest wish was to seek Lady Ariel's guidance, but as a lone soldier...it was not my place. But you had given me an assignment of the utmost secrecy, one that was imperative to securing our future. The smell of cooking—­bacon and waffles—­filled the room. Synthetic, of course. They pumped it in via the air vents. No one had eaten real meat in a long time and the breakfast choice was mostly limited to cereals, toast and whatever fruit was in season on the huge floating farms, the Harvesters. Remember, Commander, a Stigma Stone is used just like any other skill. There's nothing else you need to know now that you've remembered how to fit the stone itself. Tudor prefaced each short story with her real life experiences that inspired her to write them. I enjoyed reading tidbits about her life in Nottingham, England where she once worked as a dog walker. She was a natural writer without any specific school training for it, and marveled at the compensation when her short story offerings would be accepted by magazines and such. It could amount to weeks of dog walking!

So consider this one for a chill and a thrill. Perhaps take to your bed under the covers with a flashlight. Ah, the memories...... Of course, I tried desperately to gather information, even just to find out if they were alive or dead, but to no avail. My efforts met with cold silence and eventually I had to accept that the legion had been lost. In this story, we are told about ‘the Fat Man’, a remarkable singer with some serious flaws. It’s a tale of love, revenge, and the lengths that people will go to. This one was not one of my favourites and although the plot was interesting, it was nothing new or special. The twist was predictable, but it was well written and thought out. All the stories have their own little introduction by the author, which added that extra depth to them and it was interesting to see the inspiration and ideas that sparked these tales. Now, let’s talk more about each of the stories… In "Gloria," a strange girl at a service station endears herself to a coldhearted killer, but can a leopard really change its spots?

The first story follows an old woman on a cruise ship that is anything but a fun holiday and made for an excellent start to the collection. The story was unsettling and had an air of mystery around it, however it was a little predictable. The concept was interesting and it would make for a great full length novel where the characters could be more developed and the plot furthered. Perhaps I should explain. Jucleas and I are not the only links in this chain. Someone is looking for you, Player.