Tag: short story collection

Reawakening by Althea Lyons Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Magic rises again in England in the wake of the events of The Hiding in author Althea Lyon’s “Reawakening”, a collection of short stories set in The Seer of York universe. 

The Synopsis

After centuries of suppression, the magic of England is

Reawakening

Return to the world of The Seer of York with this collection of new tales set in the aftermath of The Hiding.

Harper, Grace, Saqib, Heresy, and AJ bond as a team and as a family to save innocents, supernatural and human, despite hunters pursuing them.

Introducing Zero, a starlight cat with a bleak and painful past.

Demonic-possession

Faery circles

Pūcas

And more…

The Review

A compelling, haunting, and action-paced collection of short stories, the author marvelously showcases a modern-day York that has found the supernatural to be an everyday fact of life. The self-contained nature of each story allows readers to pick and choose which stories to read without risking losing too much background story from the main series while also paying respect to the original novel that began it all. The chilling nature of the threats facing the protagonists and the robust and emotional writing style the author brings to each story will resonate with many readers.

The flawed yet relatable nature of these characters, the substantial use of mythology and religion throughout human history, and the grounded nature of the supernatural made this book feel vibrant and alive on the page. The book’s slow exploration of some powerful themes, including but not limited to the blurred lines between what is considered good and what is considered evil, with many presenting as one thing and being another, allowed readers to engage with the stories on a whole other level.

The Verdict

Harrowing, memorable, and entertaining, author Althea Lyon’s “Reawakening” is a must-read collection of short stories. The stories themselves were fantastic, and with the holidays coming up, the gothic nature of Christmas in the Shambles was a personal favorite. The twists and turns in each story and the new additions to this universe’s growing mythos will make readers eager for more from this incredible author. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

About the Author

Alethea (she/ze) writes various forms of SFF, with a particular love for science-fantasy, dark fantasy, dystopias, and folklore. Many of her works take place at the intersection between technology and magic. She enjoys writing stories with subtle political and philosophical messages, but primarily wants her stories to be great tales with characters readers will love. She also has soft spots for found family, hopeless romances, and non-human characters. Her short stories can be found in a variety of publications and links for these are on her website.

Alethea lives in Manchester, UK with her husband, little Sprite, a cacophony of stringed instruments, and more tea than she can drink in a lifetime.

Bonus content for The Hiding & other works can be found on her website.

Socials: @AletheaRLyons

See you In Eden: The Short Stories of Leonid Pekarovsky by Leonid Pekarovsky Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Author Leonid Pekarovsky’s short stories are brought to the English language and showcases the struggles of life through the lens of Judaism, Israeilism, and European views in the collection “See you In Eden.”

The Synopsis

One of Israel’s most distinctive literary voices is showcased in this collection of short stories that are alternately profound, insightful, entertaining, and surprising. Leonid Pekarovsky’s short stories will make you weep, laugh, and shake your head in amazement.

“See You in Eden” is the first English collection of literary short stories penned by one of Israel’s premier masters of the format. With the unique perspective of an immigrant, Leonid Pekarovsky views the surreal, beautiful, and often touching constant struggle of life in modern Israel. Drawing from his own experiences and struggles, Pekarovsky blends the cultural traditions of Europe, Judaism, and Israelism to create a rich tapestry of illuminating and always surprising short stories.

Leonid Pekarovsky broke into the Israeli literary sphere when his short story “Broom,” which describes his spiritual struggles and ultimate elevation while cleaning the streets of Tel Aviv, was accepted for publication in one of the country’s premier literary supplements. Since then, he has regularly published his tales, released several Hebrew collections, and achieved international success with his short stories appearing in various magazines in Russian and English.

“See You in Eden” makes this important Jewish literary voice available to English-language readers for the first time. Pekarovsky skillfully blends the fantastic and the realistic, the diasporic experience with the Sabra experience, and the constant struggle to find the sublime and the artistic even when faced with life’s most dire circumstances, cynicism, and cold necessities.

The Review

It’s such a moving and profound read. The author has found the perfect voice and captured the culture and heart of life in Israel. The honesty and the balance of surrealism with the truthful reality that many face in modern Israeli culture will resonate with many readers who have experienced this firsthand and give others a unique insight into this world. The Jewish culture and the author’s life as a Ukrainian immigrant were also distinct and engaging aspects of these stories.

One story in particular, The Umbrella, really hit a special note for me as a reader. The story speaks of themes of identity, purpose, and the work that we do to fund our passions. The idea of someone or something losing purpose when not being used or utilized and the idea that something can find purpose once again made this a memorable story.

The Verdict

Thoughtful, memorable, and engaging author Leonid Pekarovsky’s “See You In Eden” is a must-read literary fiction and collection of short stories. The artful, almost poetic way the author examines life through these stories and the diversity that the author exudes through this work will stay with readers long after the book ends. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

About the Author

Born in Kiev, Ukraine, Leonid Pekarovsky is a writer, journalist and art critic.

Pekarovsky served in the Red Army before studying art theory and history at the Fine Arts Institute in Kiev. He worked for the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture for many years, where he organized art exhibitions both in the USSR and worldwide.

His essays on art theory and history have been published in professional journals.

After he immigrated to Israel in 1991, he worked as a gardener and a printer and, in 1995, became a security guard until he recently retired to focus on his writing.

His stories and novellas have been printed in the Russian press as well as in the Haaretz Culture and Literature Supplement. His first book, Broom and Other Stories, was published in 2012. His second book, A Parabola of Success, was published in 2015.

His third short story collection, Ten Agorot, published in 2018, was shortlisted for the prestigious Israeli Sapir Prize.

Tales of Howloween: A Collection of Short Stories Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Authors such as D.C. Gomez, S.R. Griffith and more gather to share a fun and spooky collection of supernatural meets fantasy short stories in the collection “Tales of Howloween”.

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The Synopsis

A Red Moon Rises this Halloween, so heed the howls and enter a world of wonder, danger and desire. Tales of Howloween presents a thrilling collection of nine supernatural tales that will keep you guessing until the final stroke of midnight.

In “Forest Fated”, wolf shifter Cassius captures renegade mage Ariella, sparking an electric connection hinting at a prophecy older than the forest itself. As an evil wizard spreads, Cassius and Ariella must team up against all instincts.

Nature spirits Cait and Milo struggle to find their place in “A Red Moon Rises” grim future world. And when reality itself is questioned in “The Midnight Pack”, logic-seeker Avalon finds her ancestry holds secrets unlocking a world she never believed.

You will fall in love with these spellbinding romances, “Moonlit Desires” where a fated meeting awakens new possibilities. As well as “White Falls Haunt” where a magical marriage isn’t what it seems. In “Celestial Rescue” where an alien rescue leads to cosmic desires, satisfy all cravings for chills, thrills and intimate encounters.

A twisted tale of football players turned werewolves in “The Wolves” while keep you guessing, as the team seeks for easy ways to win.

The magic continues in the fun shape-shifting mystery of “For Shuck’s Sake.” Sometimes an accident will change your life.

Join the Reapers Crew in the Urban fantasy adventures “Bloodstone” as they tried to stop a cult from waking the God Set.

So stalk these pages and feel the moon’s call. Delve into a menagerie of mischief and magic under star-pricked skies. But be warned – mysteries abound in these Woods and ghosts linger beyond the last page. The howling has only just begun…

The Review

This was such a fantastic collection. The authors all found the perfect balance of spooky atmosphere for the Halloween season with the rich world-building in which fantasy genre storytelling is proficient. Each author’s powerful imagination translates perfectly into these stories, and the fast pacing and the way the tension compliments the more fun and humorous moments between the characters made this collection fun to get lost in.

While each of these stories was amazing, one story that stood out was from D.C. Gomez, an author who I have reviewed many of their books, and their story Bloodstone. The story ties into the author’s Intern Diaries series, following Bartholomew the Reaper, in an international story directly into Egyptian mythology and werewolves. As a fan of both and a fan of this series, getting to see Bartholomew rise as the protagonist of this particular tale and the back-and-forth relationship between him and Bob was so much fun and allowed the chilling nature of these wolves and their cult dedicated to Set to rise naturally.

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The Verdict

A powerful collection of short stories that speak to readers of the fantasy genre in a way that makes them feel included in the Halloween season, Tales of Howloween is a must-read short story collection. The infusion of romance, supernatural thrillers, and fantasy storytelling allowed the collection to shine brightly during Halloween. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

Big Al The Dream Maker’s Emporium of Curiosities Oddities, and Strange Things by Alan McGill Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Author Alan McGill shares a tantalizing collection of short and spooky stories featuring a mysterious shop owner in  the book “Big Al The Dream Maker’s Emporium of Curiosities, Oddities, and Strange Things”.

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The Synopsis

Shorties of Supernatural Suspense

What is the mysterious Emporium? Who or what is Big Al? Friend or Foe? Demon? Alien? or Mystical Shaman?

To answer those questions, you’ll have to visit the store, if you can find it.

Somewhere, nowhere, and everywhere all at once it appears at the oddest times and strangest places. The neon shines brightly, like a beacon to a troubled mind. The Emporium looks deceptively small from the outside, but once you enter, it is a place beyond reality.

Come inside and have a look, but beware, nothing is for sale, and nothing is free. Don’t be afraid of the Poliger, it won’t bite. And don’t be afraid of Big Al, well, on second thought…he might!

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The Review

What a compelling and haunting collection. What made these stories stand out was how each story could stand on its own feet and yet continuously held this connective mythos surrounding Big Al and the mystery behind the seemingly powerful “man” and “store” themselves. The author once again demonstrated a command over imagery in his writing style, with each story feeling like an episode of Twin Peaks or The Twilight Zone on the page. 

One of my favorite stories in the book was The Grinning Man, as it took the iconic story and legend of Indrid Cold, a prolific figure in the Mothman case, and intensified the legend surrounding the man/alien (Depending on what you believe). The tension and heavy atmosphere the author brought out in each story, and the way these characters embodied the best and worst aspects of humanity, created an almost “devil deal” scenario that made people question who the true monster was, giving this a thriller element that will stay with readers long after the book ends.

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The Verdict

A masterful work of short horror fiction that weaves three twisted tales of terror, author Alan McGill delivers a fantastic collection to keep readers on the edge of their seats. Stephen King’s Needful Things meets the atmosphere of Twin Peaks; the mystery of not only the Emporium but its chilling properties, Big Al, will have readers eager for more of this fantastic world the author has crafted. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Alan McGill is an American author who lives in an old farmhouse with a clowder of cats. Alan was close to his grandparents, who grew up during the Great Depression. They were married young and remained together until his grandmother’s passing. His grandfather served in the Navy during WWII and was a gifted storyteller who wove humorous tales about tough events. Alan grew up listening to these stories of right and wrong and watching fictional heroes–such as the Lone Ranger, Adam West’s Batman and Captain America–stand up to bullies and protect those who count not protect themselves. This inspired him to always do what was right in his own life and shaped his love of storytelling. He is a multigenre author whose debut novel, A Cry in the Moon’s Light, combines horror, romance, and mystery. As with all his books, A Cry in the Moon’s Light centers on characters who strive to do the right thing regardless of the adversity they face. The book focuses on the theme of love–a pure and deep love that defeats all evil.

https://www.alanmcgillbooks.com

The Last Waltz in Zurich and Other Stories by Amir Tomer Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Author Amir Tome shares a unique and fantastical journey into a collection of short stories that are entertaining and engaging in the collection “The Last Waltz in Zurich and Other Stories”.

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The Synopsis

From the surprising and shocking to the heartbreaking, erotic, and philosophical, Amir Tomer’s debut collection of literary short stories will delight both avid readers of the short story genre and casual readers seeking entertainment and enlightenment.

“My right eye, which was lost in the accident, was alive and well and by some miraculous means, it continued to transmit to my brain all that it saw! … My left eye saw, concurrently, the hospital room, and the brain, as it always does, fused the two images transmitted by the eyes, creating a sort of photomontage in which the images blended!!!”

A car crash leads to an unexpected voyage across dimensions of perception, a painting reveals more than just artistic vision, and a forgotten childhood game becomes the backdrop for reconciliation with the past. These are just a few of the surprises hidden among the pages of Amir Tomer’s debut short story collection.

The Last Waltz in Zurich offers its readers a rich tapestry of unusual and thought-provoking stories. Shifting between the surreal, the mundane, and the fantastical, this collection of stories never fails to surprise, challenge, and offer unique insights into the human psyche.

The Review

This collection of stories was genuinely emotional and thought-provoking. The author found various ways to touch upon the fragility of life and kept the reader engaged in each story and the characters that drove them. The visceral imagery and the poetic writing style helped capture the settings of each story and the connections between the characters, allowing the reader to bond with these characters as they experienced life’s various challenges.

The heart of this story is in the powerful themes that the stories touch upon. The bond we share, the power that love holds in our hearts, and the emotional threads that connect us all. The standout stories for me were The Last Waltz in Zurich, The Proposal, and my favorite, A Quiet Evening with the Parents. Each touches upon the pain and love that comes with those bonds that connect us, from the loss of a parent to the romance between two people connected by tragedy and so much more.

The Verdict

Memorable, authentic, and heartfelt author Amir Tomer’s “The Last Waltz in Zurich and Other Stories” is a must-read short story collection. The twists and turns in the stories themselves, the emotional and engaging stories and characters, and the powerful themes will keep readers coming back to this book time and time again. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Dr. Amir Tomer is a professor for Software Engineering. He holds three degrees in computer science and has worked in various industrial and managerial positions at Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. He transitioned to academia to meet the challenge of establishing a new Software Engineering department at Kinneret College on the Sea of Galilee. He headed the department for over ten years, successfully earning its official recognition from the Israeli Council for Higher Education.

The Last Waltz in Zurich is Amir Tomer’s second book. His first, a poetry collection titled Love Designer, was published in Hebrew by Assif Publishing House in 2021.

Earth’s Final Chapter Winning Collection 2023 Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviews2 Comments

I received free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Four authors tackle a blend of dystopian sci-fi and fantasy in the collection Earth’s Final Chapter (Winning 2023 Collection).

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The Synopsis

Consume

By Nikolai Bryant, illustrated by Scarlett Greer

Some places on this dystopian earth are still fertile, but not here. In the region where Evelyn lives, toxic spores have ravaged not only the landscape, but the very bodies of those who live among it, and hope seems lost. This found-family knows the feeling of those they love being ripped away, now they cling to what remains, and has yet to be consumed.

Acolyte of the Iron Oracle 

By Christopher Furry, illustrated by Shirly Thomas

Living in a former Planetary Council Library comes at a price. After finding his comrades in a vicious frozen death, Chief Elder Snorri asks the help of Queen Gunnhild of Carshorn to defend their home. Will this journey strengthen their budding alliance, or cause deeper rifts?

Onda Escura

By Azalan Reign, Illustrated by Elina Smith 

How does one make the leap from merely surviving to a life of thriving? Koveshi, a lone voyager who has lost everything, is shipwrecked on an island after evading the wrath of the beast, who seems to protect it. After watching countess ships succumb to the beast, one day two survivors wash up on shore, in need of help.

 The Spirit of the Desert

By Aaron Webber Jr, Illustrated By Zara Challiss

Zid Satoyo becomes a mediator as three communities vie for possession of water from the sky; only, there is no rain, and there will be no easy decisions when discerning who is most worthy of such a gift. They say there is another being residing in the desert, one who lives a life of solitude, and is always watching. Will this ghostly entity keep its distance, or will they, too, lay claim to this powerful piece of tech?

The Review

Another fantastic and richly developed collection of short stories. The detail and dynamic atmosphere that the authors cultivated in their stories helped bring these worlds to life so vividly. The range of each story and the level of the survival these characters had to endure not only showcased a wide range of writing talent from these authors, but explored various facets of ways in which the world could end and endure, from biological contaminants to environmental impacts and more.

The stories, in particular The Spirit of the Desert by Aaron Webber Jr, highlighted the human condition so perfectly. Questions of morality, right and wrong, even in the face of dire survival odds, played so well across these stories. The grand mythology developed in such a short amount of time for each story and the engaging character development will easily keep readers enthralled with each and every story.

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The Verdict

Memorable, thoughtful, and entertaining, Earth’s Final Chapter (Winning 2023 Collection) is a must-read collection of short stories for sci-fi, dystopian and fantasy fans. The beautiful illustrations in each story and the compelling character growth will allow readers to return to these amazing stories time and time again. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

Earth's Final Chapter Winning Collection 2023 Digital Download (English)

Universally Adored & Other Dollar Stories by Elizabeth Bruce Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviews2 Comments

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinionsa re my own.

Author Elizabeth Bruce takes readers on a journey to discover the different ways to view a dollar in the collection “Universally Adored & Other Dollar Stories”.

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The Synopsis

In Universally Adored and Other One Dollar Stories, Elizabeth Bruce gives readers 33 ways of looking at a dollar. Her empathetic, humorous, and disarming embrace of plain-spoken people searching for a way out, charms and provokes. These are bittersweet stories of resilience and defiance.

In “Universally Adored,” a color-obsessed artist draws a facsimile of a dollar—a masterpiece universally adored—to win her girlfriend back. While checking for spare change in the laundry, in “Bald Tires” a Tennessee housewife with a malcontent husband finds an unused condom in his Sunday trousers. In “The Forgiveness Man,” a runaway teen with a newborn follows a vagabond healer absolving the bedraggled godless through hugs of forgiveness. And in “Magic Fingers, a ladies’ room attendant tracked down by her abusive ex finds refuge in a cheap motel with a 1970s era bed massager.

Riffing on the intimate object of a dollar, Bruce’s humane short fictions—from a great mashed potato war to the grass Jesus walked on—ring with the exquisite voices of characters in analog worlds.

The Review

This was a memorable and thoughtful collection of short stories. The author artfully captures the complexities of the human condition through the lens of a one-dollar bill, perfectly capturing the monetary journey that most of the working class finds themselves on. The short yet poignant imagery found within each story’s writing style allowed the reader to feel transported and engaged with each story’s protagonist in a visceral way. 

The title story, Universally Adored, sets the tone of the collection, allowing the reader to feel the story’s emotional pull and the stories that would follow. Exploring relationships and the complex nature of individuality versus close relationships in general, the story showcases the dangers of personal goals undermining a relationship and the lengths a person will go to to make things right. Themes of struggle, desire, and beauty found in the least likely of places, the stories found within the collection will draw readers in and speak to them in an honest and hopeful voice.

The Verdict

Heartfelt, composed, and strikingly emotional, author Elizabeth Bruce’s “Universally Adored & Other Dollar Stories is a must-read collection. The profound themes and rich imagery build a crescendo of storytelling that readers can easily get lost in, and the powerful relatability of these stories and the engaging way the author writes will stay with readers long after the book concludes. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Elizabeth Bruce’s debut story collection, Universally Adored & Other One Dollar Stories, is forthcoming in January 2024 from the Athens, Greece-based Vine Leaves Press. Her debut novel, And Silent Left the Place, won Washington Writers’ Publishing House’s Fiction Award, ForeWord Magazine’s Bronze Fiction Prize, and was one of two finalists for the Texas Institute of Letters’ Steven Turner Award for Best Work of First Fiction. Bruce has published prose in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Sweden, Romania, India, South Korea, Malawi, Yemen, and The Philippines, including in FireWords Quarterly, Pure Slush, takahē magazine, The Ilanot Review, Spadina Literary Review, Inklette, Lines & Stars, and others, as well as in such anthologies from Paycock Press’ Gargoyle series, Weasel Press’ How Well You Walk through Madness: An Anthology of Beat, Vine Leaves Literary Journal: A Collection of Vignettes from Across the Globe; Madville Publishing’s Muddy Backroads, Two Thirds North, multiple Gargoyle anthologies, and Washington Writers’ Publishing House’s This Is What America Looks Like. Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

What Was Never There: Short Stories by Elizabeth Maria Naranjo Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Author Elizabeth Maria Naranjo shares a collection of short stories that taps into the theme of memory in the collection “What Was Never There: Short Stories”.

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The Synopsis

A mother and daughter lost in the woods must overcome their worst fears to find their way back. A father going through a divorce witnesses a seemingly impossible motorcycle accident,

which forces him to question the truth of his own perceptions. A little boy with a terrible secret routinely steals away at night to meet a girl beneath a willow tree—only to discover she has a

secret of her own.

What Was Never There is a collection of short stories with the common theme of memory, or rather, the way memory haunts us.

Includes Pushcart Prize nominated stories “We Never Get to Talk Anymore” and “The Dinosaur Graveyard" and the award-winning "Windows," selected for Best Microfiction 2023.

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The Review

This was such a haunting yet beautiful collection of short stories. The author does a remarkable job of creating a sense of atmosphere throughout each story as if the setting becomes just as crucial a character in each story as the characters themselves. The imagery drew the reader into the narrative, allowing the stories to evolve and grow naturally so that readers could feel drawn further into them. 

The author’s writing style stood out to this reader, as the author writes in a way that almost feels both poetic and cinematic, as if in an indie arthouse film. Stories such as Windows and Gravity highlight this writing style, as the reader can feel the artistry and emotion that these tales inspire in the readers. The depth of the characters in these stories also showcases the theme of memory quite well, exploring how memory can be a conduit to our perception of the universe.

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The Verdict

Thoughtful, imaginative, and engaging author Elizabeth Maria Naranjo’s “What Was Never There” is a must-read short story collection. The fast pace and compelling storytelling instantly draw the reader in, and their emotional connection with each story will make them eager for more of this author’s moving work. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Elizabeth Maria Naranjo is the author of The Fourth Wall, The House on Linden Way, and What Was Never There. Her stories and essays have been widely published and nominated for the Pushcart Prize, Best American Essays, and Best of the Net, and her short story, “Windows,” was selected for Best Microfiction 2023. She lives in Tempe, Arizona, with her husband and two

children.

Buy links:

Amazon Kindle:

Amazon Paperback:

Website: https://www.elizabethmarianaranjo.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/emarianaranjo

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199240146-what-was-never-there

This Kind of Man by Sean Murphy

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Author Sean Murphy shares a series of short stories exploring what it is to be a man in this world in the book “This Kind of Man”.

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The Synopsis

THIS KIND OF MAN offers an unvarnished look at life in 21st Century America, excavating the complicated, tender, wild truth of what it is to be a man across generations and relationships.

These stories interrogate the pressures and tensions of late-stage capitalism, and the ways men grapple with them, often without success. Issues such as marriage, fatherhood, aggression, alcoholism, gender expectations, generational backlash, and the inexorable dread of death, abound.

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The Review

One of the most profound aspects of this modern world is the discussion around gender and “what it is to be a man.” While I have taken a viewpoint that gender norms are nothing but social constructs, constantly changing depending on the era. Yet, as this book so artfully explores, gender norms for men, in particular, have always stemmed from some hard-hitting truths. What I think the author does brilliantly here is write stories that don’t serve as excuses but as insightful nods towards the circle of repeated behavior that has instilled anger and a sense of rash actions within men, more so now than ever. 

Each story was witty yet engaging, skirting the line between comfort and disturbance as the stories explored the many aspects of being a man in this world. Ironically, the emotional depth and honesty with which the author presented each story, and the exploration of troubling behavior linked to toxic family situations, a history of alcoholism, and unrealistic expectations of power and fortune placed on men from an early age, with a faux knowledge that people will view them as weak somehow if they don’t shut out their emotions and focus on career over family and emotions. 

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The Verdict

Vulnerable, heartfelt, and engaging author Sean Murphy’s “This Kind of Man” is a must-read collection of short stories. The author explores manhood and masculinity and how these men and their struggles impact the women around them. In doing so, he captures the mindset of many post-war American men and the often tragic circumstances between a father and their son and the relationship they form. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Sean Murphy is the Founding Director of 1455, a non-profit that celebrates storytelling. He has appeared on NPR’s “All Things Considered” and been quoted in USA Today, The New York Times, The Huffington Post, and AdAge. A long-time columnist for PopMatters, his work has also appeared in Salon, The Village Voice, Washington City Paper, The Good Men Project, Sequestrum, Blue Mountain Review, and others. His chapbook, The Blackened Blues, was published by Finishing Line Press in 2021. His second collection of poems, Rhapsodies in Blue was published by Kelsay Books in 2023, and This Kind of Man, his first collection of short fiction, is forthcoming in 2024. He has been nominated four times for the Pushcart Prize, twice for Best of Net, and his book Please Talk about Me When I’m Gone was the winner of Memoir Magazine’s 2022 Memoir Prize. To learn more, and read his published short fiction, poetry, and criticism, please visit seanmurphy.net/ and @bullmurph.