The Stygian Soul Sheri L. McGathy and Tina Morgan Double Dragon Publishing ISBN: 1-55404-367-0 Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Dark Humor Reviewed by Eugen M. Bacon

The Stygian Soul opens pseudo-darkly with Sheri L. McGathy's Six Steps, well written prose that sets pace for the collection and asserts it mid-section in Coldoar. An experienced cast of writers blends snatches of humor, horror and literary in fantasy tales well thought, not splashed blind. The anthology is simple and natural; the mood vagrant enough to take you places without going askance. I experienced bemusement and tragedy, witnessed a pioneer of balance in something superior and contemplated fantasy with new eyes. Most of the stories do not delve too deep into the complexity of terror to lose enchantment but embody an aspect that individually stands them apart.

Worthy of mention are Tina Morgan's Transcendence , a ceremony of the Choosing that both fascinates and dismays; B. D. Faw's darky short, How Scutter Saved My Life; Michelle Acker's Blood Debt, and a quest for power with a twist in The Price of Magic; Lee Masterson's acceptable risk that yields far more; Rie Sheridan's The Game of the Gods; and Carol Hightshoe's chaos duet of snapping branches, one unicorn and a flame dancing elf.

HOME    REVIEW REQUEST     PROMOTIONAL PACKAGES     BE A REVIEWER     PAST REVIEWS     SITEMAP    CONTACT