Allegories of the Tarot
byAnnetta
Ribken (editor), Peter
Giglio Lon
Prater, Billie
Sue Mosiman , Kris
Austen Radcliffe , Spike
Marlowe , Jessica
McHugh , Eden
Baylee ,…Rochelle
Maya Callen , Red
Tash , MeiLin
Miranda , Catie
Rhodes , Anne
Chaconas , Patti
Larsen , Jordan
L. Hawk , Samantha
Henderson, J.H.
Sked , Tristan
J. Tarwater , Jennifer
Wingard , Laura
Eno , Timothy
Smith , Matthew
Bryan
The
ALLEGORIES OF THE TAROT Anthology is a short story
collection, featuring 22 stories based on the 22
cards of the Major Arcana of the tarot. The stories
range in length from 2,300 to 6,000 words, and are
penned by new, emerging, established, and
award-winning authors across a range of genres:
Horror, Speculative Fiction, Bizarro Fiction,
Erotica, Mystery, Humor, Paranormal, Epic Fantasy,
Literary, Romance, and Historical Fantasy. Although
you may not be interested in the genres of some of
the stories, there is something in this anthology for
everyone and it includes at least some of the genres
you listed as being interested in reviewing, and so I
thought of you when going through my list of Badass
Blog Tour Hosts. The group of authors in this
anthology includes a Pushcart Prize nominee, a Pulp
Ark nominee, a former Bigfoot researcher, a
journalist, an award-winning YA author, and a
Rhysling Award winner.
http://www.allegoriesofthetarot.com/
This is a really
great anthology with a very eclectic mix of authors and subjects. I
was really enjoying the stories and I liked how the authors tied
their own unique styles to the Tarot deck's major arcana. Some of the
stories are centered around a Tarot reading and their Tarot card. I
like the ones that interpret the Tarot card without ever actually
mentioning the card better. Some of the stories were very short and
ended too abruptly. All in all a very enjoyable read. 4 stars.
THE
FOOL
On
the Road to Devil's Gulch ~
Peter Giglio
In
this story a young man is hitch hiking with a dog.
Twenty-three-year-old Bill wants experiences that he can write about.
The Tarot Card The Fool has a picture of a young man who is about to
walk off a cliff, a dog biting at his heels. This story definitely
takes that picture and turns it into a very interesting story.
THE
MAGICIAN
The
Intern's Story ~
Lon Prater
An
old man and a young man are at a bingo parlor intent on photographing
fairies.
Katrine tries to
warn King Solomon that Sheba will bring catastrophe with her.
This
is a really interesting story about a female artist and plants. A
really short, very eerie little tale. I liked this one a lot.
THE
EMPEROR
Dmitri
and the Mad Monk ~
Kris Austen Radcliffe
Dmitri poisons,
stabs and shoots Rasputin and then throws him in the river. Dmitri
and Rasputin are both shifters and hard to kill.
This
is a science fiction story about muses. Delivering inspiration is
very scientific in this story. Another very interesting short little
tale that I enjoyed a lot.
A
Modern Affair ~
Eden Baylee
Ellen
is getting a Tarot reading, the Lovers card comes up and the psychic
says that it could represent her having an affair with a younger man.
Ellen's older husband is the Director of Obstetrics & Gynecology
and she is an erotica writer. Ellen is struggling with writing a sex
scene in her book. J.D. Ellsworth is a poet and in an online
writer's group that Ellen is a member of and they quickly start
messaging each other sexually charged, innuendo filled messages.
Their banter is erotic and very steamy. I was disappointed that this
story ended so quickly. I liked the little naughty, online affair.
THE
CHARIOT
Squashfest ~
Annetta Ribken
Two
Southern girls go to a squashfest, some kind of fair to celebrate
squash. They go to the fortune teller's tent. Sally Mae wants to know
where her father is. “You’ll have a heap to get over, but in the
end you’ll be on the winning side on account you’re ornery and
stubborn.” This story seemed like part of a bigger piece. It wasn't
really a stand alone story at all.
STRENGTH
A
Promise in the Dark ~
Rochelle Maya Callen
In
Zorilah the Arcana live. This story reminded me a lot of Kresley
Cole's The Arcana Chronicles but this takes the Strength card, a girl
holding a lion's mouth closed and crafts a story around a girl taming
lions in an arena.
The
Hermit ~
Red Tash
The
Hermit's magical lantern shows him the truth, but not the only truth.
WHEEL
OF FORTUNE
Vista
Bridge ~
MeiLin Miranda
Juanita
tries to save suicides jumping off a bridge by giving them good luck.
But life isn't fair and she isn't supposed to have her finger on the
wheel.
JUSTICE
Justice ~
Catie Rhodes
Peri can see dead
people.
Path
of Sacrifice ~
Matthew Bryan
A
demon story.
DEATH
Transformation ~
Timothy Smith
Rose's
grandfather is dying. This is a sad little poignant tale.
TEMPERANCE
Reply
All ~
Anne Chaconas
A
story told in emails. The boss's wife is having an affair. A group is
gossiping about it in email until a comment is accidentally sent
“Reply All” and the entire office knows about it. I thought this
story was so clever and funny. I could relate to office gossip
through email and the dreaded “Reply All” button.
THE
DEVIL
Hoarder ~
Patti Larsen
Jane
buys more and more things to try to make herself happy. A very scary,
creepy little story.
THE
TOWER
After
the Fall ~
Jordan L. Hawk
A
psychic powers, sci fi, sweet, romantic story.
L’Etoile
Flamboyant ~
Samantha Henderson
A
tale of The
Night Circus
THE
MOON
The
Moon ~
J.H. Sked
Anna
has cancer and she goes to her magical friend.
THE
SUN
The
Strange Case of Sal and the Solar Elixir ~
Tristan J. Tarwater
JUDGMENT
A
Body for Your Birthday ~
Jennifer Wingard
THE
WORLD
Phoenix ~
Laura Eno
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Terrific review, thanks so much for writing this,
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