Category: Novella - Alyce Caswell - Author

Alyce Caswell - Author

First Fright

13/8/2023

Final Night (The Revenant Records #1)
by Kell Shaw

Lukie heads to a party in 1983, but suddenly finds herself waking up on the beach in 2003 - two decades after she was killed. She's not completely back from the dead, though. And the clock is ticking for this new revenant. She has until dawn to find her murderer and put an end to the supernatural reign of terror that has afflicted Breakwater Bay for decades.

I had a blast reading this - and not just because I have a weakness for urban fantasy and anything related to the 1980s (ha!). Perfectly paced and just the right length, Lukie's story grabs hold of you and doesn't let go until the end (which leaves you wanting more, of course). Honestly, this would make a fantastic TV pilot episode. A very strong debut.

A Short & Sweet Sequel

21/1/2023

Mysteries of Thorn Manor (Sorcery of Thorns #1.5)
by Margaret Rogerson

I received this ARC from Simon & Schuster Australia (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review.

After the excitement of Sorcery of Thorns, Elisabeth and Nathaniel are enjoying domesticity and their burgeoning courtship. But Thorn Manor is suddenly in chaos - of the magical kind - and if they don't discover what's wrong, they'll be locked inside for good.

I have very lukewarm feelings about the book which precedes this, because it was an underwhelming and samey YA fantasy tale in a market saturated with them. Oddly enough, I really quite liked this novella sequel. I'd say it's actually better, because the plot is simpler and we get to enjoy our time with the characters. And of course there's Silas, who always steals the show.

Timber Fall-ing in Love

28/12/2022

Awaken: Wolves of Timber Falls (Small Town Packs #3)
by Cassie Laelyn

An attack on Timber Falls leaves Layla tired of bloodshed and so when she finds a hunter, her enemy, badly wounded and practically on her doorstep, she does the unthinkable - she saves him. Wyatt's bloodlust should be uncontrollable around a shifter, but there's something different about Layla. Will it be enough to keep him from seeking a cure by slaying her father?

A steamy (and sweet!) enemies-to-lovers novella that kept me up past my bedtime - no doubt because it's my favourite instalment of the series by far. I was almost instantly in love with Layla and Wyatt and I was ready to protect them from everyone on all sides. xD An enjoyable read.

Short but Sweet & Sexy

8/8/2022

His Lord's Soldier (Great War #4)
by Renée Dahlia

James has pined away for his best friend, Rafe, for years and knows there is a very low chance of Rafe having the same inclinations as he does. But when Rafe returns from the Great War broken in more ways than one, James wants to take care of him...even if he can't have more.

Well, it's easy to see why this is a Ruby finalist! A lovely novella full of heat and heart - and an excellent addition to the series. I admittedly have a weakness for the grumpy one/sunshine one dynamic, but even discounting that this is really well done.

Murderbot, PI

13/7/2021

Fugitive Telemetry (The Murderbot Diaries #6)
by Martha Wells

Before the events of Network Effect, Murderbot is still with Preservation and gets the opportunity to solve a murder - much like humans do in many episodes of entertainment feeds. If only Murderbot can retrain the urge to antagonise the security team on Preservation Station...

I'm glad I knew this was set before the book or I would have been very, very confused (though there are enough references to indicate the placement of this novella). So there was nothing in the way of Fugitive Telemetry becoming my favourite Murderbot story ever! I like story arcs and character development, don't get me wrong, but I was really craving a solid standalone story. And this definitely delivered. My Murderbot binge is over, so now begins the impatient wait for the next entry in the series...

Exeunt GrayCris & Story Arc

7/7/2021

Exit Strategy (The Murderbot Diaries #4)
by Martha Wells

Murderbot's recent activities have made GrayCris very, very nervous. Worried that they're about to go down (and they will, if Murderbot has its way), they kidnap Dr Mensah and are definitely gunning for a certain SecUnit. There's a low probability this will all work out.

I know there are more stories after this, so I'm not sad about the completion of this arc. I'm really pleased with how it finished up, actually. And Murderbot's subtle development as a character (and definitely not a human! of course not!) has so far been a joy to experience. These stories are just so much fun. The snark! The action! Murderbot once again switching into that troublesome self-sacrificing mode! I could read these forever.

Murderbot 101

17/5/2021

All Systems Red (The Murderbot Diaries #1)
by Martha Wells

Murderbot is a SecUnit provided by the Company to a group of scientists who are about to discover that they should be worried about more than just the native wildlife. Murderbot would rather indulge in TV shows than actually do the job, but these are its humans (even if they are weird) and this is a situation that calls for a bot with murder in its past.

I had an inkling I would love this. I just didn't realise how much! There are some stories you think "oh, this really should have been a short story or a novel instead", but this one fits the novella length perfectly. Murderbot is ridiculously relatable and you can't help but love this secondhand unit, dark past and all. I could go on and on about this novella, but I think it's best if I buy the rest and go on and on about those...

Appetiser > Mains

10/10/2020

The Voice (Ephemera #2.5)
by Anne Bishop

There is a village near Vision that deals with its sorrows by making cakes and feeding them to someone who is not in a position to refuse them.

This novella doesn't contain the main characters or the overarching plot... and yet I think it might be the best story in the entire series. Ephemera is a fascinating setting and after reading this I feel that it works best when you aren't trying to grasp what's going on. I really enjoyed this.