Audio Short Story Reviews: Crossing Lines & Marked Man

Crossing Lines

By:  John Mierau

Publish Date:  November 27, 2012

Publisher:  ServingWorlds.com

Format:  Podcasted Audio book

Genre:  Fantasy

Series:  short story

Recommendation:  Dangerous magic in a gripping short story.

Synopsis:
A wanderer with a troubled past follows a sensitivity to magic that pulls him hard to a mountain in the middle of nowhere, where he’s caught up in impending apocalypse, powerful practitioners…and a blood feud.

First Sentence:
Grady spun the wheel to keep the truck on the mud and gravel road.

Purchase At:
Amazon  

Listen For Free:
iTunes   /   Author's Site

**I listened to this book for my own enjoyment.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Grady felt the strong pull to come to Yukon territory. Something magically was wrong. Driving through the pouring rain, Grady almost hits a wandering stranger - Russell. When they stop, Grady learns there is a layline and something is trying to cross into our world by using up the power of the layline. Another comes with plan to stop it. Grady is to work with two of opposite views, Russell a sentital and Fran an older magic yeilder, to stop the monster from entering the world.

These are three quick episodes to listen too. No more than 15 minutes each.

There is a disembodied hunger presence felt. It's coming. The layline is the magical power that fuels it to cross into the world.

There are only three people we meet in this quick story. Each has a heavy presence in the story with what they know. There is a battle between Fran's people and Russell and his company. They each want to keep the laylines and the world safe, but in very different ways. This feud reminds me of a relationship like the Indian/White man war. Fran's magical kind and Russell's strict "schooled" guards of the company.

This story is quick with what's going on. The first episode caught my attention through my curiosity. The second episode fueled my need to know what's happening in the world with these characters. We learn more about the world and characters. I was afraid at first I'd be confused, but quickly John explains what's happening and what's present in the first episode.

I really liked the feud, danger, and magic in the story through to the ending. All learned in the world and left the feel there is so much more! I'd be curious to follow Grady as he shares his knowledge through protecting of fighting with those he opposes. And learning why.

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Marked Man

By:  John Mierau

Publish Date:  March 26, 2011

Publisher:  ServingWorlds.com

Format:  Podcasted Audio book

Genre:  Fantasy

Series:  short story

Recommendation:  A curse in the old mining era. What a man will do to save others, and himself.

Synopsis:
A stowaway on a train, running from something horrible, falls into the hands of evil men. Soon, innocent lives will be lost as human monsters will face something ancient, powerful... and hungry.

First Sentence:
"Get up!"

Rough hands yanked Daniel from his hiding place behind a crate of buffalo pelts bound for the east.

Purchase At:
Amazon  

Listen For Free:
iTunes   /   Author's Site

**I listened to this book for my own enjoyment.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Daniel is thrown from the train he was hiding in. He tries to lie his way out of being caught, as a stowaway on a train, by the rough owners. While the Chinese miners are being forced to down into the mines, working, Daniel is being 'recruited' into hard pressed work with them. But, with the mark on his hand, Daniel learns a dark secret of what the owner plans to do to the miners. Daniel tries to save them all, but also is stuck when the Collector comes for his call on the night without a moon.

Again, 3 short episodes to listen too. No longer than 15 minutes each.

I liked this story of the mark. Neat and original to the western feel it is set in. Daniel can see the dark secrets people hide within, the ones that are deadly to others. Then the Collector attached to it. Oh, now that was catching.

We quickly got to see the curse of the mark on Daniel. Will he act on what he learns? And the Collector coming for him. Shame what he has to do each month to sate the Collector, but oh so deserving to the others.

Daniel may be a cheat in order to earn his mark, but he's not all bad. What he has to do each month is terrible, but he picks wisely. It's hard to do what he has to, but to survive...

The story is a bit dark, but that's the attraction. The story is complete with the scene, but I'm curious what happens next. I'd like to think all works out. ;)