Mercedes M. Yardley

Ragnarok Publications is a publisher newly founded in 2013, but I'd heard of them prior to receiving a copy of Apocalyptic Montessa and Nuclear Lulu: A Tale of Atomic Love. These are the amazing folks behind the Kaiju Rising: Age of Monsters anthology Kickstarter, which was successfully funded this fall and quite possibly one of the coolest projects I've ever backed! It was thus an honor and a pleasure to be offered a chance to read and review their inaugural title by Mercedes M. show more Yardley.

Don't let the quirky title fool you; this is one dark and disturbing tale of supernatural love and horror...because after all, even killers and monsters can fall in love. Montessa Tovar, an exotic dancer who has only known a life of hurt and abuse is abducted one night while walking home by Lu, a serial killer whose unusual power has led him to be labeled a demon. But in time, the victim becomes the accomplice. As the two continue to form the deepest of connections, Lu leads Montessa on a cross-country tour of blood and vengeance.

Have you ever asked yourself if you believe in the concept of soulmates? Of finding that one person out there who completes you? This is the idea explored in the book, though if you find the notion utterly romantic, be sure to brace yourself because the author does not do it in a conventional way. It is far from idyllic; characters are depicted in extreme or frightening situations, and there is blood and violence and killing aplenty. It is, however, still a love story, and everyone knows how much I enjoy those. Most surprising of all is that in the darkness, there is also a heart-wrenching beauty.

Apocalyptic Montessa and Nuclear Lulu is one of the most interesting and deliciously twisted takes on soulmates I've ever read, and I think it perfectly embodies what the publisher is going for. The reader may never truly come to sympathize with the pair of lovers/killers, but I looked at their heinous crimes separately from the depth of feeling which the author has created. It is the storytelling that matters, and Yardley has accomplished something truly impressive by writing about a love that feels convincingly powerful and real at the same time, all in the short span of a novella. One thing's for sure: it will be hard for me to forget this tale between two horribly damaged people, who somehow find that the pieces of their broken souls fit and complete each other. show less

Another fantastic Crystal Lake Publishing anthology! This collection of dark fiction short stories is in the same vein as Gutted. All of the tales within have either beautiful writing, an interesting twist, or something to say about our shared humanity - many of the stories contain all three. Every story is well-written, and a few are quite creepy and/or disturbing. My only single complaint is that a few stories pile on the emotional descriptions a little too heavily for my tastes. I'd show more rather have one effective gut-punch sentence than several pages to describe someone's pain. However, I also see this as a generational thing. I think it is the younger authors that tend toward the emotional overload, which I believe reflects the times we live in, in which everything has to be exaggerated in order to even be noticed. In horror, it's the modern version of overdosing on gothic melancholia, and in that light I respect it. Either way, this book in totality was an extreme pleasure to read. Highly recommended for anyone who digs the dark side of poetic prose. show less

Whimsical, lyrical writing that is very much akin to Neil Gaiman. I could hear the cheery narrator in my voice delving out death after death while lamenting the beauty of flowers and love at first sight. The dialogue was a bit stiff and old-timey for my tastes since it does appear this is modern day, while not my my first choice, I can see it not being a deal breaker.
I enjoyed the lighthearted yet brutal nature of the book. If you've missed the vibe of 'Good Omens' and need a dose of show more whimsy, magical realism, gorgeous flowery writing, a high body count (and I mean HIGH) and something fun and off-kilter then I'd suggest this. It's very much a mood readers dream to come across this type of book. show less

Haunting, dreamlike tale of a high-schooler named Detritus (called Det) who sees ghosts. One is a boy who dresses like a Nazi, who he calls Schultz, and the other is a girl with X's over her eyes, named Blank. These are his best friends in an otherwise cruel, uncaring world. As his relationship with these listless spirits deepens we become aware of something coming for him; an evil twin, a Jungian shadow, a demonic entity called The Opposite. Det's struggle with this creature may very well show more have existential implications for the entire world of both the living and the dead. I especially enjoyed the prose of this story; it has a subtle poetry to it; skillfully knowing when to be graceful and subtle, and when to be dark and bleak. In that way it reads like the best kind of fairy-tale or ghost story. Highly recommended. show less