unsayable. Yet ironically, it fails to deliver the experience of story that its characters so fervently believe in, instead providing us with something more akin to a collection of found tales or a scrapbook. The elements of belief, suspense, emotional engagement and revelation, which Marvo knows are necessary to create a perfect magic trick are, unfortunately, the missing ingredients in this novel. Kaaron Warren is a prodigiously gifted writer, and her fluent, beautiful prose is one of the saving graces of the book. She has created a world full of private stories, bizarre magical details, and odd vignettes – a strange mixed-up kind of a book which, like all her writing, is highly original. Readers hoping to find a rip-roaring urban fantasy story, however, may well be disappointed. By Georgina Bruce SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL By Justin Gustainis www.solarisbooks.com When a demon takes over the body of Senator Howard Stark, US presidential candidate, and his opponents begin to mysteriously drop out or die, it looks like hell might come to Earth. That simple premise sees your classic battle of good (Quincey Morris and Libby Chastain) verses evil (Stark and his entourage of Secret Service and those of a more hellish nature). The occult investigator (Morris) and Libby (a white witch) seek to find out what’s going on and stop the demon from taking over the free world. This is like The X-Files on steroids. The real surprise is that Gustainis has created such a powerfully realistic world. Despite the demons and magic, this feels very real, and scary because of that. A brilliantly realised world, scarily good stuff. By Adrian Brady ONE BUCK HORROR (Issue 1) www.onebuckhorror.com One Buck Horror, huh? Well my first complaint has to be that this horror doesn't cost a buck. It costs $1.38 for Kindle from Amazon, so there. Points off for a misleading title. I guess One Buck-and-a-Bit Horror just doesn't have the same ring to it. Anyway, moving swiftly on, at a time when the adept reader is swamped with material, much of it available for free, any new publication forcing the reader to dig into their pocket had better be good. So
what exactly do we get for our buck-and-a-bit? This debut issue edited by Christopher and Kris M. Hawkins features five short stories, all of which are decent if not earth-shatteringly brilliant. In my humble opinion, the best of them is “A Lullaby For Caliban”, a tale by Mark Onspaugh that follows a group of wayward teens who break into a travelling carnival after hours in search of something nasty. They are not disappointed. Although certainly very affordable, for a paid-for publication One Buck Horror should perhaps be a little bulkier. A couple more stories wouldn't go amiss, neither would a short review section or even an interview or two. But this being the very first issue, maybe these things will come in time. The overall quality of this new e-zine is very high, and I wouldn't be totally averse to blowing another buck-and-a-bit on a future edition. By C.M. Saunders AWAKENING By William Horwood www.panmacmillan.co.uk This is the second book in the Hyddenworld series, from the author of the well-known Dunction Wood series. The world created is a type of urban fantasy, with the fantasy world hidden within it, hence Hyddenworld. If you haven’t read the first book in the series you may struggle for a short while, but persevere, as this is an excellent book. The first book though, is well worth seeking out. Jack and his daughter Judith find themselves part of both ours and the Hyddenworld, unable to escape either, and they are pulled in different directions as the emperor of Hyddenworld awakens and a gem is found (Judith is the Shield Maiden and is to be entrusted with the four gems, which Jack must return to Hyddenworld to reunite), and tremors on Earth are literally shaking Hyddenworld apart. Very clever and wonderfully well-written, Horwood serves up a gentle fantasy with an edge. Splendid characters inhabit this incredible world, and the book is riveting. I look forward to reading the remaining two books in the quartet. By Adrian Brady