Reviews for The Magpie Chronicles
The Magpie Chronicles by Sherry Gloag
Publisher: EsKape Press
Genre: Suspense/Mystery, Horror, Contemporary, Historical, Paranormal
Length: Short Story (106 pages)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe
A collection of thirteen mixed genre short stories based on the well-known Magpie Rhyme.
One for sorrow
Two for joy
Three for a girl
And four for a boy
Five for silver
Six for gold
Seven for a secret never to be told
Eight for a wish
Nine for a kiss
Ten a surprise you should not miss
Eleven for health
Twelve for wealth
Thirteen beware of the devil himself.
Traditional poems are remembered because they speak to every generation that hears them. Will they continue to resonate with us in the twenty-first century?
As soon as I read the blurb, I couldn’t wait to find out how Ms. Gloag’s interpretation of each line could be reimagined in a fresh way. It’s uncommon for so many different genres to be represented in the same collection, and I was curious to see how and when they’d pop up together.
In “Three for a Girl,” a teenager gets into a fight with her boyfriend and decides to take a long walk to cool off before going home. What happens next caught me by surprise due to the attention-grabbing opening scene as well as how smoothly everything was tied together in the end. This is a good example of how to straddle the thin line between genres without compromising a quickly-paced plot.
“Five for Silver” follows two sisters around as they discuss the booming jewelry business that is bringing a lot of success to one of them. Like several other stories in this collection, this one had a great premise but never quite delivered enough details about what was happening in order for me to get into it. There were a few times when these tales had too many characters or never quite fully introduced them to the reader, and this made me feel a little lost in certain sections.
By far my favorite part of this anthology was “Eleven for Health.” The narrator is a woman who was married to the love of her life for decades. Their relationship has weathered far more than its fair share of bumps in the road. As she prepares for a monumental shift in her life she brushes up against funny, painful, and poignant memories that she hasn’t confronted in years. Strong character development and a plot that assumes the reader is intelligent enough to make certain deductions on his or her own made me wish for a sequel. I don’t know if the author has any plans to write one, but I’d love to revisit these characters!
The Magpie Chronicles dabbles with so many different themes that I’d recommend it to anyone with even a passing interest in any of them. Some books benefit from shaking up the reader’s expectations of what will happen next. This is one of them.
* * * * * *
4.0 out of 5 stars I good shorter read., May 12, 2014
By
ndarmygirl (Dixon, MO) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Magpie Chronicles (Paperback)
I was given an ARC for an honest review of this book.
When I was first given this ARC I didn't not realize that it was a series of short stories or that the stories were based off of a poem. With that being said I understand it a little more now than I did when I was reading it.
The first short story caught my interest IMMEDIATELY. A few of the stories I didn't understand or follow completely. I liked most of the stories. I did go through different emotions while reading these stories. It is nice to be able to pick up a book and read just a few pages when you only have a minute or two and not feel like you are missing something by having to put it down. (The stories are very short so you can read through one in only a few minutes). I did enjoy this book and will be looking for more from this author in the future.
* * * * * *
4.0 out of 5 stars Will Keep you Entertained, June 9, 2014
By
LeenBee (South Africa) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Magpie Chronicles (Kindle Edition)
The Magpie Chronicles is a fascinating collection of short stories of varied genres and topics. I enjoyed most of the stories very much and was kept guessing all the way on how they would turn out. Each story was well-written and packed a punch for their size. Definitely a good read for someone who wants short, impactful stories and doesn't want to get stuck down with the same genre and topic for too long. I loved the way they followed the lines of a traditional poem passed down from generations.
* * * * * *
Good Reading
By LAS Revieweron July 17, 2014
3.5 stars Format: Kindle Edition
Traditional poems are remembered because they speak to every generation that hears them. Will they continue to resonate with us in the twenty-first century?
As soon as I read the blurb, I couldn’t wait to find out how Ms. Gloag’s interpretation of each line could be reimagined in a fresh way. It’s uncommon for so many different genres to be represented in the same collection, and I was curious to see how and when they’d pop up together.
In “Three for a Girl,” a teenager gets into a fight with her boyfriend and decides to take a long walk to cool off before going home. What happens next caught me by surprise due to the attention-grabbing opening scene as well as how smoothly everything was tied together in the end. This is a good example of how to straddle the thin line between genres without compromising a quickly-paced plot.
“Five for Silver” follows two sisters around as they discuss the booming jewelry business that is bringing a lot of success to one of them. Like several other stories in this collection, this one had a great premise but never quite delivered enough details about what was happening in order for me to get into it. There were a few times when these tales had too many characters or never quite fully introduced them to the reader, and this made me feel a little lost in certain sections.
By far my favorite part of this anthology was “Eleven for Health.” The narrator is a woman who was married to the love of her life for decades. Their relationship has weathered far more than its fair share of bumps in the road. As she prepares for a monumental shift in her life she brushes up against funny, painful, and poignant memories that she hasn’t confronted in years. Strong character development and a plot that assumes the reader is intelligent enough to make certain deductions on his or her own made me wish for a sequel. I don’t know if the author has any plans to write one, but I’d love to revisit these characters!
The Magpie Chronicles dabbles with so many different themes that I’d recommend it to anyone with even a passing interest in any of them. Some books benefit from shaking up the reader’s expectations of what will happen next. This is one of them.
originally posted at long and short reviews
* * * * * *
4 Stars Interesting and Eclectic
ByAmazon Customeron August 12, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition
This was an interesting read. It is a series of short stories that are unconnected, except for their titles which are taken from a children's nursery rhyme. I found most of the stories very enjoyable. The only one that I really disliked was the last one which had a supernatural theme. I would recommend this to anyone who has an eclectic taste and not much time to read.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.
* * * * * *
5 The author has the talent of painting beautiful, fascinating stories on a miniature canvas.
ByDee Archer on July 29, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition
A collection of thirteen short stories based on an old nursery rhyme. The stories cover a variety of themes from childish pranks, to a kidnapping scene to a story about jealousy, one of deep lifelong love, a shocking accident, a sharing of joy and a story of courage and hope. A buffet of emotions of the heart expressed in a few short pages. Entire book can be read in a single sitting. The author has the talent of painting beautiful, fascinating stories on a miniature canvas. I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Five Stars.
* * * * * *
An okay read
ByAmanda Hamilton on June 26, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition
This work was definitely something different. It was written very well, but it did not keep me entertained as well as some of her other works I have recently read. Some of the stories were fast paced and enjoyable while a few were not very interesting.
I was given an ARC for my honest review.
* * * * * *
4 Stars
Great Short Read
By Patricia Blevins on May 15, 2015
Format: Paperback
ARC FOR AN HONEST REVIEW
THIS IS A GREAT COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES. THE VERY DIFFERENT STORIES THAT ARE TOLD IN SUCH A UNIQUE WAY. WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT GENRES THAT ARE IN THIS BOOK IS GREAT. THIS BOOK IS BASED ON A POEM IT WAS GREAT TO SEE HOW IT COULD BE ELABORATED ON IN SUCH A DIFFERENT WAY THEY WERE ALL WRITTEN KEEPS YOU WONDERING WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT. IF YOU LIKE SHORT STORIES THIS WILL BE A GREAT BOOK FOR YOU TOO READ.
* * * * * *
out of 5 stars Interesting and Eclectic
ByBethany Swaffordon August 12, 2015
This was an interesting read. It is a series of short stories that are unconnected, except for their titles which are taken from a children's nursery rhyme. I found most of the stories very enjoyable. The only one that I really disliked was the last one which had a supernatural theme. I would recommend this to anyone who has an eclectic taste and not much time to read.
* * * * * *
I love short stories when I'm short on time
ByMarleneon February 8, 2017
I love short stories when I'm short on time. This one was a fun one based on a rhyme. I enjoyed reading the takes on each line.
* * * * * *
* * * * * *
The Magpie Chronicles by Sherry Gloag
Publisher: EsKape Press
Genre: Suspense/Mystery, Horror, Contemporary, Historical, Paranormal
Length: Short Story (106 pages)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe
A collection of thirteen mixed genre short stories based on the well-known Magpie Rhyme.
One for sorrow
Two for joy
Three for a girl
And four for a boy
Five for silver
Six for gold
Seven for a secret never to be told
Eight for a wish
Nine for a kiss
Ten a surprise you should not miss
Eleven for health
Twelve for wealth
Thirteen beware of the devil himself.
Traditional poems are remembered because they speak to every generation that hears them. Will they continue to resonate with us in the twenty-first century?
As soon as I read the blurb, I couldn’t wait to find out how Ms. Gloag’s interpretation of each line could be reimagined in a fresh way. It’s uncommon for so many different genres to be represented in the same collection, and I was curious to see how and when they’d pop up together.
In “Three for a Girl,” a teenager gets into a fight with her boyfriend and decides to take a long walk to cool off before going home. What happens next caught me by surprise due to the attention-grabbing opening scene as well as how smoothly everything was tied together in the end. This is a good example of how to straddle the thin line between genres without compromising a quickly-paced plot.
“Five for Silver” follows two sisters around as they discuss the booming jewelry business that is bringing a lot of success to one of them. Like several other stories in this collection, this one had a great premise but never quite delivered enough details about what was happening in order for me to get into it. There were a few times when these tales had too many characters or never quite fully introduced them to the reader, and this made me feel a little lost in certain sections.
By far my favorite part of this anthology was “Eleven for Health.” The narrator is a woman who was married to the love of her life for decades. Their relationship has weathered far more than its fair share of bumps in the road. As she prepares for a monumental shift in her life she brushes up against funny, painful, and poignant memories that she hasn’t confronted in years. Strong character development and a plot that assumes the reader is intelligent enough to make certain deductions on his or her own made me wish for a sequel. I don’t know if the author has any plans to write one, but I’d love to revisit these characters!
The Magpie Chronicles dabbles with so many different themes that I’d recommend it to anyone with even a passing interest in any of them. Some books benefit from shaking up the reader’s expectations of what will happen next. This is one of them.
* * * * * *
4.0 out of 5 stars I good shorter read., May 12, 2014
By
ndarmygirl (Dixon, MO) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Magpie Chronicles (Paperback)
I was given an ARC for an honest review of this book.
When I was first given this ARC I didn't not realize that it was a series of short stories or that the stories were based off of a poem. With that being said I understand it a little more now than I did when I was reading it.
The first short story caught my interest IMMEDIATELY. A few of the stories I didn't understand or follow completely. I liked most of the stories. I did go through different emotions while reading these stories. It is nice to be able to pick up a book and read just a few pages when you only have a minute or two and not feel like you are missing something by having to put it down. (The stories are very short so you can read through one in only a few minutes). I did enjoy this book and will be looking for more from this author in the future.
* * * * * *
4.0 out of 5 stars Will Keep you Entertained, June 9, 2014
By
LeenBee (South Africa) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Magpie Chronicles (Kindle Edition)
The Magpie Chronicles is a fascinating collection of short stories of varied genres and topics. I enjoyed most of the stories very much and was kept guessing all the way on how they would turn out. Each story was well-written and packed a punch for their size. Definitely a good read for someone who wants short, impactful stories and doesn't want to get stuck down with the same genre and topic for too long. I loved the way they followed the lines of a traditional poem passed down from generations.
* * * * * *
Good Reading
By LAS Revieweron July 17, 2014
3.5 stars Format: Kindle Edition
Traditional poems are remembered because they speak to every generation that hears them. Will they continue to resonate with us in the twenty-first century?
As soon as I read the blurb, I couldn’t wait to find out how Ms. Gloag’s interpretation of each line could be reimagined in a fresh way. It’s uncommon for so many different genres to be represented in the same collection, and I was curious to see how and when they’d pop up together.
In “Three for a Girl,” a teenager gets into a fight with her boyfriend and decides to take a long walk to cool off before going home. What happens next caught me by surprise due to the attention-grabbing opening scene as well as how smoothly everything was tied together in the end. This is a good example of how to straddle the thin line between genres without compromising a quickly-paced plot.
“Five for Silver” follows two sisters around as they discuss the booming jewelry business that is bringing a lot of success to one of them. Like several other stories in this collection, this one had a great premise but never quite delivered enough details about what was happening in order for me to get into it. There were a few times when these tales had too many characters or never quite fully introduced them to the reader, and this made me feel a little lost in certain sections.
By far my favorite part of this anthology was “Eleven for Health.” The narrator is a woman who was married to the love of her life for decades. Their relationship has weathered far more than its fair share of bumps in the road. As she prepares for a monumental shift in her life she brushes up against funny, painful, and poignant memories that she hasn’t confronted in years. Strong character development and a plot that assumes the reader is intelligent enough to make certain deductions on his or her own made me wish for a sequel. I don’t know if the author has any plans to write one, but I’d love to revisit these characters!
The Magpie Chronicles dabbles with so many different themes that I’d recommend it to anyone with even a passing interest in any of them. Some books benefit from shaking up the reader’s expectations of what will happen next. This is one of them.
originally posted at long and short reviews
* * * * * *
4 Stars Interesting and Eclectic
ByAmazon Customeron August 12, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition
This was an interesting read. It is a series of short stories that are unconnected, except for their titles which are taken from a children's nursery rhyme. I found most of the stories very enjoyable. The only one that I really disliked was the last one which had a supernatural theme. I would recommend this to anyone who has an eclectic taste and not much time to read.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.
* * * * * *
5 The author has the talent of painting beautiful, fascinating stories on a miniature canvas.
ByDee Archer on July 29, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition
A collection of thirteen short stories based on an old nursery rhyme. The stories cover a variety of themes from childish pranks, to a kidnapping scene to a story about jealousy, one of deep lifelong love, a shocking accident, a sharing of joy and a story of courage and hope. A buffet of emotions of the heart expressed in a few short pages. Entire book can be read in a single sitting. The author has the talent of painting beautiful, fascinating stories on a miniature canvas. I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Five Stars.
* * * * * *
An okay read
ByAmanda Hamilton on June 26, 2015
Format: Kindle Edition
This work was definitely something different. It was written very well, but it did not keep me entertained as well as some of her other works I have recently read. Some of the stories were fast paced and enjoyable while a few were not very interesting.
I was given an ARC for my honest review.
* * * * * *
4 Stars
Great Short Read
By Patricia Blevins on May 15, 2015
Format: Paperback
ARC FOR AN HONEST REVIEW
THIS IS A GREAT COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES. THE VERY DIFFERENT STORIES THAT ARE TOLD IN SUCH A UNIQUE WAY. WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT GENRES THAT ARE IN THIS BOOK IS GREAT. THIS BOOK IS BASED ON A POEM IT WAS GREAT TO SEE HOW IT COULD BE ELABORATED ON IN SUCH A DIFFERENT WAY THEY WERE ALL WRITTEN KEEPS YOU WONDERING WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT. IF YOU LIKE SHORT STORIES THIS WILL BE A GREAT BOOK FOR YOU TOO READ.
* * * * * *
out of 5 stars Interesting and Eclectic
ByBethany Swaffordon August 12, 2015
This was an interesting read. It is a series of short stories that are unconnected, except for their titles which are taken from a children's nursery rhyme. I found most of the stories very enjoyable. The only one that I really disliked was the last one which had a supernatural theme. I would recommend this to anyone who has an eclectic taste and not much time to read.
* * * * * *
I love short stories when I'm short on time
ByMarleneon February 8, 2017
I love short stories when I'm short on time. This one was a fun one based on a rhyme. I enjoyed reading the takes on each line.
* * * * * *
* * * * * *