Hallow’s Eve by Pippa Jay

Source: Own collection
Format: Kindle ebook
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewer: Laurel

When love comes home…

Twelve months ago, Hal’s world crashed and burned, taking the love of his life with it. He’s waited all year for that one special night when the souls of the departed come home, hoping his candle will summon back one in particular to heal his broken heart. But the forbidden knowledge he’s learned could call something far worse, and put more than his own soul at risk…

Hal, a warlock, lost Eve, his girlfriend, twelve months ago, on Halloween. Now he plans to bring her back using Necromancy – a practice forbidden by the Circle. With them keeping a close eye on him, will he be able to carry out his intentions?

This is a very well constructed story and, for it’s length, manages to create a very clear image of Hal and other more minor characters – particularly Hodge, a sprite, who made me chuckle.

Jay’s work is always a delight to read, as her style is very accessible. This shorter work is no different.

And the title – really loving Jay’s titles lately!

For readers who would prefer to steer away from witchy/warlock tales and spell incantations, I’d suggest avoiding this one. But if you don’t mind all that, and a smidge of romance beside, then this is for you.

The Bones of the Sea by Pippa Jay

Source: Own collection
Format: Kindle ebook
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewer: Laurel

Myasi has been contracted to demolish a weird metallic construct in the shallow seas of Ulto Marinos. But her attempt to do so reveals something more beneath the surface …

In The Bones of the Sea, we get a glimpse of Ulto Marinos, a mysterious world on which stranger things exist – namely, the Bones of the Sea. Ulto Marinos is the predominantly marine world Gethyon, Quin’s son, travels to as a teen in Pippa Jay’s novella, Gethyon.

Myasi has been contracted to blow up an artefact known as The Bones of the Sea, some artificial structure that is getting in the way of seagrafters. She lays the final charge and returns to her ship – but a charge explodes prematurely. Myasi is sent back to learn why the charge blew, and discovers that the structure’s door has opened thanks to the concussion, and a whirlpool sucks her in.

This is a well-crafted short story in that – and typical of Pippa Jay’s writing – one is left to muse over the final events in the story for a good while after one has finished reading it. Not everything is quite as it seems, and sometimes what one intends to do doesn’t quite give the results one aims for. Which is quite amusing, really.

A quick read, very well-written, and somewhat reminiscent of Titan A.E.

Terms & Conditions Apply by Pippa Jay

Source: ARC from author
Format: Kindle ebook
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewer: Laurel

“Welcome to Venus Ascendant, a Public Grade space station in the Andromedan Galaxy. With our open-to-all policy, any being in the universe can find their perfect R & R, romantic getaway or dangerous liaison at our purpose built resort. The on-board empathic AI Ganesa ensures that anyone coming to Venus Ascendant will find their heart’s desire, with suites that transform from luxurious boudoirs to sunset-lit beaches to dark BDSM dungeons. So come to Venus Ascendant and find exactly what you’re looking for!”

It was meant to be a romantic getaway for Marie and the love of her life Jaisen; a chance for him to get to know her better after months of her denying him more than a few stolen kisses. Instead, Marie finds herself dumped and alone on Venus Ascendant with no credit for a transmat and the next starship home not due for another hour.

But the all-seeing AI isn’t going to leave anyone aboard the space station with their dreams unfulfilled. Marie’s boyfriend might not have made it to the station, but there are others willing and able to take on the role – even if they aren’t entirely human.

A space station, a woman who’s been dumped, and an avatar… ingredients for a romantic cocktail delicately crafted by Pippa Jay. There were several surprises along the way, and some fabulous characters one can really sympathise with.

Having read Pippa Jay’s previous works, and thoroughly enjoyed them both, it wasn’t much of a surprise that Pippa has once again created a setting that my imagination is immediately at home in. The writing is vivid, and drew me into the story with ease. This is a quick, easy read, and a fabulous scifi romance.

Quickshot by Pippa Jay

Source: ARC from author
Format: Kindle ebook
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewer: Laurel

Sal, a legal carrier (just about) of whatever comes her way, puts her trust in just two things: her guns.

Keeping out from under Imperium eyes—especially those belonging to a certain Ehi Wahu—while making a living, and trying to keep a lover who can tolerate her twitchy trigger fingers, are the extent of her ambitions.

Then a kiss from a passing stranger, and a promise of the biggest score in a long time, tempt her. Devin fulfils more than one need, but he comes with more trouble than one woman can handle. And this time it’ll take more than her guns to save her. She’ll have to trust a man again.

WARNING: for over 18s only. Adult content including sex, bad language, & implied extreme violence.

What an intriguing story! So many questions!

And this is what I like about Jay’s shorter stories: it’s often more about what’s not said than what is. This one seriously set me to wondering if Devin’s human at all, or a very cleverly-designed robot. And then one has to wonder why humans with cyborg enhancements are treated so harshly. WHY is Devin apparently on the run?

Quickshot is called that for many reasons, and I’m pretty sure that at least one of them is that this really is a snapshot into the life of Sal, the main character. Being short, we don’t get overly much happening growth-wise, although this story does include a massive moment where Sal has to trust someone other than herself. To be fair, she’s pretty cornered and out of options.

A very quick read (*sigh there’s that word again…), fast-paced and vividly written.

Definitely for persons 18 years and over.

Zombie Girl: Dead Awakened by Pippa Jay

Source: ARC from author
Format: Kindle ebook
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewer: Laurel

Imagine waking up to find the world has ended, but unfortunately you’re not alone…

For Connor Innis, awakening from a year-long coma with no memories, no ability to move, and unable to speak was bad enough. Then he learns that a bioweapon set off a zombie apocalypse—for real—while he was sleeping, and the world he can’t even remember no longer exists.

Rehabilitation might be torture, but far worse awaits him outside. All too soon, the hospital Mentor declares him fit to leave with nothing to go home to except a city full of mindless, flesh-eating monsters. That is, until he forms a strange relationship with the one he nicknames ‘Zombie Girl’.

The concept is pretty much what it says in the blurb. A young man, Connor, wakes up to an ICU, having been unconscious for a year, and a relentless Mentor AI that pushes him through rehab. I’m not sure we find out why he was in hospital. He has no memories, and the world outside has changed. A bioweapon was unleashed – one he and other coma patients remain unaffected by – and the locals have become zombie-like. We learn nothing of the world outside the city – Connor’s lack of memories reinforces this. And it appears no contact is possible. But then he meets Zombie Girl.

Pippa Jay is a writer who brings stories to life. This is probably one of her calmer stories – her usual modus operandi is to torture her heroes, and there’s relatively little of that in this tale – but it’s no less vivid or poignant for that absence.

I wouldn’t say that Zombie Girl: Dead Awakened is Jay’s most tightly-written novella, but it is a delightful – if at times a teensy bit gory – tale nevertheless. What do I mean by tightly-written? From what I could detect, there weren’t multiple levels of meaning or complexity to the story, which I am more used to from Jay’s other novellas. It just appears to be a rather sweet account of what happens after Connor wakes up. There’s nothing wrong with this; it’s quite a pleasant change to read something simple that doesn’t tax my brain too much. I really liked the way it wrapped up, and it would be interesting to see what happens next in this world.