Write Like Hell 3 – Kaiju (an anthology)
STILL ON AUGUST REVIEWS!!
This is the first in this series that I have read, and I must say it was a fun experience. Thanks to the publishers for both adding to my must-read list, and providing me with some quality entertainment. Be warned though, not all stories in anthologies are created equal, and personal tastes can play a big part in that. Due to this, I will only talk about my favourite stories, but if they don’t appeal to you, it does not mean the others won’t. In addition, this collection is rather diverse, as hopefully, my selections will show.
- The Bone Fields, by Mitchell Luthi
- Did someone say Vikings? Viking lore, for those who don’t know, has some Kaiju-esque creatures to choose from. This author didn’t, instead offering something different. A boatload (literally) of raiders are washed ashore on a strange island, thanks to a violent storm. A quick search of their surroundings finds another boat washed up, but with their comrades missing and the boat inhabited by some weird eel things. They send off some search parties, but when they fail to return, the raiders venture inland to find them. They find something much worse.
- A Boy and His Monster, by Andrea Speed
- Remember when you were in school (or some other social situation) where there was this big group with one kid who you couldn’t imagine fitting in, but they still did? This story is that kid. Toshi hasn’t had much luck in love. Every boy he meets is scared away by his secret. When Toshi meets a nice guy and decides to bring him home, he worries that Mason will turn tail and run, like the others. But Toshi’s secret is just too big to hide for long.
- Honengyo, by CL Werner
- Did someone say samurai? Oba is an outlaw, taken to using his impressive skills to hunt monsters. He is surprised when one of his foes, a warlord, calls upon him to help him out. The titular Honengyo, a creature that watches over the people of the warlord’s lands, has taken to destroying villages and killing their inhabitants. Oba is tasked with finding out why or taking out the former guardian. By the way, the battle scenes are epic.
- Dominion, by Tyron Dawson
- Probably my favourite story for two reasons. Firstly, I’m Irish and it’s set in pre-Rebellion Ireland where a poor Irishman loses his job and is swiftly evicted, putting his family at risk of dire poverty. Secondly, I work in a library, and I like how the librarian ignores the fact that poor Irish people shouldn’t be in the library and helps them anyway. There’s also a kaiju attacking Dublin, but that pales in comparison to these little touches that reached out to me more.
These are a mere snapshot of the stories. We have detectives, kaiju turned into spaceships, a whaling ship that bites off more than it can chew and – wait for it – kaiju versus Cthulhu. If you like to read diverse short stories with a central theme, then Write Like Hell 3 – Kaiju us for you.
Verdict
A fun and diverse anthology with something for everyone.
Format: E-Book
Obtained from: Publisher
Print length: 375 pages
Publisher: Sentinel Creatives
ISBN: 9798655218079 (pb)
