Crow Shine

After reading Alan Baxter’s short story anthology Served Cold, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Crow Shine. Akin to my first experience with Baxter’s work, I was not disappointed. Served Cold had an overriding horror flavor, spiced up with the occasional fantastical story. Crow Shine, however, fed my love of fantasy with just the right amounts of suspense and thrill. It definitely had some horror sprinkled throughout, which pleased this reader. I found myself staying up way too late to finish “just one more story,” and I was saddened at the end knowing I had finished the book. Luckily I have The Roo, a novella Baxter recently published, waiting in the wings.

I love a story that gives me a visceral response. There were a handful in this book that made me utter aloud, make the proverbial stank face, or even stare blankly at the page impressed that Baxter “went there.” That is a trait I always admire in a writer, and Baxter does well at not holding back in a scene. I love all the creepy, grimy feelings I get when I read about some of his characters, and a lot of the time he rewards me with a good, old-fashioned dose of retribution and revenge. Ahh, it warms my heart.

The lengths of the stories vary in Crow Shine, allowing you to sink your teeth a little deeper into some of the well-rounded characters or just have a taste of some madness before you slip off into sleep. I would be hard pressed to pick just one favorite in the bunch, since Baxter gives a great variety of stories. I actually tried to jot down a few, but the list became too long. These tales are full of revenge, dark fantasy, ghost stories, blood money to be paid, characters faced with difficult choices, and transformations that just might surprise you. He finds a way to take a distant scene laced with fantastical attributes and make it pertinent to the reader with an underlying surge of emotions. He kept my attention, and I found it hard to put the book down once I started reading.

The title is also the name of the first story in the collection, and it is a great beginning to whet your appetite for more. You get a feel for the tone of the book. I love the cover, as well, which also lends itself to a feeling of darkness and dread - perfect for this treasure trove of tomes.

I feel like a kid in a candy store who just found a new favorite treat. It’s been a while since I felt this way about an author’s works, and I am going to enjoy marinating in it. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to indulge in my Alan Baxter library.

Alan Baxter | Fantasy, Horror | September 2016 | 296 Pages