Just A Puddle

THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE WATER by Simeon Gregory is a short story about contaminated water bringing about the apocalypse. Nothing is revealed about the organism in the water. The narrator mentions very little about the state of the world, after contaminating most of the population. No details about how the organism affects humans. Even for a flash fiction piece, there isn't much going on.

There is a moment of action, when the storyline finally picks up, followed by an abrupt ending. Gregory can do better than this.

As always,
AstraDaemon

You Can't See Beyond The Veil

The white one bedroom house on Stewart Street has many hidden secrets. An evil from within the basement is unlocked and begins to psychologically torture one of the residents. Sam is battling his inner demons and must face something perhaps even more sinister than losing his mind. It visits him each morning at 3 am. The Devil's Hour.

DEVIL'S HOUR by Simeon Gregory is full of suspense and terror, from a kid's POV. There is plenty of misdirection throughout the story, as well, but the one thing missing is anything resembling a backstory. As a result, there are definitely a few loose ends, once the story winds down.

I would have preferred to know more about Sam's family background, the history of the night visitor...seems like a lot of unrelated details are thrown in, when there could've been more focus on the basement (as an example).

Still a good story to read, especially before bedtime.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Mostly Glitter

Emma has only one wish for her 13th birthday; to follow a strange presence that greets her each time she visits a place with the name 'Devil' in it. As she gets closer, it begins to consume her and everything that she loves.

DEATH AND GLITTER by Simeon Gregory is filled with plenty of suspense and horrific imagery, but Emma is a very flat character, and nothing substantial is revealed about the entity she meets. This story is't my cup of tea, and, while it's not the author's worst story, Gregory is capable of writing much better stories.

I recommend the stories Cinema 9 or Wooden Nickel instead.

As always,
AstraDaemon