FOUR SUMMONER'S TALES opens with Kelley Armstrong's "Suffer the Children". The small village of Chestnut Hill has been decimated by diphtheria, leaving many grieving over lost children, husbands, wives, or other relatives. Two strangers come to town and offer the villagers a bargain... but will it cost them everything in return? Kelley Armstrong excels at character development and world building, even in the novella format. The story alternates between the viewpoints of a young girl named Addie and her caregiver, Preacher. Addie's perspective offers readers a glimpse into the horror that tragic losses can inflict on even the kindest of souls. I think it is her perspective even more so than Preacher's that makes this story so chilling. "Suffer the Children" is a story that still leaves me with that eerie sense of foreboding.

"Pipers" by Christopher Golden shows just how far a father will go when he loses all that he loves. Set along the United States/Mexican border, "Pipers" gives a new twist to the concept of border violence. Christopher Golden is one of my must-read authors and I don't want to say too much more for fear of revealing the various twists in the story. However, be forewarned that Zeke's inner anguish will break your heart.

David Liss' "A Bad Season for Necromancy" features the most unlikable of characters, Reginald January. Reginald is a con artist but this time his con may come back to destroy him. David Liss does a great job at making a seemingly unpleasant character appear reasonable and yes, even worth cheering for at times. David Liss combines the politics of the 1700s with the societal trappings to craft an entertaining albeit somewhat gruesome tale.

FOUR SUMMONER'S TALES concludes with "Alive Day" by Jonathan Maberry. The story features Captain Joe Ledger from Maberry's series but it isn't necessary to be familiar with the books to appreciate this novella. Ledger's team, Echo Team, has been sent to Afghanistan in a covert operation to locate a missing team. What they find instead defies all explanation. Readers who appreciate military tales mixed with the supernatural will appreciate "Alive Day". Maberry incorporates modern day bad guys such as the Taliban with supernatural entities to craft a disturbing tale.

FOUR SUMMONER'S TALES is a glimpse into the horrors that lurk within mankind. Armstrong, Golden, Liss, and Maberry explore the darkness that lies in everyone when offered a chance to restore the dead to life. Creepy, even a bit disturbing but very well written!

Book Summary