Official Review: Cruel and Unusual by Erik Dean

Prisallen · Post by **Prisallen** » 09 May 2019, 06:23

This sounds like a captivating book of short stories. It might be a little dark for me, since the victims' families are deciding the murderers' fates, and I'm sure they aren't going to go easy on them. I really enjoyed your review!

Unielain · Post by **Unielain** » 09 May 2019, 08:03

After reading your review, this book went straight to my must-read list. I've been looking for a short story collection, and this sounds like something I would definitely like. The witch trials provide the opportunity to take a peek of how the marginalized were treated and analyze the power structures. The way the book is composed sounds interesting too. Thank you for an excellent review! It was most enjoyable to read.

Bianka Walter · Post by **Bianka Walter** » 09 May 2019, 09:29

Eye-for-an-eye based stories are often the most satisfying!
These ones sound great

I enjoyed your review - thanks!

unamilagra · Post by **unamilagra** » 09 May 2019, 19:40

This doesn't sound like something I would enjoy, but I'm glad it was a good match for you. I'm glad that humor and wit were included in the stories to lighten up how dark they were. Great review!

Post by **Emy Katherine** » 10 May 2019, 08:35

A book that contains four short stories dealing with the trials in Salem. I particularly find the third story (The Wheel) intriguing, so I'll give this book a try! Plus, it is well edited. Fans of crime novels should check it out! I am glad you enjoyed it and thank you for the detailed review!

kdstrack · Post by **kdstrack** » 10 May 2019, 10:29

These are all interesting story lines. The idea of the wheel is especially intriguing! I am interested in knowing this author's work. Thanks for the great review.

Bluebird03 · Post by **Bluebird03** » 10 May 2019, 12:12

CyndiA1 wrote: ↑08 May 2019, 16:02 Now I'll be wondering what kind of punishment Dean thought up to give those who killed women thought to be witches. I may have to read the book to find that answer.

Enjoyed your review. Thanks.

Thank you, CyndiA1, for your comments. I hope that you do read the book and find the answer. Thank you, again!

Bluebird03 · Post by **Bluebird03** » 10 May 2019, 12:15

Espie wrote: ↑08 May 2019, 22:27 It's interesting to note how authors seem to exercise their "artistic license" in defying what would normally be acceptable. I won't say this book should flop either because even Rowling's "sentence" fragments didn't seem to deter her work's proverbial rise to literary glory. Thank you for your thorough review.

Thank you, so much, Espie, for stopping by and for your comments!

Bluebird03 · Post by **Bluebird03** » 10 May 2019, 12:17

Prisallen wrote: ↑09 May 2019, 06:23 This sounds like a captivating book of short stories. It might be a little dark for me, since the victims' families are deciding the murderers' fates, and I'm sure they aren't going to go easy on them. I really enjoyed your review!

It was captivating and normally not one I would chose, but the concept of justice (in today's world) just pulled me in. Thank you so much, Prisallen, for stopping in and for your kind comments!

Bluebird03 · Post by **Bluebird03** » 10 May 2019, 12:24

Unielain wrote: ↑09 May 2019, 08:03 After reading your review, this book went straight to my must-read list. I've been looking for a short story collection, and this sounds like something I would definitely like. The witch trials provide the opportunity to take a peek of how the marginalized were treated and analyze the power structures. The way the book is composed sounds interesting too. Thank you for an excellent review! It was most enjoyable to read.

Thank you so much, Unielain, for your most thoughtful and kind comments. I am glad you enjoyed the review and hope that you enjoy the stories as much as I did. Thank you, again!

Bluebird03 · Post by **Bluebird03** » 10 May 2019, 12:36

Bianka Walter wrote: ↑09 May 2019, 09:29 Eye-for-an-eye based stories are often the most satisfying!
These ones sound great
I enjoyed your review - thanks!

Yes, especially in today's world of no accountability, I do enjoy seeing justice being served. Thank you, Bianka, for stopping in and commenting!

Bluebird03 · Post by **Bluebird03** » 10 May 2019, 12:40

unamilagra wrote: ↑09 May 2019, 19:40 This doesn't sound like something I would enjoy, but I'm glad it was a good match for you. I'm glad that humor and wit were included in the stories to lighten up how dark they were. Great review!

I so appreciated the humor and wit-sort of a break from the crimes and their just punishment. Thank you, unamilagra, for stopping by and for your comments!

Bluebird03 · Post by **Bluebird03** » 10 May 2019, 12:47

Emy Katherine wrote: ↑10 May 2019, 08:35 A book that contains four short stories dealing with the trials in Salem. I particularly find the third story (The Wheel) intriguing, so I'll give this book a try! Plus, it is well edited. Fans of crime novels should check it out! I am glad you enjoyed it and thank you for the detailed review!

I hope that you do read it, Emy, as I think that you will enjoy the stories. Thank you so much for stopping in and for your very kind comments!

Bluebird03 · Post by **Bluebird03** » 10 May 2019, 12:50

kdstrack wrote: ↑10 May 2019, 10:29 These are all interesting story lines. The idea of the wheel is especially intriguing! I am interested in knowing this author's work. Thanks for the great review.

I did find all four of the stories intriguing and am curious how his similar book compares. Thank you, kdstrack, for reading my reviews and for your kind and thoughtful comments.

Nisha Ward · Post by **Nisha Ward** » 10 May 2019, 13:20

Oh my. This reminds me of some of the horror and horror adjacent anime I've watched over the years (not many but they have a similar sensibility). The first and last stories sound particularly interesting and imaginative, though the last one also reminds me of the Wheel of Misery from the Kakos Industries podcast. Definitely sounds worth checking out.