The Beacon by A.B. Shepherd is a disconcerting novella. A.B. once again demonstrated her writing prowess in keeping the reader guessing and this time past the very end.
A young woman crashes on the shores of a deserted island, but is it really deserted? The woman is disoriented, but is it a result of injury or is there more to this island?
Much like the young woman, the story left me disoriented. In some ways, I felt as the reader is dropped into the middle of a story and only given a glimpse of what is happening. If you enjoy your stories to be wrapped into neat little packages, then The Beacon is not your kind of story. However, if you don't mind stretching your mind and being left with drawing your own conclusions, then The Beacon is a story not to be missed.
There was a familiarity I felt while reading this story. But I couldn't put my finger on it. That is until today when I read Kriss's review at Cabin Goddess. She mentioned that The Beacon is an allegory (I'm not good at remembering the literary terms as I haven't had a lit class in quite some time). And that's when it hit me. It reminded me of reading Edgar Allen Poe. I remember when I read The Tell-Tale Heart and the unsettling feeling I got of wondering was it really the heart he was hearing. It was that same unsettling feeling I felt while reading The Beacon.
Buy The Beacon at Amazon
ebook & paperback (65 pages), published December 2013
Source: author
Read: November 2013
~Giveaway~
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EXACTLY! It is also reminiscent of The Yellow Wallpaper, the same feeling. LOL I love how we both mention each other in the review! AWESOME! But yes, this one offset me big time! She really is fantastic!
ReplyDeleteI'm very flattered to be compared to Poe AND to The Yellow Wallpaper. Thank you for this fabulous review Donna and for hosting this stop on the tour. And Kriss you are making me blush. I love it. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat review.
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked it Jess - I am thrilled with it myself. ;)
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