This isn’t so much book one in a series, as it is a collection of the first four serial episodes, a fact that I was not aware of going in, (probably should have read the whole book page) so just FYI. I was disappointed because I thought it was a full book that would include an ending. As mentioned in the back of the collection, this sets up the story arc and universe, so don’t expect much in the way of resolution. If you getting sucked into serials, this is for you.

Stanley is very effective with description, and weaves a delightful (horrifying) tale. I personally LOVED the unapologetic gore! The world building was integrated into the story in an organic way with dialogue and character action, though author voice did start to intrude a bit about half way through - with sotto voce narrative. I don’t really mind some fourth-wall breaking, but the change in style was conspicuous.

A few things bothered me;

-There is some general tropey-ness. The story is unique enough and well written, so this wasn’t enough to make me quit reading, but it was noticeable and made the characters’ actions somewhat predictable. I can do trope, if there’s some spin to be had, but there wasn’t a whole lot of spin here. Succubus/Femme Fatale/Women Are Threatening To Men, check. Female compulsion to be naked, check. Knight in Shining Armor, check. I foresee the Nothing Can Save Us Now turn into the Big Damn Hero (or a Mercy Kill), but I also think the author is capable of surprising me, so, there’s that.

-I got a bit tired of the authors insistence on Simone’s ‘vanity’. As a somewhat confusing plot device, it didn’t really line up with the characters’ descriptions and it seemed to take some conscious effort to turn Simone’s attractiveness into a vice. Nothing else about her said she was vain, aside from the author’s insistence that she was. I can see why this was inserted, towards the end, but it wasn’t very well established character wise.

-Since Simone is the main character (co-main character?), I spent a good deal of time wondering why I felt I knew more about who Malcolm was, than Simone. There didn’t seem to be much initial development for her, it just felt a laundry list of attributes, whereas Malcolm seemed to get a more holistic ‘treatment’ and richer characterization. As the story progressed, there was more development of Simone, but it was filtered through her change, so the lack of initial development took some of the punch out of who she was becoming and what was happening to her. Mostly it feels Simone getting set up to be saved by Malcolm. Still, VERY decent for a male author writing a female character. Probably better than most.

-“The Witch Sleeps” didn’t make much sense to me, seeming to have just been dumped into the story without much rhyme or reason, but since this is a serial, it could matter later.

-Pretty much everyone Simone encounters is red-headed, aside from Malcolm and Myra. Strange, but ok. Again, could be something that makes sense later on, but right now it just seems an error that wasn’t caught. *shrug*

-Marksmanship doesn’t really ‘run in families’ and you wouldn’t be an expert shot as an middle-aged man (as Malcolm was) if your most remarkable experience was 'going to the range as a youth'. Skill with a pistol requires muscle memory, which means ongoing training. Maybe it’s feasible in this universe, but it was too referential to this one to stand out as distinctly part of the universe, so it gave me pause. Malcolm at times wandered into Gary Stu territory, and this was one of those times.

Those problems aside, The SHE Chronicles is captivating. I'll be honest, I saw the title and saw it was a male author and couldn't help an eye roll, but all in all, a very enjoyable and worthwhile read. The back end really picked up, and I absolutely ADORED where Stanley went with the mythology of this story. If I were into serials, I’d be putting this one on my permanent radar. I may even check back for the next omnibus in a year or so, if that’s an option. There is some definite and noteworthy talent here, to be sure.

Minus 2 stars for lack of main character development, some general tropey-ness and slight editorial issues, 3 well-earned stars for a wonderfully weird and gruesome ride in a killer dark fantasy universe.2 s Sharon Blake7

This is the first three books of the Titan's song series presented together in a bundle. I read them all a while ago. It is a good series that blurs the lines between horror and urban fantasy genres. The series relies on a strange mythology with many lovecraftian overtones. Everything in the books is a little exotic.

The story was well paced and well written, with a strong cast of characters. The main character Simone is revealed slowly throughout the trilogy. By the end of book three I finally felt I understood her. The psychic detective Malcolm Thackery is instantly likable and easier to identity with.

This trilogy is more horror than fantasy. The second trilogy is the opposite.

There are real scares in the story, and gorehounds won't be disappointed. But the story also contains its share of humorous moments. The books aren't depressing.

DISCLAIMER. I received a free copy of this book for review purposes. I had already read the books closer to their release date, but was given a copy of this bundle for an ARC review.
1 TheEndlessUnread3,411 61

Everything you need for a great, engaging read. I loved reading these books as they captivated me from the start. I was entertained by the characters and fully caught up in all the relationships. The characters were extremely well done and really pulled you into their lives. The dialogue between all the characters were exceptional and the books are well paced. An absolutely fantastic boxset1 RafaelAuthor 48 books12

It took me a bit to adjust from the natural world I, usually inhabit, to one where a disembodied voice can emerge from an interrupted radio program and ask a character to "chill out". Make of that what you will, but Jacob Stanley stands on the shoulders of giants. By his own admission, C.S. Lewis, George R. R. Martin, Alfred Hitchcock, Octavia Butler, among others, inform his core. It explains his imagination: grand and sublime, original and inventive, vivid and rich. You never know from one page to another who or what you'll encounter, where or when you'll be, why or how things will happen. But it never gets confusing. It just engenders a delicious anticipation for what can possibly happen next.

The world-building in 'The She Chronicles' springs from a creativity stunning in its fertile, innovative imagery. And since it advertises itself as a horror story, I'll waste no time here warning those who must keep vapors to hand.

He does however, as a first-time author, have one weakness. He's a first-time author.

As writers new to 3rd person writing are wont to do, he often confuses the respective roles of narrator and author allowing the latter to step through the fourth wall to solve the problem of explaining things readers (present and future) will have no knowledge of.

Then too the meticulous detail used to move characters through scenes, signals the neophyte unwilling to trust readers can intuit the mini-leaps needed to cross short distances of time and space.

The granular, tedious, repetitive, character introspection oftentimes brought the plot to a screeching halt. It extended to scene descriptions. I admit the author's superb talent for creating a world imbued with 'differentness' made it necessary. But this is where a more experienced writer would have first, recognized the problem, and second, made better decisions for what to include and what to leave out.

I still don't know what to make of the story's protagonist, Simone Copeland, a whiny, self-pitying brat wracked by guilt for being a whiny, self-pitying brat. It's almost worth reading the book just to see what level of vulgarity her mouth is capable of. Almost. "If they f#@k with me, I'll just f%*k with them, and we'll see who can f#%k the hardest."

Know anybody that talks that? Swearing can be an effective technique. Constant swearing is vulgarity.

The supporting characters, Malcolm Thackery (demon hunter) and Myra Calanealoo (demon flesh-eater) are far more interesting and entertaining. As their job titles indicate. I regretted the two remained works in progress, their arcs suspended. The three books that comprise this novel fail the most basic definition of a story: one that has a beginning, middle, and end. While loose ends are acceptable under any circumstances, a 'to be continued' is an uh oh not an ending.

Finally, a novelist's skill and talent is what plans and erects the house. Jacob Stanley's prodigious imagination alone spurred my 3-star rating. But it is the writer who must adorn it and make the house appealing. The concept of 'voice' still escapes the author's experience level. It is not to simply assume a breezy, casual, conversational style and put it to print. Creative Fiction is not variant speech. That translates to bloated wordiness and cringe-worthy jargon.

I leave the author with a respectful suggestion. Since I too hold Octavia Butler as one of America's great writers and whom (she must find it embarrassing) I try to emulate, look up the reams of literature shunning the use of adverbs and the verb 'was'. Your writing will take a quantum leap forward when you do.

I leave the reader with a question. Want to step through the Looking Glass?1 Neil CarstairsAuthor 13 books43

The story opens with Simone, a college-age young woman living back with her widowed mother undergoing a series of physical and mental incidents that leave her doubting her sanity. From seeing visions of herself as a child to contemplating eating her mother's cat Simone begins not to trust herself.

Meanwhile, Malcolm Thackeray is a British investigator of the occult and paranormal, working for a shadowy organisation that might or might not be a threat to Simone if they learn of the powers she is developing.

Jacob Stanley weaves these two story lines together, along with that of Myra Calanealoo whose work it is to bring Simone's powers to full fruition and change her life forever.

With violence, gore and sex the story races along, sometimes a little too fast to allow character development. It would have been nice to have had a little bit longer to meet the “normal” Simone before she falls under the influence of the changes to her body. But with occult powers, shape-shifters, mercenaries and new realms to squeeze into four novellas the author keeps our attention with some clever world building and violent deaths.

The SHE Chronicles comprises four novellas rolled into one omnibus edition. Although these four parts actually form only the opening arc of a much longer story there is enough content here to keep any fan of gory horror happy. Perhaps a bit more padding in the form of character development and background filler would have bumped this to a four star read, as it stands it is a very good three and a half stars with the only question being how many parts the story will take to complete as some readers this certainty before committing to starting a series.1 Lisa RedfernAuthor 7 books28

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