Heidi C. Vlach

The book cover design is beautifully toned in purplish darkness and leads to total mystery about what the story will be about as much as simple phoenix on the cover, which is cool.

The book has debut idea on fantasy level. It starts with the picture where it leads the reader in drastic survival of main characters at the very beginning , where one of the main characters takes a decision which consequences takes her into multiple next actions and decisions.

Although the main character is rough she also makes the reader think - a comparison to nowadays life where a person wants to reach that one point, which after he or she won't have to worry more about survival/ existence matters or any matter that corrupts a person.

The author has beautifully given the description and drawn a picture of Nepalese caste system within the story line, which limits the characters and makes them wish and do go for that extra mile to reach it, weighting the decisions they make.… (plus d'informations)

Thanking the author for giving me the opportunity to read and review Tinder Stricken.

It all starts at the Janjuman’s farm where she and Gita try to make ends meet and come up with a plan to make a little extra money. That’s when things go wrong. Not only does Gita [spoiler removed]. Soon after, Esha also finds herself in a sorry plight and a phoenix takes off with Kanakasipt khukuri, a priceless heirloom knife, she kept for her retirement. She’s desperate and forges a deal with a diplomat, Atarangi - who’s an animist and thus able to speak with animals. The women set off on an adventure, trying to find the bird… and Esha’s khukuri.

Not only did I like the way Vlach’s way of writing & the plot with its twists. The characters are well developed and you notice there’s been thought about. A lot. The way they communicate with the animals is simply brilliant! I have to admit, talking with animals sounded a bit cheesy at first, perhaps even childish. But lungta!? Who could possibly come up with that idea!? It surely made me change my mind! The only thing I’m not sure about, is the water snakes’ language. Ok, it certainly brought variation, but at times I felt it kinda interrupted the smooth flow I experienced throughout the rest of the story.

A beautiful Nepal-inspired tale which will make you philosophise and reflect a thing or two on your own life!… (plus d'informations)

I’ve always been fascinated by dragons and how they are portrayed in different myths and cultures, so I couldn’t pass the opportunity to read this collection of short stories that is entirely dedicated to them. I must say that each story was a pleasant surprise, especially because some of them depicted dragons as I’ve never found them before in other novels or stories.

My favorite was “Cardiology”, and the only thing that disappointed me a bit was that it was too short. Reading the last sentences, I had to admit that the author ended it exactly where it should have ended, but I still wanted more. I would have liked to see how Theodore survived in the post-apocalyptic world roamed by infected humans, but, more than anything, I wanted to make sure the little dragons didn’t get hurt during their adventure outside the laboratory. This story pulled me in from the first few paragraphs, and that was not only because it is so original and unexpected, but also because the author managed to build her character, Theodore, so well, and to make me fall in love with the dragons he created. That’s, actually, quite impressive if you think that not many writers can deliver so much in the limited number of pages a short story offers: a good premise, interesting characters, well-paced action, and emotional attachment.

Another personal favorite was “Clearsight”. I loved the idea of two dragons creating life on Earth and trying to find the perfect formula that would result in a creature that would be capable of thought and reason. It was also interesting how the author tied the extinction of dinosaurs to her story.

“The Korvi’s Limbs” is another short story that I thought was truly interesting and original. It reads like a mythic story of how a race was created, and I loved the message behind it. The Korvi received each new limb from their god only after they had earned it. It shows how evolution is all about wanting more than you have and actively doing something to get it. When the first Korvi got what he wanted, the next one came with an even higher goal, and this is how they evolved as a species.

I have only mentioned the short stories that I liked most, but “Serpents of Sky” deserves to be read for all of them. Heidi C. Vlach is a very creative and skilled writer, having the gift of making you care about the characters and what may happen to them from page one.… (plus d'informations)