DRAGGING WINGS

written by Jennifer Caress

published by StoneGarden

(2008)

ISBN-10: 1600761178

ISBN-13: 978-1600761171

 

Review by Ty Schwamberger

10.22.2009

 

 

In Dragging Wings by Jennifer Caress, the author takes the paranormal to a whole new level.  Gone are the normal stories of little green men coming out of a lighted shiny disk.  Caress reaches out and touches you with stories that could happen to anyone of us if…they truly existed…or do they?!  There are eight short stories in this collection and none of them disappoint.

I believe I would give away too much of the paranormal surprise in each story if I were to detail it here.  The best way to find out how Caress takes the stale idea of the paranormal and turns it into something unique is to read the book yourself.  Though, I can tell you that this collection of short stories centers on the town of Arcacia and its two main characters – Sammy and Frankie. 

Caress did a wonderful job of implementing these two fabulously made-up characters into each storyline.  It isn’t quite apparent from the first story, but these two strange looking friends have a connection and you and I are unlikely to ever have with anyone or anything else.  Their traits and abilities are ‘out of this world’ can they use them to assist people with the difficult times they are experiencing in life.  Though, I suppose you could say that ‘life’ is a relative term in these tails.  Again, you’ll have to read the entire collection to see what I mean.

On a personal note, being a horror writer I’m usually not too interested to read about paranormal things or events.  The semblance of the paranormal just doesn’t scare me enough into reading or watching a movie that involves strange occurrences or events that happen because of a being from another world.  Though, having said that, I was pleasantly surprised with Dragging Wings.  As I stated before, Caress took the idea of the paranormal in a new and different direction that even fans of straight-up-horror can appreciate.

So, if you’re in the mood for something a little different than the norm as far as the paranormal goes, I would highly suggest picking up a copy of this collection.

It’s out of this world as far as I’m concerned.