Book Review – 3 Black Nights – An Urban Fantasy Horror Triple Feature! By T.J. Marquis

Having read several anthologies and several indie authors, you usually have a few you like, a few you don’t, and maybe one or two you really like. With only three short stories here, the distribution should be one, one, and one. However, Marquis has chosen three excellent short stories that shows his prowess as an author. This doesn’t fall into the cringe exercise of throwing out some second rate story that really introduces you to the fuller series the author wants you to buy. Marquis has carefully choosen three stories that share somewhat of a theme but are different enough that you don’t feel like you’re reading the same story over three times.

Spice Of The Apocalypse

A zombie apocalypse where everyone knows what a zombie is but also the zombies are mostly there to only set the scene for the real story. While main character Ronaldo, isn’t going to be on anyone’s bedroom poster, his simple nature and goal is what a one-off episode of an exciting zombie apocalypse novel would focus on to give the audience a breather and end up being the talk of the entire show. The choices made are smart and consistent with the nature of the character. The use of an Aesop fable plays an amazing part in driving the theme home, especially in the revelation scene. And what’s left with the satisfying story is the ability to discuss if Ronaldo did the right thing at the end. This set up the other two stories showing Marquis as a talented writer who’s able to take a “non-hero” character and making the story revolve around him that was exciting and insightful. As with the other stories in the collection, you also get a taste of Marquis style and skill of giving you just enough of the world to give you what you need to know and almost frustratingly wanting to know more about the larger picture – but frustrating in a good way. Grade – A-

Den Of The Necrolord

This story showcases the skill of crafting a world that is larger than what the author is going to give you. It’s a short story so you’re going to forgive the need to unpack the world but Marquis mixes the strangeness of the world to hide story elements that bring the final reveal to a satisfaction that you weren’t expecting but you should have. Another great side character and a supernatural mundane world where there might be a business for vampire accountants or demon lords filing for 501(c)3 status. Marquis has great pacing here in a man undercover in the bad guy’s lair and some amazing prose with strong adjectives to make the story feel visceral angst and highlighting the grosser points of horror – again, in a good way. Grade – A+

The Beauty Below

At this point in the game, I’m trying to guess what genre and setting Marquis has me in at the beginning. There’s almost a literal sandscreen in front of the reader and I went from extremes of post-apocalyptic to alien invasion to Lovecraft and I have to say, I really did want some more for understanding just a bit more about the world. However, at this third story, Marquis had enough trust garnered that I was willing to follow him through his story. Antoerh good set of characters and setting. While there were a couple places I didn’t think main character made an accruate to form decision and the ending had an element of letting the fuller story off the hook, I had too much fun reading this to care. The side character was interesting enough that I kept trying to redeem him through my own will and that’s how you know you’re enjoying your book. Grade – A-

These three stories are why indiepub is a force to contend with. Marquis not only picked three great stories to string together but they were so well picked that it read like they could have been part of the same world or written with each other in mind. This is clearly going to get me to read the full novels that Marquis has out and I hope others would pick this collection of stories up to see not just what indiepub has to offer but what a talented author who knows how to write a story well. He gives the audience exactly what they need without spoonfeeding excessive detail for the sake of getting more words on a page. Definitely a recommendation and a good price for it.