4 out of 5 stars
Kindle Edition. 43 pages. Published December 18th 2017 by Less Than Three Press, LLC
Blurb:
Colin is not having the best time lately, being a runaway shifter with a less than stellar reputation, hiding beneath a car in the pouring rain hoping to evade the angry warlock looking for him.
David’s had a long day; being the local white witch and healer is a worthwhile occupation, but it’s rarely an easy one. When he spies a stray kitten under his car, he figures he’ll be able to rescue at least one living thing that night…
Likes:
- Both David and Colin are likeable.
- Feels like a more complete story than The Arch-Mage’s Firebird.
- The way Colin sees magic as colors.
- The idea of a graphomancer.
Dislikes:
- Flowery language.
- Run-on sentences.
- Story was enhanced because I read The Arch-Mage’s Firebird first.
Having read The Arch-Mage’s Firebird before this story puts me in a strange position. Port in the Storm was written several years before The Arch-Mage’s Firebird and is, as far as I can tell, the first story set in this universe. But I can’t ignore the fact that I came into this story knowing certain things about the world. And I can’t help but think that that knowledge made this story feel much more understandable.
I do think all the pertinent information was provided in this story. Colin’s situation does end up being well explained. However, since I already knew a little about Colin, and about how magical creatures operate in this society, I was ahead of the curve.
Perhaps that’s why I felt that this story was much more complete than The Arch-Mage’s Firebird. Then again, there weren’t as many flashback scenes this time around. The details of Colin’s life before the story began were sprinkled here and there instead of being plopped whole in the middle of the story. Because of that, this story has a nice flow.
There is also much less of the flowery language that bothered me so much in The Arch-Mage’s Firebird. It’s still there, in sentences like, “The moment extended, tremulous and newborn and poised amid all sorts of possibilities.” But not too much.
Both Colin and David were easy to like. David was so kind and gentle. And Colin, for all that he was a party boy, just wanted someone to love him, not just his magic. This story definitely had a soft, cozy feel to it.
I especially enjoyed that Colin saw David’s magic as colors. “Primrose and sunset-gold billowed optimistically through the other colors.” There was just enough talk about the magic to fill out the world, without overtaking the story. I don’t think I’ve ever heard the term ‘graphomancer’ before, but it was a neat idea.
Like with The Arch-Mage’s Firebird, I think this story could have easily been spun out into a full-fledged novella. Strictly speaking, it didn’t need to be, but I again can’t help but wonder why it wasn’t. There’s enough material.
I’m looking forward to reading the second story, which is a continuation of David and Colin’s relationship. Hopefully, I’ll like that one just as much.
Love is Love Reviews 