Portals Of The Mind: A Short Story Collection By Stephen Wise - Eleven Unique Stories That Will Entertain The Mind

Portals of the Mind: A Short Story Collection by Stephen Wise

The book's title hints at the content, but it doesn't even scratch the surface of what is between the sheets. As a reader who enjoys short stories, I found this edition full of literary gold. All the contents are fun to read and thought provoking, and there is something for nearly everyone. The stories are quite diverse and include, along with sci-fi, horror, fantasy, and a western. One thing all the stories are thrilling reads.

The opening tale is about a 14-year-old kid whose weird uncle Bob disappears. Max misses his uncle and intends to find him when he gets messages from Bob on his electronic devices. What follows are stories from other portals that may or may not be from another plane of existence.

From the blurb on the back of the book, here is a small sampling of the eleven stories in this volume...

- A man returns to consciousness with a slowly returning memory and a body that doesn't function normally.

- A college student working overnight at a convenience store faces an unspeakable terror.

- After attending his best friend's funeral, a young man confronts grief, guilt, and a ghostly apparition.

- A band of killers track a desperado across the desert and to a deserted mission, where a final showdown ensues.

- Strange music draws a young boy to an old mill in his town, where he is presented with a wondrous new world and a tough choice.

And that barely describes the contents. There is so much more.

My favorite story of this collection is entitled Happy Camper. 24-year-old Ronnie reluctantly agrees to go camping with a couple of his friends. Normally, Ronnie spends his free time in his apartment gaming. When the trip begins, he is overwhelmed by everything he encounters. Every noise and movement cause him anxiety. He finds himself surrounded by nature and is experiencing nearly everything for the first time, and he is not enjoying his experience. He longs for the familiar surroundings of the city.

What happens to Ronnie is a kind of transformation as he discovers things about himself and what he is actually capable of.

My takeaway from Happy Camper is to always remain open to new and unfamiliar experiences. You never know what you might learn about yourself and others as well.

I recommend Portals of the Mind for any reader who enjoys a good short story collection. It is entertaining, and sometimes a little scary. Every story is a gem. The world building is excellent and the characters are fascinating. Stephen knows how to create characters a reader can care about in a very short space. I had a lot of fun reading this collection.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Stephen Wise is a multiple award-winning screenwriter and filmmaker with a bachelor's degree in film production from the University of Central Florida. His films have been screened in over a dozen countries. He is a co-writer of Batman: DarKnight, which IFC lists as one of the seven best unproduced Batman screen plays. He is a Michigan native and currently resides in Northwest Florida.

To find out more about Stephen Wise and his work, visit StephenJWise.com

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Girls V Boys By Ryan Woodwind Wan - It's A Race To Obtain The Universe's Ultimate Prize - Who Will Win?

Girls V Boys by Ryan Woodwind Wan

I received a copy of this book for free and am writing this review voluntarily.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I first opened this book. As I read along, I found a well-crafted story about a character named Rayne. As time went on, other characters were added, some friendly, others hostile, and some downright evil.

The whole thing was about obtaining a powerful object that would make one invincible, and everyone, and I mean everyone, wanted this object.

I couldn't help but get visions of an Anime style of story full of impossible to solve problems and characters that were bigger than life.

I enjoyed this tale of people on a quest to become all powerful, whether or not that was their intention.

But there aren't only challenges for the characters, there are also challenges for the reader. If you enjoy solving puzzles, this book has them. Every now and then, through the narrative, there will be a puzzle to solve.

I dislike doing puzzles. I'm not good at them and don't really have the patience. So, mostly, I just skipped those and read the story, and it worked out well. But, for those who enjoy puzzles, it will probably heighten the reading experience while you make your own choices on the direction.

From the back of the book, here is the summary...

GIRLS WITH GUNS; BOYS WITH TOYS;

Rayne, a girl seeking adventure, meets the Tracker, a boy out for redemption. When a new evil arises to steal the most powerful weapon in the universe, the unlikely duo must hunt down this foe. Either by challenging each other or teaming up together. As the two learn more about one another, will their feelings develop and lead to a confession, or will they tread separate paths? Or worse - become lifelong enemies? Enter their worlds filled with danger and chaos at every turn. Choose your side, play their matches, and uncover three different endings in the battle of a lifetime - 

GIRLS V BOYS!

The principal character, Rayne, is indeed an adventurous spirit. She has great courage and can hold her own well in a fight. But there are those who would discourage her from fulfilling her goal, to serve and persevere. But she will have none of the discouragement and presses ahead. However, she is a bit naïve, especially when it comes to dealing with the opposite sex. She learns the hard way while dealing with her own uncertain emotions, triumphs, and disappointments. She is a good character. I wanted her to win out in the end. I cared about her and wanted her to be successful.

My favorite point of plot in Girls V Boys is how the members of the teams, both girls and boys, had their particular personalities that mirrored each other. It was fun to get into their heads and see how they felt and how they dealt with those feelings. There are some great plot twists and reveals involving the kids in this story. Watch for them, they're the best part of the book.

My takeaway from Girls V Boys is to remember that someone who appears to care about you may only be using you to further their own agenda.

Girls V Boys is a fun read full of action, plot twists, and characters that a reader can relate to and care about. It is a serious sci-fi space opera that visits many interesting places and situations that are full of danger and intrigue. Don't be surprised if the story plays out in the theater of your mind as an anime movie. It did in mine. I recommend this tale for those who want lots of fascinating banter between characters, and those who want a fast-paced action story.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lawyer by day, writer by night. Like many others, Ryan struggles with work-life balance. And when he gets it, he might just type a thing or two. Don't get him started in anime and tanks, or he'll never stop! He prefers working in his study on a late, rainy night. Follow him and his shenanigans on X @RyanWoodwindWan.

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