Glowing Dim as an Ember, Iyana Jenna

Review by Kazza K

 

 

 

My second short story by Iyana Jenna. The word count is approximately 2750 words, so you can see it is indeed a short read.

 

The story starts in 1840 in Denmark, when a young boy is awoken by noise/violence and slipped out of the house by a mother he never sees again.

 

1848, Paris. Fourteen year old Etienne is hungry, living a rough existence with an even younger boy named Jacques - busking, begging, mugging to make ends meet. The thing is, he is also having waking thoughts of someone named Nicholas and a lifestyle far removed from where he is now. Is he going insane? Who is Nicholas? And who is Eric the boy who smells like cinnamon?  How did Etienne come to be where he is now?

 

An accident occurs. Etienne is hit and flung by a horse drawing a cart. Once he comes to in the hospital  he starts to learn where his thoughts come from, and why. Who Nicholas and Eric are -

 

"No one else has eyes like yours, and your hair. You haven't changed much. ...And besides, you talked when you were out."

 

"I did?" What did I say?"



"Dancing bears, painted wings, silver storms....and a boy who smelled like cinnamon."
Blood had rushed to his face when he heard that. "Oh."

 

If the review is cryptic I apologise, but there is not a lot to review. It is sweet, I enjoyed what I read, but I would have liked more. It is too short for the story it is trying to tell, however nice it is. I would really like to see Iyana Jenna write something longer and hope she does so in the near future. She has much promise and I will certainly read something longer written by her.

 

Book supplied by the author in return for an honest review.