- Title: Day 305 (A Short Story)
- Author: Nicole Thomas
- Genre: Horror
- Summary: eLit Book Award for Short Story Fiction – Gold (2023)
Readers’ Favorite 5-star Rated
”Some …short stories are pretty good. Then there are short stories that just feel blah and hum drum. Then there are short stories like this one that are the sort of story that are so well written and touch on all of the things you love to read about and leave you hungry for more. I wish there was more!” – Goodreads Review
On a hiking trip intended to enhance their relationship, things go awry when Brenda and Paul find a book that predicts the future with terrifying accuracy. When Day 305 arrives, their lives change in ways they never expected. - Publisher: Independently Published
- Publication Date: October 1, 2022
- Page Count: 16
General Review
- Description and Imagery: Though there isn’t much physical description of the characters and imagery pertaining to the environment, this author does a great job of using the character’s actions to give readers an idea of what they are like. This author gives the perfect amount of description for the nature of this story and places the reader within each scene.
- Relatability of MC: The author portrays both characters well and makes them real people through their words and actions. The author also does a fantastic job of only giving the readers essential information and implying the history Brenda and Paul have through their interactions.
- Pacing: This is where the author shines as they masterfully play with the concept of time and traverse the days and months expertly. Again, only essential information was given without too many tangents. The story flowed exceptionally well and made for a smooth read.
- Perspective: This story is written in third person presenting an aerial viewpoint which allows the reader to see everything while at the same time feeling as if they are in the thick of it, experiencing the coming events and surprises with the characters as they arise.
- Vibe Check: This story was a nice start to my morning read. Nothing like two people finding something they shouldn’t have and dying because of it while sipping tea! All in all, sometimes a short story is just what the doctor ordered when you want to read but don’t have the time for an entire epic. Good vibes from this story!
Personal Review
This short story spans the passage of time exceptionally well and uses it to create the suspense needed for the horrible surprise at the end. I also like the ending where the author uses the item they found to be their undoing, even after they realize they should have left well enough alone.
I also liked how the author described the couple’s interaction as they sat in the car before they went into the house as that particular scene explained their entire marriage in so few words. It was a perfectly written moment in the story.
The ending was pretty good, it’s funny how once people find something they shouldn’t have it sticks with them until the very end. Either they stop the thing or the thing stops them. Permanently. And, short stories are incredibly difficult to end because the ideas keep flowing and knowing when to stop becomes the biggest obstacle, and this author ended it pretty well.
All in all, I look forward to more short works from this author of the horror/suspense variety. A great story with great writing! I would definitely recommend it.
About Nicole Thomas
Nicole Thomas is the founder and CEO of Goal Achievers LLC. She is a certified professional coach and the author of the books My View from the Summit (VFS), #Thoughts, Let’s Talk: Positive Affirmations for the Soul, Hues: The Colors of Life: A Coloring Book, and the journals And for This I Am Grateful, Dear God: A 90-day Journal. And her most recent work, Day 305: a short story.
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00P980ZKS?ingress=0&visitId=f9a4c212-4c52-45da-874d-777490e71550
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