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Debra Kristi was born and raised a Southern California girl. She still resides in the sunny state with her husband, two kids, and three schizophrenic cats. As a writer, she loves to dabble in multiple genres where the characters break the rules of normalcy. Unlike her characters, Debra is not immortal and her only super power is letting the dishes and laundry pile up. When not busy drumming away at the keyboard spinning new tales, Debra is hanging out creating priceless memories with her family, geeking out to science fiction and fantasy television, and tossing around movie quotes.
Reviewed by Lex Allen for Readers' Favorite
My foray into the world of the Mystic Carnival Collective, henceforth known as MCC, introduced me to an authoress of exceptional talent and a story with a magical pulse. With Dark Perceptions, Debra Kristi has written a paranormal/fantasy story that, if I’ve done my research correctly, is the second short story/novelette in a series. This series will eventually include at least two additional authors collaborating on the same premise and using the same characters. Each of the stories revolves around a common fantasy world where characters may cross over from one author to the next. In this case, there was no abrupt cliffhanger ending that often leaves the reader…shall I say, less than a happy camper?
With great skill and pace, Ms. Kristi introduces two main characters, Matt and Sara, and a potential mainstay character in other stories, Sebastian. There is also an array of supporting actors that may or may not appear again, but that doesn’t matter; it really doesn’t. Each of these characters is completely defined and, if one or another should disappear from the rest of the storyline, it’s okay.
I’ve often thought that some prose has a rhythm, similar to poetry or a song lyric. When I mention this, most people raise their eyebrows and lightly tap their index finger against their temple; left or right handed, the message is clear enough. This cadence is subliminal to be sure and as only a few writers can do it, most readers can't "hear" it. I have seldom read the works of a wordsmith with this exceptional touch, but rest assured that Ms. Kristi has obviously “got it" in spades. She has written a beautiful story-song for the ultimate nightmare scenario. I’ve discovered that Ms. Kristi has a second MCC novelette available and I shall have it. I urge you to get on this train as it leaves the station bound for a mystical, carnival world told through an exceptionally well-written story. I haven’t written much about the story, its plot or subplots, because to do so would likely lead to a spoiler, and that would be a grievous mistake. You’ll have to trust me that the story is alluring, but it’s the musical movements, the twists and turns, metaphorical and fantasy attributes of the writing that will take your breath away.
