mad_about_books's review
4.0
As I read the first several chapters of MARVELRY'S CURIOSITY SHOP, it seemed more like I was reading a collection of vignettes built around a single, singular character binding the disparate tales together. There never actually seems to be a timeline or continuity from one chapter to the next; however, subtle clues are sprinkled throughout. It is, no doubt, an interesting way of getting the story told. Dr. Marvelry, our protagonist, does finally get his story told in an appendix-like newspaper article at the end of the chapters.
My first impression, as I read the first chapters, was that the curiosity shop was much like the one in the television program "Friday the 13th - The Series" that aired between 1987 and 1990. You might recall that the 'curiosities' there all carried a curse. There is no explicit reference to curses in this book, but the antiques do seem to wreak havoc on those who purchase them.
MARVELRY'S CURIOSITY SHOP is well written and offers a somewhat unique method of storytelling. I was hooked by the variety of characters and the weaving of their individual tales with the items drawn to them by need or desire.
This eBook is well edited and well written from a grammatical point of view. John Brhel & Joseph Sullivan show a great deal of potential and a lot of creativity; however, the polish and pizzazz aren't quite there yet. I like to follow up and coming writers, so I am definitely not writing them off. If you enjoy the-demon-is-in-the-artifact stories, this one is for you!
My first impression, as I read the first chapters, was that the curiosity shop was much like the one in the television program "Friday the 13th - The Series" that aired between 1987 and 1990. You might recall that the 'curiosities' there all carried a curse. There is no explicit reference to curses in this book, but the antiques do seem to wreak havoc on those who purchase them.
MARVELRY'S CURIOSITY SHOP is well written and offers a somewhat unique method of storytelling. I was hooked by the variety of characters and the weaving of their individual tales with the items drawn to them by need or desire.
This eBook is well edited and well written from a grammatical point of view. John Brhel & Joseph Sullivan show a great deal of potential and a lot of creativity; however, the polish and pizzazz aren't quite there yet. I like to follow up and coming writers, so I am definitely not writing them off. If you enjoy the-demon-is-in-the-artifact stories, this one is for you!
inkyinsanity's review against another edition
3.0
Average rating: 2.7 stars
The Victor Talking Machine
2 stars
Two newlyweds buy a phonograph that sometimes plays more than music. A few typos, and amateur writing. Lots of telling, no showing. Nice to know the locations though, as I’m a local!
Echo’s Reflection
2 stars
A woman and her fiancé buy a mirror that shows them disturbing visions.
Magician’s Complex
2 stars
An aspiring magician tries a trick he was warned to avoid.
The Painter’s Premonition
2 stars
An alcoholic painter continuously paints the same landscape of a location he’s never seen.
A Gift Ungiven
2 stars
A college history professor receives his birthday gifts and gains a unique stalker.
A Made Match
2 stars
Two couples each buy half a set of fertility dolls.
The Letterbox
2 stars
A middle-aged man starts restoring his beloved grandparents’ home and discovers a few old letters.
Seams of Consequence
2 stars
An ambitious woman replaces her broken sewing machine.
Martinus’ Mannequin
3 stars
An old friend of Dr. Marvelry’s believes their deceased friend is communicating with him.
Siren Song
3 stars
A lonely musician gets a talented new neighbor, and several men go missing.
The New Assistant
3 stars
Dr. Marvelry leaves the shop in the hands of his new assistant for the day.
Grand Illusions
2 stars
Dr. Marvelry is invited to the retirement of an old colleague.
Appendix:
An Article on Dr. Marvelry from the Sun Press
2 stars
A Dark and Desolate Recurrence
3 stars
The Victor Talking Machine
2 stars
Two newlyweds buy a phonograph that sometimes plays more than music. A few typos, and amateur writing. Lots of telling, no showing. Nice to know the locations though, as I’m a local!
Echo’s Reflection
2 stars
A woman and her fiancé buy a mirror that shows them disturbing visions.
Magician’s Complex
2 stars
An aspiring magician tries a trick he was warned to avoid.
The Painter’s Premonition
2 stars
An alcoholic painter continuously paints the same landscape of a location he’s never seen.
A Gift Ungiven
2 stars
A college history professor receives his birthday gifts and gains a unique stalker.
A Made Match
2 stars
Two couples each buy half a set of fertility dolls.
The Letterbox
2 stars
A middle-aged man starts restoring his beloved grandparents’ home and discovers a few old letters.
Seams of Consequence
2 stars
An ambitious woman replaces her broken sewing machine.
Martinus’ Mannequin
3 stars
An old friend of Dr. Marvelry’s believes their deceased friend is communicating with him.
Siren Song
3 stars
A lonely musician gets a talented new neighbor, and several men go missing.
The New Assistant
3 stars
Dr. Marvelry leaves the shop in the hands of his new assistant for the day.
Grand Illusions
2 stars
Dr. Marvelry is invited to the retirement of an old colleague.
Appendix:
An Article on Dr. Marvelry from the Sun Press
2 stars
A Dark and Desolate Recurrence
3 stars
theartolater's review
4.0
Growing up, like many kids, I had an affinity for the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark series, complete with their creepy illustrations and stuff teachers hated. I know they rebooted them a few years back, and I don't know if they're still as crazy popular as they were in my classes, but they occupy a very firm spot in my memories.
Marvelry's Curiosity Shop bills itself as a collection of strange tales all centered around supernatural items sold from his shop. By the third story in, I couldn't help but think how much it reminded me of Scary Stories in that the self-contained tales had a similar, classic structure to them and they weren't scary as much as strangely comforting from a nostalgic standpoint to somewhat unsettling in some other places.
The pacing and length of the individual stories are a strength, and, truly, the best story is the last one in the collection, but if there's a flaw to the overall collection, it's that it doesn't feel as if the book knows what it wants to be. If it went all-in on a nod to its inspirations, that would be one thing, but some tales are kind of silly and others maybe a little too far from a tonal perspective in terms of horror/macabre tropes. This imbalance keeps the book from being everything it could be.
Overall, though, this was a fun collection on a whole. If you put on your nostalgia glasses and put yourself back in fourth grade for a bit, you'll definitely find some enjoyment in it even if you tend to like things a little darker these days.
Marvelry's Curiosity Shop bills itself as a collection of strange tales all centered around supernatural items sold from his shop. By the third story in, I couldn't help but think how much it reminded me of Scary Stories in that the self-contained tales had a similar, classic structure to them and they weren't scary as much as strangely comforting from a nostalgic standpoint to somewhat unsettling in some other places.
The pacing and length of the individual stories are a strength, and, truly, the best story is the last one in the collection, but if there's a flaw to the overall collection, it's that it doesn't feel as if the book knows what it wants to be. If it went all-in on a nod to its inspirations, that would be one thing, but some tales are kind of silly and others maybe a little too far from a tonal perspective in terms of horror/macabre tropes. This imbalance keeps the book from being everything it could be.
Overall, though, this was a fun collection on a whole. If you put on your nostalgia glasses and put yourself back in fourth grade for a bit, you'll definitely find some enjoyment in it even if you tend to like things a little darker these days.
sammii's review
4.0
This book contains 12 short-stories; each story is based around Marvelry’s Curiosity Shop and the odd and sometimes cursed artefacts that are sold in the shop. Whilst the stories are intriguing and somewhat spooky, I didn’t find them to be scary at all.
Dr. Marvelry is an odd character, through the parts of the book he comes across as not knowing that he selling cursed or haunted objects, however there are other stories where he knows what some of the objects in his shop are capable of. Despite him knowing what some objects were capable of, he never issued a warning to the customers, and yet he was portrayed as a decent, caring gentleman.
Overall this book was a well written, fun and easy read. The characters were likable enough and it was great to see how some of the short stories in the book overlapped into other stories.
Dr. Marvelry is an odd character, through the parts of the book he comes across as not knowing that he selling cursed or haunted objects, however there are other stories where he knows what some of the objects in his shop are capable of. Despite him knowing what some objects were capable of, he never issued a warning to the customers, and yet he was portrayed as a decent, caring gentleman.
Overall this book was a well written, fun and easy read. The characters were likable enough and it was great to see how some of the short stories in the book overlapped into other stories.
eyed's review
4.0
When I started I expected a little more scary than what I got but I really enjoyed this collection of stories.. Each story was unique and left me wanting to hear more. I like the way they were all linked back to Marvelry. I would definitely like to read more stories involving him and his shop. I would recommend this for anyone looking for a good read.
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