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    Conway's Curse
    Conway's Curse
    Conway's Curse
    Ebook76 pages1 hour

    Conway's Curse

    By Patric Michael

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    It's while walking along a quiet road that Tion and Kail unexpectedly collide with Conway, a misguided man on a quest to resolve a potentially terrible truth: he's cursed with bad luck—bad luck that transfers to Tion and Kail in a most unexpected and inconvenient way!

    Now they must aid Conway on his quest. Along the way, they'll meet duped villagers, a frighteningly ravenous "woof," and their only hope for salvation: a reluctant warrior wizard named Wylde who may be able to bring the trio, and himself, to an extraordinary happy ending.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDreamspinner Press
    Release dateJun 2, 2010
    ISBN9781615815111
    Conway's Curse

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    Reviews for Conway's Curse

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    • 4/5
      I won this book in an online competition and, having read and enjoyed "Timeless" and "Night Moves", I was intrigued to see what else Patric Michael had written.

      If I was a gay teenager who loved books by writers like Piers Anthony, full of puns and quirky characters, I'd love "Conways Curse".

      Well, I'm not gay and I'm not a teenager, but I still enjoyed reading the story once I worked out what was going on.

      The main characters, Tion and Kail are sprites not fairies, well they are gay, but that's almost immaterial to the plot. A fact of life. As natural as breathing, though with them, nothing is really natural as when Kail's eyes flash green fire, they actually do.

      One of the most enjoyable aspects of the book is the way literary cliches and phrases take on a life of their own in a marvellousy punny way.

      Take these for example:

      That must have cost a pretty penny.”
      Em nodded to Tion. “And a few ugly ones too,

      “Conway, are you on a quest, by any chance?” Tion’s voice was earnest. Despite his now-frantic bailing, his stomach sank to the bottom, because he already knew the answer.

      Kail rolled his eyes at the innkeeping couple’s confused expressions. They toppled like ten-pins.

      Mock irritation dripped from his voice and briefly stained the quilt that covered the bed before it evaporated.

      These and the many others in the book are classics.

      From the above, you might think that the book was going to be PG, but then Kail and Tion get down and dirty. Though in their case, it's roses springing up on the stomach as a kiss travels over it.

      The sex though, like their homosexuality is seen as a natural part of their life. It's for this reason, I can imagine this book would really hit the mark for teenagers and young gay adults who can't identify with the mainstream heterosexual heroes.

      Paranormal and scifi settings have two great advantages – first that they're not constrained by the past and the present, secondly anything is possible.

      By basing this story (and I gather sequels have been considered) in a mythical world, the characters can do things their human, real world counterparts could only dream of.

      So, in one scene near the end when a townsperson takes exception to a character's sexual preference, calling it unnatural, he's temporarily turned into a rabbit.
      "The only thing unnatural here is your apparent inability to appreciate the fact that my friends saved your feckless ass"

      I could imagine young gay readers the world over applauding.

      But it's not just gay teenagers and young adults who would enjoy this book. Anyone who was a fan of Piers Anthony style of writing in his Xanth novels would also appreciate the marvellous play on words as the ephemeral becomes real.

      The only little niggles I had were with some craft inconsistencies. But, hey, I'm also an editor by trade, so I can't help myself.

      Most readers once they got caught up into the world probably wouldn't notice them.

      I would have taken a star off for that, but I added one back on for originality and daring to do something different. Dreamspinner Press should be applauded for publishing it.

    Book preview

    Conway's Curse - Patric Michael

    1

    IT WAS a bright and sunny day. The sun shone in happy waves, except at intervals where it was stymied by leafy trees, most of which cast grumpy shadows along the road, and not counting the few that weren’t grumpy so much as sullen because all that happiness raining down on them was damned annoying.

    Tion nudged his partner and tipped his head. Don’t look now, but we’re about to have company.

    Kail followed the direction of his gaze and groaned. Just keep walking. He might be headed in the other direction.

    Uh-huh, Tion muttered under his breath. And I saw Aunt Santha’s cow flying just the other day.

    Smartass.

    Tion grinned and adjusted his pack. He gripped his walking stick more firmly as the stranger crossed the meadow and joined the road several yards behind them.

    He’s sort of cute, Tion whispered.

    Are you daft? Kail hissed. He’s, he’s….

    Yeah, I know, but still.

    Kail rolled his eyes. Idiocy. He looked over his shoulder. Hush now. He’s getting closer.

    Tion nodded, and the pair stared straight ahead as they continued to walk. He felt the stranger’s heavy tread like miniature earthquakes beneath his feet as the man approached, and quashed a momentary flash of alarm. Surely he’d….

    Look out! Kail shouted and pushed Tion out of the way. He leaped aside and landed with a splash on the opposite side of the road.

    The stranger thundered between them, apparently unaware of the near miss. He continued along the road and, to Tion’s outrage, actually seemed to be humming to himself.

    Oh no he didn’t! Tion stood and dusted himself off as he took stock of his condition. He bent to retrieve his walking stick and felt something broken rattle in his pack. Across the road, Kail was sitting in a puddle, cursing loudly and looking disgusted.

    Still think he’s cute? Kail demanded.

    Maybe not so much, now, Tion admitted as he crossed the road, biting his cheek to keep from laughing. He took Kail’s hand and hauled him up. He bit his cheek harder when the smell hit him. Um, Kail? Laughter bubbled around the edges of his voice.

    What? Bright anger, like flashes of fire, flared in Kail’s green eyes. A muscle twitched at the corner of his jaw, and he glared ferociously, as if daring Tion to say it out loud.

    Tion said it out loud. That’s not water.

    I know it’s not water! Kail roared his outrage, and Tion dissolved into paroxysms of laughter.

    When we get home, I’m going to lodge a complaint with the Roads Division, Kail railed. Somebody has to take a stand! Noxious yellow liquid dripped from his clothing, his pack, and his golden curls.

    Tion nodded his agreement, still laughing, and shucked off his pack. He rummaged beneath the flap and found a scrap of cloth. With it, he swiped tears of laughter from his face before handing it to Kail.

    And I’m going to start by giving that big oaf a piece of my mind! Kail declared as he snatched the cloth. His voice was lightly muffled as he wiped the splash from his face, wiped at his hair, and then dried his hands. Tion bit down hard on fresh mirth as his partner continued to rant, heedless of the fact that the already drenched cloth did little more than spread the mess around.

    Tion touched his friend’s arm. Leave it, Kail. We’ll get you cleaned up at the next stream we cross.

    Kail glared a moment longer before the green fire in his eyes dimmed. His tirade dwindled as well, and he reluctantly nodded. Okay, but if anybody says anything…. He let the implied threat, and one last flash of green, hang in the air.

    Except for him—Tion nodded to the retreating form of the stranger—we haven't seen a soul all day. He clapped his friend high on the back, one of the few places where the mess hadn’t yet soiled. Come on, mate. Let’s find you a stream, shall we?

    Yeah, fine, Kail grumbled. But first, I’m going to have a few words with your cutie. Green fire renewed behind Kail’s eyes, and Tion shook his head.

    That might not be such a good idea, Kail. He’s pretty big.

    Good! The oaf will have farther to fall when I whack him.

    Well, Tion temporized. Let’s get a feel for the guy first. What do you say?

    You feel him, Kail snapped. I just want to whack him. He hefted his walking stick and set off down the road, leaving behind a trail of smelly drips in the dust and Tion biting new holes in his cheek to keep from laughing.

    BOTH Tion and Kail were breathless by the time they caught up to the stranger. Tion’s shoulders ached from the constant thump and crunch of his backpack as they jogged, and he had no doubt Kail’s trousers were chafing, if his friend’s spread-legged amble was any indicator.

    Hey! Wait a minute! Stop! Kail shouted as they neared the stranger. The man was still humming softly to himself as though he hadn’t a care in the world.

    Even Tion grew incensed at the

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