Snowcrow

A Darkly Humorous, Six-Star-Worthy Read

Sinister snowmen, swirling superstitions, and a superb story, all packed in a blustery winter. Teddy, a huge disbeliever of pseudoscience, has always scoffed at the superstitions feared and revered by many. Yet things take a sharp turn when his teacher carries out an experiment that piques his curiosity. Occurring subsequently is a myriad of inexplicable yuletide accidents…. Or are they merely accidents? Or is it a force of the unknown, the supernatural, the metaphysical that is actually behind everything? Young Teddy is about to find out.

In this irresistible book of snowy mysteries, author Blake Alb pens the story in Teddy’s perspective, allowing readers to view the big wide world through his eyes of childlike curiosity and wonder. Teddy is an extremely likable character and easy to relate to. He is naive and innocent, and although he tends to overinterpret things, I find it an adorable trait of his. Yet at the same time he is observant, intelligent, and perceptive. Very often does he dwell in his philosophic meditation. It is always interesting to read about his reflections on the events revolving around him. I felt as if he was an extended part of me as I plowed through this deliciously dark tale of horror and comedy.

In addition to the breathtaking plot that keeps getting darker with every sharp turn and jolt, the prose is one-of-a-kind. Blake Alb is a master of wording. He exercises his words in an unprecedented way as he paints this fascinatingly suspenseful and thrilling tale with his bountiful vocabulary. With his creative use of puns, anagrams, idioms, anthropomorphism, and alliteration, Blake Alb’s craft of writing is impeccable. Yet while the prose is often gust-bustingly hilarious, there are parts of artistic description that successfully hooks readers into the world of Teddy and his boyish dreams and nightmares. Sometimes deep yet other times casual and mischievous, the prose of Snowcrow is the best verification of Alb’s linguistic talent.

Besides the flawless plot, characters, and prose, what could have taken the ingenious story of Teddy’s winter adventures to the next level? The answer is a witty moral that reminds us of an often overlooked truth. Too frequently do we let the fear of the unknown manipulate us. Because of this, many people have a tendency to overthink and overinterpret events. The concept of apophenia is explored deeply in this fun tale. As readers, we perceive the crazy coincidences that keep weaving their way into Teddy’s life and plaguing him with superstitions and wonders of the metaphysical…. Until in the end, when he makes a resolution to just take life easy and seize the day from now on. After all, life is too short to be clouded with worries of the unknown. Although we cannot control our fate, we can make the most of each day and live every moment to its fullest.

It is a miracle how a book can be so lighthearted yet eerie, so playful yet somber, so humorous yet thought-provoking at the same time. As I watched the events unfold, every twist and turn took me by surprise. I fully enjoyed every page of Snowcrow, and never wanted this amazingly creative novella to end. Teddy’s yuletide adventures will forever be engraved in my memory, bringing a smile to my lips whenever it crosses my mind. With its “bone-chilling” plot (literally and figuratively), lovable characters, unique prose, and a witty moral, Snowcrow deserves not five but SIX stars.