Children of Edomia by J.M. Kind

 

(oversized pb; 2022: second novel in the Edomia series; a.k.a. Children of Edomia: Tales from the Edomian Mythos (Book 2))

 

From the back cover

“The story unfolds through the eyes of Afina, a young woman burdened with a dangerous secret. After the ruthlessly ambitious Serpent Prince and his rapacious retainers invade the only home Afina has ever known—the ancient cloister on the isolated island of Forgotten Women—the reluctant heroine is tasked with the guardianship of the prince’s unborn daughter. Seven years later, when a fanatical order of holy inquisitors invade the island again, Afina must fight to protect the child’s true identity even as she and her companions are taken captive aboard a ship bound for the slave markets of Jorn Gthang far to the north. Stolen again during a daring raid, Afina meets beautiful, devious pirate queen, Aa-Zra and her colorful crew. But when the captain’s plans for the young woman become clear, Afina’s troubles—and her adventures—have only just begun! Will Afina become a pawn in Ava-Zra’s dangerous game of seduction and shifting alliances, or will the young woman unwittingly fall in with eh very people who would enslave her once again?”

 

Review

The second book in the Edomia series is an excellent full-of-action-and-adventure fantasy tale with a new lead character, Afina, who wasn’t in the first book, but encounters characters who were. Children, in high-spirited, entertaining and sometimes LBGT+/sexual fashion, expands on the Edomian Mythos, is more straightforward, lacking Brother Morek k’Areth’s and Edomia’s mixed-in backstory chapters (though Morek’s travelogue concerning his journey between Earth and Edomia are completed in an end-of-book story, “Marco Polo of Edomia: The Testament of Brother Morek k’Areth”). Great, streamlined and worth purchasing read—am looking forward to the third Edomia novel, Rogues of Edomia: Tales from the Edomian Mythos (Book 3).

The Couch by Robert Bloch

 

(pb; 1962, based on Bloch's screenplay)

From the back cover

“This is the story of a man with a terrible secret.

“He will not even tell it to his psychiatrist.

“He could be wandering down any street at any time.

“He does not look different from other people in the street.

“But his secret gives him a power of them.

“He knows one of them is about to die.”

 

Review

Couch is comprised of Bloch’s usual tight, terse, black-humored, and often compelling writing style, something fans of the author and such writing may enjoy. The story, basic in its plot—and based on Blake Edwards's and Owen Crump’s idea as well as Bloch’s screenplay—has a Psycho-echoic themes, not off-putting but worth noting and (perhaps) appreciating, depending on the reader or viewer. Aside from the fact that Bloch wrote this with his usual effective mastery, I don’t know that I would’ve sought this book out, but like I wrote earlier, it’s worth seeking out if you’re a die-hard Bloch/tightly written and swiftly paced thriller fan.

#

Its cinematic counterpart, scripted by Bloch, was directed by co-idea source Owen Crump. It was released stateside on February 21, 1962.

Grant Williams played Charles Campbell. Shirley Knight played Terry Ames. Onslow Stevens played William L. Janz, Campbell’s psychiatrist. William Leslie played Dr. David Lindsay. Simon Scott played Lt. Kritzman. Michael Bachus played Police Sgt. Bonner.