No Way Out is the title story of a larger collection of stories by MJA Ware. This collection was only released as an e-book and is geared towards a younger audience. No Way Out is a short and sweet classic haunted house tale. Two young boys have arrived at the house after a long excursion of traditional Halloween trick or treating. They've made a bet that Mike can't go all the way upstairs and wave out the window to his friend Chris who will be waiting below. Unfortunately for him, the stairs are weak, very weak, and he soon finds himself in some sort of well beneath the house.
This story was shorter than I expected and the ending rather strange and abrupt. Short stories are more difficult to write since we don't have a lot of time to get to know out main characters. Horror stories are special in that they have to pack a punch and scare you in just a few pages. It makes deep rooted ideas harder to develop.
No Way Out has a slightly disturbing ending for being a story for middle grade age children. I was actually surprised when I read the last line and considered the implications. I would have been disturbed for a few days as a young child. MJA Ware manages to creep out my inner child and make me wonder about what is going through these characters minds as the story closes.
This story was shorter than I expected and the ending rather strange and abrupt. Short stories are more difficult to write since we don't have a lot of time to get to know out main characters. Horror stories are special in that they have to pack a punch and scare you in just a few pages. It makes deep rooted ideas harder to develop.
No Way Out has a slightly disturbing ending for being a story for middle grade age children. I was actually surprised when I read the last line and considered the implications. I would have been disturbed for a few days as a young child. MJA Ware manages to creep out my inner child and make me wonder about what is going through these characters minds as the story closes.
Summing it Up
I've definitely read better short stories and seen better writing styles but its the little details and ideas that make this story work. I think it was a little too short and the build up could have made for an even more tense ending, but Ware keeps it minimal which in many ways may be good.
Deaths: 0
Language: 0
Gore Factor: 3
Sex Factor: 0
Scare Factor: 3
Fun Factor: 2
Overall Rating: 2
Deaths: 0
Language: 0
Gore Factor: 3
Sex Factor: 0
Scare Factor: 3
Fun Factor: 2
Overall Rating: 2
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