An Ill Wind Blows

“Lori R. Lopez’s unique and lyrical style has a way of making horror fun to read. She is, in my opinion, an outstanding minstrel of the highest order.”

Jaime Johnesee, author of the BOB THE ZOMBIE Series

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“This award winning novel is classic Lori R. Lopez. It is imaginative and rolls through your mind effortlessly. This is a delightful read!”

Blaze McRob (Robert Nelson)
BLAZE MCROB’S TALES OF HORROR

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“A beautifully written story that reminded me of The Wizard of Oz and A Wrinkle in Time. Loved these kinds of sci-fi journeys when I was a kid. The kind of story where you were swept up with the heroine and walked beside her as she battles the ogres, elves, demons and other monsters as she is looking for a magical stone to help her explain the death of her parents.

Very nicely done Lori. Will read this one again and again.”

Malina (M.L.) Roos
Only Five-Star Reviews; Goodreads Review

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“An Ill Wind Blows by Lori R. Lopez is a combination of horror, fantasy, and adventure where Arletta Trimble, called Meezly, is an orphan who gets caught up in a whirlwind. While battling with the wretched wind, she loses the mysterious gem, The Cursed Eye, which her father entrusted her to safeguard.

The author has created a highly imaginative story with a unique concept of being caught in the wind which is unconventional. Some of the incidents narrated in the story are bizarre which adds to the uniqueness of the story. The twists and turns in the plot are gripping and keep the reader glued to the book. The sequences leave you with a feeling of watching a movie. The greedy aunt Camille, with whom Meezly lives after her parents’ death, is another interesting character. All the characters who follow Meezly in search of the magical stone find themselves sucked into the world of the demoniac storm. It is only this stone that can protect them from the wretched storm.

The book has a lot of action. I liked how the author has given the wind a personality and identity of its own. Never before have I read a story where one of the four elements is the main protagonist of the story. It actually overpowers all the characters in the book. Will Meezly be able to get out of the clutches of the wind and will she get back The Cursed Eye?”

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers’ Favorite

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“An Adventure Like No Other

Lori R. Lopez writes this adventure with so heartfelt compassion that this is a book to love. There are so many characters that you get to know throughout this book that it is amazing that she is able to give each one a personality and background. I was brought to tears by so many of their memories and the sadness that they have been through it makes them so real that they seem to jump from the pages right into [your] mind. Reading this fabulous book is so much like watching a movie that you can get lost in the time that you are reading and before you know it the book is finished.

This book is such a great mix of horror, humor, emotion and suspense that it is a book for everyone of all ages, from young adult upward. You have so much to every page that your mind is . . . able to forget the real world and get lost in the storm that is the incredible mind of this amazing author.”

Jennifer Thomas
Smashwords; Amazon Review

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“Similar in flavor, but uniquely its own story, An Ill Wind Blows will remind you of many of the great children's stories. The Dorothy Chronicles in Wizard of Oz come to mind. But don’t be mistaken this story stands on its own. Filled with magical characters, perilous situations and narrow escapes it is an adventure for all ages.

As always Ms. Lopez brings her knowledge of the craft of writing to the forefront, as she charms with her twists of plot and turns of language. I would recommend this for all ages teen to adult. It may be a little scary for the more sensitive child but for most it will be just plain fun.”

Karen Bryant Doering
Parents’ Little Black Book; Amazon Review

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“This award winning novel is classic Lori R. Lopez. It is imaginative and rolls through your mind effortlessly. This is a delightful read!

*****

Lori is her own person, with a style of her own, one of no rules, blending of genres, and with a poet’s touch. . . . With her overactive imagination, there is virtually nothing that will escape her magic quill. She has monsters of every shape and size; some nice; some not; and a most interesting entourage of protagonists who might very well turn out to be antagonists in sheep’s clothing. Her writing, as she says, is similar to painting with words, and that is very true, although once again there is the poetic side to add to the canvas. Impressionist art? In my opinion, yes. Every story is not deciphered the same for every reader because Lori writes stories within her stories and lessons to be extracted with deep meaning, albeit, usually with a humorous annotation. Therein lies the magic of her story-telling. Every reader is able to extract from her words a different meaning, although the story is the same for everyone. A paradox of absolutes and variables existing within the minds of readers. All who read Lori’s tales will garner that special something waiting for them. I have always felt that a writer who over-describes leaves nothing for the reader to make her/his own. Lori gives them that choice. Yes, she paints the picture, but allows readers to take hold of the brush and paint themselves into the story. Lori writes with glorious description — you see , feel, smell, taste, and hear all the wonders within her stories — but there is mystery there at all times, a sixth sense she shares with us.”

Blaze McRob (Robert Nelson)
BLAZE MCROB’S TALES OF HORROR BLOG

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“It was everything that I was looking for when I picked it up: light-hearted, whimsical, a little serious, a little silly. All in all, it was pretty entertaining, and I absolutely loved the underlying theme (moral?) of having faith in yourself above all else. My inner child positively adored it!! . . . I’m gonna leave you with what may be my favorite part of the whole book. It is an absolutely PERFECT way to illustrate for you the fun, silly tone of the whole book: They walked on till there was a door marked DO NOT ENTER. That was just asking for it, Spiro believed. Nobody told him what to do, so he entered. A large unruly behemoth — which is similar to a woolly-mammoth moth — resided on the other side, and it had a man-sized appetite. He was a man about the size of a man, so it ate him.”

Melanie Stern
Goodreads Review

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“Reminiscent of the cyclone in the land of Oz, An Ill Wind Blows takes you a step higher, as if on steroids... As the ghoulishly dark cover suggests, this is no children’s story but rather, it is dedicated to the child in all of us.

Recounted by Arletta Trimble, the story sweeps us into a whirlwind of whimsy, mixing up fantasy and reality, creating quirky characters such as zombie piranhas, ghosts, an alien, a witch, an axe-wielding elf, mad stalkers, a root monster, and a the ill wind itself, and bringing them to life in the most delightful, fun ways. Here is how Arletta introduces herself: “It isn’t that I’m Snoopy like some people think. I’m just naturally curious. Which tends to make me prone to an abundance of problems, because following your nose can be a dangerous proposition.”

I found it fascinating that the story was written in response to a challenge to draft a novel in thirty days, for which the author, Lori R. Lopez, won the Vicious Novel Writing Month award. The frenzy with which she conjured things up lends itself to the theme of the book, and makes An Ill Wind Blows a dynamic read.”

Uvi Poznansky, author of Apart From Love, Twisted, Home and A Favorite Son
Amazon; Goodreads Review

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“If you’ve never read Ms. Lopez’s work, AN ILL WIND BLOWS would be an excellent first choice. You will get a taste of her creative word-crafting, wherein she fashions new words to suit her needs. I greatly enjoy this aspect of her writing, as it showcases her love of language. Not to worry — when you see a strange word, you will know exactly what it means. You may even think, “That’s a great word! Why isn’t it in Webster’s?” An additional aspect to Lori’s writing is her unique ability to combine mystery, fantasy, a healthy dose of humor, and a little light horror, resulting in a spellbinding story.

Arletta “Meezly” Trimble is a young woman who believes she is quite alone in the world, with few friends and having recently lost her parents. The discovery of a letter from her missing father sends her on a quest that she has no idea how to begin. Just as she’s about to take the first step, she is sucked into a vortex that also picks up her friends, as well as a number of her foes. Her quest has now become two — to escape the malevolent jinn who holds them all within its windy walls, and to find The Evil Eye.

Meezly’s journey takes her through thirteen trials, during which her intelligence, mental and physical reserves, and resolution are tested to their limits. Along the way, she learns much about herself and the strengths she didn’t know she had, and finds out that sometimes it’s ok to trust.”

Sara Smolarek
Goodreads; Amazon Review

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“This book is like a child’s fairytale novel. One complete with fanciful names of inanimate objects and also truths told through depicting a false reality. . . . The best to show you this is through the following quote: “I was unaware that my movements were of such interest to persons of such little interest to me.” . . . Another quote that I think shows this is the following quote: “Gourd had poked his head in the lion’s mouth on many occasions, treading a thin line between the ethics of morality and getting the job done. He had crossed that line in the interest of preserving peace, bringing to justice those who made streets like this unsafe.” These two quotes actually to me seem to show that normal life has a way of making it into fairytales. You know how your parents are always saying — don’t pay attention to the crowd but do what makes you happy and will help you through. Or be true to the morals and values you were raised on — this book shows that.

The narrator is known as Meezly but her name is Arletta Trimble. Along the way she introduces you to many different characters that help you on your journey. I don’t want to tell you the story because I think the beginning two quotes tell it all. But let us just say, that a wicked wind, trees that are the names of families, possible anger management classes needed afterwards all go to show that this novel is a must read for anyone with a child that has an imagination that will help them through.”

Nicole
Manic Readers and You Gotta Read Review

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“All I can say is WOW. Lori R. Lopez had my head spinning from the beginning to the end of this fantastic story. Her unusual use of words and phrases conjured images of hope, courage, despair, and so many more emotions all within the space of a few short sentences. The reader is taken on a roller-coaster ride as the lives of Meezly and company are thrust into an unnatural wind. This book is told from the perspectives of all the characters. Ms. Lopez describes each person and allows them to develop into loving and caring or hateful and despicable people as their natures demand. Each character is also rewarded or punished according to their greed and sins or to their repentant and virtuous behavior. I found myself wondering what other peril Meezly would find herself and hoping she had the internal fortitude to overcome the obstacles preventing her from reaching her goal. Ms. Lopez never ceases to amaze me with her style and unconventional way of writing. I know I am always in for a treat and some mind bending reading experiences when I read her books.”

Linda Ackerson (author L. I. Adams)
Smashwords Review

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“I enjoyed this book, it reminded me — several times — of the multiverse concept presented in Michael Moorcock’s “Elric of Melnibone” series. It’s told in first person from the perspective of Meezly — a young woman caught up in strange events after the death of the parents, and then shifts to the POV of her friends, who also find themselves caught up and transported by a malevolent whirlwind — to what I could only call as a bizarro universe. Each chapter is clearly defined, and each character has their own story to live out in this strange land they find themselves in.

Well written, but I will point out — if you're not a fan of the bizarre and the strange, the horrific and humorous, you might have trouble reading this. It’s an Alice in Wonderland-esque story for adults. [LOL.] Loved it.

*****

It’s like Michael Moorcock wrote Alice in Wonderland

This is to me, a whacky Alice in Wonderland kind of story, and I want to explain why I mentioned Michael Moorcock. Any fan of Moorcock’s work knows about the multi-verse he presents in the Eternal Champion series, in which he — like Lori — places characters in dangerous events that are literally out of this world. If anyone remembers the strange “lake of voices” in Moorcock’s world — then you will love an Ill Wind Blows. You get this kind of queasy feeling in your stomach while you read it and you can’t stop because for some reason, you like feeling as weird as the situation the [characters] are facing. Combining first person narrative through the main character Meezly — and separate chapters in a third person/omniscient style arc for Meezley's friends (and enemies) all of the characters find themselves transported by a malevolent entity into this strange universe — where, during the course of navigating it — find both themselves, and what they’re made of. The plot is simplistic yet complicated - Meezly must discover an object that is related to the death of her parents — and this malevolent entity — desires the object. What follows is a blend of horror, humor, and a journey of the self in an attempt to escape this creature’s attempt at thwarting her goal.

I truly enjoyed the wit presented in this tale . . .”

Rebecca Treadway (Author/Artist R.L. Treadway)
Goodreads Review; Amazon Review

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“Another outright fantastical ride with Lori Lopez! I remain a fan of her imagination and words. It’s more than obvious she enjoys writing these tales as much as I enjoy reading them.”

Tamara Fey Turner
Goodreads Review

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“A Modern Fairy Tale for All Ages

Lori R. Lopez creates a whole new fairy tale for the modern age. She tackles the fears of her heroine with otherly world creatures and fantastic situations worthy of Grimm’s tales. Lori has created an old-fashioned fairy tale that utilizes the elements of the traditional form but with her own imaginative signature. She maintains the childhood fear element in developing her story, while utilizing creatures and situations to help direct our heroine to overcome her fears by empowering her with self-reliance. It is a story worthy of entering the Fairy Tale oeuvre.”

Anthony Servante
SERVANTE OF DARKNESS BLOG; Amazon Review

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“Lori is such an expressive writer. Her imagination moves inside her words so well that you can’t help but get caught up in her realm. A new author for my shelf and one to read more often. Bravo!”

Belladora Ahumada
Goodreads Review

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““So hang on to your hat! If you don’t have a hat, you’d better get one. This is going to be a breezy ride . . .” This quote sums up this story perfectly, because what a ride it is.

We start off by meeting Arletta Trimble, aka Meezly who is a very meek individual and lacks confidence and a sense of self worth. She lost her parents and is now in the care of her scheming and greedy Aunt Camille. She is given an “if something happens to me letter” from her parents to find and protect The Cursed Eye which is an ancient stone said to have magical powers and the ability to control a raging storm demon. The story follows Meezly, her bag of tricks, and a diverse group of characters all trying to find the stone. They find themselves literally sucked into the Storm Demon’s horrific world where nothing is as it seems and everything is out to get you.

This is not my normal genre that I read so it was a little hard to follow at first but as the story progressed and I got an understanding of the flow of the story and I was hooked. Ms. Lopez’s word play and attention to detail is astonishing. At a few points throughout the story I thought my brain was going to go into sensory overload by the realistically terrifying scenes, monsters and gory details of the world we have been brought to. There are so many twists, turns and exhausting challenges each character has to endure that even I felt drained as we neared the finish line.

Along the way we are introduced to an eclectic cast of characters that are given a chance to speak and provide their point of view not only on what is happening at the time, but what happened in the past to make them who they are today. What I found refreshing was that we are given a sense of closure for all of the characters and we get to see the transformation that Meezly has made from being as an insignificant girl, to a [woman] who is learning her true worth.”

MEW; Mary Beth
Amazon; Goodreads Review

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“An Ill Wind Blows is a horror/fantasy novel by Lori R. Lopez. Descriptions of this novel compare it to a darker version of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and being a huge fan of Baum’s works, I couldn’t wait to read it. There are definitely comparisons to be made with respect to content and tone, as well as comparisons to Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, or more recently the Grey Griffins series. If you are a fan of fairy tales and a fan of horror stories, this might be the book for you.

An Ill Wind Blows follows heroine Arletta Trimble (or Meezly, as she is called because of her diminutive stature) on a quest as she battles fantastic creatures—sometimes with the help of her best (and quirky) friends—one fateful, and seemingly endless, night. After her parents are presumed dead, a letter is sent to her from her father’s estate telling her their demise is likely the result of them coming into the possession of a stone that someone else will do anything to take from them, and she must—at all costs—protect that stone. A windstorm whisks Meezly, her friends, and many foes, away—and they all scramble to find the stone.

This book is definitely action-driven. It almost becomes more about what horror Meezly will face next rather than whether she will get back home or get to the stone. . . . Good characters, bad characters, or even gray, everything ties together in the end. An Ill Wind Blows is a fast-paced novel, and a pretty fast read. There is resurgence in the popularity of fairy tales these days, particularly the darker ones or twists on the traditions. Lopez isn’t far off the mark with her work. If you like horror, fantasy, and even a little humor thrown in, this is an easy read you might enjoy.”

Staci T, Masquerade Crew
Amazon Review

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“This is a great read with a story that keeps you turning pages until the very end. It’s not often I enjoy a book like this but this one’s well worth reading. It’s full of everything you need to keep the story interesting...quirky characters, mystery, paranormal...it’s all there. I really enjoyed this book & look forward to reading more by this author.”

Jennifer
Goodreads Review