ALL ROADS SHATTERED, the third book of Lisa Diaz Meyer’s All Roads Collection contains two short story sagas, five multi-genre, dark fiction short stories and twelve macabre poems. Other books in this dark fiction collection are ALL ROADS HOME and ALL ROADS DESTINED.
All Roads Shattered by Lisa Diaz Meyer is a collection of dark fiction short stories and poems. I stumbled upon this author at a book fair last fall and decided to learn more about her. After locating this collection, knowing it had dark elements with a variety of writing styles and formats, I thought it’d be a great way to become familiar with her literary style. What a great find! Let’s chat about this book’s content…
In the first section, The Outposts III, we have a saga of short stories, all revolving around a common cast of characters who will delight and frighten you. From the beginning, when it appears someone is buried alive, I was hooked to the plot. When it took a slightly more macabre and chilling turn, I found myself intrigued by the possibilities. Dealing with different phobias, family issues, and outside impacts, the Mitchells are in need of help… well, at least some of them. What a clever, dark set of creations to entertain readers. Meyer is a strong, intense writer with a compelling use of vocabulary and writing styles. While some of the plots fall into non-traditional genres (meaning that I don’t normally read), the quality of the writing easily captivated me.
People of Gods and The Enduring are two other sagas / stories included in this book. They are each about ~50 pages, broken into chapters or parts that are connected but not necessarily serial. Consider this an overview of a world the author’s created with mesmerizing settings and creatures. I enjoyed both of these, as well as the final section, The Oddities, which covers Preachers, Crooks and Helge. Poor Helge… or should I say her family. I’m still uncertain exactly what happened there, but it was definitely intriguing and made me want to read more.
My favorite in this collection, which is not the norm for me, is the author’s poetry section, entitled Fragments. I like poetry, but I don’t always easily connect with it. Here, I thought it was brilliant. Meyer doesn’t just throw emotions at you, pushing you to interpret and imagine the world she’s created. The lines and words creep inside your body and compel you to feel the presence of the characters in the room beside you. Between The Bride, Graveyard, and Guilt, I found myself eager to re-read the poems over and over again. But when I got to Yesterdays, the repetition and and hidden messages truly had a positive impact on me. It is by far my favorite in her collection, and I would love to share this one in my review. Maybe she’s posted it on her website… will have to check, but definitely a thriller.
So… definitely a high recommendation for those who love poetry and dark fiction. It’s a stand-out, and I am eager to read more in the future from this author. I’d love a full-length novel from her, simply to see what plot twists she’d come up with. A great find, and I’m glad to say… this was my last book read in 2019. I enjoy ending the year on a stellar note!