Book Info
Author: Kevin Klehr
Release Date: January 20, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-951880-26-2
Format: ePub, Mobi
Cover Artist: Natasha Snow
Category: Literary/Genre Fiction
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Word Count: 32800
Book Length: Novella
Sex Content: Non-Explicit
Pairing: MM
Orientation: Gay
Identity: Cisgender
Warning: graphic violence, domestic abuse, and drug use
Excerpt
Winter Masquerade
Kevin Klehr © 2020
All Rights Reserved
Pitch black. Then candlelight. One lonely flame lit the face of a plump-faced man in a robe.
“How did I get here?” I asked.
“That’s not important right now,” the monk replied. “It’s where you’re going.” He reached for a journal, which sat on the stool to his right, and set the candle in its place. He flipped several pages and held it to the flame. “Are you fond of voyages?”
I shook like nervous prey. “I really need to know how I got here.”
“You’re a troubled man in need of rest and recreation. And a healthy dose of self-reflection.”
“But—”
“I wish you’d stop asking questions. You’ve never bothered listening to those who’ve responded.”
Harmonious chants filled the silence. These men’s voices calmed me, even though a dozen questions still needed answering.
Another light appeared coming from a round window. I shuffled toward it. There I was in the dark on the other side. I lay sleeping.
Broome’s Books –
The first thing I have to say about Winter Masquerade is the fact that it is entirely unique. I finished reading it a couple of days ago but I needed time to digest and analyze my thoughts about this story. There are so many layers and within its pages and it deserved the time. I’ve seen several people refer to it as absurdist fiction, but I don’t have any true experience with it. So I’m going to review it as what it meant to me while reading it.
Ferris wakes up in a world that doesn’t make sense. The sea is made of chocolate and there are characters with outlandish names (Miss Represent, Miss Calculation) that keep talking circles around him. He wants to find his way home. But to get there, he has to learn who he is and what he wants for himself.
I picked up quickly what was happening or happened to Ferris in real life that put him on board the Sea Queen. It was interesting that interspersed between the vivid, colorful characters, there were characters like Cole who served as a grounding factor for Ferris. He was able to see the type of person, the type of relationship he wanted. If it was possible to have that in this crazy world, then he could have it in real life.
I felt Ferris blossom and become the person he wanted to be. I, so very much, enjoyed seeing Ferris become Ferris. The Sea Queen and it’s permanent residents, taught him the importance of a support system. No matter how wacky that system may seem.
Give this one a read, it was one of the more memorable books I’ve had the pleasure of reading in the past few months. AND! I absolutely agree that Wednesdays bring nothing but trouble.
Truus Vermeer de Jong –
5+++ Never could I imagine what a tremendous story was hidden behind the title and cover.
I was flabbergasted, looking around the scenery I was just stunned.
Try to imagine a big cruise ship sailing on a chocolate ocean with a white-chocolate dolphin and a bright rainbow in the sky.
That’s exactly the place where Ferris landed from… he doesn’t know or remember.
It was a surrealistic world, a bit chaotic, all those different impressions and creatures. Ferris and my head swirled.
Ferris wants to go home where the ocean is of water. For that to happen, he has to find the Alchemist. Some people will help him, like Cole, Camilla, Olive, Molly, and more. It seems they want to help him, only first; something has to be solved.
It’s as two worlds are living parallel. Ferris’s own, and the world on board and the second one has two sides, a bright and a dark one. And every time Ferris talks about home and his boyfriend it seems the dark side takes over.
There is so much going on. Like people gain insight, and layers come down.
Ferris got a lot of questions from the people who wanted to help him. Questions with depth. Slowly, he understands what everything means.
Imaginary and real-life are colliding. The metaphor turns into reality.
An unbelievable good layered story about surviving and finding your inner strength. Sometimes life throws dirt at you and your vision gets indistinct. The way the author touches this content was breathtaking, just breathtaking. I was deeply touched by this story. I think every living soul can learn here.
What an excellently written story! At times I couldn’t read because of my blurred vision, all my emotions bubbling up.
Memorable pieces are passing by onboard; I was floored. The tart and witty comments here and there were exquisite. But the lessons learned from them were the most spectacular.
Deep bow!!
ButtonsMom2003 –
Audiobook Review:
Overall – 5
Performance – 5
Story – 4
Brilliant audio performance!
This was my first book by this author and this narrator. It took me a bit to get into the story but the audio performance hooked me right from the beginning. Jon Bolitho-Jones did such a fantastic job that Winter Masquerade sounded like it was performed by multiple voice actors.
Fantasy is not usually my first choice of what to read so that probably explains why it took me a little bit to get into the story. I rarely re-read or re-listen to books but the audio for this one is so good that I think I will listen to it again. I’m sure that the second time around I will have a better appreciation for the story as well as enjoy re-listening to a great audio performance.
You can visit this link (https://kevinklehr.com/books-and-stories/winter-masquerade/winter-masquerade-audio-book/) to listen to the first chapter of the audiobook. There is also a video by Jon Bolitho-Jones where he explains how he came up with the different voices for the audiobook.
A copy of this audiobook was provided to me at my request but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author/narrator.
***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***
Trio –
This stunning story left me speechless. I’m in awe of Kevin Klehr’s marvelous writing, and while I try to gather my thoughts about Winter Masquerade, let me rave a bit about the talented narrator, Jon Bolitho-Jones.
I’ve never had the pleasure of listening to this remarkable voice actor before, and I sincerely hope this is the first of many! This is a high spirited and lively story, and Mr. Bolitho-Jones keeps up the pace, and adds even more zest to the spectacle. And his ability to create a unique voice, which perfectly suits each of this incredibly varied cast of characters, is admirable… not to mention, there’s singing !
Okay, so I’m still pretty overwhelmed, and I think trying to do justice to Kevin Klehr’s Winter Masquerade in a book review might be an impossible task. It’s easy to applaud the author’s skill at weaving this clever story through the two parallel worlds. And heartily praising his impressive creativity and wit is a no brainer. But I’m afraid I’m incapable of capturing the essence of what listening to Winter Masquerade meant to me.
I think all that’s left to say is: BRAVO Mr. Klehr! Thank you for creating something so enjoyable, for sharing this piece of your heart, and mostly, for touching me so deeply with Ferris’ emotional tale.