Review of "Pryde's Choice," short story by Kevis Hendrickson



Summary:
After committing a horrible crime against the Gaiad, the eternal guardians of the woods, a remorseful knight is forced to confront his demons. Pryde's Choice is a heroic tale of redemption and hope reminding us that it's never too late to make amends for the past.

Review:
I have read/reviewed other works by Mr. Hendrickson and I have to say I was quite impressed with this latest story.  Hendrickson always has excellent plot ideas but his skill as a writer has certainly evolved since his earlier works.

"Pryde's Choice" is an interesting tale that uses a fantasy backdrop to tell a much deeper story of revenge and remorse.  Despite the appearance of elves and archaic sounding language, you never get the sense this is a typical fantasy story of good vs. evil and the battle for our immortal souls.  Instead, it's about a man essentially battling himself.  The knight made a choice that anyone could have made and then had to live with the consequences.

What I enjoyed about this story was that there wasn't really a "moral to the story" at the end.  In a way it's very detached.  There's a kind of cold reality to the scene when Pryde must face the music.  You feel sorry for him but at the same time understand the justice of his fate.

Overall, an excellent read.  Again, despite the fantasy elements, this is not your stereotypical fantasy tale.  I would recommend it to anyone that likes one of those "thinkers."

4/5 stars
Reviewed by Alain Gomez

Buy this short story on Amazon or B&N.

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