4.5
It Will Be Quick
ByPublisher Description
A single decision can save – or ruin – a life.
An opportunistic baby theft by a young woman in pain. Two strangers shipwrecked on a lifeless rock, unable to speak the same language. A remote cycling holiday descends into terror. One woman seeks the courage to destroy her life. A miracle unites a community, and teenagers take a stand against hypocrisy.
Karl Drinkwater presents characters to root for – and characters to dread – in sixteen varied tales of humanity, endurance, and psychological suspense.
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Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communitiesIt Will Be Quick Reviews
4.5
“It Will Be Quick by Karl Drinkwater is a collection of sixteen stories, that didn’t disappoint. Not once. The stories seem random, and from the outside, it seems they don’t connect. What I love about Karl Drinkwater‘s writing, is that it always makes you think. The theme of these collections is, as the blurb states: “a single decision can save – or ruin – a life.”
I love the different tones of each story. Some are a bit funny, sad, and often times quite disturbing. I sat down to read the first story and ended up reading all sixteen in one sitting.
The characters are excellent. Whether we are rooting for or hating them, they are very well written. I am so impressed with this author’s character creation.
What else can I say? I love this collection, and I’m not surprised, considering I am a fan of this author. Highly recommended.
*I received a free copy of this book from Rachel’s Random Resources to review honestly on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*”
“This book consists of 16 individual stories of humanity, endurance and spirit. Each story is unique in itself and different to the one that you'll read before it. What made the stories stand out is that all of the characters are relatable and normal people that you may walk past regularly. The stories just felt very real as did the characters and the situations they found themselves in. Each character is faced with a scenario and their decision will ultimately impact on their future and the lives of the people around them.
Some of the stories were unsettling, haunting and sinister which made you want to read more and really made you think. The story that stayed with me even after I’d finished the book was recalling the boy.
The author’s notes on each story at the end of the book was a nice touch and it was interesting to see what inspired him to write each story.
If you like short stories that include themes of survival, hope, decisions, loss and realisation then this is the book for you.
I received a gifted copy for an honest review.”
“I've been a fan of Karl Drinkwater's writing for some time now and have read a few of his contemporary and science-fiction novels and novellas but It Will Be Quick is the first time I've read any of his short stories. I planned to dip in and out of them but found them far too addictive and ended up binge reading them in a couple of days! This is an eclectic collection, without a weak story among it so I'd love to tell you something about each of them but instead I'll leave some surprises and just pick out a few of my particular favourites.
The first story, Fire in the Hole is an excellent opener; it may be just a few pages long but it feels fully-formed. A single-hander, the character development is superb and as the story progressed I found my feelings towards the woman constantly changed even while my heart was in my mouth. SenSorOS is a very different story and is strikingly relevant in this technological age when most of us are beholden to our phones and computers, meaning we have no choice but to agree to those lengthy T&Cs. I shared in the fictional (and I suspect real) author's rage here as she discovered what clicking 'agree' to the EULA meant but this is an ominous story too and I can only hope that it doesn't prove to be prescient...
Below the Surface follows two shipwreck survivors who are clinging for life on a small rocky outcrop. As they struggle to survive the elements while they desperately wait to be rescued, this suspenseful, exciting story is also rather emotional and even quite life-affirming. I loved the way the prose changes here to reflect the increasingly confused mental state of the stranded man battling the high tide and burning sun with very little in the way of sustenance. Hell's Bean Curd is a lighter tale and isn't a damning statement about tofu; this little vignette set in a café delights in its black humour, particularly the deliciously dark ending.
As a thriller lover, it's perhaps not surprising that How I Wonder What You Are was one of my favourites. It is one of the longest stories but even so, it really is a credit to Karl Drinkwater's writing that in less than 50 pages, there are some gripping, nerve-wracking action scenes, a constant feeling of suspense and a fascinating character arc. Ed and Kayla are on holiday in Scotland and are on a rather fraught cycle ride. Ed isn't an especially sympathetic character and yet as their day out descends into a nightmare, it was impossible not to feel terrified for him and his girlfriend. I'm obviously not going to give away the ending but I really didn't see it coming and absolutely loved it! I found myself holding my breath again in FileKiller but for a totally different reason. Like watching a less deadly game of Russian Roulette, this is one of those stories where readers will undoubtedly question how far they would go. FileKiller is another with a brilliant ending - it concludes the story and yet left me intrigued as to what happened next.
14 is a thought-provoking, perceptive tale about a teenage boy who reads a newspaper article about ruddy ducks and makes a decision which ultimately leads him to a terrible dilemma. This was another of my favourites and is a clever exploration of attitudes towards perceived differences. Balance is a very cleverly structured story which is quite hard to review without giving too much away. It follows a woman slave in a fictional Romanesque setting but as it reaches its terrible conclusion, it eventually transpires that the truth is even more unsettling than it first appears and is another that definitely made me think about how easily what we accept can end up changing the world as we know it.
I could easily have written something about any of the other stories in It Will Be Quick; this really is a fabulous short story collection that made me laugh, cry and grit my teeth while it raised my pulse level and made me think. I'd say it was the perfect read before bed but such irresistible stories means it's only too easy to keep turning the page for "just one more" so be prepared for a late night! Highly recommended.”
“This collection of short stories has something for everyone. The 16 stories are random and cover different genres, but are linked by the fact that each one involves a decision....a decision that can change lives.
This book showcases Karl's talent of being able to write in different styles across the different genres. There's stories of kidnap, grief, sacrifice, narcissism, love, death, loss, murder, being stranded, annoying computer systems and more.....
My top three were: Recalling the Boy - a moving story of family, love and memories; How I Wonder What You Are - a thrilling story that had me on the edge of my seat and with the most unexpected ending; and The Potential - a heartbreaking tale that turns into something beautiful. Each story will bring out different emotions. Some are a few pages long, others enough pages for you to really get deep into the story and one of the best things were the unexpected twists throughout.
Each story is told in a completely different way so you're bound to find something that sits well with you. The way Cry, Wolf was told was unlike anything I've read before - told in the first person, it's only the characters side of a number of conversations, which feels strange but really interesting!
Overall, this brings you some fab, twisty and dark stories (in places) that will have you on the edge of your seat, others will make you sad, and others will get you thinking. Perfect for those that don't have much time to read, you can pick it up and grab a short story whenever you have a little gap in your day. It will also give you the chance to jump into a few different genres! Recommended by me.”
About Karl Drinkwater
Karl Drinkwater writes dystopian space opera, dark suspense and diverse social fiction. If you want compelling stories and characters worth caring about, then you're in the right place. Welcome!
Karl lives in Scotland and owns two kilts. He has degrees in librarianship, literature and classics, but also studied astronomy and philosophy. Dolly the cat helps him finish books by sleeping on his lap so he can't leave the desk. When he isn't writing he loves music, nature, games and vegan cake.
Don't miss out! Enter your email at karldrinkwater.substack.com to be notified about his new books. His website is karldrinkwater.uk
Other books by Karl Drinkwater
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