Fantasy / Mythology / Folklore
Date Published: September 13, 2023
For as long as Win can remember, she has seen things that no one else can
see, horrific hallucinations that feel nearly real. After a decades-long
parade of visions, Win rarely questions her condition. When the
hallucinations arrive, she simply braces herself and waits for them to pass.
Every other aspect of Win’s life is perfectly ordinary and vaguely
disappointing: a mind-numbing job, mounting debt, and a lackluster social
life.
It all changes for Win in a moment, when a tragic vision brings her face to
face with a stranger who claims Win is more than an ordinary woman, mired in
the ordinary world. Her visions, more than terrifying fantasies, reveal
truths that only she can see, truths that others would do anything to
control. Win’s arcane ability endangers her as much as it empowers
her, and she finds herself hunted by a mysterious force. Her only option is
to leave the life she knows and seek out who she is.
With more questions than answers, Win enters a world where fairy tales and
folklore hide in the lives of everyday people. She must learn to live in the
space between otherworldly dangers and mundane reality. Win must decide
which monsters can be trusted, how she will pay her bills, and what she must
learn about herself to combat an unseen enemy, an enemy whose ambition
threatens the very fabric of reality.
Irreverent and comically dark, Out of the Way Things offers a fantastic
world, filled with mythic beings concealed in the shadows of the ordinary.
Kendall McNutt brings readers into a hyper realistic fantasy that asks us to
consider the possibility that all stories are true and that nothing is
impossible.
Free use image from Open Clipart Vectors
Ornery Owl's Review
Rating: Four out of Five Stars
Win has never really fit in with the world. Even her own family prefers to avoid her. She is prone to horrifying visions. These visions crop up during an important job interview. Knowing she won't get the job, Win returns to her current profession cleaning houses.
When Win goes to clean an old property, she meets a friendly handyman named Twain. During the course of the afternoon, things go badly awry. Twain ends up dead in the basement of the house, and now Win is being stalked. After a close call at her apartment, she is rescued by a woman named Sophia. Sophia is more than she initially appears to be and she reveals that Win is as well.
The story is compelling and I liked Win from the start. As an oddball myself, I'm drawn to characters who don't fit in. I am glad that the writer made Win imperfect and I like the fact that Win respects herself even if she doesn't always like herself. She has a strong sense of self-preservation.
I also like the fact that the story focused on Win and her personal development rather than deviating into a romantic arc where Win finds her Prince Charming and spends the entire story obsessing over him. There are enough of those stories out there. It was nice to read a book that focused on the female characters for a change. I love the fact that the story focuses on who Win is rather than on what she looks like.
There were some stylistic choices such as starting sentences with "and" and "but" which didn't work for me. Also, the scene where the witch sacrifices the guinea pig was harrowing to read. I realize the witch was not a nice person (or even a person at all), but I still disliked the scene.
Readers who enjoy dark urban fantasy will probably enjoy this book. The story's finale isn't exactly a cliffhanger but it is open-ended, suggesting the possibility of forthcoming books in the series. Readers who prefer a precise ending should be aware of this.
About the Author
Kendall McNutt is a story enthusiast from way back. She has been authoring
stories since she could hold a pen. She loves stories in all forms, and
takes every opportunity to jump into them wherever they occur, in whatever
capacity is available.
Kendall lives in the Pacific Northwest, known for breathtaking landscapes
and Seasonal Affective Disorder. When she is not consumed by a story or
toiling away in the public education system, she can be found adventuring
with friends and family, or snuggling cats. Her cats. Not all cats.
Certainly not strange cats.
Contact Link
Website
Purchase Link
Amazon
