[Archive] LITERAL ADDICTION's Review of Pile of Bones

Bailey Cunningham and Jes Battis were born five minutes apart on May 21, 1979. Battis writes in the genre of urban fantasy, while Cunningham prefers epic fantasy and historical fiction.

Battis teaches in the areas of queer theory, children’s literature, and creative writing.

Cunningham sticks to medieval studies and Restoration fiction. Their interests converge on three topics: The Satyricon, the autism spectrum, and Firefly.

Battis earned his Phd from Simon Fraser University, and went on to pursue a postdoctoral fellowship at the City University of New York. He currently teaches in the Canadian prairies.

Cunningham attended the Roke Island School of Magic, where he was put on academic probation. He currently divides his time between several imaginary cities.

Keep up online:  Website / GoodReads

Pile of BonesParallel Parks Book #1

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In one world, they’re ordinary university students. In another world, they are a company of heroes in a place of magic and myth called Anfractus……

The Cree called the area Oscana, "pile of bones," a fertile hunting ground where game abounded. The white settlers changed that to Wascana. And centuries later, it became Wascana Park, a wooded retreat in the midst of the urban sprawl of Regina.

For a select few, who stay in the park until midnight, the land reverts into a magical kingdom, populated by heroes and monsters. They become warriors, bards, archers, gladiators. In the city called Anfractus, they live out a real-life role playing game.

All harmless fun—until they find themselves in the middle of an assassination plot which threatens to upset the balance of everything. Politics are changing, and old borders are about to disappear. The magic of Anfractus is bleeding into the real world—an incursion far more dangerous than the students suspect. Only they know what is happening—and only they can stop it..

Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION's Alluring Angel - Kathy:
*Copy gifted in exchange for an honest review

--Actual Rating 3.5 Skulls

Pile of Bones tells the tale of four ordinary college students who get together to play a role playing game in a park. But this isn’t just an ordinary game. These young adults are able to slip into a dangerous alternative world. A world that begins to slip into their normal world. Pile of Bones is the first book in The Parallel Parks series by Bailey Cunningham.

I must admit that I struggled with this book. While the concept of this book caught my interest, I often found myself confused. It felt like I was reading a book that was in the middle of a series. I wish that more background information was given. The terminology threw me for the first half of the book. But by part 3 (Pile of Bones is written in 4 parts) things started to fall into place. Overall I would recommend this book to diehard fantasy fans.

Pile of Bones