Short but grabbed my attention from the first page until the last. ( )

This was a short story and a quick fun read for me.

It reminded me of the Cosmic Troublemakers from the novels of Nina Bangs but without the heavy eroticism in it.

Hym and Hur had existed for so long, yet there was a certain naivety about them which made them really likeable.

I’d love to read more by this author and especially more about what else Hym and Hur get around to! ( )

HYM and HUR is a somewhat whimsical short story involving two fairy-like beings who make a pact with Death, and in the process cause trouble for an innocent human and his girlfriend. Despite its sometimes uneven characterization, it succeeds as a light read with brisk pacing.

The story revolves around a prank, planned by the titular characters, who are a pair of seemingly immortal young lovers with magical powers. They meet Death, who offers to help them, as long as they agree to some slightly more complex terms than they originally envisioned (hey, there’s no way anything could come of that, right?). After a bit of a false start, they decide on a subject: down-on-his-luck artist Archie, who refuses to paint in color. After Archie prevents his beloved from dying using the power over death he has unknowingly been granted, things quickly start to get out hand thanks to Death’s shenanigans (how surprising), and Hym and Hur must scramble to fix what they’ve set in motion.

What exactly Hym and Hur are or where they get their powers is never explained, although there are some clues scattered throughout the story if a reader wishes to form his or her own conclusions. Perhaps less compelling from a novelty standpoint is Death, the personification of which is certainly a very well-worn fantasy trope. But at least Frey’s incarnation is more lively than most, with a personality that could be best described as making him seem like a bit of an asshole (which is no less than he deserves). The human protagonists are likable enough, and their narrative makes an interesting counter-point to the supernatural plot-line, but they are treated with kid gloves, and never put in real jeopardy that might broaden their characterization.

The impression that HYM and HUR left me with was: amusing and quick, with some nice touches here and there, and written in a simple, straightforward voice (which I like). Unfortunately, I feel like Frey’s writing style became more sloppy as the story went on, almost as if his enthusiasm got the better of him. Wayward participles, misused words (“reeking havoc”) and typos became more noticeable. If Mr. Frey slows down and puts more polish on his work, and tries to plumb some deeper emotional depths, I’d like to see more from him in the future.

Rating: Three ambulatory cadavers out of five. ( )

First of all, I would like to thank Phillip Frey for sending me this book in return for an honest review. He is one of the nicest gentlemen and even sent me some pictures of my favorite owls which definitely brightened my day! Now on to the review...

The blurb really is the only history for this story that the reader is given. The relationship between Hym and Hur seems natural and easy - like a long term relationship should be - however, this book feels like the second in a series...and I missed the first.

I really enjoyed some aspects of this book. The concept of two beings who travel the world unseen and are (relatively) friendly with Death was unique.

The fact that Hym and Hur enjoy pranking humans is also rather realistic. I mean, I would be playing pranks on humans too after spending hundreds of years running around the Earth with my honey! ;)

So, as Hur is searching for just the right person to prank, she bumps into Archie, a struggling artist with an unsupportive and fed up girlfriend, Sarah. After enjoying lunch with him and seeing how open and kind Archie is, Hur choses him as the prank-ee and bestows on him an interesting gift.

**SPOILER**
His touch now can stop Death.
**END SPOILER**

Archie has NO IDEA he has been given this gift and that is what Hym and Hur find hilarious - how will Archie react when he figures it out? Or will he figure it out? But Death played a prank of his own...

Although I enjoyed the premise of Hym and Hur, there were a few key things missing. I didn't emotionally connect with any of the characters. The relationship problems between Archie and Sarah seemed contrived and honestly? Because of the lack of connect I didn't care much for either of them. Also, the war scene with Death was a little random and seemed misplaced.

Overall, I liked this short - I just wish that there was a lot more background and character building throughout. ( )

Originally Posted At reviewsalatiffany.blogspot.com

To start off this review, let me tell you I actually liked this story. I've never really been a fan of short stories, they end too soon. This one I would have loved to see this story a little bit longer. I think that maybe a better back story for the characters would have been really appreciated.

The characters are one thing in particular that I really want to share about. These characters were very comical and they felt very thought out to me. Hym is a personal favorite, I loved his practical jokes! Even if there were only a few. Death was hilarious! He was amazing in his first scene. I didn't get a very strong impression with Hur, I have no idea why. Sarah and Archie's relationship was very cute.

There were a few scenes that I found very memorable in this story. The first is the bar scene with death, very funny. :) I loved Death, I don't know why but I did. The zombie scene was another memorable one. I love zombies! I really didn't think that there would be any in this story, but it was great and very comical. The last one that I want to announce is the Iraq scene. I teared up a bit to put it simply. It was very sad and I think it put that realistic aspect in there that the book neede.

To conclude this review, I want to say that this story is one I would recommend. I enjoyed it and I'm not really a fan of very short stories. This story is one of those ones to read when you have a break or something to just relax and enjoy. ( )