Title: The Turtle Boy (Timmy Quinn #1)

Author: Kealan Patrick Burke

Release date: January 1st, 2004

Full disclosure here for this one – I’m reading the collected omnibus called ‘Stage Whispers’ which has all of the Timmy Quinn stories packaged together. I decided to do a review of each of the novellas within, as well, I’ll do an overall review of ‘Stage Whispers’ based on how it works collected together.

I knew I had this collection, but for some reason it completely stumped me about what it was called to start it. So, on a recent Tik Tok video Kealan had posted, I asked him what it was called, he kindly replied and I dove in later that day! I’ve read a BUNCH of Kealan’s work, and I always know I’m in for a few things each and every time – the first is an emotional journey. The second is a darkness that doesn’t necessarily define itself immediately. And the third is phenomenal prose by a master of the written word.

You’ll find all three aspects entrenched in ‘The Turtle Boy.’

What I liked: The story (which won the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in Long Fiction when it was released) follows young Timmy, who is trying to make the most of his free time with his friends. When him and another friend go out to the local pond, one having a lore passed from older kids to younger kids, they spot something and a chain of events begins.

When it comes to coming-of-age novellas, this one is pristine and filled with that magical sense of youth pushing the imagination in several directions. Did they actually see what they saw? Was the boy they met a real boy or something more malevolent?

Ultimately, Kealan forces the reader into a corner where we have to decide what we believe, which he then follows up with a really dark, bleak ending that fits the story – and – in the context of ‘Stage Whispers,’ sets up for further discovery in the sequel.

What I didn’t like: Now, this may be premature, because this was novella one, but I personally wished we would’ve learned a little bit more about the lore. Kealan does give us a ton of information and revelation with the ending, but there was still this aspect that I wanted to know more about.

Why you should buy this: If you’ve not read anything from Kealan before, this is a fantastic place to begin. A quick, emotional story that introduces us to both a great character but also a very intriguing ‘folklore’ tale that will lead you down a rabbit hole. As an individual novella, I highly recommend it – and as an opening chapter in this omnibus – a very interesting starting point.

5/5

The Turtle Boy;

Stage Whispers;