Happy New Year, everyone!
To start off 2020, two things to potentially check out:
Sweep with Me by Ilona Andrews
The next installment of Ilona Andrews’ Innkeeper series is currently running as a web series prior to its official release as per usual with this series. This is an urban fantasy/sci-fi about the Innkeeper Dina, who runs a magical inn that acts as a waystation and point of neutrality for aliens (some werewolf and vampire-like) from space.
I don’t know that I’d recommend this as a starting point for newcomers, though. The beginning very much feels like it builds on the action of the previous stories.
Sagas of Sundry: Dread
I’ve written about this show before (Sagas of Sundry: Dread, and the Chilling, Psychological Story of Five Friends Haunted by their Experiences)–but back then, the series was behind a paywall. Now, it’s migrated to YouTube.
Since the 6-part story is newly accessible, I thought it was worth pointing out again. Here’s a few excerpts of what I’d written about it before.
Genre: Mystery/supernatural/horror web series/RPG
Synopsis: A group of friends meet up a year after experiencing supernatural danger, to head back to the same place it happened the first time. None of them have truly managed to move on from it. No matter the consequences of going back, of tempting fate after they survived the last time, they all agree to go. In the hopes of discovering what actually happened to them, and of finding some sort of closure.
This series is an amazing experience. It takes a simple mechanic, and ramps up everything about it into a powerful, character-driven mystery that uses every second to build up anticipation.
I only really have one caveat, though it’s an important one to keep in mind–and it’s that, I’m not sure the game manages to avoid all of the pitfalls of using Native Americans for the setup of the setting.
There’s a way more thorough write up in my original post, or you can just start watching and see if you like it.
Marina Ermakova 