November 24, 2025 by D. Wallace Peach

November Book Reviews, and Portland’s Warzone

Before I dive into book reviews, I bring you a glimpse of Portland, Oregon’s “warzone” and the “violent carnage” outside the ICE facility. This is typical Portland. I love it!

We had an Emergency World Naked Bike Ride to protest the national guard deployment. Usually, naked bike rides happen in July, when wearing one’s birthday suit on a bicycle is more comfortable. Here’s a pic with limited visible skin.

Finally, we had a 1980s Jane Fonda Workout Party in front of the ICE building. That seemed to do the trick, because the National Guard left a few days later.

Now, for some Book Reviews!

I read some fabulous new releases in October and November. You can’t go wrong with any of these during the idle holidays when I know you have nothing pressing to do (Lol).

Below are my reviews of a book about grief, a collection of short stories, a pair of revenge novellas, a historical romance, a suspense novel, and a post-apocalyptic thriller.

Click on the covers for Amazon global links.

*****

About the Real Stages of Grief, by D. G. Kaye

New Release

This book about grief is based on the author’s research and her personal experience after the death of her beloved husband. It adds another perspective to the broad array of books exploring a difficult journey that the vast majority of us will someday take, often more than once. It’s well worth the read.

My professional career was in counseling, specifically grief counseling, and specifically for children who were losing or had lost someone important. Kaye was clear that her advice reflects the experience of someone who lost a spouse, and I appreciated that she wrote many times that each grief experience is different, based on the relationship with the deceased, the circumstances of the death, one’s personality and coping skills, support systems, and other factors.

At the same time, experiences overlap, and the author shared her personal struggle, which many grievers will identify with. The book addresses the crazy-making experiences of loss: the well-known stages, emotional reactions, and triggers. She also dives into lesser-discussed topics of loss of identity, vanishing support systems, distractions, self-medicating, and boundaries. Death is a subject many people struggle with; therefore, the author’s advice on how to best support a grieving person was extremely valuable.

Finally, Kaye shares the gradual process of moving forward, making healthy choices, and forging a new life with grief as a companion. A highly recommended read for those seeking information for themselves, their loved ones, and the grievers in their lives. (Kindle Unlimited)

*****

Whispers of a Southern Moon, by Priscilla Bettis

New Release

I’ve read numerous stories by Bettis and was eager to pick up her new collection. That said, I know her as an author of horror stories and was a little nervous about her pivot into Christian-themed tales. Usually, I have no interest in that genre. But … this is Bettis.

I gave it a go, and I’m so glad I did. The author proved she can write anything, and this collection is loaded with wonderful stories, some so moving that they’ll stay with me for a long time. “Fix Your Face” is one such tale—a stunningly beautiful love story that ranks among my all-time favorite short stories.

The collection includes both stories and poetry. Most of them seem secular in nature, though traditional Christian themes abound: love, kindness, generosity, faith. Poetry follows each story, often as a reflection on the story’s theme. The poetry is freeform, and some poems reference biblical text.

Mother Bird

My worn-thin mother dreamed she was a bird
flapping above a field of fading flowers.
It was autumn, and leaves feathered her wings.
Seven woolly caterpillars warned
of a looming snowy winter.

When she rode a thermal to the sun,
her garments flickered fiery ocher and orange
before she shed her feathers, falling
to the ground to break her hollow dreams
and shelter seven caterpillars.

I read this collection in one sitting, unable to put the book down for a moment. The short stories were my favorites, and picking a few to highlight was nearly impossible. Here are three more that I thought were exceptional in addition to “Fix Your Face”:

“Earnest and the Dust Angel,” a gorgeous tale about loss, grief, and letting go.
“After the Fire,” another beautiful tale, this one about choosing an aging parent over a busy life.
“Prayers Heavy with Smoke,” a moving tale about kindness and redemption.

The author shares her “Testimony” at the end of the book, and this “story” is also worth reading. In it, she chronicles her faith journey as well as her writing one. If you have an afternoon with a few free hours and enjoy beautifully written short stories, I highly recommend this collection. (Kindle Unlimited)

*****

Served Cold, by Terry Tyler

New Release

I enjoy Tyler’s edge-of-the-seat writing and looked forward to this pair of novellas based on the expression: revenge is a dish best served cold. Revenge is the name of the game in these very different stories, and I read them both throughout one day, unable to stop myself from going back for more.

“The Steal” is the first story. Jodie has everything going for her – a beautiful home in a lovely town, a dream business, and a great husband. The only thing missing in her life is children. Then Alana moves to town, fabulous Alana, and little by little, all those wonderful things about Jodie’s life trickle away. It’s not fair, but what can Jodie do about it? This story has a great twist, and a valuable lesson for those who carelessly destroy other people’s lives.

“Lucky Star” is truly frightening, a revenge tale that edges into the horror genre. This one is a nail-biter. Stevie wakes up in a strange facility, an unwilling contestant on a game show with a small group of other, equally baffled, people. None of them can leave; all of them must participate, and each round just might kill someone. The truth about what’s happening, and why, comes slowly to light, and there’s a breathtaking twist at the end that I thought about for the rest of the day. Yikes!

The writing in both stories is compelling, and they move at a clip. The characters are richly drawn and likeable … until they’re not. If you like suspense, edge-of-your-seat stories, and great twists, this set of novellas is for you. Highly recommended.

*****

Wryson’s Eternity, by Shehanne Moore

New Release

In this 19th-century romance, Gil Wryson has lost his memory. He’s not even sure that’s his name, but he remembers flashes from his past, particularly a cottage where he seeks shelter. Only to discover someone has moved in, one Eternity Jones, a lady with a past that she’d just as soon forget. She’s fled her abusive husband, a Baron, and has been lying and “nicking” (stealing) what she needs to get by.

Gil and Eternity would both like to see the other vacate “their” cottage, and for half of the book, they’re trying to make that happen. Gil is being hunted and barely remembers why, and the man after him is threatening to tell Eternity’s husband about her whereabouts if she doesn’t help him trap Gil. Little by little, Gil and Eternity realize that helping each other might not be such a bad idea, and they plan a formal ball to joggle Gil’s memory with people who might also recognize him.

If this all sounds zany, that’s because it is. In typical Moore style, the book is loaded with rapid-fire banter, sarcasm, and wit, the characters’ out-loud dialogue peppered with copious internal commentary. The text requires a focused read since there aren’t any dialogue tags, POVs are loose, and visual cues are limited. There are action scenes, twists and turns, and an eventual meeting of the minds (including some lusty love).

The characters are wonderfully well-rounded, their personalities vivid, and the enemies-to-lovers story was highly entertaining. “O’Roarke’s Destiny” is the first book in the “Cornish Rogues” series, and though this book can be read without reading that one first, I was glad I did. It’s regularly referenced, and it added background to the current predicament.

Readers of Moore’s romances, especially those who enjoy her brisk style, will find more to love here. Highly recommended to romance readers who love snarky commentary, colorful characters, and plenty of wit. (Kindle Unlimited)

*****

The Guilty Party, by Laura Lyndhurst

New Release

Many of us have probably attended a party with older family members (or perhaps you are the “oldie” who’s catching up with siblings, in-laws, and the younger generation. There might be cocktails, lots of chit chat, maybe a little gossip. So begins this book. But underneath the cordial camaraderie, there are currents of regret, annoyance, boredom, desire, and a few secrets kept for a long time, including murder.

During the party, and in the days following, the past is mused over, worried about, and it compels the characters to act and react, make changes for the better in some cases, and certainly for the worse in others. The “internal” nature of the narrative results in a moderate pace, but the story is engaging and held my attention without any difficulty.

Multiple POV characters share their thoughts, history, and choices. The book, by its nature, includes a lot of backstories, though there is a present-day danger complicating the lives of several characters. This is a character-driven novel, and readers who are fascinated by human nature may find it riveting. The characters are realistic, complex, and fully emotional people. Most are decent (but flawed) human beings, trying their best to navigate life—with mixed success.

Though readers may not relate to the specific details of these characters’ lives, the dynamics are highly recognizable. I enjoyed being a fly on the wall, observing the mess. It’s a fascinating peek beneath the surface veneer that people present to the outside world. Highly recommended to readers of character-driven novels who enjoy a bit of suspense in the mix. (Kindle Unlimited)

*****

The Women of Wild Cove, by J. Kelland Perry

New Release

The future looks bleak for most of humankind. Almost 200 years from now, climate change has devastated the world—destroying food sources, breaking down societal norms, and allowing disease to spread. One part of the world is managing better than most – the island of Newfoundland in Canada.

There, a matriarchal society dominates, relegating men (called peons) to manual labor or to roles as consorts for breeding purposes. Once a day, they’re fed a serum that tempers their masculine natures. Women are fully in charge, allowing men few rights, chemically controlling them, and expecting full compliance.

Katrina (Kat) is eighteen and grew up believing that men are reckless, violent, and the cause of the world’s collapse. Then she meets a “rogue,” a man who slipped onto the island, seeking a cure for his three-year-old son’s disease. She must decide whether to turn him in or defy her community and help him. Kat and Marc (the rogue) are the most nuanced characters with the richest personalities and emotional backstories. They share the POV.

The plot is straightforward, and the story moves at a clip with some slower moments to get to know the characters and the island society, which includes a complete dismantling of the family unit. What I found most interesting was the author’s attention to gender-based power structures, including the obvious role reversals. Women, for so long treated as second class citizens and victimized by men, are now the oppressors.

Perhaps out of necessity, the elders of Wild Cove also exercise rigid control over the community’s girls and women, including Kat, who are assigned tasks and career placements with little or no input. To address a rise in infant mortality, teens are coerced into breeding. The female elders seem to think this is all for the good of humankind’s survival, and I’m curious to see how this plays out as the series continues.

Highly recommended to readers who enjoy post-apocalyptic and dystopian thrillers that raise some interesting questions about human nature, power, and control.

*****

Happy Holidays.

December 12, 2022 by D. Wallace Peach

December Book Reviews (Part One)

I know I just shared a bunch of book reviews, but with the holidays coming up, I’ll be taking some time off, and I didn’t want to end up with a huge pile of reviews in January. Only three books today and all of them are excellent!

December’s reviews include my 5-star reads of a poetry collection, a sci-fi thriller, and a coming-of-age novel.

Click on the covers for Amazon global links.

*****

Sorrowful Soul (Book 3 in the Soul Poetry Series) by Harmony Kent

Grief is on my mind these days. It’s a solo journey, but this heartfelt book of poetry reminds me that there are common experiences along the road, and in that way, we don’t travel it quite so alone. In her forward (which I recommend reading), Kent offers some wisdom about the grieving process, and she highlights the stages of grief developed by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross so many years ago and still relevant today.

The poems are divided into sections based on Ross’s seven stages: Shock & Disbelief, Denial, Guilt, Anger, Depression, Working Through, and Acceptance. I read this book in one afternoon, and the poetry indeed felt like a journey from disbelief through acceptance. It’s an emotional collection, full of pain and longing, and at the end, a bit of sunshine glimmers through the trees. I highly recommend it.

This is free-form poetry, and about half of the offerings are rhyming verse. My favorites were among the less formal poems, and there were a lot of favorites. Below is an excerpt that captures the solemn tone of the section entitled Depression:

Winter of Discontent (an excerpt)

All the pretty birds have flown
Abandoned nests in skeletal trees
Frost rimmed dirt and weeds below
Cold, colourless uncaring sky above
It’s impossible life could ever return
To this barren, forsaken land
Where the grim reaper roams free
And winter berries litter the ground
Trampled beneath youthful feet
Too enamoured of life to notice
The carnage as red bleeds into white
As death mars the pristine snow
And invites the bereft with his gleaming scythe…

(Kindle Unlimited)

*****

Are we Monsters? by Rollin Miller

Fans of sci-fi are in for a treat with this book. If you like a story that includes artificial intelligence, cloning, mad scientists, wily old sheriffs, genetically enhanced villains, and lots of action that reads like a movie, well look no further. This is one of those books that you might sneak into the supply closet at work to polish off another scene.

NeosGen is a secret underground facility in the Nevada desert whose founder is dedicated to discovering the keys to immortality through cloning and the transference of consciousness. When one of their modified assets goes missing, the organization’s fixer goes on the hunt. That asset, a girl with modified abilities, turns up in a diner and the local sheriff, a smart old coot, starts investigating while trying to protect her. In the meantime, NeosGen has a number of challenges within its walls as two employees go rogue, and the founder’s financial partner is starting to have second thoughts.

The pace of this book doesn’t stop for a second as the story pivots from one desperate situation to the next. I felt like I was watching an action movie. Not only are the descriptions well crafted, but the characters are vivid. There are a number of them, but I had no trouble differentiating between them (despite Tom and Tommy) because they’re so unique, and as real as characters can get, right down to the bit actors.

The POV is omniscient with a few noticeable shifts, but otherwise, the quality of the prose is excellent with some great lines. The story has several twists, including one at the end I didn’t see coming and found highly satisfying. Everything wraps up nicely. I highly recommend this book to sci-fi fans who love great characters and a lot of action.

*****

Below Torrential Hill by Jonathan Koven

In this coming-of-age story, Tristan is fifteen, his life characterized by instability and abandonment, both physical and emotional. Years ago, his dad died in the woods on a drinking binge, and now his mother rides an emotional rollercoaster, professing love one moment, raving about voices the next, and then passing out on her own alcoholic benders. Unable to deal with Tristan’s mother, his stepfather abandoned them.

My heart went out to Tristan for his desperate search for meaning, his longing for love, and his choice to self-medicate with alcohol. Most of the story is told through his POV, and it generally takes place during times of physical isolation and alcohol-influenced dreams as he tries to figure out the point of his life. The narrative is reflective and dreamlike with amazing imagery. You’ll find beautiful writing such as this on every page:

“Ava carved into the shadow of the white streets, and the wind’s terrific belch mounted the sky. He stared absently at her—the girl he’d always known pinned to night’s curtain like a button.”

“Nothing ever ended, nothing new ever began. Everything was always stuck in the middle. He imagined the town fell off the earth. At the sidewalk’s edge, all the cosmos would spin silently, behaving in his presence, stoically turning without end. At the precipice of the relentless canyon of time, he easily wished to fall as a sunbeam against the vacuum.”

To me, this story spoke about every child’s need for stability, the immense vulnerability that arises from chaos, and the importance of having one dependable anchor in a child’s life, in this case, Tristan’s friend Ava. Highly recommended to readers who enjoy exquisite prose, dreamlike narratives, and coming-of-age stories about the search for identity, love, and wholeness in the midst of uncertainty.

*****

Happy Reading!

July 17, 2022 by D. Wallace Peach

Word Craft Poetry “Dreams”

A few days ago, Colleen Chesebro announced the winners of the Word Craft Poetry Syllabic Poetry Contest held to honor the Summer Solstice. The theme was dreams, and poets were instructed to use the syllabic form “tanka prose.” This form combines short prose with a 5-line tanka poem (with a syllable count of 5/7/5/7/7).

I was delighted and honored that my poem “Am I Dreaming?” came out on top. I’m grateful to the judges for their selection and to Colleen for continually encouraging all of us to learn and write poetry. She’s a whirlwind of energy and creativity.

Please take a moment to pop over to Word Craft Poetry to read the other top poems, written by Ken Gierke, Merril D. Smith, and Jude Itakali. Not only is their poetry beautiful, but it shows off the depth and versatility of the form and the enormous talent in our writing community.

And if you feel inspired, join in Colleen’s Tanka Tuesday challenges. They’re great fun. Happy Writing!

September 12, 2017 by D. Wallace Peach

Soul Swallower – new series WIP

I think that’s the name of the series. I like the alliteration anyway. Better than Soul Gulper.

Perhaps you remember the character Raze from one of Sue Vincent’s #writephoto prompts. Well, he’s back with a series of his own.

I don’t have too much to share yet, but here’s a brief peek at the act of swallowing a soul:

***

When the others retired, Raze sat by the hearth, its flames dwindling to scarlet embers. His grief for Briyon unearthed old ghosts, his mother among them, an ageless portrait suspended in the gallery of his mind. Not so his memories of Mirelle. Those lingered with infinite fluidity, entangled with visions of the past and dreams of a future that would never be.

Six years had shuffled by since her death, five since he’d joined Briyon at the freehold, and no lever had proved long or strong enough to pry her from his heart. Loneliness invaded his body so deeply it punched the breath from his lungs and sapped the strength from his back, and no hoping and wishing could bring those people back. A twenty-one he was master of the freehold, a tired soul, angry at a world he couldn’t control.

He turned the pendant over in his hand, keenly aware of its delicate beauty. The white soulstone had transformed, no longer solid but translucent with pale wisps of color swirling like morning mist. Copper wire the breadth of a strand of hair coiled around it, holding a round sliver of peridot in place with a final twist of two tiny leaves. It glowed with a soft light, indicating the presence of a soul. A soul he loved.

With great care, he unhooked the copper leaves, unwound the wire, and removed the green gem that capped a small hole. Inside, an iridescent sphere resembling a pearl shone with a brilliance that startled him. Were all souls so bright? He didn’t know; this was his first. He rolled it into his hand. Would he swallow it? Did he want what Briyon offered? Was there anything to fear?

The pearl of light glowed in his palm, offering no insight. He placed it back into the pendant. No need to choose; no decision pressed him to act with haste. The round gem refitted, he coiled the wires, paused, and then uncoiled them. In one fluid motion, he uncapped the pendant, tipped the sphere into his mouth, and swallowed.

A rush of heat streamed from his belly, up through his heart into his head and down his limbs to his fingers and toes. His body trembled, the sensation alien, but not frightening, and not long lived, for it subsided as quickly as it had overtaken him. Eyes closed, he accepted Briyon’s soul. In the quiet of night, he exhaled a long breath, crept to bed, and dreamed another man’s dreams.

May 19, 2017 by D. Wallace Peach

Inside-out #writephoto

“You will wed Nallea,” Lord Rydan commanded. “It is already agreed. This is not a lad’s game.”

“She’s seven!”

“In eight years, she will be fifteen. I will not argue this with you.”

“I don’t know her. I have no idea who she will be!”

“That is of no consequence, Raze. You will be Lord of Vestrelle. You bear responsibilities, duties to the land, a future in the kingdom. Do you think these puny provinces will remain under separate rule? Do you believe our rivals will idle contentedly within their walls?”

Raze curled his fingers in silence, any reply wasted breath. “What about love?”

Rydan’s eyes tightened into pale slits, and he faced his son. “Love will follow.”

“Did you love my mother? Did she love you?” The questions had barbs, and Raze would use them to pull his father’s heart inside out. “Was your marriage forced upon you against your will?”

The Lord waved away his argument, but his jaw softened. “No, it was not.”

“Did you wed her for love?” Raze would force an answer. Even if it made no difference, his father would acknowledge the unfairness of his demand.

Rydan retreated to the window that peered over the rose garden pruned and dripping in the squalling rain. Its glory had turned brown and brittle during the bitter months of snow, love’s blooms reduced to thorny canes with sharp tips. A corner of his father’s heart had remained faithful to his mother, tenderly caring for her roses, his affection for the delicate petals a stoic confession of love and longing.

Four years ago, she’d drowned on the winter sea, and though they’d all, more or less, moved on with their lives, they each saved a sacred place for her. She had carried a piece of their hearts with her when she died, and the wounds had yet to heal.

“Yes, we wed for love,” Rydan said. “There is your answer.”

***

Thanks for Sue Vincent for her Thursday #writephoto prompt.
Check out her site and join in the fun.

November 18, 2016 by D. Wallace Peach

Emotional Writing

The first book that ever made me cry was Charlotte’s Web. At age ten, I wept for a dead spider, my tender initiation into literary grief. I still remember the cathartic feeling of those tears and the sense that I’d touched something profound and mysterious to the human experience. Did E.B. White intend to change the course of a little girl’s life? Hmm…the power of books…

As an adult, I earned a degree in pastoral counseling and volunteered in several capacities as a grief counselor. I journeyed alongside children and families who’d suffered the death of a parent or sibling, and the elderly who would soon embark on their own profound and mysterious transitions. The unsolved murder of my youngest brother in 2003 brought the whole experience home, up close and personal.

So, what does this have to do with writing? As a reader, emotional authenticity is key to my immersion in a story. I swear I can tell if a writer is baring his heart on the page, or regurgitating sentiment witnessed on a movie screen. This doesn’t mean that we as writers must personally endure every painful loss that our characters’ experience. Loss is loss, fear is fear, and they’re often transferable with a little imagination (of which we artists have plenty).

What it means to me is that we have to be willing to fully travel those paths when they present themselves, in life, and yes, in those great books (and movies) that strum our heartstrings. We need to be explorers of our emotional pain, brave enough to embrace it, to pick it apart and feel its sting. We need to dig into the fear that underlies our emotional wounds and speaks ultimately to the human condition—that each of us is here only temporarily. That we matter immensely and matter not at all.

There are days of writing and crying, snot-nosed and puffy-eyed, breathing through my mouth with a roll of toilet paper at my elbow. When I write about loss or pain or a main character’s death, I know where my tears originate. I hope that if someday you read such a scene, you’ll be genuinely moved. Then I’ll have done my job.

July 28, 2015 by D. Wallace Peach

Let Death Touch Your Characters – Writing Grief

The first book I read that dealt with death was Charlotte’s Web. I cried at the little spider’s demise and reread the book a week later, so I could cry again.

When I grew up, I became a grief counselor and hospice volunteer. I ran grief groups for children and families. The resiliency of children, their ability to find joy in the midst of deep sorrow and uncertainty, led me to a career in early childhood mental health.

I did all this before death balled up a fist and punched me in the face.

On July 3, 2003, my youngest brother, Dan, was shot in the head. Twelve years later, his murder remains officially unsolved.

As you might imagine, my experience has led me to be somewhat discerning about the presence of grief in the books I read. In fact, a psychologically “normal” character’s complete lack of any grief response to the death of a family member or friend damages the reality of a story for me.

The good news for writers is that people grieve differently, so the portrayal can take many shapes. Grief reflects one’s age, culture, previous experience with loss, values and beliefs, coping mechanisms, the safety of the external environment, nature of the death, and the complexity and depth of the lost relationship.

The hard part is that a writer still has a story to tell. Unless the plot of the book centers on a death, the author needs to move the characters along. The story can’t stop while everyone recovers a sense of efficacy.

The prerequisite to all of this, as you might guess, is the need to know your characters. How one responds to death and grief is a reflection of the whole person. They will all react individually AND they will react to each other’s reactions. Conflicts and misunderstandings are common; your survivors will align or crash against each other.

When my brother was murdered, I experienced a large number of common grief responses. Thankfully, books don’t require that breadth of detail. Writers only need to pick one or two that are in keeping with the character’s personality and relationships. That will be enough for your readers. They’re smart; they’ll fill in the rest.

Below, I offer an overview of grief’s many manifestations. It’s not an exhaustive list by any means (to do that I’d have to write a book!).

Exploring a Character’s Grief:

Common Physical Reactions to a Death:

Tightness in the forehead, throat, or chest
Dry mouth
Breathlessness
Nausea and/or a hollow feeling in the stomach
Weakness, fatigue
Sleep disturbances, dreams, and nightmares
Appetite disturbances

Disbelief is often a first reaction upon hearing of a death, especially if the death is sudden. Disbelief manifests as an initial numbness, a surreal sense that this can’t be happening, that the world has stopped making sense.

Internal/External Coping: Your characters’ reactions will vary widely. Some will express themselves externally, others internally. This can be a source of misunderstanding – the less emotionally expressive characters accused of coldness or indifference, the more openly expressive characters accused of wallowing in self-pity.

Social Immersion/Withdrawal: Some characters will desire immersion within their social network to gain support or stem loneliness and fear. Other characters may avoid interactions, needing time to process and reflect in solitude. Many will fall somewhere in between, appearing fine until the brittle walls of control collapse at a word or gesture.

The Rollercoaster: Most people will dip in and out of grief, able to handle it in small doses before backing up and regaining emotional control. Your characters will function and grieve, function and grieve.

Reminders: Some characters may avoid reminders of the deceased, finding that places or objects trigger painful feelings. Others may have the opposite reaction—desiring to visit those places and carry keepsakes.

Active/Passive: Death generates a sense of helplessness. Some grieving characters may resort to intense activity (cooking, training, working, painting the house, or shopping). This is a coping mechanism that counters the loss of control. Others will feel lethargic, distracted and forgetful. They’ll have trouble focusing or wander in a fog without the will to complete the simplest tasks.

Spirituality and Religion: For some characters, death may challenge spiritual or religious beliefs and shake faith to its foundations. For others, spiritual or religious beliefs may be or become the lifeline that sees the character through.

Conflicted Relationships: These are relationships shaped by a tangle of positive and negative experiences, wishes, and emotions. Characters are grappling for balance and control, for respect, love, or approval. Death ends all chances for a satisfactory resolution. The feelings left behind are a stew of love, anger, regret, and guilt.

Recklessness: Though recklessness may appear as a death wish, it might actually be angry defiance, a wager that death can be beaten at its game. Characters may also put themselves at risk to make up for a failure to protect others or guilt at their own survival.

Anxiety, insecurity, and panic. Unlike recklessness, anxiety can be paralyzing. A shattered world can leave a character with a heightened sense of mortality, a fear of surviving on one’s own, or an aversion to taking risks.

Characters may feel relief after the death, particularly if the deceased suffered. Relief and a sense of liberation may also occur at the end of conflicted relationship, the battle finally over. Guilt frequently accompanies the sense of relief.

Guilt: Guilt is very common and often completely illogical. All the “I should have’s” and “if only’s” roll through the character’s brain, especially in cases of suicide.

Anger: Anger generally has four sources:

Justified anger at perpetrators and the failures of individuals and institutions. This is fertile ground for thoughts of revenge.
Lashing out at others in response to feelings of helplessness and loss of control.
Anger at one’s self for an inability to prevent the death.
Anger at the deceased for dying, for not fighting harder, not making better choices, or abandoning the survivors (like guilt, this anger isn’t always logical).

Unexpected Death: Death out of the natural sequence of life is generally more tragic than death after a long life. Sudden death is frequently harder to deal with than a loss that’s expected. Death by a purposeful or negligent hand is often more difficult than one by accident or illness.

Previous experience with death can prepare a character for new losses and soften the sharp edges. At the same time, if previous deaths weren’t fully processed, new losses can trigger unresolved emotions and complicate healing.

Delaying grief: Death and grief make characters feel vulnerable. In dangerous situations, it’s common for grief responses to be suppressed or delayed. Then once safe, the emotional blockade opens. If that safe haven for grief is a long time coming, consider that feelings may bottleneck, turn in on the character, or explode.

Children’s Grief – Don’t forget that babies, children, and teens grieve too!:

Babies experience a sense of absence in their lives. They also respond to the stress of the adults around them.
Little children and teens experience the SAME feelings as adults including guilt – believing that they somehow could have prevented the death.
Children also dip in and out of grief, cry and whine one minute, then play and laugh the next.
Children and teens tend to regress to younger behaviors.
Children will frequently delay their own grief until they see that the adults are handling it well and it’s safe to grieve.
In an attempt to fit in, teenagers will frequently hide their grief. Teens may not talk about their feelings with their parents, but will talk to another trusted adult.

Well, that wasn’t very short, but hopefully it’s helpful. Please feel free to ask questions or fill in anything I’ve missed. Happy Writing!