Although the ASIN points to the last part of a six-part novel, this review is for all parts put together. When I got the free first part, I didn’t know that this novel would be given piecemeal to the reader. Most books in a series are sold as a stand-alone, each; otherwise, they run the risk of losing readers.

Thus, here comes my one objection to the way such a delightful story is sold. An average-length e-book is around 300 pages and in Coma Girl, each part is about 90 Kindle pages with a few pages in each part to remind the reader of the earlier occurrences which became tiresome since I read all six parts one after the other. I’d rather have read the whole story within one book, no matter the price.

Still, I was hooked on Coma Girl due to its brilliant concept and good storytelling. Fact is, I truly enjoyed reading the story of Marigold Kemp as she lay in a bed in the hospital and heard all goings on around her. Marigold is hospitalized because the car she was in was hit head-on by a famous football player. Her sister Sidney was in the car, also, and she isn’t hurt at all.

Until the end, the readers are made to believe that the driver was Marigold. More than the ending of the story, the ward Marigold is in, its other occupants, and all the people in Marigold’s life who visit and treat her are the highlights of the story. The one thing that is common with her visitors and caretakers is their frank talk about their secrets because they think Marigold cannot hear them. This way, the readers are given the privilege of observing the inner workings of each person, and that is the unique success of this story.

Although the story contains all human emotions from regret, greed, revenge, unrequited love, friendship, and innocence, I favored the little girl who keeps sneaking into the ward to talk to Marigold. Other original characters in the story are Marigold’s parents, her brother overseas with the US forces, the doctor who believes Marigold could wake up, the doctors and staff that care for her, Aunt Winnie and her fumbling psychic, Detective Terry, the poet volunteer, and Marigold’s two friends with similarities to each other and whose names rhyme and have the same number of characters in each name. One of those is Roberta, her roommate, who tries to help Marigold in her warped way. The common bond among all characters is that they are unique, quirky, and delightful to read about. In fact, the characters make this novel a success.

The entire novel is entertaining and captivating, and the twists in the story come often and with delightful and unexpected surprises. The writing style is clear, direct, yet with clever pathos and great humor.

I had a wonderful time reading this novel.

enjoying quirky characters and how they make up an entertaining yet meaningful story.

the characterization and the sudden unexpected twists.

That the novel was divided into six parts and each part sold for $2.99 with the exception of the free first part. I'd rather pay a higher price for any good standalone story, instead of downloading one part after the other of a story slashed into six parts.

read other books by Stephanie Bond, but I'll make sure each story is told in one book.

is Stephanie Bond, also known under the pseudonym Stephanie Bancroft. A computer programmer by training, she writes popular fiction and has numerous books and awards.

It hooks a reader right from the beginning and is entertaining, with deep meanings that are hinted at but not preached.

My five stars are for the entire fictional contents, the entertainment value, and the writing prowess of the author.
I didn't like the idea of a whole good story divided up into six parts and each part sold separately. Maybe Dickens did that, too, but that was in another century.
If I were to include that in my star ratings, the rating would be one star.

Interested in buying this? Support Writing.Com by making your purchase of Coma Girl: Part 6 (Kindle Single)   from Amazon.Com!

Created Jan 22, 2019 at 1:49pm • Submit your own review...