I took this book on vacation and devoured it! I was pulled into the Outpost stories and left wanting more. I am still thinking about the characters a month later! You will do more wont you? Enjoyed all the stories and poems. - Avid Reader L.P.

5 out of 5 stars

 Wonderful writing! She sets the scenes and moods without skipping a beat. So smoothly written the pages turn by themselves. Original stories and ideas. Her poems, I loved! Very emotionally charged and powerful. I cannot wait for next work of art!! - Avid Reader D.C.

 5 out of 5 stars 

 This collection of short stories, poems, and plays by Debut author, Lisa Diaz Meyer, is broken into several sections. The first, and longest, is "The Outposts," a novella-like saga that she plans to continue in forthcoming books and that I enjoyed the most. It's set in a future world where healthy, childbearing women are in demand due to an outbreak of Cancers in females. As one of these minority women, Georgia's parents have disguised her as a boy named George. What happens to George/Georgia when she and two male friends escape their beta outpost is the beginning of a tale of horror as well as one of courage and love. The other writings in the collection are also well rendered and thought-provoking. For instance, in the "Fragments section" of plays,there's a macabre dinner party where Jesus dines with Hitler. I look forward to Ms. Meyer's next book. - Avid Reader & Writer D.D.

 5 out of 5 stars 

 I had my eye on this book for some time, then I had it sitting in my kindle for far too long. Now that I’ve read it, I can’t say enough praise for this outstanding collection. I’m a big fan of short stories and poems. This book delivers on both. It also has plays too, which I felt were a bonus and I'd not been a reader of plays until now. They made me want to grab my family and play them out, giving each of my family members a character to reenact would be so much fun.

Well written, keeps you engaged and each story carries a dynamic tone that I found enjoyable.

The authors poems are outstanding and works of total art. They cause one to think, to ponder and to walk away with a notion of fulfillment.

I loved Tara’s Garden and would say it was one of my favorites throughout this very impressive collection. I really loved the diversity of this authors ability into writing, showing her skills was impressive. From short tales, to poems to plays that all held my attention well, giving me something to really enjoy and that was what I loved about this book over all, the fact that I was engaged throughout and enjoying each of the tales within.  - Avid Reader Z.S.

 5 out of 5 stars 

For more Amazon reviews go to Amazon.com!

 All Roads Home: A Collection of Short Stories by Lisa Diaz Meyer is the first book in the author's All Roads trilogy, followed by All Roads Destined and All Roads Shattered. This anthology begins with the onset of Meyer's wildly popular and highly rated saga, The Outposts, a story that spans over the course of all three of her compilation books. Set in a post-apocalyptic future, Georgia - who has been raised in secrecy as a boy with the name George - is one of the few women left able to bear children. She makes a daring escape, only to find that while life outside her outpost allows for freedom (and love), the issues that arise can be equally gruesome to the horrors she left behind. All Roads Home also features the first flush of Meyer's delightfully dark poetry and play-writing.

In the interests of full disclosure, I feel the need to point out that I read this trilogy backwards. This was unintentional, but in my opinion it lends greater credence to the author's skill that The Outposts, in particular, can be read in any order without losing your way in the story. It's evident that Meyer has experienced genuine growth in her work as the books get better with each release (and given this is the intro, that says quite a lot about her talent). The Outposts might be the star here, but I'm of the opinion that, first and foremost, Meyer is a poet...and an exceptional one at that. I can't recommend this trilogy highly enough, and All Roads Home kicks it off with a sensational launch.  - Reviewed by J.M.

 5 out of 5 stars  

 It takes me a long time to read simply due to time constraints... but this book kept me engaged from the beginning. Loving the darker side of things and being an avid King fan - this book never failed to keep me wanting more. I don't want to spoil the stories... but the imagery was wonderful, the characters rich and the poems beautifully spun. Regardless of if this was Ms. Meyer's 1st or 20th book - she truly has a way with words (IMHO rivaling King himself). I am excited for what she publishes next. - Avid Reader K.A.

 5 out of 5 stars 

All Roads Home by Lisa Diaz Meyer is a fictional short story collection. Covering several genres, the book is divided into six parts titled The Outposts, The Enduring, The Oddities, The Particulars, The Fragments and The Play Versions. With each section and story being utterly unique, this book really is a mixed bag of offerings. Nowhere is this more obvious than, besides the four sections of short stories all varying greatly in their genre, the collection also consists of a part of poetry and The Play Versions which really are that: five of the stories in the collection written in play format!

The first section of the collection deals with a world that is hard hitting. In the story titled The Safe Room, this links back to the previous short story in its representation of women, cancer, and childbearing. With such stark descriptive passages of the cloning and curing process detailed, this section hits upon the more awkward of subjects that aren’t always spoke about comfortably.

Dealing with religion verse science, this section may be quite an eye-opener, considering its placing at the very start of the collection, but its subject matter does indeed turn the tables making you question just who, if anybody, has such a right at this stage.

The Enduring section starts off with a story which is most certainly that – enduring for its characters. What begins as a heartfelt story of a mother’s struggles quickly turns itself on its head when the story ends. However, nothing physical has changed, her situation remains dire, but she has found peace in her heart and mind and can now approach her situation from a more positive perspective. This story emphasizes Lisa’s ability to change tact and emotion in just a few short pages and sums up the book in its entirety.

All of Lisa’s characters, though only with the reader briefly, are very easy at catching our attention and therefore it’s easy to recognize their plight and see the story from their point of view. That Lisa can create such emotions in her readers through characters that appear fleetingly is a wonderful achievement.

For me, The Enduring was a favorite section. Packed full of emotions, there is one story where the action begins, plays out and ends in a matter of just two short pages! If you’re not too sure whether this selection of stories is for you, I urge you to read The Christmas Break first. Immediately this highlights Lisa’s fluidity in prose as well as her ability to create a fascinating collection of characters, and all within a few short sentences.

With superb powers of observation, a beautiful and haunting writing style on many of the pages, alongside an ability to push topic boundaries (Hitler and Jesus at a dinner party, need I say more!) this is truly a collection you must read for yourself.

If Lisa is this good at creating such an enthralling collection of short stories, I can only imagine what she would be like with a full-length fictional novel!

5 out of 5 Stars

A widely diverse yet compelling collection of dark short stories and poetry that weaves emotion, personality and depth into each piece.

Author Lisa Diaz Meyer's All Roads Home is tagged as a collection of dark short stories when in fact it is much more. Included within its pages are poetry, a wide variety of themes and genres as well as play versions of five of the more interesting tales. All pieces are written by the author which means even though the theme, genre or style may vary from title to title, the underlying soul of the work shines through regardless. It is not disjointed or unconnected the way many short story collections feel upon completion. Especially those anthologies made up from many author's individual work. There is no underlying theme to All Roads Home yet the stories and poetry all work within the same volume.

The collection is divided into six separate sections. The first of which, 'The Outposts', makes up nearly half of All Roads Home. 'The Outposts' is comprised of seven stories taking place in a dystopian future where child bearing women are rare due to an outbreak of cancers. Georgia is one of those in-demand females with the ability to help rebuild the human race, at the cost of her personal freedom and will. Her parents hide her under the guise of a boy named George before she escapes the Beta Outpost with two male companions. The seven stories within 'The Outposts' follow Georgia's exploits into a world that may be more horrific than the one she escaped. Full of hope, love, courage and danger, 'The Outposts' is the flagship of Meyer's All Roads trilogy.

'The Enduring' is the second section of All Roads Home. The stories within evoke emotion and in some cases, end at their climax leaving the reader to come to their own conclusions. 'The Oddities' are exactly that. The six stories within are thought provoking and engaging but also stand out as the most basic within the book, following what most reader's would feel is the structure of a short story. That said, this does not take away from their significance within the book. A dinner party in purgatory with Jesus Christ and Adolf Hitler? 'The Particulars' is a mix of macabre short stories and poetry with 'The Fragments' made up of only the latter. I found the poetry within 'The Fragments' to be some of the most powerful pieces in All Roads Home. The final section is 'The Play Versions' which includes scripts for five of the titles from previous sections.

Meyer's writing style and ability to grab her reader's attention within the first paragraph of a short story leads itself to a very successful collection. Weaving emotion, personality and depth into each of her pieces whether it be a two page stand alone short story, a poem or a continuing tale worthy of its own novella, Lisa Diaz Meyer has created a widely diverse yet compelling collection in All Roads Home.

- Review by New Apple Literary

 As engaging as it is imaginative! Looking forward to future works from this new author - Avid Reader

5 out of 5 stars

 Second book by an excellent new author. Outpost story continues from the first book and continues to amaze. - Avid Reader

5 out of 5 stars

 Awesome follow up to All Roads Home. Outpost stories are great as well as short stories and poems. Looking forward to the next book. - Avid Reader D.D.

5 out of 5 stars

 “All Roads Destined” is the first novel I have read from the very talented writer, Lisa Diaz Meyer. It won’t be my last! The book is advertised as a collection of short stories. It begins with the second offering in the Outposts series, a novel length tale. Four stand-alone short stories follow labelled "The Enduring." Each of these are well written with "The Crone" being my personal favorite, but on to the main story: It is a love story set in a dark fiction post apocalyptic setting entwined with a mystery or two. Trying to survive in this new world, complicated by traitorous "friends" and wayward political agendas, our dynamic lovers- Zax and Georgia want only a life and family to share and...peace. If only it was so simple. Plot twists galore with an engaging pace and relatable characters who draw you into their world as you cheer them on. There is a lot to like about this novel and along with the short stories, it is also supplemented by a series of thought provoking poetry at the end. I recommend it to readers of all stripes. Pick this one up and move it to the top of your to read list. You won't be disappointed.  - Avid Read D.W.T.

5 out of 5 stars

For more Amazon reviews go to Amazon.com!

 All Roads Destined: A Collection of Dark Fiction and Poems by Lisa Diaz Meyer is the second book in Meyer's All Roads trilogy, arriving on the heels of the highly-rated first book, All Roads Home. The anthology begins with the second installment of the author's remarkable Outposts saga, followed by a collection of independent short stories and fifteen poems. The Outposts II carries on the story of Zaxton Mitchell and George/Georgia - with a greatly anticipated wedding - in the post-apocalyptic drama, taking a comfortable and perfectly executed turn into the realm of science fiction. Meyer's short stories include gems such as Friendship 59, which reads like a futuristic Siren tale, and poetry with prose that both sings and shatters the heart, such as The Climb.

It shouldn't come as a surprise that All Roads Destined by Lisa Diaz Meyer is gripping in a way that watching a tragedy unfold might be. Aristotle once told us that the aim of tragedy is to bring about a catharsis, and Meyer certainly forces a reader to dig deeper in the most unforgiving, morbidly cleansing way. Her short stories rarely have a happy ending, something of a reflection on the realities of our human experience she is able to tap into with little in the form of beings that are actually human. Her work might be dusky and dark (or macabre and funereal, as she unapologetically describes it) but the quality of Meyer's writing makes it not just palatable, but enjoyable too. For those waiting to see how The Outposts series unfolds, they won't have to, as All Roads Shattered, the saga's finale, is already available. - Reviewed by J.M.

5 out of 5 stars

 Fantastic follow up to All Roads Home. The Outposts stories continue to amaze me. I couldn't put the book down. The poems and short stories are exciting and I can't wait to see what she has in store for her readers next.  - Avid Reader A.L.

5 out of 5 stars

 Excellent continuation of The Outposts stories. More intriguing with every turn of the page. These stories could be easily be adapted into a movie or miniseries. The short stories and poems continue to be original with a lot of content. Can't wait to see what the author has in store for us next.  - Avid Reader D.

5 out of 5 stars

All Roads Destined by Lisa Diaz Meyer is the second book in the All Roads Trilogy. Consisting of a collection of dark fiction stories and poems, the book is divided into sections including one story in four parts, four shorter stories and a selection of poems to finish off with. I would strongly recommend reading Lisa’s first collection, All Roads Home, as the four-part story in this collection continues from a story in the first book, charting the characters activities since we last read about them in book one.

Slightly different than the format of her first collection, All Roads Destined leads with a prologue and then three parts of one short story, alternating in each chapter with Mitchell, Gerard, and Georgia.

The Building, The Alpha Post, The People’s Government and Notas Territory are all chapters of a story which cleverly links back to the first book and includes the character of Georgia, whom we discovered was being held as the subject of scientist’s aim for cancer immune females.

Previously, Georgia finally escaped the people who were working on her as an experiment and now has her baby Sylvie with her as well as her partner Mitchell, equaling her own little family. However, there’s still a way to go and escaping her captor’s clutches was only the first part of this journey.

Immediately dark at the first-page of the prologue, with a superbly built up tension permeating the very start of this book, we begin with Georgia once again, though we know very little about the mass confusion that is happening at this moment in time.

The flip between narratives in this story is an excellent way at holding your interest long enough and succeeds at explaining a little about the primary doctor, Dr. Gerard, who worked on Georgia for many years. This is one short story which is experimental in structure, but fascinating to read!

The middle section of the collection is titled The Enduring, and it is here where perhaps my favorite story of the book is, called The Crone. So simplistic in its action but so stylish in its deliverance, this is the story that highlights how easy it is to conjure up any one of Lisa’s characters instantly. However, here the prose also excels. With Harret and the returned Berkstadt left to live out their remaining time together in their beautiful kingdom, this was a thoroughly satisfying and complete short story.

Finally, Lisa has included a selection of poems in the section titled The Fragments. Personally, I found these poems more satisfying than those in the first collection.

I enjoyed the poetry section even more as I’m very selective about poems and won’t automatically reach for a book of poetry when purchasing my preferred books. So, to have it included in a collection such as this encourages you to read it, seeing as you’ve read the stories, and its addition opens your eyes to something new and different.

Ultimately, The Fragments serves as an entirely satisfactory ending to yet again, a beautiful collection.

5 out of 5 Stars

An eloquent piece of science fiction with a dessert of dark poetry and short stories sure to leave its readers itching for more.

All Roads Destined: A Collection of Dark Fiction and Poems is the second installment in Lisa Diaz Meyer's All Roads trilogy. Divided into three distinct sections, All Roads Destined contains both short fiction as well as poetry. Much of the collection is linked to a dystopian universe with recurring characters carried over from the author's first installment in the trilogy. All of the fictional shorts are compelling, dark and alluring from their opening salvo making the book a very fast and enjoyable read.

All Roads Destined, much like the first installment, All Roads Home, is divided into three sections, 'The Outposts II', 'The Enduring' and 'The Fragments'. Author Lisa Diaz Meyer has the uncanny ability to evoke such beautifully tragic emotion in her poetry. The final section, 'The Fragments', contains fifteen poems that are a rich mix of poignancy and macabre elegance. 'The Enduring' is made up of four shorts, each a little darker and more twisted than the last with the final being more prose than story, yet just as visceral in its simplicity.

'The Outposts II' makes up the 217 of the 255 pages of All Roads Destined. This section is divided up into four parts and is the true heart of the book. A continuation of a series of shorts from the author's previous work, 'The Outposts II' follows a new format, committing more to itself as a stand alone work than a series of stories. The Outposts universe centers around a post apocalyptic society where childbearing women are a rare commodity more apt to be coveted, imprisoned, studied and ultimately used than ever reveled. Georgia is one such woman, who now finds herself on the run with Zax and their "child", Silvie. The horrors Georgia faced at the hands of the scientists who imprisoned her continue to fester as this new chapter of survival takes a decidedly different turn into the realm of science fiction.

All Roads Destined is an excellently written and superbly executed collection of dark fiction. The author's ability to evoke such raw emotion without the luxury of backstory or character development is on display in her short stories. The continuation of the dark dystopian story of The Outposts is more structured and chronological in this volume than in All Roads Home. This is not necessarily a positive or a negative point, only an observation. My only criticism would be 'The Outposts' overpowering of the work, making All Roads Destined much less of a collection of dark fiction and poems than it is billed. The addition of more short work and the bulk of The Outposts left for another book would have done more in keeping with the pronounced theme of the trilogy.

Author Lisa Diaz Meyer has once again created a collection of dark fiction that not only lives up to its predecessor but easily surpasses it. All Roads Destined is an eloquent piece of science fiction with a dark collection of poetry and shorts as dessert sure to leave its readers itching for more.

- Review by New Apple Literary

 The stories are dark, clever, addictive, and very well written. I will have to read the other books in the series. I really enjoyed this book  - Avid Reader J.B.

5 out of 5 stars

 What a great continuation to the All roads collection - Avid Reader R.M.

5 out of 5 stars

 Dark indeed! But within that blackness there is the light from the beautifully crafted words that lets us, the reader, see and feel the evil and malevolent forces that exist in not just this world, but in worlds that the highly skilled author and word-spinner, Lisa Diaz Meyer, creates for our enjoyment.
I was wowed from the the first few paragraphs of her opening story, right through to the final word of this book. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting, but certainly not this truly eye-opening, exquisitely written collection. In truth, I wanted more. More of these stories that entrapped me. I wished that these stories were full ten course meals that one could savour and digest at length.
The poetry is a wonderful, mid-course, breather. Allowing us to take stock of what we have just read, and prepare us for the final, sumptuous offerings. They are dark and raw, letting us rediscover and re-examine those feelings and emotions that we all have, but keep bottled inside.
This is indeed a five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read that makes me NEED to read the other two books in the “All Roads” series.  - Avid Reader M.C.

5 out of 5 stars

 This is the third of Lisa Diaz Meyer's "Roads" collection of dark fiction that I've read. I loved the first two books, but this one is my favorite. It showcases Ms. Meyers' talent to write a variety of absorbing scenarios that grip the reader and pulls them into different dark places from a witch's house to a 1950's German gynecologist's lab to an 1800's English dinner engagement between two cousins, and many other unique and unusual times and locations. I enjoyed the next installment of the Outpost sag that I've been following from the beginning, but I also liked the other longer short stories especially the Enduring that moves back and forth in time between 1927 and 1942. The "People of Gods" story features a nice mix of religion, science fiction, and horror. I highly recommend this collection of tales you won't easily forget. - Avid Reader D.D

5 out of 5 stars

 For more Amazon reviews go to Amazon.com! 

 All Roads Shattered: A Collection of Dark Fiction Short Stories and Poems by Lisa Diaz Meyer is the third installment of the author's All Roads series, an anthology of work that includes The Outposts III, a continuation of Meyer's popular saga, The Outposts, from book one, All Roads Home, and book two, All Roads Destined. The anthology also offers a second saga, People of Gods, five additional independent short stories and a collection of twelve poems. The work is, in true Meyer fashion, ominous, morbid, and brilliantly fleshed out (especially in her short story The Preacher, where this becomes something of a double entendre).

I have personally become an instant fan of Lisa Diaz Meyer, hooked from the first paragraph of The Outposts III saga, which can be read on its own but became far more enjoyable after dipping back into the first two installments. The other short stories pack a huge punch for their size, not an easy feat when elements of world building are also required. Her poetry is equally intriguing. My favorite is The Collection with lines that dance in tune with devilish, lyrical depictions: "A small rib cage floats in a jar, half a skull, a demon's head, a portrait - of a killer, no less - reminds us to keep wary of who our neighbors really are." I highly recommend All Roads Shattered by Lisa Diaz Meyer to any reader who is looking to escape into stories and poetry that are a bit sinister, dished out in bite-sized pieces that still fill the darkest corners of the mind. Reviewed by J.M. 

5 out of 5 stars

Go to Author Elaine Donadio's website by following her here!

https://elainedonadiowrites.wordpress.com/

A Modern Day Edgar Allan Poe?

I’m back to writing book reviews after a hiatus devoted to promoting my work with great success. I had the pleasure of meeting Lisa Diaz Meyer and purchased her book All Roads Shattered. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect having been told this book is a combination of dark fiction short stories, multi-genre science fiction, and poems.

What a pleasant surprise! I read the book in less than two days and could not put it down. The book, which has won a 5 Star Readers Favorite Award from New Apple Literary, is divided into parts: two sagas “Outposts III” and “People of Gods,”  five multi-genre, dark fiction short stories and twelve macabre poems.

Lisa describes herself as  “a voice for the sad and lost, isolated and abandoned, desperate and different”…” (Lisa) relates to the odd, macabre, and funereal.” You might be afraid that these tales are extreme. To be honest, I thought yeah, I know people like this. People who are willing to sacrifice even their loved ones so their lives play out according to their own agendas.

Lisa uses irony to repeat the same themes throughout: governments and the general population, as well as individuals within families, are in constant power plays for control; people cannot be trusted; what goes around comes around; the world is filled with shape- shifters, liars, manipulators; nothing is as it seems; always be suspicious to protect yourself and your loved ones; many people have horrible dark souls that even those closest to them are unaware.

I was reminded of Edgar Allan Poe. Remember how his characters deceived their victims, setting them up for “the kill”  with elaborate plans and smiles on their faces? Yes, it’s all the rage to be positive and apply Law of Attraction principles, but yet…

I especially enjoyed The Oddities , The Clearing , Dinner With Myles, and the Graveyard poem. Life has a way of sneaking up on you even when you’re looking.

All Roads Shattered by Lisa Meyer is the third book in the All Roads collection. This collection of dark fiction stories and poems begins with The Outposts III, which satisfyingly continues with the story of Georgia and Mitchell who we have been following through both books one and two. As we left them in book two to come to terms with their new life together, in this collection, Lisa picks up with the journey the two still must endure.

Then there is a three-part story in the form of People of Gods, a haunting selection of 12 pieces of poetry in the section titled Fragments, two further extended stories in the section The Enduring and finally, to end the collection, three small but perfectly formed short and simple stories which pack a huge punch in the section of The Oddities!

The Oddities features three ‘out there’ stories with Preacher, Crooks, and Helge. In a word, wow is what springs to mind when reading through each of them!

With Preacher, I never saw it coming at all, but the conclusion was oh so satisfying! Crooks was a great concept and equally mesmerizing. However, Helge had to be the most disturbing story of them all! I had, in fact, become so captivated by the last three stories that I wasn’t expecting the book to end when it did.

Helge produced some near awful visions in my mind as I read through, think Jack the Ripper style, back streets of grey and misty London; enough to give you nightmares. Yet, it was a tremendous and thoroughly satisfying end to a superb collection.

Having read both the first and second books in the collection, a part of me would have thought that perhaps by now Lisa may have run out of steam. After all, All Roads Home and All Roads Destined were for me, both 5 star reads. I couldn’t have been more wrong!

When you have read all three books, you may begin to feel that Lisa has a stronger connection to the futuristic sci-fi genre. This is perhaps because it is always the more extensive of stores and at the very beginning of each collection, with a continuation throughout the three.

However, in All Roads Shattered, the story I found the most compelling and atmospheric was Dinner with Myles. This was a story which I didn’t want to leave and could easily imagine Lisa writing a book based on this genre; such was it handled so well.

The ending to this story was, yet again, superbly accomplished by Lisa, as all her short stories have been throughout. However, I would still love for her to write a prequel to this one! Neil and Myles are wonderfully drawn, and complex characters and I could very well imagine them as partners working on crimes and investigating mysteries!

The great thing about reading Lisa Meyer’s collections is that each one gets better as you go along. That is particularly hard to achieve for many writers of such collections, but the All Roads Shattered collection is perhaps the most extensive and best written one yet.

It almost feels as though Lisa’s confidence has grown with each outing and this is therefore reflected in the intensity and broader scope of her writing. Her stories seem to expand and take on a deeper meaning in their unique genres in this collection, and I believe her writing style almost borders along the lines of perfection this time.

If you only manage to read one story, then Dinner with Myles should be that one. I can guarantee you that once you’ve sampled this nearly perfect piece of prose, you will feel compelled to read on.

5 out of 5 Stars

A collection of dark fiction and poetry that opens a door into a world that walks a razor's edge between cynically benevolent and downright sinister.

Lisa Diaz Meyer's All Roads Shattered: A Collection of Dark Fiction Short Stories and Poems is the final installment in her All Roads trilogy. As with the previous two anthologies, All Roads Shattered contains a continuation of the 'Outposts' saga, multi- genre short stories and macabre poems. Meyer's work is labeled as dark, macabre and funereal by the artist herself, but the stories are full of well developed characters, thought provoking subject matter and small twists to keep even the most timid of readers engaged.

All Roads Shattered is divided into five parts. Part one is 'Outposts III' the continued tale of Georgia, a once imprisoned woman in a post apocalyptic world where a Cancer epidemic has rendered the world barren in both population and the ability to procreate. Georgia and Zax, along with their daughters Silvie and Dahra continue their journey through danger, peril and heartache. This dark science fiction tale of survival, hope and courage is strong enough it could be compiled into it's own novel by the author or continued on in the same manner. Meyer's character driven tale is the anchoring point for the trilogy and although there is an apparent conclusion to the saga, it could just as easily spin into new tales for the author's science fiction fans.

Part two is a new saga titled 'People of Gods'. This tale feels complete and developed in a way that makes it much more than short fiction. Dark and brooding, 'People of Gods' is an excellent example of Meyer's ability to draw a reader into her twisted little world and say more with the words left unwritten than those on the page. This entire section required a second reading, not because I was left with questions, but because I was left wanting more. Excellent story telling and an ominous tone throughout made 'People of Gods' the perfect stepping stone from 'Outposts III' to Part three, 'Fragments'

'Fragments' contains twelve delightfully dark poems, each with a life all its own. This is where the diversity of All Roads Shattered really shines. Many readers would have unfortunately never afforded themselves the experience of Lisa Diaz Meyer's poetry had they not been sandwiched between short fiction. The rest of the book is made up of five more short fiction pieces that each in turn delve deep into the dark corners of the author's mind, delivering beautifully sinister, bite size tales best read by candlelight on a dark evening.

Being the last in the trilogy, All Roads Shattered stands out as the most polished. The two earlier works both merit praise and are astounding achievements in short fiction but the last piece in the puzzle warrants the apotheosis of the author's talents thus far. Lisa Diaz Meyer has created a doorway into a world where shadows come to life, the sad and isolated feel at home and her readers can explore their morbid curiosity for what lurks on the other side of the veil.

- Review by New Apple Literary

What is evil?  The answer to that question has an awful lot to do with perspective.  What some people consider to be evil, others see as heroic.  With that thought in mind, have you ever wondered if there is a capacity for all of us to engage in dark and lurid conduct?  It can certainly be argued that nobody begins life with evil in their heart.  It is a conditioned behavior.  We all rely upon one another in some fashion, and when it all goes sideways… so do our actions.  Pretty controversial and thought-provoking stuff!  In her book All Roads Shattered, author Lisa Diaz Meyer explores such a human dynamic.  This is a must read for all lovers of intelligent and fascinating prose- which will take you deep into the inner depths and disturbing psyche of the human mind!

Essentially, All Roads Shattered is the third book in Lisa Diaz Meyer’s All Roads collection.   It includes two short story sagas, twelve macabre poems and five multi-genre dark fiction stories.

The two sagas are entitled “Outpost III” and “People of Gods.”  The former is a continuation of the Outposts saga which appears in Meyer’s previous work.  It is a dark, dystopian Science Fiction tale which picks up where the previous installment left off.  The latter is similar in the sense that it is another great piece of Science Fiction.  However, it is more than this.  It inexplicably studies the human experience.  In this particular case, what actually happens when a particular group is persecuted to the point of virtual extinction.  How far will individuals go to maintain their own quality of life?  Would this include turning on those who are closest to them?  We all may have this in us depending upon the conditions.  Considering the countless analogous circumstances throughout the history of human civilization… this is a haunting story indeed!

The two sagas which Meyer includes in her impressive anthology would have been more than enough to ensnare this particular reader’s complete engagement.  Nevertheless, she is by no means finished.  The book also includes a number of macabre poems and various pieces of dark fiction.  I personally find these to be the strongest and most gripping segments of the entire collection.  The term “macabre” does not even do them justice.  It is more like soul-sucking!  For instance, I absolutely loved the tragic and forlorn nature of the Graveyard poem.  Life certainly has a way of sneaking up on you, and none of us are immune to its clutches.  Further, the five stories in the Enduring and Oddities collections were horrifyingly delightful!  For example, while “Helge” is frightening and gruesome, The Clearing is equally fearsome and utterly harrowing-yet heartbreaking,

There is no question that the plotting and overall theme of these stories is superb.  The reader has no choice but to become engrossed and entirely emotionally invested in the work.  The human condition is explored, but in a way which makes us question ourselves.  These are not particularly heroic or nefarious characters.  Indeed… they are us.  Living each day the best we can and depending upon other people for what we need.  What happens when it all goes astray?  Read on and find out!  The irony and paradoxical nature of this anthology is brilliant!

While the plot and overall theme of these stories are captivating, the characters and world building are enthralling as well.  The various players are complex and grow a great deal throughout the pages.  As readers (and human beings), we cannot help but feel akin to their various plights and emotions.  Even the horrific doctor in “Helge” will inspire some form of sympathy and understanding…despite the overall feeling of repugnancy.  How is that possible considering his evil and gruesome deeds?  The answer to this question is provided by Meyer herself.  She cleverly provides pertinent background, detail an ample growth in her characters so that the reader can easily identify with them.  Character development at its best!

There is little doubt that this is a top-notch anthology.  Meyer’s pen has a poetic flow and her writing is morbidly beautiful.  Everything is supported by a creepy and well fleshed out setting.  This lets the reader easily visualize and become lost in the worlds which Meyer has created.

I give this anthology my highest recommendation.  There are dark and graphic scenes so be forewarned.  As such I recommend it only to adult readers.

5 out of 5 Ghastly Stars for this one!   *****

http://leonardtillerman.com/all-roads-shattered-by-lisa-diaz-meyer/

 I had initially intended to buy each book separately, however this boxset is a bargain and well worth the purchase. I think this is the first time I’ve seen not only a saga - namely ‘The Outposts’ - spread out across three books, but each book also being a separate anthology in its own right of short stories & poetry.

Therefore having read the whole lot in a oner, it isn’t really possible for me to review each book individually - but that still leaves me with no shortage of things to say!

Firstly, ‘The Outposts’...
In a word? - Riveting! From the very start. You are immediately drawn into a plot so tangible you could wrap your fist around it. Meyer has a wonderful gift for creating very strong characters that you effortlessly root for. I loved that she also told the saga from the perspective of many (even some minor) characters throughout, adding multiple layers of intensity to the story and constantly keeping the reader on edge. The only thing that irritated me was the painfully naive character ‘Silvie’ at the end, but who knows, maybe it’s just me.

The poetry and other stories:
I love Meyer’s imagination and her talent for weaving the most profound tales of morals and humanity into sci-fi and fantasy! Not least the fact they are anything but predictable, which is a real breath of fresh air. Be warned - this IS dark fiction and no pink fluffy bunny land: you’ll be enraged one moment, charmed the next. You’ll be heartbroken, entranced, and then on the edge of your seat. ‘The People’s Gods’, for instance, had me tearing my hair out!! You’ll be frightened, and, if nothing else, you will certainly reflect on the too often bewildering complexity of humankind.

Meyer’s writing style opens a door and before you know it you’ve fallen in, but only too happy to be there. An excellent writer of fathomless depth. Thank you for producing this excellent set of anthologies, Lisa! 

5 out of 5 stars. R.H. Hale