Review: Bonds That Bind by Austin L. Wiggins

Published: October 2013

Pages: 60

Synopsis: “We all perceive ourselves as moral, and it’s easy to be so in the boredom of the day-to-day, but what about when things get ugly? Would you have the fortitude to say no if asked by a gangbanger to take part in his scheme to rob a casino? How about if someone threatened to kill your mother? Would you take them out? What would you do if your best friend slept with your wife? Would you save his life or would you let him die? Would you throw away a comfortable, if unspectacular, job as a teacher for the thrill of a big score, even if you could lose everything? Even if you could lose your life? If someone did something beyond the grounds of human decency, how much would their life be worth?

Dark and uncompromising, Bonds That Bind is the first collection of short fiction released by Writings by Ender and Beautiful / Losers Magazine founder Austin L. Wiggins. Equal parts Flannery O’Connor and Cormac McCarthy in tone, coupled with the easy, accessible prose of a Raymond Carver, Wiggins’ collection grabs readers’ attention from the start and doesn’t let go. Enjoy the ride.”

Rating: *****

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I have never heard of or read anything by Austin L Wiggins, but after reading Bonds That Bind, he is definitely an author to watch. It's unusual that I read short stories and even more unusual that I read books where the description hugely outweighs the dialogue, but Bonds That Bind was so masterfully and professionally written that I couldn't put it down. The stories were the perfect length, enough to immerse yourself in the story and the characters but still perfectly paced with endings that felt natural and weren't rushed. The main theme I could identify linking the stories was death, but this wasn't necessarily morbid and each story had a completely different set of circumstances around it. I felt the last story we particularly poignant and thought provoking. I will definitely search out more works by Austin L Wiggins!