‘Brides’ by Aryn Kyle

Brides by Aryn Kyle, 2004

The magic trick:

Making the story almost unbelievable (and compulsively readable) for its TV-drama-styled plot twists and character developments

It’s an Aryn Kyle weekend double.

“Brides” is compulsively readable. People do and say things that are so interesting and dramatic that they verge on the improbable. Events stack upon events that stretch the reader‘s willing suspension of disbelief.

But it doesn’t matter. The story succeeds in spite of some of the head-scratching developments.

Or wait, no. That’s all wrong. The story succeeds because of the head-scratching developments. The dramatic moments and plot twists are what make the story so compulsively readable.

And that’s quite a trick on Kyle’s part.

The selection:

When it was my turn, I stared down at my hands.

“Well, Grace?” Mr. McFarland asked. “What’s your character like? What do you want?”

I squeezed my fingers around my thumbs. “I want for someone to get the pastor?”

The Brothers rolled their eyes and the Brides giggled into each other’s hair. Dilly stretched her legs out in front of her and leaned back on her hands.

“But why do you want someone to get the pastor?” she asked.

I tried to remember what was happening in the scene. “Because I hear a baby crying?”

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