Worlds with Ruby

Ferris Wheel Stories #1

by C.P. Cabaniss

When you’re already dead, why should you be afraid?

When Ruby finds herself on the edge of a cliff in a land between life and death, with an ominous creaking coming from the nearby woods, she is left with no choice but to follow it to its source. Nothing is what it seems and Ruby soon finds herself being whisked away to worlds beyond her imagination. Worlds in need of saving. Along the way, she discovers that in saving these worlds, she is saving herself.

Genres: Fantasy

67 pages, Unknown Binding

First published April 1, 2017

About the author

C P Cabaniss lives in a small town in the southern United States where she teaches math, imagines—and sometimes writes—stories, and reads too many books at once. She is most inspired while with her horses, meditating in a historic cemetery, or exploring retired naval ships. She loves to travel and has long dreamed of adopting a nomadic lifestyle—though she has yet to determine what this would mean for her collection of books, which seems to grow by the day.

You can find her on Instagram @courtneysreads and YouTube @CourtneyReads

Reviews

[C.P. Cabaniss]

April 1, 2019
Ruby is FREE on Amazon from now until the April 5, so get it while you can! You can get it at any Amazon site, but I will link a few of them below.

US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XWLZQDW
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XWLZQDW
AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B06XWLZQDW
CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B06XWLZQDW

The sequel, Falling Worlds, is also available now. If you like this one, you can pick that one up immediately.

December 28, 2017
Ruby is FREE on Amazon right now! Help me reach my goal of 30 ratings on goodreads by downloading and giving this short story a read. It should be available on all the amazon sites worldwide, but here are links to a few.

It will be free December 28-30, so get it while you can!

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XWLZQDW
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XWLZQDW
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B06XWLZQDW

This is now live on Amazon! You can find it here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XWLZQDW/...

For Amazon outside of the US, you should be able to search title and author to find it easily.

It will release on April 1st.

Since this is a story that I have written, I will not be giving it a star rating. I have read it several times and I'm sure I will read it several more in the coming months as I work on the next installment. But a star rating from the author doesn't seem right to me, so I will leave that part blank.

I hope you enjoy my little story if you decide to read it. Ruby was a fun character to write and I hope her stories don't end here.

[Kaylin (The Re-Read Queen) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Crazy interesting premise with a sassy protagonist! Wish quite a bit had been expanded on, though.

Full RTC

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 fractured stars

"Why couldn't I have just died like a normal person?"

shattered glass - giphy.com

This is what Ruby asks herself when she ends up on the edge of a cliff, waiting her turn to climb up into a huge Ferris wheel, after dying.

Instead of finding her final rest like normal people, Ruby is met by a gorgeous angel of darkness by the name of Damen, and whisked off to a beautiful glass city that she is supposedly meant to save.
This is how that glass city looks to me:

Temple of Corellion Myth Drannor - saved by Karol Parysek - pinterest.com

"Our city is fractured and you can repair it. It is your destiny. ... The prophecies said you would come, falling through a shower of glass. And you did." That is what everyone in the glass city tells Ruby, calling her their Glass Rose.

Except that Ruby is only the dead girl from the land of magical amusement parks and all the Glass Rose stuff was beginning to reek like the stuff of fairy tales.
Ruby hated fairy tales; there was always a prince or a knight in shining armor, to come and take all the credit after the girl had done all the work. Or, even worse, to rescue the girl because she was incapable of doing so herself. Ruby didn't need rescuing, or for anyone to steal the credit for her effort. Then again, she didn't want to do the work this time either.
Maybe because she didn't know how to do the work needed, but nobody needed to know that part.

In a world where nothing seems to make sense and everything seems to defy logic, Ruby needs to make a choice. Embrace the challenge and try to heal the fractured city, or simply stand aside and let it crumble down. And that is only the beginning.

In a downright unconventional and absolutely imaginative manner, C.P. Cabaniss gives us here a unique take on the afterlife that will leave you wanting to know more.

"The Wheel gives everyone a chance to face whatever held them back in life, to be at peace with what they left behind. Some take only moments, others years. We are all different, just as our challenges are different."
If Ruby will be able to face hers, you're gonna have to read this to find out. :) What I can tell you though is that they are among the most original ones I have ever encountered.

A stunning read with a strong impact, this is one of those short stories that manage to excellently blend fantasy and "life lessons everyone should think upon".
Written in an elegant prose that makes reading a pleasure, Worlds with Ruby is the perfect read for anyone searching for something truly unique. My only complaint is that it was a tiny bit too short. I wish it had been a bit longer and am now looking forward to the next adventure in the world of the Ferris Wheel Stories.

Find this review and more on my book review and cover art blog The Magic Book Corner

[Sharon Mariampillai · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy from the author, in exchange for an honest review.

Actual Rating: 3.5

Thank you C.P. Cabaniss for the opportunity to read your book. This was an interesting read. I enjoyed this book. I enjoyed how the story involved a Ferris wheel. I really liked Ruby and the other characters. I think there was a bit of confusion in some areas because of how some event unfolded. It seems like the plot jumped from one point to another and it was difficult to follow. However, the rest of the story was pretty good. I was surprised by the plot twists and I can't wait to see what the sequel has in store. Overall, a great read.

[Eshwarya Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worlds With Ruby was, to put quite simply, short but sweet. I thought it was pretty imaginative, and the story had a kind of dreamlike quality. This made it an effortless read, for me. I loved how descriptive Cabaniss' writing is; especially the individual descriptions of each world. It was easy to feel like I was there with Ruby, witnessing the seemingly nonsensical but beautiful sights wherever she ended up. A* for descriptive writing skills, I'd say.

I think the only small problem I had with this, was the repetition of how Ruby felt each time she wound up back in the Ferris Wheel world. The non-feeling, how the people there weren't very talkative, their endless hissing. I feel like they were a little unnecessary, considering the length of this read. But I don't know, maybe its just me. Perhaps others would appreciate the reinforcement of this world's atmosphere.

I liked Ruby's sharp tongue, I think it was a good contrast to the internalised fear she had. Damen seemed pretty dreamy too, and I wanted to get to know him more.

Overall, this novelette was lighthearted, both in its style and in the sense that you can breeze through it. It'd appeal to a wide range of readers, in my opinion. I'd highly recommend this if you want a brief escape from life and not-too-heavy stuff.

I can't wait for the next installment of the Ferris Wheel Stories; I'm excited to see where Ruby's 'home' is, and if she'd get up to more adventures. Or maybe its Damen's turn to travel? Guess we'll have to wait and see.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Grace Crandall · Rating 5 out of 5]

AHHHH I'M SO EXCITED FOR THIS

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Completely captivating, this was a lovely escape on a rainy afternoon. Great storytelling, easy writing style and tight editing - truly a pleasure to read. I'd happily invest in future books by this author on the strength of this unique and nicely written fantasy.

[Victoria Liiv · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worlds With Ruby is a short book about a magical Ferris Wheel that takes you to your destiny after you’ve passed away. Ruby gets stuck in a circle of respawning at the Ferris Wheel, because she has unfinished business before she can really move on.

Ruby is shown as a strong and opinionated character, but that is only a part of who she is. There’s a side of her she tried to suppress in death that she needs to learn how to embrace instead. Her journey through fantastical lands will bring her closer to finding herself.

It is a humorous and beautiful story about adventures to otherworlds and facing your fears. I quite enjoyed the storyline and was only a little taken back by the numerous italic words that in my opinion didn’t really need to be highlighted in such a way.

[Paddy Pikala · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the subtle descriptions and I loved the whole concept. I loved Ruth as a character, she was perfectly sarcastic, and made me think that this is what I would act like if I woke up in the afterlife.

On the downside, I sometimes felt like things were progressing a little too fast--we discover that Ruby is the chosen one early on and everything happens very fast after that. The story was interesting, but the pace didn't work--we should have a chance to see it unfold slowly. It was rushed through. I think the book would work better as a novel rather than a novella.

Overall, it was pleasant, and I am looking forward to reading more of the author's books and seeing how she progresses as a writer.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Received an e-copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

The idea of an afterlife world was amazing, and the narrative was gripping too. I quite enjoyed the writing - there were a lot of great quotable lines.
The protagonist was very interesting and her reactions to strange situations were fun to read about. I didn't get the character Damen's role though. And his change of behaviour was confusing.
Also, the different chapters felt disconnected and not like a single whole story. But there was great narration and the idea of this mysterious world was amazing.

[V.R. Cardoso · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is maybe a 3.5, but I rounded it up to 4 because it's so imaginative and original.

It's a short read and there is nothing wrong with that. Although there were moments where I felt that the idea was probably better suited to a longer format and there might be some pacing issues related to that.
As I said before, the book's strongest points are the originality of the premise and how imaginative it is. The afterlife concept is wonderful and so are the worlds Ruby visits. One other strong point is the prose. Cabaniss certainly knows her way around words. Unfortunately, the writing falters on the dialogs. This might have to do with the pacing issues I mentioned earlier as some lines do seem a little contrived. You can tell the author is forcing the narrative forward instead of allowing the characters to just be themselves.

All things considered, this is an excellent debut that shows a lot of potential.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw that the author was offering free versions of this book and when I read the blurb it definitely caught my attention. I'm not sure why I didn't request a copy sooner!

This book was short (maybe too short?) but it definitely had an impact. The author was able to vividly describe the main characters surroundings and maybe is easy to visualize what Ruby was going through. The visits in the other worlds seemed short and I felt like they could've been longer. This book is very unique and I thought the best part of it was that I was always in the dark of what was next.
The only thing I would of appreciated was having more of a story on Damen. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I recommend it!

[Karen Barber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for allowing me the chance to read this.
First things first, this seems like a germ of a story that needs some work but there is definitely something here.
I love the idea of Ruby's existence in this afterworld, and the image of the Ferris wheel is intriguing. The depiction of the worlds owes a lot to descriptive writing and, for me, I wanted a little more. Just as I was getting interested in the world Ruby sorted things out and we moved on.
The concept is interesting, but I was a little unclear how the worlds connected (or even if they were meant to) and there seemed to be a lot of influences at work.
Personally, I wanted to know more about Ruby beforehand-and it might have been interesting in her final visit to watch someone so we got a sense of her as a character in relation to those still living.

[Carla Martínez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little book is so magical!
I only wish it was longer, all the worlds, all the backstories possible there.
Endless possibilities!!!

[Mayu · Rating 4 out of 5]

WORLDS WITH RUBY (Ferris Wheel stories # 1)

By C P Cabaniss

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal

SYNOPSIS

When you’re already dead, why should you be afraid?

Ruby died in an accident. But instead of heaven or hell she finds herself in a place unimaginable.......

When dead Ruby finds herself on the edge of a cliff in a land unknown, with an ominous creaking coming from the nearby woods, she is left with no choice but to follow it to its source. Nothing is what it seems and Ruby soon finds herself being whisked away to worlds beyond her imagination. Worlds in need of saving. Along the way, she discovers that in saving these worlds, she is saving herself.

REVIEW

I wish to say no more about the plot than what is written already in the synopsis as l don't want to spoil your read, because it's​ better to go into the book blind and be surprised.

Beginning the review, the first thing I want to do is to praise the author's ability to think, to imagine. How did she come up with this idea? I just don't know. It's so unique, innovative and so unlike any other story that I have ever read. 

Coming to the main character, I loved Ruby's character a lot, she is a strong woman, she faced her enemies bravely, even in the unknown lands, she was not afraid. 

"Fear must be embraced, accepted as natural, but never run from. Never forgotten or locked away. We must overcome it. But in banishing it, we allow it to overcome us."

I think the best part of this novelette was the climax, the end, where it is described that why she didn't die a normal death and went to heaven (or hell) but instead became a traveller, who went to different worlds. Obviously it was not something that l had expected, it was something very unpredictable.

As it is a fantasy read so I can't help myself from commenting on its believability. I found it very much believeable, because who knows what would happen to us after death, this might be true, like we can become a saviour, or a traveller after we die.

Overall I would say Worlds With Ruby has a nice plot, is quite a pageturner, and kept me guessing till the end. So I would like to recommend this book to all fantasy readers and if you are not a fantasy reader, but would like to try one of the fantasy books, then this might be a good option.

LIFE AT 17 RATING:

🎐🎐🎐🎐🔸

(4.5 stars out of 5)

(-0.5 stars because I didn't like Damen, Ruby's​ friend's ,  character that much.)

*Author provided me my book, free of cost with no obligations*

[Travis Bow · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short story was clean escapist fantasy with a little 'lesson' at the end. A lot of the story was description of the worlds Ruby explored, which were kind of fun to imagine but not super interesting beyond being made of different building materials. Ruby herself was emotionless and snarky in a cartoon-heroine sort of way, and although this was kind of explained, it made it hard to like and identify with her much. She was along for the ride, going where she was 'pulled', doing what she suddenly felt she must do, which gave the story a bit of a flat quality.

That said, the moral (overcoming fear while accepting it) was decent and the way things were introduced kept me guessing and eager to find out what was going on.

And the cover is great!

[Myra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short sweet tale that arrests you from the very first page, with vivid imagery and dreamlike worlds. C.P. Cabaniss deserves many more readers and reviews.

This book has been in my TBR for a long time, and I finally started reading it, where I finished it that very same day.

Ruby is definitely a very interesting and vivid character who attracts your attention immediately. Her growth as a person is conveyed well even in such a short story.

Damen is an interesting guy, and I suppose Cabaniss may elaborate more on him in the next installment, and maybe one of the books in her series might even be devoted to him? The character certainly has potential.

Since this is the first book in the series, I appreciate the emphasis on imagery; it attunes you to the world. The world that holds the Ferris Wheel has a dreamlike ethereal quality, and I really liked the descriptions, which is saying a lot - as I don't like it when authors focus more on describing the place than the story. But here, the descriptions were just right and also contributed to the progress of the story.

Can't wait for the next one!

This review was first published at https://ohjustbooks.blogspot.in/2017/...

*A review copy was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review*

[Alyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hello and thank you for allowing me the chance to read your book! I got it for free in exchange for a honest review.
All in all, I enjoyed it. I specifically liked the Paper and Glass world because of how clear and distinctive the descriptions were. Ruby was a nice and funny main character. The visuals were simply amazing especially the paper world. It legitimately gave me chills (which rarely happens to me) when I read that description. Your writing style is very clear and nice, which I always appreciate as an avid reader.
I have a few things I'll mention for constructive criticism. Since this is a novella, some of the back story and specifically the beginning felt a little rushed at first, but that can mainly be attributed towards it being so short a story. Also I think maybe add in more in terms of description would make it that much more effective. That's just my reading preference though- I tend to like long winded descriptions and the like so it's probably just a me thing. Lol.
All in all very enjoyable novella. I will be waiting to see if there will be another chapter in Ruby's story!

[Jo-Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, I'd like to thank the author for giving me the opportunity to read this short novel! It was a quick read, dreamy and escapist and I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially as I got into the story.

At first, I have to admit, it seemed a bit odd and I wasn't sure where it was all going. As the story progressed, I found myself understanding Ruby more. She's a very likeable character, strong, but still with her own internal struggles that she learns to deal with. The story advances, she deals with being a hero and saving other worlds, to examining her own self and her own weaknesses until she is finally ready to move on.

I liked the concept of translucent beings in the afterlife. She was fearless because she had nothing to fear. She was already dead. I liked the worlds she visited, in fact, I would have liked to see her spend more time in these worlds. Maybe in Book 2? We shall see! If you are looking for a quick read that is escapist, entertaining and thoughtful, this book is for you.

I received copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Felicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a delightful little read. The MC, Ruby, was a smart tongued, sharp minded, takes no kind of shit heroine. Reading her little spats with Damen and even a few of the characters she encountered on her way through the worlds was entertaining. She is the type of heroine I like reading about.

The story was extremely short. I really liked the concept of the afterlife Ruby went through. I felt with a little more thought and planning it could have been an enjoyable full length novel.

There was one specific reason I gave the story 4 stars instead of 5. That was because the beginning felt very repetitive to me. I was constantly reminded how Ruby could not feel anything. That she should feel something, physically or emotionally, but that she couldn't. That was the one and only reason this short story got 4 stars from me.

[Soothing Rays · Rating 4 out of 5]

The question of death is eternal and mysterious. What happens when we die is something no one will ever know. Imagination is the only way to even attempt to explain it.

Ruby is dead. But she finds out there is a long journey to make before she can relinquish her hold on her consciousness. Accompanied by 'an angel of darkness' Damen, she travels through a mysterious Ferris wheel to another dimension. But what awaits her there?
What if she has the solution to the problem that is ravaging the glass dimension?
What if she has to give up her life again?
Answering these questions, and on the way giving us great tips for life, the author has created a beautiful fantasy, lush and lovely, where everyone can find some message to take home.

[Dakota Hurlburt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a copy in exchange for a review. This was an odd but stunning story about one take on life after death and finding yourself. The author created surreal worlds that just pull the reader into them in just a few pages. I would recommend for fans of fantasy and/or life after death. I look forward to reading more from the author.

[Addy the Book Bat · Rating 4 out of 5]

**I have received a copy from the author in a giveaway**

Worlds with Ruby is absolutely adorable. It is short, sweet, and easy to read (did not mean to rhyme there). Cabaniss has a way of writing that make it seem dreamlike or even heavenly. The storyline was also very unique. I have yet to hear of another book with a similar plot line.

[Angela Asamoah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this little book

I’ve just finished the first of these three stories and it was so cute. I loved Ruby’s character and in spite of it being a short book I was so pulled in.

I can’t wait to read the next, and I hope Ruby and Damon (think I spelled this wrong) cross paths again.

[Scott Spotson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worlds with Ruby is a gorgeously, elegantly written book with a surprising dollop of age-old philosophy about what it means to live one's life, as explored through metaphors of pure, escapist fantasy.

I really enjoyed it, especially after repeatedly expecting something to happen but then something surprising comes up instead.

The worlds are all different and rich in imagination, wonder, and setting.

The only nagging doubt for me was how old Ruby was. At first, from the dialogue and the perspective, I thought she could be ten or so, but the cover seems to show a teenager. It would be nice if that was cleared up.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, it's only 67 pages but WORLDS WITH RUBY held my interest the whole time. I enjoyed all of the characters but especially Ruby. The story really makes you think about what happens after we die. Lots of twists and turns that always kept me guessing.

[Chad Hoyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

easy fantasy to immerse one’s self

This story is smooth and easy to read, the characters pull you in immediately. There is constantly a sense of mystery and questioning that keeps the reader immersed in the fantasy of it.

[Hayley Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my review in any way and the thoughts expressed are my own.

I loved this book from the first paragraph. I was instantly sucked in and longed to know more about Ruby and the strange world she found herself in. Ruby's character was very relatable and spunky which made her a great protagonist Along her way she makes friends with Damen, a strange boy with glowing green eyes and knowledge about Ruby and her journey. It was interesting how the story is focused on Ruby and her journey through the afterlife, which for her is quite busy.

The story was very unique with plenty of short, action-packed adventure along with an overarching storyline and a great take-home message. Worlds with Ruby was a relatively short read but I couldn't put it down for a second! I really loved this and would definitely recommend it.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75*

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Fear must be embraced, accepted as natural, but never run from. Never forgotten or locked away. We must overcome it. But in banishing it, we allow it to overcome us."

I really, really liked this. In fact, I feel like an entire novel's worth of action was packed into 67 pages. This was a truly delightful story filled with adventure and surprising bits of wisdom.
Writing? fantastic. Characters? loved 'em. World building? Awesome.
My only issue, the length. But let me explain.
When I read novelettes/novellas and I decide I have an issue with the length (as in, it should have been longer), it's one of two reasons. The first, that the story suffers because it's not long enough. The characters don't have time to develop, the plot is too rushed, whatever. The other is that it totally worked at its current length but I really really wish it was longer because I would read the hell out of it if it was a full-length novel. In this case, it is the latter. In fact, I would read the hell out of this if it was a trilogy of full-length novels. It was just so imaginative and utterly original. I don't feel like anything was missing exactly, I just want to spend more time in Ruby's world. Or in her case, her worlds. I'm really looking forward to the next installment, whatever length it happens to be. If you enjoy fantasy, then I absolutely recommend this.



*I received a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.