When Colors Bleed - Estevan Vega

WHEN COLORS BLEED is a collection of short stories by the author of ARSON. This collection features three unique stories with universal themes of love, loss, and regret. Watch the colors bleed.

(Synopsis taken from goodreads.)

Title: When Colors Bleed

Author: Estevan Vega

Genre: Adult Fiction, Young Adult,

Publisher: Estevan Vega

Publication Date: March 7, 2011

Format: E-book

Source: Received from author. Many thanks goes to Estevan Vega for sending me a copy of this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review. 

Look for it: Amazon Kindle, Nook, Smashwords.

My rating: 4/5

When Colors Bleed is a compilation of three short stories by Arson author, Estevan Vega. The stories included are, Baby Blue, Vanilla Red, and The Man in the Colored Room. Each tale features the main character questioning themselves and their surroundings. The themes and emotions portrayed throughout are those of love, loss, and regret. It's up to you to see what colour is bleeding through each page. 

Baby Blue gives us the story of a 23-year-old girl, Casey, who is working in a department store. She forms an unusual relationship with one of the men who frequents her workplace establishment. 

Vanilla Red chronicles the madcap world of a nameless character who is locked in Block C. His  reasoning or lack thereof entice the reader in to see what truth he brings to his bizarre and twisted story. 

The Man in the Colored Room brings us to the concluding story. It follows the foibles and recollections of a man, Colin, who finds himself placed in an architecturally perfect room. When he finds that he is no longer alone in the room, his questions, and new reality dawn on him, and the reader.

Vega has this smoky yet soulful quality to his writing voice that draws the reader in to his work. It perfectly complements the story as it unfolds. All three of these short stories are compelling, and they question the reader in various ways. The pattern to each story has this rhythm and blues feel, and it really makes this an enjoyable read. Each character questions their situations, though some seem perfectly comfortable in the skin they are in. Others want more from the life they are living. Regardless of the outcome, they all are realistic individuals. 

All in all, these stories only whet the appetite for more from Vega. This is the perfect addition to any library. I know I'll be waiting impatiently for Vega's next body of work, be it another short story compilation or the follow-up to Arson. Vega is one to watch.