“Set in an alternate reality that mirrors our current society in all the wrong ways, this book is fast-paced and interesting.”

-Kimberly Brumley, Reedsy Discovery reviewer

Let Us Sleep Now

In an alternate future where the controversial one-child policy has spread into a global phenomenon, the Southern metropolis of Arish, Tennessee has become a battleground for various groups warring over its legitimacy.

Alexis Bedinger is a rookie officer on the Population Control Task Force who believes it is every citizen’s moral duty to plan their family accordingly—but after an unarmed man is killed during a routine house raid, tensions rise with a public outcry for justice.

Myra Gillespie’s family was torn apart by the One-Child Law. She has joined the United Front for Reproductive Freedom (UFRF) to peacefully protest it, but as events escalate she has to decide just how far she is willing to go for the cause.

All the while, the Revenants of the Confederacy, a terrorist organization longing for the glory days of Southern independence, are planning their retaliation . . .

Editorial Review

Set in an alternate reality that mirrors our current society in all the wrong ways, this book is fast-paced and interesting.

Stop me if you’ve heard this one. While a failing government takes over reproductive rights, the oblivious wealthy treat themselves to lavish vacations to escape reality and the poor do the same using whatever meager technology they can acquire. Let Us Sleep Now by Jesse Muchmore is set in a dystopian future that alarmingly mirrors current events.

Told from the perspective of several intertwined characters, these storylines eventually merge to create a picture of resistance and strong people that fight for their beliefs. These characters range from Alexis, who is a newly graduated Population Control Officer to Myra who grew up in the foster system after her family was ripped apart because of the one-child law.  Alexis believes irresponsible breeding has had catastrophic consequences and will lead to the destruction of humanity. Myra is part of a civil rights activist group and tries to intercept raids on families with multiple children so that families can grow together as they choose.

Although the large cast of characters is daunting at first, the storylines tie together quite tidily early on. Each main character is well developed, as are their backstories and motivations. This story checks all the boxes for a good, fictional, dystopian novel: characters acting through their own strong sense of morality, political extremists, those that would take advantage of the situation using religion, and those that they ensnare.

While I wouldn’t categorize this novel as “light reading” by any means, it is a good standalone novel that fits nicely into the dystopian genre. Anyone who enjoys speculating about the bleaker possible futures of mankind or any other dystopian trope is sure to enjoy this novel.

-Kimberly Brumley, Reedsy Discovery reviewer

“Muchmore captivates with a kaleidoscope of worlds and characters whilst indulging several genres; science fiction, fantasy and thriller.”

 -Kristiana Reed, Reedsy Discovery reviewer & editor of Free Verse Revolution literary magazine

Black Flowers

Many people think they know the South; the genteel hospitality, old fashioned values, and life lived at a slower pace. But there is another South, a stranger one unknown to outsiders, brimming just beneath the surface.

These stories explore that hidden world-within-a-world. A bizarre, distorted, fun-house mirror reflection of the culture you thought you knew.

A young biracial boy in the 1950s deals with cultural hostilities, a punk rocker faces down a two-thousand-year-old cult, a widowed man has an unusual identity crisis, and a Native American girl discovers enchanted woods through a doorway in her grandmother’s garden.

Welcome to the Weird South.

Editorial Review

Muchmore captivates with a kaleidoscope of worlds and characters whilst indulging several genres; science fiction, fantasy and thriller.

There is no denying Muchmore can write, and write within a variety of genres. When I first began reading Black Flowers I was looking for something which moved through the poems and short stories; the religious allusions, the appearance of the devil and the evil of mankind. Yet, I soon realised it is Muchmore's talent for writing and his imagination which weaves these pieces together.

Some stand out more than others; 'To Kiss the Devil Goodnight', 'Woman' and 'Coda', which all explore humanity, our choices and the chances we are given, what it means to live and how easily lives are cut short. Whilst 'The Doorway in the Garden', my personal favourite, is absolutely magical. It is a story which celebrates family and ethnic origins, as well as delicately handling a child's struggle with death and grief.

By the end, I wished Muchmore's collection wouldn't end. Each story was different, original and tackled a new angle of humanity and society. Thus, despite my reservations at the beginning, this collection grows in strength the further on you read; soon you become captivated by the real and other worlds Muchmore portrays, and wrapped up in his kaleidoscope of characters. It truly was a pleasure to read.

-Kristiana Reed, Reedsy Discovery reviewer and editor of Free Verse Revolution literary magazine

Customer Reviews

An intriguing work of art that can be read again and again….

Black Flowers takes the reader on a journey through multiple decades, into worlds that make you question the "status quo." Muchmore's collection of interrelated short stories and biting poems open up the world to a dialogue about good vs evil, tradition vs. Reality. He tactfully yet honestly examines a southern upbringing and existence from multiple points of view. I enjoyed growing as a person from reading the many tales of seemingly usual characters from viewpoints I had never considered. READER BEWARE: this is a page turner ! Muchmore somehow finds a way to Also implement sci-fi into this work. It's a must-read!

-Louise, Amazon customer

Brilliant read! Can’t wait to see more of his work

Jesse Muchmore’s first book is very promising. The short stories and poems are somehow connected, not by characters (although there are a few cameos) and events, but by an underlying theme of race and religion (and a dash of sci-fi). I love that he takes on these with subtlety. Each story is a page turner, although I find The Doorway in the Garden and Coda to be my favorites. Overall, great read. I’m excited to see more of his work!

-Janine, Amazon customer

Enthralling!

The author masterfully slides you into a world of love, religion, race relations and history with a horror/sci-fi twist. Each story pulls you in further than the last. I thoroughly enjoyed "To Kiss The Devil Goodnight" and "Pulp Mythology" but my favorite is "The Gift". I can't wait to see what else the author has to offer.

-Kelsey Parker, Amazon customer

Great Read!

Muchmore uses the south as a canvas to develop a compilation of eclectic stories, written in a provoking and unapologetic style, that will take the reader for a surreal walk through some of the most hidden corners of the human experience. Highly recommended!

-Gonzalo, Amazon customer

Entertaining and thought-provoking

This book is a great collection of intriguing stories that immediately draw you in and really challenge your perspective of things and your sense of morality.

-Tanya, Amazon customer