In Crypted Bits, readers are invited into a neighborhood unlike any other. It’s a fantastical realm where creatures of myth and legend live side by side. Here, beings of different species coexist in a fragile harmony, often clashing but mostly managing to get along. That balance, however, begins to shift when humans start moving in. The gentrification of the Fairy District is underway, and with it comes an inevitable upheaval. What was once a peculiar but peaceful community is now facing change that will ripple through its very core. Opening the pages of this novel is like stepping into an enchanted world populated by unforgettable characters, each with their own unique story. The narrative feels like a rich mosaic where reality and fantasy intertwine, creating something fresh, strange, and delightful. Jess Simms draws the reader into a world that is both familiar and otherworldly, reminiscent of Neil Gaiman’s urban fantasy or the whimsical mischief of Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl series.

Rather than following a linear plot, Crypted Bits unfolds as a series of vignettes or episodic misadventures, each offering glimpses into the lives of the district’s residents. The narrative has a tendency to fragment and drift off in unexpected directions, which can be disorienting, but I found it captivating overall.

Simms deftly employs an array of literary techniques to build the Fairy District into a fully realized setting. Advertisements, listicles, social media posts, and news articles all serve as windows into this world, giving the reader a multifaceted view of a community where cryptids (mythical creatures from every corner of folklore) struggle to coexist both with each other and with the encroaching human population. Conflict arises, of course, but it’s handled with wit and charm rather than violence. The struggles of the district’s inhabitants, while real, never feel too heavy. Instead, they are infused with a whimsical energy that makes even the challenges feel endearing. There’s a certain magic to the way life in the Fairy District unfolds, and Simms invites the reader to experience it in all its quirky glory.

I think Crypted Bits isn’t meant to be a straightforward story. Instead, it’s an immersive experience, one that allows readers to wander through its dreamlike landscape, discovering new surprises at every turn. Jess Simms has crafted a world that is a joy to explore, and while the novel may be brief, the spell it casts lingers long after the final page is turned.

Pages: 76 | ASIN : B0CRGK4NJR