Sideswiped
The Peri Reed Chronicles #0.5
by Kim Harrison
Why You'll Love This
If you've ever wanted to meet a character before the world knows her name, this is that rare chance.
- Great if you want: a sharp origin story before diving into a full trilogy
- The experience: fast, tightly wound — reads in a single focused sitting
- The writing: Harrison builds tension through layered character dynamics, not exposition
- Skip if: you want a standalone story — this is an appetizer, not a meal
About This Book
In the high-stakes world of government operatives and temporal manipulation, everyone starts somewhere. Sideswiped pulls back the curtain on Peri Reed's world before the action of The Drafter begins, centering on Silas and a dangerous situation that tests both his unorthodox theories and his survival instincts. The stakes are personal and immediate — a grudge, a threat, and the unsettling question of whether even the ability to erase mistakes can save you when the wrong person decides you're a problem worth eliminating.
At seventy-three pages, this is a tight, purposeful piece of storytelling that earns every word. Harrison writes with the same propulsive confidence that defines her longer work — clean dialogue, a world that feels textured without being over-explained, and characters whose inner lives register clearly even within a compressed format. It functions equally well as an entry point for new readers and as added dimension for those already invested in the series. Short fiction rarely feels this complete, and Harrison uses the brevity to sharpen rather than limit the story's emotional punch.
