Morrie is not your average godfather. And he’s not one that you should cross… until David finds a way.
This story seriously made me think about a Discworld novel. I THINK it was Mort. The personification of death, his presence in a young man’s life and just the general humour which comes with such a story. Alright, it also painted death as somewhat cruel and petty. But mostly, I really enjoyed the light humour which wove it’s way through this short story.
I vaguely remember the original fairy tale upon which this short story was based. And I’m fairly positive it didn’t have the same happy ending that this one had. Instead of being a horrible, cruel ending… there was a nice sense of life coming full circle and the happiness of family being completed. I actually really liked that this had a happier ending… it was a nice change to some of the other fairy tales in the Black Thorn, White Rose collection.
This short story is about death, life and, sometimes risking it all because you love someone. It’s a good short story that left me feeling happy and complete at the end of the story. I actually kind of loved this tale, and the more I think about it, the more I love it.
Title: Jenny Come to Play Author: Terry Dowling In: The Monstrous (Ellen Datlow) Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Horror Dates read: 17th May 2020 Pace: Medium Format: Short story Publisher: Tachyon Year: 2015 5th sentence, 74th page: He told Angela to have one of the staff bring Ms. Haniver through at once.
Julia is in an institute after checking herself in. When her sister starts leaving her little gifts, her mysterious, dark past comes to life… and death.
So this story got super creepy super quick. Like super, super, extra uncomfortable creepy. From zero to one hundred in no time at all. Seriously not okay. Seriously uncomfortable. But really, really good and impossible to forget.
I find it very interesting (in a disturbing way) that conjoined twins tend to feature pretty heavily in the more uncomfortable stories. This one is just way, way creepier than most of the stories I’ve read that feature this sense of discomfort. So dramatically creepy that I’m still thinking about it long after I turned that final page… plus, there’s also a mental institution, which just adds another layer of discomfort…
I wouldn’t suggest reading this short story if you’re about to spend some time with twins. I have twin friends that I really like. I don’t necessarily want to hang out with them immediately after reading this… there was just a whole new level of creepy… with the maze and the twins and the hypnosis…
Title: Reaching One Thousand Author: Rachel Robertson Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Australian authors, Family, Mental health Dates read: 15th – 16th May 2020 Pace: Slow Format: Novel Publisher: Black Inc. Year: 2012 5th sentence, 74th page: We didn’t know why or what he felt, just that he seemed to need constant distractions, constant holding.
When Ben is a baby, Rachel puts his quirks down to eccentricity. He likes to count letterboxes; he hates to get his hands dirty; loud noises make him anxious. But as Ben grows and his behaviour becomes more pronounced, it becomes clear there is something else going on. When he is diagnosed with autism, Rachel must reconsider everything she thought she knew about parenting, about Ben, and about how best to mother him.
Reaching One Thousand charts her quest to understand autism and to build a new kind of relationship with her son. Along the way she explores her own childhood, discovering unexpected links between Ben’s experiences and her own. before she can presume to tell Ben’s story, she realises, she must face difficult questions – questions about intimacy, trust, and what it means for a mother to write about her child.
Exquisitely written, this is a thought-provoking story about family and understanding, and a tender love letter from a mother to her son.
This is one of those books I bought as an impulse because it was on sale. It looked interesting, but I didn’t really think that much more about it. Until I picked it up. It has now moved up to my favourites list. This is a book that I’ll read again and again. A book that had me laughing at points, feeling uncomfortable, sympathetic, enlightened… so many emotions. There is just something amazing not only about Robertson’s writing, but also the story she tells and the way she tells it.
The writing style of this novel is quite unique. There is no real linear narrative, and even the chapters, whilst they have an overarching theme, tend to have multiple little anecdotes throughout. Which all lead to the same conclusion. I loved this different style of writing. It wasn’t something that I come across everyday, and the different way of telling the story highlighted the fact that this is real life. There isn’t a sense of disconnect, and yet connection between the different aspects of life with an autistic son.
What I seriously loved most about this novel is that although Robertson has had issues in the past of facing up to the fact that her son is not neurotypical, she is also so open minded. She finds all of the positives and moments that are uniquely special to her child. She points out that he really doesn’t need to be changed or made into a more neurotypical form… that his very uniqueness is what makes him so precious. And special. And unique. And just plain wonderful.
There aren’t many books that are truly life changing. That make you seriously look at the world and reconfigure what you think about it. This is one of those stories. It makes you stop and look at those who aren’t quite “normal” in a totally different light. Makes you realise that our systems and the way we think about learning and people really isn’t necessarily correct. And that there is beauty in difference. Beauty in what we don’t understand. The fact that I related a little too much to some of Ben’s difficulties just made me love this book all that much more…
After the tumultous occurrences of Mercy Blade, Jane and Bruiser once again unite for a job. And a little dancing.
I have some seriously mixed feelings about Bruiser and Jane ending up together. Mostly, I think that I don’t want it to happen. I have too much of an attachment to Rick. But, there is this great chemistry between them. And reading short stories like Dance Master which tell things from Bruiser’s point of view… then I start to feel a little more inclined towards their eventual relationship. I still prefer Rick, but that may change as the series evolves…
Jane’s love of dancing helps to give her a slightly more vulnerable aspect to her personality. Something that is fun and not all about killing. Even in the middle of this short story, when she is hunting down a rogue, there is still the time to dance. The fact that it also involves a bit of a romantic / seductive moment with Bruiser just ties in everything quite nicely.
Honestly, there isn’t anything ground shaking that occurs in this short story. Rather, it just sets the scene for the continuation of the flirtation between Bruiser and Jane. Or at least, that’s how I’m reading this short story at the moment… I need to actually read Raven Cursed first and see if my hunch is correct. I’m pretty sure that Jane and Bruiser are going to get together soon though…
Rick is suffering. Experiencing his first change and feeling noodles of guilt over his betrayal of Jane. But what if she’s the only one who can save him?
At the end of Mercy Blade, I was honestly a little bit disappointed and frustrated. It ended on such a cliff hanger and I seriously wasn’t impressed. Plus, I couldn’t get up to get this short story or the next novel in the series because I had my very big, very cuddly dog on my lap… but then I got the chance to read this… and I was so very, very happy!
This short story luckily gave me all sorts of closure from the feeling of loss that I experienced at the end of Mercy Blade. Not only was it able to provide a little more information on one of Jane’s ruined relationships, but it also provided a hint as to her feelings towards Rick. The depth of them anyway. They’re kind of obvious throughout Mercy Blade, but it was nice to have that little bit of extra confirmation…
This is a great short story that gives a little extra closure from the previous novel. There are still so many questions and I still have this need to know more about what happens in the future. But overall, it did help to just give that extra piece of closure that I was otherwise missing. And now I will dig through my piles of books and start on Raven Cursed.
Title: Mercy Blade Author: Faith Hunter Series: Jane Yellowrock #3 Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Animagus, Dark fantasy, Strong women Dates read: 12th – 16th May 2020 Pace: Fast Format: Novel Publisher: Roc Year: 2011 5th sentence, 74th page: He stopped right at the edge of saying we indulged in kinky sex, but I could see the thought in his eyes, appraising, looking over my clothes.
Jane Yellowrock is a shape-shifting skinwalker – and a vampire killer for hire. But lately she’s found herwelf taking bloo money from the very vampires she used to hunt…
Things are heating up in the Big Easy. Weres have announced their existence to the world, and reviewed the bitter tensions that run between them and their old enemies: vampires. As a trusted employee of Leo Pellissier, Blood Master of the City, Jane finds herself caught in the cross fire.
When Jane is attacked by a pack of marauding werewolves, she is thankful for the help of a mysterious stranger named Girrard. He explains that he used to be Leo’s “Mercy Blade”, a sacred position charged with killing vampires who have gone insane. What Jane doesn’t know is why this powerful assassin left New Orleans – or, more troubling, why he’s now returned. It’s definitely not to make Jane’s life easier…
I did start this book like two years ago. And then I got distracted and it ended up back on my shelf. Now I’m not entirely sure why I did that. This was a great story. And now I’m remembering why I started buying up all the Jane Yellowrock books as soon as I read the first short story. Not entirely sure why I took such a long pause between reading the second and third book though… I’ll try not to make that mistake again.
The ending of this novel is kind of heartbreaking if I’m being honest. Rick and Jane are put through the absolute ringer throughout this novel and I don’t know if they have much hope for the future. Yes, Bruiser is still hanging around for a romantic entanglement, but I definitely prefer Rick and really hope that things get sorted. The ending of this is such a damn cliff-hanger on ALL relationships, so I seriously can’t wait to read Raven Cursed.
A whole new series of supernatural beings are introduced in this novel, and, that, partnered with Jane remembering more of her past alone makes it impossible to put down. But, of course, that’s not all there is to it… there are insane politics, vendettas and a multitude of entanglements that leave you somewhat reeling at the end of this story. And, as always, not everything is as it seems. There are wonderful little twists throughout that make you hope for the happily ever after that you just don’t quite get in this novel.
The more I read this series, the more I love the intricacies of politics and inter-species relationships throughout this whole world that Hunter has created. The use of a character as a way to reduce madness is something that I didn’t anticipate, but it worked incredibly well. Adding an extra unexpected, layer of world building that I think will continue to develop as the stories in this series progress.
Title: Persephone, or Why the Winters Seems to be Getting Longer Author: Wendy Froud In: Sirens and Other Daemon Lovers (Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling) Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect) My Bookshelves:Lust, Mythology, Romance Dates read: 16th May 2020 Pace: Fast Format: Short story Publisher: EOS Year: 1998 5th sentence, 74th page: I need to see him.
Persephone is enjoying her husband a little too much… so the winters just keep getting longer and longer as she enjoys herself more and more.
For two pages of writing, this was actually quite intense. Very lustful, very emotional and seriously filled with some great imagery. Honestly, not what I was expecting at all from the title. And definitely not the intensity I was expecting from just two pages.
Although this is a lustful short story, it also made me hungry. The symbolism of pomegranates was rampant throughout this. And I really, really like pomegranates… Froud’s ability to describe pomegranates in such a beautiful, ruby red way was great… and seriously made me hungry.
There are so many different takes on the Hades and Persephone myth in the books that I read. Some are dark, some are about star-crossed lovers. I like that this was all about sexuality and lust. After all, the original Greek myths were more about that than anything else…
Title: Bad Penny Author: B.M. Bower In: The Mammoth Book of Westerns (Jon E. Lewis) Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this) My Bookshelves:Westerns Dates read: 16th May 2020 Pace: Fast Format: Short story Publisher: Robinson Year: 2013 5th sentence, 74th page: Never twice in the same setting, flitting like huge birds over the range to alight where water and feed were best, those two tents were home to the Flying U boys – a welcome sight when a long day’s work was done.
Penny is just plain bad. Bad at his job. Bad at thinking. Bad at being on the trail. So what happens next?
This is definitely my favourite western short story so far. It was a little bit funny, and featured a man who is somewhat of a moron. And, as morons do… makes everything go wrong that could possibly go wrong. It just had that nice little extra sense of humour in it that I seriously appreciated.
Cattle rustling is kind of an iconic moment in the mythos of westerns. Or really, anything to do with cowboys and cattle. It doesn’t have to be illegal. Partner that with a moron, a stampeded and some whiskey… it was a good way to journey through this short story.
What was more, this was a short story with a bit of a surprise ending. It wasn’t what I expected… but it was certainly a great ending.
They’re a surprising music group. One which will take all of the competitors by surprise.
I didn’t get hugely into this short story, but it was quaintly enjoyable. There was just something about it that felt comfortable and familiar. Although, I’m still not quite sure which fairy tale this was based on…
I love the idea of the saw boys as musicians. That the underdogs and those whom are generally considered as “tough” are the men who make some really nice music and ?I think? win the day. Like I said, I didn’t hugely get into this story, so it’s hard to recall the details when I’m writing this review.
As a short, nice little break from life. This is a great break. As something that I will read again. Maybe not. It’s the kind of story that you enjoy while reading it, but don’t really remember afterwards. And honesty, there is nothing wrong with that.
Title: Doll Hands Author: Adam L.G. Nevill In: The Monstrous (Ellen Datlow) Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect) My Bookshelves:Horror Dates read: 15th May 2020 Pace: Medium Format: Short story Publisher: Tachyon Year: 2015 5th sentence, 74th page: Gemima is the tiny woman who wears rubber sandals and who never speaks.
He has doll hands and everyone thinks that he’s weak. But the reality is so much darker.
Reading this short story, I had a somewhat weird image of a little, bulbous headed horror running around. Killing people. I don’t think that that is an inaccurate image. But it’s certainly not a super fun and exciting one. It’s certainly not one that you want in your mind’s eye just before you go to sleep at night…
Even though I can’t quite feel okay about the narrator of this story, he kind of reminded me a little of a sick and twisted and malformed Dexter. The kill described in this short story is definitely done because of a gross misjustice. But it’s also done because Doll Hands likes to kill. Which leaves some very, very mixed feelings at the completion of this short story. Feelings that still feel very mixed, long after I have turned the final page.
I absolutely adored the creepy nature of this story. The idea that the deformed person that is often overlooked is the one who should really be watched much, much closer. But, most of all, I loved that it ended with what I’m sure would be another death. A creepy character in a creepy little world. Such a great story to give you goosebumps.
Earth and Skye 