All posts by skyebjenner

Wick’s End by Joanna Parypinski

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Image result for book cover haunted nights ellen datlow

Title: Wick’s End
Author: Joanna Parypinski
In: Haunted Nights (Lisa Morton & Ellen Datlow)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Demons, Horror, Tricksters
Dates read: 17th November 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Blumhouse
Year: 2017
5th sentence, 74th page: His soul was turned away from the light, and turned away, of course, from that seething pit of terror known as hell, as the devil kept his promise.

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Synopsis

A trade-off of horror stories late on All Hallows Eve. Each one scarier than the last. Each with their own, hidden message.

Thoughts

There is something that is just so… recognisable about telling ghost stories. It doesn’t matter what age or setting, telling tales that are sure to freak out your friends, peers and family is just… well, fun. Which of course meant that there had to be an exchange of ghost stories in a collection of Halloween tales. The fact that it’s an exchange of steadily creepier stories in a bar in the middle of nowhere… well, that had me grinning and clapping my hands like a little ninny.

This is a bit of a trickster tale. After all, the trickster is constantly outwitting and outmanoeuvring his enemies. And often times they are far more powerful than him. Which is what the man in this tale does… but with the devil. And yet, you know, since it’s the devil… that there will be some form of comeuppance at the end. The devil really doesn’t like to be bested, so he’s going to find a way to get his revenge… which creates an amazing cat and mouse story that I’m really disappointed ended so quickly. I mean, I would have loved to continue the cat and mouse game a little longer!

I’ve never understood what is so “cool” about Jack O’Lanterns. Or however you spell it… they’ve always seemed creepy. And I’ve watched rom coms which feature their carving as some romantic moment… ummmm. No thank you! This is a bit of a Jack O’Lantern origins story. One which far better suits my freaked out opinion on them than anything else I’ve read or seen in a long time… they are not cute and cuddly!

 <- A Small Taste of the Old Country ReviewThe Seventeen-Year Itch Review ->

Image source: Amazon

Magic of Thieves by C. Greenwood

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for book cover magic of thieves

Title: Magic of Thieves
Author: C. Greenwood
Series: Legends of Dimmingwood #1
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Fantasy, Young adult
Dates read: 16th – 17th November 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Novel
Publisher: C. Greenwodd
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: Drop the pretense.

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Synopsis

In a province where magic is forbidden and its possessors are murdered by the magickless, young Ilan, born with the powerful gift of her ancestors, has only one hope for survival – concealment. In the shadow of Dimmingwood, she finds temporary protection with a band of forest brigands led by the infamous outlaw Rideon the Red Hand.

But as Ilan matures, learns the skills of survival, and struggles to master the magic of her dying race, danger is always close behind. When old enemies reappear and new friendships lead to betrayal, will the discovery of an enchanted bow be Ilan’s final salvation or her ultimate downfall?

Thoughts

This was a quick, easy read. I didn’t mind it, but I did kind of find Ilan to be a bit of a bitch. She just used and abused so many of the people who love her. And for no good reason. Considering the fact that she loses her parents young, she actually has a fairly good upbringing. And absolutely no reason to strike out at the people she ends up striking out at… there are some people you should be bitter towards. The three people in the world who have always had your best interests at heart… probably not overly necessary to be a cow to them…

Luckily, even though I didn’t love Ilan as a character, I did love the characterisation and the storyline. Normally if I find a character just that irritating I won’t finish the book. And if I do, I don’t want to buy the rest in the series. That wasn’t the case for Magic of Thieves. I’ve already added the next two boos in the series to my wishlist and I’m eagerly awaiting the moment when I have enough money to actually buy them. Just because there is a bit of an anti-hero at the helm, it doesn’t mean I have to DNF a book. Although, it helps that she starts towards a major attitude shift at the end of the book…

I do love that Ilan is a girl who is raised by thieves and brigands. She isn’t raised to be a killer or super tough, in fact, she’s overwhelmingly naïve and weak. Yet, she’s surrounded by this completely new and unique world in which strength and the ability to kill are kind of integral. A great departure from most of the stories in which the young woman is raised in such a scenario. In fact, she acts more like a mascot than anything else to the troop she’s fallen in with.

Having said all of that, this wasn’t a stand out book. I will eventually get round to finish / reading the whole series. But, since they’re such short, easy reads… it’ll probably be when I haven’t read for a while, or finished anything and need a quick reading fix. A bit like the short story collections that I’ve ripped through this year…

 <- Rule of Thieves ReviewBetrayal of Thieves Review ->

Image source: Goodreads

The Haire of the Beast by Donna Andrews

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for wolfsbane and mistletoe book cover

Title: The Haire of the Beast
Author: Donna Andrews
In: Wolfsbane and Mistletoe (Charlaine Harris & Toni L.P. Kelner)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Humour, Urban fantasy
Dates read: 17th November 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Gollancz
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: I tried to keep my tone neutral, but brothers and sisters learn to read each other.

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Synopsis

Revenge is a dish best served cold… or as a plate of brownies! Never mess with an intelligent woman and then give her a book of powerful spells…

Thoughts

Any revenge story is going to make me laugh and smile. I’m just that kind of person… especially when that revenge story is one well deserved, in a dish best served cold. Literally. And if the guy in question is turning a woman’s brother against her? Yup, I was absolutely cackling with glee at the end of this story.

Sadly, I don’t hear many positive stories come out of tales of women in academia… I’m still hoping that this will change. But the fact that a man took advantage of his girlfriend and then proceeded to make her brother think that he was still the bees knees… Yeah, I’d be out looking for revenge too. And the way that the lead in this takes her revenge is quite brilliant, even if she isn’t sure whether or not it will actually work.

I love the idea of a spell to help you become a werewolf. It’s always interesting what mythos is employed for this transformation, and the one used in this was brilliant. Although, I don’t know if I would be so calm about the decisions she makes in the end. Even if I am 100% behind her!

 <- Gift Wrap ReviewLucy, at Christmastime Review ->

Image source: Hachette Australia

Pele’s Tears by Catherine Mulvany

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for the mammoth book of paranormal romance book cover

Title: Pele’s Tears
Author: Catherine Mulvany
In: The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Paranormal romance
Dates read: 16th November 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: She upended the box, staring in despair at battered copies of National Geographic and Scientific American.

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Synopsis

She’s the girl that he fell in love with. And he’s the PI she’s hired to find out what happened to her Grandmother. Will Pele’s Tears give them their happily ever after?

Thoughts

I love that this paranormal romance is partly set in Hawaii. It’s not a common setting for most of the stories that I read…and not only did I love the change, but I also haven’t had the pleasure of being there myself, so it bought to life one of the destinations on my bucket list.

Everyone has that “what if” person in their lives. That person they spend their whole time wondering what would have happened “if”. For some of us, this “what if” isn’t really bittersweet or one that we linger on. Or at least, for me, it certainly isn’t. Yet, this short story is such a tale. Not only is it a “what if” for the current generation in the story, but it’s also one for her grandmother.

Stories of the old gods and goddesses always draw me in completely. The fact that this goddess is all about giving someone a final few days with the love of her life and fixing up things so that the future is better… well, I can understand the sacrifice of Pele’s Tears…

 <- Night Vision ReviewPack Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Roadside Rescue by Pat Cadigan

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for alien sex book cover

Title: Roadside Rescue
Author: Pat Cadigan
In: Alien Sex (Ellen Datlow)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Aliens, Lust
Dates read: 16th November 2019
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: ROC
Year: 1990
5th sentence, 74th page: We scared it, he thought, horrified.

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Synopsis

Broken down by the side of the road, a strange being decides to help him. But what he is asked for in return is a little… uncomfortable…

Thoughts

At first I thought this story wasn’t such a ridiculously uncomfortable tale… especially considering that it’s in the Alien Sex collection. And then, when I stopped reading and actually thought about it… I kind of realised that it’s probably one of the more uncomfortable stories that I’ve read so far. Because it’s subtle. And you don’t quite realise how sick it is until you finish it and move onto something… dare I say it, more “normal”.

Having said that, it’s probably one of my favourite Alien Sex short stories so far. It highlights that we all have our very different and unique sexual proclivities. That we all have the things that we find super exciting, and if you find a willing (and I stress willing here) partner, then it’s totally fine. This short story didn’t really have a willing partner. But then, he was only mildly violated (I never thought that I’d write that sentence in such a blasé manner).

All in all, I enjoyed this story. But I also finished it and sat there seriously questioning my responses to it. And wondering if there are parts of my own sex life that would make people sit there and go “huh”? (I’ll never know, because it’s not something I tend to discuss in intricate detail… but still).

 <- Dancing Chickens ReviewOmnisexual Review ->
Image source: Amazon

A Small Taste of the Old Country by Jonathan Maberry

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for book cover haunted nights ellen datlow

Title: A Small Taste of the Old Country
Author: Jonathan Maberry
In: Haunted Nights (Lisa Morton & Ellen Datlow)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Horror, Urban fantasy
Dates read: 15th November 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Blumhouse
Year: 2017
5th sentence, 74th page: “Maybe she did,” said Becker.

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Synopsis

At All Hallows Eve, the presence of the past likes to linger and haunt us. It reminds us that we are not alone in this world…

Thoughts

This was another of those stories that I just kept having random thoughts on while reading it. The dot points and tired delirium of my notes are far more entertaining than any sentences that I could turn them into… so here they are in all their slightly unusual glory…

  • That’s it, the baker is evil. Pg. 2
  • There is an obsession with Austrian and German descent… I’ve missed something here. Pg. 4
    • But they’re Argentinian? Sure, sure. That MUST be similar.
  • Now there’s talk of dead people and honouring them. Pg. 7
    • Little random, but the true meaning of All Hallows Eve is being shared and explained
  • Pretty beads
  • Very, very love the Halloween adherence to actual traditions
  • Creepy, death and fun!
  • No religion butt head!!!

Not entirely sure where the final comment came from, but I certainly enjoyed this little adventure.

 <- Dirtmouth ReviewWick’s End Review ->

Image source: Amazon

Looking After Family by Carrie Vaughn

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Image result for kittys' greatest hits book cover

Title: Looking After Family
Author: Carrie Vaughn
Series: Kitty Norville #0.6
In: Kitty’s Greatest Hits (Carrie Vaughn)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal fantasy, Urban fantasy, Werewolves
Dates read: 15th November 2019
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Tor
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: The moonlit world was bright, but a kind of filtered brightness.

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Synopsis

Cormac managed to avenge his father’s death. But, he doesn’t think he’s quite done yet. When his younger cousin Bill follows him into the darkness, he realises that he may just have to readjust his priorities.

Thoughts

As a pre-story to a series about a woman who is a werewolf, I was kind of surprised to find a story about a young werewolf hunter. One that starts with the boy killing a werewolf in revenge for his father’s death and continues with his journey for revenge. Yet, I’m pretty sure that this is an origins story, one that will make a lot more sense when I meet Cormac and Bill in the full-length novels.

Bill and Cormac are a fantastic pair of cousins. Like two sides of the same coin – one is a tough, no nonsense, serious boy. The other is kind of needy, wants to impress his older cousin and show that he’s made of sterner stuff. Yet, it is ultimately this difference in personality and relationship that saves both boys – their differences and ability to accept each other that gives Cormac a chance to move on from his father’s death and live his life.

This story really asks – when is someone actually a monster? Is it just because they can kill you? Or because they do? I wonder how Cormac will answer this question as the series unfolds…

 <- The Temptation of Robin Green ReviewWild Ride Review ->
Image source: Amazon

The Inventions, Researches, and Writings of Nikola Tesla by Nikola Tesla

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Image result for book cover inventions, researches and writing of nikola tesla

Title: The Inventions, Researches, and Writings of Nikola Tesla
Author: Nikola Tesla
Series: Barnes & Noble Leatherbound
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, History, Non-fiction, Science
Dates read: 16th October – 15th November 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Non-fictional text
Publisher: Barnes & Noble Leatherbound
Year: 1995
5th sentence, 74th page: Fig. 61 is a vertical cross-section of the motor.

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Synopsis

The Inventions, Researches and Writings of Nikola Tesla is the definitive record of the pioneering work of one of the modern world’s most groundbreaking inventors. During the early twentieth century, Nikola Tesla blazed the trail that electrical technology would follow for decades afterward. Although he pioneered inventions like alternating current (AC), radio, wireless transmission, and X-rays, and worked with innovators like George Westinghouse and Thomas Edison, the once celebrated Tesla was later largely forgotten by history. With illustrations and diagrams of many of Tesla’s early patents and inventions, as well as dozens of thought-provoking lectures and articles, this volume offers a rare glimpse of a true genius at work.

The Inventions, Researches and Writings of Nikola Tesla is one of Barnes & Noble’s Collectible Editions classics. Each volume features authoritative texts by the world’s greatest authors in an exquisitely designed bonded-leather binding, with distinctive gilt edging and an attractive silk-ribbon bookmark. Decorative, durable, and collectible, these books offer hours of pleasure to readers young and old and are an indispensible cornerstone for every home library.

Thoughts

This was an interesting, fun and open read. I mostly bought it because I needed it to complete a reading challenge, and well, the cover was really, really pretty. What I didn’t expect was that I would enjoy this adventure so much… after all, it’s been quite a while since I picked up anything physics-related.

Physics is an incredibly intense and fun subject – one that I’m kind of realising I miss a bit. This book explains that fact really well – not only is the use of electricity really intricate and intense, but this collection actually manages to explain it in a really fascinating way. And accessible… you don’t need a physics degree to understand what discoveries and creations Tesla came up with. The diagrams also go a long way to helping you understand exactly what engines, power sources and discoveries he made.

I did really enjoy the biographical aspects of Tesla’s life throughout this as well. Although it was very science-heavy, there was just enough of the personal to keep even the least scientifically-minded person engaged. So, not only did I learn a lot about what the actual discoveries, researches and inventions of Tesla were, I also learnt quite a bit about his personal journey and life in his obsession with electricity.

 <- Dracula and Other Horror Stories ReviewBeauty and the Beast and Other Classic Fairy Tales Review ->

Image source: BookDepository

They All Love Jack by Nick Sweet

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for the mammoth book of jack the ripper stories book cover

Title: They All Love Jack
Author: Nick Sweet
In: The Mammoth Book of Jack the Ripper Stories (Maxim Jakubowski)
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Crime, Mental health
Dates read: 15th November 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: Indeed, I am sure a psychiatrist would argue that all of the business I underwent with Sally – and that Sally underwent with me and my parents – must have something to do with my lust for killing whores…

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Synopsis

Everyone loves Jack. Or at least, that’s what he thinks as he shares his adventures and journey. Steadily becoming more and more unhinged as time goes on.

Thoughts

This short story is a little overwhelmingly scary – it’s all written from the point of view of Jack. And it starts out kind of normal. You’re not entirely sure if this is actually jack, or someone who is trying to get into his headspace… but then it becomes steadily more and more unhinged. And scary. And intense. And just downright crazy. Like I said, steadily more and more unhinged.

I did really enjoy the psychopathic wordplay throughout. It reminded me a little of the Jack letters, made his psychopathy all the scarier and was just thoroughly enjoyable. If not, as I said, a little terrifying. There is something that’s unsettling about reading a story from a first person point of view as they slowly descend into madness…

There are a lot of theories as to why people commit murders – the motives behind Jack the Ripper. This one firmly sits in the camp of previous sexual abuse… by the mother. And on that charming note, I’ll leave you at that. Because, quite honestly, ew.

 <- The Ballad of Kate Eddowes ReviewMonkeys Review ->
Image source: Amazon

Dirtmouth by Stephen Graham Jones

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for book cover haunted nights ellen datlow

Title: Dirtmouth
Author: Stephen Graham Jones
In: Haunted Nights (Lisa Morton & Ellen Datlow)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Family, Horror
Dates read: 15th November 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Blumhouse
Year: 2017
5th sentence, 74th page: It wouldn’t be a lost hunter, either, unless that hunter was really lost; rifle season had closed ten days earlier.

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Synopsis

A little over a year ago he lost his wife. On a pilgrimage to the mountains that took her life, he loses both of his children. But the way in which he loses them will only happen on a dark Halloween night…

Thoughts

One of my biggest rants around Halloween is the fact that a) we’re not American. And b) most people don’t understand the roots of the festival. This short story does address those roots. After all, Halloween (or All Hallows Eve) is the night of the year in which the barriers between worlds fall. Most of the stories I read that feature this ideal are kind of sweet – definitely filled with hope and connections with the past… this isn’t such a nice story, but I love that it connects the spirit world with the living one.

The narrative voice of this story is absolutely amazing. It is funny, witty and not one that I’m likely to forget at any time soon. It took me a little while to realise exactly what was happening… but once I realised that the man who is telling the story was trying to explain what happened to a cop. It just became brilliant. Although, once you finish it, the cheer, hope and good humour with which this story is told – that becomes a little bit creepy… after all, he’s recounting the death of his wife and the loss of his children.

There are many tales of the power of a mother’s love. Normally I find them kind of sweet and cheerful. Not so much when that love means a weird zombie coming back from the dead, visiting her children and just generally wreaking havoc on the world. Talk about a horror story!

 <- With Graveyard Weeds and Wolfsbane Seeds ReviewA Small Taste of the Old Country Review ->

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