Title: Cat of the World Author: Michael Cadnum In: The Coyote Road (Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling) Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Comedy, Tricksters Dates read: 28th June 2019 Pace: Medium Format: Short story Publisher: Firebird Fantasy Year: 2007 5th sentence, 74th page: While I first set paw upon sand in the Egypt of the Ancients, I have travelled the world.
The cat is in the bag… literally. But this cat has some sharp teeth and his captors are about to face more than they bargained for.
Cats are tricky, difficult and irritating creatures. They always
have been. They’re also kind of fun, but, mostly irritating and tricky. Which means
that it makes perfect sense to have a feline creature in a collection of trickster
stories. I also love that although it is a cat trickster with extra powers,
it’s not quite god-like and not quite mortal… but a glorious, contrary mix of
something in between.
This entire tale was quick, quirky and filled with the sassy
language that I’m sure a cat would use, if he could talk. It was a lot of fun.
And, considering I was reading it will feeling the after-effects of a migraine,
it was a nice, easy, happy read. Although I’m not really a cat person, and am,
in fact, allergic, I do love tales of these insane creatures. There is
something so fun, capricious and contrary about the silly creatures. Something
which speaks to me on a personal level.
Many tales of tricksters involve a wit defeating another
wit. Yet, this wasn’t quite like that… the cat is kind of witty. The foes he
went up against though… not so witty. Which of course, makes it even funnier
and more enjoyable.
Harry Dresden investigates how to lift a curse laid by the Fair Folk on the Chicago Cubs.
Baseball isn’t
really my thing. Nor is it something that I’ve ever understood. Probably has
something to do with being Australian and not really having many baseball
players in the vicinity. But I still know that the Cubs are quite famous for
not winning and having a loyal fan base. It seems to come up a lot in American
TV, movies and books…
I love that this
short story takes something that is so large in popular culture and gives it a
beautiful, supernatural spin. It’s a great start to a collection of urban
fantasy stories which I’m sure are going to get darker, grittier and far more
fun as the tales unfold. It certainly started this book off with a great bang.
One that made it kind of hard to put these stories down and get back to working
like a real adult.
I was expecting a story in which Harry swings in and saves the day again. In this case, helps to unravel the curse on the Cubs and help them finally win the finals (or whatever they’re called). It didn’t quite work out like that, and I loved the change from routine that this indicates. The slight change from the typical trope. Which is probably why I love the Dresden series in the first place.
Lizzie is hurrying home to report to her master, with the Ripper on the loose, she knows that she shouldn’t be out alone. But, when she finds out who the true culprit is, her whole world is turned upside down.
I loved this twist on the traditional idea of Jack the
Ripper. Instead of being a man, she is a woman. And not at all who I expected.
Which of course, made it all the more intriguing and impossible to put down. A
little more tragic when the final ending hit.
This was a little sadder than most of the short stories so
far in the collection. Most of them are kind of twisted, but this was a bit
tragic. I felt Lizzie’s loss and confusion as the final words were read and it
made me feel more connected to the trials of the victims. More connected to
their fear, pain and suffering. Not only at the hands of the Ripper, but also the
fear that must have coated the entire city in the months of his terror.
Title: The Secret Science of Magic Author: Melissa Keil Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Contemporary, Contemporary romance, Easy reading Dates read: 27th June 2019 Pace: Medium Format: Novel Publisher: Hardie Grant Egmont Year: 2017 5th sentence, 74th page: Joseph gives me what I think is a sympathetic smile.
Sophia
She’s smart, like genius-calculator-brain smart. But there are some things no amount of genius can prepare you for, and the messiness of real life is one of them. When everything she knows is falling apart, how can she crack the puzzle of what to do with her life?
Joshua
He spends his time honing magic tricks and planning how to win Sophia’s heart. But when your best trick is making schoolwork disappear, how do you possibly romance a genius?
Holy crap. I have been in a bit of a reading slump lately
(relying mostly on short stories, rather than novels to keep me slightly
interested). And then I picked up this book. Which was quite possibly a
mistake, because now I have a brand new author to obsess over. It is the first
book in a long time that I struggled to put down. And read cover to cover. It’s
also the first book in months that I stayed up way past my bedtime to read a
book because I JUST COULDN’T PUT IT DOWN.
Although I often become emotionally invested in the
characters that I meet in the pages of a book, I don’t often literally shed a
tear. Let alone lie in bed with tears streaming down my face. There was just
this one moment in this book that almost felt like a punch to the solar plexus,
and it made me weep. This was surrounded by moments of smiling and laughter, so
overall the mood of this book was incredibly cheerful, even though I had a
moment of tears.
Everyone thinks that they’re a bit of a misfit in high
school, which is why I can see how this story would speak to the masses. I’m
sure even the popular kids kind of feel a bit uncomfortable, especially at the
very ending of high school when they’re about to spread their wings. I assume,
I had friends, but I was more like Sophia than any other high school character
I’ve ever read about. It was also amazing to have a dynamic like Joshua in the
story. In school he is quiet and reserved, but he has a fun filled, happy and
thriving social life out of school that reminds you we can all find the place
where we fit best… it just took me a few years out of high school to realise
that personally.
I may not be quite genius-level smart, but I do understand
all of the pressures that Sophia experiences throughout this book. There seems to
be this idea that because you are smart, you should know what you want to do
with your future. Have everything planned out and a goal in mind. For me, that
has never been the case. I’ve never really had a future plan or goals. I just
have a huge sense of curiosity and a drive to learn more, although sometimes I
want to know more about how to interact a little better with others.
For the first time in print, six wild and steamy tales from three of today’s hottest paranormal and steampunk romance authors.
The Blushing Bounder by Meljean Brook – While the search for a killer puts Constable Newberry’s life in danger, he faces a danger of another kind: to his heart, by the woman forced to marry him. What will it take for this prudish bounder to convince his wife to stay?
Vixen by Jessica Sims – Miko’s denied her were-fox nature for far too long and turned her back on her vixen heritage. But when she meets two very sexy cat-shifters, she has to decide if she truly wants to give up on her frisky side, or embrace it. Because the were-fox in her doesn’t want to choose between both men… it wants them both.
Kitten-Tiger & the Monk by Carolyn Crane – Sophia Sidway, Midcity’s most dangerous memory revisionist, seeks out the mysterious Monk in the wasteland beneath the Tangle turnpike, hoping for redemption… but it turns out that the Monk is not all that pious, and the turnpike is no turnpike at all.
These lovers create their own heat, even when surrounded by ice…
Speed Mating by Jessica Sims – Estrella may be going into heat, but she’s determined to remain in control. Just because she’s ovulating doesn’t mean she has to settle for just any man (or his beast). Her sexy alpha’s determined to find her a tiger to take care of her heat and father her child… but no one seems to look quite as good as the man in charge. Will giving in to her need for her alpha ruin her tenuous relationship with her clan or be a match made in heaven?
Conjuring Max by Carolyn Crane – The witches of the world ridiculed nerdy Veronica for trying to use newfangled computers to enhance old world spellcasting. Well, it’s 1984 now, and she’s perfected her spellcasting computer program. Hey, who needs friends when you can conjure virtually anything… or anybody? So when Veronica makes powerful new enemies, she conjures Max, a pitbull of a cop, to deal with the pesky hitmen who keep coming around. But tough-guy Max is in no mood to play lapdog to a gorgeous witch.
Wrecked by Meljean Brook – Elizabeth has spent the past five years running from her father; her father’s huntsman, Caius, has spent the past five years pursuing her. But when he finally catches up to her on an airship flying above Europe’s zombie-infested cities, Elizabeth discovers that Caius isn’t the only danger she has to fear – and now that he’s found her, Caius doesn’t intend to let her go.
This was one of those great collections that had a really
wide array of stories under the heading of paranormal romance. From incredibly
erotic shapeshifter stories to tales of steampunk piracy across the worlds. Every
moment of these six novellas are steamy, warm and full of passion. And of
course, a little intrigue to make it impossible to put down.
Although I already knew Meljean Brook’s works, I loved being introduced to her new (to me) Iron Seas series. Which has kind of given me a new obsession – steampunk romance. But, there is another three new series that are featured in these novellas, which have now all been happily added to my wishlist in the hopes for a future time when I have some more cash.
This was one of those fun and easy reads which I will be
picking up again and again. The stories are just fun and easy. Kind of cute.
And a pleasure to read.
Rick is in the training academy after being viciously attacked. He’s still coping with the stressors of his past, but his new job might just give him a great reason to head forwards into the future.
I thoroughly enjoyed this short story. But I was kind of ticked that it gave away a fair bit about the future in the Jane Yellowrock world. Which was kind of annoying when I keep meaning to pick up this series all over again… but, hopefully by the time that I do, I won’t really remember where this story fits into the series, and I’ll be able to be surprised anyway.
If you look at my bookshelves, you’ll notice that there has
begun to be a bit of an obsession about urban fantasy stories with the lead
female in law enforcement. Alright, Rick isn’t a woman, but I did love the idea
of a policeman transferring to the supernatural police. He may have to go
through training all over again, but his talents jump to the surface as they
race to find the evil witch before the full moon.
The use of a number of alternate supernatural beings that I haven’t so far seen in the first few Jane Yellowrock books, was incredibly fun. It also helped to give me a hint of how the world is going to expand as time goes by.
Sasha is at the Halloween Party of the vampires. But she isn’t just a pretty face. And tonight’s activities are going to take all of her talents and patience.
The whole time I was reading this I had ninety-nine bottles
of beer stuck in my head. Ringing again and again. It was kind of annoying and
distracting. But also incredibly fun. And it helped to mimic the fun and engaging
story that followed. It did make it a little hard to read anything else when I
turned the last page though.
Most of the vampire romances that I’ve been reading involve
a male vampire rescuing the sweet female human. I loved that it was the total
opposite. The vampire was completely prone and at a disadvantage, and the woman,
although entirely human, was also competent, strong and independent. I also loved
the fact that although Mary (or Sasha as we first meet her) knows that she
loves the man, she still wants to find herself. This independence and need to
prove herself in the world was completely admirable. And even when she finally
gets everything that she wants, she still plans on spending the next five years
on her own, growing into the woman that she can become.
Title: Scar Tissue Author: Anthony Kiedis Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Biographies, Memoirs, Music Dates read: 18th – 25th June 2019 Pace: Slow Format: Novel Publisher: Sphere Year: 2004 5th sentence, 74th page: So as far as they’re concerned, you and I are best friends, and we work on school stuff together, and that’s it.
In 1983 four self-described ‘knuckleheads’ burst out of the neo-punk rock scene in LA with their own unique brand of cosmic hard-core mayhem funk. Over twenty years later, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, against all the odds, have become one of the most successful bands in the world. Though the band has gone through many incarnations, Anthony Kiedis, the group’s lyricist and dynamic lead singer, has been there for the whole rollercoaster ride.
Scar Tissue is Kiedis’s searingly honest memoir – a story of dedication and debauchery, of intrigue and integrity, of recklessness and redemption. It is a story that could only have come out of Hollywood.
I read this for the first time about ten years ago. And I was completely blown away. Rereading this as an adult my mind was still completely blown. But I also felt really quite uncomfortable by the stories that Kiedis was imparting. I just can’t fathom a childhood and life such as his. Which of course made it all the more enthralling to read…
Red Hot Chili Peppers is one of those bands that I’ve always
loved and will continually return to (no matter how my tastes change). Which
meant that reading about the story behind their creation and beginning was absolutely
amazing. The fascinating journey that they took and the struggles that were
faced are completely beyond anything that I could ever imagine. The amazing insight
provided into a world that I had previously known nothing about also made this book
nigh on impossible to put down.
I read a lot of good fantasy and fiction books. After all, it’s easy to be swept away in a world that is just not your own. And, although I love biographies, I don’t tend to pick them up as readily. I find that the author has to be very good to sweep me away into their world. After all, I already live in this world, and it can make the stories a little boring if not written well. Luckily, and maybe not surprisingly, Anthony Kiedis is an amazing writer. He foreshadows and builds suspense. Transports you in a way that makes you feel like you’re actually there. And, probably most importantly, makes all of the insanity and bad things that have happened to him, seem like no big deal. It doesn’t have a depressive feeling to it. But one of hope and wonder.
Elizabeth has spent the past five years running from her father; her father’s huntsman, Caius, has spent the past five years pursuing her. But when he finally catches up to her on an airship flying above Europe’s zombie-infested cities, Elizabeth discovers that Caius isn’t the only danger she has to fear – and now that he’s found her, Caius doesn’t intend to let her go.
I really loved the moral questions that this novella posed. What
do you do when you have the power of cloning? And, to begin with that question
is just asked in a purely conservational role. And then it takes a darker,
twistier turn that was distinctly uncomfortable. But it also worked into a
really sweet romance (in the end, when all the twisty bits were sorted).
Wrecked bought an entirely different part of the Iron Seas world to life for me. I loved the mentions of Australia, the whirlwind flight across the skies and the discussion about just how important it was to conserve the remaining animals. Actually, it highlighted a end-of-the-world scenario that I really hadn’t imagined before. What happens to all of the animals when a plague of zombies is unleashed on the world?
My biggest complaint about this novella is that although
they ride off into the sunset together, I want to know more about the happy
little family that they create. Or at least the one that I’m imagining and
picturing in my mind’s eye as I turn the final page.
Anita is attending a friend’s wedding when Nathaniel, her pomme de sang, makes known in no uncertain terms that he wants to take the relationship to the next level. Anita’s subsequent actions take her to a place she has hitherto carefully avoided.
This was kind of a confusing novella. Which, considering I
found out after I read it that it’s the condensed version of a novel… kind of
completely makes sense. And, even though it wasn’t completely sensical, it was
a fun, smutty kind of journey. And one that I would like to discover more
about. There was just enough information to enthral me, but not enough to make
me feel like I really knew what was going. Which, for a curious girlchild like
myself, was the perfect little teaser.
Although this story really pulled me in and made me kind of
fascinated, it was a little bit smutty for my preferences. I’m really not into
reading about characters with multiple partners, and found that some of the
moments when talking about her relationships (yes, as in plural) a bit
uncomfortable. The redeeming factor with that though was the fact that Anita,
the lead, also felt incredibly uncomfortable with the situation she seemed to
have found herself in. Which made me interested enough to add Guilty
Pleasures to my wishlist.
Earth and Skye 