All posts by skyebjenner

Worrity, Worrity by Andy Duncan

Book Review, ,
Overview
Image result for mad hatters and march hares ellen datlow book cover

Title: Worrity, Worrity
Author: Andy Duncan
In: Mad Hatters and March Hares (Ellen Datlow)
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Wordplay
Dates read: 22nd February 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Tor
Year: 2017
5th sentence, 74th page: As the highest-ranking person in attendance, surely the Right Hon. Arthur James Balfour, MP, DL, Leader of the House of Commons, signalled that the end was near.

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Synopsis

A jumpy little story that follows James Balfour through different stages in his life.

Thoughts

This was my least favourite of the short stories in Mad Hatters and March Hares. Yet it followed the jumpiness of the original story far better than any other tale in this collection. Each section of this tale jumps from one perspective to another. With the same man as the central character. I think. I’m actually not 100% sure. And there were wasps. Lots of wasps.

Alright, I really didn’t follow this story very well at all. It took me a few tries at Alice in Wonderland to follow that too. Although, I loved the imagery and the storyline in that from the very beginning. This short story on the other hand… there wasn’t enough of the imagery and vibrant colours to this storyline and so I found it a lot harder to be drawn in.

 <- Sentence Like a Saturday ReviewEating the Alice Cake Review ->
Image source: Bookdepository

The Guided Tour by Rhys Hughes

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

Title: The Guided Tour
Author: Rhys Hughes
In: The Mammoth Book of Jack the Ripper Stories (Maxim Jakubowski)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Crime, Horror
Dates read: 6th March 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: The incidentals and tangents assisted not only in setting the scene, coagulating the right atmosphere, but proved to be fascinating in their own right.

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Synopsis

Being a tour guide can be tough, but what happens when you want to get a little more hands-on experience with your tour?

Thoughts

This kind of wigged me out. But in a really good way. To start with, this story was about a man practicing to be a tour guide. Talking about Jack the Ripper, highlighting his crimes and the mystery surrounding the Butcher of Baker Street. Then it becomes far more twisted…

I really liked the twists and turns that this short story had. Every few paragraphs, the story is flipped completely on its head. Once you think that it is going in one direction, you find out that it is kind of going somewhere completely different. It very much reminds me of all of the theories and ideas surrounding Jack the Ripper in the first place – a lot of twists and turns, where no one is 100% sure of the truth.

 <- Bertie ReviewMartha Review ->
Image source: Amazon

Little Poucet by Steve Rasnic Tem

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for snow white, blood red book cover

Title: Little Poucet
Author: Steve Rasnic Tem
In: Snow White, Blood Red (Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Fairy tales
Dates read: 19th February 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Signet
Year: 1993
5th sentence, 74th page: A bit of thick, flour-based sauce had settled into the bottom of each one.

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Synopsis

A retelling of a kind of twisted and weirdly sexualised fairy tale.

Thoughts

This was the least disturbing short story I’ve read in the Snow White, Blood Red collection in a while. Don’t get me wrong, it was still kind of sexualised and disturbing. But a lot less so than the past few stories that I’ve read. They were just downright, destroy my love of fairy tales disturbing. This was just a slightly uncomfortable feeling of disturbing.

Poucet was an engaging and interesting lead. But, I think he was also kind of stupid. He trusted his brothers. When they are clearly morons. And that got them all in a lot more trouble. This is why I often yell at fairy tales to be fair… they always go into the dark forests alone, trust the wrong person, think that their siblings are lovely… all sorts of stupidity that always, always, always leads to way more complications than necessary. So, it kind of worked perfectly as a fairy tale.

I liked that the sexuality in this short story was far more obvious than some stories. But not in a way that made you turn up your nose completely. Just enough to be slightly disturbing. Slightly annoying and make you think that Poucet is stupid. And smart.

 <- Persimmon ReviewThe Changelings Review ->
Image source: Amazon

Anima by Grace McCleen

Book Review, ,
Overview

Title: Anima
Author: Grace McCleen
In: I Am Heathcliff (Kate Mosse)
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading
Dates read: 20th February 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Borough Press
Year: 2018
5th sentence, 74th page: I clamber to my knees then stagger forwards, weeping, cheering, ridiculous, as I watch you scarper.

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Synopsis

She’s found herself something to love, but there’s something far more dark and sinister coming for it. And it’s not the love that you are imagining.

Thoughts

This story was incredibly weird. I’m still not 100% sure what was going on and how I felt about it. It was just plain weird. At the beginning, when the protagonist started talking about the “love” in this story, I thought it was based very much on a time in the 1800s when she’s fallen in love with a man at one glance. It’s not about a man though… and the love isn’t really sexual, but it’s still weird.

I’m fairly certain this story is about a fox.

A love for a fox.

Yup, I’m still not really sure about this. Although, the unrequited love that the protagonist shows to an animal does kind of remind me of much of the storyline in Wuthering Heights, it’s a really uncomfortable form of love. One that is not returned, and really isn’t something that feels healthy or normal in any way shape or form.

 <- Terminus ReviewA Bird, Half-Eaten Review ->
Image source: Harper Collins Publishers

Kissingate Magic by Annette Blair

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

Title: Kissingate Magic
Author: Annette Blair
In: The Mammoth Book of Scottish Romance (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Family, Historical romance
Dates read: 4th March 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: I know Papa likes me, but I wish he liked Mama enough to keep her and not send her to heaven.

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Synopsis

Past lies and mistakes come back to haunt Jacey and Gabe as fate (and a little magic) intervene in their lives.

Thoughts

Romances that show a tragic past and soul mates are some of my favourites. They’re a reminder that some couples don’t get that love at first sight, happily ever after tale. And some do (which is why I also like the other type of tale). From the very beginning, this falling out was a beautiful travesty of mistakes, miscommunications and misunderstandings. With a happily ever after in it for all, of course.

I liked the romance aspect of this story, but what I enjoyed the most was that it was about a family. It wasn’t just about a man and woman rekindling their past love, but also about a child and what is best for her. As the story unfolds, it is evident that everything in the world centres around Bridget, and I love that the romance almost begins to take a backseat to the health of the child.

Then, there is the mystery of the past. Although some aspects of the past may be guessed at, there are many more that sneak up on you.

 <- Kidnapping the Laird ReviewHer MacKinnon Review ->
Image source: Hachette Australia

Coyote Woman by Carolyn Dunn

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for coyote road book cover

Title: Coyote Woman
Author: Carolyn Dunn
In: The Coyote Road (Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Poetry, Tricksters
Dates read: 5th March 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Poem
Publisher: Firebird Fantasy
Year: 2007
5th sentence, 74th page: no sealing string,

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Synopsis

Coyote is normally seen as a man, but this beautiful poem investigates what it would be like if he was a woman.

Thoughts

I’m getting more and more into poetry as time passes. There is just something about the lyricism of the words and the symbolism they often impart. It just works beautifully. And the use of a female coyote in this story was just fantastic. I love that Dunn finds a way to impart the femininity of tricksters and can share this in so few pages.

This poem is beautiful and fun, easy and enthralling. I read it twice in a row and could go back for thirds so easily. There is just something quaint, beautiful and fun about it that made me fall in love again and again and again.

 <- One Odd Shoe ReviewWagers of Gold Mountain Review ->
Image source: Amazon

When I’m Armouring My Belly by Gemma Files

Book Review,
Overview
Evolve

Title: When I’m Armouring My Belly
Author: Gemma Files
In: Evolve (Nancy Kilpatrick)
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Vampires
Dates read: 20th February 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Edge
Year: 2010
5th sentence, 74th page: “Smells like us, specific, ’cause we just got done rubbing ourselves all over him.

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Synopsis

Sometimes you want to be a part of something bigger than you. But when it’s vampires doing all kinds of untold things to your body… is it really worth it? Or is it more intriguing to become something far more?

Thoughts

I was a little eh about this story. It wasn’t horrible and stomach turning like some of the short stories that have come before. But it also wasn’t the kind of tale that I’ll remember for a long time. Even writing this review is a little difficult because it is already starting to feel a little faded.

The part of this story that I enjoyed the most was the fact that the lead was a dhampir. It gave them a whole other level of strength and mystery. One that I didn’t quite figure out until the end. But then I can’t quite remember why either…

 <- Alia’s Angel ReviewA Murder of Vampires Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for word cloud classics emily bronte book cover

Title: Wuthering Heights
Author: Emily Bronte
Series: Word Cloud Classics
Rating Out of 5: 2 (Managed to read it… just)
My Bookshelves: Classics, Gothic
Dates read: 12th – 18th February 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Novel
Publisher: Word Cloud Classics
Year: 1847
5th sentence, 74th page: “What ails you, Cathy?” he was saying when I entered: “you look as dismal as a drowned whelp.”

Synopsis

Discover a passionate tale of love lost, found, and avenged in Wuthering Heights. Lockwood, a wealthy man from England, rents a house from an eccentric gentleman named Heathcliff, who is the tortured master of Wuthering Heights. Through Lockwood and the housekeeper, Nelly, the story of Heathcliff’s adoption, upbringing, revenge, and love for Catherine is told. The unconventional relationships and complex story structure will keep you turning pages long into the night

Thoughts

Heathcliff is a douche. Total and utter, pain in the bum, can’t even get into this story kind of douche. There’s a chance that Catherine might also be a bit of a douche. But I really couldn’t move past my blinding hatred for Heathcliff to even concentrate on the object of his obsession.

I was kind of disappointed by the utmost douchiness of Heathcliff. If it wasn’t for him, I would have absolutely loved this book. The writing style was engaging, the storytelling complex but brilliantly done. There was a lot of fantastic imagery throughout the half of the story I read (yes, I hated Heathcliff that much that I only got about halfway through before the rage became too much). And the themes throughout are just striking. But then it all comes back to Heathcliff.

This is definitely one of those books that I’m going to try again in a year or so… it just wasn’t the right time to try and tackle the dark obsession and douchiness of Heathcliff. But, I can see this being a great read if I am feeling down and out against the world. Or, more specifically, men and romance in general…

<- Jane Eyre101 Fairy Tales ->

Image source: Amazon

A Delicate Architecture by Catherynne M. Valente

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for troll's-eye view book cover

Title: A Delicate Architecture
Author: Catherynne M. Valente
In: Troll’s-Eye View (Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Fairy tales, Food, Villains
Dates read: 27th February 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Firebird Fantasy
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: He gave me a slice of honeycomb and shooed me into the garden, where raspberries grew along the white gate.

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Synopsis

Constanze has always wanted to go to Venice with her father, but when opportunity finally knocks, she finds that not everything is as it seems.

Thoughts

I’ve never really questioned why there was a gingerbread house in Hansel and Gretel. Or why it seems to be something that is repeated across fairy tales. After all, it is a really impractical and useless way in which to make a house. And it kind of seems just… sticky to live in.

Valente was able to give a completely plausible reason for the building of a gingerbread house. And a completely understandable way in which the wicked witch from Hansel and Gretel turned out the way that she did… everything about this story just helped to create a reality in which the well-known fairy tale actually makes sense. After it had first poked the holes in it.

As much as I loved this story, it also made me feel kind of sad. The father betrays and then forgets his daughter. She is left unloved, unremembered and just completely stranded. All so he can regain the fame and fortune that he once had.

 <- ‘Skin ReviewMolly Review ->
Image source: Amazon

Battle of the Heroes by Kate Forsyth

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for battle of the heroes kate forsyth book cover

Title: Battle of the Heroes
Author: Kate Forsyth
Series: The Impossible Quest #5
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Adventure, Australian authors, Easy reading, Medieval fantasy
Dates read: 20th February 2019
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: They were smelling here and there, their acute sense of smell blunted by the stench of bat droppings.

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Synopsis

Do not lose faith. Remember the words of the story, remember the words of the spell…

Quinn, Sebastian, Elanor and Tom have defeated the black witch Githa and found the last crucial piece of the prophecy – the sea-serpent’s scale. But time is running out. Back now at Wolfhaven, they search desperately through the castle crypts for the sleeping heroes who they hope will save them all… before the dark moon rises and they lose everything.

Thoughts

This is a great ending to a really fantastic series. It ties up all of the lose ends and follows the same level of cuteness that I’ve loved throughout the rest of the storyline. Yet, where most of the finales I’ve read have involved a lot of exposition to tie up all of the lose ends, this ending doesn’t. The vast majority of this story is taken up by the battle.

Battles are hectic, chaotic beasts. Forsyth is able to describe this perfectly by continuously jumping between her four leads. You never get a full sense of what is happening to them and follow an incredibly jumpy timeline. Which of course adds to the stress and wonder at what’s happening and makes it far more difficult to put down the book. Every time I think that I’m getting a handle on what is happening to one character, it jumps to another.

The four heroes that have been the goal throughout the entire story are finally revived, but they’re barely viewed throughout. Which works well. Although the adults are supposed to be the “heroes” it is the four children that the story revolves around that are truly important. And the parts that they accomplish throughout the final fight which really help to win the day.

I love this final book, and I loved this whole series. It is just so easy, cute and fun. And a great reminder that different types of people are able to save the day, no matter what form they take, and how old they are.

 <- The Drowned Kingdom ReviewEscape from Wolfhaven Castle Review ->
Image source: Goodreads