Title: Beloved Beast Author: Lois Greiman In: The Mammoth Book of Scottish Romance (Trisha Telep) Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect) My Bookshelves:Romance Pace: Medium Format: Short story Publisher: Robinson Year: 2011 5th sentence, 74th page: She turned her head slightly.
Swift is a pickpocket, but a chance meeting with a man of the clergy could change her fate forever.
This short story really made me think of Oliver Twist. There’s
a somewhat innocent pick pocket. A not so nice man in charge, and a protector
who ends up saving the day. Alright, I don’t think that a protector actually
saved the day in Oliver Twist… I remember a vaguely sad and disturbed ending
(although it has been a long time since I’ve visited the story).
Although this is a romance story in a collection of Scottish
romance, I didn’t find it to be that… well, Scottish. Sure it’s based in
Scotland and the man wears a kilt. But unlike some of the other stories in this
collection, it just felt a lot more modern and less about the highlands. Which
I thought was great. You need a break in the repetitive settings and themes
every now and again.
Title: Greylands Author: Isobelle Carmody Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves: Death, Fantasy, Mental health Dates read: 1st – 2nd January 2019 Pace: Medium Format: Novel Publisher: Ford St Year: 1997 5th sentence, 74th page: She stroked the bundle of rags tenderly, and a strange thought entered Jack’s chilled mind.
One wakeful night in the aftermath of his mother’s death, Jack enters a land devoid of colour or scent. Here he meets the tragic laughing beast and Alice, a strange girl with a secret.
Will Jack escape before the terrifying wolvers find him? Or is he destined to be trapped in the Greylands forever?
Only the cats know…
I really had no idea what to expect from this novel. I know that I love Isobelle Carmody’s writing, but this is the first truly young novel that I have read by her. It is also, weirdly enough, the first standalone story that I have read. And man, I wasn’t disappointed. This was one of those stories that left me thinking, contemplating and wondering long after I turned the final page. This is certainly one of those stories that lingers long after you finish, in the best way possible.
The fragmented nature of this story highlights Jack’s
misunderstandings and confusion beautifully well. As do the mystical and dreamy
scapes in which he moves – both the real world and the Greylands. The settings
are so incredibly vivid and yet vague that you can see the hazy contrast
perfectly in your minds eye, and it emphasises the symbolism behind Jack’s
confusion and grief.
Even if you don’t fully understand what is happening
throughout Jack’s adventure, the beginning, middle and end (literally named
this) give a great account as to what the symbolism means. And also the ways in
which this reality bisects with our own. Having the character write his own
story is a new-to-me ideal, and I loved how well it worked.
Dealing with grief and issues of mental health can always be
quite difficult. And there are few literary pieces I’ve found that deal with
such topics in an open, accessible way. The fact that this is done in a language
that young children can access is all the more impressive and is exactly what
helps this story to linger in my mind’s eye so strongly.
Title: Come to Me Author: Heather Clitheroe In: Evolve (Nancy Kilpatrick) Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Mythology, Vampires Pace: Slow Format: Short story Publisher: Edge Year: 2010 5th sentence, 74th page: Those days, she was glad to leave tiny Vauxhall – the short main street with the farm supply store at one end and the fire station at the other, the flat horizon that stretched out and away until it met the sky.
A voice keeps on telling her to go to the forest and never return. Will she obey the strange compulsion?
I’ve heard of the suicide forests in Japan. I’ve also read a
lot about the kitsune. So a
vampirific story that combines both of them? Well, that’s right up my alley.
Especially when written with the dreamy, wafty style of this short story.
There is a constant quiet voice throughout this story that
eggs on the unhappy lead. She is lost in her world and too stubborn to make a
change. So someone else decides to make the change for her… in an incredibly
negative way.
‘Four bestselling names in romance and fantasy come together in this collection of thrilling novellas featuring powerful women who know how to handle a hex or two…
New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews spins “Magic Dreams.” Shapeshifting tigress Dali Harimau finds herself in deep waters when she must challenge a dark being to a battle of wits or risk losing the man for whom she secretly longs.
In “Ice Shards”, New York Times bestselling author Yasmine Galenorn returns to the Otherworld as Iris Kuusi, a Finnish house sprite, journeys to the frozen Northlands to confront the crazed shadow of her former lover and break the curse that is keeping her from marrying the man she loves.
National bestselling author Allyson james takes you to Magellan, Arizona, where Stormwalker Janet Begay and her friends are trapped by a powerful curse. It will take every bit of magic simmering beneath her skin for the Stormwalker to survive being “Double Hexed”.
From national bestselling author Jeanne C. Stein comes “Blood Debt,” in which bount-hunter-turned-vampire Anna Strong is visited by three witches who ask her to right an old magical wrong. Anna will have to live up to her last name to make it through alive.
I absolutely adored this collection of novellas. And was
wondering why I didn’t pick this up much, much sooner. After all, it’s been
sitting on my bookshelf for a few years. Although, since I now have another two
series that I need to buy (I already had two), I’m beginning to think that that
may have been my reason for not sinking my teeth into this series too early on.
There was a healthy addition of romance throughout these
urban fantasy stories. But, mostly they featured kick ass women, curses and pasts
that they were trying to overcome. All of which are some of my favourite themes
and topics in any kind of story. The fact that I got to read four novellas with
these themes, well, that just made me even more happy. And made this collection
all the more difficult to put down so I could do something grown up and
productive.
When a strange man comes to town, one sister thinks that she’s found the answer to her happily ever after. But, all is not as it seems and it may take the gumption of her sister to help her escape the trap she has set for herself.
I haven’t yet had the chance to read the original Bluebeard fairy tale (I don’t think). But I did thoroughly enjoy Angela Carter’sretelling. So it was kind of fun to read a far more innocent and simpler retelling. One in which the villain suddenly becomes something completely different and offers an entirely new perspective to an otherwise dark and twisted tale.
Where Carter’s retelling is about the woman triumphing in a way that she wasn’t able to in the original, Farmer’s is about retelling the story from an entirely different point of view. She almost Disney-fied the tale. And sometimes that just frustrates me, yet this worked kind of beautifully. Not only by intertwining historical facts, but also in keeping to many of the key themes that seem to run through these two stories.
Castle Othello is
a completely innocent story. One that, surprisingly, instead of frustrating me
was thoroughly enjoyable. And I was actually quite sad to turn the last page on
such a sweet, happy ending.
Title: The Shoes That Were Danced to Pieces Author: Ellen Kushner 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, Family Pace: Fast Format: Short story Publisher: Firebird Fantasy Year: 2009 5th sentence, 74th page: I couldn’t be responsible for all those men, as well as my horrible sisters.
Sometimes being the eldest really sucks. Especially when you have eleven younger sisters who are determined to dance the night away. That is, until the “responsible” one finds a way out of their situation.
I’m an older sister. And it doesn’t matter how old my
younger sister and I are. It doesn’t matter where life takes us. I will always
be her big sister. And I will always feel responsible for her. And protective
of her. So it’s really nice to read a short story that reminds me that I’m not
the only one in this position. That is uses the story of the Twelve Dancing
Princesses just makes it all the more fun and engaging.
Although this short story is in a collection about villains,
I didn’t really feel that there was a
villain in this story. after all, the oldest sister is just trying to watch out
for the younger ones. Alright, they’re kind of bratty… but no one was truly
evil. Or really cast as a villain in the story. But, mostly, I love the fact
that although you can understand why the sister does what she does… everyone
ultimately gets a nice ending and happiness.
Title: Reckless Author: Maggie Shayne Series: Shattered Sisters #1 Rating Out of 5:Â 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Â Romantic suspense Pace:Â Fast Format: Novel Publisher:Â Thunderfoot Publishing Year:Â 1993 5th sentence, 74th page:Â Just the way he’d wanted to protect Danny.
True Crime Writer Toni Rio follows a wise guy straight from his brief stint behind bars to his execution in a dirty alley. When his two killers see her wtinessing their gruesome work, she runs, but she doesn’t get far.
FBI agent Nick Manelli has to keep his cover intact and keep the sexy witness alive, and there’s only one way he can think of to do both. He has to kidnap her.
RECKLESS (formerly Reckless Angel) was the first published novel of romance superstar Maggie Shayne’s stellar career. This romantic thriller, a RITA Award nominee that garnered raves from RT Book Reviews, has been completely revamped for today’s readers.
I really didn’t know what to expect when I was reading this novel
– I had read a Maggie Shayne short story in an anthology, wanted more, and this
was the first in a series that I could get in one of my local bookstores. That
was the entirety of my decision making when it came to getting this and reading
it. and I’m really glad that I did. I’ve been on a romance hit lately, but the
fact that this wasn’t paranormal, or historical, or any of my normal genres
made me incredibly happy. I now have a new shelf on my bookshelves – Romantic
suspense!
Although this was a romance that you knew who the two leads
were straight away (there really weren’t overly many secondary characters), I
like that neither of them succumbed until quite far through the story. Both
leads had strong characters and a lot of secrets that prevented them from falling
for their lustful fantasies. Which was really refreshing. Particularly Toni’s
spunk when she is placed in situation after situation that would make less independent
and stubborn women wilt. Which is exactly the kind of characters that I love to
read about – they are able to fight and be themselves regardless of their
circumstances.
To complement the romantic storyline of this novel, Shayne writes a great, fast-paced story of action and crime. The use of a mob boss, the FBI and a woman who is an incredible investigator not only helps to move along the romance, but it helps to up the stakes. Actually, unlike most other romances that I’ve read, I found myself more interested in the suspenseful outcome than the romantic one.
Duration: 1st February – 28th February Number of books: 3 Hosted by:Bookworm Bitches
There are 3 tasks, you only need to read three books to finish this challenge. Or pick one task and read 3 books for that one task. Thank you Jimena for help with the ideas!
February 1. Read a book with a romance in it. – Sea Fever by Virginia Kantra 2. Read a book with a strong relationship (this can be in a love sense or just friendship, family, or a relationship with an animal, place, etc.) – Prince of Shadows by Rachel Caine 3. Read a book where a character loses something or someone close to them (a lover, friend, family member, cherished object, home, etc. Can be due to a break up, passing away, other extenuating circumstances. They can retrieve this lost person/object in the end or not.)Â – Sea Witch by Virginia Kantra (seal skin)
How It Works Ten books each month is a lot, so there will be 5 different levels. So pick which level you want to do and that’s how many items you will need to check off.
💋 3. Working naked day! Read a book where someone gets naked, or with a naked chest on the cover. – Sea Fever by Virginia Kantra
💋 4. Candy Making Day! Read a book where someone goes to a bakery or with chocolate on the cover.
💋 5. Spunky Old Broads Day! I new it….lol. Read a book with an MC over 50, or with something grey on the cover. – The Siren by Kiera Cass (Kahlen is about 100 years old)
💋 6. Serpent Day! Read a book with an animal, or with a green cover.
💋 7. International Face & Body Art Day! Read a book with a tattoo on the cover.
💋 8. G.I. Joe Day! Read a book with a solider, or, since I don’t really do military books, read a book with a short haired guy. – The Blind Side by Michael Lewis
💋 10. National Get Up Day! Since we all had to get up today, read a book that you have been wanting to read, if only you had a minute. – Prince of Shadows by Rachel Caine
Cupid is the god of desire, erotic love, attraction and affection. He is often portrayed as the son of the love goddess Venus and the war god Mars.
Duration February 1st – 28th 2019
Rules Do at least two tasks to complete the challenge
Earlier in his career, Caravaggio had challenged contemporary sensibilities with his “sexually provocative and anti-intellectual” Victorious Love, also known as Love Conquers All, in which a brazenly naked Cupid tramples on emblems of culture and erudition representing music, architecture, warfare, and scholarship. ♥ Read a book with an artistic cover. – The Drowned Kingdom by Kate Forsyth ♥ Read a book where love conquers all. – Sea Witch by Virginia Kantra
Cupid carries two kinds of arrows, or darts, one with a sharp golden point, and the other with a blunt tip of lead. A person wounded by the golden arrow is filled with uncontrollable desire, but the one struck by the lead feels aversion and desires only to flee. ♥ Read a book with a weapon on the cover. – The Beast of Blackmoor Bog by Kate Forsyth ♥ Read a book tagged ‘romance’. – Black Spring by Alison Croggon
In the tale of Cupid the honey thief, the child-god is stung by bees when he steals honey from their hive. He cries and runs to his mother Venus, complaining that so small a creature shouldn’t cause such painful wounds. Venus laughs, and points out the poetic justice: he too is small, and yet delivers the sting of love. ♥ Read a book with a mother in the story. – Sea Fever by Virginia Kantra ♥ Read a book that begins with a letter in VENUS. – The Siren by Kiera Cass
Cupid sleeping was a symbol of absent or languishing love in Renaissance poetry and art. ♥ Read a book with your book boyfriend (or one of your honourable mentions). – Gene of Isis by Traci Harding (Albray) ♥ Read a book written by an author you love. – Prince of Shadows by Rachel Caine
Earth and Skye 