All posts by skyebjenner

The Nutcracker by Alexandre Dumas

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for the nutcracker barnes and noble book cover

Title: The Nutcracker
Author: Alexandre Dumas
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Classics, Romance
Pace: Slow
Format: Novella
Publisher: Fall River Press
Year: 1844
5th sentence, 74th page: Take care, then, dearest mechanic, to have the young man who has never been shaved, and who wears boots, in readiness in ten minutes, together with the nut Crackatook.

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Synopsis

The nutcracker doll that mysterious Godfather Drosselmeyer gives to little Marie for Christmas is no ordinary toy. On Christmas Eve, at the clocks strike midnight, Marie watches as the Nutcracker and her entire cabinet of playthings come to life and boldly do battle against the malevolent Mouse King and his armies. But this is only the start: read on for a tale of enchantment and transformation, enter a world by turns fantastical and sinister, a kindom of dolls and spun-sugar palaces, and learn the true history of the brave little Nutcracker. Adapted from a dark fairy-tale by ETA Hoffmann, Alexandre Dumas’ romance of childhood imagination inspired Tchaikovsky’s world-famous ballet. Brilliantly adapted by translator Sarah Ardrizzone and illuminated by Kitty Arden, this is the perfect Christmas gift for readers of all ages.

Thoughts

I can’t believe it has taken me THIS DAMN LONG to realise that The Nutcracker is actually a novel. Or at least, that it wasn’t originally a ballet. Once I realised this though, it took me absolutely no time to rush to my nearest book store and buy an adorably illustrated version of this classic.

It took me a little while to get past the preface of the story. I just didn’t find it overly engaging, and was waiting for the moment that the nutcracker appeared in the story. But the second that it did? My goodness, I couldn’t put this down! I was only going to read a few pages, I ended up reading the entire novella in one sitting and then going to sleep super late at night… far later than I had intended since I did have to work the next day…

There is everything that I love from the ballet which I know far better. Yet there is more. There is a darkness in this telling that makes Mary and the Nutcracker’s triumph so much more beautiful. I had one of those amazing book hangovers when I put this down and am finding it stupidly difficult to find another book to compare…

 <- More Christmas reviewsMore classics reviews ->
Image source: Amazon

Forever Knight by Jackie Ivie

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

Title: Forever Knight
Author: Jackie Ivie
In: The Mammoth Book of Scottish Romance (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Romance,
Scottish romance
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: Very little made it through to men aware only of the thump of heartbeat in their ears.

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Synopsis

In a misguided attempt to save his brother, a rough Highlander takes a Lowlander woman as his ransom. As their story unfolds, he quickly realises that he has fallen into a cleverly laid trap. And one that he’s quite happy to be stuck in.

Thoughts

This story took a number of unexpected turns. The only part that really went as expected to be honest, was the fact that the lead male and female ended up together. After all, this is in a collection of romance stories (I wonder if I’ll ever read a romance that ends… not so romantic…??)

This is the fourth short story in the collection, The Mammoth Book of Scottish Romance, and I’m already beginning to notice a bit of a trend… timid, gentlewomen (English or other), falling for a rough, tumble and brawny Highlander. Don’t get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoy this trope, but this is why I only read a few short stories in a month. Yet, there was something a little more sassy within the Lady of this story – she is literally put in a dungeon for her sharp and voracious tongue.

I thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns throughout this. Primarily, whenever I thought that the story was going in one direction (they were about to have a night of passion for example), it takes a new turn that not only lengthens the story beautifully, but also enables it to surprise me. And even though they may not be earth-shattering surprises, they’re ones that made it impossible to put down… I actually walked into the wall while I was reading this tale…

 <- Wolfish in Sheep’s Clothing ReviewCurse Me Wicked Review ->
Image source: Hachette Australia

Holidays Are Hell by Kim Harrisson, Lynsay Sands, Marjorie M. Liu & Vicki Pettersson

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Holidays Are Hell

Title: Holidays are Hell
Author: Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Marjorie M. Liu & Vicki Pettersson
In: Holidays Are Hell (Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Marjorie M. Liu & Vicki Pettersson)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Short story collections, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Harper Fiction
Year: 2007
5th sentence, 74th page: The cold hit me, and I held my crossed arms close now for warmth.

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Synopsis

This holiday, spend quality time with family and loved ones—living and dead . . .

There’s no place like home for the horrordays—unless you’d prefer a romantic midnight walk through a ghost-infested graveyard . . . or a haunted house candlelight dinner with the sexy vampire of your dreams. The (black) magical season is here—and whether it’s a solstice séance gone demonically wrong with the incomparable Kim Harrison, a grossly misshapen Christmas with the remarkable Lynsay Sands, a blood-chilling-and-spilling New Year’s with the wonderful Marjorie M. Liu, or a super-powered Thanksgiving with the phenomenal Vicki Pettersson, one thing is for certain: in the able hands of these exceptional dark side explorers, the holidays are going to be deliciously hellish!

Thoughts

I was expecting a far more intense Christmas-theme throughout this collection of four novellas. Although all four are set within the holiday season, one of the stories heavily themes Thanksgiving, another the Chinese New Year. So, although not completely about Christmas, the holiday themes that I was expecting were still there, playing a great backdrop against the urban fantasy battles and tales that unfold across the pages.

Compared to the rest of the holiday collections I’ve been reading recently, Holidays Are Hell has a much darker spin on the holidays. The stories that take up this collection aren’t completely dark and twisty, but they’re not light, shining and hopeful. Kind of a bit more realistic about the joys of Christmas as I’ve felt them for the last few years…

 <- The Harvest ReviewTwo Ghosts for Sister Rachel Review ->
Image source: Harper Collins Publishers

Mother of Miscreants by Jennifer Greylyn

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Evolve

Title: Mother of Miscreants
Author: Jennifer Greylyn
In: Evolve (Nancy Kilpatrick)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Vampires
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Edge
Year: 2010
5th sentence, 74th page: “I need a little break,” she told Lionel, rising gracefully from her chair and glancing meaningfully at the young-seeming man who’d called her mother.

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Synopsis

She is the mother of all vampires, and now, with a little help from her new book, she is working on reconnecting with her children.

Thoughts

This was a different take on the creation of vampires – that they were created by Lilith (the first wife of Adam). That they don’t have to feed on blood. That they are just not understanding their given gifts in the world. It was certainly a take that I enjoyed and found quite refreshing.

I normally find it a little difficult to love vampires – they prey upon humans, and I don’t really find this romantic, classy or fun. So having a short story that says that they don’t have to do this, and still maintains that sense of mystery. I really liked the ideal. Actually, it would be incredibly easy to expand on this and create a full-blown series or, at the very least, novel. Especially since it’s such a novel idea (horrible pun intended).

 <- Chrysalis ReviewResonance Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

The Haunted Man and the Ghost’s Bargain by Charles Dickens

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for the haunted man and the ghost's bargain book cover

Title: The Haunted Man and the Ghost’s Bargain
Author: Charles Dickens
In: A Christmas Carol and Other Holiday Treasures (Charles Dickens)
Rating Out of 5:  4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Classics
Pace: Slow
Format:  Novella
Publisher: Word Cloud Classics
Year: 1848
5th sentence, 74th page: What a wonderful man you are, father!

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Synopsis

Redlaw is a teacher of chemistry who often broods over wrongs done him and grief from his past. He is haunted by a spirit, who is not so much a ghost as Redlaw’s phantom twin and is “an awful likeness of himself…with his features, and his bright eyes, and his grizzled hair, and dressed in the gloomy shadow of his dress…” This specter appears and proposes to Redlaw that he can allow him to “forget the sorrow, wrong, and trouble you have known…to cancel their remembrance…” Redlaw is hesitant at first, but finally agrees. However, before the spirit vanishes it imposes an additional consequence: “The gift that I have given you, you shall give again, go where you will.”

Thoughts

I really liked the imagery invoked by the opening pages of this novella. It was very waxy and set the scene for a haunting story. I think that of all the “Christmas stories”, this is the one that starts off most poetically. There is just something about the repetition of when and the setting of the scene that is incredibly spooky, yet beautiful.

As an ending to a collection of Christmas tales, this one works quite well. There is something about the darkness and wish to be something better that encompasses all of the other stories in this collection. Yet, the very haunting that takes place is so unique that it is difficult to turn away. This is certainly one of those tales that I will read again and again and again, finding something new and endearing every single time.

 <- The Battle of Life ReviewGreat Expectations Review ->
Image source: Overdrive

Little Knife by Leigh Bardugo

Book Review, , , , , ,
Overview
Image result for little knife leigh bardugo book cover

Title: Little Knife
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Series: The Language of Thorns (Leigh Bardugo)
In: Grishaverse Companion
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Fairy tales, Fantasy, Illustrated
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Imprint
Year: 2014
5th sentence, 74th page: She was so beautiful, in fact, that the midwife attending her mother snatched up the wailing infant and locked herself in a linen closet, begging for just another moment to gaze upon Yeva’s face and refusing to relinquish the baby until the duke called for an axe to break down the door.

Synopsis

In this third Ravkan folk tale from Leigh Bardugo, a beautiful girl finds that what her father wants for her and what she wants for herself are two different things.

It is a companion story to the third book of the Grisha Trilogy, Ruin and Rising, and the stories “The Witch of Duva” and “The Too-Clever Fox.”

Thoughts

I thought this was going to be very traditional-feeling. The overlooked suitor keeps on trying for the beautiful, rich bride. He gets help from an unpredictable source (in this case a river), and after completing task after task, he finally triumphs. That is until you remember that this is one of Bardugo’s fairy tales and they aren’t going to be like this at all.

One of my favourite recurring moments throughout is “it wouldn’t have happened if they just asked her what she wanted”. And it honestly reminded me of all the times that what I wanted / said / needed felt like it went ignored. And I remembered that most young women have probably felt the same – prized for their beauty / standing / whatever and had their wants and needs ignored. It was certainly the issue that I had in all of the Grimm Brothers fairy tales that I’ve read recently…

Little Knife is a wonderful story with (in my opinion) a happy ending. It is a great reminder that marriage, and social standing aren’t everything. It is about not taking things for granted, and not thinking that you own something just because it has helped you. Everything, everyone has a spirit and it is far better not to trap them… in case the worst should happen.

<- The Witch of DuvaThe Soldier Prince ->

Image source: Overdrive

Gifts of the Magi by Jean Johnson

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for an enchanted season book cover

Title: Gift of the Magi
Author: Jean Johnson
In: An Enchanted Season (Nalini Singh, Maggie Shayne, Erin McCarthy & Jean Johnson)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Romance
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Year: 2007
5th sentence, 74th page: God forgives when it’s with good intentions.

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Synopsis

Rachel is trying to run an inn with her fiance and things haven’t quite been going as planned. Then, just before Christmas, three strangers arrive on the cusp of a blizzard and things start to get… miraculous.

Thoughts

It took me longer than it should have to realise that this novella featured the three wise men. Although, in this case, they’re not necessarily men. But, the story was still amazing, and that moment at the end of the story, when I finally clicked as to who they were made it all the more enjoyable. Not only as an ending to a fantastic novella, but also as an ending to a great Christmas collection.

Unlike most of the romance stories that I read, this one isn’t about those initial, fall madly in love, love at first sight moments. It’s a love story about a couple that have been together a long time, are about to get married, and sometimes struggle to find the passion in amongst the daily grind of life. It’s the point that I’m at. Those first moments of a relationship are beautiful, but it isn’t until that first courtship is over, that relationships find their staying power and pace. So it was incredible to read a novella which takes this and still inspires love, passion and makes you swoon a little.

I liked the Christmas theme in this story. And although I’ve never experienced my own white Christmas, it was fun imagining one near a wedding and being swept away by this.

 <- Beat of Temptation ReviewAn Enchanted Season Review ->
Image source: Amazon

High Kicks and Misdemeanors by Janet Berliner

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Blood Lite

Title: High Kicks and Misdemeanors
Author: Janet Berliner
In: Blood Lite (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Comedy, Fantasy, Gangsters
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Pocket Books
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: “‘Scuse me?'”

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Synopsis

Willie had an ostrich spirit-guide, and now he’s passing that knowledge and gift on to another.

Thoughts

This story is just damn weird. It’s one of those that no matter how many times I read it – I’m going to feel confused. And unsure. And also slightly entertained and amused. It is weird. Funny. And just balls out odd.

Even reading this, I wasn’t 100% sure of exactly what was going on. There was an uncle figure who was Native American. There were strippers. And Vegas. And spirit animals that were ostriches… did I mention that this was weird?

Normally I’m great with the weirdness factor. I thrive on weird (I myself am an oddbod), but this was almost at my threshold… there was something just a little too much about it that wasn’t quite working… something I’ll certainly give another try though.

 <- A Good Psycho is Hard to Find ReviewPR Problems Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

The Harvest by Vicki Pettersson

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Holidays Are Hell

Title: The Harvest
Author: Vicki Pettersson
Series: Signs of the Zodiac #1.5
In: Holidays Are Hell (Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Marjorie M. Liu & Vicki Pettersson)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Dark fantasy, Shapeshifters, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Harper Fiction
Year: 2007
5th sentence, 74th page: At the Tulpa’s nod, Zoe tried for a lighter tone.

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Synopsis

Zoe’s granddaughter has been stolen by agents of the dark, and she’ll do anything to rescue her. Including teaming up with the team that she abandoned, and the only man she’s ever truly loved…

Thoughts

I’m not American. I have never been to, understood or had anything to do with Thanksgiving. My closest relationship to this holiday is what I see on movies, and the comments I see across social media. Having said all of that, this is certainly my first ever Thanksgiving-themed story. And it was incredibly enjoyable… I think I’m beginning to understand a bit of the American feelings towards this holiday… maybe… I’m still not even 100% sure what it’s about.

I’m a little disappointed that I didn’t have a chance to read The Scent of Shadows before The Harvest. Although this was an amazing novella in and of on itself, there were hints and ideas of the storyline from the first novel scattered throughout. Especially the trauma of Jo and Zoe’s role in her life. Yet, there is such a hint of an amazing untold story that I am fighting the urge to rip the first novel off my shelf and just devour it… first I need to finish some of the other books I have on my shelf… time for a little self-control and discipline…

 <- Six ReviewHolidays are Hell Review ->
Image source: Harper Collins Publishers

Zeppelin City by Eileen Gunn & Michael Swanwick

Book Review, , ,
Overview
The Mammoth Book of Steampunk

Title: Zeppelin City
Author: Eileen Gunn & Michael Swanwick
In: The Mammoth Book of Steampunk (Sean Wallace)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Steampunk
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: Come with me a minute.

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Synopsis

Radio, Amelia and Ruddy live in a word that is governed by the Naked Brain. But things are about to change. Drastically.

Thoughts

I don’t know where to put this story in my head and my heart. I really enjoyed the ways in which Radio, Amelia and Ruddy’s different journeys all intermingled together to structure the entire story. I loved the idea of a set of weird, bodiless brains controlling the population and the commentary on how technology rules our lives. Or at least, that’s what I got out of it.

Jumping between three characters in a short story can feel very chaotic and unwieldy. And it did a little in this short tale, but not overbearingly so. Actually, the feeling of confusion added to the storyline and the sense of the three key characters running around in a world in which they have no control. It worked amazingly well and in a way that I didn’t in the slightest expect.

I’m finding as I go through The Mammoth Book of Steampunk that the storylines are intense, emotional and using techniques and storylines that I have never come across before. Something which I am completely loving. And this was certainly one of the best tales for this.

 <- Numismatics in the Reigns of Naranh and Viu ReviewThe People’s Machine Review ->
Image source: Amazon