Title: Into the Sky Author: Joseph Ng In: The Mammoth Book of Dieselpunk (Sean Wallace) Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this) My Bookshelves:Dieselpunk, Romance Dates read: 10th January 2020 Pace: Slow Format: Short story Publisher: Robinson Year: 2015 5th sentence, 74th page: I stole a glance at Hou.
He’s found the woman of his dreams. And he’ll give up everything to have a life with her. One that is away from the past and promises a bright, new future.
This was an interesting Dieselpunk story… it featured the Terracotta warriors and the Great Wall of China. I liked this approach and found the journey quite enjoyable and intriguing. It was a nice spin on a tale of war which seems to be a fairly strong standing in the Dieselpunk series / collection thus far.
I love that this was kind of familiar in that there were some historical realities there. Yet, it was also something entirely new and unique. The weaving together of reality and science fiction is something I kind of love. Although I think I would have enjoyed this more if I could have gotten into the world building a little bit more.
The main thing I liked about this story is that, ultimately, it is all about giving up everything for love. It’s sweet, easy and kind of innocent. Something that I think I would do myself… give up everything for the love of someone.
Title: The DUFF: Designated Ugly Fat Friend Author:Kody Keplinger Series: Hamilton High #1 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Book to Film, Contemporary, Contemporary romance, Young adult Dates read: 10th January 2020 Pace: Fast Format: Novel Publisher: Poppy Year: 2010 5th sentence, 74th page: I just needed to deal with it myself before I sprang it on her and Jessica.
Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper may not be the prettiest girl in her high school, but she has a loyal group of friends, a biting wit, and a spot-on BS detector. She’s also too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush, who calls Bianca the Duff – the designated ugly fat friend – of her crew.
But things aren’t so great at home and Biance, desperate for a distraction, ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him.
Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out Wesley isn’t sucha bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she’s falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.
I read this in one sitting. Literally. I thought I’d pick up a book and just enjoy an easy read for an hour or so. But then, I couldn’t put it down. And forgot to eat. And went to bed really late. I have GOT to stop doing that. I also read this while I was watching the movie. Which is also amazing. Actually, I’m not entirely sure which version I loved more. They are really nothing alike. Except for the fact that there’s a Bianca and Wesley… and the use of the term DUFF.
I love that this story is all about accepting oneself. Realising that all of us feel like the “DUFF” in one way or another. And taking that, and making it work for you. After all, everyone has their own insecurities and we should work to build each other up. Like the girls in this novel. Actually, although this is a romance and centres on Wesley and Bianca, it’s the girl relationships that I love the most. Normally, they’re all about bringing each other down. But this is about support, jealousy and all of those wonderful things that a real friendship entails. Believe me, I’ve been best friends with the same girl since I was like, two… we get jealous when the other spends more time with other people, we get annoyed at each other, but at the end of the day, we love each other and support each other no matter what. That’s the friendships that Bianca has with Jess and Casey in this novel.
This is kind of a coming of age story, but it’s a lot more adult. I’m not sure if I’m kind of old, but the idea of having sex at fourteen seems a bit intense. And the fact that this whole relationship starts in sex… when they’re in high school. I don’t know, I’m used to that plot line in my adult romances, not in a young adult one. It still works brilliantly, but it does make me question a few things about society today. And make me fear having children… what will it be like when they get to their teenage years?
Bianca doesn’t have good coping mechanisms in this story. Which is pretty much what this entire story is about. My coping mechanisms are just as bad, maybe not quite as destructive…but withdrawing into myself and refusing to communicate with others? Yeah… I understand that a little too well. Keeping things to yourself is often not the best way to go, and I hope that someone reads this and realises that they need to readjust their coping mechanisms. I know I definitely considered it.
She lost the love of her life. But there’s a way to keep him with her… if she wants to do it.
I can’t imagine what I’d do if I lost the love of my life. Doing this though seems… well, uncomfortably wrong. Like seriously, uncomfortably wrong. But also impossible to stop reading. Kind of like a really horrific accident, you don’t want to see it, but you just can’t stop watching, or in this case, thinking about this.
This story really focuses on the dark side of the tragedy of loss. And gives a dark, twisted way to deal with it. Which is to use the ashes of a dead man… but I won’t explain how, because you just need to read the short story to discover this all for yourself. And be disturbed by the fact.
There is something both creepy and sweet about this story. I’m not entirely sure why I felt that this was so romantic. Normally tales like this would just completely freak me out. But we won’t think on this too deeply. Definitely worth a read this story.
Title: Knight of My Dreams Author: Lynsay Sands Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Historical romance, Regency romance Dates read: 9th January 2020 Pace: Fast Format: Novella Publisher: Avon Year: 2014 5th sentence, 74th page: Are you chilled?
From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lynsay Sands comes a classic short story of a knight in need of a bride…
Lady Alice knows she is not the type to entice a man. She’s too voluptuous, too intelligent, too strong minded. Why, she even reads! But then Jonathan, Earl of Fairley, arrives at court. Tall, dark and handsome, the knight is any woman’s dream. And he has just been ordered by the king to find a bride… and Alice is to help him!
Jonathan has been evading his mother’s matchmaking schemes for years, so why does she insist that Lady Alice isn’t for him? Alice is only to aid in his search for a bride, yet Jonathan can’t help but be distracted by her glorious hair – the color of a sunset – and a figure that is like a lush berry about to burst to full ripeness… Has Jonathan fallen prey to love?
This is a fantastic novella. It is a quick, easy read. It’s fun, cute and actually incredibly romantic. Plus, there is this insanely meddlesome mother who I am completely in love with. Meddlesome mothers who just have their sons’ best interests at heart? That’s just perfect. Especially when you discover her machinations at the very ending of the story and realise that every moment in this novella has been carefully orchestrated.
Finishing this novella had me quite merrily giggling away. There was a great sense of humour throughout this story. I love that it’s a tale which takes you to another place, but with the same battles we face today. Namely, men who are stubborn and silly and refuse to take control of their lives. I have a man like this in my life, and there are certain things which I approach in a really, really roundabout way. Just to make sure that the outcome is the what I desire… I probably relate a little too much to the mother in this story…
There is nothing really revolutionary that I can say about this novella. It was just a great, easy read that I didn’t want to put down. I was kind of sad that it ended so quickly… but I do have another Lynsay Sands standalone novel in my pile to read this month… I look forward to another story that is simple, light and fun.
The town of Magellan is famous for its woo-woo activity. Naomi is known as an Unbeliever (one who doesn’t believe in Magellan’s mystical energy). But Naomi must put disbelief aside when her Navajo lover reveals that he is a Changer, a shapeshifter, and has returned to Magellan to protect her from grave anger on Christmas Eve.
Wow. This is an amazing novella. Just like the other novella I read in the Stormwalker series. I’m remembering why I’m so addicted to the idea of this series. Luckily, this time, I actually have Stormwalker sitting on my bookshelves… so I will probably start reading that almost immediately. There is just something incredibly intense and fun about this writing and world building that takes me to my super happy place.
Naomi and Jamison are a really great couple. I wasn’t as attached at the outset, due to the whole, he abandoned her for two years thing. But then he explained that away. And I fell completely, head over heels, in love. It helped that Jamison is a Native American, and I love the addition of this cultural group into my shelves.
To expand on the Native American theme, Coyote is also a major player in this story. He has got to be my favourite trickster deity. At least, thus far. There is something conniving, fun and wonderful about him. Plus, tricksters are supposed to be agents of change and balance… he’s the closest fit in all the mythos I’ve read. And he fits the bill perfectly in here. He kind of helps out Jamison and Naomi… but then he also kind of just abandons them….
Title: Foundling Author: D.M. Cornish Series: Monster Blood Tattoo #1 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Australian authors, Dark fantasy, Steampunk Dates read: 1st – 9th January 2020 Pace: Medium Format: Novel Publisher: Scholastic Year: 2006 5th sentence, 74th page: Could I see the gastrines, sir?
Meet Rossamnd a foundling, a boy with a girl’s name who is about to begin a dangerous life in the service of the Emperor of the Half-Continent. What starts as a simple journey becomes a dangerous and complicated set of battles and decisions. Humans, monsters, unearthly creatures . . . who among these can Rossamnd trust? D. M. Cornish has created an entirely original world, grounded in his own deft, classically influenced illustrations. Foundling is a magic-laced, Dickensian adventure that will transport the reader.
My mum gave me this book when I was still in high school, early teens. And I just couldn’t get into it. I liked the storyline, but, back then, I really wasn’t used to reading books which had another language. I just found it way too overwhelming and put it aside. Now I’m really wondering why. This book was amazing, engaging and impossible to put down. It was fun and interesting. Something that completely drew me in and totally enthralled me.
I love that this kind of employs Murphy’s Law – everything that Rossamund experiences is just one problem after another. Starting with getting on the wrong boat. Which you totally knew, and you completely expected things to start going haywire. Just, maybe not as haywire as what actually happened. It was glorious, entertaining and makes me excited to grab the next book. This story was just an absolutely insane adventure. It not only helped that Rossamund was constantly confused and questioning everything – which helped to explain the world that was being built around you as you were catapulted with him from one misadventure to another.
I loved the world building in this story. You kind of expect fantastic world building when there’s literally an entire dictionary at the back of the novel. But there was something even more phenomenal about this. Something that I found difficult to put down. I loved the creation of Rossamund and his friends. The monsters and people that he encounters. And the roles of the world – I didn’t expect a Lamplighter to be such a dangerous task!
It’ll be interesting to see how Lamplighter will unfold. Already, Rossamund’s adventures are revealing little cracks in the agreements of the world. The discussion of whether monsters are bad or good. The realities of living outside of the orphanage. Seriously, this book is amazing. And I love that it is also written by a fellow Aussie!
Ashputtle is the newest version of Cinderella. With a much darker, far more disturbing twist…
This is an incredibly insane version of Cinderella. Like, seriously insane. One that I absolutely adored. And couldn’t get enough of. And just seriously enjoyed… but it was dark, and made me think of Cinderella (or in this case Ashputtle) as more of a monster than a victim. Which is probably why I loved it so much. Nothing like a sick, disturbing story to make my crazy brain happy.
I found some of the points made about fat people really interesting. The idea that they’re presumed to be stupid or just plain ignored. It was painfully true. But also helped to create a cloak behind which Ashputtle could hide her atrocities. It’s a little bit scary how spot on these moments were and made me stop and think about how I deal with other people.
My biggest question about this short story is – what was done to the children? I know the culprit. I know that they went missing. And I even know why they were the selected victims. But what I don’t know is what was done with them? And my imagination is not leading me to nice, happy places with that…
Title: Master of Chaos Author: Michael Moorcock In: The Mammoth Book of Dark Magic (Mike Ashley) Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Dark fantasy, Magic Dates read: 8th January 2020 Pace: Slow Format: Short story Publisher: Robinson Year: 1964 5th sentence, 74th page: “I’ll try this, lady.”
He is the conqueror of lands. The sword of the Queen. But even this castle and its mistress might be too much for the newly appointed Master of Chaos.
When I think of dark fantasy, I think of some incredibly twisty, crazy stories. Ones that have a sense of darkness that you can’t shake. Yet, this story didn’t quite have that feeling of darkness. It was a little bit more light and entertaining. With just a hint of darkness behind the storyline. I love that it’s a story which features trickery as the central battle. One that wins the day in the end.
This story features a castle which protects itself from invaders and conquerors. Just by showing someone their greatest fears. It’s intense, engaging and very, very interesting. I’m not sure what I would be shown if this happened to me. Probably a lot of snakes running around everywhere. (Slithering. Whatever, you get my drift.)
At the beginning of this short story, I found it quite confusing. But, as the story unfolded, I started to gain a little more understanding. And it suddenly became kind of amazing. Definitely a story which I’m going to enjoy reading again, as I discover more and more of this storyline.
Title: Tarnished Knight Author: Bec McMaster Series: London Steampunk #1.5 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Australian authors, Steampunk romance, Vampires Dates read: 1st – 8th January 2020 Pace: Fast Format: eBook, Novella Publisher: Smashwords Year: 2013 5th sentence, 74th page: Honoria laughed as Blade slung his arm around her.
In the steam-fuelled world of Victorian London, vampires, werewolves and slasher gangs stalk the night and a man made partly of metal is about to discover just how far he’ll go to protect the woman he loves…
After a vicious vampire attack left him struggling to leash the dark urges of the craving virus, John “Rip” Doolan thinks he’s finally starting to master the darkness within. The only thing that threatens to shatter his hard-won control is Esme, his closest friend and the only woman he’s ever wanted. If the stubborn beauty ever realized precisely what was going through his mind, their friendship would be ruined.
For six months, Esme has waited for Rip to recover and take her as his thrall, not daring to hope for more. Too afraid to put her heart on the line, she is devastated when Rip reveals that he never had any intentions of making her his.
But when a savage gang of Slashers start causing havoc in Whitechapel, Rip and Esme have no choice. They must face up to the depth of the passion that burns between them and forge a new relationship…or risk losing each other forever.
Wow was this novella intense and awesome. And amazing. And fun. There is just something about the world of London Steampunk that draws me in completely. Is kind of unforgettable. And makes me travel to my happy, literary nerd place. It’s just impossible to put down.
I’m really glad that Esme and Rip got their own story in this series. Their relationship and journey was left a little too open-ended at the conclusion of Kiss of Steel. So finding their happily ever after? That was just gorgeous. And, of course, since it’s a thrilling little novella, it couldn’t be easy and simple. Couldn’t just go with what you wanted to happen… I feel like I should be more annoyed by that. But I just absolutely loved the journey.
I love that although this is a steampunk romance and about Esme and Rip, the main storyline was actually a battle against another evil character. Or at least, that’s how it felt to me. I loved trying to find out how and when the bad guy was going to get his comeuppance. And the fact that it coincided with Esme and Rip trying to figure out how to coexist with Rip’s new abilities… well, it was just thrilling.
Family practitioner Cary Rupert wants Nora Chilton so badly he can barely keep a hold of his stethoscope. Now he’s out to prove that when it comes to loving her forever, he’s the man for the job.
This was an incredibly cute and easy novella. A good read at the end of a long day and one that I thoroughly enjoyed. It started out a little tedious… but then it gained traction. And was actually quite cute. Not the kind of story that will get your pulse racing, but one that makes you smile that happy, secret little smile.
At the beginning, I found Cary a little bit annoying. He was a little too stalkerish for my liking. I really don’t understand this whole idea of “romance” that focuses on men who won’t take no and somehow that’s romantic. I mean, seriously… if I tell you no. It’s a no. There is nothing coy and playful about that for me. Yet, once the story unfolded, it kind of became a little less stalkerish. Mostly because Nora actually appreciates it and there is true love. Ya da. Ya da. It’s still somewhat problematic though when you think about it…
I did like Nora though. She was super sweet and innocent. A little too much, but it was a nice balance to the super painful, pushy persona of Cary. Mostly, I found a lot of this storyline problematic. But yet, there was something about it that still worked beautifully. Something I just enjoyed. Even if I was constantly questioning why…
