Picking music for your midnight radio station can certainly be a difficult choice… especially when you have to deal with a fool of a manager.
This doesn’t really feel like much of a short story. More
like a little segue, look into Kitty’s daily life, managing her station
manager. It did help to crystalize some of the ways in which she views the
world though and highlight that before or else, she is a werewolf first and
sees things in terms of animal nature of instincts.
Kitty is so clearly an alpha figure in this story. It’ll be
interesting how this works into an urban fantasy world. There’s not many
stories which feature a strong, female werewolf without a whole slew of issues
from her male contemporaries.
Since this really felt more like an anecdote than a story, I
don’t really have all that much to say about this. It was fun, easy and makes
me keen to sink my teeth into Kitty and the Midnight Hour.
Title: The Seventeen-Year Itch Author: Garth Nix In: Haunted Nights (Lisa Morton & Ellen Datlow) Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect) My Bookshelves:Dark fantasy, Horror, Mental health Dates read: 18th November 2019 Pace: Fast Format: Short story Publisher: Blumhouse Year: 2017 5th sentence, 74th page: He tried to smile, but inside McIndoe felt cold, and old, and frightened.
Every seventeen-years the itch reaches its peak and Stubbsy locks himself in a container. But the new manager of the psych ward doesn’t want him to be put in such an inhuman container. The consequences are nothing like she anticipated and will carry on to the next generation.
From the title of this story, I was completely expecting a
story of a husband and wife which do something horrible to each other. Because,
you know… it was in a collection of horrifying Halloween stories. It’s still
completely horrifying. Still a creepy Halloween story… but not about a husband
and wife. Not really about anything that I expected from the title. Which, of
course, made me love it even more… since you know, the joys of a collection of
Halloween horror tales.
We’ve all felt itchy. Actually, as I write this and reflect
on the short story, I’m wearing a woollen jumper. Which five seconds ago didn’t
feel so damn itchy… and now… nope, nope, nope. Expand that by ten thousand and you
have the feeling that is described in this story. I think that fact that we’ve
all felt the insane urge to itch makes it much easier to relate to this story. And
therefore feel WAY more creeped out by it than any other story which you can’t
relate to so closely.
The only thing I would say about this story – don’t read it
before bed. It’s kind of creepy and full on. I’m so glad that I read this
earlier in the day and had enough time to finish other stories before falling
into bed. Just don’t read it before you fall asleep…
There’s the Ghost of Christmas Past and then there’s the Ghost of your First Time… after reading this, you tell me which is worse.
At the beginning of this story, I thought it would be quite
a sweet, easy little read. It begins talking about the fact that you never
forget your first. Which, of course, we don’t. What I didn’t quite realise was
that the narrator really wasn’t talking about the first I was imagining. Or at
least, that was not all that he was talking about. It turned out to be quite a
tragic tale, and one that almost had me in tears.
Alright, this story is still about first loves, but, being that it is a werewolf story, there is a much darker twist on the glory of a first love. Something that I really wasn’t expecting, and was only revealed at the very end. Yet, there is also a bittersweetness to the story – he is able to constantly love and communicate with the spectre of the past, one that eerily reminds me of the ghosts in A Christmas Carol.
Most people dream of true love. And, in its dark, twisted
way… this is a beautiful tale of that kind of love. That everlasting feeling
that you’ll never get over, and always remember… kind of a nice Christmas tale,
but not one that left me with all the warm fuzzies that I normally would like.
Title: Company Town Author: Madeline Ashby Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Dystopia, Science fiction, Strong women Dates read: 14th October – 18th November 2019 Pace: Fast Format: Novel Publisher: Tor Year: 2016 5th sentence, 74th page: He was moving in the other direction.
As one of the few people without bioengineered genetic enhancements, Go Jung-hwa has always had to scrape together a living in New Arcadia, the city-size oil rig floating in the Canadian Maritimes.
At the end of the world – life must go on.
After lynch Ltd., a technological tycoon dynasty, purchases the entire rig, Hwa’s talents and lack of any sort of altering attract their attention.
The opportunity of a lifetime… if she can manage to stay alive.
And when one of her former client’s – and friend’s – dismembered body is found floating in the North Atlantic, Hwa finds her loyalties split between her past and future. And it looks as if the future has come to collect in the present…
This story is absolutely brilliant and completely unforgettable! I’m hoping to find many, many, many more tales by Ashbyto fill up my shelves… I just can’t seem to get the awesomeness of this story out of my head. Although, since it’s fieldwork season and I’m insanely busy, I basically had to stop reading it early on since I could already tell how hooked I was going to get…
As much as I loved this story, I did find it a little
intense. It’s definitely the kind of tale that you have to concentrate on when
reading. Although, I tend to feel that way about most SciFis. There is just
something a little more complex and intense than most of the fantasies that I
pick up…although the commentary on the world that we live in is also so much m
ore poignant and beautifully intense than the run of the mill fantasies as
well. There is just something so much more… extreme about a SciFi, and a
well-written one like this… definitely a rave!
Hwa has to be one of my favourite heroines that I’ve read in
a while. Not only does she have this amazing strength, as the story unfolds and
you find out more and more about her life beforehand, you truly begin to
understand how damn strong this woman is. As I said, completely unforgettable. Not
the book that I want to put down at any point soon and not one that I’ll
forget. I also love that Hwa is never in any way, shape or form described as
beautiful. I get a little over women who have everything, and Hwa definitely
doesn’t – which makes me want to be her when I grow up.
I don’t think I’ve read any books that actually feature the
society of sex workers. Especially not the power of women in this industry. It
turns such a taboo subject into something far more approachable. And the
unionisation of the industry? Brilliant – something that I still think would be
a brilliant idea, but that’s a political debate for another day…
Title: the Island of Dr. Moreau Author: H.G. Wells Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Classics, Easy reading, Science fiction Dates read: 2nd – 17th November 2019 Pace: Slow Format: Novel Publisher: Cantebury Classics Year: 1895 5th sentence, 74th page: I dropped the whip and snatched at the pistol in my pocket; for I meant to kill this brute, the most formidable of any left now upon the island, at the first excuse.
Edward Prendick is shipwrecked in the Pacific. Rescued by Doctor Moreau’s assistant he is taken to the doctor’s island home where he discovers the doctor has been experimenting on the animal inhabitants of the island, creating bizarre proto-humans…
I really struggled to get all of the way through this novel. It wasn’t bad, I just really wasn’t in the mood for the convoluted nature that I’m beginning to associate with H.G. Wells’ writing. There’s always about a thousand things going on and some brilliant symbolism… which means that if I’m not quite as clued in as I’d like… it becomes more than a little difficult to truly get into the book. So, since I wanted to move another book out of my currently reading pile (it’s just getting beyond a joke at the moment), I decided to skim read through.
That’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy this story. And I’ll
definitely be reading it again. There was something that just sat below the
surface of the words which was both haunting and brilliant. An excellent
commentary on our world. and, more important to my own life, the status of
science. Just because we can, it doesn’t mean that we should… but I’m never
sure where the line is. I know that Dr. Moreau definitely crossed it… but that’s
about the extent of my opinion on this to be honest.
There are a lot of stories which explore the question – who
is more human? The man or the beast? This did so in a far more obvious and
graphic manner than almost any of the stories that I’ve had the pleasure of
reading so far. It was intense, gave me some incredibly visual consequences and
a very intriguing adventure. One in which I’m pretty sure that I missed half of
the integral points… after all, I was just skim reading and not 100% into it.
The Island of Dr. Moreau is one of those stories that
I’m not going to forget anytime soon. There is something hauntingly familiar
about it while it manages to be completely unique and impossible to forget. Although,
I did keep thinking about one of the Spy Kids movies while I was reading
it… the one with the nutty scientist alone on an island filled with his own
creations…
Title: Wild Ride Author: Carrie Vaughn Series: Kitty Norville #0.7 In: Kitty’s Greatest Hits (Carrie Vaughn) Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Paranormal fantasy, Urban fantasy, Werewolves Dates read: 17th November 2019 Pace: Medium Format: Short story Publisher: Tor Year: 2011 5th sentence, 74th page: The Dustbowl was part of a row of simple wooden buildings set up to look like an Old West street but without disguising the modern shingles, windows, and neon beer sings.
He’s just discovered that he’s not as well as he wants to be. But a motorbike accident and a twist of fate might provide him with an out. Will he be brave enough to start a new life?
I’ve decided that I absolutely adore werewolf stories which feature gay werewolves. This is only my second. The other is the Mercedes Thompson series. There is just something that pulls me in… I’m not sure why. Probably something to do with the fact that werewolves are often used to indicate our animalistic side, which is very much associated with power and masculinity where the males are concerned… things that are not traditionally associated with gay men. Which is stupid, but that’s another soapbox for another day. The point is… I loved this.
This isn’t a greatly positive story. Although, it’s not entirely negative either. Unlike some of the other lead-up Kitty Norvilleshort stories, the man isn’t turned against his will and there’s really not much trauma associated with his turning. Rather, he trades one “cage” for another and then finds a way to live with the decisions he’s made. A much nicer and more PG story of paranormal turnings and becoming a monster.
What I loved most about this story though is the fact that
he actually walked away. Although it was scary, possibly dangerous and
could potentially lead to his death. He manages to stand up for himself, walk
away and be his own person. Something that not everyone can do. Especially when
surrounded by such intense peer pressure and an alpha figure such as the one in
this story. All in all, a fantastic read and one that I absolutely ripped
through.
Title: Wick’s End Author: Joanna Parypinski In: Haunted Nights (Lisa Morton & Ellen Datlow) Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Dark fantasy, Demons, Horror, Tricksters Dates read: 17th November 2019 Pace: Medium Format: Short story Publisher: Blumhouse Year: 2017 5th sentence, 74th page: His soul was turned away from the light, and turned away, of course, from that seething pit of terror known as hell, as the devil kept his promise.
A trade-off of horror stories late on All Hallows Eve. Each one scarier than the last. Each with their own, hidden message.
There is something that is just so… recognisable about
telling ghost stories. It doesn’t matter what age or setting, telling tales
that are sure to freak out your friends, peers and family is just… well, fun. Which
of course meant that there had to be an exchange of ghost stories in a
collection of Halloween tales. The fact that it’s an exchange of steadily
creepier stories in a bar in the middle of nowhere… well, that had me grinning
and clapping my hands like a little ninny.
This is a bit of a trickster tale. After all, the trickster
is constantly outwitting and outmanoeuvring his enemies. And often times they
are far more powerful than him. Which is what the man in this tale does… but
with the devil. And yet, you know, since it’s the devil… that there will be some
form of comeuppance at the end. The devil really doesn’t like to be bested, so he’s
going to find a way to get his revenge… which creates an amazing cat and mouse
story that I’m really disappointed ended so quickly. I mean, I would have loved
to continue the cat and mouse game a little longer!
I’ve never understood what is so “cool” about Jack O’Lanterns.
Or however you spell it… they’ve always seemed creepy. And I’ve watched rom
coms which feature their carving as some romantic moment… ummmm. No thank you! This
is a bit of a Jack O’Lantern origins story. One which far better suits my freaked
out opinion on them than anything else I’ve read or seen in a long time… they
are not cute and cuddly!
Title: Magic of Thieves Author: C. Greenwood Series: Legends of Dimmingwood #1 Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Easy reading, Fantasy, Young adult Dates read: 16th – 17th November 2019 Pace: Slow Format: Novel Publisher: C. Greenwodd Year: 2012 5th sentence, 74th page: Drop the pretense.
In a province where magic is forbidden and its possessors are murdered by the magickless, young Ilan, born with the powerful gift of her ancestors, has only one hope for survival – concealment. In the shadow of Dimmingwood, she finds temporary protection with a band of forest brigands led by the infamous outlaw Rideon the Red Hand.
But as Ilan matures, learns the skills of survival, and struggles to master the magic of her dying race, danger is always close behind. When old enemies reappear and new friendships lead to betrayal, will the discovery of an enchanted bow be Ilan’s final salvation or her ultimate downfall?
This was a quick, easy read. I didn’t mind it, but I did
kind of find Ilan to be a bit of a bitch. She just used and abused so many of
the people who love her. And for no good reason. Considering the fact that she
loses her parents young, she actually has a fairly good upbringing. And absolutely
no reason to strike out at the people she ends up striking out at… there are
some people you should be bitter towards. The three people in the world who have
always had your best interests at heart… probably not overly necessary to be a
cow to them…
Luckily, even though I didn’t love Ilan as a character, I
did love the characterisation and the storyline. Normally if I find a character
just that irritating I won’t finish the book. And if I do, I don’t want
to buy the rest in the series. That wasn’t the case for Magic of Thieves.
I’ve already added the next two boos in the series to my wishlist and I’m
eagerly awaiting the moment when I have enough money to actually buy them. Just
because there is a bit of an anti-hero at the helm, it doesn’t mean I have to
DNF a book. Although, it helps that she starts towards a major attitude shift
at the end of the book…
I do love that Ilan is a girl who is raised by thieves and
brigands. She isn’t raised to be a killer or super tough, in fact, she’s
overwhelmingly naïve and weak. Yet, she’s surrounded by this completely new and
unique world in which strength and the ability to kill are kind of integral. A
great departure from most of the stories in which the young woman is raised in
such a scenario. In fact, she acts more like a mascot than anything else to the
troop she’s fallen in with.
Having said all of that, this wasn’t a stand out book. I
will eventually get round to finish / reading the whole series. But, since
they’re such short, easy reads… it’ll probably be when I haven’t read for a
while, or finished anything and need a quick reading fix. A bit like the short
story collections that I’ve ripped through this year…
Title: The Haire of the Beast Author: Donna Andrews In: Wolfsbane and Mistletoe (Charlaine Harris & Toni L.P. Kelner) Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Christmas, Humour, Urban fantasy Dates read: 17th November 2019 Pace: Medium Format: Short story Publisher: Gollancz Year: 2008 5th sentence, 74th page: I tried to keep my tone neutral, but brothers and sisters learn to read each other.
Revenge is a dish best served cold… or as a plate of brownies! Never mess with an intelligent woman and then give her a book of powerful spells…
Any revenge story is going to make me laugh and smile. I’m
just that kind of person… especially when that revenge story is one well
deserved, in a dish best served cold. Literally. And if the guy in question is
turning a woman’s brother against her? Yup, I was absolutely cackling with glee
at the end of this story.
Sadly, I don’t hear many positive stories come out of tales
of women in academia… I’m still hoping that this will change. But the fact that
a man took advantage of his girlfriend and then proceeded to make her brother think
that he was still the bees knees… Yeah, I’d be out looking for revenge too. And
the way that the lead in this takes her revenge is quite brilliant, even if she
isn’t sure whether or not it will actually work.
I love the idea of a spell to help you become a werewolf. It’s
always interesting what mythos is employed for this transformation, and the one
used in this was brilliant. Although, I don’t know if I would be so calm about
the decisions she makes in the end. Even if I am 100% behind her!
Title: Pele’s Tears Author: Catherine Mulvany In: The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance (Trisha Telep) Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect) My Bookshelves:Easy reading, Paranormal romance Dates read: 16th November 2019 Pace: Medium Format: Short story Publisher: Robinson Year: 2009 5th sentence, 74th page: She upended the box, staring in despair at battered copies of National Geographic and Scientific American.
She’s the girl that he fell in love with. And he’s the PI she’s hired to find out what happened to her Grandmother. Will Pele’s Tears give them their happily ever after?
I love that this paranormal romance is partly set in Hawaii.
It’s not a common setting for most of the stories that I read…and not only did
I love the change, but I also haven’t had the pleasure of being there myself,
so it bought to life one of the destinations on my bucket list.
Everyone has that “what if” person in their lives. That person
they spend their whole time wondering what would have happened “if”. For some
of us, this “what if” isn’t really bittersweet or one that we linger on. Or at
least, for me, it certainly isn’t. Yet, this short story is such a tale. Not
only is it a “what if” for the current generation in the story, but it’s also
one for her grandmother.
Stories of the old gods and goddesses always draw me in
completely. The fact that this goddess is all about giving someone a final few
days with the love of her life and fixing up things so that the future is
better… well, I can understand the sacrifice of Pele’s Tears…
