Title: The Jamesburg Incubus Author: Scott Baker In: Alien Sex (Ellen Datlow) Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Lust, Science fiction Dates read: 30th September 2019 Pace: Slow Format: Short story Publisher: ROC Year: 1990 5th sentence, 74th page: They start, slowly, romantically, this time, as though the three of them are fitting together, following something innate and inborn rather than dictating their private needs and wants to one another.
St. Jacques is a pretentious, boring teacher. Until he eats some mouldy bread… and he begins to transform into an incubus.
Tales of alien adventures don’t normally include tones of
Christianity. Or at least, none of the science fiction tales I normally read
do… which made this tale incredibly weird and uncomfortable in some ways. But
also very unique and interesting…
The most uncomfortable about this short story was the sexual
preferences of St. Jacques. At first the idea of an incubus was seriously
fascinating… until the young women he was preying on in his dreams were
somewhat younger than I was imagining. Things just got steadily weirder and
more uncomfortable from that point on. Although, I suppose that that was kind
of the point…
Most tales I read about incubi have an intense paranormal
spin. It’s about demons and angels. Right and wrong. Good and bad. Not so much
with this tale… there is a weird moment of epiphany at the end. But, mostly it’s
about a weird bread mould which can alter perceptions and feelings in dreams… a
part of my life I would probably rather remained untouched.
Maggie and Kate Fox have a long history of delving into the spiritual world. But as Maggie faces her final days, she reminsces on their lies and the horrors of Mr. Splitfoot.
I don’t really know anything about the Fox sisters. But this
short story really made me want to find out more about them. It would be an
amazing story and fascinating tale. Actually, I think that I’ll put their
biography on my wishlist…
Bailey manages to write a fascinating historical fiction. Taking Maggie’s last days and building a rich tapestry, he constructs a world that I didn’t quite want to leave. Maggie’s confusion, reminiscing and regret all built a surreal story. One that had a waxing and waning quality… built around an old woman with many regrets and a horrifying spectre lingering over her final moments.
One of the aspects I really enjoyed about this story (other than the actual story), was Bailey’sexplanation at the close. He highlights which parts of this tale were real and which ones completely figments of his own imagination. It made everything far more real and intense. Bought it to life in a way I really wasn’t expecting. And had no idea I craved so badly.
And Lucy Monroe, national bestselling author of the Children of the Moon novels, unleashes the feral passions of a werewolf on the body, mind, and soul of his prey, his lover, his mate.
This is one of those stories which makes you want to run out and buy every single story in this series. Not only is it a paranormal romance that features shapeshifters (something I am completely obsessed with), but it’s well written, incredibly sweet and impossible to forget. There is just something beautiful and mysterious about the two leads and the extra level which they connect on. Something intense about the world the Monroehas created…
I’ve read a lot of shapeshifting stories which feature
werewolves, ones that feature cats. And even one or two with bears and sharks…
but I’ve never actually read one which features a bird of prey…and an eagle who
has lost her confidence… well, that completely hit my sweet spot. A secret village
hidden in the forests of Scotland just made it all the more impossible to put
down and stop thinking about…
A lot of information was squeezed into a very small amount of words. Normally novellas which take place in a complex world make me scratch my head a little at the background story. Yet, with a small prologue and a sordid past, Monroemanages to impart all of her wisdom in a short amount of time. Actually, it was the perfect amount of information – enough that I understood the politics completely, but also light enough on the information that I want to know more, more, more!
This was such a sweet, easy, light read. One that I won’t
forget readily and I’m really looking forward to repeating in future novels
from this series… when I’ve saved up a little first…
Six years ago, Jack Harrington was in love with Annie Gallagher, until her sudden death turned his world upside down. But when an intruder breaks into his home one night, the former FBI agent can barely believe his eyes – Annie’s alive… and a vampire.
After her sudden transition, Annie couldn’t bear to let Jack see all that she had become. One night she gives into temptation and decides to feed off a man who resembled Jack, only to find herself face to face with the man himself. Now that they’re together again, Jack’s not about to let Annie go, vampire or no. And Annie needs Jack’s help to find a missing girl named Cricket. Danger swirls around the pair as they search for Cricket while a demon bent on destroying all vampires closes in on the pair. Will love lost and found be able to overcome supernatural odds?
I found this story a little bit sad. Alright, there’s a
happy ending… but the fact that a couple who so obviously loves one another is
kept apart by a series of mistakes and misunderstandings… it was more than a
little sad. I did like that the relationship was restored because of her constant
need to be near him, and desire to find a little girl collide beautifully.
There are three tales which run through this story. Firstly, there’s the race to find Cricket with a mad man (or demon) on their trail. Secondly, a renegotiation of old relationships and sharing of the past as they try to find a future together. And, lastly, the thread which holds this novella to the rest of the Guardians series, the epic battle between light and dark that happens behind the scenes of our every day lives. Not many novellas would be able to include all of these storylines so seamlessly, but Meljean Brook managed to do this fantastically.
Thicker than Blood was a great novella with just the amount of angst and drama to keep me hooked, but not so much that I found it tedious. It made me want to run to my shelves and pick up the next book in the Guardians series, and just sink my nose into another day of fun and romance, forgetting the world and all of my responsibilities.
She’s been half in love with a statue for as long as she can remember. But when she meets the man in real life, her life may just be put in jeopardy. Will he arrive in time to save her?
Love hits us all. Not so often in the form of an obsession
with a statue. But it still hits us. Luckily, nothing untoward happens with the
statue… rather it happens with the man who inspired the physique. Which I can
kind of understand… I too have stared at some gorgeously constructed artwork…
Prejudice exists in everyday life. But it seems to be so
much more potent when told through the lens of fantasy and fiction. Maybe
something to do with the fact that it removes us a little further from the
situation, so we can see it a lot clearer. I like that instead of focusing on
vampire prejudice (I have a LOT of those stories), this tale focuses instead on
assumptions made about women and their sexuality. Actually, it was mostly the
belief that she’s a witch because of her red hair… but still…
Every action has a consequence. I kind of hate the
consequences in this story… in trying to save the woman he loves from a life
of the night, he inadvertently places her in even more serious danger. Danger
which makes you want to reach through the pages and punch the idiots who
perpetrate it in the face. But that’s a soap box moment for another day…
She thinks that she’s finally found the love of her life. But, when she finds out that he’s been seeing another woman… she might just crack.
This was a nice, creepy little contemporary take on the Jack
the Ripper mythos. For starters, it is in present day and deals with his
descendants. For another, it is written from the point of view of one of these
descendants. You spend most of the time wondering who is about to get
themselves murdered… and just what genetics do mean for the serial killer gene…
or if there even is one. Actually, this definitely swayed me towards the belief
in a serial killer…
Nature versus nurture is a constant debate. One that
seriously fascinates me. This tends more to the angle of nature. That genes can
give us certain tendencies that aren’t great. Alright, not great is an
understatement… this is talking about serial killers with no real purpose other
than death. It makes yo concerned for who the real descendants of Jack the
Ripper could be… if there are any (I’m kind of hoping not).
The flip in the culprit of the story took me completely by
surprise. I like that there were two people who had a genetic tendency to be
killers. The genetics aren’t really what I blame their actions on (we’re all
masters of our own fate), but it still made things incredibly tense and spine
tingling as I read about the different backgrounds of two people who aren’t overly
nice. But it does raise a number of questions.
Title: The Last Rhinos Author: Lawrence Anthony Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Biographies, Conservation, Non-fiction Dates read: 16th June – 26th September 2019 Pace: Slow Format: Novel Publisher: PAN Year: 2012 5th sentence, 74th page: In some areas all you could see were the splintered stumps of once-massive jungle trees.
Lawrence Anthony has been described as ‘the Indiana Jones of conservation’. His South African game reserve is home to many animals he has saved, from a remarkable herd of elephants to a badly behaved bushbaby called George. When he learned that there was only a handful of northern white rhinos left in the wild, living in an area of the Congo controlled by the infamous Lord’s Resistance Army, he was determined to save them from extinction.
What followed was an extraordinary adventure, as Lawrence headed into the jungle to ask the rebels to help protect the rhino. He was also battling to keep his own animals alive during a terrible drought and to save the eyesight of his elephant matriarch Nana. The Last Rhinos is peopled with unforgettable characters, both human and animal, and is a sometimes funny, sometimes moving, always exciting read.
I haven’t read this book for a while. But lately, I’ve needed the inspiration and the motivation to remind me what it is about conservation that I’m passionate about. There is just something about Lawrence Anthony’sadventures and dedication that are completely awe inspiring. Unforgettable and smakes you realise that you are just a small dot in the fabric of the world. Which sounds horrible, but I kind of love… it’s nice to know that your decisions and life isn’t going to change the fate of the world, and that you are something small in a greater reality.
I would do a lot to save animals and take care of the environment… but I really don’t know that I would take on one of the most dangerous and infamous armies in the modern world – the LRA. The intensity of Lawrence’srelationships with these men and his part in their attempts at brokering peace are overwhelming, awe-inspiring and a great read late at night. After all, very few people would have the confidence and gumption to actually do such a thing to take care of another species…
The Last Rhinos is a bit slow to begin with. It discusses a lot of politics, difficulties and barriers to the conservation agenda. Money, politics and bureaucracy are always getting in the way, it doesn’t matter which aspect of life we’re dealing with. But when these barriers occur against an innocent rhino, it’s incredibly frustrating. Which comes through amazingly in this novel. We should all start finding a way to unite and stop arguing against the minutiae… otherwise we will lose all of our beautiful wildlife… the Last Rhinos just being a warning for future Armageddon.
Not only do Anthony’swords carry a potency that many other conservation tales don’t. primarily because his raw honesty and inability to hear the word no… but his little anecdotes about life on Zula Zula fill the gaps. They bring to life a reality in South Africa would otherwise be completely removed from our reality. This is a must have novel for anybody who loves nature, the environment and a damn good story.
Title: Priced to Sell Author: Naomi Novik In: Naked City (Ellen Datlow) Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Fae, Urban fantasy, Vampires Dates read: 25th September 2019 Pace: Medium Format: Short story Publisher: St. Martin’s Press Year: 2011 5th sentence, 74th page: To make the day complete, after she’d gotten off the phone with the vampire, Jennifer’s phone went off with another all-caps CALL ME!!
Real estate is a tough enough gig. But what happens when you are trying to find the paranormal beings that go bump in the night a home? When the homes are cursed? And your latest customer just happens to be Jekyll and Hyde…? Everything must be priced to sell.
We’ve just been through the process of trying to sell a
house. So reading a short story about the difficulties of real estate felt a
lot more real and hilarious than it probably would have previously. Especially
the trying to sell your house in a way that matches your perspective buyers’
desires… the fact that there is a paranormal element added to this mix just
made it all the more entertaining.
I had the pleasure of reading my first Naomi Novik story earlier in the month, and I absolutely adored it. However, I did wonder whether or not it was a once off, or all of her work had that same beautiful flavour. I’m pleased to announce that it wasn’t a fluke. She’s amazing. I need more of her. She takes me to many a happy place…
There were so many little threads running through this
story. It wasn’t just a tale about one house and one client, but a number of
them. There was a vampire, Jekyll & Hyde… and, my personal favourite, a
cursed wall of bugs. All in all they combined to make the rigors of attempting
to sell a house with paranormal influences downright hilarious. Impossible to
forget, and an industry that I really, really want to read more about!
Title: Charged Author: Leanna Renee Hieber In: Queen Victoria’s Book of Spells (Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling) Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Fantasy, Gaslamp, Historical fiction Dates read: 25th September 2019 Pace: Slow Format: Short story Publisher: Tor Year: 2013 5th sentence, 74th page: While today’s fair was no joy, tonight proved a further trial – the first of what I assume will be many stumbling blocks along my pilgrim’s progress.
Mosley was struck by lightning as a child, but he didn’t truly realise that that’s what it meant until his younger brother is murdered. Then, on his quest to meet Edison, he begins to understand the true meaning behind light, electricity and power at the turn of the century.
Tesla and Edison and their competition has always vaguely fascinated me. After all, they’re work is what we use in our everyday lives and it’s not something that I could imagine being without. And, apparently Hieber felt the same… since this pivotal moment in time is what is featured in this tale. It completely drew me in. To the point, that after reading this story, I bought a collection of works that feature Tesla’s experiments and life… you have to start somewhere, and I’m still not entirely sure who’s side I’m on in that race…
I really enjoyed Hieber’s wordplay on light and power. Both are intricately intertwined with electricity and they have some incredibly similar meanings, yet we use them so separately in our everyday lives. I don’t think I’ll be doing that so much now. From henceforth it seems more likely and useful to see them as their intertwined selves. And understand them in conjunction with each other.
Recently, I’ve been
watching a lot of Smallville, and in one of the early episodes there is
a young man who goes insane and has a lot of power (literally) running through
his veins. Mosley made me think of this a lot. He is young, from a very bad
family situation and just wants to find a way to make the world (mostly his
world) better. Yet, the way he goes about it has a slightly sinister feeling to
it. One that left me with goosebumps sliding up my arms long after I turned the
last page.
Sure, love is hell. But it’s totally worth it. 88 In these supernatural stories by five of today’s hottest writers – Melissa Marr (Wicked Lovely), Scott Westerfeld (Specials), Justine Larbalestier (Magic or Madness), Gabrielle Zevin (Elsewhere), and Laurie Faria Stolarz (Blue is For Nightmares) – love may be twisted and turned around, but it’s more potent than ever on its quest to conquer all.
From two students who let the power of attraction guide them to break the had-and-fast rules of their world to the girl who falls hard for a good-looking ghost with a score to settle, the clever, quirky characters in this exciting collection will break your heart, then leave you believing in love more than ever.
I both thoroughly enjoyed this series and consistently
wanted to punch some of the characters in the face. I was expecting tragic
tales of passion, lust and love. Instead I got a series of young adult tales
with some seriously whiney leads. Not in every circumstance. Not in all ways.
But enough so that I couldn’t give this collection a five star rating.
There were a few stories in this collection that I
thoroughly enjoyed. They reminded me of the books I read as a child that had
just a tantalising hint of romance. Nothing overt and sexual, but enough there
to make you think that happily ever after was possible. I even found some of
the stories incredibly cute. after all, there is something enjoyable about the innocence
of young love that I just don’t find in many of the books that I read today. There
was also a lot that had me questioning what constitutes romance these days, and
what love is truly about…
Love isn’t something that is simple, beautiful and complete.
Or at least, it hasn’t been in my experience. It’s this intensely complex and difficult
thing to deal with. It makes part of your life better and can leave you feeling
more complete. But it also leads to a lot of complications and indecisions. Some
of these stories highlighted that beautifully in this “love is hell” theme.
Some not so much. But it was definitely worth the read.
