Title: The Man Who Couldn’t Be Bothered to Die Author: Norman Prentiss In: Blood Lite III (Kevin J. Anderson) Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Comedy, Easy reading Pace: Slow Format: Short story Publisher: Gallery Books Year: 2012 5th sentence, 74th page: He’d clicked “Remind Me Later” each day since.
Sometimes it’s necessary to have an intervention. Especially when your loved one just refuses to actually die.
I’ve never been part of an intervention. And I feel like that’s a good thing. Especially when you’re reading a short story that is effectively about the intervention of a loved one. Who is also a zombie. It was funny. But also seriously creepy.
What I loved about this short story is that it starts with an intervention to encourage the character to die. Then it goes back two weeks and helps to explain why his loving sister is telling him to just go towards the light. All of the angst and emotion of a normal intervention, with just that extra little dash thrown in…
Title: Secret Heart Author: Ann Aguirre Series: Razorland #1.1 In: Kisses and Curses (Lauren Burniae) Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this) My Bookshelves:Dystopia, Easy reading Pace: Fast Format: Short story Publisher: Square Fish Year: 2015 5th sentence, 74th page: “We have to lose them before heading back to enclave.”
A retelling of one of the scenes in Ann Aguirre’s Razorland series, told from a different perspective to give the reader a different insight into the tale.
There seem to be a number of deleted scenes from series throughout Kisses and Curses. This is another such tale. But it is certainly a great way to get me hooked into a series without my awareness – after all, I loved this point of view from the Razorland series, so it will be interesting to read the main stories from another POV.
I really liked the mole man setting of this story. In the introduction, Aguirre explains the setting and the dystopian setting of this tale. Something that works really well, and as someone who has lately been enjoying dystopian novels, it seems like a completely unique and fun idea.
A new job as a manicurist with some interesting clients…
I read a lot of fantasy and supernatural stories. There is always something enjoyable about seeing the reflection of the known in the unknown. But, one thing I’ve never really thought of is how these supernatural ghouls and creatures manage to keep themselves looking good on their nightly prowls.
The setting and the idea of a hair salon for the supernatural ghouls was entertaining enough. But, starting a new job as a manicurist at such a place…? FAR more entertaining. And the power of such a unique kind of woman? Just fun.
Yet, that isn’t the only fun thing about this short story… there is also the zombie that really wants to feel pain. And is being stabbed by old women. Who happen to be his fans… did I mention that this story was fun and entertaining? If not a little off kilter?
Title: Magic Flutes Author: Eva Ibbotson Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Easy reading, History, Romance Pace: Medium Format: Novel Publisher: Picador Year: 2009 5th sentence, 74th page: Charles was heir to a baronetcy and a famous estate in Wiltshire; she accepted him and had to endure the four years’ martyrdom that followed his injury in Flanders.
SPRING 1922
Tessa is a beautiful, tiny, dark-eyed princess who’s given up her duties to follow her heart, working backstage at the Viennese opera. No one there knows who she really is or that a fairy-tale castle is missing its princess – and Tessa is determined to keep it that way.
But secret lives can be complicated. When a wealthy handsome Englishman discovers this bewitching urchin backstage, Tessa’s two worlds collide – and in escaping her inheritance, she finds her destiny…
An Austrian princess, a millionaire and an opera, what better setting and couple for a romance? The fact that it is based in Venice in 1922 and features some of the most enchanting imagery I’ve read in a while? It’s just beautiful. This is such a heart-warmingly sweet story that I finished it inside a day. Actually, I refused to do any of the work that I have piling up simply because I wanted to bury myself in the beauty and the romance of this tale.
I like Tessa – she is constantly described as waif-like. And, initially, she is seen as being weak and quiet. A silent almost pushover like woman. Yet, as the story develops, her quiet demeanour reveals a backbone of steel. Even in love and lost to the world that she knows and loves, she is able to hold her head high. At least in public, the heartache of unrequited love and finding one’s soul mate is so beautifully tragic. And sweet. And kind. And just, in general, heart breakingly gooshy.
Actually, I struggle to find the words for this novel. It is filled with a great (if not predictable) love story. The stunningly described backdrop, the slow realisation that the two are in love and the constant challenges thrown in their way take you on an amazing journey. The fact that there is a historical setting and an understanding of the cultural and social outlay at the time. It just makes the story all the better, and far more enthralling to read.
Title: The Last Demon Author: Don D’Amassa In: Blood Lite III: Aftertaste (Kevin J. Anderson) Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this) My Bookshelves:Demons, Easy reading Pace: Medium Format: Short story Publisher: Gallery Books Year: 2012 5th sentence, 74th page: The years passed as a steady stream of minor torments and when the time finally approached that they would be able to return to hell, Ogerak felt that he had survived the worst that the human world could possibly throw at him.
On his 666th birthday, the youngest demon escapes into our world. And finds his own world of pain and torment.
At the beginning of this story, the youngest demon escapes hell. And that was pretty much were my expectations were halted. Nothing went as I thought it would, and it was all such a bizarre adventure that I was left with a very perplexed feeling. Not that that is a bad thing, this story certainly made me think… but it was just a little weird.
One of the aspects of this story that I loved was the idea of a demon’s perspective on our world. The confusion surrounding money, food and jobs was kind of fun. And, I really, really loved the punchline at the very end of the story. It’s the kind of thing that a good short story should end with – surprising, off-kilter and memorable.
Title: Hard Cheese Author: Ulf Durling Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this) My Bookshelves:Crime Pace: Slow Format: Novel Publisher: Locked Room International Year: 2015 5th sentence, 74th page: The murderer must have had some kind of relationship to Nilsson.
Gunnary Bergman, a detective sergeant in a small Swedish town, is called in to investigate the death of a resident of a shady boarding house. He makes the mistake of telling his father, Carl, all the details of the case, including the fact that the victim’s room was locked from the inside. Carl, a locked room enthusiast, is a member of a small club which meets regularly to discuss locked room classics. He and his fellow members gleefully seize on the case and apply chains of Ellery Queen style logic to devise a solution which Gunnar finds so hilarious he reads out extracts to his wife in bed. Meanwhile, he himself interprets the same set of clues to arrive at a totally different solution, through shoddy police work which follows the path of least resistance. It is left to a cheese-loving local doctor to interpret the clues in yet another way to solve the case and confront the murderer.
This was my first Nordic Noir. And one of the first books that I’ve read that has been translated from English. And it was fun. Maybe not something that I would reread. Or at least, not until I’ve forgotten what it was like… but fun nevertheless.
For something that was translated to English, this story is beautifully lyrical. For the first two chapters, I didn’t actually pay attention to the storyline, just the way that the words flowed, and the great character voice that was telling the story. There was just something about it that I completely adored… Of course, reading a story with a bad storyline is a guarantee that I will put it down quickly, so once I got over my joy of the language, I also discovered a storyline that was quite interesting and unique.
I have heard of locked room challenges, but I’ve never really heard of locked room crime. This introduction to the subgenre was certainly interesting (as was the introduction to Nordic Noir) and I have mixed feelings about it. It was interesting enough that I would maybe look into another such storyline. But, it wasn’t quite captivating enough that I started looking up similar storylines…. Maybe in a few months time I’ll start to dig up more Nordic Noir / Locked Room stories…
Title: The Four Horsemen Reunion Tour: An Apocumentary Author: Lucien Soulban In: Blood Lite III: Aftertaste (Kevin J. Anderson) Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect) My Bookshelves:Easy reading, Fantasy, Horror Pace: Fast Format: Short story Publisher: Gallery Books Year: 2012 5th sentence, 74th page: Interviewer: Did you ever consider changing your names?
The setting of an apocumentary run by the four horsemen of the apocalypse.
I like the way that this tale is set – as though it’s a documentary of a reunion tour for a band. Except that this band is the four men of the apocalypse. And the tour is taking place in a hotel where everyone is dead.
This really reminds me of the few documentaries I’ve seen (or even some mocumentaries) about bands and their tours. Especially some of the banter and downright absurd comments that each of the horsemen make… maybe the apocalypse just isn’t that close after all.
Title: The Road to Balinor Author: Mary Stanton Series: Unicorns of Balinor #1 Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this) My Bookshelves:Easy reading, Fantasy Pace: Medium Format: Novel Publisher: Scholastic Inc. Year: 1988 5th sentence, 74th page: “I should…”
CROSS OVER INTO BALINOR
In the crevices of a glacier mountain ridge there is a secret place – a place that connects our world to the world of Balinor. It is a peaceful, magical world watched over by a herd of beautiful unicorns. But darkness has fallen over Balinor.
The royal princess and her majestic unicorn, Sunchaser, are sent from Balinor to our world to find safety. But they can’t stay for long. Danger has followed them.
Princess Arianna and her unicorn are the only ones who can truly save the kingdom.
It is time for the princess to find her way back to Balinor.
I remember reading this when I was younger. I remember loving it. And, although as an adult I’m not quite as in love with this story, it’s still good. I can see why younger me enjoyed this so much. Older me is a little bit eh about the writing style and language. But, it all still works.
I read this story in an hour. It is the typical young girl story of a girl suprememly attached to a horse… or at least, typical for the 90’s when I was reading this for the first time. The girl is a secret princess and she is going to save the world with her unicorn companion. It doesn’t take a genius to work out how this series will end.
BUT it is something that I would quite happily hand to my young daughters (if I ever have any) and watch them enjoy. It’s not overly “girly”, and it shows that girls have their own strength and independence. It also shows the importance of our relationship to animals and the horrors of being a spoilt brat (the Carmichael kid is a perfect illustration of this). All in all, this is a sweet little story for a mindless half hour read. I’ll probably pick up the next one in the series next time I don’t feel 100%, but still want to read something.
Title: For Sale Author: David Sakmyster In: Blood Lite III: Aftertaste (Kevin J. Anderson) Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves: Comedy, Easy reading Pace: Slow Format: Short story Publisher: Gallery Books Year: 2012 5th sentence, 74th page: Carefully reflect on all the intangibles.
A cleverly worded ad for the sale of a haunted house… would you buy it?
I always think that the adverts for houses are entertaining. The wording is always so majestic, the terms often obscure. And guessing what’s secretly wrong with the place can be kind of fun. Well, with this ad… I really didn’t have to go far to guess. But my god was it an entertaining read.
I love how this ad completely takes the mickey out of real estate agents and haunted houses. Everything that is stereotypical and expected appears here and the determined positive spin on the property had me laughing throughout. It’s kind of a pity that this sort of humour isn’t more prevalent within more for sale ads…
New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh returns to her extraordinary Psy-Changeling world with a story of wild passion and darkest betrayal…
Control. Precision. Family. These are the principles that drive Silver Mercant. At a time when the fledgling Trinity Accord seeks to unite a divided world, with Silver playing a crucial role as director of a worldwide emergency response network, wildness and chaos are the last things she needs in her life. But that’s exactly what Valentin Nikolaev, alpha of the StoneWater bears, brings with him.
Valentin has never met a more fascinating woman. Though Silver is ruled by Silence – her mind clear of all emotion – Valentin senses a whisper of fire around her. That’s what keeps him climbing apartment buildings to be near her. But when a shadow assassin almost succeeds in poisoning Silver, the stakes become deadly serious… and Silver finds herself in the heart of a powerful bear clan.
Her would-be assassin has no idea what their poison has unleashed…
The conclusion of the first season of the Psy-Changeling series was brilliant. It tied of arcs, but also helped to introduce new characters and changeling packs. The idea of changeling bears especially appealed to me, and Silver Silence finally introduces one of these stubborn creatures was thoroughly enjoyable. The fact that he is partnered with button down and deadly Silver Mercant from Kaleb’s domain just makes it all the better.
I love the stubbornness and overbearing (haha, get it?) attitudes of the bears are exactly what I imagine a large and unconventional family would feel like. I love the emphasis which Singh places on the importance of family throughout the entire series. The way that this weirdly echoes in Silver’s family is kind of fun. Although there is the idea that there is a complete lack of similarities between the two, there are so many fun similarities. They highlight the importance of loyalty and love in family. And the fact that no matter what, you don’t turn your back on those that love you. Ultimately, this is put to the test in Valentin and Silver’s relationship. And, even though I expect the couples’ happily ever after in Singh’s books, I actually doubted it for a little while. And that new twist was a refreshing change.
I’ve heard many theories about how the powerful encourage war and mayhem – it makes more money. This new Psy-Changeling tale brings this idea into the light and I can’t wait to see how this idea progresses. Silver and Valentin might be on the road to finding their place in the world, but what about the rest of the characters? What about the rest of the Psy-Changeling world and the future of their children? It’s going to be such an amazing journey!
Title: The Man Who Couldn’t Be Bothered to Die
Title: Making the Cut
Title: Magic Flutes
Title: Hard Cheese
