The Heart is Always Right by Lilith Saintcrow

December 21, 2020Book ReviewDeath's Excellent Vacation, Gargoyles, Lilith Saintcrow, Paranormal Fantasy, Romanceskyebjenner

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Title: The Heart is Always Right
Author: Lilith Saintcrow
In: Death’s Excellent Vacation (Charlaine Harris & Toni L.P. Kelner)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Gargoyles, Paranormal fantasy, Romance
Dates read: 19th November 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Gollancz
Year: 2010
5th sentence, 74th page: EvilMart probably didn’t prepare her for this.

A gargoyle with a crush realises that the woman he’s been crushing on might just be his ticket to looking… well, less gargoyle-like. But he has to sacrifice his Heart first.

This was such a cute and sweet short story. I love that there are so many different meanings to the title, depending on what point of the story you are at. The different meanings drew me in completely and left me feeling very happy and content.

I don’t get the privilege of reading many stories about gargoyles. But, ever since watching The Hunchback of Notre Dame, I’ve been fascinated with gargoyles. Happily looking forward to any of the stories I can find that feature these creatures.

The lore and the worldbuilding in this short story are intense. I honestly can’t believe that there aren’t more books set in this world. It is just so damn textured and detailed. I want more!

<- Thin Walls

The Demon in the Dunes ->

Image source: Amazon

Front Row Rider by Muriel Gray

December 20, 2020Book ReviewGhosts, Muriel Gray, Paranormal Fantasy, The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories by Womenskyebjenner

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Title: Front Row Rider
Author: Muriel Gray
In: The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories by Women (Marie O’Regan)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Ghosts, Paranormal fantasy
Dates read: 19th November 2020
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: No need to look.

She’s seen him everyday since that fateful day on the rollercoaster. But now she wants to confront him.

Well, I didn’t see that twist at the end coming. It was brilliant. And made me smile happily. After all, I like to be surprised at the end of a story, and this one was actually a pleasant surprise.

I was completely expecting this to be a story that featured a grim reaper and a woman who couldn’t die. That most definitely wasn’t the case and I really like the direction that this story went in instead. The flick of perspectives at the very end and the different point of view that this flicking told was very well done.

Instead of being a bit of a terrifying ghost story, Front Row Rider was a much more positive and, well, cute story. I’m not entirely sure why I think that this is so cute, that, again, may say something weird about my psyche. But cute I found it.

<- Forget Us Not

God Grant That She Lye Still ->

Image source: Goodreads

The Feeling From Over Here by Gabrielle Tozer

December 20, 2020Book ReviewAustralian Authors, Begin End Begin, Contemporary, Gabrielle Tozer, Young Adultskyebjenner

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Title: The Feeling From Over Here
Author: Gabrielle Tozer
In: Begin, End, Begin (Danielle Binks)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Australian authors, Contemporary, Young adult
Dates read: 18th November 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Year: 2017
5th sentence, 74th page: That night he’d drafted a text, scribbled a letter, started Facebook message, but he didn’t follow through with any of them.

Lucy Faris is stuck on a bus to Melbourne. Which would be bad enough, if it wasn’t for the fact that the boy she thought she liked, and then decided she hated didn’t just get on and sit down next to her…

This short story has an amazing pace to it. It’s not necessarily quick, and it’s most certainly not all that typical. But it worked. I love that each little segment was split into the time at which it happened. Sometimes large gaps of time, sometimes smaller. It was an absolute pleasure to proceed through this journey, one step at a time.

I love that Lucy is a completely kick ass year twelve. She has definitely got a bit of attitude, and plenty of gumption to herself. She’s fun and a little bit quirky. The messages that she is constantly sending to her friends just help to top off her great characterization. Then, flipping her point of view with Cam’s to show why he has acted in certain ways… well, it helped me to bond with both characters in a very short amount of time.

I imagine that a year from the ending of this story, Lucy and Cam totally got together. And had some kind of happily ever after. Because I’m a sap who totally believes in love stories.

<- Oona Underground

Last Night at the Mount Solemn Observatory ->

Image source: Harper Collins Australia

Forget Us Not by Nancy Kilpatrick

December 19, 2020Book ReviewDeath, Ghosts, Nancy Kilpatrick, The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories by Womenskyebjenner

Title: Forget Us Not
Author: Nancy Kilpatrick
In: The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories by Women (Marie O’Regan)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Death, Ghosts
Dates read: 18th November 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: The back lanes of this city are full of strays and it breaks your heart that they live outdoors in such frigid weather.

You’ve just lost the man that you love and you’re struggling to move on with life. But, a chance encounter with a cat acts as a great reminder that you may never forget, but you should still live.

At first I found the first person point of view of this story to be a little clunky. Although, that may be partially because I didn’t want to be thrown into the point of view of someone who has lost their husband. That’s a pretty terrifying thought.

I was honestly waiting for a tragedy to occur right throughout this story. It didn’t, actually, ultimately this was kind of uplifting. In the end, rather than being about tragedy, this was a short story that was about what happens after a tragedy.

The end of this story was hopeful. It was a reminder that even after people have left our lives, we still need to live and experience our own happiness and bliss. And it’s also important to stop and mourn the loss of a loved one, or two. No matter how crappy that might feel.

<- My Moira

Front Row Rider ->

Image source: Goodreads

Days of Heaven by Rick Bass

December 19, 2020Book ReviewRick Bass, The Mammoth Book of Westerns, Westernsskyebjenner

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Title: Days of Heaven
Author: Rick Bass
In: The Mammoth Book of Westerns (Jon E. Lewis)
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Westerns
Dates read: 18th November 2020
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: By that time of day it would be too hot to do anything but take a nap, so that’s what I’d do, upstairs on the big bed with all the windows open, with a fly buzzing faintly in one of the other rooms, one of the many empty rooms.

He’s led an idyllic and happy life. That is, until two horrible men buy the property that he works on, and the days of heaven seem numbered…

I did really enjoy the nostalgia in this story. Particularly the reflection on the past and the desire to regain that sense of idyllic innocence and enjoyment. It made me think about my own childhood and the idyllic nature of it. Or at least, those moments that are coloured by rose-tinted glasses.

Although I think that nothing is “heaven”, it is obvious with the arrival of murder, mayhem and sinister plots that unfold. Yet, at the end of this story, it felt like maybe things weren’t quite as sinister as they seemed…

I did enjoy the rambling, reminiscing feeling of this story. It was nostalgic and not entirely expected. But also seriously enjoyable.

<- The Waterfowl Tree

Hole in the Day ->

Image source: Hachette Australia

The Golden Age by Walter Jon Williams

December 19, 2020Book ReviewDead Man's Hand, Superheroes, Walter Jon Williams, Weird Western, Wild westskyebjenner

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Title: The Golden Age
Author: Walter Jon Williams
In: Dead Man’s Hand (John Joseph Adams)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Superheroes, Weird western, Wild west
Dates read: 17th November 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Titan Books
Year: 2014
5th sentence, 74th page: He whirred right over my head, and I felt the breeze from his cape on my face.

The days of the Gold Rush are over. And, somehow, they have been overrun by a bunch of completely insane superheroes and supervillains running around in capes on their own personal crusades.

I could not stop laughing all throughout this short story. It was quirky and weird. And filled with a great humour that left me grinning. After all, it’s ultimately about a bunch of superhero-type characters running around the wild west. Actually, it’s more supervillains… but the humour and entertainment is still the same.

I absolutely loved that this story focused on the Gold Rush and the lack of law in the land at the time. But, then to overlay this, there were mortal enemies, insanity and all sorts of questionable decisions. There was also a constant discussion of the fact that they are all mad. It’s just a special kind of madness, running around, donning a persona and just generally wreaking havoc and mayhem. A madness that I can 100% get behind by the way.

The Golden Age is a really funny, cute and light short story. It had me giggling and smiling throughout the entire story. There was great wit and entertainment to the shenanigans throughout this. I would most definitely read this again and again whenever I need a light pick me up.

<- The Devil’s Jack

Neversleeps ->

Image source: Amazon

My Moira by Lilith Saintcrow

December 18, 2020Book ReviewGhosts, Lilith Saintcrow, Paranormal Fantasy, The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories by Womenskyebjenner

Title: My Moira
Author: Lilith Saintcrow
In: The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories by Women (Marie O’Regan)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Ghosts, Paranormal fantasy
Dates read: 17th November 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: “He’s temporary.”

Georgia hasn’t seen her college roommate, Georgia in a long time. But out of the blue, she shows up and gives her a pendant. Then the ghosts start to appear and things start to get… bloody.

I really liked this story. After all, it featured two friends getting revenge on an evil ex-husband. Alright, the friendship is a bit damaged and horrible. But it’s still about a friendship and people who care about one another. I also like that Georgia accepts that the past was not all lovely, but still recognises it as her own. Her own memories and her own desires.

Moira is that friend that I think everyone has at one point in life. The friend that is glamorous and the centre of attention, but isn’t able to stop and think about how her actions actually affect anyone else. That takes advantage of you, but, for some reason you still want in your life. I honestly think that everyone has had that experience. And it’s a difficult one that you don’t know to keep or walk away from. I like that Georgia also felt this way about Moira.

The open-ended, full of possibilities nature of the end of this story was wonderful. It was fun and I really enjoyed reading this. It was definitely the kind of short story that I would enjoy reading again.

<- Another One in from the Cold

Forget Us Not ->

Image source: Goodreads

The Waterfowl Tree by William Kittredge

December 18, 2020Book ReviewThe Mammoth Book of Westerns, Westerns, William Kittredgeskyebjenner

Title: The Waterfowl Tree
Author: William Kittredge
In: The Mammoth Book of Westerns (Jon E. Lewis)
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Westerns
Dates read: 15th November 2020
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 1966
5th sentence, 74th page: “Just lay quiet.”

This is a slightly tragic and bittersweet Western short story.

This is yet another slightly tragic short story. I’m kind of getting used to that in most of the westerns that I’ve been reading…

Although I didn’t get super pulled into the storyline, it felt like a tale about missed chances and lost loves. Which is a wonderful kind of story. I love tales about missed chances and lost loves – they’re so bittersweet and lonely.

Like this short story. Cute, lonely and bittersweet.

<- The Man to Send Rain Clouds

Days of Heaven ->

Image source: Hachette Australia

Thin Walls by Christopher Golden

December 17, 2020Book ReviewChristopher Golden, Dark Fantasy, Death's Excellent Vacation, Lust, Paranormal Fantasyskyebjenner

Title: Thin Walls
Author: Christopher Golden
In: Death’s Excellent Vacation (Charlaine Harris & Toni L.P. Kelner)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Lust, Paranormal fantasy
Dates read: 15th November 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Gollancz
Year: 2010
5th sentence, 74th page: ‘I can sense those things,’ Diana said.

Tim is on a farewell tour to remember his late wife. When he overhears people in the room next door to him, he realises how thin the walls truly are. And his wish to honour his wife is truly tested.

I figured that this short story would have something to do with succubus, or some paranormal element of that character. After all, it starts with a man alone in a hotel room, with a woody, listening to others have sex. And it’s in a collection of paranormal fantasy stories. It wasn’t exactly a big leap. But, it did end in a way that I wasn’t completely expecting. And I did appreciate quite a bit.

I really don’t love the idea of people ever being able to overhear me and my SO in a hotel room. It’s pretty ick. And I really don’t like the idea of overhearing somebody else. Luckily, at this point in life, it hasn’t actually happened to me. But this storyline… and what happens when Tim overhears certain things… yeah, it added an extra layer of ick to the whole storyline.

Aside from the many ick factors throughout this story, I did love that ultimately, the “vacation” is a farewell tour for a lost wife. It was incredibly sweet and cute. Something that I can imagine doing if I lost my SO… touring all of the places that were important to us and just… remembering.

<- The Perils of Effrijim

The Heart is Always Right ->

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Another One in from the Cold by Marion Arnott

December 17, 2020Book ReviewGhosts, Marion Arnott, The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories by Women, Warskyebjenner

Title: Another One in from the Cold
Author: Marion Arnott
In: The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories by Women (Marie O’Regan)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Ghosts, War
Dates read: 15th November 2020
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: But the smiling boy in the stiff new uniform was a composition in shades of shadow; even the tartan trews and diced cap, which she knew to be bright colours, were grey and greyish and darker grey.

It doesn’t matter how many generations go by, it’s important to bring in loved ones from the cold. Particularly in this short story that focuses on those lost in the period of the World Wars.

This story is very true to its title – bringing in loved ones from the cold. It’s about returning lost ones from the World Wars to family. Even if its almost 100 years after they were lost. It’s about loved ones and the people that we have lost and making sure that they return to the fold, eventually.

I know next to nothing about my ancestors, so having a story that has psychics focusing on ancestors and general returning of the loved and lost made me feel a little nostalgic. And honestly lonely. After all, I have very few ties to ancestors and can’t imagine the strength of these connections. It helped to add to the sense of tragedy that this story left in me.

Another One in from the Cold is a reminder that it is important to return, even if it is generations after death. After all, family is still family.

<- Let Loose

My Moira ->

Image source: Goodreads

Earth and Skye

The ramblings of a bibliophile.

The Heart is Always Right by Lilith Saintcrow

Front Row Rider by Muriel Gray

The Feeling From Over Here by Gabrielle Tozer

Forget Us Not by Nancy Kilpatrick

Days of Heaven by Rick Bass

The Golden Age by Walter Jon Williams

My Moira by Lilith Saintcrow

The Waterfowl Tree by William Kittredge

Thin Walls by Christopher Golden

Another One in from the Cold by Marion Arnott