The Perils of Effrijim by Katie MacAlister

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Image result for death's excellent vacation book cover

Title: The Perils of Effrijim
Author: Katie MacAlister
Series: Aisling Grey #4.5
In: Death’s Excellent Vacation (Charlaine Harris & Toni L.P. Kelner)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Demons, Paranormal fantasy, Urban fantasy
Dates read: 13th November 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Gollancz
Year: 2010
5th sentence, 74th page: I’m a sixth-class demon.

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Synopsis

Effrijim just wants to spend his ten day vacation with the love of his life. But things don’t quite go as planned when a She-Bitch gets involved.

Thoughts

The first comment in my notes was “Poor Effrijim”. After all, this story is just one calamity after another. Just a whole series of problems that stop him from having a relaxing vacation and leave him feeling frustrated and ready to scream. It’s just not the optimal vacation and left me feeling seriously bad for Effrijim, even as I laughed and laughed at all of the bad that befell him.

Titania and Oberon made a great cameo appearance in this story. They’re altered story line was fun and entertaining. I also loved how militant and kick ass Titania was. After all, she is completely unorthodox and has been wronged. I also love how she decides to keep Oberon in line from now on…

Jim’s torture is what dreams are made of. It was the kind of torture and storyline that had me laughing happily throughout the entire story. I finished this with a huge grin on my face and a desire to just read more.

<- Seeing is BelievingThin Walls ->

Image source: Amazon

The Man to Send Rain Clouds by Leslie Marmon Silko

Book Review, ,
Overview
Image result for the mammoth book of westerns book cover

Title: The Mand to Send Rain Clouds
Author: Leslie Marmon Silko
In: The Mammoth Book of Westerns (Jon E. Lewis)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Westerns
Dates read: 12th November 2020
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: He left the room and came back wearing a long brown overcoat.

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Synopsis

This is an interesting short story which highlights the different funeral rites and farewells.

Thoughts

I loved how this story investigated different funeral rites, particularly those within the different cultures often represented in westerns. Since westerns normally focus on the First Settlers (or whatever you call them), it was nice to see the focus shift to something other than the Christian practices.

I love that this story bypasses the Christian rites that I was expecting. And highlights that there’s other practices out there. It was fun and one of the westerns that I’ve enjoyed more so than many other short stories in the The Mammoth Book of Westerns collection.

This was fun and a lot more inclusive than many of the other westerns that I’ve read. I’d definitely read this story again.

<- C. B. & Q.The Waterfowl Tree ->

Image source: Hachette Australia

Freeze Out by Nancy Holder

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for the mammoth book of ghost stories by women book cover

Title: Freeze Out
Author: Nancy Holder
In: The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories by Women (Marie O’Regan)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Ghosts, Horror
Dates read: 12th November 2020
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: Cody found himself remembering walking into the Lazy Daisy Flower Shop on the night of the prom to pick up Tiffany’s corsage.

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Synopsis

It’s their mother’s funeral and their father has dementia. But he might not be as clueless as he thought he was…

Thoughts

Freeze Out is filled with very many creepy twists and turns. It was hard to gain a grasp on who the bad guy and the culprit in this story was. And where the ghost aspect of the ghost story would com in. Every time I felt like I had a grasp on the story, something would change and I would be swept down another turn that I just wasn’t expecting.

The “bad guy” in this story really wasn’t who I expected. Rather, towards the end, when everything was revealed, and the darkness lifted from the family… I was kind of surprised and also content to finally turn that final page.

Freeze Out was very well written and a phenomenal short story. However, it was also difficult to read and experience. Difficult in the fact that it gave me the heebie jeebies right the way through. And, although I enjoyed this, it also left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth.

<- The Third PersonReturn ->

Image source: Goodreads

The Devil’s Jack by Laura Anne Gilman

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for dead man's hand book cover

Title: The Devil’s Jack
Author: Laura Anne Gilman
In: Dead Man’s Hand (John Joseph Adams)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Demons, Paranormal fantasy, Weird western
Dates read: 12th November 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Titan Books
Year: 2014
5th sentence, 74th page: “But you waited.”

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Synopsis

Jack knew better. But he still made a deal with the devil. And now he’s Devil’s Jack, running errands for seven and seven and seven again.

Thoughts

A deal with the devil is never a good idea. But it is a really fun thing to read about. I mean, a deal with the devil is guaranteed to be an interesting beginning to a story. And a great driver for morally grey characters. After all, if they’re doing evil things, then it’s because the devil asked them to and it isn’t because they are evil themselves…

I love how although this is a story about a man who has sold his soul to the devil, it’s primarily about him outsmarting the devil. And the fact that both he and the devil know that even if he’s momentarily outsmarted the devil, it’s just a moment. A quiet little rebellion that ultimately does nothing for Jack.

This was a really fun and humorous short story. I absolutely adored it and had a huge smile on my face the whole time that I was reading it. It was funny and cute. Full of clever, witty moments and just a seriously enjoyable read.

<- What I Assume You Shall AssumeThe Golden Age ->

Image source: Amazon

The Third Person by Lisa Tuttle

Book Review, ,
Overview
Image result for the mammoth book of ghost stories by women book cover

Title: The Third Person
Author: Lisa Tuttle
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: Horror
Dates read: 10th November 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: “I have to meet Andrew at Ikea in thirty-five minutes, but that should be plenty of time for a coffee,” Rachel said, with a hug and kiss Imogen was not quick enough to avoid.

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Synopsis

Imogen has always been the third person in her friends’ marriage. Now she’s the third person in an affair, but could things be far more sinister than even she realised?

Thoughts

I’m writing this review the morning after I read this story. And I can tell you, that of all the ghost stories that I’ve been reading recently, this is the one that made it really hard to sleep last night. After all, the final scene is of a knife and someone running in the help that they can defend themselves… it was seriously open-ended and made me stop to think about who has access to my house.

This whole story left a bitter taste in my mouth. From beginning to end. Not only because it features an affair, but all of those other little moments and hints throughout… I can’t imagine being a third person / wheel in someone else’s life, and this just made it all that much more… creepy. There were just way too many stalkerish vibes throughout this story.

All in all, this was seriously creepy and uncomfortable. But it’s also a bit of a reminder of some of the dangers and pitfalls of being a woman. Yup, sometimes it just seriously sucks…

<- Seeing NancyFreeze Out ->

Image source: Goodreads

The Corsage by Lauren Myracle

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for prom nights from hell book cover

Title: The Corsage
Author: Lauren Myracle
In: Prom Nights from Hell (Meg Cabot, Stephenie Meyer, Kim Harrison, Michele Jaffe & Lauren Myracle)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Horror, Paranormal fantasy, Young adult
Dates read: 10th November 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher:Harper Collins
Year: 2007
5th sentence, 74th page: The corsage curled, as if the petals were shrinking in on themselves.

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Synopsis

A girl who is desperate for her forever boy to ask her to prom finds a corsage that will grant three wishes. But what follows creates a prom night from hell.

Thoughts

This was a seriously creepy and tragic prom story. Like goosebumps and looking over your shoulder (which in my case meant looking at a blank wall) type creepy. And yet, it was somehow kind of sweet and most definitely heartbreaking. More the kind of prom that I want to read about than the happy, sappy happily ever after crap. Which we won’t go too much into what that actually says about me…

The Corsage is a prom story about first loves and first heartbreaks. With a pretty major twist – it’s not the kind of heartbreak that you would expect. Or at least, it wasn’t what I would have expected in this collection. I had honestly anticipated a lot more happiness and cheerful endings. I’m so happy that Myracle proved me wrong.

Like a lot of stories that feature wish fulfillment in some way, this story acted as a great reminder that what you wish for may not be what you actually want and need. And sometimes making a wish can be the worst possible thing to do. It leaves this story sitting in my pile of not-so-happily-ever-after stories. And definitely one of my favourite novellas…

<- The Exterminator’s DaughterMadison Avery and the Dim Reaper ->

Image source: Harper Collins

Black Train by Jeff Mariotte

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for westward weird book cover

Title: Black Train
Author: Jeff Mariotte
In: Westward Weird (Martin H. Greenberg & Kerrie Hughes)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Weird western, Wild west, Zombies
Dates read: 10th November 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Daw Books
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: “Believe me, I would love to oblige, sir,” the man said.

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Synopsis

Two men are in love with the same woman, and on a hunting trip. What you think is going to go wrong gets slightly derailed when they stumble across a black train and a plot to destroy.

Thoughts

I really enjoyed this mould-driven short story. After all, mould is actually kind of a scary and insidious thing if you really think about it. So using it as a biological weapon and scary object in this short story was brilliant. And made me want to scrub every inch of my house to make sure that there wasn’t any zombie mould anywhere…

I found Evan and Charlie to be a very interesting team. They are so unalike, yet so similar at the same time. A great little juxtaposition that drew me in. Plus, from the beginning it’s obvious that they really don’t like one another. Though the depths of this dislike are only slowly unveiled. Yet another aspect of this story that I quite enjoyed – not everything was spelt out and indicated from the very beginning, but it is slowly revealed.

As with many short stories that I love, this tale ends with a very open-ended feeling. It highlights the dangers of such a weapon. And, just generally left me with a goosebump feeling. And some serious awkwardness.

<- The Clockwork CowboyLone Wolf ->

Image source: Amazon

Seeing is Believing by L.A. Banks

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for death's excellent vacation book cover

Title: Seeing is Believing
Author: L.A. Banks
In: Death’s Excellent Vacation (Charlaine Harris & Toni L.P. Kelner)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal fantasy, Psychics, Werewolves
Dates read: 10th November 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Gollancz
Year: 2010
5th sentence, 74th page: She really liked you, and you all trusted each other.

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Synopsis

She has the Gift, but it’s causing her to live a bit like a spinster. Then her brother encourages her to go on vacation, and things take a far more enjoyable and lustful turn…

Thoughts

I really loved the New Orleans feel to this story. Which makes sense, because part of it is based in the city itself, and the rest is based elsewhere. It’s certainly fun and it’s one of the few cities in the USA that actually interests me…

A lot of the stories that I read about psychics and people who have the gift focus on the whole idea of how much the horrors of the future can damage a person. This story instead focused on the ways in which the gift can destroy relationships and spell the end before the beginning. Luckily, it’s not all bad, and there is a happy ending in there as well.

I love that this story has it all – werewolves and psychics, cops and witches, revenge and the beginning of new loves. There’s also a fun pole dancer thrown in there to make it all that much more fun and giggle-worthy.

<- Safe and SoundThe Perils of Effrijim ->

Image source: Amazon

No Limits by Rochelle Alers

Book Review, , ,
Overview
More Than Words, Volume 6 (Virgin River, #10.1) by Joan Johnston

Title: No Limits
Author: Rochelle Alers
In: More Than Words: Volume 6 (Joan Johnston, Robyn Carr, Christina Skye, Rochelle Alers & Maureen Child)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Dates read: 10th November 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Novella
Publisher: Harlequin
Year: 2010
5th sentence, 74th page: “What’s the matter?”

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Synopsis

National bestselling author Rochelle Alers demonstrates that passion and the courage to step outside the box can accomplish the impossible for under-resourced students on Chicago’s south side in her tribute to Lara Tavares, founder of Sky’s the Limit.

Thoughts

I loved this novella. But I seriously, deeply, truly can’t imagine the trauma of losing a child. And to read a novella that is both a romance, and a beacon of hope for a charity, but also about recovering from that loss. It was pretty powerful. Yet even though it deals with something that is really sad, depressing and dark. It also has this wonderful sense of hope.

Something about this story, about starting a non-profit in which disadvantaged teens are able to get computers, makes me want to start my own non-profit. I’m not ever going to be able to. I get way too easily distracted. But, still, this story shows how such amazing charities are begun. And it is seriously inspiring and wonderful.

The fact that this is ultimately a reconciliation story helps to make everything about this even more… heart warming and beautiful. Finding a way past the past is probably one of the most difficult things I think anyone has to do. I love this story. It goes from strength to strength. And I would most definitely read this again and again.

<– Safely HomeThe Princess Shoes ->

Image source: Goodreads

Missing Persons by Ellie Marney

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for begin, end, begin book cover

Title: Missing Persons
Author: Ellie Marney
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: 9th November 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Year: 2017
5th sentence, 74th page: ‘I don’t think you should – ‘

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Synopsis

Rachel is about to start high school in Melbourne, the Big Smoke, for the first time. It’s very different from the rolling plains and open spaces of her family’s farm. It’ll take a little bit of getting used to…

Thoughts

I can completely, totally, and utterly understand the feeling of not quite fitting into a city. That hatred of living in an area where you struggle to see the wide, open skies. I know it’s why I chose to live in the country as soon as I was able to realistically do so. Although, to be fair, my version of country is nowhere near as open as Rachel’s.

This is a typical fish-out-of-water story. But it’s also a great coming of age tale. After all, Rachel is not only trying to figure out how to fit in with a whole new, terrifying world, but she’s also a teenager who has a whole slew of other issues to contend with. And I love that the Mad Scientist, Mycroft, seems to be the main person who is likely to help her do so. He’s completely off kilter and odd. The perfect person to help you try to figure out your way in a new world.

Although Rachel feels like a “missing person” in this story and still hasn’t quite come to terms with her new life, there is still a ray of hope at the end. This feeling that things will all turn out for the best, and eventually Rachel will find her own place in this new world she’s been thrust into.

<- SundaysOona Underground ->

Image source: Harper Collins Australia