The Innsmouth Nook by A. Lee Martinez

Book Review, , ,
Overview
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Title: The Innsmouth Nook
Author: A. Lee Martinez
In: Death’s Excellent Vacation (Charlaine Harris & Toni L.P. Kelner)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal fantasy, Urban fantasy
Dates read: 4th November 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Gollancz
Year: 2010
5th sentence, 74th page: ‘So what brings you to Clam Bay?’ he asked.

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Synopsis

All they wanted to do was open up a quaint little B&B in a small coastal town. But then tourism dropped off. And the locals really didn’t like these two interlopers coming into their town. And then, well, things just got worse.

Thoughts

To start with, I was a little bit “eh” about this story. I mean, two guys from the Big Smoke move to a tiny, backwater town… it’s not exactly a groundbreaking or really very original story. But then it started to develop. And I got hooked. And now I’m still thinking of it with fond memories.

As someone from a tourism area, I completely understand how drastically tourism can impact on a town. This story helped to drive this fact even further home. Plus, it was quite entertaining the new form of tourism that started to encroach on the town.

This short story is a great mix of mythology and folklore. And just the general wit, fun and mayhem that I seriously enjoy in a good short story and paranormal fantasy tale.

<- Meanwhile, Far Across the Caspian Sea…Safe and Sound ->

Image source: Amazon

The Ninth Witch by Sarah Langan

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

Title: The Ninth Witch
Author: Sarah Langan
In: The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories by Women (Marie O’Regan)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Ghosts, Horror, Witches
Dates read: 4th November 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: Her feet were webbed; her hips wide.

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Synopsis

She’s the ninth daughter of a horrifying man, and life has not been kind to her or her sisters. But, this ninth daughter is also a witch, and things may end up alright if she just trusts in her power…

Thoughts

The Ninth Witch is a gross, creepy, and seriously disturbing short story. It basically careens from one horrible moment to another as the story unfolds. And it’s just… not okay. Or comfortable. Or really anything that makes me have happy feelings when reading a story. But it is also a really good story, one which I would pick up again.

Although this story was seriously disturbed and filled with the horrors of being a woman, it did have a happily ever after. Which is probably why I would love to read this again. After all, I can put up with a lot of horrible nonsense in my stories, if there is going to be a happily ever after.

Ultimately, this story is one that is about the lengths that a mother will go to to protect her child. And the fact that you should really never get between a mother and child, regardless of what species / powers they have.

<- The Lost GhostSister, Shhh… ->

Image source: Goodreads

The Exterminator’s Daughter by Meg Cabot

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

Title: The Exterminator’s Daughter
Author: Meg Cabot
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: Paranormal fantasy, Vampires, Young adult
Dates read: 4th November 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Novella
Publisher:Harper Collins
Year: 2007
5th sentence, 74th page: “Yes,” Adam says calmly.

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Synopsis

Mary knows one thing… that her friend’s prom date is evil. And it’s her job to take him down. But things don’t always go quite to plan… they can be better.

Thoughts

I most definitely want more of Adam and Mary in my bookshelves. I’m not sure that I’ll get more. But it’s most certainly something that I desire! They work so well as a cute teensy couple. Yet, Mary is also completely kick butt and more than a little damaged. Just how I like my heroines.

I’m still a big believer in the fact that prom is completely, totally and utterly boring. But, this one feels a little bit more fun. Mostly because it involves a cute boy and vampire hunting. Alright, I might be a strong, independent woman, and my own prom I did have a cute date… but not a cute date that would use a water blaster to kill a vampire. Or shoot ketchup at him…

This novella involved not only Dracula’s son, but the exterminator’s daughter. And she also happens to be the daughter of a mad scientist… which, honestly, what’s not to love about that? There is so much fuel in this story for more amazing tales, and it’s a seriously fun little journey. Particularly when the ending is so… full of future possibilities.

I’ve read a few books in the Princess Diaries series. So I’m used to Cabot’s fun, cute and easy to read teenage stories. This fit all of the usual bills and was definitely a story that I would read again and again. A bit like Cabot’s other stories…

<- Prom Nights from HellThe Corsage ->

Image source: Harper Collins

The Lost Ghost by Mary E. Wilkins-Freeman

Book Review, , ,
Overview
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Title: The Lost Ghost
Author: Mary E. Wilkins-Freeman
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, Horror
Dates read: 3rd November 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 1903
5th sentence, 74th page: “I never eard anything like it in my life,” said Mrs Emerson, staring at the other woman with awestruck eyes.

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Synopsis

Two old gossips talk about the old house that finally has some new occupants. And the little, lost girl who used to spend her time there…

Thoughts

I’m not sure why, but there is always something a little bit extra creepy about children ghosts. They give me the absolute heebie geebies. Kind of like porcelain dolls. So any short story that features the creepy little demon children, I’m going to get the horrible goosebumps. Alright, this wasn’t the most horrifying story which features child ghosts in this collection, but it was still pretty damn creepy.

Although the ending to this short story was still pretty creepy, it was also kind of cute. And sweet. Or I’m just one seriously messed up woman. After all, the lost ghost leads another lost soul off into the sunset, and it feels like neither one is so lonely anymore.

This is most definitely a short story that I’m going to read again! It was everything that a ghost story should be. But with a less tragic ending.

<- The Madam of the Narrow HousesThe Ninth Witch ->

Image source: Goodreads

There Will Be Peace in Korea by Larry McMurtry

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

Title: There Will Be Peace in Korea
Author: Larry McMurtry
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: 3rd November 2020
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 1964
5th sentence, 74th page: He wasn’t even living there, it was my room, but I was off on a roughnecking tower and I guess the room was the best place he could find.

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Synopsis

One day there will be peace. But, maybe not today.

Thoughts

I really enjoyed the tone and voice of this short story. Although, I didn’t find it all that engaging.

This is a bit of a rambling adventure. And not enjoyably so. I just found it kind of hard to concentrate on the rambling and I’m honestly not 100% sure of what was even happening.

This was well written. Just not the kind of story that I really wanted to read.

<- The BanditC. B. & Q. ->

Image source: Hachette Australia

The Madam of the Narrow Houses by Caitlin R. Kiernan

Book Review, , ,
Overview
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Title: The Madam of the Narrow Houses
Author: Caitlin R. Kiernan
In: The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories by Women (Marie O’Regan)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Ghosts, Horror
Dates read: 2nd November 2020
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: That both Mr Wells and Mrs hunt died in November has always seemed significant, and sometimes this sempstress who is not a medium imagines it a portent of some sort, conceivably that she herself will perish on a chill November day, only after the crisper delights of October have finished, and that thought bestows a certain solace.

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Synopsis

She lives in a narrow house, one that is filled with mystery, grief and death.

Thoughts

This story was one of those that is beautiful and ethereal and on my read again pile. But, unlike most stories that I find like that, I’m not entirely sure what was actually happening. I’m getting used to that with Kiernan’s stories. They all seem to be impossible to put down, but impossible to describe. I love it.

There is so much symbolism and so many hidden layers throughout this story. It furthers my desire to reread this at a future point in time. I love stories which are heavy with symbolism – they’re the type that no matter how many times you read them, you find something new to engage and captivate.

Although I can’t quite describe what went on in this story, it is one that most definitely feels hauntings. There are amazing feelings of death and hauntings throughout. And an overwhelming feeling of loneliness.

<- The Shadow in the CornerThe Lost Ghost ->

Image source: Goodreads

La Madre Del Oro by Jeffrey Ford

Book Review, , ,
Overview
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Title: La Madre Del Oro
Author: Jeffrey Ford
In: Dead Man’s Hand (John Joseph Adams)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Weird western, Wild west
Dates read: 2nd November 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Titan Books
Year: 2014
5th sentence, 74th page: I was beginning to get a little sore as I’d not rode a horse in some time.

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Synopsis

He’s supposed to be helping fellow lawmen and gunslingers to hunt down the thing that is killing everyone in the area. But, what they come across may be too much even for this ragtag bunch…

Thoughts

I love that throughout this whole story, the lead character is constantly running from the monsters that go bump in the night. It makes this story feel a little more fast paced than I had anticipated… after all, the whole story is about running. And running is fast… see what I did there?

This short story takes the fairly typical themes of gunslingers and mining towns that I constantly come across in westerns. But, it has a slightly more wild west feel to it. One that, partnered with all of the horrible things that go bump in the night left me feeling very content and happy.

La Madre Del Oro is an incredibly easy and fun read. It doesn’t so much have a happy ending. And there is a lot of gruesomeness throughout. But it’s still a story that I would love to read again and again. Gruesome murders and lack of happy ending and all.

<- SundownWhat I Assume You Shall Assume ->

Image source: Amazon

First Casualty by Michael Pryor

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

Title: First Casualty
Author: Michael Pryor
In: Begin, End, Begin (Danielle Binks)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Australian authors, Space, Young adult
Dates read: 1st November 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Year: 2017
5th sentence, 74th page: We didn’t get a chance to answer.

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Synopsis

It’s a Space Gap Year. One that has some unexpected consequences and occurrences. But this will be amazing.

Thoughts

For starters, this short story is a great reminder to stop the “us versus them” crap. After all, it does nothing but damage everyone and everything involved. Something that we constantly need to be reminded of in my humble opinion. After all, we all have feelings, and that’s the important thing.

The space setting and Gap Year feeling throughout this story is fun. I never took a Gap Year, so the idea of one in space and the adventure that the lead characters go on… it was a lot of fun. There is so much future potential to this story! After all, their Gap Year is just beginning when this story ends.

Not only is this a fun little science fiction, coming-of-age story, but it’s also a wonderful story full of hints of romance. I love how Pryor is able to place out hints of the relationship that is developing, without bashing you over the head with it.

<- In a HeartbeatSundays ->

Image source: Harper Collins Australia

Showdown at High Moon by Jennifer Brozek

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

Title: Showdown at High Moon
Author: Jennifer Brozek
In: Westward Weird (Martin H. Greenberg & Kerrie Hughes)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Weird western
Dates read: 1st November 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Daw Books
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: She is your queen.

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Synopsis

Mena and Will just want to do one more job so that they can have their happily ever after. But this last job is a bit of a showdown, and seriously unexpected.

Thoughts

There was a really great uniqueness in this story – the idea of Scarabs and Shifters as two different beings constantly at war with one another. The fact that the Scarabs are the good guys just made me like this all that much more. I love when stories take a new and unique spin.

Mena and Will are such a nice couple. I love that as the story unfolds, you realise that everything they do, they do together. I always love stories which feature a couple that work as a team, it’s not necessarily a trope that I come across all that often.

There wasn’t anything about this short story that I didn’t enjoy. It was fun, engaging and totally unique. I would totally read more stories by Jennifer Brozek if this is anything to go by.

<- Renn and the Little MenThe Clockwork Cowboy ->

Image source: Amazon

The Shadow in the Corner by Mary Elizabeth Braddon

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

Title: The Shadow in the Corner
Author: Mary Elizabeth Braddon
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: 1st November 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 1879
5th sentence, 74th page: “I hope she’s respectable,” said Michael.

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Synopsis

It’s an old house with a horrible, haunting past. Maybe you shouldn’t ignore the horrors of the past in the present.

Thoughts

This short story is a reminder that you really shouldn’t mess with ghosts and hauntings. That you shouldn’t ignore people when they tell you that they’re scared. The price of ignoring the horribleness of this house at the end of this tale? A really bad tragedy that kind of broke my heart.

It felt like this story was the beginning of a really horrible repetition. That this story was going to repeat again and again, no matter what people did. Unless people start to believe in the haunting.

This story was really eerie and melancholy, leaving me looking at the shadows in the corners and letting my imagination run wild. Something that I know I shouldn’t do… but I did anyway.

<- Dead Flowers by a RoadsideThe Madam of the Narrow Houses ->

Image source: Goodreads