Conny and William have been happily married for years. But there’s a catch… Geoffrey. And the power of the pen.
I knew that this story was going to be a little different – it’s in a collection of daemon, lustful stories after all. What I didn’t expect was that it would be far more contemporary than all of the other stories in this collection. That although there was a bit of a fantastical element to the story, it wasn’t a strong one like the other stories. Rather, it was a great little commentary about the ways in which we love and experience love.
This is not a situation in which I ever hope to find myself. In love with one man, but involved with another. Because of the man that I’m in love with. It’s not exactly healthy. And this story definitely made me constantly wonder who it was that Conny loved more. But it was also a tale of love. Not the love that I imagine for myself, but one that I’m sure does actually work for others.
I think that my favourite aspect of this short story is the fact that all of the weirdness occurs through the act of writing. The confusion, the intricacy and the constant questioning of what each character actually feels is all completely driven by the fact that William (Conny’s husband) is writing… and it makes things feel even more confusing and trippy. Which is brilliant. The pen is definitely mightier than the sword.
Title: Lady Pirate Author: Lynsay Sands Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Historical romance, Pirates Dates read: 25th April – 12th May 2020 Pace: Medium Format: Novel Publisher: Avon Year: 2001 5th sentence, 74th page: A seed surrounded by white and pink gook stuck to the end of his pink-stained finger.
Valoree no longer has to masquerade as her murdered brother and scourge the oceans as Captain Red. She no longer has to command his pirate band in a quest to regain his birthright. She has been named heir to Ainsley Castle. But no execturo would ever hand over the estate to an unmarried pirate wench and her infamous crew – no matter to whom she’d been born. And the will distinctly states that in order to inherit, Valoree must be married to a nobleman… and pregnant.
Upon learning that, the virgin captain is ready to return to the seas – but her crew has other ideas – and for those rascally cusses she would do anything. If they could find a way to put on her a sweet face that would fool the ton, she would handle the rest, even with a drunken prostitute as an “aunt” and her merry cutthroat crew as “servants”. But to herself she swears one thing: she will only marry a man who fires her blood, a man who is not afraid of a… Lady Pirate
It took me a little while to get through this… not that I wasn’t in love with the story, but I did find that it didn’t completely grab me like the other books I’ve recently read by Sands. Once I got halfway through the book though, I was completely hooked into it. I mean, you knew that Valoree and Daniel were going to end up together, so it wasn’t such a get hooked into it book… but once I got there… wow. I just demolished it.
The idea of a clause in a will stating that you must be married and expecting was a new story plot that I wasn’t expecting. I actually felt a little bit mad at first, but then realised that both man and woman were in this position, so it wasn’t so horrifying. Still a stupid little clause. Which of course, when it started appearing that they were finally going to be getting the upper hand, I started to get sucked in.
For me, the standout point in this story is the pirates. Alright, the romance is sweet and beautiful. But, it’s the awkwardness of the pirates trying to fit into the nobility and make Valoree become something more that really hit me in my happy place. It’s that great image of bright pink livery that seems to sink into my subconscious whenever I think about this novel.
There is such a great, easy, good feeling, little read. Alright, there area few moments where I felt kind of irritated. But, mostly, it was just cute and simple. A nice little story that made me feel that nice, gooey feeling full of love and hope. Alright, love is never this damn simple… but it is sometimes nice to think this way. Plus, there is also that great little Sands twist at the end of this story that makes all those final moments just fall together.
Julia Quinn enchants: A dashing fortune hunter is captivated by the Season’s most desired debutante…and must prove he is out to steal the lady’s heart, not her dowry.
As always, this is a seriously sweet and cute novella. Quinn manages to infuse all of her works with a great sense of humour and love. Her wittiness and ability to make even the most undesirable of situations feel completely sweet and hopeful… just gorgeous. In this story, a girl grieving for her dead brother and his fortune hunter best friend are thrown into each others’ lives and the realisation that maybe Harry is still working from beyond the grave. Or at least, that’s kind of how it felt to me…
I love that the girl in this story is a lot less pushy and intense than some of the other women in Quinn’s novels. She’s still independent and unique, but she’s a lot less intense than some of the other women. A nice little departure. I relate better to the intense women, but it’s nice sometimes to just read something that feels like a bit of fluff and doesn’t leave me feeling weirdly attached to the protagonist woman.
The cameo appearance of Penelope in this novella might be one of my favourite aspects of this novella. The fact that Tillie wants to make better friends with her for her constant kindness and recognises the lack of joy in being a wallflower is genuinely amazing. And, it helps to further tie this collection and novel into the world of the Bridgertons.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novella and was seriously disappointed when I turned that final page. There is just something cute and wonderful about this story that left me with a huge smile on my face. Which was nice, particularly since I was feeling a bit mopey and alone when I read it…
Title: On the Divide Author: Willa Cather 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: 12th May 2020 Pace: Slow Format: Short story Publisher: Robinson Year: 2013 5th sentence, 74th page: It would sometimes have been hard to distinguish the men from their evil geniuses but for one fact, the men were always grave and were either toiling or praying, while the devil’s were always smiling and dancing.
It’s hard making a life on the divide.
This was an easy, light read. One that I didn’t really think much about after turning the final page. And one that I seriously enjoyed while reading. There was just something light and soft about this western short story.
I really liked the description of the western setting throughout this short story. Unlike the other westerns I’ve read thus far in the The Mammoth Book of Westerns collection, the description was much, much more vivid. Far more beautiful and intense. And just downright gorgeous.
There’s really not all that much I have to say about this short story. It was nice, fun, easy and light. It wasn’t all that unforgettable. But it was the kind of short story that I like to read late at night.
Title: I Like Your Rotation Author: Jax Jacki Brown In: Kindred (Michael Earp) Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Contemporary, Contemporary romance, LGBTQI Dates read: 12th May 2020 Pace: Fast Format: Short story Publisher: Walker Books Year: 2019 5th sentence, 74th page: What if I could have a friend, like an actual cool friend?
For this young girl just discovering herself, finding another LGBTQI+ girl who has the same disability as her is the best thing ever. But, then she has to contend with some unwanted emotions and experiences…
This year I’ve been steadily expanding my shelves to include more inclusive tales – neurodiverse, LGBTQI+, etc. What I realised on reading this is that I don’t have any good books about people in wheelchairs, amputees, etc. Definitely something that I want to improve on if anyone has any suggestions! But, this was a great start regardless…
The love interest in this story is seriously passionate, and more than willing to alienate people and argue for her rights. And so she should. I love that her point of view is very independent and organic, highlighting her needs and desires when that would sometimes not be so possible. It’s a great lesson for the friend that she makes within this story – that it’s okay to be difficult and emotional, you’re human and being in a wheelchair doesn’t mean that you can’t be. Or at least, that’s the big thing I got out of her character.
Although there isn’t that sweet, happily ever after ending to this story, it is still really, really good. There is a sense of finding oneself and discovering your own worth. Something that everyone needs to do, but, in the case of some people, like the protagonist of this short story, is a little bit more difficult. I imagine her wheeling off into her future and finding another happily ever after that she just wasn’t quite expecting.
A fantastic retelling of a classic fairy tale… with a more adult spin.
This is one of those retellings that is reminiscent of a number of fairy tales that I’ve read. Which was a nice journey. It’s definitely a fairy tale / retelling that I have always enjoyed, so I was excited to read this. And, boy, I wasn’t disappointed by this retelling. Not only was it a great fantasy retelling, but it was also a great tale about rediscovering your love and your life after that initial honeymoon period is over… something that I think is often overlooked in many stories we read.
The story of the woman with the three dresses and the way in which she wins her loves’ heart is one that I seriously treasure. Especially after reading North Child. This isn’t quite that story, but it does have those great echoes, and it is the story about her daughter. The daughter who also found her own happily ever after. But, after childbirth and years being comfortable with your spouse, things are less romantic and infatuated. Which is kind of sad, but something I think that everyone who ahs been in a long term relationship experiences. The woman in this uses the gifts of the past that her mother gave her to set about recapturing her husbands’ attention and affections. Although, the responsibility for this is not just on her, she isn’t the only one who has let her relationship slip, and she’s not the only one who decides to fight to get it back.
At the beginning of this story, I loved the way in which the woman drew her husband back into her arms. Then, towards the middle I started to get a little worried. She was happy because she had her husband back, but then, he didn’t know it was her… but, the ending made all of this became obsolete and there was a happily ever after. And the awkward feelings went away.
Title: Grindstone Author: Stephen Graham Jones In: The Monstrous (Ellen Datlow) Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Horror Dates read: 11th May 2020 Pace: Fast Format: Short story Publisher: Tachyon Year: 2015 5th sentence, 74th page: They were popping off the surface of the rock in…in regular patterns.
He’s a predator, who has finally met his comeuppance. But, will the ending really be what we expect?
This was a seriously creepy story. I always love stories which feature the point of view of the villain. But, normally there is kind of a moment of understanding. If not total acceptance of the character, then at least, an understanding what drives the person who commits a crime. This didn’t have that. The villain / narrator was just horrible and creepy and really, really not okay.
The image of the slugs falling from the body of the lead character is a really great piece of imagery that I can’t quite keep out of my head. It is disturbing, kind of sick and seriously graphic. In the best of ways. It was kind of sick, disturbing, and twisted. But a perfect fit for this collection and short story.
I love the darkness and twistiness of this story. It was a great, fun read and one that I keep thinking about. It’s not the sort of story I’m going to read again and again and again. But definitely one that was seriously enjoyable.
Title: The Light That Passes Through You Author: Conrad Williams In: Sirens and Other Daemon Lovers (Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling) Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Fantasy Dates read: 8th May 2020 Pace: Slow Format: Short story Publisher: EOS Year: 1998 5th sentence, 74th page: We tooled up and down the main drag, trying on sunglasses and hats.
It’s not always wise to visit the past. Especially when she comes with strings attached.
I think that everyone has that person in their past that somehow haunts them. Whether it is the what if person, the one you let get away, or just generally someone that you reminisce about the good times, even though they ended. I am also a strong believer in the idea that once that person has left your left, it’s probably for a good reason and you really don’t need to revisit that relationship. This story just drove home that belief for me.
From the very beginning, Louise had this incredibly intense and haunting quality to her. She was waif like at the beginning, and then, as her inner “light” returns, she becomes a haunting figure of a completely different quality. Although there was definitely a supernatural feel to the story, it was that haunting of the past that really stuck with me. That sense that you can never return and should never try to kept on jumping at me from the pages…
Although I wasn’t completely enthralled at the time, the more that I think about this short story, the more I appreciate it. There is lust and a sense of sexuality to the story that is so very subverted. It kind of lingers long after you turn the final page. One that I’m still experiencing as I write this review.
Title: The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper Author: Hallie Rubenhold Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Feminism, History, Non-fiction, True crime Dates read: 23rd April – 8th May 2020 Pace: Medium Format: Non-fictional text, Novel Publisher: Black Swan Year: 2020 5th sentence, 74th page: On 16 April she was dispatched like a human parcel to Renfrew Road Workhouse.
Polly, Annie, Elizabeth, Catherine and Mary-Jane are famous for the same thing, though they never met. They came from Fleet Street, Knightsbridge, Wolverhamption, Sweden and Wales. They wrote ballads, ran coffee houses, lived on country estates, they breathed in ink-dust from printing presses and escaped people-traffickers.
What they had in common was the year of their murders: 1888.
Their murderer was never identified, but the name created for him by the press has become more famous than any of these women.
IN THIS DEVASTATING NARRATIVE OF FIVE LIVES, HISTORIAN HALLIE RUBENHOLD FINALLY GIVES THESE WOMEN BACK THEIR STORIES.
This is a seriously intense, wonderful, powerful, amazing book. Like. Wow. I’ve recently become a little intrigued by Jack the Ripper, but, as with many others, I hadn’t really given huge amounts of thought to the women that he actually killed. Which I now feel kind of ashamed of. Because Rubenhold reminds us that these five women were, you know, people too. And should be remembered as such. Not for the way the died. Not for the way the media portrayed them. But for individuals in and of themselves. Women who loved, lost and experienced life. Women with families, husbands, children…
I tend not to read crime books before bed. It leads to some seriously whacked out and trippy dreams. Starting this, I figured that it would be okay to read before bedtime. After all, it’s about the women, not the murders. For starters, the introduction talks about Jack the Ripper a little more than I had wanted. And the last point made is that he didn’t kill prostitutes, he killed women while they were asleep. By themselves. I was a woman. By myself. About to go to sleep. Not exactly conducive to a restful nights’ sleep that.
Normally I like to pick up biographies because they’re not only informative, but they’re also incredibly easy to put down. That’s not the case with this novel. The first few chapters didn’t quite hook me, and I was completely able to put down the book whenever I needed to be productive. However, once I passed that point… I just couldn’t stop thinking about these five women. I couldn’t stop wondering about their lives, their loved ones. What they thought and experienced in their mysterious last moments… I just couldn’t stop thinking about it all!!! Which I think was the whole point of it… but still, not exactly my normal response for a biography…
I am still in awe of what I’ve read. I actually finished this book twenty-four hours before sitting down to write this review. And it took me so long to do so simply because there is an intense feeling that you get once you turn that final page. This intense feeling of not only wonder and amazement at what you just read, but also, for me at least, a sense of guilt. I’m fascinated by murders, but I have rarely seriously considered the Ripper women as individuals and women. Which is something I will endeavour to do more so of in the future. When I started this book, I couldn’t even remember the names of The Five. But now, I don’t think I’ll ever forget them…
23 spellbinding tales of sorcery, wizardry and witchcraft.
From Gandalf to Harry Potter, sorcerers and wizards have always enthralled us. It is their power, above all, that we covet – the ultimate wish fulfilment of being able to do whatever we want – to fly, or make ourselves invisible, or to conjure something from nothing.
Here, from some of the most outstanding writers of fantasy, is a wonderfully varied collection of stories which explores the tensions and dilemmas in dealing with magic, from a child’s first struggle to control magical powers to epic clashes between the forces of good and evil.
It took me a little while to seriously get into this collection. But, once I did… I was completely hooked. I quite obviously love fantasy from the books that fill my shelves. But, as I’ve gotten older, I have found that I am drawn again and again to fantasy of a darker bent. Although not all of these short stories suited that desire, they just weren’t that dark… this collection was still seriously brilliant.
The stories in this collection just completely run the gamut. There are some serious, dark and twisted stories. Some that are fun and light. And a few that make you question the state of the world as we know it. All the stories were enjoyable in one way or another, although maybe not as memorable as some of the other short stories that I’ve read.
This is a great little collection. One that is interesting and fun. There was a lot surrounding ideas of chaos throughout, which makes it one of those collections that I’ll probably want to read again. There always seems to be this sense of confusion and intricacy about chaos stories that just makes me want to read them again and again.
Earth and Skye 