Title: We’re Never Inviting Amber Again Author: S. P. Miskowski In: Haunted Nights (Lisa Morton & Ellen Datlow) Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves: Family, Thriller, Urban fantasy Dates read: 8th December 2019 Pace: Fast Format: Short story Publisher: Blumhouse Year: 2017 5th sentence, 74th page: Meredith forced a polite grin.
We’ve all got awkward family members. But, Amber is even more different. And mixing her special brand of crazy with Halloween might not have been the brightest idea…
The narrator of this story is kind of Captain DoucheNugget. Like seriously. If my partner treated my sister like that… I would punch him in the face. Repeatedly. There is something seriously not okay about this storyline. Something that made me incredibly ragey – just because he was a serious DoucheNugget.
Having said that there is a DoucheNugget of epic proportions in this story… it was actually the most scary so far in this collection. And there have been some seriously creepy tales. But this one just hit on a whole new level. There was just something about it that made me not want to walk past the windows late at night…
This story was incredibly awkward. Not awkward because of the writing. The writing was brilliant. The storytelling was brilliant. The story itself was brilliant. But the actual occurrences in this story – the treatment of the aforementioned sister in law. It felt entirely cringe-worthy.
Title: The Gloaming Hour Author: Cindy Miles In: The Mammoth Book of Time Travel Romance (Trisha Telep) Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Romance, Scottish romance, Time travel Dates read: 8th December 2019 Pace: Fast Format: Short story Publisher: Robinson Year: 2009 5th sentence, 74th page: She held him tight, as though doing so would prevent him from fading away.
He’s the spirit of an ancient scotsman who can only appear in the Gloaming Hour. She’s a woman who has the scars of a tragic past. Yet, somehow, in their stolen moments of time, they manage to find a miracle worth living for.
I don’t really get the ins and outs of the time travel in this story. Which is alright, because I loved it anyway. Most of the time I like to understand exactly what is happening when you need to have time travel. But in the case of The Gloaming Hour, I didn’t actually care. It was just such an easy, sweet and nice story.
I love how this story is all about new beginnings. Not just for the woman in the present, but also the weirdly time travelling man who she falls for. And, ultimately, it’s about finding your own version of happily ever after. Whatever that may be. It’s actually a good reminder for me at the moment to find my own Zen outside of what is expected of me.
This is an incredibly quick, easy and light read. Which was quite surprising since the lead female was stalked and attacked in an incredibly horrific way. It was a nice way to just relax for ten minutes or so. Without having to think about the realities of the world.
Title: Wolfland Author: Tanith Lee In: Red as Blood (Tanith Lee) Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect) My Bookshelves:Fairy tales, Horror, Retellings Dates read: 8th December 2019 Pace: Medium Format: Short story Publisher: Wildside Year: 1983 5th sentence, 74th page: Gradually, then, the voices of the other wolves began to dull, eventually falling quiet.
In “Wolfland”, Lisel takes a trip through the woods to visit her grandmother – who bears little resemblance to the loving old woman we expect.
This was a really cool Red Riding Hood retelling. Not the kind I was expecting, but certainly an enjoyable one. I kind of totally adored this and was really sad that it was over so soon. I could imagine an entire saga created about this version of Red Riding Hood. And I would most definitely read it.
A bit of a spoiler here… but I loved the fact that Grandma was actually the big bad wolf… of a sorts. And her reasons for becoming such a scary beast were absolutely on point!!! Even though it was a little bit scary…
Although I seriously loved this short story, I was still completely horrified by it. Particularly the ending. Which is probably why I keep wishing that this was a bigger series.
An impulsive decision leaves Gray naked and alone on a beach. But, the Duke who caused it all could just be her ticket to a better life, and a more romantic ending than she’d originally anticipated.
This was an incredibly cute and sweet contemporary story. One that was far too easy to read, but I probably also won’t forget for a while. Because, it was just… well… sweet. And innocent and just so supremely easy. I was really sad that it was over so quickly… I enjoy the sweet and easy tone to this storyline.
I really wasn’t expecting a contemporary romance or an easy read in the Four Dukes and a Devil collection. I thought there’d be a little more historical factors or supernatural tones to this storyline. But I loved that it did exist. That I got the pleasure of reading such a fun and humorous little story. one which features a meddling dog. Because, all good stories require a meddling puppy if we’re being honest here.
One of my favourite factors about this book is the fact that although it is in a romance collection it wasn’t overly lustful. There are sometimes when that’s exactly what I want. But reading this, I loved that it was just a sweet courting, not an intense romance. It’s nice to have something different in my reading every now and again…
Title: All My Darling Daughters Author: Connie Willis In: Alien Sex (Ellen Datlow) Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Horror, Lust Dates read: 7th December 2019 Pace: Slow Format: Short story Publisher: ROC Year: xx 5th sentence, 74th page: To save yourself.
She’s boarding in Hell… and all she wants is a bit of jig jig. Yet, the boys have found a new companion and things are going to get MUCH worse.
This story is twisted, lustful and deeply disturbing. It talks a bit about the college experience… but I don’t EVER want to experience this version of college. So damn not okay. So damn twisted. And that was my thoughts at the beginning. Those feelings intensify drastically when you read the ending. I actually had to close my eyes and go to my happy place at the ending…
I did really love the language used in this short story. It was completely crass and uncomfortable. But yet, somehow still really polite. And well educated. It was like a literature-heavy version of filthy talk. A weird little juxtaposition, but one that actually worked brilliantly.
One word to the wise though… this tale does have some serious triggers. Namely incest and rape. Or at least, that’s how it felt to me… I’m going to go and find myself a nice, happy story to read now…
Shiraz thinks that he’s found the ultimate weapon. But will he be able to secure it before he’s found out?
When I started this short story, I just kind of assumed that Shiraz was going to be the big, master villain of whatever series this is part of. There was something wonderfully sinister and intense about him. But, as the story found its conclusion, I’m beginning to think that he’s getting outdone by a far more insidious villain that the hero won’t see coming.
I love that this story feels like it’s setting up a master conspiracy within the greater series. Like it’s explaining how this secret villain has a power that no one knows about and is willing to use. At least, that’s how it reads to me. A person who has no idea about this series or where and how this book will fit into it. This feeling of conspiracy has made me seriously intrigued though.
I’m also seriously intrigued by the idea of a secret society of vampires. There is always something so much fun about secret societies. And when you add the supernatural and paranormal… it is so much more likely to draw me in completely! More books to add to the wish list…
Ethan has roamed this earth, cursed for decades. Yet, when he accidentally stops a woman from being attacked, her song could change everything. If only he lets it.
The idea of healing someone through music and sound was a really fantastic idea. Weaving through this ideas of vampirism and the lore that tends to be associated with that was just that much better. Something about the story and the blending of some very unique ideas drew me in happily, completely and perfectly. It was just such a great idea. And I’m really disappointed that it was only a few pages (which tends to be a bit of a trend with me anyway).
I love that vampirism is something that can be “cured”. It’s not an idea that I come across very frequently. Normally the stories I read about vampirism make them out to be some superpowered human-types. I liked that this took a darker, more traditional take on this supernatural beast. It was a refreshing change.
My favourite message in this entire short story was the idea that to become different you have to want to be different. You can’t be cured without wanting to be. It’s quite a powerful little message there and one that I myself believe in strongly… so it was nice to read a story that also emphasised this.
Title: Return to the Isle of the Lost Author: Melissa de la Cruz Series: Descendants #2 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Fairy tales, Retellings, Villains Dates read: 13th – 26th December 2019 Pace: Medium Format: Novel Publisher: Scholastic Year: 2016 5th sentence, 74th page: ‘Oh, and it’s always best to be home before midnight.’
Mal’s an expert at intimidating her enemies, but she’s broken the habit since leaving her villainous roots behind. So when she and her friends Evie, Carlos and Jay all receive threatening messages demanding they return home, Mal can’t believe it. Sure, she’s King Ben’s girlfriend now, and she’s usually nice to her classmates, but she still didn’t think anyone would be silly enough to try to push her around.
The thing is, it kind of worked. Especially since she and her friends have a sneaking suspicion that their villainous parents are behind the messages. And when Evie looks into her Magic Mirror, what she sees only confirms their fears. Maleficent’s just a tiny lizard after her run-in with Mal at Ben’s Coronation, but she’s the worst villain in the land for a reason. Could she have found a way to escape? Whatever’s going on, Mal, Evie, Carlos and Jay know they have to sneak back to the Isle and get to the bottom of it.
Without its infamous leader, the island’s even worse than when they left it, but the comforts of home – even a home as gloomy as the Isle of the Lost – can be hard to resist for recently reformed villains. Will the kids be able to beat the evil bubbling at the Isle’s wicked core, or will the plot to destroy Auradon succeed?
I absolutely loved The Isle of the Lost, but I did get a little confused at the beginning of this. I was expecting the story to pick up where the first one ended. But, I’m thinking that the movie is the middle story to the two stories. Since at the end of the first novel, the four are still on the Isle. And at the beginning of this, they’re in Auradon Prep, have boyfriends and girlfriends and a life of their own. I actually checked online multiple times to make sure I had the right book. It was. And once I got over my confusion, I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
I can normally have a bit of a guess at the direction which a story that I’m reading is likely to take. Especially when it’s a young adult book. And one that is based on Disney (which I am stupidly obsessed with). Yet, this story wasn’t like that. I was constantly surprised at the direction which this took. Each moment I thought I had a handle on what was happening… the story changed direction. New characters with unexpected Disney parents would appear, change tactic. New challenges would arise. I loved it. Once I got over my initial confusion… I couldn’t put it down!
There is this idea in stories and the world that returning home and family is generally a good thing. I don’t find it to be that way. And this story seriously echoes that sentiment. For which I am grateful. I like that this is about not following in your parents footsteps. Or doing what they want and expect. That it’s about finding your own path, and realising that sometimes, you’re better off where you are, rather than returning to a past that wasn’t exactly healthy for you.
De la Cruz is very good at weaving Disney lore into the stories in a way that is incredibly surprising. The appearance of Mum for example was not one that I expected, but I love the mad witch, so it was also brilliant. Using this intricate knowledge to create the talismans and their powers was an unexpected choice. Yet, again, one that I absolutely adored. It was fun, engaging and makes me incredibly keen to pick up the third novel. I’m going to try and hold out for the new year though and finish the books that I’m currently reading.
Title: The Food of the Gods Author: H.G. Wells Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one) My Bookshelves:Classics, Science fiction Dates read: 27th November – 5th December 2019 Pace: Slow Format: Novel Publisher: Cantebury Classics Year: 1904 5th sentence, 74th page: The Vicar seems to have stared at each severally, and to have prodded most of them with his stick once or twice.
What happens when science tampers with nature? A riveting, cautionary tale with disastrous results reveals the chilling answer.
Hoping to create a new growth agent for food with beneficial uses to mankind, two scientists find that the spread of the material is uncontrollable. Giant chickens, rats, and insects run amok, and children given the food stuffs experience incredible growth–and serious illnesses. Over the years, people who have eaten these specially treated foods find themselves unable to fit into a society where ignorance and hypocrisy rule. These “giants,” with their extraordinary mental powers, find themselves shut away from an older, more traditional society. Intolerance and hatred increase as the line of distinction between ordinary people and giants is drawn across communities and families.
One of H. G. Wells’ lesser-known works, The Food of the Gods has been retold many times in many forms since it was first published in 1904. The gripping, newly relevant tale combines fast-paced entertainment with social commentary as it considers the ethics involved in genetic engineering.
I didn’t actually get all the way through this. I ended up just taking out my bookmark with only a quarter left to go. It wasn’t bad, it was just so much less awesome than the other five H.G. Wells books that I’ve read in the past two months. There was just something about it that didn’t really pull me in. And, honestly, made this quite a forgettable story.
Having said all that, I am planning on rereading this again when I have a little more time. This is the crazy point of the year, and I’m racing to try and finish all of my yearly reading challenges… so I’m probably not putting the same amount of attention into the reading of some of these classics. I didn’t hate this enough to think that I wouldn’t ever want to pick it up again. I just won’t be rushing to either. Unlike The Invisible Man and the other five Wellsnovels that I’ve recently read.
The thing that I did really love about this story was the idea of “don’t mess with nature”. That scientists have to think about what they’re doing first and foremost. And just because you can, it doesn’t mean you should.
Title: Among the Pigeons Author: John L. Read Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Australian authors, Conservation, Non-fiction Dates read: 2nd November – 5th December 2019 Pace: Slow Format: Novel Publisher: Wakefield Press Year: 2019 5th sentence, 74th page: The first time I harboured strong feelings towards cats was at our family farm in the South East, in South Australia.
So why keep cats indoors?
During the last century, global domestic cat numbers rocketed past 200 million. Hundreds of thousands of diseased, injured, malnourished or simply unwanted cats are euthanased every year by despondent animal welfare workers. Misplaced sentimentality, sometimes promoted by cat food companies, has exacerbated this situation through promoting irresponsible feeding of strays.
Ecologist and author John Read has travelled the world consulting cat experts and collating the most recent science. In II Among the Pigeons II he balances the allure of indoor cats with the animal welfare, human health and conservation issues they create when allowed to roam. But he also presents solutions, from breeding ideal indoor pet cats to development of humane tools to control feral cats.
In striking parallel to the repercussions of human-induced climate change, warnings about the damage wrought by free-ranging cats have been largely denied or overlooked. But we ignore these issues at our peril. For our own mental health and the endangered wildlife worldwide, time is running out.
I bought this when I was doing fieldwork out on a reserve a bit over a month ago. I have heard of the author before from fellow ecologists. But mostly, I wanted to buy it because the topic of this is incredibly topical and important to my heart. It’s also, I’m pretty sure a must read for all Australians. After all, it is especially important that we understand and appreciate our cat problem and the damage that it does to us.
This novel is highly factual. Although, for the amount of statistics and information that is squeezed into this, it isn’t dry in the slightest. Actually, it’s next to impossible to put down. The more you read, the more you want to as Read pulls in anecdotes and information from not only my own backyard, but also from around the world.
Of all the non-fiction books I have on my shelves, this is the one that I most definitely relate to the best. It not only talks about a lot of people and places that I know intimately, it’s also an issue that I’m constantly rallying against. But, since I know a lot of cat lovers, I’ve been incredibly hard-pressed to convince them that cat ownership is maybe not the best thing for our environment and the health of Australia.
Even if you are a cat lover, Read is able to provide his readers with a well-thought out argument. He doesn’t offer answers, but he highlights the problem that we are facing. And emphasises that we need a solution of some kind. Whatever works for the individual.
Earth and Skye 