Title: Misbegotten
Author: Kat Parrish
Rating Out of 5: 1 (Couldn’t get past the first page)
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novella
This is the second time that I’ve tried a Kat Parrish novel. Anand it’s the second time that I’ve wanted to love her work, and just didn’t quite get there. I just didn’t have any attachment to the storyline, and characters. I wanted to kind of know what was going to happen, but I really wasn’t all that bothered either.
Title: Hearts a la Carte
Author: Karuna Riazi
In: Hungry Hearts (Caroline Tung Richmond & Elsie Chapman)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Food, Superheroes
Pace: Slow, Medium, Fast
Format: Short story
Year: 2019
Trying to figure out who you are is difficult at the best of times, but trying to do that whilst surrounded by a overbearingly supportive family. And a family business. I love that Minara is trying to sort this out herself, whilst also taking into consideration the feelings of her family and those she cares about. There’s also the beautiful potential romance angle throughout that made this an even cuter coming of age tale.
Hassan / the Comet is a really cute superhero, and I love the randomness of how he and Minara meet. Although the love potential between Hassan and Minara doesn’t exactly bear fruit, I love that even at the end of this short story, there is so much potential for it. Plus, sometimes it’s nice to end on a friendship with potential, rather than the romance to end all romances.
Although this is a bit of a coming of age short story. And a bit of a superhero short story, I love that a whole lot of this tale is fixated on food. I mean, I tend to fixate a little bit too much on food at times, so it makes sense that I would enjoy a story that does the same. It made me want to try a whole new cuisine that I’ve just never had access to…
Title: Innocence Lost
Author: Patty Jansen
Rating Out of 5: 2.5 (Readable, but not worth reading again)
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2014
I really wanted to like this, and I even like the whole idea of this story line. But something about the writing kept flicking me out of the tale. I found it a little clunky and the flow just wasn’t quite right. The premise of this was amazing, but the execution wasn’t quite to my taste.
Title: The Forest
Author: Laird Barron
In: Inferno (Ellen Datlow)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Horror
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Short story
Year: 2007
Something about this short story felt incredibly creepy and goosebump-raising. The entire time I was reading this, I was seriously wigged and uncomfortable. But the kicker? I don’t actually know why this story made me feel that way… which somehow just made it worse. And creepier. Which, of course is kind of why I read horror short stories – for the uncomfortable, creepy feelings.
There were a lot of layers of horror to this story. There were plenty of horrors in the present, but a whole heap in the past as well. And secrets. Which, I swear, sometimes it’s the secrets and realism that make things that little bit more creepy. The scary of the unknown and the knowledge that everyone has secrets helped to add to the layers of this short story – and makes me want to read it again so I pick up on more nuances.
The forest in this story kind of made me think of the Japanese Suicide Forest – in that the forest takes the lives of those who are willing. But, I’m not entirely sure why. It had that eerie feeling of inevitable death throughout. Which kind of made the ending feel a little sad to me – saying goodbye to the future and potential for someone.
| <- Misadventure | The Monsters of Heaven -> |
Title: Desperate Choices
Author: Anna Windsor
In: The Mammoth Book of Hot Romance (Sonia Florens)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Romantic suspense, Small town romance
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2011
I actually really enjoyed this romantic suspense story – I wasn’t entirely sure how it was even a romance when I first started it, but I was very quickly pulled in. Enjoying it way more than expected. Particularly because it featured a child being kidnapped – something that particularly leaves a horrifyingly sick feeling in my stomach when I read about it.
I love that Leah will stop at nothing to find her nephew, including risking her own life and career. She also talks about crime in her small town like a slow moving rot – one that needs to be dug out by the roots and destroyed. It’s a reminder of how easy it is to become corrupt when those in power are corrupt, or let the evil slide – I kind of want more butt kicking in this world to find that Leah and her beau managed to start making an impact on all of the crime.
There was so much violence and mayhem throughout this story, which seems to be something I seriously enjoy lately. Plus, there was also some yummy lust to keep your toes curling and lighten some of the chaos. I love that this had a happy ending, but with the ability to have so much more chaos and violence in the future.
Title: Corfu
Author: Isobelle Carmody
In: Green Monkey Dreams (Isobelle Carmody)
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Year: 1996
This story made me really sad – it was a soulless town filled with soulless people. And, even though there was no hopeful notes to this story, I was still hoping for a more positive and promising ending than I got. It was a bit disheartening and sad to read – and honestly, I like stories that have at least a glimmer of hope in them. I didn’t find that in this story.
The decision made at the end of this wasn’t all that surprising – there’s a reason that it’s the decision many make in reality. But it was still really sad. I mean, the boy has so much hope at the beginning of this story, and potential. But then, he decides to join his brother in a gang and say goodbye to all of the potential doors that were in front of him. Sometimes I wonder if that’s a metaphor for life – saying goodbye to dreams because sometimes they are just unattainable.
I think that saddest part of all of this for me was that at the very end, Sophie recognises the path chosen. And recognised the betrayal that that decision denotes. Absolutely heart breaking and hard to read about. Love doesn’t necessarily conquer all, and this is kind of a reminder of that fact.
Title: Catnyp
Author: Delia Sherman
In: The Faery Reel (Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling)
Rating Out of 5:5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Fae, Fairy tales, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Short story
Year: 2004
Catnyp is a glorious fairytale, but kind of in reverse. Rather than a hero wanting to join the mythical world and change things, it’s a changeling wanting to not become a hero, and a hero-wannabe trying to join the real world. I mean, honestly, who would necessarily want to leave a world filled with magic and mystery for the mundane real world where you have to work and you know… act like an adult?
I thought that this was going to be a really cute little romance, but it turns out it was more a story about finding oneself. I love that the changeling in this fell in love, found out more about the world she lives in and what love means to humans. But, ultimately, decided that she valued herself and wanted to grow more. She is the hero of her own story, not the supporting cast in someone else’s.
I loved everything about the world building in this story. It was intense and brilliant, multilayered and incredibly intriguing. Mostly though, I loved the idea of the library and it’s sentience – how the presence of people and energies created magical beings that supported the world of the Between and the fae.
Title: Blood and Roses
Author: Angela Knight
In: Burning Up (Angela Knight, Nalini Singh, Virginia Kantra & Meljean Brook)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Magic, Paranormal romance, Vampires
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novella
Year: 2010
I love that both the leads in this story are trapped and having to act against their will. And that, ultimately, they decide to trust each other and help one another out. It may not be the nicest Meet Cute, but it was definitely a good way to create an unbreakable bond between the two – particularly as they would normally hate each other on sight due to past traumas.
The relationship within this story is initially a little, lot bit more lust driven than love driven. I might not appreciate that in a full-length novel, but in a novella, it works brilliantly. It made the storyline and the relationship move along incredibly quickly, and I also enjoy a fairly lust driven, explicit story every now and then.
As a big sister, I understand doing anything to protect your baby sister. And I love that Amaris was this way inclined. I mean, the anything in this story encompasses a lot more than I could ever imagine. But, it was a great aspect of her character. I love that she’s also completely aware that everything she does is part of a trap – she’s not blindly and wilfully being lead into a dead end. She’s just scrambling to get out of a horrifying situation in anyway she can.
The idea of Blood Roses and vampires might have a bit of a courtesan vibe, but I really liked it. I would love more stories based in this world of Blood Roses and vampires. Court politics and war.
| <- Whisper of Sin ReRead | Shifting Sea ReRead -> |
Title: Big Ben
Author: Nana Malone
Rating Out of 5: 1 (Couldn’t get past the first page)
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2020
I am honestly fed up with stories that feature an asshole male for the lead. I mean, there’s rough around the edges and a little bit forceful and alpha. But then there’s just pure asshole. And this was one of those stories – which meant I just couldn’t get into it. I quite frankly couldn’t get past the whole treating the woman like crap and just… not caring about anything else thing. I’ll definitely give more Malone books a trial in the future, but that’s because I liked the style of writing. I definitely didn’t like the characters.
Title: About That…
Author: Sylvie Stewart
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Medium
Format: Book, Novella
Year: 2019
Cal and Sofia are an incredibly cute couple, and I love that all of the difficulties in their relationship stem from a number of misunderstandings. Mostly misunderstandings and assumptions on Sofia’s behalf – she jumps to a few conclusions. But, I also would’ve jumped to the same conclusions, so it’s entirely justifiable and made for an even more interesting novella.
Sofia is a really fun and light character. Her passion for working with kids is adorable, and she has a passion for life that I seriously wish I could have. She is also incredibly excited by her life and those she chooses to share it with. I can’t imagine how difficult it would be to teach children, and her happiness in doing so was absolutely adorable.
I love that although there is an instant connection between Cal and Sofia, they spend quite a bit of time getting to know one another. I mean, there are still so many sparks I almost had to fan myself while I was reading this, but it was also a relationship based on mutual respect and liking of one another – it was fun reading about them falling for one another.
About That… was such a cute and beautiful little novella. I really enjoyed diving into Stewart’s writing yet again. There is some wonderful humour and wit in her words, partnered with heartfelt connections and happily ever afters. Just the type of romance I like to read.
| <- More Sylvie Stewart | Full On Clinger -> |
Earth and Skye 