Hauntings edited by Ellen Datlow

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Overview
Hauntings: Datlow, Ellen: 9781616960889: Amazon.com: Books

Title: Hauntings
Author: Ellen Datlow, Pat Cadigan, Dale Bailey, E. Michael Lewis, Lucius Shepard, David Morrell, Caitlin R. Kiernan, Joyce Carol Oates, Elizabeth Hand, Neil Gaiman, F. Paul Wilson, Jonathan Carroll, Terry Dowling, Paul Walther, Simon Kurt Unsworth, Connie Willis, Stephen Gallagher, Michael Marshall Smith, Richard Bowes, James P. Blaylock, Jeffrey Ford, Gemma Files, Kelly Link, Adam L.G. Nevill & Peter Straub
In: Hauntings (Ellen Datlow)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Ghosts, Horror, Short story collections
Pace: Slow
Format: Anthology
Publisher: Tachyon
Year: 2013

Thoughts

This is, as with all Ellen Datlow collections, seriously fun and enjoyable. The fact that this fantastic collection is full of seriously creepy stories made it that much more enjoyable. Mostly because it’s out of my usual genre of choice. Horror and ghost stories might not be quite my usual speed, but that didn’t mean that I didn’t love reading this collection!

Although I really enjoyed reading all of these short stories, I did find that this was not an anthology I should be reading late at night. Or when I was home alone. Whilst some of the stories were kind of mild and not too terrifying, some made it really difficult to sleep after turning the final page. Or just made it difficult to turn off the lights. Which is why this took me a little bit longer to read than I had anticipated.

Hauntings runs the gambit of horror and ghost stories, from horrible hauntings to stories that had a little bit more hope at the end. They made me feel all of the feelings, and I would most definitely read this collection again in the future.

<- The First Lunar HalloweenEenie, Meenie, Ipsateenie ->

Image source: Amazon

Blogging Update

Book Review

I’m in the process of scheduling a whole slew of reviews… it might take me a little while. It turns out that when you have complications during childbirth and stay an extra night at hospital, then go home to recover… well, you get a LOT of reading done. Particularly while feeding. But it’s worked out alright. I get to do a bit of extra reading, and I gave birth to a beautiful, sweet baby boy.

So please enjoy the chaos and insanity that I’m trying to get on top of, and, if all goes well, there will be some more consistency in my review publishing / writing again.

Reading Update – Mid-November 2023

Book Review, , ,

Lots of reading lately – it’s been a good way to distract myself from being an adult. Just a little delayed to get them all online… and there will probably be more of a delay with the next batch. Baby #2 is due to arrive any day now! ❤

Poems

Series

Short story collections

Standalones – Novels

Standalones – Novellas

Standalones – Short stories

Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Kingdom of Ash
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass #7
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Fantasy, Romance, Strong women
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2018

Thoughts

I wanted to like this a whole lot more than I did. I mean, I’ve loved all of this series. But, something about the bulk of this and the convoluted nature of the story meant that I found it kind of a hard slog. It might have been a bit more palatable if the story was split into a few different novels if I’m being honest. Part of it is just the sheer size of this damn novel. I could probably knock someone unconscious with it if I’m being honest. In fact, once I got about halfway through, I found that I was just skim reading this – I wanted to know how it ended, but wasn’t invested enough to read every single word.

I think one of the aspects that I found so difficult about this was that there are SO many loose ends and convoluted story lines that need to be tied up. I mean, Maas has done a great job of world building in this, but it felt a little like there was a little bit too much going on. As much as I’ve loved this series, I didn’t really consider it an epic fantasy. Yet, that is how Kingdom of Ash reads – as though it is an epic with epic final battles. None of which were actually… well, epic.

I knew that everyone would get their happily ever after. Which, personally I do like – although I’ve enjoyed some books that don’t have a happily ever after, I did like that this one had that. I can imagine the loving cast riding off into the sunset with their partners, having children and just being… well, happy. I think that it could’ve been accomplished in a lot less pages though…

All in all, while I did enjoy this and I’m glad that the series got a nice ending. I did find that there was a lot of filler. I think I just found that Maas was trying a little bit too hard. I can imagine how difficult it would’ve been to finish out a number of character arcs, but I still wish that they were tidied up a little more succinctly.

<- Tower of DawnThe Assassin’s Blade ->

Image source: Amazon

Grumpy as Puck by Elizabeth Lynx

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: Grumpy as Puck
Author: Elizabeth Lynx
Series: Blue Ridge Mountain Hockey #1
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance, Sports romance
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2022

Thoughts

I’m not going to lie, I picked this up because of the title, I love a good puny title. But, beyond that, I didn’t quite know what to expect. It turns out, this was a good and easy read. Not necessarily a book that I will reread a thousand times, but one that I did seriously enjoy throughout the reading of it.

For the first half of this book, I did find Daisy to be a bit of an idiot. I mean, she catches her boyfriend cheating with her boss, and just… walks away? And continues working for the woman? It might be my impulsiveness, but I definitely relate better to tales of woman who go nuclear on that kind of behaviour. Maybe I’ve also been reading too many urban fantasy books where the woman is more likely to stomp on the guy’s head (literally, both…).

Cillian I didn’t have too many issues with though. Granted, he’s a grump and doesn’t have the greatest filter on his treatment of others. But I kind of get the need. Honestly, a lot of what he says throughout this is the internal monologue in my brain. I just care a little more about others’ emotions I suppose… I do love that a lot of his brashness is about thinking others hate him. Which turns out to be completely false.

As much as I enjoyed this romance and the growth that each goes through, there were a few moments I struggled with. Firstly, Jackson’s attitude to Cillian. It did a full 180, without any real moment of epiphany. I felt like this needed a little more work and build up before it happened. And, then there’s all the crap that Cillian’s ex puts him through. I mean, it works for the storyline, but it SO could’ve been a stronger plot point.

<- More Elizabeth LynxDangle the Ring ->

Image source: Goodreads

Blood Hunt by Lucienne Diver

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview

Title: Blood Hunt
Author: Lucienne Diver
Series: The Latter-Day Olympians #5
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Mythology, Paranormal fantasy, Strong women
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2015

Thoughts

I wanted to like this book a whole lot more than I did. I got through it, just, but it was so “eh” that I really am struggling to even write a review. I’m not sure if it’s because for me, this series has run out of steam. Or the fact that I just wasn’t necessarily in the right headspace to read this book. But all in all, I was disappointed.

I think part of the reason I was so driven to read this is because it rounds out the series. But admittedly I struggled with getting through Battle for the Blood. Again, I wanted to love this more than I did. Maybe it was just that my expectations were too high. After all, the premise is brilliant.

As with all reviews of books I’m not ridiculously into, I’ll keep this review short. I just struggled to feel attached to the characters and didn’t really care what the outcome of the story line was. But it might be amazing for other readers.

<- Battle for the BloodMore Lucienne Diver ->

Image source: Amazon

The Price by Patricia Briggs

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: The Price
Author: Patricia Briggs
In: Silver Birch, Blood Moon (Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Fairy tales, Retellings
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Short story
Year: 1999

Thoughts

I could pretty much guarantee, before even reading this, that I would love it. Because I tend to love all things by Patricia Briggs. The fact that it was a Rumpelstiltskin retelling just made it all that much better. Mostly because I don’t get to read many retelling of this fairy tale…

I love that this story gives you a bit of backstory about Rumpelstiltskin. Rather than just being a character who takes advantage of the Miller’s daughter, there’s how they actually met. In fact, a good portion of this is about how the two met, and then how they bonded. It makes a whole lot more sense than the original if you think about it.

I also love that this retelling got a happily ever after. Not all retelling do, and I thought this one was even better than the original. In fact, I kind of want MORE of their story and happiness…

<- CarabosseGlass Coffin ->

Image source: Wikipedia

Whatever for Hire by R.J. Blain

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Whatever for Hire
Author: R.J. Blain
Series: A Magical Romantic Comedy (with a Body Count) #5
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Humour, Paranormal romance, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2018

Thoughts

Whatever for Hire is definitely an unfortunate name for a business – it sounds a little porny to be totally honest. Luckily, the lead in this feels the same – Kanika constantly regrets her choice of business name. But it does work. And, honestly, it also suits her actual business. And Kanika’s powers of shapeshifting – I feel like there’s a whole lot more to her powers than are alluded to in this. And I look forward to finding out more about them in later books (hopefully).

The presence of Satan throughout this story constantly had me laughing out loud. And smiling. And, just in general, seriously enjoying this tale. The romance is good, the unveiling of the different secrets and traps in the bargains are also all good. But honestly, the way that Satan is constantly getting involved in nonsense and making me laugh? That was probably the best part of this whole story. I mean, how could the fact that the devil is running free and just messing with Kanika not be one of my favourite things I’ve read in a while?

I spent a lot of this story trying to guess just who and what Malcolm is – I mean, it’s obvious that he’s a power. And that he’s a scary power. But I wasn’t entirely sure what kind of power he was. In fact, I didn’t actually guess what he was at all. The great reveal at the end of this novel was kind of a surprise. Plus, I felt like there is a whole lot more to his curse than was revealed in this novel. I’m feeling really hopeful that there is another story featuring Kanika and Malcolm in the future. There are a number of loose ends that I still want answers to.

Whilst angels have been present in other books within this series, this is the first that really deals with the idea of angels and demons. At moments it kind of made my head spin. I’ll probably reread this book, just so that I get a bit of a better grasp on just what is happening in this world. My brain was definitely not firing on all cylinders for my first read through of this!

<- Serial Killer PrincessOwl Be Yours ->

Image source: Amazon

Serial Killer Princess by R.J. Blain

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Serial Killer Princess
Author: R.J. Blain
Series: A Magical Romantic Comedy (with a Body Count) #4
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Humour, Paranormal romance, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2018

Thoughts

The title of this novel should have clued me into the fact that I was probably going to love this story. That, and the fact that it was going to have a seriously grey hero. I mean, this is literally a novel about a serial killer. Yes, she’s a serial killer who kills other killers. But that’s kind of beside the point… she’s still a killer. One that I completely fell in love with, even if she was a shapeshifting black mamba.

Admittedly, I probably shouldn’t have read this novel just before bed time. Funnily enough, I had no issue with reading about a serial killer, but I do have a bit of a snake phobia. One that led to some slightly weird dreams when I finished this just before dozing off… however, Blain managed to make this a far more pleasurable, and less creepy journey. One of the few stories in which the snake isn’t the evil one. But, rather, the good guy (kind of). She’s also not the apex predator, which I would’ve thought such an enormous black mamba would be.

I spent a lot of this story trying to guess what kind of shapeshifter Justin was. In fact, he drastically surprised me with the reveal of all of his plotting and scheming at the end of this story. Plus, there are some seriously funny moments throughout when the serial killer and the bodyguard court each other. The fact that there are just a couple of bodies left in their wake? Absolutely hilarious… I’m not sure what it says about me that I found this entire relationship and couple so damn funny.

Tulip might actually be the most cringey name I’ve ever really read. Although, it kind of worked. I love that, aside from this story being one about a serial killer finding her forever partner, it’s also a story about parents. I mean, Tulip’s mother would already be on my shit list because of the name that she chose. But, then the chaos and her desire to pretty much conquer everything would make me absolutely rip my hair out. Plus, Tulip gets to spend time getting to know her father and his family… another chaotic adventure that I seriously loved.

<- Hearth, Home, and HavocWhatever for Hire ->

Image source: Amazon

Hearth, Home, and Havoc by R.J. Blain

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Hearth, Home, and Havoc
Author: R.J. Blain
Series: A Magical Romantic Comedy (with a Body Count) #3
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Humour, Paranormal romance, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novella
Year: 2017

Thoughts

Any story that starts off featuring a single mother is something that I’m going to like. Yet, I wasn’t expecting this to be a story about a single mother of a goddess in training. Which was just hilarious. I mean, being a mother is difficult enough. But when your daughter is learning at an accelerated pace and the goddess of hearth and home? I can’t imagine the challenges faced.

This is one of the shorter stories in the A Magical Romantic Comedy (with a body count) series – more novella length than anything. I kind of wanted it to be a bit longer if I’m being honest. After all, Hestia is a freaking hilarious daughter. She’s literally running around causing havoc, all in the name of taking care of her mother. Plus, she’s decided that her mum needs hearth and home to be happy – a matchmaking daughter on top of everything else? Absolutely priceless.

Running from a psychotic ex isn’t necessarily a new trope for my bookshelves. Particularly one who is powerful (financially and socially) and able to manipulate the system to ostracise his ex. But, the idea of being able to magically control someone was truly horrible. The compulsions that are constantly making her question her worth and stop her from moving on? Definitely heartbreaking. But a good way to highlight just how bad the emotional aspect of abuse can truly be.

I loved this novella, like everything thus far in this series. I mean, I’m binge reading it for a reason I suppose. The couple at the centre was fun, there was murder and mayhem. And everyone gets a happily ever after… except for the bad guys, they just end up dead…

<- Hoofin’ ItSerial Killer Princess ->

Image source: Kobo