The Horn by Stephen Gallagher

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

Title: The Horn
Author: Stephen Gallagher
In: Hauntings (Ellen Datlow)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Horror
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Tachyon
Year: 2013

Thoughts

From the very beginning of this short story, and the tone that is powerful within this, it was very obvious that everyone was probably going to di3 in this short story. But, me being the ghoul that I am, I really wanted to see how they all died… I mean, who wouldn’t?

To be fair, I did think that the narrator or one of the men he was stranded with was going to be the killer. There was just that whole, lo ked in with a serial killer tone to this tale. But, the reality of this story was a whole lot more sinister. And creepy.

Normally I love tales that feature a snowstorm. Probably because I often read romances and fantasies and there is always a very powerful feeling to that. However, this short story worked as a great reminder that the isolation that works so well in romances and fantasies, can also be deadly. The kind of isolation where secrets grow.

This is definitely a horrible and creepy haunting. One that I feel like will keep coming back, through many snow storms to come.

<- Distress CallEverybody Goes ->

Image source: Amazon

The Grand Ishq Adventure by Sandhya Menon

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: The Grand Ishq Adventure
Author: Sandhya Menon
In: Hungry Hearts (Caroline Tung Richmond & Elsie Chapman)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Food, Romance
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Year: 2019

Thoughts

I loved this little romance, it was sweet and cute. And, although I completely guessed that Prem was the one writing in and just why he was writing in, it was still a fun journey. After all, what better way to get advice on how to approach the person you are interested in, than by asking them? The fact that this involved food and gaining courage… well, it just made it all that much better.

Honestly, I kind of want to try this challenge – I mean, I’ve eaten out by myself before, but I’ve never done so without using some kind of “shield”. The idea of going out to a restaurant and eating out alone, without a shield, and just enjoying the world flow by. That kind of appeals, and scares me. Plus, doing so in new locations and with new experiences… that just makes it all that much more appealing.

I love that this is a story set in the between time of adulthood. That moment when you are about to jump into college and your first forays away from the parents. But, you’re not quite read to do so. Throughout this tale, the narrator sees people from her high school – and in a way says goodbye to that part of her life before embarking on the next steps. Her journey is not just about finding bravery in being alone, but also in saying goodbye to the past. A seriously enjoyable short story.

<- Kings and QueensSugar and Spite ->

Image source: Goodreads

Everybody Goes by Michael Marshall Smith

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

Title: Everybody Goes
Author: Michael Marshall Smith
In: Hauntings (Ellen Datlow)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Ghosts, Horror
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Tachyon
Year: 2013

Thoughts

This wasn’t quite the “haunting” tale that I was expecting, but it was even better. I mean, I was kind of expecting something that was scary and disturbed. Instead, it was actually a little bit sweet and innocent. I mean, there is still a haunting and a bit of a creepy factor, but overall, it was actually kind of innocent and sweet.

Before I got to that point of kind of innocent though, I got some pretty serious IT vibes. I honestly kept on expecting a creepy, horrifying, killer clown to dive out of the pages and attack the children. Which definitely lent to the feeling of suspense that kept me turning the pages. Then, the ending made everything much more innocent in hindsight.

This was a good, easy read. It had a bit of a suspenseful feeling. But it also worked as a great reminder of the innocence of childish days and memories.

<- The HornTransfigured Night ->

Image source: Amazon

Devil’s Bargain by Christine Warren

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Devil’s Bargain
Author: Christine Warren
In: Huntress (Christine Warren, Marjorie M. Liu, Caitlin Kittredge & Jenna Maclaine)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Demons, Paranormal romance, Urban fantasy
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novella
Year: 2009

Thoughts

This novella might not have been an epic, can’t put down page turner. But it was still a good page turner. It was a fun story that was easy to enjoy and get sucked into. You know from the beginning that this is a tale that is going to get a happily ever after. But, it was still a fun journey getting there. Which is all I want in a novella sometimes.

I love that Lilli and Aaron kind of have the insta-love thing going. But their relationship still starts off with the two of them beating the absolute crap out of each other. I always solve a good fight scene, and this one was kind of brilliantly written. It was very easy to imagine each movement and just how out of their depth both the characters are. Plus, what better way to meet your future partner?

Finally, this is all about prophecies and the apocalypse. It’s fun trying to figure out just where the prophecy is going to take you. And how a multitude of meanings can come from a single prophecy. A reminder that even if we believe that fate and the future is set in stone, there are always surprises on the horizon.

<- HuntressThe Robber Bride ->

Image source: Amazon

Carabosse by Delia Sherman

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Carabosse
Author: Delia Sherman
In: Silver Birch, Blood Moon (Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Fairy tales, Poetry, Retellings
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Poem
Year: 1999

Thoughts

I loved this poem, as with all poems, there are a number of meanings interwoven throughout. It was also nice to read the introduction at the beginning of this piece of prose. In the case of this poem, it is a great take on the curse of Sleeping Beauty. One that gives a whole heap of meaning to just what is considered a “curse” and a “gift”.

When you think of Sleeping Beauty, you think of her being cursed to sleep for a thousand years. But, in the case of this version, she is given the ability to use all of the gifts given by other fairies for herself. Each and everyone is to be for her and her alone, not to be given to whatever potential husband she has in the future. Because then her future happiness and marriage is based upon a partner, not an obligation.

This poem definitely had a great lyricality to it and a fantastic message – sometimes what we see as a curse is actually going to give us our freedom. Eventually. Just hopefully not in 100 years…

<- Kiss KissThe Price ->

Image source: Wikipedia

The Undead in My Bed by Katie MacAlister, Molly Harper & Jessica Sims

Book Review, , , , , ,
Overview

Title: The Undead in My Bed
Author: Katie MacAlister, Molly Harper & Jessica Sims
In: The Undead in My Bed (Katie MacAlister, Molly Harper & Jessica Sims)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Short story collections, Vampires
Pace: Medium
Format: Anthology, eBook
Year: 2012

Thoughts

This is a very good and fun collection, filled with vampires, sex and lust. All of the good things in a paranormal romance collection of vampires. Alright, so I didn’t actually love the first novella. But other than that, I really loved this. It gave me a few new books / series to read. Because, lots of vampire fun and lust.

I like that there were different levels of spice and yum throughout this collection. Some stories were seriously steamy, others were just a little bit of a lower level. It’s nice to have the different intensities of smut, a good variety in a collection with a very common thread throughout.

I’ve definitely got a few books to continue reading… ones that I can’t wait to dive into.

<- Out with a FangShades of Gray ->

Image source: Amazon

Hex on the Beach by Kelley Armstrong, Jeaniene Frost & Melissa Marr

Book Review, , , , , ,
Overview

Title: Hex on the Beach
Author: Kelley Armstrong, Jeaniene Frost & Melissa Marr
In: Hex on the Beach (Kelley Armstrong, Jeaniene Frost & Melissa Marr)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal fantasy, Short story collections, Urban fantasy
Pace: Medium
Format: Anthology, eBook
Year: 2021

Thoughts

I loved every single one of these three novellas. One of those anthologies that I’m glad I have on the shelves. And one that I look forward to reading again and again. I mean, I kind of figured that would be the case because I’ve read all of these authors before and loved them all. But, it was still nice to be right in that assumption.

It comes as absolutely no surprise that I loved all of the series that these stories feature in. Two of which I’d already started reading, one of which I had in my TBR anyway. Now I just want to dive into these urban fantasy series all over again.

Even though all three novellas have that same summer vibe throughout this collection, they all have a wonderfully unique flavour. I love that there is the chilling with friends, enjoying a vacation feel, which goes completely belly up in every one of the stories. But, the ways that chaos hits the group is completely different for each tale.

A brilliant collection, one that I was completely in love with from the very first moment.

<- Goddess of Summer LoveDaiquiris and Daggers ->

Image source: Booktopia

Faery Tales and Nightmares by Melissa Marr

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Faery Tales and Nightmares

Title: Faery Tales and Nightmares
Author: Melissa Marr
In: Faery Tales & Nightmares (Melissa Marr)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Fae, Paranormal fantasy, Short story collections
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: HarperCollins
Year: 2012

Thoughts

This is a fantastic collection, with the vast majority of the short stories set in the Wicked Lovely world. Although this did give me some spoilers for the series, it was still fun and tantalising to constantly visit that world – one that I’ve always enjoyed, just not quite gotten around to finishing yet. But, having all of these wonderful spoilers has just made me all that much more keen to dive back into the series.

I seriously loved jumping in and out of the Wicked Lovely world. Sometimes it’s just nice to briefly visit a world, without having to commit to a full-length novel. I loved that I could do this with this collection, take a brief pause, but not get too distracted from day-to-day responsibilities.

Even though I really enjoyed reading this, admittedly, I think that I would have been better off reading this collection after finishing the Wicked Lovely series. It was intriguing to get all of these tantalising hints, but it also gave away so many twists and spoilers! It’s made it a little less climatic to jump into the other stories and given away a few things that would have made me completely intrigued to read the actual series.

Every single story in this collection (whether a Wicked Lovely story or one that stands alone) was brilliant. And fun. And had those wonderfully dark twists of the fae. I love that these stories weren’t innocent and covered in cheerful faery dust. But filled with the more traditional ideas of fae.

<- Merely MortalWhere Nightmares Walk ->

Image source: HarperCollins Publishers

Reading Update – 2023

Book Review

It’s been hectic, but that just means that I sink into my reading a whole lot more. It’s definitely an interesting feeling reading some of these less… PG books, while a tiny human is kicking away inside of you!

Series

Standalones – Novels

Standalones – Novellas

Standalones – Short stories

The Sleeping Girl and the Summer King by Melissa Marr

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Faery Tales and Nightmares

Title: The Sleeping Girl and the Summer King
Author: Melissa Marr
In: Faery Tales & Nightmares (Melissa Marr)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Fae, Paranormal fantasy
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: HarperCollins
Year: 2012

Thoughts

This is a very sweet and simple short story. Not sweet in a romantic, happily ever after way, but rather, in its simplicity. It does fit within the Wicked Lovely world in that it is based around the Summer King and the fae. But beyond that, it’s a great little standalone. At least, that’s how I read it in my current position within my read of this series.

This is a great story about the end of summer and the beginning of winter. It’s a reminder that each season has it’s own beauty and serves its own purpose. And that the end of one season of our lives is just the beginning of the next.

I think I know what decision I would have chosen at the end of this tale. The choice to be a never-ending youth dancing in summer, or someone who gets to grow old and experience the new in winter. I mean, you’d never truly know… but I definitely know which decision calls to me.

<- Flesh for ComfortCotton Candy Skies ->

Image source: HarperCollins Publishers