Tag Archives: Blood Lite

Blood Lite edited by Kevin J. Anderson

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Overview
Blood Lite

Title: Blood Lite
Author: Kevin J. Anderson, Kelley Armstrong, Joe R. Lansdale, Lucien Soulban, Christopher Welch, Matt Venne, Don D’Amassa, Mark Onspaugh, J.A. Konrath, Paul Wilson, Charlaine Harris, Steven Savile, Will Ludwigsen, Janet Berliner, Eric James Stone, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Mike Resnick, D.L. Snell, Nancy Holder, Nancy Kilpatrick, Jeff Strand, Sharyn McCrumb & Jim Butcher
In: Blood Lite (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Comedy, Horror, Short story collections
Pace: Slow
Format: Anthology
Publisher: Edge
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: Sometimes, especially if I’ve been drinking, and I’m hungry, I revert to my basic nature.

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Synopsis

The Horror Writers Association Presents Blood Lite…a collection of entertaining tales that puts the fun back into dark fiction, with ironic twists and tongue-in-cheek wit to temper the jagged edge.

Charlaine Harris reveals the dark side of going green, when a quartet of die-hard environmentalists hosts a fundraiser with a gory twist in An Evening with Al Gore…

In an all-new Dresden Files story from Jim Butcher, when it comes to tracking deadly paranormal doings, there’s no such thing as a Harry’s Day Off for the Chicago P.D.’s wizard detective, Harry Dresden…

Sherrilyn Kenyon turns a cubicle-dwelling MBA with no life into a demon-fighting seraph with one hell of an afterlife in Where Angels Fear to Tread. NOTE: This story has been re-released in the Dark Bites anthology.

Celebrity necromancer Jaime Vegas is headlining a sold-out séance tour, but behind the scenes, a disgruntled ghost has a bone to pick, in Kelley Armstrong’s The Ungrateful Dead.

So let the blood flow and laughter reign – because when it comes to facing our deepest, darkest fears, a little humor goes a long way!

Thoughts

I’m kind of on the fence about this collection. Some of the stories in this were brilliant. Some downright weird. But all were enjoyable. Just not memorable. This is the kind of collection you read for a good, light laugh and something that isn’t going to make you think and linger in your mind’s eye after you’ve finished the story.

Although this hasn’t been my favourite collection of short stories that I’ve digested in recent times, it also wasn’t one that I ever considered stopping. I know that a collection or novel is truly horrible when I just can’t seem to pick it up and get through it. Yet I didn’t feel that way with this. I just didn’t want to completely bury my nose in these stories either. The best description I can think of for this series is easy. Easy reading. Easy to forget. But easy to spend some humorous time with.

 <- The Four Horsemen Reunion Tour ReviewThe Ungrateful Dead Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Day Off by Jim Butcher

Book Review, , , , , , ,
Overview
Blood Lite

Title: Day Off
Author: Jim Butcher
Series: The Dresden Files #10.3
In: Blood Lite (Kevin J. Anderson) & Side Jobs (Jim Butcher)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Crime, Paranormal fantasy, Urban fantasy, Wizards
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Edge
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: The golden lightning of a practitioner at work also flickered through their auras – which shouldn’t have been happening.

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Synopsis

Harry finally has a day off, and he plans to spend it showing a beautiful woman a good time. However, friends, apprentices and young morons keep getting in the way of his best laid plans.

Thoughts

I haven’t picked up anything in The Dresden Files for a while. Mostly because I’ve just been distracted by the multitude of amazing books that are out there. And reading this short story reminded me of just why I love this series so much. It’s funny. It’s quirky. And it always abides by Murphy’s Law – anything that can go wrong will go wrong.

I love how Butcher can take such a small thing as a day off and twist and turn it until all hell is breaking lose. Not just one moment of oh crap, or even one thing going wrong. It is a calamity of things going wrong. There’s the apprentice. The friends. And some weird wannabe rival kids. Anhy one of which would make an entertaining short story. But when you put all three together? I was laughing out loud… luckily there was no one else in the house at the time.

 <- Dead Hand ReviewBlood Lite II Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Dead Hand by Sharyn McCrumb

Book Review, ,
Overview
Blood Lite

Title: Dead Hand
Author: Sharyn McCrumb
In: Blood Lite (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Comedy, Horror
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Edge
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: And after that, of course, you’ll be in even more demand for these kinds of appearances, because the sponsor will expect you to keep their potential customers happy.

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Synopsis

An engineer decides to raise the dead to try and help his NASCAR team, but things have changed too much for the old man, and all he wants is to pass on into a quieter life.

Thoughts

I don’t follow cars. Or racing. And especially not NASCAR. I only really vaguely know anything about it to be honest. So reading a short story that had a horror component was kind of interesting. And a little disconcerting. And I didn’t entirely understand this short story…

I did like the emphasis on the change of time and the ways in which things so drastically change. How what was a field of skill two generations ago, is more about publicity and fans. And I really liked this distinction. There was the ideal that sometimes it’s best to let sleeping dogs lie and things change. Maybe we should just change our ideals with them…

 <- The Bell from HELL!!! ReviewDay Off Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

The Bell FROM HELL!!! by Jeff Strand

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Blood Lite

Title: The Bell from HELL!!!
Author: Jeff Strand
In: Blood Lite (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Comedy, Demons, Horror
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Edge
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: Doubtful.

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Synopsis

A young office worker has a bell forged by Lucifer to call the Dark Lord himself… but what will push him over the edge to use it?

Thoughts

I was expecting an entirely different ending to this short story. I basically thought that Lucifer was going to show up and own everyone. But he didn’t, and I just felt uncomfortable about the whole damn story. Especially the ending.

What I did love about this story, was the style in which it was written. Strand has a wonderfully quirky, quick-paced and fun style of wording that constantly made me smile and giggle throughout. The words are fast-paced and slightly sarcastic, giving this short story a great satirical air that makes up for some of the plot holes that frustrated me so badly.

 <- Bitches of the Night ReviewDead Hand Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Bitches of the Night by Nancy Kilpatrick

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Blood Lite

Title: Bitches of the Night
Author: Nancy Kilpatrick
In: Blood Lite (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Comedy, Vampires
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Edge
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: She pointed in the direction of Celine.

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Synopsis

He turned three women in the hope of finding a happily ever after… in return he got a series of vindictive bitches.

Thoughts

This is the funniest vampire story that I’ve read in a long time. Not because of any outward and obvious humour, but also because of the fact that it featured a vampire that thought he was all that. Until his choices of “wives” proved again and again and again that he wasn’t.

One of my favourite things about this short story is the fact that it turns the idea of vampires as these gorgeous seductors completely on its head. Alright, it’s still kind of true for the women – but not so much for the men. Which I love. Because I’ve never understood what is sexy about an undead man running around at night. Just ew. And now I have a story that shows that some people still feel the same way!!!

 <- I Know Who You Ate Last Summer ReviewThe Bell from HELL!! Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

I Know Who You Ate Last Summer by Nancy Holder

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Blood Lite

Title: I Know Who You Ate Last Summer
Author: Nancy Holder
In: Blood Lite (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Comedy, Horror
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Edge
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: Because I thought you told Carla M.

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Synopsis

Two cannibal rockstars are about to be found out… but will they turn on each other before they can escape the truth?

Thoughts

It’s obvious that this story will have something to do with the consumption of people in some way shape or form. I was honestly betting on vampire. And even after reading the first few pages – I still thought vampire. Until I got a little bit further along in the story and realised that no, these aren’t vampires, they’re just really weird and disturbed cannibals.

This is one of those sick and twisted stories that I love and keep thinking about it long after I have finished the tale. Two cannabilistic rock stars running free and wild. Two men who have been eating and killing their way across the country. Who have also joined AA and found a whole heap of new “friends” that were previously unexpected.

 <- Love Seat Solitaire ReviewBitches of the Night Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Love Seat Solitaire by D.L. Snell

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Blood Lite

Title: Love Seat Solitaire
Author: D.L. Snell
In: Blood Lite (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Ghosts, Horror
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Edge
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: “And I’m sure he does card tricks, too,” Dave said.

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Synopsis

The haunting of Sam’s house is about to get a lot more sinister and tricky…

Thoughts

This story just reaches a whole new level of weird and creepy. I was expecting a good, funny, humorous haunting story from the beginning. It didn’t turn out that way. It was all fun and games and whirlies… until it wasn’t. Then it was sick and twisted and disturbed. And not in that fun, make you think kind of way… in that… what did I just read kind of way.

If you want a story that shows that not all ghost stories have a happy ending… then this is definitely the tale for you. If you want a feel-good easy read, don’t pick this up. You’ll be as disturbed by it as I was.

 <- A Very Special Girl ReviewI Know Who You Ate Last Summer Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

A Very Special Girl by Mike Resnick

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Blood Lite

Title: A Very Special Girl
Author: Mike Resnick
In: Blood Lite (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Comedy, Horror, Urban fantasy
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Edge
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: He also is an occasional employee that I use when some goniff does not wish to honor his marker, and indeed he has just returned from Longshot Lamont’s, where I had sent him to collect the three large that Longshot Lamont bet on Auntie’s Panties to com ein first, and indeed the filly does come in first by seven lengths, but she comes in first in the eighth race after she goes to the post in the seventh race thirty minutes earlier.

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Synopsis

When a zombie debt collector decides to give his boss’ money away to his new beau, you know that things are about to go a little pear shaped. When his new girl is a little more twisted than expected… well, that’s a whole new story.

Thoughts

What happens when your not-so-smart muscle gives away the money he was supposed to be collecting for you? Well, in this comedy of errors, you find out one way to deal with it. And meet a very unique couple that is just feeling the first blossoms of love…

Throughout this entire short story things just steadily kept getting worse and worse. More and more incorrect and confusing… and I loved how it just steadily went downhill. Although this isn’t the most memorable of stories, the fact atht it is just a calamity of errors and poor judgement completely bespelled me. And even though I probably won’t be reading it again anytime soon, I certainly enjoyed my time in this world.

 <- Where Angels Fear to Tread ReviewLove Seat Solitaire Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Where Angels Fear to Tread by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Blood Lite

Title: Where Angels Fear to Tread
Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon
Series: Hellchaser #1
In: Blood Lite (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Angels, Horror
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Edge
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: You didn’t hear that?

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Synopsis

Zeke wants something more in life, but what he’s about to get might be a bit more than he bargained for…

Thoughts

It took me a little while to really get into the swing of this story, but once I did… oooh, I can see the potential for the rest of the series. There is such thing as getting more than you bargained for, and Zeke certainly got that when his life changed forever and finally gained meaning.

This short story had the typical, kind of required, mysterious great relative (in this case the uncle) bequeathing all of his belongings to someone missing their purpose in life. It had the eccentric estate left behind, and the sudden urging to follow a life’s path that was previously unexpected. All that is kind of expected and typical (a lot of stories I’ve read have followed this line of legacy giving, it’s a classic for a reason…). But that’s where it stops. After having his new legacy forced upon him, Zeke suddenly finds himself with no income, a shortened life span, and just generally a gift that he really really didn’t want…

 <- PR Problems ReviewA Very Special Girl Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

PR Problems by Eric James Stone

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Blood Lite

Title: PR Problems
Author: Eric James Stone
In: Blood Lite (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Comedy, Crime, Dark fantasy, Vampires
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Pocket Books
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: So I did.

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Synopsis

“What annoys me the most about vampires and werewolves is their good P.R.” — Thus begins the tale of a ghoul and his quest for proper respect.

Thoughts

I laughed so damn hard throughout this story. It’s rare to find a story that features a ghoul instead of werewolves and vampires and the sass with which the storyline is delivered were brilliant.

I love that throughout the story, the ghoul bitches and moans about the bad PR that they get. The fact that it ends with him wanting to eat someone doesn’t really improve my opinion of him… but he made quite a few good points. Ghouls don’t waste, vampires do… yet vampires are seen as something romantic and glorious in the literature.

This improvement on PR has certainly made me want to find a story or ten that features the glories of the ghoulish world…

 <- High Kicks and Misdemeanors ReviewWhere Angels Fear to Tread Review ->
Image source: Goodreads