Tag Archives: Blood Lite III

Typecast by Jeff Ryan

Book Review, , ,

Overview

Blood Lite IIITitle: Typecast
Author: Jeff Ryan
In: Blood Lite III (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Horror
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Gallery Books
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: I can’t see you.

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Synopsis

Sometimes it’s better not to typecast people too much…

Thoughts

You could kind of see how this story was going to end in the first few sentences. For starters, the title is Typecast, it implies the fitting of certain roles to an idea. Specifically when you are introduced to a casting director in LA. And one that is hunting for the perfect serial killer…

I loved the ending of this story. It was kind of scary, but a little funny. The pushy, overbearing LA casting director following a man who would play the perfect serial killer… yeah, how do you think that that one will end?

 <- Dating After the Apocalypse Review Making the Cut Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Two for Transylvania by Brad C. Hodson

Book Review, , , ,

Overview

Blood Lite IIITitle: Two for Transylvania
Author: Brad C. Hodson
In: Blood Lite III (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Comedy, Easy reading, Vampires
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Gallery Books
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: I’ve got my part to play.

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Synopsis

Dracula and Van Helsing are just con artists. And now they’ve gone into real estate.

Thoughts

The tales of Van Helsing and Dracula are told and retold so often that just the mention of their name can be exciting or send me off into snores. Luckily for me, this short story was a completely new take on traditional stories. And one that just wasn’t even slightly what I expected. Which was cute, funny and left me with a big smile on my face.

How did the stories about Dracula gain traction? Through the acts of the two conmen constantly gaining money from their unwitting victims. But, what are you supposed to do in today’s day and age? After all, I’m sure that constantly getting staked would get a little boring…I’m actually kind of disappointed that this story ended before I could find out how the great final con went for the two…

 <- Old MacDonald Had an Animal Farm Review The Four Horsemen Reunion Tour: An Apocumentary Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Still Life by Ken Lillie-Paetz

Book Review, , ,

Overview

Blood Lite IIITitle: Still Life
Author: Ken Lillie-Paetz
In: Blood Lite III (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Horror
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Gallery Books
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: The first layer had dissolved beneath, allowing both layers to come to life in terms of tone and color.

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Synopsis

This short story gives a whole new definition to the term still life painting.

Thoughts

This is an incredibly short story. And when I started reading it, I was wondering what part of painting an apple would make it part of a blood thirsty collection. When I figured it out, I was honestly a little grossed out and freaked. Which is why I gave it a slightly higher rating than I probably would have normally… it surprised me and made me feel weird.

Actually, it made me feel so weird that I can’t really find many more words to say…

 <- BRIANS!!! Review A Day in the Life Review ->
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The Steeple People by John Alfred Taylor

Book Review, , , ,

Overview

Blood Lite IIITitle: The Steeple People
Author: John Alfred Taylor
In: Blood Lite III (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Comedy, Demons, Easy reading
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Gallery Books
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: People should have noticed if all the angels on patrol everywhere had been doing the buzzard act that long.

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Synopsis

Even demons need to run a business… or at least, it’s a great way to pull of a new kind of steeple…

Thoughts

I’m a little hinky about Christianity. Just bad experiences with some not nice people who hid behind their religion. But, it always makes me entertained to read any story that features a Christian spin or tale. The fact that this one focused on a demon’s point of view and his attempts at corrupting the church goers kind of made it all the more entertaining.

I loved the amount of thought and work that went into creating this world, and the way it overlapped so neatly with our own reality. Placing demons within churches as a vessel of temptation, and then the flaming swords of retribution… it all worked really cutely and I was actually a little disappointed when they all dissolved back into their hell dimensions…

 <- Bayou Brawl Review For Sale Review ->
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Smoke and Mirrorballs by Chris Abbey

Book Review, , , ,

Overview

Blood Lite IIITitle: Smoke and Mirrorballs
Author: Chris Abbey
In: Blood Lite III (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Comedy, Easy reading, Fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Gallery Books
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: CASSANDRA: Don’t you mean you’ll leave him in the dust?

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Synopsis

What happens when dancing with the stars meets the supernatural community? Will heads roll?

Thoughts

I’m not a huge fan of reality TV. It always feels contrived and fake. Which, after reading this, I think that Chris Abbey might actually agree with me. This is a supernatural take on Dancing with the Stars. But one with a very sarcastic and ultimately funny twist. After all, most of the contestants are already dead, and those who are left… well, you’ll just have to read it to see.

Although this was a fun take on reality TV, it didn’t draw me in like a lot of other short stories. Although, the end did make me laugh. And I would probably read this again just to have the end of the tale go up in smoke again…

 <- A Misadventure to Call Your Own Review BRIANS!!! Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Short Term by Daniel Pyle

Book Review, , , ,

Overview

Blood Lite IIITitle: Short Term
Author: Daniel Pyle
In: Blood Lite III (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Crime, Easy reading, Horror
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Gallery Books
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: He grinned.

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Synopsis

A man is breaking and entering a house to take his pleasure in the bodies of those who live there. There’s just one problem… his memory.

Thoughts

I’ve seen dementia and short term memory loss used as a humorous anecdote, as a sad trial, as a hurdle that someone has to challenge or overcome. I have never read about it being used in a horror story. I’ve also never been so freaked out by the idea of someone with short term memory loss. But, Pyle has definitely managed to change that for me.

Creepy men jumping fences late at night is never a good beginning to a story. Said men then breaking and entering with evil thoughts on their mind… you can kind of see where the tale is going. Until things change and you can’t… this short story took a twist that I was completely not expecting. And I think that that combined with the short term memory aspect of this story… I didn’t sleep for a day after reading this!

 <- Mannequin Review Distressed Travelers Review ->
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Old MacDonald Had an Animal Farm by Lisa Morton

Book Review, , ,

Overview

Blood Lite IIITitle: Old MacDonald Had an Animal Farm
Author: Lisa Morton
In: Blood Lite III (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Fantasy
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Gallery Books
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: I think most of the human slaves get fed by-products.

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Synopsis

Animals have decided to take over, and MacDonald is right in the middle of it.

Thoughts

I like it when stories flip our point of view right on its head. It’s kind of a different way to look at the world, and really think about your actions. The fact that this one is about pets, and while I was reading it, I had one dog behind me, and one in front…

The animals turn the tables on the humans. Lead, of course, by cats. I liked the way they did it too. And the fact that the voice telling the story is the only human who is really kept in a cage of any standard… he suddenly is forced to become the house pet when all of his fellow humans are forced into a very different form of slavery.

I think after reading this short story, I might let my puppy have the cuddles that she’s been pushing for for the last hour. You just never know.

 <- A Day in the Life Review Two for Transylvania Review ->
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Mannequin by Heather Graham

Book Review, , ,

Overview

Blood Lite IIITitle: Mannequin
Author: Heather Graham
In: Blood Lite III (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Horror
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Gallery Books
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: Natasha pulled one of the little doily-covered occasional tables into the middle of the room, and, as they followed her, she instructed them to bring chairs around the table.

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Synopsis

Two young couples travel to a haunted bed and breakfast to have a scary night. They get exactly what they expect… and more.

Thoughts

I read this short story before going to bed. Mistake! I hate dolls, mannequins and anything generally humanoid that doesn’t quite make it. Mannequins are kind of at the top of this list. So a horror story about mannequins coming to life… yeah, it was not a good idea to read before turning off the lights.

Two young couples decide to go to a B and B to scare themselves silly. It’s a joke that quickly turns serious. And although it’s about the couples getting scared silly, Graham managed to take me along for the ride too. After all, there’s something slightly creepy about mannequins, and serial killers, and really bed and breakfasts in general…

This isn’t a short story for people who don’t like to get a slight goosebump when they’re reading…you’ve been warned.

 <- Acknowledgements Review Short Term Review ->
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The Man Who Couldn’t Be Bothered to Die by Norman Prentiss

Book Review, , ,

Overview

Blood Lite IIITitle: The Man Who Couldn’t Be Bothered to Die
Author: Norman Prentiss
In: Blood Lite III (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Comedy, Easy reading
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Gallery Books
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: He’d clicked “Remind Me Later” each day since.

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Synopsis

Sometimes it’s necessary to have an intervention. Especially when your loved one just refuses to actually die.

Thoughts

I’ve never been part of an intervention. And I feel like that’s a good thing. Especially when you’re reading a short story that is effectively about the intervention of a loved one. Who is also a zombie. It was funny. But also seriously creepy.

What I loved about this short story is that it starts with an intervention to encourage the character to die. Then it goes back two weeks and helps to explain why his loving sister is telling him to just go towards the light. All of the angst and emotion of a normal intervention, with just that extra little dash thrown in…

 <- For Sale Review The Last Demon Review ->
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Making the Cut by Mike Resnick & Lezli Robyn

Book Review, , , ,

Overview

Blood Lite IIITitle: Making the Cut
Author: Mike Resnick & Lezli Robyn
In: Blood Lite III: Aftertaste (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Fantasy
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Gallery Books
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: I promise not to immerse any of you in water.

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Synopsis

A new job as a manicurist with some interesting clients…

Thoughts

I read a lot of fantasy and supernatural stories. There is always something enjoyable about seeing the reflection of the known in the unknown. But, one thing I’ve never really thought of is how these supernatural ghouls and creatures manage to keep themselves looking good on their nightly prowls.

The setting and the idea of a hair salon for the supernatural ghouls was entertaining enough. But, starting a new job as a manicurist at such a place…? FAR more entertaining. And the power of such a unique kind of woman? Just fun.

Yet, that isn’t the only fun thing about this short story… there is also the zombie that really wants to feel pain. And is being stabbed by old women. Who happen to be his fans… did I mention that this story was fun and entertaining? If not a little off kilter?

 <- Typecast Review Acknowledgements Review ->
Image source: Goodreads