Tag Archives: Dark Fantasy

The Sage of Theare by Diana Wynne Jones

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for the mammoth book of dark magic book cover

Title: The Sage of Theare
Author: Diana Wynne Jones
In: The Mammoth Book of Dark Magic (Mike Ashley)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Gods, Mythology
Dates read: 26th April 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 1982
5th sentence, 74th page: As soon as he pushed the door open, thick smoke rolled in, filled with harsh crackling.

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Synopsis

The Gods are ruled by order and they like it this way. So when the Sage of Dissolution is born they begin to fear that it will be the end of the world as they know it.

Thoughts

Order is not something that comes easily to me. Don’t get me wrong, I am incredibly organised and have a system for things. But my life in and of itself is not actually organised. And I don’t tend to follow conventions about 90% of the time. So I kind of liked a dark fantasy tale that dealt with the intersection of order and chaos. How they are both important to the existence of life as we know it.

The gods in this story are kind of a sick-in-the-butt characters. They have rules and restrictions for literally everything, and there is no way in which to deviate from this set path and plan. It means that no one can be questioned and nothing can change. Which in and of itself isn’t horrifying, until you realise that it means the world becomes stagnant and… well, boring.

I like that the mechanism for change in this tale is the child of a god. And in trying to avoid a prophecy, they, well don’t necessarily make it happen. But they bring to light their stupidity and inability to understand the world around them.

<- The Witch’s BicycleTimekeeper ->

Image source: Hachette Australia

Evolve edited by Nancy Kilpatrick

Book Review, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Overview
Evolve

Title: Evolve
Author: Nancy Kilpatrick, Sandra Kasturi, Kelley Armstrong, Ronald Hore, Jennifer Greylyn, Mary E. Choo, Rebecca Bradley, Michael Skeet, Victoria Fisher, Kevin Cockle, Heather Clitheroe, Colleen Anderson, Sandra Wickham, Claude Bolduc, Claude Lalumiere, Rhea Rose, Gemma Files, Bev Vincent, Steve Vernon, Rio Youers, Bradley Somer, Natasha Beaulieu, Jerome Stueart, Kevin Nunn & Tanya Huff
In: Evolve (Nancy Kilpatrick)
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Short story collections, Vampires
Dates read: 6th November 2018 – 1st April 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Anthology
Publisher: Edge
Year: 2010
5th sentence, 74th page: You are never in a hurry.

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Synopsis

New Vampires have evolved, and they are coming for you! Kelly Armstrong, Tanya Huff and twenty-two other dark fantasy and horror writers come together to re-imagine the future of vampires in this new collection of all-original short fiction – one of the most unusual and original vampire anthologies ever assembled.

Thoughts

This wasn’t my favourite collection of short stories. Maybe I’m not all that much into vampire stories, maybe because these are just the type of vampire stories that I really love. The only two tales I really loved in this were by Kelley Armstrong and Tanya Huff. They weren’t necessarily bad tales, just not ones that I was completely enthralled by.

If you like the more traditional and darker aspect of vampires, I think that this is for you. Some of the stories were a little contemporary, but they weren’t that romanticised, humanised version that we all know and love in modern literature. Maybe if I had have read some of the vampire classics such as Dracula before this, I would have been a little more intently interested. But as things stand, I found this collection quite… meh. Not bad, not great. Definitely worth reading, but not one I’ll be rushing to reread anytime soon.

 <- The Slowing of the World ReviewLet the Night In Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

The Witch’s Bicycle by Tim Pratt

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for the mammoth book of dark magic book cover

Title: The Witch’s Bicycle
Author: Tim Pratt
In: The Mammoth Book of Dark Magic (Mike Ashley) & Little Gods (Tim Pratt)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Magic
Dates read: 26th April 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2002
5th sentence, 74th page: So play with me and you’ll get better, right?

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Synopsis

It’s an age old tale, two boys, one girl, a rivalry that ends in tears. But, what happens when they decide to change the script? Will the dark magic continue?

Thoughts

I was really dreading a horrible ending to this story. One that would involve a tragedy and the dark magic practitioner riding off into the sunset with her own version of happily ever after. But it didn’t quite end like that. In fact, it had a very happy ending with a bit of violence and darkness thrown in. Something that I thoroughly enjoy in a good story – some violence, some hope and a happily-ever-after.

The idea of a girl with two boys interested is kind of age old. Something that has been around since time and time again. And a story that serves its purpose in most of the books that I read. But there’s not normally an evil, meddling witch trying to extend the conflict and end a life. There’s also not normally a girl running around with a hockey stick, protecting the boy (rather than the other way around). It’s these quirky, happy little differences that made me that much happier.

This story was a great, dark twist on the fairy tales and stories of witches that I’ve been reading lately. It was darker and far more twisted than usual. But it also had a happy ending, and didn’t leave me feeling uncomfortable and filled with a kind of horror at the end of the story.

<- The InfestationThe Sage of Theare ->

Image source: Hachette Australia

Quid Pro Quo by Tanya Huff

Book Review, ,
Overview
Evolve

Title: Quid Pro Quo
Author: Tanya Huff
Series: Henry Fitzroy #8.7
In: Evolve (Nancy Kilpatrick)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Vampires
Dates read: 1st April 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Edge
Year: 2010
5th sentence, 74th page: Scent would have allowed her to pick them out of a crowd regardless of how good a look she’d got at them.

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Synopsis

Vicki is disturbed from her day-time rest one day by goons breaking into her house to find her. Later, she finds out that her cop lover and partner has been taken to blackmail her… is all hell about to break loose?

Thoughts

I struggled a little to get into many of the short stories in the Evolve collection. But, this, as a final ending to the anthology was just amazing. This was exactly the kind of short story that I love, and my biggest complaint is that it ended too soon. I want to find out more about Vicki and Mike and the ways in which they have each other’s backs. I also want to find out why Vicki seems to be different from other vampires…

This was a little bit sweet and romantic, but more so in the fact that the relationship described in Quid Pro Quo was far more realistic. Mike and Vicki sacrifice a lot for each other, and although the realisation at the end is that their relationship puts each other in jeopardy, it also highlights that they will do anything for each other. And that although the relationship could endanger them, it also makes them more human and in touch with the world around them. Something that we all need, vampire or not.

 <- The Sun Also Shines on the Wicked ReviewEvolve II Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

The Infestation by Tom Holt

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for the mammoth book of dark magic book cover

Title: The Infestation
Author: Tom Holt
In: The Mammoth Book of Dark Magic (Mike Ashley)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Wizards
Dates read: 11th April 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2004
5th sentence, 74th page: Like I said, we understand one another, just as we’re both misunderstood by all the rest of them.

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Synopsis

He’s a mediocre wizard at best. But he’s about to be challenged more than he ever anticipated. Will he overcome the infestation? Or be overcome?

Thoughts

I wasn’t expecting to like this short story so much. At the beginning of the story I was a bit ‘eh about the character and the storyline. Although it did make me feel a little like I was reading a Terry Pratchett story… it wasn’t until about the halfway point that it started getting really, really good.

This isn’t one of those stories where the little man rises up, finds a power he didn’t know he has and change his life forever. Of which I am glad. Because that is a little overdone sometimes. This is a story in which the bumbling fool manages to scrape together enough gumption and power to do the right thing. And then at the end of the day, he turns around and returns to his menial, frustrating job and life goes on.

<- The Game of Magical DeathThe Witch’s Bicycle ->

Image source: Hachette Australia

The Game of Magical Death by Doug Hornig

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for the mammoth book of dark magic book cover

Title: The Game of Magical Death
Author: Doug Hornig
In: The Mammoth Book of Dark Magic (Mike Ashley)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Technology
Dates read: 27th March 2019
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 1987
5th sentence, 74th page: That was one thing his parents were good about.

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Synopsis

A gamer is sent a brand new game – the Game of Magical Death, but does he really know what he’s in for? This short story lets gaming, computers and dark magic to collide in ways that you just won’t anticipate.

Thoughts

I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with technology. I think it’s amazing, fantastic and great, but it also worries me more than a little. So it was kind of fun to read a short story that used this fear and ideas to create a more contemporary tale of dark fantasy and dark magic.

From the beginning of this tale, it is obvious that the computer game is more than expected. And you can kind of guess how some of it will go. But it isn’t until you get almost all of the way through this story that the twists and turns start to take hold. And then they kind of terrify you. After all, once he figures out just what is happening when he plays the game – he continues to do so. Which is so weird. And so many levels of just not okay…

<- Villaggio SognoThe Infestation ->

Image source: Hachette Australia

Villaggio Sogno by Richard A. Lupoff

Book Review, ,
Overview
Image result for the mammoth book of dark magic book cover

Title: Villagio Sogno
Author: Richard A. Lupoff
In: The Mammoth Book of Dark Magic (Mike Ashley)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Magic
Dates read: 24th March 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2004
5th sentence, 74th page: When she opened her eyes she knew she was in that other world, the grey world of huge columns, rectangular blocks, dust-covered stones and distant blackness.

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Synopsis

Two best friends finally get to travel into the city for their first “grown up” excursion. But, as they are about to find out, things aren’t always as they seem in the city, and it may just take a little quick thinking for them to find their way home again.

Thoughts

This story has such a bright, cheerful and kind of happy beginning. It’s two young girls, best friends, going out for the first time to the city and spending a day out together. Something that was so exciting at twelve years old for myself, so I could almost feel the joy and eagerness jumping out of the page. But, this is a short story in a collection of dark magic tales, so I knew that that wouldn’t be the case.

I was expecting something truly tragic and awful to happen to the two girls from the very get go. The beginning was just too nice and sweet. It was too full of promise. So I was incredibly pleasantly surprised to find that there really wasn’t a tragedy in this tale. Rather, the girls are able to find a way to triumph and finish their day in happiness.

This was a great little story that I struggled to put down. Actually, my need to finish this meant that I was almost late to work… it was just so good and fun.

<- Ten Things I Know about the WizardThe Game of Magical Death ->

Image source: Hachette Australia

Puss by Esther M. Friesner

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for snow white, blood red book cover

Title: Puss
Author: Esther M. Friesner
In: Snow White, Blood Red (Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Fairy tales
Dates read: 28th March 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Signet
Year: 1993
5th sentence, 74th page: Wizard? My sister asked, nose wrinkling with greed.

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Synopsis

A dark, adult twist on the classic fairytale of Puss in Boots. One that I find far more interesting and fun.

Thoughts

I kind of loved this version of Puss-in-Boots. After all, the original was so PG, and kind of didn’t explain just why the cat was so loyal and giving to his owners. There was just something a little too innocent about it, and I don’t love the idea of a character who is obviously powerful and intelligent from weighing hand and foot on such a horrible, selfish and downright irritating man. This short story put that all to rights.

I loved the idea of a contract and a blood oath to keep puss tied to his owners. The dark pacts that are made in a way that kind of surprised me, but definitely made me incredibly happy. It also added this great fantasy element to the fairy tale that I wasn’t expecting. One that I wish could be expanded on. After all, there is a whole race of beings that are able to help humans, make pacts with them and be changed. Something that intrigues me… and makes me yearn for more.

 <- A Sound, Like Angels Singing ReviewThe Glass Casket Review ->
Image source: Amazon

Ten Things I Know About the Wizard by Steve Rasnic Tem

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for the mammoth book of dark magic book cover

Title: Ten Things I Know About the Wizard
Author: Steve Rasnic Tem
In: The Mammoth Book of Dark Magic (Mike Ashley)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Easy reading, Wizards
Dates read: 13th March 2019
Pace: Slow,
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 1983
5th sentence, 74th page: The wizard was indeed isolated; there seemed to be no other dweelings as far as the eye could see.

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Synopsis

There are a lot of wizards in the world, but here are ten things that we know about this wizard in particular…

Thoughts

I read a lot of lists online, but this is the first time that I’ve read a short story that is in list form. And it worked kind of brilliantly. I wasn’t really sure how this format would work, or if it would really be a story. But it did work, and a great story unfolded.

Dark magic always seems to be about power, especially over others. And what can be a more potent power than that of a parent exerted over their child? Especially when they are the creator of the child (not in the sense you are thinking, but you’ll have to read this short story to figure out what I mean there).

This short story plays on the idea of power in a parent-child relationship and the ways in which a suitor can upset this. There is constant plays of power and battles of the will throughout the storyline. And although there seems to be a clear winner at the end, you still have to wonder if he did win in the end…

<- The Mammoth Book of Dark MagicVillaggio Sogno ->

Image source: Hachette Australia

Ghouls Night Out by Terri Garey

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for weddings from hell book cover

Title: Ghouls Night Out
Author: Terri Garey
Series: Nicki Styx #2.5
In: Weddings From Hell (Maggie Shayne, Jeaniene Frost, Terri Garey & Kathryn Smith)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Ghosts, Urban fantasy
Dates read: 26th March 2019
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Harper Fiction
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: Unfortunately, Aunt Nadine, who’d been fussing over the bridal bouquets, was not about to let me off the hook.

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Synopsis

Nicki Styx sees dead people. Worse, she’s a replacement bridesmaid forced to wear a hidesouly yellow dress. If only the chatty ghost of the original bridesmaid will just leave her alone, Nicki may survive this ceremony yet.

Thoughts

So I maybe shouldn’t have read this novella right before going to bed. Alone. Normally urban fantasy tales don’t really bother me right before bed. Because, well, they’re so obviously make believe. But, this one involves a dead woman who was sexually attacked right before being killed off. That hit a little too close to home… and made it a little difficult to get to sleep (even with my giant dog sleeping across my feet).

This is one of those stories that sinks beneath your marrow and lingers for a long while. In the best way possible. It is fun and adventurous, with a healthy dose of revenge and action. There’s also a little romance thrown in for good measure, which just made me happy and tingly on the inside.

Although this was a bit of a whodunnit / find peace for the dead girl kind of story, I really liked the secondary storyline of a honky-tonk redneck wedding. It’s a reminder that you don’t get to choose your family, so you may as well jump in and enjoy their company. Even if it does make you kind of uncomfortable…

 <- Happily Never After ReviewThe Wedding Knight Review ->
Image source: Harper Collins