Title: Merely Mortal
Author: Melissa Marr
Series: Wicked Lovely #5.5
In: Faery Tales & Nightmares (Melissa Marr)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Fae, Paranormal fantasy
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: HarperCollins
Year: 2012

Again, I probably should have read a whole lot more of the Wicked Lovely series before diving into this short story. Since it kind of has a bit of an epilogue feel to the whole series. Yet, even with having pretty much no context to the story, I still thoroughly enjoyed this.

Keenan and Donia are a great couple and definitely a little star crossed. Which is obvious from the moment you meet them both in Wicked Lovely. The fact that they’re finally getting their happily ever after was really nice. And a good way to tidy up what I’m sure are some lingering questions.

Aside from the spoilers and the romance, I love how the fae deal with the reality of humans catching them on camera. And that Donia is the one who stops her court from just going and killing everyone… something that, I feel, is kind of important in many ways. It is also such a creative way to deal with the issues of today and how Big Brother is always watching.

This was a short and sweet story, one that involves happily riding off into the sunset together. On a chilly, wintery night. Way too adorable and sweet.

Image source: HarperCollins Publishers

Title: Unexpected Family
Author: Melissa Marr
Series: Wicked Lovely #5.3
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: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: HarperCollins
Year: 2012

I really need to read more of the Wicked Lovely series… I love these short stories for the enjoyment that they are in and of themselves. But, it’s a bit hard to place them within the context of the greater series. Because I’m not very far into it. That, and I keep getting spoilers about some pretty major developments…

I enjoyed getting to know Seth more in this short story. He’s someone that I fell in love with very quickly in Wicked Lovely, and reading more about not just him, but also his briefly touched upon parents… priceless. That, and you also get to know his fae family a little better.

Seth and Niall have a fantastic friendship, one I want to read more about in the future. It’s definitely a loyalty you don’t see often. In real life or literature.

Image source: HarperCollins Publishers

Title: Cotton Candy Skies
Author: Melissa Marr
Series: Wicked Lovely #5.2
In: Faery Tales & Nightmares (Melissa Marr)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Fae, Paranormal fantasy
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: HarperCollins
Year: 2012

Although I really enjoyed this short story, as I enjoy all the writings of Melissa Marr that I’ve had the pleasure of reading thus far. I do need to read a bit more of the Wicked Lovely series to gain some context to this one. It was great, I understood it and I enjoyed it. But I also had no idea what had happened between Ink Exchange and this moment. Absolutely no clue. And I feel like not only did I get some spoilers, but I didn’t appreciate some of the more wonderful nuances of this tale.

I did hate how broken Rabbit obviously was in this story though. He’s such a sweet secondary character in the stories that I’ve read, so I want more of him as I delve further into this series. I feel like his backstory is complex and fascinating. One that will be fun to read more of. And I definitely felt for him in this tale. A feeling of loss and emptiness was definitely full throughout this.

One of the things I loved about this was the fact that Rabbit’s “mate” just decided on him. And decided to move in with him. The connection between them is obvious from the beginning, but it is mostly this beautiful, understated one that makes you realise that sometimes partnership comes on slowly. I also really enjoyed how she just decided on him, whether he wanted to dive in or not.

Then there’s the imagery of cotton candy skies. They feel beautiful and picturesque to me. Something that I really enjoyed. And honestly dreamt about at night after finishing this short story.

Image source: HarperCollins Publishers

Title: Stopping Time
Author: Melissa Marr
Series: Wicked Lovely #3.5
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: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: HarperCollins
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: 2012

It’s been a ridiculously long time since I read Ink Exchange, and this short story really made me want to dive right back into it. I mean, Old Habits was good and bought me back into this world. But Stopping Time brings back Leslie and all of her battles. This short story in particular focuses on her complicated relationships and feelings for Irial and Niall. Both of which I want to keep diving into if I’m being completely honest.

Leslie’s brother is pure evil in my honest opinion. I mean, it’s one thing to be an addict, but preying upon his sister in the way that he does is ridiculous. So I loved that in this short story he finally got his comeuppance. I mean, it was dark, sad and disturbing. But it was nice to know that he is finally not terrorising anybody else. It’s also a nice catalyst for Leslie to at least acknowledge some of the issues that are facing her relationships with Irial and Niall.

I love that this story reflects the title – sometimes you just have to stop time and take what you want and need. It might hurt more the next day, but it can be kind of necessary at times. Niall and Leslie taking that for each other as Irial tries to make the two people he loves the most happy… it was a very bittersweet moment and way to end the story.

One of my favourite things about Leslie in this series is that she has a whole other kind of strength than Ash. And it’s this strength that makes her acknowledge her reluctance to be with Niall and part of the Dark Court isn’t actually about him. It’s knowing what kind of person she wants to be and how she’ll be changed by exposure to such a court. Talk about wonderful inner strength.

Image source: HarperCollins Publishers

Title: Old Habits
Author: Melissa Marr
Series: Wicked Lovely #2.5
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

I haven’t revisited any of the Wicked Lovely world for quite a while. I definitely remember reading both Wicked Lovely and Ink Exchange, but it’s been a very long time since I’ve even read them. Which made reading this novella / short story all that much enjoyable. It bought back exactly what it is about this world that I love so much. And why I sink so deeply into the work of Melissa Marr.

Niall was a fun character in Ink Exchange (from what I remember), and it was really nice to get to know him better in this tale. It’s all about what happens to him and between him and Iriall after the dramas of the previous stories. The intricacies of the courts and the more drama that is about to follow our multiple leads are also hinted at in this tale. Ones that make me desperate to dive right back into this world.

I love how this tale is definitely one that I think will be useful to the greater series, but not one that needs a full-length novel. After all, it’s all about the changing of the old guard to make way for the new. Both Niall and Iriall have issues with understanding and maintaining the new status quo. And both are able to find a way to (eventually) work together to create a happier future for everyone in the Dark Court.

This tale ends on a bit of a hint as to what is likely to happen in Fragile Eternity. So now I have to dig right in and see if my hunch that Sebastian is about to get even more heavily involved with the fae is correct…

Image source: HarperCollins Publishers