Tag Archives: Hex Appeal

Cherry Kisses by Erica Hayes

Book Review, , , , ,

Overview

Cherry KissesTitle: Cherry Kisses
Author: Erica Hayes
Series: The Shadowfae Chronicles #4.5
In: Hex Appeal (P.N. Elrod)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Australian authors, Dark fantasy, Demons
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: And opened the door.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

Sexy con-artist Lena Falco isn’t a witch, not technically. She uses her cache of stolen magic tricks to seduce and bedazzle her marks. When she’s hired by a demon to steal a cursed magical amulet from a monstrous tower in Hell, it must be her lucky day.

The prize? A single wish—whatever she wants.

The catch? There’s competition: Ethan Benford, swordsman and enchanter, arrogant, maddeningly sexy and the only incorruptible man in town.

Lena’s been burnt before by Ethan’s easy charm, and she vows he’ll meet his match this time. But is ultimate power worth betraying the only man who truly believes in her?

Thoughts

There is something so tantalising about a main character that is so obviously not good. Whether it’s someone like Cherry Kisses’ Lena Falco, or a morally ambiguous hero like Batman, the blurred line in morality makes these characters both more relatable and scandalous. Especially when the tale ends in a truly moral dilemma and the choice made really isn’t what the truly good heroes would make.

I have a tendency to very quickly fall for any tale that mentions an Australian city, or is written by an Australian author. Since it’s where I’m from, it makes it that much easier to relate to the characters and settings of the tale. Lena’s recognition that she is nothing special within such a familiar setting helped to further endear a potentially unlikable character to me.

<- There Will Be Demons Review The Arcane Art of Misdirection Review ->
Image source: Amazon

There Will Be Demons by Lori Handeland

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
hex-appeal

Title: There Will be Demons
Author: Lori Handeland
Series: Phoenix Chronicles #0.6
In: Hex Appeal (P.N. Elrod)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Angels, Fae, Paranormal fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: He should be frozen like a gargoyle.

Synopsis

She thinks that she’s saving him from the demons, but could there be more to the story?

Thoughts

I really don’t have many words to describe this short story. Basically, I loved it, but at the same time, I was a little mad at the end of the story. It felt like a good beginning of a series, but also another tale about a strong, independent woman losing her identity for the sake of a man – not something that I am a huge fan of in the least. However, the writing and slow filtering of information that Handeland uses is a perfect counterbalance to create an enjoyable storyline that would probably otherwise have really, really, really annoyed me.

The use of the Nephilim, Grigori and Fae really drew me into the world created in There Will Be Demons. Handeland’s explanation of the different groups displayed a well-thought out reality which she has used to create a set of multi-dimensional characters. The obvious secrets that both Summer and Jimmy hold throughout the tale only built upon this world to leave me turning the page back and forth, looking for more of the story. Not all of their secrets are revealed, and it was both frustrating and disappointing to end this tale.

<- In the BeginningAny Given Doomsday ->

Image source: Succubus

How Do You Feel? by Simon R. Green

Book Review, , , ,

Overview

hex-appealTitle: How Do You Feel?
Author: Simon R. Green
Series: Nightside Companion
In: Hex Appeal (P.N. Elrod)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Paranormal fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: Won’t that be nice?

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

An interesting short story about Green’s Dead Boy and how he lives his life.

Thoughts

How Do You Feel? was a completely unexpected short story – it was quite dark, with a twisted and unexpected strain of humour throughout it. The completely unforeseeable love story that rounded it out just polished it off to make me want to read the rest of the Nightside series. The use of a main character whose name is Dead Boy should have given me a hint to what kind of story I was in for though.

There is always a question about what happens after death, after all, most people don’t want to believe that this life is all that there is. And the idea of what happens when a life is cut too short with little or no mercy is a far more tantalising theoretical question. In creating a character that exists almost solely for revenge, Green approaches this question from a unique angle. Not only in addressing what happens after death and the lingering of souls, but how a thirst for revenge and an unyielding anger can destroy a life (and afterlife).

<- Outside the Box Review There Will be Demons Review ->
Image source: Succubus

Snow Job by Carole Nelson Douglas

Book Review, , , , ,

Overview

hex-appealTitle: Snow Job
Author: Carole Nelson Douglas
Series: Delilah Street, Paranormal Investigator #5.1
In: Hex Appeal (P.N. Elrod)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Paranormal fantasy, Urban fantasy
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: Lilith was amping up the vibration and sound system into heart-attack mode.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

I love this repetition of the tale of Adam, Eve and Lilith with a much more modern spin on it.

Thoughts

The use of the tale of Adam, Eve and Lilith was a unique way to approach of tale of paranormal fantasy. A lot of mythologies and beliefs seem to inform fantasy stories, but very few utilise the Christian faith and stories to do so. The use of Lilith, and even the name Delilah have its roots in Christianity and the use of the two sisters’ names in their characterisation was a great reminder of the importance in naming one’s characters.

The premises in this story were fantastic, and the paranormal reality in which Delilah negotiates her reality a brilliant multifaceted setting. However, having not read the rest of the series, it was a little difficult to really immerse myself in the story.

<- Holly’s Balm Review Outside the Box Review ->
Image source: Succubus

Bigfoot on Campus by Jim Butcher

Book Review, , , , , ,

Overview

hex-appealTitle: Bigfoot on Campus
Author: Jim Butcher
Series: The Dresden Files #11.9, Bigfoot Trilogy #3
In: Hex Appeal (P.N. Elrod)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Crime, Paranormal fantasy, Urban fantasy, Wizards
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: We walked in silence for several moments, until Connie finally said, “He’s not an angry person.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

Bigfoot on Campus is a short story in The Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher. It is set between Turn Coat and Changes. It was originally published in Hex Appeal, and later included in Working for Bigfoot.

Thoughts

I don’t know if it’s because I’m in University, or if there is something about the potential that it represents, but any story set here tends to grab my attention. This, combined with the young love between Connie and Irwin is such a nice reminder of the potential of these young years of discovery. This was also my first introduction into the Dresden Files and the writings of Jim Butcher, and a very welcome one at that.

The flicking between two time periods in a story can sometimes be a little clunky and hard to follow in short stories. However, Butcher did this brilliantly – the tone and positioning of Dresden was different enough that the transition was beautifully obvious. The cops’ blatant disbelief in all of the things that go bump in the night helped to further this contrast. The tale is told in a completely believable and relatable way, with a slightly dubious man querying everything that he was told.

The explanation of Bigfoot and the reasons why people never see such a creature that is strongly believed in today made this story seem all the more realistic. It’s always nice when the fantastical nature of mythologies can be married with our modern life to create an almost believable literary reality.

<- Retribution Clause Review Holly’s Balm Review ->
Image source: Succubus

Hex Appeal edited by P.N. Elrod

Book Review, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Overview

hex-appeal

Title: Hex Appeal
Authors: Ilona Andrews, Jim Butcher, Rachel Caine, Carole Nelson Douglas, P.N. Elrod, Simon R. Green, Lori Handeland, Erica Hayes & Carrie Vaughn
In: Hex Appeal (P.N. Elrod)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal fantasy, Short story collections, Urban fantasy
Pace: Medium
Format: Anthology
Publisher: St Martin’s Griffin
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: Books and clothing and bedclothes and typical dorm room décor had been scattered everywhere.

Synopsis

Fall under the intoxicating spell of their hex appeal…

In the magical world that lies hidden beneath our own, witches and conjurers play deadly games. They know just the right spell to kill a man with one kiss—or raise him back again. And they’re not afraid to exact sweet revenge on those who dare to cross them. But what if you’re the unlucky soul who falls victim to a conjurer’s curse? And if you had the power to cast a magic spell of your own, would you use it?

In this bewitching collection, nine of today’s hottest paranormal authors tell all-new, otherworldly tales.  Spellbinding stories featuring bigfoot, albino vampires, professional wizards, resurrected boyfriends and even a sex droid from the twenty-third century named Silicon Lily.  But as our conjurers are about to discover, it’s all fun and games until someone gets hexed.  And sometimes, even the best spun spells can lead to complete and utter mayhem.

Thoughts

This was a slightly dark and definitely morally questioning collection of short stories. In each tale there was no good or bad guy, but rather someone who was working at surviving with the cards that they have been dealt. The name hints beautifully at this though, Hex Appeal, both appealing and potentially damaging – like all of the leads in these nine very diverse stories.

Finishing this collection left me wanting more, more of these not-quite-good characters that thrived in worlds that ran beautifully parallel to our own. Each tale consisted of a multi-dimensional setting in which fighting to survive allowed for acts that would not necessarily be accepted in today’s society and reality. Drugging someone to rob just seems wrong, but make it a horny vampire and it is much more realistic. Think you’re husband may kill you in a dystopian reality? Take out a retribution clause to ensure that he follows you into death… these ideas are such exaggerated versions of our reality that they truly make you think about the world that we all live in today.

<- The Arcane Art of MisdirectionRetribution Clause ->

Image source: Succubus

Holly’s Balm by Rachel Caine

Book Review, , , , , ,

Overview

hex-appeal

Title: Holly’s Balm
Author: Rachel Caine
Series: Holly & Andrew #2
In: Hex Appeal (P.N. Elrod)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Strong women, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: St Martin’s Griffin
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: I felt abandoned, nevertheless.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

Holly and Andrew’s love is tested in the next instalment in this fantastic short stories series.

Thoughts

Another great short Holly & Andrew story, but this time, it’s their relationship that is tested. Hanging on to life for the sake of someone you love is admirable, but it also means that there can be some pretty severe consequences if something goes awry. Caine uses Holly’s Balm to test the limits of love and trust in a uniquely trialled way.

Caine showed in her previous short story, Death Warmed Over, that she has an amazing grasp on the ways in which death and legal legislation was able to work in a world where raising the dead is a reality. It is always a pleasure when such seemingly minor details are worked out so intricately and fully that it is incredibly fulfilling and satisfactory to read.

This non-ambiguity within Caine’s world further lends itself to the serial killer theme within this tale. The idea of re-killing the dead left goosebumps marching up my arms in uncomfortable anticipation of the story’s climax.

 <- Death Warmed Over Review Forked Tongues Review ->
Image source: Succubus

Retribution Clause by Ilona Andrews

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview

hex-appeal

Title: Retribution Clause
Author: Ilona Andrews
Series: Kate Daniels #5.6
In: Small Magics (Ilona Andrews) & Hex Appeal (P.N. Elrod)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dystopia, Paranormal fantasy, Shapeshifters
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: St Martin’s Griffin
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: Now!

Synopsis

Saiman’s cousin, Adam—a frost giant and also an insurance adjuster—and his enigmatic partner, Siroun, set out on an impossible mission to enforce a client’s Retribution Clause; that is, to kill the person who killed her. But is their target even guilty? Magic and mayhem and a little personal chemistry will reveal the truth!

Thoughts

This was a little bit of a departure from the Kate Daniels books – it was set in the same world, but a different city and partnership. I thoroughly enjoyed this change from the usual plot line, although there is great potential to expand on these characters’ stories and lives later in the series.

Retribution Clause really highlighted the lawlessness and wild west setting of Andrews’ world. The creation of a retribution clause in the event of death, and corporations willing to carry this act out was a fascinating one and a stark reminder of the way in which the collapse of civilisation as we know it could affect the people who are left. I like the world that Andrews has created in the Kate Daniels series, it is a constant reminder of the laws’ place in our world, our reliance on technology and our inability to truly take care of ourselves anymore.

Being in a loveless and uncaring marriage seems like one of the most painful and horrific situations in which one could find herself (or himself). At least for someone like me who believes in true love. The ramifications of this are highlighted by the clients’ actions and her creation of the clause within her will. Magic and mayhem aside, it is the primary driver that moves this story forward. Love and lust are wonderful ways in which to create a multilayered and constantly surprising short story.

<- Gunmetal MagicAn Ill-Advised Rescue ->

Image source: Succubus