Tag Archives: Holidays Are Hell

Holidays Are Hell by Kim Harrisson, Lynsay Sands, Marjorie M. Liu & Vicki Pettersson

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Holidays Are Hell

Title: Holidays are Hell
Author: Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Marjorie M. Liu & Vicki Pettersson
In: Holidays Are Hell (Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Marjorie M. Liu & Vicki Pettersson)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Short story collections, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Harper Fiction
Year: 2007
5th sentence, 74th page: The cold hit me, and I held my crossed arms close now for warmth.

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Synopsis

This holiday, spend quality time with family and loved ones—living and dead . . .

There’s no place like home for the horrordays—unless you’d prefer a romantic midnight walk through a ghost-infested graveyard . . . or a haunted house candlelight dinner with the sexy vampire of your dreams. The (black) magical season is here—and whether it’s a solstice séance gone demonically wrong with the incomparable Kim Harrison, a grossly misshapen Christmas with the remarkable Lynsay Sands, a blood-chilling-and-spilling New Year’s with the wonderful Marjorie M. Liu, or a super-powered Thanksgiving with the phenomenal Vicki Pettersson, one thing is for certain: in the able hands of these exceptional dark side explorers, the holidays are going to be deliciously hellish!

Thoughts

I was expecting a far more intense Christmas-theme throughout this collection of four novellas. Although all four are set within the holiday season, one of the stories heavily themes Thanksgiving, another the Chinese New Year. So, although not completely about Christmas, the holiday themes that I was expecting were still there, playing a great backdrop against the urban fantasy battles and tales that unfold across the pages.

Compared to the rest of the holiday collections I’ve been reading recently, Holidays Are Hell has a much darker spin on the holidays. The stories that take up this collection aren’t completely dark and twisty, but they’re not light, shining and hopeful. Kind of a bit more realistic about the joys of Christmas as I’ve felt them for the last few years…

 <- The Harvest ReviewTwo Ghosts for Sister Rachel Review ->
Image source: Harper Collins Publishers

The Harvest by Vicki Pettersson

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Holidays Are Hell

Title: The Harvest
Author: Vicki Pettersson
Series: Signs of the Zodiac #1.5
In: Holidays Are Hell (Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Marjorie M. Liu & Vicki Pettersson)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Dark fantasy, Shapeshifters, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Harper Fiction
Year: 2007
5th sentence, 74th page: At the Tulpa’s nod, Zoe tried for a lighter tone.

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Synopsis

Zoe’s granddaughter has been stolen by agents of the dark, and she’ll do anything to rescue her. Including teaming up with the team that she abandoned, and the only man she’s ever truly loved…

Thoughts

I’m not American. I have never been to, understood or had anything to do with Thanksgiving. My closest relationship to this holiday is what I see on movies, and the comments I see across social media. Having said all of that, this is certainly my first ever Thanksgiving-themed story. And it was incredibly enjoyable… I think I’m beginning to understand a bit of the American feelings towards this holiday… maybe… I’m still not even 100% sure what it’s about.

I’m a little disappointed that I didn’t have a chance to read The Scent of Shadows before The Harvest. Although this was an amazing novella in and of on itself, there were hints and ideas of the storyline from the first novel scattered throughout. Especially the trauma of Jo and Zoe’s role in her life. Yet, there is such a hint of an amazing untold story that I am fighting the urge to rip the first novel off my shelf and just devour it… first I need to finish some of the other books I have on my shelf… time for a little self-control and discipline…

 <- Six ReviewHolidays are Hell Review ->
Image source: Harper Collins Publishers

Six by Marjorie M. Liu

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Holidays Are Hell

Title: Six
Author: Marjorie M. Liu
In: Holidays Are Hell (Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Marjorie M. Liu & Vicki Pettersson)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Strong women, Urban fantasy, Vampires
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Harper Fiction
Year: 2007
5th sentence, 74th page: His Chinese had an English accent, and he was tall and clean-cut, clad in a navy suit with a lilac tie.

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Synopsis

Six is a well trained agent for China. It isn’t until she meets Joseph, a necromancer that she finally meets her match. And her first vampire. And that’s where things quickly begin to unravel.

Thoughts

I absolutely adored this novella. It’s fast-paced, kind of sassy and full of action. Not to mention the woman in the couple is the one more likely to kick your ass. That, and all of this fast-paced, sassy action takes place in Shanghai, with the backdrop of the Chinese New Year. The setting gives an extra layer of character and beauty to the storyline that I don’t often experience in novellas.

I enjoyed this version of “vampires”. It didn’t take the normal shape of blood-sucking fiends, but it did have the same thematic tones as other vampire stories. Mixing in a necromancer or two just helps to up the stakes and create a world that I’m really disappointed only exists in this one novella. I actually went online hunting to see if this is part of a greater series or word. But, alas, it isn’t.

Although I thoroughly enjoy the urban fantasy aspects of this tale, I think that the bit I enjoyed the most is the Chinese background. You can tell that Liu has spent time in Shanghai at the turn of the year, her familiarity almost screams from the page. The characters and the storyline won’t fail to draw you in, but it is the setting that has made this such a memorable tale for me.

 <- Run, Run, Rudolph ReviewThe Harvest Review ->
Image source: Harper Collins Publishers

Run, Run, Rudolph by Lynsay Sands

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Holidays Are Hell

Title: Run, Run, Rudolph
Author: Lynsay Sands
In: Holidays Are Hell (Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Marjorie M. Liu & Vicki Pettersson)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Harper Fiction
Year: 2007
5th sentence, 74th page: Jill waited until the pair was out of sight before turning anxiously to Nick.

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Synopsis

Jill’s brother and sister are shapeshifters and incredibly intelligent scientists. But she’s normal, until a madman decides to mess with her on the day of the Christmas pageant. Between running from an insane person, falling for Nick, and trying to learn all about her new skills, Jill is in for an interesting holiday season…

Thoughts

I laughed through most of this story. It was just one of those slightly humorous, feel good, easy reads that sweep you along. In fact, it swept me along so well that the “I’ll just read a chapter” thing went straight out the window and I read this entire novella in one sitting. Always a good indication of how much I enjoyed the storyline.

Jill gets zapped by some weird molecular destabiliser, finds out that there’s a mad man after her, and runs away. At first I couldn’t really tell where this story was going. She gets zapped, there’s a mad man and a love interest (you’d think I would have picked up on some of the storyline earlier). But it pretty quickly becomes a fun, intense journey that feels like a constant game of cat and mouse.

Although I enjoyed the chase in the story, my favourite part was the romance. Nick and Jill have this amazing simmering passion. But beyond the sexual tension, there is this great emotional connection and relationship. The fact that it starts to take place on a Christmas float, and at some point, a reindeer running rampant, just helps to add a little more flavour and laughter to the random adventures that help to increase the power of the relationship throughout this Christmas story.

 <- Two Ghosts for Sister Rachel ReviewSix Review ->
Image source: Harper Collins Publishers

Two Ghosts for Sister Rachel by Kim Harrison

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Holidays Are Hell

Title: Two Ghosts for Sister Rachel
Author: Kim Harrison
Series: The Hollows #5.5
In: Holidays Are Hell (Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Marjorie M. Liu & Vicki Pettersson)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Paranormal fantasy, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Harper Fiction
Year: 2007
5th sentence, 74th page: The cold hit me, and I held my crossed arms close now for warmth.

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

Synopsis

All Rachel wants to do is join local magical enforcement. But her brother has other ideas for her. When a séance to find out their father’s wishes goes wrong, all hell is about to break loose…

Thoughts

I read this because it was in a Christmas collection and I really wanted to get into the Christmas spirit. Yet, I’m still completely unaware as to what this has to do with Christmas. Other than the fact that all of the action takes place on the solstice.

Regardless of the fact that I specifically wanted a Christmas story, and didn’t get one… I thoroughly enjoyed this novella. And can’t wait to discover more of The Hollows series. Rachel is an independent and strong woman. But in a way that is completely different to every other strong woman I’ve read about. Normally they are physically able, and can kick box and karate or whatever form of self defence… but Rachel is actually incredibly physically weak. Yet, this is what lends her so much strength and power. And makes you root for her as she rushes around the city, after a ghost, trying to find a missing girl and a creepy, demented vampire.

 <- Holidays Are HellRun, Run, Rudolph ->
Image source: Harper Collins Publishers