Helpful Score: 7
I purchased and devoured "My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding," so was incredibly eager to read this one as well. While I was glad to read another story about Harry Dresden in any form, I found most of the rest of the stories not really worth my time. The vast majority of them assume knowledge of long-standing series, which end up cheating these shorter contributions - meant to either fill in the gap or entice you to try the series - from any semblance of satisfaction.
Armstrong's uses the protagonists from the first two novels in the "Women of the Otherworld" series and delivers a story that's all action and no feeling. I enjoyed Butcher's Dresden story, but even for being as big of a fan as I am, I think it's probably the weakest Dresden story I've ever read. Caine wrote an enjoyable follow-up to her undead pirate story from "My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding." Elrod's vampire 30s detective was also a joy to read.
Then comes the troublesome second half. Kittredge creates an entirely new world, but the story itself gets lost in all the exposition and details she has to provide for Black London. I never warmed to Liu's story at all, a prequel of sorts to her Dirk & Steele series. This is my first introduction to Liu's writing, and I'm pretty sure it's safe to say her voice just is not my style. Same goes for Katie MacAlister. This is another prequel to yet another series, and while I can see it's supposed to be funny, it's not my brand of humor. My one new find in this anthology was Lilith Saintcrow. Her prose was vivid and evocative, and she wrote a tightly contained short without sacrificing characterization. But then the anthology ends on the shortest and probably most unsatisfying story of the bunch, by Ronda Thompson. It was clearly another of those where the humor - about a Carrie Bradshaw-type married to a woodsy man with a secret - just didn't work for me.
A real mixed bag. I'd only recommend it if you're already a fan of the majority of the authors, not if you're hoping to discover new ones.
Armstrong's uses the protagonists from the first two novels in the "Women of the Otherworld" series and delivers a story that's all action and no feeling. I enjoyed Butcher's Dresden story, but even for being as big of a fan as I am, I think it's probably the weakest Dresden story I've ever read. Caine wrote an enjoyable follow-up to her undead pirate story from "My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding." Elrod's vampire 30s detective was also a joy to read.
Then comes the troublesome second half. Kittredge creates an entirely new world, but the story itself gets lost in all the exposition and details she has to provide for Black London. I never warmed to Liu's story at all, a prequel of sorts to her Dirk & Steele series. This is my first introduction to Liu's writing, and I'm pretty sure it's safe to say her voice just is not my style. Same goes for Katie MacAlister. This is another prequel to yet another series, and while I can see it's supposed to be funny, it's not my brand of humor. My one new find in this anthology was Lilith Saintcrow. Her prose was vivid and evocative, and she wrote a tightly contained short without sacrificing characterization. But then the anthology ends on the shortest and probably most unsatisfying story of the bunch, by Ronda Thompson. It was clearly another of those where the humor - about a Carrie Bradshaw-type married to a woodsy man with a secret - just didn't work for me.
A real mixed bag. I'd only recommend it if you're already a fan of the majority of the authors, not if you're hoping to discover new ones.
Helpful Score: 1
This is a paranormal anthology with nine short stories. I bought this book because it contains stories from two of my favorite authors, Kelley Armstrong and Jim Butcher. The Armstrong book is a continuation of her Women of the Otherworld series. I found it entertaining, but I was really waiting for more to happen. It fell a little flat. The Jim Butcher story was part of his Dresden Files series. Even though I love The Dresden Files, I found this story to be just "ok".
My favorite story was by P.N. Elrod. It was part of Elrod's on-going series featuring Jack Fletcher, a Private Investigator who happens to be a vampire. I've never read anything from this author before, but I may be looking for her books in the future. My rating for this anthology is 3.5 stars.
My favorite story was by P.N. Elrod. It was part of Elrod's on-going series featuring Jack Fletcher, a Private Investigator who happens to be a vampire. I've never read anything from this author before, but I may be looking for her books in the future. My rating for this anthology is 3.5 stars.
Helpful Score: 1
i thought this book would be better than it was. some good stories. i slogged throuth it though.
glenna
glenna
Helpful Score: 1
I just love these books that have multi - authors. I like Armstrong, and Butcher, and Caine and Saintcrow and then there was a MacAlister story too! A great collection! I hate paying for the oversized book - what-sup with that? A smaller book is cheaper and has the same fun content.
Helpful Score: 1
I was expecting better. I didn't even read all the stories, just skimmed through to the ones I thought I would like.
Loved it.
"Stalked" was the kind of story I hate starting a book like this off with because it's pretty lame. I kept waiting for the guys to whip it out and measure. Couldn't finish.
"Heorot" was a totally enjoyable read. I love the Dresden character and the plot keeps you going.
Apparently the author thought a retarded title like "Roman Holiday, or Spo-arrrrrr" would make up for a sequel that wasn't as fun to read. It reminded me of when I had read the Jack Sparrow series for kids.
"Her Mother's Daughter" is a nifty depression era story that really makes me wish more vampire stories happened during this time perioud. It's an author I'll have to look in to.
I don't know why, but I just couldn't get into "Newlydeads". Perhaps it's part of a series, but I was put off by the two main characters bickering like children.
I really enjoyed "Where the Heart Lives" and felt the story was over too soon. I loved the Sidhe them so I hope to find more like this by the author.
"Cat Got Your Tongue" is a great story by an author I liked before realizing they wrote the story... just goes to show some seldom fail to entertain.
After about two pages I was bored of "Half of Being Married" because the author's writing was just too bland and robotic. If Ben Stein were in print, it would be what he would read like... makes me want to get rid of any other books I have by this author.
I read "A Wulf in Groom's Clothing" because I had nothing else better to do. It was cheezy, juvenile and lame.
"Heorot" was a totally enjoyable read. I love the Dresden character and the plot keeps you going.
Apparently the author thought a retarded title like "Roman Holiday, or Spo-arrrrrr" would make up for a sequel that wasn't as fun to read. It reminded me of when I had read the Jack Sparrow series for kids.
"Her Mother's Daughter" is a nifty depression era story that really makes me wish more vampire stories happened during this time perioud. It's an author I'll have to look in to.
I don't know why, but I just couldn't get into "Newlydeads". Perhaps it's part of a series, but I was put off by the two main characters bickering like children.
I really enjoyed "Where the Heart Lives" and felt the story was over too soon. I loved the Sidhe them so I hope to find more like this by the author.
"Cat Got Your Tongue" is a great story by an author I liked before realizing they wrote the story... just goes to show some seldom fail to entertain.
After about two pages I was bored of "Half of Being Married" because the author's writing was just too bland and robotic. If Ben Stein were in print, it would be what he would read like... makes me want to get rid of any other books I have by this author.
I read "A Wulf in Groom's Clothing" because I had nothing else better to do. It was cheezy, juvenile and lame.
This book has multiple short stories by different authors. Some of the stories were great, and others I did not enjoy that much. The book was very easy to read and I enjoyed reading the book!
