I liked this anthology a lot, but I really like MaryJanice Davidson's work so that's no surprise. I was hesitant about the Fred the Mermaid/Betsy Queen of the Vampires mash-up but it was really good. They're both narcissists but do good in the end - and always turn out to be smarter than you expect. Same goes for their "rilly" silly friends, who turn out to have courage after all. These stories are good for a laugh.

Super, Girl! is really cute, about a superhero who discovers she has lots of friends and finds love, all at the same time.

Undead and Underwater takes place after the events of Undead and Unstable. If you read Unstable, then you know a light-hearted romp for Betsy and Sinclair is overdue. Fred is as wonky and snarky as usual, and Betsy is, too. The fact that Sinclair has little to do with the story is okay - how many alpha characters can you put in a short story anyway? But he makes his point, and well, and is adorable...and who doesn't love Sinclair being adorable?

Incomer is a Wyndham Werewolves short story set in the future when Lara is now Alpha. Since the novels and shorts that came before established that Derik (Derik's Bane) and Michael (Lara's father and previous Alpha) were best friends but had to live far apart because Derik's alpha tendencies would cause them to fight to the death, this short story resolves that problem and, of course, gives the reader romance for Lara, too. What's not to like?

All in all, this collection made me very happy to revisit my favorite Davidson worlds.

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This was a better set of stores then she's had in awhile. I liked the mixed of all three series and while both Fred and Lara's stories left unanswered questions I felt like it wasn't too much of a cliff to say OK they ended well. The writing was rushed, as with any short story, but not so much that your didn't feel like you got a good read.

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I only read this to continue the Betsey series. Not impressed with the mermaids

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By the end, I was twitching and gritting my teeth in frustration! So due to dulling brain chemistry, here's my overly brief simplified review:

SUPER GIRL (2.5 STARS)- The story of an unassuming, slightly unwilling, moderately sarcastic super hereo. Hailey Derry works a 9-5(ish) job which, of course, she hates but is also kinda sorta the boss. Between dodging her co-workers, spitting nails & savings lives, Hailey must deceipher to identity of cryptic nasty note writer.

Though overall a little bland and lacking direction, it was still a rather cute story that provided a few laughs.

UNDEAD AND UNDERWATER (1 STAR)- Queen Betsy and Sinclair are called to assist a friend of Fred the mermaid, Madison. In an effort to be liked (I think, it's actually not very clear) Madison pretends to be Fred. This gets her into trouble with a loony nutjob who blames Fred for something that doesn't even make sense.

Being a fan (or I used to be) of the Queen Besty Undead Series, THIS was the story I wanted to read. Frankly, it gave me a headache. I found the following extremely annoying: Madison saying "rilly" instead of "really," Sinkclair baby talking while acting dazed and confused, Fred and Betzy b*tching without getting to the point...ever, and the Megalomaniac & his "Skittles(a term that I didn't make up)" being too incredibly stupid to pull off a toddler's party let alone the intended evil murderous scheme! It just didn't make sense. Together Betsy's snark and Fred's dry sarcasim should have been hilarious, but instead felt forced and fell flat.

INCOMER (un-rated)- The final story is about Lara Wyndham. Unfortunatly, after the last story I just coulnd't read anymore. However, other reviews have said this is the BEST novella of the bunch. My advice would be to read this one and then work from the begining.

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