S. I. (RedHeadDread) reviewed on 9/24/2008 + 43 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

The first story in this anthology is by far the strongest and most interesting. You don't need to have read the Mercy Thompson books by Briggs, which are also very good and set in this same world, to appreciate it. I look forward to reading more about these characters, when the book featuring them is published.

The second and third stories by Eileen Wilks and Karen Chance would have been improved had they been longer, IMO. They both felt like introductions to characters who are going to end up with their own series, but the pacing was rushed to fit the short story format. In a longer format they might have been more successful, but I enjoyed the premises of both despite their flaws. If I run across the follow-up books the authors are no doubt writing, I would consider checking them out.

The last story is part of Sunny's Mona Lisa series. This is the second story from that series I have read, both in anthologies, and each time I have felt like Sunny really, *really*, REALLY wants to be Laurell K. Hamilton when she grows up. Her stories have all the strengths and all the flaws of Hamilton's work, and a number of similar plot twists. The Mona Lisa series is not plagiarism, but is clearly *heavily* inspired by the Anita Blake (and, to a lesser extent, Merry Gentry) books. I just can't recommend a mediocre knockoff of a series that is so far from its peak and showing no sign of recovering.

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