philyra91's review against another edition
4.0
Absolutely amazing is all I can say! I truly enjoyed each and every one of the stories in this compilation! :) I do have a question about the title though. Why "Love Is Hell"? It makes me want to think that all the love stories in the book are bad ones, like abusive ones or something equally hideous. I mean, all, if not most, of the stories have somewhat happy endings. The rest have bittersweet endings, which in my opinion, are good endings sometimes. I suppose "Love Is Hell" just takes to mean that love can be a painful journey, as one of the story MOST DEFINITELY illustrates.
But enough about me harping on the title. The stories here, assembling some of the most awesome writers in the YA genre at the moment, are nothing short of spectacular, in my opinion. The only sad thing is that because it's a compilation, all 5 stories are novellas at best, which can be both a good thing and a bad thing. If you want a quick read, this is PERFECT. But at the same thing, at the end of it all, you'd yearn for more. Trust me.
Definitely a great read. I recommend it to all! :D
But enough about me harping on the title. The stories here, assembling some of the most awesome writers in the YA genre at the moment, are nothing short of spectacular, in my opinion. The only sad thing is that because it's a compilation, all 5 stories are novellas at best, which can be both a good thing and a bad thing. If you want a quick read, this is PERFECT. But at the same thing, at the end of it all, you'd yearn for more. Trust me.
Definitely a great read. I recommend it to all! :D
heyshay07's review
4.0
Scott Westerfeld and Melissa Marr had the best stories in this collection. It made me wish they were full length books instead of short stories. Justine Larbalestier also had a great story that was perfect for the book. I wasn't a fan of the other two author's stories. Overall, it was a good book too read but I wouldn't buy it full price. Check it out from the library! Support them!
nico's review against another edition
4.0
All the stories in this anthology were awesome! Justine Larbalestier's short was heartbreaking and Scott Westerfeld created a fantastic, interesting world with his. I wish both of these had been expanded into full-length novels! I would have pre-ordered them the second they hit Amazon.
thorn's review against another edition
4.0
All the stories in this anthology were awesome! Justine Larbalestier's short was heartbreaking and Scott Westerfeld created a fantastic, interesting world with his. I wish both of these had been expanded into full-length novels! I would have pre-ordered them the second they hit Amazon.
melodypowers65's review against another edition
3.0
This was a pretty good anthology of short stories. They were all fantasy, but not overly 'supernatural' or 'paranormal'.
My two favourites were Justine Larbalestier's 'Thinner Than Water' and Melissa Marr's 'Love Struck' and they were both fey oriented, which was so refreshing to see in todays seemingly vampire-and-other-supernatural/paranormal-being dominated market.
Scott Westerfeld's 'Stupid Perfect World' was set in a very similar world to his Uglies series (I don't *think* it was the same one, but it could have been, they were that similar!) and was interesting.
Laurie Faria Stolarz's 'Sleeping with the Spirit' and Gabrielle Zevin's 'Fan Fictions' were more on the paranormal spectrum, but I thought both were well done. The concept for 'Fan Fictions' and the style it was written in were especially intriguing.
I debated giving the anthology 4 stars, but since it's really only Larbalestier and Marr's stories that I felt warranted 4 stars, I thought 3 stars was a better overall score.
My two favourites were Justine Larbalestier's 'Thinner Than Water' and Melissa Marr's 'Love Struck' and they were both fey oriented, which was so refreshing to see in todays seemingly vampire-and-other-supernatural/paranormal-being dominated market.
Scott Westerfeld's 'Stupid Perfect World' was set in a very similar world to his Uglies series (I don't *think* it was the same one, but it could have been, they were that similar!) and was interesting.
Laurie Faria Stolarz's 'Sleeping with the Spirit' and Gabrielle Zevin's 'Fan Fictions' were more on the paranormal spectrum, but I thought both were well done. The concept for 'Fan Fictions' and the style it was written in were especially intriguing.
I debated giving the anthology 4 stars, but since it's really only Larbalestier and Marr's stories that I felt warranted 4 stars, I thought 3 stars was a better overall score.
breenakm's review against another edition
4.0
So the title made me hesitate to read this book but I like the other books by Mellissa Marr and wanted to read her part in this book. Her story was my favorite of the five. It has a very good ending. Scott Westerfield's was thought provoking. After all the convieniences we enjoy to we really appreciate what we have? Does it take a "Scarcity class" to point out what we have that our ancestors didn't and visa versa? Can we go to far in our technology advancement? What is to far? Anything that excludes agency and God.
I enjoyed all the stories.
I enjoyed all the stories.
wackly93's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Mental illness
sassime713's review against another edition
3.0
Not exactly what in was expecting. 4 out of 5 authors I've read before and I know mushy happy endings aren't quite their style but only two happy endings out of five? Kind of depressing. And I wouldn't quite call these paranormal.. Out of the ordinary, and maybe even a few dipping into the occult- but paranormal to me is ghosts, ghouls and exorcisms. Only one ghost story.
owls_rainbow's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
nin275's review against another edition
3.0
Not feeling like writing a detailed review. Most of the stories were juvenile, yet sort of enjoyable. My favorite was "Fan Fiction".