velvetsun's review against another edition
5.0
I have yet to read a novella by SK that i didn't wish had been a full book. She has a way of making characters come alive, like no one else. This story was sweet, romantic and heartbreaking all at once.
tomokizu's review against another edition
4.0
I don't remember when I first read this, but after reading this again I remember why I labeled it a favorite. It's an amazing book with 4 really amazing stories that kept me reading until I fell asleep hours later.
sarsev's review against another edition
2.0
So, I fully admit that I only read this because I'm on an Urban Fantasy kick, the Kindle version was available immediately through my local library, and my attention span is shot post-finals so I thought that short stories would be a good idea.
I still love Urban Fantasy, and the OC library system, and short stories - but this anthology really isn't great. Essentially, every story had a cool concept and then some fatal flaw that sent it spiralling into the ground.
"Until Death Do Us Part" by Sherrilyn Kenyon was the best of the bunch, and probably much better if you're invested in Sherrilyn Kenyon's other work (which I'm not) - but I still don't understand why the two primary characters ever got together in the first place, or why they stayed married during 500 years of hating each others guts because of a misunderstanding. Still, this one is at least compelling. Francesca, the best friend of the protagonist, is easily my favorite part.
"Ride the Night Wind" by L.A. Banks was interesting in concept (synchronized dreaming, lots characters of color, complicated familial relationships), but then abandoned the plot for 2/3 of the story in favor of just lots and lots of sex scenes. I mean, I have nothing against sex scenes - I actively like them when they contribute to matters of character - but this is a short story. It just seemed sort of excessive and unnecessary. And only the first one contributed to character construction and development anyway.
"The Gift" by Susan Squires might have been really sweet if it weren't for how distracted I was by its complete and utter misunderstanding of female anatomy. (Like, seriously. Read the sex scene, and then try to explain to me what this story thinks a hymen is. It is nothing like reality. At all. Not even a little bit. I think these characters are in desperate need of an anatomy textbook. Any anatomy textbook published after about the 16th Century will do).
"The Forgotten One" by Ronda Thompson was fine. It just wasn't memorable. And really, unmemorable is not the worst thing that something can be.
So, I wasn't impressed. Or even really entertained. And I'm sure a significant chunk of the cause of that is that I wasn't invested in the series that these stories belong to. Often short stories, even ones that technically fit into a larger series, can stand on their own. It's one of my favorite features of short stories. But these, with the exception of the Sherrilyn Kenyon one (which spends some time explaining the world and also wrapping things up at the end) don't really work on their own. In the context of a larger series, I'm sure that they're perfectly servicable quick check-ins on already beloved worlds. But they didn't really work as standalones, and they didn't really work for me.
I still love Urban Fantasy, and the OC library system, and short stories - but this anthology really isn't great. Essentially, every story had a cool concept and then some fatal flaw that sent it spiralling into the ground.
"Until Death Do Us Part" by Sherrilyn Kenyon was the best of the bunch, and probably much better if you're invested in Sherrilyn Kenyon's other work (which I'm not) - but I still don't understand why the two primary characters ever got together in the first place, or why they stayed married during 500 years of hating each others guts because of a misunderstanding. Still, this one is at least compelling. Francesca, the best friend of the protagonist, is easily my favorite part.
"Ride the Night Wind" by L.A. Banks was interesting in concept (synchronized dreaming, lots characters of color, complicated familial relationships), but then abandoned the plot for 2/3 of the story in favor of just lots and lots of sex scenes. I mean, I have nothing against sex scenes - I actively like them when they contribute to matters of character - but this is a short story. It just seemed sort of excessive and unnecessary. And only the first one contributed to character construction and development anyway.
"The Gift" by Susan Squires might have been really sweet if it weren't for how distracted I was by its complete and utter misunderstanding of female anatomy. (Like, seriously. Read the sex scene, and then try to explain to me what this story thinks a hymen is. It is nothing like reality. At all. Not even a little bit. I think these characters are in desperate need of an anatomy textbook. Any anatomy textbook published after about the 16th Century will do).
"The Forgotten One" by Ronda Thompson was fine. It just wasn't memorable. And really, unmemorable is not the worst thing that something can be.
So, I wasn't impressed. Or even really entertained. And I'm sure a significant chunk of the cause of that is that I wasn't invested in the series that these stories belong to. Often short stories, even ones that technically fit into a larger series, can stand on their own. It's one of my favorite features of short stories. But these, with the exception of the Sherrilyn Kenyon one (which spends some time explaining the world and also wrapping things up at the end) don't really work on their own. In the context of a larger series, I'm sure that they're perfectly servicable quick check-ins on already beloved worlds. But they didn't really work as standalones, and they didn't really work for me.
leahkarge's review against another edition
4.0
LOVE AT FIRST BITE - 3.5 out of 5 STARS
"Until Death Do We Part" by Sherrilyn Kenyon - 5 Stars
I love that Velkan was the only Dark-Hunter to be married before he became a DH. I hate that Retta didn't listen to him the night he became a DH and ended up hating him. I love that he sent the Weres to watch over her and when he came to save her despite the sun coming up. In the end, it's awesome that Retta lets the Weres have at the bad guys. Velkan was so adorable; I waaaaant him.
"Ride the Night Wind" by L. A. Banks - 3.5 Stars
I liked this story but I felt that it was hard to follow at times, and it might have been easier to follow if I read other books in the series before this one. Holy hell, that crazy sex marathon...I love that the grandparents left the house and stayed away so that Jose and Juanita could go at it as much as they wanted. I hated when Jose and Juanita were separated and that they had other lovers before they were able to be together again.
"The Gift" by Susan Squires - 2 Stars
I thought this was story was odd but I did appreciate the interesting take on vampires. I did like, though, how bold Emma was in licking Davie's wound so she could take in his vampire blood and turn. Throughout the whole story, though, I couldn't stand that they called the guy "Davie"; it constantly reminded me of my creepy cousin that we called "Davy" until he turned thirteen.
"The Forgotten One" by Rhonda Thompson - 3.5 Stars
This story had an interesting take on werewolves: he didn't know he was a werewolf and it didn't happen until after they'd had sex. It was painfully obvious that her aunt and uncle were trying to steal her fortune, and I wanted to slap the aunt when she propositioned Merrick. I loved, though, that the first time they meet is in the dead of night and she pretends that she's a maid and he kisses her.
"Until Death Do We Part" by Sherrilyn Kenyon - 5 Stars
I love that Velkan was the only Dark-Hunter to be married before he became a DH. I hate that Retta didn't listen to him the night he became a DH and ended up hating him. I love that he sent the Weres to watch over her and when he came to save her despite the sun coming up. In the end, it's awesome that Retta lets the Weres have at the bad guys. Velkan was so adorable; I waaaaant him.
"Ride the Night Wind" by L. A. Banks - 3.5 Stars
I liked this story but I felt that it was hard to follow at times, and it might have been easier to follow if I read other books in the series before this one. Holy hell, that crazy sex marathon...I love that the grandparents left the house and stayed away so that Jose and Juanita could go at it as much as they wanted. I hated when Jose and Juanita were separated and that they had other lovers before they were able to be together again.
"The Gift" by Susan Squires - 2 Stars
I thought this was story was odd but I did appreciate the interesting take on vampires. I did like, though, how bold Emma was in licking Davie's wound so she could take in his vampire blood and turn. Throughout the whole story, though, I couldn't stand that they called the guy "Davie"; it constantly reminded me of my creepy cousin that we called "Davy" until he turned thirteen.
"The Forgotten One" by Rhonda Thompson - 3.5 Stars
This story had an interesting take on werewolves: he didn't know he was a werewolf and it didn't happen until after they'd had sex. It was painfully obvious that her aunt and uncle were trying to steal her fortune, and I wanted to slap the aunt when she propositioned Merrick. I loved, though, that the first time they meet is in the dead of night and she pretends that she's a maid and he kisses her.
bananatricky's review against another edition
3.0
Only read for the Sherrilyn Kenyon ss.
It was pleasant enough, Dracula's daughter gets married to the son of his greatest enemy. A Romeo and Julietesque tragedy unfolds but he has bound their souls together - when he becomes a Dark-Hunter she too "rises from the grave" and becomes immortal.
She is young and innocent of her father's true nature, in the space of a single night she finds herself buried (alive) in a grave and then watches her husband brutally slaughter her loving father. Understandably, she runs away and refuses to have anything to do with her husband.
Fast-forward 500 years and her husband is opening a Dracula theme park in Transylvania, complete with Vlad Dracul's mummified head. Disgusted she goes back to confront him.
Both learn that things are not always what they seem and learn to look at things from the other's point of view.
All's well that ends well.
I quite liked this, the story had some good bones and could easily have been a longer novella/novel with more character development and back story. One of her better ones in my opinion.
It was pleasant enough, Dracula's daughter gets married to the son of his greatest enemy. A Romeo and Julietesque tragedy unfolds but he has bound their souls together - when he becomes a Dark-Hunter she too "rises from the grave" and becomes immortal.
She is young and innocent of her father's true nature, in the space of a single night she finds herself buried (alive) in a grave and then watches her husband brutally slaughter her loving father. Understandably, she runs away and refuses to have anything to do with her husband.
Fast-forward 500 years and her husband is opening a Dracula theme park in Transylvania, complete with Vlad Dracul's mummified head. Disgusted she goes back to confront him.
Both learn that things are not always what they seem and learn to look at things from the other's point of view.
All's well that ends well.
I quite liked this, the story had some good bones and could easily have been a longer novella/novel with more character development and back story. One of her better ones in my opinion.
lpcoolgirl's review against another edition
5.0
Yeah! Another Dark Hunter book for me to read! I LOVE THIS AUTHOR! SHE IS AWESOME AND I LOVE HER HUMOUR IN HER BOOKS! IT'S SO DARN FUNNY!!!! And I loved being in another country, that was new :)
queenoferebor's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5
Este libro es un compendio de varios relatos por cuatro autoras diferentes pero bien conocidas en el ámbito del romance paranormal: Sherrilyn Kenyon, L.A Banks, Susan Squires y Ronda Thompson. Esta última era a la única a la que no conocía con anterioridad y mis experiencias con el resto de autoras habían sido más que positivas así que el libro prometía mucho.
Pues con mis ganas me quedé. No tengo otra manera de explicarlo. Las historias de Kenyon y Squires son con diferencia las mejores del libro. Kenyon tiene una habilidad para construir personajes en solo unas páginas que no se ve siempre en la literatura actual; la habilidad de Squires es menor, pero no por ello se disfruta menos. La última historia del libro, de Ronda Thompson,también resulta muy entretenida; por ello, me ha resultado toda una sorpresa comprobar que la historia de L.A Banks no me ha gustado en absoluto.
Pero hay varias razones para ello:
1- Las historias de ese libro son "novellas" pertenecientes a series más grandes. Por ejemplo, la historia de Kenyon enlaza con su serie de los Dark Hunter, aunque puede leerse por sí misma; y la historia de Susan Squires enlaza con el primer libro de la saga de el Acompañante/Compañero ¿? (y menos mal que me había leído el primer libro-aunque en ese momento no me acordaba- porque si no, no hubiera entendido nada de la historia de Asharti)
2- Los interrogantes del punto anterior me llevan a este: LA TRADUCCIÓN. No soy mucho de meterme en temas traductológicos, porque sé lo difícil que es traducir un libro, pero se supone que el traductor tiene que hacer la lectura más fácil, no más difícil. LA TRADUCCION DE ESTE LIBRO ES... Prefiero no terminar la frase. No sé si es que la traductora no estaba familiarizada con las sagas en sí o era falta de ganas, pero en general me parece una falta de respeto hacia el lector, la obra y el autor original. Frases traducidas literalmente que no tienen sentido en castellano, términos propios de cada saga traducidos también literalmente o como a la traductora le ha salido...(Dark Hunter = Cazadores de la Oscuridad. Daimon = Demonio. Porque sí, porque ella ha querido)
En fin, el libro es entretenido y las historias no están mal, pero los factores externos que han dificultado su lectura me impiden darle una nota más alta.
Este libro es un compendio de varios relatos por cuatro autoras diferentes pero bien conocidas en el ámbito del romance paranormal: Sherrilyn Kenyon, L.A Banks, Susan Squires y Ronda Thompson. Esta última era a la única a la que no conocía con anterioridad y mis experiencias con el resto de autoras habían sido más que positivas así que el libro prometía mucho.
Pues con mis ganas me quedé. No tengo otra manera de explicarlo. Las historias de Kenyon y Squires son con diferencia las mejores del libro. Kenyon tiene una habilidad para construir personajes en solo unas páginas que no se ve siempre en la literatura actual; la habilidad de Squires es menor, pero no por ello se disfruta menos. La última historia del libro, de Ronda Thompson,también resulta muy entretenida; por ello, me ha resultado toda una sorpresa comprobar que la historia de L.A Banks no me ha gustado en absoluto.
Pero hay varias razones para ello:
1- Las historias de ese libro son "novellas" pertenecientes a series más grandes. Por ejemplo, la historia de Kenyon enlaza con su serie de los Dark Hunter, aunque puede leerse por sí misma; y la historia de Susan Squires enlaza con el primer libro de la saga de el Acompañante/Compañero ¿? (y menos mal que me había leído el primer libro-aunque en ese momento no me acordaba- porque si no, no hubiera entendido nada de la historia de Asharti)
2- Los interrogantes del punto anterior me llevan a este: LA TRADUCCIÓN. No soy mucho de meterme en temas traductológicos, porque sé lo difícil que es traducir un libro, pero se supone que el traductor tiene que hacer la lectura más fácil, no más difícil. LA TRADUCCION DE ESTE LIBRO ES... Prefiero no terminar la frase. No sé si es que la traductora no estaba familiarizada con las sagas en sí o era falta de ganas, pero en general me parece una falta de respeto hacia el lector, la obra y el autor original. Frases traducidas literalmente que no tienen sentido en castellano, términos propios de cada saga traducidos también literalmente o como a la traductora le ha salido...(Dark Hunter = Cazadores de la Oscuridad. Daimon = Demonio. Porque sí, porque ella ha querido)
En fin, el libro es entretenido y las historias no están mal, pero los factores externos que han dificultado su lectura me impiden darle una nota más alta.