expatamber's review against another edition
3.0
Overall, I liked this anthology. All of the stories were delightfully original, but I enjoyed some better than others.
Shimmer: Sweet summer mer-love at its finest.
Between: I really wanted to like this story (especially since the author is originally from North Carolina), but I found it annoying from beginning to end. It was over the top with designer name dropping and mean girls. Plus, she like it was nothing! Then, to top it all off, new love interest? Seemed a bit shallow to me... but I guess that's high school. Another thing, why would a fair-skinned, red-headed Russian girl become a ? The folklore might've been more believable within another demographic. For me, there were just too many ridiculous holes.
Sunset Moon: Some dreams really do come true.
The Maker: A 3D printed golem? I loved this modern twist on such an ancient story.
A Beautiful Mourning: A gorgeous Mayan tale of love and loss among the gods.
The Barricades: Alternate Fae universe? It seemed like a good theory, but the story lacked detail and explanation. I was confused several times throughout and would've been completely lost had I not read the forward.
Full review: http://casualreadersbookclub.blogspot.com/2014/08/giveaway-review-lore.html
*I received this free copy in return for an honest review, and opinions are mine alone.
Shimmer: Sweet summer mer-love at its finest.
Between: I really wanted to like this story (especially since the author is originally from North Carolina), but I found it annoying from beginning to end. It was over the top with designer name dropping and mean girls. Plus, she
Spoiler
got over her dead girlfriendSpoiler
shared their favorite movie & even the famous quote with herSpoiler
djinnSunset Moon: Some dreams really do come true.
The Maker: A 3D printed golem? I loved this modern twist on such an ancient story.
A Beautiful Mourning: A gorgeous Mayan tale of love and loss among the gods.
The Barricades: Alternate Fae universe? It seemed like a good theory, but the story lacked detail and explanation. I was confused several times throughout and would've been completely lost had I not read the forward.
Full review: http://casualreadersbookclub.blogspot.com/2014/08/giveaway-review-lore.html
*I received this free copy in return for an honest review, and opinions are mine alone.
juliwi's review against another edition
3.0
Myth and legends are amongst my favourite reads although I find them very hard to classify. They seem to combine literature and history beautifully. As Galadriel says in the Prologue of The Fellowship of the Ring film: 'history became legend, legend became myth'.
There is one aspect of this anthology that stands out above all the others and that is its diversity. As the synopsis might already betray, the editors managed to collect six retellings of folklore from all over the world. There is the selkie and fae mythology from Ireland and Northern Europe in Shimmer, Brinda Berry, and The Barricades, Cate Dean, there is Arabian influences mixed with a lesbian romance in Between, Karen Y. Bynum, Native American folklore in Sunset Moon, Laura Diamond, a modern twist on the Yiddish Gole in The Maker, Jayne Knolls, and finally a throwback to Mayan culture in A Beautiful Mourning, Theresa DaLayne. Although it can be argued how successful each adaptation or retelling is, there is no doubt that the editors and authors put some thought into making this anthology reflect as many different cultures as possible. Published in April, this anthology's publication slightly predated the #WeNeedDiverseBooks campaign, but would have served as an amazing example of how different cultures can be combined into one book and how each character, may they be male or female, black or white, is relatable and important.
My favourite story was Cate Dean's The Barricades, which focused itself on one particular moment/night rather than try to make weeks or months pass. This allowed to story to have a sense of immediacy while Dean also managed to create a context and background for the narrative. A close second is Diamond's Sunset Moon, which mixed Native American culture with a very close look at juvenile detention and how a young person's life can completely spiral out of control. Bynum's Between was a story I wished had more time to develop its narrative by informing the reader of more contextual information. I did find myself engaging with it though, although maybe not directly sympathizing with the characters. Berry's Shimmer played very nicely with the different archetypal mermaid figures that exist while also mixing in a romance story. At times the romance did feel forced though, which was a shame. DaLayne's A Beautiful Mourning was very interesting, mainly because I know next to nothing about Mayan religion and all the characters were therefore new to me. Knolls' The Maker was perhaps my least favourite story because I found it very hard to identify with most of the characters. They seemed to be stuck in their roles and therefore slightly two-dimensional.
Naturally every reader will have their own favourites in an anthology. A potential problem with these "stories" is that they are technically novellas. At times it feels the authors got stuck between writing a short story and a novel in the sense that they never quite knew when to add depth to their stories and when to move quickly. Overall, however, it has to be said each story was enjoyable. I did race through the anthology, each story making me wonder how the author would develop it and bring it to an end. However, none of the novellas really grabbed me in the way some short stories can. An issue may have been that the novellas seemed to be stuck between retelling legends and writing YA romance. Legends in themselves, in my eyes, often relate to larger world problems, to history, to culture etc. and don't restrict themselves to love. Although these novellas pick up on a lot of very interesting themes, each was infused with a lovestory which I at times found forced or unnecessary. Overall, however, it was a very interesting and enjoyable anthology, perfect for the summer.
Anthologies can be a hit and miss, depending on the overall quality of the novellas. Although there were some flaws, each author definitely did what the anthology set out to do: retell myths and legends. Simply for its diverse approach this anthology should be praised, but the effort of the authors to bring potentially archaic story lines and tropes to a younger audience should also be appreciated. I recommend this anthology to fans of YA romance, legends and anthologies.
There is one aspect of this anthology that stands out above all the others and that is its diversity. As the synopsis might already betray, the editors managed to collect six retellings of folklore from all over the world. There is the selkie and fae mythology from Ireland and Northern Europe in Shimmer, Brinda Berry, and The Barricades, Cate Dean, there is Arabian influences mixed with a lesbian romance in Between, Karen Y. Bynum, Native American folklore in Sunset Moon, Laura Diamond, a modern twist on the Yiddish Gole in The Maker, Jayne Knolls, and finally a throwback to Mayan culture in A Beautiful Mourning, Theresa DaLayne. Although it can be argued how successful each adaptation or retelling is, there is no doubt that the editors and authors put some thought into making this anthology reflect as many different cultures as possible. Published in April, this anthology's publication slightly predated the #WeNeedDiverseBooks campaign, but would have served as an amazing example of how different cultures can be combined into one book and how each character, may they be male or female, black or white, is relatable and important.
My favourite story was Cate Dean's The Barricades, which focused itself on one particular moment/night rather than try to make weeks or months pass. This allowed to story to have a sense of immediacy while Dean also managed to create a context and background for the narrative. A close second is Diamond's Sunset Moon, which mixed Native American culture with a very close look at juvenile detention and how a young person's life can completely spiral out of control. Bynum's Between was a story I wished had more time to develop its narrative by informing the reader of more contextual information. I did find myself engaging with it though, although maybe not directly sympathizing with the characters. Berry's Shimmer played very nicely with the different archetypal mermaid figures that exist while also mixing in a romance story. At times the romance did feel forced though, which was a shame. DaLayne's A Beautiful Mourning was very interesting, mainly because I know next to nothing about Mayan religion and all the characters were therefore new to me. Knolls' The Maker was perhaps my least favourite story because I found it very hard to identify with most of the characters. They seemed to be stuck in their roles and therefore slightly two-dimensional.
Naturally every reader will have their own favourites in an anthology. A potential problem with these "stories" is that they are technically novellas. At times it feels the authors got stuck between writing a short story and a novel in the sense that they never quite knew when to add depth to their stories and when to move quickly. Overall, however, it has to be said each story was enjoyable. I did race through the anthology, each story making me wonder how the author would develop it and bring it to an end. However, none of the novellas really grabbed me in the way some short stories can. An issue may have been that the novellas seemed to be stuck between retelling legends and writing YA romance. Legends in themselves, in my eyes, often relate to larger world problems, to history, to culture etc. and don't restrict themselves to love. Although these novellas pick up on a lot of very interesting themes, each was infused with a lovestory which I at times found forced or unnecessary. Overall, however, it was a very interesting and enjoyable anthology, perfect for the summer.
Anthologies can be a hit and miss, depending on the overall quality of the novellas. Although there were some flaws, each author definitely did what the anthology set out to do: retell myths and legends. Simply for its diverse approach this anthology should be praised, but the effort of the authors to bring potentially archaic story lines and tropes to a younger audience should also be appreciated. I recommend this anthology to fans of YA romance, legends and anthologies.
yche09's review against another edition
5.0
I don't usually read anthologies, but this one is pretty good. :)
Shimmer - This is quite a different take on The Little Mermaid. I wish I could say that I was wowed by the story, but sadly no. It's kind of sad and it left me hanging. I thought it was just normal because of the length of the book, however, once I finished all the other stories, this one just pops into my um-open-ended-ending-sucks list.
Between - THIS IS MY VERY FIRST GIRL X GIRL RELATIONSHIP BOOK. At first it was weird for me, but as the story went on, I understood how the main character felt. She is as frustrated and as confused by the events in this book. She just couldn't be herself in front of everybody. She just wants the love, acceptance and attention of her mom, so she resorts into what she thinks is best for her. However, her decision affected the life of a very important person to her. This is her story of forgiveness, wishes and revelations. It has many lessons, but the glaring one would be... (I'm quoting Gobber from How To Train Your Dragon here) "stop trying so hard to be something you're not". I think it's just plain exhausting. Needless to say, this was a good read. :)
Sunset Moon - A troubled girl meets a really troubled boy who leaves her to lie for his ass. Not a fun story? You can say that again. Half the time, I was thinking of virtually hitting the girl on her head for not listening to adults who are there for her. She was given another chance though. A good chance for rebirth. Except for the love story part, I pretty much like this book. This is a good book for all teens because it will make them realize what's important and unimportant in life. This will teach teens not to dwell on the bad parts, but think of what's good instead. Lastly, this book tells everyone that there's hope for everyone.
The Maker - This is probably the creepiest, most disturbing story in this bunch. A guy gets left by his girl after being in an accident. He wanted revenge, but at the same time, he admits to still being obsessed with the girl! He's so confusing. He calls upon an entity which is basically good. He orders this entity to do his bidding to extract revenge on his ex. The ending is kind of bizarre in my opinion. Anyway, this is a good book to read when you feel like you want to have revenge on someone because it shows only one ending and it's not good. REVENGE = BAD KARMA FOR YOU TOO.
A Beautiful Mourning - This is a very good story of forbidden romance. Dieties are one of my favorite type of characters. The possibilities are endless with them. This book is about two of them who finds themselves in love, only to be blocked by a wall named "father". Yeah, I know It's a bit cliche, but I still enjoyed reading about their perils and their sweet moments. I like the setting and its descriptions. I believe that the author made me really imagine the heavens and middle land. The ending is nicely woven. I don't particularly love it, but it's the best that could happen, all things considered.
The Barricades - This story takes on a different angle on fairies. It's has a somewhat dystopian kind of feel. The two main characters comes from two very different worlds. They meet after a very bad scenario. From thereon, the story tell us how they smooth out their differences. I think the main point of this book tells us that trust should be earned and you must choose carefully on whom you give it to. I would be very honest as to say that this would've been better if it was made into a full blown novel. The two main characters have great chemistry (judging from the really short time that they had in the story). The story has a lot of promise if it was continued and expanded. I would read this if it becomes a full blown novel. #pleaseauthorplease :)
All in all, these stories are great. It kept me company for a few days and I enjoyed reading them. Not only did I enjoy their adventure, romance, thrill and full plot, I also enjoyed figuring out lessons behind each story. I recommend this book to the young and young at heart who wants books with meaning. Teens definitely should read this! :) I give this 5 fairy wings!!!
This review can also be seen here on our blog: Musings of the Book-a-holic Fairies, inc.
Shimmer - This is quite a different take on The Little Mermaid. I wish I could say that I was wowed by the story, but sadly no. It's kind of sad and it left me hanging. I thought it was just normal because of the length of the book, however, once I finished all the other stories, this one just pops into my um-open-ended-ending-sucks list.
Between - THIS IS MY VERY FIRST GIRL X GIRL RELATIONSHIP BOOK. At first it was weird for me, but as the story went on, I understood how the main character felt. She is as frustrated and as confused by the events in this book. She just couldn't be herself in front of everybody. She just wants the love, acceptance and attention of her mom, so she resorts into what she thinks is best for her. However, her decision affected the life of a very important person to her. This is her story of forgiveness, wishes and revelations. It has many lessons, but the glaring one would be... (I'm quoting Gobber from How To Train Your Dragon here) "stop trying so hard to be something you're not". I think it's just plain exhausting. Needless to say, this was a good read. :)
Sunset Moon - A troubled girl meets a really troubled boy who leaves her to lie for his ass. Not a fun story? You can say that again. Half the time, I was thinking of virtually hitting the girl on her head for not listening to adults who are there for her. She was given another chance though. A good chance for rebirth. Except for the love story part, I pretty much like this book. This is a good book for all teens because it will make them realize what's important and unimportant in life. This will teach teens not to dwell on the bad parts, but think of what's good instead. Lastly, this book tells everyone that there's hope for everyone.
The Maker - This is probably the creepiest, most disturbing story in this bunch. A guy gets left by his girl after being in an accident. He wanted revenge, but at the same time, he admits to still being obsessed with the girl! He's so confusing. He calls upon an entity which is basically good. He orders this entity to do his bidding to extract revenge on his ex. The ending is kind of bizarre in my opinion. Anyway, this is a good book to read when you feel like you want to have revenge on someone because it shows only one ending and it's not good. REVENGE = BAD KARMA FOR YOU TOO.
A Beautiful Mourning - This is a very good story of forbidden romance. Dieties are one of my favorite type of characters. The possibilities are endless with them. This book is about two of them who finds themselves in love, only to be blocked by a wall named "father". Yeah, I know It's a bit cliche, but I still enjoyed reading about their perils and their sweet moments. I like the setting and its descriptions. I believe that the author made me really imagine the heavens and middle land. The ending is nicely woven. I don't particularly love it, but it's the best that could happen, all things considered.
The Barricades - This story takes on a different angle on fairies. It's has a somewhat dystopian kind of feel. The two main characters comes from two very different worlds. They meet after a very bad scenario. From thereon, the story tell us how they smooth out their differences. I think the main point of this book tells us that trust should be earned and you must choose carefully on whom you give it to. I would be very honest as to say that this would've been better if it was made into a full blown novel. The two main characters have great chemistry (judging from the really short time that they had in the story). The story has a lot of promise if it was continued and expanded. I would read this if it becomes a full blown novel. #pleaseauthorplease :)
All in all, these stories are great. It kept me company for a few days and I enjoyed reading them. Not only did I enjoy their adventure, romance, thrill and full plot, I also enjoyed figuring out lessons behind each story. I recommend this book to the young and young at heart who wants books with meaning. Teens definitely should read this! :) I give this 5 fairy wings!!!
This review can also be seen here on our blog: Musings of the Book-a-holic Fairies, inc.
buttontapper's review
5.0
Originally reviewed at Black Heart Magazine: http://blackheartmagazine.com/2014/08/23/review-giveaway-lore-tales-of-myth-and-legend-retold/
This collection of myth and magic had me hooked from page one. Which makes sense, as it begins with “Shimmer,” the tale of a girl who can change into a mermaid – and whose family works a fishing boat. Though Coral is misunderstood and hides her changeable nature from everyone, including Draven Manning – a boy her age who rescues her from drowning one night – it’s clear that she’s got a lot more weighing on her mind than the typical adolescent fears and anxieties about school and her relationships. Author Brinda Berry weaves a dark but delightful take on the classic Little Mermaid story that’s much different than Disney’s version, and much more enjoyable. I only wish we could’ve seen more of Coral’s underwater world.
The next story, “Between,” offers a peek behind the Royal curtains to see just what’s at stake for the rich, powerful and popular – in high school. Though Lucy craves affection from her mother, she knows the only way to achieve it is to become slim and join her school’s ruling elite, despite the fact that they’re terrible people who prey on their fellow students with cruel pranks and cutting insults. When she’s finally crowned Queen, she’s got to choose between her summer camp love affair with Natasha – a girl who accepted her just as she was – or the Royals crowd, where popularity is everything. Lucy’s bad decisions have terrifying consequences, but a genie appears to help. Karen Y. Bynum‘s story borrows elements from many different stories, creating something new for readers to enjoy.
Things get even darker in “Sunset Moon,” a story by Laura Diamond that incorporates traditional Blackfoot Nation myths into a modern story of teenage rebellion and rehabilitation.
As you can probably guess from the teenage heroines described thus far, this book is a YA collection starring troubled teens from all walks of life. While the classic fairy tales usually set readers up for Happily Ever Afters with princesses marrying their Prince Charmings, Lore gives us average girls looking to escape their everyday lives and problems at home. But that’s not to say that these girls are ordinary, or that their stories are a dime a dozen. Instead each of the authors in the collection have managed to spin fantastic tales around these girls, showing us just how extraordinary their lives can be.
The question then is whether the magic that helps them succeed in their journeys comes from within or from some outside source – and why?
I enjoyed the fact that these stories were darker than Disney’s versions, especially since the orginal folk and fairy tales were much more frightening than the cartoons suggest. By avoiding the princess cliché, each writer recaptures some of that original menace and fear, spinning a new story from Grimm threads. Additionally, though folk tales often contain a rather preachy lesson to be learned, these stories contain similar morals or guidance for a younger reader, but without the sanctimonious attitude. Told from the point of view of teenage main characters, it’s easy to see how these stories will connect with kids from the same age bracket who are fighting similar battles in their own lives.
Combining stories from a fairly diverse offering (Mayan culture, Native American folklore, Jewish golems, Irish Fae, and more), Lore offers plenty of twists and turns that will surprise and delight readers looking for an escape from the ordinary.
This collection of myth and magic had me hooked from page one. Which makes sense, as it begins with “Shimmer,” the tale of a girl who can change into a mermaid – and whose family works a fishing boat. Though Coral is misunderstood and hides her changeable nature from everyone, including Draven Manning – a boy her age who rescues her from drowning one night – it’s clear that she’s got a lot more weighing on her mind than the typical adolescent fears and anxieties about school and her relationships. Author Brinda Berry weaves a dark but delightful take on the classic Little Mermaid story that’s much different than Disney’s version, and much more enjoyable. I only wish we could’ve seen more of Coral’s underwater world.
The next story, “Between,” offers a peek behind the Royal curtains to see just what’s at stake for the rich, powerful and popular – in high school. Though Lucy craves affection from her mother, she knows the only way to achieve it is to become slim and join her school’s ruling elite, despite the fact that they’re terrible people who prey on their fellow students with cruel pranks and cutting insults. When she’s finally crowned Queen, she’s got to choose between her summer camp love affair with Natasha – a girl who accepted her just as she was – or the Royals crowd, where popularity is everything. Lucy’s bad decisions have terrifying consequences, but a genie appears to help. Karen Y. Bynum‘s story borrows elements from many different stories, creating something new for readers to enjoy.
Things get even darker in “Sunset Moon,” a story by Laura Diamond that incorporates traditional Blackfoot Nation myths into a modern story of teenage rebellion and rehabilitation.
As you can probably guess from the teenage heroines described thus far, this book is a YA collection starring troubled teens from all walks of life. While the classic fairy tales usually set readers up for Happily Ever Afters with princesses marrying their Prince Charmings, Lore gives us average girls looking to escape their everyday lives and problems at home. But that’s not to say that these girls are ordinary, or that their stories are a dime a dozen. Instead each of the authors in the collection have managed to spin fantastic tales around these girls, showing us just how extraordinary their lives can be.
The question then is whether the magic that helps them succeed in their journeys comes from within or from some outside source – and why?
I enjoyed the fact that these stories were darker than Disney’s versions, especially since the orginal folk and fairy tales were much more frightening than the cartoons suggest. By avoiding the princess cliché, each writer recaptures some of that original menace and fear, spinning a new story from Grimm threads. Additionally, though folk tales often contain a rather preachy lesson to be learned, these stories contain similar morals or guidance for a younger reader, but without the sanctimonious attitude. Told from the point of view of teenage main characters, it’s easy to see how these stories will connect with kids from the same age bracket who are fighting similar battles in their own lives.
Combining stories from a fairly diverse offering (Mayan culture, Native American folklore, Jewish golems, Irish Fae, and more), Lore offers plenty of twists and turns that will surprise and delight readers looking for an escape from the ordinary.
ctorretta's review
4.0
What a great anthology! It's such a great way to meet and hopefully fall in love with new authors.
For the most part this anthology lives up to its name. These are all myths and legends that are being told in an updated and more modern way. Immediately I was able to recognize some of the themes, like figuring out that a girl was a mermaid for instance, so these are not really meant to keep you guessing. They are meant for leisurely, enjoyable reading with a twist. What is really interesting is all the diverse cultures that are represented in just a few stories!
The only downside to some of these is the fact that they are short stories so it was sometimes hard for me to get a real feel for the characters. I am definitely an emotional reader and if those emotions are not touched upon then it effects my enjoyment of the reads. Over all the stories were all quite interesting and I loved that they were so different. One would have mermaids while the next was harder to figure out because I didn't understand the "queen" thing at first, and even a creepy story (which is totally up my alley)!
As a whole, I really enjoyed myself. If I had to pick a favorite I would be in between The Maker (creepy yay!) or The Barricades. I think I also liked the Barricades because I know more about the myths of the fae and it was a bit easier to get into.
In short: Enjoyable for a paranormal lover like myself! I even learned a little about some other culture's legends!
For the most part this anthology lives up to its name. These are all myths and legends that are being told in an updated and more modern way. Immediately I was able to recognize some of the themes, like figuring out that a girl was a mermaid for instance, so these are not really meant to keep you guessing. They are meant for leisurely, enjoyable reading with a twist. What is really interesting is all the diverse cultures that are represented in just a few stories!
The only downside to some of these is the fact that they are short stories so it was sometimes hard for me to get a real feel for the characters. I am definitely an emotional reader and if those emotions are not touched upon then it effects my enjoyment of the reads. Over all the stories were all quite interesting and I loved that they were so different. One would have mermaids while the next was harder to figure out because I didn't understand the "queen" thing at first, and even a creepy story (which is totally up my alley)!
As a whole, I really enjoyed myself. If I had to pick a favorite I would be in between The Maker (creepy yay!) or The Barricades. I think I also liked the Barricades because I know more about the myths of the fae and it was a bit easier to get into.
In short: Enjoyable for a paranormal lover like myself! I even learned a little about some other culture's legends!
bookbriefs's review
2.0
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**
Lore: Tales of Myth and Legend Retold is a young adult myth/legend and paranormal anthology. It is a collection of 6 short stories. On its' face it looks like it would be right up my alley. I mean, I love myths and mythology! That is so my thing. And if I had picked up this book before I started blogging, I probably would have enjoyed it more. Because before I started blogging, I didn't have very high expectations of short stories. I didn't think you could pack enough detail into the story to make it interesting and to give me a chance to connect with the characters in so few pages. And that was the majority of my problems with Lore. BUT since I have been blogging, I have found some truly awesome and amazing anthologies. Anthologies where I am in awe, and asking how on earth did the author do that in 70-100 pages?? or even less. And because I have now seen the anthology light, I was disappointed in Lore.
There were two stories that did enjoy- The Maker and The Barricades. I found them to be fun and interesting, but the other four stories I was disinterested in...at best. Some I flat out did not enjoy. The Maker is the 4th story and The Barricades is the 6th one. Check those out if you have the book. I don't want single out any of the other stories or fault the authors because I feel like short stories are a different kind of beast than full length novels. So I still want to see what each of the authors can do with a full length book.
The Maker is a story about a gollum...hello how cool is that?? And the Barricades is about the Fae, and I love me some Fae. (on a side note, I am really digging the fae at the moment...does anyone know of a good new adult Fae book, please let me know!) If you love anthologies and YA myth and fantasy, I hope Lore works out for you. It just didn't do it for me. But I did find two new short stories that I enjoyed so that is positive.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Lore: Tales of Myth and Legend Retold is a young adult myth/legend and paranormal anthology. It is a collection of 6 short stories. On its' face it looks like it would be right up my alley. I mean, I love myths and mythology! That is so my thing. And if I had picked up this book before I started blogging, I probably would have enjoyed it more. Because before I started blogging, I didn't have very high expectations of short stories. I didn't think you could pack enough detail into the story to make it interesting and to give me a chance to connect with the characters in so few pages. And that was the majority of my problems with Lore. BUT since I have been blogging, I have found some truly awesome and amazing anthologies. Anthologies where I am in awe, and asking how on earth did the author do that in 70-100 pages?? or even less. And because I have now seen the anthology light, I was disappointed in Lore.
There were two stories that did enjoy- The Maker and The Barricades. I found them to be fun and interesting, but the other four stories I was disinterested in...at best. Some I flat out did not enjoy. The Maker is the 4th story and The Barricades is the 6th one. Check those out if you have the book. I don't want single out any of the other stories or fault the authors because I feel like short stories are a different kind of beast than full length novels. So I still want to see what each of the authors can do with a full length book.
The Maker is a story about a gollum...hello how cool is that?? And the Barricades is about the Fae, and I love me some Fae. (on a side note, I am really digging the fae at the moment...does anyone know of a good new adult Fae book, please let me know!) If you love anthologies and YA myth and fantasy, I hope Lore works out for you. It just didn't do it for me. But I did find two new short stories that I enjoyed so that is positive.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
thefox22's review
4.0
*Review can be found here.
It's so hard for me to review short stories. I'm a reader who loves deep story-lines and complex characters, but novellas/anthologies don't always have either of those two things. And it makes it hard for me to like them. But overall, I really enjoyed Lore!
Overall Rating: 3.5 Stars!
Shimmer
A cute, flirty tale of a mermaid and a boy on summer vacation. I liked the two characters a lot, and even though it was a short story, I could still connect with them. Draven is sassy, determined, and just wants to get over his heartbreak. Coral (okay, her name isn't at all fishy) is a tomboy who doesn't have many friends and who can't get close with anyone. She's determined to keep Draven at a distance, but he makes it impossible. And even when she shares her secret, he doesn't run. Draven's and Coral's friendship grows, as do their feelings. But that wasn't the only secret she was keeping. I wish there'd been more information on her ancestry and the mermaids and I think the letter was a bit of a cop-out. But I did love how the ending was left open to the imagination. It ended the story nicely.
3.5 stars.
Between
This story was about a girl who struggled with her identity and sexuality, a girl who made a series of choices that results in unimaginable consequences. To be honest, I was not a fan of this one. I hated the main character. She was mean, and selfish, and too busy worrying about fitting in and pleasing her mother than doing what she wanted. And I would have been okay with that had she actually grown as a character. Yeah, in the end she found her footing. But I still didn't care for her, and she was so freaking clueless about everything. And I was expecting something different with the genie aspect.
2 stars.
Sunset Moon
I liked this story! I've been wanting to read more Native American inspired stories, especially those of its myths and legends. And I enjoyed this one, but everything just felt so rushed. Eloise's character development, the mythology, the relationship between her and Ven. It's hard, because this is a novella, but I wished it'd been longer. I would have gladly read a full-length novel with these characters, this story-line, and the myth. I liked the main character, and I'm glad she realized that she deserved better in life. But I'm still confused on the whole legend that the author was telling. I wanted more details about it.
3 stars.
The Maker
This one was dark and edgy with a main character who was hell-bent on revenge. It kind of felt a little bit Gothic, and I liked the bleakness of it. It was very fast-paced. I thought the main character was a douchebag; he was arrogant, weak, a monster living in the shadows and outskirts after an accident damaged his body and left him for dead. He blamed everyone but himself for it. And then he decided to ruin another person's life because of his mistake. But it wasn't supposed to be cheerful or happy. It was a short story that had a Frankenstein feel to it and that ended how it should have.
3.5 stars.
A Beautiful Mourning
I loved this story of the Mayan gods, forbidden love, and the sacrifices people are willing to make in the name of it. I loved the characters, Ishel and Kinnich, and was rooting for them so badly. Their romance was so sweet. There were also a few secondary characters, one of whom I hated, another I was indifferent about, and the last I loved. And I liked where the story-line headed. It was very heartbreaking, though, but it ended on a high note that made me extremely happy.
4 stars.
The Barricades
I loved this one! I think it was maybe the shortest one out of all of them, but I loved it a lot more than all of these (even the one above). I loved the characters, Daniel and Casey. They were both pretty sassy and determined to do the right thing no matter what. I liked Casey's strong-will and Daniel's protective side. Even if they fell for each other fast, I didn't care. I thought they were great together. This story was very fast-paced, and I loved the world the author created. I would have loved more background on it, but I still enjoyed the descriptions and details given. And that ending was really great; a silver lining of hope intertwined with newfound love.
4 stars.
It's so hard for me to review short stories. I'm a reader who loves deep story-lines and complex characters, but novellas/anthologies don't always have either of those two things. And it makes it hard for me to like them. But overall, I really enjoyed Lore!
Overall Rating: 3.5 Stars!
Shimmer
A cute, flirty tale of a mermaid and a boy on summer vacation. I liked the two characters a lot, and even though it was a short story, I could still connect with them. Draven is sassy, determined, and just wants to get over his heartbreak. Coral (okay, her name isn't at all fishy) is a tomboy who doesn't have many friends and who can't get close with anyone. She's determined to keep Draven at a distance, but he makes it impossible. And even when she shares her secret, he doesn't run. Draven's and Coral's friendship grows, as do their feelings. But that wasn't the only secret she was keeping. I wish there'd been more information on her ancestry and the mermaids and I think the letter was a bit of a cop-out. But I did love how the ending was left open to the imagination. It ended the story nicely.
3.5 stars.
Between
This story was about a girl who struggled with her identity and sexuality, a girl who made a series of choices that results in unimaginable consequences. To be honest, I was not a fan of this one. I hated the main character. She was mean, and selfish, and too busy worrying about fitting in and pleasing her mother than doing what she wanted. And I would have been okay with that had she actually grown as a character. Yeah, in the end she found her footing. But I still didn't care for her, and she was so freaking clueless about everything. And I was expecting something different with the genie aspect.
2 stars.
Sunset Moon
I liked this story! I've been wanting to read more Native American inspired stories, especially those of its myths and legends. And I enjoyed this one, but everything just felt so rushed. Eloise's character development, the mythology, the relationship between her and Ven. It's hard, because this is a novella, but I wished it'd been longer. I would have gladly read a full-length novel with these characters, this story-line, and the myth. I liked the main character, and I'm glad she realized that she deserved better in life. But I'm still confused on the whole legend that the author was telling. I wanted more details about it.
3 stars.
The Maker
This one was dark and edgy with a main character who was hell-bent on revenge. It kind of felt a little bit Gothic, and I liked the bleakness of it. It was very fast-paced. I thought the main character was a douchebag; he was arrogant, weak, a monster living in the shadows and outskirts after an accident damaged his body and left him for dead. He blamed everyone but himself for it. And then he decided to ruin another person's life because of his mistake. But it wasn't supposed to be cheerful or happy. It was a short story that had a Frankenstein feel to it and that ended how it should have.
3.5 stars.
A Beautiful Mourning
I loved this story of the Mayan gods, forbidden love, and the sacrifices people are willing to make in the name of it. I loved the characters, Ishel and Kinnich, and was rooting for them so badly. Their romance was so sweet. There were also a few secondary characters, one of whom I hated, another I was indifferent about, and the last I loved. And I liked where the story-line headed. It was very heartbreaking, though, but it ended on a high note that made me extremely happy.
4 stars.
The Barricades
I loved this one! I think it was maybe the shortest one out of all of them, but I loved it a lot more than all of these (even the one above). I loved the characters, Daniel and Casey. They were both pretty sassy and determined to do the right thing no matter what. I liked Casey's strong-will and Daniel's protective side. Even if they fell for each other fast, I didn't care. I thought they were great together. This story was very fast-paced, and I loved the world the author created. I would have loved more background on it, but I still enjoyed the descriptions and details given. And that ending was really great; a silver lining of hope intertwined with newfound love.
4 stars.
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