wilhelmina_reads's review
3.0
Lowkey skimmed through the last three stories. This was... not my cup of tea. Of course I enjoyed the Sookie Stackhouse story at the beginning, and Marjorie Liu's story was even better, but every other story? Gross. Really dull and uninteresting. The one about that girl in the purgatory school was decent though I guess.
katleap's review
4.0
For this anthology I was really excited about the Ilona Andrews story. Because I usually read these over a couple of days I do't always remember what I really liked and what I didn't so I posted sticky notes on the title of each story and wrote down my thoughts when I finished. It was a great idea.
Playing Possum CHARLAINE HARRIS | 3 stars
Featuring Sookie & her nephew hunter from the Sookie Stackhouse series. Sookie takes on a gun-toting angry ex-boyfriend and discovers the value of playing dead. The story was fine. Usually I really liked the Sookie shorts but this one was a bit bland compared to some of the other stories I read.
Spellcaster 2.0 JONATHAN MABERRY | 3 stars
While putting together a database of ancient spells from all over the world 4 unbelieving college students get taught a lesson by the demon of belief that they accident summon. Decent. I almost liked Trey. Almost. And Anthem was okay. Maybe a bit more background would have endeared the characters to me a bit more.
Academy Field Trip DONALD HARSTAD | 2 stars
Its a cop mystery. Three law enforcement give a seminar on supernatural specially to lure out a vampire victim and use her as an informant. This story was not my thing. I found it dry, not funny and no action at all.
Sympathy for the Bones MARJORIE M. LIU | 4 stars
A hoodoo apprentice takes revenge on her mentor. I'm careful about the voodoo and zombie stories I read. this story was excellent. The idea that one must do evil to defeat evil can be fascinating done right, but it can also go terribly wrong. Brilliantly done and an awesome read.
Low School RHYS BOWEN | 2.5 stars
Amy had the prefect life, until she wakes up in hell, which is high school all over again. It turns out that she sold her soul and that this terrible school is her consequent. It was really confusing for the first half and mildly amusing for the second.
Callie Meet Happy AMBER BENSON | 4 stars
Features Callie, from Amber Benson's Calliope Reaper-Jones series. Callie learns how to call wormholes, on the fly and ends up in an alternate universe. this was such a surprise. the beginning was slow and it was loosing my attention and then it got really interesting really fast. I liked Happy, she was awesome. I'm going to check out this series, I'd also like to see the alternate universe again. Could be fun.
Iphigenia in Aulis MIKE CAREY | 4 stars
In a post-apocalyptic zombie world Melanie lives in a cell and starts to wonder why. Iphigenia was the daughter of Agamemnon. He had to sacrifice her to Artemis so that the Greek armies could have favorable winds to sail to Troy. In the end Melanie learns what is means to be Iphigenia.
Wow. Oh wow. That's what I have to say about this story. The world building was cool. Total I Am Legend, with Melanie being a monster. The ending just ripped me though. It was sad but good.
Golden Delicious FAITH HUNTER | 5 Stars
Takes place in the Skinwalker series, after Raven Cursed, and between the short story in the e-compilation Cat Tales and Death's Rival. Features PsyLed triumvirate trainees: Rick, a were-leopard, Brute, a werewolf stuck in his animal form and Pea, a grindylow.
Loved the characters, including their mentor, Soul. I need to check out the series because if they are main characters I'd definitely want to read it.
Magic Tests ILONA ANDREWS | 5 Stars
Kate Daniels #7.5: The events of Magic Tests take place after Magic Slays. The story is told from Julie’s point of view. Julie scopes out a new school by solving the mystery of a missing girl. Featuring a stellar cast of characters, including dragon shapeshifter Yu Fong. WARNING Magic Dreams spoiler ahead (view spoiler) Sooo incredibly good. FYI According to the author, this short story will be eventually available by itself for online purchase in about a year.
An Introduction to Jewish Myth and Mysticism STEVE HOCKENSMITH | 3.5 Stars
A tongue-in-cheek take on a love triangle involving an abusive boyfriend and ‘The Wandering Jew.’ While I’ve heard of Hockensmith’s infamous best-seller, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls, this is the first experience of his work. It was amusing/entertaining enough to make me reconsider checking out his work.
VSI NANCY HOLDER | 4 stars
FBI agent Claire learns there may be more problems with her marriage besides her husbands suspected adultery while attending school for Vampire Scene Investigation. Definitely a good little twist.
The Bad Hour THOMAS E. SNIEGOSKI | 3.5
Featuring Remy Chandler from the eponymous series and his dog Marlowe. The two battle evil at a canine obedience school. This was the first I'd heard of the Remy Chandler series and while the characters may have potential, this story wasn't to my tastes. It also didn't appear to have anything unique about the world-building.
Pirate Dave and the Captain's Ghost TONI L.P. KELNER | 2
This is the second short story featuring Joyce and her beau, Pirate Dave; "Pirate Dave's Haunted Amusement Park" was published in the the Harris/Kelner anthology Death's Excellent Vacation. Not a fan of PNR so this wasn't really for me..
Playing Possum CHARLAINE HARRIS | 3 stars
Featuring Sookie & her nephew hunter from the Sookie Stackhouse series. Sookie takes on a gun-toting angry ex-boyfriend and discovers the value of playing dead. The story was fine. Usually I really liked the Sookie shorts but this one was a bit bland compared to some of the other stories I read.
Spellcaster 2.0 JONATHAN MABERRY | 3 stars
While putting together a database of ancient spells from all over the world 4 unbelieving college students get taught a lesson by the demon of belief that they accident summon. Decent. I almost liked Trey. Almost. And Anthem was okay. Maybe a bit more background would have endeared the characters to me a bit more.
Academy Field Trip DONALD HARSTAD | 2 stars
Its a cop mystery. Three law enforcement give a seminar on supernatural specially to lure out a vampire victim and use her as an informant. This story was not my thing. I found it dry, not funny and no action at all.
Sympathy for the Bones MARJORIE M. LIU | 4 stars
A hoodoo apprentice takes revenge on her mentor. I'm careful about the voodoo and zombie stories I read. this story was excellent. The idea that one must do evil to defeat evil can be fascinating done right, but it can also go terribly wrong. Brilliantly done and an awesome read.
Low School RHYS BOWEN | 2.5 stars
Amy had the prefect life, until she wakes up in hell, which is high school all over again. It turns out that she sold her soul and that this terrible school is her consequent. It was really confusing for the first half and mildly amusing for the second.
Callie Meet Happy AMBER BENSON | 4 stars
Features Callie, from Amber Benson's Calliope Reaper-Jones series. Callie learns how to call wormholes, on the fly and ends up in an alternate universe. this was such a surprise. the beginning was slow and it was loosing my attention and then it got really interesting really fast. I liked Happy, she was awesome. I'm going to check out this series, I'd also like to see the alternate universe again. Could be fun.
Iphigenia in Aulis MIKE CAREY | 4 stars
In a post-apocalyptic zombie world Melanie lives in a cell and starts to wonder why. Iphigenia was the daughter of Agamemnon. He had to sacrifice her to Artemis so that the Greek armies could have favorable winds to sail to Troy. In the end Melanie learns what is means to be Iphigenia.
Wow. Oh wow. That's what I have to say about this story. The world building was cool. Total I Am Legend, with Melanie being a monster. The ending just ripped me though. It was sad but good.
Golden Delicious FAITH HUNTER | 5 Stars
Takes place in the Skinwalker series, after Raven Cursed, and between the short story in the e-compilation Cat Tales and Death's Rival. Features PsyLed triumvirate trainees: Rick, a were-leopard, Brute, a werewolf stuck in his animal form and Pea, a grindylow.
Loved the characters, including their mentor, Soul. I need to check out the series because if they are main characters I'd definitely want to read it.
Magic Tests ILONA ANDREWS | 5 Stars
Kate Daniels #7.5: The events of Magic Tests take place after Magic Slays. The story is told from Julie’s point of view. Julie scopes out a new school by solving the mystery of a missing girl. Featuring a stellar cast of characters, including dragon shapeshifter Yu Fong. WARNING Magic Dreams spoiler ahead (view spoiler) Sooo incredibly good. FYI According to the author, this short story will be eventually available by itself for online purchase in about a year.
An Introduction to Jewish Myth and Mysticism STEVE HOCKENSMITH | 3.5 Stars
A tongue-in-cheek take on a love triangle involving an abusive boyfriend and ‘The Wandering Jew.’ While I’ve heard of Hockensmith’s infamous best-seller, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls, this is the first experience of his work. It was amusing/entertaining enough to make me reconsider checking out his work.
VSI NANCY HOLDER | 4 stars
FBI agent Claire learns there may be more problems with her marriage besides her husbands suspected adultery while attending school for Vampire Scene Investigation. Definitely a good little twist.
The Bad Hour THOMAS E. SNIEGOSKI | 3.5
Featuring Remy Chandler from the eponymous series and his dog Marlowe. The two battle evil at a canine obedience school. This was the first I'd heard of the Remy Chandler series and while the characters may have potential, this story wasn't to my tastes. It also didn't appear to have anything unique about the world-building.
Pirate Dave and the Captain's Ghost TONI L.P. KELNER | 2
This is the second short story featuring Joyce and her beau, Pirate Dave; "Pirate Dave's Haunted Amusement Park" was published in the the Harris/Kelner anthology Death's Excellent Vacation. Not a fan of PNR so this wasn't really for me..
iamtais's review
4.0
* Magic Tests By Ilona Andrews
VSI By Nancy Holder
Playing Possum By Charlaine Harris
VSI By Nancy Holder
Playing Possum By Charlaine Harris
tori395's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0