whatshereads727's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Very short but so interesting. The female empowerment is real in this story. A heroine who you engage with immediately and a enemy to lover romance! So short it left me wanting more.
ladyofbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed it
Though the last story was of a series that I haven't read, it was just as good as Mercedes Lackey and Tanith Lee's. Lee's story was easily my most favorite, and I have the feeling that I am going to keep a lookout for more of her work.
Four stars.
Though the last story was of a series that I haven't read, it was just as good as Mercedes Lackey and Tanith Lee's. Lee's story was easily my most favorite, and I have the feeling that I am going to keep a lookout for more of her work.
Four stars.
pokecol's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Spoiler
Strangely enjoyable. There are 3 different stories within so its hard to categorically rate them as a singular entity.I won't say that I like any over the other because I didn't really, they were all had strengths and weaknesses. I will say that I did not expect myself to enjoy the last tale as much as I did, considering I have no love for weird modern fantasy - especially when not done well (which is all of them).
The first story I really liked for the detail of its political sociology in such a tight-knit space.
I enjoyed the second story for a really good introspection of character through Clirando.
And the last of the three was just really easy to read and flowed great from one chapter into another.
Any excessive downside was normally breezed past with the myriad of scene content the book covered making it not too difficult to ignore.
I think the first two tales speak of a more middle ground when it comes to balance, Mercedes Lackey and Tanith Lee both have an evidenced seasoning to their talents as authors, and while C.E. Murphy is not as profoundly written I felt the story had some good highs to balance out the lows making it on the same playing-field, just much more fluid.
That all as it is I definitely have the most criticisms of the 3rd tale. The strange semi-modern lingo, the weird characters which are all middle-aged police agents with cishet white man names which was hard to distinguish, the crappy "forgive family" message it goes for. The way the magic works is also pretty silly. Oh also, there was a strange and VERY regular making of characters layghing and giggling in fully strange and psychotic fashions that left many scenes feeling unnatural.
Tanith Lee's story felt extremely engaging in its start and finish and my main criticism was that the thematics of its narrative crux was 'revenge for revenge' which is a trope-bust-trope I REALLY hate, thankfully they do address that in the story's last couple chapters. Also making a need for a love interest is unnecessary but it wasn't too difficult to overlook.
Mercedes Lackey's story felt the most prepared and grounded in concept and the slow pacing was made up for by the really well done thoughtfulness of the protagonist, but the majority of the story taking place in somewhat indistinct stone-halls for the entirety of the book made it feel more mundane than it actually was.
I think they all standalone well as stories, and though I came in expecting to be only middlingly entertained, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore
Minor: Grief, Murder, Abandonment, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Sexual content, Animal cruelty, Cursing, Deadnaming, Infidelity, and Misogyny
ksd1441's review against another edition
3.0
I only read the Mercedes Lackey portion of this collection, because I am a big fan of her Five Hundred Kingdom series. I enjoyed this short story, I just wish it could have been its own book! Since I feel that Lackey thrives on building a story, only having 130 pages really hindered the plotline. I wanted to know more background information, especially concerning Kedric. However, it was still a great addition to the Five Hundred Kingdoms! A longer version could easily get 5 stars. Her writing is awesome.
daisymama's review against another edition
2.0
This book includes 3 short stories (novellas?), but I only read the first... "Moontide" by Mercedes Lackey is listed as being part of The Five Hundred Kingdoms series and was my reason for picking up this book in the first place. While I enjoyed the story in general, it read more like a half-finished novel than a short story. Some scenes were carefully written in detail, and the setting and some of the characters were well established, while other characters were just kind of sketched in and there were many scenes that felt like placeholders. I think I would probably really enjoy this if it were fleshed out as a novel; even though the plot was fairly predictable and the main character unnaturally perfect, the setting was interesting, and I enjoyed some of the other characters, and those were enough to balance out a predictable plot. However, as a short story it was unsatisfying.
The second story is "The Heart of the Moon" by Tanith Lee, and I am not sure I care to read to the end of it. I'm about 20 pages in and it's just not my jam.
"Banshee Cries" by C.E. Murphy is the third story, and according to other reviews on Goodreads, it is part of a series and does not stand well on its own. I'm not up for starting another series right now, but maybe I'll come back to this one later.
The second story is "The Heart of the Moon" by Tanith Lee, and I am not sure I care to read to the end of it. I'm about 20 pages in and it's just not my jam.
"Banshee Cries" by C.E. Murphy is the third story, and according to other reviews on Goodreads, it is part of a series and does not stand well on its own. I'm not up for starting another series right now, but maybe I'll come back to this one later.
kikmigi23's review against another edition
1.0
Couldn't get into the short stories in this collection. Will give this book away.
sewcialist_librarian's review against another edition
3.0
Read specifically for Banshee Cries; but the other stories are good. Banshee Cries sits between book 1 and 2. This works well to flesh out the storyline and the characters in The Walker Papers.
rachelking's review against another edition
4.0
The first story by Mercedes Lackey is meant to take place in her world of the Five Hundred Kingdoms, minus the power of The Tradition to force things a certain way. The only clue the I found that could indicate that this story would fit in the Five Hundred Kingdoms is the presence of the Fool. Other than that, it simply read as a good fantasy plotline, with equal parts romance, intrigue, and adventure. The story wrapped up nicely, with no loose ends, but I would love to read a full novel about the Grey Ladies - not much information is given on this group of women and they certainly have much potential for a good full-length story.
The second story is by Tanith Lee, whom I have never read before now. I rather enjoyed the world development, despite the length she had to work in, and the imagery was both mysterious and beautiful. After I read the story, I went looking online to see if this world fit into any other novels, but I could not find any information on this. Still, I plan to check out more of her work now.
The third story by C. E. Murphy takes place in her Walker Papers series, specifically between the first and second book. Since I have only read the first two books in the series, I thoroughly appreciated how this story filled in a few blanks for me about what is happening in the series. In this story, Joanne learns about her deceased mother, who turns out to be quite a fascinating character. I think I may even prefer her to Joanne. It can't be easy for the author to translate a thick Scottish accent onto paper, either. Now I am anxious to read more of the Walker Papers series.
The second story is by Tanith Lee, whom I have never read before now. I rather enjoyed the world development, despite the length she had to work in, and the imagery was both mysterious and beautiful. After I read the story, I went looking online to see if this world fit into any other novels, but I could not find any information on this. Still, I plan to check out more of her work now.
The third story by C. E. Murphy takes place in her Walker Papers series, specifically between the first and second book. Since I have only read the first two books in the series, I thoroughly appreciated how this story filled in a few blanks for me about what is happening in the series. In this story, Joanne learns about her deceased mother, who turns out to be quite a fascinating character. I think I may even prefer her to Joanne. It can't be easy for the author to translate a thick Scottish accent onto paper, either. Now I am anxious to read more of the Walker Papers series.