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secretmagic's review against another edition
5.0
"Everyone has that someone who is most important to them. That one person who trumps the rules. You are that to me. I would do anything for you."
I love Jim and Dali. They are one of my favourite couples in the urban fantasy genre. This novella was further proof that they are awesome together.
NOTE: this book was only read for Magic Steals by Ilona Andrews. I might come back to read the other stories when I have time!
I love Jim and Dali. They are one of my favourite couples in the urban fantasy genre. This novella was further proof that they are awesome together.
NOTE: this book was only read for Magic Steals by Ilona Andrews. I might come back to read the other stories when I have time!
celina31's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
chelsiemarie1218's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Audiobook - 4 individual stories, some better than others.
kathydavie's review against another edition
4.0
A supernatural anthology of four short stories in the general fantasy genre.
Series:
"Secrets at Midnight" (Psy-Changeling, 12.5)
"Magic Steals" (Kate Daniels, 6.5)
"Lucky Charms" (SPI Files, 0.5)
"The Beast of Blackmoor" (Barbarian, 1)
The Stories
Nalini Singh’s "Secrets at Midnight" finds a frustrated Bastien trying to track the scent of his future mate. It's a somewhat irritating story as it falls into a double-sided trope. On the one hand, Bastien keeps telling himself to take it slow so he doesn't scare her off. On the other hand, Kirby can't figure out why she's so attracted to Bastien. She also makes me nuts with her passive-aggressive behavior. It's reasonable that Kirby's character would be scared of this new information, and Singh should have taken some time to develop this. Why didn't Bastien take her, immediately, to see their healer instead of faffing about?
Then there are the kittens in a cage…lol.
Ilona Andrews’ "Magic Steals" is an intriguing story within a story. It's about Jim and Dali's, well, courting, I guess. It's very much Dali's point-of-view so we don't know what Jim is thinking. Which is frustrating as I don't understand what attracts Jim to Dali. I can see why Dali wants Jim, and I can see why she thinks she'd be a negative for him.
Lisa Shearin’s "Lucky Charms" was too, too funny. I have got to start reading this series. I mean, how can you resist a tour through the strip clubs of New York with a naked Russian werewolf, stoned leprechauns with the munchies, two hungover elves, and a hot partner racing after a leprechaun with a tracking chip in his butt cheek. Ending in a McDonald's after midnight. Although, Makenna seems too fussy for this job.
Love the T-shirt: "Don't run, You'll only die tired."
Milla Vane’s "The Beast of Blackmoor" is a complete story with a horrible situation and the mystery of who truly is the beast of Blackmoor. There were a few blips in this, but on the whole a good tale that will have you raging at the injustice.
The Cover and Title
The background on the cover is the forest at night, and it appears as if we're looking through night vision goggles. That same green washes over a woman in jeans and a black leather halter top with a tiger tattoo covering her back, hips cocked, and hands clasped behind her head. The title reflects the orange of the tiger while the author names and details are in white.
I have no idea why this title was chosen. The only short story that seems to fit is "Lucky Charms" with its Night Shift working its way through the strip clubs. I suppose "The Beast of Blackmoor" might fit since the big action takes place under the moon.
Series:
"Secrets at Midnight" (Psy-Changeling, 12.5)
"Magic Steals" (Kate Daniels, 6.5)
"Lucky Charms" (SPI Files, 0.5)
"The Beast of Blackmoor" (Barbarian, 1)
The Stories
Nalini Singh’s "Secrets at Midnight" finds a frustrated Bastien trying to track the scent of his future mate. It's a somewhat irritating story as it falls into a double-sided trope. On the one hand, Bastien keeps telling himself to take it slow so he doesn't scare her off. On the other hand, Kirby can't figure out why she's so attracted to Bastien. She also makes me nuts with her passive-aggressive behavior. It's reasonable that Kirby's character would be scared of this new information, and Singh should have taken some time to develop this. Why didn't Bastien take her, immediately, to see their healer instead of faffing about?
Then there are the kittens in a cage…lol.
Ilona Andrews’ "Magic Steals" is an intriguing story within a story. It's about Jim and Dali's, well, courting, I guess. It's very much Dali's point-of-view so we don't know what Jim is thinking. Which is frustrating as I don't understand what attracts Jim to Dali. I can see why Dali wants Jim, and I can see why she thinks she'd be a negative for him.
"When a man truly loves you, the longer you are together, the more beautiful you will be to him. When he looks at you and you look at him, you won't just see the surface. You will see everything you shared, everything you've been through, and every happy moment you hope for."Then there's the missing grandmother. A mystifying case that becomes more bewildering and scarier. It does provide Dali a good opportunity to learn she's wrong about her and Jim. The very end is quite funny as well when we learn what Jim's been up to behind Dali's back.
Lisa Shearin’s "Lucky Charms" was too, too funny. I have got to start reading this series. I mean, how can you resist a tour through the strip clubs of New York with a naked Russian werewolf, stoned leprechauns with the munchies, two hungover elves, and a hot partner racing after a leprechaun with a tracking chip in his butt cheek. Ending in a McDonald's after midnight. Although, Makenna seems too fussy for this job.
Love the T-shirt: "Don't run, You'll only die tired."
Milla Vane’s "The Beast of Blackmoor" is a complete story with a horrible situation and the mystery of who truly is the beast of Blackmoor. There were a few blips in this, but on the whole a good tale that will have you raging at the injustice.
The Cover and Title
The background on the cover is the forest at night, and it appears as if we're looking through night vision goggles. That same green washes over a woman in jeans and a black leather halter top with a tiger tattoo covering her back, hips cocked, and hands clasped behind her head. The title reflects the orange of the tiger while the author names and details are in white.
I have no idea why this title was chosen. The only short story that seems to fit is "Lucky Charms" with its Night Shift working its way through the strip clubs. I suppose "The Beast of Blackmoor" might fit since the big action takes place under the moon.
yodamom's review against another edition
4.0
Great little set of anthologies, 4 good complete feeling quick reads.A fan of short anthologies, Yoda is not.
I finished Secrets at Midnight, 3.0 stars - it was the typical short rushed feeling PNR. I liked the characters and would have loved to meet them in a full length read.he sex was so short I blinked and I they were done. WTH ? I wanted the good stuff. It did peek my interest in the series, I might squeeze it in this year or the next or at least the year after that
Magic Steals 4.5: I loved it. Jim is everything he should be and more. Dali, well I didn't like her much before this little short, now I adore her.
Lucky Charms 3.5 : This felt more urban fantasy, a bit grittier and i liked it. I am interested in the characters and their world I will look into this author's work more
The Beast of Blackmore 2.5: I liked it and I didn't. It was direct slam in your face action/sex and almost crude, and not in a sexy way. I don't know that I will read anything more form this author.
I finished Secrets at Midnight, 3.0 stars - it was the typical short rushed feeling PNR. I liked the characters and would have loved to meet them in a full length read.he sex was so short I blinked and I they were done. WTH ? I wanted the good stuff. It did peek my interest in the series, I might squeeze it in this year or the next or at least the year after that
Magic Steals 4.5: I loved it. Jim is everything he should be and more. Dali, well I didn't like her much before this little short, now I adore her.
Lucky Charms 3.5 : This felt more urban fantasy, a bit grittier and i liked it. I am interested in the characters and their world I will look into this author's work more
The Beast of Blackmore 2.5: I liked it and I didn't. It was direct slam in your face action/sex and almost crude, and not in a sexy way. I don't know that I will read anything more form this author.
bookminx's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
Night Shift is one of the best anthologies I've read in a while with contributions from three powerhouse writers in their respective genres.
It says something when the "worst" story in a collection is from Nalini Singh. Secrets at Midnight is her contribution and it's pretty boring. Leopard shifter, Bastien Smith, has scented his mate but quickly finds out that not all is well with her. Singh can write some compelling short stories, so I was surprised at how she seemed to have sleepwalked through this one. The conflict is non-existent and it's painfully obvious what is going on with his mate from the minute Bastien starts talking about her. If I had to rate this one on an individual basis it would be a 3/5.
Magic Steals by Ilona Andrews was the reason I had been so anxious to get my hands on the anthology. The story takes place in the Kate Daniels world and follows the characters Jim and Dali who were featured in Magic Dreams, which I had adored. This story completely lived up to my high expectations. Dali is approached to look into the case of a missing person and Jim tags along for the ride. It was great to see Dali take the lead and I loved getting a little more of these two working together. I'm still holding out hope that we'll eventually get a full-length novel featuring Jim and Dali, as they're just fantastic. 5/5
Lucky Charms by Lisa Shearin was the only author in the collection who was new to me. Makenna Frazier is a seer who gets pulled into a high profile case involving leprechauns on her very first day of work. I'm guessing this is a prequel to Shearin's Urban Fantasy series starring Makenna because the story works to set-up a much more involved plot. All in all, this was a good contribution and I was intrigued enough by the characters to potentially read the first book in the series. 4/5
The Beast of Blackmoor by Milla Vane (aka Meljean Brook) was my second favorite contribution in the anthology. Mala is on a quest for her goddess to tame the beast of Blackmoor in a corrupt kingdom dominated by a tyrant. I really loved how different interpretations of words and personal perceptions influenced this short story. I'm not a huge fan of medieval settings but this one worked for me. I'll be looking forward to the first full length book set in the world. 4.5/5
All in all a great anthology that is well worth the money.
It says something when the "worst" story in a collection is from Nalini Singh. Secrets at Midnight is her contribution and it's pretty boring. Leopard shifter, Bastien Smith, has scented his mate but quickly finds out that not all is well with her. Singh can write some compelling short stories, so I was surprised at how she seemed to have sleepwalked through this one. The conflict is non-existent and it's painfully obvious what is going on with his mate from the minute Bastien starts talking about her. If I had to rate this one on an individual basis it would be a 3/5.
Magic Steals by Ilona Andrews was the reason I had been so anxious to get my hands on the anthology. The story takes place in the Kate Daniels world and follows the characters Jim and Dali who were featured in Magic Dreams, which I had adored. This story completely lived up to my high expectations. Dali is approached to look into the case of a missing person and Jim tags along for the ride. It was great to see Dali take the lead and I loved getting a little more of these two working together. I'm still holding out hope that we'll eventually get a full-length novel featuring Jim and Dali, as they're just fantastic. 5/5
Lucky Charms by Lisa Shearin was the only author in the collection who was new to me. Makenna Frazier is a seer who gets pulled into a high profile case involving leprechauns on her very first day of work. I'm guessing this is a prequel to Shearin's Urban Fantasy series starring Makenna because the story works to set-up a much more involved plot. All in all, this was a good contribution and I was intrigued enough by the characters to potentially read the first book in the series. 4/5
The Beast of Blackmoor by Milla Vane (aka Meljean Brook) was my second favorite contribution in the anthology. Mala is on a quest for her goddess to tame the beast of Blackmoor in a corrupt kingdom dominated by a tyrant. I really loved how different interpretations of words and personal perceptions influenced this short story. I'm not a huge fan of medieval settings but this one worked for me. I'll be looking forward to the first full length book set in the world. 4.5/5
All in all a great anthology that is well worth the money.
natasha_reading's review against another edition
3.0
Review for Secrets at midnight by Nalini Singh only
fishgirl182's review against another edition
4.0
I am not usually a big fan of novellas and short stories unless I know the author well and know that they can write a good novella. This collection includes stories by Nalini Singh and Ilona Andrews, two of my favorite urban fantasy and paranormal romance authors. Having already read some novellas by both of them before, I knew that they could deliver the goods in a shorter format. I did not know much about the remaining two authors before this but, after reading their stories, consider myself fans of both.
Secrets at Midnight by Nalini Singh – 4 stars
Secrets at Midnight is a novella set in Singh’s Psy-Changeling world. She gave a small teaser of it in her most recent Guild Hunter novel, Archangel’s Shadows. I don’t usually read excerpts because, if they are good, then I just want to devour the book right away and it sucks if it’s not out yet. But I read it because I could not help myself and was hooked.
Midnight is the story of Bastien, a cat changeling from the Dark River clan. If you’ve read the series you will remember him as one of Mercy’s adorable but infuriating brothers. I have a soft spot for the entire Smith clan and was really excited to hear that Bastien was getting his own story. This is the story about how he finds his mate, a woman who is now what she seems. I had a lot of fun reading this one. Bastien is charming and sweet and oh so sexy. Kirby was a nice match for him. She’s not from the changeling world and has to learn to adjust to life around the cats. I don’t want to give it all away but Kirby has had some rough times in her past, and I admired her for her strength and resilience. She does not let Bastien or the other cats push her around. One of my favorite scenes is the one in which Mercy tests her mettle. Needless to say, Kirby can hold her own.
This is a really fun story and I loved seeing the Dark River clan again. I am hoping this means that the rest of Mercy’s brothers will get their own HEAs as well.
Magic Steals by Ilona Andrews – 4 stars
Yes – Jim and Dali’s story finally! Jim and Dali have always seemed like a bit of an odd couple. Jim is the cat alpha and is Curran’s chief of security. Dali is a vegetarian were-tiger with terrible eyesight. On the surface they don’t seem to have much in common. In Magic Steals though, we get to see why they are so good together. In Magic Steals, Dali is pulled in to help a family friend whose grandmother has disappeared. Jim comes along to assist and what she and Jim find is much more than just a case of a missing person.
I loved this story, which isn’t surprising since I love this writing team. It was really great though to see a story that doesn’t involve Kate or Curran at all. This was all Jim and Dali and it’s fantastic. It was really cool to see how Dali’s powers work. I don’t know how much actual true Indonesian lore is incorporated into the mythology that they use here, but it’s fascinating nonetheless. This story was also really funny and we get to see a different side of Jim. He’s usually extremely serious but, in this, he lets a bit of his humor show. He also lets a bit of his softer side show (as soft as Jim can get) and I found their relationship to be unexpectedly sweet. Fans of the Kate Daniels series will not be disappointed in this one.
Lucky Charms by Lisa Shearin – 3 stars
Shearin is a new to me author. I had heard of Shearin’s Grendel Affair but knew nothing about the world. Lucky Charms is a prequel novella set in the Supernatural Protection & Investigations (SPI) series. SPI is an organization whose goal is to hide the supernatural world from humans. It’s Makenna Frazier’s first day on the job as SPI’s newest seer. As a person who can see through any glamour, Makenna will help SPI in its investigations in what she thinks will be a safe desk job. However, on her first case tracking down a group of wayward leprechauns, she finds that the job is going to be much more dangerous than anticipated. It also seems like someone may be targeting her in particular. Throw in a badass but taciturn and hot partner, and you have a formula for fun.
This novella was my least favorite of the bunch, but that’s not to say that I didn’t like it. Since this was my first taste of the SPI world, I wasn’t as invested in it as I might have been. There was also a lot of information being thrown at me, which was a little hard to keep track of at times. That said, I did enjoy it, and am looking forward to reading The Grendel Affair now. Makenna is a really likable character, though she is a little too proper for my taste. I am sure that’ll change though once she sees more of the world through her work with SPI. Ian Byrne (hot partner) piqued my interest as well. We don’t learn much about him in this novella but there’s enough there to make me want to know more about him. Overall I liked this one and will be picking up the series soon.
The Beast of Blackmoor by Milla Vane – 4 stars
The Beast of Blackmoor was a surprise for me. When I started it I wasn’t sure if I would like it. I was expecting something in the UF realm but this is definitely more high fantasy. Story centers around Kavik, a young man who goes out to build an army in order to defeat an evil ruler in him homeland. Young and foolish, he angers a goddess who tells him of a warrior princess who will come to him and bring the end. Years go by and Kavik has become The Beast of Blackmoor, a fierce warrior who roams the land, trying to help those he can escape his dying kingdom. Finally the day comes when his warrior princess arrives. She is on a quest and must tame The Beast of Blackmoor in order to help save her own people. She doesn’t realize that The Beast is a man until after she meets Kavik and then must figure out a way to complete her quest without destroying Kavik, whom she admires and comes to care for.
It took me a little while to get into this one. It’s a really complex world and I had a bit of a hard time getting everything straight in my head at first. However, after reading for a bit, I found myself really immersed in it. The world is really unique, with its own demons, goddesses, creatures and language. But at the heart of it all were Kavik and Mala. The connection between the two is strong from the start and I could feel the pull that they felt towards each other. I loved how badass and fierce Mala was. She has so much poise and grace but can also cut you in two. Kavik is a tortured soul and my heart went out to him. He’s lost everything and thinks that the woman he loves is going to be his end. The chemistry between Kavik and Mala is very primal and raw and their love scenes are as well. I never thought I’d find loincloths and beards sexy but Vane manages to make it so.
It wasn’t until after I read this story and tried to find more by Milla Vane that I learned that Milla Vane is actually a pen name for Meljean Brook. I am a huge fan of Brook’s Iron Seas series so I am not surprised then that I liked Blackmoor so much. The tone of Blackmoor is very different than the Iron Seas books but it has the same great world building and well written characters that I’ve come to expect from Brook. I could not find a lot of information on Blackmoor but I am pretty sure that it’s a prequel to a new series that Brook will be writing under the Vane pen name. I really can’t wait for a full novel to come out. If The Beast of Blackmoor is any indication, the new series is going to be fantastic.
Final thoughts:
If you are a fan of any of these authors or love urban fantasy and paranormal romance, then Night Shift is a must read. I bought this for the Nalini Singh and Ilona Andrews stories but really liked the other two as well. It’s definitely worth the price tag to get 4 great stories in one neat package.
Secrets at Midnight by Nalini Singh – 4 stars
Secrets at Midnight is a novella set in Singh’s Psy-Changeling world. She gave a small teaser of it in her most recent Guild Hunter novel, Archangel’s Shadows. I don’t usually read excerpts because, if they are good, then I just want to devour the book right away and it sucks if it’s not out yet. But I read it because I could not help myself and was hooked.
Midnight is the story of Bastien, a cat changeling from the Dark River clan. If you’ve read the series you will remember him as one of Mercy’s adorable but infuriating brothers. I have a soft spot for the entire Smith clan and was really excited to hear that Bastien was getting his own story. This is the story about how he finds his mate, a woman who is now what she seems. I had a lot of fun reading this one. Bastien is charming and sweet and oh so sexy. Kirby was a nice match for him. She’s not from the changeling world and has to learn to adjust to life around the cats. I don’t want to give it all away but Kirby has had some rough times in her past, and I admired her for her strength and resilience. She does not let Bastien or the other cats push her around. One of my favorite scenes is the one in which Mercy tests her mettle. Needless to say, Kirby can hold her own.
This is a really fun story and I loved seeing the Dark River clan again. I am hoping this means that the rest of Mercy’s brothers will get their own HEAs as well.
Magic Steals by Ilona Andrews – 4 stars
Yes – Jim and Dali’s story finally! Jim and Dali have always seemed like a bit of an odd couple. Jim is the cat alpha and is Curran’s chief of security. Dali is a vegetarian were-tiger with terrible eyesight. On the surface they don’t seem to have much in common. In Magic Steals though, we get to see why they are so good together. In Magic Steals, Dali is pulled in to help a family friend whose grandmother has disappeared. Jim comes along to assist and what she and Jim find is much more than just a case of a missing person.
I loved this story, which isn’t surprising since I love this writing team. It was really great though to see a story that doesn’t involve Kate or Curran at all. This was all Jim and Dali and it’s fantastic. It was really cool to see how Dali’s powers work. I don’t know how much actual true Indonesian lore is incorporated into the mythology that they use here, but it’s fascinating nonetheless. This story was also really funny and we get to see a different side of Jim. He’s usually extremely serious but, in this, he lets a bit of his humor show. He also lets a bit of his softer side show (as soft as Jim can get) and I found their relationship to be unexpectedly sweet. Fans of the Kate Daniels series will not be disappointed in this one.
Lucky Charms by Lisa Shearin – 3 stars
Shearin is a new to me author. I had heard of Shearin’s Grendel Affair but knew nothing about the world. Lucky Charms is a prequel novella set in the Supernatural Protection & Investigations (SPI) series. SPI is an organization whose goal is to hide the supernatural world from humans. It’s Makenna Frazier’s first day on the job as SPI’s newest seer. As a person who can see through any glamour, Makenna will help SPI in its investigations in what she thinks will be a safe desk job. However, on her first case tracking down a group of wayward leprechauns, she finds that the job is going to be much more dangerous than anticipated. It also seems like someone may be targeting her in particular. Throw in a badass but taciturn and hot partner, and you have a formula for fun.
This novella was my least favorite of the bunch, but that’s not to say that I didn’t like it. Since this was my first taste of the SPI world, I wasn’t as invested in it as I might have been. There was also a lot of information being thrown at me, which was a little hard to keep track of at times. That said, I did enjoy it, and am looking forward to reading The Grendel Affair now. Makenna is a really likable character, though she is a little too proper for my taste. I am sure that’ll change though once she sees more of the world through her work with SPI. Ian Byrne (hot partner) piqued my interest as well. We don’t learn much about him in this novella but there’s enough there to make me want to know more about him. Overall I liked this one and will be picking up the series soon.
The Beast of Blackmoor by Milla Vane – 4 stars
The Beast of Blackmoor was a surprise for me. When I started it I wasn’t sure if I would like it. I was expecting something in the UF realm but this is definitely more high fantasy. Story centers around Kavik, a young man who goes out to build an army in order to defeat an evil ruler in him homeland. Young and foolish, he angers a goddess who tells him of a warrior princess who will come to him and bring the end. Years go by and Kavik has become The Beast of Blackmoor, a fierce warrior who roams the land, trying to help those he can escape his dying kingdom. Finally the day comes when his warrior princess arrives. She is on a quest and must tame The Beast of Blackmoor in order to help save her own people. She doesn’t realize that The Beast is a man until after she meets Kavik and then must figure out a way to complete her quest without destroying Kavik, whom she admires and comes to care for.
It took me a little while to get into this one. It’s a really complex world and I had a bit of a hard time getting everything straight in my head at first. However, after reading for a bit, I found myself really immersed in it. The world is really unique, with its own demons, goddesses, creatures and language. But at the heart of it all were Kavik and Mala. The connection between the two is strong from the start and I could feel the pull that they felt towards each other. I loved how badass and fierce Mala was. She has so much poise and grace but can also cut you in two. Kavik is a tortured soul and my heart went out to him. He’s lost everything and thinks that the woman he loves is going to be his end. The chemistry between Kavik and Mala is very primal and raw and their love scenes are as well. I never thought I’d find loincloths and beards sexy but Vane manages to make it so.
It wasn’t until after I read this story and tried to find more by Milla Vane that I learned that Milla Vane is actually a pen name for Meljean Brook. I am a huge fan of Brook’s Iron Seas series so I am not surprised then that I liked Blackmoor so much. The tone of Blackmoor is very different than the Iron Seas books but it has the same great world building and well written characters that I’ve come to expect from Brook. I could not find a lot of information on Blackmoor but I am pretty sure that it’s a prequel to a new series that Brook will be writing under the Vane pen name. I really can’t wait for a full novel to come out. If The Beast of Blackmoor is any indication, the new series is going to be fantastic.
Final thoughts:
If you are a fan of any of these authors or love urban fantasy and paranormal romance, then Night Shift is a must read. I bought this for the Nalini Singh and Ilona Andrews stories but really liked the other two as well. It’s definitely worth the price tag to get 4 great stories in one neat package.