dtaylorbooks's review
5.0
I’ve known of Caine for years now and while I haven’t read any of her stuff, I do have INK AND BONE on my want list and of course I’ve heard of the Morganville Vampires series. Haven’t read it, but I haven’t been living under a rock either. To be honest I thought it lumped itself in with that rash of teen vampire books that came out following TWILIGHT. I’ve been assured that is not the case AT ALL and I’ve since added the series to my want list as well. I need me more brutal vampires in my life.
And ‘The Cold Girl’ gave me that, and with a neat little spin.
Initially I wasn’t digging the story. I wasn’t really liking the voice or the set-up at all, with the girl and her crappy boyfriend and how she lost everyone close to her because she was totally in love with this guy and it was just all so typical. Rolling my eyes, all that jazz.
And then it got dark. Like, really dark. Like murder and revenge and cold-blooded death dark and then Caine had my full attention.
I loved how the carnival was set up, this old rickety, creaky thing that looked like a death trap and IRONY. I really liked where the story went and how it revealed what the carnival really was, and I liked how Caine went THERE with Kiley and what she needed and, deep down in her heart, wanted to do. It put Caine’s vampires in a whole new light for me and I’m about to be all over this.
So totally glad I read ‘The Cold Girl’ and that I didn’t stop reading it after the first few pages. Really it was too short to stop reading. Not even 35 pages. But Caine slapped me in the face with darkness after the stereotypical set-up and now I can’t get enough of it.
4.5
And ‘The Cold Girl’ gave me that, and with a neat little spin.
Initially I wasn’t digging the story. I wasn’t really liking the voice or the set-up at all, with the girl and her crappy boyfriend and how she lost everyone close to her because she was totally in love with this guy and it was just all so typical. Rolling my eyes, all that jazz.
And then it got dark. Like, really dark. Like murder and revenge and cold-blooded death dark and then Caine had my full attention.
I loved how the carnival was set up, this old rickety, creaky thing that looked like a death trap and IRONY. I really liked where the story went and how it revealed what the carnival really was, and I liked how Caine went THERE with Kiley and what she needed and, deep down in her heart, wanted to do. It put Caine’s vampires in a whole new light for me and I’m about to be all over this.
So totally glad I read ‘The Cold Girl’ and that I didn’t stop reading it after the first few pages. Really it was too short to stop reading. Not even 35 pages. But Caine slapped me in the face with darkness after the stereotypical set-up and now I can’t get enough of it.
4.5
ladyofways's review
4.0
It's difficult to give an overall rating to an anthology, but I ended up with a 4/5. The good stories were fantastic, and there was really only one that I wish hadn't been included. The rest were all pretty similar to each other and therefore predictable (my character goes to a carnival and EVIL happens!). But if you like the carnival, with the magic and strangeness that it popularly evokes, keeping in mind that beauty and wonder are just the other side of the coin from horror and evil, then this is definitely worth the read!
Individual reviews for each story included below:
"Painted Love" - 5/5. Very cool story with a twist I never would have guessed, and a lot of real sweetness mixed in with the horror!
"The Three Lives of Lydia" - 5/5. Again, twist I wouldn't have guessed, and a main character with a surprising depth. Bizarre as the actual "Blud" series seems to be, they're characters I could actually really get interested in!
"The Demon Barker of Wheat Street" - 4/5. Main character wasn't quite my cup of tea, but it was a fun story with cool side characters. Plus I liked the mythology, both in concept and in presentation, as Hearne manages to keep exposition from overwhelming the admittedly pretty awesome action.
"The Sweeter the Juice" - 1/5. Okay, how the fuck did zombie gore-porn get in this carnival anthology? The main character was okay, I didn't have any problems with the trans stuff, but the plot and weirdness was way too far off the deep end for me, especially when it's not at all what I was expecting. And the only thing making it carnival-themed was having stuff happen at Coney Island, when it obviously could have happened anywhere at all. Maybe if I was intending to read an anthology of fucked-up crazy zombie stories, but not here, thank you.
"The Werewife" - 3/5. Interesting but fairly predictable. The freaks were cool, and the notion of a demonic rape-and-revenge carnival in general, but the characters were fairly one-dimensional. I liked the actual ending and the decision Brad ended up making.
"The Cold Girl" - 4/5. Sweet, sad, and realistic protagonist. Her voice has been one of the stand-outs in the stories so far, and I enjoyed reading this one through to the end. I think I'm getting a little worn out from Surprise!Murderer&Rapist Dude plots, though.
"A Duet With Darkness" - 3/5. There's a little too much going on in this story to comprehend without knowing the world it's from. I like fiddling for the devil stories, though, and I loved her description of musical synesthesia, so that was cool.
"Recession of the Divine" - 3/5. I get not wanting to reveal who Olivia is right away, but I think Jacques went a little too far in obscuring it, and I couldn't really get into the story for trying to guess the reveal. Still, ancient gods responding to modern worship is always a cool theme, and my Classical degree felt like it got a little work.
"Parlor Tricks" - 4/5. This is another world I wouldn't mind visiting again; seemed a little 'Rizzoli & Isles do paranormal romance'. The magic system seems cool, and was presented with exactly the right amount of information for a short story (where I'm neither overwhelmed nor uncomprehending, and want to know more). And the plot moves along nicely, with a perfect amount of foreshadowing and action. I can see why this was one of the featured stories for the anthology as a whole!
"Freak House" - 3/5. I find I'm liking the ones where the paranormal elements are the protagonists, even if this ends up being yet another Evil Circus Imprisoning Things. I liked the main character's voice, and this feels like an explanation of backstory for the main series? I could be wrong, but that's how it came off. I'd probably enjoy it more if it was a series I had read already.
"The Inside Man" - 2/5. This is a bizarre urban fantasy world, where manticores are mob bosses and ex-goddesses are sidekicks. I liked the characters well enough, but the rape stuff seemed a little tacked on. I'm sure it would work better if I knew the side character for whom it was Important Backstory, but as an intro to her and/or the series it was a bit much. The actual carnival was a cool interpretation, and I liked the mirror-world.
"A Chance in Hell" - 2/5. The plot and resolution of this one seemed pretty convenient, as though it hadn't really been thought through entirely or was done last minute. The main character is just okay and the beginning is hella contrived, but the descriptions are good (especially of the circus itself) and the demonology was cool.
"Hell's Menagerie" - 4/5. I'm a huge sucker for people whose magic power is communicating with animals, so while I'm not sure I'd care for the main series this is based around, I loved Emma a lot. The overly-complicated father figure I could do without too, but please give me more about a tiny twelve-year-old and her best friend the big nasty hellhound! The main disappointment with this one was I selfishly wanted to see her going to talk to all the different monsters at the end so we could get the descriptions of the insides of their heads. It totally made narrative sense to stop where the story did, but I wanted more of the cool part. (The plot was not the cool part.)
"Daughter of the Midway, the Mermaid, and the Open, Lonely Sea" - 5/5. Yeah, let's be honest; this story is why anyone's reading the anthology at all. Why else would it be at the end, like a perfect cream-topped dessert to end on a sweet note? I loved it; I love McGuire's descriptions, her visions of non-humans, her lack of a complete explanation on any point that the main character wouldn't have seen or understood. I love Ada, I like being in her head. And I love to listen to McGuire talk about the things she loves, like autumn, carnivals, and mermaids. It's perfection!
Individual reviews for each story included below:
"Painted Love" - 5/5. Very cool story with a twist I never would have guessed, and a lot of real sweetness mixed in with the horror!
"The Three Lives of Lydia" - 5/5. Again, twist I wouldn't have guessed, and a main character with a surprising depth. Bizarre as the actual "Blud" series seems to be, they're characters I could actually really get interested in!
"The Demon Barker of Wheat Street" - 4/5. Main character wasn't quite my cup of tea, but it was a fun story with cool side characters. Plus I liked the mythology, both in concept and in presentation, as Hearne manages to keep exposition from overwhelming the admittedly pretty awesome action.
"The Sweeter the Juice" - 1/5. Okay, how the fuck did zombie gore-porn get in this carnival anthology? The main character was okay, I didn't have any problems with the trans stuff, but the plot and weirdness was way too far off the deep end for me, especially when it's not at all what I was expecting. And the only thing making it carnival-themed was having stuff happen at Coney Island, when it obviously could have happened anywhere at all. Maybe if I was intending to read an anthology of fucked-up crazy zombie stories, but not here, thank you.
"The Werewife" - 3/5. Interesting but fairly predictable. The freaks were cool, and the notion of a demonic rape-and-revenge carnival in general, but the characters were fairly one-dimensional. I liked the actual ending and the decision Brad ended up making.
"The Cold Girl" - 4/5. Sweet, sad, and realistic protagonist. Her voice has been one of the stand-outs in the stories so far, and I enjoyed reading this one through to the end. I think I'm getting a little worn out from Surprise!Murderer&Rapist Dude plots, though.
"A Duet With Darkness" - 3/5. There's a little too much going on in this story to comprehend without knowing the world it's from. I like fiddling for the devil stories, though, and I loved her description of musical synesthesia, so that was cool.
"Recession of the Divine" - 3/5. I get not wanting to reveal who Olivia is right away, but I think Jacques went a little too far in obscuring it, and I couldn't really get into the story for trying to guess the reveal. Still, ancient gods responding to modern worship is always a cool theme, and my Classical degree felt like it got a little work.
"Parlor Tricks" - 4/5. This is another world I wouldn't mind visiting again; seemed a little 'Rizzoli & Isles do paranormal romance'. The magic system seems cool, and was presented with exactly the right amount of information for a short story (where I'm neither overwhelmed nor uncomprehending, and want to know more). And the plot moves along nicely, with a perfect amount of foreshadowing and action. I can see why this was one of the featured stories for the anthology as a whole!
"Freak House" - 3/5. I find I'm liking the ones where the paranormal elements are the protagonists, even if this ends up being yet another Evil Circus Imprisoning Things. I liked the main character's voice, and this feels like an explanation of backstory for the main series? I could be wrong, but that's how it came off. I'd probably enjoy it more if it was a series I had read already.
"The Inside Man" - 2/5. This is a bizarre urban fantasy world, where manticores are mob bosses and ex-goddesses are sidekicks. I liked the characters well enough, but the rape stuff seemed a little tacked on. I'm sure it would work better if I knew the side character for whom it was Important Backstory, but as an intro to her and/or the series it was a bit much. The actual carnival was a cool interpretation, and I liked the mirror-world.
"A Chance in Hell" - 2/5. The plot and resolution of this one seemed pretty convenient, as though it hadn't really been thought through entirely or was done last minute. The main character is just okay and the beginning is hella contrived, but the descriptions are good (especially of the circus itself) and the demonology was cool.
"Hell's Menagerie" - 4/5. I'm a huge sucker for people whose magic power is communicating with animals, so while I'm not sure I'd care for the main series this is based around, I loved Emma a lot. The overly-complicated father figure I could do without too, but please give me more about a tiny twelve-year-old and her best friend the big nasty hellhound! The main disappointment with this one was I selfishly wanted to see her going to talk to all the different monsters at the end so we could get the descriptions of the insides of their heads. It totally made narrative sense to stop where the story did, but I wanted more of the cool part. (The plot was not the cool part.)
"Daughter of the Midway, the Mermaid, and the Open, Lonely Sea" - 5/5. Yeah, let's be honest; this story is why anyone's reading the anthology at all. Why else would it be at the end, like a perfect cream-topped dessert to end on a sweet note? I loved it; I love McGuire's descriptions, her visions of non-humans, her lack of a complete explanation on any point that the main character wouldn't have seen or understood. I love Ada, I like being in her head. And I love to listen to McGuire talk about the things she loves, like autumn, carnivals, and mermaids. It's perfection!
larisa2021's review
2.0
The first the stories were fabulous, twisted, dark and just creepy enough. So is the Estep tale & the Werewife. The rest were out of my horror comfort zone.
dynahthirst's review
Not my thing, what with the zombies and rambling stories and stories from series that I'm unfamiliar with.
shawna_reads's review
4.0
It's been a long time since I've read anything in the urban fantasy genre (I think since high school around 8 years ago). When I first heard of Carniepunk I thought, "I need this book in my life" and boy was I right!
Carnivals, carnivals, carnivals. I absolutely loved the stories! Of course, some of them were a tad confusing since they are short stories based on series that I haven't read. However, they were very well written and I thoroughly enjoyed them! I really want to go to a carnival now, haha.
For someone who doesn't like romance novels, paranormal romance is new to me and it was actually really interesting. I look forward to checking out these authors and reading more from these genres!
Carnivals, carnivals, carnivals. I absolutely loved the stories! Of course, some of them were a tad confusing since they are short stories based on series that I haven't read. However, they were very well written and I thoroughly enjoyed them! I really want to go to a carnival now, haha.
For someone who doesn't like romance novels, paranormal romance is new to me and it was actually really interesting. I look forward to checking out these authors and reading more from these genres!
perseph0nereads's review
4.0
Interesting stories, if a little odd. Loved the Kevin Hearne one. Some of them weren't very "Carnie". Others were amazing. Good book, but glad to be done.
bitterindigo's review
3.0
Three and a half stars. I absolutely adored the first two or three stories, and then there were some that left me cold, some that were okay, and it never really picked up again before it was over, although I liked the last story by Seanan Maguire. Many stories were set in fictional universes I didn't know, which isn't necessarily a bad thing but sometimes makes it harder to connect. Some set up interesting worlds but then the plot was completely predictable.
reader44ever's review
5.0
Average rating for the 14 stories: 4.25 stars
Overall rating for this anthology: 4.5 stars - great!
It took five days but I finally finished this great collection of stories. I wish my life could take a hint and leave me alone to read, but sadly other things do intrude all too often. But I really, really enjoyed this anthology. And it was kind of nice to read it over five days: that gave me more time to savor the stories. :)
I really liked this collection, and I really liked doing my review story-by-story. When I read them all again - and I will, since this book is going on my must-buy shelf :) - I'll be able to just update the stories I want to record new thoughts for. I have several new series to read, and several series to get back to, so I imagine I will have new thoughts - and possibly new ratings, too - when I reread this book. But that's part of the fun in reading anything: there's always something new to find and or feel with each read of any book. :)
My first-read thoughts on each story are below. I enjoyed them all! :)
4 stars: Painted Love by [a:Rob Thurman|121825|Rob Thurman|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1310421838p2/121825.jpg]:
I really liked this story, although I found it sort of confusing. I suspected Doodle Though even while I was confused I was enjoying the story. :)
4 stars: The Three Lives of Lydia by [a:Delilah S. Dawson|5135449|Delilah S. Dawson|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1350044135p2/5135449.jpg]:
I was loving this story until the ending. This is the second Blud story I've read (the first was [b:Wicked as They Come|19722834|Wicked as They Come (Blud)|Delilah S. Dawson|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1387730586s/19722834.jpg|17362398]) and both have disappointed me with their final moments. I read most of this story thinking "this is great! I need to continue this series after all!" But then that ending...
So many unanswered questions. :(
But overall I did really enjoy this story. However, I remain unsure as to whether or not I'll read book two in the series. I don't think I could bear it if that one has an enjoyable storyline but a disappointing ending, too.
5 stars: The Demon Barker of Wheat Street by [a:Kevin Hearne|4414255|Kevin Hearne|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1289238438p2/4414255.jpg]:
This story was, quite simply, amazing! It was prefaced by a note that said it is set six years after book four in the Iron Druid Chronicles, and I began it feeling somewhat nervous that I'd be lost since I've so far just read the first book. However, I worried for naught as I was soon so caught up in the action that it seemed as if no time had passed. This was primarily due to Kevin Hearne's fantastic storytelling, but also was thanks to my remembering the three main characters (Atticus, Oberon, and Granuaile; I adore Oberon!) from [b:Hounded|9533378|Hounded (The Iron Druid Chronicles, #1)|Kevin Hearne|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1327883998s/9533378.jpg|14419515]. :)
This story made me chuckle at the humor, smile hugely at (and with!) Oberon, tense up over the events on the Hell side of the carnival tent, and shudder when the Feeling such emotions is always a five-star experience for me. :)
4.5 stars: The Sweeter the Juice by [a:Mark Henry|848968|Mark Henry|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1380690618p2/848968.jpg]:
This story was great, in an "I cringed practically from the get-go" way. :) I liked that the main character was a transsexual. Mark Henry wrote her story well. I strongly suspect, however, that poor Jade is now the So, gross and disgusting? Definitely! Enjoyable despite (or because of) it? Also definitely. :)
4.5 stars: The Werewife by [a:Jaye Wells|1938234|Jaye Wells|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1363818424p2/1938234.jpg]:
This is a great story! I really liked the carnival in this one: the evil ringmistress was a fabulous (and fabulously creepy) character. I especially liked the ending to this story:
4 stars: The Cold Girl by [a:Rachel Caine|15292|Rachel Caine|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1373144795p2/15292.jpg]:
This story was dark and gritty; I liked it. I also liked that despite what was otherwise a depressing tale, Rachel Caine gave it a happy ending that worked. Her protagonist, Kiley,
The Cold Girl was a vampire of a different sort than any I can recall reading of before, and her carnival of immortals seeking out other victims for invitations to join them were all very intriguing. All in all, I really liked this story. :)
3.5 stars: A Duet with Darkness by [a:Allison Pang|3965895|Allison Pang|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1292699868p2/3965895.jpg]:
This was a good story. I think I would have liked it more had it been prefaced differently. It said it was "an Abby Sinclair Short Story, " so when Mel gave her name and said that she rarely gives it out, I thought she must be Abby. (I should probably note here that I haven't yet read any of the Abby books.) Instead, Mel is Abby's former roommate. That was the whole of Abby's presence in this story. So the preface was very misleading and ultimately opened me to disappointment in what was otherwise a very enjoyable story.
4.5 stars: Recession of the Divine by [a:Hillary Jacques|6568888|Hillary Jacques|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1374967473p2/6568888.jpg]:
I really enjoyed this story; it was great! The characters of Olivia and Thalia were such fun that I hope they're in a series so I can read more of them. I really liked the humor. My one complaint is that the story was sort of hard to follow, but by the end, and in retrospect, it all made perfect sense. :)
4.5 stars: Parlor Tricks by [a:Jennifer Estep|580315|Jennifer Estep|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1264385515p2/580315.jpg]:
This fun story featured a different type of evil ringmistress (an), but she was no match for my favorite assassin and her sister: they're a great team! And this was a great story. I really need to restart this series. :)
4 stars: Freak House by [a:Kelly Meding|2846074|Kelly Meding|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1234728067p2/2846074.jpg]:
I really enjoyed the mix of paranormal creatures in this story: djinn, werewolves, a shifter/skin-walker, a leprechaun, a harpy, pixies...a fun mix! The defeat of the evil warlock seemed too simple by contrast. But I'm now very curious about the series that's set in this world. :)
4 stars: The Inside Man by [a:Nicole Peeler|2895111|Nicole Peeler|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1239307690p2/2895111.jpg]:
This great story is sadly downgraded a half star due to its misleading preface. It said this was/is "a Jane True Short Story," but Jane True was not even mentioned in it. As with the other story in this collection with a misleading preface, I have not yet read any books in the referenced series. Perhaps I'll find Capitola Jones, Shar and Moo in those books when I get around to reading them. I hope so, as their detective agency definitely warrants further exploration, as does their world: any world with a manticore crime boss is one I want to read more of!
4.5 stars: A Chance in Hell by [a:Jackie Kessler|213510|Jackie Kessler|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1264553971p2/213510.jpg]:
I really liked this story! It was great! Jezebel is one former demon I must read more about: How did she become human? Why is she the one who has to challenge the King of Hell for the throne? Who and what all are her housemates and how are they all training her? How did she get her Fury sword? I have lots of questions, so I hope Jez is a series character so I can have chances to get answers.
:)
4 stars: Hell's Menagerie by [a:Kelly Gay|2869203|Kelly Gay|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1251298513p2/2869203.jpg]:
I really liked this story, too! (I know, I know... I've said that about most all the stories in this anthology. But it's the truth!) This one said it was a Charlie Madigan short story, and it was, sort of: her daughter, Emma, and Rex, the former jinn now inhabiting Emma's dad's body (I have got to read this series to find out how that happened) were the primary characters; Charlie was out of town on a rescue mission.
Emma has some neat powers that need further exploration: she can talk to and influence hellhounds and trolls and presumably others, and she was able to How? Like I said, I need to read this series and hopefully I'll find out how. Besides, the three worlds (Heaven, Hell and Earth) living more or less harmoniously should definitely make for fun stories. :)
4.5 stars: Daughter of the Midway, the Mermaid, and the Open, Lonely Sea by [a:Seanan McGuire|2860219|Seanan McGuire|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1245623198p2/2860219.jpg]:
This story was very poignant. I think it may also have been the only story where the
I was quite saddened at the end when Ada lost her memories after jumping in the lake to save herself. She remembered some stuff, though, so maybe she spent enough time dry that she'll get all her memories back. That's what I'm hoping, at least. In any event, this was a great story. :)
Overall rating for this anthology: 4.5 stars - great!
It took five days but I finally finished this great collection of stories. I wish my life could take a hint and leave me alone to read, but sadly other things do intrude all too often. But I really, really enjoyed this anthology. And it was kind of nice to read it over five days: that gave me more time to savor the stories. :)
I really liked this collection, and I really liked doing my review story-by-story. When I read them all again - and I will, since this book is going on my must-buy shelf :) - I'll be able to just update the stories I want to record new thoughts for. I have several new series to read, and several series to get back to, so I imagine I will have new thoughts - and possibly new ratings, too - when I reread this book. But that's part of the fun in reading anything: there's always something new to find and or feel with each read of any book. :)
My first-read thoughts on each story are below. I enjoyed them all! :)
4 stars: Painted Love by [a:Rob Thurman|121825|Rob Thurman|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1310421838p2/121825.jpg]:
I really liked this story, although I found it sort of confusing. I suspected Doodle
Spoiler
was a tattoo and couldn't figure out how he could do the things he did. But in the end, when he shared he was a demonic tattoo, my confusion cleared up.4 stars: The Three Lives of Lydia by [a:Delilah S. Dawson|5135449|Delilah S. Dawson|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1350044135p2/5135449.jpg]:
I was loving this story until the ending. This is the second Blud story I've read (the first was [b:Wicked as They Come|19722834|Wicked as They Come (Blud)|Delilah S. Dawson|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1387730586s/19722834.jpg|17362398]) and both have disappointed me with their final moments. I read most of this story thinking "this is great! I need to continue this series after all!" But then that ending...
Spoiler
Did Lydia make it back to Sang and Charlie? Why is she inked there but not in her world? Why didn't she know she wasn't really tattooed when she was in Sang?But overall I did really enjoy this story. However, I remain unsure as to whether or not I'll read book two in the series. I don't think I could bear it if that one has an enjoyable storyline but a disappointing ending, too.
5 stars: The Demon Barker of Wheat Street by [a:Kevin Hearne|4414255|Kevin Hearne|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1289238438p2/4414255.jpg]:
This story was, quite simply, amazing! It was prefaced by a note that said it is set six years after book four in the Iron Druid Chronicles, and I began it feeling somewhat nervous that I'd be lost since I've so far just read the first book. However, I worried for naught as I was soon so caught up in the action that it seemed as if no time had passed. This was primarily due to Kevin Hearne's fantastic storytelling, but also was thanks to my remembering the three main characters (Atticus, Oberon, and Granuaile; I adore Oberon!) from [b:Hounded|9533378|Hounded (The Iron Druid Chronicles, #1)|Kevin Hearne|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1327883998s/9533378.jpg|14419515]. :)
This story made me chuckle at the humor, smile hugely at (and with!) Oberon, tense up over the events on the Hell side of the carnival tent, and shudder when the
Spoiler
Needle Gate exploded and killed all the innocent humans.4.5 stars: The Sweeter the Juice by [a:Mark Henry|848968|Mark Henry|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1380690618p2/848968.jpg]:
This story was great, in an "I cringed practically from the get-go" way. :) I liked that the main character was a transsexual. Mark Henry wrote her story well. I strongly suspect, however, that poor Jade is now the
Spoiler
one trapped in the Geek's box, with Neuter licking her for his own forced transformation. I do wonder at Gretta's fate, though. Did she survive the "death" of her "baby"? Was she forced to transform, too, or did she get put into a box like Jade?4.5 stars: The Werewife by [a:Jaye Wells|1938234|Jaye Wells|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1363818424p2/1938234.jpg]:
This is a great story! I really liked the carnival in this one: the evil ringmistress was a fabulous (and fabulously creepy) character. I especially liked the ending to this story:
Spoiler
I cheered when Brad found his backbone, stood up to Annie, and then joined the carnival and left her. She's a bully and he's well rid of her. :)4 stars: The Cold Girl by [a:Rachel Caine|15292|Rachel Caine|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1373144795p2/15292.jpg]:
This story was dark and gritty; I liked it. I also liked that despite what was otherwise a depressing tale, Rachel Caine gave it a happy ending that worked. Her protagonist, Kiley,
Spoiler
was blind, but I have hope that she'll have clear sight throughout her second chance at life. And I'm very glad she was able to vanquish the evil Jamie.The Cold Girl was a vampire of a different sort than any I can recall reading of before, and her carnival of immortals seeking out other victims for invitations to join them were all very intriguing.
3.5 stars: A Duet with Darkness by [a:Allison Pang|3965895|Allison Pang|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1292699868p2/3965895.jpg]:
This was a good story. I think I would have liked it more had it been prefaced differently. It said it was "an Abby Sinclair Short Story, " so when Mel gave her name and said that she rarely gives it out, I thought she must be Abby. (I should probably note here that I haven't yet read any of the Abby books.) Instead, Mel is Abby's former roommate. That was the whole of Abby's presence in this story. So the preface was very misleading and ultimately opened me to disappointment in what was otherwise a very enjoyable story.
4.5 stars: Recession of the Divine by [a:Hillary Jacques|6568888|Hillary Jacques|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1374967473p2/6568888.jpg]:
I really enjoyed this story; it was great! The characters of Olivia and Thalia were such fun that I hope they're in a series so I can read more of them. I really liked the humor. My one complaint is that the story was sort of hard to follow, but by the end, and in retrospect, it all made perfect sense. :)
4.5 stars: Parlor Tricks by [a:Jennifer Estep|580315|Jennifer Estep|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1264385515p2/580315.jpg]:
This fun story featured a different type of evil ringmistress (an
Spoiler
Air elemental using her powers to rob innocents of their beauty4 stars: Freak House by [a:Kelly Meding|2846074|Kelly Meding|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1234728067p2/2846074.jpg]:
I really enjoyed the mix of paranormal creatures in this story: djinn, werewolves, a shifter/skin-walker, a leprechaun, a harpy, pixies...a fun mix! The defeat of the evil warlock seemed too simple by contrast. But I'm now very curious about the series that's set in this world. :)
4 stars: The Inside Man by [a:Nicole Peeler|2895111|Nicole Peeler|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1239307690p2/2895111.jpg]:
This great story is sadly downgraded a half star due to its misleading preface. It said this was/is "a Jane True Short Story," but Jane True was not even mentioned in it. As with the other story in this collection with a misleading preface, I have not yet read any books in the referenced series. Perhaps I'll find Capitola Jones, Shar and Moo in those books when I get around to reading them. I hope so, as their detective agency definitely warrants further exploration, as does their world: any world with a manticore crime boss is one I want to read more of!
4.5 stars: A Chance in Hell by [a:Jackie Kessler|213510|Jackie Kessler|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1264553971p2/213510.jpg]:
I really liked this story! It was great! Jezebel is one former demon I must read more about: How did she become human? Why is she the one who has to challenge the King of Hell for the throne? Who and what all are her housemates and how are they all training her? How did she get her Fury sword? I have lots of questions, so I hope Jez is a series character so I can have chances to get answers.
Spoiler
Plus, it'd be nice to learn if there are any consequences for killing a Duke of Hell. Not to mention: Is Amaymon really dead? Or did Jez just forcibly end his possession of the barker?4 stars: Hell's Menagerie by [a:Kelly Gay|2869203|Kelly Gay|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1251298513p2/2869203.jpg]:
I really liked this story, too! (I know, I know... I've said that about most all the stories in this anthology. But it's the truth!) This one said it was a Charlie Madigan short story, and it was, sort of: her daughter, Emma, and Rex, the former jinn now inhabiting Emma's dad's body (I have got to read this series to find out how that happened) were the primary characters; Charlie was out of town on a rescue mission.
Emma has some neat powers that need further exploration: she can talk to and influence hellhounds and trolls and presumably others, and she was able to
Spoiler
somehow blow guards away from her hellhound.4.5 stars: Daughter of the Midway, the Mermaid, and the Open, Lonely Sea by [a:Seanan McGuire|2860219|Seanan McGuire|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1245623198p2/2860219.jpg]:
This story was very poignant. I think it may also have been the only story where the
Spoiler
evil was found in town, rather than at the carnival.I was quite saddened at the end when Ada lost her memories after jumping in the lake to save herself. She remembered some stuff, though, so maybe she spent enough time dry that she'll get all her memories back.