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A review by rigel
Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions by Melissa Marr, Rachel Caine, Kelley Armstrong
3.0
Final rating: 3.31 stars (rounded to 3)
Giovanni's Farewell by Claudia Gray: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The ending was cheesy and a bit cliché, but the concept and the writing made up for that. I'd like to see this as a complete novel.
Scenic Route by Carrie Ryan: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Got me really interested in the world and makes me want to read The Forrest of Hands and Teeth even more now.
Red Run by Kami Garcia: ⭐⭐⭐
Kind of just jumped from timeline to timeline suddenly which made it slightly harder to follow. Also, the explanation of how people become ghosts doesn't make much sense (obviously because ghosts aren't real)- but she said that the electrical impulses when we're alive become electrical impulses without a body because energy can't be destroyed... but it does change form into heat, etc.
Niederwald by Rachel Vincent: ⭐⭐⭐
Another short story that's part of a series I haven't read, but this one made many references to the series that I couldn't understand... perhaps not the best choice of a story to submit for a short story collection.
I did enjoy the writing, although the action sequence was a little hard to follow.
Merely Mortal by Melissa Marr: ⭐⭐
I was bored out of my skull. Too much sappy romance and references to Wicked Lovely (which I, and I'm sure many others reading this anthology, have not read) which lead to confusion as to what exactly was going on. Again, probably not the best choice for a short story collection.
Facing Facts by Kelly Armstrong: ⭐⭐⭐
It's a short story that's part of one of her series (that I haven't read but would like to) and I believe it contains spoilers. Personally, I don't mind spoilers but of you do, avoid this short.
Once again, probably not the best choice for an anthology.
Let's Get This Undead Show on the Road by Sarah Rees Brennan: ⭐⭐⭐
So I guess the enemy nation of the UK in this universe is Canada, because we are rebellious people all thanks to hockey which makes our blood boil... true though. Needless to say it made me laugh a bit.
Bridge by Jeri Smith-Ready: ⭐⭐⭐
As I was reading this all I could think of was Dust in the Wind. It's written like a song (except less rhymey-rhymey). I think this was a short from a series and referred to some characters within the series, but wasn't so heavily dependent on the source material it made this short confusing to those of us who haven't read the original series.
Skin Contact by Kimberly Derting: ⭐⭐⭐
I have read The Body Finder and plan to continue in the series, and from what I hear Rafe turns up in the second book. People seem to like him and from what I read so far he seems like he might be an interesting character with some freaky deaky paranormal shit going on with him.
Leaving by Ally Condie: ⭐⭐⭐
The last book I read by Ally was Crossed, which I was not impressed with. Not going to lie but I went into this short expecting the same dry plot of Crossed... needless to say that was not the case.
At the Late Night, Double Feature, Picture Show by Jessica Verday: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Got some serious supernatural vibes from this and I think if quite enjoy following this ragtag group of characters in a full length novel or series.
One thing that didn't sit well with me though was when MC seriously considered filming a half-naked guy without his consent which is not okay and sexual harassment.
IV League by Margaret Sthol:⭐⭐
I got really bored. Not much else to say.
Gargouille by Mary E. Pearson: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Twas very sweet. If I were more into high fantasy I think I would enjoy this as a full-length novel.
The Third Kind by Jennifer Lynn Barnes: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Oh god I want this to be a series so bad. If read the hell out of it!
Automatic by Rachel Caine: ⭐⭐⭐
I liked this enough to justify the first eight books of the series on my shelf...
Giovanni's Farewell by Claudia Gray: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The ending was cheesy and a bit cliché, but the concept and the writing made up for that. I'd like to see this as a complete novel.
Scenic Route by Carrie Ryan: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Got me really interested in the world and makes me want to read The Forrest of Hands and Teeth even more now.
Red Run by Kami Garcia: ⭐⭐⭐
Kind of just jumped from timeline to timeline suddenly which made it slightly harder to follow. Also, the explanation of how people become ghosts doesn't make much sense (obviously because ghosts aren't real)- but she said that the electrical impulses when we're alive become electrical impulses without a body because energy can't be destroyed... but it does change form into heat, etc.
Niederwald by Rachel Vincent: ⭐⭐⭐
Another short story that's part of a series I haven't read, but this one made many references to the series that I couldn't understand... perhaps not the best choice of a story to submit for a short story collection.
I did enjoy the writing, although the action sequence was a little hard to follow.
Merely Mortal by Melissa Marr: ⭐⭐
I was bored out of my skull. Too much sappy romance and references to Wicked Lovely (which I, and I'm sure many others reading this anthology, have not read) which lead to confusion as to what exactly was going on. Again, probably not the best choice for a short story collection.
Facing Facts by Kelly Armstrong: ⭐⭐⭐
It's a short story that's part of one of her series (that I haven't read but would like to) and I believe it contains spoilers. Personally, I don't mind spoilers but of you do, avoid this short.
Once again, probably not the best choice for an anthology.
Let's Get This Undead Show on the Road by Sarah Rees Brennan: ⭐⭐⭐
So I guess the enemy nation of the UK in this universe is Canada, because we are rebellious people all thanks to hockey which makes our blood boil... true though. Needless to say it made me laugh a bit.
Bridge by Jeri Smith-Ready: ⭐⭐⭐
As I was reading this all I could think of was Dust in the Wind. It's written like a song (except less rhymey-rhymey). I think this was a short from a series and referred to some characters within the series, but wasn't so heavily dependent on the source material it made this short confusing to those of us who haven't read the original series.
Skin Contact by Kimberly Derting: ⭐⭐⭐
I have read The Body Finder and plan to continue in the series, and from what I hear Rafe turns up in the second book. People seem to like him and from what I read so far he seems like he might be an interesting character with some freaky deaky paranormal shit going on with him.
Leaving by Ally Condie: ⭐⭐⭐
The last book I read by Ally was Crossed, which I was not impressed with. Not going to lie but I went into this short expecting the same dry plot of Crossed... needless to say that was not the case.
At the Late Night, Double Feature, Picture Show by Jessica Verday: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Got some serious supernatural vibes from this and I think if quite enjoy following this ragtag group of characters in a full length novel or series.
One thing that didn't sit well with me though was when MC seriously considered filming a half-naked guy without his consent which is not okay and sexual harassment.
IV League by Margaret Sthol:⭐⭐
I got really bored. Not much else to say.
Gargouille by Mary E. Pearson: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Twas very sweet. If I were more into high fantasy I think I would enjoy this as a full-length novel.
The Third Kind by Jennifer Lynn Barnes: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Oh god I want this to be a series so bad. If read the hell out of it!
Automatic by Rachel Caine: ⭐⭐⭐
I liked this enough to justify the first eight books of the series on my shelf...