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A review by kathydavie
Night Shift by Lisa Shearin, Ilona Andrews, Nalini Singh
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.