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alisonalisonalison's review
4.0
This is a great anthology (and it's free from the publisher!). All in all, it's a pretty high-quality collection. There are several really awesome stories here that absolutely make it worth the price of no money. The stories in this collection span lots of genres--fantasy, historical, horror, paranormal, sci-fi, and maybe some others as well. This is not a romance anthology, though there are a few stories that feature love and a few stories that feature established couples. This is an anthology about queer folk having adventures, both good and bad. Several unhappy endings here, just FYI.
For me, there were three five-star, killer good stories: Amy Rae Durreson's "The Darkness of the Sun," "Heirs to Grace and Inifnity" by Carole Cummings, and "Horseboy" by J. Tullos Hennig. I got this anthology because of these three authors (who are among my most favourite), so it's not altogether surprising that I liked their stories best. Durreson's fantasy story is gentle and beautiful and full of emotion and gorgeous writing. Carole Cummings urban fantasy adventure was so awesome! I absolutely loved it and would love to read more about this world and these people. It was very cool. Hennig's story about a Templar and a horseboy in the desert was so lovely and beautifully written.
There are some other nice stories--Jamie Fessenden's, Brandon Witt's, and Clare London's. John Inman's horror story, "The Rendering," was very well done, but quite upsetting, so I can't really say I liked it. I'm not really into horror, and this story is quite horrific and very sad. A few stories didn't really appeal to me personally, but I didn't think there were any total duds in this collection, writing-wise. Nice anthology.
For me, there were three five-star, killer good stories: Amy Rae Durreson's "The Darkness of the Sun," "Heirs to Grace and Inifnity" by Carole Cummings, and "Horseboy" by J. Tullos Hennig. I got this anthology because of these three authors (who are among my most favourite), so it's not altogether surprising that I liked their stories best. Durreson's fantasy story is gentle and beautiful and full of emotion and gorgeous writing. Carole Cummings urban fantasy adventure was so awesome! I absolutely loved it and would love to read more about this world and these people. It was very cool. Hennig's story about a Templar and a horseboy in the desert was so lovely and beautifully written.
There are some other nice stories--Jamie Fessenden's, Brandon Witt's, and Clare London's. John Inman's horror story, "The Rendering," was very well done, but quite upsetting, so I can't really say I liked it. I'm not really into horror, and this story is quite horrific and very sad. A few stories didn't really appeal to me personally, but I didn't think there were any total duds in this collection, writing-wise. Nice anthology.
lillian_francis's review
The Darkness of the Sun - Amy Rae Durreson An interesting story about faith. Just don't forget these stories aren't romance. The gentle tone of this tale lulled me into a false since of romance and because of that I was ultimately disappointed by the ending.
littlebookterror's review
4.0
Overall, I enjoyed this. There was a variety of stories and ideas which were executed by varying degrees to my likeness.
The Darkness of the Sun:Virtue: Faith.
★★★★★
Such an incredibly good story about religion.
The Bank Job: (Greed)
★★★✩✩
Funny and over-the-top enjoyable but not memorable.
Prudence for Fools: (Prudence)
★★★★★
Long-term relationship goals honestly.
The Gate: (Anger)
★★✩✩✩
I was confused through most of this.
Heirs to Grace and Infinity: (Justice)
★★★✩✩
Okay.
The Rendering: (Gluttony)
unrated, not my thing at all
Beyond the Temperance Effect: (Temperance)
★★★✩✩
Interesting concept if a bit lackluster execution.
Covetous: (Envy)
★★✩✩✩✩
I did not like this.
Hope: (Hope)
★★★✩✩
Everything was happening too fast and too much for me to have any real inpact. The AIDS especially felt weird? I don't exactly know why.
Horseboy:★★★★★
A magical story, probably my favourite.
Train to Sevmash: (Charity)
★★★★✩
Beautiful while heart-breaking.
Red Light Special: (Rhys Ford)
★★★★✩
Very funny. Takes a bit of a piss at general High/Urban Fantasy and I was living for it.
Traitor: (Fortitude)
★★★★✩
The complexity of their relationship had me hooked.
Couches of Fabric and Snow: (Sloth)
unrated, not my thing at all
The Darkness of the Sun:Virtue: Faith.
★★★★★
Such an incredibly good story about religion.
The Bank Job: (Greed)
★★★✩✩
Funny and over-the-top enjoyable but not memorable.
Prudence for Fools: (Prudence)
★★★★★
Long-term relationship goals honestly.
The Gate: (Anger)
★★✩✩✩
I was confused through most of this.
Heirs to Grace and Infinity: (Justice)
★★★✩✩
Okay.
The Rendering: (Gluttony)
unrated, not my thing at all
Beyond the Temperance Effect: (Temperance)
★★★✩✩
Interesting concept if a bit lackluster execution.
Covetous: (Envy)
★★✩✩✩✩
I did not like this.
Hope: (Hope)
★★★✩✩
Everything was happening too fast and too much for me to have any real inpact.
Horseboy:★★★★★
A magical story, probably my favourite.
Train to Sevmash: (Charity)
★★★★✩
Beautiful while heart-breaking.
Red Light Special: (Rhys Ford)
★★★★✩
Very funny. Takes a bit of a piss at general High/Urban Fantasy and I was living for it.
Traitor: (Fortitude)
★★★★✩
The complexity of their relationship had me hooked.
Couches of Fabric and Snow: (Sloth)
unrated, not my thing at all
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