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lar_an_layn's review against another edition
2.0
For most of the book I was looking for either dangerous or women, sometimes even both.
The Princess and the Queen was the reason I bought this book. It was nice to read - though more of an overview than a story. It includes lots of women and dragons but not enough women on dragons doing dangerous things.
Instead it includes the deaths of quite a lot of people whose names I couldn't remember because there were simply too many. And most of the important decision makers were men; that was not what I expected in a book called Dangerous Women. Calling female dragons "she-dragon" but male dragons only "dragon" also seems rather strange to me.
Still, all in all, I liked the story.
Raisa Stepanova is not a story I would have thought I would enjoy, but I did! A group of women, definitely in danger but also being dangerous - that is what I signed up for.
Second Arabesque, Very Slowly has a very disturbing worldbuilding and the story focusses on that: women are either breeders or midwives/healers. There is a sort of rebellion against this system but I had hoped for something more extreme.
I Know How to Pick 'Em - I don't even know where to start with this one. It includes a woman, yes - however, she is not dangerous. The protagonist/narrator clearly thinks so but I do certainly not trust him on anything. She's rather in danger.
This story made me question the whole book: it is the story of a man with a troubling past who meets a woman, deduces stuff about her - might be right, might be wrong - and makes strange decisions. No idea why it's in this book.
My Heart Is Either Broken - interesting, but again: Why this book? The story certainly includes women and they can be described as dangerous but I was rather expecting fantasy and a lot of really dangerous women. I also didn't appreciate that a lot things are alluded but never explained but that might just be because of my curiosity.
Wrestling Jesus is definitely a nice story but it severely lacked women. It takes five pages for one of the two women to appear and neither of them do much besides being the object of desire or spurring on the plot by kicking her son out of the house. I also did not appreciate that one of the main characters insulted other men by calling them girls (not the actual insult, but I'm not sure if goodreads appreciates swearwords).
However, it was nice as a story - just had nothing to with Dangerous Women.
Shadows For Silence in the Forests of Hell - now that is what I was hoping for when I bought this book! I enjoyed every page it; the worldbuilding, the character - EVERYTHING!
I had nearly given up on this book but this story made me glad that I bought it.
Badass women sneaking around at night through dark forests with potentially murderous ghosts to do morally highly questionable things because they want to protect their family - this story was awesome and captivating.
The Princess and the Queen was the reason I bought this book. It was nice to read - though more of an overview than a story. It includes lots of women and dragons but not enough women on dragons doing dangerous things.
Instead it includes the deaths of quite a lot of people whose names I couldn't remember because there were simply too many. And most of the important decision makers were men; that was not what I expected in a book called Dangerous Women. Calling female dragons "she-dragon" but male dragons only "dragon" also seems rather strange to me.
Still, all in all, I liked the story.
Raisa Stepanova is not a story I would have thought I would enjoy, but I did! A group of women, definitely in danger but also being dangerous - that is what I signed up for.
Second Arabesque, Very Slowly has a very disturbing worldbuilding and the story focusses on that: women are either breeders or midwives/healers. There is a sort of rebellion against this system but I had hoped for something more extreme.
I Know How to Pick 'Em - I don't even know where to start with this one. It includes a woman, yes - however, she is not dangerous. The protagonist/narrator clearly thinks so but I do certainly not trust him on anything. She's rather in danger.
This story made me question the whole book: it is the story of a man with a troubling past who meets a woman, deduces stuff about her - might be right, might be wrong - and makes strange decisions. No idea why it's in this book.
My Heart Is Either Broken - interesting, but again: Why this book? The story certainly includes women and they can be described as dangerous but I was rather expecting fantasy and a lot of really dangerous women. I also didn't appreciate that a lot things are alluded but never explained but that might just be because of my curiosity.
Wrestling Jesus is definitely a nice story but it severely lacked women. It takes five pages for one of the two women to appear and neither of them do much besides being the object of desire or spurring on the plot by kicking her son out of the house. I also did not appreciate that one of the main characters insulted other men by calling them girls (not the actual insult, but I'm not sure if goodreads appreciates swearwords).
However, it was nice as a story - just had nothing to with Dangerous Women.
Shadows For Silence in the Forests of Hell - now that is what I was hoping for when I bought this book! I enjoyed every page it; the worldbuilding, the character - EVERYTHING!
I had nearly given up on this book but this story made me glad that I bought it.
Badass women sneaking around at night through dark forests with potentially murderous ghosts to do morally highly questionable things because they want to protect their family - this story was awesome and captivating.
ajones9543's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
amber_readsbooks's review against another edition
3.0
Neighbors was by far my favorite story in this book. All are worth at least one read!
missuskisses's review against another edition
3.0
Good stories, but the title is meaningless. "Dangerous Women" = any woman with agency, with a couple women who are less characters than objects, conforming to the book's original anticipated title, "Femmes Fatales."
GRRM's own tale is told history-book outline style, with none of the flair that makes me love him so much.
GRRM's own tale is told history-book outline style, with none of the flair that makes me love him so much.
zomigi's review against another edition
2.0
I have a different edition of this book, with a few stories that are different, but I couldn't find it on Goodreads. Most of the stories were just OK. I really liked the story by Brandon Sanderson, which is in my edition but not the one listed here. I hated the story by George R.R. Martin and gave up on it after several pages.
sydneyhooker's review against another edition
1.0
If you’re interested in a song of ice and fire you will be happy with the last story “the princess and the queen.” Other than that story, the rest are very anti climatic and boring. Many of the stories lack the classic “beginning-middle-end” that makes a story satisfying. After reading most of the stories I felt like I had either wasted my time, or that I wanted to story to go on another 100 pages because it was a good topic, but such an unsatisfactory conclusion (no “middle” or “ending”). One of the stories I would even consider to be very sexist and abusive. All in all, if you’re an asoiaf fan, read the last story. If you don’t care for George RR Martin, save your money for a book that actually empowers women.
auti_me's review against another edition
2.0
I enjoyed 'The Princess and the Queen', 'Raisa Stepanova', 'Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell' and certain aspects of 'Second Arabesque, Very Slowly'. The other stories just left a bad taste in my mouth. Besides that, I would say this is false advertising: Aside from TPatQ and SfSitFoH, I wouldn't exactly categorize these women as dangerous, and some of the other stories are just downright mysoginistic. I'm glad I got this as a present and didn't actually spend money on it.
flightyzeus's review
4.0
The Princess and the Queen- 1/5: so unfortunate, I expected this to be a clear favourite. I appreciate that it was supposed to be written like a history record, but it was just a mish-mash of constant new character names, and overall was tedious to get through... :(
Raisa Stepenova- 4/5: Enjoyed it, an easy and interesting read.
Second Arabesque, Very Slowley- 5/5 Loved this, would love to read more in this universe.
I Know How to Pick 'Em- 1/5: Wasn't my usual style to start with, but the unnecessary backstory toward the main character just made for uncomfortable reading, and didn't add anything to the story.
My Heart is Either Broken- 4/5: Along the lines of Gone Baby Gone, nicely paced and intriguing.
Wrestling Jesus- 3/5: No major feelings either way toward this one.
Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell- 5/5: Loved it, 100% need a full story out of this one.
Raisa Stepenova- 4/5: Enjoyed it, an easy and interesting read.
Second Arabesque, Very Slowley- 5/5 Loved this, would love to read more in this universe.
I Know How to Pick 'Em- 1/5: Wasn't my usual style to start with, but the unnecessary backstory toward the main character just made for uncomfortable reading, and didn't add anything to the story.
My Heart is Either Broken- 4/5: Along the lines of Gone Baby Gone, nicely paced and intriguing.
Wrestling Jesus- 3/5: No major feelings either way toward this one.
Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell- 5/5: Loved it, 100% need a full story out of this one.
meaghanbethany's review
3.0
STORIES I LOVED...
'The Princess and the Queen' - the initial, main draw of the book by George R. R. Martin himself did not disappoint.
'Second Arabesque, Very Slowly' - my favourite story in the collection, by Nancy Kress. I don't think I was expecting dystopia, but I loved it and the world she created in so short a time. I am grateful for having been introduced to this author.
STORIES I LIKED...
'Raisa Stepanova' - I was surprised to have liked a short story on a Russian fighter pilot, so complete credit to Carrie Vaughn for this!
'Wrestling Jesus' - the 'dangerous woman' entered the story fairly late on this one, so late I wondered if she was coming, and even then she felt like a more secondary, background character. A heartwarming story and tale of unlikely male friendship, though.
'Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell' - a good twist from one of my most anticipated stories in the collection, but is to be expected from the likes of Brandon Sanderson.
STORIES I DIDN'T SEE A PLACE FOR...
(and this is just my opinion):
'I Know How To Pick 'Em'
'My Heart Is Either Broken'.
- Of course there are and should be representations of women that are dangerous, but not desirable, I just wasn't expecting it; or for familial sexual abuse to be brought into the equation without warning. This was over halfway into the book when I was thoroughly enjoying it - then after these two stories found that I was not having as good a time. I liked some aspects of 'My Heart Is Either Broken' but it did end unresolved which I found underwhelming. If these stories hadn't been introduced I feel the book could have got 5 stars, but I'll try again with the next installment.
'The Princess and the Queen' - the initial, main draw of the book by George R. R. Martin himself did not disappoint.
'Second Arabesque, Very Slowly' - my favourite story in the collection, by Nancy Kress. I don't think I was expecting dystopia, but I loved it and the world she created in so short a time. I am grateful for having been introduced to this author.
STORIES I LIKED...
'Raisa Stepanova' - I was surprised to have liked a short story on a Russian fighter pilot, so complete credit to Carrie Vaughn for this!
'Wrestling Jesus' - the 'dangerous woman' entered the story fairly late on this one, so late I wondered if she was coming, and even then she felt like a more secondary, background character. A heartwarming story and tale of unlikely male friendship, though.
'Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell' - a good twist from one of my most anticipated stories in the collection, but is to be expected from the likes of Brandon Sanderson.
STORIES I DIDN'T SEE A PLACE FOR...
(and this is just my opinion):
'I Know How To Pick 'Em'
'My Heart Is Either Broken'.
- Of course there are and should be representations of women that are dangerous, but not desirable, I just wasn't expecting it; or for familial sexual abuse to be brought into the equation without warning. This was over halfway into the book when I was thoroughly enjoying it - then after these two stories found that I was not having as good a time. I liked some aspects of 'My Heart Is Either Broken' but it did end unresolved which I found underwhelming. If these stories hadn't been introduced I feel the book could have got 5 stars, but I'll try again with the next installment.
therealestreya's review against another edition
4.0
DANGEROUS WOMEN 1
Gardner Dozois’s introduction
George R. R. Martin, ‘The Princess and the Queen’
Carrie Vaughn, ‘Raisa Stepanova’
Nancy Kress,’“Second Arabesque, Very Slowly’
Lawrence Block, ‘I Know How to Pick ‘Em’
Megan Abbott, ‘My Heart Is Either Broken’
Joe R. Lansdale, ‘Wrestling Jesus’
Brandon Sanderson, ‘Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell’
DANGEROUS WOMEN 2
Gardner Dozois’s introduction
Megan Lindholm, ‘Neighbors’
Lev Grossman, ‘The Girl in the Mirror’
Sharon Kay Penman, ‘A Queen in Exile’
S. M. Stirling, ‘Pronouncing Doom’
Caroline Spector, ‘Lies My Mother Told Me’
Sam Sykes, ‘Name the Beast’
Diana Gabaldon, ‘Virgins’
DANGEROUS WOMEN 3
Gardner Dozois’s introduction
Joe Abercrombie, ‘Some Desperado’
Diana Rowland, ‘City Lazarus’
Sherlynn Kenyon, ‘Hell Hath No Fury’
Melinda Snodgrass, ‘The Hands That Are Not There’
Pat Cadigan, ‘Caretakers’
Cecelia Holland, ‘Nora’s Song’
Jim Butcher, ‘Bombshells’
Gardner Dozois’s introduction
George R. R. Martin, ‘The Princess and the Queen’
Carrie Vaughn, ‘Raisa Stepanova’
Nancy Kress,’“Second Arabesque, Very Slowly’
Lawrence Block, ‘I Know How to Pick ‘Em’
Megan Abbott, ‘My Heart Is Either Broken’
Joe R. Lansdale, ‘Wrestling Jesus’
Brandon Sanderson, ‘Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell’
DANGEROUS WOMEN 2
Gardner Dozois’s introduction
Megan Lindholm, ‘Neighbors’
Lev Grossman, ‘The Girl in the Mirror’
Sharon Kay Penman, ‘A Queen in Exile’
S. M. Stirling, ‘Pronouncing Doom’
Caroline Spector, ‘Lies My Mother Told Me’
Sam Sykes, ‘Name the Beast’
Diana Gabaldon, ‘Virgins’
DANGEROUS WOMEN 3
Gardner Dozois’s introduction
Joe Abercrombie, ‘Some Desperado’
Diana Rowland, ‘City Lazarus’
Sherlynn Kenyon, ‘Hell Hath No Fury’
Melinda Snodgrass, ‘The Hands That Are Not There’
Pat Cadigan, ‘Caretakers’
Cecelia Holland, ‘Nora’s Song’
Jim Butcher, ‘Bombshells’