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kkaste's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
trisha_thomas's review against another edition
4.0
I picked this up originally because I read all the novellas to my favorite series!
I read:
Scenic Route by Carrie Ryan: 3 Stars (28 pages)
very scary but pretty real situation of what happens when you are hiding out and trying to survive as 2 young girls in the middle of the wilderness in a cabin.
Niederwald by Rachel Vincent: 4 stars (26 pages)
Sabine. Just bleh. I always want to smack her
but it was incredibly interesting to see Sabine and Emma and these other creatures and their interaction. And to know the pieces they held and bartered with meant something later on! I loved it!
Automatic by Rachel Caine: 3 stars (24 pages)
Wonderful. Michael is always good to read about. Any glimpse into his life and the life with Eve is wonderful. But it's easy to forget what he's been through when you are with Claire and not Michael, so I love remembering and seeing the vampire world from new eyes (not human, too!) Ugh, still don't like Oliver.
I read:
Scenic Route by Carrie Ryan: 3 Stars (28 pages)
very scary but pretty real situation of what happens when you are hiding out and trying to survive as 2 young girls in the middle of the wilderness in a cabin.
Niederwald by Rachel Vincent: 4 stars (26 pages)
Sabine. Just bleh. I always want to smack her
but it was incredibly interesting to see Sabine and Emma and these other creatures and their interaction. And to know the pieces they held and bartered with meant something later on! I loved it!
Automatic by Rachel Caine: 3 stars (24 pages)
Wonderful. Michael is always good to read about. Any glimpse into his life and the life with Eve is wonderful. But it's easy to forget what he's been through when you are with Claire and not Michael, so I love remembering and seeing the vampire world from new eyes (not human, too!) Ugh, still don't like Oliver.
michaela95c's review against another edition
5.0
I enjoyed reading this and getting a few loose ends tied up for the series.
katleap's review against another edition
4.0
4.5
Overall I really liked this anthology. I had read/had heard of most of the authors before I opened it. So it seemed like a good bet and it didn't disappoint. *Spoilers ahead*
Claudia Gray, Giovanni's Farewell - I haven't actually ready any of Ms. Gray's work yet but I have heard of her. I liked this story a lot. The idea of special twins is awesome. I would have liked a longer story so that I can sympathize with Ravenna a bit more. She comes off a bit abrupt but the ghost idea was lovely and the way Cairo backed up his claim. Awesome. 4 stars.
Carrie Ryan, Scenic Route - I read Carrie Ryan's 'Forest of Hands and Teeth' and i didn't love it. (blame it on the fact that I am so uber picky about straight up horror and zombies (aka people that aren't really people anymore). I do just about everything else but zombies creep me out.) That aside I liked this story a lot. I connected with Margie right away. Her paranoia was totally understandable and the way she connected to Calvin was believable. I loved the way sally totally kicked butt. Calvin's question "would you kill me for her" and Margie’s response, priceless. 4 stars.
Kami Garcia, Red Run - Loved the idea of ghosts and catching them. I liked Tommy. I really really would love to know what happens next. 4.5 stars.
Jackson Pierce, Things About Love - Ms. Pierce has been on my to-read list and I must now go investigate. I just wanted to give Lawrence a hug. He needed one. I liked Juliet and her investigation into what made love so special. I really want to know these characters better. 4-4.5 Stars
Rachel Vincent, Niederwald - This one has me a bit flip flopped. I read most of the Prey books but didn't finish the series because I had issues with the main girl (like OMG get a clue and figure it out you stupid ******). I love the premise of this story. Sabine is a nightmare and had most certainly not been domesticated. Syrie was awesome and I want to know more about her. It was actually Emma (the best friend of the girl is the girlfriends of the BOY) who stole the show. She came to the rescue, fought for herself and Sabine and totally is not a pushover. I think Sabine is a bit obsessed (like almost scarily will come back to destroy her and ruin all lives of people involved obsessed) but without actually reading the whole story I can't judge too much. 4 stars overall. 4.5 for Emma.
Melissa Marr, Merely Mortal - Have these books. Love these books. Adore Keenan and Donia, (especially Donia). Love the way they solved the video problem. 4.5 Stars.
Kelly Armstrong, Facing Facts - I have a love/hate relationship with this world. Sometimes I really like it and other s I absolutely hate it. Read the first book of this world, haven't read the other two but I liked Chloe and Derek. So it was good. 4 stars
Sarah Rees Brennan, Let’s Get This Undead Show On the Road - Another love/hate. Love the vampire band. The beginning was a bit kooky. Loved the Christian and family issues. Adored the Christian and Band issues. Found Lucille weird. Kidnapping awesome and Bradley was a kick. 4 Stars.
Jeri Smith-Ready, Bridge - This one made me cry. I almost skipped it and was so glad I didn't. It hit exactly the right notes for mourning and moving one and regret and bitterness and hope. It hit them all and I am such a sucker for a well done melancholy/tragic story with a tiny dash of 'is that light' at the end. I actually read it twice too. Although the poetry format did absolutely nothing for me. 5 stars.
Kimberly Derting, Skin Contact - The potential for this one was through the roof. It could totally be prologue for a book. One that I want to read. How does Sophie's death affect the rest of Rafe's life. Cause it will. It was awesome.
Ally Condie, Leaving – This one was weird. The idea of living in bubbles and the outside is dangerous, fine. The untouchable status, cool and I’m good with it. But the rest was weird and I’m not sure how much I really liked it. 3.5 stars.
Jessica Verday, At the Late Night, Double Feature, Picture Show - I liked this one. The girl scouts were weird. I loved the family of hunters idea (and the possibility that her brother really does know what she’s doing). The vampires (defanged and totally rocky horror) stole the show. I spent the whole story singing Rocky Horror Songs (I blame Glee). The bleeding boy on the table, the scared vampires and the resurrectionist. It was out there but it was funny and it clicked. Although David losing his leg was odd and bit much. On a whole it was great. 4.5 Stars.
Margaret Stohl, IV League – This story was not my cup of tea. The only thing I really liked was the end where they got into the school and took the dog with them. Other than that I didn’t like it at all. 2 Stars
Mary E. Pearson, Gargouille – This story was depressing. I liked that Giselle and Etienne got to be together in the end but the whole losing their wings and then their memories was sad. 4 Stars.
Jennifer Lynn Barnes, The Third Kind – I liked this story and I want to know how it ends. Do they go straight to the Mojave Desert? Do they meet Ariel again? Is there an actual name for the third kind? What about the black kind? And what happens in the end? Great start. Now I want more. 4 stars.
Rachel Caine, Automatic – I haven’t read any of her Morganville vampire series but I have her weather warden series. I did not like Oliver at all. I think that I might go investigate this series though. 4 stars.
Overall I really liked this anthology. I had read/had heard of most of the authors before I opened it. So it seemed like a good bet and it didn't disappoint. *Spoilers ahead*
Claudia Gray, Giovanni's Farewell - I haven't actually ready any of Ms. Gray's work yet but I have heard of her. I liked this story a lot. The idea of special twins is awesome. I would have liked a longer story so that I can sympathize with Ravenna a bit more. She comes off a bit abrupt but the ghost idea was lovely and the way Cairo backed up his claim. Awesome. 4 stars.
Carrie Ryan, Scenic Route - I read Carrie Ryan's 'Forest of Hands and Teeth' and i didn't love it. (blame it on the fact that I am so uber picky about straight up horror and zombies (aka people that aren't really people anymore). I do just about everything else but zombies creep me out.) That aside I liked this story a lot. I connected with Margie right away. Her paranoia was totally understandable and the way she connected to Calvin was believable. I loved the way sally totally kicked butt. Calvin's question "would you kill me for her" and Margie’s response, priceless. 4 stars.
Kami Garcia, Red Run - Loved the idea of ghosts and catching them. I liked Tommy. I really really would love to know what happens next. 4.5 stars.
Jackson Pierce, Things About Love - Ms. Pierce has been on my to-read list and I must now go investigate. I just wanted to give Lawrence a hug. He needed one. I liked Juliet and her investigation into what made love so special. I really want to know these characters better. 4-4.5 Stars
Rachel Vincent, Niederwald - This one has me a bit flip flopped. I read most of the Prey books but didn't finish the series because I had issues with the main girl (like OMG get a clue and figure it out you stupid ******). I love the premise of this story. Sabine is a nightmare and had most certainly not been domesticated. Syrie was awesome and I want to know more about her. It was actually Emma (the best friend of the girl is the girlfriends of the BOY) who stole the show. She came to the rescue, fought for herself and Sabine and totally is not a pushover. I think Sabine is a bit obsessed (like almost scarily will come back to destroy her and ruin all lives of people involved obsessed) but without actually reading the whole story I can't judge too much. 4 stars overall. 4.5 for Emma.
Melissa Marr, Merely Mortal - Have these books. Love these books. Adore Keenan and Donia, (especially Donia). Love the way they solved the video problem. 4.5 Stars.
Kelly Armstrong, Facing Facts - I have a love/hate relationship with this world. Sometimes I really like it and other s I absolutely hate it. Read the first book of this world, haven't read the other two but I liked Chloe and Derek. So it was good. 4 stars
Sarah Rees Brennan, Let’s Get This Undead Show On the Road - Another love/hate. Love the vampire band. The beginning was a bit kooky. Loved the Christian and family issues. Adored the Christian and Band issues. Found Lucille weird. Kidnapping awesome and Bradley was a kick. 4 Stars.
Jeri Smith-Ready, Bridge - This one made me cry. I almost skipped it and was so glad I didn't. It hit exactly the right notes for mourning and moving one and regret and bitterness and hope. It hit them all and I am such a sucker for a well done melancholy/tragic story with a tiny dash of 'is that light' at the end. I actually read it twice too. Although the poetry format did absolutely nothing for me. 5 stars.
Kimberly Derting, Skin Contact - The potential for this one was through the roof. It could totally be prologue for a book. One that I want to read. How does Sophie's death affect the rest of Rafe's life. Cause it will. It was awesome.
Ally Condie, Leaving – This one was weird. The idea of living in bubbles and the outside is dangerous, fine. The untouchable status, cool and I’m good with it. But the rest was weird and I’m not sure how much I really liked it. 3.5 stars.
Jessica Verday, At the Late Night, Double Feature, Picture Show - I liked this one. The girl scouts were weird. I loved the family of hunters idea (and the possibility that her brother really does know what she’s doing). The vampires (defanged and totally rocky horror) stole the show. I spent the whole story singing Rocky Horror Songs (I blame Glee). The bleeding boy on the table, the scared vampires and the resurrectionist. It was out there but it was funny and it clicked. Although David losing his leg was odd and bit much. On a whole it was great. 4.5 Stars.
Margaret Stohl, IV League – This story was not my cup of tea. The only thing I really liked was the end where they got into the school and took the dog with them. Other than that I didn’t like it at all. 2 Stars
Mary E. Pearson, Gargouille – This story was depressing. I liked that Giselle and Etienne got to be together in the end but the whole losing their wings and then their memories was sad. 4 Stars.
Jennifer Lynn Barnes, The Third Kind – I liked this story and I want to know how it ends. Do they go straight to the Mojave Desert? Do they meet Ariel again? Is there an actual name for the third kind? What about the black kind? And what happens in the end? Great start. Now I want more. 4 stars.
Rachel Caine, Automatic – I haven’t read any of her Morganville vampire series but I have her weather warden series. I did not like Oliver at all. I think that I might go investigate this series though. 4 stars.
felinity's review against another edition
4.0
Sisters, vampires, ghosts and freaky Girl Scouts. A great fun read.
mrsjkamp's review against another edition
3.0
I received this book through Around The World ARC Tours. Here is my honest review:
I must admit - I only read certain stories from this book. Why? Because I'm not familiar with all the authors and their respective book universes. Make sense? I read a few, some from authors I know well, and some original stories. I'm not big on short story anthologies, but I do like the short stories from series I normally read. Here are the ones I read and what I thought:
Jackson Pearce - Things About Love
This one is written in the As You Wish universe. First person/present tense with alternating POVs between Lawrence and Juliet. I have not read the As You Wish book(s), but I enjoyed this little story on love. It didn't really make me want to read her As You Wish novel(s) because I'm not all that into genies, but I may check them out. I did appreciate the gay character. :o)
Jeri Smith-Ready - Bridge
Set in her Shade/Shift series, Logan is telling this story in first person/present tense. He wants to find someone to talk to his older brother Mickey for him. He finds Krista, and the meeting is bittersweet for everyone. Good story, written in verse, and that made it very different.
Kimberly Derting - Skin Contact
Told in third person/past tense, this story is set in The Body Finder world. Rafe's story about Sophie is heartbreaking and very sad. Keep tissue with you for this one. While Jay and Vi make no appearance, this is a great addition to The Body Finder series.
Ally Condie - Leaving
A stand-alone dystopian short, Leaving is about a girl whose dad has disappeared, leaving her marked in her society. She also wants to leave, but the choice isn't always as clear-cut as it seems. I think this one can become something way more if she chooses, and I may check it out. I didn't care all that much for Matched, but this one seems different enough. Told in first person/present tense.
Jessica Verday - At The Late Night, Double Feature, Picture Show
Jane, part of a family of supernatural-being hunters, runs into some trouble on an unapproved solo mission. She comes across some interesting characters dressed and ready for a Rocky Horror convention and talent show! A story about Rocky Horror? Count me in! The dedication is priceless, too. Great original. Wanted a little more from one part, but that's okay!
I must admit - I only read certain stories from this book. Why? Because I'm not familiar with all the authors and their respective book universes. Make sense? I read a few, some from authors I know well, and some original stories. I'm not big on short story anthologies, but I do like the short stories from series I normally read. Here are the ones I read and what I thought:
Jackson Pearce - Things About Love
This one is written in the As You Wish universe. First person/present tense with alternating POVs between Lawrence and Juliet. I have not read the As You Wish book(s), but I enjoyed this little story on love. It didn't really make me want to read her As You Wish novel(s) because I'm not all that into genies, but I may check them out. I did appreciate the gay character. :o)
Jeri Smith-Ready - Bridge
Set in her Shade/Shift series, Logan is telling this story in first person/present tense. He wants to find someone to talk to his older brother Mickey for him. He finds Krista, and the meeting is bittersweet for everyone. Good story, written in verse, and that made it very different.
Kimberly Derting - Skin Contact
Told in third person/past tense, this story is set in The Body Finder world. Rafe's story about Sophie is heartbreaking and very sad. Keep tissue with you for this one. While Jay and Vi make no appearance, this is a great addition to The Body Finder series.
Ally Condie - Leaving
A stand-alone dystopian short, Leaving is about a girl whose dad has disappeared, leaving her marked in her society. She also wants to leave, but the choice isn't always as clear-cut as it seems. I think this one can become something way more if she chooses, and I may check it out. I didn't care all that much for Matched, but this one seems different enough. Told in first person/present tense.
Jessica Verday - At The Late Night, Double Feature, Picture Show
Jane, part of a family of supernatural-being hunters, runs into some trouble on an unapproved solo mission. She comes across some interesting characters dressed and ready for a Rocky Horror convention and talent show! A story about Rocky Horror? Count me in! The dedication is priceless, too. Great original. Wanted a little more from one part, but that's okay!
hobbitsbooksandbeyond's review against another edition
3.0
Most of the stories in this collection are little gems, i enjoyed them
paperbackd's review against another edition
4.0
Since Kelley Armstrong announced this anthology I've wanted to get my hands on it and now that I've finally read it I can say that it more than met my expectations. I'm usually wary of buying anthologies, because they always seem to be a mixed bag - some stories leave you wanting so much more while others leave you wondering why you bothered to read them in the first place. But with such a fantastic line-up of authors, Enthralled was perfection from start to finish. Here's my (non-spoilery!) take on each story:
Giovanni's Farewell by Claudia Grey - A sweet story featuring a handsome, mild-mannered ghost and two twins trying to come to terms with their newfound supernatural gifts. I haven't read any of Grey's work before now, but this story definitely piqued my interest! 4 stars.
Scenic Route by Carrie Ryan - Beautifully dark story of family and loyalty set in the world of Carrie Ryan's The Forest of Hands and Teeth series. As a huge fan of Ryan's zombie apocalypse novels Scenic Route was definitely one of my favourites of the entire anthology. 5 stars.
Red Run by Kami Garcia - A richly atmospheric ghost story in which not everything is as it seems. A lovely addition from one of my favourite YA authors. 4 stars.
Things About Love by Jackson Pearce - Another favourite, although I haven't read As You Wish (the story from which this one originates). Pearce tells the tale of a naive young djinn trying to understand the human condition of love. Very interested in reading more from this author! 5 stars.
Niederwald by Rachel Vincent - A quick detour to Niederwald, a town of Harpies, quickly turns sour for Sabine and Emma of Vincent's Soul Screamers series. Might have to bump this one up a few notches on my to-buy list. 3 stars.
Merely Mortal by Melissa Marr - Perhaps the only story I was underwhelmed by. I've heard great things about Marr's Wicked Lovely series but I wasn't impressed by this snapshot. 2 stars.
Facing Facts by Kelley Armstrong - Okay, I admit it. I brought this anthology for Facing Facts alone and I skipped straight to this one as soon as it arrived. And even if the rest of the anthology had been terrible it would've been completely worth it! As a huge fan of Armstrong's Darkest Powers series, this story was everything I could've asked for. Tori's featured heavily in this one. We see Chloe dealing with her guilt over the deaths of Dianne Enright and Dr. Davidoff at the end of The Reckoning. And Chloe and Derek are as adorable as ever. 5 stars!
Let's Get this Undead Show on the Road by Sarah Rees Brennan - A vampire-fronted boy band goes on tour. Yes, it's as hilarious as that summary suggests. 4 stars.
Bridge by Jeri Smith-Ready - A companion story to Smith-Ready's Shade, told in free verse. I have to admit, I'm not sure the style worked, but the story itself was touching. 3 stars.
Skin Contact by Kimberly Derting - It's hard for me to judge this one, as I haven't read the original story Desires of the Dead. But I'm interested in learning more about these characters. 3 stars.
Leaving by Ally Condie - A very powerful sci-fi/dystopian piece. This story reminded me why I loved Ally Condie's Matched and why I'm looking forward to reading more from her. 4 stars.
At The Late Night, Double Feature, Picture Show by Jessica Verday - Can't you just tell from the title that this is a good one? Featuring flesh-eating Girl Scouts and vampires in drag, complete with Rocky Horror references. I wasn't expecting to love this one, as I'm not a fan of Verday's but I was pleasantly surprised. 4 stars.
IV League by Margaret Stohl - A couple of poorly educated vampire teens attempt to trick their way into Harvard. 3 stars.
Gargouille by Mary E. Pearson - A beautifully written story of love and self-sacrifice. Pearson's mythological world is gorgeously atmospheric and I'm looking forward to reading more from her! 5 stars.
The Third Kind by Jennifer Lynn Barnes - This is one of those short stories that I really wish could be made into a full-length story. With multiple sequels. Two sisters take a road trip to San Antonio. They don't know what waits for them at their destination but they know it's vital they make there alive. 5 stars.
Automatic by Rachel Caine - A soda machine full of canned blood is set up to meet the ever-growing demand for the vampires of Morganville. Chaos ensues. 3 stars.
Giovanni's Farewell by Claudia Grey - A sweet story featuring a handsome, mild-mannered ghost and two twins trying to come to terms with their newfound supernatural gifts. I haven't read any of Grey's work before now, but this story definitely piqued my interest! 4 stars.
Scenic Route by Carrie Ryan - Beautifully dark story of family and loyalty set in the world of Carrie Ryan's The Forest of Hands and Teeth series. As a huge fan of Ryan's zombie apocalypse novels Scenic Route was definitely one of my favourites of the entire anthology. 5 stars.
Red Run by Kami Garcia - A richly atmospheric ghost story in which not everything is as it seems. A lovely addition from one of my favourite YA authors. 4 stars.
Things About Love by Jackson Pearce - Another favourite, although I haven't read As You Wish (the story from which this one originates). Pearce tells the tale of a naive young djinn trying to understand the human condition of love. Very interested in reading more from this author! 5 stars.
Niederwald by Rachel Vincent - A quick detour to Niederwald, a town of Harpies, quickly turns sour for Sabine and Emma of Vincent's Soul Screamers series. Might have to bump this one up a few notches on my to-buy list. 3 stars.
Merely Mortal by Melissa Marr - Perhaps the only story I was underwhelmed by. I've heard great things about Marr's Wicked Lovely series but I wasn't impressed by this snapshot. 2 stars.
Facing Facts by Kelley Armstrong - Okay, I admit it. I brought this anthology for Facing Facts alone and I skipped straight to this one as soon as it arrived. And even if the rest of the anthology had been terrible it would've been completely worth it! As a huge fan of Armstrong's Darkest Powers series, this story was everything I could've asked for. Tori's featured heavily in this one. We see Chloe dealing with her guilt over the deaths of Dianne Enright and Dr. Davidoff at the end of The Reckoning. And Chloe and Derek are as adorable as ever. 5 stars!
Let's Get this Undead Show on the Road by Sarah Rees Brennan - A vampire-fronted boy band goes on tour. Yes, it's as hilarious as that summary suggests. 4 stars.
Bridge by Jeri Smith-Ready - A companion story to Smith-Ready's Shade, told in free verse. I have to admit, I'm not sure the style worked, but the story itself was touching. 3 stars.
Skin Contact by Kimberly Derting - It's hard for me to judge this one, as I haven't read the original story Desires of the Dead. But I'm interested in learning more about these characters. 3 stars.
Leaving by Ally Condie - A very powerful sci-fi/dystopian piece. This story reminded me why I loved Ally Condie's Matched and why I'm looking forward to reading more from her. 4 stars.
At The Late Night, Double Feature, Picture Show by Jessica Verday - Can't you just tell from the title that this is a good one? Featuring flesh-eating Girl Scouts and vampires in drag, complete with Rocky Horror references. I wasn't expecting to love this one, as I'm not a fan of Verday's but I was pleasantly surprised. 4 stars.
IV League by Margaret Stohl - A couple of poorly educated vampire teens attempt to trick their way into Harvard. 3 stars.
Gargouille by Mary E. Pearson - A beautifully written story of love and self-sacrifice. Pearson's mythological world is gorgeously atmospheric and I'm looking forward to reading more from her! 5 stars.
The Third Kind by Jennifer Lynn Barnes - This is one of those short stories that I really wish could be made into a full-length story. With multiple sequels. Two sisters take a road trip to San Antonio. They don't know what waits for them at their destination but they know it's vital they make there alive. 5 stars.
Automatic by Rachel Caine - A soda machine full of canned blood is set up to meet the ever-growing demand for the vampires of Morganville. Chaos ensues. 3 stars.