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thebritishbibliophile_'s review
5.0
'The absolute best selection box of spooky choice with this Booktober PNR anthology for all'
Thank you to the wonderful authors who gave me an ARC copy of this PNR anthology to read. I'm proud to support such talent and read some brand new authors I've not had the pleasure of reading before. Happy Release Day (29th October) to you all!
----------------------------------------------------------------
I've first got to point out how genius the 'skull rating' system is. I've only ever seen reviewers on TikTok or blog websites give their own ratings for books they've read, this is the first time I've come across one by authors themselves. At least for an anthology. This--along with the description with the skull level--lets readers determine what they might or might not be comfortable with in terms of steam and spice. Readers are all different from one another, so one will not like spice/steam and another may love it, this is a neat, handy-dandy guide which I highly recommend other authors who are thinking of collaborating for an anthology should do.
With this anthology, you truly are spoiled for choice. Name a paranormal topic, monster or spook, its in here. Shifter romance? Check. Forbidden love? Check. Cross-species romance? Check? Menages? Check. Reverse Harem? Check LGBTQ+ romance? Check again. The authors have taken great care in coming together to include something for everyone. Even if you think one or more topics aren't to your reading taste, you'll be surprised at how much you'll actually enjoy reading these short stories. A few certainly made me curious as to read more novels (full-length) around those topics for sure.
Now for the nitty gritty. I've put together the basics for each story, so here we go! :
Feral For you By Miri Stone
Steam/Skull Rating: 4/5 skulls
My Star Rating: 4.5 stars
Tropes: Vampire/Shifter Romance, Rejected Mates, Age Gap Romance, Second Chance
Feedback: An alluring story with the steam saved until the right moment. Plenty of open questions and very interesting concept to the story, crossing the line between Vampire & Werewolf love.
Dog Days by K.O.Newman
Steam/Skull Rating: 4/5 skulls
My Star Rating: 5/5 stars
Tropes: Fated Mates, Instalove, Curses, Shifter Romance
Feedback: OOF! Aside from the backstory and situation the hero is placed in, this story is O-to-the-OF! The kind of story to heat the cheeks and causes lips to be bitten. Despite it being a short story, there was plenty packed in without it being overwhelming or uninteresting. If I could rate it, I would give it 20/5! Definitely would read something full-length with this topic/subject matter.
Defiance by Mariah Thayer
Steam/Skull Rating: 3.5 Skulls
My Star Rating: 4/5 Stars
Tropes: Shifter Romance, Rejected Mates, Second Chance, Forbidden Love
Feedback: A sweetly sensuous romance with an "impossible" barrier that must be broken down in order to have an HEA. Incredibly written confrontation scene with gritty detail, but the novel was left with an open ending. Would love to have a bonus epilogue at some stage, I'd love to see more of these two's story!
Siren's Song by Marlee P.Louis
Steam/Skull Rating: 4/5 Skulls
My Star Rating: 4/5 Stars
Tropes: Fated Lovers, Carnival, Psychic, Meant to Be, LGBTQ+
Princess and the Wolf King by Emilia Rose
Steam/Skull Rating: 4.5/5 Skulls
My Star Rating: 5/5 Stars
Tropes: Shifter Romance, Fated Mates, Princess, Enemies-t0-Lovers
Dances With Devils by Raven Woodward
Steam/Skull Rating: 4/5 Skulls
My Star Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Tropes: Why Choose, Vampires, Enemies-to-Lovers, Necromancy
The NecroDancer by Mercy DeSimone
Steam/Skull Rating: 3.5/5 Skulls
My Star Rating: 4/5 Stars
Tropes: Forced Proximity, Ghosts and Ghouls, Brothers, Small Town Romance
The Grave Keeper by Ebony Olson
Steam/Skull Rating: 4.5/5 Skulls
My Star Rating: 5/5 Stars
Tropes: Angels, Ghosts, Menage, Second Chance
Hunter's Mark by Marina Garcia
Steam/Skull Rating: 3.5/5 Skulls
My Star Rating: 4/5 Stars
Tropes: Angel-Devil Romance, Forbidden Romance, Paranormal Romance, Instalove
Ada by Shelly Ferguson
Steam/Skull Rating: 3/5 Skulls
My Star Rating: 4.5 Stars
Tropes: Accidental Marriage, Fae, Instalove, Samhain Ball
------------------------------------------------------------
This anthology pushed me as a reader above and beyond genres I either avoid, or tend to skip over altogether. In the spirit of the spooky season, I pressed on and confronted my literary demons--pun intended--and was given a frighteningly good time in return.
The amount of talent and boldness within the authors as a collective is insanely fantastic and as a Brit, you know when we use that word, we love what we see or in this case, what we read. Namely, what I have read here in this anthology. The seamlessness of the putting together of these authors from all across the PNR spectrum is mind-blowing. Here we have authors who all specialise in their own area of book writing/novel writing, but they all work together to create this anthology that everyone really should get their hands on, spooky season or not.
Shivers were truly sent down my spine, and as someone who is more Christmas season than Spooky Season, I'm genuinely surprised at how much I enjoyed reading every page.
Thank you ladies! Thank you all for an awesome anthology with a cause everyone should get behind to support!
Thank you to the wonderful authors who gave me an ARC copy of this PNR anthology to read. I'm proud to support such talent and read some brand new authors I've not had the pleasure of reading before. Happy Release Day (29th October) to you all!
----------------------------------------------------------------
I've first got to point out how genius the 'skull rating' system is. I've only ever seen reviewers on TikTok or blog websites give their own ratings for books they've read, this is the first time I've come across one by authors themselves. At least for an anthology. This--along with the description with the skull level--lets readers determine what they might or might not be comfortable with in terms of steam and spice. Readers are all different from one another, so one will not like spice/steam and another may love it, this is a neat, handy-dandy guide which I highly recommend other authors who are thinking of collaborating for an anthology should do.
With this anthology, you truly are spoiled for choice. Name a paranormal topic, monster or spook, its in here. Shifter romance? Check. Forbidden love? Check. Cross-species romance? Check? Menages? Check. Reverse Harem? Check LGBTQ+ romance? Check again. The authors have taken great care in coming together to include something for everyone. Even if you think one or more topics aren't to your reading taste, you'll be surprised at how much you'll actually enjoy reading these short stories. A few certainly made me curious as to read more novels (full-length) around those topics for sure.
Now for the nitty gritty. I've put together the basics for each story, so here we go! :
Feral For you By Miri Stone
Steam/Skull Rating: 4/5 skulls
My Star Rating: 4.5 stars
Tropes: Vampire/Shifter Romance, Rejected Mates, Age Gap Romance, Second Chance
Feedback: An alluring story with the steam saved until the right moment. Plenty of open questions and very interesting concept to the story, crossing the line between Vampire & Werewolf love.
Dog Days by K.O.Newman
Steam/Skull Rating: 4/5 skulls
My Star Rating: 5/5 stars
Tropes: Fated Mates, Instalove, Curses, Shifter Romance
Feedback: OOF! Aside from the backstory and situation the hero is placed in, this story is O-to-the-OF! The kind of story to heat the cheeks and causes lips to be bitten. Despite it being a short story, there was plenty packed in without it being overwhelming or uninteresting. If I could rate it, I would give it 20/5! Definitely would read something full-length with this topic/subject matter.
Defiance by Mariah Thayer
Steam/Skull Rating: 3.5 Skulls
My Star Rating: 4/5 Stars
Tropes: Shifter Romance, Rejected Mates, Second Chance, Forbidden Love
Feedback: A sweetly sensuous romance with an "impossible" barrier that must be broken down in order to have an HEA. Incredibly written confrontation scene with gritty detail, but the novel was left with an open ending. Would love to have a bonus epilogue at some stage, I'd love to see more of these two's story!
Siren's Song by Marlee P.Louis
Steam/Skull Rating: 4/5 Skulls
My Star Rating: 4/5 Stars
Tropes: Fated Lovers, Carnival, Psychic, Meant to Be, LGBTQ+
Princess and the Wolf King by Emilia Rose
Steam/Skull Rating: 4.5/5 Skulls
My Star Rating: 5/5 Stars
Tropes: Shifter Romance, Fated Mates, Princess, Enemies-t0-Lovers
Dances With Devils by Raven Woodward
Steam/Skull Rating: 4/5 Skulls
My Star Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Tropes: Why Choose, Vampires, Enemies-to-Lovers, Necromancy
The NecroDancer by Mercy DeSimone
Steam/Skull Rating: 3.5/5 Skulls
My Star Rating: 4/5 Stars
Tropes: Forced Proximity, Ghosts and Ghouls, Brothers, Small Town Romance
The Grave Keeper by Ebony Olson
Steam/Skull Rating: 4.5/5 Skulls
My Star Rating: 5/5 Stars
Tropes: Angels, Ghosts, Menage, Second Chance
Hunter's Mark by Marina Garcia
Steam/Skull Rating: 3.5/5 Skulls
My Star Rating: 4/5 Stars
Tropes: Angel-Devil Romance, Forbidden Romance, Paranormal Romance, Instalove
Ada by Shelly Ferguson
Steam/Skull Rating: 3/5 Skulls
My Star Rating: 4.5 Stars
Tropes: Accidental Marriage, Fae, Instalove, Samhain Ball
------------------------------------------------------------
This anthology pushed me as a reader above and beyond genres I either avoid, or tend to skip over altogether. In the spirit of the spooky season, I pressed on and confronted my literary demons--pun intended--and was given a frighteningly good time in return.
The amount of talent and boldness within the authors as a collective is insanely fantastic and as a Brit, you know when we use that word, we love what we see or in this case, what we read. Namely, what I have read here in this anthology. The seamlessness of the putting together of these authors from all across the PNR spectrum is mind-blowing. Here we have authors who all specialise in their own area of book writing/novel writing, but they all work together to create this anthology that everyone really should get their hands on, spooky season or not.
Shivers were truly sent down my spine, and as someone who is more Christmas season than Spooky Season, I'm genuinely surprised at how much I enjoyed reading every page.
Thank you ladies! Thank you all for an awesome anthology with a cause everyone should get behind to support!
thebritishbibliophile's review
5.0
'The absolute best selection box of spooky choice with this Booktober PNR anthology for all'
Thank you to the wonderful authors who gave me an ARC copy of this PNR anthology to read. I'm proud to support such talent and read some brand new authors I've not had the pleasure of reading before. Happy Release Day (29th October) to you all!
----------------------------------------------------------------
I've first got to point out how genius the 'skull rating' system is. I've only ever seen reviewers on TikTok or blog websites give their own ratings for books they've read, this is the first time I've come across one by authors themselves. At least for an anthology. This--along with the description with the skull level--lets readers determine what they might or might not be comfortable with in terms of steam and spice. Readers are all different from one another, so one will not like spice/steam and another may love it, this is a neat, handy-dandy guide which I highly recommend other authors who are thinking of collaborating for an anthology should do.
With this anthology, you truly are spoiled for choice. Name a paranormal topic, monster or spook, its in here. Shifter romance? Check. Forbidden love? Check. Cross-species romance? Check? Menages? Check. Reverse Harem? Check LGBTQ+ romance? Check again. The authors have taken great care in coming together to include something for everyone. Even if you think one or more topics aren't to your reading taste, you'll be surprised at how much you'll actually enjoy reading these short stories. A few certainly made me curious as to read more novels (full-length) around those topics for sure.
Now for the nitty gritty. I've put together the basics for each story, so here we go! :
Feral For you By Miri Stone
Steam/Skull Rating: 4/5 skulls
My Star Rating: 4.5 stars
Tropes: Vampire/Shifter Romance, Rejected Mates, Age Gap Romance, Second Chance
Feedback: An alluring story with the steam saved until the right moment. Plenty of open questions and very interesting concept to the story, crossing the line between Vampire & Werewolf love.
Dog Days by K.O.Newman
Steam/Skull Rating: 4/5 skulls
My Star Rating: 5/5 stars
Tropes: Fated Mates, Instalove, Curses, Shifter Romance
Feedback: OOF! Aside from the backstory and situation the hero is placed in, this story is O-to-the-OF! The kind of story to heat the cheeks and causes lips to be bitten. Despite it being a short story, there was plenty packed in without it being overwhelming or uninteresting. If I could rate it, I would give it 20/5! Definitely would read something full-length with this topic/subject matter.
Defiance by Mariah Thayer
Steam/Skull Rating: 3.5 Skulls
My Star Rating: 4/5 Stars
Tropes: Shifter Romance, Rejected Mates, Second Chance, Forbidden Love
Feedback: A sweetly sensuous romance with an "impossible" barrier that must be broken down in order to have an HEA. Incredibly written confrontation scene with gritty detail, but the novel was left with an open ending. Would love to have a bonus epilogue at some stage, I'd love to see more of these two's story!
Siren's Song by Marlee P.Louis
Steam/Skull Rating: 4/5 Skulls
My Star Rating: 4/5 Stars
Tropes: Fated Lovers, Carnival, Psychic, Meant to Be, LGBTQ+
Princess and the Wolf King by Emilia Rose
Steam/Skull Rating: 4.5/5 Skulls
My Star Rating: 5/5 Stars
Tropes: Shifter Romance, Fated Mates, Princess, Enemies-t0-Lovers
Dances With Devils by Raven Woodward
Steam/Skull Rating: 4/5 Skulls
My Star Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Tropes: Why Choose, Vampires, Enemies-to-Lovers, Necromancy
The NecroDancer by Mercy DeSimone
Steam/Skull Rating: 3.5/5 Skulls
My Star Rating: 4/5 Stars
Tropes: Forced Proximity, Ghosts and Ghouls, Brothers, Small Town Romance
The Grave Keeper by Ebony Olson
Steam/Skull Rating: 4.5/5 Skulls
My Star Rating: 5/5 Stars
Tropes: Angels, Ghosts, Menage, Second Chance
Hunter's Mark by Marina Garcia
Steam/Skull Rating: 3.5/5 Skulls
My Star Rating: 4/5 Stars
Tropes: Angel-Devil Romance, Forbidden Romance, Paranormal Romance, Instalove
Ada by Shelly Ferguson
Steam/Skull Rating: 3/5 Skulls
My Star Rating: 4.5 Stars
Tropes: Accidental Marriage, Fae, Instalove, Samhain Ball
------------------------------------------------------------
This anthology pushed me as a reader above and beyond genres I either avoid, or tend to skip over altogether. In the spirit of the spooky season, I pressed on and confronted my literary demons--pun intended--and was given a frighteningly good time in return.
The amount of talent and boldness within the authors as a collective is insanely fantastic and as a Brit, you know when we use that word, we love what we see or in this case, what we read. Namely, what I have read here in this anthology. The seamlessness of the putting together of these authors from all across the PNR spectrum is mind-blowing. Here we have authors who all specialise in their own area of book writing/novel writing, but they all work together to create this anthology that everyone really should get their hands on, spooky season or not.
Shivers were truly sent down my spine, and as someone who is more Christmas season than Spooky Season, I'm genuinely surprised at how much I enjoyed reading every page.
Thank you ladies! Thank you all for an awesome anthology with a cause everyone should get behind to support!
Thank you to the wonderful authors who gave me an ARC copy of this PNR anthology to read. I'm proud to support such talent and read some brand new authors I've not had the pleasure of reading before. Happy Release Day (29th October) to you all!
----------------------------------------------------------------
I've first got to point out how genius the 'skull rating' system is. I've only ever seen reviewers on TikTok or blog websites give their own ratings for books they've read, this is the first time I've come across one by authors themselves. At least for an anthology. This--along with the description with the skull level--lets readers determine what they might or might not be comfortable with in terms of steam and spice. Readers are all different from one another, so one will not like spice/steam and another may love it, this is a neat, handy-dandy guide which I highly recommend other authors who are thinking of collaborating for an anthology should do.
With this anthology, you truly are spoiled for choice. Name a paranormal topic, monster or spook, its in here. Shifter romance? Check. Forbidden love? Check. Cross-species romance? Check? Menages? Check. Reverse Harem? Check LGBTQ+ romance? Check again. The authors have taken great care in coming together to include something for everyone. Even if you think one or more topics aren't to your reading taste, you'll be surprised at how much you'll actually enjoy reading these short stories. A few certainly made me curious as to read more novels (full-length) around those topics for sure.
Now for the nitty gritty. I've put together the basics for each story, so here we go! :
Feral For you By Miri Stone
Steam/Skull Rating: 4/5 skulls
My Star Rating: 4.5 stars
Tropes: Vampire/Shifter Romance, Rejected Mates, Age Gap Romance, Second Chance
Feedback: An alluring story with the steam saved until the right moment. Plenty of open questions and very interesting concept to the story, crossing the line between Vampire & Werewolf love.
Dog Days by K.O.Newman
Steam/Skull Rating: 4/5 skulls
My Star Rating: 5/5 stars
Tropes: Fated Mates, Instalove, Curses, Shifter Romance
Feedback: OOF! Aside from the backstory and situation the hero is placed in, this story is O-to-the-OF! The kind of story to heat the cheeks and causes lips to be bitten. Despite it being a short story, there was plenty packed in without it being overwhelming or uninteresting. If I could rate it, I would give it 20/5! Definitely would read something full-length with this topic/subject matter.
Defiance by Mariah Thayer
Steam/Skull Rating: 3.5 Skulls
My Star Rating: 4/5 Stars
Tropes: Shifter Romance, Rejected Mates, Second Chance, Forbidden Love
Feedback: A sweetly sensuous romance with an "impossible" barrier that must be broken down in order to have an HEA. Incredibly written confrontation scene with gritty detail, but the novel was left with an open ending. Would love to have a bonus epilogue at some stage, I'd love to see more of these two's story!
Siren's Song by Marlee P.Louis
Steam/Skull Rating: 4/5 Skulls
My Star Rating: 4/5 Stars
Tropes: Fated Lovers, Carnival, Psychic, Meant to Be, LGBTQ+
Princess and the Wolf King by Emilia Rose
Steam/Skull Rating: 4.5/5 Skulls
My Star Rating: 5/5 Stars
Tropes: Shifter Romance, Fated Mates, Princess, Enemies-t0-Lovers
Dances With Devils by Raven Woodward
Steam/Skull Rating: 4/5 Skulls
My Star Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Tropes: Why Choose, Vampires, Enemies-to-Lovers, Necromancy
The NecroDancer by Mercy DeSimone
Steam/Skull Rating: 3.5/5 Skulls
My Star Rating: 4/5 Stars
Tropes: Forced Proximity, Ghosts and Ghouls, Brothers, Small Town Romance
The Grave Keeper by Ebony Olson
Steam/Skull Rating: 4.5/5 Skulls
My Star Rating: 5/5 Stars
Tropes: Angels, Ghosts, Menage, Second Chance
Hunter's Mark by Marina Garcia
Steam/Skull Rating: 3.5/5 Skulls
My Star Rating: 4/5 Stars
Tropes: Angel-Devil Romance, Forbidden Romance, Paranormal Romance, Instalove
Ada by Shelly Ferguson
Steam/Skull Rating: 3/5 Skulls
My Star Rating: 4.5 Stars
Tropes: Accidental Marriage, Fae, Instalove, Samhain Ball
------------------------------------------------------------
This anthology pushed me as a reader above and beyond genres I either avoid, or tend to skip over altogether. In the spirit of the spooky season, I pressed on and confronted my literary demons--pun intended--and was given a frighteningly good time in return.
The amount of talent and boldness within the authors as a collective is insanely fantastic and as a Brit, you know when we use that word, we love what we see or in this case, what we read. Namely, what I have read here in this anthology. The seamlessness of the putting together of these authors from all across the PNR spectrum is mind-blowing. Here we have authors who all specialise in their own area of book writing/novel writing, but they all work together to create this anthology that everyone really should get their hands on, spooky season or not.
Shivers were truly sent down my spine, and as someone who is more Christmas season than Spooky Season, I'm genuinely surprised at how much I enjoyed reading every page.
Thank you ladies! Thank you all for an awesome anthology with a cause everyone should get behind to support!
sharkysav's review
5.0
So far: Ava by Shelly Ferguson is FANTASTIC! I loved the Phantom of the Opera Samhain vibes and FAE!!!!!! I always love a goo fae story especially when the fae are new and VERY exciting!!!!!
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