Reviews

Lips Touch: Three Times by Laini Taylor, Jim Di Bartolo

brendalovesbooks's review against another edition

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3.0

I'm sorry to say I didn't like this one nearly as well as the Dreamdark series. But, to be honest, I'm not and probably never will be a fan of short stories. And this was no exception.

I love Laini Taylor's writing. It's so imaginative, and you can really feel the depth and beauty of it. I even liked the ideas for these stories. I just felt like they were build-ups for real stories (novels) and left me feeling a little unsatisfied. The third story in particular felt like a lot of world building, especially for a short story.

This is not to say that I wouldn't recommend this book. If you like short stories, these are wonderful. It's like reading fairy tales like they're meant to be (not the Disney versions): dark, scary, not entirely happily-ever-after. I'm just not a short story person, no matter how much I love the writer.

cait8890's review against another edition

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5.0

I avoid short stories as a general rule, but I'll read anything Laini Taylor writes. These were certainly enjoyable.

teeggzz's review against another edition

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4.0

This book was definitley different. It was rather whimsical and quite enchanting with all the magical elements in it. All of the stories were rather dark but very gripping and all ended with a sufficient and satisfying ending. My favourite would probaby have to be "Hatchling" out of the three because it was fleshed out the most and carried a great story and message. I wasnt planning on reading this but none the less it was a great book that I flew through.

shorty_320's review against another edition

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5.0

I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of three fantastical stories all linked to the premise of how a single kiss can change your life. Each story was briefly illustrated and I found that the artwork really enhanced the arcs of each story. Brilliantly done!

miss_merna's review against another edition

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3.0

Lips Touch could have been close to 4 stars, but the last story was unfortunately a shape-shifter/ werewolf story, and my hate specifically for werewolfs made me dislike the story. I tried. But I'm incapable of erasing my deep distaste when it comes to people turning into scary dogs. I ended up skimming the last story when I failed to get into it. The other two stories were very captivating and the writing is wonderful.
I would definitely recommend Lips Touch.

roseleaf24's review against another edition

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4.0

Laini Taylor is an incredible builder of worlds. This was more than apparent here, as three times I became completely engrossed in a different world, different story, in less than a hundred pages. Unfortunately, "Hatchling," the third story, was just a bit too much for me. Too bleak, too cold, too cruel, so this is a four star rating instead of the five stars the writing deserves.

stephxsu's review against another edition

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3.0

It is my experience that there are far more novels in YA literature than short stories, but Laini Taylor makes you wish there were more stories as exotic, rich, and romantic as hers. LIPS TOUCH: THREE TIMES is an astonishing blend of the magical and the universal, told in elegant prose and accentuated by breathtaking illustrations.

In a genre that one may argue is overpopulated by the supernatural and paranormal, Laini’s worlds stand out because of their complexity. On the surface, things are romantically lush: exotic locales, unique predicaments, beautiful dress and decorations. All described in prose that may not be as jaw-dropping and powerful as Francesca Lia Block’s, but is still beautiful nonetheless, and perhaps more approachably so. Laini’s stories, however, are also deep: they are full of ambiguous gray areas that may cause you to think beyond the stories just being nice to read.

Jim DiBartolo's full-page illustrations are a jaw-dropping addition to this already beautiful, dual-colored book. His drawings precede each each story and tell a story all on their own, and add a sort of mysticism to these already whimsical stories.

Pick up this collection of Laini Taylor’s stories if you want to forget about the real world for a few hours and be swept away to enchanted lands full of mystery and magic.

hsteel's review against another edition

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Not what I expected. Very slow. 

shadowrealmreader's review against another edition

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5.0

4.5 stars. I didn't care much for the first story, but the other two were amazing. it is extremely well written and very original. the stories are nothing like anything I've read before. I really love Laini Taylor's writing style which is very descriptive and she words everything so beautifully. Can't wait for anything else she writes!

that_kitten's review against another edition

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4.0

Overall, I found Lips Touch to be a beautifully written trio of fantasy tales with lush world building and powerful emotion. Each tale was something a little outside the ordinary.

I didn't connect with the first story (Goblin Fruit) as much as I would have liked to. It felt a little over the top and unresolved to me. Still, the descriptions were lovely and the prose strong. It certainly kept my interest.

The other stories were rich and wonderfully imagined. Taylor has an incredible talent for creating a new world in just a few pages. I also very much admired the artwork and was pleasantly surprised to see it describe the story that comes "before" the main storyline we actually read. A nice touch. All in all, a very enjoyable (albeit dark, but I love dark) fantasy read.