Scan barcode
heregrim's review
5.0
ARC review- A hero in a book is only as good as their villain. This collection centers not on the efforts of the hero, but on the adventures of the villains from some of Urban Fantasy's biggest series. Now, to be honest, it was Jim Butcher's Even Hand that attracted me towards this collection, but a few other stories have me running to read the rest of their series. A few of my other favorites-Nigsu Ga Tesgu by Jeff Somers, The naughtiest Cherub by Kevin Hearne, Down Where the Darkness Dwells by Joseph Nassise, Chase the Fire by Jon F. Merz, Reel Life by Steven Savile and Balance by Seanan McGuire. In some I wish to walk through the world these villains inhabit and create, in others the character itself draws me, wishing to see the hero that must battle this villain. Still, with only some of these series known to me, and fewer read, this collection opened up whole new worlds of reading that I am racing to get me hands on.
athenaevarinya's review against another edition
3.0
Read for the Jane Yellowrock novella. The story was a nice glimpse of understanding Leo, however I think there is an error in details since at this point of the timeline Katie is not yet the heir.
ashkitty93's review against another edition
No dates or stars because I'm sure I'll be back eventually (there's an InCryptid story in here from Seanan McGuire, among others), but for now I snagged it for Craig Schaefer's Sixty-Six Seconds and wasn't disappointed in the least - 5 stars for this one. I love the dynamic between Fontaine and Rache, and meeting Ada before diving into the Locust Job was great. I love how this world keeps expanding.
_b_a_l_'s review against another edition
3.0
My favourite bit:
Of your kind burning like candles, falling into the torments and delights that await you when you shed your frail, marvelous coats of nerve-spark pleasure.
- Lilith Saintcrow
Of your kind burning like candles, falling into the torments and delights that await you when you shed your frail, marvelous coats of nerve-spark pleasure.
- Lilith Saintcrow
inmyhumbleopinion's review against another edition
5.0
Everybody has a story and their own point of view, even the bad guys. In this fantastic anthology we get to hear from some bad guys that occupy the very best of the Urban Fantasy world. In these sixteen stories we struggle with the reality that good and evil are two sides of the same coin. These sixteen fabulous authors get to play on the dark side for a change. If you haven’t read these authors this anthology is a great way to get your toes wet as there isn’t a bad story in the lot.
git_r_read's review against another edition
4.0
An intriguing premise of stories being told by the bad guys. Written by 17 different authors. 17 different bad guys viewpoints....some of them were downright icky, some had redeeming qualities. Like anthologies in the past for me, some were fab, some were okay, some were meh. The ones written by my favorite authors were excellent, but I am likely biased. Jim Butcher, Seanan McGuire, Jonathan Maberry, Kelley Armstrong, Carrie Vaughn, Lilith Saintcrow, Joseph Nassise, Faith Hunter and Kevin Hearne were super. All of them made me glad I read this in the daytime.
I can definitely recommend this anthology.
I can definitely recommend this anthology.
cj13's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Blood, Violence, and Death
pamwinkler's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty good. I'm slightly biased against villain stories, so there's that.
Even Hand by Jim Butcher was good.
I liked Nigsu Ga Tesgu by Jeff Somers
Sixty-six Seconds by Craig Schaefer was good.
The Resurrectionist by Caitlin Kittredge was the first one where I'd be interested in reading their series.
I didn't bother with Down Where the Darkness Dwells, Chase the Fire, Reel Life, or The Difference Between Deceit and Delusion.
I skipped Make it Snappy because it's in the Jane Yellowrock series, and I want to read that.
I didn't bother with Bellum Romanum, because it's from the Kitty Norville series, and I'm done with that series.
I liked Altar Boy by Jonathan Maberry a lot.
I liked Unexpected Choices by Diana Pharaoh Francis a lot, and will see about getting a book from that series.
I really enjoyed Balance by Seanen McGuire, I like the InCryptid series.
I listened to Everywhere, and it was ok.
Even Hand by Jim Butcher was good.
I liked Nigsu Ga Tesgu by Jeff Somers
Sixty-six Seconds by Craig Schaefer was good.
The Resurrectionist by Caitlin Kittredge was the first one where I'd be interested in reading their series.
I didn't bother with Down Where the Darkness Dwells, Chase the Fire, Reel Life, or The Difference Between Deceit and Delusion.
I skipped Make it Snappy because it's in the Jane Yellowrock series, and I want to read that.
I didn't bother with Bellum Romanum, because it's from the Kitty Norville series, and I'm done with that series.
I liked Altar Boy by Jonathan Maberry a lot.
I liked Unexpected Choices by Diana Pharaoh Francis a lot, and will see about getting a book from that series.
I really enjoyed Balance by Seanen McGuire, I like the InCryptid series.
I listened to Everywhere, and it was ok.
flat_castle's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty mixed bag, took a while to get through b/c some of the stories didn't really interest me. Overall I enjoyed it more than the previous collection, Urban Allies.