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thiefofcamorr's review against another edition
4.0
Katharine is a judge for the Aurealis Awards. This review is the personal opinion of Katharine herself, and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of any judging panel, the judging coordinator or the Aurealis Awards management team.
To be safe, I won't be recording my review here until after the AA are over.
To be safe, I won't be recording my review here until after the AA are over.
thebookmouse's review against another edition
2.0
I recieved this book in a Goodreads Giveaway!
Thank you for giving me the chance to read and review this book.
Seeing as this book is a compilation of short stories, I will rate each seperately and then give the book a general mark.
Blind Pig by Jay Caselburg - 1/5
The narration in this short story was reminiscent to me of that in Sim City. Although I liked the narration, I couldn't find it within me to care about what was going on, nothing really engaged me in this story. That's not to say it was bad, it just wasn't for me.
A Case To Die For by Karen Dent - 3/5
This one was a weird one for me. The beginning I liked a lot - towards the end I didn't, I thought it was too... weird. But the ending I liked a lot, too. It reminded me a bit of Stephen King, and for me, he either has 'Loves' or 'Hates' when I read his stories. This was a good one though. I enjoyed it. Very different.
Sound and Fury by Pete Kempshall - 4/5
This was a strange one, but compelling. I loved every minute of it, and both hated, but felt for the main character. Best one so far.
Burning, Always Burning by Alan Baxter + Felicity Dowker - 5/5
I loved every minute of this. This was one story that I actually couldn't put down. I kept reading it until it was over. Definately the best one. I loved how it was written, particularly how well the characters were portrayed.
The Black Star Killer by Nicole Murphy - 3/5
I thought this story had so much promise, I mean the characters..'abilities' were great, I just didn't find the story that engaging. I so wanted to love this one, but it left me feeling short. Like something was missing.
Hard Boiled by Brian G. Ross - 5/5
I loved this one, I just couldn't stop reading it. The characters were well developed even in such a short story and the end left me wanting to read so much more.
Silver Comes The Night by M.L.D Curelas - 4/5
and
Outlines by Dirk Flinthart - 5/5
Both of these stories reminded me somewhat of paranormal versions of C.S.I and I enjoyed every bit of them - that is my type of reading! Great.
Sangue Della Notte by Donna Marie Hanson - 3/5
I don't know about this one. I mean - I remember liking it when I was reading it, but after reading the next short story it's gone completely. Maybe it just wasn't that memorable to me.
The Awakened Adventure Of Rick Candle by Joseph L. Kellog - 5/5
I love every minute of this one! The idea behind it was so unique and it was so interesting to read! I loved the ending, too. Talk about making you think. Kind of like a chicken and egg situation ;)
Third Circle by Lindsy Anderson - 5/5
The beginning of this story seemed sort of samey to me, similar to a few others in the book... however, I carried on reading and loved every minute of it. It was so interesting and I could picture it clearly, I loved the idea of the club! Very good!
Three Questions and One Troll by Chris Bauer - 3/5
The trolls and other beings in this story are not really my thing. I don't particularly like reading about them. However, although there were themes I did not enjoy there were essences I did, which bumped the score up for me. I enjoyed how each 'person' could be 'seen' differently, and that was really interesting to read.
Be Good, Sweet Maid by Penelope Love - 4/5
Very interesting concept, and I couldn't wait to see what would happen. That's what I want in a story, short or long.
Walking the Dead Beat by Robert Hood - 1/5
The only story I actually could not get through, I'm sorry. I just couldn't find anything in it I liked and I HATE not finishing a story once I've started, but with this one I just couldn't finish it. Not for me.
One Night at the Chery by Chris Large - 5/5
I loved this one! It's definately my favorite of the whole collection. I loved the twists, towards the end I was sure that a twist I assumed would happen was going to happen... and while it was hinted the twist was completely different and I loved that! I would have honestly, loved to end the book on this story.
Prohibition Blues by Lisa L. Hannett and Angela Slatter -2/5
Whilst I really enjoyed the beginning I thought the end was lacking in something. Not for me, and not the best way to end the book for me. Sorry.
Overall, whilst there were some stories that weren't my cup of tea I would give this book a strong 4 stars. Would I choose this book, with paranormal/fantasy type concepts? No. But honestly, I am glad I won this giveaway to be given the chance, because although the content really isn't my usual reading material I really enjoyed it. It was fun reading outside of my usual taste, too.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in paranormal/fantasy stories. This collection really does contain something for everyone! Vampires your thing? Got it. Zombies? Yep!
Definately something to check out.
Thank you for giving me the chance to read and review this book.
Seeing as this book is a compilation of short stories, I will rate each seperately and then give the book a general mark.
Blind Pig by Jay Caselburg - 1/5
The narration in this short story was reminiscent to me of that in Sim City. Although I liked the narration, I couldn't find it within me to care about what was going on, nothing really engaged me in this story. That's not to say it was bad, it just wasn't for me.
A Case To Die For by Karen Dent - 3/5
This one was a weird one for me. The beginning I liked a lot - towards the end I didn't, I thought it was too... weird. But the ending I liked a lot, too. It reminded me a bit of Stephen King, and for me, he either has 'Loves' or 'Hates' when I read his stories. This was a good one though. I enjoyed it. Very different.
Sound and Fury by Pete Kempshall - 4/5
This was a strange one, but compelling. I loved every minute of it, and both hated, but felt for the main character. Best one so far.
Burning, Always Burning by Alan Baxter + Felicity Dowker - 5/5
I loved every minute of this. This was one story that I actually couldn't put down. I kept reading it until it was over. Definately the best one. I loved how it was written, particularly how well the characters were portrayed.
The Black Star Killer by Nicole Murphy - 3/5
I thought this story had so much promise, I mean the characters..'abilities' were great, I just didn't find the story that engaging. I so wanted to love this one, but it left me feeling short. Like something was missing.
Hard Boiled by Brian G. Ross - 5/5
I loved this one, I just couldn't stop reading it. The characters were well developed even in such a short story and the end left me wanting to read so much more.
Silver Comes The Night by M.L.D Curelas - 4/5
and
Outlines by Dirk Flinthart - 5/5
Both of these stories reminded me somewhat of paranormal versions of C.S.I and I enjoyed every bit of them - that is my type of reading! Great.
Sangue Della Notte by Donna Marie Hanson - 3/5
I don't know about this one. I mean - I remember liking it when I was reading it, but after reading the next short story it's gone completely. Maybe it just wasn't that memorable to me.
The Awakened Adventure Of Rick Candle by Joseph L. Kellog - 5/5
I love every minute of this one! The idea behind it was so unique and it was so interesting to read! I loved the ending, too. Talk about making you think. Kind of like a chicken and egg situation ;)
Third Circle by Lindsy Anderson - 5/5
The beginning of this story seemed sort of samey to me, similar to a few others in the book... however, I carried on reading and loved every minute of it. It was so interesting and I could picture it clearly, I loved the idea of the club! Very good!
Three Questions and One Troll by Chris Bauer - 3/5
The trolls and other beings in this story are not really my thing. I don't particularly like reading about them. However, although there were themes I did not enjoy there were essences I did, which bumped the score up for me. I enjoyed how each 'person' could be 'seen' differently, and that was really interesting to read.
Be Good, Sweet Maid by Penelope Love - 4/5
Very interesting concept, and I couldn't wait to see what would happen. That's what I want in a story, short or long.
Walking the Dead Beat by Robert Hood - 1/5
The only story I actually could not get through, I'm sorry. I just couldn't find anything in it I liked and I HATE not finishing a story once I've started, but with this one I just couldn't finish it. Not for me.
One Night at the Chery by Chris Large - 5/5
I loved this one! It's definately my favorite of the whole collection. I loved the twists, towards the end I was sure that a twist I assumed would happen was going to happen... and while it was hinted the twist was completely different and I loved that! I would have honestly, loved to end the book on this story.
Prohibition Blues by Lisa L. Hannett and Angela Slatter -2/5
Whilst I really enjoyed the beginning I thought the end was lacking in something. Not for me, and not the best way to end the book for me. Sorry.
Overall, whilst there were some stories that weren't my cup of tea I would give this book a strong 4 stars. Would I choose this book, with paranormal/fantasy type concepts? No. But honestly, I am glad I won this giveaway to be given the chance, because although the content really isn't my usual reading material I really enjoyed it. It was fun reading outside of my usual taste, too.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in paranormal/fantasy stories. This collection really does contain something for everyone! Vampires your thing? Got it. Zombies? Yep!
Definately something to check out.
alanbaxter's review
5.0
I should start with a disclaimer - I have a story in this anthology, co-written with Felicity Dowker. However, obvious bias aside, this is a stellar collection. The variety of paranormal, supernatural, noiry goodness is astounding. As with any anthology, there were some stories that didn't hit my buttons exactly, but most did. Overall, it's a strong collection of the paranoirmal - a genre tag I'm even credited in the introduction as coining. Which is great, because I've always wanted to invent a word!
I'm a great fan of the noir tale - it's a genre I've loved for years. To combine that with the paranormal is just gravy for me. If you love your spec fic and/or your noir fiction, this book will move you. If, like me, you enjoy both, this book will rock your world.
My favourite tales would have to be Dirk Flinthart's "Outlines", Robert Hood's amazing daikaiju, zombie, ghostly, procedural noirish "Walking The Dead Beat", and "Prohibition Blues" from the brain team of Angela Slatter and Lisa L Hannett. And my collaboration with Felicity Dowker, of course. But there's so much other good stuff in here too. Get a copy and see which yarns turn out to be your favourites.
I'm a great fan of the noir tale - it's a genre I've loved for years. To combine that with the paranormal is just gravy for me. If you love your spec fic and/or your noir fiction, this book will move you. If, like me, you enjoy both, this book will rock your world.
My favourite tales would have to be Dirk Flinthart's "Outlines", Robert Hood's amazing daikaiju, zombie, ghostly, procedural noirish "Walking The Dead Beat", and "Prohibition Blues" from the brain team of Angela Slatter and Lisa L Hannett. And my collaboration with Felicity Dowker, of course. But there's so much other good stuff in here too. Get a copy and see which yarns turn out to be your favourites.
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