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lpcoolgirl's review against another edition
5.0
I know the title is Defy the Dark, but a good deal of these stories were about living in the darkness! Lots of creepy books, a lot with no real happy endings, but oh, well, really great short stories, loved reading them!
seeingnight's review
4.0
GENRE: YA Paranormal
THEME: Romance, Magic, Paranormal, and Science Fiction
RECEIVED: Epic Reads
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/
REVIEW:
I haven’t read or reviewed many anthologies before and to me it’s hard to pinpoint everything without spoiling too much. I’m going to try my best and give an idea of what I enjoyed about each one and hopefully it will help recommend some great story telling. At the beginning it does mentioned that there was a contest for a new author to debut their story in this book. For me since I have the ARC I didn’t get a chance to read it, so I look forward to reading reviews on that story when Defy the Dark is released.
The first story is Steepstalk by Courtney Summers: This was a twisted tale that confused me at first. The reader follows a young girl who is obsessed with a boy she as fallen for but can never be with. The protagonist has an interesting POV and will take the reader through her obsessed thoughts. I loved the ending because it left me wanting more and so curious to what she’s going to do next. Let’s just say I wouldn’t want to be on this girl’s bad side.
The next is called Nature by Aprilynne Pike: Pike is an author whom I have read before so I’m familiar with her writing. She created a unique dystopian world. The readers will follow one girl who is just at the right age to be chosen on her new path, Nature, Nurture, or Labor, she has been chosen for Nature. I liked the protagonist and watching how the world was structured. But I wasn’t able to connect as well as I would have like with the characters and it was missing something in the plot that I cant put my finger on.
The Dark Side of the Moon by Dia Reeves: I haven’t read anything by Reeves before. This was an interesting paranormal story following two teens that are at band camp. It was actually a fun story with magical elements and a boy trying to impress his girlfriend’s parents and this is where things get a little crazy.
Ghost Town by Malinda Lo: I’ve read a lot of great reviews on Lo’s books but never actually read anything by her yet. This story was super creepy, but as a fan of the television show Ghost Hunters it was definitely one of my favorites. This story follows the new girl in town Ty, who is hurt by a mean prank by a girl at school. There is the story of a hunted place where two women died and Ty comes in contact with something eerie.
Eyes in the Dark by Rachel Hawkins: I really enjoy Hawkins Hex series and was super excited to read her short. This was another paranormal story that follows two young teens that get into a scary situation, let just say creepy red eye creatures in the dark forest. My only issue with this story was I didn’t like the female character that does something immature.
Stillwater by Valerie Kemp: Loved this story, I felt this was the most science fiction among all the paranormalish shorts. It’s about a small and strange town in Texas who has two families that are connected. From each family there are two children who discover a secret and pretty much cant fall asleep or they might forget about it. Kemp is a new author I’m looking forward to reading more of her books. Stillwater could defiantly be a full-length story and it left me wanting to know what happens next.
I Gave You My Love By the Light of the Moon by Sarah Rees Brennan: I can never resist a werewolf story and a bonus there are vampires. It has romance elements and about two teens meeting while camping. The boy helps the girl who was bitten, which I’m sure everyone can piece it all together. Even though I feel its been done before I liked this one just because it’s a classic paranormal tale and really well written.
Night Swimming by Beth Revis: I felt I was missing something when I started this one. I actually gave up because I just couldn't get into the story. This was a DNR short for me.
Almost Normal by Carrie Ryan: Ah! I loved how intense this was and really gets the adrenaline pumping. Let’s just say I’m not a zombie fan and would be in major freak out mode if this happened. Once again following a group of teens at the beginning of an apocalypse. There are bits of romance elements but we get some insight on to how scary their lives are about to get.
There's Nowhere Else by Jon Skovron: This story has some great potential for a full length. I loved the idea of body jumping and not understanding that there may be consequences for this. I wished this one were a bit longer because I felt I was missing something at the end… or I just wanted to read more. But great male lead who has to make a tough choice.
Naughty or Nice by Myra McEntire: I haven’t read McEntires young adult series but this one made me really want to start it. I loved the creepy monster aspect that creates an odd situation for two teens Bex and Henry. Both have been friends since they were little and can’t wait for their school trip that brings them a little more adventure than they hoped. This is another one I wished was a bit longer, I liked the romance and humor that was much needed for me with the dark tone of the other stories.
Shadowed by Christine Johnson: More unanswered questions but still an interesting story. A fantasy tale with some romance that is a bit insta-love. A curse must be broken, a bit of light a dark elements and a two character I really liked. As I said this anthology is full of endings that are left with questions, this ending was a bit of a bummer.
Now Bid Time Return by Saundra Mitchell: Another favorite, I always wanted to read a good story that has the myth of the Northern Lights. This one follows Dacey whom has won a contest to take picture of the lights. She ends up meeting a boy that isn’t from her time and seems to know her. Love, love this one! I hope Mitchell will write a longer version of this; she’s a great writer that I’ll be watching out for.
The Moth and the Spider by Sarah Ockler: This was probably the darkest story out of all, dark being the not scary type. Cali the protagonist is in a dark place in her life feeling lonely, until she gets a call. I’m not really sure what this story was aiming for but I wasn’t too fond of it.
Where the Light Is by Jackson Pearce: Pearce is a great character writer; I felt this showed a little hint at what he does best. Two characters from two different worlds, a young miner named Will who becomes friends with a creature called a Knocker. Great writing and something I would love to read more about.
Lastly, This Was Ophelia by Tessa Gratton: This was probably one of my least favorites, which is sad since I love Grattons writing. It’s about a girl who likes to dress as a boy who falls for a guy who likes kissing boys. The young girl “O” likes the freedom she gets from being a male but everything changes when she meets the mayor’s son. I liked the character “O” but the story fell flat with Halden the mayor’s son. I haven’t read Hamlet but I’ve heard this is a take on that story.
RECOMMENDATION:
As I have said before I haven’t read many anthologies so this is my small glimpse of the stories I liked and disliked. I highly recommend checking out each of these authors as the all have something special in their writing.
THEME: Romance, Magic, Paranormal, and Science Fiction
RECEIVED: Epic Reads
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/
REVIEW:
I haven’t read or reviewed many anthologies before and to me it’s hard to pinpoint everything without spoiling too much. I’m going to try my best and give an idea of what I enjoyed about each one and hopefully it will help recommend some great story telling. At the beginning it does mentioned that there was a contest for a new author to debut their story in this book. For me since I have the ARC I didn’t get a chance to read it, so I look forward to reading reviews on that story when Defy the Dark is released.
The first story is Steepstalk by Courtney Summers: This was a twisted tale that confused me at first. The reader follows a young girl who is obsessed with a boy she as fallen for but can never be with. The protagonist has an interesting POV and will take the reader through her obsessed thoughts. I loved the ending because it left me wanting more and so curious to what she’s going to do next. Let’s just say I wouldn’t want to be on this girl’s bad side.
The next is called Nature by Aprilynne Pike: Pike is an author whom I have read before so I’m familiar with her writing. She created a unique dystopian world. The readers will follow one girl who is just at the right age to be chosen on her new path, Nature, Nurture, or Labor, she has been chosen for Nature. I liked the protagonist and watching how the world was structured. But I wasn’t able to connect as well as I would have like with the characters and it was missing something in the plot that I cant put my finger on.
The Dark Side of the Moon by Dia Reeves: I haven’t read anything by Reeves before. This was an interesting paranormal story following two teens that are at band camp. It was actually a fun story with magical elements and a boy trying to impress his girlfriend’s parents and this is where things get a little crazy.
Ghost Town by Malinda Lo: I’ve read a lot of great reviews on Lo’s books but never actually read anything by her yet. This story was super creepy, but as a fan of the television show Ghost Hunters it was definitely one of my favorites. This story follows the new girl in town Ty, who is hurt by a mean prank by a girl at school. There is the story of a hunted place where two women died and Ty comes in contact with something eerie.
Eyes in the Dark by Rachel Hawkins: I really enjoy Hawkins Hex series and was super excited to read her short. This was another paranormal story that follows two young teens that get into a scary situation, let just say creepy red eye creatures in the dark forest. My only issue with this story was I didn’t like the female character that does something immature.
Stillwater by Valerie Kemp: Loved this story, I felt this was the most science fiction among all the paranormalish shorts. It’s about a small and strange town in Texas who has two families that are connected. From each family there are two children who discover a secret and pretty much cant fall asleep or they might forget about it. Kemp is a new author I’m looking forward to reading more of her books. Stillwater could defiantly be a full-length story and it left me wanting to know what happens next.
I Gave You My Love By the Light of the Moon by Sarah Rees Brennan: I can never resist a werewolf story and a bonus there are vampires. It has romance elements and about two teens meeting while camping. The boy helps the girl who was bitten, which I’m sure everyone can piece it all together. Even though I feel its been done before I liked this one just because it’s a classic paranormal tale and really well written.
Night Swimming by Beth Revis: I felt I was missing something when I started this one. I actually gave up because I just couldn't get into the story. This was a DNR short for me.
Almost Normal by Carrie Ryan: Ah! I loved how intense this was and really gets the adrenaline pumping. Let’s just say I’m not a zombie fan and would be in major freak out mode if this happened. Once again following a group of teens at the beginning of an apocalypse. There are bits of romance elements but we get some insight on to how scary their lives are about to get.
There's Nowhere Else by Jon Skovron: This story has some great potential for a full length. I loved the idea of body jumping and not understanding that there may be consequences for this. I wished this one were a bit longer because I felt I was missing something at the end… or I just wanted to read more. But great male lead who has to make a tough choice.
Naughty or Nice by Myra McEntire: I haven’t read McEntires young adult series but this one made me really want to start it. I loved the creepy monster aspect that creates an odd situation for two teens Bex and Henry. Both have been friends since they were little and can’t wait for their school trip that brings them a little more adventure than they hoped. This is another one I wished was a bit longer, I liked the romance and humor that was much needed for me with the dark tone of the other stories.
Shadowed by Christine Johnson: More unanswered questions but still an interesting story. A fantasy tale with some romance that is a bit insta-love. A curse must be broken, a bit of light a dark elements and a two character I really liked. As I said this anthology is full of endings that are left with questions, this ending was a bit of a bummer.
Now Bid Time Return by Saundra Mitchell: Another favorite, I always wanted to read a good story that has the myth of the Northern Lights. This one follows Dacey whom has won a contest to take picture of the lights. She ends up meeting a boy that isn’t from her time and seems to know her. Love, love this one! I hope Mitchell will write a longer version of this; she’s a great writer that I’ll be watching out for.
The Moth and the Spider by Sarah Ockler: This was probably the darkest story out of all, dark being the not scary type. Cali the protagonist is in a dark place in her life feeling lonely, until she gets a call. I’m not really sure what this story was aiming for but I wasn’t too fond of it.
Where the Light Is by Jackson Pearce: Pearce is a great character writer; I felt this showed a little hint at what he does best. Two characters from two different worlds, a young miner named Will who becomes friends with a creature called a Knocker. Great writing and something I would love to read more about.
Lastly, This Was Ophelia by Tessa Gratton: This was probably one of my least favorites, which is sad since I love Grattons writing. It’s about a girl who likes to dress as a boy who falls for a guy who likes kissing boys. The young girl “O” likes the freedom she gets from being a male but everything changes when she meets the mayor’s son. I liked the character “O” but the story fell flat with Halden the mayor’s son. I haven’t read Hamlet but I’ve heard this is a take on that story.
RECOMMENDATION:
As I have said before I haven’t read many anthologies so this is my small glimpse of the stories I liked and disliked. I highly recommend checking out each of these authors as the all have something special in their writing.
crystalisreading's review against another edition
3.0
I was torn on how to rate this book. Some of the stories were really enjoyable. A few of them confused me, though, or really seriously annoyed me, and so I can't give it an overall great rating. Here's a breakdown author by author, in order:
Sleepstalk by Courtney Summers--read like a convincing glimpse into the mind of a violent stalker. obviously quite disturbing reading because of this, but I thought it was well done.
Nature by Aprillyn Pike--I loved the initial concept of the story, and was really excited to see where it went. But the story definitely didn't live up to its premise. the minute we got to insta-love and teens snapping at each other as a sign of this instant love, I started to get frustrated, and it didn't improve. Sad. it could have been so much better and more interesting. Also, I struggled to see how this really fit into the whole "dark" theme of the collection.
The Dark Side of the Moon by Dia Reeves--This was a weird story. I give kudos for original characters and setting, especially in combination (African American teen in a rural Texas town). but the story itself was just creepy and weird.
Ghost Town by Malinda Lo--another creepy story, ghosts and thwarted lesbian love and whatnot. I didn't love it.
Eyes in the Dark by Rachel Hawkins--no. just no. especially not before bed. I didn't like this from start to finish, and it was really creepy. definitely dark.
Stillwater by Valerie Kemp--This was a very interesting, original, creative story. I liked Pruitt and Delilah, and was rooting for them to find what they were seeking. The story was mildly creepy and definitely compelling--making me think of the Truman Show and Pleasantville and stories like that. Run, Pruitt, run!
I Gave You My Love by the Light of the Moon by Sarah Rees Brennan--Rees Brennan seems to favor thin, gentle heroes. definitely not alpha males. that doesn't keep me from liking her stories, though, and this was no exception. I liked the two main characters, enjoyed the development of their relationship, and enjoyed the treatment of the supernatural elements of the story line.
Night Swimming by Beth Revis--This story felt familiar, but maybe it's because all of Revis' stories are set in her Elder/Eldest/ spaceship world. I didn't like anyone in this story, and kind of saw the ending coming. I didn't enjoy it.
The Sunflower Murders by Kate Espey--I didn't feel like this was an actual story so much as a long letter written to a deceased friend, and mostly just too sad and tragic for my taste.
Almost Normal by Carrie Ryan--oooh, Carrie Ryan doing a zombie story--that's new! ...um, yeah. anyway, this seemed like it was set early within her normal zombie setting, when the walled cities were just being established in response to the zombie plague. Zombies and roller coasters...not a terrible story, but I didn't really get into it, didn't care for any of the characters, etc.
There's Nowhere Else by Jon Skovron--This was an interesting story, and was in some ways compelling. I always wince at stories, though, that present running off and abandoning school, no matter how good the cause, as an ideal solution. It just seems like it's reinforcing the wrong ideas with kids. Otherwise this was a creative story about dream walking, and choosing between right and wrong, and standing up to abuse and injustice.
Naughty or Nice by Myra McEntire--Spoiled rich kids on an elaborate expensive vacation is rarely a big draw for me. The whole "Krampus" element was creative and something I hadn't heard before, but a little too "Hotel Kalifornia" for me. Didn't really like it overall.
Shadowed by Christine Johnson--This was certainly creative--a murderous shadow? so much potential for awesome story telling. I liked Sir Rylan, despite the somewhat inexplicable insta-love. I was rooting for the poor girl stuck in the dark in the tower. Then I hit the ending and, after I stopped being confused and realized what happened, got so angry that I almost threw the book across the room. I felt like it negated the whole point of reading the story. No thanks.
Now Bid Time Return by Saundra Mitchell--a beautiful, dreamy story in a beautiful dreamy setting. I want to go to there. more insta-love, though, and an unrealistically ambiguous ending. overall enjoyable but forgettable.
The Moth and the Spider by Sarah Ockler--It was interesting reading from the perspective of a suicide attempt survivor. Otherwise, I didn't feel like there was really a point to the story, and it was just sad and creepy.
Where the Light Is by Jackson Pearce--A strange, dark, beautiful story. Given the span of time in the course of the story, I won't label it insta-love. Patricia Briggs wrote a short story about the fae deep underground in mines too, so the idea wasn't new exactly, but it was written in a compelling way, and I was rooting for Ennor and Will. I liked the inherent skepticism of mining as well.
This Was Ophelia by Tessa Gratton--Well written, with sharply drawn characters, but ultimate rather bewildering for me. Is O supposed to be a transexual? a woman who wants to be a man but to be with other men? I didn't know, and I couldn't relate to her any more than I could understand her, or her beloved Hal. The play on Hamlet was clever, but I still didn't enjoy the story overall.
Overall, I did enjoy the collection, and may hunt down a few more of the authors I read and enjoyed in here. With a theme like darkness, I was bound to not enjoy some of the stories, but the book as a whole was still worth my time.
Sleepstalk by Courtney Summers--read like a convincing glimpse into the mind of a violent stalker. obviously quite disturbing reading because of this, but I thought it was well done.
Nature by Aprillyn Pike--I loved the initial concept of the story, and was really excited to see where it went. But the story definitely didn't live up to its premise. the minute we got to insta-love and teens snapping at each other as a sign of this instant love, I started to get frustrated, and it didn't improve. Sad. it could have been so much better and more interesting. Also, I struggled to see how this really fit into the whole "dark" theme of the collection.
The Dark Side of the Moon by Dia Reeves--This was a weird story. I give kudos for original characters and setting, especially in combination (African American teen in a rural Texas town). but the story itself was just creepy and weird.
Ghost Town by Malinda Lo--another creepy story, ghosts and thwarted lesbian love and whatnot. I didn't love it.
Eyes in the Dark by Rachel Hawkins--no. just no. especially not before bed. I didn't like this from start to finish, and it was really creepy. definitely dark.
Stillwater by Valerie Kemp--This was a very interesting, original, creative story. I liked Pruitt and Delilah, and was rooting for them to find what they were seeking. The story was mildly creepy and definitely compelling--making me think of the Truman Show and Pleasantville and stories like that. Run, Pruitt, run!
I Gave You My Love by the Light of the Moon by Sarah Rees Brennan--Rees Brennan seems to favor thin, gentle heroes. definitely not alpha males. that doesn't keep me from liking her stories, though, and this was no exception. I liked the two main characters, enjoyed the development of their relationship, and enjoyed the treatment of the supernatural elements of the story line.
Night Swimming by Beth Revis--This story felt familiar, but maybe it's because all of Revis' stories are set in her Elder/Eldest/ spaceship world. I didn't like anyone in this story, and kind of saw the ending coming. I didn't enjoy it.
The Sunflower Murders by Kate Espey--I didn't feel like this was an actual story so much as a long letter written to a deceased friend, and mostly just too sad and tragic for my taste.
Almost Normal by Carrie Ryan--oooh, Carrie Ryan doing a zombie story--that's new! ...um, yeah. anyway, this seemed like it was set early within her normal zombie setting, when the walled cities were just being established in response to the zombie plague. Zombies and roller coasters...not a terrible story, but I didn't really get into it, didn't care for any of the characters, etc.
There's Nowhere Else by Jon Skovron--This was an interesting story, and was in some ways compelling. I always wince at stories, though, that present running off and abandoning school, no matter how good the cause, as an ideal solution. It just seems like it's reinforcing the wrong ideas with kids. Otherwise this was a creative story about dream walking, and choosing between right and wrong, and standing up to abuse and injustice.
Naughty or Nice by Myra McEntire--Spoiled rich kids on an elaborate expensive vacation is rarely a big draw for me. The whole "Krampus" element was creative and something I hadn't heard before, but a little too "Hotel Kalifornia" for me. Didn't really like it overall.
Shadowed by Christine Johnson--This was certainly creative--a murderous shadow? so much potential for awesome story telling. I liked Sir Rylan, despite the somewhat inexplicable insta-love. I was rooting for the poor girl stuck in the dark in the tower. Then I hit the ending and, after I stopped being confused and realized what happened, got so angry that I almost threw the book across the room. I felt like it negated the whole point of reading the story. No thanks.
Now Bid Time Return by Saundra Mitchell--a beautiful, dreamy story in a beautiful dreamy setting. I want to go to there. more insta-love, though, and an unrealistically ambiguous ending. overall enjoyable but forgettable.
The Moth and the Spider by Sarah Ockler--It was interesting reading from the perspective of a suicide attempt survivor. Otherwise, I didn't feel like there was really a point to the story, and it was just sad and creepy.
Where the Light Is by Jackson Pearce--A strange, dark, beautiful story. Given the span of time in the course of the story, I won't label it insta-love. Patricia Briggs wrote a short story about the fae deep underground in mines too, so the idea wasn't new exactly, but it was written in a compelling way, and I was rooting for Ennor and Will. I liked the inherent skepticism of mining as well.
This Was Ophelia by Tessa Gratton--Well written, with sharply drawn characters, but ultimate rather bewildering for me. Is O supposed to be a transexual? a woman who wants to be a man but to be with other men? I didn't know, and I couldn't relate to her any more than I could understand her, or her beloved Hal. The play on Hamlet was clever, but I still didn't enjoy the story overall.
Overall, I did enjoy the collection, and may hunt down a few more of the authors I read and enjoyed in here. With a theme like darkness, I was bound to not enjoy some of the stories, but the book as a whole was still worth my time.
maggie_the_reader's review
4.0
Defy the Dark is a really strong anthology. There are many excellent stories and even the ones that didn’t wow me were definitely worth reading. I believe virtually everyone would find something they like here. Recommended for anyone who appreciates good storytelling.
fantasyobsessed13's review
3.0
I only read 3 of the stories:
Night Swimming by Beth Revis: This story was OK. It dealt with characters that are side characters in her main Across the Universe trilogy. Honestly, I read the trilogy a couple years back, and didn't remember much about these characters as I was reading this short. I vaguely remember how the end of this story is mentioned in one of the main books.
Eyes in the Dark by Rachel Hawkins: I adore Rachel Hawkins writing. I flew thru the Hex Hall trilogy so I made it a point to read this one. It was entertaining and quick, but there wasn't anything super special about it. A night out between a boy and a girl ends in a horrible twist.
Almost Normal by Carrie Ryan: I liked this story the most. Although not directly related to the Forest of Hands and Teeth trilogy, it is a similar concept with the undead. Add in an amusement park and this was a fun read.
Night Swimming by Beth Revis: This story was OK. It dealt with characters that are side characters in her main Across the Universe trilogy. Honestly, I read the trilogy a couple years back, and didn't remember much about these characters as I was reading this short. I vaguely remember how the end of this story is mentioned in one of the main books.
Eyes in the Dark by Rachel Hawkins: I adore Rachel Hawkins writing. I flew thru the Hex Hall trilogy so I made it a point to read this one. It was entertaining and quick, but there wasn't anything super special about it. A night out between a boy and a girl ends in a horrible twist.
Almost Normal by Carrie Ryan: I liked this story the most. Although not directly related to the Forest of Hands and Teeth trilogy, it is a similar concept with the undead. Add in an amusement park and this was a fun read.
eloriee's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
monicajosephine's review
3.0
Some of the stories were pretty good. Some of them were miserable. Some of them were just not to my taste. I like anthologies like this because they give me leads for authors I might want to check out more thoroughly. And those I'd like to avoid.
thereadingraccoon's review against another edition
3.0
Like all short story collections this had a mixed bag of some 2,3 and 4 star reads. I gave it a 3 as average. My favorites were by Courtney Summers, Carrie Ryan and Tessa Gratton.
mhairi's review against another edition
4.0
Originally posted at Mhairi Reads
Defy the Dark is an anthology of stories set under the cover of darkness. Written by seventeen Young Adult authors, the stories cover a wide variety of genres, including dystopia, horror, paranormal, romance and crime. I picked this one up for two reasons:
1. It features stories by my perrenial favourites Sarah Rees Brennan and Carrie Ryan.
2. It has a super pretty cover and I am a total sucker for those.
In addition to some great standalone pieces, Defy the Dark also features expanded world stories from Beth Revis’ Across the Universe and Carrie Ryan’s The Forest of Hands and Teeth series so if you’re a fan of those series I advise you pick up a copy.
It was really hard for me to narrow down the stand out stories for this post so I’ve left it at my Top 6. In no particular order:
Eyes in the Dark by Rachel Hawkins
Very much following the trope of the ‘teens making out in the car’ horror set up but I was still pretty creeped out by the end of it. Not to mention very angry at Kelley for being a total wanker (spoilers).
Stillwater by Valerie Kemp
Every day Pruitt Reese drives the mind-numbing delivery route from his family’s farm around the small town of Stillwater. The only highlight of his day is his neighbour Delilah. Delilah is also on the wrong side of a longstanding family feud and Pruitt knows his romantic notions will never come to pass. But there is something strange about Stillwater and, together, Pruitt and Delilah are going to discover what it is.
Almost Normal by Carrie Ryan
Set in Vista, the town featured in Ryan’s The Dead Tossed Waves, at the start of the zombie apocalypse. Four friends decide to have one last hurrah at the amusement park before the dead descend on their town. Of course, nothing involving zombies ever goes to plan.
Shadowed by Christine Johnson
Esme has lived her whole life in darkness, confined to a tower in her father’s castle thanks to a curse placed on her as a baby. If she ever casts a shadow it turns on her and tries to kill her. She is resigned to a life in the tower until a new (and very handsome) knight arrives to fight in her father’s tournament. Could he be the one to break Esme’s curse?
Where the Light Is by Jackson Pearce
Deep underground a young miner hears a strange knocking sound. Following it he discovers a mysterious girl named Ennor, living in the earth. Although he never sees her they soon become close friends. But trouble is brewing between the miners and Ennor’s family and the pair find themselves caught in the middle.
This Was Ophelia by Tessa Gratton
A beautiful story about being true to youself, not what society expects of you. I was all in for Ophelia/O and Hal’s stuggle to be who they wanted to be. Their love story is wonderful, one of my absolute favourites in this anthology.
4 stars.
Similar reads: After by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling, Shards and Ashes by Melissa Marr and Kelley Armstrong.
Defy the Dark is an anthology of stories set under the cover of darkness. Written by seventeen Young Adult authors, the stories cover a wide variety of genres, including dystopia, horror, paranormal, romance and crime. I picked this one up for two reasons:
1. It features stories by my perrenial favourites Sarah Rees Brennan and Carrie Ryan.
2. It has a super pretty cover and I am a total sucker for those.
In addition to some great standalone pieces, Defy the Dark also features expanded world stories from Beth Revis’ Across the Universe and Carrie Ryan’s The Forest of Hands and Teeth series so if you’re a fan of those series I advise you pick up a copy.
It was really hard for me to narrow down the stand out stories for this post so I’ve left it at my Top 6. In no particular order:
Eyes in the Dark by Rachel Hawkins
Very much following the trope of the ‘teens making out in the car’ horror set up but I was still pretty creeped out by the end of it. Not to mention very angry at Kelley for being a total wanker (spoilers).
Stillwater by Valerie Kemp
Every day Pruitt Reese drives the mind-numbing delivery route from his family’s farm around the small town of Stillwater. The only highlight of his day is his neighbour Delilah. Delilah is also on the wrong side of a longstanding family feud and Pruitt knows his romantic notions will never come to pass. But there is something strange about Stillwater and, together, Pruitt and Delilah are going to discover what it is.
Almost Normal by Carrie Ryan
Set in Vista, the town featured in Ryan’s The Dead Tossed Waves, at the start of the zombie apocalypse. Four friends decide to have one last hurrah at the amusement park before the dead descend on their town. Of course, nothing involving zombies ever goes to plan.
Shadowed by Christine Johnson
Esme has lived her whole life in darkness, confined to a tower in her father’s castle thanks to a curse placed on her as a baby. If she ever casts a shadow it turns on her and tries to kill her. She is resigned to a life in the tower until a new (and very handsome) knight arrives to fight in her father’s tournament. Could he be the one to break Esme’s curse?
Where the Light Is by Jackson Pearce
Deep underground a young miner hears a strange knocking sound. Following it he discovers a mysterious girl named Ennor, living in the earth. Although he never sees her they soon become close friends. But trouble is brewing between the miners and Ennor’s family and the pair find themselves caught in the middle.
This Was Ophelia by Tessa Gratton
A beautiful story about being true to youself, not what society expects of you. I was all in for Ophelia/O and Hal’s stuggle to be who they wanted to be. Their love story is wonderful, one of my absolute favourites in this anthology.
4 stars.
Similar reads: After by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling, Shards and Ashes by Melissa Marr and Kelley Armstrong.