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bookwyrm76's review
2.0
Unfortunatly like most short story collections my feelings varied from story to story. There were some by my faves which I loved and some by others that I thought were ok and a few that I was 'eh' on. Not something I would buy for myself but really glad that the library bought it and I could read it.
kathydavie's review
4.0
An anthology of nine short stories with a central theme of the dark, stormy protector. A person who will fight to save but not always in the most scrupulous manner.
Series:
"A Questionable Client" (Kate Daniels, 0.5)
"Even Hand" (Dresden Files, 11.6)
"Dark Lady" (Vampire Files: Jack Fleming, 2 years after his "death" and Lady Crymsyn is open)
"Shifting Star" (Zodiac, 4.75)
"God's Creatures" (Kitty Norville, 0.6)
The Stories
Ilona Andrews' "A Questionable Client" fills in the background on Kate and Saiman's first meeting. It certainly rams it home as to why Kate finds it so easy to ignore Saiman's attempts at seduction! As we also learn more about his pricing and the discount he's given Kate.
Also in Magic Graves.
Jim Butcher's "Even Hand" is actually about Gentleman Marcone in which we learn more about his business ethics—both good and bad. This is not a man you want to cross.
Shannon K. Butcher's "Beacon" is an oddly sweet romance that starts with our dark and stormy knight with a bead on a little girl, the Beacon. The only way to keep the town around this young girl safe is to shoot her. But Ryder Ward can't quite bring himself to do it. No matter how many people will die…
Rachel Caine's "Even a Rabbit Will Die" is a clever bit! Liesl Martin is over 742-years-old and being retired from her duties as a dragonslayer. Yeah, yeah, sure, the Pope sent her a sweet letter with blessings and thanks but what is she supposed to do now. Oh, yeah, train her replacement…young pups!
P. N. Elrod's "Dark Lady" brings a little light onto Myrna! A mobster, Foxtrot Joe, has been caught skimming on his collections and Gordy's found out. Joe's girl, Emma, is hoping Jack can help a girl out.
Deidre Knight's "Beknighted" is confusing with little illumination at the end. Dreams have caused Anna to continue to try to paint the knight who appears in her sleeping fantasies but a miscut here, a slip of the brush there, poor mounting, a misapplication of color. It's just too frustrating until he shows up with exactly what she needs.
Vicki Pettersson's "Shifting Star" made me cry! Skamar is exploring life, learning how to cope. Becoming a full-blown tulpa has made Skamar strong but dealing with people is confusing. That neighbor of hers, Vaughan, keeps bugging her about coffee. Then Zoe Archer, her maker??, has a task for her. Protecting her granddaughter, Ashlyn, from the Tulpa. For Ashlyn is a young agent just about to start her second life cycle, "the most vulnerable point" in her life and she must be protected from the Dark.
Okay, I think I want to read this series as it sounds intriguing if a bit cartoony BUT this story was a bit frustrating as it didn't explain who people were or what their relationships were to each other.
Lilith Saintcrow's "Rookwood and Mrs. King" is intriguing. I'm hoping there's more than just this one story out there! A new widow has just hired Rookwood, a private eye, to deal with her husband. Seems he just won't go quietly into that good night. Seems there's a lot more beneath both their stories than we see on the surface. Saintcrow provides plenty of information for this particular story with lots of gaps that make me want to know more about the bigger story.
Carrie Vaughan's "God's Creatures" is an aside with Cormac taking on a job to hunt the killer of a rancher's cattle. A trail that seems to lead to a Catholic reform school.
The Cover and Title
I think the couple on the book with the hazy lit-up city in the night's background are compiled from the various stories in the book. They seem to be perched in front of a railing. He's wearing a black leather jacket and a white T and sitting down in front of her loosely clasping a smoking rifle. She's wearing a shiny black scoop-necked shirt with cap sleeves and black leather pants with a low-slung studded belt. Loose, long hair blowing in the breeze, studded leather cuffs around her wrists and left bicep with a V'd black choker around her neck as she holds a gun up. He looks a bit stunned while she's looking out at us at an angle, a knowing look in her eye as she seems to question our next step.
The title, Dark and Stormy Knights, is, oh, so appropriate for these stories. For every story has a dark hero who storms in to protect.
Series:
"A Questionable Client" (Kate Daniels, 0.5)
"Even Hand" (Dresden Files, 11.6)
"Dark Lady" (Vampire Files: Jack Fleming, 2 years after his "death" and Lady Crymsyn is open)
"Shifting Star" (Zodiac, 4.75)
"God's Creatures" (Kitty Norville, 0.6)
The Stories
Ilona Andrews' "A Questionable Client" fills in the background on Kate and Saiman's first meeting. It certainly rams it home as to why Kate finds it so easy to ignore Saiman's attempts at seduction! As we also learn more about his pricing and the discount he's given Kate.
Also in Magic Graves.
Jim Butcher's "Even Hand" is actually about Gentleman Marcone in which we learn more about his business ethics—both good and bad. This is not a man you want to cross.
Shannon K. Butcher's "Beacon" is an oddly sweet romance that starts with our dark and stormy knight with a bead on a little girl, the Beacon. The only way to keep the town around this young girl safe is to shoot her. But Ryder Ward can't quite bring himself to do it. No matter how many people will die…
Rachel Caine's "Even a Rabbit Will Die" is a clever bit! Liesl Martin is over 742-years-old and being retired from her duties as a dragonslayer. Yeah, yeah, sure, the Pope sent her a sweet letter with blessings and thanks but what is she supposed to do now. Oh, yeah, train her replacement…young pups!
P. N. Elrod's "Dark Lady" brings a little light onto Myrna! A mobster, Foxtrot Joe, has been caught skimming on his collections and Gordy's found out. Joe's girl, Emma, is hoping Jack can help a girl out.
Deidre Knight's "Beknighted" is confusing with little illumination at the end. Dreams have caused Anna to continue to try to paint the knight who appears in her sleeping fantasies but a miscut here, a slip of the brush there, poor mounting, a misapplication of color. It's just too frustrating until he shows up with exactly what she needs.
Vicki Pettersson's "Shifting Star" made me cry! Skamar is exploring life, learning how to cope. Becoming a full-blown tulpa has made Skamar strong but dealing with people is confusing. That neighbor of hers, Vaughan, keeps bugging her about coffee. Then Zoe Archer, her maker??, has a task for her. Protecting her granddaughter, Ashlyn, from the Tulpa. For Ashlyn is a young agent just about to start her second life cycle, "the most vulnerable point" in her life and she must be protected from the Dark.
Okay, I think I want to read this series as it sounds intriguing if a bit cartoony BUT this story was a bit frustrating as it didn't explain who people were or what their relationships were to each other.
Lilith Saintcrow's "Rookwood and Mrs. King" is intriguing. I'm hoping there's more than just this one story out there! A new widow has just hired Rookwood, a private eye, to deal with her husband. Seems he just won't go quietly into that good night. Seems there's a lot more beneath both their stories than we see on the surface. Saintcrow provides plenty of information for this particular story with lots of gaps that make me want to know more about the bigger story.
Carrie Vaughan's "God's Creatures" is an aside with Cormac taking on a job to hunt the killer of a rancher's cattle. A trail that seems to lead to a Catholic reform school.
The Cover and Title
I think the couple on the book with the hazy lit-up city in the night's background are compiled from the various stories in the book. They seem to be perched in front of a railing. He's wearing a black leather jacket and a white T and sitting down in front of her loosely clasping a smoking rifle. She's wearing a shiny black scoop-necked shirt with cap sleeves and black leather pants with a low-slung studded belt. Loose, long hair blowing in the breeze, studded leather cuffs around her wrists and left bicep with a V'd black choker around her neck as she holds a gun up. He looks a bit stunned while she's looking out at us at an angle, a knowing look in her eye as she seems to question our next step.
The title, Dark and Stormy Knights, is, oh, so appropriate for these stories. For every story has a dark hero who storms in to protect.
yodamom's review
3.0
I enjoyed Ilona Andrews story and the Butchers stories very much. I also liked PN Elrod's story, and Deidre Knight's, but not the others. Hey 5 out of 9 is not bad. I am just not a big fan of anthologies.
brendalovesbooks's review
3.0
I liked A Questionable Client, but that's no surprise since I love the Kate Daniels series. 4 stars
I didn't really love Even Hand. I felt a bit lost while reading it. That's most likely because I've never read this series by Jim Butcher. I do have Storm Front on my TBR list. I'm still planning to read it, but I'm not super looking forward to it, if this short story is any indication. 3 stars
The premise behind The Beacon was really original. I think this worked as a short story, but I can't see there being enough to this to make a whole book. And, looking on the author's goodreads page, it looks like it's not part of a series. I'll just say, I liked this short story, but didn't necessarily like the writing enough to read anything else by the author." 3 1/2 stars
I loved Even a Rabbit Will Bite, even though I saw the ending coming a mile away. Rachel Caine is kind of a hit or miss author for me, but this one was really good. Maybe I should just stick to her short stories, if she has any more. 5 stars
I've never read anything by P.N. Elrod. I enjoyed Dark Lady quite a bit. It was in a really easy to read, fun style. I'm going to look for more of this series. 4 stars
I got about 5 pages into Beknighted before I realized I didn't actually have to read every story in the collection. I hated it. I definitely will be avoiding anything by this author in the future; just not my thing at all. 1 star
Shifting Star was okay. It was an original concept, very different from most urban fantasy I've read. But it was almost too different. I felt like I was thrown into a world where I had no idea what was going on, or what the rules were or anything. 2 stars
Rookwood & Mrs. King was okay, but was ultimately forgettable, and I won't be looking for anything else by this author. 3 stars
God's Creatures--pretty much the same as the previous story. 3 stars
Overall this collection was interesting, and I'm glad I read it. In the past I haven't really loved short stories, but for the most part these were good, or at least entertaining enough to enjoy the story.
I didn't really love Even Hand. I felt a bit lost while reading it. That's most likely because I've never read this series by Jim Butcher. I do have Storm Front on my TBR list. I'm still planning to read it, but I'm not super looking forward to it, if this short story is any indication. 3 stars
The premise behind The Beacon was really original. I think this worked as a short story, but I can't see there being enough to this to make a whole book. And, looking on the author's goodreads page, it looks like it's not part of a series. I'll just say, I liked this short story, but didn't necessarily like the writing enough to read anything else by the author." 3 1/2 stars
I loved Even a Rabbit Will Bite, even though I saw the ending coming a mile away. Rachel Caine is kind of a hit or miss author for me, but this one was really good. Maybe I should just stick to her short stories, if she has any more. 5 stars
I've never read anything by P.N. Elrod. I enjoyed Dark Lady quite a bit. It was in a really easy to read, fun style. I'm going to look for more of this series. 4 stars
I got about 5 pages into Beknighted before I realized I didn't actually have to read every story in the collection. I hated it. I definitely will be avoiding anything by this author in the future; just not my thing at all. 1 star
Shifting Star was okay. It was an original concept, very different from most urban fantasy I've read. But it was almost too different. I felt like I was thrown into a world where I had no idea what was going on, or what the rules were or anything. 2 stars
Rookwood & Mrs. King was okay, but was ultimately forgettable, and I won't be looking for anything else by this author. 3 stars
God's Creatures--pretty much the same as the previous story. 3 stars
Overall this collection was interesting, and I'm glad I read it. In the past I haven't really loved short stories, but for the most part these were good, or at least entertaining enough to enjoy the story.
e_money_the_cat's review
2.0
Don’t get me wrong, some of the stories were pretty good! But overall I was kinda wanting to wrap things up already.
One of the stories had a vampire who owned a nightclub in 1930s Chicago that was haunted by a ghost. The ghost is cool though and she can only communicate by doing ghostly things, like flicking the lights. I enjoyed this one the most.
Another one had a lady dragonslayer who was commissioned by the pope to train up a new protege slayer to take on the last dragon. Good twist at the end. Fun stuff!
If the other ones were as equally good as those two I’d probably rate this one higher.
Anyways two n a half meows for this book overall.
One of the stories had a vampire who owned a nightclub in 1930s Chicago that was haunted by a ghost. The ghost is cool though and she can only communicate by doing ghostly things, like flicking the lights. I enjoyed this one the most.
Another one had a lady dragonslayer who was commissioned by the pope to train up a new protege slayer to take on the last dragon. Good twist at the end. Fun stuff!
If the other ones were as equally good as those two I’d probably rate this one higher.
Anyways two n a half meows for this book overall.
spikeanderson1's review
3.0
urban fantasy, all solid stories, with notable pieces by:Jim Butcher, Vicki Pettersson and Lilleth Saintcrow. I'm curious to check out some of other compilations put together by pn Elrod.
charitypink's review
4.0
Pretty good short stories by authors I've read before. Still need to check out PN Elrod's Jack Fleming series.
indecisivesailorscout's review
3.0
Anthologies are always a bit of a hit-or-miss with me, but luckily this one had more hits than I expected. Definitely made better by my previous introduction to several of these authors before I read this, otherwise I don't think I would have liked their stories as much (Carrie and Vicki especially!) Jim Butcher and Ilona Andrews came out on top, unsurprisingly. A nice, fun romp of a collection.
mamap's review
4.0
I don't normally like short stories. This, however, was filled with authors and characters that I was already familiar with - probably why I liked them!
Vicki Petterssson "Experience is what happens when you don't get what you want in life."
Vicki Petterssson "Experience is what happens when you don't get what you want in life."