Fuck this sex pest predator.
vampyre_bytes's profile picture

vampyre_bytes's review


ew ew ew

I didn't like some of these short stories, but some of my favorites are in here so it was quite a mixed bag for me. Gaiman did a wonderful job narrating it as usually, just some of the stories weren't to my taste.

Some genius, and some disgusting and/or pointless. Also not sure that verse is Neil Gaiman’s thing, but hey.

iblendspoons's review

4.0

The first and last stories are my favorites.
danacordelia's profile picture

danacordelia's review

5.0

As I was reading it, I tagged it with 4 stars because I was really enjoying it but hesitant to give it top honors. A few of the shorts really moved me, especially "The Sea Change", which is one of the most gorgeous things I've ever encountered. But I think he had me sold when I got to the final vignette, "Snow, Glass, Apples." I'm surprised my friend Steven (a fellow Neil fan who gifted me this book) managed to keep that one a secret. I am terribly enamored with all things Snow White. And, to have such a dark treasure of a story devoted to her was what brought out the fifth star in this book.

I maintain that Neverwhere is still the best introduction for new Gaiman readers, but Smoke and Mirrors is a fantastic collection even if you're unaware of the man's genius. It'll definitely intrigue you to seek out more of his work! There's a real gothic beauty running through all of these stories. I had such a good time reading them.

Beautiful work, Neil. Thank you, Steven!!! :-D
adventurous dark funny mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

As usual, reading Gaiman is very enjoyable. The man just has a style I enjoy, and interests I share. He's hornier than I remembered or expected, though.

Three stars for the four stories I enjoyed: Chivalry, Queen of Knives, We can get them for you wholesale, and The Sea Change

Individual stories range from 2-5 stars for me, but overall quite an enjoyable collection.

This collection is a mixed bag, but definitely worth reading. There are some real gems in here. I especially liked the very last story.