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git_r_read's review
5.0
Me and anthologies do not always get along. I have a bad history with them due to some stories within are fab, some are meh, some are skip-able. That was not the case with this highly enjoyable collection. All but one were superb and that single one just didn't float my boat. It likely would for a different reader, but I skimmed it. It was icky in content and premise. There are 15 stories in this collection and only one was ick!
It might have helped that I am a fan of 90% of the writers within and became a fan of the others but one.
All different kinds of games are represented and you get background on each writer and how they came to be inspired to contribute the story that they did for the anthology.
The one by Seanan McGuire has me going back to a series she has that I wasn't overly enamoured with at first. I think I will read it in a new light and enjoy it more.
Highly enjoyable and highly recommended by me.
It might have helped that I am a fan of 90% of the writers within and became a fan of the others but one.
All different kinds of games are represented and you get background on each writer and how they came to be inspired to contribute the story that they did for the anthology.
The one by Seanan McGuire has me going back to a series she has that I wasn't overly enamoured with at first. I think I will read it in a new light and enjoy it more.
Highly enjoyable and highly recommended by me.
holl3640's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
4.0
k_mccomas's review
2.0
I really enjoyed SOME of the stories. Others, well, I had to force myself to finish.
shaekin's review
No rating because I only read the Sookie Stackhouse short story. Intrigued by the new character, but not sure I'm intrigued enough to read another series. Still a fun short within universe.
poisonenvy's review
4.0
Average Rating: 3.6*
In the Blue Hereafter I did not actually read this book because the Sookie Stackhouse novels are on my books to read list and I didn't want to spoil myself. Will update once I get to that part in the series.
Hide and Seek this was really great. A story of love and sacrifice, and while I didn't especially love the ending with the real estate agent and the couple, it did draw a nice parallel with Cameron and (4*)
Stepping into the Dead Zone This was another really good story. (4.5*)
Dead on the Bones This is the second Lansdale short story I've read, and so far I've more or less liked them. It was really had to place how old the MC was - sometimes I thought pre/early teens bot other times he didn't talk like a kid at all, so who knows. overall enjoyable, if not a little Hamlet-y. (3.5*)
The Devil Went Down to Boston Well-written, and a lot crammed into such a short story. I'll hope for a sequel someday. (4*)
On the Playing Fields of Blood Sexist, savage Indians play a game, get pissed off when someone deigns to score against them, and then murder the poor, innocent white people. Such groundbreaking originality. (1*)
The God's Game I'm hardly a historian, but this was a mostly well-written story with lots of fun historical tidbits thrown in. THe pacing seemed a little off (a little took quick), but overall it was very enjoyable. (4*)
The Case of the Haunted Safeway I don't really know how I feel about this. I got the feeling that maybe it was trying to be funny, but it wasn't. And for most of it, I really hated the MC. But it was nice to see him grow and his opinions change, and it was a sweet story overall. (3.5*)
Prise De Fer This was my favourite story in the collection. It was well-written and surprisingly charming. The language was immersive, and I very much enjoyed the interaction between Isabelle and Honoré. A not-quite-happy ending, which only served to make it more enjoyable. (5*)
Dreamer As I was reading the story, I remember thinking that the MC didn't seem much better than Phi; The twist at the end was really well done. I enjoyed this quite a lot. (4.5*)
False Knight on the Road I didn't love the writing style, but it wasn't out of place. (3.5*)
Jammed This story was written closer to the style of the main series than the other short stories I've read, but I didn't really love it. Antimony just sounded too much like Verity, but with derby references instead of dance references (some of them seemingly incorrect. I've never seen a derby whip-chain and I can't picture it working? I'm willing to be corrected on this though). The story and the fight seemed weaker than normal too. (3.5*)
Hide and Shriek I was ready to criticize this story as being a touch altiloquent, but you know, it kind of worked for it in a strange kind of absurd way. The story was pretty funny overall; there were definitely parts where I actually laughed out loud. (3.5*)
Ice I did enjoy the bookends of Atheena's story and the There was something uncomfortable with the way race was used in this story though. (3*)
Bell, Book nad Candlepin There was something about the writing style that did not jive with me at all. There was no real flow, I guess. It just seemed really choppy. The story was okay, but not great, but Jake was a great character. (2.5*)
In the Blue Hereafter I did not actually read this book because the Sookie Stackhouse novels are on my books to read list and I didn't want to spoil myself. Will update once I get to that part in the series.
Hide and Seek this was really great. A story of love and sacrifice, and while I didn't especially love the ending with the real estate agent and the couple, it did draw a nice parallel with Cameron and
Spoiler
ignoring evil for the sake of some rewardStepping into the Dead Zone This was another really good story.
Spoiler
Tommy's seven-hundred year destiny and his relationship with Anton and his heroics/knightliness were all superbly done, and Bobby's fate made me happy.Dead on the Bones This is the second Lansdale short story I've read, and so far I've more or less liked them. It was really had to place how old the MC was - sometimes I thought pre/early teens bot other times he didn't talk like a kid at all, so who knows. overall enjoyable, if not a little Hamlet-y. (3.5*)
The Devil Went Down to Boston Well-written, and a lot crammed into such a short story. I'll hope for a sequel someday. (4*)
On the Playing Fields of Blood Sexist, savage Indians play a game, get pissed off when someone deigns to score against them, and then murder the poor, innocent white people. Such groundbreaking originality. (1*)
The God's Game I'm hardly a historian, but this was a mostly well-written story with lots of fun historical tidbits thrown in. THe pacing seemed a little off (a little took quick), but overall it was very enjoyable. (4*)
The Case of the Haunted Safeway I don't really know how I feel about this. I got the feeling that maybe it was trying to be funny, but it wasn't. And for most of it, I really hated the MC. But it was nice to see him grow and his opinions change, and it was a sweet story overall. (3.5*)
Prise De Fer This was my favourite story in the collection. It was well-written and surprisingly charming. The language was immersive, and I very much enjoyed the interaction between Isabelle and Honoré. A not-quite-happy ending, which only served to make it more enjoyable. (5*)
Dreamer As I was reading the story, I remember thinking that the MC didn't seem much better than Phi;
Spoiler
he didn't seem to care about human life at all. I just didn't realize how much.False Knight on the Road
Spoiler
These anthologies all seem to have at least one mortal vs. the devil story in them (and this one already had The Devil Went Down to Boston), so I definitely believed that his was one of them. I was happily surprised at the twist at the end.Jammed This story was written closer to the style of the main series than the other short stories I've read, but I didn't really love it. Antimony just sounded too much like Verity, but with derby references instead of dance references (some of them seemingly incorrect. I've never seen a derby whip-chain and I can't picture it working? I'm willing to be corrected on this though). The story and the fight seemed weaker than normal too. (3.5*)
Hide and Shriek I was ready to criticize this story as being a touch altiloquent, but you know, it kind of worked for it in a strange kind of absurd way. The story was pretty funny overall; there were definitely parts where I actually laughed out loud. (3.5*)
Ice I did enjoy the bookends of Atheena's story and the
Spoiler
play on the theme of 'people only die when they're forgotten,' in this case it being considered a good thing instead of a tragic one where Atheena was finally able to move on.Bell, Book nad Candlepin There was something about the writing style that did not jive with me at all. There was no real flow, I guess. It just seemed really choppy. The story was okay, but not great, but Jake was a great character. (2.5*)
shelleyrae's review
3.0
Games Creatures Play is an entertaining anthology from fifteen contributors, with each short story featuring the unusual combination of the paranormal and sports.
Some of the authors didn't venture too far from their comfort zone. 'Into the Blue Hereafter' by Charlaine Harris is set at a softball game in Bon Temps, where Sookie Stackhouse and Manfred Bernado meet for the first time. Similarly Seanan McGuire doesn't stray far from the familiarity of her InCryptid series, 'Jammed,' in which a chimera is on the rampage during a Roller Derby, features Antimony Price. I enjoyed both stories in part at least because of my familiarity with the characters and their worlds.
My favourites included Scott Sigler's 'The Case of the Haunted Safeway', a ghostly tale of love and baseball which managed to be funny, sweet and a little bit spooky all at the same time, Jan Burke's 'Stepping into the Dead Zone' which portrays dodgeball as a test of loyalty and friendship, and 'Bell, Book and Candlepin' by Toni L. P. Kelner in which more than just the bowling balls are returned.
In Games Creatures Play you will find witches, monster stompers, faeries, Gods, ghosts and more, all playing to win and even though I have very little interest in sport in general, I really enjoyed this anthology. Get ready, get set and go... pick up a copy to read.
amyiw's review
4.0
3 1/2 stars Only read "Jammed" by Seanan McGuire so far.
So Annie is now a part of the roller derby team. This was her natural go to after cheerleader in high school. She wanted to have a family of sorts, that seem to care and stick together as she seems to be an after though to her parents. There are some Incryptids on the teams and in the stands so when one of the members of the other team is found dead, Annie recognizes it as an attack by an incryptid. Now they have to come after the police leave to hunt and they have to tell some of the other players the truth about the supernatural around them.
pretty good short and it shows a lot of who Annie is before we meet her in her own book.
So Annie is now a part of the roller derby team. This was her natural go to after cheerleader in high school. She wanted to have a family of sorts, that seem to care and stick together as she seems to be an after though to her parents. There are some Incryptids on the teams and in the stands so when one of the members of the other team is found dead, Annie recognizes it as an attack by an incryptid. Now they have to come after the police leave to hunt and they have to tell some of the other players the truth about the supernatural around them.
pretty good short and it shows a lot of who Annie is before we meet her in her own book.
bookfessional's review
Reviewed by: Rabid Reads
Jammed, InCryptid 2.3
4 stars
*snickers* Doesn't everyone?
Now that's what I'm talking about. Verity's scary, pit trap-digging, take-'em-out-from-the-shadows little sister might turn out to be my favorite Price.
When a derby girl turns up dead and dismembered at on of Annie's matches, it doesn't take her long to determine that a human couldn't be responsible. From there her investigation turns into an exercise in teamwork that was both fun and and warmed the cockles of my heart.
Misc. stuff:
1. Artie is getting on my last nerve. If he doesn't cut the hermit-researcher act soon, I'ma burn his house down.
2. Antimony has a lot of legit issues with her family. I hope they get worked out, b/c seriously . . . I don't want to not like them, but they're making it difficult.
3. I looked it up, and my town has a roller derby league. I am so there when the season starts. Bff is already on board. *moonwalks* *booty shakes*
Jammed, InCryptid 2.3
4 stars
Roller Derby is an awesome workout, especially if you like your cardio with a decent dose of blunt-force trauma.
*snickers* Doesn't everyone?
Now that's what I'm talking about. Verity's scary, pit trap-digging, take-'em-out-from-the-shadows little sister might turn out to be my favorite Price.
When a derby girl turns up dead and dismembered at on of Annie's matches, it doesn't take her long to determine that a human couldn't be responsible. From there her investigation turns into an exercise in teamwork that was both fun and and warmed the cockles of my heart.
Misc. stuff:
1. Artie is getting on my last nerve. If he doesn't cut the hermit-researcher act soon, I'ma burn his house down.
2. Antimony has a lot of legit issues with her family. I hope they get worked out, b/c seriously . . . I don't want to not like them, but they're making it difficult.
3. I looked it up, and my town has a roller derby league. I am so there when the season starts. Bff is already on board. *moonwalks* *booty shakes*