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ssminski's review
5.0
I love love loved this story. Why is it so short?! I need more. does anyone know if the Liz mentioned in the story is Elizabetta, the witch that Adam and Mercy's pack deals with? That would be for a very interesting side series.
jmshirtz's review
3.0
This review is only for Paranormal Romance Blues by [a:Kelley Armstrong|7581|Kelley Armstrong|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1199068298p2/7581.jpg]. This was an enjoyable Aaron/Cassandra story, narrated by a previously unknown half-demon woman. There were enough twists that I didn't know who was who until I was supposed to, and enjoyed the confusion.
justgeekingby's review
4.0
Before reading this book I had a nosey at the reviews and recall seeing someone claiming there 'was not enough romance' - well, for the first few there seems to be more smut with paranormal thrown in as a setting and little else. Don't get me wrong, the paranormal element was great, I just wish the author had focused more on that and then had romance as a theme and not the other way around.
Once I got past these few 'oh my god, take me now' stories as I like to call them, I found myself in a world of amazing paranormal writing. Quite a few of these authors have since been added to my 'to read' list although I was sad to find that a lot of these seem to be one off stories. The worlds created for the reader in these short stories are incredible and I wish they had been continued in fully fledged series.
There is something for everyone. There are even some stories in there that when I think of 'paranormal' I might not have considered before - and I was really glad they were included! There's romance of all sorts here, from all ages and situations. I definetly recommend this to fans of the genre.
Once I got past these few 'oh my god, take me now' stories as I like to call them, I found myself in a world of amazing paranormal writing. Quite a few of these authors have since been added to my 'to read' list although I was sad to find that a lot of these seem to be one off stories. The worlds created for the reader in these short stories are incredible and I wish they had been continued in fully fledged series.
There is something for everyone. There are even some stories in there that when I think of 'paranormal' I might not have considered before - and I was really glad they were included! There's romance of all sorts here, from all ages and situations. I definetly recommend this to fans of the genre.
booksnsims's review
1.0
Dull, undeveloped, uninteresting stories and characters. Made it through about a quarter of the book and quit. Don't waste your time.
sarah42783's review
4.0
Before you Little Barnacles freak the fish out, let's make something real clear here: the only reason this delightful collection of *shudders preemptively* Bloody Shrimping Paranormal Romances (BSPNR™) *starts convulsing a tiny little bit* was added to my shelves is because it features an Ilona Andrews story. You didn't really think I'd willingly read 500+ pages of paranormally romantic crap stuff, did you now? I mean, the mere thought of this anthology being in a 30,568-mile radius of Glen Cook, Craig Shaefer, Richard Kadrey and their most wondrous colleagues kind sorta makes me feel like this:
Also, I'm pretty sure my bookshelves would have done the Spontaneous Combustion Thingie (SCT™), hadn't been for Ilona Andrews' presence in this enchanting collection of most charming suicide-inducing tales.
Anywayyyyyy, this is about Grace of Small Magics and stuff. By Ilona Andrews and stuff ← this in case you didn't know. And now is the time for you to be glad and rejoice, because I won't write a full crappy non review for this story because this happens to be a reread and because I already wrote some pathetic excuse for something not even remotely resembling a crappy non reviewand because I feel lazy as fish today. This doesn't mean the thing I'm about to write won't be longer than the story it's supposed to non-review, though.
» Sooooo, the moralsssss of this reread are :
➘ My tolerance for romanticcrap stuff was obviously higher back in the days when I was a puny human. Because, let me tell you, the lovey dovey crap stuff is strong in this one. And if I had to be honest 
➘ This world is pretty cool and stuff. There are super powerful clans/families with different magic abilities, which kinda sorta reminded me oftactile tactile tactile Hidden Legacy, which is kinda sorta never a bad thing. Because tactile tactile tactile reasons.
➘ Invertebrates are at their friendliest and cuddliest and fluffiest when in XXL size. Theirserrated lovely teeth might slightly chop graze your arm off, but it's just a display of affectionate kindness on their part. Yeah, these cordial little critters are positively chummy like that.
Oops. You'll have to excuse Howie, he hasn't been feeling quite himself lately. Not sure why. Maybe it has to do with digestive problems and stuff.
➘ Revenants and bodysnatchers and abominations and aberrations are yum and a little hot and quite possibly High Quality Harem Material (HQHM™). Especially when they grow wings and stuff.
➘ Hacking at things and being slightly drenched in blood is the bestest and most entertaining hobby ever.
➘ Thou shalt not, under no circumstance, trust the Andrews when they tell you their heroine is the Supposedly Lame Underdog with Super Little Magic (SLUwSLM™) type. No, thou shalt not. Because these two wouldn't know how to do a Pathetically Weak, Me-No-Kick-Ass Female Character (PWMNKAFC™) even if they tried ridiculously hard. Yep, these two are so hopelessly hopeless, they can't even do a kiddie PWMKNAFC™. *waves at Little Helen and stuff*
➽ And the moral of the morals of this reread is: should the Wicked Authorlords decide to write a novella/full-length story/series/whatever set in this world, there's a slight chance I might perhaps be interested in reading it. Maybe. Provided96.5% some of the romantic crap stuff was cut. Obviously.
[Original review]
Friendly Warning: I wrote this during my previous life as an underage, unalcoholified, ungloriouslynefarious puny human. You're welcome.
More! More! I want more! I think this is possibly the best Andrews short story I have read so far. Ilona, Gordon, we have to talk. Seriously. You cannot, I repeat, you cannot, leave this story as it is. It has too much potential. This is a series waiting to happen!
I love Grace, Nassar, the blood debt, the clans, their world, the arbitration… everything! I was drawn into the story from the first page and just couldn’t put it down. It finished much too soon and now I want to know what happens next! The Andrews did tie things up nicely at the end of the story but it just isn’t enough for me! I. Want. More.
I rest my case.
Also, I'm pretty sure my bookshelves would have done the Spontaneous Combustion Thingie (SCT™), hadn't been for Ilona Andrews' presence in this enchanting collection of most charming suicide-inducing tales.
Anywayyyyyy, this is about Grace of Small Magics and stuff. By Ilona Andrews and stuff ← this in case you didn't know. And now is the time for you to be glad and rejoice, because I won't write a full crappy non review for this story because this happens to be a reread and because I already wrote some pathetic excuse for something not even remotely resembling a crappy non review
» Sooooo, the moralsssss of this reread are :
➘ My tolerance for romantic
➘ This world is pretty cool and stuff. There are super powerful clans/families with different magic abilities, which kinda sorta reminded me of
➘ Invertebrates are at their friendliest and cuddliest and fluffiest when in XXL size. Their
Oops. You'll have to excuse Howie, he hasn't been feeling quite himself lately. Not sure why. Maybe it has to do with digestive problems and stuff.
➘ Revenants and bodysnatchers and abominations and aberrations are yum and a little hot and quite possibly High Quality Harem Material (HQHM™). Especially when they grow wings and stuff.
➘ Hacking at things and being slightly drenched in blood is the bestest and most entertaining hobby ever.
➘ Thou shalt not, under no circumstance, trust the Andrews when they tell you their heroine is the Supposedly Lame Underdog with Super Little Magic (SLUwSLM™) type. No, thou shalt not. Because these two wouldn't know how to do a Pathetically Weak, Me-No-Kick-Ass Female Character (PWMNKAFC™) even if they tried ridiculously hard. Yep, these two are so hopelessly hopeless, they can't even do a kiddie PWMKNAFC™. *waves at Little Helen and stuff*
➽ And the moral of the morals of this reread is: should the Wicked Authorlords decide to write a novella/full-length story/series/whatever set in this world, there's a slight chance I might perhaps be interested in reading it. Maybe. Provided
[Original review]
More! More! I want more! I think this is possibly the best Andrews short story I have read so far. Ilona, Gordon, we have to talk. Seriously. You cannot, I repeat, you cannot, leave this story as it is. It has too much potential. This is a series waiting to happen!
I love Grace, Nassar, the blood debt, the clans, their world, the arbitration… everything! I was drawn into the story from the first page and just couldn’t put it down. It finished much too soon and now I want to know what happens next! The Andrews did tie things up nicely at the end of the story but it just isn’t enough for me! I. Want. More.
I rest my case.
triciaschneider's review
5.0
It took me a while to read this anthology. I carried it around and read here and there, which is what I really enjoy. Lately, I'm more interested in short stories while I'm waiting in line to pick up my son from preschool.
For the most part, I really enjoyed these stories. They're all written by bestselling authors who've already made a name for themselves with readers. Some authors I've read before, but for the majority were new to me, as in I've heard of them but I've never read any of their stories. There were a few stories that I questioned, since at least two of them didn't really have a happily-ever-after or an even happy-for-now endings. They were interesting stories, but not what I'd label as romance. Not that I found them disappointing, but the just didn't seem to fit in this collection.
The rest, of course, fit the genre perfectly. Here we find a slew of paranormal creatures that are sure to satisfy, such as vampires, werewolves, selkies, gargoyles, djinn, superheroes and so much more.
I thought about reviewing each, but thought that might take up too much time, so I'll just highlight the stories that really struck me as good!
Paranormal Romance Blues by [a:Kelley Armstrong|7581|Kelley Armstrong|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1199068298p2/7581.jpg]. When it comes to paranormal stories, you just can't go wrong with Ms. Armstrong. I've loved her writing since the first book I read written by her, [b:Dime Store Magic|125926|Dime Store Magic (Women of the Otherworld, #3)|Kelley Armstrong|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1355183293l/125926._SY75_.jpg|2492799]. The only problem I saw with this particular story is that I wished it was longer. But, that could just be my natural hunger for her writing.
How to Date a Superhero by [a:Jean Johnson|2465550|Jean Johnson|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1314726755p2/2465550.jpg]. This is the first superhero romance that I've ever read, and I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I am a superhero fan (give me Marvel or DC hero any day!) but I've never read a romance featuring this type of hero. I loved it! It made me want to read more superhero romances. And really, with all the women I know who go crazy over the Avengers, why haven't I seen more superhero romances out there? We need more people!
Night Vision by [a:Maria V. Snyder|445303|Maria V. Snyder|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1530814053p2/445303.jpg]. Oh, I loved this one! Maybe it was the setting, maybe it's just me with my insatiable hunger for certain stories, but with a few tweaks, this one could have easily been a paranormal MacGyver story. For whatever reason, MacGyver spoke to me through this story, and I realize the author probably had no intention of that. It's probably just my obsession. But I enjoyed the story so much! I loved the characters and the thrill of running for their lives, the danger and suspense and the connection between the hero and heroine. It was a fun ride! I'll read this one again in the future, just because I love this kind of story.
The Princess and the Peas by [a:Alyssa Day|35023|Alyssa Day|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1251143528p2/35023.jpg]. This one was way different for me! I loved it! Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen, the author diverted direction and I ended up reading a story I had no idea how it would unfold. Which, I'm sad to say, is mostly unusual for me. Maybe its because I'm a writer, with some stories, I can predict which direction the characters are going. Not this time. This was interesting! I especially loved the humor. I just wish it was longer! I'd love to read more!
At Second Bite by [a:Michelle Rowen|38531|Michelle Rowen|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1235178439p2/38531.jpg]. Another fun, fast-paced story with a snarky heroine. It was an incredibly quick read with a lot of danger, suspense and humor. I loved the characters and the struggles they were facing. The author painted a very thorough picture in such a short story that made it feel much longer. It tied up neatly (maybe a little too neatly), but for a short story this was fine. I feel the author could have made this a longer story and it would be just as enjoyable.
Blue Crush by [a:Rachel Caine|15292|Rachel Caine|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1373144795p2/15292.jpg]. Alright. I'll say this now. I can't tell you how many times I placed Ms. Caine's books on the bookshelves in the bookstore where I worked for so many years. I'm disappointed with myself that I never picked up one of her books to read. Are they all like this? I'm going to have to find out. This story was probably the best short story in the entire collection. Yes, I said it. That's how much I loved it! Now, granted, the characters were already established, the hero and heroine were already together, and I know nothing of them. This is part of her Weather Warden series, which, like I said, I've heard about, but never read. Well, now I have to start reading them because of this story.
In Sheep's Clothing by [a:Meljean Brook|24009|Meljean Brook|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/f_50x66-6a03a5c12233c941481992b82eea8d23.png]. Oh, this was another fun one that takes the reader on a full journey with just a few short pages. We get an entire backstory within the action that propels the story forward. It was like reading a full novel in a few minutes. I really enjoyed this one!
For the most part, I really enjoyed these stories. They're all written by bestselling authors who've already made a name for themselves with readers. Some authors I've read before, but for the majority were new to me, as in I've heard of them but I've never read any of their stories. There were a few stories that I questioned, since at least two of them didn't really have a happily-ever-after or an even happy-for-now endings. They were interesting stories, but not what I'd label as romance. Not that I found them disappointing, but the just didn't seem to fit in this collection.
The rest, of course, fit the genre perfectly. Here we find a slew of paranormal creatures that are sure to satisfy, such as vampires, werewolves, selkies, gargoyles, djinn, superheroes and so much more.
I thought about reviewing each, but thought that might take up too much time, so I'll just highlight the stories that really struck me as good!
Paranormal Romance Blues by [a:Kelley Armstrong|7581|Kelley Armstrong|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1199068298p2/7581.jpg]. When it comes to paranormal stories, you just can't go wrong with Ms. Armstrong. I've loved her writing since the first book I read written by her, [b:Dime Store Magic|125926|Dime Store Magic (Women of the Otherworld, #3)|Kelley Armstrong|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1355183293l/125926._SY75_.jpg|2492799]. The only problem I saw with this particular story is that I wished it was longer. But, that could just be my natural hunger for her writing.
How to Date a Superhero by [a:Jean Johnson|2465550|Jean Johnson|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1314726755p2/2465550.jpg]. This is the first superhero romance that I've ever read, and I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I am a superhero fan (give me Marvel or DC hero any day!) but I've never read a romance featuring this type of hero. I loved it! It made me want to read more superhero romances. And really, with all the women I know who go crazy over the Avengers, why haven't I seen more superhero romances out there? We need more people!
Night Vision by [a:Maria V. Snyder|445303|Maria V. Snyder|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1530814053p2/445303.jpg]. Oh, I loved this one! Maybe it was the setting, maybe it's just me with my insatiable hunger for certain stories, but with a few tweaks, this one could have easily been a paranormal MacGyver story. For whatever reason, MacGyver spoke to me through this story, and I realize the author probably had no intention of that. It's probably just my obsession. But I enjoyed the story so much! I loved the characters and the thrill of running for their lives, the danger and suspense and the connection between the hero and heroine. It was a fun ride! I'll read this one again in the future, just because I love this kind of story.
The Princess and the Peas by [a:Alyssa Day|35023|Alyssa Day|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1251143528p2/35023.jpg]. This one was way different for me! I loved it! Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen, the author diverted direction and I ended up reading a story I had no idea how it would unfold. Which, I'm sad to say, is mostly unusual for me. Maybe its because I'm a writer, with some stories, I can predict which direction the characters are going. Not this time. This was interesting! I especially loved the humor. I just wish it was longer! I'd love to read more!
At Second Bite by [a:Michelle Rowen|38531|Michelle Rowen|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1235178439p2/38531.jpg]. Another fun, fast-paced story with a snarky heroine. It was an incredibly quick read with a lot of danger, suspense and humor. I loved the characters and the struggles they were facing. The author painted a very thorough picture in such a short story that made it feel much longer. It tied up neatly (maybe a little too neatly), but for a short story this was fine. I feel the author could have made this a longer story and it would be just as enjoyable.
Blue Crush by [a:Rachel Caine|15292|Rachel Caine|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1373144795p2/15292.jpg]. Alright. I'll say this now. I can't tell you how many times I placed Ms. Caine's books on the bookshelves in the bookstore where I worked for so many years. I'm disappointed with myself that I never picked up one of her books to read. Are they all like this? I'm going to have to find out. This story was probably the best short story in the entire collection. Yes, I said it. That's how much I loved it! Now, granted, the characters were already established, the hero and heroine were already together, and I know nothing of them. This is part of her Weather Warden series, which, like I said, I've heard about, but never read. Well, now I have to start reading them because of this story.
In Sheep's Clothing by [a:Meljean Brook|24009|Meljean Brook|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/f_50x66-6a03a5c12233c941481992b82eea8d23.png]. Oh, this was another fun one that takes the reader on a full journey with just a few short pages. We get an entire backstory within the action that propels the story forward. It was like reading a full novel in a few minutes. I really enjoyed this one!
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