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radcarlawho's review against another edition
5.0
To be completely honest, I only read "Lord John and the Plague of Zombies" by Diana Gabaldon before promptly returning it to the library. I'm not much into Urban Fantasy and I didn't want the next person on the waiting list to wait too long (I also had another book on hold that I wanted to start). Anywho, I LOVED this new addition to Lord John's series. It's so fun to be in his head; I love the way he thinks.
katleap's review against another edition
4.0
Solid 4 stars.
Up front I read this book for the Patricia Briggs story. It was quite a mix of stories, several being set in the past (and I mean past like aceient rome past). This collection was hit or miss. I either really liked the story (hence the 4) or didin't like it at all.
Charliane Harris: Death By Dahlia - I like the stookie shorts (even if I haven't read the stookie books). This one was from the vamps view and I liked it.
Joe R. Lansdale; The Bleeding Shadow - It has an old PI/noir sense to it. I didin't like it very much and I skimmed.
Simon R Green; The Hungry Heart - It is a Noightside short and although I haven't read the Nightside series I enjoy the shorts. One day I may actually get around to reading them.
"Styx and Stones” by Steven Saylor - I didin't like this one at all. The babylon stuff was cool but I would not seek out this story set.
"Pain and Suffering” by S. M. Stirling - was okay. It lost me a few times but kept bringing me back.
"It’s Still the Same Old Story” by Carrie Vaughn - I liked how this story unfolded with the flashbacks. It didn't jerk me in and out at all.
"The Lady is a Screamer” by Conn Iggulden - I only vaugley remember this one, which means that I a) skimmed most of it and b) didin't like it very much.
"Hellbender” by Laurie R. King - I was skepical at the beginning of this one but quickly got caught up in it. I liked it a lot, espcially the part about the salamanders.
"Shadow Thieves” by Glen Cook - I love fantasy. I get fantasy. This story had me so lost so fast and I didn't feel that i cared enought to actually figure what was going on. Was it my least favorite in the anthology. Close but not. However it was very confusing and I did not like it.
"No Mystery, No Miracle” by Melinda M. Snodgrass - I don't remember this story at all.
"The Difference Between a Puzzle and a Mystery” by M. L. N. Hanover - I liked this one and couldn't decide if I was more freaked out by the possed guy or the expert.
"The Curious Affair of the Deodand” by Lisa Tuttle - I like this one. The sherlock holmes feel was a definite plus.
"Lord John and the Plague of Zombies” by Diana Gabaldon - Decent. The story was good but it wasn't enough to make want to run out and read all her outlander series.
"Beware the Snake” by John Maddox Roberts - the other romer story. This one was okay but I will admit I skimmed most of the middle.
"In Red, with Pearls” by Patricia Briggs - Excellent. I love Warren anyway and this made it more so. Lovely.
"The Adakian Eagle” by Bradley Denton - My favorite of the whole anthology (even more than the PB). This story was well written and had a few twists that i didn't see coming. And Pop...well, he's awesome.
In conclusion I loved "The Akadian Eagle" and "In Red, with Pearls",
I liked "Death By Dahlia", "The Hungry Heart" "The Curious Affair of the Deodand” and "Hellbender".
Up front I read this book for the Patricia Briggs story. It was quite a mix of stories, several being set in the past (and I mean past like aceient rome past). This collection was hit or miss. I either really liked the story (hence the 4) or didin't like it at all.
Charliane Harris: Death By Dahlia - I like the stookie shorts (even if I haven't read the stookie books). This one was from the vamps view and I liked it.
Joe R. Lansdale; The Bleeding Shadow - It has an old PI/noir sense to it. I didin't like it very much and I skimmed.
Simon R Green; The Hungry Heart - It is a Noightside short and although I haven't read the Nightside series I enjoy the shorts. One day I may actually get around to reading them.
"Styx and Stones” by Steven Saylor - I didin't like this one at all. The babylon stuff was cool but I would not seek out this story set.
"Pain and Suffering” by S. M. Stirling - was okay. It lost me a few times but kept bringing me back.
"It’s Still the Same Old Story” by Carrie Vaughn - I liked how this story unfolded with the flashbacks. It didn't jerk me in and out at all.
"The Lady is a Screamer” by Conn Iggulden - I only vaugley remember this one, which means that I a) skimmed most of it and b) didin't like it very much.
"Hellbender” by Laurie R. King - I was skepical at the beginning of this one but quickly got caught up in it. I liked it a lot, espcially the part about the salamanders.
"Shadow Thieves” by Glen Cook - I love fantasy. I get fantasy. This story had me so lost so fast and I didn't feel that i cared enought to actually figure what was going on. Was it my least favorite in the anthology. Close but not. However it was very confusing and I did not like it.
"No Mystery, No Miracle” by Melinda M. Snodgrass - I don't remember this story at all.
"The Difference Between a Puzzle and a Mystery” by M. L. N. Hanover - I liked this one and couldn't decide if I was more freaked out by the possed guy or the expert.
"The Curious Affair of the Deodand” by Lisa Tuttle - I like this one. The sherlock holmes feel was a definite plus.
"Lord John and the Plague of Zombies” by Diana Gabaldon - Decent. The story was good but it wasn't enough to make want to run out and read all her outlander series.
"Beware the Snake” by John Maddox Roberts - the other romer story. This one was okay but I will admit I skimmed most of the middle.
"In Red, with Pearls” by Patricia Briggs - Excellent. I love Warren anyway and this made it more so. Lovely.
"The Adakian Eagle” by Bradley Denton - My favorite of the whole anthology (even more than the PB). This story was well written and had a few twists that i didn't see coming. And Pop...well, he's awesome.
In conclusion I loved "The Akadian Eagle" and "In Red, with Pearls",
I liked "Death By Dahlia", "The Hungry Heart" "The Curious Affair of the Deodand” and "Hellbender".
shaekin's review against another edition
No rating because I read this for a few particular short stories.
I actually like the short stories in the Sookie Stackhouse universe more than I like the full length books. Dahlia seems like a more interesting character, and the short story makes the author focus on one plot. Quick and fun.
I actually like the short stories in the Sookie Stackhouse universe more than I like the full length books. Dahlia seems like a more interesting character, and the short story makes the author focus on one plot. Quick and fun.
wk52bookreviews's review against another edition
2.0
I only enjoyed two stories from this collection:
The difference between a puzzle and a mystery - M.L.N. Hanover
13 The curious affair of the deodand - Lisa Tuttle
As a fan of the Outlander series, I wanted to like Lord John and the plague of zombies by Diana Gabaldon but I just didn't.
The difference between a puzzle and a mystery - M.L.N. Hanover
13 The curious affair of the deodand - Lisa Tuttle
As a fan of the Outlander series, I wanted to like Lord John and the plague of zombies by Diana Gabaldon but I just didn't.
felinity's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. Some stories were great, others just confusing and overly-complicated.
taleisin's review against another edition
3.0
As with all collections of short stories; there were some that I enjoyed, some I didn't, some I never bothered to read past the opening lines and some that really surprised me.
Two of my favourite authors had stories in this collection, Charlaine Harris "Death by Dahlia" and Diana Gabaldon "Lord John and the Plague of Zombies"; yet, they were not my favourite stories. I think, in both cases, the tales would have benefitted from a longer format. They were still enjoyable though.
"In Red, with Pearls" by Patricia Briggs, makes me want to take another stab at Moon Called. Also, "The Curious Affair of the Deodand", and "It's Still the Same Old Story" caused me to consider reading both Lisa Tuttle and Carrie Vaughn.
I have never read Simon R. Green before, but after reading his story "Hungry Heart", I put a library hold on the first book set in that world.
Laurie R. King is an author I'm familiar with, being a fan of her serious featuring Sherlock Holmes and Mary Russell. I admire her, for her contribution "Hellbender" she chose to create a completely different world (and species). The story was awesome and I'm hoping she writes more involving the Salamen, a cross between humans and salamanders.
A moment should also be taken to give kudos to George R. R. Martin for his introduction "The Bastard Stepchild". Not only was it an informative piece about the origins of urban fantasy, but it was extremely entertaining.
Overall, this is a good introduction to the world of urban fantasy.
Two of my favourite authors had stories in this collection, Charlaine Harris "Death by Dahlia" and Diana Gabaldon "Lord John and the Plague of Zombies"; yet, they were not my favourite stories. I think, in both cases, the tales would have benefitted from a longer format. They were still enjoyable though.
"In Red, with Pearls" by Patricia Briggs, makes me want to take another stab at Moon Called. Also, "The Curious Affair of the Deodand", and "It's Still the Same Old Story" caused me to consider reading both Lisa Tuttle and Carrie Vaughn.
I have never read Simon R. Green before, but after reading his story "Hungry Heart", I put a library hold on the first book set in that world.
Laurie R. King is an author I'm familiar with, being a fan of her serious featuring Sherlock Holmes and Mary Russell. I admire her, for her contribution "Hellbender" she chose to create a completely different world (and species). The story was awesome and I'm hoping she writes more involving the Salamen, a cross between humans and salamanders.
A moment should also be taken to give kudos to George R. R. Martin for his introduction "The Bastard Stepchild". Not only was it an informative piece about the origins of urban fantasy, but it was extremely entertaining.
Overall, this is a good introduction to the world of urban fantasy.
margaretahall's review
Read the final story: The Adakian Eagle, by Bradley Denton.
bibliofiendlm's review against another edition
3.0
Nice anthology of urban fantasy stories. Many stories from series we love but told from the perspective of often secondary characters.
annelives's review against another edition
4.0
The rating only refers to contributions from Patricia Briggs and Charlaine Harris. Patricia Briggs story merits a 4 and the Charlaine Harris story a 3. So really my rating should be a 3.5 rather than 4, but I round up.
bookfessional's review against another edition
3.0
Sookie 6.5 Death by Dahlia
Second Dahlia novella. Still find her immensely entertaining, but in this one she seemed (if possible) less human. About a change in the vamp regime and the unhappily usurped.
Second Dahlia novella. Still find her immensely entertaining, but in this one she seemed (if possible) less human. About a change in the vamp regime and the unhappily usurped.