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kobfroggie's review
3.0
Secrets at Midnight - Nalini Singh
2 stars
Magic Steals - Ilona Andrews
3.5stars
Lucky Charms - Lisa Shearin
2.5 stars
The Beast of Blackmoor - Milla Vane
3.5 stars
2 stars
Magic Steals - Ilona Andrews
3.5stars
Lucky Charms - Lisa Shearin
2.5 stars
The Beast of Blackmoor - Milla Vane
3.5 stars
lindca's review against another edition
4.0
Two excellent stories, one good one, and the fourth mediocre.
Ilona Andrews' story featuring Jim and Dali alone was worth the price of the anthology. Milla Vane (Meljean Brook) delivered an engrossing story unlike her usual fare and I would love to see more from her in this style/genre. Nalini Singh's contribution was solid and enjoyable, if not her finest work. The only disappointment was from Lisa Shearin. Despite being a fan of her Raine Benares series, I also disliked the first novel in the series in which this story is set.
A solid four stars, based on the strength of the Andrews and Vane stories, both of which merit a later reread.
Ilona Andrews' story featuring Jim and Dali alone was worth the price of the anthology. Milla Vane (Meljean Brook) delivered an engrossing story unlike her usual fare and I would love to see more from her in this style/genre. Nalini Singh's contribution was solid and enjoyable, if not her finest work. The only disappointment was from Lisa Shearin. Despite being a fan of her Raine Benares series, I also disliked the first novel in the series in which this story is set.
A solid four stars, based on the strength of the Andrews and Vane stories, both of which merit a later reread.
readmeornot's review
5.0
I got this book just to read Nalini Singh's novella for the psy-changeling series so my rating is just based on it.
I absolutely loved it. in many ways i was reminded of myself and my boyfriend xD so it was cute and flirty and I really enjoyed how it played out. Bastien is definitely all cat in his ways ;)
I absolutely loved it. in many ways i was reminded of myself and my boyfriend xD so it was cute and flirty and I really enjoyed how it played out. Bastien is definitely all cat in his ways ;)
asryne's review
5.0
I am really rating Magic Steals. Love everything in the Kate Daniels world, and really fond of these two characters together.
I also read Lucky Charms, which was.. funny, but a little over the top for my tastes. That could partly because it's a short story and I'm not familiar with the characters. I would read the first book if I were to encounter it; wouldn't pay full price for it.
I also read Lucky Charms, which was.. funny, but a little over the top for my tastes. That could partly because it's a short story and I'm not familiar with the characters. I would read the first book if I were to encounter it; wouldn't pay full price for it.
zeey's review against another edition
3.0
Bastien!! omg, you sweet adorable kitty cat!
Beast of Blackmoore Wowza! Ive read the Heart of blood and ashes and finally got around to this novella and omg. Griitty and messy and so damn good.
Beast of Blackmoore Wowza! Ive read the Heart of blood and ashes and finally got around to this novella and omg. Griitty and messy and so damn good.
kelly04's review
3.0
Book Riot's '15 Read Harder Challenge Task 21: "Guilty" Pleasure
I've read through a few of these sorts of anthologies and found some of my favorite fantasy stories that way. I find they make good before-bed reading (built in stopping points). This particular collection is a little short but my favorites are [b: Must Love Hellhounds|6286042|Must Love Hellhounds (Sookie Stackhouse #9.2; Guild Hunter #0.5; Kate Daniels #3.5; The Guardians #5.5)|Charlaine Harris|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388899505s/6286042.jpg|6470221] and [b: Dark and Stormy Knights|7292791|Dark and Stormy Knights (Kitty Norville; Vampire Files; Kate Daniels; Signs of the Zodiac; Dresden Files)|P.N. Elrod|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1442685746s/7292791.jpg|8586274] both of which I heartily recommend.
I've read through a few of these sorts of anthologies and found some of my favorite fantasy stories that way. I find they make good before-bed reading (built in stopping points). This particular collection is a little short but my favorites are [b: Must Love Hellhounds|6286042|Must Love Hellhounds (Sookie Stackhouse #9.2; Guild Hunter #0.5; Kate Daniels #3.5; The Guardians #5.5)|Charlaine Harris|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1388899505s/6286042.jpg|6470221] and [b: Dark and Stormy Knights|7292791|Dark and Stormy Knights (Kitty Norville; Vampire Files; Kate Daniels; Signs of the Zodiac; Dresden Files)|P.N. Elrod|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1442685746s/7292791.jpg|8586274] both of which I heartily recommend.
kiara668's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
bananatricky's review against another edition
4.0
Secrets at Midnight - Nalini Singh
The story of Bastien and Kirby. Bsatien is looking for his mate but her scent is 'off'. He can't determine whether she is shifter or human, he scents her in the city but the scent just disappears. Then he meets Kirby and knows immediately that she is the one - but what is the mystery with her scent? I would classify this is as standard short story in a long-running series. A pleasant feel-good story involving a previously mentioned minor character and an easily-resolved mystery. A solid three stars.
Magic Steals - Ilona Andrews
The reason I bought the book. Jim and Dali. Need I say more? I had fears that this was the other Jim and Dali short story where they first declare feelings for each other (but it isn't). Their relationship has progressed somewhat, although still a secret from Dali's mother, and they are called in to investigate the disappearance of a member of the Indonesian community which soon escalates. Love them, loved the plot, loved how it hung together. Four and a half stars (it lost half a star for not being a full-length book).
Lucky Charms - Lisa Shearin
This was my first Lisa Shearin story. More light-hearted than the previous two stories it centres on Makenna Fraser's first day at SPI which involves her trying to track down five horny leprechauns who disappeared from their handlers in a strip club (one of them was a Prince on his stag night). I thought this was a great introduction to a supernatural world and the SPI. Will definitely look out for more of her books.
The Beast of Blackmoor - Milla Vane
So Milla Vane is Meljean Brooks' alterego and this is a new venture - Barbarians! At first I found it hard to get into the story - it's very dark and medieval in feel (yeah Barbarians - duh!). But once I got started it really flowed well. Kavik asks a goddess for a quest, when he is refused he insults the goddess by pissing in her temple for which she curses him. Flash to the present day and a warrior princess is on a quest, for the same goddess, to tame the Beast of Blackmoor and help her people. When the two of them meet Kavik realises the curse is upon him. Although it was obvious (to me) how this story was going I really enjoyed it. It was markedly different from the other stories but was a great start in a new direction. Look forward to more Barbarian stories.
The story of Bastien and Kirby. Bsatien is looking for his mate but her scent is 'off'. He can't determine whether she is shifter or human, he scents her in the city but the scent just disappears. Then he meets Kirby and knows immediately that she is the one - but what is the mystery with her scent? I would classify this is as standard short story in a long-running series. A pleasant feel-good story involving a previously mentioned minor character and an easily-resolved mystery. A solid three stars.
Magic Steals - Ilona Andrews
The reason I bought the book. Jim and Dali. Need I say more? I had fears that this was the other Jim and Dali short story where they first declare feelings for each other (but it isn't). Their relationship has progressed somewhat, although still a secret from Dali's mother, and they are called in to investigate the disappearance of a member of the Indonesian community which soon escalates. Love them, loved the plot, loved how it hung together. Four and a half stars (it lost half a star for not being a full-length book).
Lucky Charms - Lisa Shearin
This was my first Lisa Shearin story. More light-hearted than the previous two stories it centres on Makenna Fraser's first day at SPI which involves her trying to track down five horny leprechauns who disappeared from their handlers in a strip club (one of them was a Prince on his stag night). I thought this was a great introduction to a supernatural world and the SPI. Will definitely look out for more of her books.
The Beast of Blackmoor - Milla Vane
So Milla Vane is Meljean Brooks' alterego and this is a new venture - Barbarians! At first I found it hard to get into the story - it's very dark and medieval in feel (yeah Barbarians - duh!). But once I got started it really flowed well. Kavik asks a goddess for a quest, when he is refused he insults the goddess by pissing in her temple for which she curses him. Flash to the present day and a warrior princess is on a quest, for the same goddess, to tame the Beast of Blackmoor and help her people. When the two of them meet Kavik realises the curse is upon him. Although it was obvious (to me) how this story was going I really enjoyed it. It was markedly different from the other stories but was a great start in a new direction. Look forward to more Barbarian stories.
theblisstour's review
3.0
This rating is based solely on "The Beast of Blackmoor" by Milla Vane aka [a:Meljean Brook|24009|Meljean Brook|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1317348186p2/24009.jpg].
Beast was fun and creative and over the top and sexy. I really enjoyed it. I really like this and I loved [b:Frozen|18045510|Frozen|Meljean Brook|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1370617777s/18045510.jpg|25324435].
I think I love her non-steam punk stuff. I want to try her angels series, but every time I look at the book and the tiny print I just go 'Ugh, not now. Later.'
The other stories:
I dnf'd the Nalini Singh one, but like everything I've read by her I found the characters uninteresting and the dialogue stilted to the point that I can't care about the plot. I don't get it.
I also started the Ilona Andrews one. Also, like [b:Magic Bites|38619|Magic Bites (Kate Daniels, #1)|Ilona Andrews|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1331612872s/38619.jpg|38381], the writing is really good, plot, dialogue, great... But that world smells. Like they're such good writers that when I read that world I wrinkle up my nose and get a bad taste in my mouth from the descriptions of the decay and rot. I would have finished it, because again, good writing, but I dnf'd it solely because I had to move and drive across country and the local library wanted it back.
Beast was fun and creative and over the top and sexy. I really enjoyed it. I really like this and I loved [b:Frozen|18045510|Frozen|Meljean Brook|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1370617777s/18045510.jpg|25324435].
I think I love her non-steam punk stuff. I want to try her angels series, but every time I look at the book and the tiny print I just go 'Ugh, not now. Later.'
The other stories:
I dnf'd the Nalini Singh one, but like everything I've read by her I found the characters uninteresting and the dialogue stilted to the point that I can't care about the plot. I don't get it.
I also started the Ilona Andrews one. Also, like [b:Magic Bites|38619|Magic Bites (Kate Daniels, #1)|Ilona Andrews|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1331612872s/38619.jpg|38381], the writing is really good, plot, dialogue, great... But that world smells. Like they're such good writers that when I read that world I wrinkle up my nose and get a bad taste in my mouth from the descriptions of the decay and rot. I would have finished it, because again, good writing, but I dnf'd it solely because I had to move and drive across country and the local library wanted it back.