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celjla212's review
3.0
3.5 STARS
While I did skip around when reading this collection, I don't think it made much difference to my review. Basically the only thing that tied the stories all together is that they all have some supernatural element. A couple I couldn't get into at all, but there were some standouts for me.
"Misery" by Heather Brewer--In this very short story set in a world of grey, Alek is dismayed when he finds out he will not be receiving his special gift. But once he realizes what the gift is, he may change his mind.
"Shadow Children" another by Heather Brewer--Dax is tasked with babysitting his little brother Jon, who always needs a night light on because he is afraid monsters will get him. While Dax is trying his best to reassure him, they both fall into a nightmarish world.
"Red Run" by Kami Garcia--A ghost story with a little twist. You know the main character is riding with the ghost immediately, but is the ghost the one making bad things happen out on Red Run?
"The Adventures of Lightning Merriemouse-Jones" by Nancy & Belle Holder--A little difficult to follow at times, this is a sort of retelling of Dracula, but with mice as the characters! Original and amusing to say the least.
The collection includes other tales, featuring fae, selkies, and children of shark gods. If you like original supernatural short stories that aren't TOO dark, you should check out Beyond the Pale.
While I did skip around when reading this collection, I don't think it made much difference to my review. Basically the only thing that tied the stories all together is that they all have some supernatural element. A couple I couldn't get into at all, but there were some standouts for me.
"Misery" by Heather Brewer--In this very short story set in a world of grey, Alek is dismayed when he finds out he will not be receiving his special gift. But once he realizes what the gift is, he may change his mind.
"Shadow Children" another by Heather Brewer--Dax is tasked with babysitting his little brother Jon, who always needs a night light on because he is afraid monsters will get him. While Dax is trying his best to reassure him, they both fall into a nightmarish world.
"Red Run" by Kami Garcia--A ghost story with a little twist. You know the main character is riding with the ghost immediately, but is the ghost the one making bad things happen out on Red Run?
"The Adventures of Lightning Merriemouse-Jones" by Nancy & Belle Holder--A little difficult to follow at times, this is a sort of retelling of Dracula, but with mice as the characters! Original and amusing to say the least.
The collection includes other tales, featuring fae, selkies, and children of shark gods. If you like original supernatural short stories that aren't TOO dark, you should check out Beyond the Pale.
lpcoolgirl's review
5.0
I only read Even Hand, but it was a great story, loved seeing things from Marcone's perspective! Must read more of the series now!
madarauchiha's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
3.0
❤️ 🧡 💛 💚 💙 💜 my about / byf / CW info carrd: uchiha-madara 💜 💙 💚 💛 🧡 ❤️
You know this is going to be an excellent anthology with two Jewish authors are in it. Unfortunately there's some white nonense in this book too. nancy holder explain your cunt self on why you're making a black girl kiss an old white fart nearly twice her age? What the fuck is this nonense? Check yourself into a nursing home, stop afflicting the rest of us with your bullshit. Freak.
It took about an hour to read. Very unchallenging, entertaining, mild amusement. The book equivalent of a potato chip serving. Not a bad thing. If you like it, you like it.
Fave stories. Hooves And The Hovel Of Abdel Jameela, The Children Of The Shark God.
◆ Hooves And The Hovel Of Abdel Jameela ~ By Saladin Ahmed
minor homophobia, whorephobic language,
medium drug use,
major body horror, medical content,
◆ The Children Of The Shark God ~ By Peter S. Beagle
minor ableist c slur
medium injuries , pregnancy, misogyny, parental death,
▪ “He is fully aware that he should never have taken a human wife, created a human family in the human world. And he knows also, as he was never meant to know, that when your mother dies—as she will—when you and your brother in time die, his heart will break. No god is supposed to know such a thing; they are simply not equipped to deal with it.
▪ “Why would any god ever choose to sire sons and daughters with a mortal woman? Half-divine, yet we die—half-supreme, yet we are vulnerable, breakable—half-perfect, still we are forever crippled by our human hearts. What cruelty could compel an immortal to desire such unnatural children?”
◆ Even Hand ~ By Jim Butcher
no cws not interested in this series
◆ Death Warmed Over ~ By Rachel Caine
minor confinement,
medium torture, war, murder, blood, death, serial killers, misogyny, murder, minor torture, child death, body horror, gun violence, police,
◆ Red Run ~ By Kami Garcia
minor death, gore, vomit, alcohol use, mental illness, drugs hard drugs,
medium grief, gore, violence,
major violence, murder,
◆ Pale Rider ~ By Nancy Holder
major gun violence, animal death, dogs,
▪ She heard the disappointment in his voice. “But Alex, something was going on with your family. They did something bad. And maybe we’re here to fix (idk i dont likw how the balck family didnsmt bad and the white germans is scolding this young vlack girl who he kid kidnappes kinda didnt
▪ And she didn’t know why—maybe because he was afraid—but she put her arms around him. His body was very solid. He was staring out the window; now he gave her his attention. She raised on her tiptoes and brushed his lips with hers. Cautiously, he kissed her back. Just the one kiss, chaste, and then she unloosened her arms.
EWWWWW SHES A FUCKING CHILD
no more cws im done with disgusting crackers fuck you nancy
◆ Frost Child ~ By Gillian Philip
“This prequel to Gillian Philip’s acclaimed novel Firebrand tells how Seth’s parents Griogair and Lilith met - and the first deadly consequences “
no cws. i m not interested in this advert for a nother full book series.
◆ South ~ By Gillian Philip
minor death, blood, gore,
medium pregnancy, medical content, alcoholism,
◆ A Knot Of Toads ~ By Jane Yolen
minor alcohol , torture, misogyny,
major religion, parental death, animal cruelty , grief,
◆ The Adventures Of Lightning Merriemouse-Jones ~ By Nancy & Belle Holder
minor incest?, death, murder,
incomplete c w tags. It's Dracula by bram stoker but with mice. Not my thing.
Full content warnings
major animal cruelty, animal death, body horror, dogs, grief, gun violence, medical content, murder, parental death, religion, violence
medium alcoholism, blood, body horror, child death, death, drug use, gore, grief, gun violence, injuries, medical content, misogyny, murder, parental death, police, pregnancy, serial killers, torture, violence, war
minor ableist c slur, alcohol, alcohol use, blood, confinement, death, drugs hard drugs, gore, homophobia, incest?, mental illness, misogyny, murder, torture, vomit, whorephobic language ,
You know this is going to be an excellent anthology with two Jewish authors are in it. Unfortunately there's some white nonense in this book too. nancy holder explain your cunt self on why you're making a black girl kiss an old white fart nearly twice her age? What the fuck is this nonense? Check yourself into a nursing home, stop afflicting the rest of us with your bullshit. Freak.
It took about an hour to read. Very unchallenging, entertaining, mild amusement. The book equivalent of a potato chip serving. Not a bad thing. If you like it, you like it.
Fave stories. Hooves And The Hovel Of Abdel Jameela, The Children Of The Shark God.
◆ Hooves And The Hovel Of Abdel Jameela ~ By Saladin Ahmed
minor homophobia, whorephobic language,
medium drug use,
major body horror, medical content,
◆ The Children Of The Shark God ~ By Peter S. Beagle
minor ableist c slur
medium injuries , pregnancy, misogyny, parental death,
▪ “He is fully aware that he should never have taken a human wife, created a human family in the human world. And he knows also, as he was never meant to know, that when your mother dies—as she will—when you and your brother in time die, his heart will break. No god is supposed to know such a thing; they are simply not equipped to deal with it.
▪ “Why would any god ever choose to sire sons and daughters with a mortal woman? Half-divine, yet we die—half-supreme, yet we are vulnerable, breakable—half-perfect, still we are forever crippled by our human hearts. What cruelty could compel an immortal to desire such unnatural children?”
◆ Even Hand ~ By Jim Butcher
no cws not interested in this series
◆ Death Warmed Over ~ By Rachel Caine
minor confinement,
medium torture, war, murder, blood, death, serial killers, misogyny, murder, minor torture, child death, body horror, gun violence, police,
◆ Red Run ~ By Kami Garcia
minor death, gore, vomit, alcohol use, mental illness, drugs hard drugs,
medium grief, gore, violence,
major violence, murder,
◆ Pale Rider ~ By Nancy Holder
major gun violence, animal death, dogs,
▪ She heard the disappointment in his voice. “But Alex, something was going on with your family. They did something bad. And maybe we’re here to fix (idk i dont likw how the balck family didnsmt bad and the white germans is scolding this young vlack girl who he kid kidnappes kinda didnt
EWWWWW SHES A FUCKING CHILD
no more cws im done with disgusting crackers fuck you nancy
◆ Frost Child ~ By Gillian Philip
“This prequel to Gillian Philip’s acclaimed novel Firebrand tells how Seth’s parents Griogair and Lilith met - and the first deadly consequences “
no cws. i m not interested in this advert for a nother full book series.
◆ South ~ By Gillian Philip
minor death, blood, gore,
medium pregnancy, medical content, alcoholism,
◆ A Knot Of Toads ~ By Jane Yolen
minor alcohol , torture, misogyny,
major religion, parental death, animal cruelty , grief,
◆ The Adventures Of Lightning Merriemouse-Jones ~ By Nancy & Belle Holder
minor incest?, death, murder,
incomplete c w tags. It's Dracula by bram stoker but with mice. Not my thing.
Full content warnings
major animal cruelty, animal death, body horror, dogs, grief, gun violence, medical content, murder, parental death, religion, violence
medium alcoholism, blood, body horror, child death, death, drug use, gore, grief, gun violence, injuries, medical content, misogyny, murder, parental death, police, pregnancy, serial killers, torture, violence, war
minor ableist c slur, alcohol, alcohol use, blood, confinement, death, drugs hard drugs, gore, homophobia, incest?, mental illness, misogyny, murder, torture, vomit, whorephobic language ,
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Grief, Gun violence, Medical content, Murder, Death of parent, and Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Death, Child death, Drug use, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Torture, Violence, and War
Minor: Ableism, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Blood, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Torture, and Vomit
rebecca_bc's review
3.0
As with any anthology, most of the stories were good, a few were just so-so, and a couple were really great. The Children of the Shark God was my favorite.
justgeekingby's review
5.0
I loved this whole anthology, every single story was so different and so interesting. Not one was the same and it was great. Plus ending with a version of Dracula with mice? Absolutely bloody brilliant.
luxveritatis's review
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
leahjanespeare's review
3.0
Overall an average 3ish rating.
Hooves and the Hovel of Abdel Jameela by Saladin Ahmed:
Not my cup of tea. I tried a few pages but couldn't get into it.
Children of the Shark God by Peter S. Beagle:
I'm not sure how to categorize this one. I haven't read any of his books before, but I've definitely heard about them. This story brings the classic moral-fairytale-esque idea and twists it all around for a completely original tale. There's something about the way he writes, like a true ancient storyteller with a vivid imagination. It's impressively creative, and now I really should get to reading The Last Unicorn...
Misery by Heather Brewer:
I've only read Heather's work in other anthologies, not her actual books, so I know I like her writing style. She's also an incredibly nice person. Misery, one of her two stories in here, is probably my favorite. It reads like a true black-and-white Twilight Zone episode, with almost a touch of The Giver. This story had me in goosebumps from the first sentence, and ended differently than I expected.
(Also I realized I'd read this one in another anthology before, no wonder I liked it! Again!)
Shadow Children by Heather Brewer:
It's okay, but nothing original and sort of predictable…also too short to succeed in grabbing me.
Red Run by Kami Garcia
Supernatural fan? It's like a condensed version of an episode. Twisty turny creepy.
Pale Rider by Nancy Holder
Halfway through I realized I'd read this one before too. Its difference stands out--unique paranormal/dystopian combination.
Frost Child by Gillian Philip
Not a fan. Read a few pages but couldn't get into it, but it also had to do with one of her stories, like a prequel. So maybe that's why I just didn't understand.
South by Gillian Philip
One of the shortest stories, but in my top three favorite. Reads like an old tale of the north, but all I could gather was it's at an icy island in the middle of nowhere. Similar to Peter Beagle's story from near the beginning. Both have that older-story feel.
A Knot of Toads by Jane Yolen
Second favorite! If I remember correctly, it took place in Scotland in the early 1900s. Witches and curses and despite it's grossness, I totally enjoyed it. Don't miss this one!
The Adventures of Lightning Merriemouse-Jones by Nancy and & Belle Holder
This is a retelling of Dracula….with mice as characters.
I think I'll leave you with that.
Hooves and the Hovel of Abdel Jameela by Saladin Ahmed:
Not my cup of tea. I tried a few pages but couldn't get into it.
Children of the Shark God by Peter S. Beagle:
I'm not sure how to categorize this one. I haven't read any of his books before, but I've definitely heard about them. This story brings the classic moral-fairytale-esque idea and twists it all around for a completely original tale. There's something about the way he writes, like a true ancient storyteller with a vivid imagination. It's impressively creative, and now I really should get to reading The Last Unicorn...
Misery by Heather Brewer:
I've only read Heather's work in other anthologies, not her actual books, so I know I like her writing style. She's also an incredibly nice person. Misery, one of her two stories in here, is probably my favorite. It reads like a true black-and-white Twilight Zone episode, with almost a touch of The Giver. This story had me in goosebumps from the first sentence, and ended differently than I expected.
(Also I realized I'd read this one in another anthology before, no wonder I liked it! Again!)
Shadow Children by Heather Brewer:
It's okay, but nothing original and sort of predictable…also too short to succeed in grabbing me.
Red Run by Kami Garcia
Supernatural fan? It's like a condensed version of an episode. Twisty turny creepy.
Pale Rider by Nancy Holder
Halfway through I realized I'd read this one before too. Its difference stands out--unique paranormal/dystopian combination.
Frost Child by Gillian Philip
Not a fan. Read a few pages but couldn't get into it, but it also had to do with one of her stories, like a prequel. So maybe that's why I just didn't understand.
South by Gillian Philip
One of the shortest stories, but in my top three favorite. Reads like an old tale of the north, but all I could gather was it's at an icy island in the middle of nowhere. Similar to Peter Beagle's story from near the beginning. Both have that older-story feel.
A Knot of Toads by Jane Yolen
Second favorite! If I remember correctly, it took place in Scotland in the early 1900s. Witches and curses and despite it's grossness, I totally enjoyed it. Don't miss this one!
The Adventures of Lightning Merriemouse-Jones by Nancy and & Belle Holder
This is a retelling of Dracula….with mice as characters.
I think I'll leave you with that.
jameseckman's review
3.0
A collection of shorts, at least some published elsewhere. The cover art makes me feel young, like when all SF and fantasy had tacky cover art.
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