Puerto Rico Strong (comic anthology) - Paul's REVIEW

*I received this book as an eARC from Lion Forge via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Puerto Rico Strong
Edited by: Hazel Newlevant
Recent Release Date: March 27, 2018

Synopsis: Puerto Rico Strong is a comics anthology that explores what it means to be Puerto Rican and the diversity that exists within that concept, from today's most exciting Puerto Rican comics creators. All profits will go to towards disaster relief and recovery programs to support Puerto Rico. Despite being a US territory, Puerto Rico is often thought of as a foreign land, if it's even a thought in the mind of the average American at all. Its people exist in all corners of America; some of them have parents who immigrated from the home island, others are a part of families that have been on the mainland for generations. Then there are those who have come to the states in search of a dream but struggle to integrate into an unfamiliar culture, while there are those who have lived in the United States all of their lives but still have the same struggle because of the color of their skin or their sexual identity. These stories follow individuals from diverse walks of life but are all part of the culture that is Puerto Rico.Puerto Rico Strong features art and writing by Rosa Colon, Vita Ayala, Naomi Franquiz, Javier Cruz Winnik, Sabrina Cintron, Ronnie Garcia, Fabian Nicieza, Joamette Gil, and many more!

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Review: This comics anthology features stories from all different aspects of the Puerto Rican people. There are stories about the history of the island and its people, the present day reach of the Puerto Rican people, and the future. There's romance. There's historical facts, mythology, and more. There's even some fantasy and sci-fi stories.

I wasn't familiar with the Taino culture before this. The island has such rich history, merging many different cultures through many different means. I loved seeing a peek into a world I'm not very knowledgeable of. 

This comics anthology is a great effort to raise support for and knowledge of the Puerto Rican people. Every story is full of so much heart. I give this book a 5/5.   


--PAUL

M9B/Tantrum Books TWO FOR THURSDAY BLITZ: Very Superstitious & Two and Twenty Dark Tales + GIVEAWAY!

Welcome to this week’s Two for Thursday Book Blitz #T4T
presented by Month9books/Tantrum Books!

Today, we will be showcasing two titles that may tickle your fancy,
and we’ll share what readers have to say about these titles!

You just might find your next read!

This week, #T4T presents to you:

Very Superstitious:
Myths, Legends and Tales of Superstition

and

Two and Twenty Dark Tales:
Dark Retellings of Mother Goose Rhymes

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

The stories are based on urban legends, myths, tribal tales and superstitions from around the world. A charity anthology to benefit SPCA International with stories by Shannon Delany, Jackie Morse Kessler, Stephanie Kuehnert, Jennifer Knight, Marianne Mancusi, Michelle E. Reed, Dianne Salerni and Pab Sungenis.

Google Play | BAM | Chapters | IndieBound | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | TBD | iBooks

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:

“VERY SUPERSTITIOUS is a fine anthology for fantasy readers looking for something slightly creepy for Halloween reading.” – Liviania, In Bed With Books

“A collection of spook-licious tales that will taunt, and in a few cases, tickle the fear bone in any reader.” – S.A. Larsen, Author

"A timely collection for a good cause, with some delightful surprises, full of myths and superstitions, and a vast array of stories that will make you laugh, cry and think.” – Tammy, Books Bones Buffy

In this anthology, 20 authors explore the dark and hidden meanings behind some of the most beloved Mother Goose nursery rhymes through short story retellings. The dark twists on classic tales range from exploring whether Jack truly fell or if Jill pushed him instead to why Humpty Dumpty, fragile and alone, sat atop so high of a wall. The authors include Nina Berry, Sarwat Chadda, Leigh Fallon, Gretchen McNeil, and Suzanne Young.

Google Play | BAM | Chapters | IndieBound | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | TBD | iBooks

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:

“Great short story collection! Allegorical, interpretive, and entertaining.” – Levina, Goodreads Reviewer

“ EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED in this book” – Kwinn, Goodreads Reviewer

“I truly enjoyed the stories in this anthology. Some are dark and depressing, and yet beautifully told…” – Angie, Author

Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win

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The Lost Locket of Lahari Anthology from Patchwork Press - Ashley's Review

*I received a copy of this book as an eARC from Patchwork Press on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: The Lost Locket of Lahari Anthology

Authors: Erica Crouch, Terra Harmony, Janna Jennings, Ruth Silver, Kellie Sheridan, Kara Baird

Release Date: September 9th, 2014

Synopsis: In a dusty, dilapidated stall tucked away in an alcove of a bustling Bazaar in India, a man with a rickety spine and a spindly beard bends over his work bench, forging a locket with accidental magic. There’s power in a wish, and there’s nothing he wants more than for his children to return home. The locket was intricately crafted, adorned with one dragonfly for each of his children—and the power to find them.

With the guidance of fate, the locket skips through time and journeys across oceans, traveling from person to person in a constant search for the souls whispered into its vessel. Centuries after the magical old man in the Bazaar became near-forgotten myth and whispered legend, the locket has fallen into the hands of those with echoes of the six dragonflies: the empath, the dreamer, the confidant, the adventurer, the dancer, and the mystery.

In the hands of its new owners, the power of the locket adapts, bending and remaking itself to answer need. While the locket never found the children of Lahari, it found the next best thing… Their spirits.

The six novellas of the Lost Locket of Lahari anthology pause a moment in time when the locket finds the ripples of its ancestry. From the Victorian-era to the Roaring Twenties, the 1940s to modern day and beyond, this anthology is a collection of stories as dynamic as the authors themselves.

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Review: I have yet to be disappointed by a Patchwork Press title, so I was really looking forward to reading this anthology as soon as I heard about it. I've loved what I've read from these authors, and the idea behind this anthology is really interesting and unique. When the description says that the stories are "as dynamic as the authors themselves," it isn't kidding at all! 

As with every anthology, there are certain stories and moments that stand out as exceptional and unforgettable. Erica's story, The Empath, is probably my favorite. I've loved everything I've read from Erica, and The Empath was just as exciting and heartbreaking as the rest of her books even though it was a short story. I also really enjoyed Ruth's story, The Adventurer. I'm always looking for a good sci-fi story, and Ruth really hit the nail on the head with this one. 

A few of the stories had parts that just seemed really slow to me, which I think made me like them a little less. I also couldn't connect with some of the characters and it made it hard for me to care what happened to them. The main girl in The Confidant, for example, was really annoying to me and I felt like someone just needed to slap her. The world and the story itself were exciting and exactly what I hoped they would be, I just didn't like the girl. 

For the most part, though, all of these stories could definitely stand on their own. The characters are pretty much all well developed and go through quite a bit in their respective short stories. I enjoyed that I could read one story, put the anthology down, and come back to it later without having missed anything, but I also enjoyed that the stories are all interconnected and represent each of the children. I enjoyed learning the history of the locket in the prologue and seeing the echoes of the people who made it in the characters in the stories. Overall, this anthology was really well done. I'm really looking forward to reading the next anthology from these talented authors soon! 4/5.


--Ashley

M9B/Tantrum Books TWO FOR THURSDAY BLITZ: Two and Twenty Dark Tales & Very Superstitious Anthologies + GIVEAWAY!

Hello and welcome to this week’s Two for Thursday Book Blitz #T4T

presented by Month9books/Tantrum Books!

Today, we will be showcasing two titles that may tickle your fancy,
and we’ll share what readers have to say about these titles!

You just might find your next read!

This week, #T4T presents to you:

Two and Twenty Dark Tales and Very Superstitious Anthologies!

Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

In this anthology, 20 authors explore the dark and hidden meanings behind some of the most beloved Mother Goose nursery rhymes through short story retellings. The dark twists on classic tales range from exploring whether Jack truly fell or if Jill pushed him instead to why Humpty Dumpty, fragile and alone, sat atop so high of a wall. The authors include Nina Berry, Sarwat Chadda, Leigh Fallon, Gretchen McNeil, and Suzanne Young.

WHAT READER’S ARE SAYING:

“Great short story collection! Allegorical, interpretive, and entertaining.” – Levina, Goodreads Reviewer

“ EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED in this book” – Kwinn, Goodreads Reviewer

“I truly enjoyed the stories in this anthology. Some are dark and depressing, and yet beautifully told…” – Angie, Author

The stories are based on urban legends, myths, tribal tales and superstitions from around the world. A charity anthology to benefit SPCA International with stories by Shannon Delany, Jackie Morse Kessler, Stephanie Kuehnert, Jennifer Knight, Marianne Mancusi, Michelle E. Reed, Dianne Salerni and Pab Sungenis.

WHAT READER’S ARE SAYING:

“VERY SUPERSTITIOUS is a fine anthology for fantasy readers looking for something slightly creepy for Halloween reading.” – Liviania, In Bed With Books

“A collection of spook-licious tales that will taunt, and in a few cases, tickle the fear bone in any reader.” – S.A. Larsen, Author

A timely collection for a good cause, with some delightful surprises, full of myths and superstitions, and a vast array of stories that will make you laugh, cry and think.” – Tammy, Books Bones Buffy

Complete the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

COVER REVEAL: Polaris Awakening - A Patchwork Press Anthology

We're so excited to be a part of the cover reveal for Polaris Awakening, the second anthology from the authors at Patchwork Press, today! Before we get to the cover, how about a little bit of information about the book?

About the Book

ZEUS PROTOCAL 000101: REBOOT, SCAN.

DANGER DETECTED.

THREAT LEVEL: UNKNOWN.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: INCREASE MILITARY PRESENCE.

There’s trouble brewing on Polaris. Under the watchful eye of the space station’s supercomputer, Zeus, the lower classes are awakening to the corruption of their wealthy, privileged, and protected leaders. When the quiet voices of protest get louder and alliances form, change dawns on the horizon. But the small acts of resistance won’t be enough to subvert the system for long. Zeus is alert to the growing threat level, and he will do whatever’s necessary—including purging the lower levels of Polaris—to preserve stability for all.

Inspired by the mythology of the constellations hung around Polaris, the seven stories in Polaris Awakening reimagine the classic characters in a futuristic world where alien creatures are commonplace, combat arenas are used for entertaining foreign dignitaries, slaves and soldiers stand side by side, and music orchestrates a revolution. And their first acts of defiance are just the beginning. Polaris will never be the same.

ZEUS PROTOCAL 000099: ENGAGE THREAT.



There are seven stories contributing to the anthology. And our authors (in order of appearance) are: Kellie Sheridan, Erin Latimer, Erica Crouch, Janna Jennings, Hannah Davies, Terra Harmony, and Meghan Jashinsky.

Are you ready for the cover now? 

So, what do you think? Do you love it as much as we do? Let us know your thoughts in the comments! 


--Ashley & Paul

Zombies. vs Unicorns by Holly Black & Justine Larbalestier - Ashley's Review

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Title: Zombies vs. Unicorns
Edited by: Justine Larbalestier & Holly Black
Year Published: 2010

My Pre-Reading (Pre-Listening?)

Synopsis: It's a question as old as time itself: which is better, the zombie or the unicorn? In this anthology, edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier (unicorn and zombie, respectively), strong arguments are made for both sides in the form of short stories. Half of the stories portray the strengths--for good and evil--of unicorns and half show the good (and really, really bad-ass) side of zombies.

Contributors include many bestselling teen authors, including Cassandra Clare, Libba Bray, Maureen Johnson, Meg Cabot, Scott Westerfeld, and Margo Lanagan. This anthology will have everyone asking: Team Zombie or Team Unicorn

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Review: Oh my goodness. This book was absolutely fantastic! The stories ranged from hilarious to charming to terrifying, and most of them reinvented zombies and unicorns and made them entirely different creatures. I really enjoyed the stories and seeing how different popular YA authors put their own spin on these classic creatures.

I listened to the audiobook version while on a long car trip, so I guess part of this should be about that. I don't typically listen to audiobooks, simply because they take too much time to get through. I would rather sit down for a few hours and read a book for myself than have to listen to someone else read it to me over the course of 15+ hours. If I had that much time, I could read like three books! The narrators in this book though made it seem as if not that much time had elapsed. I found myself paying attention to the stories, laughing out loud during most of them, and not wanting to get out of the car becuase it meant turning off the book. It was nice to have several narrators because the stories didn't run together. It was also easy to tell what gender the narrator was - male voices for a male POV and female voices for a female POV. All of the narrators did a good job distinguishing voices between characters too.

I also enjoyed the commentary before each story from Justine and Holly. Their banter also made me laugh, and I felt myself sympathizing most often with Justine (go Team Zombie!). I'm not sure that would have translated well in print (is it even in the book? I would assume so). I also enjoyed that before each story was a sound that indicated whether the story would be a Team Zombie story or a Team Unicorn story - supposedly to help members of one team skip stories from the other. It helped keep track of which story was about which creature.

All of the stories were really interesting, and I enjoyed when I got to a story from an author that I had actually read things from (e.g Scott Westerfeld, Carrie Ryan, Meg Cabot, etc.). As far as the zombie  stories go, there are your horror zombie stories (of course), but there are also zombie romances, stories from the zombies' perspectives, good zombies, and so much more. The unicorn stories were also diverse, including a story called The Care and Feeding of Your Baby Killer Unicorn. Stories like that made me think Team Unicorn didn't really take this competition seriously... Overall though, the stories are the perfect length, and definitely held my attention. Some are a little lengthy, but I think that might have had to do with switching CDs in the middle of them. 

I would totally recommend this book to any fans of zombies and/or unicorns. If you don't like zombies, skip those stories! Same with the unicorns. I loved the new takes on familiar creatures, especially with how popular zombies have gotten in pop culture recently. It's a fun read that you can keep on your nightstand for as long as it takes to finish, which is one of my favorite things about anthologies. I'll definitely be looking into these authors more, and trying to find out if any of these stories are parts of larger series! Definitely a 4/5.


--Ashley

Zombies. vs Unicorns by Holly Black & Justine Larbalestier - Ashley's Pre-Reading

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Zombies vs. Unicorns
Edited by: Justine Larbalestier & Holly Black
Year Published: 2010

Synopsis: It's a question as old as time itself: which is better, the zombie or the unicorn? In this anthology, edited by Holly Black and Justine Larbalestier (unicorn and zombie, respectively), strong arguments are made for both sides in the form of short stories. Half of the stories portray the strengths--for good and evil--of unicorns and half show the good (and really, really bad-ass) side of zombies.

Contributors include many bestselling teen authors, including Cassandra Clare, Libba Bray, Maureen Johnson, Meg Cabot, Scott Westerfeld, and Margo Lanagan. This anthology will have everyone asking: Team Zombie or Team Unicorn?

Why?: Well I actually picked this out as an audiobook because I was going to be driving for about as long as the CDs lasted. Also because who doesn't love a good zombie story? Or a good unicorn story? And I've read books from a lot of these authors and loved them, or have their books on my TBR list. Everything about this anthology is just calling my name!

Expectations: Since I love so many of these authors, I have pretty high expectations for this book. Lots of gore (probably) from Team Zombie and lots of rainbows and butterflies from Team Unicorn. Also a few stories that totally redefine zombies and unicorns as we think of them. I'm really excited about this anthology, and I hope it lives up to my expectations!

Judging a book by its cover: I kind of love that there is no title on this book, just pictures to show Zombies vs. Unicorns. I love the colors against the stark black background too. I think this book would definitely stand out on a shelf, especially since it's unlike any other cover out there. I would totally pick it up! 


--Ashley

Grim - Edited by Christine Johnson - Ashley's Pre-Reading

*I received this book as an eARC from Harlequin Teen on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Grim
Editor: Christine Johnson
Date of Publication: February 25, 2014

Synopsis: Claire de Lune, Nocturne, and The Gathering Dark author Christine Johnson is the editor of Grim, an anthology of dark fairy tale retellings, featuring stories by New York Times bestselling authors Ellen Hopkins, Amanda Hocking, Claudia Gray, Rachel Hawkins, Julie Kagawa, and others. Published by HarlequinTeen, the stories range from the macabre to the fantastic, with settings from make-believe castles to trailer parks in Georgia and everything in between.

The full list of contributors is:

Kimberly Derting
Sonia Gensler
Tessa Gratton
Claudia Gray
Rachel Hawkins
Amanda Hocking
Ellen Hopkins
Shaun David Hutchinson
Julie Kagawa
Malinda Lo
Myra McEntire
Saundra Mitchell
Jackson Pearce
Sarah Rees Brennan
Jon Skovron
Jeri Smith Ready
and
Christine Johnson

Why?: I love fairytale retellings, and I knew I had to read this anthology of them when I saw the list of contributors. I mean, look at that list! So many excellent authors! And since they're short stories, I can read them a couple at a time in between other books. Or all at once, which is more likely what's going to happen...

Expectations: I expect some pretty dark retellings of popular and maybe even less known fairy tales. Since there are so many bestselling authors on this list, I have pretty high expectations for the stories in this anthology.

Judging a book by its cover: I love this cover so much. I love the purple against the black/gray, I love how there are charms on the tree that I assume represent each of the stories... I just like everything about it. I would definitely pick this up if I saw it in a store somewhere! 


--Ashley

BOYS: An Anthology - Paul's Review

Amazon | Goodreads

Title: BOYS: An Anthology
Editor: Zach Stafford & Nico Lang
Year Published: 2013

Synopsis: Boys is an anthology of essays showcasing the voices, stories, and lives of gay, queer, and trans* men from around the world. Through these essays, readers are allowed an intimate glimpse into moments like the time one of the boys accidentally came out as gay on MySpace, another was kidnapped by his mother who wanted to “pray the gay away,” to the first time a boy went to a leather bar after transitioning to male and before he became a famous porn artist and performer. Boys shows readers that at the end of the day, there isn't one type of boy in the world, but lots of boys with all their own stories


Review: I first heard of this anthology from R.J. Aguiar on his twitter account. I downloaded it the day it came out. It's full of stories from so many different queer perspectives. I like how many minorities within the gay community are thoroughly discussed such as trans men and people of color. Some of the stories reminded me of similar experiences I've had or of things friends of mine have gone through. I'd suggest this book to any gay man from 19 to 99, but especially those in their 20-something's. I give this anthology am overall 4/5. 

I'm going to list just a few things about each of the stories. 

1. Vomit: This story reminds me of my own growing up. AIM as well as early college experiences and feelings. I had different experiences, but I think everyone has the same feelings as they experience their own coming of "(g)a(y)ge" story.

2. A Trip Down Route 666: This is a sad story of a family that refuses to love their child. It's unfortunate that there are so many people that have similar experiences.

3. Confessions of a Snow Queen: This is a really interesting story of race in the gay American scene from the perspective of an Indian. And then what it means to be an American with Indian heritage in India.

4. My Closet is Better Than Yours: A gay twin tries to make himself unique and find out who he really is and not just a comparison.

5. We're Desperate: This story is about appearance and perception.

6. Like That: This story covers racism and its complexities

7. Inside Man (by R.J. Aguiar): This story follows an out young man trying to make a living in politics and a broken system, particularly in FL. It was interesting to read this knowing R.J.'s story from his YouTube channel with his now fiancé.

8. Testosterone Fueled Injection: This story is about a very unique encounter in a leather bar. I had also known of this author. This story is a little steamier than others in the anthology. 

9. For Colored Boys Who Love White Boys: This is another story that addresses race and "preferences".

10. The Time I Outed Myself on AIM: This story is about an unfortunate incident in a freshmen high school student's life. And how important certain things seem in high school. 

11. Much Ado About a Name: This story really shows how much power and emotion can go into a name.

12: The Couple Undercover: I liked how this story was told in an interesting 2nd person perspective. It deals with ambition and priorities.

13. My Hideous Angel: This is an insirational story. It shows that you can go from a low to a high. Bad family relations to helping homeless lgbtq.

14. What Would I Do Without You?: This story covers the inability to leave behind memories of a relationship that ended too soon.

15. Gandhi School of Hookups: This is another interesting tale of race. How set in stone are gay men when it comes to race preferences? This story is from an Asian perspective

16. Pages From the Penis Book: The stories of a gay man's youthful attractions and actions.

17. A Series of (Fortunately) Unfortunate Events: A Craigslist Chronicle: This story follows a 25 year old remembering his sexual encounters via Craigslist as a 20 yr old.

18. When a Bulimic Goes on a Diet: A young boy comes out as bulimic in this story.

19. Studs Abroad: This is a story of a gay man in Amaterdam.


--PAUL

Irony of Survival (Zharmae Anthology Series #2) - Ashley's Review (Book III)

*I received this anthology from The Zharmae Publishing Press in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Irony of Survival
Edited by: Anna McDermott
Year Published: 2013

My review of Irony of Survival: Book I
My review of Irony of Survival: Book II

Synopsis: Futures teetering between fate and chance unravel in fantastical realities spanning time and space; each bringing us face-to-face with the unexpected in Irony of Survival – a dynamic collection that explores how life’s ironic twists and turns challenge and, at times, ensure mankind’s survival. 

Never before has the role of irony in challenging our perspective, questioning consequence, and disrupting equilibrium been more distinctly illuminated than in this artfully spellbinding work that provides readers a looking-glass through which to view their own tales of survival. 

Experience firsthand how an unlikely instance, in an instant, can be the turning point of destiny.

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Review: Since this anthology is split into three different books, I think I'll review each story, with the reviews separated by Book. Anthologies are always so weird for me to review.

1. The Hollow Temple by M.A. Ligocki: This story tells the tale of an adventurer with a cursed sword and an elf whose paths cross as they both seek the same treasure. The beginning is kind of slow, and I think too much time is taken to describe their fighting and the temple. Then, things start to pick up as they get weird. I actually enjoyed the weird part of it, and I think that the ending saved this story. 3/5

2. Hall of the Slain by Maria Herring: A doctor, Torny, is killed on the battlefield and finds herself amongst warriors in Valhalla. I was so confused at first because I had no idea what was going on, but eventually it made sense and the story was actually not so bad. I still had so many questions at the end though, and I think it ended very abruptly. 3/5

3. Machines by Michael Simon:In a futuristic world, humanity is at war with the machines. Humans must become more like the perfect machines in order to have a chance at victory, but the machines are always one step ahead. I think this story jumps back and forth near the beginning, and it was a little disorienting. Then the main character is drafted and things are a little more linear. It was an interesting concept that would have made a better book than a short story, I think. 2/5

4. Nowhere to go but Mars by Barry Nove: Colonies are being set up on Mars, and people have begun terraforming and attempting to create a new inhabitable world. America has become a third world country, and many children between the ages of 12-20 have decided to migrate to Mars in hopes of achieving a better life. I liked the concept, and I thought it was pretty well done... but then it ended without ever wrapping anything up. If the ending had been better, I would rate it higher! 3/5

5. ARK-11 by Jak Kavan: ARK-11 is a ship transporting a group of people to a new planet light years away so that they can start colonizing it. People are mysteriously being awoken and others dying though, so most of the story focuses on why/how people are dying. And then... spiders. I personally hate spiders, so that was terrifying in and of itself. The idea and the characters aren't terrible, but I do think this story was too long to be included in an anthology like this. If it had been trimmed down some, I think it would have been better. 2/5

6. The Sun of a Distant Horizon by Corbin Maxwell: A young boy wants to go to Mars in order to help his struggling family. He's tired of life on Earth, and is willing to do drastic things if it means he can leave. Most of this was really graphic and gross and not at all my style, so I found myself skipping ahead quite a bit. It also ended up being some sort of romance story mixed in with everything... it was just really weird. And the main character is like 12 and that just made it worse. I didn't really enjoy this story at all... 1/5

Overall, Book III would be a 2/5 for me. This Book was didn't have stories in at that I enjoyed as much as some of the ones in Book II, but it was more consistent as a whole than either the first or second one. This anthology is a decent look at life's twists and turns and mankind's survival in spite of or thanks to the events that happen. If you're looking for a sci-fi/fantasy anthology, this one might be the right one for you.

--Ashley

Once Upon a Time: New Fairy Tales - Paul's Review (Part III)

*I received this book as an eARC from Prime Books on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Once Upon a Time: New Fairy Tales
Edited by: Paula Guran
Year Published: 2013

My REVIEW of Once Upon a Time: New Fairy Tales (Part I)
My REVIEW of Once Upon a Time: New Fairy Tales (Part II)

Synopsis: Eighteen extraordinary authors devise all-new fairy tales: imaginative reinterpretations of the familiar, evocative new myths, speculations beyond the traditional realm of "once upon a time." 

Often dark, occasionally humorous, always enthralling, these stories find a certain Puss in a near-future New York, an empress bargaining with a dragon, a princess turned into a raven, a king's dancing daughters with powerful secrets, great heroism, terrible villainy, sparks of mischief, and a great deal more. 

Brilliant dreams and dazzling nightmares with meaning for today and tomorrow...


Review: The Giant in Repose by Nathan Ballingrud:  This story draws from Nordic myths. A man has escaped his fairytale like story and lived life. He  is thrust back to a place where everything has waited for him. I liked this story. 4/5

The Hush of Feathers, the Clamor of Wings by A.C. Wise: This story had lyrical imagery, but it was kind of twisted. It is a modern tale with a witch's curse. Choice plays a big role. 3.5/5

Eat Me, Drink Me, Love Me by Christopher Barzak: This is a retelling of "Goblin Market". The original story is in this story if you aren't familiar with it. There's also an explanation for the retelling. This story features an interesting relationship between sisters. 4/5

The Mirror Tells All by Erzebet Yellowboy: There aren't many stories I've read written in second person. It was interesting to read. This is a take on Snow White. I liked this interesting and different way to tell a story. 4/5

Blanchefleur by Theodora Goss: This is an epic adventure of a boy called Idiot becoming whatever he can be. I really liked this one. There are interesting worlds and characters. Its like a blend of classic and modern. 5/5


Overall, I really enjoyed this anthology of short stories. I highly recommend it to fans of fairytales. There were many stories referencing tales I've never heard of, so fairy tale fanatics will love this book. Averaging up all the reviews (excluding the one story I couldn't finish) gives this book a 4/5 and I agree with that.


-PAUL

Once Upon a Time: New Fairy Tales - Paul's Review (Part II)

*I received this book as an eARC from Prime Books on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Once Upon a Time: New Fairy Tales
Edited by: Paula Guran
Year Published: 2013

My REVIEW of Once Upon a Time: New Fairy Tales (Part I)

Synopsis: Eighteen extraordinary authors devise all-new fairy tales: imaginative reinterpretations of the familiar, evocative new myths, speculations beyond the traditional realm of "once upon a time." 

Often dark, occasionally humorous, always enthralling, these stories find a certain Puss in a near-future New York, an empress bargaining with a dragon, a princess turned into a raven, a king's dancing daughters with powerful secrets, great heroism, terrible villainy, sparks of mischief, and a great deal more. 

Brilliant dreams and dazzling nightmares with meaning for today and tomorrow...


Review: Tales that Fairies Tell by Richard Bowes: I really liked a quote from this story. "The craving of fairy tales appears when a world is changing from one of magic to one of science and vice versa." This story takes place in a futuristic New York and features Puss in Boots. The concept was interesting and the world was cool, but I felt like it was too much for a short story. I didn't understand all the characters. And the story just kind of ended. 2.5/5

Sleeping Beauty of Elista by Ekaterina Sedia: This short story is an interesting take on the pediatric AIDS incident in Elista in the 80s. This story brings up the question of why things happen. Do all things teach lessons? This story plays with the basics of thr original Sleeping Beauty story: a witch and a victim. It was written very well. 4/5

The Road of Needles by Caitlin R. Kiernan: This story references Little Red Riding Hood. It takes place in the future when space travel is becoming commonplace. The protagonist is the only person on a soaceship when something goes wrong.The story jumps back and forth through time in its telling. There was an interesting use of the storybook. 4/5

Lupine by Nisi Shawl: This is a simple story. A girl is locked up by her mother with a curse she must overcome. 3/5

Flight by Angela Slatter: This is a complete fairy tale. It feels like its been around a long time. I could see this as a Disney movie. I would watch an animated version of this. Bird transformations, princesses, evil aunts, human eating giantess. 4/5

Egg by Priya Sharma: A woman wants a child. A hag grants her wish, but not the way she expected. This story brings up some interesting topics about parenting. 4/5

Castle of Masks by Cory Skerry: This story reminds me of a different take on Beauty and the Beast. A man poses as a women and goes to a monster as a virgin offering. I really liked how this story was told. 5/5


-PAUL

Once Upon a Time: New Fairy Tales - Paul's Review (Part I)

*I received this book as an eARC from Prime Books on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Once Upon a Time: New Fairy Tales
Edited by: Paula Guran
Year Published: 2013

Synopsis: Eighteen extraordinary authors devise all-new fairy tales: imaginative reinterpretations of the familiar, evocative new myths, speculations beyond the traditional realm of "once upon a time." 

Often dark, occasionally humorous, always enthralling, these stories find a certain Puss in a near-future New York, an empress bargaining with a dragon, a princess turned into a raven, a king's dancing daughters with powerful secrets, great heroism, terrible villainy, sparks of mischief, and a great deal more. 

Brilliant dreams and dazzling nightmares with meaning for today and tomorrow...


Review: The Coin of Heart's Desire by Yoon Ha Lee: Dragons and trickery. Questions and bargains. This is an Asian influenced fable with an interesting world where the Empire is led by the Empress and you get new names throughout your life as you accomplish things. I thought this story was original and fun. 4/5

The Lenten Rose by Genevieve Valentine: I only read 60% of this story. I was lost. It is a retelling of Hans Christian Anderson's The Snow Queen. I'm not that familiar with the original story so that may be why I couldn't follow it. --/5

The Spinning Wheel's Tale by Jane Yolen: This story shows the well known fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty from a different perspective. For a hint, just read the title. I never thought about this perspective before. I found this story short, but eloquent. 5/5

Below the Sun Beneath by Tanith Lee: This is another retelling. I remember the original story from a cartoon that used to be on HBO Family. The story involves a king searching for a man to find out what his daughters are doing at night that causes their soles to be worn in the morning. I feel that Lee added more depth to the story with the cripple and the witch. I am interested in reading the original fable now. 4/5

Warrior Dreams by Cinda Williams Chima: This story takes place in America with all the unusual magical beings you find here. I like the way Chima combined magic and science. There is mention of magic side by side with hormones, phosphates, TBI, and PTSD.  3.5/5

Born and Bread by Kaaron Warren: This was a retelling of a story I hadn't heard of before. This retelling involves a dough like lady who bakes excellent bread. There is also a very unusual sex scene. I found the story interesting. It was short and sweet. 3/5


-PAUL

Irony of Survival (Zharmae Anthology Series #2) - Ashley's Review (Book II)

*I received this anthology from The Zharmae Publishing Press in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: Irony of Survival
Edited by: Anna McDermott
Year Published: 2013

My review of Irony of Survival: Book I

Synopsis: Futures teetering between fate and chance unravel in fantastical realities spanning time and space; each bringing us face-to-face with the unexpected in Irony of Survival – a dynamic collection that explores how life’s ironic twists and turns challenge and, at times, ensure mankind’s survival. 

Never before has the role of irony in challenging our perspective, questioning consequence, and disrupting equilibrium been more distinctly illuminated than in this artfully spellbinding work that provides readers a looking-glass through which to view their own tales of survival. 

Experience firsthand how an unlikely instance, in an instant, can be the turning point of destiny.

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Review: Since this anthology is split into three different books, I think I'll review each story, with the reviews separated by Book. Anthologies are always so weird for me to review.

1. Tower of Strength by Colleen Anderson: This story is a re-imagining of the Crucifixion/Easter story, but from the viewpoint of Mary Magdalene and with the addition of ancient magic. I wasn't really sure what was happening at first because the names were all different and there was a lot of dialogue. There are some elements of the original story, but the magic seemed weird and out of place. It was alright, but just didn't hold my attention well and left me with more questions than answers. 2/5

2. Restitution by James Wymore: A group of people live on a spaceship used to dump garbage, and are made to live in, eat, and scavenge through the garbage in order to survive. After receiving visions, our protagonist decides to stage a mutiny and get all these people out of their lives of trash. I think the concept was interesting, and the characters were likable, but the underlying setup was underdeveloped. How could people on Earth just forget about all the people they sent up into space? And why is he all of a sudden getting these visions? This one had potential, but fell short in the details. 2.5/5

3. The Sentinel by Jak Kavan: A tech company develops a super processor, it disappears, and all of a sudden banks and stock markets start to collapse. I actually thought the idea was really interesting, once everything became connected. I think too much of the beginning focuses on finding the processor though, and on trying to hunt down the guy who they think took it. If more time was spent on the program and how/why it becomes a sentinel, I think it would have been better. 3/5

4. The Romance Chip by Jon Del Arroz: Imagine a world where romance is dictated by a government issued chip that tells you when you are compatible with someone. Now, what if you have never had a match? The idea of making romance this simple is actually really interesting. How would people actually react to it? Would it be worth it? I did feel sorry for the main character, but I think the coincidence at the end was very unbelievable. It was just too much coincidence. 3/5

5. Replacement Hearts by Edward McKeown: A man is injured so badly that he becomes a cyborg - mostly metal, but with his brain, heart, etc. all in tact. He lives alone and has no relationships with full humans except for professional ones. When he has to transport an android "joygirl" though, things change. This story is actually one of the better ones I've read. It's written well, isn't too slow, and has realistic and likable characters. 4/5

6. The Ice Dragon by J.B. Rockwell: This story tells about the life of a fearsome ice dragon. How she falls in love with a man, has sons and daughters, and what happens to them. I actually really liked this story. It was on the longer side, but never felt too long. It has the feel of a fairy tale, which is pretty cool. I would love to have learned more about this world, but the glimpse we got was enough for the story. 5/5! 

Overall, Book II would be about a 3/5. This Book was definitely better than the first one. I hope Book III is even better! 

--Ashley

RealLies: A Zharmae Collection of Short Works (Zharmae Anthology Series #1) - Paul's Review

*I received a copy of this book from The Zharmae Publishing Press in exchange for an honest review*

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Title: RealLies: A Zharmae Collection of Short Works
Edited by: Max Avalon
Year Published: 2013

Ashley's REVIEW of RealLies (Part I: Curiosity)
Ashley's REVIEW of RealLies (Part II: Control)

Synopsis: Enter a world where fantasy and reality collide, where seeking answers only raises more questions, and the paths you choose can change everything you have ever known. The pages in this collection will send you on an adventure into the unknown to discover the truth about yourself and the world around you.

Create and destroy destinies when facts and reasons fail in Robson's "Walk on By." Question reality with Lisabeth in "Onward Into Dark," where dreams come to life and the past returns to haunt those searching to escape the truth. Don't believe in escapism? Join the characters of Pike's "The Wolf of Descarta," as they face reality head-on and struggle against wild fantasies that eclipse life itself.

But be careful, our dear readers. One bite of "reality" and you might wish you could wrap the illusions around your eyes once more because as you will find, the truth lies.


Review: For this anthology, I'm just going to give a brief description and mini review for two of its stories.

Chasing the Shadow by Karen McCreedy

An asteroid is coming at the earth. We have colonies on the moon and Mars. The protagonist is an astronaut on the moon. The short story follows the process of them attempting to rescue the planet Earth from total destruction. There are a lot of stories like this out there. Armageddon is one if my favorites. I didn't find anything special with this short story. 2/5


The Ghost in the Sword by Wol-Vriey Jesuto

There is a magic sword. There is also a animal farmer who thinks he isn't manly enough. The man finds himself in a position in which he wants revenge. I thought this was going to be a fairy-tale with a moral, but I don't think it was. I'm confused as to what this story was telling. I didn't like the portrayal of women and physical features. I thought it was done to teach a lesson, but I must have not got the lesson. The imagery was very interesting though. I liked the concept if the afterlife presented. 3/5


-PAUL

Irony of Survival (Zharmae Anthology Series #2) - Ashley's Review (Book I)

*I received this anthology from The Zharmae Publishing Press in exchange for an honest review*

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Title: Irony of Survival
Edited by: Anna McDermott
Year Published: 2013

Synopsis: Futures teetering between fate and chance unravel in fantastical realities spanning time and space; each bringing us face-to-face with the unexpected in Irony of Survival – a dynamic collection that explores how life’s ironic twists and turns challenge and, at times, ensure mankind’s survival. 

Never before has the role of irony in challenging our perspective, questioning consequence, and disrupting equilibrium been more distinctly illuminated than in this artfully spellbinding work that provides readers a looking-glass through which to view their own tales of survival. 

Experience firsthand how an unlikely instance, in an instant, can be the turning point of destiny.

------------------------------------------------------

Review: Since this anthology is split into three different books, I think I'll review each story, with the reviews separated by Book. Anthologies are always so weird for me to review.

1. Of Dogs and Vomit by Kevin Bennett: This is a story about a cop and an escaped slave and involves theft, drugs, and a secret plot involving government officials. I think it had some potential, but felt really awkward as a short story. There were chapters and it kept going back and forth between characters and perspectives and didn't really work. I think it would have been better as a full-length novel. 2.5/5

2. Catalogue Phantasma by Frances Pauli: What would you do if you found a catalogue that could make your dreams come true and then had to choose just one? I actually really enjoyed this story, although it did get a little confusing at times with the jumps between dreams and reality. I thought the ending was actually interesting and well done, and I'm not surprised that the MC made the choice she did. 4/5.

3. Shall You Know Me When You See Me? by Johanna Lipford: After 15 years of marriage to an older woman, Henry has an affair with his secretary and considers divorce. I'm not really sure how I felt about this story. The only character I really liked was the wife, Cynthia, and we don't really see much of her. I have absolutely no idea what happened at the end, and it felt like the whole story just came to a screeching halt. I wish there was more to the ending and more of a plot. 1.5/5

4. Knackerman by Malachi King: In this story, a man - the Knackerman - goes to a farm to pick up dead cows that have strange cuts and things on them. This story was pretty far out there and was a little slow at times, but for the most part it kept me entertained. The ending was very abrupt and open, but it wasn't terrible. 3/5

5. Station 17-B by Brandon Steenbock: The crew of Station 17-B have severe cases of PTSD, but no one knows what happened to them because the only thing they can say concerning the incident is "Station 17-B." So of course, we get to find out! The set-up is very slow, and then the reveal is not at all what I expected, so props on that. I think if there had been a little more action and it had been explained more clearly, this story would have been better. 3/5

6. The Green Shadow by Nyla Nox: I honestly have no idea what happened in this story. There's a girl who sees another girl who is pretty much "the green shadow" and a King who has many wives and many babies by these wives... but I could not figure out what in the world this story was trying to do. I think it's too long and doesn't really fit in this anthology with stories that are 20 pages or less, and it did not hold my attention at all. 1/5

Overall, Book I would be a 2.5/5. Some stories are interesting and along the lines of what I expect from a short story, but others just fall short. I hope Book II and III are better! 


--Ashley