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A review by nicolet2018
Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions by Melissa Marr, Rachel Caine, Kelley Armstrong
3.0
This is going to be a long review.
I love anthologies and I don't. It has to do with the fact that those stories are short and sweet. It is commitment free, however short stories can also be poor written and aprupt.
Lets see how this one does. Enthralled is centered on the theme of "journeying". It does not necessarily mean an actual journey or road-trip for every story. It could mean a journey within one's self to change or realization. I wondered how varying this theme could be without using the typical journey as a base.
Oddly, I enjoyed the first few stories but the ones at the back did not do it for me.
Giovanni's Farewell by Claudia Gray
4/5 stars
I have not read much from this author. I read the first two of the Evernight books years ago and as I recall now they were not all that special.
This started on a most interesting premise of a brother sister bond and supernatural powers. Coupled with unique names lime "Cairo" and "Ravenna". I felt that it was short but ended nicely. I understood Ravenna feelings for wanting to fit in with everyone honestly though.
Scenic Route by Carrie Ryan
4/5 stars
I read another one of Carrie's short stories from another anthologies Shard and Ashes. It was pretty good.
Yay! dystopian! my fave!
I am in love with the genre. However I felt like this did not have as much fleshing out of the world as I would have liked. Another sibling bond which I found myself liking in such a short span. The action came fast and I did not agree with the ending. how old fashion and matronly does that name sound?
Rating is higher because what little Margie described about the world made me fascinated. Surprisingly I just learnt that this story is set in the same world as The Forest of Hands and Teeth series.
Red Run by Kami Garcia
3.5/5 stars
I heard of this story before but not the premise. I liked the setting. It was not as deep as it seemed even though the themes are rather dark. But interesting enough and well written.
Things About Love by Jackson Pearce
3.5/5 stars
My fave author for fairy-tale retellings! This is a novella from one of her books. The concept was good as the world building is already fleshed out in the main book. The genie world did seem interesting but the name was not really special. I liked Lawrence and Juliet. Honestly I thought they would get together but I was far from right haha happy to be wrong as it made the story more interesting.
Niederwald by Rachel Vincent
3.5/5 stars
I was a little on the fence because of the MC in this story. At the starts she seemed kick ass and looked it too but as the story progressed. My perception of her changed. This whole story about her dragging a girl who has no idea what is going on while she risks her skin to ask the oracle whether she will get back with the guy she is obsesses with? Not cool. At all.
This is a novella from Soul Screamers and I have never read one book from the series. Safe to say Sabine is not happy that Kaylee and Nash are together. Get over yourself! What was interesting is what Syrie sees. However not interesting enough for me to want to delve into the 6, 7 books in the series.
Merely Mortal by Melissa Marr
3/5 stars
This is a novella is from Wicked Lovely. I read the first four books a few years ago. I remembered being intrigued by the dark world of faeries. I would think this story come after the fourth book, Radiant Shadows.
Keenan has to deal with being a mortal when he has spent centuries being a faery prince. He is forever in love with Donia the winter queen. They decide to have a short trip to the mountains, just the two of them to spend some quality time without their guards and royal handlers.
I did not like this. Yes, the premise was certainly romantic but all Keenan did was worry, all Donia did was worry and overthink alot. Keenan would reassure her that everything would be okay and she would distract herself with making out and having sex with Keenan.
Seriously, the number of the times that happened in the course of the story was nearly 80%
The only thing I liked about Donia is how sensible she is while she was in her role as queen NOT girlfriend of Keenan. Girlfriend sounds too plain for what Keenan makes her out to be. Ugh it is all "she is my everything, she is so beautiful, I want to be with her forever" kind of thought, on repeat. Then there was the video that went viral. That was actually quite funny.
Not the best novella from a highly acclaimed series.
Facing Facts by Kelley Armstrong
3.5/5 stars
This is from a series I actually enjoyed! The Darkest Powers was paranormal and it is a light type of read. Some might not enjoy it though. This is where Tori finds out who her real father and half brother is. Chloe is in a awkward situation because she did not tell Tori about it even though she knew. Things gets complicated when Diane Enright causes trouble in her ghost form.
Lets Get This Undead Show On The Road by Sarah Rees Brennan
2.5/5 stars
This has no female MC and it is about a famous boy band with a vampire as one of their members. The personalities of the other three guys were certainly unique to say the least *cough*Bradley*cough* however this did deal with how Christian felt being a vampire. The vampire lore was loose and not as well done. Not to mention this was also boring.
Bridge by Jeri Smith-Ready
2.5/5 stars
I was really annoyed with how the was written and printed like a song lyrics. Along with the fact that I had no idea what was going on until a few pages in. This is the story of a boy who died and is a ghost. He is trying to communicate with his brother as there is no closure to their relationship. There is tension there.
He searches for a Post Shifter. Someone who can see ghosts and pass messages. It was interesting but I could not connect with the story. It was boring and MC has mildly inappropriate thoughts about the Post Shifter. Who cares about that, but anyway it is to be expected because he is a guy. It had nothing to do with the story as well.
Apparently this continues in a full novel. No thanks.
Skin Contact by Kimberly Derting
2.5/5 stars
This began rather mysteriously. Rafe is walking on a road in the middle of the desert, alone, in the middle of the night. He has premonitions in his dreams that have a tendency to come true. His current dream has led him here. He is dreading what he will find. While he walks, there are glimpses into his past where it shows Sophie, the girl he loves moving away to take care of her mother. This story felt like it was just a chapter taken from a novel. Not in plagiarism terms but more like the reader is thrown into the story at the beginning and then at the end, left hanging.
It was surprising that Rafe was introduced in Desires of the Dead. One of Kimberly Derting's books. The feeling like this is just a chapter from a bigger story makes sense now. But I am not interested.
Leaving By Allie Condie
3/5 stars
I admit I am rather biased to Allie Condie because I really enjoyed the Matched series. The short story is centered in a Dystopian world where people live in spheres, cubes and pyramids because the outside environment is deemed not liveable. Sora has been shunned by her classmates at school ever since her father disappeared. How does this relate?
I liked the concept of the world and the Heavens Dance in a cool young person way. Then there is Elios, whom she has a fond childhood memory with and is nice to her. Yeah yeah like I have not read it before. The idea of the Beautiful People confused me. Why is Sora so caught up on them? The story raises too many questions about them and gives no answers. Are these people healers, or celebs that people admired and therefore deem unearthly or something else entirely?
Not to mention the ending.
At The Late Night, Double Feature, Picture Show by Jessica Verday
3/5 stars
I do not really like long titles but I understand the irony to it lol
Through the story the MC's name is mentioned once. She is from a family of monster hunters and she has always felt left out because she is not really good at it. She hatches a harebrained plan to catch some monsters by herself. I liked that this world was filled with all kinds of paranormal beings from carnivore girl scouts, vampires to resurrectionists. Who are people possessed by demons who force them to cut off body parts of others to try and make a perfect body. I did not know that.
The tone of the story is light hearted and the vampires in this story are not fierce at all. I like that they are in drag and going to the showing of The Rocky Horror Show. But it holds the plot well for a short story.
IV League by Maragret Stohl
3/5 stars
I perk up when I see this author's name because of Beautiful Creatures but then it takes a few moments for me to realize this is the same author who wrote "The Icons" and my bubble burst. The story started out okay. Wren, a vampire goes on a college tour with her best friend Hopper. The dialogue and writing was boring but it got exciting toward the end, right at the end. By then, it was a waste.
Gargouille by Mary E.Pearson
4/5 stars
I thought the pronunciation to this was similar to "gargoyle" however it not.
This is probably one of the only stories not set in modern day. The world building was fascinating and I liked the writing. Yes, the love story is cliche and I wanted to smack Giselle for revealing herself so carelessly. For those who dislike the notion of young people claiming forever love, turn away!
The ending is rather open and it cuts off right where you want to know what happened. Did she remember or not?
The Third Kind by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
3/5 stars
I kinda guessed that this would be an alien themed story and at the beginning it did seem that way but I was wrong.
Honestly, more than 70% of the story felt pointless.
Automatic by Rachel Caine
3.5/5 stars
This is from her Morganville Vampires series.
It centers on Michael, a vampire and Eve, his human girlfriend. He is chosen to introduce the new blood in can vending machine to the vampires of the town and they are all skeptical. I did not know that Michael was still coming to terms with himself being a vampire hence his big reaction to the canned blood. I liked that Eve was so unique with her goth image. I loved Eve's utter support for Michael and her guts. Aww!
Overall this anthology had lots of choices, I enjoyed it but some stories I did not. It is to be expected.
I love anthologies and I don't. It has to do with the fact that those stories are short and sweet. It is commitment free, however short stories can also be poor written and aprupt.
Lets see how this one does. Enthralled is centered on the theme of "journeying". It does not necessarily mean an actual journey or road-trip for every story. It could mean a journey within one's self to change or realization. I wondered how varying this theme could be without using the typical journey as a base.
Oddly, I enjoyed the first few stories but the ones at the back did not do it for me.
Giovanni's Farewell by Claudia Gray
4/5 stars
I have not read much from this author. I read the first two of the Evernight books years ago and as I recall now they were not all that special.
This started on a most interesting premise of a brother sister bond and supernatural powers. Coupled with unique names lime "Cairo" and "Ravenna". I felt that it was short but ended nicely.
Spoiler
Okay the kissing the ghost part was corny.Scenic Route by Carrie Ryan
4/5 stars
I read another one of Carrie's short stories from another anthologies Shard and Ashes. It was pretty good.
Yay! dystopian! my fave!
I am in love with the genre. However I felt like this did not have as much fleshing out of the world as I would have liked. Another sibling bond which I found myself liking in such a short span. The action came fast and I did not agree with the ending.
Spoiler
Mainly because I think Margie agreed to accept Calvin after everything that happened.Rating is higher because what little Margie described about the world made me fascinated. Surprisingly I just learnt that this story is set in the same world as The Forest of Hands and Teeth series.
Red Run by Kami Garcia
3.5/5 stars
I heard of this story before but not the premise. I liked the setting. It was not as deep as it seemed even though the themes are rather dark. But interesting enough and well written.
Things About Love by Jackson Pearce
3.5/5 stars
My fave author for fairy-tale retellings! This is a novella from one of her books. The concept was good as the world building is already fleshed out in the main book. The genie world did seem interesting but the name was not really special. I liked Lawrence and Juliet. Honestly I thought they would get together but I was far from right haha happy to be wrong as it made the story more interesting.
Niederwald by Rachel Vincent
3.5/5 stars
I was a little on the fence because of the MC in this story. At the starts she seemed kick ass and looked it too but as the story progressed. My perception of her changed. This whole story about her dragging a girl who has no idea what is going on while she risks her skin to ask the oracle whether she will get back with the guy she is obsesses with? Not cool. At all.
This is a novella from Soul Screamers and I have never read one book from the series. Safe to say Sabine is not happy that Kaylee and Nash are together. Get over yourself! What was interesting is what Syrie sees. However not interesting enough for me to want to delve into the 6, 7 books in the series.
Merely Mortal by Melissa Marr
3/5 stars
This is a novella is from Wicked Lovely. I read the first four books a few years ago. I remembered being intrigued by the dark world of faeries. I would think this story come after the fourth book, Radiant Shadows.
Keenan has to deal with being a mortal when he has spent centuries being a faery prince. He is forever in love with Donia the winter queen. They decide to have a short trip to the mountains, just the two of them to spend some quality time without their guards and royal handlers.
I did not like this. Yes, the premise was certainly romantic but all Keenan did was worry, all Donia did was worry and overthink alot. Keenan would reassure her that everything would be okay and she would distract herself with making out and having sex with Keenan.
Seriously, the number of the times that happened in the course of the story was nearly 80%
The only thing I liked about Donia is how sensible she is while she was in her role as queen NOT girlfriend of Keenan. Girlfriend sounds too plain for what Keenan makes her out to be. Ugh it is all "she is my everything, she is so beautiful, I want to be with her forever" kind of thought, on repeat. Then there was the video that went viral. That was actually quite funny.
Not the best novella from a highly acclaimed series.
Facing Facts by Kelley Armstrong
3.5/5 stars
This is from a series I actually enjoyed! The Darkest Powers was paranormal and it is a light type of read. Some might not enjoy it though. This is where Tori finds out who her real father and half brother is. Chloe is in a awkward situation because she did not tell Tori about it even though she knew. Things gets complicated when Diane Enright causes trouble in her ghost form.
Lets Get This Undead Show On The Road by Sarah Rees Brennan
2.5/5 stars
This has no female MC and it is about a famous boy band with a vampire as one of their members. The personalities of the other three guys were certainly unique to say the least *cough*Bradley*cough* however this did deal with how Christian felt being a vampire. The vampire lore was loose and not as well done. Not to mention this was also boring.
Bridge by Jeri Smith-Ready
2.5/5 stars
I was really annoyed with how the was written and printed like a song lyrics. Along with the fact that I had no idea what was going on until a few pages in. This is the story of a boy who died and is a ghost. He is trying to communicate with his brother as there is no closure to their relationship. There is tension there.
He searches for a Post Shifter. Someone who can see ghosts and pass messages. It was interesting but I could not connect with the story. It was boring and MC has mildly inappropriate thoughts about the Post Shifter. Who cares about that, but anyway it is to be expected because he is a guy. It had nothing to do with the story as well.
Apparently this continues in a full novel. No thanks.
Skin Contact by Kimberly Derting
2.5/5 stars
This began rather mysteriously. Rafe is walking on a road in the middle of the desert, alone, in the middle of the night. He has premonitions in his dreams that have a tendency to come true. His current dream has led him here. He is dreading what he will find. While he walks, there are glimpses into his past where it shows Sophie, the girl he loves moving away to take care of her mother. This story felt like it was just a chapter taken from a novel. Not in plagiarism terms but more like the reader is thrown into the story at the beginning and then at the end, left hanging.
It was surprising that Rafe was introduced in Desires of the Dead. One of Kimberly Derting's books. The feeling like this is just a chapter from a bigger story makes sense now. But I am not interested.
Leaving By Allie Condie
3/5 stars
I admit I am rather biased to Allie Condie because I really enjoyed the Matched series. The short story is centered in a Dystopian world where people live in spheres, cubes and pyramids because the outside environment is deemed not liveable. Sora has been shunned by her classmates at school ever since her father disappeared. How does this relate?
I liked the concept of the world and the Heavens Dance in a cool young person way. Then there is Elios, whom she has a fond childhood memory with and is nice to her. Yeah yeah like I have not read it before. The idea of the Beautiful People confused me. Why is Sora so caught up on them? The story raises too many questions about them and gives no answers. Are these people healers, or celebs that people admired and therefore deem unearthly or something else entirely?
Not to mention the ending.
At The Late Night, Double Feature, Picture Show by Jessica Verday
3/5 stars
I do not really like long titles but I understand the irony to it lol
Through the story the MC's name is mentioned once. She is from a family of monster hunters and she has always felt left out because she is not really good at it. She hatches a harebrained plan to catch some monsters by herself. I liked that this world was filled with all kinds of paranormal beings from carnivore girl scouts, vampires to resurrectionists. Who are people possessed by demons who force them to cut off body parts of others to try and make a perfect body. I did not know that.
The tone of the story is light hearted and the vampires in this story are not fierce at all. I like that they are in drag and going to the showing of The Rocky Horror Show. But it holds the plot well for a short story.
IV League by Maragret Stohl
3/5 stars
I perk up when I see this author's name because of Beautiful Creatures but then it takes a few moments for me to realize this is the same author who wrote "The Icons" and my bubble burst. The story started out okay. Wren, a vampire goes on a college tour with her best friend Hopper. The dialogue and writing was boring but it got exciting toward the end, right at the end. By then, it was a waste.
Gargouille by Mary E.Pearson
4/5 stars
I thought the pronunciation to this was similar to "gargoyle" however it not.
This is probably one of the only stories not set in modern day. The world building was fascinating and I liked the writing. Yes, the love story is cliche and I wanted to smack Giselle for revealing herself so carelessly. For those who dislike the notion of young people claiming forever love, turn away!
The ending is rather open and it cuts off right where you want to know what happened. Did she remember or not?
The Third Kind by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
3/5 stars
I kinda guessed that this would be an alien themed story and at the beginning it did seem that way but I was wrong.
Spoiler
Angels who would have guessed? Not the best writing, it did not pull me in and the revelations of what was actually going on was revealed so late. I did not like the ending.Honestly, more than 70% of the story felt pointless.
Automatic by Rachel Caine
3.5/5 stars
This is from her Morganville Vampires series.
It centers on Michael, a vampire and Eve, his human girlfriend. He is chosen to introduce the new blood in can vending machine to the vampires of the town and they are all skeptical. I did not know that Michael was still coming to terms with himself being a vampire hence his big reaction to the canned blood. I liked that Eve was so unique with her goth image. I loved Eve's utter support for Michael and her guts. Aww!
Overall this anthology had lots of choices, I enjoyed it but some stories I did not. It is to be expected.