Top positive review
4.0 out of 5 starsI definitely want to find more stories from two of the authors
Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2021
“Seeing Eye” by Patricia Briggs—A blind, scarred witch teams up with a werewolf to hunt down the rogue coven that kidnapped his brother. The coven is led by the witch’s father, but there is no love lost there. “Seeing Eye” sent me out on the internet to see if there was a sequel (nope, not that I could find).
“Last Call” by Jim Butcher—Whenever this author runs out of inspiration he throws in a beautiful villainess with a large bosom. However, it was fun to pay a return trip to McAnnally’s Pub, even though it was temporarily a crime scene.
“Death Warmed Over” by Rachel Caine—An apt title, but I am so NOT into necromantic fantasies, especially when the heroine falls in love with a reanimated corpse. The police seem dumber than usual in this short story.
“Vegas Odds” by Karen Chance—There’s never a dull moment when a witch and her werewolf boyfriend are attacked by the witch’s own apprentices. An incredible number of corpses litter the pages of “Vegas Odds” along with some fairly explicit sex. “I finished him off by hand” took on a whole new meaning for me.
“Hecate’s Golden Eye” by P.N. Elrod—Believe me, I needed a break from the violent “Vegas Odds” and this short story was much slower-paced with nice little touches of humor. In 1930s gangster-ruled Chicago, a private eye and his vampire buddy tangle with jewel thieves and a cursed diamond.
“Bacon” by Charlaine Harris—My favorite story: a battle of wits (and magic) between a vampire and a witch descended from Circe. I’m heading for the library tomorrow to find more stories by this author. Her characters (especially the vampire) live and breathe.
“Signatures of the Dead” by Faith Hunter—Shapechanger Jane Yellowrock plays a major role in the hunt for rogue vampires. Lots of chills, but nonessential details like the sisters’ herb store could have been edited out.
“Ginger: a Nocturne City Story” by Caitlin Kittredge—Two sisters, a sappy witch and a feisty werewolf go up against an evil witch who plots to rule their city. Some interesting concepts but very loosely plotted. Sappy witch is totally under the control of the evil witch and her minions when (a miracle occurs) and she escapes via a freight elevator. Huh?
“Dark Sins” by Jenna Mclaine—A band of noble vampires versus an evil sorcerer. This is the first story I’ve read in a long time with such an obvious ‘deus ex machina.’ If you ask me, the vampires are too noble to be believable.
