★★★ #TBRPile @genashowalter @ShannonKButcher
A decade has come and gone since I first learned of this book and added it to my TBR pile. Where does the time go? I picked this book up specifically because I'm a Gena Showalter fan. I tend to enjoy anthologies because I find new authors to read. Usually, it's authors writing in a genre and style I like. This anthology is a bit of a hit-and-miss for me. My guess is that had I read this 10 years ago, I would have been more impressed. Now 861 some odd paranormal books later, I'm a bit more well-read and jaded.
Every Night by Gena Showalter kicks off the book with a fabulous world-building in a tightly written story. It reminds me of a few books I've read that I really enjoy. I like the transporting to an alternate reality. I enjoyed the fear of the unknown and past transgressions which makes Rose experience a nightmare every year on her birthday. As soon as I read this story, I looked to see if there were more books in this world. Alas, it seems this is a one-and-done story.
The Collector by Shannon K. Butcher looks to be a series. In this world, an ancient group of people roam the Earth, protecting them from demons. I found this story to be a little less engaging probably because I'm missing backstory and world buildling from previous books in this series. I found Neal to be heavy-handed and Viviana to be a bit offputting. The conflict and the storyline were enjoyable. The characters didn't do much for me.
Crystal Skull by Jessica Andersen started out slow for me with a Lara Croft vibe. It picks up the pace quickly with Natalie the archeologist finally finding answers to her past. I found the worldbuilding intriguing. I liked the ancient civilization tie-ins. I can kind of see this one expanded into a Neflix TV series. I'd watch it.
Red Angel by Deidre Knight started out pretty bad for me. It didn't grab my attention at first mainly because I didn't care for Jamie. When Sunny enters the picture, I'm a bit more intrigued. Her story and why she's here around vampires pulls me in. I liked the turmoil. This is kind of like the show Supernatural mixed with Touched by an Angel and with a Sookie Stackhouse twist. I didn't think I would enjoy this story but I did. I want to read more. I can also see this one as a Netflix TV series. I would watch it too.
Overall this collection of stories were enjoyable. Recommended to readers who like the series from the 3 authors and want a little something one-off from Ms. Showalter.
Comments