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felinity's review against another edition
2.0
I liked some of these, but the anthology as a whole felt weak to me. None of the stories really engaged me, even (disappointingly) the ones from my favorite authors.
joie881's review against another edition
4.0
Boy, I really miss Kate and her world of weird. Julie is starting to sound like her.
mdlaclair's review against another edition
4.0
I always wonder if the Asian guy is the dragon from Magic dreams?
Merged review:
Just read Ilona Andrews story. Cute fast read, I wonder if the dragon was the same one we meet in Magic Dreams.
Merged review:
Just read Ilona Andrews story. Cute fast read, I wonder if the dragon was the same one we meet in Magic Dreams.
bibliofiendlm's review against another edition
3.0
A fun anthology. Particularly liked the stories by Ilonda Andrews, Amber Benson, and Charlaine Harris.
rclz's review against another edition
5.0
I only read two stories. The first one takes place in Jane Yellowrocks world but the story centers around Rick and I really liked it. It fleshed out his training with the feds. It made me like him a bit more.
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Then there is a story that takes place in Kate Daniel's universe but it centers around Julie. I don't read Y.A. but I'd read a book about that kid. I like Julie.
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Then there is a story that takes place in Kate Daniel's universe but it centers around Julie. I don't read Y.A. but I'd read a book about that kid. I like Julie.
somewheregirl7's review against another edition
3.0
It's hard to find a good anthology where the majority of the stories are well done and worth a read. I can usually find one or two stories I like in most anthologies, but more than that is rare. An Apple for the Creature had 7 out of 13 stories that I enjoyed. Not a fantastic record but certainly better than most. For that reason, and the fact that I really enjoyed some of the stories a great deal, I'm giving the overall anthology a 3.5 rating. Individual ratings and reviews for each of the stories are below - I've done my best not to give away spoilers on any of them.
Playing Possum by Charlaine Harris (2 stars)
Sookie Stackhouse short story- Sookie and a witch combine forces to thwart a crazy man intent on shooting up the local elementary school. needlessly long with all of the action and events packed int o the last quarter of the story. I'm sure the story will appeal to long-time Sookie Stackhouse fans, but overall it leaves me cold.
Spellcaster 2.0 by Jonathan Mayberry (2 stars)
When someone sabotages the spell database a group of college kids is assembling, the demon summoning ritual their professor performs goes very wrong. Slow pace, long drawn out denoument. Semi-interesting characters but they feel like cardboard caricatures.
Academy Field Trip by Donald Harstad (4 stars)
A special task force recruits a young law enforcement rookie to help hunt down a real life vampire. Nice twist ending, great descriptions, dialogue and characterization. Really good story overall.
Sympathy for the Bones by Marjorie M. Liu (4 stars)
Clora is the local witchy woman's assistant, chafes at her mistress's hold on her and plots a way out. Interesting characters, good descriptions and pace. Good story overall.
Low School by Rhys Bowen (1 star)
Hell manifests as the proverbial high school nightmare featuring demonic bullies, impossible tests and monstrous teachers dealing out torment. So utterly cliche it's cringe worthy. Predictable and filled with overdone tropes. I couldn't stop rolling my eyes throughout the story and wincing at every other paragraph. This story aims for literary analogy, trying so desperately to be clever it's like one of the pathetic students given lip-service in the narrative.
Callie Meet Happy by Amber Benson (1 star)
Calliope Reaper Jones is sent to remedial Worm Hole Conjuring class and ends up opening a worm hole to another dimension just in time to save a ditzy actress and her hard-pressed personal assistant. The writing is clunky and uneven, each sentence filled with so many adjectives they practically out weigh any action in the narrative. I cringed at having a character named 'Happy' and the characters overall were very one-dimensional.
Iphigenia in Aulis by Mike Carey (4 stars)
Melanie is trapped in a special school where the children are strapped in their chairs for lessons and never, ever touched or shown any affection. Really well written, interesting characters and a tiny bit of a twist. The surprise twist is predictable but in an enjoyable way and handled well. Great descriptions and dialogue.
Golden Delicious by Faith Hunter (4 stars)
Rick LeFleur is sent to Psi-LED for training to become part of a special all paranormal task force, but he can't graduate unless he solves a violent and politically volatile murder case. Another fantastic addition to the Faith Hunter world and series. This one stands well on its own, however, for anyone who hasn't read the series. Great writing, good pacing, and characters you can't help but love.
Magic Tests by Ilona Andrews (4 stars)
Julie ends up testing out a new school her adoptive parents want her to attend by helping find a missing girl. Another great addition to the Kate Daniels word but also a good stand alone story. I really like the character development Julie gets in this short piece. Well paced, well written and an engaging read.
An Introduction to Jewish Myth and Mysticism by Steve Hockensmith (2.5 stars)
When a colleague's abusive ex moves back to town, a mild-mannered professor steps in with his supernatural talents to run the abuser off. This story left me tepid - it's not particularly bad but it's not great either. There is some truly cringe-worthy dialogue and the Hulk references were utterly cliche and annoying. The pace was rather slow and the twist ending was too little, too late and with too little interest.
VSI by Nancy Holder (4 stars)
A pair of FBI detectives are forced to attend special training over the Thanksgiving Holiday, only to discover that vampires are real and at least one vamp has turned serial killer. Really good characterization, well written with good dialogue, pacing and a nice twist. Definitely an author I'll check out in future.
The Bad Hour by Thomas Sniegoski
A fallen angel turned PI investigates strange occurrences at a local dog kennel and obedience school. I'm not a huge fan of talking animals, as they are so rarely done well. This is another case in point. The dogs in this short story are annoying and grate on the nerves. The plot seems thready and the action uneven. I wasn't a terribly big fan of the main character either. A disappointing read overall.
Pirate Dave and the Captain's Ghost by Toni L.P. Kelner
While at a werewolf retreat a solo wolf is haunted by a belligerent ghost when he learns her boyfriend is a vampire. Based on the ridiculous story name and the overdone werewolves and vampires trope, I expected to thoroughly hate this story. I was wrong. This short story is the perfect example of how a good writer can make something out of even the most implausible idea and beaten to death theme. Great dialogue, a bit of a twist, good description and likable characters. There were a few aspects, in regard to the ghost's actions in the ending, that stretch credulity but overall this was a fun read.
Playing Possum by Charlaine Harris (2 stars)
Sookie Stackhouse short story- Sookie and a witch combine forces to thwart a crazy man intent on shooting up the local elementary school. needlessly long with all of the action and events packed int o the last quarter of the story. I'm sure the story will appeal to long-time Sookie Stackhouse fans, but overall it leaves me cold.
Spellcaster 2.0 by Jonathan Mayberry (2 stars)
When someone sabotages the spell database a group of college kids is assembling, the demon summoning ritual their professor performs goes very wrong. Slow pace, long drawn out denoument. Semi-interesting characters but they feel like cardboard caricatures.
Academy Field Trip by Donald Harstad (4 stars)
A special task force recruits a young law enforcement rookie to help hunt down a real life vampire. Nice twist ending, great descriptions, dialogue and characterization. Really good story overall.
Sympathy for the Bones by Marjorie M. Liu (4 stars)
Clora is the local witchy woman's assistant, chafes at her mistress's hold on her and plots a way out. Interesting characters, good descriptions and pace. Good story overall.
Low School by Rhys Bowen (1 star)
Hell manifests as the proverbial high school nightmare featuring demonic bullies, impossible tests and monstrous teachers dealing out torment. So utterly cliche it's cringe worthy. Predictable and filled with overdone tropes. I couldn't stop rolling my eyes throughout the story and wincing at every other paragraph. This story aims for literary analogy, trying so desperately to be clever it's like one of the pathetic students given lip-service in the narrative.
Callie Meet Happy by Amber Benson (1 star)
Calliope Reaper Jones is sent to remedial Worm Hole Conjuring class and ends up opening a worm hole to another dimension just in time to save a ditzy actress and her hard-pressed personal assistant. The writing is clunky and uneven, each sentence filled with so many adjectives they practically out weigh any action in the narrative. I cringed at having a character named 'Happy' and the characters overall were very one-dimensional.
Iphigenia in Aulis by Mike Carey (4 stars)
Melanie is trapped in a special school where the children are strapped in their chairs for lessons and never, ever touched or shown any affection. Really well written, interesting characters and a tiny bit of a twist. The surprise twist is predictable but in an enjoyable way and handled well. Great descriptions and dialogue.
Golden Delicious by Faith Hunter (4 stars)
Rick LeFleur is sent to Psi-LED for training to become part of a special all paranormal task force, but he can't graduate unless he solves a violent and politically volatile murder case. Another fantastic addition to the Faith Hunter world and series. This one stands well on its own, however, for anyone who hasn't read the series. Great writing, good pacing, and characters you can't help but love.
Magic Tests by Ilona Andrews (4 stars)
Julie ends up testing out a new school her adoptive parents want her to attend by helping find a missing girl. Another great addition to the Kate Daniels word but also a good stand alone story. I really like the character development Julie gets in this short piece. Well paced, well written and an engaging read.
An Introduction to Jewish Myth and Mysticism by Steve Hockensmith (2.5 stars)
When a colleague's abusive ex moves back to town, a mild-mannered professor steps in with his supernatural talents to run the abuser off. This story left me tepid - it's not particularly bad but it's not great either. There is some truly cringe-worthy dialogue and the Hulk references were utterly cliche and annoying. The pace was rather slow and the twist ending was too little, too late and with too little interest.
VSI by Nancy Holder (4 stars)
A pair of FBI detectives are forced to attend special training over the Thanksgiving Holiday, only to discover that vampires are real and at least one vamp has turned serial killer. Really good characterization, well written with good dialogue, pacing and a nice twist. Definitely an author I'll check out in future.
The Bad Hour by Thomas Sniegoski
A fallen angel turned PI investigates strange occurrences at a local dog kennel and obedience school. I'm not a huge fan of talking animals, as they are so rarely done well. This is another case in point. The dogs in this short story are annoying and grate on the nerves. The plot seems thready and the action uneven. I wasn't a terribly big fan of the main character either. A disappointing read overall.
Pirate Dave and the Captain's Ghost by Toni L.P. Kelner
While at a werewolf retreat a solo wolf is haunted by a belligerent ghost when he learns her boyfriend is a vampire. Based on the ridiculous story name and the overdone werewolves and vampires trope, I expected to thoroughly hate this story. I was wrong. This short story is the perfect example of how a good writer can make something out of even the most implausible idea and beaten to death theme. Great dialogue, a bit of a twist, good description and likable characters. There were a few aspects, in regard to the ghost's actions in the ending, that stretch credulity but overall this was a fun read.
kakunie's review against another edition
3.0
Nice short story with promise of influencing main story in some way.
witandsin's review against another edition
3.0
3 stars - Magic Tests by Ilona Andrews
2 stars - An Introduction to Jewish Myth and Mysticism by Steve Hockensmith
2 stars - An Introduction to Jewish Myth and Mysticism by Steve Hockensmith
jpear1977's review against another edition
2.0
this collection of stories was just okay. there were a few that I really liked ..low school..is definitely worth the read. kind of disappointing.