My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding
by P. N. Elrod (Editor & Contributor)
Nightcreature (Collections and Selections — Charmed by the Moon, 5.5), Dirk and Steele (Collections and Selections — Short Story - Where The Heart Lives), Dark-Hunter Universe (Collections and Selections — A Hard Day's Night-Searcher, 10.5)
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Werewolves, vampires, witches, voodoo, Elvis—-and weddingsAn "ordinary" wedding can get crazy enough, so can you imagine what happens when otherworldly creatures are involved? Nine of the hottest authors of paranormal fiction answer that question in this delightful collection of supernatural wedding stories. What's the seating plan when rival clans of werewolves and vampires meet under the same roof? How can a couple in the throes of love overcome traps set by feuding relatives—-who are show more experts at voodoo? Will you have a good marriage if your high-seas wedding is held on a cursed ship? How do you deal with a wedding singer who's just a little too good at impersonating Elvis?
· L. A. Banks
· Jim Butcher
· Rachel Caine
· P. N. Elrod
· Esther M. Friesner
· Lori Handeland
· Charlaine Harris
· Sherrilyn Kenyon
· Susan Krinard
Shape-shifters, wizards, and magic, oh my!
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Something Borrowed, the short story by Jim Butcher in this collection, is a fun one, and yet has all the magic and mayhem you expect from Harry Dresden. Loved, loved, loved his dressing down of the "step-mother-in-law." Bob is in great form. "Hey, the cute blond. Did you do her, Harry? After a look around at a trashed apartment: "Wow, you did! Way to go, stud!" We get a little bit of *something* between Murphy and Harry that actually makes conversations in Proven Guilty make a little more sense. I don't want to slip in any spoilers, so I'll leave it there. Definitely don't miss this one!
A very fun anthology! I’m usually not a big fan of paranormal romance, but I got this for the Jim Butcher story and was pleasantly surprised to find that it’s one of the best anthologies I’ve come across in a while. Not limited to sappy love stories, the works in this collection are humorous, mysterious, exciting, and romantic (in a cheesy, but fun way) and I enjoyed every one of them. Usually an anthology contains at least one or two stories that are simply terrible and a pain to get through, but not so with this collection. Some were better than others, of course, but all of them were fun and entertaining. I especially liked the stories by Jim Butcher, P.N. Elrod, and Susan Krinard. Overall, I highly recommend it.
Since Urban Fantasy is my favorite series, it's impossible for me not to be drawn into a themed anthology featuring some characters I already follow and some characters I haven't met yet. The stories are mainly cozy, quaint, and humorous, but there is a serious shadow in a few of them. The cover is adorable with the cake and decorations befitting the genre - and of course with this kind of mixture you can expect all sorts of supernatural beings (vamps, shapeshifters, demons, witches, the undead.)
As with any anthology, the offering is a mixed bag, but I'm happy to report that overall the offerings make the bag pretty.
The first short story, Spellbound, is a cute thing that succeeds at being humorous. From the spoof play of the old rival show more between Hatfields and the McCoys, to the lust induced cravings of young couples holding off till the wedding, to disasters that befall best men and maids of honor, it's a riot. Not perfect (the field melodrama carries on too much at times and there's not wrap-up explanation about the very beginning), but some fun stuff. I'll always miss L.A. Banks, RIP.
Something Borrowed was yet another reminder to myself that I need to majorly catch up with the Harry Dresden series. Although choppy, it's fun and cute. Harry is a fill-in best man for a were friend about to tie the knot, but when he finds the missing bride, he also finds trouble. Bob makes a needed appearance with his corny tradmark lines. Worthy if you're a fan of the series, fast paced.
The third story, Dead Man's Chest by Rachel Caine, is easily my favorite. Pirates, betrayal, surprise twists, a little romance thrown in, humor, enjoyable characters- both heroes and villains - there's not much more I can ask for. I do need to find more of this author - fast.
All Shook Up - I did enjoy the Elvis wedding story - it was more about the magic of Elvis than anything. How the paranormal came into play was decent. Not my favorite story, but a decent one. Would be great for Elvis fans.
Charmed by the moon by Lori Handeland was well written and I like the author's technique with words. I can tell the main character would get on my nerves quick with attitude in a series, though. The story is a good one, sweet, and blending in Indian lore for Will - her intended's - sake.
Tacky - The Charlaine Harris story is set in Sookieverse with Dahlia but without Sookie or any of the main book characters. Not the best story but cute and amusing. Light in structure but it's fun enough.
A Hard Day's Night Searcher - I'm not familiar with the world and the legends that go along with it, but it wasn't really necessary. Jeff was especially funny as the teenage squire who keeps screwing things up. Raphael wasn't the most dimensional but he was amusing as well. Not the best story but one of them. Sherrilyn Kennon writes humor with ease.
...Or Forever Hold Your Peace - The last story seemed well constructed with several deep layers of twists, but it was one of those where you really need to know the overlying story, series, etc., to get into it and understand it enough to care. The writing isn't back but it's a little old fashioned for an Urban Fantasy series I haven't read. Think it's more for already established fans. show less
As with any anthology, the offering is a mixed bag, but I'm happy to report that overall the offerings make the bag pretty.
The first short story, Spellbound, is a cute thing that succeeds at being humorous. From the spoof play of the old rival show more between Hatfields and the McCoys, to the lust induced cravings of young couples holding off till the wedding, to disasters that befall best men and maids of honor, it's a riot. Not perfect (the field melodrama carries on too much at times and there's not wrap-up explanation about the very beginning), but some fun stuff. I'll always miss L.A. Banks, RIP.
Something Borrowed was yet another reminder to myself that I need to majorly catch up with the Harry Dresden series. Although choppy, it's fun and cute. Harry is a fill-in best man for a were friend about to tie the knot, but when he finds the missing bride, he also finds trouble. Bob makes a needed appearance with his corny tradmark lines. Worthy if you're a fan of the series, fast paced.
The third story, Dead Man's Chest by Rachel Caine, is easily my favorite. Pirates, betrayal, surprise twists, a little romance thrown in, humor, enjoyable characters- both heroes and villains - there's not much more I can ask for. I do need to find more of this author - fast.
All Shook Up - I did enjoy the Elvis wedding story - it was more about the magic of Elvis than anything. How the paranormal came into play was decent. Not my favorite story, but a decent one. Would be great for Elvis fans.
Charmed by the moon by Lori Handeland was well written and I like the author's technique with words. I can tell the main character would get on my nerves quick with attitude in a series, though. The story is a good one, sweet, and blending in Indian lore for Will - her intended's - sake.
Tacky - The Charlaine Harris story is set in Sookieverse with Dahlia but without Sookie or any of the main book characters. Not the best story but cute and amusing. Light in structure but it's fun enough.
A Hard Day's Night Searcher - I'm not familiar with the world and the legends that go along with it, but it wasn't really necessary. Jeff was especially funny as the teenage squire who keeps screwing things up. Raphael wasn't the most dimensional but he was amusing as well. Not the best story but one of them. Sherrilyn Kennon writes humor with ease.
...Or Forever Hold Your Peace - The last story seemed well constructed with several deep layers of twists, but it was one of those where you really need to know the overlying story, series, etc., to get into it and understand it enough to care. The writing isn't back but it's a little old fashioned for an Urban Fantasy series I haven't read. Think it's more for already established fans. show less
What happens when you combine a wedding with the supernatural? Open the pages of MY BIG FAT SUPERNATURAL WEDDING to see how some of the finest writers answered this question....
MY BIG FAT SUPERNATURAL WEDDING opens with 'Spellbound' by L.A. Banks. Odelia Hatfield and Jefferson McCoy are in love and want to get married. However, they are plagued by the hatred stemming from the old Hatfield/McCoy feud over land. See what happens when these two defy family tradition as their families resort to any magical means necessary to stop the wedding.
L.A. Banks is perhaps best known for her Vampire Huntress series so it is surprising to read a story by her without vampires. Ms. Banks twist on the Hatfield/McCoy saga is certainly an unusual one, show more mixing many elements of spells using roots. Her grasp of the dialect is simply astounding and breathes life into even the secondary characters!
Jim Butcher's 'Something Borrowed' features his well-known and much-beloved character, Harry Dresden. Harry, a wizard, is about to be best man for his friend, Billy the werewolf, when he realizes things are awry regarding the bride, Georgia. Harry calls on Lieutenant Murphy, who heads up the Special Investigations Department. Together, they must resolve the matter quickly as lives are once again in danger.
Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden series is a favorite of this reviewer and 'Something Borrowed' doesn't disappoint! Mr. Butcher does a fabulous job at allowing Harry's personality to shine through while maintaining the level of action one expects from this series. Besides, who can't help but love a series with an enemy appropriately named Jenny Greenteeth? Jim Butcher delivers once again in this fantastic tale that only serves to remind fans just how much Harry Dresden is loved.
'Dead Man's Chest' by Rachel Caine tells the story of Cecilia Welles and her experience with marriage aboard a pirate ship. Cecilia has doubts about Ian Taylor's wedding plans but who can resist a man who looks like the cover of a romance novel? Cecilia learns a lesson about true love and its amazing power in this pirate's tale.
Rachel Caine fans know always to expect the unexpected with her works and 'Dead Man's Chest' is no exception. The twists and turns this tale takes will keep the reader happily flipping the pages while marveling at what a devious mastermind Rachel Caine truly is. You don't have to be a pirate fan to enjoy 'Dead Man's Chest' as Rachel Caine is sure to make fans of even those who hate pirate stories with this very creative twist on the theme!
P.N. Elrod's 'All Shook Up' revives the mystique of Elvis. Frankie Foster is catering for a huge celebrity wedding when she meets the tribute artist who bears an uncanny resemblance to the long-dead Elvis. What happens when Frankie is 'All Shook Up' by this Elvis look-alike?
P.N. Elrod's love for Elvis is very apparent in this clever tribute to the King. One can feel just a bit of the excitement that Elvis must have generated while reading 'All Shook Up'. Ms. Elrod's entry just oozes with mesmerizing appeal! Resisting the King is not an easy task and Frankie has her work cut out for her in 'All Shook Up'.
'The Wedding of Wylda Serene' by Esther M. Friesner surrounds the wedding of Wylda Serene at The Club. Unfortunately, The Club has a mythological legacy that tends to create problems every time a major event is scheduled there as supernatural beings have a habit of showing up unannounced. Will things go awry at 'The Wedding of Wylda Serene'?
Esther M. Friesner's stories are always a hoot! 'The Wedding of Wylda Serene' is a surprisingly strong entry in an anthology packed with many of this reviewer's favorite authors. The deceptively cultured writing voice of the narrator accentuates the sheer outlandish humor and is certain to produce laughter in those appreciative of this style of humor. Esther M. Friesner is a master at creating humor in unlikely places and she demonstrates this fully in 'The Wedding of Wylda Serene'.
Lori Handeland's 'Charmed By The Moon' is yet another addition to her Nightcreature series featuring the Jager-Suchers. 'Charmed By The Moon' returns to the story of Jessie McQuade and Will Cadotte (previously in BLUE MOON) and takes place on their wedding day. Jessie is having doubts about the entire concept of marriage when she discovers a love charm. Will and Jessie have to venture back into the unknown to determine if their love is real or if they were simply 'Charmed By The Moon'.
Lori Handeland is one of the best authors out there at mixing werewolves and romance. 'Charmed By The Moon' is a bit of a departure for her as the Jager-Suchers are only briefly mentioned in the story. Instead, Ms. Handeland has crafted a very charming romantic story fused with the paranormal elements with which she does so well. Fans of the series will enjoy revisiting Jessie and Will, but it is not necessary to have read BLUE MOON to enjoy their story here.
'Tacky' by Charlaine Harris demonstrates what happens when a werewolf and a vampire decide to have a wedding. Dahlia Lynley-Chivers explores wedding traditions to help her friend, Taffy, marry the werewolf, Don, despite Dahlia's reservations about vampires and werewolves marrying due to a long-standing animosity between the two races. See what happens in this very non-traditional wedding!
Charlaine Harris has a gift for creating likeable vampires. While the marriage of Taffy and Don is the central focus of the story, Dahlia is actually the main character. Readers will appreciate Dahlia's tough side which contrasts so well with her desire to not be caught in a bridesmaid's dress that is 'Tacky'.
Sherrilyn Kenyon's 'A Hard Day's Night-Searcher' is the story of how Dark-Hunter Rafael Santiago finds his love match. Rafael's Squire, Jeff, has published a thinly-veiled story about the Dark-Hunters and the Council now wants to see him. The Squire, Celena, is sent to collect Jeff but Rafael makes a deal with Celina in exchange for Jeff's freedom. Can Rafael break through the safety barriers erected by Celena?
Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark-Hunter series is arguably one of the best vampire series in print today. Fans will enjoy this quick visit with the Dark-Hunters. However, the short format lacks the depth Kenyon fans have grown to love and expect from her novels. This is not to say that Ms. Kenyon's story is by any means weak or lacking depth as it is still a very strong entry in the anthology. However, compared to her novels, 'A Hard Day's Night-Searcher' pales in comparison and adds little, if anything, to the ongoing series. However, this reviewer holds out hope that this is merely a teaser for a longer format in which more is explored regarding this fascinating couple.
Susan Krinard's '... Or Forever Hold Your Peace' is an alternate reality story set in Victorian England in which magical talents are part of the norm. At the wedding of Lady Emma Wakefield and Lord Edward Parish, a mysterious stranger objects to the wedding- only to drop dead from magical means. Lady Olivia Dowling and Christopher 'Kit' Meredith agree to assist when Lady Emma disappears, only to find that supernatural forces are at work.
Susan Krinard's entry actually presents as more of a supernatural mystery than a romance and is a nice change of pace in the anthology. The Talents manifested by the various characters are simply fascinating and Ms. Krinard does an excellent job at tying all of the various story elements together. The surprising twists and turns taken in '... Or Forever Hold Your Peace' keep the suspense level high.
MY BIG FAT SUPERNATURAL WEDDING is a superb compilation by some of the best writers out there. Fans of the genre will enjoy this excellent anthology which teases the reader with tidbits from the various worlds crafted by the authors. MY BIG FAT SUPERNATURAL is an excellent addition to this reviewer's keeper shelf! show less
MY BIG FAT SUPERNATURAL WEDDING opens with 'Spellbound' by L.A. Banks. Odelia Hatfield and Jefferson McCoy are in love and want to get married. However, they are plagued by the hatred stemming from the old Hatfield/McCoy feud over land. See what happens when these two defy family tradition as their families resort to any magical means necessary to stop the wedding.
L.A. Banks is perhaps best known for her Vampire Huntress series so it is surprising to read a story by her without vampires. Ms. Banks twist on the Hatfield/McCoy saga is certainly an unusual one, show more mixing many elements of spells using roots. Her grasp of the dialect is simply astounding and breathes life into even the secondary characters!
Jim Butcher's 'Something Borrowed' features his well-known and much-beloved character, Harry Dresden. Harry, a wizard, is about to be best man for his friend, Billy the werewolf, when he realizes things are awry regarding the bride, Georgia. Harry calls on Lieutenant Murphy, who heads up the Special Investigations Department. Together, they must resolve the matter quickly as lives are once again in danger.
Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden series is a favorite of this reviewer and 'Something Borrowed' doesn't disappoint! Mr. Butcher does a fabulous job at allowing Harry's personality to shine through while maintaining the level of action one expects from this series. Besides, who can't help but love a series with an enemy appropriately named Jenny Greenteeth? Jim Butcher delivers once again in this fantastic tale that only serves to remind fans just how much Harry Dresden is loved.
'Dead Man's Chest' by Rachel Caine tells the story of Cecilia Welles and her experience with marriage aboard a pirate ship. Cecilia has doubts about Ian Taylor's wedding plans but who can resist a man who looks like the cover of a romance novel? Cecilia learns a lesson about true love and its amazing power in this pirate's tale.
Rachel Caine fans know always to expect the unexpected with her works and 'Dead Man's Chest' is no exception. The twists and turns this tale takes will keep the reader happily flipping the pages while marveling at what a devious mastermind Rachel Caine truly is. You don't have to be a pirate fan to enjoy 'Dead Man's Chest' as Rachel Caine is sure to make fans of even those who hate pirate stories with this very creative twist on the theme!
P.N. Elrod's 'All Shook Up' revives the mystique of Elvis. Frankie Foster is catering for a huge celebrity wedding when she meets the tribute artist who bears an uncanny resemblance to the long-dead Elvis. What happens when Frankie is 'All Shook Up' by this Elvis look-alike?
P.N. Elrod's love for Elvis is very apparent in this clever tribute to the King. One can feel just a bit of the excitement that Elvis must have generated while reading 'All Shook Up'. Ms. Elrod's entry just oozes with mesmerizing appeal! Resisting the King is not an easy task and Frankie has her work cut out for her in 'All Shook Up'.
'The Wedding of Wylda Serene' by Esther M. Friesner surrounds the wedding of Wylda Serene at The Club. Unfortunately, The Club has a mythological legacy that tends to create problems every time a major event is scheduled there as supernatural beings have a habit of showing up unannounced. Will things go awry at 'The Wedding of Wylda Serene'?
Esther M. Friesner's stories are always a hoot! 'The Wedding of Wylda Serene' is a surprisingly strong entry in an anthology packed with many of this reviewer's favorite authors. The deceptively cultured writing voice of the narrator accentuates the sheer outlandish humor and is certain to produce laughter in those appreciative of this style of humor. Esther M. Friesner is a master at creating humor in unlikely places and she demonstrates this fully in 'The Wedding of Wylda Serene'.
Lori Handeland's 'Charmed By The Moon' is yet another addition to her Nightcreature series featuring the Jager-Suchers. 'Charmed By The Moon' returns to the story of Jessie McQuade and Will Cadotte (previously in BLUE MOON) and takes place on their wedding day. Jessie is having doubts about the entire concept of marriage when she discovers a love charm. Will and Jessie have to venture back into the unknown to determine if their love is real or if they were simply 'Charmed By The Moon'.
Lori Handeland is one of the best authors out there at mixing werewolves and romance. 'Charmed By The Moon' is a bit of a departure for her as the Jager-Suchers are only briefly mentioned in the story. Instead, Ms. Handeland has crafted a very charming romantic story fused with the paranormal elements with which she does so well. Fans of the series will enjoy revisiting Jessie and Will, but it is not necessary to have read BLUE MOON to enjoy their story here.
'Tacky' by Charlaine Harris demonstrates what happens when a werewolf and a vampire decide to have a wedding. Dahlia Lynley-Chivers explores wedding traditions to help her friend, Taffy, marry the werewolf, Don, despite Dahlia's reservations about vampires and werewolves marrying due to a long-standing animosity between the two races. See what happens in this very non-traditional wedding!
Charlaine Harris has a gift for creating likeable vampires. While the marriage of Taffy and Don is the central focus of the story, Dahlia is actually the main character. Readers will appreciate Dahlia's tough side which contrasts so well with her desire to not be caught in a bridesmaid's dress that is 'Tacky'.
Sherrilyn Kenyon's 'A Hard Day's Night-Searcher' is the story of how Dark-Hunter Rafael Santiago finds his love match. Rafael's Squire, Jeff, has published a thinly-veiled story about the Dark-Hunters and the Council now wants to see him. The Squire, Celena, is sent to collect Jeff but Rafael makes a deal with Celina in exchange for Jeff's freedom. Can Rafael break through the safety barriers erected by Celena?
Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark-Hunter series is arguably one of the best vampire series in print today. Fans will enjoy this quick visit with the Dark-Hunters. However, the short format lacks the depth Kenyon fans have grown to love and expect from her novels. This is not to say that Ms. Kenyon's story is by any means weak or lacking depth as it is still a very strong entry in the anthology. However, compared to her novels, 'A Hard Day's Night-Searcher' pales in comparison and adds little, if anything, to the ongoing series. However, this reviewer holds out hope that this is merely a teaser for a longer format in which more is explored regarding this fascinating couple.
Susan Krinard's '... Or Forever Hold Your Peace' is an alternate reality story set in Victorian England in which magical talents are part of the norm. At the wedding of Lady Emma Wakefield and Lord Edward Parish, a mysterious stranger objects to the wedding- only to drop dead from magical means. Lady Olivia Dowling and Christopher 'Kit' Meredith agree to assist when Lady Emma disappears, only to find that supernatural forces are at work.
Susan Krinard's entry actually presents as more of a supernatural mystery than a romance and is a nice change of pace in the anthology. The Talents manifested by the various characters are simply fascinating and Ms. Krinard does an excellent job at tying all of the various story elements together. The surprising twists and turns taken in '... Or Forever Hold Your Peace' keep the suspense level high.
MY BIG FAT SUPERNATURAL WEDDING is a superb compilation by some of the best writers out there. Fans of the genre will enjoy this excellent anthology which teases the reader with tidbits from the various worlds crafted by the authors. MY BIG FAT SUPERNATURAL is an excellent addition to this reviewer's keeper shelf! show less
This book was like a gift from the fiction gods for me, containing stories from almost every one of my current favorite paranormal and dark fantasy writers. All the stories were degrees of good or great, but the best surprise was from my old fandom friend Rachel Caine (Roxanne Conrad), a twisty-fun pirate romp called "Dead Man's Chest", an awesome homage to the Pirates of the Caribbean and how much we all want to jump Captain Jack Sparrow no matter what we say in public. *G*Well worth the cost of admission!
Theme anthologies, I've noticed, are a lot like record albums -- they tend to start with one of the strongest pieces in the collection, on the theory that this is the one the reader/listener will check out first. This time, the editor almost fell foul of one of my personal quirks: I don't like most comedy, and I don't like reading about stereotypes. A hokey Romeo-and-Juliet parody filtered through the Hatfields and McCoys? Well, it wasn't enough to make me throw the book across the room, but there was a gap of about a week between when I started the story and when I finished it.
And I ended up being glad I did finish it; once the author got the corny setup phase out of the way, things became much more interesting. Better yet, that was show more the weakest story in the book, at least for my tastes. The rest... pirates and werewolves and shamen, oh my! Some better than others, but there wasn't a single bad story in the lot, which is rare IME; usually there's at least one in any collection that gets the "waste of ink" epithet, but not here. Yes, lots of vampires, but there's plenty of variety. Elrod herself even managed to write an Elvis story that made me smile, which is no mean feat! If you like humor, fantasy, and romance, this is a book you'll enjoy. show less
And I ended up being glad I did finish it; once the author got the corny setup phase out of the way, things became much more interesting. Better yet, that was show more the weakest story in the book, at least for my tastes. The rest... pirates and werewolves and shamen, oh my! Some better than others, but there wasn't a single bad story in the lot, which is rare IME; usually there's at least one in any collection that gets the "waste of ink" epithet, but not here. Yes, lots of vampires, but there's plenty of variety. Elrod herself even managed to write an Elvis story that made me smile, which is no mean feat! If you like humor, fantasy, and romance, this is a book you'll enjoy. show less
I picked up this anthology for the Charlaine Harris short story Tacky to find an assortment of supernatural tales all with a nuptial theme. Some stories fared far better than others with some authors able to handle the wedding theme with ease and others clearly trying to shoehorn their assignment into things they were far more comfortable writing.
Spellbound by L.A. Banks is a twist on the Hatfield/McCoy feud where a potential wedding might end the feud - if the magic on both sides doesn't curse the couple (or worse) first. It's a fairly straightforward story with few opportunity for twists and turns, but it does make the most of a couple wanting to get married under difficult circumstances.
Something Borrowed by Jim Butcher is our first show more werewolf entry in a world where several other kinds of magic and supernatural beings exist. We're hours away from the wedding when the best man discovers that the fairy tell wedding is taking a turn for the worse when the bride present at the church is the result of magic while the real bride has been kidnapped by faeries. The best man, Harry Dresden, comes from an established series, but it isn't necessary to have read the books to enjoy the story. The story has a bit of a slow start, but once the action starts it really is a great blend of humor and action.
Dead Man's Chest by Rachel Caine is supposed to be the quick wedding at sea on a pirate ship between our romance novel cover model and Cess - Cecilia! - after what has been an all-to-quick courtship. Of course, one should wonder where an incredibly authentic pirate ship with no modern amenities comes from at such an opportune time...and whether or not it needs to add to the alarms already going off in Cecilia's head. Celia is the ultimate in the rom-com stereotype - the not-so-ugly-duckling female character that will finally find her voice - but Caine does a great job of acknowledging this throughout the tale. It's as if she's saying, "I know, but let's have fun with this, shall we?" And you know what? It's a good time.
All Shook Up by P.N. Elrod isn't so much about the wedding, but about those behind the wedding and their powers to get "vibes" from people - and a man who wears leather pants, sings about hound dogs and swivels his hips in a way that can make women swoon. The story has a lot of great imagery and lovely details, but there were parts where I was wondering, "so?" The point made in the end was fine and all, but it was a rather long and complicated way to go and just about too much time for me to wonder why I was supposed to be invested at all in the characters.
The Wedding of Wylda Serene by Esther M. Friesner. I'd love to describe the story of a daughter born under sad circumstances (told after another story I'm still not entirely sure we needed to know outside of, "this is why I know all these people and was there") needing to get married at a club that we're suddenly told is cursed...but it gets so convoluted and so much of it is just dumped on the reader at later points, I'm not sure how much of it really matters. Wylda isn't even a main character - she's relegated to barely supporting cast in her own tale. At one point, it is noted that the person responsible for the original curse had long-since taken his leave of the club and I'm thinking I would have lost nothing if I'd done the same.
Charmed by the Moon by Lori Handeland brings the idea of pre-wedding doubts to a whole new level. Imagine finding out that you might be under a love spell the night before you're supposed to be married. Do you risk finding out how to break the curse just to find out if you'll still feel the same way after as you do now? This was one of my favorite entries in the book as Jessie and Will were a great couple (what 3rd most-feared werewolf hunter and Native-American professor wouldn't be perfect together?) and very vivid. I keep waiting to see a fall preview for their TV show where they solve crimes committed by the supernatural community using her hunting skills and his intellectual and spiritual skills while trying to maintain their new marriage.
Tacky by Charlaine Harris is set in the Sookie Stackhouse universe, but there's no Bon Tempes or Sookie in sight. If you're looking for a hint of the series, you'll see Cedric, the Sheriff of Rhodes, Texas and maker of Eric, but even he's mostly spoken of and present only at the wedding. Instead, we find ourselves in the midst of planning a vampire-werewolf wedding and learning that the major downside of being an older vampire is failing to keep up on human trends like pink bows and matching lace gloves in bridesmaid gear. Of course, this is really a story of the war between the two and whether or not a vamp and were can make it down the aisle. I love just about anything Charlaine does and this was no exception.
A Hard Day’s Night-Searcher by Sherrilyn Kenyon starts out with an obvious (and little-used) plot line - where the minion decides to change the names of the principles and write out a few of the adventures of his day job so he can sell the story as fiction to a fantasy magazine. This is against the rules for obvious reasons, but our Dark Hunter, Rafael, rescues his minion from assassination by betting his would-be killer that he can get her to break a rule within a week. Why failing to kill her mark over a bet isn't automatically a rule-break is beyond me, but that's not the only cutsie thing we gloss over for entertainment. The entire story just drags from one cute idea to another. There's a wedding crammed in there, but that would imply that I really cared at that point.
… Or Forever Hold Your Peace by Susan Krinard. First, I'd love to tell you when this takes place. I was going to go with "middle ages-ish" until a train station was mentioned, so I might have said "steampunkish" but there are no additional steampunk elements. But no cars. So the 1800s? But with more of a middle ages feel? Where everyone has magic? And doesn't say "Irish" but "Eirish" instead? There's a wedding, a guy objects and his neck is broken, someone is a dog or something and I was supposed to be interested. I read to the end. I did my job. The writer did not. It was like I was reading all these random drafts that got mushed together. show less
Spellbound by L.A. Banks is a twist on the Hatfield/McCoy feud where a potential wedding might end the feud - if the magic on both sides doesn't curse the couple (or worse) first. It's a fairly straightforward story with few opportunity for twists and turns, but it does make the most of a couple wanting to get married under difficult circumstances.
Something Borrowed by Jim Butcher is our first show more werewolf entry in a world where several other kinds of magic and supernatural beings exist. We're hours away from the wedding when the best man discovers that the fairy tell wedding is taking a turn for the worse when the bride present at the church is the result of magic while the real bride has been kidnapped by faeries. The best man, Harry Dresden, comes from an established series, but it isn't necessary to have read the books to enjoy the story. The story has a bit of a slow start, but once the action starts it really is a great blend of humor and action.
Dead Man's Chest by Rachel Caine is supposed to be the quick wedding at sea on a pirate ship between our romance novel cover model and Cess - Cecilia! - after what has been an all-to-quick courtship. Of course, one should wonder where an incredibly authentic pirate ship with no modern amenities comes from at such an opportune time...and whether or not it needs to add to the alarms already going off in Cecilia's head. Celia is the ultimate in the rom-com stereotype - the not-so-ugly-duckling female character that will finally find her voice - but Caine does a great job of acknowledging this throughout the tale. It's as if she's saying, "I know, but let's have fun with this, shall we?" And you know what? It's a good time.
All Shook Up by P.N. Elrod isn't so much about the wedding, but about those behind the wedding and their powers to get "vibes" from people - and a man who wears leather pants, sings about hound dogs and swivels his hips in a way that can make women swoon. The story has a lot of great imagery and lovely details, but there were parts where I was wondering, "so?" The point made in the end was fine and all, but it was a rather long and complicated way to go and just about too much time for me to wonder why I was supposed to be invested at all in the characters.
The Wedding of Wylda Serene by Esther M. Friesner. I'd love to describe the story of a daughter born under sad circumstances (told after another story I'm still not entirely sure we needed to know outside of, "this is why I know all these people and was there") needing to get married at a club that we're suddenly told is cursed...but it gets so convoluted and so much of it is just dumped on the reader at later points, I'm not sure how much of it really matters. Wylda isn't even a main character - she's relegated to barely supporting cast in her own tale. At one point, it is noted that the person responsible for the original curse had long-since taken his leave of the club and I'm thinking I would have lost nothing if I'd done the same.
Charmed by the Moon by Lori Handeland brings the idea of pre-wedding doubts to a whole new level. Imagine finding out that you might be under a love spell the night before you're supposed to be married. Do you risk finding out how to break the curse just to find out if you'll still feel the same way after as you do now? This was one of my favorite entries in the book as Jessie and Will were a great couple (what 3rd most-feared werewolf hunter and Native-American professor wouldn't be perfect together?) and very vivid. I keep waiting to see a fall preview for their TV show where they solve crimes committed by the supernatural community using her hunting skills and his intellectual and spiritual skills while trying to maintain their new marriage.
Tacky by Charlaine Harris is set in the Sookie Stackhouse universe, but there's no Bon Tempes or Sookie in sight. If you're looking for a hint of the series, you'll see Cedric, the Sheriff of Rhodes, Texas and maker of Eric, but even he's mostly spoken of and present only at the wedding. Instead, we find ourselves in the midst of planning a vampire-werewolf wedding and learning that the major downside of being an older vampire is failing to keep up on human trends like pink bows and matching lace gloves in bridesmaid gear. Of course, this is really a story of the war between the two and whether or not a vamp and were can make it down the aisle. I love just about anything Charlaine does and this was no exception.
A Hard Day’s Night-Searcher by Sherrilyn Kenyon starts out with an obvious (and little-used) plot line - where the minion decides to change the names of the principles and write out a few of the adventures of his day job so he can sell the story as fiction to a fantasy magazine. This is against the rules for obvious reasons, but our Dark Hunter, Rafael, rescues his minion from assassination by betting his would-be killer that he can get her to break a rule within a week. Why failing to kill her mark over a bet isn't automatically a rule-break is beyond me, but that's not the only cutsie thing we gloss over for entertainment. The entire story just drags from one cute idea to another. There's a wedding crammed in there, but that would imply that I really cared at that point.
… Or Forever Hold Your Peace by Susan Krinard. First, I'd love to tell you when this takes place. I was going to go with "middle ages-ish" until a train station was mentioned, so I might have said "steampunkish" but there are no additional steampunk elements. But no cars. So the 1800s? But with more of a middle ages feel? Where everyone has magic? And doesn't say "Irish" but "Eirish" instead? There's a wedding, a guy objects and his neck is broken, someone is a dog or something and I was supposed to be interested. I read to the end. I did my job. The writer did not. It was like I was reading all these random drafts that got mushed together. show less
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Author Information
Patricia Nead Elrod is a interesting woman who took her three favorite subjects (Vampire stories, gangster films, and pulp magazines) and combined them into one. The unique style of this award winning author, she has published over 20 novels in her literary career. As a resident of Texas, she lives with her dogs, books and TARDIS. (Bowker Author show more Biography) show less
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding
- Original publication date
- 2006-10-03
- First words
- Hollie McCoy smoothed the front of her flowing white dress and sat down by an adjacent tree.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)"Woof," she said, taking his hand.
- Disambiguation notice
- Anthology - Contains the following short stories
"Spellbound" by L.A. Banks
"Something Borrowed" by Jim Butcher
"Dead Man's" Chest by Rachel Caine
"All Shook Up" by P.N. Elrod
"The Wedding of Wylda Serene" ... (show all)by Esther M. Friesner
"Charmed by the Moon" by Lori Handeland
"Tacky" by Charlaine Harris
"A Hard Day's Night-Searcher" by Sherrilyn Kenyon
"...Or Forever Hold Your Peace" by Susan Krinard
Please note that this anthology is not a part of any series. Some of the stories within it are, and can be listed as such, but the anthology itself should not be listed in the series. (E.g. "Something Borrowed" is part of the Dresden Files series, and appears in the Dresden Files series listing, but this anthology as a whole is not part of the series.)
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- Genres
- Fiction and Literature, Romance, Fantasy, Horror
- DDC/MDS
- 813.087380806 — Literature & rhetoric American literature in English American fiction in English By type Genre fiction Adventure fiction Horror fiction; Ghost fiction Horror fiction Anthologies Collections
- LCC
- PS648 .H6 .M9 — Language and Literature American literature American literature Collections of American literature Prose (General)
- BISAC
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