Kiss Me Deadly: 13 Tales of Paranormal Love
by Trisha Telep (Editor)
The Forest of Hands and Teeth (Collections and Selections — "Hare Moon"), Killer Unicorns (Collections and Selections — short story, "Errant")
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A collection of short stories combining dark seduction and modern romance presents a variety of tales featuring the romantic lives of humans and werewolves, ghosts, fallen angels, zombies, and shape-shifters.Tags
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Member Reviews
You know, I'm pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. There really aren't any "bad" stories in it, more like.. "okay" stories and "better" stories. I intended to write a short review of each one, but then I realized that was a lot of writing and getting up and down and... yeah, so instead I'll give you a few reviews of the stories I liked best.
Errant - Diane Peterfreund
I'm not a big unicorn fan, I admit it. I think I got burned out when unicorns were all over the cartoons when I was a little girl. Then of course there was more recent youtube videos with unicorns that made them feel.. cheesy and hokey. That said, this short story was interesting and finally made them out to be a little more bloodthirsty and not quite all show more rainbows and ponies. Enjoyable story and I'll be looking into more of Peterfruend's writing.
Lost – Justine Musk
I really enjoyed this story about a girl who can find things that are “lost”. I love mythology, though, so it isn't really a surprise that I enjoyed this as much as I did. Unlike some of the other stories in this book, this one had a definite beginning, middle and the perfect ending so, while I wish it had been longer, I was satisfied with what I read.
The Spy Who Never Grew Up – Sarah Rees Brennan
Hands down, my favorite story of the book. Okay, so I admit to rolling my eyes a little at the introduction of 69 the Spy, but the story got better from there, I promise! Such a fun and interesting take on an old story. I'm laughing remembering the introduction to the Queen even as I type this. This story alone is worth picking up this collection.
Hare Moon – Carrie Ryan
Oh Carrie Ryan, how I love you. Carrie has this way of turning zombies into something even more terrifying than zombies! Just the mere mention of the “unconsecrated” and I shiver and get cold chills. In this short story about Tabitha she gives you a small, perfect taste of her longer books and has me remembering I still need to read that second one – soon!
A few surprises - I'm not a big Hush, Hush fan but the Becca Fitzpatrick story kind of blew me away with how good it was. Also, I think I'm done with vampires. Way too many vampire stories out there and when you start mixing them with other fantastical creatures (such as Djinn), it's too much.
Overall enjoyable set of short stories and not nearly as mushy as I thought it would be! show less
Errant - Diane Peterfreund
I'm not a big unicorn fan, I admit it. I think I got burned out when unicorns were all over the cartoons when I was a little girl. Then of course there was more recent youtube videos with unicorns that made them feel.. cheesy and hokey. That said, this short story was interesting and finally made them out to be a little more bloodthirsty and not quite all show more rainbows and ponies. Enjoyable story and I'll be looking into more of Peterfruend's writing.
Lost – Justine Musk
I really enjoyed this story about a girl who can find things that are “lost”. I love mythology, though, so it isn't really a surprise that I enjoyed this as much as I did. Unlike some of the other stories in this book, this one had a definite beginning, middle and the perfect ending so, while I wish it had been longer, I was satisfied with what I read.
The Spy Who Never Grew Up – Sarah Rees Brennan
Hands down, my favorite story of the book. Okay, so I admit to rolling my eyes a little at the introduction of 69 the Spy, but the story got better from there, I promise! Such a fun and interesting take on an old story. I'm laughing remembering the introduction to the Queen even as I type this. This story alone is worth picking up this collection.
Hare Moon – Carrie Ryan
Oh Carrie Ryan, how I love you. Carrie has this way of turning zombies into something even more terrifying than zombies! Just the mere mention of the “unconsecrated” and I shiver and get cold chills. In this short story about Tabitha she gives you a small, perfect taste of her longer books and has me remembering I still need to read that second one – soon!
A few surprises - I'm not a big Hush, Hush fan but the Becca Fitzpatrick story kind of blew me away with how good it was. Also, I think I'm done with vampires. Way too many vampire stories out there and when you start mixing them with other fantastical creatures (such as Djinn), it's too much.
Overall enjoyable set of short stories and not nearly as mushy as I thought it would be! show less
Did... I find a whole new host of supernatural creatures to crush on?: YES. Djinn anyone? Angels? Unicorn hunters?
Did... I decide to add every single author to my TBR?: YES. I'm already a dyed-in-the-wool Stiefvater fan, but now my list of authors I'm slavishly reading has grown!
Did... I find I was even excited to read about vampires?: YES. I'm still not 100% in the vampires-are-awesome camp, but this collection made me pretty happy to have one as my hero or heroine.
Review: This solid collection of paranormal short stories is engaging and perfect for the approaching autumn season (for those in the Northern Hemisphere). Many of the authors are recognizable from their novels -- Becca Fitzpatrick, Carrie Ryan, Rachel Vincent, Maggie show more Stiefvater, Diana Peterfreund -- and even a few offer stories within the universes they write about. In fact, one of the stand out stories in the collection, Becca Fitzpatrick's "Dungeons of Langeais", grabs the reader from the first line, regardless of their familiarity with the Hush, Hush series (says one who hasn't read any of them!).
I enjoyed every story, which is pretty rare. Of course, I liked some less than others. One even had me completely flummoxed (emotionally)! Sarah Rees Brennan's "The Spy Who Never Grew Up" is super twisted and kind of awesome and kind of sketchy, and I can't say if I loved it or hated it. And it challenged the idea of 'love', which is the uniting theme of this collection. As editor Trisha Telep explains, love can be light and fluffy and sweet, but it can also be dark and twisted and wrong, and every story in this collections hits solidly on that spectrum.
Other highlights included Diana Peterfreund's "Errant", which might be set in her killer unicorn universe; Karen Mahoney's "The Spirit Jar", which includes a vampire (yawn) and a djinn (yum!); Maggie Stiefvater's "The Hounds of Ulster", which is all about teenage musicians and dreams of getting big (and also, faeries); and Daniel Marks' "Vermillion", which sort of felt like being plunked midstream in a story but was so good, I eventually didn't care.
In terms of heat, this is a solid PG rating, if that; I actually found few of the stories openly romantic and some really twisted and played with the idea of love and being in love. I wasn't wild about Trisha Telep's introduction to this collection, but I like her taste, so I might even pick up her vampire collection of stories, The Eternal Kiss. show less
Did... I decide to add every single author to my TBR?: YES. I'm already a dyed-in-the-wool Stiefvater fan, but now my list of authors I'm slavishly reading has grown!
Did... I find I was even excited to read about vampires?: YES. I'm still not 100% in the vampires-are-awesome camp, but this collection made me pretty happy to have one as my hero or heroine.
Review: This solid collection of paranormal short stories is engaging and perfect for the approaching autumn season (for those in the Northern Hemisphere). Many of the authors are recognizable from their novels -- Becca Fitzpatrick, Carrie Ryan, Rachel Vincent, Maggie show more Stiefvater, Diana Peterfreund -- and even a few offer stories within the universes they write about. In fact, one of the stand out stories in the collection, Becca Fitzpatrick's "Dungeons of Langeais", grabs the reader from the first line, regardless of their familiarity with the Hush, Hush series (says one who hasn't read any of them!).
I enjoyed every story, which is pretty rare. Of course, I liked some less than others. One even had me completely flummoxed (emotionally)! Sarah Rees Brennan's "The Spy Who Never Grew Up" is super twisted and kind of awesome and kind of sketchy, and I can't say if I loved it or hated it. And it challenged the idea of 'love', which is the uniting theme of this collection. As editor Trisha Telep explains, love can be light and fluffy and sweet, but it can also be dark and twisted and wrong, and every story in this collections hits solidly on that spectrum.
Other highlights included Diana Peterfreund's "Errant", which might be set in her killer unicorn universe; Karen Mahoney's "The Spirit Jar", which includes a vampire (yawn) and a djinn (yum!); Maggie Stiefvater's "The Hounds of Ulster", which is all about teenage musicians and dreams of getting big (and also, faeries); and Daniel Marks' "Vermillion", which sort of felt like being plunked midstream in a story but was so good, I eventually didn't care.
In terms of heat, this is a solid PG rating, if that; I actually found few of the stories openly romantic and some really twisted and played with the idea of love and being in love. I wasn't wild about Trisha Telep's introduction to this collection, but I like her taste, so I might even pick up her vampire collection of stories, The Eternal Kiss. show less
I’m typically a huge fan of anthologies. It gives me the opportunity to get a “taste” of an author’s writing, and in some cases catch a glimpse at the world where their series takes place. Sometimes it is enough to make me run out and pick up the first book in the series. Other times it serves as a warning the series isn’t for me. In the case of Kiss Me Deadly it featured tried and true favorites, as well as several newbies who I now have firmly fixed on my radar.
The Assassin’s Apprentice by Michelle Zink:
This was a fascinating scenario. Rose is searching for the demon that killed her family. While hunting said demon she crosses paths with an assassin, Asher, who is hunting the same demon. This is a short story I’d love to show more see expanded into a full length novel. I really feel this world is one that would make for a great read.
Errant by Diana Peterfreund:
This short story features a nun named Gita who brings her unicorn, Enyo, to a wealthy estate for a marriage ritual. I have not read the killer unicorn series by this author yet, and found this story slightly confusing. If you have read the unicorn series you will probably enjoy this short story. I do know I want more unicorns in my future. This is a story I’ll have to read again after I read Rampant.
The Spirit Jar by Karen Mahoney:
In this short story a vampire named Moth is trying to retrieve a book for her sire. Thinking it will be a quick in and out job. Unfortunately, Moth doesn’t factor in the mysterious disappearing boy who is after the same book.
After doing a little research I discovered this is the second short story featuring Moth. I hope to read the first one which can be found in The Eternal Kiss soon. I really liked Moth, and would definitely love to see her have more adventures.
Lost by Justine Musk:
Sasha meets a mysterious stranger at an abandoned house, and discovers she has major decisions to make.
This was a fabulous short story, and one that really felt complete to me. Usually a short story leaves me wanting more, but after reading Lost I was sated. I loved the writing, and the legends in this one. This is an author I’m itching to read more from.
The Spy Who Never Grew Up by Sarah Rees Brennan:
Forget everything you thought you knew about Peter Pan. He is a spy who works for the Queen. Neverland isn’t what it used to be. Wendy’s descendants live in fear. If you read only one short story from this anthology make it this one. It had me in tears from laughing so hard. I loved it!
Behind the Read Door by Caitlin Kittredge:
Uber-creepy story about a girl and a ghost. This was a goose bump inducing read. What’s behind the red door? You’ll have to read to find out.
Hare Moon by Carrie Ryan:
Hare Moon features more zombie goodness in The Forest of Hands and Teeth. Tabitha meets a boy that makes her ignore the rules about venturing out of her village. The fences are there for a reason ladies! This one twisted my heart. Ms. Ryan gives good story.
Familiar by Michelle Rowen:
Cute story about a witch who ends up with a shape shifting familiar. I love Michelle Rowen’s writing style, and clever dialogue. Not a new author for me, but one I can always rely on to bring the fun.
Fearless by Rachel Vincent:
Sabine finds herself in a home for wayward girls after a brush with the law. In order to survive she must feed on the nightmares of others. Unfortunately, this isn’t an option because everyone seems content. Sabine decides other forces must be in motion, and sets out to find out what is going on.
This story submerged me head first into Rachel Vincent’s world, and showed me what I was missing. Giving this series a bump up on the to be read pile.
Vermillion by Daniel Marks:
Featuring Velvet and Nick who reside in purgatory, and help keep the waiting souls in line. This is a fresh and clever take on the paranormal genre. I also throughly enjoyed Velvet’s snark. I would love to see this duo in their own series.
The Hounds of Ulster by Maggie Stiefvater:
A fantastic story featuring faeries with a jaw dropping twist at the end. I love Maggie’s writing, and The Hounds of Ulster is no exception. This a great little story that will leave you wanting more from this talented author.
Many Happy Returns by Daniel Waters:
A group of kids are killed in an accident. The parents then wait to see if their child will “return”. Some parents are hoping they will, while others aren’t hiding their prejudice against the zombie teens.
This story was so sad. Prior to reading Kiss Me Deadly I had no idea what this author’s “Generation Dead” series was about. As a zombie sympathizer, I’m marking his series as a must read.
Final thoughts:
I enjoyed reading Kiss Me Deadly. Fans of any of the featured authors, or lovers of short stories should check it out. Some mature situations and language so I’d be hesitant to recommend this to younger teens/tweens, at least when it comes to my tween.
The ARC I read didn’t contain a short story from Becca Fitzpatrick, so I wasn’t able to review it. show less
The Assassin’s Apprentice by Michelle Zink:
This was a fascinating scenario. Rose is searching for the demon that killed her family. While hunting said demon she crosses paths with an assassin, Asher, who is hunting the same demon. This is a short story I’d love to show more see expanded into a full length novel. I really feel this world is one that would make for a great read.
Errant by Diana Peterfreund:
This short story features a nun named Gita who brings her unicorn, Enyo, to a wealthy estate for a marriage ritual. I have not read the killer unicorn series by this author yet, and found this story slightly confusing. If you have read the unicorn series you will probably enjoy this short story. I do know I want more unicorns in my future. This is a story I’ll have to read again after I read Rampant.
The Spirit Jar by Karen Mahoney:
In this short story a vampire named Moth is trying to retrieve a book for her sire. Thinking it will be a quick in and out job. Unfortunately, Moth doesn’t factor in the mysterious disappearing boy who is after the same book.
After doing a little research I discovered this is the second short story featuring Moth. I hope to read the first one which can be found in The Eternal Kiss soon. I really liked Moth, and would definitely love to see her have more adventures.
Lost by Justine Musk:
Sasha meets a mysterious stranger at an abandoned house, and discovers she has major decisions to make.
This was a fabulous short story, and one that really felt complete to me. Usually a short story leaves me wanting more, but after reading Lost I was sated. I loved the writing, and the legends in this one. This is an author I’m itching to read more from.
The Spy Who Never Grew Up by Sarah Rees Brennan:
Forget everything you thought you knew about Peter Pan. He is a spy who works for the Queen. Neverland isn’t what it used to be. Wendy’s descendants live in fear. If you read only one short story from this anthology make it this one. It had me in tears from laughing so hard. I loved it!
Behind the Read Door by Caitlin Kittredge:
Uber-creepy story about a girl and a ghost. This was a goose bump inducing read. What’s behind the red door? You’ll have to read to find out.
Hare Moon by Carrie Ryan:
Hare Moon features more zombie goodness in The Forest of Hands and Teeth. Tabitha meets a boy that makes her ignore the rules about venturing out of her village. The fences are there for a reason ladies! This one twisted my heart. Ms. Ryan gives good story.
Familiar by Michelle Rowen:
Cute story about a witch who ends up with a shape shifting familiar. I love Michelle Rowen’s writing style, and clever dialogue. Not a new author for me, but one I can always rely on to bring the fun.
Fearless by Rachel Vincent:
Sabine finds herself in a home for wayward girls after a brush with the law. In order to survive she must feed on the nightmares of others. Unfortunately, this isn’t an option because everyone seems content. Sabine decides other forces must be in motion, and sets out to find out what is going on.
This story submerged me head first into Rachel Vincent’s world, and showed me what I was missing. Giving this series a bump up on the to be read pile.
Vermillion by Daniel Marks:
Featuring Velvet and Nick who reside in purgatory, and help keep the waiting souls in line. This is a fresh and clever take on the paranormal genre. I also throughly enjoyed Velvet’s snark. I would love to see this duo in their own series.
The Hounds of Ulster by Maggie Stiefvater:
A fantastic story featuring faeries with a jaw dropping twist at the end. I love Maggie’s writing, and The Hounds of Ulster is no exception. This a great little story that will leave you wanting more from this talented author.
Many Happy Returns by Daniel Waters:
A group of kids are killed in an accident. The parents then wait to see if their child will “return”. Some parents are hoping they will, while others aren’t hiding their prejudice against the zombie teens.
This story was so sad. Prior to reading Kiss Me Deadly I had no idea what this author’s “Generation Dead” series was about. As a zombie sympathizer, I’m marking his series as a must read.
Final thoughts:
I enjoyed reading Kiss Me Deadly. Fans of any of the featured authors, or lovers of short stories should check it out. Some mature situations and language so I’d be hesitant to recommend this to younger teens/tweens, at least when it comes to my tween.
The ARC I read didn’t contain a short story from Becca Fitzpatrick, so I wasn’t able to review it. show less
A collection of stories, some better than the others. Although all concern the para/super/unnatural, not all of them relate to romantic love, or even love in general.
Michelle Zink, "The Assassin's Apprentice." Clunkily written, with poorly developed characters, a mere sketch of a romance, and sprinkled with malapropisms(ex: "They moved silently through the shadows of our world, doing their duty without worldly aplomb or association.")
Diana Peterfreund, "Errant." Marvelous. In medieval France, a unicorn hunter negotiates with a family to stage a traditional unicorn hunt. Fantastic characterization done entirely through the details and choices of their lives, complex relationships and moral decisions. Not sure why this is in a paranormal show more love collection, though, because by the end of the story Gitta and Elise are friends and haven't even had a thought about romance.
Karen Mahoney, "The Spirit Jar." A fairly new vampire helps a half-djinn free the soul of his dead ex-girlfriend. I liked all of the characters, and the action was well written. This seems to be part of a larger series--I'll try to track it down.
Justine Musk, "Lost."Hades tries to train a young woman to help the souls of the dead. Once I figured out what was going on, I wanted this to have been spookier and tinged with more sadness. I wish the main character had had a few more qualms.
Sarah Rees Brennan, "The Spy Who Never Grew Up." Peter Pan becomes a secret agent, and eventually gets Wendy's descendent to help him on his spy missions. Fabulous, a bit dizzying, very funny--all the things I've learned to expect from Brennan.
Becca Fitzpatrick, "Dungeons of Langeais." An angel tortured a young duc into swearing fealty, and ever since has possessed him once a year for the last two centuries. The duc has discovered that the angel loves a woman, and uses her to bargain for his freedom. I have no idea who I was supposed to find sympathetic in this story, nor do I really know what happened. It's clearly part of a larger tale, and without knowing it this short story is basically unintelligible.
Caitlin Kittredge, "Behind the Red Door." A punk teen in a small town finds love in a haunted house. Creepy, spooky, twisty. Great imagery, very believable characters. Totally pulled me in!
Carrie Ryan, "Hare Moon." In the world of the Forest of Hands and Teeth, a young woman has to choose between duty to her village and her love for an outsider.This is the origin story of Sister Tabitha. I liked this much better than Ryan's books, actually.
Michelle Rowen, "Familiar." A witch-in-training picks a kitten to be her familiar, only to find out the kitten is really a hottie shapeshifter on the run. So boring I couldn't finish it.
Rachel Vincent, "Fearless." A foster girl is annoyed to be sent to a group home, but horrified when she realizes that none of the other girls are afraid of anything. Sabine is a mara that feeds on nightmares, and without them she'll starve.I really liked the talk about consent with a mind-controlling boyfriend that she had, and the twist on negative emotions this story gave. The home's cook is sucking all the negative emotions around her and replacing them with positive ones, expecting the girls to become useful and good members of society. Sabine points out that this is unfair--these girls have earned their fear and anger, and it's part of them. Yet still, Sabine is a monster who multiplies the fear of those around her...I liked how complex the morality in this story was, and that no one person or viewpoint seemed to be totally correct.
Daniel Marks, "Vermillion." Am I supposed to like Velvet and Nick? They seem awful. As soon as they meet Amie they're calling her schizophrenic and making fun of her large ears. When Amie compliments Velvet's hairstyle, Velvet internally guffaws and makes yet more jokes about Amies gigantic ears. Then they start talking about their favorite foods:And then it turns out Amie was evil all along, and everyone is like "way to go, Nick and Velvet, you two are the best!" Very weird.
Maggie Stiefvater, "The Hounds of Ulster." Overly stylized and the narrator's descriptions of their music are too precious. That said,I liked the last minute reveal that the narrator is a girl, and how that alters my perception of her decision to shave her head. And I liked that she doesn't convince her friend to stay away from the fairies with a guitar riff or a confession of love, either of which I'd have expected--instead, they have a conversation and she doesn't save him at all.
Daniel Waters, "Many Happy Returns." Not a good writer, ex: "He yelled orders, people moved. Cal Wilson was running. Mike moved. Other than she-of-the-fluttering-eyelids, none of the other bodies on the ground had moved.
Cal Wilson ran over too." Uh, yeah, I got that he ran over, thanks. Although the writing and tense choices are clunky, I actually quite liked this story, about a grieving father and his daughter's zombie boyfriend coming together. show less
Michelle Zink, "The Assassin's Apprentice." Clunkily written, with poorly developed characters, a mere sketch of a romance, and sprinkled with malapropisms(ex: "They moved silently through the shadows of our world, doing their duty without worldly aplomb or association.")
Diana Peterfreund, "Errant." Marvelous. In medieval France, a unicorn hunter negotiates with a family to stage a traditional unicorn hunt. Fantastic characterization done entirely through the details and choices of their lives, complex relationships and moral decisions. Not sure why this is in a paranormal show more love collection, though, because by the end of the story Gitta and Elise are friends and haven't even had a thought about romance.
Karen Mahoney, "The Spirit Jar." A fairly new vampire helps a half-djinn free the soul of his dead ex-girlfriend. I liked all of the characters, and the action was well written. This seems to be part of a larger series--I'll try to track it down.
Justine Musk, "Lost."
Sarah Rees Brennan, "The Spy Who Never Grew Up." Peter Pan becomes a secret agent, and eventually gets Wendy's descendent to help him on his spy missions. Fabulous, a bit dizzying, very funny--all the things I've learned to expect from Brennan.
Becca Fitzpatrick, "Dungeons of Langeais." An angel tortured a young duc into swearing fealty, and ever since has possessed him once a year for the last two centuries. The duc has discovered that the angel loves a woman, and uses her to bargain for his freedom. I have no idea who I was supposed to find sympathetic in this story, nor do I really know what happened. It's clearly part of a larger tale, and without knowing it this short story is basically unintelligible.
Caitlin Kittredge, "Behind the Red Door." A punk teen in a small town finds love in a haunted house. Creepy, spooky, twisty. Great imagery, very believable characters. Totally pulled me in!
Carrie Ryan, "Hare Moon." In the world of the Forest of Hands and Teeth, a young woman has to choose between duty to her village and her love for an outsider.
Michelle Rowen, "Familiar." A witch-in-training picks a kitten to be her familiar, only to find out the kitten is really a hottie shapeshifter on the run. So boring I couldn't finish it.
Rachel Vincent, "Fearless." A foster girl is annoyed to be sent to a group home, but horrified when she realizes that none of the other girls are afraid of anything. Sabine is a mara that feeds on nightmares, and without them she'll starve.
Daniel Marks, "Vermillion." Am I supposed to like Velvet and Nick? They seem awful. As soon as they meet Amie they're calling her schizophrenic and making fun of her large ears. When Amie compliments Velvet's hairstyle, Velvet internally guffaws and makes yet more jokes about Amies gigantic ears. Then they start talking about their favorite foods:
"The barbecue pork with hot mustard was my favorite." Nick's eyes rolled into the back of his head as he searched for the pleasurable memory.Sooo that was horrible. It's rapidly followed by lots of talk about how slutty Amie is (I started counting the number of times she's called a slut and literally lost count) and fat jokes.
"Fried chicken feet at Uncle's Dim Sum." Amie added, trying to join in.
Velvet startled, her mouth agape. "Chicken's feet?"
"Oh yeah, they're so delicious...and so crunchy. You could just suck the skin right off the bone..."
The girl continued to wax nostalgic about her disturbing meal, while Velvet glanced at Nick, happy to see that his face was as sour as hers. Uncle's Dim Sum must have been a mental institution. Maybe Amie just thought it was a Chinese restaurant...She glanced back at Amie and noticed that, at some point during the exchange, she'd stopped talking about gross things that weren't actually food and was staring directly at the two of them.
Maggie Stiefvater, "The Hounds of Ulster." Overly stylized and the narrator's descriptions of their music are too precious. That said,
Daniel Waters, "Many Happy Returns." Not a good writer, ex: "He yelled orders, people moved. Cal Wilson was running. Mike moved. Other than she-of-the-fluttering-eyelids, none of the other bodies on the ground had moved.
Cal Wilson ran over too." Uh, yeah, I got that he ran over, thanks. Although the writing and tense choices are clunky, I actually quite liked this story, about a grieving father and his daughter's zombie boyfriend coming together. show less
The first story I read was Fearless, by Rachel Vincent. The Soul Screamers series is fresh in my brain so this was a nice jump back into it. I was a bit disappointed because Sabine and Nash are in love in this story, but it was before he met Kaylee so I am satisfied.. for now. It was interesting to read about another supernatural character, Sabine, whose existence is a Nightmare, literally. Even in the short structure of an anthology, the suspense never wavered. Sabine's hunger was killing her and her only hope to survive was to find the fear in those around her. The ending was a big surprise, but I will not ruin it!
The next story I read was The Hounds of Ulster, by Maggie Stiefvater. This was the story of Bryant and Sullivan who were show more destined to be Irish punk Gods. Their story was one of success in how they finally got to play at Mullen's Pub and then how things took a turn for the worse when They started to interfere. Sullivan started to ignore Bryant to get what he wanted from Them and Bryant tried so hard to get him back. Stiefvater also weaved the story of Cu Chulainn (the Hound of Ulster) into the anthology which was very interesting. I really enjoyed this story. It was emotional for Bryant to finally get into Mullen's Pub and then see Sullivan fall prey to Them. I felt bad for Bryant, especially when I found out the big secret that I did not see coming, but it was extremely satisfying.
The last story I read (so far), was Hare Moon, by Carrie Ryan. This anthology showed the teenage years of Sister Tabitha (whom I hated so much in The Forest of Hands and Teeth). My view of her changed when I realized the hardships and decisions she faced in Hare Moon. She reminded me of Mary. She had hopes of human life outside the Forest just like Mary, and she also fell in love. I liked how Tabitha was curious about the Sisterhood and its motivations, which ended up sparking her motivation to turn to only God and the Sisterhood. I supposed I can't hate Tabitha now that I read her beautiful but bittersweet story. Fans of The Forest of Hands and Teeth series, this is a must read!
I can only imagine that the other stories are just as fantastic as the ones I have read so far. I highly recommend this book! show less
The next story I read was The Hounds of Ulster, by Maggie Stiefvater. This was the story of Bryant and Sullivan who were show more destined to be Irish punk Gods. Their story was one of success in how they finally got to play at Mullen's Pub and then how things took a turn for the worse when They started to interfere. Sullivan started to ignore Bryant to get what he wanted from Them and Bryant tried so hard to get him back. Stiefvater also weaved the story of Cu Chulainn (the Hound of Ulster) into the anthology which was very interesting. I really enjoyed this story. It was emotional for Bryant to finally get into Mullen's Pub and then see Sullivan fall prey to Them. I felt bad for Bryant, especially when I found out the big secret that I did not see coming, but it was extremely satisfying.
The last story I read (so far), was Hare Moon, by Carrie Ryan. This anthology showed the teenage years of Sister Tabitha (whom I hated so much in The Forest of Hands and Teeth). My view of her changed when I realized the hardships and decisions she faced in Hare Moon. She reminded me of Mary. She had hopes of human life outside the Forest just like Mary, and she also fell in love. I liked how Tabitha was curious about the Sisterhood and its motivations, which ended up sparking her motivation to turn to only God and the Sisterhood. I supposed I can't hate Tabitha now that I read her beautiful but bittersweet story. Fans of The Forest of Hands and Teeth series, this is a must read!
I can only imagine that the other stories are just as fantastic as the ones I have read so far. I highly recommend this book! show less
This was an enjoyable read but of course some of the books were better than others so I don’t want to give the book an overall rating. After reading the first story by Michelle Zink I was a little worried about how the rest of the book would go. Granted the story was only 29 pages long but I still thought it was rather random that the main character is basically dragged to the home of a strange guy and next thing you know she’s having sex with him. I like to see some development of the relationship if it’s supposed to be I’m in love or so attracted to him I can’t stop myself from having sex with him. If you are going to have a story that short do the two main characters really need to sleep with each other? I don’t think show more so.
My favorite two stories were Rachel Vincent’s and Daniel Waters. I have both of their books sitting on my shelves and after reading these short stories I am eager to go dive into them. Rachel Vincent’s story in particular really caught my attention and I had to read the entire thing in one sitting. The relationship in it was perfectly done and the story was intriguing and perfectly done within the short story format. show less
My favorite two stories were Rachel Vincent’s and Daniel Waters. I have both of their books sitting on my shelves and after reading these short stories I am eager to go dive into them. Rachel Vincent’s story in particular really caught my attention and I had to read the entire thing in one sitting. The relationship in it was perfectly done and the story was intriguing and perfectly done within the short story format. show less
First things first, from the moment I heard of this book I could not help but salivate over it just at the thought of so many of my favorite authors all within the same book. Here is a quick synopsis of the stories inside:
The Assassin's Apprentice by Michelle Zink - This was actually one of my favorites stories. It deals with vengeance, danger and love. I really hope Ms. Zink will endeavor in creating a series or even a stand-alone about these characters. I'm definitely interested in learning more about them.
Errant by Diana Peterfreund - If you've read Ms. Peterfreund's Rampant, then you'll definitely recognize this world. It's a story about two very different individuals who can find a common ground - their love of a unicorn.
The Spirit show more Jar by Karen Mahoney - This is the first that I've read by Ms. Mahoney. She's very clever. I loved her witty characters that were snarky and sarcastic (my favorite type). Not to mention any girl with the name Moth gets two thumbs up in my book. The story did feel a little long, but I think Ms. Mahoney used her space wisely.
Lost by Justine Musk - This is also the first time I read anything by Ms. Musk. Sasha is good at finding things. With Haiden's assistance she'll learn to find lost souls. Very beautifully written. But also very sad. I really hope Ms. Musk writes more on this - my interest was definitely piqued.
The Spy Who Never Grew Up by Sarah Rees Brennan - What a fun story. In The Spy Who Never Grew Up, you will be surprised to find that the infamous Peter Pan is a spy. Ashley, who just happens to be one of Wendy's ancestors, comes along for the ride.
Dungeons Of Langeais by Becca Fitzpatrick - This story takes place about 300 years before Patch meets Nora. This is the history between Chauncey and Patch. I really liked this one because you learn of what life in Cheshvan is like. Plus, I'm a big fan of Hush Hush and Crescendo so this one could do no wrong.
Behind the Red Door by Caitlin Kittredge - This is a ghost story. When Jo's best friend dares her to enter a house that is believed to be haunted, Jo can't help but take the dare. There she meets Nicholas whom she falls head over heels for. But Nicholas is not who she thinks and she finds herself in deadly trouble. This one was hands down my favorite. It was very creepy and had some unexpected twists that I did not see coming.
Hare Moon by Carrie Ryan - For fans of Ms. Ryan's previous works The Forest of Hands and Teeth and The Dead-Tossed Waves (like me)... this is a treat, one that will hopefully hold you over until the next book in the series. In Hare Moon you read about Tabitha and Patrick and their forbidden love. Living in separate towns, they meet at the gates to talk and dream of marriage, but when Patrick stops coming around, Tabitha has no other option but to become a nun. Then Patrick returns - claiming that his whole family has perished from an unknown virus. Everyone except him and his little brother. Tabitha takes the chance of hiding him away in the church but we all know what "virus" affects the souls in Ms. Ryan's tales. As always, Ms. Ryan's stories are bittersweet, heartbreaking but so beautifully told. And for those of you who have read her previous novels, then you'll be glad to read more about the detested Sister Tabitha and get insight into what made her the tough and unforgiving woman she is when we first meet her.
Familiar by Michelle Rowen - I really liked this one too. In it Brenda needs to find a familiar (a pet that is used to enhance magic) in order to follow in her mother's footsteps as a successful witch. She picks Owen, a near death kitty - but Owen turns out to be something unexpected. This was the cutest story ever. I really liked Brenda and Owen. There were some swoon-worthy moments in this one.
Fearless by Rachel Vincent - Sadly I haven't read any of Ms. Vincent's books so I wasn't fully understanding of banshees and whatnot. But this was still a good story. It held somewhat of a mystery and I liked how it all resolved.
Vermillion by Daniel Marks - There was a bit too much going on in this one for me to fully enjoy. This happens sometimes with short stories where an author tries to give you too much information and the reader just ends up getting confused. The premise was good though - I like the thought of ghosts having otherworldly missions.
The Hounds of Ulster by Maggie Stiefvater - This story is about faeries! I love Maggie's faeries. Also one of the best stories in the book. This is the story of Sullivan and Bryant. As always, brilliantly told and talk about a shocker ending. One of my faves.
Many Happy Returns by Daniel Waters - This story ties into Mr. Waters' Generation Dead series. I think Mr. Waters poignantly captures one fathers love for his daughter after she is in a car wreck that claims the lives of four teenagers. I teared up over Cal's loss of his beloved daughter Mandy - but even more so at his expectancy of her return.
The stories were all good - some better than others, of course, but relatively all of them were readable. I know that I loved the introduction to new authors that, if these stories are any indication, are definitely going to be added to my to be read list. As with all short stories, most of them leave you wanting more - but all in all, I found them to be very satisfying. Overall this was a very enjoyable anthology that for many will be the introduction to a vast variety of new authors. I recommend to lovers of the genre as well as to those that are looking for a glimpse into those worlds that they already know and love. show less
The Assassin's Apprentice by Michelle Zink - This was actually one of my favorites stories. It deals with vengeance, danger and love. I really hope Ms. Zink will endeavor in creating a series or even a stand-alone about these characters. I'm definitely interested in learning more about them.
Errant by Diana Peterfreund - If you've read Ms. Peterfreund's Rampant, then you'll definitely recognize this world. It's a story about two very different individuals who can find a common ground - their love of a unicorn.
The Spirit show more Jar by Karen Mahoney - This is the first that I've read by Ms. Mahoney. She's very clever. I loved her witty characters that were snarky and sarcastic (my favorite type). Not to mention any girl with the name Moth gets two thumbs up in my book. The story did feel a little long, but I think Ms. Mahoney used her space wisely.
Lost by Justine Musk - This is also the first time I read anything by Ms. Musk. Sasha is good at finding things. With Haiden's assistance she'll learn to find lost souls. Very beautifully written. But also very sad. I really hope Ms. Musk writes more on this - my interest was definitely piqued.
The Spy Who Never Grew Up by Sarah Rees Brennan - What a fun story. In The Spy Who Never Grew Up, you will be surprised to find that the infamous Peter Pan is a spy. Ashley, who just happens to be one of Wendy's ancestors, comes along for the ride.
Dungeons Of Langeais by Becca Fitzpatrick - This story takes place about 300 years before Patch meets Nora. This is the history between Chauncey and Patch. I really liked this one because you learn of what life in Cheshvan is like. Plus, I'm a big fan of Hush Hush and Crescendo so this one could do no wrong.
Behind the Red Door by Caitlin Kittredge - This is a ghost story. When Jo's best friend dares her to enter a house that is believed to be haunted, Jo can't help but take the dare. There she meets Nicholas whom she falls head over heels for. But Nicholas is not who she thinks and she finds herself in deadly trouble. This one was hands down my favorite. It was very creepy and had some unexpected twists that I did not see coming.
Hare Moon by Carrie Ryan - For fans of Ms. Ryan's previous works The Forest of Hands and Teeth and The Dead-Tossed Waves (like me)... this is a treat, one that will hopefully hold you over until the next book in the series. In Hare Moon you read about Tabitha and Patrick and their forbidden love. Living in separate towns, they meet at the gates to talk and dream of marriage, but when Patrick stops coming around, Tabitha has no other option but to become a nun. Then Patrick returns - claiming that his whole family has perished from an unknown virus. Everyone except him and his little brother. Tabitha takes the chance of hiding him away in the church but we all know what "virus" affects the souls in Ms. Ryan's tales. As always, Ms. Ryan's stories are bittersweet, heartbreaking but so beautifully told. And for those of you who have read her previous novels, then you'll be glad to read more about the detested Sister Tabitha and get insight into what made her the tough and unforgiving woman she is when we first meet her.
Familiar by Michelle Rowen - I really liked this one too. In it Brenda needs to find a familiar (a pet that is used to enhance magic) in order to follow in her mother's footsteps as a successful witch. She picks Owen, a near death kitty - but Owen turns out to be something unexpected. This was the cutest story ever. I really liked Brenda and Owen. There were some swoon-worthy moments in this one.
Fearless by Rachel Vincent - Sadly I haven't read any of Ms. Vincent's books so I wasn't fully understanding of banshees and whatnot. But this was still a good story. It held somewhat of a mystery and I liked how it all resolved.
Vermillion by Daniel Marks - There was a bit too much going on in this one for me to fully enjoy. This happens sometimes with short stories where an author tries to give you too much information and the reader just ends up getting confused. The premise was good though - I like the thought of ghosts having otherworldly missions.
The Hounds of Ulster by Maggie Stiefvater - This story is about faeries! I love Maggie's faeries. Also one of the best stories in the book. This is the story of Sullivan and Bryant. As always, brilliantly told and talk about a shocker ending. One of my faves.
Many Happy Returns by Daniel Waters - This story ties into Mr. Waters' Generation Dead series. I think Mr. Waters poignantly captures one fathers love for his daughter after she is in a car wreck that claims the lives of four teenagers. I teared up over Cal's loss of his beloved daughter Mandy - but even more so at his expectancy of her return.
The stories were all good - some better than others, of course, but relatively all of them were readable. I know that I loved the introduction to new authors that, if these stories are any indication, are definitely going to be added to my to be read list. As with all short stories, most of them leave you wanting more - but all in all, I found them to be very satisfying. Overall this was a very enjoyable anthology that for many will be the introduction to a vast variety of new authors. I recommend to lovers of the genre as well as to those that are looking for a glimpse into those worlds that they already know and love. show less
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Series
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Common Knowledge
- Original title
- Kiss Me Deadly
- Alternate titles
- The Assassin's Apprentice by Michelle Zink; The Hounds of Ulster by Maggie Stiefvater; Lost by Justine Musk; Behind the Red Door by Caitlin Kittredge; Familiar by Michelle Rowan; Fearless by Rachel Vincent (show all 9); Vermillion by Daniel Marks; Many Happy Returns by Daniel Waters; TBA by Becca Fitzpatrick
- Original publication date
- 2010-08-03
Classifications
- Genres
- Fiction and Literature, Teen, Young Adult
- DDC/MDS
- 813.08730806 — Literature & rhetoric American literature in English American fiction in English By type Genre fiction Adventure fiction Horror fiction; Ghost fiction
- LCC
- PZ5 .K59534 — Language and Literature Fiction and juvenile belles lettres Fiction and juvenile belles lettres Juvenile belles lettres
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 277
- Popularity
- 115,847
- Reviews
- 18
- Rating
- (3.23)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 10
- ASINs
- 4
