Release Date: 03/04/14
Publisher: Jo Fletcher Books
SYNOPSIS:
Everyone plays something - whether it's solitaire or squash or stockcar racing, World of Warcraft or World Wrestling Entertainment tournaments, darts or dodgeball. Games bring out the best in us, the worst in us, the thing-we-never-expected in us. Human beings just naturally like to test their limits, both mental and physical - and why should the supernaturals be any different? In their latest anthology international superstar Charlaine Harris and award-winning mystery writer Toni Kelner have collected stories that feature ghostly players, bloodthirsty interruptions, and competitions with deadly outcomes, from some of the top writers in the fantasy, horror, crime and mystery genres. Game on!
REVIEW:
I’m a huge fan of books that bring together a whole host of authorly talent from across the genre as it not only gives the reader cracking tales but also allows them to try authors that you may not have had the finances to purchase in case you don’t like it. (After all we’re all watching the pennies these days.)
Its fun, has some cracking play on games and how the “creatures” unwind and all round gives the reader a short stories that they can dive into during journeys or lunch breaks to get away from the real world. As usual the talent within is top notch and when edited by two top notch names in the genre, all round gives it a seal of quality that you can’t ignore. Great stuff.
Release Date: 01/03/12
SYNOPSIS:
There's nothing like home renovation for finding skeletons in the closet or otherworldly portals in the attic. Now here's the perfect treat for any homeowner who's ever wondered, 'What's that creaking sound?' (just before the ceiling comes crashing down!). Editors Charlaine Harris and Toni L. P. Kelner return with an all-new collection, this time on the paranormal perils of Do-It-Yourself. As well as a brand-new Sookie Stackhouse story by the Number 1 Sunday Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris, there are 13 more cautionary tales of home renovation by bestselling authors Patricia Briggs, James Grady, Heather Graham, Melissa Marr, amongst others. This is an outstanding line-up of frightening and funny fixer-upper tales guaranteed to shake foundations and rattle readers' pipes. This is the fourth anthology following on from Wolfsbane and Mistletoe, Many Bloody Returns and Death's Excellent Vacation.
REVIEW:
If there’s one thing that Charlaine and Toni do, is bring together a whole host of talent from the Urban Fantasy genre in order to present a series of stories that not only work their way into the readers imagination but give the reader a chance to try out other names for a smaller outlay to see if the writing and characters are to their taste.
Each book has a theme and whilst each story has their own way of dealing with them, it presents the reader with something from all aspects of the genre that will work their way deep into their imagination. They’re all snappy, they all have wonderful prose and solid pace which, when you add the ability to dip in as and when you want, gives you a book that is a cracking addition to any collection as well as giving the reader a solid sense of tales for all occasions. Great stuff and a wonderful collection for the Jo Fletcher stable.
Release Date: 31/07/11
SYNOPSIS:
Charlaine Harris (the Sookie Stackhouse novels) and Toni L.P. Kelner (the Laura Fleming mysteries) have gathered together another 11 writers with serious vamp credentials to provide a baker's dozen tales. Meet Sookie Stackhouse, who, as the only non-vampire at a 'Dracula's birthday ball' soon finds that's she's the one on the menu, and Harry Dresden, who drops by a role-playing game to find himself dealing with deadly party crashers. In P.N. Elrod's 'Grave-Robbed', which mixes pathos and comedy, vampire PI Jack Fleming busts a phony medium mid-seance Tanya Huff's 'Blood Wrapped' has Henry Fitzroy searching for the ideal gift for a vampire's 40th mixing with his pursuit of a human kidnapper. And Christopher Golden takes birthdays to heart in his poignant coming-of-age story 'The Mournful Cry of Owls'.
REVIEW:
As many know, compendiums are one of the joys of my reading existence. The reason for this is that when you get a set of tales from the talent of a genre you know that it’s a great way to try authors that you’ve heard of but haven’t tried yet as well as getting short stories from firm favourites. It’s a win win all round and for me, a great price to not have to worry about in case some of the authors aren’t to your personal taste.
This title edited by Charlaine and Toni is a wonderful new addition to those that have gone before and with a whole host of authors like Kelley Armstrong, Jim Butcher as well as Christopher Golden and Rachel Caine, you know that the pleasure is going to be turned up to 11. Great stuff.
Release Date: 18/11/10
BOOK BLURB:
We all know the holiday season can bring out the beast in anyone - but it's especially hard if you're a lycanthrope! Gathered here together is a veritable feast of fears and tears: fifteen of the scariest, saddest, funniest werewolf tales, by an outstanding pack of authors, best read by the light of the full moon, and with a silver bullet close at hand. In 'Gift Wrap', Sookie Stackhouse is feeling mighty sorry for herself, all alone for Christmas - until she meets someone with bigger problems than loneliness ...Patricia Briggs gives us the story of lone wolf David Christiansen, who needs to mend fences with his daughter, before it's too late. In 'Christmas Past', Keri Arthur tells the tale of Hannah, who gets an unmerry and potentially life-threatening Christmas present when the hunky werewolf who dumped her last Christmas Eve turns up as her partner on the hunt for a vampire serial killer. All these and more feature in WOLFSBANE AND MISTLETOE, the perfect antidote to Christmas mawkishness!
REVIEW:
A series of short stories edited by one of the biggest names in the Urban Fantasy Genre which when backed with the sheer talent and scope of the authors within, make this title a must own. It’s great for the holiday period and will get you in the festive mood and when backed with the fact that each short story is self-contained will definitely put a smile on many an Urban Fantasy Readers face.
Failing all else, the fact that within are a large number of the big names makes this a pretty good bet as a pleaser as well as allowing readers the chance to try some of the authors that they may not be quite as familiar with or just know the name in passing.
Finally, this title is definitely worth the outlay although make sure that the giftee (the reader) has all their creature comforts to hand as they’ll pretty much be glued and possibly even snarl if their reading time is disturbed. With lycanthropy being a transferable disease through bite, making sure to their comfort or you may well find out how true this is. LOL
