Reviews

Glimpses: A Collection of Nightrunner Short Stories by

pinxsol's review against another edition

adventurous emotional

 This kind of collaboration isn’t something that happens these days, and I’m not sure how often that sort of thing happened back in the 2000s, either, it feels like a very unique thing but honestly, it’s such a great way to showcase fandom. I feel like it’d be a bit of a nightmare in today’s climate to make such a collaboration feel fair, though, and I’m not sure under which conditions this one got made, either - though from what I gather in the description it feels like it wasn’t a source of profit for the fanartists, rather just something the author’d included with their permission & credit? They used the word “donated” to describe how they acquired the fanart, so. I guess this would’ve worked in those days, but in 2024 I doubt that would fly. Which is why this book is so unique, and such a product of its time it feels like an antique but in a good way? I don’t even know how to describe it. Nonetheless, I adore the fact that this exists and it brings me immense joy to see a collaboration like that, and I’m very grateful to all the artists who freely gave their works for this project. 

Most of the short stories in this collection have smut in them.  It’s obvious from the text that it’s not something the author’s practiced at, and I appreciate her effort, even though the clunky smut scenes with some outdated vocabulary took me out of the story like nothing else. This collaboration is obviously a project for fans, so I can’t judge the writing, but reading this in 2024 does take me back to those times when smut was called lemon, and explicit stuff read as basically taking a barbie and a ken and frantically smashing them together over and over in a horrid imitation of the real thing. I’m sorry for the analogy, but it’s simply me talking from the dubious privilege of having read a lot of literature with some degree of spice to it. 

Overall, I think I'm happy I own the book, but not because of the short stories. I lowkey think it should belong in a museum, or be studied at a uni somewhere because it's such an excellent showcase of what fandom was in the 2000s. From the pencil fanart down to kinda gross smut scenes, this was it.

caitann's review

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

To quote Patricia Briggs’ blurb on the front cover, “this rocks” 😂😂😂

BUT ACTUALLY IT DOES - SEREGIL AND ALEC HAVE MY HEART FOREVER AND I MISS THIS SERIES EVERY DAY

callunavulgari's review

3.0

Incredibly short read. Didnt expect to be over the moon about this one, and I wasn't. The glimpses were nice enough, but I agree with what a lot of people on here have said - they just lacked something. But hey, it's hard to pack a bunch of feeling into so short a book, so whatever. I dont think I wasted the hour or so I spent reading it, so I guess it's worth it.

rainbowcircus's review against another edition

only read the chapters I was interested in

the_real_al_cal's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

quhinnsinqueeries's review

4.0

A book of Seregil being a slut, I love it.

josh_vanrys's review

adventurous reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

seeinghowitgoes's review

4.0

Somehow I managed to miss this collection of short stories despite my long wait between books 3 and 4! There are few lovely snippets into the stories of our heroes lives, a bit of painful pasts for both of them and a few racier scenes left on the cutting board.

My favourites were probably the Seregil backstory heavy ones, in particular a bittersweet Nysander story and a very young Micum meeting our errant hero.

saphirablue's review

5.0

♥ I love these characters so much!

Wonderful glimpses into the past of these characters. To see a young, sad, hurt and maybe a bit broken Seregil during his first months/years in Skala? To see how Alec's parents met and how Alec grew up? Their first night as lovers? ♥ ♥ ♥

And, as much as I love all of these stories - I adore "By the River". The story in which Seregil and Micum meet. This story hits so many buttons of mine. A hurt, depressed, broken Seregil on the end of his rope and Micum seeing him sitting against the tree and wanting to help him? Seregil being scared of Micum and hiding and Micum slowly but surely drawing him out and manages to get him to trust at least a little bit? Hook. Line. Sinker. ♥

I also like that a mystery (at least to me it was a mystery) got a bit cleared up. I wondered while "Traitors Moon" why Prince Korathan would be inclined to listen to Seregil. Well, now that I know that they've been lovers... :)

eb00kie's review against another edition

2.0

Well, I suppose it's obvious why the author kept some scenes out of the book, clearly not her style. Apart from that, the difference between the quality and style of the pictures was annoying and off-putting, but it did bring some perspective into the series.