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saschabookishowl's review
4.0
Finished:
* Joe Abercrombie - Tough times all over. Rating: 5 stars.
It was a bit repetitive in the end though, but still excellent!
* Gillian Flynn - What Do You Do?. Rating: 5 stars.
Wow just wow.. one of the best, or maybe THE best, short story I've read. At the beginning I never could have guessed that it would turn into such a horror/suspense masterpiece. Flynn writes in such a humorous and light way that I just had to keep reading. But it turned out to be a possible case of a haunted house or an exorcism. Yeah..did not see that coming. I could have known though: the story has just as much suspense and plot twists like 'Gone Girl' or 'Dark Places' -although I have only seen the movie adaptations and I have yet to actually read her novels, but whatever-.
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I was only able to read two of the short stories in this anthology before I had to return it to the library. That already shows the pace in which I was reading stories from this book. Although the two stories that I've read were very enjoyable, short stories are just not for me.
* Joe Abercrombie - Tough times all over. Rating: 5 stars.
It was a bit repetitive in the end though, but still excellent!
* Gillian Flynn - What Do You Do?. Rating: 5 stars.
Wow just wow.. one of the best, or maybe THE best, short story I've read. At the beginning I never could have guessed that it would turn into such a horror/suspense masterpiece. Flynn writes in such a humorous and light way that I just had to keep reading. But it turned out to be a possible case of a haunted house or an exorcism. Yeah..did not see that coming. I could have known though: the story has just as much suspense and plot twists like 'Gone Girl' or 'Dark Places' -although I have only seen the movie adaptations and I have yet to actually read her novels, but whatever-.
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I was only able to read two of the short stories in this anthology before I had to return it to the library. That already shows the pace in which I was reading stories from this book. Although the two stories that I've read were very enjoyable, short stories are just not for me.
frasersimons's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
I’m pretty pleased with the overall quality of the collection. I only had to skip one story, from Connie Willis, that was a bit too YA for me. Otherwise I remember buying this for the Gaiman and Flynn ones especially, which are great, and I believe you can get elsewhere now anyway. But I’ve had this waiting on the TBR as one of the oldest added, so I wanted to get to the other stories as well.
The Bast one, from Rothfuss was alright, but reminded me why it’s not something I would like as I’ve grown up. And the Martin one, I just do not care for his writing or GoT, so that wasn’t a draw.
There are so many others and I didn’t annotate unfortunately, but thought the overall quality was fairly high, when it was something that interested me. It’s just hard to give the book 4 stars when most are fun but forgettable.
The Bast one, from Rothfuss was alright, but reminded me why it’s not something I would like as I’ve grown up. And the Martin one, I just do not care for his writing or GoT, so that wasn’t a draw.
There are so many others and I didn’t annotate unfortunately, but thought the overall quality was fairly high, when it was something that interested me. It’s just hard to give the book 4 stars when most are fun but forgettable.
beer_matt's review against another edition
4.0
Over 900 pages of roguish behaviour, all wrapped up in a fantasy anthology... that's what I thought when I saw this on the shelf in Tesco and it caught my eye: The striking cover and George RRRR Martinplastered all over it led me to believe this to be a sword and sorcery type of book so i took a closer look.. What really sold it for me was the first 2 stories were by Joe Abercrombie and Gillian Flynn! Hang on a minute, Gillian Flynn writes fantasy? No, she doesn't and actually this isn't a fantasy collection. (I have a confession to make- I didn't finish The Song of Ice and Fire Series).
What this actually was was a miscellany of rogues in all settings and genres.
On the whole I really enjoyed this collection and I came across some authors I'd never read before but that I would read again. If this isn't your usual type of read I would recommend you think again and give it a go...
Tough Times All Over - Joe Abercrombie. 4/5. This was a cracking start, I won't spoil it for you, but it's classic Joe Abercrombie, pacey, gritty, his action scenes are not as violent as they usually are, this isn't a bad thing, I think......4/5.
What Do You Do? - Gillian Flynn. I really liked Gone Girl, I wouldn't say that it changed my life, but it increased my understanding how men and women fundamentally differ. On to this story, I haven't read a short story with this much of a twist in it for a really long while. It fair rattles along, before you know it, it's finished and you want to know more...... 4/5.
The Inn of the Seven Blessings - Matthew Hughes. The third story in the collection, it's OK. A fantasy tale, a fairly generic story, it felt a little rushed at the end. 3/5.
Bent Twig - Joe R. Lansdale. This reminds me of Raymond Chandler, the spare, imitate nature of the narration and the action scenes are told from the point of view from a person who is used to getting the job done. The violence is never glorified, just described as a matter-of-fact manner. 4/5.
Tawny Petticoats - Michael Swanwick. I really enjoyed this one :-) A unusual setting, the story kicks off and you want to know more straight away. 4/5.
Provenance - David W. Ball. Awesome, a Second World War story, my pet period in history! As well as a cracking read, with a finish that raised a smile to my face. 4/5.
Roaring Twenties - Carrie Vaughn. This one is one my favourite stories so far, most of the action takes place in a speak-easy with a limited cast of characters. I'd like to read more from Carrie Vaughn. 5/5.
A Year and a Day in Old Theradane - Scott Lynch. Hmm, I've heard good things about the author, I've so wanted to find a great fantasy series...... even the title grated. This is my least favourite so far. Not quite a 2, maybe a 2.6.....? 3/5.
Bad Brass - Bradley Denton. I've never read a story about a school band blagging it's own instruments and a roguish supply teacher taxing them out of the proceeds, and I quite enjoyed it :-) 4/5.
Heavy Metal - Cherie Priest. An unusual exorcism, good in parts, a few good ideas. 3/5.
The Meaning of Love - Daniel Abraham. A love story (sort of....) set in a classic fantasy world. I didn't think that I was going to enjoy this one, but I did, very much so. 4/5.
A Better Way to Die - Paul Cornell. A science-fiction tale set in an alternate reality. It sort of reminds me of Ian M. Banks, but not as good...... :-( 2/5.
Ill Seen in Tyre - Steven Saylor. It's got Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser in it!!!!! Well, I'm lost for words, my all time favourite pair of rogues ever, in a great tale of a con trick set in a tavern in the ancient world. This cross-over amused me greatly. 5/5.
A Cargo of Ivories - Garth Nix. A fantasy heist with complications; a sorcerous puppet henchman, godlets, night-time fights in deserted buildings, incompetent guards, foiled farcical getaways aboard sinking anachronistic ships...... it's got it all! A cross between Fritz Leiber and Robert E. Howard. 5/5.
Diamonds From Tequila - Walter Jon Williams. A story set in a modern day film set, told from the principal actors point of view. I liked the main character, even though the character isn't likeable...... :-) I enjoyed it, a bit clunky in places, but I would give the author another try. 4/5.
The Caravan to Nowhere - Phyllis Eisenstein. A fantasy tale set in the desert, a caravan master's tragic story. The ending stopped me giving more than a 3/5.
The Curious Affair of the Dead Wives - Lisa Tuttle. What can I say...... I didn't enjoy it, I only finished it out of a sense of completion and because it was short. The characters were two-dimensional, the protagonists aims were vague and there wasn't any atmosphere. 1/5.
How the Marquis Got His Coat Back - Neil Gaiman. ....... hmm..... I find Neil Gaiman's stories a bit like Marmite, I didn't like this one. Set in the world of London Below, too bizarre for my tastes. 2/5.
Now Showing - Connie Willis. A intelligent conspiracy tale set in the modern day. I didn't think that I was going to like this, but the writing style drew me in and the conspiracy about the movie industry was believable and engaging. 4/5.
The Lightning Tree - Patrick Rothfuss. Generally, I sort of enjoyed this generic fantasy tale, but in needed a bit of focus in the telling. I did enjoy this whilst I was reading it, but after I'd finished, I'd felt dissatisfied..... I feel mean to give less than a three (in places I would've rated a 4). 2/5.
The Rogue Prince, or, A King's Brother - George R. R. Martin. I am ashamed to say it, it defeated me! I got five pages in and I said to myself "life's too short.....". It read like it history text, a really dull history text, that really doesn't matter on account that it is made up (I really like reading historical non-fiction by the way). Sorry. 0/5.
What this actually was was a miscellany of rogues in all settings and genres.
On the whole I really enjoyed this collection and I came across some authors I'd never read before but that I would read again. If this isn't your usual type of read I would recommend you think again and give it a go...
Tough Times All Over - Joe Abercrombie. 4/5. This was a cracking start, I won't spoil it for you, but it's classic Joe Abercrombie, pacey, gritty, his action scenes are not as violent as they usually are, this isn't a bad thing, I think......4/5.
What Do You Do? - Gillian Flynn. I really liked Gone Girl, I wouldn't say that it changed my life, but it increased my understanding how men and women fundamentally differ. On to this story, I haven't read a short story with this much of a twist in it for a really long while. It fair rattles along, before you know it, it's finished and you want to know more...... 4/5.
The Inn of the Seven Blessings - Matthew Hughes. The third story in the collection, it's OK. A fantasy tale, a fairly generic story, it felt a little rushed at the end. 3/5.
Bent Twig - Joe R. Lansdale. This reminds me of Raymond Chandler, the spare, imitate nature of the narration and the action scenes are told from the point of view from a person who is used to getting the job done. The violence is never glorified, just described as a matter-of-fact manner. 4/5.
Tawny Petticoats - Michael Swanwick. I really enjoyed this one :-) A unusual setting, the story kicks off and you want to know more straight away. 4/5.
Provenance - David W. Ball. Awesome, a Second World War story, my pet period in history! As well as a cracking read, with a finish that raised a smile to my face. 4/5.
Roaring Twenties - Carrie Vaughn. This one is one my favourite stories so far, most of the action takes place in a speak-easy with a limited cast of characters. I'd like to read more from Carrie Vaughn. 5/5.
A Year and a Day in Old Theradane - Scott Lynch. Hmm, I've heard good things about the author, I've so wanted to find a great fantasy series...... even the title grated. This is my least favourite so far. Not quite a 2, maybe a 2.6.....? 3/5.
Bad Brass - Bradley Denton. I've never read a story about a school band blagging it's own instruments and a roguish supply teacher taxing them out of the proceeds, and I quite enjoyed it :-) 4/5.
Heavy Metal - Cherie Priest. An unusual exorcism, good in parts, a few good ideas. 3/5.
The Meaning of Love - Daniel Abraham. A love story (sort of....) set in a classic fantasy world. I didn't think that I was going to enjoy this one, but I did, very much so. 4/5.
A Better Way to Die - Paul Cornell. A science-fiction tale set in an alternate reality. It sort of reminds me of Ian M. Banks, but not as good...... :-( 2/5.
Ill Seen in Tyre - Steven Saylor. It's got Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser in it!!!!! Well, I'm lost for words, my all time favourite pair of rogues ever, in a great tale of a con trick set in a tavern in the ancient world. This cross-over amused me greatly. 5/5.
A Cargo of Ivories - Garth Nix. A fantasy heist with complications; a sorcerous puppet henchman, godlets, night-time fights in deserted buildings, incompetent guards, foiled farcical getaways aboard sinking anachronistic ships...... it's got it all! A cross between Fritz Leiber and Robert E. Howard. 5/5.
Diamonds From Tequila - Walter Jon Williams. A story set in a modern day film set, told from the principal actors point of view. I liked the main character, even though the character isn't likeable...... :-) I enjoyed it, a bit clunky in places, but I would give the author another try. 4/5.
The Caravan to Nowhere - Phyllis Eisenstein. A fantasy tale set in the desert, a caravan master's tragic story. The ending stopped me giving more than a 3/5.
The Curious Affair of the Dead Wives - Lisa Tuttle. What can I say...... I didn't enjoy it, I only finished it out of a sense of completion and because it was short. The characters were two-dimensional, the protagonists aims were vague and there wasn't any atmosphere. 1/5.
How the Marquis Got His Coat Back - Neil Gaiman. ....... hmm..... I find Neil Gaiman's stories a bit like Marmite, I didn't like this one. Set in the world of London Below, too bizarre for my tastes. 2/5.
Now Showing - Connie Willis. A intelligent conspiracy tale set in the modern day. I didn't think that I was going to like this, but the writing style drew me in and the conspiracy about the movie industry was believable and engaging. 4/5.
The Lightning Tree - Patrick Rothfuss. Generally, I sort of enjoyed this generic fantasy tale, but in needed a bit of focus in the telling. I did enjoy this whilst I was reading it, but after I'd finished, I'd felt dissatisfied..... I feel mean to give less than a three (in places I would've rated a 4). 2/5.
The Rogue Prince, or, A King's Brother - George R. R. Martin. I am ashamed to say it, it defeated me! I got five pages in and I said to myself "life's too short.....". It read like it history text, a really dull history text, that really doesn't matter on account that it is made up (I really like reading historical non-fiction by the way). Sorry. 0/5.
ratgirlreads's review
3.0
Tough Times All Over--not bad.
What Do You Do--awesome.
The Inn of the Seven Blessings--okay.
Bent Twig--okay.
Tawny Petticoats--okay.
Provenance--good but not gripping.
Roaring Twenties--interesting, but I wish Carrie Vaughn would take some writing classes.
A Year and a Day in Old Theradane--great fun.
Bad Brass--really good.
Heavy Metal--eh. Disappointed.
The Meaning of Love--seemed trite and dull right up until the ending, which was fantastic and original.
A Better Way to Die--Fascinating.
Ill Seen in Tyre--eh.
A Cargo of Ivories--should have been good, but Garth Nix has a way of belaboring whatever he does and making it dull, as well as employing the creativity of a dull three-year-old in his world-building.
Diamonds from Tequila--interesting.
The Caravan to Nowhere--also interesting.
The Curious Affair of the Dead Wives--easy read, and sort of fun, but I couldn't like the narrator much.
How the Marquis Got His Coat Back--excellent, as usual.
Now Showing--fascinating. Wish there was more! Had no idea Connie Willis had so many books, either. I will have to find some more!
The Lightning Tree--great fun.
The Rogue Prince, or, A King's Brother--good.
katyanaish's review against another edition
5.0
I actually read this back when it first came out, but I have been re-reading all the novellas recently, because I think Martin is using them to give us backstory that will be relevant in ASOIAF.
Well, I mean, of course he is. It's the Targaryens, so it is relevant. But I think it will be more directly relevant, because I definitely believe Bloodraven, and I believe that Aegon .
So I'm trying to refresh my memory of the Blackfyres and their 5 attempts to claim the Iron Throne.
Well, I mean, of course he is. It's the Targaryens, so it is relevant. But I think it will be more directly relevant, because I definitely believe Bloodraven
Spoiler
is the Three-Eyed Crow ... and that's a pretty widely accepted theory, so maybe it doesn't need spoiler tagsSpoiler
is a Blackfyre, and not the son of Rhaegar at all. I'm not sure if that's a widely held belief, so... more spoiler tagsSo I'm trying to refresh my memory of the Blackfyres and their 5 attempts to claim the Iron Throne.
mwplante's review
4.0
A fun little clipping from the Fire and Blood opus. Obsolete now that Fire and Blood Volume 1 has been released.
Merged review:
Fabulous bit of characterization for the enigmatic Bast.
Merged review:
Fabulous bit of characterization for the enigmatic Bast.
labunnywtf's review against another edition
1.0
How much did I hate this book?
How much, you ask?
I hate this book so much, I REFUSE TO REVIEW IT. Re. Motherfucking. Fuse.
Fuck. this. book. Fuck this collection. GRRM, you may be great at writing characters, but you suck at putting together a collection of interesting stories.
This is the least interesting collection of short stories I've read in a year of reading bad short story collections.
SO FUCK THIS BOOK.
I will be reviewing the individual short stories that didn't make me want to put my iproduct under my car tire and roll it over repeatedly. But I refuse to review them here, because that would mean rating this book higher than NONE.
Or, as GR requires, one star.
How much, you ask?
I hate this book so much, I REFUSE TO REVIEW IT. Re. Motherfucking. Fuse.
Fuck. this. book. Fuck this collection. GRRM, you may be great at writing characters, but you suck at putting together a collection of interesting stories.
This is the least interesting collection of short stories I've read in a year of reading bad short story collections.
SO FUCK THIS BOOK.
I will be reviewing the individual short stories that didn't make me want to put my iproduct under my car tire and roll it over repeatedly. But I refuse to review them here, because that would mean rating this book higher than NONE.
Or, as GR requires, one star.
labunnywtf's review against another edition
4.0
This. This is the entire fucking reason I put up with the shittiness that is Rogues. It's been a year since I read the last GoT book, and while I'm past the DTs, I'm still shaky and need a fix.
It was very much worth the wait. Read by sexy shmexy voice like buttah Iain Glen, it's the story of a Who Is That Again? Targaryen from ye old dragony days. I'm going to whip out my [b: World of Ice and Fire|17345242|The World of Ice & Fire The Untold History of Westeros and the Game of Thrones|George R.R. Martin|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1400360220s/17345242.jpg|23840347] to see who the hell, because with 8,000 characters per book, it's hard to keep track of main characters, let alone past ones.
But the story is fun, and incredible. It feels like actual historical events, as opposed to made up worlds.
Love love love WANT BOOK SIX GODDAMIT.
It was very much worth the wait. Read by sexy shmexy voice like buttah Iain Glen, it's the story of a Who Is That Again? Targaryen from ye old dragony days. I'm going to whip out my [b: World of Ice and Fire|17345242|The World of Ice & Fire The Untold History of Westeros and the Game of Thrones|George R.R. Martin|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1400360220s/17345242.jpg|23840347] to see who the hell, because with 8,000 characters per book, it's hard to keep track of main characters, let alone past ones.
But the story is fun, and incredible. It feels like actual historical events, as opposed to made up worlds.
Love love love WANT BOOK SIX GODDAMIT.
labunnywtf's review
3.0
See my review of Rogues to understand why I'm reviewing this way.
This story could've been cut in half. Actually, it could've been quartered. It's entirely too long.
That being said, it is a very fun story. I like any narrative involving magical and naughty-but-not-too-naughty characters that use their powers for innocent espionage.
Bast is all of that. And he's so busy learning secrets and wreaking havoc that he kind of lets the important things, like carrots, slip to the way side.
Very fun.
Way too long.
Merged review:
See my review of Rogues to find why I reviewed this way.
Gillian Flynn is too good for this story ending. The story itself is kind of awesome, and has a kick ass opening line. But I feel like the main character is too savvy to have ended up where she was.
I would've liked to see her get the upper hand on that little bastard before the end.
This story could've been cut in half. Actually, it could've been quartered. It's entirely too long.
That being said, it is a very fun story. I like any narrative involving magical and naughty-but-not-too-naughty characters that use their powers for innocent espionage.
Bast is all of that. And he's so busy learning secrets and wreaking havoc that he kind of lets the important things, like carrots, slip to the way side.
Very fun.
Way too long.
Merged review:
See my review of Rogues to find why I reviewed this way.
Gillian Flynn is too good for this story ending. The story itself is kind of awesome, and has a kick ass opening line. But I feel like the main character is too savvy to have ended up where she was.
I would've liked to see her get the upper hand on that little bastard before the end.