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ericthec's review
4.0
Overall this was a fun anthology. I discovered some authors I will want to read ( Carrie Vaughn, Ilona Andrews, and Erica Hayes . Some I already like ( P.N. Elrod, Simon R. Green, and Jim Butcher). I recommend it overall. I was not as impressed by stories by Carole Nelson Douglas and Erica Hayes. But 7 out of 9 were excellent, light (light reading, not content as it might be scary for some) and fun.
misterjay's review
4.0
Going into this anthology, I had read none of the stories and only three of the authors. I have had good luck finding new fiction to read and love with some of the other anthologies and was hoping for more of the same. I'm happy to report that I found it.
Retribution Clause by Ilona Andrews
The world created by Ilona Andrews fascinates me. The idea that magic has come back, and is coming back in waves broken by periods where technology works and magic doesn't, is a novel one. Add to that strong characters defined by their relationships with each other as much as they are by the world they inhabit, and you have a hell of a strong, modern fantasy. (4/5)
Bigfoot on Campus by Jim Butcher
It's a Harry Dresden story. About Bigfoot. And vampires of the White Court. And what happens when our favorite wizard gets himself in the middle of a quarrel between houses. It's perfect. 5/5
Holly's Balm by Rachel Caine
While it's a little heavy on the romance side of 'Supernatural Romance' for my tastes, the world that is set up and populated in this story is great. The idea of resurrection witches got under my skin and I found myself thinking about this story when forced to take a break in the middle of listening to it. 4/5
Snow Job by Carole Nelson Douglas
Although I really enjoyed the idea of a Las Vegas meets Fairyland setting, and while I think there is a lot of potential in these characters, this particular story felt a bit rushed and a bit too over-complicated for what was, in essence, a tried and true plot. 3/5
Outside the Box by P.N. Elrod
P.N. Elrod is an old hand at vampires; this story sets up a world where vampires and witches work together to keep the former in check. This is a series I could get into. 4/5
How Do You Feel? by Simon R. Green
Dead Boy! Any fan of The Nightside will enjoy this look at Dead Boy's backstory and the mystery of his car and how they came together. 5/5
There Will Be Demons by Lori Handeland
This is another one that I wish was more novel length as I really want to know more about the backstory of the characters and their history, whereas the plot was just okay. Still, any story about angels and The Fall and how it has all been leading up to Armageddon is always worth a read. 4/5
Cherry Kisses by Erica Hayes
The ending caught me off guard and turned an otherwise 'okay' story into one I really enjoyed. I'll be interested to see what else is or will be written with this character. 3/5
The Arcane Art of Misdirection by Carrie Vaughn
This last story was an interesting beginning in that it reads almost like the prelude to a longer, larger work like a novel, or, more interestingly, it's a "find out how our two leads started working together" for a pair of established characters. Either way, I'll be looking for more. 4/5
Retribution Clause by Ilona Andrews
The world created by Ilona Andrews fascinates me. The idea that magic has come back, and is coming back in waves broken by periods where technology works and magic doesn't, is a novel one. Add to that strong characters defined by their relationships with each other as much as they are by the world they inhabit, and you have a hell of a strong, modern fantasy. (4/5)
Bigfoot on Campus by Jim Butcher
It's a Harry Dresden story. About Bigfoot. And vampires of the White Court. And what happens when our favorite wizard gets himself in the middle of a quarrel between houses. It's perfect. 5/5
Holly's Balm by Rachel Caine
While it's a little heavy on the romance side of 'Supernatural Romance' for my tastes, the world that is set up and populated in this story is great. The idea of resurrection witches got under my skin and I found myself thinking about this story when forced to take a break in the middle of listening to it. 4/5
Snow Job by Carole Nelson Douglas
Although I really enjoyed the idea of a Las Vegas meets Fairyland setting, and while I think there is a lot of potential in these characters, this particular story felt a bit rushed and a bit too over-complicated for what was, in essence, a tried and true plot. 3/5
Outside the Box by P.N. Elrod
P.N. Elrod is an old hand at vampires; this story sets up a world where vampires and witches work together to keep the former in check. This is a series I could get into. 4/5
How Do You Feel? by Simon R. Green
Dead Boy! Any fan of The Nightside will enjoy this look at Dead Boy's backstory and the mystery of his car and how they came together. 5/5
There Will Be Demons by Lori Handeland
This is another one that I wish was more novel length as I really want to know more about the backstory of the characters and their history, whereas the plot was just okay. Still, any story about angels and The Fall and how it has all been leading up to Armageddon is always worth a read. 4/5
Cherry Kisses by Erica Hayes
The ending caught me off guard and turned an otherwise 'okay' story into one I really enjoyed. I'll be interested to see what else is or will be written with this character. 3/5
The Arcane Art of Misdirection by Carrie Vaughn
This last story was an interesting beginning in that it reads almost like the prelude to a longer, larger work like a novel, or, more interestingly, it's a "find out how our two leads started working together" for a pair of established characters. Either way, I'll be looking for more. 4/5
dynila's review
3.0
I enjoyed the stories by authors I already liked, but was not impressed with the majority of this collection. Still, nice to run across a Dresden I've never read, liked another peek into Kate Daniels' world, and enjoyed the heck out of reading Odysseus' adventures sans Kitty. As with most paranormal anthologies, I'd say read what you know and love & skip the rest. Of course, I make myself read them all hoping to find a new author/series to follow...
literary__escapism's review
5.0
As usually happens to me I buy anthologies for just one to two stories and then put them up on a shelf for a rainy day. I did this with Hex Appeal, edited by P.N. Elrod.
I bought this just for the Bigfoot story by Jim Butcher. I love the Dresden files series and this short story sees Harry Dresden helping out Bigfoot again to look after his teenage son, who is now in college.
Irwin aka Bigfoot's son has fallen in love, but not with any normal human with a vampire of the White Court, and its up to Harry to try to save both Irwin and his new girlfriend before the White Court descend upon them.
I really liked the first Bigfoot story but I loved the second one much more. It's nice seeing the relationship between Irwin and his father grow, and seeing Harry get into trouble again and again.
I can't wait till the third story is released, and I'm hoping Jim Butcher will do more of these stories further down the road.
I bought this just for the Bigfoot story by Jim Butcher. I love the Dresden files series and this short story sees Harry Dresden helping out Bigfoot again to look after his teenage son, who is now in college.
Irwin aka Bigfoot's son has fallen in love, but not with any normal human with a vampire of the White Court, and its up to Harry to try to save both Irwin and his new girlfriend before the White Court descend upon them.
I really liked the first Bigfoot story but I loved the second one much more. It's nice seeing the relationship between Irwin and his father grow, and seeing Harry get into trouble again and again.
I can't wait till the third story is released, and I'm hoping Jim Butcher will do more of these stories further down the road.