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goodbyepuckpie's review
4.0
Good range of characters and atmosphere in this collection so far - to be updated as I finish reading.
Miracle Monsters by Sara Dobie Bauer
Surprisingly sweet and hot m/m/f; the POV character and her husband meet and are infatuated with a handsome young man. He is Deaf, and as they're fluent in sign, they communicate easily. I particularly appreciated the layers of consent in this one.
Content note: the Deaf character is healed as a result of his connection with the vampires.
Fifty-Fifty by Kiki Delovely
I really enjoyed the POV character in this one-she felt very real and vivid and just like someone I could be friends with; it's very competently written although edges towards a Not For Me place. Full marks for the last line, that was well played.
Content note: character considers it consensual sex but is physically endangered by it and not in a position to freely fully consent.
The Married Woman by Calypso Kane
One of the darker ones in this antho; not for me.
Content note: violence
Saving Tobias by Jeff Mann
As above.
Content note: rape, mentions of suicide and homophobia
Mercy by Maria Duendi
Bittersweet, interesting worldbuilding.
Content note: terminal illness
We Sail By Night by Gustavo Bondoni
Competently written, a setting I haven't seen much in this genre, which was neat.
Content note: death, violence, non-con.
One Good Turn by Rhidian Brenig Jones
Starts out like an academic AU, and a well-observed one; very readable and uh, novel.
Permanent Position by Emily L Byrne
This flirts with consent issues in a very typical to vampire trope way but still worked for me; a well observed sex-positive lead and viewpoint from the POV character was nice, too.
Sleep Paralysis by Ella G Hoare
Going for a very different mood than the previous story; again with the dubious consent inherent in a lot of the trope; this wasn't for me but was competently executed.
For As Long as You Need Me by Delilah Night
This was a view on the vengeance trope that worked a lot better for me, and I liked the way that Sam was more aware of what was going on than he initially seemed.
Lawful Evil by Erin Horáková
This felt like a piece out of a longer story-it made some narrative leaps I didn't follow at first, but I'd probably read more of it.
Submission in Sevastopol by Jordan Monroe
This one was really good-there's a taste of vengeance narrative her but also some searingly honest pragmatism and a nuanced embrace of BDSM; well written and I was definitely team protagonist the whole way.
CW for violence/murder
Let Loose Your Longing by Iskra Ryder
My other favourite so far; really delighful f/f where the power dynamics are there and unmistakable, but also leavened with affection and trust and some hot sex.
Tapeworm Tongue by Jennifer Loring
Another that's more on the horror end of the spectrum. Definitely brings something new to the trope but not one for anyone shying away from horror/violence.
CW: violence against children and sex workers; murder.
Choices by Andra Dill
This one also felt like a snippet of a longer story but worked much better on its own; it felt complete as is and had sympathetic characters and a solid arc.
The Prisoner by Bill Davidson
Definitely one on the creepier end of the spectrum; I won't say too much because of spoilers, but this was well observed and engaging, if occasionally distressing.
CW: violence/murder.
When Life Closes a Door by Mary Trepannier
This is another one I'd be interested in more of this same universe; a bit of a dark edge but in a way that worked with the characters and plot.
CW: violence, murder, dubious consent
Plays Well With Others by Cecilia Duvalle
Solid closing story with a bit of a bittersweet kick.
CW: terminal illness
[Star rating for anthologies: 3.5 but I round up in favour of the stories I liked more]
Miracle Monsters by Sara Dobie Bauer
Surprisingly sweet and hot m/m/f; the POV character and her husband meet and are infatuated with a handsome young man. He is Deaf, and as they're fluent in sign, they communicate easily. I particularly appreciated the layers of consent in this one.
Content note: the Deaf character is healed as a result of his connection with the vampires.
Fifty-Fifty by Kiki Delovely
I really enjoyed the POV character in this one-she felt very real and vivid and just like someone I could be friends with; it's very competently written although edges towards a Not For Me place. Full marks for the last line, that was well played.
Content note: character considers it consensual sex but is physically endangered by it and not in a position to freely fully consent.
The Married Woman by Calypso Kane
One of the darker ones in this antho; not for me.
Content note: violence
Saving Tobias by Jeff Mann
As above.
Content note: rape, mentions of suicide and homophobia
Mercy by Maria Duendi
Bittersweet, interesting worldbuilding.
Content note: terminal illness
We Sail By Night by Gustavo Bondoni
Competently written, a setting I haven't seen much in this genre, which was neat.
Content note: death, violence, non-con.
One Good Turn by Rhidian Brenig Jones
Starts out like an academic AU, and a well-observed one; very readable and uh, novel.
Permanent Position by Emily L Byrne
This flirts with consent issues in a very typical to vampire trope way but still worked for me; a well observed sex-positive lead and viewpoint from the POV character was nice, too.
Sleep Paralysis by Ella G Hoare
Going for a very different mood than the previous story; again with the dubious consent inherent in a lot of the trope; this wasn't for me but was competently executed.
For As Long as You Need Me by Delilah Night
This was a view on the vengeance trope that worked a lot better for me, and I liked the way that Sam was more aware of what was going on than he initially seemed.
Lawful Evil by Erin Horáková
This felt like a piece out of a longer story-it made some narrative leaps I didn't follow at first, but I'd probably read more of it.
Submission in Sevastopol by Jordan Monroe
This one was really good-there's a taste of vengeance narrative her but also some searingly honest pragmatism and a nuanced embrace of BDSM; well written and I was definitely team protagonist the whole way.
CW for violence/murder
Let Loose Your Longing by Iskra Ryder
My other favourite so far; really delighful f/f where the power dynamics are there and unmistakable, but also leavened with affection and trust and some hot sex.
Tapeworm Tongue by Jennifer Loring
Another that's more on the horror end of the spectrum. Definitely brings something new to the trope but not one for anyone shying away from horror/violence.
CW: violence against children and sex workers; murder.
Choices by Andra Dill
This one also felt like a snippet of a longer story but worked much better on its own; it felt complete as is and had sympathetic characters and a solid arc.
The Prisoner by Bill Davidson
Definitely one on the creepier end of the spectrum; I won't say too much because of spoilers, but this was well observed and engaging, if occasionally distressing.
CW: violence/murder.
When Life Closes a Door by Mary Trepannier
This is another one I'd be interested in more of this same universe; a bit of a dark edge but in a way that worked with the characters and plot.
CW: violence, murder, dubious consent
Plays Well With Others by Cecilia Duvalle
Solid closing story with a bit of a bittersweet kick.
CW: terminal illness
[Star rating for anthologies: 3.5 but I round up in favour of the stories I liked more]
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