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A review by andimontgomery
Unfettered II by Shawn Speakman
3.0
My husband and I listened to this short story collection on audio during several short road trips. Different narrators are used for each story, and most are excellent. Even though many stories occur within series, we were still able to enjoy them without knowing many of the backstories. We enjoyed a few of the books, but not all.
Castle Coeurlieu by Naomi Novik - B - This story grabbed me from the beginning. The ending just seemed a bit abrupt.
A Slow Kill by Peter Orullian - A - This was an excellent story of a righteous assassin - our favorite in the collection.
And Men Will Mine the Mountain for Our Souls by Seanan McGuire - F I didn’t enjoy this story of two dragons preparing for their end. The idiotic gender swap (i.e., the prince was female, and princess was male) really turned me off.
Day One by Jim Butcher - B+ - I liked this story, and especially new Knight of the Cross, Butters. It made me pick up the Dresden Files series again.
Brightwine in the Garden of Tsitsian Village by Bradley P. Beaulieu - B+ My husband enjoyed this more than I did, since I initially had a hard time getting engaged in the story and characters. But once I got engaged, I was hooked.
Aokigahara by John A. Pitts - C - This was short and just ok.
The Decoy by Janny Wurts - B- - Whenever I see Janny Wurts’s name, I think of one of my favorite fantasy series, The Empire Trilogy, co-written with Raymond Feist. Sadly, this one didn’t didn’t grab me as much as I hoped.
The King’s Despatcher by David Farland - B - We really enjoyed this prequel to the Runelords series.
Figures by Rachel Caine - F - This extremely short story was awkward, silly, and filled with profanity.
The Red-Rimmed Eyes of Tóu Mǎ by Aidan Moher - C - This was slow to start for us, and just ok.
Magic Beans by Django Wexler - A- - We really enjoyed this often humorous story featuring magic beans and a coffee maker that combines otherworldly transport with sex.
The Hedgewitch by Sarah Beth Durst - B - This was a short story set in the Renthia realm. I’m not a fan of that series, but this was pretty good.
Victim with a Capital V by Scott Sigler - F - Neither my husband nor I enjoyed this story, so we skipped to the next one.
A Duel of Evils by Anthony Ryan - D - I’ve read and enjoyed a couple of Anthony Ryan’s series, but I just couldn’t connect with this one.
The Raven by Erin Lindsey - B - This was an engaging story of two brothers, one who is king, and one who is his advisor. I wasn’t a fan of the large time jumps telling of their childhood, but I did enjoy the brothers’ connection and the story.
Bulletproof by Mark Lawrence - C - This story was a bit choppy for me. It features a boy who cares for his addicted mother, who later meets a gunslinger who comes to his town for a competition.
The Gunnie by Charlaine Harris - C - I’ve read “The Gunnie,” Charlaine Harris’s first book in the series. This one is ok, but the writing, characters, or plot just didn’t grab me (similar to the full-length novel).
Little Wren and the Big Forest by Michael J. Sullivan - Didn’t finish - I couldn’t maintain interest in this story.
The Thrill by Brandon Sanderson - Didn’t finish - I couldn’t maintain interest in this story.
The Last Flowers of the Spring Witch by Shawn Speakman - B
Castle Coeurlieu by Naomi Novik - B - This story grabbed me from the beginning. The ending just seemed a bit abrupt.
A Slow Kill by Peter Orullian - A - This was an excellent story of a righteous assassin - our favorite in the collection.
And Men Will Mine the Mountain for Our Souls by Seanan McGuire - F I didn’t enjoy this story of two dragons preparing for their end. The idiotic gender swap (i.e., the prince was female, and princess was male) really turned me off.
Day One by Jim Butcher - B+ - I liked this story, and especially new Knight of the Cross, Butters. It made me pick up the Dresden Files series again.
Brightwine in the Garden of Tsitsian Village by Bradley P. Beaulieu - B+ My husband enjoyed this more than I did, since I initially had a hard time getting engaged in the story and characters. But once I got engaged, I was hooked.
Aokigahara by John A. Pitts - C - This was short and just ok.
The Decoy by Janny Wurts - B- - Whenever I see Janny Wurts’s name, I think of one of my favorite fantasy series, The Empire Trilogy, co-written with Raymond Feist. Sadly, this one didn’t didn’t grab me as much as I hoped.
The King’s Despatcher by David Farland - B - We really enjoyed this prequel to the Runelords series.
Figures by Rachel Caine - F - This extremely short story was awkward, silly, and filled with profanity.
The Red-Rimmed Eyes of Tóu Mǎ by Aidan Moher - C - This was slow to start for us, and just ok.
Magic Beans by Django Wexler - A- - We really enjoyed this often humorous story featuring magic beans and a coffee maker that combines otherworldly transport with sex.
The Hedgewitch by Sarah Beth Durst - B - This was a short story set in the Renthia realm. I’m not a fan of that series, but this was pretty good.
Victim with a Capital V by Scott Sigler - F - Neither my husband nor I enjoyed this story, so we skipped to the next one.
A Duel of Evils by Anthony Ryan - D - I’ve read and enjoyed a couple of Anthony Ryan’s series, but I just couldn’t connect with this one.
The Raven by Erin Lindsey - B - This was an engaging story of two brothers, one who is king, and one who is his advisor. I wasn’t a fan of the large time jumps telling of their childhood, but I did enjoy the brothers’ connection and the story.
Bulletproof by Mark Lawrence - C - This story was a bit choppy for me. It features a boy who cares for his addicted mother, who later meets a gunslinger who comes to his town for a competition.
The Gunnie by Charlaine Harris - C - I’ve read “The Gunnie,” Charlaine Harris’s first book in the series. This one is ok, but the writing, characters, or plot just didn’t grab me (similar to the full-length novel).
Little Wren and the Big Forest by Michael J. Sullivan - Didn’t finish - I couldn’t maintain interest in this story.
The Thrill by Brandon Sanderson - Didn’t finish - I couldn’t maintain interest in this story.
The Last Flowers of the Spring Witch by Shawn Speakman - B