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A review by deearr
Hear Me Roar by Amanda Kespohl, Kevin Cockle, Candas Jane Dorsey, Krista D. Ball, Blake Jessop, Rhonda Parrish, Damascus Mincemeyer, Stephanie Lorée, Megan Engelhardt, Gwen C. Katz, M.L.D. Curelas, Aurora B. C. Donev, Laura VanArendonk Baugh, Jennifer R. Donohue, Jennifer Lee Rossman, Joseph Halden, JB Riley
5.0
That incredibly loud guttural sound is a dragon, the main focus of another interesting compilation from editor Rhonda Parrish. If you’ve read any of her previous collections, you already sense these beasts are not going to be your run-of-the-mill, knights-in-shining-armor types of dragons. Those tired creations have been left at the door. Only the odd, the quirky, the never thought of before are gathered here.
Sixteen tales are presented, and even those featuring dragons that at first glance appear to be recognizable still have a unique twist that separates them from the past. While everyone’s tastes are different, these are a few of the stories that stood out for me:
Krista D. Ball’s “For the Glory of Gold” uses the age-old dragon thirst for riches as a background, mixing in a generous helping of the desire for revenge. “Light Chaser, Dark Hunter” is one of the most inventive tales, as Joseph Halden mixes in the clash of two cultures with its unexpected dragons. Laura Vanarendonk Baugh mixes science with fantasy in “Red in Tooth and Maw,” presenting a problem, a time limit, and the danger that comes when pioneers pursue something new.
My favorite? With this many offerings, I couldn’t decide between two of them. “Blacktooth 500” by Gwen C. Katz takes us on a wild ride, detailing an Iditarod-type race with teams of humans and dragons. For sheer brashness and just good old fun, I have to include with Damascus Mincemeyer’s story (coincidentally, the one featuring the longest title in the book), “Father Christmas, Mother Hubbard, The Dragon (and Other Selected Scenes from the End of the World).” The title alone should give you a good indication of where Mr. Mincemeyer is going to take us.
Overall, a very enjoyable read. The mixture of styles from the various authors kept the book interesting throughout. Five stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and Poise and Pen for a complimentary electronic copy of this title.
Sixteen tales are presented, and even those featuring dragons that at first glance appear to be recognizable still have a unique twist that separates them from the past. While everyone’s tastes are different, these are a few of the stories that stood out for me:
Krista D. Ball’s “For the Glory of Gold” uses the age-old dragon thirst for riches as a background, mixing in a generous helping of the desire for revenge. “Light Chaser, Dark Hunter” is one of the most inventive tales, as Joseph Halden mixes in the clash of two cultures with its unexpected dragons. Laura Vanarendonk Baugh mixes science with fantasy in “Red in Tooth and Maw,” presenting a problem, a time limit, and the danger that comes when pioneers pursue something new.
My favorite? With this many offerings, I couldn’t decide between two of them. “Blacktooth 500” by Gwen C. Katz takes us on a wild ride, detailing an Iditarod-type race with teams of humans and dragons. For sheer brashness and just good old fun, I have to include with Damascus Mincemeyer’s story (coincidentally, the one featuring the longest title in the book), “Father Christmas, Mother Hubbard, The Dragon (and Other Selected Scenes from the End of the World).” The title alone should give you a good indication of where Mr. Mincemeyer is going to take us.
Overall, a very enjoyable read. The mixture of styles from the various authors kept the book interesting throughout. Five stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and Poise and Pen for a complimentary electronic copy of this title.