Strange Brew

Strange Brew (2009) edited by P.N. Elrod

This is a re-read, and as such, I skipped the stories I didn’t like or wasn’t in the mood for.

Seeing Eye by Patricia Briggs
Last Call by Jim Butcher
Death Warmed Over by Rachel Caine
Vegas Odds by Karen Chance
Hecate’s Golden Eye by P.N. Elrod
Bacon by Charlaine Harris
Signatures of the Dead by Faith Hunter
Ginger: A Nocturne City Story by Caitlin Kittredge
Dark Sins by Jenna Maclaine

Seeing Eye by Patricia Briggs was the reason I picked up the anthology to re-read. I love Patricia Briggs’ short stories. This story does not have any of her usual characters, but is set in her existing world where werewolves and witches are real. Moira is a witch who is looking for revenge. Tom has been sent to her because his brother has been taken by the person upon whom Moira has sworn vengeance. I liked both Moira and Tom, and quite enjoyed this story, but then I can’t think of one of Patricia Briggs’ short stories that hasn’t been excellent.

Last Call by Jim Butcher was skipped, because after the series went in a direction I didn’t enjoy, I stopped taking as much enjoyment in the Harry Dresden short stories.

Death Warmed Over by Rachel Caine involves two characters I’ve come across in other stories, and this is how they came to work together. It was… fine.

Vegas Odds by Karen Chance was a story I skimmed through, because I generally don’t care for her short stories, feeling like I’m missing something because I haven’t read the series. This felt the same way.

Hecate’s Golden Eye by P.N. Elrod is a Jack Fleming story, and I enjoyed the re-read. I love the character and the time period. Charles is hired to help a woman retrieve her inheritance–which has been stolen by her cousin–the jewel Hectate’s Golden Eye.

Bacon by Charlaine Harris is another story I skimmed, although Charlaine generally writes short stories I like, I got so sick of the Sookie Stackhouse series that I have a hard time reading anything set in her world. This story involves Dahlia, whose stories I generally liked, but this one felt cliched.

Signatures of the Dead by Faith Hunter is the story that got me interested in reading Faith Hunter’s Jane Yellowrock series. Faith Hunter also is good at writing short stories, and this was a perfect introduction to Jane–especially since the story is written from the point of view of her best friend, the witch Molly.

Ginger: A Nocturne City Story by Caitlin Kittredge I completely skipped this. I just cannot get into Caitlin Kittredge’s short stories. They all feel like I’m mising huge chunks.

Dark Sins by Jenna Maclaine was interesting, and although it did feel like I was missing quite a bit, she did a decent job filling in the cracks to keep me from feeling completely lost.

I love anthologies, but I wish that more collections were edited for quality short stories, rather than to get as many names on the cover–regardless of whether those authors are good at writing short stories and novellas.
Rating: 7/10

Published by St. Martin’s Griffin

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