Wild Card (2014) Lisa Shearin This short story is an introduction to Lisa Shearin’s Raine Benares series. I fully admit that despite being elves and goblins and not set in this world, I like it. Probably because it was a PI story, so the world building gets to take second place to the mystery. But […]
How to Catch a Wild Viscount (2009) Tessa Dare This story is currently free, and for that price it wasn’t a bad story. But I can’t say it was my thing, either. Cecily Hale has been in love with Luke for years, but after Luke came back from war, he’s a changed man who seemingly […]
The Paris Plot (2014) Teresa Grant I actually read this back in August, but had forgotten to review it. Set in Paris, in 1816, this novella finds Malcolm and Suzanne Rannoch awaiting the birth of their second child. However, events from the past have come back to haunt them, when a thrown rock with the […]
Jane Yellowrock World Companion (2013) Faith Hunter I have conflicted feelings about this. The co-author put a lot of work into the time-line and weapons list and such. And it’s a great reference if you’re not familiar with Jane’s world. But it’s not something to sit down and read. There are three stories: two short […]
Cat Tales: Four Stories from the World of Jane Yellowrock (2011) Faith Hunter These are four Jane stories, two from Jane’s point-of-view and two from Rick’s point-of-view. The Early Years Cat Tats Kits Blood, Fangs, and Going Furry “The Early Years” is set right after Jane ages out of the children’s home. We get a […]
Have Stakes Will Travel: Stories From the World of Jane Yellowrock (2012) Faith Hunter This is a collection of Jane Yellowrock short stories, some of which were published elsewhere, but I love short story collections, so I sprung for this, and two other collections. The stories are: WeSa and the Lumber King Haints Signatures of […]
Impulse Control (2011) Susan Bischoff This is an introduction to Susan Bischoff’s Talent Chronicles series. It’s a self-contained story that gets you into the writing and the world, but is quite separate from the books (at least for now). I’m a fan of short stories, and this one is very well done: it has world […]
The InCryptid Short Stories: Jonathan Healy and Frances Brown (2013/2014) Seanan McGuire Having read the latest InCryptid book, I realized I had downloaded a bunch of InCryptid short stories, but not gotten around to reading them. Since I didn’t feel like starting a new book, I blew through them all. As of right now, all […]
The Monarch of the Glen (2004) Neil Gaiman The Monarch of the Glen appeared first in Legends II (2004) edited by Robert Silverberg, and then in Gaiman’s own short story collection Fragile Things. It is the story of Shadow, as he is wandering the world following the events in American Gods. Shadow (and we learn […]
The Kate Daniels short stories and novellas, by Ilona Andrews I decided I need to read all the Kate Daniels short stories and novellas (even the ones that don’t directly have Kate in them). “A Questionable Client” originally published in Dark and Stormy Knights (2010) This is story of how Kate came to meet […]
Scarlet Sails (2013) TS Rhodes This is a short story–a prologue to a series, featuring a female pirate captain. So I had to check it out. It’s 1717. Scarlet McGrath is a pirate–captain of her own ship. And she has a problem–they’re low on grog. It’s a short story, and I’d be very curious to […]
Don’t Go Chasing Waterfalls (2013) Elliot James Another John Charming story, this occurs after Charmed I’m Sure and references that story. I think I figured out the problem I have with these short stories. They all being with a flash forward, or whatever the hell you call it. It’s not a bad technique in and […]
DOG-GONE (2013) Elliott James This was an interesting story, and told me a little more about John Charming, the world he lives in, and his magical/mystical talents. But I also found it rather confusing in parts, especially the beginning where the POV switches around. I had to go back and reread a couple times before […]
Charmed I’m Sure (2013) Elliott James I love short stories–they’re like catnip to me. And short stories that introduce a character or author’s writing before I have to buy the book are even better (I’ve gotten better about not finishing books I dislike, but I hate having spent money on terrible books, especially if I […]
A Plague of Zombies (2012) Diana Gabaldon This was originally published in the anthology Down These Strange Streets, and is the story that made me look for other Lord John stories. Lord John (now Lieutenant-Colonel Grey) is sent to Jamaica to look into the unrest there. The governor had requested the military after a rebellion […]
Desperate Measures (2011) Candice Hern Lydia Bettridge is in love with a gentleman who seems not the slightest bit interested in her. So her brother and his best friend, Philip Hartwell, cook up a plan to make this gentleman jealous. Unfortunately for Lydia, not knowing who the gentleman in question is her brother and Philip […]
The Kidnapping (2010) Charles Todd This is a single short story, and three excerpts, which I sort of found annoying, although I have to admit, that as far as excerpts go, they were interesting. The Kidnapping is a very brief story that finds Ian Rutledge drug into a kidnapping case, when a wild-eyed and disheveled […]
The Strange Case of Finley Jayne (2011) Kady Cross Finley Jane has just been throw out of her most recent position. After seeing the governess in the house slap one of her charges, Finley retaliates with a punch that quite literally knocks out the woman’s teeth. With trepidation, she returns home–to the bookstore her mother […]
Companions to the Moon (2007) Charles de Lint This is a short story that’s not connected to Newford–just the story of a woman who thinks her boyfriend is cheating on her, and what she discovers. Of course, this is Charles de Lint, so you never expect what she discovers. Charles de Lint never fails to […]
In Sea-Salt Tears (2012) Seanan McGuire The Luidaeg has been a complicated character throughout the October Daye series. This story gives us a glimpse of the relationship between the Selkie and The Luidaeg. The only way a selkie can become a true fey is to inherit one. But there aren’t many skins, so most selkie […]
Any Taint of Vice (2012) Dana Stabenow A Kate Shugak short story for 99¢? Yes please! Kate receives a call to come to Anchorage and find a general’s son and destroy the incriminating pictures. And not in the order. It’s a nice short story, and shows a peek at how Kate keeps Mutt in kibble. […]
Dragon in the System (2007) Cindy Spenser Pape So, another boinking book by Cindy Spencer Paper. Again, I didn’t buy it for the boinking, but because I enjoy her world building, and because it was $1.49. Lori is a herpetologist (really! how awesome that the heroine loves lizards!) who has a broken engagement behind her, […]
Angel Killer: A True Story of Cannibalism, Crime Fighting, and Insanity in New York City (2012) Deborah Blum If you’re looking for a light happy story–this is not the correct place to look. This is a true crime history of a man who kidnapped, tortured–and in some cases–at children. That’s now why I read this. […]
Hunting Kat (2012) Kelley Armstrong This is a short story that’s part of her existing series. Although this is a self-contained short story, it’s far more a teaser/trailer for other works rather than a story that stands completely on its own. Kat is kidnapped by people wanting to return her to an evil consortium that […]
The Custom of the Army (2012) Diana Gabaldon This is a Lord John novella. During an electric eel party, Lord John ends up in a duel (he’s not entirely sure how). When he opponent dies, Lord John is sent by his commander (also his brother) to Canada, where his presence is requested as a character […]
Bubba Ho-Tep (2012) Joe R. Lansdale Amusing, and well done, but not particularly my cup of tea. Published by Gere Donovan Press
The Heavenly Fox (2011) Richard Parks A fox who reaches the age of fifty gains the ability to transform into a human woman. A fox who reaches the age of one hundred can transform into either a beautiful young girl or a handsome young man at will and can sense the world around them to […]
Return (2010) Peter S. Beagle Return takes us back to the world of The Innkeeper’s Song. Soukyan is still being chased by Hunters–trained assassins who have been after him since he escaped from that place–a place that seems to be a monastary, and where Soukyan had fled to as a child. Finally, Soukyan is tired […]
Magic Dreams (2011) Ilona Andrews Huh. This is a reread, but I can’t find my original review. Apparently, I didn’t read all the stories in the anthology this was originally in, and so I never wrote a review. So, this first appeared in the anthology, Hexed, which I have but seemingly only read one story […]
Bullets and Fire (2009) Joe R. Lansdale I swear I’ve read a story almost exactly like this before. Details I didn’t know, but I knew precisely where it was going. But part of the following quote was familiar: Dad told me once, that if people don’t care about where they live, the way they act, […]
A Dream of Stone and Shadow (2006) Marjorie M. Liu Charlie is a gargoyle, being held captive by a witch who enjoys taking advantage of some of his more… unusual properties. Emma is an abused child who Charlie’s spirit stumbles upon in its wanderings. Aggie is a member of Dirk & Steele who can catch […]
Strange Days in Old Yandrissa (2012) John R. Fultz This initially had the feel of a folktale, but then it swerved, went back to the folktale lane and then went all apocalyptic. I enjoyed the bits with the folktale feel, but the wanton destruction–just not my thing. Rating: 5/10 Published by Orbit
A Glass of Shadow (2011) Liz Williams Liz Williams writes stories that fall into a variety of genres at once: science fiction, fantasy, mystery. I read–and fell in love with–her Detective Inspector Chen series, and so buy her anthologies, hoping that means she’ll then be able to write more Chen stories. This volume is an […]
Of Swine and Roses (2011) Ilona Andrews Alena’s family is forcing her to go on a date with Chad Thurman, a thug, but a member of a family in a position to do Alena’s family a favor. Things go worse than anyone could have expected. This is a short story by Ilona Andrews–I have to […]
Brook Street: Thief (2012) Ava March Oh. Oh my. This is a boinking book. And I mean A BOINKING book. Guess that’s a major problem with Kindle books, is that when I “pick one up” to read, I don’t see the cover. I… I’m not quite sure what I was thinking when I got this […]
Kate Shugak Short Stories Dana Stabenow There are four short Kate Shugak stories originally published in different anthologies, but available for $0.99 from Amazon. Well worth reading, and it’s always good to support authors you enjoy. Conspiracy (2011) A brief history of the Grosdider brothers and how Something Was Done about them. Nooses Give (2011) […]
First Frost (2011) Jennifer Estep Gwen Frost has a Gypsy gift–when she touches things she learns about the people who held those items. In addition to that skill, she has a good dose of curiosity, that eventually shows her things she never wanted to learn. This is a short story, and an introduction to Touch […]
The Girl Who Ruled Fairyland–for a Little While (2011) Catherynne M. Valente Mallow is content to live with her cast iron ducks doing the occasional magic for those in need, but mostly she prefers to be left alone. But then the King of Fairy calls a for a Foul in the capital of Pandemonium and […]
A Clean Sweep With All the Trimmings (2011) James Alan Gardner Cleaners help clean things up. Sometimes that includes messes when wiseguys with green blood and black wires come in and shoot up Madame Rosa’s place. Cute. But then I’ve always been a sucker for noir. Rating: 7/10 Published by Tor
Rules for Virgins (2011) Amy Tan This is a short story by Amy Tan, set in Shanghai in 1912. Violet is a new courtesan and Magic Gourd is the older courtesan who is to both train Violet and prepare for for the life she has chosen. The story is comprised entirely of the advice that […]
Turned at Dark: A Bonus Shadow Falls Short Story (2011) C. C. Hunter Free story that’s an intro to the Shadow Falls series. It obviously worked, since I then got the first book, Born at Midnight. Della Tsang doesn’t believe in ghosts, but she has to wonder, when one night she sees her dead cousin. […]
Uncle Flower’s Homecoming Waltz (2012) Marissa K. Lingen This is the first of a spate of short stories I read. Because I like short stories. Zal is a century dreamer–she dreams far into the future, a skill that is quite rare, and one to which she is adjusting, as it only recently came upon her. […]
Ghost Hedgehog (2011) Nina Kiriki Hoffman Jack is in fifth grade and can see ghosts. Unfortunately for him, when his fifth-grade teacher dies, he discovers that ghosts can also see him, and attach themselves to him. I love Nina Kiriki Hoffman’s writing and stories. I love even better that eBooks can make these stories available […]
The Crazy Old Lady in the Attic (2011) Kathleen Valentine Mattie’s grandmother has died. As Mattie and her husband pack up the brownstone in Boston to sell, Mattie begins to discover that all was not right in the world in which she grew up. This was an interesting short story. It’s labelled as horror, but […]
Cat Tales: Four Stories from the World of Jane Yellowrock (2011) Faith Hunter These are (as the title suggests) four stories in Jane Yellowrock’s world.Three of the four stories feature Jane–the is Rick’s story of how he got his tats and came to work for the vampires. The first story, “The Early Years” is very […]
The Fearless Mrs. Goodwin (2011) Elizabeth Mitchell This had the potential to be a fabulous story: Mrs Goodwin was the first woman to become an official New York City police detective. She worked undercover helping to take down not just fake spiritualists and others who preyed on women, but also dangerous criminals. Instead, the writing […]
Silent Blade (2009) Ilona Andrews Meli is an assassin who has inherited gifts from her family that make her an excellent assassin. However, after years of killing for her family, she has decided to retire. And she enjoys her retirement until her family asks her for one last death–the death of the very man who […]
Nightside (1989) Mercedes Lackey Diana Tregarde and Andre are investigating a terrible something that is eating the souls of it’s victims. Another disappointment. Rating: 5/10
Satanic, Versus (1990) Mercedes Lackey As with the previous Diana Tregarde short story I got, it was ultimately disappointing. Diana and Andre go to a romance convention masquerade and trouble happens. I think that the root of the story would have been interesting if it hadn’t been wrapped in the romance convention package. That simply […]
Killer Byte: A Diana Tregarde Short Story (1994) Mercedes Lackey A really long time ago–a lifetime ago it sometimes feels like–I read the Diana Tregarde books. And was quite disappointed when Mercedes Lackey stopped writing them. But as I didn’t have ready access to MZB’s Fantasy Magazine, I missed all the short stories. So when […]