Tag: anthology

All Signs Point To Yes, A YA #Anthology #romance #bookreview

On By Teri PolenIn Book Reviews23 Comments

A literal star-studded anthology that delivers a love story for every star sign straight from the hearts of thirteen multicultural YA authors.

A haunted Aquarius finds love behind the veil. An ambitious Aries will do anything to stay in the spotlight. A foodie Taurus discovers the best eats in town (with a side of romance). A witchy Cancer stumbles into a curious meet-cute.

Whether it’s romantic, platonic, familial, or something else you can’t quite define, love is the thing that connects us. All Signs Point to Yes will take you on a journey from your own backyard to the world beyond the living as it settles us among the stars for thirteen stories of love and life.

These stories will touch your heart, speak to your soul, and have you reaching for your horoscope forevermore.

Contributors:

g. haron davis (Aries)
Adrianne White (Aquarius)
Cam Montgomery (Ophiuchus)
Tehlor Kay Mejia (Gemini)
Mark Oshiro (Libra)
Eric Smith (Scorpio)
Emery Lee (Pisces)
Byron Graves (Virgo)
Karuna Riazi (Cancer)
Roselle Lim (Taurus)
Alexandra Villasante (Capricorn)
Lily Anderson (Sagittarius)
Kiana Nguyen (Leo)

In middle school, my best friend and I discovered astrology and immediately became obsessed. We spent hours studying how our signs related to others – especially those of guys we had crushes on. When I saw this anthology featured zodiac signs, it made me want to revisit the past.

With such a variety of stories – magical realism, contemporary, supernatural, etc., – there are offerings for every reader. The beginning of each chapter gives a description of a zodiac sign (even the thirteenth sign, Ophiuchus is included), and it was fun to see how accurately they described me, my family, and friends (hubby said it nailed mine). I was overjoyed with the diversity of characters, cultures, and types of love (meet cutes, romantic, aromantic, and familial) featured and can’t say I’ve come across another anthology quite like this.

I’d like to give a shoutout to my favorites:

Taurus – The Taste of a Kiss by Roselle Lim – Loved the MC’s voice, and the food descriptions made me want to hunt down a food truck that sells Korean fried chicken. A sweet friends to lovers story.

Scorpio – The South Street Challenge by Eric Smith – I’m a fan of this author’s books, so I had high expectations for this story. I wasn’t disappointed. A bittersweet last night spent with friends before moving across country for college that comes with a welcome surprise.

Pisces – The Cure For Heartbreak by Emery Lee – A guy looking for a cure to heartbreak in a magic store discovers maybe it’s the person behind the counter and not a spell that’s the solution.

Virgo – Sometimes in September by Byron Graves – With a little bit of insta-love, these two characters in a rehab facility immediately connect. The ending is perfect and hopeful.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Dark Stars Edited by John F.D. Taff #bookreview #anthology #horror

On By Teri PolenIn Book Reviews14 Comments

Created as an homage to the 1980 classic horror anthology, Dark Forces, edited by Kirby McCauley, this collection contains 12 original novelettes showcasing today’s top horror talent. Dark Stars features all-new stories from award-winning authors and up-and-coming voices like Stephen Graham Jones, Priya Sharma, Usman T. Malik, Caroline Kepnes, and Alma Katsu, with seasoned author John F.D. Taff at the helm. An afterword from original Dark Forces contributor Ramsey Campbell is a poignant finale to this bone-chilling collection.

Within these pages you’ll find tales of dead men walking, an insidious secret summer fling, an island harboring unspeakable power, and a dark hallway that beckons. You’ll encounter terrible monsters—both human and supernatural—and be forever changed. The stories in Dark Stars run the gamut from traditional to modern, from dark fantasy to neo-noir, from explorations of beloved horror tropes to the unknown—possibly unknowable—threats.

It’s all in here because it’s all out there, now, in horror.

I was so excited to see this anthology – I’m a fan of several of the featured authors. Having their short stories bundled together was such a treat.

As with any collection, I liked some of these stories better than others. My favorites included the following: All the Things He Called Memories by Stephen Graham Jones. This is a horror story set during Covid when a couple are quarantined together. It has a creepy, slow madness that gradually seeps into your bones.

The Familiar’s Assistant by Alma Katsu – I’m always a vampire fan, but this was more about the new familiar (as it’s adequately titled) and his relationship with the current familiar. Let’s just say he has aspirations.

Mrs. Addison’s Nest by Josh Malerman – The line between dreams, reality, and the past are blurred as four friends try to determine the difference. I enjoyed the nod to Christopher Nolan’s Memento.

I admit some of the stories I didn’t get. They were confusing or ended abruptly, and I shrugged and moved on to the next one. Maybe they were just over my head.

This is an eclectic mix of horror and thriller authors that is sure to appeal to fans of those genres. I settled in with some favorites as well as discovered some new ones.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Battle of the Bands – an #Anthology of YA Authors #bookreview #music #contemporary #TuesdayBookBlog

On By Teri PolenIn Book Reviews25 Comments

Fifteen young adult authors and one real-life rock star band together for one epic—and interconnected—take on a memorable high school rite of passage.

A daughter of rock ’n’ roll royalty has a secret crush. A lonely ticket taker worries about his sister. An almost-famous songwriter nurses old wounds. A stage manager tires of being behind the scenes. A singer-songwriter struggles to untangle her feelings for her best friend and his girlfriend. In this live-out-loud anthology, the disparate protagonists of sixteen stories are thrown together for one unforgettable event: their high school’s battle of the bands. Told in a harmonic blend of first- and third-person narrative voices, roughly chronological short stories offer a kaleidoscopic view of the same transformative night. Featuring an entry from Justin Courtney Pierre, lead vocalist of Motion City Soundtrack, Battle of the Bands is a celebration of youth, music, and meeting the challenges of life head-on. 

As a devoted music fan and someone who was briefly in a band in high school, there’s no way I could pass up requesting Battle of the Bands. It’s been on my radar for quite a while.

This book was so much fun. If there had been a Battle of the Bands when I was in high school, you can bet I would have been there. Fifteen amazing YA authors contributed to this anthology, but the overall feeling is one cohesive story. Some characters make brief appearances or are casually mentioned in other stories. I can’t imagine the level of coordination and organization that went into this. At the beginning of the book is a list of the participating bands and their members – something that was very helpful. Some of the creative and unusual band names and their songs sure put a smile on my face.

Most of the narratives are about finding love, but stories of revenge, self-realization, sibling disputes, finding your people, and a heartwarming coming out are also included. The character diversity is outstanding, and one of my favorite aspects of this anthology. Being high school students, a lot is going on with these teens, and not every disagreement or doubt is left behind once they take the stage. You can feel the vibe of excitement over the event from every musician and the enthusiastic audience and the determination of each band to win. I had my favorites and couldn’t wait to see who took the prize at the end. Not every story is about the musicians. Some feature the students who work behind the scenes at merch tables, on tech/lighting crews, and the stage manager. Even being short stories, it was so easy to get invested in these characters and their lives.

As with all anthologies, readers will enjoy some selections more than others, but this is a pretty quick read. I had a difficult time putting it down after finishing a story, and I’m thrilled someone finally put together a book like this.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Nightmareland (Horror Anthology) #bookreview #horror #shortstories #TuesdayBookBlog

On By Teri PolenIn Book Reviews13 Comments

From the creators of the #1 bestseller The Box Under The Bed horror anthology and its #1 bestseller sequel Dark Visions, comes Nightmareland
A horror anthology with 23 stories from 14 authors.
A high school girl with something to prove to herself and possibly to her parents, goes to a rundown shack deep in the woods to try a new drug that will give her the worst nightmares of her young life. A “Nightmareland” injection opens a person’s biggest fears to them – and then you are on your own for however long it lasts. Tag along as she becomes a lost child on a Florida party island, an investigator looking into a circus’ bizarre side shows, an abused prisoner, and much more.

Compiled by USA Today bestselling author Dan Alatorre, this anthology of horror once again unites the minds and pens of more than a dozen amazing authors.

Nightmareland will send you into the foggy twilight of the eerie and macabre, with heart stopping stories from:
USA Today bestselling author Dan Alatorre (The Navigators),
award-winning bestselling author Robbie Cheadle
award-winning bestselling author Ellen Best
award-winning author Kaye Booth
award-winning bestselling author Betty Valentine
award-winning bestselling author Alana Turner
award-winning bestselling author Christine Valentor
award-winning bestselling author Nick Vossen
award-winning bestselling author Alana Turner
award-winning bestselling author Victoria Clapton
award-winning bestselling author AM Andrus
award-winning bestselling author Adele Marie Park
award-winning bestselling author Barbara Anne Helberg
award-winning bestselling author MD Walker
award-winning bestselling author Farmer
award-winning bestselling author Marjorie Mallon

Perfect for Halloween or any time, these stories will make you think twice before spending the night alone, watching TV with family, or even going on a casual boat ride.

I received this ARC back in October, and it’s taken me this long to get to it.  It would have been perfect for Halloween, but I’ll read tales of horror any time of the year.

Finishing the first story by Dan Alatorre, I was left hanging.  After all the buildup, I needed to know what happened next!  And he answered my questions with the last story in the book.  Very clever.  And what an ending it was.

Robbie Cheadle, another author I’m familiar with, contributed three stories to the book.  While I enjoyed all of them, I think The Siren Witch was my favorite.  Boyscouts camping at a secluded location along the river – what could go wrong?  Lots of things.  Like opening a Pandora’s Box.

As with any anthology, some tales are more polished than others, and a couple left me scratching my head, but that’s to be expected with a group of authors possessing varying writing styles.  Anthologies are perfect for giving readers an opportunity to discover new authors.  Kudos to the cover designer – it’s creepy, eerie, and brilliant.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from one of the authors.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

 

Death Among Us: An Anthology of #MurderMystery #ShortStories #TuesdayBookBlog

On By Teri PolenIn Book Reviews35 Comments

Who knew death could be so eclectic? Relish this mesmerizing murder mystery mash-up of short stories.

The stories include the 2019 SIA Award-Winning Murder Mystery Short Story ‘The Rose Slayer.’

Murder and mystery have been the staple of literature and films for years. This anthology of short stories will thrill and entertain you. Some will also make you laugh out loud. Others will stop and make you think.

Think of this murder mystery short story anthology as a book version of appetizers or starters, hors d’oeuvre, meze, or antipasti. It can be read as fillers between books or, as is the case in some countries, as a bookish meze – in its own right.

These stories come from an international cast of authors; some with bestselling books, others are emerging or new talents. Their roots, cultures, and life experiences are as diverse as their writing styles.

But one thing binds them together: they know how to tell a story.

There’s murder mystery styles and locations to suit all tastes: detective fiction, serial killers, scifi, histfic, LA, England, The Great Lakes, Las Vegas, the Nevada desert and more in an exquisite exposition of the art of short story telling.

The ten authors who have contributed to the anthology are:

Stephen Bentley
Greg Alldredge
Kelly Artieri
Robbie Cheadle
Michael Spinelli
L. Lee Kane
Kay Castaneda
Aly Locatelli
Justin Bauer
& ‘G’ Posthumously

Each author introduces his or her stories and the theme that lies behind them.By the time you finish the book, you will agree the result is a mesmerizing murder mystery mash-up.

Something I enjoyed about this anthology is the variety.  Yes, the theme is murder, but the stories span different sub-genres – straight up suspense, sci-fi, horror, and historical fiction – basically a smorgasbord of death for murder mystery fans.

My favorite stories include the following:

Justice is Never Served by Robbie Cheadle – Heart-wrenching, but with supernatural overtones, and based on a fictionalized account of occurrences in Victorian England.

Monitaur by Michael Spinelli – Because I’m such a horror fan, this one stuck out for me.  Strange occurrences overheard and seen over a baby monitor.  A chilling tale sure to give you goosebumps.

The Neighbours by Aly Locatelli – Locatelli is a new author, but her story is that of a seasoned writer.  I predicted the ending, but knowing it didn’t detract from this a well-written tale.

Death Among Us is a compelling collection of stories sure to appeal to mystery fans and will keep them reading hours past their bedtime.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from one of the authors.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

 

Dark Visions: an anthology of 34 horror stories #bookreview #horror #TuesdayBookBlog

On By Teri PolenIn Book Reviews32 Comments

From the creators of the #1 bestseller The Box Under The Bed horror anthology comes Dark Visions, 34 horror stories from 27 authors. Tag along on a con man’s New Orleans vacation where he gets more than he bargained for from a mysterious voodoo shop. A collection of family photos reveals an eerie secret about a beloved grandmother’s true nature. A child’s horrifying memories haunt her into adulthood. A new camp counselor learns that the camp has secrets she might not live to reveal. Edited and compiled by Amazon bestselling author Dan Alatorre, this anthology of horror brings together the minds and pens of more than two dozen amazing authors. Dark Visions will take you into the realm of the eerie and macabre, with thrills and chills from: bestselling author Dan Alatorre (The Navigators) bestselling author Jenifer Ruff (Everett), bestselling author Allison Maruska (The Fourth Descendant), bestselling author J. A. Allen, award-winning author MD Walker, award-winning author Juliet Nubel, award-winning author Dabney Farmer, award-winning author Sharon E. Cathcart, award-winning author Heather Kindt, award-winning author Bonnie Lyons, award-winning author Sharon Connell, award-winning author Geoff LePard, award-winning author Anne Marie Andrus, award-winning author Christine Valentor, award-winning author BA Helberg, Ernesto San Giacomo, Alana Turner, Nick Vossen, award-winning author Robbie Cheadle, Betty Valentine, award-winning author Frank Parker, award-winning author Bonnie Lyons, award-winning author Lori Micken, Chuck Jackson, Ellen Best, Victoria Clapton, Perfect for Halloween or any time, these stories will make you think twice before spending the night alone, planting a tree in your garden, or even visiting your mother. Consider yourselves warned. 

If you’re looking for quick reads to enjoy during a break in your day, Dark Visions offers some eerie, creepy, and unsettling short stories that are perfect for this time of year.  Although I can’t review each individually, I’ll mention those I was still thinking about days after finishing.

If you’re a parent, The Storm by J.A. Allen will rip your heart out.  Pictures showing people who were absent when the picture was taken is disturbing and haunting – which is why The Stranger by Allison Maruska is a freaky little tale.  The Willow Tree by Robbie Cheadle is dark and twisted, but what makes it even more frightening is that it’s not entirely out of the realm of possibility.  It’s easy to imagine hearing about something like this in the news.

Dark Visions offers a nice variety of stories that may have you looking over your shoulder and double-checking the locks on your doors.

I received an ARC from one of the authors.

 

 

The Writer’s Reading Corner: Tracy A. Ball #indieauthor #amreading #paranormal

On By Teri PolenIn The Writer's Reading Corner9 Comments

Happy Easter weekend!  Hope you’re having more of a spring than we are – gloomy, rainy, and flood warnings all around.  Today’s guest is Tracy A. Ball who shares not just one, but two memorable books she read recently.  If you’re in the mood for a feel-good read, Tracy’s YA sweet romance fantasy, Dragonfly Dreams, is included in the charity anthology, Darklight and Daydreams, which provides aid to people in Puerto Rico.  Welcome, Tracy!

I had the privilege of reading two great books recently.  A Bench by Memory Lake, by John Vance and FAVA, by John Hazen. Anything written by with either man, is going to be worth the read.

A Bench by Memory Lane is a humorous, bittersweet story of responsibility and overcoming. It’s a celebration of friendship and navigating the hard choices. John Vance writes compassion and empathy in a way that few others can. Hot cocoa and a blanket, or a porch swing with a slight breeze; that’s a John Vance story.

FAVA is full of action, mystery, romance and intrigue! It’s a fast read because you can’t put it down. The concept is so attuned to the current state of our society, you might think Mr. Hazen has an inside scoop on a real political conspiracy. And, if that’s not delicious enough, Zyklon, the sequel is set to be released on June 7th. It’s not a ride you want to miss!

 

My latest story is novella entitled Dragonfly Dreams. YA sweet-romance fantasy. It’s an off the grid, opposites attract fairytale featuring a Dark Elve and and a Half-Fae.

One jump changed everything.

Shattered, Leaf fled to the last place she wanted to be—Ebony Narpole’s 

world…Ebony Narpole’s arms.

Leaf Harper was Ebony’s enemy; he made sure of it. Ebony could forget 

everybody and everything, but he could not forget why.

Dragonfly Dream part one is available now as part of a charity anthology (Darklight & Daydreams) to aid the people in Puerto Rico. The full story will be released in May.

Tracy’s Bio:

Novelist, Reviewer, Content Editor, Blogger, T-shirt Wearer, and Professional Snacker; Tracy A. Ball is a native Baltimorean and a veteran West Virginian whose family is blended from three cultures. She has opened her home to foster children, drug addicts, AIDS victims and anyone who needed an assist. She has an equal number of conservative and liberal friends. She knows people who have committed murder and people who have dined with the Pope. 

Which is why she writes sweet stories about tough love.

… and takes naps.

Her published works include: 

KAYOS: The Bad & The Worse

Amazon

The Tiger & The Snake: A Before KAYOS Tale (Free Download)

Amazon

The Right Way To Be Wrong 

Amazon

Darklight and Daydreams

Amazon

Civil Warriors (2nd edition coming soon)

If you’d like to know more please find me:

https://www.facebook.com/Tra3Ball/

https://twitter.com/Tra3ballA

https://tracyaball.wordpress.com/the-book-i-write/

Hinting at Shadows by Sarah Brentyn #bookreview #anthologies #microfiction #TuesdayBookBlog

On By Teri PolenIn Book Reviews35 Comments

No One Escapes Life Unscathed 

Delve into the deeper reaches of the human condition and the darkness that lives there.

A girl haunted by her sister’s drowning. A boy desperate for his father’s affection. A woman forced to make a devastating decision. A man trapped by his obsessions.

Experience tales of love, loss, murder, and madness through this collection of flash and micro fiction.

Take a peek behind the smile of a stranger. Get a glimpse inside the heart of a friend. Scratch the surface and discover what is hidden beneath.

These stories will open your mind, tug at your thoughts, and allow you to explore the possibility that, even in the brightest moments, something is Hinting at Shadows.

Each selection is approximately 100 words, with a bonus section of Microbursts in which each story is told in 50 words or less. – Goodreads.com

I’m dumbfounded at how much this author conveys and the emotions she evokes with so few words – it’s such a gift.  She takes the reader through dark valleys that twist and turn, journeys through more light-hearted moments, and even touches on humor occasionally.  I laughed out loud at replacing chocolate with carob, a Spinal Tap reference, and a dragon talking about coconut cakes.  With many of these, I was left wanting more and they could easily be built on and expanded into full length short stories or even novels.

This is a quick read, but take time to savor this collection and fully appreciate the poignant writing.