Ruby Slippers, Golden Tears --ed. by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling

Fiction / Retold fairy tales

436 pages / 5003 KB

4 Stars

This is a collection of fairy tales retold, put in modern times, or from a different point of view. The contributors are all excellent writers, and most if not all, are probably on your favorite's list from Neil Gaiman to Joyce Carol Oates to Tanith Lee. 

Of the 20 or so stories, I enjoyed all but three, and those may have just caught me in a mood. Some were outright funny. And some were like meeting an old friend after a long absence.

To be honest, fairy tales have never been my favorite story, and I can't tell you why, because I don't really know. Every so often, I buy a book in a genre that isn't my favorite, but the author is, and I always learn something, and often enjoy the book. I did enjoy most of this book. I laughed in some places, and cried in a couple. Mostly I just enjoyed the story.

If you're a fan of fairy tales, by all means, buy this. The writing, of course, is superb.

Styx & Stoned (The Grim Reality Series Book 2) --Boone Brux

Fiction / Urban Fantasy

638 pages / 1587 KB

4 Stars

I so loved the first book, and I would have totally loved this one if someone had edited it. The number of minor grammatical errors were enough to continuously throw me out of the story. Fortunately, I could get back into it, and still enjoy it. But she only gets 4 stars instead of 5.

Our heroine is offered an all-expenses-paid trip to Vegas. Well, of course, there's a catch. And oh, what a marvelous catch it is. We meet new characters I hope continue into the next books. Her porter (he transports the souls to their ultimate destination) is the original grumpy old man. And the demons and angels she meets are wonderful. Oh, and the part-time job she's offered sounds pretty good – Ferryman on the River Styx. Time is different over there. What seems like hours on the River is actually only seconds in our mundane world. She could be home with her kids more, get her housework done, and still make a chest full of money. Daily. What's not to like?

I will order Book 3 soon but must finish packing first, otherwise, I'll sit and read, and not be ready when the movers arrive in September. Yep, these books go on my shelf next to the Moonlight Dragon books and the Reaper's Inc books. Fun reads, all.

To Catch Her Death (The Grim Reality Series Book 1) --by Boone Brux

Fiction / Urban Fantasy

223 pages / 1415 KB

5 Stars

This was a fun book. I got books one and two at the same time, and read them back to back. I am in the process of packing to move 1,000 miles, and I needed escape. Boy Howdy! Did I get it. And lots of laughs. And I needed those laughs.

To Catch Her Death is, I assume, an introduction to the main characters which I surely hope show up in the other books. I love the beginning. A young widow, depressed, finally coming out of it and gets caught up in an attempted robbery and homicide. I mean, what would you do? I'd go to the murdered, and check to see if he's still alive, even if some hunka hunka told me not to touch him. I'd touch him (how else does one ascertain if the fallen still lives?) Normal, right? Except the newly deceased's soul attached to her. Ewwwwww.... Welcome to her new normal. 

If you're a fan of Angela Roquet's Lana Harvey, Reapers Inc series and or Tricia Owens and her Moonlight Dragon books, I think you'll love these books, and having them sharing your bookshelf .