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“The Temptation of Robin Green” by Carrie Vaughn: This story was a total departure from her Kitty series. While I didn’t care much for the ending of this lead story, I did find the story’s setting to be interesting with our heroine being a scientist/warden who was caring for the varied inmates of a paranormal research clinic. The “hero” in this case is a selkie. “Succubus Seduction” by Cheyenne McCray: Here we have a female succubus that must complete her mission or face the wrath of her queen. “Paranormal Romance Blues” by Kelley Armstrong: A rogue vampire is on the loose. This one had an ending that could be considered a beginning as well. “John Doe” by Anna Windsor: A night-shift doctor at a psychiatric ward discovers unexpected powers. This one had a very nice complete feel to the story that I appreciated and introduced some interesting paranormal creatures. “Taking Hold” by Anya Bast: A human woman and a loner werewolf join forces to find a lost werewolf child during a winter storm. This story also had a very complete feel, leaving the reader with a satisfied sigh. “Daniel” by CT Adams & Cathy Camp: What do you get when you cross vampires with a process server? “Light through Fog” by Holly Lisle: This story was one of my favorites. It had a haunting, beautiful feel to it with the theme of how true love transcends death and time. “The Tuesday Enchantress” by Mary Jo Putney: Here we explore what happens when an enchantress meets a guardian who believes in love at first sight. “Trinity Blue” by Eve Silver: Our heroine encounters a handsome, mysterious handyman while an oppressive dark power lurks outside. This story was nicely executed. “Grace of Small Magics” by Ilona Andrews: The heroine discovers her family is bound by a curse to be on-call servants for a rival clan. She is called to join in a deadly game. There are several very interesting and horrifying creatures described in this story. It would be interesting to see it in graphic novel form so the creatures could be illustrated. “Once a Demon” by Dina James: A demon is banished to humanity after he learns to love and lose love. “Night Vision” by Maria V. Snyder: Did her grandmother really commit suicide or is the goddess Pele somehow involved? A little fuller description of the mythology involved would have been helpful here. “Pack” by Jeaniene Frost: A female hiker is attacked by a group of werewolves. This was the best story in the collection for me. I really love Frost’s work. The story is a wonderful, complete, stand-alone work with a lovely happy ending. “When Gargoyles Fly” by Lori Devoti: A young female sculpturer discovers that she can bring a gargoyle to life. This was another really nice story. I enjoyed the character of the gargoyle and found it to be a fresh concept. “The Lighthouse Keeper and His Wife” by Sara Mackenzie: A lighthouse keeper is given a second chance to go back in time and correct a wrong that resulted in many deaths, including his own. This had a haunting feel. “Blood Song” by Lynda Hilburn: In this story a woman who can heal through song encounters a vampire. “The Princess and the Peas” by Alyssa Day: Here we have a new twist on the princess and the pea fairy tale. Charming. “At Second Bite” by Michelle Rowen: A single girl, two vampire brothers and a matchmaking witch who believes in true love. This fast paced story reminded me of a “who’s on first” routine. “Blue Crush” by Rachel Caine: Caine brings us a new Weather Warden story. A Djinn and a Weather Warden spend a lazy (?) day on the beach. Cute glimpse into David and Joanne’s life. “The Wager” by Sherrilyn Kenyon: Kenyon, under her alternate name of Kinley MacGregor pens a Lords of Avalon story. Thomas Mallory, a mediocre dragonslayer and a blond female Merlin engage in an altercation with unfortunate results. This one was a little harder to follow. “In Sheep’s Clothing” by Meljean Brook: A killer with the signature of abducting solitary women whose vehicles were all mysteriously disabled by a flat tire. Sherriff Nathan is determined to save the latest victim.. his former love, Emma, who has just come back in town. And Emma has a secret. This was a very nice story, complete with a satisfied sigh factor in the end. “The Dream Catcher” by Allyson James: A mystical Dream Catcher named Ochen “chooses” Natalia’s passionate dreams to fulfill. This one was delightfully sexy. I was pleasantly surprised and impressed with the overall quality of the stories in this anthology, especially considering its hefty 528 pages. Almost all the stories kept my interest and were very enjoyable, even when I had some reservations about endings or plot development. I liked that, while a stray vampire and werewolf did show up in some stories, the majority of the entries had different kinds of paranormal characters that we don’t find as often. If you like short stories and paranormal characters, this one might be a really good choice for you. Reviewed by Crystal |
The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance Rating:
Posted May 2009 |
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