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Unbalanced (Demon Lovers, #1)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Addie is having a last drink with her colleagues before making her way home to nurse her upcoming hangover. She has been made redundant and has nothing to get up for. On her way home, she hears a cry for help and goes to see what she can do. What happens next is beyond her wildest imaginings and sends her spiraling into the world of demons and fulcrums. What Leah did out of duty, Addie quickly comes to do out of love and affections for 'her' demons. Will she be able to balance out Jet and Locan before they kill each other and will them be able to kill the demon that is taking out the teams?

This is a very short story that is full of heat. It has an interesting part with the fulcrum and what it means to lose one but there is a part when Addie wonders if she has done her 'job' too well and isn't actually needed anymore. There are gaps in the world building and character back stories but it is only a short novella so you can't expect everything. There is some ménage action and a snippet of M/M that Addie watches whilst half asleep.

If you would like something to warm you up but not bog you down with details, then give this one a shot.
  
40x40

Merissa (13353 KP) rated Out of Focus in Books

Apr 29, 2022 (Updated Jun 23, 2023)  
Out of Focus
Out of Focus
A.L. Lester | 2022 | LGBTQ+, Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
OUT OF FOCUS is a short story about two men working behind the scenes in a Welsh theatre. They are opposites in the fact that one is charming and one seems almost dour. There are reasons for it, of course, but they don't come to light immediately.

I loved how we met other characters too, getting a hint into their lives, not just the main characters. Alex and Luke take centre stage though in this low-angst slow-burn-but-not-quite romance. The attraction has been there for a couple of years without either of them acting on it, but once Alex is injured, all bets are off.

As with all of this author's works, I found the small details absolutely brilliant, and really help to make the story one that intrigues and compels you to keep turning the pages.

Although I'm not a huge fan of short stories, this one went down a treat, with all the information I could need, including a perfect epilogue to keep me happy. Absolutely recommended by me.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Apr 22, 2022
  
TD
4
4.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
*I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

I have not read anything with Genies, nothing NADA! So when I saw this I jumped on the chance to read it. I love reading short story collections, you get to read from authors that you have never read from before and to see if you like their writing style. This collection of short stories is from authors all over the world and it is their take on the djinn and some of the myths,tales that they have heard whilst growing up or heard. The only author that I had heard and read beforehand was Neil Gaiman, I read ‘The Ocean at the end of the Lane’ years ago and enjoyed it so I knew there would be one possible story that I would like.

So going into this I knew nothing about Genie’s/Djinn other than Aladdin! The book has an introduction written by the editors Mahvesh Murad and Jared Shurin explaining how this book came together and the different authors involved. We also had the The Djinn Falls In Love by Hermes which is poem about a djinn which I really enjoyed.

There are 20 stories in this collection in total and are all very different, however I found the majority of them to be a little dull and wasn’t holding my attention or the story line/plot got confusing. There were however some really great ones that I loved such as ‘Spite House’ and ‘Reap’. I must admit that there will be something for everyone as there several different genres within.

‘Reap’ by Sami Shah – This was a 5 star from me. This is a story about a small team who use a drone for surveillance on a small village in Pakistan. They have to watch the residents of this village and one family has 11 children, but one day Miriam, the youngest, doesn’t return with the clan. This has supernatural elements and is pretty scary but truly wonderful and had me gripped all the way through.

This is not one of my favourite short story collection as there were just too many that didn’t hold my interest or was a little confusing. The cover though is beautiful and recommend if you want to read some different interpretations about Djinn.

I rated this 2.5 out of 5 stars
  
Shivers in the Night
Shivers in the Night
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Clever twists (1 more)
plot
very short (0 more)
From Campfire type to suspense this ten story book has a little something for almost any fan of the diverse horror genre.
In 'The Baby' you learn how hard it can be trying to be brave in front of an older brother walking at night in the dark of rural Oklahoma. Not all gifts are what they seem as you will learn in 'Mr. Sweater's Gift'. The Law will never be the same in 'Revenger' as a small town judge goes to the extremes of having the punishment fit the crime. Detective Clint Mahan has his work cut out for him as he juggles his serial killer case with an aggressive FBI agent in the who done it story 'In Stitches'.
Shivers in the Night is independently published by the Yukon Writer's Society, it includes stories from beginner authors to published authors.
  
TT
8
9.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
One thing I love about Leigh Bardugo is that she goes so in depth in the world she created! I absolutely love basically anything Leigh Bardugo will ever write, these short stories included!

This story, like the others, gives the female characters so much agency and power!!

There are spoilers in the rest of the review from here, so be warned!

We, as both the readers and as the Fox, don't suspect this seemingly weak character to be able to do anything, but boy does she surprise us!! I loved how the fox was so trusting in this girl because how could a girl be dangerous? Right? WRONG!!!

This is just another beautiful addition to Leigh Bardugo's already amazing collection of works!1

Please just read all of the folk tales she releases from this series/world!! It adds so much depth to the already fantastic world she created!
  
FM
Fool Moon (The Dresden Files, #2)
8
8.7 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
<updated review in 2019>

I read the graphic novel version when I accidentally purchased the Dresden Files Omnibus from Comixology, thinking it contained new stories (it doesn't: it contains 'Storm Front', this ('Fool Moon') and the short story 'A Restoration of Faith'). While it's been a few years since I last read the actual novel, from what I remember, the graphic novel sticks pretty close to the original source material. I still have trouble as seeing Harry Dresden as any other than Nicolas Cage from the film 'The Sorceror's Apprentice', though ...

<original review>

Second entry in Jim Butcher's Dresden files series, building upon and expanding the world first introduced in "Storm Front", and in which Harry Dresden - Chaicago's only professional wizard in the phone book - ends up involved in a case to do with Werewolves (of which there are more types than your classical bi-morph).
  
The Captain Disaster Collection
The Captain Disaster Collection
Dave Seaman | 2016 | Humor & Comedy, Science Fiction/Fantasy
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Captain Disaster is the hapless hero of a series of computer games by the author and his (mis)adventures are ripe for some rib tickling short stories.

This book is a collection of these tales, with only the most tenuous connection between them. The author is clearly heavily influenced by Douglas Adams, but although Seaman doesn't match Adams in terms of with his writing or humour, that is not a criticism as he was unique. Instead Captain Disaster has his own voice - aspiring to Adams certainly but with a good mix of silly jokes, slapstick and toilet humour.

Not everything flies but enough works that this is a fun and entertaining read. This is only supposed to be a very lighthearted, knock-about science fiction spoof after all. If you need a smile putting on your face, as well as a few groans being elicited, this is just what you need.