Great start to the Falstaff Books Anthologies
588417
Edited by John G Hartness and published by Falstaff Media (Charlotte, NC)

The Short Stories are:
Basque of the Red Death by Eden Royce
Cazadora by Andrea Judy
Snake Bite by Misty Massey
Escape by Kimberly Richardson
The Circus by Emily Levertt
Homecoming by Dave Harlequin
The Blue Lights by Michelle Weston
A Gift of Death by Rachelle Stevens
High Fashion Hell by John G Hartness
Tighten the Laces by Herika Raymer
The Shadow Fatale by Nicole Burns
Bone of my Bone, Flesh of my Flesh by Sara Joy Adams
A Little Something Extra by Gail Z Martin and Larry N Martin

Hartness continues to improves as a editor of anthologies. The quality of this collection is solid. The stories vary from historic pieces to contemporary, from horror to superhero. An excellent mix sure to satisfy any reader of genre fiction. The theme is corsets and, as the title indicates, the contributing writers had "Imagination Unbound" starting from this common theme.

Especially good in my opinion are:
Snake Bite - Ms. Massey does paranormal western stories well. Beware the woman left for dead.
The Circus - The main character of this story is creepy cool.
Basque of the Red Death - Revenge may be needed and purpose may be given. But the lingering impact of these actions ...
The Shadow Fatale - Love superhero prose. Think Spiderman's Venom as half-corset and half-human handler.

And I think the best was
Bone of my bone, Flesh of my flesh - The atmosphere in this historic piece is amazing.
4111877
This collection of short stories is an excellent introduction to Hogarth's pelted series of stories. There are a lot of different races used in later stories that you first learn about here. I find some of the stories could have been a little longer, but overall I really enjoyed them.
1992126
There are three very good reasons to read this anthology.  The first is if you are interested in the topic.  The second is to discover new authors in a genre without spending a lot of money on paperbacks. The third reason is if you're in any way interested in the process of writing itself is to study whether novelists succeed in shorter works.

First--you're going to get some division on the topic itself.  "Paranormal Romance" is a continuum from Jim Butcher on the paranormal end to I'd say Sherrilyn Kenyon writing the more 'romantic' work.  You'll probably be happiest with this anthology if you like both romance and paranormals.  Given that my preference is toward the paranormal, my favorites were "Something Borrowed" by Butcher and "Tacky" by Charlaine Harris.  Kenyon was my least favorite with the other authors arrayed somewhere in between.

Second, some of my best 'finds' in fantasy authors were from the "Sword and Sorceress" series of books edited first by the late Marion Zimmer Bradley.  While she tended to later rely on a stable of known authors, she'd introduce a new person occasionally and that breathed life into the anthologies.  Up til "Supernatural Wedding" I had not read Banks' work.  While I realize her Hatfield-McCoy work is not typical of her usual novels, I'm interested enough to pick one of her vampire huntress books up and see what I think.

Finally, it's interesting to read both the short and long fiction of authors you know.  Butcher's "Something Borrowed" probably stands up as the best-written of the stories.  He keeps things moving, he's got a good grasp of the characters, (he should-Harry Dresden, Murphy, and even the bride and groom have appeared in the "Dresden Files" series as regulars) good ability to plot, and he keeps things moving.  I also liked "Tacky".  While the characters were new to me, I thought Charlaine Harris did a great job introducing everyone and keeping my interest piqued through the whole story.
4726166
The literary palates of fantasy readers will appreciate the flavors packed into the anthology Shadows & Light: Tales of Lost Kingdoms. This premium box of chocolates was published by the Pill Hill Press and edited by Alva J. Roberts, who can certainly be proud of the twenty-two short stories that mix a full measure of fantasy with a couple dashes of horror.

The overall quality of the writing in this anthology is very strong. The stories grabbed my attention right away within the first paragraphs and often the first sentences. Vivid imagery, strong emotions, smooth transitions, and tireless action were standards upheld by every author selected for the anthology, and, like a book of paint swatches, all the darker shades of the genre were represented. A daring elf queen, female centaur, changeling warriors, a priestess of the dead, and a barbarian king are a smattering of examples from this suite of stories that were obviously written and selected with care.

As with any anthology, some stories resonated with me more than others, but this will vary with the tastes of each reader. One of my favorites was Azerian: Pawn of the Serpentine Witch by Christopher Heath that could be labeled as heroic fantasy or barbarian fantasy. With lizard men who sacrificed humans, a powerful witch desiring pregnancy, and a barbarian king, this story flowed like hot lava and drew me into its frightening action. My only complaint about the story would be its epilogue, which I considered unnecessary. It answered a few questions, but mostly I thought it came across as notes for future stories that should have been written instead of summarized in an epilogue.

Another story of note is Shadow on the Edge of the City of Light by Bill Ward. It was a well done study in the corruption of an abused innocent who was twisted by a strange seductress and a potently evil ancient sword. The main character's transition to an evil dark lord by an exploitative lover was stark and believable.

Then Lydia Sharp's story The Keeper of Secrets tugged at my emotions as the heroine went to a fateful meeting with her estranged mother. I could relate to apprehension at a homecoming after long departure. Plus, I loved how this story included ocean-based fantasy life forms that supported the protagonist, like mermaids and an octopus being.

Another story with powerful emotions was Treischan Strength by D.M Bonanno who told of an ancient and dying tree's struggle to save its offspring. I have always been sensitive to the life within trees, and I was touched by this narrative that showed the courage of trees.

For fantasy readers who are also fascinated by the Roman Empire, the Sword of Rasna by Gustavo Bondoni offers a fantastical view of the historical struggle between a rising Rome and the older Etruscan society. On a further military note The Siege of Ravelin by Ray Kolb is a well told tale. It compelled me to keep reading with its instant aura of mystery as a bored soldier keeps watch over a supposedly dead city that has been under siege for a century. The author succeeded in making me know that something terrible was going to happen and want to keep reading.

All the stories in this thoughtfully produced anthology deserve praise even if I did not mention them specifically. I rarely give a perfect five sword review because that rating has to be withheld for the best books, but this anthology really did strike me as a superior collection of short fantasy fiction. Shadows and Light would make a great introduction to the genre for someone unfamiliar with it, and it definitely reminded me of why I like fantasy so much.
428120
I wasn't sure how, how I would feel about these stories, but was surprised of their descriptive charm and settings along with interesting characters. The conversations seemed unforced and natural for the period. The protection of the Holy Grail being their major tasks against the Darker Brotherhood from Bavaria keeps their roles of the Lighter Brotherhood as the keepers of the Grail at all costs. D'Amici has to fullfill his ancient duty as the protector of the faith. He deems his sacred duty to sacrifice himself for the greater cause. He is the first knight and defender of the Holy Grail, and his loyalty must be the foremost to the Grail Guardians. The short stories set up the longer novel and introduce the cast of it. I like the short stories, and will read the first book of the Grail Chase when I have time to spend on it. I like Dara Fogel's introduction anthology of her longer book.
4601226
Premise: Three urban fantasy novellas about magically talented women solving mysteries. Arcanum 101 is a Diana Tregarde prequel, featuring the witch and Guardian trying to find the connection between a fake psychic and a kidnapped girl, while simultaneously starting college. Drums is a sequel to the novel Sacred Ground, in which medicine woman Jennie Talldeer needs to stop an angry ghost from killing a young dancer. Finally, Ghost in the Machine follows techno-shaman Ellen McBride, who is called in to consult with a MMO corporation who find that their perfectly programmed monster may be more powerful than they planned.

This was a fun read. I especially liked that the stories worked well together, despite not having much overt in common. The first is set in the early 70's, and the protagonist is a college freshman. The second is set in 1995, and Jennie is established, but young, say, late 20's/early 30's? The third is set in 2010, while Ellen seems semi-ageless, and is definitely at the top of her game.

I liked all three stories, although I don't think I ever read Sacred Ground, so I felt a little less sure of Drums than of the other two. Now I want to go re-read some Diana Tregard. Mmmm...Horror/Fantasy. There's some amusing bits in this story about hippies encouraging dangerous metaphysical incursions. I think Ms. Lackey is still a bit pissed about the people who took the Diana Tregarde books way too seriously, and I don't blame her one bit.

Ghost in the Machine was a delight, and I adored Ell. She has a familiar spirit in an AIBO (remember those cute robot dogs?) She programmed it to talk like K9. She's a professional with a wicked sense of humor. I love her.

These stories had fun characters, tense plots, good action scenes, interesting mystery plots, and emotion with very little angst. I thoroughly approve.
2452947
I received this book as a gift from one of the authors with no expectation of giving a review. That being said, I enjoyed this collection of novellas so much, I am writing one anyway.

First, I must admit I have yet to read any of Jane Austen's works. What I know of her work stems from partial film viewing and occasional blog discussions. I am essentially a Jane Austin illiterate. Reading these novellas has me wanting to go off and read Austen. There is a good bit of continuity between the stories, so reading them in order would be recommended. I'm hard pressed to pick a favorite story out of the four, but I admit swooning most for the hero in the second story.

Bottom line is, I picked up this collection, thinking to read just one, but a few hours later, I hit The End on the last page of the collection. I read them all because I didn't want to put my Kindle down. I really, really enjoyed each story. I especially liked how well the characters were interwoven throughout the collection. It was kinda cool to 'see' people from the other stories pop in so seamlessly. I believe I'll be revisiting these stories more than once, especially if I want a quick feel-good romance read.

I'm looking forward to volume two. I was gifted this one, but because of the quality, I know buying the next set will be well worth the price.
1449233
These 11 novellas by big-name authors open doorways to 11 major fantasy universes that are known the world over.  A couple of the pieces herein qualify as short stories, but most are actually novellas.  Whether you like stories that are pure fantasy or mix fantasy and science fiction together, these novellas should hold something for you.  Some of these worlds you may be familiar with, and the stories herein are fresh approaches to well-known subjects.  Others may be new to you, and you can revel in the new worlds that are revealed.  I was familiar with about half the fantasy worlds included in this collection but enjoyed visiting them from these new angles, with these new tales that embroidered the fantasy worlds I already knew.  The other half were new to me, and it was exciting to make their acquaintance.  I've already started sampling other works by the authors in this book, turned on to their work as I was by this collection.

The stories herein are all very well written and read smoothly and easily.  Don't let the collection's large 715 pages put you off; you can read this book in a week if you work at it a little bit.  I read it at the rate of one story a day so the stories wouldn't get all jumbled up in my mind, as sometimes happens when you gobble down short stories or novellas too fast.  Of the whole collection I think I liked Ursula LeGuin's "Dragonfly" best, though I have to say I'm a sucker for Earthsea.  Because there are so many selections herein you should find a few pieces here that you really enjoy, if not at least half the collection.  If you like this book, check out the books that are listed at the beginning of each individual story, for more of the same!
2369719
This collection of 8 short stories inspired by Jane Austin, Charles Dickens, The Phantom of the Opera, The Little Match Girl, and Frankenstein, is exceptionally well-written by various authors. It will appeal to steampunk lovers and those who are new to the genre. In fact, it is an excellent first introduction for newcomers, who are bound to find at least a few stories that will appeal to them in the collection.

While I enjoyed all of the stories, my favorites were "The Little Boiler Girl," (as scrumptiously sad as the original story by Hans Christian Anderson, "Our Man Fred," featuring Scrooge's nephew and his wife as the lead characters, "A Clockwork Ballet," featuring The Phantom of the Opera, and "Lucenza, Or The Modern Galatea," which adds a stunning new element to the Frankenstein story.
1289007
I have a confession to make: Ive never read any of the books in the Otherworld series. Ive always meant to, but the closest Ive come to it is watching the Bitten TV show, based on the book of the same name, airing on the Syfy channel. I decided to read this collection of short stories as a way to get a little of sample of the much acclaimed series and see if it fit my taste, as one might buy a sample assortment of a popular brand of chocolates before investing in a five pound box based on word of mouth alone.

Im happy to say Otherworld Nights: An Anthology completely lived up to the hype Ive been hearing and I feel an absolute need to get my hands on the novels in this series as soon as possible. Populated with extraordinary, and yet fascinatingly flawed, strong paranormal characters who've overcome some terrible circumstances, the short stories presented in this collection really drew me in and had me wishing for a chance to get to know these characters better and spend more time in their stories (lucky for me there are several full length novels for me to do so ;) ) Its a great introduction to the series, and as someone whos never read a single book in the series, I can also say that this anthology works in and of itself as a standalone collection as well  I wasn't lost at all since the author gives small pieces of series history and backstory when needed.

I recommend this anthology to anyone who loves urban fantasy, from those getting their first taste of the Otherworld series to hardcore fans (Im sure this collection would feel like Christmas come early for them :D ), and anyone in between. Werewolves, witches, half-demons - there's a bit of something for everyone. I cant wait to read more from this author and cant believe I haven't yet.

*I received an ARC of this book to review. You can find this review and others like it at BookAndCoffeeAddict.com, along with recommendations for a fantastic cup of coffee.
765689
Anthologies that deal primarily with the subject of Sword and Sorcery are rare these days, especially after the demise of Rogue Blades Entertainment. So it was with a certain amount of anticipation that I read Azieran Adventures Presents: Artifacts and Relics: Extreme Sorcery, from Heathen Oracle. Edited by Christopher Heath, the anthology comprises eight short stories and three novellas from established authors and relative newcomers, as well as a classic piece by Clark Ashton Smith and Foreward by Jason M. Waltz.

The story selection is varied, and some even tie into Christopher Heath's own extensive world of Azieran. Like any collection, the contents can be a mixed bag, though I'm pleased to say the vast majority of these tales are well worth the read.

Among my favourites was The Lover's Quarrel by James Beamon. Not your ordinary lover's quarrel, this story opened the anthology with a bang and set the tone for the rest of the book.

The Book of Echoes, a brand new tale of Dorgo the Dowser by Joe Bonadonna, continues the exploits of one of my favourite fantasy characters. First seen in Mad Shadows: The Weird Tales of Dorgo the Dowser, the retired mercenary chases down a rare and powerful tome that has crossed dimensions from Azieran to Dorgo's world of Tanyime.

The Mad Song, by David West, is the story of Khyte of Vjorn, a sell-sword who warns a caravan of imminent danger on a subcontinent that legends had it was once destroyed by denizens summoned with the fabled Pipe of Mahmackrah. But of course the Pipe is only legend, right?

David C. Smith, author of the Fall of the First World trilogy, contributes a novella titled Shadow-born, Shadow-taken, a tale of warring gods and the humans caught up in their petty squabbles.

Other notable stories are two tales by Christopher Heath: Azieran: Assimilation by Second Dawn and Azieran: The Slaver of Karsith Keep, as well as By Hellish Means from Bill Ward, The Red Heart of Dolfar by John M. Whalen and The Sword Cult, a tale of Calthus, by Steve Goble. And of course there is classic fiction from Clark Ashton Smith in The Black Abbot of Puthuum.

Editor Christopher Heath has assembled a strong entry in the field of fantasy, in what I hope is the first of more to come. This collection is definitely recommended.
2777825
I read and have read a lot of anthologies. They're great for "in-between-books-reading" and are perfect when you just want a story that you can start and finish in one sitting. Anthologies are also a great source for sampling different writers.

Jason M Waltz did a great job of picking out the stories to use for The Return of the Sword. Except for only one or two stories (even the ones that weren't particularly something to my personal taste) I found these to be very well and interestingly written.

The Return of the Sword contains twenty sword-and-sorcery tales -- too many for me to summarize and rate individually here. I'd say most of the stories fall between 3 and 4 stars, but my personal favorites -- "The Battle of Raven Kill" by Jeff Draper, "To Be A Man" by Robert Rhodes, "The Hand that Holds The Crown" by Nathan Meyer, and "The Mask Oath" by Steve Goble are each an easy 5 stars and then some. In fact, I'd buy this book for those stories alone. And I'd venture to say that most any fan of fantasy literature will find something to their liking in this book.

I highly recommend The Return of the Sword to anyone who appreciates a straight-forward adventurous tale, and I applaud the effort to present some quality sword & sorcery tales in a market where the sub-genre seems all but forgotten. I hope more publishers will follow suit and give us more new S & S books.
728768
I like that there were a number of different genres in this collection.  Sort of like a fiction 'box of chocolates', where you can pick and choose according to your mood of the moment.

That said, I did wonder if I'd wandered into a sauna by mistake.  It's pretty steamy in here. Oh, wait, no, that's all the stories in this anthology, bringing the heat and making me wonder if it's now time for the 'roll in the snow to cool off' portion of the evening.  I particularly enjoyed Gwen Marshall's story, but then happy triad stories are a weakness of mine.

An excellent way to be exposed to some new and very promising authors, and I look forward to seeing longer stories or full on novels from many of the writers in this collection.
488916
I'm halfway through this anthology and I skipped 2-3 stories whose first paragraphs did not catch my attention, but I'm enjoying this very much so far. I don't usually read short stories and this is my first foray into the short story genre, but decided to give this a try because I lack time to commit to a novel. If you're short-changed for time, this anthology may be right up your alley.

Stories I have especially enjoyed so far are "Nahiku West" by Linda Nagata, "Honey Bear" by Sofia Samatar, and "Four Kinds of Cargo" by Leonard Richardson. They are worth checking out.

I'm looking forward to reading more and there's a big chance I might buy the 2012 edition as well, along with other sci-fi/fantasy anthologies.
561264
This collection of 3 short stories comes from the same author of the fantasy novel "Sacred King". I found the author's writing style to be improving and her gradual shift from fantasy scenarios (the first tale is still a ghost story) to more realistic descriptions of some details of Richard III's real life episodes as recorded in the historical documents made me enjoy the reading more. I found the short story on Anne and Richard in Scarborough after their little son's death particularly touching, probably just a few steps away from similar chapters I read in "Sunne in Splendour" by Sharon Kay Penman and above all "Some touch of pity" by Rhoda Edwards.

I am looking forward to reading the next 2 collections of short stories on my kindle and especially her announced "real-to-life" novel "I, Richard Plantagenet, which I understand should be published by late summer/autumn this year
596937
This book collects the short stories from Bloch's first two anthologies published by Arkham House, "The Opener of the Way" and "Pleasant Dreams". You could purchase these two anthologies, and it would cost you a lot more money. This one volume is a great bargain, beautifully produced, and is the better approach if you want to read these stories. I read Bloch's "Psycho" years ago. However, this is the first time that I have delved into his short stories. His writing is terrific. Bloch, Lovecraft, Bradbury, and Matheson are probably my favorite Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Horror authors. You will not regret purchasing this book. It displays the wide variety of plot themes and genres that Bloch was a master of.
3024437
Anthology 4.75 out of 5 stars. Excellent for an anthology.

1. "Beyond the Ardeur" (An Anita Blake tale) By Laurell K. Hamilton - I started reading this and I kept thinking that I've read this before. I searched for this title or series # in the list of titles. Nothing. So I kept reading, knowing what was coming next. Then I went back to the anthology's blurb and saw this: ***This short story is a condensed version of Incubus Dreams, book 12 in the Anita Blake series! No wonder, I have read it. I gave Incubus Dreams 5 stars, so I'll give this 5 stars.

2. "Dead Girls Don't Dance," by MaryJanice Davidson. I've read this one too. I have a feeling I read this before I was on Goodreads. I liked this story. Thought it was funny and sweet. 5 stars.

3. "Originally Human" by Eileen Wilks. Read it previously also. He's a "something different" that fell in love with her from afar. Cute story. 4 stars.

4. "Burning Moon" by Rebecca York. Okay I read all of these stories but this one was worth a re-read. Serial killer after handicapped woman and a werewolf who is there to stop him. 5 stars.