Grim

Synopsis: Inspired by classic fairy tales, but with a dark and sinister twist, Grim contains short stories from some of the best voices in young adult literature today:

Ellen Hopkins
Amanda Hocking
Julie Kagawa
Claudia Gray
Rachel Hawkins
Kimberly Derting
Myra McEntire
Malinda Lo
Sarah Rees-Brennan
Jackson Pearce
Christine Johnson
Jeri Smith Ready
Shaun David Hutchinson
Saundra Mitchell
Sonia Gensler
Tessa Gratton
Jon Skrovan

Review: 

The Key – Rachel Hawkins

A dark novella presented by Rachel Hawkins. A story about a girl who can see things by touching people. We only have a few pages, it’s very short and it is true that the end comes too quickly and we still have unresolved things after a big event. Terrible! I would have liked to know the end.

Figment – Jeri Smith -Ready

I have not read the author yet but I must say that this story is really touching, a story about friendship and luck. Two unusual friends who, whatever happens, think they will always think of the other. It was really touching.

The Twelfth Girl – Malinda Lo

As for the Key, it’s an intriguing start about a young girl who tries to be integrated and yet finds herself in the middle of a story that transcends her. But I confess that I wish I had an end here to know if Liv was able to find a solution to her problems.

The Raven Princess – Jon Skovron

Oh it’s a really nice story. A sort of  a tale , even if it is true that I did not expect this. A girl who is cursed and a man who will do anything to save her when he does not even know her. I loved it.

Thinner than Water – Saundra Mitchell

I think this is the first time I ‘m uncomfortable reading a story. It’s pretty twisted and difficult to read. The writing is very good but it is true that this is a very delicate topic we approach here. But I’m glad about the final.

Before the Rose Bloomed – Ellen Hopkins

I loved the presentation of this story. It truly takes us to the center of a tale that is fun to follow. A small quest.

Beast / Beast – Tessa Gratton

Oh this is really a nice adaptation of  the Beauty and the Beast. I took z great pleasure in discovering these two touching characters and see how they got to know the other. A very nice discovery.

The Brothers Piggett – Julie Kagawa

A little story between two young people who, because of a misunderstanding, becomes very sad. I am very sorry for this young girl who didn’t want anything and who loses everything. I do not expect a story such as this from the author, I thought we would go back to the world of the Fae series.

Untethered – Sonia Gensler

A nice ghost story about forgiveness and regret. There is even a small revelation. It’s a nice story that breaks our heart.

Better – Shaun David Hutchinson

We discover Pip, this unusual character who hopes to find love and live like everyone else. But his existence has a specific gross, to save the dying children. A beautiful story about the love of two people who want to stay together.

Light it Up – Kimberly Derting

Oh after the beauty and the beast , this is a remix of Hansel and Gretel with Hansen and Greta, but in our workd and I loved the author’s ideas for updating this story.

Sharper than a serpent ‘s tongue – Christine Johnson

We find this time a story about magic and revenge. Two daughters whose life changes drastically in an instant and must find a way to live with that.

A Real Boy – Claudia Gray

What a touching story! I really liked it, it is really beautiful. The discovery of two people from a different world, a single robot and a girl who create an unbreakable bond . I think I would love to read a full story about this world and these characters.

Skin Trade – Myra McEntire

I did not know the author and I do not know if this is part of a new series, but I must say that I had a little trouble understanding all …

Beauty and the Chad – Sarah Ress Brennan

Oh a new version of the Beauty and the Beast and full of humor and for once we also have animated objects and I enjoyed their presence. A very good idea for this story. A beautiful novella from the real story but such a different beast!

The Pink – Amanda Hocking

Here we discover a beautiful story about a prince whose wishes could come true and who attracted the wrong people. But it is also a nice love story about friendship and loyalty.

Sell ​​Out – Jackson Pearce

We conclude now on a new tale about Sleeping Beauty that I found very original.

 
I really took enjoyed each of these stories, some shorter than others but it allows us to discover many authors.

4

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Guest review: Twenty-First Century Science Fiction by David G. Hartwell

Synopsis: Twenty-First Century Science Fiction is an enormous anthology of short stories—close to 250,000 words—edited by two of the most prestigious and award-winning editors in the SF field and featuring recent stories from some of science fiction’s greatest up-and-coming authors.

David Hartwell and Patrick Nielsen Hayden have long been recognized as two of the most skilled and trusted arbiters of the field, but Twenty-First Century Science Fiction presents fans’ first opportunities to see what their considerable talents come up with together, and also to get a unique perspective on what’s coming next in the science fiction field.

The anthology includes authors ranging from bestselling and established favorites to incandescent new talents including Paolo Bacigalupi, Cory Doctorow, Catherynne M. Valente, John Scalzi, Jo Walton, Charles Stross, Elizabeth Bear, and Peter Watts, and the stories selected include winners and nominees of all of the science fiction field’s major awards.

Review: While I enjoy reading Science Fiction, I’m far from an expert in it. Nevertheless, it didn’t stop me to enjoy this anthology. It features 34 stories published between 2003 and 2001 by sci-fi writers who came to prominence since the turn of the century. All the names were unknown to me, which allowed me to make some nice discoveries.

Some of these stories are really short (like Evil Robot Monkey by Mary Robinette Kowal which tells a lot of things in less than 1000 words), some others packed with enough content to make a full-length novel and for each of them there is a small introduction presenting the author and the text. Sadly, these synopses are sometimes a bit too revealing.

Because of the great number of stories, it’s hard to find a common theme, one of them even borrows heavily from fantasy elements. Space travels, aliens, spatial wars, and colonization of other worlds are of course addressed. But other topics include the expanding possibilities of virtual technologies, interrogations on the nature of the human being or questions on the future of human relationship (or human/robot relationship for the matter). Several texts in the collection also involve A.I., and those are the one that stood out for me.

So yes, a lot of themes then, providing this anthology many discussion points. But even if the stories are all different, I stay under the impression that most of them are dark, with an underlying pessimism about the humanity. But don’t worry, thankfully there are also a few lighter moments included in this anthology, with some really witty texts.

Like most anthologies it’s a mixed bag and reading it can sometimes feel a bit like of a rollercoaster. And while I didn’t get into some of the stories (like Rogue Farm by Charles Stross), there were several I loved and I would be thrilled to read something else from their authors. Besides, short stories, unlike novels, don’t have too much time to get into too complicated scientific details that would threaten the comprehension.

It’s hard to pick favorites with so many stories on offer, but my top 3 would be:

Tideline by Elizabeth Bear: In a devastated future, a dying military robot is determined to finish a self-appointed task. Meanwhile, he makes friends with a feral teenager and teaches him how to become more human.

Eros, Philia, Agape by Rachel Swirsky: An emotionally touching story about a robot wanting to be human, a woman and their daughter.

The Tale of the Wicked by John Scalzi: A fun story about a too smart spaceship which adopts Asimov’s Laws of Robotics for itself.

To summarize: a lot of different stories in there, which makes it difficult to find a unifying theme. A lot of them are kind of dark though. It’s a mixed bag with stories you’ll like and others you won’t. Perhaps not to read in one go, but a nice way to pick some texts here and then. Besides, for rookies like me, this book is an excellent way to get a feel for what’s out there in the sci-fi field.

4

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Into the Wood by Kim Harrison


The Hollows, Anthology



I really enjoyed these stories. Many are sad and dark but they allow us to learnmore about our characters or the world in which they live. I highly recommend the novel tothe fans of the series. It’s rare that I like all the stories in a book such asthis one, especially as we have a large number of short stories, but it was ultimately the case there. Here’s a little detailof each one:
The Bespelled

We didn’t yet know how Ceri and Al had really met orwhy she haddecided to be at his service. I must say that I did not expect it, but it is actually logical as we know the character she is in the series.We meet a naive and innocent Ceri who has to face a manipulator demonwho knows what he has to do to achieve his goals.

The two ghosts for sister Rachel

This story was beautiful, I had tears in my eyes. We discover the Rachel’s childhood, how she became the person we know. She has overcome many obstacles and I must say I am really impressed. Despite the support of some, she has always been seen as a weak person but she is determined to change that and to realize her dream.

Undead in the garden of good and devil

This story allows us to put ourselves in the place of Ivy before she meets Rachel and to understand what she really thinks. It’s always a bit difficult to know in the novels but like Rachel, she suffered a lot and we can only understand why she needs so much to be close to the witch.

Dirty Magic

I admit that I don’t really remember Mia, the Banshee in the books. But this story is also really sad. Mia would only like to have the man she loves without hurting him and sometimes it is so difficult for her to know she can’t have him. Another very intense story.

The Bridges of Eden Park

This novella is a nice farewell to Kirsten, and if Kim Harrison will miss him, for sure it’s also my case. I enjoyed this character and this novel made me remember him. A story about Kirsten, Rachel and family problems.

Key Line Drifter

It was pretty cute this time to follow Jenks. To see that he is very proud and wants to do everything by himself. He also wants to do everything for his family. We will therefore follow, by his point of view, one of his surveys and the way he will solve the problem. He tries to do the best but sometimes things do not end as planned.

Million Dollar Baby

This story features Jenks and Trent, a great adventure. I must say it was quite funny to see Jenks reassuring Trent, I didn’t expect to see it. It was touching to see the elf’s feelings for his daughter Lucy. A scene that was taken up in the books, but we hadn’t had the opportunity to really discover it.

Pet Shop Boys

I didn’t know the characters, or at least I don’t remember them. So here we discover fae and vampires with consequences on humans. I agree, this story could make a very good start for a new series. I admit that I’m quite intrigued by that world now.

Temson Estates

Here we discover the existence of the Dryads. It’s a cute though very fast story. A young man who inherits a forest and realizes that it’s finally more than that.

Spider Silk

Another story on Dryads. I think it’s really interesting to learn more about them. A dark novella about a small family with a terrible secret. It is true that it makes you want to know more about each character.

Grace

I loved this story about Grace and what she manages to become in a story time. I hope to have the opportunity to learn more one day.