This is an unusual story - a very short, VERY STEAMY foray into a future where sex dolls have become sentient robots with some astonishing aGood story
This is an unusual story - a very short, VERY STEAMY foray into a future where sex dolls have become sentient robots with some astonishing augmentations - and they are MALE. How 'bout that! Of course there's a few complications to this female -oriented fantasy, like the fate of humanity, and ... OOPS! NO SPOILERS. You'll have to read this one for yourself. It's a bit roughly written, but worth it....more
This is a great compilation of short tails-er, tales- wildly imaginative, occasionally silly, and utterly enchanting Humans who love canines will reveThis is a great compilation of short tails-er, tales- wildly imaginative, occasionally silly, and utterly enchanting Humans who love canines will revel in the antics of these anthropomorphized fearless furry characters. Snarl at the cringing villains. Howl with mirth at the clever canid tricksters. Bite back tears at the bravery and heroics of Man's Best Friend. From Shih-tzus to Saint Bernards, pure-breds to mutts, it's all dogs on deck for the literary dog show of the year. Thank Rhonda Parrish for the curator's genius, and BookSprout for the ARC. AHWROOO!....more
...and to a most enjoyable and thought-provoking collection of short stories in the speculative fiction genre. I had the priviWelcome to the future...
...and to a most enjoyable and thought-provoking collection of short stories in the speculative fiction genre. I had the privilege of reading this collection prior to publication (beta and ARC copies), and was blown away by author Donald Firesmith's wide-ranging imagination and story-telling skills. Whether the POV is human or alien, nothing about the characters suggest a radical alteration in sentient psychology. We all dream and always will dream of immortality, vengeance, untold riches, and other coveted goals. We all desire to be free, to be loved, and to be of altruistic assistance to our fellow sapients, among other cherished ambitions. The scope and detail of Firesmith's future vision makes all this new again, and if endings are occasionally abrupt or inconclusive - well, who can say with certainty what the future actually holds? This set of mind-expanding vignettes is a quick ride on the FTL train to tomorrow, and I promise, you will not regret the ride....more
Here you go, horror fans. A brief collection of even more brief lives touched by the supernatural experiences only near-dFour little frightening tales
Here you go, horror fans. A brief collection of even more brief lives touched by the supernatural experiences only near-death can call forth This voluntary ARC review calls each tale a five star chilling snapshot of horror, mixed with other emotions unique to each story. Read them from the safety of a cozy chair, and feel the fear....more
Short, and to the point: All is not so dark in this gritty dystopian omegaverse. The rebel heroine is an omega with witsLotsa light in this dark story
Short, and to the point: All is not so dark in this gritty dystopian omegaverse. The rebel heroine is an omega with wits and grit to keep herself, her sisters, and her male friend safe from marauding alphas. Her BFF is the rare male omega who has likewise outwitted the alphas who might otherwise trap him. Her eventual capture triggers his impulse to rescue, and the alpha who captures him is good-hearted enough to take that mission on himself. Not all omegas are witlessly submissive victims; not all alphas are arrogantly cruel masters, and not all grim stories from dystopia are fated to end badly. Take it from this independent ARC reviewer - this is an HEA to brighten a grim world....more
I normally go ga-ga over Rhonda Parrish's anthologies. This one is a little bit different. Don't get me wrong; there is magic, fanUnbridled enthusiasm
I normally go ga-ga over Rhonda Parrish's anthologies. This one is a little bit different. Don't get me wrong; there is magic, fantasy, mystery and marvelous writing on every page of Untethered. The collective imagination of the included authors is astounding, and there isn't a clunker in the bunch. I am just a wee bit weirded out by the overwhelming presence of unicorns. Or maybe I should say it's the under-representation of other equines? At any rate, that's just me; enjoy each tale for its own unique take on the worth of freedom, whether magical or mortal. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review....more
Remember the old rhyme: 'Mother may I go out to swim? Yes, my darling daughter. But hang your clothes on a hickory limb, And don'5 chilling dark stars
Remember the old rhyme: 'Mother may I go out to swim? Yes, my darling daughter. But hang your clothes on a hickory limb, And don't go near the water!' That silly old bit of doggerel gains a whole different meaning after reading Rhonda Parrish's aptly titled Dark Waters anthology. Turns out Mother knew her stuff, as demonstrated by these strangely thrilling but ultimately frightening tales. Hidden depths that no sun can warm nor light illuminate hold monsters and mythical beings. Soaked in curses, drowning in tragedy, forever held fast by the deep, mere humans inevitably succumb to the dark waters. This voluntary and independent ARC review comes with a warning: Reader, beware!...more
This story fits in right after Callim’s Challenge in the Quasar Lineage series. It is sweet and steamy both, offers one more glimpseLovely short story
This story fits in right after Callim’s Challenge in the Quasar Lineage series. It is sweet and steamy both, offers one more glimpse into the machinations of the Quasar Council, and a quick read. Good stuff for fans of Pearl Tate’s Quasar Lineage series....more
I can't believe Im giving a book that includes Ray Bradbury's "All Summer in a Day" less than five stars, but here you have it. First of aLeft me cold
I can't believe Im giving a book that includes Ray Bradbury's "All Summer in a Day" less than five stars, but here you have it. First of all, its 50 pages comprise only 2 stories, the enduring and haunting Bradbury classic, and Jason J. Marchi's fan-fiction follow up, "When the Rain Stops." The rest is filler - endorsements/apologia for Marchi's work and a lot of complementary comparisons between his story and Bradbury's. UGH. Marchi's story is well-written and touching in it own way, but pales in memory when juxtaposed with its inspiration. I got the unsettling impression that, by piggy-backing his story onto Bradbury's, Marchi intended to establish his special and personal connection to his famous mentor. I find that off-putting. Marchi's story would have been better served by letting it stand on it's own. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review....more
Rhonda Parish continues her collection of elementally themed short stories with Earth: Giants, Golems, and Gargoyles. It's a chalwonderfully inventive
Rhonda Parish continues her collection of elementally themed short stories with Earth: Giants, Golems, and Gargoyles. It's a challenging undertaking; 'earth' being not only one of the four cardinal elements, but also the planet on which we live, the soil which grows and nourishes all life, and the raw material of human construction (bricks, pottery, mined minerals, etc.) It's pretty difficult to encapsulate al that in a few short stories, but this anthology succeeds moderately well. Equally divided between magical, earth-religious, and future-tech points of view, the stories cluster around themes of permanence, retribution, and alt/reality. Sometimes the characters are human, at other times strange creatures of earth, stone, wood, and spirit interact with each other and with humanity. Although I found the anthology's theme unfocused and barely able to hold up under the wide latitude of interpretation, the creativity, imagination, and remarkable associations put forth by this group of authors is mind-blowing entertainment, not to mention food for thought. I truly enjoyed each story on its own, and for that reason, i'm recommending this anthology to fans of the magical, the mystical, and the elemental. There is something here for each of earth's children - you need only dig in and mine the literary gold. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review....more
Rhonda Parrish's fascination with all aspects of fire and fantasy has resulted in a gift to readers: Fire: Demons, DraA conflagration of fiery fantasy
Rhonda Parrish's fascination with all aspects of fire and fantasy has resulted in a gift to readers: Fire: Demons, Dragons, and Djinn is an incredibly eclectic and carefully curated collection of short stories. The theme is exactly as the title says - a stunningly original array of tales involving fire. There isn't a clinker in the stack - every story focuses in some uniquely imaginative way on the mythological, religious/spiritual, historical, or fantastical attributes of fire. There is star-fire and hell-fire. There are mages and Djinn who command fire. There are gods and goddesses from all traditions who embody fire and control, or unleash, its power. There are dragons who breathe fire, demons who become fire, and in some cases, fire itself is a sentient character. The authors who have enriched this anthology are among the most imaginative storytellers I have ever read. Some flow in a cerebral vein, others are more empathetic or more visceral in their approach, but each story is a gem. I have my personal favorites, of course, but, really, the entire anthology is a treasure of incendiary delights and terrors which deserves a permanent spot on your e-reader's shelf. Sample or binge-read at your leisure - this is not to be missed. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review....more
Craig Lea Gordon has taken the "doomed planet" SF trope to an aching yet hopeful place with this short story. Told from the point of view of one womanCraig Lea Gordon has taken the "doomed planet" SF trope to an aching yet hopeful place with this short story. Told from the point of view of one woman/virtual astronaut/colonist, the story of the end of Earth and the beginning of humanity as a space-colonizing species is framed perfectly by her personal hopes and fears, as well as her iron-willed discipline and sense of the historic. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review: Five future-oriented stars....more
This very short story is a little gem - the perfect blending of fairy tale, magic, and erotica. It has a touch of sass (PrincessA very naughty wedding
This very short story is a little gem - the perfect blending of fairy tale, magic, and erotica. It has a touch of sass (Princess Adelina), a smidgeon of romantic gallantry (Rowan the blacksmith), and the sweetest and steamiest fairy blessing ceremony ever held in a midnight forest clearing. You'll love it. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review....more
I received an ARC of this book from Hidden Gems, and this is my voluntary review. MEH. Casey Hagen has some superb writingToo much unfinished business
I received an ARC of this book from Hidden Gems, and this is my voluntary review. MEH. Casey Hagen has some superb writing chops, but that is not apparent in Sassy Ever After: Bewitching Sass. First off, the book is so short, and the story sufficiently incomplete, to call it a book. Call it a short story, and a prologue to an upcoming series. The plot is bare-bones - NO spoilers - and the backstory is rushed and vague, so I had a hard time feeling invested in the outcome - what little outcome there was.. The relationship development is likewise hasty and poorly fleshed out; particularly disappointing in light of the author's choice to make the heroine an Alpha werewolf, and the warlock hero is supposed to be her beta, her mate, and her protector. It isn't clear from the sex scenes, or from the rest of their brief interactions, how this works. She is supposedly the "sassy" one, but there is so little dialogue and such vague character development that her few smart remarks are oddly random. The warlock hero has no personality at all, and I just did not feel any chemistry between them. Lastly, the presence of secondary character Courtney is overbearing and distracts from the story - my biggest question after reading this is "What does Courtney have to do with it?" As much as I adore Casey Hagen's books, this one is purely a marketing device for a series, and I'm not interested....more
Paranormal tales of hope and freedom I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. The Final Draft Tavern is/Paranormal tales of hope and freedom I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. The Final Draft Tavern is/has been/will be a unique refuge. It exists wherever and whenever needed, as that place where the downtrodden and abused of the larger society may find assistance, acceptance, and new purpose in life.. Whether that is escape from the past: the Black Death in medieval London, a pivotal encounter with President Lincoln on the eve of the War Between the States, or the far future: a domed city under ice in a post-cataclysmic Boston, an incarnation of the Final Draft Tavern is the place and the means to liberation. Some who discover the Final Draft need no rescue, but rather a mission. How about starting the Great Fire of London, which razed the city and halted the outbreak of plague? Or try changing history, preventing the Tsarist Russian Empire from enslaving America in 1899? Or simply changing the jaded outlook of a world-weary photojournalist, so that he continues to fight oppression with his pictures? There are only two immutables associated with the Final Draft Tavern. It is/has always been/will always be owned and operated by a member of the Marchand family, and inhabited (haunted?) by Whiskey, the cat. Enter the Final Draft, then, and experience the strange and the miraculous, the political made personal, and the gift of hope, from a universe where even the paranormal champions freedom and human dignity. This unique and fascinating anthology was crafted by the talented members of the SpeakEasy Scribes, whose mission it is to keep hope alive. Read this book, and spread the word....more
Incredibly touching and poignant coming-of-age Sci-Fi short story. Perfectly crafted and hauntingly evocative tale of a grieving twelve-year-old girl Incredibly touching and poignant coming-of-age Sci-Fi short story. Perfectly crafted and hauntingly evocative tale of a grieving twelve-year-old girl and her father's incredible last bequest. Stefan Bolz is a truly gifted writer....more