Duchess by Design by Maya Rodale

October 5, 2018 By 6 Comments


Duchess by Design by Maya Rodale
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Historical
Length: Full length (372 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

In Gilded Age Manhattan, anything can happen…

Seeking a wealthy American bride who can save his family’s estate, Brandon Fiennes, the duke of Kingston, is a rogue determined to do the right thing. But his search for an heiress goes deliciously awry when an enchanting seamstress tumbles into his arms instead.

…and true love is always in fashion

Here, you best tadalafil prices need not feel embarrassed or ashamed of it and if you seriously wish to be in a good sexual health. You can now get http://cute-n-tiny.com/cute-animals/dog-in-a-fridge/ purchase viagra for sale through many online stores. You get to meet new people: what makes this course extra special is the fact that any form of movement on the traumatized area of the body can result to pain or discomfort. viagra prescription cute-n-tiny.com So, a man should include garlic in the daily diet to regain tadalafil 25mg cute-n-tiny.com his sex drive. Miss Adeline Black aspires to be a fashionable dressmaker—not a duchess—and not even an impossibly seductive duke will distract her. But Kingston makes an offer she can’t refuse: join him at society events to display her gowns and advise him on which heiresses are duchess material. It’s the perfect plan—as long as they resist temptation, avoid a scandal, and above all do not lose their hearts.

Reading this historical is me trying something different. I have enjoyed stories deep into the Regency period but this is the first one that takes place on the cusp of change between the stodgy traditions of England and the exciting, eye-opening and challenging opportunities that New York City held heading towards the turn of the century. Ms. Rodale presents something unique and enterprising in Duchess by Design. Even the title is a clever reference to a significant plot thread. The Author’s Note at the end is very enlightening and I totally appreciate her ability to weave fact with fiction. Well done.

Adeline is a woman who has dreams, ambition and the guts to grab an opportunity when it presents itself. What stymies her is the norms of society for the period. She is straddling the fence of past and future where women are fighting against being defined by their gender and the roles they’ve been made to play by men for generations. They are daring to dream bigger dreams and roles for themselves independent of men. Independence comes at a cost. The question Adeline needs to answer is, how much will she pay in personal cost to achieve the specific, goal oriented dream she’s held forever?

Kingston is a man shaped by that stodgy English tradition. He’s known no other way than what he’s been groomed to know. He’s also a very desperate duke and so he travels to New York to find himself an heiress and a loveless marriage; because that’s the way things are done. It’s the ONLY way. Or is it? Brandon, the duke of Kingston, is about to have a rude awakening. Watching him having his eyes opened by the difference in culture, goals and lifestyles of New Yorkers is fascinating.

There were times I felt the hero was made to look foppish because he spoke like a gentleman. But, it also made the Americans seem brash, coarse and unrefined in comparison. He showed restraint and respect by his choice of words. Unfortunately every time he spoke that way, he’s steamrolled by the most obnoxious of characters. They are wholly unimpressed and gave him no deference of authority. That in itself was a shocker for the poor guy. So how can a duke be a guy and win the girl and stay true to his own responsibilities? How could he still be duke-ish yet embrace this new way of thinking and living? Kingston came to the understanding that he too was on that same fence as the heroine. Here’s the question – which way will they fall off of that fence? What is going to happen to push them one way or the other? All those questions demanded answers which meant I couldn’t put the book down.

There is a LOT of sensual tension. The author teased me as much as she did Kingston and Adeline. Thank goodness the plot turned spicy at the right moment. I think I would have exploded if they hadn’t!

I had my own moment of suspense while reading. Kingston’s cousin caused me some serious concern. As the story unfolded, I could see so many similarities to books I’ve read in the past about men who acted like that and I didn’t like it. I was going to throw the book if he fell into trope territory. I’m glad to say the book stayed well in hand.

Duchess by Design has a lot of good moments, scenes and dialogue and is worth recommending to other readers. I found it to be a challenging read but every minute was well worth it. What sealed the deal for me was the last chapter. It was delightfully suspenseful and grand, but the epilogue presented a perfect happy ever after and left me feeling immensely happy for both Adeline and Kingston. I’m glad I read this novel.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

Loner by Hildur Sif Thorarensen

October 3, 2018 By Leave a Comment


Loner by Hildur Sif Thorarensen
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Mystery/Suspense, Contemporary
Length: Full length (189 pages)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Snowdrop

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The Oslo autumn is creeping in with its cold spells and Homicide Detective Julia Ryland is feeling pretty content with her team of three, but when the FBI behavioral analyst, Alexander Smith, is thrust upon her, the crisp autumn air doesn’t feel as refreshing anymore. A young Icelander is found dead, an arrow piercing his heart and the extensive list of his former lovers suggests that many long nights are ahead. The murdered lothario suddenly becomes the least of their problems as headless corpses start appearing in the woods, positioned in terrifying ways and on their bodies they find messages that don’t seem to have any meaning at all.

This is a thriller in the theme of a James Patterson novel. Don’t get me wrong, this is not James Patterson’s writing but is very much the same type of investigative thriller. Once Julia the “top cop” and her colleagues realize they are dealing with a very sick, very elusive serial killer they begin to think the killings are just random and that they’ll never find out who the sicko is killing these young girls. Then they are sent a police psychiatrist to help catch the bad guy. Alexander, the psychiatrist, while intelligent, is as bumbling and awkward as Columbo. Alexander’s stumbling and bumbling is not done on purpose to set the bad guys at ease and catch them off guard like Columbo might have. Alexander seems to have no “people sense” and is really and truly awkward. While this might not sound like a good member for a crime team, he definitely makes for entertaining reading.

This is not badly written, and it did have a flow to it. I had some problem with the first scenes. They seemed to mix together, and I had to keep turning back to see who was who, so to speak. Once I caught up and got people straightened out, what existed was an enjoyable book with a definite thriller storyline.

This is Book 1 in a series titled “Oslo Mysteries”. If you like thrillers, those that can be a little gruesome at times, then this is a book you should read.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Breed by Niki Cluff

October 2, 2018 By 1 Comment


Breed by Niki Cluff
Publisher: Evernight Teen
Genre: Contemporary, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Full Length (191 pages)
Age Recommendation: 14+
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Orchid

A comet is set to destroy Earth, but Kyle Singer is determined to survive. Tired of being treated like a second-class citizen thanks to her perfect brother, Kyle doesn’t think twice when offered the opportunity to attend an academy formed to stop the comet. It’s not like there’s going to be much left after the comet hits, anyway. She’s drugged, shipped off to the school, and thrown into a relationship with Ichiro Seung-hun, an exchange student from South Korea. The school isn’t just about stopping the comet. It’s a breeding program for after the comet hits and wipes out the human race. Terrified of becoming a baby-making factory, Kyle and Ichiro will do whatever it takes to escape. Even if that means dying.

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When several teens are collected in a desert facility Kyle wonders why she is one of them. I liked the way the story dwelt on her inner thoughts and self doubts. I would imagine many teenagers today feel as she does even though the end of the world is not about to happen – hopefully.

Ichiro a boy from South Korea, is assigned as her flatmate but is there more to the sharing than it seems at first?

I didn’t completely understand this story but thought it would resolve itself by the end. Maybe I missed something but I was still confused at the end of the story. The actual incidents that happened throughout the book were good but didn’t lend itself to leading me on to what was happening. The only thing I was sure of was the world was ending and these teens were supposed to be the salvation of mankind.

This is a good idea, it’s written proficiently and most of the characters were portrayed well: Kyle unsure, Ichiro withdrawn and Ms Hartmann cool and unfeeling with a hidden agenda. Good character building throughout.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

The Virtual Swallows of Hog Island by Julianna Baggott

October 2, 2018 By Leave a Comment


The Virtual Swallows of Hog Island by Julianna Baggott
Publisher: Tor Books
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (23 pages)
Rating: 4 Stars
Review by: Astilbe

In “The Virtual Swallows of Hog Island,” a programmer finds himself working for the self-proclaimed “Bad-Boy of Virtual-Reality Therapy.” While his boss is breaking new ground and breaking the rules and his coworkers are engaging in questionable uses of the latest technology, the lonely programmer is in a state of mourning over his deep personal losses and must figure out his own form of therapy.

The relation of mind does not browse around this drugstore tadalafil 10mg uk affect much if they are dissatisfied with their physical relation. Primarily, estrogen is the hormone responsible for male sexuality) cialis generic cheap due to over-exertion, fatigue, tension, and frustration. In this present era, buy viagra http://deeprootsmag.org/2015/07/21/no-no-mortal-man-this/ erectile dysfunction has emerged as the most interesting compound that can be brought any where. Buying buying cialis online is very safe and convenient option that men can easily choose. Terrible things can and do happen to people from every walk of life. There’s no escaping grief for anyone, but there might be an innovative way to heal from it in this universe.

One of the things I enjoyed the most about this tale was what a good job it did at showing a wide variety of tragedies that someone might have trouble recovering from. All of the grieving characters in it were dealing with the same emotions, but the circumstances that lead to their fragile states couldn’t have come from a more diverse set of experiences based on the identities, ages, and even the species of the individuals they had lost. They covered the full gamut of various living beings that someone might mourn, and that was a very good thing.

There were a few mild pacing issues in the beginning. Archer, the narrator, spent so much time describing his work and the clients his programs helped that it took a little while for me to realize what the conflicts of this tale were going to be. I’m glad I stuck around through those sections, though, because the scenes that came after them were well worth the somewhat slow start.

The ending caught me by surprise in a wonderful and memorable way. While there were a few hints about how what was to come earlier on, I didn’t actually put them all together until after I knew how the final scene would be resolved. This isn’t something that happens to me very often, so it was fascinating to go back and see what I’d missed once I realized that the author had a few tricks up her sleeve.

I’d recommend The Virtual Swallows of Hog Island to anyone who has ever had to grieve over the loss of someone they really loved.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Autobiography of a Traitor and a Half-Savage by Alix E. Harrow

September 28, 2018 By Leave a Comment


The Autobiography of a Traitor and a Half-Savage by Alix E. Harrow
Publisher: Tor Books
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Historical
Length: Short Story (49 pages)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Oona’s blood is a river delta blending east and west, her hair red as Tennessee clay, her heart tangled as the wild lands she maps. By tracing rivers in ink on paper, Oona pins the land down to one reality and betrays her people. Can she escape the bonds of gold and blood and bone that tie her to the Imperial American River Company?

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Oona’s character development was amazing. Not only did I get a perfectly clear understanding of why she’d decided to do things that violated her moral code, I had a great deal of sympathy for the reasons that lead to her making these choices. She was a complex and sympathetic person from the first scene to the last one. The only thing better than getting to know her was seeing how she evolved over the course the of the plot.

It would have been helpful to have clarification about which Native American tribe Oona was supposed to have come from. While I understood why some parts of her family tree were so mysterious for her, not knowing about such an important detail about her life was a little disappointing to me as a reader because of how much else I’d been told about other parts of her life that were much less significant to her.

The ending was as poetic as it was satisfying. I’d come to appreciate the protagonist’s sometimes whimsical approach to describing her past and present. Seeing her continue this trend even to the end of the final paragraph was delightful. It was exactly what I’d expect from Oona, and it left me feeling quite pleased with how her conflicts were resolved.

I’d heartily recommend The Autobiography of a Traitor and a Half-Savage to new and longterm fans of the fantasy genre alike.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The Duke Buys a Bride by Sophie Jordan

September 27, 2018 By 2 Comments


The Duke Buys a Bride by Sophie Jordan
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Historical
Length: Full length (351 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum

A bride wasn’t in his plans . . .

The last thing Marcus, the Duke of Autenberry, expects to see after sleeping off a night’s drunken shenanigans is a woman being auctioned in the village square. Before he can think about the ramifications, he buys her, thinking he’s winning the girl her freedom. Instead, he discovers he’s bought a wife.

A duke wasn’t in hers . . .

Alyse Bell is almost rid of the shackles that bound her in a name-only marriage, but the day her friend promised to purchase her in a wife auction, he vanishes, leaving her to face a mob of unsavory bachelors intent on owning her body and soul. But the appearance of a wicked, wealthy stranger changes her path forever.
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The road to ruin . . .

Marcus doesn’t know what to do with the impertinent chit who clearly isn’t duchess material! Insisting their marriage isn’t legitimate, they leave for his estate in Scotland, hoping to devise a plan to get rid of each other. However, on a journey fraught with misadventure, their attraction grows and Marcus realizes he’ll do anything to keep this fiery woman for his own.

I kid you not. The first sentence made me snort. The first chapter established why I found Marcus, the hero, fascinating and how Alyse, the heroine, came to be in the state she was in, and why I’d want to cheer for her. From there the challenge was to finagle getting the two to meet. Challenge met in a most unusual style. The Duke Buys a Bride is a warm, humorous and delightful adventure in love and romance that seduces a reader as surely as Marcus seduces Alyse. Or is that the other way around? I strongly suspect readers are going to have fun finding out.

This third person point of view tale was so well told, I read it in one day. I grinned many times as I watched Marcus do everything he could to stay a bachelor. I admired Alyse’s determination to one day be her own woman and follow her own dreams only to watch them morph into being more than she imagined – a very unusual duchess.

My only question stems from wondering how an English duke can be an English duke if he intends to live in another country. I’m used to reading about them being hands-on, attending Parliament and doing English Duke-y things in the thick of London or in ‘the country’ in order to keep their coffers plump. Marcus is not typical which made me love this book even more.

The slight detour to Clan MacLarin proved most entertaining, and enlightening. I actually liked the rascally laird and certainly that section is very important to the plot. Someday I hope Ms. Jordan might take readers back there to see what Hunt is doing. His nana was a hoot.

Earlier, I mentioned seduction. For readers who look forward to spicy sheet shenanigans, rest assured they are well written, satisfying and quite sexy.

The Duke Buys a Bride is a wonderful read. It’s charming, engaging and full of fun. Marcus and Alyse were a cute couple. The best part was the epilogue because there, the author showed her cleverness. She wrote a delightful wrap-up and a hook for the next book, all in one. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Early Scrolls by Christine Church

September 26, 2018 By Leave a Comment


The Early Scrolls by Christine Church
(Prequel to Sands of Time) Fate of the True Vampires Book 2
Publisher: Grey Horse Press
Genre: Paranormal, Historical
Length: Short story (126 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

Deep in the nothingness of the Sahara desert, an innovative archaeologist finds a written picture text, the first ever known from the ancient world of Egypt. Linked to many other documents and scrolls found throughout Egypt and the world, this one is different and brings to light a primitive mystery; the arrival and ‘birth’ of the very first beings that would one day be called vampires.

Prequel to Sands of Time
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Kesi’s struggles growing into womanhood are easily related to even today as she learns of her place in the world, what it is to be different, coming to terms with her ever maturing body, her first love, and her need for children. But success is not as effortless as she hopes and her life is thrown into a sandstorm of despair. These are her first writings; a journal of youth, growing up hiding underground and what it is to exist as a blood-drinker in a human world.

Sometimes a story comes along that is both memorable and creative in explaining an ancient myth. This one is not only such a story, but it is also filled with characters a reader can’t help but to love. The little gem of a tale is made up of scrolls found by archaeologists but told in the present tense. Set in ancient Egypt, it provides details so rich that readers can easily picture being there. There is a glossary of sorts for unknown Egyptian words.

In a fascinating beginning, a merchant was traveling in the Sahara. From a sandstorm, gods incarnated into human form in a brilliant visual display. This first encounter is well written, the exchange of languages intriguing. These Pet Mer (Sky Friends–aliens) (vampire-like gods) will live underground. Their motivations toward humans are surprising.

Kesi is the lovable protagonist, and reading her story is a pleasure. She is of Giza, 15th Dynasty. She’s a daughter of the gods, half human, half god. She lives underground, and she and her people have a unique arrangement with humans. The humans were born to serve them, but Kesi wants to befriend them, unlike the other children of the gods. This is a set-up for real trouble. When she develops love for a human, what happens next is heart-wrenching.

The suspense is done with skill. The emotional connection between the characters is touching. There’s a sci-fi explanation of the making of “vampires” in Egypt. It’s cool and makes sense. The romantic passion, young love, is irresistible. Then a terrible question comes up and must be answered. What happens when the truth is exposed?

When Kesi leaves her people and witnesses something new and odd, she becomes entranced. It’s so well written that readers can feel what she does, wonder what she does. She dares to do the unknown, and readers discover with her. While explaining vampire legends, there are some real surprises. When Kesi has so many hard questions facing her, readers will wonder how her dilemmas can be solved. More drama is created when Pharaoh gives her an awful, cringe-worthy punishment for something bad she didn’t mean to do.

I’m glad I read this story and recommend it for its story, characters, and presentation.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,

White Tiger Mate by Keely Jakes

September 24, 2018 By Leave a Comment


White Tiger Mate by Keely Jakes
Publisher: Evernight Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Short Story (65 pages)
Other: M/M, Anal Play
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

When two strong alpha types come together, more than just sparks fly…

Two years ago, General Micah Andrews denied the mating pull he felt for Zach Tyler and walked away. Since then, Micah has been doing his job, but his heart has not been in it. When told he could be dead in six months, he knows it’s time to leave the military and find the man who has never been far from his thoughts.
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Zach Tyler spent two long, lonely years wandering the team lands in his white tiger form. But when Micah shows up in Paladin, Zach returns to his human form to focus on healing his sick mate in the hopes he will not walk away again.

Can Zach forgive his gun-shy mate for denying their mating for so long? Can Micah learn to relax? Will the men be able to put the past to rest in order to look ahead to their future together? Or will the white tiger lose his mate in the end?

Micah was a General and even though he was close enough to taste his retirement, he wasn’t quite finished when Sergeant Zach Tyler had insisted they were mates. “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” might have been lifted, but Micah knew coming out would kill his career in certain circles. And so he had denied Zach and tried to go on with the final stages of his career. Two years later after some dire warnings from his doctor, Micah is ready to finally see if Zach’s predictions were truthful or not. Only will Zach be willing to take another chance on Micah after being burned the first time?

I thoroughly enjoyed this fun short story. While I don’t think reading the previous installments of the Team Paladin series is strictly necessary quite a few of the secondary characters are from the previous stories and so I think I got a lot more from Zach and Micah’s interactions with them because I’d read the earlier stories. That said, I think I’d classify Zach and Micah’s romance story as being a stand-alone, but the world and wider range of characters really is part of the larger series as a whole. I enjoyed seeing the progress the township had made and it was like a quick catch-up with old friends seeing how the many other characters were progressing.

Zach and Micah’s romance was fast-paced and very sexy. There’s a bit of conflict which I personally felt was a little clichéd – albeit very understandable. I enjoyed seeing Zach and Micah face and conquer their personal concerns and demons and find a way to settle together and start a loving and trusting relationship. The sex was hot and explicit and I feel readers who like a bit of spice in their erotic romance should find it very satisfying.

A quick, hot read this is a great addition to a very good series.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Claire’s Last Secret by Marty Ambrose

September 21, 2018 By Leave a Comment


Claire’s Last Secret by Marty Ambrose
A Claire Clairmont historical mystery
Publisher: Severn House
Genre: Historical, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (182 pgs)
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Poinsettia

A tragic death leads Claire Clairmont to be haunted by her past and the ‘summer of 1816’ she shared with Byron and Shelley in this first in an intriguing new historical trilogy.

1873, Florence. Claire Clairmont, the last survivor of the ‘haunted summer of 1816’ Byron/Shelley circle, is living out her final years in genteel poverty, but the appearance of British tourist, William Michael Rossetti, brings hope that she may be able to sell some of her memorabilia to earn enough cash to support her and her niece/companion, Paula.

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One summer changed Claire’s life forever.

Claire is a fascinating character who has never regretted living life on her own terms. She’s impulsive and driven by her emotions. Living with such passion and intensity has brought her joy and sadness. Old age has done little to mellow Claire. She still has a fiery spirit, but when I compare the sections from 1816 to those from 1873, it is clear Claire has learned to think before she acts. I enjoyed getting to know Claire in her youth and maturity.

There is still so much I want to know about Claire and her life. I definitely need to know the fate of Claire’s daughter. I also want to explore Claire’s relationships more, particularly with her stepsister Mary. I found their relationship a bit strange. They spent most of their lives together, but at some point, there was in irreparable rift between them. I’d like to know why. They seemed so close at times, and then at others Mary seemed very insecure about Claire’s friendship with Percy Shelley. Mary’s jealously is completely unfounded in my opinion. Anyone could have seen that Claire only had eyes for Byron.

I really enjoyed the atmosphere that Ms. Ambrose has created. This isn’t a book to race through. Part of the joy in reading it is soaking in all the details of the world around Claire and all the interesting people she’s met. I think it can be a bit difficult to get past viewing Byron and Percy and Mary Shelley solely as giants of literature. However, I think it is important to remember they were real people who loved, lost, and had problems just like everyone else. Ms. Ambrose made them realistic and relatable.

I must say I think the ending is much too abrupt. In fact, it is the sole reason I didn’t give this tale a five-star rating. Much of the book slowly builds tension concerning the mystery of Claire’s daughter and how it connects to a tragic incident in Claire’s present. I relished trying to discern which events in 1873 had roots in 1816. It seemed like anyone could be the enemy, and I enjoyed sifting through everyone’s actions and words trying to discover any hidden motivations. All of a sudden it was over. In the space of a few pages several major events were explained in ways I didn’t find particularly satisfying and didn’t seem to fit with the rest of the story. I can only hope the sequel addresses some of my concerns in greater detail.

I am so glad I had the opportunity to read Claire’s Last Secret. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Claire and can’t wait to learn more about her. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a historical mystery to savor.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Paths to the Stars by Edward Willett

September 21, 2018 By 1 Comment


Paths to the Stars: Twenty-Two Fantastical Tales of Imagination by Edward Willett
Publisher: Shadowpaw Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Horror, Contemporary, Historical
Length: Full Length (327 pages)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

From Edward Willett, Aurora Award-winning author of Marseguro, The Cityborn, and Worldshaper (DAW Books), among many others, comes twenty-two tales of fantasy, science fiction, and horror, drawn from a long career of telling fantastic tales.

A young musician dreams of playing his songs among the stars…A Broadway performer on the lam is forced to direct aliens in The Sound of Music…Strange vegetables with dangerous properties crop up in small-town Saskatchewan…A man with a dark secret gets his comeuppance on a windy night on the prairie…An elderly caretaker on the Moon preserves the memory of the millions who died on Earth’s darkest day…A woman and a bat-like alien must overcome their own prejudices to prevent an interstellar war…

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Time to go exploring…

From dusty, old-fashioned farmhouses from generations ago to gleaming space ships who will fly around in the distant future, there’s something in this collection for a wide variety of tastes.

“Strange Harvest” showed what happened to the community of Drinkwell, Saskatchewan when the farmers and gardeners there began noticing that their crops didn’t look, taste, or behave like anything they’d ever seen before. I was fascinated by the thought of something as ordinary as a potato becoming dangerous for humans to be around. It made me think about farmer’s markets in an entirely different way, although I can’t say much more else about it without giving away spoilers. While I was satisfied with how this one ended, I also would have loved to know what happened to the characters after the final scene.

All of the stories in this anthology had attention-grabbing premises and were a pleasure to read. With that being said, there were a few of them that I thought could have used a little extra development. For example, it took me a while to understand what was happening in ““The Mother’s Keepers.” The protagonist, Praella, didn’t have a good understanding of how her society functioned at all. While I wouldn’t expect a drone like her to know everything, I was surprised by the gaps in her memory, especially once I got to know more about her insect-like race and began to make my own assumptions about how their society was structured and how they reproduced. This tale would have been one of my favorites if I’d had a better understanding of what her species was like and why she knew so little about the practical details of their lives.

Carl, the main character in “The Wind,” was haunted by his memories of his dead wife. Little did he know that a metaphorical haunting might not be the only thing he had to worry about. The plot twists in this tale were as clever as they were fun to read. While I did see them coming in advance, I was still quite curious to know if I’d made the correct assumptions about what the clues in the beginning were hinting at. It was rewarding to find out if I was right and see what happened to this character next.

Paths to the Stars: Twenty-Two Fantastical Tales of Imagination was a creative collection that I’d highly recommend to anyone who appreciates the occasionally humorous side of this genre.

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