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Never After
The bonds of love...
The bonds of matrimony...
The bonds between husband and wife...
Let's face it-some bonds are made to be broken.
Here, for the first time ever, are four stories from today's most provocative authors that take the classic idea of the "faerie tale wedding" and give it a swift kick in the bustle.
The bonds of matrimony...
The bonds between husband and wife...
Let's face it-some bonds are made to be broken.
Here, for the first time ever, are four stories from today's most provocative authors that take the classic idea of the "faerie tale wedding" and give it a swift kick in the bustle.
Paperback, 393 pages
Published
October 27th 2009
by Jove
(first published 2009)
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The focus of the stories in these anthologies all involve girls who are being forced to wed against their will. Laurell K Hamilton headlines the book, but unfortunately her story is both the shortest as well as the least enjoyable. The first story in the book, it ends at the 11% mark on a Kindle - and that includes all of the title pages before the story. The rest of the stories are actually quiet good and make the book a worthwhile purchase.
Laurell's story is more along the lines of a...more
Laurell's story is more along the lines of a...more
A more light-hearted collection of stories that show some of the authors in a different light. We know Ms. Hamilton writes a divers style and here she shows her true wit, clever story development and polish...something we don't always see in the Anita Blake series.
Yasmine Galenorn presents a tale about the selkie community who reside amongst human and supe society, but being one of the newest supernaturals to 'come out' into the human world, they hold fast to some very old traditio...more
Yasmine Galenorn presents a tale about the selkie community who reside amongst human and supe society, but being one of the newest supernaturals to 'come out' into the human world, they hold fast to some very old traditio...more
Surprisingly tame, but most of the leading ladies manage to pull off their own 'happily ever afters' - no fairy godmothers required
From my own expectations, I am guessing that Never After is not at all what most readers are expecting from an anthology headlined by Laurell K Hamilton. In fact, though the mention of a couple topics here and there keeps these from being kiddy bedtime fairy tales, the four stories are pretty much G rated - a kiss is as racy as things get.
1) ...more
From my own expectations, I am guessing that Never After is not at all what most readers are expecting from an anthology headlined by Laurell K Hamilton. In fact, though the mention of a couple topics here and there keeps these from being kiddy bedtime fairy tales, the four stories are pretty much G rated - a kiss is as racy as things get.
1) ...more
As with any anthology, this had some good stories and some weak stories.
I was surprised that I truly enjoyed the Laurell K. Hamilton entry, "Can He Bake a Cherry Pie?," since I'm not fond of her books. It was exactly as long as it needed to be and had a very intriguing story.
Yasmine Galenorn's "The Shadow of Mist" is the weak entry in this anthology. I found the plot muddled, the characters one-note. It just didn't work for me.
Marjorie M. Liu's s...more
I was surprised that I truly enjoyed the Laurell K. Hamilton entry, "Can He Bake a Cherry Pie?," since I'm not fond of her books. It was exactly as long as it needed to be and had a very intriguing story.
Yasmine Galenorn's "The Shadow of Mist" is the weak entry in this anthology. I found the plot muddled, the characters one-note. It just didn't work for me.
Marjorie M. Liu's s...more
Can He Bake A Cherry Pie? .... Laurell Hamilton...
Elinore, a nobleman's daughter who wants entrance back into the king's court betrothes his daughter to a scummy, elderly, pervert earl... before their wedding can be announced, she says she will go to 'Save Prince True'... the current king's elder brother, who 50 years earlier displeased a sorceress with his arrogance, so she enslaved him until a woman's art could win the prince his freedom... the many who tried died or were never seen aga...more
Elinore, a nobleman's daughter who wants entrance back into the king's court betrothes his daughter to a scummy, elderly, pervert earl... before their wedding can be announced, she says she will go to 'Save Prince True'... the current king's elder brother, who 50 years earlier displeased a sorceress with his arrogance, so she enslaved him until a woman's art could win the prince his freedom... the many who tried died or were never seen aga...more
Interesting and entertaining set of fairy tale like stories, all centered on marriages that don't quite work out the way originally planned, but the heroine achieves a "Happy ever after" anyway. Hamilton's story is a take-off on the quest story (and is the shortest of the four stories). Our damsel declares she is off the rescue the long lost prince, rather than marry the old duke her father has selected. This is a quest with a twist, and unexpected results--very clever. Galenorn's ...more
Uma compilação de 4 noveletas inspiradas por típicos contos de encantar, que me deixaram de cara à banda. Li a esperar o pior, e saiu-me das melhores noveletas que tenho lido. Estou sobretudo parva com a senhora Laurel K Hamilton, criticada por muitos pelas suas orgias sobrenaturais na série "Anita Blake - o seu conto foi o melhor, o que só prova o que já disse da Meyers - muito boa quando não está a escrever fantasias masturbatórias.
A única que me desiludiu um bocadinho foi a da ...more
A única que me desiludiu um bocadinho foi a da ...more
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From the back cover:
"The bonds of love... The bonds of matrimony... The bonds between husband and wife... Some bonds are made to be broken. Here, for the first time ever, are four stories based on he classic idea of the "faerie tale wedding"--except this time, the damsels aren't the ones in distress."
Hamilton's name is the biggest one on the cover, but the story is only slightly over 30 pages long. So her story is really there to pull fans. It's nice e...more
"The bonds of love... The bonds of matrimony... The bonds between husband and wife... Some bonds are made to be broken. Here, for the first time ever, are four stories based on he classic idea of the "faerie tale wedding"--except this time, the damsels aren't the ones in distress."
Hamilton's name is the biggest one on the cover, but the story is only slightly over 30 pages long. So her story is really there to pull fans. It's nice e...more
Cute for the most part. There are four stories, three are in the style of classic fairy tales suitable possibly for kids. The fourth seems out of step with the collection, more modern and with adult themes. That is "Shadow of the Mist," I wanted to like it but too much of the story happened 'off the page,' it didn't stand up particularly well on its own. My favorite was the "Tangleroot Palace," although the direction the story takes was predictable, the way it was told ima...more
OK--I have to get this book off my desk and turned back in, so here is my shorter-than-usual review:
These are upside-down romance novellas, with the heroine of each trying to get OUT of marrying someone.
The first two novellas in the book were OK. Laurell K. Hamilton tells a story about a young girl whose father basically sells her to a known pervert/dirty old man/rapist, and she chooses to escape by publicly announcing she's going to rescue an almost-mythical prince, bel...more
These are upside-down romance novellas, with the heroine of each trying to get OUT of marrying someone.
The first two novellas in the book were OK. Laurell K. Hamilton tells a story about a young girl whose father basically sells her to a known pervert/dirty old man/rapist, and she chooses to escape by publicly announcing she's going to rescue an almost-mythical prince, bel...more
This anthology was better than I expected. The Laurell K Hamilton story that starts it off is not one of her better efforts (picture me being polite)... and I almost tossed the book in disgust. I"m glad I didn't.
The other three stories, however, are excellent. Written on the theme of the princess who refuses to marry the man picked out by her father, Yasmine Galenorn, Marjorie M. Liu, and Sharon Shinn all did a great job of interpreting the theme in their own individual ways....more
The other three stories, however, are excellent. Written on the theme of the princess who refuses to marry the man picked out by her father, Yasmine Galenorn, Marjorie M. Liu, and Sharon Shinn all did a great job of interpreting the theme in their own individual ways....more
I let this linger on my shelf, and I read the Laurell K. Hamilton story, and then let it linger on my shelf some more. The story was okay, not her best, and I didn't like the ending. I then read Yasmine Galenorn's story, and was intrigued enough that I wanted to finish it. It also made me reconsider reading her D'Artigo Sisters series. (I had started the first one, but it didn't grab me fast enough, and I gave up in favor of other books I had piling up at the time.) Sharon Shinn's story, of cour...more
Who would have thought that this little book of short stories would be so engaging and entertaining? Very diverting bit of fluff.
The Luarell K. Hamilton story was a nice twist on womanly virtues, and I normally avoid her like the plague.
For Yasmin Galenorn's story, you probably had to have read her books more than I have to really get the full effect, but I liked the pacing and the world.
Marjorie Liu also did a competent and even a bit chilling piece, if a bit conventi...more
The Luarell K. Hamilton story was a nice twist on womanly virtues, and I normally avoid her like the plague.
For Yasmin Galenorn's story, you probably had to have read her books more than I have to really get the full effect, but I liked the pacing and the world.
Marjorie Liu also did a competent and even a bit chilling piece, if a bit conventi...more
I enjoyed this book very much. LKH's story was a refreshing break from the porn she's been shoveling out and restored some of my faith in her. I guess a few people didn't like the book because of this but I thought the stories were lovely fairytales. I like fairytales, and thoroughly believe that PG-13 is a great place for novels to stop. If it were just about sex I would quit reading and go find my husband. I really enjoyed all of the stories except the one about the selkies, as another revi...more
L-D
rated it
Shelves:
vampires,
fae,
magic-witches-mages,
shifters-weres,
urban-fantasy,
anthology,
novella-short
Yasmine Galenorn's contribution "Shadow of Mist" revolves around the D'Artigo sisters' friend Siobhan Morgan, a selkie. Mated and pregnant, she is happy and fulfilled until her ex-fiance, Terrance, returns to fulfill their 100 year old betrothal. Although she ran from Terrance and a dark past, she is now in love with Mitch Childs, a local selkie. Siobhan has to turn to the 1/2 fae sisters to help defeat Terrance and his goons. This story wasn't bad, but I found myself skimming throug...more
Well, I'd sort of given up on Laurell Hamilton for several reasons but mainly because I felt like her lastest books were more about the sex than the story and I didn't understand the reasoning of Anita anymore...well enough about other books.
I really enjoyed this anthology. It was filled with women who bucked the trends, had confidence in themselves, and were willing to say No. I especially enjoyed the story by Sharon Shinn, an author I haven't read before.
Thanks fo...more
I really enjoyed this anthology. It was filled with women who bucked the trends, had confidence in themselves, and were willing to say No. I especially enjoyed the story by Sharon Shinn, an author I haven't read before.
Thanks fo...more
I only read the stories by LKH and Yasmine Galenorn My biggest surprise was the LKH story and it was only 34 pages long. I know stories in anthologies are short,but boy there is short and there is short. Plus the story was so so.
The other story was better, still in the world of the D'Artigo sisters which is a fun place, however a lot of the subject matter of this one wasn't. It did feature a favorite secondary character Siobhan, who discovered a lot about her family history. Not...more
The other story was better, still in the world of the D'Artigo sisters which is a fun place, however a lot of the subject matter of this one wasn't. It did feature a favorite secondary character Siobhan, who discovered a lot about her family history. Not...more
I really got into the little stories of this book and since I'm most familiar with Laurell K Hamilton's work I enjoyed reading a story that doesn't go along with her usual story telling, and I really loved the story she told. It was quick and simple but with a clear underlined message that all women could appreciate. Also this was my first introduction to Yasmine galenorn's writing and story telling, I was deeply intrigued by the story she told, so much so I needed up getting into a few of her b...more
This book is worth picking up if only just for Sharon Shinn's story. I wish Majorie Liu's tale continues, not necessarily what happens afterwards (though that would be enjoyable) but what happened before, the full expanded story of how Tangleroot came to be. Not usually a fan of Laurell K Hamilton, I was surprised at how different her tale was compared to her famous series, unfortunately it falls a little flat. Yasmine Galenorn's story felt like the pacing was wrong and I ended up not really ...more
The best story of the book was #3 "Tangleroot Palace" written by Marjorie M. Liu. I am actually re-reading it now for fun and I'm even more blown away the second time around at Marjorie's creativity. It's very pure & natural... This will be a story I will keep forever in my imagination.
And to add I thought story # 2 by Yasmine Galenorn very irriating. I felt as if I either needed a study guide, or I had to draw a chart or maybe even take notes on the characters to fully und...more
And to add I thought story # 2 by Yasmine Galenorn very irriating. I felt as if I either needed a study guide, or I had to draw a chart or maybe even take notes on the characters to fully und...more
I'll be Honest the only one of the four stories in this i got through was the one by Marjorie Liu. The Tangleroot palace. it was actually very good, sweet and predictable but in the best way, like pulling out your favorite movie to find it hasn't changed. the other stories i can't gush about because i never finished them. i wasn't even really interested in the first two and the last one i tried and found...boring. so overall i think that it was worth the time to read that one story, but if you c...more
Hamilton's "Can He Bake a Cherry Pie?" is a nice (but unremarkable) departure from the, hm, interesting series progressions of Anita Blake and Merry Gentry.
"The Shadow of Mist" is also a bit dull. Evil Terrance is evil.
The last two stories are an improvement, with my favorite being Marjorie M. Liu's "The Tangleroot Palace." Funny, balanced, a slightly crooked faerie tale with a satisfying end.
"The Wrong Bridegroom", although at times refr...more
"The Shadow of Mist" is also a bit dull. Evil Terrance is evil.
The last two stories are an improvement, with my favorite being Marjorie M. Liu's "The Tangleroot Palace." Funny, balanced, a slightly crooked faerie tale with a satisfying end.
"The Wrong Bridegroom", although at times refr...more
I enjoyed this book, but it didn't rock my world. I bought it because I love Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita & Merry books but out of the 4 stories her story "Can He Bake A Cherry Pie", which is not an Anita or Merry story, came in 3rd. My favorite was Majorie M. Liu's "The Tangler Root Palace" followed by Sharon Shinn's "The Wrong Bridegroom" and my least favorite was Yasmine Galenorn's "The Shadow of Mist", it wasn't a bad story it just didn't fit with the o...more
Hamilton's Story - sorry this is going to be blunt... It was LAME!!! Seriously, felt like I was reading some bad adult imitation of a Disney Story/Fairy Tale. Wasn't worth the time to read it, honestly.
Galenorn's Story - This is a Novella to her Otherworld series. Didn't enjoy it as much as one of her other OW Novellas, and compared to the whole OW series it was just okay. It was nice to get more of the story about Siobhan and her life; and how the sisters were able to help her. ...more
Galenorn's Story - This is a Novella to her Otherworld series. Didn't enjoy it as much as one of her other OW Novellas, and compared to the whole OW series it was just okay. It was nice to get more of the story about Siobhan and her life; and how the sisters were able to help her. ...more
I know you have heard it before but… I JUST LOVE anthologies! Here we have 4 fabulous authors telling twisted Faerie Tales based on the classic Faerie Tale wedding… from a baking contest as part of a Princess’s qwest, to a selkie on the run, to a runaway princess and etcetera…
With Marjorie M. Liu - The Tangleroot Palace
Sharon Shinn - The Wrong Bridegroom
Yasmine Galenorn - from The Sisters Of The Moon Series - The Shadow of Mist &
Laurell K Hamilton, Laurell K - Can He...more
With Marjorie M. Liu - The Tangleroot Palace
Sharon Shinn - The Wrong Bridegroom
Yasmine Galenorn - from The Sisters Of The Moon Series - The Shadow of Mist &
Laurell K Hamilton, Laurell K - Can He...more
So I finally got around to reading this over the weekend since I was away from reality and had some me time! I loved it for the fun read that it was.
The reviews so far have been pretty much in line with my own. My favorites in order:
Tangleroot Palace
The Wrong Bridegroom
Can he Bake a Cherry Pie
Shadow of the Mist
I am suprised my girl LKH came in 3rd considering I have never read any of the other authors before and I didn't dislike it, maybe...more
The reviews so far have been pretty much in line with my own. My favorites in order:
Tangleroot Palace
The Wrong Bridegroom
Can he Bake a Cherry Pie
Shadow of the Mist
I am suprised my girl LKH came in 3rd considering I have never read any of the other authors before and I didn't dislike it, maybe...more
I had the pleasure of chatting with Marjorie M Liu awhile back after her interview and really enjoyed an insight into her writing habits. During her interview she mentioned this book among her new releases and I thought it would be a good time to check her work and some of the other authors I haven't read yet (Shinn and Galenorn).
Although the spine labels this as urban fantasy to appeal to the UF/PR crowd, I'd say this was more fantasy/fantasy romance which is one of my top fav...more
view all 6 comments
Four short stories from four very different authors.
Laurell Hamilton's Can He Bake a Cherry Pie? was better than other short stories I've read from her. At least it's not one she'll be rewriting to include as a chapter in her longer works as she didn't use any of those characters. I must agree with another review I read about this--there was lots of rah! rah! women are awesome! but the character didn't do anything to deserve what she got. No trying hard, no real display of "wom...more
Laurell Hamilton's Can He Bake a Cherry Pie? was better than other short stories I've read from her. At least it's not one she'll be rewriting to include as a chapter in her longer works as she didn't use any of those characters. I must agree with another review I read about this--there was lots of rah! rah! women are awesome! but the character didn't do anything to deserve what she got. No trying hard, no real display of "wom...more
Barbara
rated it
I was unimpressed with this collection but I must also say that I'm not a huge fan of anthologies. However, they used Laurell K. Hamilton's name to sell this book and her story was only 38 pages long. What a ripoff! That said here are my thoughts on this book.
Can you bake a cherry pie? - Laurell K. Hamilton
This is written like a fairy tale - all sing-songy and cute. Kinda of take off on Rapunzel only the prince was the captive not the princess. What can you really say about...more
Can you bake a cherry pie? - Laurell K. Hamilton
This is written like a fairy tale - all sing-songy and cute. Kinda of take off on Rapunzel only the prince was the captive not the princess. What can you really say about...more
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Laurell K. Hamilton is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of two series that mix mystery, fantasy, magic, horror and romance. Her Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter novels from Berkley Books began with GUILTY PLEASURES and continues to thrive with over sixteen volumes to the series and an comic adaptation. There are now more than 6 million copies of Anita in print worldwide, in 16 languages. Hamilt...more
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“Prince Charming can go suck rocks. I've met my true love and he's a contractor”
—
3 people liked it
“Now, here. The Warlord sent a likeness of himself.”
Sally frowned, but leaned in for a good long stare. “He looks like a dirty fingerprint.”
“Of course he doesn’t,” replied her father, squinting at the portrait. “You can see his eyes, right there.”
“I thought those were his nostrils.”
“Well, you’re not going to be picky, are you? At least he has a face.”
“Yes,” Sally replied dryly. “What a miracle.”
—
2 people liked it
More quotes…
Sally frowned, but leaned in for a good long stare. “He looks like a dirty fingerprint.”
“Of course he doesn’t,” replied her father, squinting at the portrait. “You can see his eyes, right there.”
“I thought those were his nostrils.”
“Well, you’re not going to be picky, are you? At least he has a face.”
“Yes,” Sally replied dryly. “What a miracle.”
