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Lore
A collection of six folklore retellings that will twist your mind and claim your heart.
A heartbroken boy rescues a mermaid... but is it too late to save her?
BETWEEN is about a girl, a genie, and a ton of bad decisions.
SUNSET Eloise doesn't believe in Native American magic--until the dreamcatcher spiders spin her down an unknown path.
THE An incapacitated young man bent on revenge builds a creature to do it for him.
A BEAUTIFUL The story of a Maya goddess torn between duty and love, and the ultimate sacrifice she must make to achieve true happiness.
THE When a human girl risks everything to save the life of an Eternal prince, will their feelings for each other change the world they know, or tear it apart?
A heartbroken boy rescues a mermaid... but is it too late to save her?
BETWEEN is about a girl, a genie, and a ton of bad decisions.
SUNSET Eloise doesn't believe in Native American magic--until the dreamcatcher spiders spin her down an unknown path.
THE An incapacitated young man bent on revenge builds a creature to do it for him.
A BEAUTIFUL The story of a Maya goddess torn between duty and love, and the ultimate sacrifice she must make to achieve true happiness.
THE When a human girl risks everything to save the life of an Eternal prince, will their feelings for each other change the world they know, or tear it apart?
285 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2014
14 people are currently reading
843 people want to read
About the author
Brinda Berry
24 books689 followersBrinda Berry lives in the southern US with her family. Brinda is obsessed with cairn terriers, Kings of Leon, illustrated cookbooks, new technology and sandy beaches. She dreams of finding the perfect pillow--no small feat. She's also terribly fond of chocolate, coffee, and books that take her away from reality.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
September 10, 2015
*I recieved this book free to read and review. Thanks to Brinda Berry.*
Shimmer: ✮✮✮
This story revolved around the love between a human boy and a mermaid who longs for more than what she has. I loved Cora's feisty spirit and Draven's persistence in wanting to help her. I loved the relationship between them, but I was not too fond of how the book ended. Don't get me wrong, it's not a horrible ending, but I would have preferred if it had ended a different way than how it had ended. Overall, it was a cute quick read with enjoyable characters.
Between: ✮✮
I was not a huge fan of this one, just because I felt like there was a lot left unexplained and I just kept think, "What does that even mean?", or "Why is this relevant?", or "What does this do to add to the story?", but it was still a quick read. I also found myself just overall frustrated with the main character, I couldn't connect with her (I did at times feel bad for what she was going through though) and it kept me from fully enjoying the story. I did like the description of the djinn (or a genie for those who don't know the term we got genie from). The only person that I actually kind of liked was Sienna because nothing she did within the story irked me, and she seemed like the kind of person who genuinely cared about those she claimed to care about.
Sunset Moon: ✮✮✮✮
Scarlet Moon was a fascinating story with very well-written characters. It was a quick read that held my attention from the beginning until the end. It would have been nice to see Eloise have an amazing ending with all her issues resolved, but I will have to settle for the wonderful ending that had occurred. I enjoyed Ms. Wren and Ms. Morgan, but who wouldn't? Ven - Eloise's "love interest" - I wouldn't necessarily call it love because they had just met, but he was a pretty amazing character who wanted to help her without even knowing her.
The Maker: ✮✮
I couldn't get into this book and maybe that's because I'm not really into revenge (although I do understand why he was driven the way he was), it just felt lacking in my opinion with no real attention-grabbing point at all. I did like the myth involving the golem because it's not something that I normally read when I pick up a book, so that was refreshing to read.
A Beautiful Mourning: ✮✮✮✮
This story was beautiful and sweet. The characters were enjoyable, and I loved all but Nacon. I really wished I could have been in that story to shake him, and let him know that men don't own women!! The ending torn my heart to shreds, but it was also a satisfying ending.
The Barricades: ✮✮✮✮✮
This story was fascinating, and hard to put down. It was a borderline forbidden romance that bloomed between the two main characters that was sweet and adorable. The characters were very well written, and instead of there being a damsel in distress there was a prince in distress. I definitely enjoyed that little switch up, because usually it's the opposite. The ending was great, and this story was a great choice to conclude this anthology.
Shimmer: ✮✮✮
This story revolved around the love between a human boy and a mermaid who longs for more than what she has. I loved Cora's feisty spirit and Draven's persistence in wanting to help her. I loved the relationship between them, but I was not too fond of how the book ended. Don't get me wrong, it's not a horrible ending, but I would have preferred if it had ended a different way than how it had ended. Overall, it was a cute quick read with enjoyable characters.
Between: ✮✮
I was not a huge fan of this one, just because I felt like there was a lot left unexplained and I just kept think, "What does that even mean?", or "Why is this relevant?", or "What does this do to add to the story?", but it was still a quick read. I also found myself just overall frustrated with the main character, I couldn't connect with her (I did at times feel bad for what she was going through though) and it kept me from fully enjoying the story. I did like the description of the djinn (or a genie for those who don't know the term we got genie from). The only person that I actually kind of liked was Sienna because nothing she did within the story irked me, and she seemed like the kind of person who genuinely cared about those she claimed to care about.
Sunset Moon: ✮✮✮✮
Scarlet Moon was a fascinating story with very well-written characters. It was a quick read that held my attention from the beginning until the end. It would have been nice to see Eloise have an amazing ending with all her issues resolved, but I will have to settle for the wonderful ending that had occurred. I enjoyed Ms. Wren and Ms. Morgan, but who wouldn't? Ven - Eloise's "love interest" - I wouldn't necessarily call it love because they had just met, but he was a pretty amazing character who wanted to help her without even knowing her.
The Maker: ✮✮
I couldn't get into this book and maybe that's because I'm not really into revenge (although I do understand why he was driven the way he was), it just felt lacking in my opinion with no real attention-grabbing point at all. I did like the myth involving the golem because it's not something that I normally read when I pick up a book, so that was refreshing to read.
A Beautiful Mourning: ✮✮✮✮
This story was beautiful and sweet. The characters were enjoyable, and I loved all but Nacon. I really wished I could have been in that story to shake him, and let him know that men don't own women!! The ending torn my heart to shreds, but it was also a satisfying ending.
The Barricades: ✮✮✮✮✮
This story was fascinating, and hard to put down. It was a borderline forbidden romance that bloomed between the two main characters that was sweet and adorable. The characters were very well written, and instead of there being a damsel in distress there was a prince in distress. I definitely enjoyed that little switch up, because usually it's the opposite. The ending was great, and this story was a great choice to conclude this anthology.
September 27, 2014
*Review can be found here.
It's so hard for me to review short stories. I'm a reader who loves deep story-lines and complex characters, but novellas/anthologies don't always have either of those two things. And it makes it hard for me to like them. But overall, I really enjoyed Lore!
Overall Rating: 3.5 Stars!
Shimmer
A cute, flirty tale of a mermaid and a boy on summer vacation. I liked the two characters a lot, and even though it was a short story, I could still connect with them. Draven is sassy, determined, and just wants to get over his heartbreak. Coral (okay, her name isn't at all fishy) is a tomboy who doesn't have many friends and who can't get close with anyone. She's determined to keep Draven at a distance, but he makes it impossible. And even when she shares her secret, he doesn't run. Draven's and Coral's friendship grows, as do their feelings. But that wasn't the only secret she was keeping. I wish there'd been more information on her ancestry and the mermaids and I think the letter was a bit of a cop-out. But I did love how the ending was left open to the imagination. It ended the story nicely.
3.5 stars.
Between
This story was about a girl who struggled with her identity and sexuality, a girl who made a series of choices that results in unimaginable consequences. To be honest, I was not a fan of this one. I hated the main character. She was mean, and selfish, and too busy worrying about fitting in and pleasing her mother than doing what she wanted. And I would have been okay with that had she actually grown as a character. Yeah, in the end she found her footing. But I still didn't care for her, and she was so freaking clueless about everything. And I was expecting something different with the genie aspect.
2 stars.
Sunset Moon
I liked this story! I've been wanting to read more Native American inspired stories, especially those of its myths and legends. And I enjoyed this one, but everything just felt so rushed. Eloise's character development, the mythology, the relationship between her and Ven. It's hard, because this is a novella, but I wished it'd been longer. I would have gladly read a full-length novel with these characters, this story-line, and the myth. I liked the main character, and I'm glad she realized that she deserved better in life. But I'm still confused on the whole legend that the author was telling. I wanted more details about it.
3 stars.
The Maker
This one was dark and edgy with a main character who was hell-bent on revenge. It kind of felt a little bit Gothic, and I liked the bleakness of it. It was very fast-paced. I thought the main character was a douchebag; he was arrogant, weak, a monster living in the shadows and outskirts after an accident damaged his body and left him for dead. He blamed everyone but himself for it. And then he decided to ruin another person's life because of his mistake. But it wasn't supposed to be cheerful or happy. It was a short story that had a Frankenstein feel to it and that ended how it should have.
3.5 stars.
A Beautiful Mourning
I loved this story of the Mayan gods, forbidden love, and the sacrifices people are willing to make in the name of it. I loved the characters, Ishel and Kinnich, and was rooting for them so badly. Their romance was so sweet. There were also a few secondary characters, one of whom I hated, another I was indifferent about, and the last I loved. And I liked where the story-line headed. It was very heartbreaking, though, but it ended on a high note that made me extremely happy.
4 stars.
The Barricades
I loved this one! I think it was maybe the shortest one out of all of them, but I loved it a lot more than all of these (even the one above). I loved the characters, Daniel and Casey. They were both pretty sassy and determined to do the right thing no matter what. I liked Casey's strong-will and Daniel's protective side. Even if they fell for each other fast, I didn't care. I thought they were great together. This story was very fast-paced, and I loved the world the author created. I would have loved more background on it, but I still enjoyed the descriptions and details given. And that ending was really great; a silver lining of hope intertwined with newfound love.
4 stars.
It's so hard for me to review short stories. I'm a reader who loves deep story-lines and complex characters, but novellas/anthologies don't always have either of those two things. And it makes it hard for me to like them. But overall, I really enjoyed Lore!
Overall Rating: 3.5 Stars!
Shimmer
A cute, flirty tale of a mermaid and a boy on summer vacation. I liked the two characters a lot, and even though it was a short story, I could still connect with them. Draven is sassy, determined, and just wants to get over his heartbreak. Coral (okay, her name isn't at all fishy) is a tomboy who doesn't have many friends and who can't get close with anyone. She's determined to keep Draven at a distance, but he makes it impossible. And even when she shares her secret, he doesn't run. Draven's and Coral's friendship grows, as do their feelings. But that wasn't the only secret she was keeping. I wish there'd been more information on her ancestry and the mermaids and I think the letter was a bit of a cop-out. But I did love how the ending was left open to the imagination. It ended the story nicely.
3.5 stars.
Between
This story was about a girl who struggled with her identity and sexuality, a girl who made a series of choices that results in unimaginable consequences. To be honest, I was not a fan of this one. I hated the main character. She was mean, and selfish, and too busy worrying about fitting in and pleasing her mother than doing what she wanted. And I would have been okay with that had she actually grown as a character. Yeah, in the end she found her footing. But I still didn't care for her, and she was so freaking clueless about everything. And I was expecting something different with the genie aspect.
2 stars.
Sunset Moon
I liked this story! I've been wanting to read more Native American inspired stories, especially those of its myths and legends. And I enjoyed this one, but everything just felt so rushed. Eloise's character development, the mythology, the relationship between her and Ven. It's hard, because this is a novella, but I wished it'd been longer. I would have gladly read a full-length novel with these characters, this story-line, and the myth. I liked the main character, and I'm glad she realized that she deserved better in life. But I'm still confused on the whole legend that the author was telling. I wanted more details about it.
3 stars.
The Maker
This one was dark and edgy with a main character who was hell-bent on revenge. It kind of felt a little bit Gothic, and I liked the bleakness of it. It was very fast-paced. I thought the main character was a douchebag; he was arrogant, weak, a monster living in the shadows and outskirts after an accident damaged his body and left him for dead. He blamed everyone but himself for it. And then he decided to ruin another person's life because of his mistake. But it wasn't supposed to be cheerful or happy. It was a short story that had a Frankenstein feel to it and that ended how it should have.
3.5 stars.
A Beautiful Mourning
I loved this story of the Mayan gods, forbidden love, and the sacrifices people are willing to make in the name of it. I loved the characters, Ishel and Kinnich, and was rooting for them so badly. Their romance was so sweet. There were also a few secondary characters, one of whom I hated, another I was indifferent about, and the last I loved. And I liked where the story-line headed. It was very heartbreaking, though, but it ended on a high note that made me extremely happy.
4 stars.
The Barricades
I loved this one! I think it was maybe the shortest one out of all of them, but I loved it a lot more than all of these (even the one above). I loved the characters, Daniel and Casey. They were both pretty sassy and determined to do the right thing no matter what. I liked Casey's strong-will and Daniel's protective side. Even if they fell for each other fast, I didn't care. I thought they were great together. This story was very fast-paced, and I loved the world the author created. I would have loved more background on it, but I still enjoyed the descriptions and details given. And that ending was really great; a silver lining of hope intertwined with newfound love.
4 stars.
August 19, 2014
I don't usually read anthologies, but this one is pretty good. :)
Shimmer - This is quite a different take on The Little Mermaid. I wish I could say that I was wowed by the story, but sadly no. It's kind of sad and it left me hanging. I thought it was just normal because of the length of the book, however, once I finished all the other stories, this one just pops into my um-open-ended-ending-sucks list.
Between - THIS IS MY VERY FIRST GIRL X GIRL RELATIONSHIP BOOK. At first it was weird for me, but as the story went on, I understood how the main character felt. She is as frustrated and as confused by the events in this book. She just couldn't be herself in front of everybody. She just wants the love, acceptance and attention of her mom, so she resorts into what she thinks is best for her. However, her decision affected the life of a very important person to her. This is her story of forgiveness, wishes and revelations. It has many lessons, but the glaring one would be... (I'm quoting Gobber from How To Train Your Dragon here) "stop trying so hard to be something you're not". I think it's just plain exhausting. Needless to say, this was a good read. :)
Sunset Moon - A troubled girl meets a really troubled boy who leaves her to lie for his ass. Not a fun story? You can say that again. Half the time, I was thinking of virtually hitting the girl on her head for not listening to adults who are there for her. She was given another chance though. A good chance for rebirth. Except for the love story part, I pretty much like this book. This is a good book for all teens because it will make them realize what's important and unimportant in life. This will teach teens not to dwell on the bad parts, but think of what's good instead. Lastly, this book tells everyone that there's hope for everyone.
The Maker - This is probably the creepiest, most disturbing story in this bunch. A guy gets left by his girl after being in an accident. He wanted revenge, but at the same time, he admits to still being obsessed with the girl! He's so confusing. He calls upon an entity which is basically good. He orders this entity to do his bidding to extract revenge on his ex. The ending is kind of bizarre in my opinion. Anyway, this is a good book to read when you feel like you want to have revenge on someone because it shows only one ending and it's not good. REVENGE = BAD KARMA FOR YOU TOO.
A Beautiful Mourning - This is a very good story of forbidden romance. Dieties are one of my favorite type of characters. The possibilities are endless with them. This book is about two of them who finds themselves in love, only to be blocked by a wall named "father". Yeah, I know It's a bit cliche, but I still enjoyed reading about their perils and their sweet moments. I like the setting and its descriptions. I believe that the author made me really imagine the heavens and middle land. The ending is nicely woven. I don't particularly love it, but it's the best that could happen, all things considered.
The Barricades - This story takes on a different angle on fairies. It's has a somewhat dystopian kind of feel. The two main characters comes from two very different worlds. They meet after a very bad scenario. From thereon, the story tell us how they smooth out their differences. I think the main point of this book tells us that trust should be earned and you must choose carefully on whom you give it to. I would be very honest as to say that this would've been better if it was made into a full blown novel. The two main characters have great chemistry (judging from the really short time that they had in the story). The story has a lot of promise if it was continued and expanded. I would read this if it becomes a full blown novel. #pleaseauthorplease :)
All in all, these stories are great. It kept me company for a few days and I enjoyed reading them. Not only did I enjoy their adventure, romance, thrill and full plot, I also enjoyed figuring out lessons behind each story. I recommend this book to the young and young at heart who wants books with meaning. Teens definitely should read this! :) I give this 5 fairy wings!!!
This review can also be seen here on our blog: Musings of the Book-a-holic Fairies, inc.
Shimmer - This is quite a different take on The Little Mermaid. I wish I could say that I was wowed by the story, but sadly no. It's kind of sad and it left me hanging. I thought it was just normal because of the length of the book, however, once I finished all the other stories, this one just pops into my um-open-ended-ending-sucks list.
Between - THIS IS MY VERY FIRST GIRL X GIRL RELATIONSHIP BOOK. At first it was weird for me, but as the story went on, I understood how the main character felt. She is as frustrated and as confused by the events in this book. She just couldn't be herself in front of everybody. She just wants the love, acceptance and attention of her mom, so she resorts into what she thinks is best for her. However, her decision affected the life of a very important person to her. This is her story of forgiveness, wishes and revelations. It has many lessons, but the glaring one would be... (I'm quoting Gobber from How To Train Your Dragon here) "stop trying so hard to be something you're not". I think it's just plain exhausting. Needless to say, this was a good read. :)
Sunset Moon - A troubled girl meets a really troubled boy who leaves her to lie for his ass. Not a fun story? You can say that again. Half the time, I was thinking of virtually hitting the girl on her head for not listening to adults who are there for her. She was given another chance though. A good chance for rebirth. Except for the love story part, I pretty much like this book. This is a good book for all teens because it will make them realize what's important and unimportant in life. This will teach teens not to dwell on the bad parts, but think of what's good instead. Lastly, this book tells everyone that there's hope for everyone.
The Maker - This is probably the creepiest, most disturbing story in this bunch. A guy gets left by his girl after being in an accident. He wanted revenge, but at the same time, he admits to still being obsessed with the girl! He's so confusing. He calls upon an entity which is basically good. He orders this entity to do his bidding to extract revenge on his ex. The ending is kind of bizarre in my opinion. Anyway, this is a good book to read when you feel like you want to have revenge on someone because it shows only one ending and it's not good. REVENGE = BAD KARMA FOR YOU TOO.
A Beautiful Mourning - This is a very good story of forbidden romance. Dieties are one of my favorite type of characters. The possibilities are endless with them. This book is about two of them who finds themselves in love, only to be blocked by a wall named "father". Yeah, I know It's a bit cliche, but I still enjoyed reading about their perils and their sweet moments. I like the setting and its descriptions. I believe that the author made me really imagine the heavens and middle land. The ending is nicely woven. I don't particularly love it, but it's the best that could happen, all things considered.
The Barricades - This story takes on a different angle on fairies. It's has a somewhat dystopian kind of feel. The two main characters comes from two very different worlds. They meet after a very bad scenario. From thereon, the story tell us how they smooth out their differences. I think the main point of this book tells us that trust should be earned and you must choose carefully on whom you give it to. I would be very honest as to say that this would've been better if it was made into a full blown novel. The two main characters have great chemistry (judging from the really short time that they had in the story). The story has a lot of promise if it was continued and expanded. I would read this if it becomes a full blown novel. #pleaseauthorplease :)
All in all, these stories are great. It kept me company for a few days and I enjoyed reading them. Not only did I enjoy their adventure, romance, thrill and full plot, I also enjoyed figuring out lessons behind each story. I recommend this book to the young and young at heart who wants books with meaning. Teens definitely should read this! :) I give this 5 fairy wings!!!
This review can also be seen here on our blog: Musings of the Book-a-holic Fairies, inc.
May 31, 2014
First: Thank you Karen Y. Bynum, for this ecopy you gave me, for an honest review in return!
About Shimmer: I can't remember when I read a story about mermaids. This one was sucking me in the water, I wanted to know why Coral was who she was and what was going on in her mind. I wanted Draven to be happy, because of his broken heart! And I don't say this much either, but I liked the open ending; I can dream about them all over again, with every day another ending ;) haha!
About Between: Another LGTB-story, yay! I like those :) I had to grown a bit in the story though, but with every word I read I felt the love for this story grow. It's about growing up, get to know your feelings and don't be afraid of what you feel. It's about decisions; bad decisions, but I think it was good for Lucy to make them, so she can grow up to a girl who isn't afraid of the rest of the world anymore and will get respect for herself. Loved it!
About Sunset Moon: A story about drugs, an unhealthy relationship and dreamcatchers. Dreamcatchers with spiders and butterflies... What if the dark side is pulling you so hard that you think it's normal that it does, that you deserve it? It's also a story about learning to have to trust people, even when you don't know them at all. Sometimes they can give you the best energy you can get!
About The Maker: I think this was the most dark story of the book. It was cruel sometimes. But it's also about being so angry at someone that you forget everything around you. Is it okay to live like that, even when you are not able to live the life you had before again, and live in all this anger and hell in your heart? What if you can forgive, how will you feel then? Is the anger and revenge worth it? Yep, a story which making me think all these things, haha!
About A Beautiful Mourning: Oh, I wanted more! Such a beautiful lovestory. I also liked the way the world was written down and how the powers of the Gods were described, it was like I was there. It's about how to love and don't be afraid of what you feel, even if it's not like what you used to feel or how it must be.
About The Barricades: a bit of a Romeo and Juliet story! Girl saves boy, while the boy at first is not pleased with this... but then they hang around together and there is a "poof" and both are confused about what they start to feel. What if you love someone from another country, another culture, another world. How to explain this to the rest of your own world, where this feelings are not normal? How to convince them it's right to stay together?
I really liked this book. Maybe you will think the stories have nothing in common at first, but that's not true: they have a lot in common!
It's about believing in yourself, trusting yourself, and don't care about what other people think of you. You are as good as you are, and yes, maybe you make stupid, bad decisions, but you will learn from them. You will grow because of them. And you will respect yourself more because of the lessons you learned.
About Shimmer: I can't remember when I read a story about mermaids. This one was sucking me in the water, I wanted to know why Coral was who she was and what was going on in her mind. I wanted Draven to be happy, because of his broken heart! And I don't say this much either, but I liked the open ending; I can dream about them all over again, with every day another ending ;) haha!
About Between: Another LGTB-story, yay! I like those :) I had to grown a bit in the story though, but with every word I read I felt the love for this story grow. It's about growing up, get to know your feelings and don't be afraid of what you feel. It's about decisions; bad decisions, but I think it was good for Lucy to make them, so she can grow up to a girl who isn't afraid of the rest of the world anymore and will get respect for herself. Loved it!
About Sunset Moon: A story about drugs, an unhealthy relationship and dreamcatchers. Dreamcatchers with spiders and butterflies... What if the dark side is pulling you so hard that you think it's normal that it does, that you deserve it? It's also a story about learning to have to trust people, even when you don't know them at all. Sometimes they can give you the best energy you can get!
About The Maker: I think this was the most dark story of the book. It was cruel sometimes. But it's also about being so angry at someone that you forget everything around you. Is it okay to live like that, even when you are not able to live the life you had before again, and live in all this anger and hell in your heart? What if you can forgive, how will you feel then? Is the anger and revenge worth it? Yep, a story which making me think all these things, haha!
About A Beautiful Mourning: Oh, I wanted more! Such a beautiful lovestory. I also liked the way the world was written down and how the powers of the Gods were described, it was like I was there. It's about how to love and don't be afraid of what you feel, even if it's not like what you used to feel or how it must be.
About The Barricades: a bit of a Romeo and Juliet story! Girl saves boy, while the boy at first is not pleased with this... but then they hang around together and there is a "poof" and both are confused about what they start to feel. What if you love someone from another country, another culture, another world. How to explain this to the rest of your own world, where this feelings are not normal? How to convince them it's right to stay together?
I really liked this book. Maybe you will think the stories have nothing in common at first, but that's not true: they have a lot in common!
It's about believing in yourself, trusting yourself, and don't care about what other people think of you. You are as good as you are, and yes, maybe you make stupid, bad decisions, but you will learn from them. You will grow because of them. And you will respect yourself more because of the lessons you learned.
August 21, 2014
Overall, I liked this anthology. All of the stories were delightfully original, but I enjoyed some better than others.
Shimmer: Sweet summer mer-love at its finest.
Between: I really wanted to like this story (especially since the author is originally from North Carolina), but I found it annoying from beginning to end. It was over the top with designer name dropping and mean girls. Plus, she like it was nothing! Then, to top it all off, new love interest? Seemed a bit shallow to me... but I guess that's high school. Another thing, why would a fair-skinned, red-headed Russian girl become a ? The folklore might've been more believable within another demographic. For me, there were just too many ridiculous holes.
Sunset Moon: Some dreams really do come true.
The Maker: A 3D printed golem? I loved this modern twist on such an ancient story.
A Beautiful Mourning: A gorgeous Mayan tale of love and loss among the gods.
The Barricades: Alternate Fae universe? It seemed like a good theory, but the story lacked detail and explanation. I was confused several times throughout and would've been completely lost had I not read the forward.
Full review: http://casualreadersbookclub.blogspot...
*I received this free copy in return for an honest review, and opinions are mine alone.
Shimmer: Sweet summer mer-love at its finest.
Between: I really wanted to like this story (especially since the author is originally from North Carolina), but I found it annoying from beginning to end. It was over the top with designer name dropping and mean girls. Plus, she like it was nothing! Then, to top it all off, new love interest? Seemed a bit shallow to me... but I guess that's high school. Another thing, why would a fair-skinned, red-headed Russian girl become a ? The folklore might've been more believable within another demographic. For me, there were just too many ridiculous holes.
Sunset Moon: Some dreams really do come true.
The Maker: A 3D printed golem? I loved this modern twist on such an ancient story.
A Beautiful Mourning: A gorgeous Mayan tale of love and loss among the gods.
The Barricades: Alternate Fae universe? It seemed like a good theory, but the story lacked detail and explanation. I was confused several times throughout and would've been completely lost had I not read the forward.
Full review: http://casualreadersbookclub.blogspot...
*I received this free copy in return for an honest review, and opinions are mine alone.
September 7, 2014
Lore was quite an interesting read for me, as well as a nice change from a few reading choices I had just made before diving into this. It is more an anthology of fairy tale retellings. I have to say from the opening story to the closing story they were very beautiful and magical retellings. You can go very wrong when you mess with a world created by another genius. It can become a horrible train wreck. But I found that each story in its own way almost improved on the original. The character were all very well written and the new world created around them were very much brought to life and I enjoyed them. I have to say though, the first story was my favorite. I have a soft spot for mermaid, and the lead female just came off to me as so strong and selfless. She was independent and didn't allow herself to be walked all over. Strong and knowing exactly what she wants even after falling for someone, she still made the sacrifice.
I recommend this book to anyone that likes fairy tales. They are new twists that still hold true to the stories they were evolved from without going to flowery.
*I received a FREE copy via Xpresso Book Tours*
I recommend this book to anyone that likes fairy tales. They are new twists that still hold true to the stories they were evolved from without going to flowery.
*I received a FREE copy via Xpresso Book Tours*
July 23, 2014
*I got this book for free in exchange of an honest review*
Honestly, I could only read through the first and the two last stories. The other three were just horribly written and the storyline is flat and plain ; the characters not well developed... I considered stopping the book after the fourth story, as it really bored me, but then I started the fifth one and I loved it, as well as the last story. The idea is fantastic and the characters are interesting :)
All in all, I loved the idea of 6 "modern" ish folktales ;) I will try to read the three stories I couldn't finish again and update my review if necessary :P
Honestly, I could only read through the first and the two last stories. The other three were just horribly written and the storyline is flat and plain ; the characters not well developed... I considered stopping the book after the fourth story, as it really bored me, but then I started the fifth one and I loved it, as well as the last story. The idea is fantastic and the characters are interesting :)
All in all, I loved the idea of 6 "modern" ish folktales ;) I will try to read the three stories I couldn't finish again and update my review if necessary :P
August 20, 2014
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Lore is an anthology of short stories. It's an easy and quick read. I enjoyed it. It was nice to be able to read one short story and then be able to put it down between stories. I didn't have the urgent need to finish the book in one sitting which can get me in trouble at times, especially at dinner time.
I enjoyed each story. The only one I had a little trouble understanding was "Between". I just really didn't get that one. I loved all the other stories. They all left me with a warm, happy feeling. Overall it's a nice, well-written book.
4-Bombs
Reviewed by Tracy
Lore is an anthology of short stories. It's an easy and quick read. I enjoyed it. It was nice to be able to read one short story and then be able to put it down between stories. I didn't have the urgent need to finish the book in one sitting which can get me in trouble at times, especially at dinner time.
I enjoyed each story. The only one I had a little trouble understanding was "Between". I just really didn't get that one. I loved all the other stories. They all left me with a warm, happy feeling. Overall it's a nice, well-written book.
4-Bombs
Reviewed by Tracy
July 27, 2016
This is a book of short stories, well really myths and tales. Like all books of short stories there were stories I couldn't put down, stories that made me cry, stories that made me think and 1 I couldn't get into, and some that were several of those things. All were well written and i enjoyed the book very much. The publisher gave me the book and I would like to thank them
August 24, 2014
Originally reviewed at Black Heart Magazine: http://blackheartmagazine.com/2014/08...
This collection of myth and magic had me hooked from page one. Which makes sense, as it begins with “Shimmer,” the tale of a girl who can change into a mermaid – and whose family works a fishing boat. Though Coral is misunderstood and hides her changeable nature from everyone, including Draven Manning – a boy her age who rescues her from drowning one night – it’s clear that she’s got a lot more weighing on her mind than the typical adolescent fears and anxieties about school and her relationships. Author Brinda Berry weaves a dark but delightful take on the classic Little Mermaid story that’s much different than Disney’s version, and much more enjoyable. I only wish we could’ve seen more of Coral’s underwater world.
The next story, “Between,” offers a peek behind the Royal curtains to see just what’s at stake for the rich, powerful and popular – in high school. Though Lucy craves affection from her mother, she knows the only way to achieve it is to become slim and join her school’s ruling elite, despite the fact that they’re terrible people who prey on their fellow students with cruel pranks and cutting insults. When she’s finally crowned Queen, she’s got to choose between her summer camp love affair with Natasha – a girl who accepted her just as she was – or the Royals crowd, where popularity is everything. Lucy’s bad decisions have terrifying consequences, but a genie appears to help. Karen Y. Bynum‘s story borrows elements from many different stories, creating something new for readers to enjoy.
Things get even darker in “Sunset Moon,” a story by Laura Diamond that incorporates traditional Blackfoot Nation myths into a modern story of teenage rebellion and rehabilitation.
As you can probably guess from the teenage heroines described thus far, this book is a YA collection starring troubled teens from all walks of life. While the classic fairy tales usually set readers up for Happily Ever Afters with princesses marrying their Prince Charmings, Lore gives us average girls looking to escape their everyday lives and problems at home. But that’s not to say that these girls are ordinary, or that their stories are a dime a dozen. Instead each of the authors in the collection have managed to spin fantastic tales around these girls, showing us just how extraordinary their lives can be.
The question then is whether the magic that helps them succeed in their journeys comes from within or from some outside source – and why?
I enjoyed the fact that these stories were darker than Disney’s versions, especially since the orginal folk and fairy tales were much more frightening than the cartoons suggest. By avoiding the princess cliché, each writer recaptures some of that original menace and fear, spinning a new story from Grimm threads. Additionally, though folk tales often contain a rather preachy lesson to be learned, these stories contain similar morals or guidance for a younger reader, but without the sanctimonious attitude. Told from the point of view of teenage main characters, it’s easy to see how these stories will connect with kids from the same age bracket who are fighting similar battles in their own lives.
Combining stories from a fairly diverse offering (Mayan culture, Native American folklore, Jewish golems, Irish Fae, and more), Lore offers plenty of twists and turns that will surprise and delight readers looking for an escape from the ordinary.
This collection of myth and magic had me hooked from page one. Which makes sense, as it begins with “Shimmer,” the tale of a girl who can change into a mermaid – and whose family works a fishing boat. Though Coral is misunderstood and hides her changeable nature from everyone, including Draven Manning – a boy her age who rescues her from drowning one night – it’s clear that she’s got a lot more weighing on her mind than the typical adolescent fears and anxieties about school and her relationships. Author Brinda Berry weaves a dark but delightful take on the classic Little Mermaid story that’s much different than Disney’s version, and much more enjoyable. I only wish we could’ve seen more of Coral’s underwater world.
The next story, “Between,” offers a peek behind the Royal curtains to see just what’s at stake for the rich, powerful and popular – in high school. Though Lucy craves affection from her mother, she knows the only way to achieve it is to become slim and join her school’s ruling elite, despite the fact that they’re terrible people who prey on their fellow students with cruel pranks and cutting insults. When she’s finally crowned Queen, she’s got to choose between her summer camp love affair with Natasha – a girl who accepted her just as she was – or the Royals crowd, where popularity is everything. Lucy’s bad decisions have terrifying consequences, but a genie appears to help. Karen Y. Bynum‘s story borrows elements from many different stories, creating something new for readers to enjoy.
Things get even darker in “Sunset Moon,” a story by Laura Diamond that incorporates traditional Blackfoot Nation myths into a modern story of teenage rebellion and rehabilitation.
As you can probably guess from the teenage heroines described thus far, this book is a YA collection starring troubled teens from all walks of life. While the classic fairy tales usually set readers up for Happily Ever Afters with princesses marrying their Prince Charmings, Lore gives us average girls looking to escape their everyday lives and problems at home. But that’s not to say that these girls are ordinary, or that their stories are a dime a dozen. Instead each of the authors in the collection have managed to spin fantastic tales around these girls, showing us just how extraordinary their lives can be.
The question then is whether the magic that helps them succeed in their journeys comes from within or from some outside source – and why?
I enjoyed the fact that these stories were darker than Disney’s versions, especially since the orginal folk and fairy tales were much more frightening than the cartoons suggest. By avoiding the princess cliché, each writer recaptures some of that original menace and fear, spinning a new story from Grimm threads. Additionally, though folk tales often contain a rather preachy lesson to be learned, these stories contain similar morals or guidance for a younger reader, but without the sanctimonious attitude. Told from the point of view of teenage main characters, it’s easy to see how these stories will connect with kids from the same age bracket who are fighting similar battles in their own lives.
Combining stories from a fairly diverse offering (Mayan culture, Native American folklore, Jewish golems, Irish Fae, and more), Lore offers plenty of twists and turns that will surprise and delight readers looking for an escape from the ordinary.
August 18, 2014
The cover is initially what drew my attention to this anthology. It is beautifully crafted and hints at the magic inside. With well-written stories and a good editor, this is a nice piece of fiction that will temporarily transport you to worlds filled with magic.
Shimmer: ★★★★
Though not normally a fan of teenage love stories, I was surprised I liked this one. I especially like unexpected take on the physical appearance of mermaids. My heart ached for Coral, who is torn between helping the Mer people thrive and her new love for Draven. This story didn't have a happy-ever-after ending, but it wasn't exactly horrible either.
Between: ★★★
How can one person possibly make so many bad decisions and stupid mistakes? It took Lucy much too long to try to make things right. And I found that frustrating. It was as if her character refused to grow. Though I found the djinn lore fascinating, plopping it into a story with snobby high school girls ruined it for me. I have always disliked those cliques, so this story didn't appeal to me as much as it could have.
Sunset Moon: ★★★★
Being of Native American decent, though far removed, and knowing very little of that lineage, I found the lore of the Blackfeet American Indian mythology very interesting. I like Sunset Moon very much. Eloise is one of those characters that starts at rock bottom. You know there's nowhere to go but up, but still she fights it. At first. By the end, she has grown in such a tremendous way that she is almost unrecognizable. Author Laura Diamond did a fantastic job making that happen, which would seem an impossible feat in a short story. So, I say kudos to her.
The Maker: ★★★★★
I was intrigued from the start. And not only because I've always loved the myth of the golem. The last golem I read about was made of dry leaves and debri from an alleyway, and was terrifying. This modern golem, who looks like a cross between Ashton Kutcher, Leonardo CiCaprio, and its handsome maker, is so very different. Though bound to obey his creator, Brett, the golem known as Jake has a conscience. The last line made me teary-eyed. I won't spoil it for you, but this story that started out with heartbreak, anguish, and anger ended beautifully.
A Beautiful Mourning: ★★
I didn't feel a connection with the characters in this fable. Oddly enough, my favorite character was Balad, who only spoke a handful of words.
The Barricades: ★★★★★
This is quite possibly the best short story I've read in some time! It was so much more than a young love story. Under that is a tale about seeing past our differences and accepting individuals as just that - individuals. Set on another planet after humans and Fae fled a dying Earth, this story is a blend of sci-fi, supernatural, and a pinch of romance. Definitely my favorite of the anthology! I love how three-dimensional the characters are, and I'm amazed that the author was able to accomplish that in such a short space. I can only hope that the characters continue speak to author Cate Dean so that she will write more of their story because this was simply not enough!
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
This review originally posted at Twisted Book Junkie
Shimmer: ★★★★
Though not normally a fan of teenage love stories, I was surprised I liked this one. I especially like unexpected take on the physical appearance of mermaids. My heart ached for Coral, who is torn between helping the Mer people thrive and her new love for Draven. This story didn't have a happy-ever-after ending, but it wasn't exactly horrible either.
Between: ★★★
How can one person possibly make so many bad decisions and stupid mistakes? It took Lucy much too long to try to make things right. And I found that frustrating. It was as if her character refused to grow. Though I found the djinn lore fascinating, plopping it into a story with snobby high school girls ruined it for me. I have always disliked those cliques, so this story didn't appeal to me as much as it could have.
Sunset Moon: ★★★★
Being of Native American decent, though far removed, and knowing very little of that lineage, I found the lore of the Blackfeet American Indian mythology very interesting. I like Sunset Moon very much. Eloise is one of those characters that starts at rock bottom. You know there's nowhere to go but up, but still she fights it. At first. By the end, she has grown in such a tremendous way that she is almost unrecognizable. Author Laura Diamond did a fantastic job making that happen, which would seem an impossible feat in a short story. So, I say kudos to her.
The Maker: ★★★★★
I was intrigued from the start. And not only because I've always loved the myth of the golem. The last golem I read about was made of dry leaves and debri from an alleyway, and was terrifying. This modern golem, who looks like a cross between Ashton Kutcher, Leonardo CiCaprio, and its handsome maker, is so very different. Though bound to obey his creator, Brett, the golem known as Jake has a conscience. The last line made me teary-eyed. I won't spoil it for you, but this story that started out with heartbreak, anguish, and anger ended beautifully.
A Beautiful Mourning: ★★
I didn't feel a connection with the characters in this fable. Oddly enough, my favorite character was Balad, who only spoke a handful of words.
The Barricades: ★★★★★
This is quite possibly the best short story I've read in some time! It was so much more than a young love story. Under that is a tale about seeing past our differences and accepting individuals as just that - individuals. Set on another planet after humans and Fae fled a dying Earth, this story is a blend of sci-fi, supernatural, and a pinch of romance. Definitely my favorite of the anthology! I love how three-dimensional the characters are, and I'm amazed that the author was able to accomplish that in such a short space. I can only hope that the characters continue speak to author Cate Dean so that she will write more of their story because this was simply not enough!
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
This review originally posted at Twisted Book Junkie
April 4, 2015
“A beautiful Mourning” is a story in the Lore anthology.
The Ancient Maya civilization is often viewed in modern society as bloodthirsty and cruel. But hidden beneath their common practices of human sacrifice and bloodletting, secret gems of love and altruism can be found.
A Beautiful Mourning is just that—the tale of two middleworld (earth) deities who give up everything for love. The flower goddess, Ishel, (also known as Xochiquetzal) and the sun god, Kinich, take center stage in this prequel to determining the fate of all mortals.
´*•.¸(*•.¸♥¸.•*´)¸.•*´Review´*•.¸(*•.¸♥¸.•*´)¸.•*´
Ishel takes care of the greenery of the middleworld. She loves the mortals and wants nothing more than for them to be happy. Their happiness reminded her of her own sorrow though and a part of her maybe even envies them. The mortals are allowed to love freely while her love was given away by her father.
“I have no shame in admitting I need you.”
This is a short tale of a sweet, forbidden love. Kinich is desperate for Ishel’s love and Ishel is desperate for Kinich’s love. But with her hand already promised to someone else, Nacon, their hands are tied. Their deep sorrow for the situation will only grow deeper with time and eventually they will have to make certain sacrifices if they want to be together.
Ishel’s father isn’t necessarily a cruel man, it pains him to see his daughter unhappy. His distress is very much evident but he is a man of his word. I could live with that, I couldn’t live with him not doing anything to help Ishel, he didn’t even offer solutions…
Nacon may be the bad guy here, but he’s not. Not really. He is capable of feeling love, even showing mercy. Which goes completely against his nature as the god of war and wrath.
“You believe my heart to be black.” He lowered his tone even more and pulled me closer to him. “That was true until the day I first saw you.”
I think I might love Nacon more at this point. Even found myself hoping Ishel would grow to love him instead of Kinich.
Everything about this story is just lovely. Bit clichey with the dramatics but the blurring lines between love and hate, good and evil is evident. In my opinion the latter is a key element in most myths and Ms. DaLayne nailed it. I love myths so I couldn’t resist the temptation to read this and if I didn’t know better I’d say I’d just read a real myth. I’d just wish it was longer, but that’s a minor ‘issue’. Anyway I really liked the writing style and I’m curious to what she will come up with next!
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3.5 stars
♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ I was gifted a copy of the anthology in exchange for an honest review.♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥
The Ancient Maya civilization is often viewed in modern society as bloodthirsty and cruel. But hidden beneath their common practices of human sacrifice and bloodletting, secret gems of love and altruism can be found.
A Beautiful Mourning is just that—the tale of two middleworld (earth) deities who give up everything for love. The flower goddess, Ishel, (also known as Xochiquetzal) and the sun god, Kinich, take center stage in this prequel to determining the fate of all mortals.
´*•.¸(*•.¸♥¸.•*´)¸.•*´Review´*•.¸(*•.¸♥¸.•*´)¸.•*´
Ishel takes care of the greenery of the middleworld. She loves the mortals and wants nothing more than for them to be happy. Their happiness reminded her of her own sorrow though and a part of her maybe even envies them. The mortals are allowed to love freely while her love was given away by her father.
“I have no shame in admitting I need you.”
This is a short tale of a sweet, forbidden love. Kinich is desperate for Ishel’s love and Ishel is desperate for Kinich’s love. But with her hand already promised to someone else, Nacon, their hands are tied. Their deep sorrow for the situation will only grow deeper with time and eventually they will have to make certain sacrifices if they want to be together.
Ishel’s father isn’t necessarily a cruel man, it pains him to see his daughter unhappy. His distress is very much evident but he is a man of his word. I could live with that, I couldn’t live with him not doing anything to help Ishel, he didn’t even offer solutions…
Nacon may be the bad guy here, but he’s not. Not really. He is capable of feeling love, even showing mercy. Which goes completely against his nature as the god of war and wrath.
“You believe my heart to be black.” He lowered his tone even more and pulled me closer to him. “That was true until the day I first saw you.”
I think I might love Nacon more at this point. Even found myself hoping Ishel would grow to love him instead of Kinich.
Everything about this story is just lovely. Bit clichey with the dramatics but the blurring lines between love and hate, good and evil is evident. In my opinion the latter is a key element in most myths and Ms. DaLayne nailed it. I love myths so I couldn’t resist the temptation to read this and if I didn’t know better I’d say I’d just read a real myth. I’d just wish it was longer, but that’s a minor ‘issue’. Anyway I really liked the writing style and I’m curious to what she will come up with next!
´*•.¸(*•.¸♥¸.•*´)¸.•*´Rating´*•.¸(*•.¸♥¸.•*´)¸.•*´
3.5 stars
♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥ I was gifted a copy of the anthology in exchange for an honest review.♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥
July 23, 2014
***Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for a review.***
LORE is an anthology of six short stories based on various myths and mythologies ranging from Native American to Aztec to Hebrew. It’s a bit of an odd mix but they’re all pretty interesting. And unlike Disney, it ain’t always a Happily Ever After ending.
Shimmer by Brinda Berry- a young mermaid struggles to assimilate into the modern world. But does she even want to… especially after meeting a handsome young man? Don’t look for Little Mermaid here; this is a New Adult tale laden with angst and conflict.
Between by Karen Bynum- high school peer pressure boils over when uptown girl Lucy has to decide between popularity and Natasha, the girl she loves. The choice she’ll make changes everything, and the consequences may be more than she can bear. Tragedy, drama and sorrow- this one’s loaded like Shakespeare. With djinn, no less.
Sunset Moon by Laura Diamond – Eloise is a troubled young girl sent to connect with her Native American heritage in an attempt to steer her away from self-destruction. The signs are all there, but is it truly the beginnings of a spiritual journey or just a really bad high? This one’s full on teen rebellion complete with drugs and abusive boyfriend. Too much time spent on her tragic backstory and buildup, and not enough on the mysticism and Native culture; plus the romance seemed forced.
The Maker by Jayne Knolls- after a car accident leaves his mind and body shattered, Brett seeks ice cold revenge on his ex-girlfriend Cassandra for abandoning him in the wreck, dished and dispensed by the best golem his money and intellect can buy and create. But will it be enough for this modern-day Frankenstein? Or his creation? Got all the makings of a good ol’ fashioned horror story in this one.
A Beautiful Mourning by Theresa DaLayne- Aztec gods Ishel and Kinich pledge their eternal love to one another, despite her betrothal to Nacon. Their love compels them to flee to the middle world, jeopardizing all of Nature and incurring her father’s and Nacon’s wrath. Kinda on the light side and a little confusing on the magical elements. The non-speaking character Balam was the best part of it.
The Barricades by Cate Dean- Celtic gods and humans have resettled on a distant planet. Humans are driven into servitude and squalor while the Eternals reign over them once again. Daniel, son of an Eternal and a human, finds himself entangled in a fatal conspiracy and only a human girl can save him. Very intriguing premise that teases you with the possibilities. Thankfully the author plans on expanding upon it.
It’s an interesting collection of shorts- all new twists on the old favorites. Read and enjoy.
LORE is an anthology of six short stories based on various myths and mythologies ranging from Native American to Aztec to Hebrew. It’s a bit of an odd mix but they’re all pretty interesting. And unlike Disney, it ain’t always a Happily Ever After ending.
Shimmer by Brinda Berry- a young mermaid struggles to assimilate into the modern world. But does she even want to… especially after meeting a handsome young man? Don’t look for Little Mermaid here; this is a New Adult tale laden with angst and conflict.
Between by Karen Bynum- high school peer pressure boils over when uptown girl Lucy has to decide between popularity and Natasha, the girl she loves. The choice she’ll make changes everything, and the consequences may be more than she can bear. Tragedy, drama and sorrow- this one’s loaded like Shakespeare. With djinn, no less.
Sunset Moon by Laura Diamond – Eloise is a troubled young girl sent to connect with her Native American heritage in an attempt to steer her away from self-destruction. The signs are all there, but is it truly the beginnings of a spiritual journey or just a really bad high? This one’s full on teen rebellion complete with drugs and abusive boyfriend. Too much time spent on her tragic backstory and buildup, and not enough on the mysticism and Native culture; plus the romance seemed forced.
The Maker by Jayne Knolls- after a car accident leaves his mind and body shattered, Brett seeks ice cold revenge on his ex-girlfriend Cassandra for abandoning him in the wreck, dished and dispensed by the best golem his money and intellect can buy and create. But will it be enough for this modern-day Frankenstein? Or his creation? Got all the makings of a good ol’ fashioned horror story in this one.
A Beautiful Mourning by Theresa DaLayne- Aztec gods Ishel and Kinich pledge their eternal love to one another, despite her betrothal to Nacon. Their love compels them to flee to the middle world, jeopardizing all of Nature and incurring her father’s and Nacon’s wrath. Kinda on the light side and a little confusing on the magical elements. The non-speaking character Balam was the best part of it.
The Barricades by Cate Dean- Celtic gods and humans have resettled on a distant planet. Humans are driven into servitude and squalor while the Eternals reign over them once again. Daniel, son of an Eternal and a human, finds himself entangled in a fatal conspiracy and only a human girl can save him. Very intriguing premise that teases you with the possibilities. Thankfully the author plans on expanding upon it.
It’s an interesting collection of shorts- all new twists on the old favorites. Read and enjoy.
January 21, 2015
Full review @ https://aprillwood.wordpress.com/2015...
Shimmer by Brinda Berry
A beautifully told YA love story between a boy named Draven and a mer named Coral. Summer love with a fantasy twist! One of my favorites in the anthology, and a great story to kick off Lore: Tales of Myth and Legend Retold. (5 Stars)
Between, by Karen Y. Bynum
Between was another really good YA/Fantasy story in this anthology. Two teenage lesbian lovers, a butterfly charm that releases a genie, ‘mean girls’, and a whole lot of regret.
A great, well-written story that explores teenage angst, and homophobia. I also learned from this story what the word Genie comes from! -(Djinn) (5 Stars)
Sunset Moon, by Laura Diamond
I picked up this anthology BECAUSE OF Sunset Moon, and I am glad that I had. It’s a great short story about a young, troubled juvenile delinquent who is sent off to a Native American group home, in exchange for doing time.Sunset Moon is a wonderfully crafted story that will forever change the way I look at dreamcatchers! (5 stars)
The Maker, by Jayne A. Knolls
The Maker is a story about revenge, based loosely on the myth of Golem.
A young man left incapacitated by a car accident, creates a “man” to exact revenge against his ex-girlfriend who left him behind, for dead.
“Ressurect, reanimate, revenge.”
This story wasn’t my favorite, and I actually felt bad for Jake who was a pawn in his master’s game. I wasn’t able to connect with the main character, Brett, due to his bitter nature. Overall, it was OK. (3 Stars)
A Beautiful Mourning, by Theresa Dalayne
This is a story about the Sun God, and the Flower Goddess, who give up everything in the name of love.
A wonderfully told fantasy tale based loosely on Mayan mythology, with vivid descriptions that will transport you into the middleworld with the characters.
The ending was bittersweet. I didn’t know whether to cry or smile!
Definitely worth a read! (4 stars)
The Barricades, by Cate Dean.
The Barricades is a fantasy story about a girl named Casey who saves an ‘eternal’ boy named Daniel who is gravely wounded. Casey goes where no mortal human dares to go, in order to save his life…
I liked this story, and enjoyed the ‘star crossed lovers’ romance between Casey and Daniel. I also liked that the setting wasn’t on earth, and that Fae and humans coexisted together. (4 stars)
Overall, I enjoyed these short fantasy stories, some more than others, and I am giving the anthology 4 stars.
Shimmer by Brinda Berry
A beautifully told YA love story between a boy named Draven and a mer named Coral. Summer love with a fantasy twist! One of my favorites in the anthology, and a great story to kick off Lore: Tales of Myth and Legend Retold. (5 Stars)
Between, by Karen Y. Bynum
Between was another really good YA/Fantasy story in this anthology. Two teenage lesbian lovers, a butterfly charm that releases a genie, ‘mean girls’, and a whole lot of regret.
A great, well-written story that explores teenage angst, and homophobia. I also learned from this story what the word Genie comes from! -(Djinn) (5 Stars)
Sunset Moon, by Laura Diamond
I picked up this anthology BECAUSE OF Sunset Moon, and I am glad that I had. It’s a great short story about a young, troubled juvenile delinquent who is sent off to a Native American group home, in exchange for doing time.Sunset Moon is a wonderfully crafted story that will forever change the way I look at dreamcatchers! (5 stars)
The Maker, by Jayne A. Knolls
The Maker is a story about revenge, based loosely on the myth of Golem.
A young man left incapacitated by a car accident, creates a “man” to exact revenge against his ex-girlfriend who left him behind, for dead.
“Ressurect, reanimate, revenge.”
This story wasn’t my favorite, and I actually felt bad for Jake who was a pawn in his master’s game. I wasn’t able to connect with the main character, Brett, due to his bitter nature. Overall, it was OK. (3 Stars)
A Beautiful Mourning, by Theresa Dalayne
This is a story about the Sun God, and the Flower Goddess, who give up everything in the name of love.
A wonderfully told fantasy tale based loosely on Mayan mythology, with vivid descriptions that will transport you into the middleworld with the characters.
The ending was bittersweet. I didn’t know whether to cry or smile!
Definitely worth a read! (4 stars)
The Barricades, by Cate Dean.
The Barricades is a fantasy story about a girl named Casey who saves an ‘eternal’ boy named Daniel who is gravely wounded. Casey goes where no mortal human dares to go, in order to save his life…
I liked this story, and enjoyed the ‘star crossed lovers’ romance between Casey and Daniel. I also liked that the setting wasn’t on earth, and that Fae and humans coexisted together. (4 stars)
Overall, I enjoyed these short fantasy stories, some more than others, and I am giving the anthology 4 stars.
May 14, 2015
Review first published on my blog, Pieces of Whimsy
This was a good anthology and I enjoyed all six of the stories, some to a greater extent than others, but all were fun to read. I'm going to be writing mini reviews for each of the books, just giving a little insight into what I enjoyed and what I felt needed a little more work.
Shimmer 3.5/5 - I enjoyed this story, it wasn't my favourite from the anthology, but it was fun and you can't go wrong with a good mermaid story! It was short and sweet and I liked the ambiguous, fairytale-esque ending.
Between 3/5 - I liked the idea for this story but I didn't have a great connection with the MC and I was left feeling a bit unsatisfied. I didn't get enough information about what was going on to understand or empathise with the MC's behaviour. However, I did enjoy the genie mythology.
Sunset Moon 4/5 - I loved the lore in this story. It wasn't something I'd really come across before and it was nice having a story encompassing some of the beliefs of a different culture. The characters were enjoyable and real, as were the different situations in the story.
The Maker 3.5/5 - This was an interesting story and was definitely very dark compared to the rest of the anthology. Again, I found the golem mythology really interesting as it wasn't something I'd read before and I felt the book had quite a dark fairytale air to it.
A Beautiful Mourning 4.5/5 - I really enjoy mythology involving gods/goddesses and this was no exception. One of my favourite things about this story was that even though it was short, I got a really good feeling for the mythology and story behind the characters. The story was really sweet and I really liked the characters and writing style.
The Barricades 4.5/5 - This was my favourite book in the anthology. I loved the story and the characters and even though it was a formula we've seen before, I like how the author put their own little twists and made it their own. My own problem was that it was so short and I wanted more!
This was a good anthology and I enjoyed all six of the stories, some to a greater extent than others, but all were fun to read. I'm going to be writing mini reviews for each of the books, just giving a little insight into what I enjoyed and what I felt needed a little more work.
Shimmer 3.5/5 - I enjoyed this story, it wasn't my favourite from the anthology, but it was fun and you can't go wrong with a good mermaid story! It was short and sweet and I liked the ambiguous, fairytale-esque ending.
Between 3/5 - I liked the idea for this story but I didn't have a great connection with the MC and I was left feeling a bit unsatisfied. I didn't get enough information about what was going on to understand or empathise with the MC's behaviour. However, I did enjoy the genie mythology.
Sunset Moon 4/5 - I loved the lore in this story. It wasn't something I'd really come across before and it was nice having a story encompassing some of the beliefs of a different culture. The characters were enjoyable and real, as were the different situations in the story.
The Maker 3.5/5 - This was an interesting story and was definitely very dark compared to the rest of the anthology. Again, I found the golem mythology really interesting as it wasn't something I'd read before and I felt the book had quite a dark fairytale air to it.
A Beautiful Mourning 4.5/5 - I really enjoy mythology involving gods/goddesses and this was no exception. One of my favourite things about this story was that even though it was short, I got a really good feeling for the mythology and story behind the characters. The story was really sweet and I really liked the characters and writing style.
The Barricades 4.5/5 - This was my favourite book in the anthology. I loved the story and the characters and even though it was a formula we've seen before, I like how the author put their own little twists and made it their own. My own problem was that it was so short and I wanted more!
September 10, 2014
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**
Lore: Tales of Myth and Legend Retold is a young adult myth/legend and paranormal anthology. It is a collection of 6 short stories. On its' face it looks like it would be right up my alley. I mean, I love myths and mythology! That is so my thing. And if I had picked up this book before I started blogging, I probably would have enjoyed it more. Because before I started blogging, I didn't have very high expectations of short stories. I didn't think you could pack enough detail into the story to make it interesting and to give me a chance to connect with the characters in so few pages. And that was the majority of my problems with Lore. BUT since I have been blogging, I have found some truly awesome and amazing anthologies. Anthologies where I am in awe, and asking how on earth did the author do that in 70-100 pages?? or even less. And because I have now seen the anthology light, I was disappointed in Lore.
There were two stories that did enjoy- The Maker and The Barricades. I found them to be fun and interesting, but the other four stories I was disinterested in...at best. Some I flat out did not enjoy. The Maker is the 4th story and The Barricades is the 6th one. Check those out if you have the book. I don't want single out any of the other stories or fault the authors because I feel like short stories are a different kind of beast than full length novels. So I still want to see what each of the authors can do with a full length book.
The Maker is a story about a gollum...hello how cool is that?? And the Barricades is about the Fae, and I love me some Fae. (on a side note, I am really digging the fae at the moment...does anyone know of a good new adult Fae book, please let me know!) If you love anthologies and YA myth and fantasy, I hope Lore works out for you. It just didn't do it for me. But I did find two new short stories that I enjoyed so that is positive.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Lore: Tales of Myth and Legend Retold is a young adult myth/legend and paranormal anthology. It is a collection of 6 short stories. On its' face it looks like it would be right up my alley. I mean, I love myths and mythology! That is so my thing. And if I had picked up this book before I started blogging, I probably would have enjoyed it more. Because before I started blogging, I didn't have very high expectations of short stories. I didn't think you could pack enough detail into the story to make it interesting and to give me a chance to connect with the characters in so few pages. And that was the majority of my problems with Lore. BUT since I have been blogging, I have found some truly awesome and amazing anthologies. Anthologies where I am in awe, and asking how on earth did the author do that in 70-100 pages?? or even less. And because I have now seen the anthology light, I was disappointed in Lore.
There were two stories that did enjoy- The Maker and The Barricades. I found them to be fun and interesting, but the other four stories I was disinterested in...at best. Some I flat out did not enjoy. The Maker is the 4th story and The Barricades is the 6th one. Check those out if you have the book. I don't want single out any of the other stories or fault the authors because I feel like short stories are a different kind of beast than full length novels. So I still want to see what each of the authors can do with a full length book.
The Maker is a story about a gollum...hello how cool is that?? And the Barricades is about the Fae, and I love me some Fae. (on a side note, I am really digging the fae at the moment...does anyone know of a good new adult Fae book, please let me know!) If you love anthologies and YA myth and fantasy, I hope Lore works out for you. It just didn't do it for me. But I did find two new short stories that I enjoyed so that is positive.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
May 22, 2014
*I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Shimmer
This is a story about nothing more than INSTALOVE. Most of the tales in this anthology suffer from it - considering how short they are - though this one more than the others. It's unclear if the boy and the mermaid ended up together at the end. Which pisses me off because if you're going to use instalove in your story you might as well go ahead and give your readers the happily ever after they're expecting.
Between
It ended on a good note but I still felt sad about Natasha. She had plenty of healthy, happy years ahead of her but she cut those years short just because Lucy couldn't love her the way she wanted her to. Not a good enough reason to off yourself AND put a rain cloud above my head for the rest of the day.
Sunset Moon
This was my favorite in the bunch. I really liked Eloise - and, of course, her sarcasm - and I was glad her character grew in the end and she strayed from such a destructive path.
The Maker
I had no idea what a Golum was until I read this story. The idea of one is actually fascinating - your entire future would be secured if you created one for yourself. You'd have a loyal servant, friend and partner for life. The main character in this story created his Golum for revenge purposes though. The ending was quite sad.
A Beautiful Mourning
A tale with a happy-ish ending. I was overjoyed that Ishel and Kinich finally got to be together after all those life-or-death obstacles that stood in the way of their love... but I felt sorry for their baby girl. She'd never really get to know her parents.
The Barricades
I was left feeling unsatisfied at the end of this one. I would've liked to delve deeper into the lives of the Royal Fae. And I especially would've liked to meet their "Queen".
---
All the stories were interesting and creatively-written... but all the death that occured really dampened my mood. I can see others enjoying it for its gloomy outcomes... but from me, this book receives only two and a half stars.
Shimmer
This is a story about nothing more than INSTALOVE. Most of the tales in this anthology suffer from it - considering how short they are - though this one more than the others. It's unclear if the boy and the mermaid ended up together at the end. Which pisses me off because if you're going to use instalove in your story you might as well go ahead and give your readers the happily ever after they're expecting.
Between
It ended on a good note but I still felt sad about Natasha. She had plenty of healthy, happy years ahead of her but she cut those years short just because Lucy couldn't love her the way she wanted her to. Not a good enough reason to off yourself AND put a rain cloud above my head for the rest of the day.
Sunset Moon
This was my favorite in the bunch. I really liked Eloise - and, of course, her sarcasm - and I was glad her character grew in the end and she strayed from such a destructive path.
The Maker
I had no idea what a Golum was until I read this story. The idea of one is actually fascinating - your entire future would be secured if you created one for yourself. You'd have a loyal servant, friend and partner for life. The main character in this story created his Golum for revenge purposes though. The ending was quite sad.
A Beautiful Mourning
A tale with a happy-ish ending. I was overjoyed that Ishel and Kinich finally got to be together after all those life-or-death obstacles that stood in the way of their love... but I felt sorry for their baby girl. She'd never really get to know her parents.
The Barricades
I was left feeling unsatisfied at the end of this one. I would've liked to delve deeper into the lives of the Royal Fae. And I especially would've liked to meet their "Queen".
---
All the stories were interesting and creatively-written... but all the death that occured really dampened my mood. I can see others enjoying it for its gloomy outcomes... but from me, this book receives only two and a half stars.
February 12, 2015
A collection of six folklore re-telling that will twist your mind and claim your heart.
SHIMMER: A heartbroken boy rescues a mermaid... but is it too late to save her?
An interesting tale about a youngMermaid and human, I enjoyed the background given to both of the characters, and to how the story concluded.
BETWEEN is about a girl, a genie, and a ton of bad decisions.
After a summer at a Fat Camp, Lucy returns to a new start at her old school. A necklace given to her from Natasha holds the key to her dealing with a Genie.
SUNSET MOON: Eloise doesn't believe in Native American magic--until the dream catcher spiders spin her down an unknown path.
I enjoyed reading this story, about Eloise and learning more about her family, her Dreamcatcher, and her potential.
THE MAKER: An incapacitated young man bent on revenge builds a creature to do it for him.
Interesting idea of the Golem and the reason behind it.
A BEAUTIFUL MOURNING: The story of a Maya goddess torn between duty and love, and the ultimate sacrifice she must make to achieve true happiness.
I enjoyed this story and was sad to reach the end about the Mayan Gods.
THE BARRICADES: When a human girl risks everything to save the life of an Eternal prince, will their feelings for each other change the world they know, or tear it apart?
A new setting for a Fae story and would like to read more about the characters.
SHIMMER: A heartbroken boy rescues a mermaid... but is it too late to save her?
An interesting tale about a youngMermaid and human, I enjoyed the background given to both of the characters, and to how the story concluded.
BETWEEN is about a girl, a genie, and a ton of bad decisions.
After a summer at a Fat Camp, Lucy returns to a new start at her old school. A necklace given to her from Natasha holds the key to her dealing with a Genie.
SUNSET MOON: Eloise doesn't believe in Native American magic--until the dream catcher spiders spin her down an unknown path.
I enjoyed reading this story, about Eloise and learning more about her family, her Dreamcatcher, and her potential.
THE MAKER: An incapacitated young man bent on revenge builds a creature to do it for him.
Interesting idea of the Golem and the reason behind it.
A BEAUTIFUL MOURNING: The story of a Maya goddess torn between duty and love, and the ultimate sacrifice she must make to achieve true happiness.
I enjoyed this story and was sad to reach the end about the Mayan Gods.
THE BARRICADES: When a human girl risks everything to save the life of an Eternal prince, will their feelings for each other change the world they know, or tear it apart?
A new setting for a Fae story and would like to read more about the characters.
September 19, 2014
Review of A Beautiful Mourning, one of the six stories of Lore.
This is the story of a Maya goddess torn between duty and love, and the ultimate sacrifice she must make to achieve true happiness. The protagonists in this Mayan mythology are Ishel, the goddess of flowers and Kinich, the sun god. Their love is sweet. But Ishel is betrothed to Nacon, the god of War. This story revolves around how Ishel and Kinich fight to be together because Ishel’s father has given his word to Nacon that he will give his daughter to him. Kinich has a kind of respect for humans that is really admirable. He always looks to them for being inspired, for fighting to get true love.
Though Nacon is fierce and short tempered, his love for Ishel is heartfelt. I actually felt bad that he can’t have Ishel!. He is not exactly a villain though he does fight Kinich for Ishel’s hand. I liked him a lot. The way his voice changes to softness and his touch becomes silk with Ishel is so conspicuous.
There are some very touching scenes in this story. Two of them moved me to tears, one which showed how a brother helps a sister in testing times and the other the love between Ishel and her father towards the end of the story. It might seem vague and I am sorry I am not elaborating on it. This story is really short (13,000 words) and any extra detail becomes a spoiler!
I give 5 stars to this amazing story by Theresa!.
Favorite line from the story:
“You believe my heart to be black.” He lowered his tone even more and pulled me closer to him. “That was true until the day I first saw you.”
- Nacon speaking to Ishel. These words really highlight his feelings for him and thus it’s my favorite line in this story.
This is the story of a Maya goddess torn between duty and love, and the ultimate sacrifice she must make to achieve true happiness. The protagonists in this Mayan mythology are Ishel, the goddess of flowers and Kinich, the sun god. Their love is sweet. But Ishel is betrothed to Nacon, the god of War. This story revolves around how Ishel and Kinich fight to be together because Ishel’s father has given his word to Nacon that he will give his daughter to him. Kinich has a kind of respect for humans that is really admirable. He always looks to them for being inspired, for fighting to get true love.
Though Nacon is fierce and short tempered, his love for Ishel is heartfelt. I actually felt bad that he can’t have Ishel!. He is not exactly a villain though he does fight Kinich for Ishel’s hand. I liked him a lot. The way his voice changes to softness and his touch becomes silk with Ishel is so conspicuous.
There are some very touching scenes in this story. Two of them moved me to tears, one which showed how a brother helps a sister in testing times and the other the love between Ishel and her father towards the end of the story. It might seem vague and I am sorry I am not elaborating on it. This story is really short (13,000 words) and any extra detail becomes a spoiler!
I give 5 stars to this amazing story by Theresa!.
Favorite line from the story:
“You believe my heart to be black.” He lowered his tone even more and pulled me closer to him. “That was true until the day I first saw you.”
- Nacon speaking to Ishel. These words really highlight his feelings for him and thus it’s my favorite line in this story.
August 18, 2014
What a great anthology! It's such a great way to meet and hopefully fall in love with new authors.
For the most part this anthology lives up to its name. These are all myths and legends that are being told in an updated and more modern way. Immediately I was able to recognize some of the themes, like figuring out that a girl was a mermaid for instance, so these are not really meant to keep you guessing. They are meant for leisurely, enjoyable reading with a twist. What is really interesting is all the diverse cultures that are represented in just a few stories!
The only downside to some of these is the fact that they are short stories so it was sometimes hard for me to get a real feel for the characters. I am definitely an emotional reader and if those emotions are not touched upon then it effects my enjoyment of the reads. Over all the stories were all quite interesting and I loved that they were so different. One would have mermaids while the next was harder to figure out because I didn't understand the "queen" thing at first, and even a creepy story (which is totally up my alley)!
As a whole, I really enjoyed myself. If I had to pick a favorite I would be in between The Maker (creepy yay!) or The Barricades. I think I also liked the Barricades because I know more about the myths of the fae and it was a bit easier to get into.
In short: Enjoyable for a paranormal lover like myself! I even learned a little about some other culture's legends!
For the most part this anthology lives up to its name. These are all myths and legends that are being told in an updated and more modern way. Immediately I was able to recognize some of the themes, like figuring out that a girl was a mermaid for instance, so these are not really meant to keep you guessing. They are meant for leisurely, enjoyable reading with a twist. What is really interesting is all the diverse cultures that are represented in just a few stories!
The only downside to some of these is the fact that they are short stories so it was sometimes hard for me to get a real feel for the characters. I am definitely an emotional reader and if those emotions are not touched upon then it effects my enjoyment of the reads. Over all the stories were all quite interesting and I loved that they were so different. One would have mermaids while the next was harder to figure out because I didn't understand the "queen" thing at first, and even a creepy story (which is totally up my alley)!
As a whole, I really enjoyed myself. If I had to pick a favorite I would be in between The Maker (creepy yay!) or The Barricades. I think I also liked the Barricades because I know more about the myths of the fae and it was a bit easier to get into.
In short: Enjoyable for a paranormal lover like myself! I even learned a little about some other culture's legends!
May 8, 2014
Shimmer - This short story was fun and heartbreaking all at the same time. I love fun mermaid stories.
Between - This short story was fun, maddening, and heartbreaking. The author did a really good job making me feel what the characters were feeling. I do think I would have made better choices with my wishes if it was me though.
Sunset Moon - I have a fascination with dream catchers and the stories behind them, so this book was quite interesting to read with the storyline behind it. Another fun read.
The Maker - This short story didn't catch my attention as much but it was interesting. I don't think I could make a person to do my bidding or anything else for that matter.
A Beautiful Mourning - I have a great fascination with God's, Goddesses, and Deities. This story really kept my attention and pulled me into the story. Love story of all time.
The Barricades - This short story brought me into it and held my attention as well as wanting more. I really loved the characters and the way the author shows we aren't that different after all.
Between - This short story was fun, maddening, and heartbreaking. The author did a really good job making me feel what the characters were feeling. I do think I would have made better choices with my wishes if it was me though.
Sunset Moon - I have a fascination with dream catchers and the stories behind them, so this book was quite interesting to read with the storyline behind it. Another fun read.
The Maker - This short story didn't catch my attention as much but it was interesting. I don't think I could make a person to do my bidding or anything else for that matter.
A Beautiful Mourning - I have a great fascination with God's, Goddesses, and Deities. This story really kept my attention and pulled me into the story. Love story of all time.
The Barricades - This short story brought me into it and held my attention as well as wanting more. I really loved the characters and the way the author shows we aren't that different after all.
October 3, 2014
Lore is the first anthology I have read. It is aimed at a young adult audience and contains a very good mix of stories from romance, mystery and thriller, which are connected by the mythical elements in their plots. These traditional tales are not of the Greek or Roman variety, the first societies I connect with the word 'myth', but are stories with Native American, Jewish, Irish and Ancient Mayan background.
I have mixed feelings about Lore, having enjoyed four out of the six stories; Shimmer, Sunset Moon, The Maker and The Barricades. I felt indifferent towards Between and A Beautiful Mourning, but the positive is that they are so short that reading them never feels like a chore.
I think the range of subjects, including mermaids, fae, genies and Gods, will attract a range of readers and I particularly recommend Lore to anyone who has a gap in their reading schedule, and is looking for something different to fill it.
I have mixed feelings about Lore, having enjoyed four out of the six stories; Shimmer, Sunset Moon, The Maker and The Barricades. I felt indifferent towards Between and A Beautiful Mourning, but the positive is that they are so short that reading them never feels like a chore.
I think the range of subjects, including mermaids, fae, genies and Gods, will attract a range of readers and I particularly recommend Lore to anyone who has a gap in their reading schedule, and is looking for something different to fill it.
December 17, 2015
Overall this was a good collection of short stories. Some I liked more than others, but that's typical of an anthology representing different writing styles.
The stories were more like Grimm fairy tales which I have to admit I wasn't expecting so it threw me at the start, and there were times when I wandered what myth was being retold, but then again I'm not a myth expert so I told myself to read the stories and enjoy them for what for they were, and once I got my head into a shifted gear then I did I appreciate and enjoy the stories much better.
If you're a fan of Grimm fairy tales, this collection will make for a good read.
The stories were more like Grimm fairy tales which I have to admit I wasn't expecting so it threw me at the start, and there were times when I wandered what myth was being retold, but then again I'm not a myth expert so I told myself to read the stories and enjoy them for what for they were, and once I got my head into a shifted gear then I did I appreciate and enjoy the stories much better.
If you're a fan of Grimm fairy tales, this collection will make for a good read.
July 24, 2015
I loved all the stories!!
Wow, great books. I love reading about lore and the stories didn't disappoint. I would love to know if the authors have more books like these and if there are any book 2's. Yes they were that good! It's a must read for anyone who loves fairy tales, folklore and just plan fantasy stories. These are great, just disappointed that the stores are over.
Wow, great books. I love reading about lore and the stories didn't disappoint. I would love to know if the authors have more books like these and if there are any book 2's. Yes they were that good! It's a must read for anyone who loves fairy tales, folklore and just plan fantasy stories. These are great, just disappointed that the stores are over.
August 31, 2016
Fun, sweet, heart-wrenching and heart-warming short stories with romance and paranormal mixed in.
May 17, 2014
Love mermaid books can't wait to read
July 12, 2014
Full review to come! Still processing all that awesomeness!!
July 28, 2015
Lore renewed
A visit to ancient tales with a new , modern twist to them almost science fiction based on old beliefs.
A visit to ancient tales with a new , modern twist to them almost science fiction based on old beliefs.
October 8, 2018
Lore is a collection of six short stories that re-imagines folktales and mythology from around the world and places interesting and romantic twists into each. Written by six different authors, each story has a unique feeling and setting.
Shimmer takes the mermaid tale and gives it a fresh spin with Draven and Coral. Draven is spending the summer at his father's cottage after a heartbreak when he sees Coral alone at night, seemingly drowning herself. Draven is compelled to help Coral, but she may not need it. I really enjoyed these characters for the short time that we know them as well as the modernized mermaid mythology. I did think it wrapped up a little too quickly, but that is the nature of short stories.
Between is a modern story of the Arabic djinn brought to a modern high school. Lucy and Natasha have made peace with their bodies and have found love with each other at fat camp this summer. When Lucy returns home skinny, everything changes. She is finally accepted into the popular group, the Royals. However, being a lesbian does not fit their mold. This one made it difficult to like any of the characters, but there was growth even within the confines of the short story. I enjoyed the arc of the djinn the most and that Lucy and Sienna were able to realize that love wins over popularity.
Sunset Moon incorporates lore from the Blackfeet Native American mythology in order to reawaken a troubled teen. Eloise takes the rap for her boyfriend and now has one strike too many, it's either jail time or nine months at a juvenile work home. While there, Eloise is forced to learn about her heritage and meets Ven. Ven is bound to help Eloise through the darkness, but she must accept the light. I really liked learning about the dreamcatcher lore as well as watching Eloise find hope in her life. This is one that I would have loved to see develop into a longer story.
The Jewish Golem and Frankenstein's monster are combined in The Maker. After Brett is left with a traumatic brain injury, courtesy of his now ex-girlfriend Cassandra, his life is changed forever and he is bent on revenge. Unable to get out and about much by himself, Brett unearths his family's hidden manuscripts and makes a creature that will be sure to seduce Cassandra and humiliate her. The Maker is definitely the creepiest story of the bunch, but also the most surprising. The Golem is the best character of this story.
A Beautiful Morning was one of my favorite stories, a tale of the Mayan sun god Kinish and flower goddess Ishel. Their love for one another made perfect sense, but was forbidden. This was a sweet romance that incorporated the destructive nature of some of the other Mayan gods that may have led to the downfall of the civilization. I really enjoyed these characters and the glimpse into the complicated lives of the Mayan deities.
The Barricades turned out to be another favorite of mine even though the premise seemed really strange to me. Set in the future on another world, the Fae and humans have escaped a dying Earth. They were set to live as equals, but the Ethernal Fae's powers have placed the above the humans in every way. When the dying Eternal prince Daniel is found within the human area, a very caring human girl, Casey risks everything to save his life. This was a very sweet and action packed story laced with magic, greed and romance. A lot of development was packed into this short story that made it seem like much more.
Shimmer takes the mermaid tale and gives it a fresh spin with Draven and Coral. Draven is spending the summer at his father's cottage after a heartbreak when he sees Coral alone at night, seemingly drowning herself. Draven is compelled to help Coral, but she may not need it. I really enjoyed these characters for the short time that we know them as well as the modernized mermaid mythology. I did think it wrapped up a little too quickly, but that is the nature of short stories.
Between is a modern story of the Arabic djinn brought to a modern high school. Lucy and Natasha have made peace with their bodies and have found love with each other at fat camp this summer. When Lucy returns home skinny, everything changes. She is finally accepted into the popular group, the Royals. However, being a lesbian does not fit their mold. This one made it difficult to like any of the characters, but there was growth even within the confines of the short story. I enjoyed the arc of the djinn the most and that Lucy and Sienna were able to realize that love wins over popularity.
Sunset Moon incorporates lore from the Blackfeet Native American mythology in order to reawaken a troubled teen. Eloise takes the rap for her boyfriend and now has one strike too many, it's either jail time or nine months at a juvenile work home. While there, Eloise is forced to learn about her heritage and meets Ven. Ven is bound to help Eloise through the darkness, but she must accept the light. I really liked learning about the dreamcatcher lore as well as watching Eloise find hope in her life. This is one that I would have loved to see develop into a longer story.
The Jewish Golem and Frankenstein's monster are combined in The Maker. After Brett is left with a traumatic brain injury, courtesy of his now ex-girlfriend Cassandra, his life is changed forever and he is bent on revenge. Unable to get out and about much by himself, Brett unearths his family's hidden manuscripts and makes a creature that will be sure to seduce Cassandra and humiliate her. The Maker is definitely the creepiest story of the bunch, but also the most surprising. The Golem is the best character of this story.
A Beautiful Morning was one of my favorite stories, a tale of the Mayan sun god Kinish and flower goddess Ishel. Their love for one another made perfect sense, but was forbidden. This was a sweet romance that incorporated the destructive nature of some of the other Mayan gods that may have led to the downfall of the civilization. I really enjoyed these characters and the glimpse into the complicated lives of the Mayan deities.
The Barricades turned out to be another favorite of mine even though the premise seemed really strange to me. Set in the future on another world, the Fae and humans have escaped a dying Earth. They were set to live as equals, but the Ethernal Fae's powers have placed the above the humans in every way. When the dying Eternal prince Daniel is found within the human area, a very caring human girl, Casey risks everything to save his life. This was a very sweet and action packed story laced with magic, greed and romance. A lot of development was packed into this short story that made it seem like much more.
August 17, 2014
Full disclosure: I received a copy of LORE in exchange for my honest review as part of a promotional blog tour. The following review contains nothing but my honest opinion.
3.5 stars.
LORE is a collection of six stories that are all myths or legends retold. I found all six of the stories entertaining, but realized that, no matter how many times I've tried, short stories and anthologies in general are just not for me. They make me long for more and I often feel the stories are unfinished or not fleshed out enough.
In Summer by Brinda Berry, we have this lovely romantic tale of 2 young, heartbroken teens who befriend one another one summer. When she reveals her secret, the boy recoils for a bit in shock, further hurting the girl. They reconcile, but then she disappears. It was a sweet story if a tad frustrating.
In Between by Karen Bynum, we have a twist on the genie tale, a sad but poignant story. We have two teenage girls; one who is unrepentant about her sexuality, another who is constantly looking for approval from her mother regarding looks, social status, etc. Those are constantly placed higher than her emotional well-being and health. I didn't really care for the characters in this story, but the emotion is undeniable.
Sunset Moon by Laura Diamond is based off a Blackfeet Indian myth. I really wanted this story to be longer. Eloise, the main character, is a totally stupid twit who is putting up this fake attitude of indifference. She's in an abusive relationship, just like her mother was years ago. Her mother is a drunk and doesn't mother Eloise at all. Micah is a useless piece of trash as is Jimmy and here is Eloise taking the fall for two losers. She gets the choice: jail or group home. Her lawyer chose group home for her and she's shipped off to Montana to her uncle's house. There she recognizes little symbols from her grandmother who always tried to give her a piece of Blackfeet history/mythology with every present, every lesson. As Eloise begins her group home work of sitting with an elderly patient, she learns that her weird dream with the spiders cocooning her is actually a legend, a living legend. Again, this is one story I would LOVE to read more of and see the story fleshed out in more detail with what happens with Eloise, her mother, her loser of a boyfriend, etc. Sure, I disliked Eloise, but that intensity of dislike shows how well written she is!
The Maker by Jayne A Knolls is a golem story. Brett is a spoiled rich kid with a beautiful girlfriend. They get into a car accident one night, Cassandra walks away, and she doesn't even call 911 until much later an anonymously. Brett had brain damage and, had she called immediately, it may not have been as severe, but because she walked away like she did, Brett can now barely walk, can no longer read which was one of his prime passions, and has a pretty grim looking future. He comes from a very old family who guard a secret power. Brett decides to use this power to take revenge. There is one discrepancy in this story that bugged me, although it's small and easily ignored. The ending of this story is sad.
A Beautiful Mourning by Theresa DaLayne is the story of a Mayan goddess and her lover. She is the goddess of flowers, her lover is the Sun. This has the elements of true myths -- romance, denial, heartache, friendship, with a ending that is not a happily ever after as there are still problems, but as happy as you can get. Very romantic story that shows that gods are just as susceptible to mistakes as humans.
The Barricade by Cate Dean was by far my favorite story in this anthology. However, it left me wanting MORE. Ms Dean takes the Fae mythology and plunks them on a different planet. Here, humans and the fae fled the earth to start anew, to work together, and the Fae eventually took over desiring to be worshipped, shoving the humans out into desolation after they helped build a beautiful city. A human girl and a fae noble boy are about to turn the opinions of the world. Great story, but what killed me is that...it ended just as it was beginning. I must look for Cate Dean's books and see if there are any in this storyline coming up!
All in all, this was an enjoyable anthology of six stories taking a twist on myths and legends. Again, I say that anthologies are not for me. What I do like about anthologies is that they can be read in bits and pieces and are perfect to squeeze in when you're sitting in waiting room, or a lunch break, etc. If you like myths, legends, and retellings, I'd recommend you give this one a whirl. You may not be familiar with some of the originals (I wasn't for the Mayan one or the Blackfeet one), but that doesn't detract from the enjoyable factor in my opinion!
3.5 stars.
LORE is a collection of six stories that are all myths or legends retold. I found all six of the stories entertaining, but realized that, no matter how many times I've tried, short stories and anthologies in general are just not for me. They make me long for more and I often feel the stories are unfinished or not fleshed out enough.
In Summer by Brinda Berry, we have this lovely romantic tale of 2 young, heartbroken teens who befriend one another one summer. When she reveals her secret, the boy recoils for a bit in shock, further hurting the girl. They reconcile, but then she disappears. It was a sweet story if a tad frustrating.
In Between by Karen Bynum, we have a twist on the genie tale, a sad but poignant story. We have two teenage girls; one who is unrepentant about her sexuality, another who is constantly looking for approval from her mother regarding looks, social status, etc. Those are constantly placed higher than her emotional well-being and health. I didn't really care for the characters in this story, but the emotion is undeniable.
Sunset Moon by Laura Diamond is based off a Blackfeet Indian myth. I really wanted this story to be longer. Eloise, the main character, is a totally stupid twit who is putting up this fake attitude of indifference. She's in an abusive relationship, just like her mother was years ago. Her mother is a drunk and doesn't mother Eloise at all. Micah is a useless piece of trash as is Jimmy and here is Eloise taking the fall for two losers. She gets the choice: jail or group home. Her lawyer chose group home for her and she's shipped off to Montana to her uncle's house. There she recognizes little symbols from her grandmother who always tried to give her a piece of Blackfeet history/mythology with every present, every lesson. As Eloise begins her group home work of sitting with an elderly patient, she learns that her weird dream with the spiders cocooning her is actually a legend, a living legend. Again, this is one story I would LOVE to read more of and see the story fleshed out in more detail with what happens with Eloise, her mother, her loser of a boyfriend, etc. Sure, I disliked Eloise, but that intensity of dislike shows how well written she is!
The Maker by Jayne A Knolls is a golem story. Brett is a spoiled rich kid with a beautiful girlfriend. They get into a car accident one night, Cassandra walks away, and she doesn't even call 911 until much later an anonymously. Brett had brain damage and, had she called immediately, it may not have been as severe, but because she walked away like she did, Brett can now barely walk, can no longer read which was one of his prime passions, and has a pretty grim looking future. He comes from a very old family who guard a secret power. Brett decides to use this power to take revenge. There is one discrepancy in this story that bugged me, although it's small and easily ignored. The ending of this story is sad.
A Beautiful Mourning by Theresa DaLayne is the story of a Mayan goddess and her lover. She is the goddess of flowers, her lover is the Sun. This has the elements of true myths -- romance, denial, heartache, friendship, with a ending that is not a happily ever after as there are still problems, but as happy as you can get. Very romantic story that shows that gods are just as susceptible to mistakes as humans.
The Barricade by Cate Dean was by far my favorite story in this anthology. However, it left me wanting MORE. Ms Dean takes the Fae mythology and plunks them on a different planet. Here, humans and the fae fled the earth to start anew, to work together, and the Fae eventually took over desiring to be worshipped, shoving the humans out into desolation after they helped build a beautiful city. A human girl and a fae noble boy are about to turn the opinions of the world. Great story, but what killed me is that...it ended just as it was beginning. I must look for Cate Dean's books and see if there are any in this storyline coming up!
All in all, this was an enjoyable anthology of six stories taking a twist on myths and legends. Again, I say that anthologies are not for me. What I do like about anthologies is that they can be read in bits and pieces and are perfect to squeeze in when you're sitting in waiting room, or a lunch break, etc. If you like myths, legends, and retellings, I'd recommend you give this one a whirl. You may not be familiar with some of the originals (I wasn't for the Mayan one or the Blackfeet one), but that doesn't detract from the enjoyable factor in my opinion!
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