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Beyond the Pale

(The Dresden Files #11.6 - Even Hand)

Henry L. Herz (Goodreads Author) (Editor),

Saladin Ahmed (Goodreads Author),

Peter S. Beagle (Goodreads Author),

Z Brewer,

Heather Brewer (Goodreads Author),

Jim Butcher (Goodreads Author),

Rachel Caine (Goodreads Author),

Kami Garcia (Goodreads Author),

more…

3.73 · Rating details · 322 ratings · 43 reviews

Beyond the Pale is an anthology of fantasy, urban fantasy and paranormal stories that skirt the border between our world and others. Was that my imagination, or did I hear something under my bed? What was that blurred movement in my darkened closet? There is but a thin Veil separating the real and the fantastic, and therein dwell the inhabitants of these stories.

Beyond t ...more

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Paperback, 230 pages

Published July 7th 2014 by Birch Tree Publishing

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· 322 ratings · 43 reviews

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Aug 01, 2014 Nicola Mansfield rated it it was amazing

4.5 stars actually.

This is an absolutely fantastic collection of fantasy stories aimed at older Young Adults written by top-notch authors that all centre around the abstract theme of that thin veil that separates our world from the beyond. With most anthologies as a reader I always expect a mixed bag with perhaps a dud or two but Beyond the Pale is without exception the best collection of short stories I've read this year and this is my 10th. The stories range from great to excellent. Most of th 4.5 stars actually.

This is an absolutely fantastic collection of fantasy stories aimed at older Young Adults written by top-notch authors that all centre around the abstract theme of that thin veil that separates our world from the beyond. With most anthologies as a reader I always expect a mixed bag with perhaps a dud or two but Beyond the Pale is without exception the best collection of short stories I've read this year and this is my 10th. The stories range from great to excellent. Most of the authors I had heard of, several I'd already read and the others I would read again. A couple of my all-time favourite authors are included here also: Peter S. Beagle and Jane Yolen. Superb!

1. Hooves and the Hovel of Abdel Jameela by Saladin Ahmed (2009) - A fine story to open this collection with! Hard to describe its genre as just what exactly but mostly it resembles a tale of the Arabian Nights with touches of Frankenstein, mythological creatures or perhaps demons and a narrative similar to Dracula's Jonathan Harker as he tells the tale of his strange journey and the summons he receives. Well done! (4/5)

2. The Children of the Shark God by Peter S. Beagle (2010) - I love this author and have read a lot of his work. This story grabbed me from the first paragraph as I entered the folkloric story of the shark god. The plot is quite simple and basic, one done many times, of the god transforming into human form, taking a maiden as his wife and siring offspring, here it is twins. He only returns to visit the wife once a year but the children are never told who their father is. It is Beagle's magical writing that transcends this tale beyond the typical plot. It is beautiful and ends up dealing with death (as much of his work does) and the selfishness of wallowing in one's own grief over the death of a loved one. Lovely! (5/5)

3. Misery by Heather Brewer (2012) - Misery is a small town but no one knows how it got its name. Certainly no one is ever miserable. They are all quite jolly, to a degree. They do wish, perhaps that Misery had colours, like somewhere they've been before, but no, Misery is black, white and shades of grey. And every year every one has a day when they get a Gift from the one with the psychic connection able to give the Gifts. Alek is afraid his Gift will be bad this year, not because it has ever happened to anyone before, but because he has an inner sense about it. And when Alek receives his Gift it is something the gift giver has only given once before. Nothing. (not just *not* a present). Nothingness. The absence of being... Creepy. Loved it (5/5)

4. Shadow Children by Heather Brewer (2010) - This is a new author for me so I was hoping this would be as good as the previous story by her, and no disappointment here. Total creep-out! Little brother Jon is afraid of the monsters in his room at night and big brother Dax is stuck babysitting him. Dax thinks to let Jon "cry it out" leaving him in the dark a little longer but the piercing scream sends him running. Then the two of them are battling not their just their own lives but the lives of the entire human race. Creepy!! (5/5)

5. Evan Hand by Jim Butcher (2010)- I'm not a Dresden Files reader; tried the first book and it didn't work for me. This story takes place in that world and is told by Marcone. It's an ok story about the underworld involving demons, etc and has a bit of a Cal MacDonald vibe. But Cal is waaay better. Harry is not actually in this story. First story I didn't love. (3/5)

6. Red Run by Kami Garcia (2012)- Oh, a ghost story! A girl goes out along a haunted road at night to get the ghost who has killed six people over the years including her older brother. Really, really, really good. Everything a ghost story needs and very tense at the end, not knowing what is going to happen. I hadn't heard of this author before. (5/5)

7. Pale Rider by Nancy Holder (2012) - Awesome! This is longer than any others yet and could be the story the title of the anthology is based on. This story actually feels very much like the prologue of a novel; it is so in depth, and even though it ends perfectly a whole novel could follow up from the story. Eight years after the end of the world a an African-American girl is found by a German young man and taken to Germany, there she discovers her magical talent and together they search for the answers that caused the great apocalypse. Wonderful fantasy about fairies and goblins. (5/5)

8. Frost Child by Gillian Philip (2011) - This starts with an editor's note explaining the story is a prequel to the author's novel "Firebrand". It is a haunting story of how a little girl came to be found and brought back to her own people and yet she is quite different. A tale of the Sithe, witches and kelpies. The girl is a fascinating creature but there is a darkness about her that is not evil, but uncomfortable. Well-written. I haven't read this author before (4/5)

9. South by Gillian Philip (2012) - Another haunting story of the sea but selkies this time. I love selkies! A generational story of a man who falls in love with a selkie, their daughter and eventually her son, his grandchild. A beautiful story, told skillfully with just a hint of darkness in the atmosphere. Selkies are my absolute favourite mythological creature. Both of these stories were good. I will have to look into this author. (4/5)

10. A Knot of Toads by Jane Yolen (2005) - Fantastic! I'm a long-time fan of Jane Yolen and this tale of witches, curses and days of yore is spellbinding. There are three knots mentioned in the tale and as each is recognised and undone in it's own way, a family loosens the ties the Old Witches have on them but not before the current patriarch is frightened to death by what he has found out. Wonderful! (5/5)

11. The Adventures of Lightning Merriemouse-Jones by Nancy & Belle Holder (2006) - As the editor's note proclaims the book will finish off like any great meal with a "light dessert". This is a fun, cute reimagining of the Dracula story but peopled with mice and rats. The story concentrates on the storm at sea and the count's attacks upon Lightning (Lucy). Cute. (4/5) ...more

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Jan 05, 2016 Elspeth marked it as to-read

Shelves: urban-fantasy, kindle-unlimited, twenty-sixteen

HOOVES AND THE HOVEL OF ABDEL JAMEELA ~ by Saladin Ahmed

Nope. Not for me...just couldn't get into it.

THE CHILDREN OF THE SHARK GOD ~ by Peter S. Beagle

I can't believe I stayed up late to finish this. I am sure this was all full of deeper meaning and shit, but fuck that shit that ending was boring. ...more

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Jul 09, 2014 Henry Herz rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author)

Praise for Beyond the Pale includes:

"Beyond the Pale features a stellar, diverse line-up, brimming with talent and imagination."
- New York Times bestseller Jason Hough, author of The Darwin Elevator

"Magic truly exists in Beyond the Pale. These tales are at times elegant, witty, romantic, frightening, exciting and always entertaining. Highly recommended."
- New York Times bestseller Jonathan Maberry, author of Fall of Night and V-Wars

"Beyond the edge of fear and dread, shadows tell each other beau ...more

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Jul 28, 2014 Krista (CubicleBlindness Reviews) rated it it was amazing

I really enjoyed the stories in this collection. Varying supernatural PG 13 stories. Each story completely different from the next and very memorable. My personal favorite story was Misery by Heather Brewer, that one really caught my attention and made me think. Stories about Gods, ghosts, Magic and many more. Escaping danger and standing your ground. It is definitely something I would recommend you pick up. I found it very entertaining and really great stories. There are some very good writers ...more

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Aug 01, 2014 Amanda Evans rated it it was amazing

I was delighted to receive an advance copy of this book in return for my honest opinion. First off, I have to say that I love fantasy and it has always been a favourite genre of mine. This book is a compilation of short stories, something I very seldom read. I was a little apprehensive but I'm glad I received this book and it has changed my opinion of short stories completely. I always thought of short stories as being too short to actually capture the mind or attention. I didn't feel that they I was delighted to receive an advance copy of this book in return for my honest opinion. First off, I have to say that I love fantasy and it has always been a favourite genre of mine. This book is a compilation of short stories, something I very seldom read. I was a little apprehensive but I'm glad I received this book and it has changed my opinion of short stories completely. I always thought of short stories as being too short to actually capture the mind or attention. I didn't feel that they would build the characters or allow me to become engrossed. I was terribly wrong and Beyond the Pale has proven that to me.

Beyond the Pale contains eleven dark fantasy, urban fantasy and paranormal short stories by award-winning and New York Times bestselling authors:

Hooves and the Hovel of Abdel Jameela by Saladin Ahmed
The Children of the Shark God by Peter S. Beagle
Misery by Heather Brewer
Shadow Children by Heather Brewer
Even Hand by Jim Butcher
Red Run by Kami Garcia
Pale Rider by Nancy Holder
The Adventures of Lightning Merriemouse-Jones by Nancy Holder
Frost Child by Gillian Philip
South by Gillian Philip
A Knot of Toads by Jane Yolen

All of these short stories have their own merits and selling points and they all capture your attention and draw you in from the first paragraph. What really surprised me was the depth in the characters and how even with a short story you could become them, feel their emotions, go through their trials and tribulations and endure what they faced. The authors wrote each story beautifully and the words flowed with ease. I actually found myself wanting more and that is always a good thing. One of stories that really stood out for me is “The Children of the Shark God” by Peter S. Beagle. This was beautifully written and flowed really well. It was a strange tale but one that fully took over as the pages turned. The emotions that consumed me and drew me into the story were ones that I would normally only find in a full length novel. I was amazed at how much a short story could grip me and yet still provide a complete tale. This really was a true work of art and the story was something I had never read before. It wasn't a rehash of Twilight or vampire romance. It wasn't a shape-shifting or werewolf tale; it was something totally different and new and there is an excerpt below for those interested in reading some of it.

All in all, this book is definitely one for my collection and one that I know I will recommend to friends. It is one that I can pull out when I need a quick read that will completely absorb my mind and take me to a new world of fantasy, where anything is possible. I also know that I will be diving into the novels of these best-selling authors too because their work is truly amazing and they have mastered the art of creating believable characters that draw you in and allow you to become part of their lives.

I really enjoyed the stories contained in this anthology and each one is so different. They are memorable and will stick with you for quite some time after reading and there are a few that will have you questioning yourself and your beliefs too. You will find stories about Gods, ghosts, magic and so much more in this collection and there really is something for everyone.

Beyond the Pale is a great collection and one that has proven to me that short stories can bring just as much reading pleasure as a full length novel when written in the manner of those in this book. ...more

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Aug 03, 2014 Kristin (MyBookishWays Reviews) rated it really liked it

http://www.mybookishways.com/2014/08/...

I didn’t skip around in this anthology (because I usually don’t, but that’s just me), and I think it works better that way. It’s a fantasy collection, with a line up that frankly, if you’re a fan of fantasy/urban fantasy, it should blow your socks right off. The ultra talented Saladin Ahmed kicks things off with “Hooves and the Hovel of Abdel Jameela” about a physicker that is asked for help by a supposed mountain hermit, and it’s nothing like he ever coul http://www.mybookishways.com/2014/08/...

I didn’t skip around in this anthology (because I usually don’t, but that’s just me), and I think it works better that way. It’s a fantasy collection, with a line up that frankly, if you’re a fan of fantasy/urban fantasy, it should blow your socks right off. The ultra talented Saladin Ahmed kicks things off with “Hooves and the Hovel of Abdel Jameela” about a physicker that is asked for help by a supposed mountain hermit, and it’s nothing like he ever could have imagined. This story is a beautifully written introduction to this should-be-a-household-name author. “Even Hand” by Jim Butcher is told from the viewpoint of one of my favorite characters, Marcone, crime boss and frequent nemesis (and sometimes reluctant ally) of Harry Dresden. It reveals a, shall we say, softer (but no less cunning) side of the self-professed “monster”, and as is usual for Butcher, is excellent. Two absolute standouts are “Frost Child” and “South” by Gillian Philip, about kelpies and selkies, respectively. If you haven’t discovered her books yet, read these stories and you’ll rush to buy them all. Trust me. Her writing is lovely and her stories are the stuff of dark fairytales. Just gorgeous. “Frost Child” is actually a prequel to FIREBRAND, so it’s perfect to read before you start the books.

“The Children of the Shark God” by Peter S. Beagle is another one of my favorites and is about, you guessed it, the children of a Shark God, but it’s really a fable about two children (and their mother) longing for a father that is never there, but that loves them fiercely, and it will break your heart. It’s achingly lovely, and if you like fables, you’ll adore it. Heather Brewer has a couple of dark tales in there that will give you chills, and I especially liked the subtly creepy “Misery” about a town appropriately called Misery, built of shades of grey, and a young man that dares to hope for more. “A Knot of Toads” by Jane Yolen is fantastic, witchy, atmospheric fun, about a young woman who returns to her sea swept childhood home to bury her father, and finds out her father died a very unnatural death indeed. Kami Garcia adds a fun story to the mix called “Red Run” and if you think it’s your typical “road ghost” story, think again. “The Adventures of Lightning Merriemous-Jones” by Nancy and Belle Holder rounds things out, and it’s a delightful tale about a mouse and…well, Dracula. Trust me, it’s adorable, and it had me giggling with delight. All told, this is a full-bodied mix of tales from some of the most talented authors in the biz, and is a perfect way to spend an afternoon. ...more

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Aug 09, 2014 Marie-Therese rated it it was amazing

Cover:
It looks like the cover is hand drawn and that's a thing I really like! It looks like the woman is curious about something (going into the woods).

Content:
Every single story in this book is beyond awesome. Many different influences to the whole of the book. I have to be honest... I'm a fan of Gillian Philip since I read the two stories! Frost Child was ah-mazing!! <3 Also Red Run was pretty awesome, I was soo into the story that I would have love it to be a whole book. :D
All in all, every s ...more

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Aug 01, 2014 Camilla Harris rated it it was amazing

A lot of variety in the stories! Everything from stuff with a mythological feel to a good ghost story. Definitely dark fantasy, although sometimes the dark bit was quite subtle and didn't really sink in until I reread a story. I felt that Saladin Ahmed and Peter S. Beagle produced the most beautiful stories, although my favorite is Gillian Phillip's South.
For the most part, its a consistently good, engaging anthology with stories I look forward to curling up with on nights when I can't sleep and ...more

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Sep 03, 2014 Lynn Williams rated it really liked it

http://lynnsbooks.wordpress.com/2014/...
I was given an opportunity to take part in a book tour for Beyond the Pale and given the authors involved in this piece of work jumped at the chance. I love the way the book starts out with a definition of what the phrase ‘beyond the pale’ actually means – long story short it actually means to go beyond the boundaries of safety!! I like that. In fact the introduction got me off to a great start. Not to mention that cover. Just feast your eyes on it. It’s s ...more

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Jul 25, 2014 Leah (Jane Speare) rated it liked it

Overall an average 3ish rating.

Hooves and the Hovel of Abdel Jameela by Saladin Ahmed:

Not my cup of tea. I tried a few pages but couldn't get into it.

Children of the Shark God by Peter S. Beagle:

I'm not sure how to categorize this one. I haven't read any of his books before, but I've definitely heard about them. This story brings the classic moral-fairytale-esque idea and twists it all around for a completely original tale. There's something about the way he writes, like a true ancient storytel ...more

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Aug 22, 2014 Rabid Readers Reviews rated it really liked it

The editor of this novel, Henry Herz, gave me a copy in exchange for participating in this blog tour.

I am a huge fan of “The Dresden Files” by Jim Butcher so when the editor of the piece approached me to write a review, that author was the one I was most looking forward to reading. I’d heard of some of the others but had never read them and wasn’t really interested in learning more about that work. Everything changed upon finishing this wonderfully laid out anthology. The stories leave readers w The editor of this novel, Henry Herz, gave me a copy in exchange for participating in this blog tour.

I am a huge fan of “The Dresden Files” by Jim Butcher so when the editor of the piece approached me to write a review, that author was the one I was most looking forward to reading. I’d heard of some of the others but had never read them and wasn’t really interested in learning more about that work. Everything changed upon finishing this wonderfully laid out anthology. The stories leave readers wanting more when they shift to the next but the arrangement makes for a good flow while the sameness of dark tone peppered with humor keeps readers in the moment.

My favorite story was by old favorite, Jim Butcher. As many authors do, he chose to use his anthology story to expand on a character from the Dresden world. Johnny Marcone is a mobster who makes life more interesting for Harry Dresden and Butcher gives us a closer look at his character in “Even Hand.” Butcher shows the readers Marcone’s view of himself as a professional monster and yet shows us a deeper side that has to be consciously kept at bay. In a classic economy of words, Butcher gives us a compelling story that easily stands on its own while thrilling existing fans.

“The Adventures of Lightning Merriemouse-Jones” by Nancy & Belle Holder was a great way to finish the anthology. It was nice and light and fun. The author’s crafted a classic story (Dracula) and set it at sea using mice so there’s a “Secret of Nihm” gone wrong feeling throughout and it was just wonderfully hilarious. Miss Lightning Merriemouse-Jones is a Penelope Pitstop for a new generation.

If you’re a fan of fantasy or the paranormal, I urge you to buy “Beyond the Pale” today. It’s a delightful look into a scarier world than our own with delicious flashes of brilliance from the authors. I’m a huge fan of short stories and fantasy in general and “Beyond the Pale” falls directly into the wheelhouse of fans of those genres.
...more

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Dec 21, 2016 Katie added it

Shelves: urban-fantasy, science-fiction

I liked reading different authors. Some of the stories were great, some not so much.

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Feb 24, 2019 Carol rated it liked it

Shelves: horror, fantasy, anthology, short-stories, shapeshifter

Overall, not my kind of stories. A little too scary, and not enough mystery. The stories seemed fresh and original, however, if you like a bit of horror.

Saladin Ahmed - Hooves and the Hovel of Abdel Jameela. Creepy and a little frightening. Mostly just ugh.
Peter S. Beagle - The Children of the Shark God Imaginative, but i wasn't that into it.
Heather Brewer - Misery. a little scary and odd. Original.
Heather Brewer - Shadow Children. a very scary tale that explains why a night-light is important ...more

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Mar 22, 2020 Tiffany Dickinson rated it really liked it

In exchange for a free Audible copy of Beyond the Pale, I'm writing this review.
Generally, I'm not a fan of horror, and I'm an occasional fan of the Thriller genre, but when I saw the line-up of authors, including Jane Yolen, the prolific children's author, I figured it was worth a listen. It started out slow for me, with the first story being rather confusing and lacking focus, but I warmed to the collection quickly. The stories range from paranormal romance to all-out ghost stories to dips in ...more

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Aug 11, 2014 Kayla Beck Kalnasy rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2014-read, 2014-release, magic, fantasy, paranormal, dystopia, fairy-tale, horror, review-request, post-apocalyptic

Review originally posted on Bibliophilia, Please.

I love love love to read short stories (the literary ones from college are my favorites!), but I don't think that I've ever reviewed an anthology. Since I was so intrigued by the authors and the premise of Beyond the Pale , I figured that I would give it a shot.

I have to be honest and say that I skipped some of the stories for various reasons. I know that Jim Butcher is everyone else's favorite here at Bibliophilia, Please, but I am yet to ...more

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Aug 02, 2019 Donna rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Entertaining quirky and chilling

Loved the Jim Butcher tale best. I may never go without a night light again after reading about Fax & Jon's adventure. Vampire rats and mice made me chuckle too. ...more

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Mar 07, 2017 Linda rated it really liked it

I've only read Even Hand by Jim Butcher.

Book 11.6 of the Dresden files.

Nice perspective, really different POV ...more

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May 13, 2017 A. J. rated it did not like it

Shelves: fantasy, short-collections-anthologies

Meh...

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Jun 21, 2017 Alysa H. rated it it was ok · review of another edition

A couple of good stories, but mostly meh.

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Jul 10, 2017 Helen rated it liked it

As with most anthologies a few hit, a few miss.

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Oct 03, 2017 Indy Quillen rated it it was amazing

Nice collection of diverse authors and their writings. Enjoyed reading pieces from some of my favorite authors and was introduced to some new authors I've not read before. ...more

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Oct 15, 2018 Rebecca rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy, adult-fiction, butcher-stories-only

Read Even Hand in Brief Cases

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Nov 11, 2020 Louisa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I only read Even Hand, but it was a great story, loved seeing things from Marcone's perspective! Must read more of the series now! ...more

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Aug 21, 2014 Lisa rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: review-copy

I have a soft spot for urban fantasy, and for scary or creepy stories. So when the chance to read this anthology came up, naturally it pushed all my buttons and therefore I jumped at it. It certainly didn’t hurt at all that one of the stories in the lineup is tied into my favourite urban fantasy series! Jim Butcher’s “Even Hand” is among my favourite of his Dresden Files short stories, and despite having read it before I enjoyed it just as much upon re-reading as I did the first time. Being told I have a soft spot for urban fantasy, and for scary or creepy stories. So when the chance to read this anthology came up, naturally it pushed all my buttons and therefore I jumped at it. It certainly didn’t hurt at all that one of the stories in the lineup is tied into my favourite urban fantasy series! Jim Butcher’s “Even Hand” is among my favourite of his Dresden Files short stories, and despite having read it before I enjoyed it just as much upon re-reading as I did the first time. Being told from the point of view of John Marcone doesn’t hurt it much either – he happens to be one of the supporting characters I like most. So, this definitely helped to sell me on reading the rest of the book!

For the most part, this sales pitch paid off. As with any anthology, I think, there were hits and misses for me, but thankfully the hits outweighed the misses. The first story out of the bag, for example, was one by Saladin Ahmed. He may only have one novel under his belt so far but if you’re the sort of reader who likes their fantasy formed outside the ‘traditional’ mould, do yourself a favour and seek out his stories.

Kami Garcia’s “Red Run” is another story that stuck with me after I’d finished the book. It has more of a paranormal feel to it than strictly urban fantasy, and is one of the shorter stories in the lineup. It’s also not particularly ambitious; as paranormal stories go the plot is pretty familiar, at least in its bare bones, but for all that I still found it an enjoyable read.

Another pair of stories that I knew would be worth the read were Gillian Philip’s contributions, “Frost Child” and “South”. As with “Even Hand” I had read “Frost Child” before (and, in fact, reviewed it!) and it’s a short story I absolutely didn’t mind coming back to. I love Gillian’s writing, and this prequel novella for her Rebel Angels series is a personal favourite. “South”, likewise, was a pleasure to read. This one isn’t tied to Rebel Angels, but it has much the same flavour to it – the coastal Scottish wilderness of the setting is so very present I could practically taste the air, the thread of local mythology is teased out in the story rather than tangled up in it, and the stark, striking impact of Gillian’s prose is also present and accounted for.

And in the “pleasant surprise” category for this anthology, there’s Jane Yolen’s “A Knot Of Toads”. This one also has the Scottish/mythology angles covered, but beyond this it’s a very different affair. I’m familiar with this author but hadn’t read any of her work before reading this book. Thanks to a couple of friends and a meetup at a recent con, however, that can now be remedied – and thanks to this story, I’m pretty eager to get remedying. This is a pretty dark tale, in terms of its tone; not an unwelcome thing, as I like me some creepy on occasion. I admit I had never really thought of toads as being creepy before, but good grief, I do now…

Where did I put that book… ...more

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Jul 15, 2014 Freda Mans-Labianca rated it liked it

Shelves: anthology

Hooves and the Hovel of Abdel Jameela by Saladin Ahmed was weird in parts. Creepy, intriguing and clever though. The slightly far-fetched gives a magical feel to it. 3/5
The Children of the Shark God by Peter S. Beagle is a story that you need to let your imagination go wild with. I do wish the Shark God reacted differently. 3/5
Misery by Heather Brewer was a miserable story. Misery wasn't just the name of the town, it was everywhere and in everything. Wasn't my thing though. 2/5
Shadow Children by ...more

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Aug 26, 2014 Katie/Doing Dewey rated it really liked it

Like every anthology I've read, this collection included some stories I liked much more than others. However, in this particular collection there were no stories I disliked and I thought the majority of them were truly enjoyable. The first few stories read like fables and I didn't find them well developed or emotionally engaging. The third story was bland, poorly developed, and predictable. The last story was a funny retelling of Dracula but I didn't feel like the author brought much to it. I th ...more

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Aug 11, 2014 Carrie Ardoin rated it liked it

3.5 STARS

While I did skip around when reading this collection, I don't think it made much difference to my review. Basically the only thing that tied the stories all together is that they all have some supernatural element. A couple I couldn't get into at all, but there were some standouts for me.

"Misery" by Heather Brewer--In this very short story set in a world of grey, Alek is dismayed when he finds out he will not be receiving his special gift. But once he realizes what the gift is, he may c ...more

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Aug 21, 2014 Jason rated it liked it

I started this assuming it was an anthology of similar stories and then had to go back and re-read the intro to discover.. there is really nothing to connect these stories in any way. They've just all got some sort of fantasy element and an award winning/NT Best selling writer. That's about it.

Also a little disconcerting that a few of the stories are connected to other works, like Jim Butcher's story is connected to his Harry Dresden series and another acts as a prequel to a book, so if you have ...more

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Oct 21, 2014 Rachel rated it really liked it

This was a very enjoyable collection of stories set in the fantasy realm. One of the things I really appreciate about short story compilations is that they introduce me to a lot of authors. I'd been wanting to check out Saladin Ahmed for some time; I now have been introduced to at least a glimpse of his style. I liked it, will definitely check out more. I also thoroughly enjoyed discovering Heather Brewer and Rachel Caine. And, of course, the main reason I purchased this book was that it feature ...more

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Nov 30, 2014 Diego Elio Pettenò rated it liked it · review of another edition

I have to admit that I bought this only because Jim Butcher was in it as I'm an avid fan of Dresden Files, but plenty of times before I ended up discovering a good author through an anthology, so I gave it a try.

I have mixed feelings about this; some of the stories, in particular Gillian Philip's, were to me breathtaking — I have added Firebrand to my wishlist. Others fell short, way short.

I really have not enjoyed Pale Rider — it feels hurried up, even for a short story, and there is way too mu ...more

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Paranormal Romanc...: Giveaway of SIGNED copies of BEYOND THE PALE	2	20	Sep 03, 2014 10:54AM
The Perks Of Bein...: Giveaway of SIGNED copies of BEYOND THE PALE	3	14	Sep 03, 2014 07:34AM
Urban Fantasy: Giveaway of SIGNED copies of BEYOND THE PALE	1	7	Sep 03, 2014 07:31AM
Fantasy Book Central: Giveaway of SIGNED copies of BEYOND THE PALE	1	2	Sep 03, 2014 07:27AM
Paranormal Romanc...: Giveaway of SIGNED copies of BEYOND THE PALE	1	9	Sep 03, 2014 07:08AM
Children's Books: Seeking Reviewers/Raters for YA dark fantasy anthology	2	7	Jul 13, 2014 08:22AM
Indie Authors Mon...: New dark fantasy/paranormal anthology of amazing authors, Beyond the Pale	1	7	Jul 13, 2014 08:06AM

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About Henry L. Herz

Henry L. Herz

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Henry Herz writes fiction and creative nonfiction for children. He authored MONSTER GOOSE NURSERY RHYMES (Pelican, 2015; Best Picture Book at SoCal SCBWI Editor's Day), WHEN YOU GIVE AN IMP A PENNY (Pelican, 2016), MABEL AND THE QUEEN OF DREAMS (Schiffer, 2016; Finalist, Foreword Indies Best Picture Book), LITTLE RED CUTTLEFISH (Pelican, 2016), CAP'N REX & HIS CLEVER CREW (Sterling, 2017), GOOD EG ...more