The Phantom Queen Awakes

by Mark S. Deniz (Editor), Amanda Pillar (Editor), Cecily Webster (Illustrator)

The Phantom Queen, goddess of death, love and war, returns to strike fear into the hearts of mortals in the anthology, The Phantom Queen Awakes. Meet a washerwoman on the shores of the river; cleaning the clothes of the soon-to-be-dead; try to bargain with the capricious goddess of war; hear the songs of the dead as they cry for justice; walk with heroes of the past Revisit the world of the Celts; a land of mystical beauty, avarice, lust and war through stories told by Katharine Kerr, C.E. Murphy, Elaine Cunningham and Anya Bast, among many other talented authors.

Ruth Shelton's "Rising Tide"
Anya Bast's "Kiss of the Morrigan"
Lynne Lumsden Green's "I Guard your death"
Mari Ness's "Ravens"
Donald Jacob Uitvlugt "Gifts of the Morrigan"
C.E. Murphy's "Cairn Dancer"
Jennifer Lawrence " Washerwoman"
Sharon Kae Reamer "The Raven's Curse"
Katharine Kerr "The Lass from Far Away"
Peter Bell "The Trinket"
Michael Bailey "The Dying Gaul" -
James Lecky "The children of Badb Catha"
L.J. Hayward - "The Plain of Pillars"
Linda Donahue " The Silver Branch"
Martyn Taylor "The Good and Faithful Servant"
T.A. Moore's "The White Heifer of Fearchair"
Elaine Cunningham " She Who is Becoming"

Genres: Fantasy, Anthologies, Paranormal, Mythology

296 pages, Paperback

First published January 26, 2010

Reviews

[Visionary Druid]

Ruth Shelton's "Rising Tide" - Very short. Not even a page or two long. Though the end caused me to go "Huh". Rated B-

Anya Bast's "Kiss of the Morrigan" - I am no stranger to Anya Bast's writing. I have read her Witch books. Instead of writing in the prespective of the Celtic tribes, Anya weaves a tale of a battle-weary Roman solider encountering her in one of her many guises, as the "washerwoman". Really like Morrigan's role in this, sort of reminds all that is depictive of the Valkyries. The Phantom Queen needs none to do her role for her! Rate B+

Lynne Lumsden Green's "I Guard your death" -- As I read each and every story with the Morrigan I notice how different each one features her. Some as a red-head, some as a black haired woman. In the work in progress I'm doing she has more of a battle-harden body - one honed from war. Rate B

Mari Ness's "Ravens" - Guess this story had a lesson involved. I really did not enjoy this one like the previous ones. Rated C

Donald Jacob Uitvlugt "Gifts of the Morrigan" - Enjoyed this story, and yet, vaguely it makes me think of something in my WIP. Of a mortal man's love for the Morrigan. He matched the three aspects of the Maiden/Mother/Crone but in the male aspect. Rated B+

C.E. Murphy's "Cairn Dancer" - Actually liked this story more so than the others I read. I like the premise.. Of someone who danced for the dead, to send their souls to the afterlife, and what depths the cairn dancer went to protect her people from the growing threat. Rated A

Jennifer Lawrence " Washerwoman" This story could have spunned out llonger. I would have liked to see what becomes of the old woman and the infant she saved. It left me wanting more: Rated B+

Sharon Kae Reamer "The Raven's Curse" Enjoyable, though I did not like how easily Lyr's husband replaced her after being so fruitful.. but the sacrifice she took for her children did bring a tear to my eye. Rated B

Katharine Kerr "The Lass from Far Away" - This story made absolutely no sense to me in regards of the Phantom Queen. It was rather sad really. Read more like a fantasy story than one about the Morrigan Rated B

Peter Bell "The Trinket" - Another story written in a Roman's POV. In this the shrouded Morrigan tempts a solider, asking for a trinket and she would give him his wants.. Not a bad story. Rated B

Michael Bailey "The Dying Gaul" - Talk about a tragedy and love triangle all in one story. I could do without the passages but over all the story was pretty good. Though I did have to smirk when one part of the triangle's manhood got cut off (no we did not see it being cut just remarked on) Rated B+

James Lecky "The children of Badb Catha" Now this story I got behind. Morrigan shows how blood thirsty she can when it comes to those she calls her. Hell hath no fury like the Morrigan's! Legionaire versus The Morrigan. Some parts got to be gory and bloody but not too bad.I could see this as a full length novel… and sort of has zombies in it if you think. Celtic zombies

L.J. Hayward - "The Plain of Pillars" Really did not care for how this author protrayed Morrigan. It came off as too weak, too soft. Rated C.

Linda Donahue " The Silver Branch" This story, woven inside, had a lesson to be learned. In a round about way he caused his death, stirred people towards it than prevented it.

Martyn Taylor "The Good and Faithful Servant"- Not really certain how I feel about this story.. That justice is metted out.

T.A. Moore's "The White Heifer of Fearchair" - The ending I really did not see coming. Oddly I was not happy with it but then The Morrigan is not known for her kindness. Another story with a lesson

Elaien Cunningham " She Who is Becoming" - Another author known by me. I love how poetic her writing is. Elaine melded Norse with Celtic, and I think she did a darn good job of it.

Some of these stories I noticed have a lesson. Much like fairy tales are suppose to.

[Maya]

Read my full review as part of Read All Over's 31 days of Halloween festival!

The Phantom Queen Awakes

[Mitzi]

Free Kindle book May 28, 2012.