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Wild Wulfs of London #0.5 - Wulf's Curse
Midnight Pleasures
Handsome and sensual, surrounded by an aura of danger, mystery, and the forbidden, a lover steps from the shadows. But is he mortal? Or is he an ancient god, a sorcerer, or a mythical beast who can possess a woman's heart...and her very soul?
Four of romance's most popular authors have created this spellbinding collection of stores filled with dark passion and desire. Under the cover of darkness, their heroes inhabit worlds haunted by ageless hungers and deadly forces stronger than any seen by day...and vanquished only by the power of love.
Now travel into realms where dazzling wonders roam the night, where magic replaces reason, and where a kiss unleashes a raging fire in the blood. And here, if you dare, discover the seduction that begins at the bewitching hour when a man and woman partake in...Midnight Pleasures.
Darkfest by Amanda Ashley
The price of saving her dying mother is Channa's promise to spend a year at the castle of tormented nobleman, Lord Darkfest...to obey him as his servant or, as his secrets are revealed, to become his salvation. And her own.
Phantom Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Haunted by recurring nightmares of terrifying beasts, Erin McDaniels is afraid to sleep-until a hero arrives in her dreams to save her...and makes erotic, incredible love to her. But can she find him again when she is awake?
NOTE: This story has been re-released in the Dark Bites anthology
Under Her Spell by Maggie Shayne
A consultant for a TV series about one gorgeous witch, "white witch" Melissa St. Cloud plans to make the show authentic. But once on the set she is pulled into the arms of a man who opens up a doorway to the darkside and chilling peril.
A Wulf's Curse by Ronda Thompson
Running away from an arranged marriage, Elise steals aboard a wagon in a traveling circus and finds herself in the bed of the Beast Master, Sterling Wulf, who is something other than he seems...and suddenly all Elise desires.
Four of romance's most popular authors have created this spellbinding collection of stores filled with dark passion and desire. Under the cover of darkness, their heroes inhabit worlds haunted by ageless hungers and deadly forces stronger than any seen by day...and vanquished only by the power of love.
Now travel into realms where dazzling wonders roam the night, where magic replaces reason, and where a kiss unleashes a raging fire in the blood. And here, if you dare, discover the seduction that begins at the bewitching hour when a man and woman partake in...Midnight Pleasures.
Darkfest by Amanda Ashley
The price of saving her dying mother is Channa's promise to spend a year at the castle of tormented nobleman, Lord Darkfest...to obey him as his servant or, as his secrets are revealed, to become his salvation. And her own.
Phantom Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Haunted by recurring nightmares of terrifying beasts, Erin McDaniels is afraid to sleep-until a hero arrives in her dreams to save her...and makes erotic, incredible love to her. But can she find him again when she is awake?
NOTE: This story has been re-released in the Dark Bites anthology
Under Her Spell by Maggie Shayne
A consultant for a TV series about one gorgeous witch, "white witch" Melissa St. Cloud plans to make the show authentic. But once on the set she is pulled into the arms of a man who opens up a doorway to the darkside and chilling peril.
A Wulf's Curse by Ronda Thompson
Running away from an arranged marriage, Elise steals aboard a wagon in a traveling circus and finds herself in the bed of the Beast Master, Sterling Wulf, who is something other than he seems...and suddenly all Elise desires.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 17, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 210 reviews
April 16, 2018
This review is only for Phantom Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Erin is tortured by nightmares. She cannot sleep peacefully and at the same time she cannot wake up most of the times. Things will start getting weirder when she starts falling asleep without wanting to sleep.
In one of her nightmares, she will meet a scaly horrifying dragon and she cannot escape him:
You're not going to leave me so soon, Erin.
I need the light inside you. Your thoughts. Your feelings. Your goodness. Come to me, and let me feel the warmth of you wash over me.
She will run away and she will meet V'Aidan. She will not know then that V'Aidan is her cure and at the same time her illness.
V'Aidan will be sick without Erin and Erin becomes sick because of V'Aidan. If they cannot both live in the dream world, they will need to find a way to live in the humans' world and V'Aidan needs to protect Erin always.
Good addition in dream-hunters' stories.
Erin is tortured by nightmares. She cannot sleep peacefully and at the same time she cannot wake up most of the times. Things will start getting weirder when she starts falling asleep without wanting to sleep.
In one of her nightmares, she will meet a scaly horrifying dragon and she cannot escape him:
You're not going to leave me so soon, Erin.
I need the light inside you. Your thoughts. Your feelings. Your goodness. Come to me, and let me feel the warmth of you wash over me.
She will run away and she will meet V'Aidan. She will not know then that V'Aidan is her cure and at the same time her illness.
V'Aidan will be sick without Erin and Erin becomes sick because of V'Aidan. If they cannot both live in the dream world, they will need to find a way to live in the humans' world and V'Aidan needs to protect Erin always.
Good addition in dream-hunters' stories.
August 24, 2017
This review is only for 'Phantom Lover'.
Phantom Lover appears in print in Midnight Pleasures anthology. It is the story of V’Aidan, a Dream-Hunter, and Erin McDaniels.
The plot is smartly built. The odd, erratic dreams turn into some kind of volatile reality. The human world and the supernatural one exist close to each other. There are interesting twists and turns, and nothing is what it seems.
Around the middle of the story, I was bored a little by V’Aidan’s whining about his true nature and his feelings. It was exaggerated and unnecessary. The end is too easy, kind of a reverse Sleeping Beauty, but as a whole, it is a nice novella.
WhileDragonswan is about the Arcadians and the Katagaria, Phantom Lover gives background information about Dream-Hunters, Skoti, and Oneroi. It is not essential but worth reading it if you want to get a clearer picture about Dream-Hunters.
What I like the most in the Dark-Hunterverse, is that, as in real life, things are not exclusively black or white. Things not always are what they seem to be, and anything could happen.
Originally posted on my blog.
Phantom Lover appears in print in Midnight Pleasures anthology. It is the story of V’Aidan, a Dream-Hunter, and Erin McDaniels.
The plot is smartly built. The odd, erratic dreams turn into some kind of volatile reality. The human world and the supernatural one exist close to each other. There are interesting twists and turns, and nothing is what it seems.
Around the middle of the story, I was bored a little by V’Aidan’s whining about his true nature and his feelings. It was exaggerated and unnecessary. The end is too easy, kind of a reverse Sleeping Beauty, but as a whole, it is a nice novella.
WhileDragonswan is about the Arcadians and the Katagaria, Phantom Lover gives background information about Dream-Hunters, Skoti, and Oneroi. It is not essential but worth reading it if you want to get a clearer picture about Dream-Hunters.
What I like the most in the Dark-Hunterverse, is that, as in real life, things are not exclusively black or white. Things not always are what they seem to be, and anything could happen.
Originally posted on my blog.
November 4, 2009
Reviewed for THC Reviews
Darkfest by Amanda Ashley – Darkfest was a generally enjoyable read for me, mainly because of its fairy tale quality. It takes place at an unspecified time in the past which has a medieval feel to it, making it the first historical paranormal story I've read. The main characters were pretty likable. The hero, Lord Darkfest, has a mysterious air about him. He is a 300-year-old, nearly all-powerful wizard who is also a wolf shifter and has hints of even darker things in his soul as well. The heroine, Channa Leigh, is a beautiful but blind peasant girl who sings with the voice of an angel, stirring feelings and desires within the lonely wizard that he has never felt before. In his entire three centuries of life, Darkfest has never loved or made love to a woman, though there was a brief mention of him having mated with a female wolf while in his animal form. I wasn't really sure what the purpose of that passage was, as it didn't seem to add anything to the story, and I would have just preferred he unquestionably be a virgin in all his forms. Darkfest acted somewhat selfishly when he demanded that Channa Leigh come to live in his castle as payment for healing her mother, but I thought he redeemed himself through his determined quest to permanently restore her sight. Aside from a few moments of arrogance, he was a gentle hero that I liked. Channa Leigh was one of those sweet, guileless heroines who would be difficult not to like, and I greatly admired her independence in spite of her blindness. My main problem with this novella is that, as with most short stories, it is very hard to develop the characters and the plot to a point that it is fully satisfying. There were many questions about Darkfest that I felt were left unanswered, and Channa Leigh went from being afraid of him to being in love with him a little too quickly. Although Channa Leigh eventually figured out that there was a connection between Darkfest and the magical wolf who keeps visiting her, there was never a moment when he shifted for her or spoke the truth to solidify that in her mind. The ending was perhaps a little too simplistic as well, and while I don't mind sweet, non-explicit romances, I have to admit feeling a little cheated that the hero and heroine didn't even get a single love scene or even a cut scene after all the build-up. There were also a few discrepancies in the narrative such as in one place, Channa Leigh had lost her sight to illness and in another, it was an accident. In spite of some weaknesses, I found Darkfest to be a pleasant way to wile away a few hours, and anyone who likes a good fairy tale with a slightly dark flavor will probably find it enjoyable too. Rating: ****
Phantom Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon – I thoroughly enjoyed Phantom Lover. It had elements that were reminiscent of both Fantasy Lover and Dance with the Devil, my two favorite Dark-Hunter novels to date, only with its own twists and turns. Phantom Lover was also an introduction of sorts to the Dream-Hunters, as it is the first story in the series to have these beings as main characters. I really liked the uniqueness of Erin and V'aidan's first meeting and early relationship development taking place inside Erin's dreams. The human mind is such a fascinating thing to me and also very powerful, especially in its subconscious state, so it gave their falling in love at first sight and making love at their first meeting a more believable quality than most stories where this happens. I thought it also gave their interactions an enchantingly romantic quality. V'aidan is another of Sherrilyn Kenyon's tortured male leads. He is the hero who rescues Erin from her nightmares, but isn't all that he seems. I really liked V'aidan's almost childlike wonderment at everything in the human world, but most of all I was taken by his vulnerability and the amazement he exhibits at Erin's trust and love for him, things he has never known before. V'aidan also showed the kind, caring part of his soul by nurturing Erin's creativity which was something she had been neglecting. Erin was a very sweet, gentle heroine with an enormous capacity for forgiveness when she finds out the truth about V'aidan. Ultimately, Phantom Lover was very much about V'aidan's redemption, and when Erin went to him in his non-human form, offering her unconditional love, it brought a tear to my eye. Another thing I really appreciated about this novella is that the mythology seemed much more concise and easier to follow, and neither it nor the magical elements were overdone like I felt it was in some of the past Dark-Hunter books. In a series that has been rather hit-and-miss for me, this little novella was a definite hit. Perhaps there could have been a bit more character development, especially with V'Aidan's backstory and why he decided to protect Erin, but the emotional level was so sweetly satisfying, I can't help but give Phantom Lover keeper status. There wasn't really anything I disliked about this story, and with two winners in a row, my hope is that Sherrilyn Kenyon is back on track to giving me more good reads in the Dark-Hunter series. Phantom Lover used to be listed in the Dark-Hunter chronology between Night Embrace and Dance with the Devil, but is now being called a related story by the author. I am not aware of any carry-over characters between this story and others in the series, but V'Aidan's brother, M'Ordant was mentioned by name in Dance with the Devil, and may play a part in future books. There are currently 26 novels and short stories in the Dark-Hunter series. A complete list of all the books and their recommended reading order can be found on Sherrilyn Kenyon's website. Rating: ****1/2
Under Her Spell by Maggie Shayne – While the other stories in this anthology are primarily about werewolves and shape-shifters, Under Her Spell features witches and the practice of witchcraft, but it is not the fun Harry Potter type of fantasy witchcraft. Instead, Under Her Spell contains a very strong dose of Paganism (both the author and the heroine are Wiccan high priestesses), along with some horror movie moments involving black magic. None of this was really my cup of tea, and quite frankly much of it left me feeling rather creeped out. In fact, the synopsis didn't really interest me from the start, and I probably wouldn't have even read it except for the sake of completing the anthology. Since the story itself didn't resonate with me, I couldn't really relate to the characters either. Alex and Melissa's attraction was too quick and magical to suit my taste, and the one barely-there love scene seemed to come from out of nowhere. I just never felt a connection between, or to, these two characters. I'm also not usually a fan of Hollywood types, and Alex is the creator of a TV show about witches, with Melissa acting as his new technical consultant on all things magical. I would really have to agree with the show's head writer who expressed skepticism when he asked whether they were tying to produce a television drama or a Wicca 101 class. In all honesty, I felt like I was being given a lesson in Wicca all throughout the story. While I try to be open-minded about such things, I'm just not a fan of heavy religious messages of any sort in my fiction reading, especially ones that are so far removed from my own spiritual beliefs. In my opinion, the romance really took a back seat to the witchcraft in this story. If nothing else, I suppose Under Her Spell was an appropriate read for the current Halloween season, but it just wasn't anywhere near as enjoyable as the other three stories in this anthology were for me. Aside from my lack of connection to the characters and their narrative, which I suppose is partially due to personal preferences, the writing itself seemed to be pretty decent. This was my first read by Maggie Shayne, but if she always includes such a large dose of her religious beliefs in her writing then her works may not be for me. Rating: **
A Wulf's Curse by Ronda Thompson – A Wulf's Curse turned out to be a surprisingly good read at a time when I really needed one. Like the first story in this anthology, it is also a historical, but one that takes place in the Regency era. For a paranormal tale it was fairly light and easy, with a cast of very likable characters. Sterling has a mysterious air about him and is a man who holds everyone at arms-length, because of a curse that affects all the male members in his family line. In an attempt to escape his old life, he has taken up an itinerant lifestyle with a group of traveling performers, and is their Beast Tamer, working with two big cats. At the beginning, Sterling is a bit rude, but it quickly becomes apparent that he is a gentle man with a heart of gold. Elise is just the type of heroine I usually enjoy most, one who has a very sweet temperament, but is also quite spirited. I found her bravery and straight-forward honesty to be quite refreshing, and her ready acceptance of those who are different was heartwarming. I loved that when Elise performed her exotic dances in front of the crowds, she was, in her heart and mind, truly dancing for only one man, Sterling. I thought that the building of Sterling and Elise's love had a gentle, poignant quality to it with plenty of sexual tension, and their one love scene was sweetly sensuous. The secondary characters were a wonderful band of misfits, who most people viewed as little more than gypsies or circus freaks, but they were full of heart and soul. I don't think I've ever read a more colorful bunch before. I was somewhat disappointed that the two villainous characters began with a little bite, but kind of ended on a whimper, both being fairly easily dispatched. This wasn't too surprising though, because A Wulf's Curse was primarily character-driven, focusing mainly on the relationships between Sterling and Elise as well as the two of them and the rest of the troupe. It also conveys a strong and touching message about looking into a person's heart rather than judging them for what's on the outside, in addition to acceptance of oneself. Although Sterling's secret was fairly obvious right from the outset, it wasn't revealed until very near the end of the story. I thought this made the ending feel a little rushed with Elise and the other troupe members accepting his “difference” a little too easily, although I will admit that it fit well with the theme. Also, the ending, while happy, was not quite what I was expecting and that ties back into the inner workings of the curse which was only briefly explained. I would have liked to know more about the curse, but perhaps it will be explored in more depth in future installments of the series. A Wulf's Curse is the first story in the Wild Wulfs of London series, and my first read by the late Ronda Thompson. Overall, it was a very welcome and pleasant story that makes me look forward to continuing the series soon, as well as possibly exploring other books in Ms. Thompson's backlist. Rating: ****
Darkfest by Amanda Ashley – Darkfest was a generally enjoyable read for me, mainly because of its fairy tale quality. It takes place at an unspecified time in the past which has a medieval feel to it, making it the first historical paranormal story I've read. The main characters were pretty likable. The hero, Lord Darkfest, has a mysterious air about him. He is a 300-year-old, nearly all-powerful wizard who is also a wolf shifter and has hints of even darker things in his soul as well. The heroine, Channa Leigh, is a beautiful but blind peasant girl who sings with the voice of an angel, stirring feelings and desires within the lonely wizard that he has never felt before. In his entire three centuries of life, Darkfest has never loved or made love to a woman, though there was a brief mention of him having mated with a female wolf while in his animal form. I wasn't really sure what the purpose of that passage was, as it didn't seem to add anything to the story, and I would have just preferred he unquestionably be a virgin in all his forms. Darkfest acted somewhat selfishly when he demanded that Channa Leigh come to live in his castle as payment for healing her mother, but I thought he redeemed himself through his determined quest to permanently restore her sight. Aside from a few moments of arrogance, he was a gentle hero that I liked. Channa Leigh was one of those sweet, guileless heroines who would be difficult not to like, and I greatly admired her independence in spite of her blindness. My main problem with this novella is that, as with most short stories, it is very hard to develop the characters and the plot to a point that it is fully satisfying. There were many questions about Darkfest that I felt were left unanswered, and Channa Leigh went from being afraid of him to being in love with him a little too quickly. Although Channa Leigh eventually figured out that there was a connection between Darkfest and the magical wolf who keeps visiting her, there was never a moment when he shifted for her or spoke the truth to solidify that in her mind. The ending was perhaps a little too simplistic as well, and while I don't mind sweet, non-explicit romances, I have to admit feeling a little cheated that the hero and heroine didn't even get a single love scene or even a cut scene after all the build-up. There were also a few discrepancies in the narrative such as in one place, Channa Leigh had lost her sight to illness and in another, it was an accident. In spite of some weaknesses, I found Darkfest to be a pleasant way to wile away a few hours, and anyone who likes a good fairy tale with a slightly dark flavor will probably find it enjoyable too. Rating: ****
Phantom Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon – I thoroughly enjoyed Phantom Lover. It had elements that were reminiscent of both Fantasy Lover and Dance with the Devil, my two favorite Dark-Hunter novels to date, only with its own twists and turns. Phantom Lover was also an introduction of sorts to the Dream-Hunters, as it is the first story in the series to have these beings as main characters. I really liked the uniqueness of Erin and V'aidan's first meeting and early relationship development taking place inside Erin's dreams. The human mind is such a fascinating thing to me and also very powerful, especially in its subconscious state, so it gave their falling in love at first sight and making love at their first meeting a more believable quality than most stories where this happens. I thought it also gave their interactions an enchantingly romantic quality. V'aidan is another of Sherrilyn Kenyon's tortured male leads. He is the hero who rescues Erin from her nightmares, but isn't all that he seems. I really liked V'aidan's almost childlike wonderment at everything in the human world, but most of all I was taken by his vulnerability and the amazement he exhibits at Erin's trust and love for him, things he has never known before. V'aidan also showed the kind, caring part of his soul by nurturing Erin's creativity which was something she had been neglecting. Erin was a very sweet, gentle heroine with an enormous capacity for forgiveness when she finds out the truth about V'aidan. Ultimately, Phantom Lover was very much about V'aidan's redemption, and when Erin went to him in his non-human form, offering her unconditional love, it brought a tear to my eye. Another thing I really appreciated about this novella is that the mythology seemed much more concise and easier to follow, and neither it nor the magical elements were overdone like I felt it was in some of the past Dark-Hunter books. In a series that has been rather hit-and-miss for me, this little novella was a definite hit. Perhaps there could have been a bit more character development, especially with V'Aidan's backstory and why he decided to protect Erin, but the emotional level was so sweetly satisfying, I can't help but give Phantom Lover keeper status. There wasn't really anything I disliked about this story, and with two winners in a row, my hope is that Sherrilyn Kenyon is back on track to giving me more good reads in the Dark-Hunter series. Phantom Lover used to be listed in the Dark-Hunter chronology between Night Embrace and Dance with the Devil, but is now being called a related story by the author. I am not aware of any carry-over characters between this story and others in the series, but V'Aidan's brother, M'Ordant was mentioned by name in Dance with the Devil, and may play a part in future books. There are currently 26 novels and short stories in the Dark-Hunter series. A complete list of all the books and their recommended reading order can be found on Sherrilyn Kenyon's website. Rating: ****1/2
Under Her Spell by Maggie Shayne – While the other stories in this anthology are primarily about werewolves and shape-shifters, Under Her Spell features witches and the practice of witchcraft, but it is not the fun Harry Potter type of fantasy witchcraft. Instead, Under Her Spell contains a very strong dose of Paganism (both the author and the heroine are Wiccan high priestesses), along with some horror movie moments involving black magic. None of this was really my cup of tea, and quite frankly much of it left me feeling rather creeped out. In fact, the synopsis didn't really interest me from the start, and I probably wouldn't have even read it except for the sake of completing the anthology. Since the story itself didn't resonate with me, I couldn't really relate to the characters either. Alex and Melissa's attraction was too quick and magical to suit my taste, and the one barely-there love scene seemed to come from out of nowhere. I just never felt a connection between, or to, these two characters. I'm also not usually a fan of Hollywood types, and Alex is the creator of a TV show about witches, with Melissa acting as his new technical consultant on all things magical. I would really have to agree with the show's head writer who expressed skepticism when he asked whether they were tying to produce a television drama or a Wicca 101 class. In all honesty, I felt like I was being given a lesson in Wicca all throughout the story. While I try to be open-minded about such things, I'm just not a fan of heavy religious messages of any sort in my fiction reading, especially ones that are so far removed from my own spiritual beliefs. In my opinion, the romance really took a back seat to the witchcraft in this story. If nothing else, I suppose Under Her Spell was an appropriate read for the current Halloween season, but it just wasn't anywhere near as enjoyable as the other three stories in this anthology were for me. Aside from my lack of connection to the characters and their narrative, which I suppose is partially due to personal preferences, the writing itself seemed to be pretty decent. This was my first read by Maggie Shayne, but if she always includes such a large dose of her religious beliefs in her writing then her works may not be for me. Rating: **
A Wulf's Curse by Ronda Thompson – A Wulf's Curse turned out to be a surprisingly good read at a time when I really needed one. Like the first story in this anthology, it is also a historical, but one that takes place in the Regency era. For a paranormal tale it was fairly light and easy, with a cast of very likable characters. Sterling has a mysterious air about him and is a man who holds everyone at arms-length, because of a curse that affects all the male members in his family line. In an attempt to escape his old life, he has taken up an itinerant lifestyle with a group of traveling performers, and is their Beast Tamer, working with two big cats. At the beginning, Sterling is a bit rude, but it quickly becomes apparent that he is a gentle man with a heart of gold. Elise is just the type of heroine I usually enjoy most, one who has a very sweet temperament, but is also quite spirited. I found her bravery and straight-forward honesty to be quite refreshing, and her ready acceptance of those who are different was heartwarming. I loved that when Elise performed her exotic dances in front of the crowds, she was, in her heart and mind, truly dancing for only one man, Sterling. I thought that the building of Sterling and Elise's love had a gentle, poignant quality to it with plenty of sexual tension, and their one love scene was sweetly sensuous. The secondary characters were a wonderful band of misfits, who most people viewed as little more than gypsies or circus freaks, but they were full of heart and soul. I don't think I've ever read a more colorful bunch before. I was somewhat disappointed that the two villainous characters began with a little bite, but kind of ended on a whimper, both being fairly easily dispatched. This wasn't too surprising though, because A Wulf's Curse was primarily character-driven, focusing mainly on the relationships between Sterling and Elise as well as the two of them and the rest of the troupe. It also conveys a strong and touching message about looking into a person's heart rather than judging them for what's on the outside, in addition to acceptance of oneself. Although Sterling's secret was fairly obvious right from the outset, it wasn't revealed until very near the end of the story. I thought this made the ending feel a little rushed with Elise and the other troupe members accepting his “difference” a little too easily, although I will admit that it fit well with the theme. Also, the ending, while happy, was not quite what I was expecting and that ties back into the inner workings of the curse which was only briefly explained. I would have liked to know more about the curse, but perhaps it will be explored in more depth in future installments of the series. A Wulf's Curse is the first story in the Wild Wulfs of London series, and my first read by the late Ronda Thompson. Overall, it was a very welcome and pleasant story that makes me look forward to continuing the series soon, as well as possibly exploring other books in Ms. Thompson's backlist. Rating: ****
September 20, 2010
Reviewed for THC Reviews
"4.5 stars" I thoroughly enjoyed Phantom Lover. It had elements that were reminiscent of both Fantasy Lover and Dance with the Devil, my two favorite Dark-Hunter novels to date, only with its own twists and turns. Phantom Lover was also an introduction of sorts to the Dream-Hunters, as it is the first story in the series to have these beings as main characters. I really liked the uniqueness of Erin and V'aidan's first meeting and early relationship development taking place inside Erin's dreams. The human mind is such a fascinating thing to me and also very powerful, especially in its subconscious state, so it gave their falling in love at first sight and making love at their first meeting more believability than most stories where this happens. I thought it also gave their interactions an enchantingly romantic quality.
V'aidan is another of Sherrilyn Kenyon's tortured male leads. He is the hero who rescues Erin from her nightmares, but isn't all that he seems. I really liked V'aidan's almost childlike wonderment at everything in the human world, but most of all I was taken by his vulnerability and the amazement he exhibits at Erin's trust and love for him, things he has never known before. V'aidan also showed the kind, caring part of his soul by nurturing Erin's creativity which was something she had been neglecting. Erin was a very sweet, gentle heroine with an enormous capacity for forgiveness when she finds out the truth about V'aidan. Ultimately, Phantom Lover was very much about V'aidan's redemption, and when Erin went to him in his non-human form, offering her unconditional love, it brought a tear to my eye.
Another thing I really appreciated about this novella is that the mythology seemed much more concise and easier to follow, and neither it nor the magical elements were overdone like I felt it was in some of the past Dark-Hunter books. In a series that has been rather hit-and-miss for me, this little novella was a definite hit. Perhaps there could have been a bit more character development, especially with V'Aidan's backstory and why he decided to protect Erin, but the emotional level was so sweetly satisfying, I can't help but give Phantom Lover keeper status. There wasn't really anything I disliked about this story, and with two winners in a row, my hope is that Sherrilyn Kenyon is back on track to giving me more good reads in the Dark-Hunter series.
Phantom Lover is found in the Midnight Pleasures anthology. It falls between Night Embrace and Dance with the Devil in the Dark-Hunter chronology. I am not aware of any carry-over characters between this story and others in the series, but V'Aidan's brother, M'Ordant was mentioned by name in Dance with the Devil, and may play a part in future books. There are currently a total of 19 full-length novels in the Dark-Hunter series and quite a number of related novellas and graphic novels as well, with more still to come. A complete list of all the books and their recommended reading order can be found on Sherrilyn Kenyon's website.
"4.5 stars" I thoroughly enjoyed Phantom Lover. It had elements that were reminiscent of both Fantasy Lover and Dance with the Devil, my two favorite Dark-Hunter novels to date, only with its own twists and turns. Phantom Lover was also an introduction of sorts to the Dream-Hunters, as it is the first story in the series to have these beings as main characters. I really liked the uniqueness of Erin and V'aidan's first meeting and early relationship development taking place inside Erin's dreams. The human mind is such a fascinating thing to me and also very powerful, especially in its subconscious state, so it gave their falling in love at first sight and making love at their first meeting more believability than most stories where this happens. I thought it also gave their interactions an enchantingly romantic quality.
V'aidan is another of Sherrilyn Kenyon's tortured male leads. He is the hero who rescues Erin from her nightmares, but isn't all that he seems. I really liked V'aidan's almost childlike wonderment at everything in the human world, but most of all I was taken by his vulnerability and the amazement he exhibits at Erin's trust and love for him, things he has never known before. V'aidan also showed the kind, caring part of his soul by nurturing Erin's creativity which was something she had been neglecting. Erin was a very sweet, gentle heroine with an enormous capacity for forgiveness when she finds out the truth about V'aidan. Ultimately, Phantom Lover was very much about V'aidan's redemption, and when Erin went to him in his non-human form, offering her unconditional love, it brought a tear to my eye.
Another thing I really appreciated about this novella is that the mythology seemed much more concise and easier to follow, and neither it nor the magical elements were overdone like I felt it was in some of the past Dark-Hunter books. In a series that has been rather hit-and-miss for me, this little novella was a definite hit. Perhaps there could have been a bit more character development, especially with V'Aidan's backstory and why he decided to protect Erin, but the emotional level was so sweetly satisfying, I can't help but give Phantom Lover keeper status. There wasn't really anything I disliked about this story, and with two winners in a row, my hope is that Sherrilyn Kenyon is back on track to giving me more good reads in the Dark-Hunter series.
Phantom Lover is found in the Midnight Pleasures anthology. It falls between Night Embrace and Dance with the Devil in the Dark-Hunter chronology. I am not aware of any carry-over characters between this story and others in the series, but V'Aidan's brother, M'Ordant was mentioned by name in Dance with the Devil, and may play a part in future books. There are currently a total of 19 full-length novels in the Dark-Hunter series and quite a number of related novellas and graphic novels as well, with more still to come. A complete list of all the books and their recommended reading order can be found on Sherrilyn Kenyon's website.
March 28, 2008
Though I didn't care for some of the stories in this anthology all that much, I'm still glad I read it because I did enjoy the story by Ronda Thompson. :)
"Darkfest" by Amanda Ashley
My Rating: 3 stars
The price of saving her dying mother is Channa's promise to spend a year at the castle of tormented nobleman, Lord Darkfest... to obey him as his servant or, as his secrets are revealed, to become his salvation. And her own.
I found this one a bit chintzy and sappy. And then I realized I didn't really care for Amanda Ashley's full-length novel, Desire After Dark, that I'd read either. Romance buffs may enjoy it more but it didn't have enough of an interesting story line to go along with it to hold my interest.
"Phantom Lover" by Sherrilyn Kenyon
My Rating: 4 stars
Haunted by recurring nightmares of terrifying beasts, Erin McDaniels is afraid to sleep—until a hero arrives in her dreams to save her... and makes erotic, incredible love to her. But can she find him again when she is awake?
I wasn't too impressed with this story. It was a bit too "sappy romance" for me and the rest of the action was only mediocre. Though I've felt that the romance in Kenyon's full-length Dark-Hunter novels was a bit sappy too, they generally had enough action and sub-plot going on to keep me interested anyway... although I do admit I get a bit glassy-eyed during the sappy love scenes that go on for 3 or 4 pages. But glossing over those parts, the rest of the story is still fairly engaging, which I didn't really find to be the case as much with this short story, probably due in great part to the short-story format and not having enough space to really flesh out a good sub-plot.
"Under Her Spell" by Maggie Shayne
My Rating: 5 stars
Melissa St. Cloud is hired as the technical consultant for a television series, The Enchantress. But instead of simply correcting the technical inaccuracies related to Witchcraft in the show itself, she ends up having to banish an evil spirit who is trying to consume Alex's life... literally!
I had mixed feelings about this one. On one hand, I liked the background story that went along with the it. However, the way the author approached the parts dealing with Wicca and Witchcraft, though accurate, seemed very much like a Wicca 101 lecture. Yes, granted she's trying to teach the reader something in the process, but for someone who's already experienced with all that like myself, it simply came off as rote, and the kind of thing that should be saved for a non-fiction Wicca 101 text.
"A Wulf's Curse" by Ronda Thompson
My Rating: 7 stars
Elise is running from her uncle and the arranged marriage he's set for her to a very cruel man. So she stows away in the wagon of a traveling road show, hoping to hitch a ride from London to Liverpool, and ends up right in the arms of the Beast Tamer, Sterling Wulf... and the Wulf part is more than just his last name! ;-)
This is my fist introduction to this author, and since I have some of her full-length novels coming in a bookring from CandyDarling, I had wanted to make sure I liked the author. Although this was strictly romance, I liked the author's writing style enough, and there was enough of a storyline outside of the romance with the traveling road show, that I enjoyed it nonetheless. IMO, this was the best story in this anthology.
"Darkfest" by Amanda Ashley
My Rating: 3 stars
The price of saving her dying mother is Channa's promise to spend a year at the castle of tormented nobleman, Lord Darkfest... to obey him as his servant or, as his secrets are revealed, to become his salvation. And her own.
I found this one a bit chintzy and sappy. And then I realized I didn't really care for Amanda Ashley's full-length novel, Desire After Dark, that I'd read either. Romance buffs may enjoy it more but it didn't have enough of an interesting story line to go along with it to hold my interest.
"Phantom Lover" by Sherrilyn Kenyon
My Rating: 4 stars
Haunted by recurring nightmares of terrifying beasts, Erin McDaniels is afraid to sleep—until a hero arrives in her dreams to save her... and makes erotic, incredible love to her. But can she find him again when she is awake?
I wasn't too impressed with this story. It was a bit too "sappy romance" for me and the rest of the action was only mediocre. Though I've felt that the romance in Kenyon's full-length Dark-Hunter novels was a bit sappy too, they generally had enough action and sub-plot going on to keep me interested anyway... although I do admit I get a bit glassy-eyed during the sappy love scenes that go on for 3 or 4 pages. But glossing over those parts, the rest of the story is still fairly engaging, which I didn't really find to be the case as much with this short story, probably due in great part to the short-story format and not having enough space to really flesh out a good sub-plot.
"Under Her Spell" by Maggie Shayne
My Rating: 5 stars
Melissa St. Cloud is hired as the technical consultant for a television series, The Enchantress. But instead of simply correcting the technical inaccuracies related to Witchcraft in the show itself, she ends up having to banish an evil spirit who is trying to consume Alex's life... literally!
I had mixed feelings about this one. On one hand, I liked the background story that went along with the it. However, the way the author approached the parts dealing with Wicca and Witchcraft, though accurate, seemed very much like a Wicca 101 lecture. Yes, granted she's trying to teach the reader something in the process, but for someone who's already experienced with all that like myself, it simply came off as rote, and the kind of thing that should be saved for a non-fiction Wicca 101 text.
"A Wulf's Curse" by Ronda Thompson
My Rating: 7 stars
Elise is running from her uncle and the arranged marriage he's set for her to a very cruel man. So she stows away in the wagon of a traveling road show, hoping to hitch a ride from London to Liverpool, and ends up right in the arms of the Beast Tamer, Sterling Wulf... and the Wulf part is more than just his last name! ;-)
This is my fist introduction to this author, and since I have some of her full-length novels coming in a bookring from CandyDarling, I had wanted to make sure I liked the author. Although this was strictly romance, I liked the author's writing style enough, and there was enough of a storyline outside of the romance with the traveling road show, that I enjoyed it nonetheless. IMO, this was the best story in this anthology.
November 30, 2014
The primary reason for buying this book was the fact that as an anthology, it contained the 5th story in the series of the Dark-Hunters.
Of course, as a Dream-Hunter novel, I found the story, while being sadly short, still very good considering. V'Aiden and Elise's story is one that contains a simple plot, but a rather surprising ending. Overall I enjoyed both characters, and while I feel that this would've been good for a standing story alone as its own book, it still held up to the standards of Sherrilyn.
As for the other three stories included, I only read two of the three, and only found the story Sterling to be excessively interesting.
Of course, as a Dream-Hunter novel, I found the story, while being sadly short, still very good considering. V'Aiden and Elise's story is one that contains a simple plot, but a rather surprising ending. Overall I enjoyed both characters, and while I feel that this would've been good for a standing story alone as its own book, it still held up to the standards of Sherrilyn.
As for the other three stories included, I only read two of the three, and only found the story Sterling to be excessively interesting.
November 29, 2009
This is an anthology of 4 short stories and I really liked every story. Sherrilyn Kenyon had a sweet Dream Hunter one, and the Wild Wulfs of London was really good. Maggie shayne's was a good one about a witch whose new boss is being slowly possessed by his dead father's spirit and she saves him. And the Amanda Ashley story was about a young blind girl who captured the heart of a sorcerer.
January 8, 2013
This is a wonderful short story about a dream Slotos. I cried at the end and even though it was a short story I enjoyed it very much.
March 9, 2010
After reading all the stories the highest rating on couldn't bring the average up. I bought the book for the SK story but never got around to reading it. But because of the book challenge this month I decided to take on the whole book and while I liked the SK story (it was after all a familiar world), my favorite was the Amanda Ashley story. I would like to read more about the characters in that story.
Darkfest by Amanda Ashley
3/8/10- This was an interesting story and obviously it was either a series prequel or at the very least a story prequel, and it felt that way. It takes place in a "distant land before recorded time", that sounds suspiciously Scottish... A wizard called Darkfest is alone and has been that way for at least 300 hundred years. He is fighting the darkness within him and denying himself to do it. Channa Leigh is a blind girl from the village below and he is enchanted with her. Unable to help himself he changes forms into a wolf and goes to her and discovers when they touch she can see. When he father comes to the wizard for help, he asks for Channa as payment. She agrees and while in his castle she starts to wonder if he might be the wolf. She loves and trusts the wolf but she is uncertain of the wizard. He just wants love. And even if they have a happily ever after, how long will it last? Not a bad story although I wish it felt more complete instead like the first 100 pages of a 400 page novel. Good story. Off to research a sequel! 3 stars
Phantom Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon
3/5/10- I bought this whole book for this story. It was okay. I probably would have enjoyed it more had I read it about halfway through the series, but at this point when I've finished all the books to date and all but 3 of the short stories, this book really didn't have anything new to add. Erin McDaniels is an office worked who is having nightmares. V'Aidan comes to her dreams to save her. Even something about the ending reminded me of the first dream hunter book. Like I said I think this story is like 3 1/2 in the series, it's the first short story and is the introductions of the dream hunters. But like I said, I read all the books first so this story just fell flat. 2.5 stars
Under Her Spell by Maggie Shayne
3/6/10- Meh. Alexander Quinn is a handsome and successful producer on a show that reminds me of Charmed. In order to help add some credibility to the witches on the show they hire Melissa St. Cloud, a Witch, a professor and a lot of other official things, to be a consultant. Alex and Melissa are immediately drawn to each other with an intense attraction. Alex is surrounded by serious negative energy but won't listen to Melissa's warnings about it. So they spend the story fighting with each other about magic while not fighting the attraction and ending on a very anticlimactic note followed by a sappy epilogue. Like I said, Meh. 2 stars
A Wulf's Curse by Ronda Thompson
3/8/10- It's 1820 and Elise Collins is trying to get away from her uncle and a marriage he arranged for her for the money. So she runs away and joins the circus. She slips into an unoccupied wagon and falls asleep. In reality that wagon belongs to Sterling Wulf the lion tamer. He tries to give her every reason to leave, but she's determined to have an adventure. Unfortunately her adventure may be the end of him.
This story read like an after school special. I was beaten over the head with the moral of the story- To be loved unconditionally, one must love unconditionally. And love = happiness. A quick read but not very exciting. 2.5 stars
Darkfest by Amanda Ashley
3/8/10- This was an interesting story and obviously it was either a series prequel or at the very least a story prequel, and it felt that way. It takes place in a "distant land before recorded time", that sounds suspiciously Scottish... A wizard called Darkfest is alone and has been that way for at least 300 hundred years. He is fighting the darkness within him and denying himself to do it. Channa Leigh is a blind girl from the village below and he is enchanted with her. Unable to help himself he changes forms into a wolf and goes to her and discovers when they touch she can see. When he father comes to the wizard for help, he asks for Channa as payment. She agrees and while in his castle she starts to wonder if he might be the wolf. She loves and trusts the wolf but she is uncertain of the wizard. He just wants love. And even if they have a happily ever after, how long will it last? Not a bad story although I wish it felt more complete instead like the first 100 pages of a 400 page novel. Good story. Off to research a sequel! 3 stars
Phantom Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon
3/5/10- I bought this whole book for this story. It was okay. I probably would have enjoyed it more had I read it about halfway through the series, but at this point when I've finished all the books to date and all but 3 of the short stories, this book really didn't have anything new to add. Erin McDaniels is an office worked who is having nightmares. V'Aidan comes to her dreams to save her. Even something about the ending reminded me of the first dream hunter book. Like I said I think this story is like 3 1/2 in the series, it's the first short story and is the introductions of the dream hunters. But like I said, I read all the books first so this story just fell flat. 2.5 stars
Under Her Spell by Maggie Shayne
3/6/10- Meh. Alexander Quinn is a handsome and successful producer on a show that reminds me of Charmed. In order to help add some credibility to the witches on the show they hire Melissa St. Cloud, a Witch, a professor and a lot of other official things, to be a consultant. Alex and Melissa are immediately drawn to each other with an intense attraction. Alex is surrounded by serious negative energy but won't listen to Melissa's warnings about it. So they spend the story fighting with each other about magic while not fighting the attraction and ending on a very anticlimactic note followed by a sappy epilogue. Like I said, Meh. 2 stars
A Wulf's Curse by Ronda Thompson
3/8/10- It's 1820 and Elise Collins is trying to get away from her uncle and a marriage he arranged for her for the money. So she runs away and joins the circus. She slips into an unoccupied wagon and falls asleep. In reality that wagon belongs to Sterling Wulf the lion tamer. He tries to give her every reason to leave, but she's determined to have an adventure. Unfortunately her adventure may be the end of him.
This story read like an after school special. I was beaten over the head with the moral of the story- To be loved unconditionally, one must love unconditionally. And love = happiness. A quick read but not very exciting. 2.5 stars
January 14, 2011
"Midnight Pleasures" isn't the best anthology I've ever read, but it has stories from two series I enjoy, so it was worth a read.
The first story is Amanda Ashley's "Darkfest." I've never read anything from her before. The title character is a dark wizard who has never known love. He is very powerful and he is taken with Channa Leigh, a virginal blind village girl. He visits her village in the form of a wolf and somehow, when she touches him, she can see. But he knows he can't stay with her as a wolf. When Channa Leigh's mother becomes ill, her father begs Darkfest for help and he agrees to heal the woman in exchange for a year with Channa Leigh in his fortress. The story was sweet. Not terribly strong, but not bad. There were some things (like his taste for blood and problems with the sunlight) that were never really fleshed out. And speaking of flesh, despite the fact there was much talk about them both being virgins... their relationship was never consummated. Bummer.
The second story was Sherrilyn Kenyon's "Phantom Lover." This is part of her Dark/Dream Hunter universe. V'Aiden is a Greek God of sleep (for lack of a more complex explanation.) He falls in love with Erin in her dreams. She's been plagued by monsters in her sleep which are draining her for power. And he comes to her rescue. Can they make it work even though he is not human and they live in two different worlds? I'm a huge fan of the Dark/Dream Hunters, so I really enjoyed this one. As always, Kenyon's storytelling is sexy and enthralling. I can't say if someone unfamiliar with the series would enjoy it as much as I did. But I thought it was great.
Maggie Shayne's "Under Her Spell" is next. It features Melissa, a white witch who has been hired by a tv show about the supernatural, to consult on its accuracy. She is quickly drawn to her new boss, but she realizes he is surrounded by dark energy. It turns out his father was a dark wizard who is reaching out to him beyond the grave and only Melissa can save his soul. It was kind of... well, meh, for me. I didn't hate it, but I wouldn't have any interest in reading any more about these characters.
And the last novella is "A Wulf's Curse," part of Ronda Thompson's Wild Wulfs of London series. The story centers on Sterling, the youngest of the Wulf brothers. He ran away from his London home 10 years earlier when he father triggered the family curse. Dad turned into a wolf at the dinner table, then committed suicide. His mother killed herself shortly after. The curse is triggered by love, so Sterling has no interest in losing his heart. But when the beautiful Elise stows away in the carnival where he works, he can't help but fall for her innocent charms. It was sweet addition to the series. Steamy love scenes and a great happy ending. My only beef is, that unlike the resolutions that other Wulf stories had, we didn't get to see Sterling beat his curse. We just have to assume it all works out in the end.
Overall, the collection of stories was fair. I really enjoyed the Kenyon and Thompson offerings. The other two are just ok. 3 1/2 stars, but I'll round up on the merit of the two I liked.
The first story is Amanda Ashley's "Darkfest." I've never read anything from her before. The title character is a dark wizard who has never known love. He is very powerful and he is taken with Channa Leigh, a virginal blind village girl. He visits her village in the form of a wolf and somehow, when she touches him, she can see. But he knows he can't stay with her as a wolf. When Channa Leigh's mother becomes ill, her father begs Darkfest for help and he agrees to heal the woman in exchange for a year with Channa Leigh in his fortress. The story was sweet. Not terribly strong, but not bad. There were some things (like his taste for blood and problems with the sunlight) that were never really fleshed out. And speaking of flesh, despite the fact there was much talk about them both being virgins... their relationship was never consummated. Bummer.
The second story was Sherrilyn Kenyon's "Phantom Lover." This is part of her Dark/Dream Hunter universe. V'Aiden is a Greek God of sleep (for lack of a more complex explanation.) He falls in love with Erin in her dreams. She's been plagued by monsters in her sleep which are draining her for power. And he comes to her rescue. Can they make it work even though he is not human and they live in two different worlds? I'm a huge fan of the Dark/Dream Hunters, so I really enjoyed this one. As always, Kenyon's storytelling is sexy and enthralling. I can't say if someone unfamiliar with the series would enjoy it as much as I did. But I thought it was great.
Maggie Shayne's "Under Her Spell" is next. It features Melissa, a white witch who has been hired by a tv show about the supernatural, to consult on its accuracy. She is quickly drawn to her new boss, but she realizes he is surrounded by dark energy. It turns out his father was a dark wizard who is reaching out to him beyond the grave and only Melissa can save his soul. It was kind of... well, meh, for me. I didn't hate it, but I wouldn't have any interest in reading any more about these characters.
And the last novella is "A Wulf's Curse," part of Ronda Thompson's Wild Wulfs of London series. The story centers on Sterling, the youngest of the Wulf brothers. He ran away from his London home 10 years earlier when he father triggered the family curse. Dad turned into a wolf at the dinner table, then committed suicide. His mother killed herself shortly after. The curse is triggered by love, so Sterling has no interest in losing his heart. But when the beautiful Elise stows away in the carnival where he works, he can't help but fall for her innocent charms. It was sweet addition to the series. Steamy love scenes and a great happy ending. My only beef is, that unlike the resolutions that other Wulf stories had, we didn't get to see Sterling beat his curse. We just have to assume it all works out in the end.
Overall, the collection of stories was fair. I really enjoyed the Kenyon and Thompson offerings. The other two are just ok. 3 1/2 stars, but I'll round up on the merit of the two I liked.
August 12, 2011
This one was a tough read for me. I enjoyed the Dream Hunter story by Sherrilyn Kenyon but have to say I was disappointed with the other three novels. Darkfest by Amanda Ashley held my attention briefly but found it dragged on and we never got to know the characters in depth. Lord Darkfest falls in love with a blind peasant girl. Kinda sums up the entire story. Under Her Spell by Maggie Shayne was disappointing. I felt that she was just trying to further her Wiccan agenda rather than make a full rounded tale. I think with some work and more background on the female lead it could have been a better story. A Wulf's Curse by Ronda Thompson..I just found plain boring. Perhaps it is because I don't really enjoy historical Paranormal/Romances but felt this story had nothing new to offer. Overall see if you can find a copy of Phantom Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon on it's own and don't waste your time with the other stories. I gave it 2 stars based on SK's story. I would not recommend this Anthology.
December 16, 2011
The first and last stories in this anthology only rate one star in my book, I'm not fond of the perfect virginal main character.
The two middle stories were fun and entertaining, and I was especially fond of Maggie Shayne's contribution. It's always nice to read a romance where the heroine does more than sit around and wait to be rescued, and she definitely delivered with a strong, confident, and capable heroine.
The two middle stories were fun and entertaining, and I was especially fond of Maggie Shayne's contribution. It's always nice to read a romance where the heroine does more than sit around and wait to be rescued, and she definitely delivered with a strong, confident, and capable heroine.
January 16, 2014
Sherrilyn Kenyon - Phantom Lover
Dark Hunterlarla pek ilgisi yoktu aslında, serinin yan kitaplarından biri ama.. Sherri yazmış okumamak olmazdı :D Sonunu da bir dersle bitirmiş: En karanlık kabusların ardından bile iyi bir şey gelebilir :D
Dark Hunterlarla pek ilgisi yoktu aslında, serinin yan kitaplarından biri ama.. Sherri yazmış okumamak olmazdı :D Sonunu da bir dersle bitirmiş: En karanlık kabusların ardından bile iyi bir şey gelebilir :D
December 9, 2011
While this book was just ok I still read it.. It just did not grab my attention
August 27, 2012
Phantom Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon, It was such a sad sweet book. Loved every moment of it.
February 18, 2025
Four stars because I really think I wanted more from the stories I loved (one is the odd man out, and I'll get there), especially A Wulf's Curse
-Darkfest-Amanda Ashley
*The Creme de la creme (it's Amanda Ashley, it'd better be). A wizard (the Darkfest in question)who can control fire, who dwells alone in a castle high above the village falls for the sweet Channa whose blindness is momentarily cured by a wolf who visits her each night... a wolf with very familiar eyes. Gothic fantasy vibes abound, very 2011 aesthetic... or rather what that strived to be). The angst was palpable, the romance believable. If fairy tales are your jam, this one's the MVP.
-Phantom Lover-Sherrilyn Kenyon
*Yeah, this is the odd man out. It just read like a rip-off of Fantasy Lover, except the guy's a knight in our heroine's dreams. Didn't like when it felt rehashed in Night Pleasures (I read them out of order) and hated it here.
-Under her Spell
*This was interesting: while I really did like Melissa's explanation on white witches and the magic spectrum (reminded me of that apothecary shop owner from The Craft (1996) who shows Sara why Nancy's magic is tainted/will have dire consequences should the coven continue), it got to be a bit heavy handed (our hero Alex is literally a showrunner, living high in the Hollywood hills, talkin' up his big fancy car, his huge house, how all he has to do is make it so". Hollywood bad, we get it.
-Wulf's Curse
*I wanted so much more from this! I've read A Wulf novel before and loved it (and plan to read at least one more). I really liked the side show setting (something about all the characters' living/sleeping wagons/campsite as opposed to the London Ton scene, our two leads getting to know each other in that shared space backlit by lanterns, and the sense of found family for Elise really made this a strangely cozy read). The scenes that got me were Sterling remembering his father's transformation from man to wolf at the dinner table (reminded me of the wedding scene from TCOW (1984)... also that admission from Sterling that he's neither man nor beast gave me the Huntsman going "not one, nor the other. Both" from said film), and Sterling talking with the panther and tiger, how they can almost understand him ("Eyes of the Panther" by Ambrose Bierce from that), and the performers protecting/encouraging Elise to love Sterling despite his monstrous state was like a happier version of Freaks (1932)).
*I want this to be a full-length novel: give me Elise running away from her abusive uncle, show me Sterling falling for/out of lust with Mora.
Anthologies are tricky; I've yet to find one where every single story sends me reeling in the best way.
-Darkfest-Amanda Ashley
*The Creme de la creme (it's Amanda Ashley, it'd better be). A wizard (the Darkfest in question)who can control fire, who dwells alone in a castle high above the village falls for the sweet Channa whose blindness is momentarily cured by a wolf who visits her each night... a wolf with very familiar eyes. Gothic fantasy vibes abound, very 2011 aesthetic... or rather what that strived to be). The angst was palpable, the romance believable. If fairy tales are your jam, this one's the MVP.
-Phantom Lover-Sherrilyn Kenyon
*Yeah, this is the odd man out. It just read like a rip-off of Fantasy Lover, except the guy's a knight in our heroine's dreams. Didn't like when it felt rehashed in Night Pleasures (I read them out of order) and hated it here.
-Under her Spell
*This was interesting: while I really did like Melissa's explanation on white witches and the magic spectrum (reminded me of that apothecary shop owner from The Craft (1996) who shows Sara why Nancy's magic is tainted/will have dire consequences should the coven continue), it got to be a bit heavy handed (our hero Alex is literally a showrunner, living high in the Hollywood hills, talkin' up his big fancy car, his huge house, how all he has to do is make it so". Hollywood bad, we get it.
-Wulf's Curse
*I wanted so much more from this! I've read A Wulf novel before and loved it (and plan to read at least one more). I really liked the side show setting (something about all the characters' living/sleeping wagons/campsite as opposed to the London Ton scene, our two leads getting to know each other in that shared space backlit by lanterns, and the sense of found family for Elise really made this a strangely cozy read). The scenes that got me were Sterling remembering his father's transformation from man to wolf at the dinner table (reminded me of the wedding scene from TCOW (1984)... also that admission from Sterling that he's neither man nor beast gave me the Huntsman going "not one, nor the other. Both" from said film), and Sterling talking with the panther and tiger, how they can almost understand him ("Eyes of the Panther" by Ambrose Bierce from that), and the performers protecting/encouraging Elise to love Sterling despite his monstrous state was like a happier version of Freaks (1932)).
*I want this to be a full-length novel: give me Elise running away from her abusive uncle, show me Sterling falling for/out of lust with Mora.
Anthologies are tricky; I've yet to find one where every single story sends me reeling in the best way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 15, 2016
Encore une anthologie malheureusement uniquement disponible en anglais alors que les 4 auteures qui y ont contribué sont publiées en France, des séries liées à ces nouvelles justement. Ces derniers temps, j’avoue lire pas mal de recueil en VO, surtout pour avoir les petits plus des séries que je suis, mais aussi en partie pour avoir l’opportunité de découvrir de nouveaux auteurs, de nouvelles histoires. Et encore une fois, cela a été payant pour moi !! J’ai totalement adoré l’univers général du livre qui ne contient que des romances paranormales ayant un lien avec les ténèbres et la nuit. Chacune se démarquent par un style, une ambiance différente qui peut plaire ou déplaire selon les personnes. Pour ma part, j’ai été fascinée par les quatre histoires (qui vont rallonger ma PAL du coup…), mais je préviendrais tout de même que par moment, les termes utilisés étant parfois de l’ancien anglais, c’est un peu compliqué et que cela peut dérouter, pour ne pas dire démotiver les gens.
Darkfest : Cette histoire est le mélange de différents contes comme la Belle et la Bête ou bien la Belle au bois dormant, avec en plus une petite touche de fantastique semblable à celle de la duologie Sianim de Patricia Briggs. C’est la nouvelle la plus compliquée à lire et à déchiffrer, car il s’agit d’un historique fantastique qui utilise l’ancien anglais. Le thème choisit par l’auteure est plaisant : une histoire d’amour impossible entre un sorcier craint de tous et une magnifique paysanne aveugle. L’histoire est agréable, bien mise en place, rien ne manque dans l’évolution de l’intrigue et de la romance. Les touches de fantastiques sont parfaitement maitrisée et rendent les personnages encore plus attachants avec leurs dons, malédictions et leur courage face aux obstacles. On aura tout de même un petit manque à la fois, parce qu’on se pose des questions sur l’origine des pouvoirs de Darkfest et de son impact sur Channa. J’ai adoré cette histoire et je lirais d’autres livres de cette auteure (de style fantastique de préférence lol).
Phantom Lover (Dark-Hunter t3.5 / Dream-Hunter t1) : La raison du pourquoi j’ai lu Midnight Pleasures était cette nouvelle du Darkhunterverse. Elle se déroule en partie sur l’île où Styxx avait été condamné à vivre avant de s’en prendre à Acheron. On y découvre les Dream-Hunter qui sont des anciens Dieux et/ou des enfants de différents Dieux. V’Aidan en est le parfait exemple et grâce à lui on apprend des choses sur l’univers des Dream-Hunter, il n’en reste pas moins mystèrieux, qui ne ressent aucunes émotions jusqu’à sa rencontre avec Erin. Cette dernière à des problèmes de sommeil depuis un certain temps, sa rencontre avec V’Aidan changera tout ça. Elle est douce, généreuse, loyale et bien plus courageuse qu’elle n’y semble. Leur relation est d’abord brûlante, charnelle mais revêt assez vite une apparence douce, pure, bien que fusionnelle. La vie onirique devient rapidement bien plus importante que la réelle et cela aura un impact sur le couple. L’histoire est assez triste par moment, mais on a quand même droit à un happy-end.
Petit clin d’oeil à Jinxx : Je sais d’où Sylvia a pompé ses idées pour La nuit leur appartient maintenant lol
Under Her Spell : Maggie Shayne est une auteure dont j’ai pa mal entendu parler mais dont je n’ai pas eu l’opportunité de lire un roman pour le moment, et je me suis bien rattrapé ici. Cette nouvelle a pour thème la maggie wicca, un peu différente de ce qu’on peut voir habituellement avec tout le bling bling et l’arsenal. C’est ce qui est amusant ici, c’est que Melissa décide de tenter sa chance dans le job de consultante justement pour effacer cette fausse image de la magie et des sorcières. Tout a un lien avec les Déesses, la nature, les sentiments et les sacrifices. Bien que la magie soit à l’origine positive, certaines personnes l’utilise pour faire le mal et la rende maléfique. Le couple que forme Alex et Melissa semble être destiné depuis le début, entre la forte attraction qu’ils ressentent l’un pour l’autre, les rêves étranges, la ressemblance physique avec les parents d’Alex. Ils représentent en quelque sorte la seconde chance, l’espoir et la victoire de la lumière sur les ténèbres. Une lecture agréable et fluide avec quelques moments amusants et d’autres plus sérieux ou bien épicées. Si tous les romans de Maggie Shayne sont dans cette veine, je lirais les autres avec plaisir.
A Wulf’s Curse (Les loups de Londres t0.5) : J’avais déjà entendu parler de cette série par plusieurs personnes et j’en avais pas eu de bons échos… au final, j’ai été agréablement surprise et j’ai apprécié cet épilogue. L’univers choisit par l’auteure, le Londres du 18ème siècle avec une touche de paranormale, est bien mise en avant et simple à imaginer. Le côté historique n’est pas gênant, au contraire, elle sert d’excuse pour le choix d’un cirque itinérant et d’un mariage forcé comme intrigue. Le récit est surtout centré sur les personnages et la romance, ce qui change un peu des autres. Chaque personnage est bien décrit, développé et mis en avant par l’auteure. L’amour et le sacrifice sont la pierre angulaire de cette romance, ils remplacent l’amertume, la solitude et les ténèbres. Elise, avec sa douceur, son ouverture d’esprit et son courage, est la lumière et l’espoir dans la vie de Sterling. Ils changent l’un et l’autre peu à peu, bien que ce ne soit pas sans difficultés. On apprend certaines choses sur la malédiction des Wulf, mais ce n’est que secondaire ici. Je lirais probablement les volumes sortis en France pour me faire un avis plus précis.
Darkfest : Cette histoire est le mélange de différents contes comme la Belle et la Bête ou bien la Belle au bois dormant, avec en plus une petite touche de fantastique semblable à celle de la duologie Sianim de Patricia Briggs. C’est la nouvelle la plus compliquée à lire et à déchiffrer, car il s’agit d’un historique fantastique qui utilise l’ancien anglais. Le thème choisit par l’auteure est plaisant : une histoire d’amour impossible entre un sorcier craint de tous et une magnifique paysanne aveugle. L’histoire est agréable, bien mise en place, rien ne manque dans l’évolution de l’intrigue et de la romance. Les touches de fantastiques sont parfaitement maitrisée et rendent les personnages encore plus attachants avec leurs dons, malédictions et leur courage face aux obstacles. On aura tout de même un petit manque à la fois, parce qu’on se pose des questions sur l’origine des pouvoirs de Darkfest et de son impact sur Channa. J’ai adoré cette histoire et je lirais d’autres livres de cette auteure (de style fantastique de préférence lol).
Phantom Lover (Dark-Hunter t3.5 / Dream-Hunter t1) : La raison du pourquoi j’ai lu Midnight Pleasures était cette nouvelle du Darkhunterverse. Elle se déroule en partie sur l’île où Styxx avait été condamné à vivre avant de s’en prendre à Acheron. On y découvre les Dream-Hunter qui sont des anciens Dieux et/ou des enfants de différents Dieux. V’Aidan en est le parfait exemple et grâce à lui on apprend des choses sur l’univers des Dream-Hunter, il n’en reste pas moins mystèrieux, qui ne ressent aucunes émotions jusqu’à sa rencontre avec Erin. Cette dernière à des problèmes de sommeil depuis un certain temps, sa rencontre avec V’Aidan changera tout ça. Elle est douce, généreuse, loyale et bien plus courageuse qu’elle n’y semble. Leur relation est d’abord brûlante, charnelle mais revêt assez vite une apparence douce, pure, bien que fusionnelle. La vie onirique devient rapidement bien plus importante que la réelle et cela aura un impact sur le couple. L’histoire est assez triste par moment, mais on a quand même droit à un happy-end.
Petit clin d’oeil à Jinxx : Je sais d’où Sylvia a pompé ses idées pour La nuit leur appartient maintenant lol
Under Her Spell : Maggie Shayne est une auteure dont j’ai pa mal entendu parler mais dont je n’ai pas eu l’opportunité de lire un roman pour le moment, et je me suis bien rattrapé ici. Cette nouvelle a pour thème la maggie wicca, un peu différente de ce qu’on peut voir habituellement avec tout le bling bling et l’arsenal. C’est ce qui est amusant ici, c’est que Melissa décide de tenter sa chance dans le job de consultante justement pour effacer cette fausse image de la magie et des sorcières. Tout a un lien avec les Déesses, la nature, les sentiments et les sacrifices. Bien que la magie soit à l’origine positive, certaines personnes l’utilise pour faire le mal et la rende maléfique. Le couple que forme Alex et Melissa semble être destiné depuis le début, entre la forte attraction qu’ils ressentent l’un pour l’autre, les rêves étranges, la ressemblance physique avec les parents d’Alex. Ils représentent en quelque sorte la seconde chance, l’espoir et la victoire de la lumière sur les ténèbres. Une lecture agréable et fluide avec quelques moments amusants et d’autres plus sérieux ou bien épicées. Si tous les romans de Maggie Shayne sont dans cette veine, je lirais les autres avec plaisir.
A Wulf’s Curse (Les loups de Londres t0.5) : J’avais déjà entendu parler de cette série par plusieurs personnes et j’en avais pas eu de bons échos… au final, j’ai été agréablement surprise et j’ai apprécié cet épilogue. L’univers choisit par l’auteure, le Londres du 18ème siècle avec une touche de paranormale, est bien mise en avant et simple à imaginer. Le côté historique n’est pas gênant, au contraire, elle sert d’excuse pour le choix d’un cirque itinérant et d’un mariage forcé comme intrigue. Le récit est surtout centré sur les personnages et la romance, ce qui change un peu des autres. Chaque personnage est bien décrit, développé et mis en avant par l’auteure. L’amour et le sacrifice sont la pierre angulaire de cette romance, ils remplacent l’amertume, la solitude et les ténèbres. Elise, avec sa douceur, son ouverture d’esprit et son courage, est la lumière et l’espoir dans la vie de Sterling. Ils changent l’un et l’autre peu à peu, bien que ce ne soit pas sans difficultés. On apprend certaines choses sur la malédiction des Wulf, mais ce n’est que secondaire ici. Je lirais probablement les volumes sortis en France pour me faire un avis plus précis.
July 18, 2024
I needed to read a Paranormal Romance or so for a book group I'm in, and I choose this as it was a collection of short stories, and the paranormal aspect was different in each one. A sampler of the genre, if you will.
The stories were all well-written, but I didn't love any of them. I liked how they were all set in different time periods or locations, and how our couple had to work together to defeat the evil, whatever that was in the story.
The stories were all well-written, but I didn't love any of them. I liked how they were all set in different time periods or locations, and how our couple had to work together to defeat the evil, whatever that was in the story.
February 23, 2025
I know short stories are, short, so there’s less space to pack a punch, but these felt too hollow. To go from being scared to in love in the span of 30 pages felt too contrived and too Disney fairytale to me.
I think short stories are better served to go deep in one day, rather than shallow over a bigger expanse of space. This anthology missed the mark for me.
I think short stories are better served to go deep in one day, rather than shallow over a bigger expanse of space. This anthology missed the mark for me.
February 5, 2014
Darkfest by Amanda Ashley: 2.5
This started off resembling Beauty and the Beast, and that story makes me happy. But this novella was a little disappointing. Channa Leigh seemed like a really young character, and Darkfest was centuries old. Maybe their relationship would have been a little bit more believable had they both seemed to be on similar pages emotionally and intellectually, but they just weren't. And really, why the sudden attraction? It would have been nice if the author had built up their relationship better and had Channa Leigh and Darkfest learn about each other’s characters first. Neither of them really truly knows the other one. But I guess this is a novella, so it’s too short for that nonsense (Pfft. Characters need to know each other before they fall in love? Nah!).
Sidenote: the name “Darkfest” is ridiculous.
The conflicts in this story each take like a second and seem like minor annoyances. Honestly, both were really kind of pointless. What purpose did either of those interactions serve in the story?
The ending of the novel was just way too freaking easy. First of all, there had to be some reaction from the town after their beloved little Channa Leigh decided to marry the big, bad sorcerer. You’d think her parents would be a little more resistant. And what about all the “stuff” () that Darkfest had been dealing with throughout the book? Are we expected to just believe that “the light in her eyes forever burned away the darkness that had ever been a part of him"? It seems like such a cop-out, a way to just end the book. (Oops! Book’s getting too long here…How to end it? I know! Love destroys all evil! Bam! Book ended.) . I really would have liked there to be a scene where Channa Leigh had to save Darkfest. Something a little more dramatic would have been nice.
Overall, this was a cute enough story, but really could have been fleshed out a lot more.
Phantom Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon: 2.0
I’m not really sure what to make of this novella. The story was cheesy, but in a dreamy sort of way, like a relaxed calm. God, that made no sense. (I speak fluent gibberish). V'Aiden and Erin have a major case of insta-love, but it builds in a smooth, uninhibited fashion for a while, I guess is my point.
V'Aiden's character seemed young and naive, which I found a little frustrating. He was different from typical male leads, though. I did want more of an explanation for why he has emotions but no one else does.
This novella didn't have a strong start. The nightmare scene at the beginning was a little dry and got boring.
There was a twist, however, that I absolutely adored. . Very nice, Ms. Kenyon. Very nice.
Overall, this story was pretty cheesy, and I don’t really know how I feel about it. The story had a good enough premise, but it just fell flat. Too much sex, not enough plot, I guess.
Under Her Spell by Maggie Shayne: 2.0
First of all, what the hell is up with female characters melting into a puddle at the feet of a good-looking guy? And right at the start, too! Ugh. Blech. Pfft. Right from the beginning, I wasn’t so sure I liked where this novella was going. There was just too much weirdness for me. And what is with these people driving to and from their coworkers' houses uninvited? Doesn't Melissa live like an hour away?
The case of insta-love was major, major, MAJOR in this book. Melissa and Alex only knew each other for like 3 days! Ugh.
This novella was kinda creepy. But then again, I’m a fraidy-cat. Ghosts and spirits give me the heebie jeebies. And Elizabeth was a major psychopath.
Novella had a cute enough ending, but the relationship just moved way too fast for me. Overall, eh.
A Wulf's Curse by Ronda Thompson: 3.0
This was, by far, the best book of the anthology. This novella was unique and it held my interest. It had a bit of a shaky start, but I found myself liking both Sterling and Elise and really rooting for their relationship. The minor characters were interesting too, if a bit odd. I liked the plot.
The ending was a little different. I still felt that the story ended too abruptly, though. I would have liked a little bit more of something after Sterling changed. More conflict, more detail from him, something.
After reading this story, I am interested in reading some of Ronda Thompson’s other works.
Overall: Midnight Pleasures: 2.5
This started off resembling Beauty and the Beast, and that story makes me happy. But this novella was a little disappointing. Channa Leigh seemed like a really young character, and Darkfest was centuries old. Maybe their relationship would have been a little bit more believable had they both seemed to be on similar pages emotionally and intellectually, but they just weren't. And really, why the sudden attraction? It would have been nice if the author had built up their relationship better and had Channa Leigh and Darkfest learn about each other’s characters first. Neither of them really truly knows the other one. But I guess this is a novella, so it’s too short for that nonsense (Pfft. Characters need to know each other before they fall in love? Nah!).
Sidenote: the name “Darkfest” is ridiculous.
The conflicts in this story each take like a second and seem like minor annoyances. Honestly, both were really kind of pointless. What purpose did either of those interactions serve in the story?
The ending of the novel was just way too freaking easy. First of all, there had to be some reaction from the town after their beloved little Channa Leigh decided to marry the big, bad sorcerer. You’d think her parents would be a little more resistant. And what about all the “stuff” () that Darkfest had been dealing with throughout the book? Are we expected to just believe that “the light in her eyes forever burned away the darkness that had ever been a part of him"? It seems like such a cop-out, a way to just end the book. (Oops! Book’s getting too long here…How to end it? I know! Love destroys all evil! Bam! Book ended.) . I really would have liked there to be a scene where Channa Leigh had to save Darkfest. Something a little more dramatic would have been nice.
Overall, this was a cute enough story, but really could have been fleshed out a lot more.
Phantom Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon: 2.0
I’m not really sure what to make of this novella. The story was cheesy, but in a dreamy sort of way, like a relaxed calm. God, that made no sense. (I speak fluent gibberish). V'Aiden and Erin have a major case of insta-love, but it builds in a smooth, uninhibited fashion for a while, I guess is my point.
V'Aiden's character seemed young and naive, which I found a little frustrating. He was different from typical male leads, though. I did want more of an explanation for why he has emotions but no one else does.
This novella didn't have a strong start. The nightmare scene at the beginning was a little dry and got boring.
There was a twist, however, that I absolutely adored. . Very nice, Ms. Kenyon. Very nice.
Overall, this story was pretty cheesy, and I don’t really know how I feel about it. The story had a good enough premise, but it just fell flat. Too much sex, not enough plot, I guess.
Under Her Spell by Maggie Shayne: 2.0
First of all, what the hell is up with female characters melting into a puddle at the feet of a good-looking guy? And right at the start, too! Ugh. Blech. Pfft. Right from the beginning, I wasn’t so sure I liked where this novella was going. There was just too much weirdness for me. And what is with these people driving to and from their coworkers' houses uninvited? Doesn't Melissa live like an hour away?
The case of insta-love was major, major, MAJOR in this book. Melissa and Alex only knew each other for like 3 days! Ugh.
This novella was kinda creepy. But then again, I’m a fraidy-cat. Ghosts and spirits give me the heebie jeebies. And Elizabeth was a major psychopath.
Novella had a cute enough ending, but the relationship just moved way too fast for me. Overall, eh.
A Wulf's Curse by Ronda Thompson: 3.0
This was, by far, the best book of the anthology. This novella was unique and it held my interest. It had a bit of a shaky start, but I found myself liking both Sterling and Elise and really rooting for their relationship. The minor characters were interesting too, if a bit odd. I liked the plot.
The ending was a little different. I still felt that the story ended too abruptly, though. I would have liked a little bit more of something after Sterling changed. More conflict, more detail from him, something.
After reading this story, I am interested in reading some of Ronda Thompson’s other works.
Overall: Midnight Pleasures: 2.5
June 9, 2022
Unfortunately, I couldn't seem to get into any of the stories, which disturbs me because I thought, for sure, I would devour the Kenyon story. This seems to be a common problem with me and short story anthologies.
June 18, 2017
In this series, I love the story Phantom Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon
November 11, 2017
I liked the first and last stories. The middle two were a struggle; I kept thinking when will this end. I suspect if you like the series they are obviously part of, you would like them (maybe).
July 7, 2018
Only gave it 4 stars because I struggled through Under Her Spell. Just not my type of read. Absolutely loved the rest though!
July 23, 2018
Ok
It was an ok read. I expected more from the writers I love. But I guess they are short stories so what can you do.
It was an ok read. I expected more from the writers I love. But I guess they are short stories so what can you do.
September 24, 2018
4 wonderful short stories.
Read
June 28, 2019Read "Under Her Spell" by Maggie Shayne; "Darkfest" by Amanda Ashley; "Phantom Lover" by Sherrilyn Kenyon
February 24, 2021
I only read Darkfest so far, but I liked it. It’s a real fairytale!
Update: I cried for Phantom Lover!!!!
Update of the update: not enjoyed Under Her Spell. Alex is an idiot, so no thanks!
Update of the update of the update (lol): A Wolf’s Curse is a cute story!
Update: I cried for Phantom Lover!!!!
Update of the update: not enjoyed Under Her Spell. Alex is an idiot, so no thanks!
Update of the update of the update (lol): A Wolf’s Curse is a cute story!
June 14, 2021
Darkfest: nice one there.
A magician Lord in love with a sightless maid.
Phantom Lover: boring...
Under Her Spell: nice, but a bit too long for the story.
A Wulf's Curse: annoying.
A magician Lord in love with a sightless maid.
Phantom Lover: boring...
Under Her Spell: nice, but a bit too long for the story.
A Wulf's Curse: annoying.
January 3, 2022
I bawled, but in a good way.
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