648 Followers
920 Following
donealrice

Debbie's Spurts

Just an avid reader. Mostly SF/Fantasy, some hobbies, paranormal, urban fantasy and lighter, fluffier things.

 

Currently reading

Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking
Samin Nosrat, Wendy MacNaughton
Bring Me Their Hearts
Sara Wolf
House of Earth and Blood
Sarah J. Maas
A Selection of Designs inspired by Iznik & Delft Pottery in Cross Stitch: 16 stunning floral cross stitch designs
Durene Jones
Ain't Love a Witch?
Dakota Cassidy
Progress: 1 %
The Old Witcheroo
Dakota Cassidy
Gemina (The Illuminae Files)
Jay Kristoff, Amie Kaufman
Progress: 100 %
The Dragonbone Chair
Tad Williams
Progress: 14 %

Favorite Book Quotes


"Never interrupt your enemy while he is making a mistake"— Lois McMaster Bujold

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reading progress update: 37% of "The Modern Fae's Guide to Surviving Humanity"

The Modern Fae's Guide to Surviving Humanity - Joshua Palmatier, Patricia Bray, Seanan McGuire, Kari Sperring

DISCLAIMER: A review in progress as each story is read from someone really horrrible with reading and reviewing anthologies and short stories/works.  

 

This one was picked up because I'm a fan of Joshua Palmatier and kept reading his posts about the project and seeing lots of favorite authors:

 

★★½☆☆

"To Scratch An Itch" by Avery Shade

I suspect this one was a short clip of a bigger story.  Writing was fine; but, so short I really didn't get to form an opinion.  The main character and POV is from a little girl, daughter of a "weatherman," who first uses her powers, gets scared, runs off, classmate brings her back home and it ends before she even confesses to her parents.  Might be more geared to middle grade or YA but too brief to really tell.  Too brief for any worldbuilding (just an unspecified city apartment).

 

★★★★★
"Water Called" by Kari Sperring
Finished the water story; a very good but creepy dark fae story fairly oozing the same shivery déjà vu Grimm gives. New to me author.

 

★★½☆☆
"We Will Not Be Undersold" by Seanan McGuire
Okay story with a concept of fairies entering retail for purpose of encouraging consumer plastics to discourage use of metal/iron. Not as funny to me as I think author intended (I have worked retail and have encountered the fellow employees who drank the koolaid so to speak but it failed to strike my funny bone). Good concept from a favorite author.  An air of her Incryptid series but not same world or characters.

 

★★★☆☆

"Changeling" by Susan Jett
Somewhat more traditional fairytale fare with plot as title states "Changeling" -- well written story arc (author can write a short story); too handy how heroine has friend who can supply all the knowledge and tools needed. Expected I would have stronger sympathies for the characters given the plot. First I read by this author; and, one thing anthologies are good for is introducing authors unfamiliar to readers.

 

★★★★☆
"The Roots of Aston Quercus" by Juliet E. McKenna
Story right on target with anthology's theme. Believable world building with dryads trying to save their grove from road expansion plans. An author I always plan to but have not yet read; now have bought first in some of her series and waiting on the TBR pile.

 

still to read:


“Continuing Education” by Kristine Smith


“How To Be Human™” by Barbara Ashford


“How Much Salt” by April Steenburgh


“Hooked” by Anton Strout


“Crash” by S.C. Butler


“Fixed” by Jean Marie Ward


“A People Who Always Know” by Shannon Page & Jay Lake


“The Slaughtered Lamb” by Elizabeth Bear


“Corrupted” by author:Jim C. Hines (yes, so far I have resisted the temptation to skip ahead to this one)