| Title: Songs of Love and Death All-Original Tales of Star-Crossed Love Hardcover: 480 pages
Review Copy Source: Publisher |  |
Book Description
IN this star-studded cross-genre anthology, seventeen of the greatest modern authors of fantasy, science fiction, and romance explore the borderlands of their genres with brand-new tales of ill-fated love. From zombie-infested woods in a postapocalyptic America to faery-haunted rural fields in eighteenth- century England, from the kingdoms of high fantasy to the alien world of a galaxy-spanning empire, these are stories of lovers who must struggle against the forces of magic and fate.
Award-winning, bestselling author Neil Gaiman demonstrates why he’s one of the hottest stars in literature today with “The Thing About Cassandra,” a subtle but chilling story of a man who meets an old girlfriend he had never expected to see.
International blockbuster bestselling author Diana Gabaldon sends a World War II RAF pilot through a stone circle to the time of her Outlander series in “A Leaf on the Winds of All Hallows.” Torn from all he knows, Jerry MacKenzie determinedly survives hardship and danger, intent on his goal of returning home to his wife and baby—no matter the cost.
New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher presents “Love Hurts,” in which Harry Dresden takes on one of his deadliest adversaries and in the process is forced to confront the secret desires of his own heart.
Just the smallest sampling promises unearthly delights, but look also for stories by New York Times bestselling romance authors Jo Beverley and Mary Jo Putney, and by such legends of the fantasy genre as Peter S. Beagle and Tanith Lee, as well as many other popular and beloved writers, including Marjorie M. Liu, Jacqueline Carey, Carrie Vaughn, and Robin Hobb. This exquisite anthology, crafted by the peerless editing team of George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois, is sure to leave you under its spell.
Discover the many realms of the heart with this extraordinary cast of acclaimed authors:
PETER S. BEAGLE
JO BEVERLEY
JIM BUTCHER
JACQUELINE CAREY
DIANA GABALDON
NEIL GAIMAN
YASMINE GALENORN
M.L.N. HANOVER
ROBIN HOBB
CECELIA HOLLAND
TANITH LEE
MARJORIE M. LIU
MARY JO PUTNEY
LINNEA SINCLAIR
MELINDA SNODGRASS
LISA TUTTLE
CARRIE VAUGHN
Review
The moment I heard the words ‘Outlander spinoff’, I was sold. Diana Gabaldon’s epic Outlander series is probably my all time favorite series ever in any genre. The other authors who I love in this anthology like Jim Butcher, Carrie Vaughn, and Yasmine Galenorn are just icing on the cake.
“Love Hurts” by Jim Butcher (a Harry Dresden story)
In addition to the main series, I have now read several short stories starring the Wizard P.I. Harry Dresden and I think Love Hurts is my favorite yet as it follows Harry and Murphy tracking down a love spell slinging villain and dealing with their own past failed relationships. Normally, short stories featuring a character from a main series have to keep things to a minimum and save the good stuff for the main series. Apparently Jim Butcher didn’t get the memo because there is a HUGE character development that I’d personally been hoping for since STORM FRONT. Sexual Content: Kissing. References to incest.
“The Marrying Maid” by Jo Beverly
This is a new author to me, but I’m already a fan. Weaving together the Robin Hood legend, the faerie King Oberon and his Queen Titiana, The Marrying Maid is a sweet Jane Austen-esque romance between a twenty-four year old spinster and the possibly mad Viscount who relentlessly pursues. Lots of renaissance style romance and witty dialogue in this one. Sexual Content: Kissing. A brief sex scene.
“Rooftops” by Carrie Vaughn
A surprising story from Kitty author Carrie Vaughn capitalizes on the current popularity of Superheroes in a world similar to The Incredibles/Watchmen in which superheroes are a common day part of society. A lonely playwright witnesses a burglary and is saved by somewhat low-key hero dubbed Blue Collar by the press. I was instantly taken with Blue Collars ‘I do what I can’ attitude, but the heroine felt flat and uninteresting. Sexual Content: Kissing. References to sex.
“Hurt Me” by M.L.N. Hanover
The first ghost story in the anthology comes from M.L.N. Hanover. A woman buys a new home only to learn from her neighbors a grim story about the original owners and the history of hauntings since. Hurt Me was fascinating and exceptionally written. The story is dark and unflinching in it’s portrayal of domestic abuse with a truly satisfying ending and an M. Night Shyamalan twist. Sexual Content: Brief sensuality. References to S&M.
“Demon Lover” by Cecelia Holland
An odd, adult fairy tale about a scarred woman who trades her freedom to an incubus in exchange for eternal beauty and the simple man who tries to save her. Demon Lover, while having an intriguing premise, had un uneven plot and at least one character turn around that was too sudden and too great to be believed. Sexual Content: Scenes of sensuality.
“Blue Boots” by Robin Hobb
Fantasy author Robin Hobb offers a touching story of a young woman orphaned and working as a kitchen maid when she catches the eye of a handsome traveling minstrel. The writing is beautiful and I easily sank into this world where privilege and circumstances often stood in the way of true love. Sexual Content: A non graphic sex scene.
“The Thing About Cassandra” by Neil Gaiman
The Thing About Cassandra is one of the stories that starts off strong and gains momentum only to end up disappointing. A man begins to reminisce about his first love, revealing something very surprising about her before he runs into her again as an adult. The ending tries to be poignant and flip the whole story on it’s head. I just found it frustratingly confusing. Sexual Content: Kissing. References to sex.
“After the Blood” by Marjorie M. Liu
Vampires, zombies and The Amish collide in Liu’s post apocalyptic tale that throws you right into the middle of the story. I trusted that all would eventually be explained, and while parts were, the bigger questions were left unanswered. The ending is left open in what could eventually be the start of the series. Overall, the story was disorienting. Sexual Content: Kissing.
“His Wolf” by Lisa Tuttle
A bored English teacher has a chance encounter with a notorious man and his wolf. The dialogue in this one was dry and mundane and I thought the couple fell in love way to quickly even by short story standards, but the twist ending enough to almost compensate. Sexual Content: References to sex.
“The Demon Dancer” by Mary Jo Putney
Part Harold and Maud, The Demon Dancer follows a young Guardian and the elderly Guardian woman he has come to care for in an impossible way as they hunt down a demonic Succubus. The relationship between the two leads was touching in a regretful hopeless way. They cared deeply for the other and mourned a love that could never be. One of my favorites in the bunch. Sexual Content: References to sex.
“Under/Above the Water” by Tanith Lee
In a word: confusing. Lovers from different times and different worlds, sought to find their lost soul mates from another life. Retold from different POV’s this dreamlike story was a bit of a snooze. Sexual Content: Kissing. References to sex.
“Kashkia” by Peter S. Beagle
An odd, compelling story about a lonely middle aged man who finds companionship with an alien beauty he meets online. There is potentially uncomfortable revelation at the end, but overall, I enjoyed the bizarre tale. Sexual Content: None.
“Man in the Mirror” by Yasmine Galenorn
A young woman moves into the family home of her deceased abusive husband and finds her self falling for the sad handsome man trapped in her mirror. A surprisingly soft and tender romance from the typically bold Galenorn. Sexual Content: References to masturbation.
“A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows” (an OUTLANDER spinoff) by Diana Gabaldon
Click HERE to read an excerpt
The absolute best story is hands down the last (and thankfully the longest) one. Whether a full length novel or a short story, Diana Gabaldon writes with an unparalleled beauty that can transport you to a WWII era Scotland just as easily as the centuries earlier Highlands. Outlander fans will thrill at reading the story of Roger’s fighter pilot father Jerry and his ill-fated trip through the stones and his desperate struggle to return home to his wife and infant son. I only needed a few pages to fall hopelessly in love with yet another Gabaldon hero (nobody writes them like her) and I’m already planning my next reread of the Outlander series. Sexual Content: Kissing. References to sex.
It's a little unusual, in that it's about Roger MacKenzie's parents--but it does fill the interesting hole regarding Roger's father that I opened up in AN ECHO IN THE BONE. - Diana Gabaldon
There were three stories that I just could not get into. “The Wayfarer’s Advice” (an Imperials story) by Melinda M. Snodgrass and “Courting Trouble” by Linnea Sinclair which were both hardcore science fiction stories featuring spaceship captains getting second chances at love, and “You and You Alone” (a Kushiel story) by Jacqueline Carey which is an m/m romance which contains at least one moderately graphic sex scene.
My Rating:
4/5
Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now & pre-order the sequel.
Previous books in the series:
- N/A
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I have not heard about this book before, and when I see the authors that have contributed it is a must buy for me.
ReplyDeleteThanks for a great review.
The Norwegian BookGirl - Considering the authors involved, I'm surprised this anthology didn't get more press. It was excellent though. The Outlander story alone was enough for me :)
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