...subject to change in mood or just plain seeing a more interesting book on someone else's post.  I also have some short stories, some stalled reads to push on a chapter and some samples/excerpts as filler to clear book hangovers.

 

I'll do good to finish two or three full length books.  I love Dewey's but actually read less during the event than on a usual Saturday because of all the online fun.

 

• Witchstruck - Victoria Lamb   library book so comes first; a series I've been curious about that might prove too YA-angst ridden.
• Sense of Deception: A Psychic Eye Mystery - Victoria Laurie  quick, fun to read series whose MC I like.
• Archangel's Enigma (Guild Hunter) - Nalini Singh  nevermind Readathon, books in this series at some point hook me completely into single-sitting reads. If I finish this one, I'll actually be caught up to the next book that a favorite goodreads group is reading for November BoTM (I haven't participated in a long time because always way behind or way ahead of where I was in a series.
• Raven Cursed - Faith Hunter  recently started series I've been enjoying -- not really likely to make it this far (and may switch to shorter lighter works if flagging too much).

 

Anthologies for filler short stories:

• Once Upon A Curse - from book description "17 Pearl tales from NYT and USA Today award winning authors .... more Grimm than Disney  ... in this anthology full of adventure, dark powers, and ultimately the enduring power of true love..."
• The Real Werewives of Vampire County - from book description "Drama. Scandal. Secrets. And a whole lot of supernatural goings-on. " mix of fave and unfamiliar authors

 

Stalled:

• A Wind in the Night - Barb Hendee,J.C. Hendee 
• Dangerous Women - George R.R. Martin,Gardner R. Dozois 
• The Modern Fae's Guide to Surviving Humanity - Joshua Palmatier,Patricia Bray,Anton Strout,S.C. Butler,Elizabeth Bear,Jim C. Hines,Seanan McGuire,et. al.
•  Magic Strikes - Ilona Andrews  

 

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).

A collection of stories centered on the idea of fey creatures dealing with the modern world. My favorite was by far Jim Hines's "Corrupted," followed by Kari Sperring's "Water-Called" and SC Butler's "Crash." I really wanted to like Elizabeth Bear's "Slaughtered Lamb" because there were so many character and world-building concepts there that I loved, but the execution itself didn't work for me. My immediate reactions to each short story can be found in the "status updates" section.

Overall, this was a much better collection than I'm used to reading. There wasn't a stinker in the bunch (which is horribly rare!), and a few were very good.

The writing is good, but there's just nothing surprising here. This would probably be very good for someone new to stories about the fae. It was just a bit boring to me.

Not done yet but am posting in this review comments and ratings on each story as I read. I am not a fan of short stories but so many favorite authors in this one...

★★★★★
"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.

★★☆☆☆
"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.

★★★☆☆
"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.

Reading in progress
"To Scratch An Itch" by Avery Shade.

Reading in progress
“Continuing Education” by Kristine Smith.

Reading in progress
“How To Be Human™” by Barbara Ashford.

Reading in progress
“How Much Salt” by April Steenburgh.

Reading in progress
“Hooked” by Anton Strout.

Reading in progress
“Crash” by S.C. Butler.

Reading in progress
“Fixed” by Jean Marie Ward

Reading in progress
“A People Who Always Know” by Shannon Page & Jay Lake.

Reading in progress
“The Slaughtered Lamb” by Elizabeth Bear.

Reading in progress
“Corrupted” by Jim C. Hines.