Review: Lotería by Cynthia Pelayo

Title: Lotería

Author: Cynthia Pelayo

Genre: Adult, anthology, horror

Publication date: July 2012

Published by: Union Square & Co.

Source: Purchased paperback

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Synopsis: The Mexican board game of Lotería is a game of chance—similar to bingo. However, in Lotería instead of matching up numbers on a game board, players match up images.

There are 54 cards in the Lotería game, and for this short story collection you will find one unique story per card based on a Latin American myth, folklore, superstition, or belief—with a slant towards the paranormal and horrific. In this deck of cards you will find murderers, ghosts, goblins and ghouls. This collection features creatures and monsters, vampires, werewolves and more.

Many of these legends existed long before their European counterparts—passed throughout the Americas via word of mouth, collected just like the tales the Brothers Grimm. These are indeed fairy tales—Latin American fairy tales—but with a horrifying slant.

My rating: ★★★★☆

I enjoyed this book so much!! I love playing Lotería and I love horror, so this book was made for me! 😆 And for those unfamiliar with Lotería:

Review - Carniepunk: Parlor Tricks (Elemental Assassin #8.1) by Jennifer Estep

Title: Carniepunk: Parlor Tricks

Series: Elemental Assassin #8.1

Previous books in this series: Spider's Bite (#1) | Web of Lies (#2) | Venom (#3) | Tangled Threads (#4) | Spider's Revenge (#5) | By A Thread (#6) | Widow's Web (#7) | Deadly Sting (#8)

Short stories in this series: Poison (#0.1) | Web of Deceit (#0.2) | Spider's Bargain (#0.5) | Web of Death (#1.5) | Wasted (#2.7) | Tangled Dreams (#3.5) | Tangled Schemes (#3.7) | Spider’s Nemesis (#4.5) | Thread of Death (#5.5)

Author: Jennifer Estep

Genre: Adult, urban fantasy

Publication date: June 2013

Published by: Pocket Star

Source: Library book

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Synopsis:

Come one! Come all! Witness Gin Blanco—aka the Elemental Assassin, aka the Spider—go toe to toe against the Esmerelda the Amazing's Wheel of Death and some dangerously creepy clowns! Only at The Carnival of Wondrous Wonders!

A free story from the forthcoming Carniepunk urban fantasy anthology starring bestselling authors Rachel Caine, Jennifer Estep, Kevin Hearne, Seanan McGuire, and Rob Thurman, and also includes Delilah S. Dawson, Kelly Gay, Mark Henry, Hillary Jacques, Jackie Kessler, Kelly Meding, Allison Pang, Nicole D. Peeler, and Jaye Wells. Samples of all fourteen tales are included to tantalize and to tease. Come to the Carniepunk midway and explore the creepy, mysterious, magical world of traveling carnivals today!

My rating: ★★★★☆
Gin is helping her baby sister Bria out on a case of a missing girl. This leads them to a traveling carnival, one that is quite strange and filled with even stranger people. And this missing girl might not be the only one who’s gone missing around this particular carnival. Gin's not a fan of this carnival, for more than one reason...

Review- Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions

Title: Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions

Series: The Forest of Hands and Teeth, As You Wish, Soul Screamers, Wicked Lovely, The Darkest Powers, Shade, The Body Finder, Morganvile Vampires

Authors: Melissa Marr, Kelley Armstrong, Rachel Vincent, Sarah Rees Brennan, Jeri Smith-Ready, Mary E. Pearson, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Jessica Verday, Claudia Gray, Jackson Pearce, Carrie Ryan, Rachel Caine, Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl, Kimberly Derting, Ally Condie

Genre: YA, anthology, paranormal

Publication date: September 2011

Published by: HarperCollins

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis:

A journey may take hundreds of miles, or it may cover the distance between duty and desire.

Sixteen of today’s hottest writers of paranormal tales weave stories on a common theme of journeying. Authors such as Kelley Armstrong, Rachel Caine, and Melissa Marr return to the beloved worlds of their bestselling series, while others, like Claudia Gray, Kami Garcia, and Margaret Stohl, create new land-scapes and characters. But whether they’re writing about vampires, faeries, angels, or other magical beings, each author explores the strength and resilience of the human heart.

Suspenseful, funny, or romantic, the stories in Enthralled will leave you moved.

My rating: ★★★★☆
There were many many stories, but I am just going to mention a few of my favorites...

Scenic Route by Carrie Ryan: sisters Margie and Sally hide out from so called "monsters," until stranger comes into their lives. I really liked this one, and now I'm kinda wanting to read The Forest of Hands and Teeth.

Red Run by Kami Garcia: Edie is out to kill the ghost who killed her brother?? You can kill ghosts? What? Anyway, I LOVE ghost stories, and this one was awesome! Had a twisty ending ending that I loved!!

Niederwald by Rachel Vincent: Sabine and Emma are on road trip for this school thing. Sabine stops to see a Seer... she wants to know about her possible future with Nash. But what she find is big trouble, Emma being a human...and them being surrounded by harpies. I love the Soul Screamers, so of course this one is one of my faves! [See also: My Soul to Take (#1) | My Soul to Save (#2) | My Soul to Keep (#3) | My Soul to Steal (#4) | If I Die (#5)]

Facing Facts by Kelley Armstrong: Tori is told about this big family secret. She freaks out, and Chloe goes out to get her. Of course, there is a trap set and Chloe finds herself in trouble. Whoooo! More Darkest Powers stuff! I love this world and the fact that Chloe and her friends keep popping up every so often! [See also: The Summoning (#1) | The Awakening (#2) | The Reckoning (#3)]

Skin Contact by Kimberly Derting: This one I thought was awfully depressing, but I still liked it. Very insightful to the mysterious Rafe. [See also: The Body Finder (#1) | Desires of the Dead (#2)]

At the Late Night, Double Feature, Picture Show by Jessica Verday: LOVED this one!!! it's one of the best ones I read in the entire book! So Jane's family hunts down supernatural creatures. And on this particular night, Jane find herself quite busy with cannibal Girl Scouts, drag vampires, demon with mismatched body parts, and a super cute guy. It was SO funny! From the 1st sentence I knew I was going to like it!

There were some others stories that just left me, "What the hell was that??" And others I didn't really like. But overall it was a really good read, if not quite lengthy.

Have you read this book? If so, what did you think about it? If not, what do you think? Does it sound like something you might want to read? Leave me a link to your review or comment below! :)

Review- Kiss Me Deadly: 13 Tales of Paranormal Love

Title: Kiss Me Deadly: 13 Tales of Paranormal Love

Author: Various authors

Genre: YA, anthology, paranormal

Publication date: August 2012

Published by: Running Press Teens

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis:

For those who thirst for accounts of paranormal romance, Trisha Telep has compiled some of the most thrilling takes of forbidden love in this collection. First crushes and last rites; dark spells and bright magic; forbidden lovers and enchanted beings -- and always, always the hungry games of desire. Pucker up for a darkly sweet collection of ghosts, shape shifters, fairies, unicorns, vampires, and demons in tales from today's biggest writers of the paranormal persuasion.

My rating: ★★★☆☆
Can I just start off by saying that this was (excruciatingly) long, lol! I thought I was never going to finish it! And I will admit, the only reason I picked up this book was because of Rachel Vincent's story takes place in the Soul Screamers world. And if you care to know, she is one of my favorite authors :)

1. The Assassin's Apprentice by Michelle Zink (3 stars): This was a pretty good story, but nothing that impressed me. It was about this girl seeking revenge on a demon after he killed her parents. She eventually does get what she wants with the help of Apprentice.

2. Errant by Diana Peterfund (2 stars): Apparently this story takes place in the world of the series Killer Unicorns. I have not read that series so I thought it was a bit weird, and, truthfully, I didn't really capture my attention.

3. The Spirit Jar by Karen Mahoney (4 stars): This was one of my favorites! And there is another story about Moth in the book The Eternal Kiss: 13 Vampire Tales of Blood and Desire.

Moth is a vampire and she is on a mission to retrieve a book for her creator. Sounds easy, right? If only it were...

Review: Familiar by Michelle Rowen

Title: Familiar

Author: Michelle Rowen

Genre: YA, paranormal

Stand alone release date: May 12, 2011

Published by: Running Press Teens

Source: Borrowed anthology from library

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Synopsis:

A Short Story originally published in the Kiss Me Deadly anthology.

When reluctant teen witch Brenda Collins is sent by her mother to a magical pet shop to pick out her animal familiar, she settles on a small tawny-striped kitten not realizing it’s a shapeshifter currently in hiding. Discovering the gorgeous but troubled Owen’s secret plunges the witch-in-training into a dangerous and romantic adventure that will test her magical abilities like never before.

Familiar is a stand alone 10,000 word young adult short story, originally published in the “Kiss Me Deadly” anthology.

My rating: ★★★★★
Brenda is a witch...and not a very good one at that. Why? Because she just isn't interested in practicing witchcraft like her very talented mother. but to get her insisting mother off her back, she decides to give it a try. First things first, she must pick out a familiar...a witch's pet who will keep her company and help her with magic. Only she doesn't realize that the cute, little , striped kitten she chooses is a actually a shifter in hiding (Owen, who i like to call a werecat even though he prefers shapeshifter :P)

Review: Hare Moon (The Forest of Hands and Teeth #0.5) by Carrie Ryan

Title: Hare Moon

Series: The Forest of Hands and Teeth #0.5

Author: Carrie Ryan

Genre: YA, dystopian, fantasy, horror

Publication date: August 2012

Published by: Running Press Teens

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis: Tabitha can’t shake the feeling that something exists beyond the fences of her village. And when she sneaks out, past the gates and down the path into the Forest of Hands and Teeth, she meets a boy who teaches her heart things she never knew. But love in a world surrounded by so much death doesn’t come without its sacrifices, and Tabitha gradually realizes just how much she’ll have to give up to live among the Unconsecrated. From New York Times bestselling author Carrie Ryan comes an original story of love after the Return.

My rating: ★★★☆☆

Tabitha, the curious young gal that she is, knows that there has to be more beyond her fenced village... beyond the Forest of Hands and Teeth.

Review: Kisses From Hell

Title: Kisses From Hell

Authors: Kristin Cast, Alyson Noel, Kelley Armstrong, Richelle Mead, Francesca Lia Block

Genre: YA, paranormal

Publication date: August 2010

Published by: HarperTeen

Source: Borrowed from the library

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Synopsis:

Truly, Madly, Undeadly

This irresistible collection features stories of love amid vampires by five of today's hottest authors—Kristin Cast (Tempted), Richelle Mead (Vampire Academy), Alyson Noël (Evermore), Kelley Armstrong (The Summoning), and Francesca Lia Block (Pretty Dead).

From a fugitive vampire forced to trust a boy who might work for the group bent on destroying her to the legendary romance of two immortals whose love compels them to risk everything, this heart-pounding collection brings new meaning to the words "love you forever." Whether you're into romances that are dark and moody or light and fun, these stories will quench that insatiable thirst for enchanting tales of the beautiful undead.

My rating: ★★★☆☆
Sunshine by Richelle Mead (4 stars): This is a Vampire Academy story about how Lisa's parents met. I really liked it and because of it I decided to read the whole series :)

Review: Prom Nights From Hell

Title: Prom Nights From Hell

Series: Madison Avery #0.5

Author: Various authors

Genre: YA, anthology, paranormal

Publication date: April 2007

Published by: HarperTeen

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis:

In this exciting collection, bestselling authors Meg Cabot ("How to Be Popular"), Kim Harrison ("A Fistful of Charms"), Michele Jaffe ("Bad Kitty"), Stephenie Meyer ("Twilight"), and Lauren Myracle ("ttyl") take bad prom nights to a whole new level--a paranormally bad level. Wardrobe malfunctions and two left feet don't hold a candle to discovering your date is the Grim Reaper--and he isn't here to tell you how hot you look.

From angels fighting demons to a creepy take on getting what you wish for, these five stories will entertain better than any DJ in a bad tux. No corsage or limo rental necessary. Just good, scary fun.

My rating: ★★★★☆
I picked up this book because I noticed that one of my favorite authors who wrote one of my favorite series (Stephanie Meyer, Twilight) was involved. Plus, it was supposed to be a horror novel... so i immediately gave it a shot. And i don't regret it! Not only was her story great, but the other 4 authors did a fantastic job as well. I've never heard of them, but i am willing to give their other pieces of work a shot as well.

Review: Vacations From Hell

Title: Vacations From Hell

Authors: Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, Claudia Gray, Maureen Johnson, Sarah Mlynowski

Genre: YA, anthology, paranormal

Publication date: May 2009

Published by: HarperTeen

Source: Borrowed from library

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Synopsis:

Life's a beach . . . and then you're undead?

In this must-have collection, five of today's hottest writers—Libba Bray (A Great and Terrible Beauty), Cassandra Clare (City of Bones), Claudia Gray (Evernight), Maureen Johnson (13 Little Blue Envelopes), and Sarah Mlynowski (Bras & Broomsticks)—tell supernatural tales of vacations gone awry. Lost luggage is only mildly unpleasant compared to bunking with a witch who holds a grudge. And a sunburn might be embarrassing and painful, but it doesn't last as long as a curse. Of course, even in the most hellish of situations, love can thrive. . . .

From light and funny to dark and creepy, these stories have something for everyone. You definitely won't want to leave this collection at home!

My rating: ★★★★☆
I will admit that the reason behind my picking up this book is because I noticed that Cassandra Clare (one of my favorite authors…TMI, duh!) wrote a story for this. And overall, the book did not disappoint!!