Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions by various authors

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.

Whether they're writing about vampires, faeries, angels, or other magical beings, each author explores the strength and resilience of the human heart.

So my very awesome and Amazing friend, Danielle La Paglia, sent me this book as a surprise. And she even had it signed for me!

I wanted to read this as it has some of my favourite authors in it but with anthologies I'm always wary about buying a full book for a few authors. I thought with this review, I'd give my thoughts on all the stories.

Giovanni's Farewell by Claudia Gray
Very sweet little romance story.
I've never read anything by Claudia Gray before and I really enjoyed my first story by her. I'd be interested in reading more from this world but it seems it's not part of a series or the beginning of a series so I may just pick up her Evernight series to see if I like it.

Scenic Route by Carrie Ryan
Post zombie apocalypse story about 2 sisters surviving.
Another new author for me and I really enjoyed the world she made. Plus bonus: this one is part of a series so I get to read more.

Red Run by Kami Garcia
A haunted road makes a girl seek revenge for her dead brother.
I thought this was a new author but I didn't realise she wrote Beautiful Creatures which I have on my bookcase but haven't read yet. I must bump it up my TBR.

Things About Love by Jackson Pearce
A genie tries to find out about love from a human.
I've never read anything by this author either but I quite liked this short. I liked the idea of genies researching love 'cos they don't feel it.

Niederwald by Rachel Vincent
Based in the Soul Screamers series, this follows Sabine & Emma on a road trip.
I love this series and Vincent's writing so I really enjoyed this little short.

Merely Mortal by Melissa Marr
Based in the Wicked Lovely series, this follows Keenan & Donia on a holiday.
I'm still new to the Wicked Lovely series, having only read the first book so I feel like I've spoilered myself a little by reading this. But Donia was one of my favourite characters in the book so I still liked this.

Facing Facts by Kelley Armstrong
Based in the Darkest Powers series, this has Tori finding out about Kit and putting her, and Chloe's, life in danger.
I love Kelley's writing and have recently re-read the whole Darkest Powers series so I was in the right mind frame for this story.

Let's Get This Undead Show On The Road by Sarah Rees Brennan
A vampire is the pulling factor for a boy band.
I didn't really enjoy this one, it was kinda cheesy. Thankfully only one of three that I didn't enjoy.

Bridge by Jeri Smith-Ready
A ghost finds someone to contact his brother.
The layout of this was a bit weird, it was written like a poem but I enjoyed the story. Unfortunately, the layout really was a put off.

Skin Contact by Kimberly Derting
A young boy has dreams that end up proving to be truth.
Another new author and a story that I really enjoyed. Very descriptive and well written.

Leaving by Ally Condie
A young girl lives in a society under a bubble but has a secret to hide.
Similar world to the Matched series. I really enjoyed this and liked the characters, there's potential for more.

At The Late Night, Double Feature, Picture Show by Jessica Verday
Young girl tries to prove to her family she can do the family job but runs into trouble.
Another one of the three that I didn't really enjoy. Again, it was because of the cheesiness - there was just too much of it.

IV League by Margaret Stohl
Two young "drinkers" try to get into college to get out of their dying town.
And here is the third story that I didn't enjoy. The story seemed good but it just didn't come across as well as it could have.

Gargouille by Mary E. Pearson
A gargoyle gets captured and gets her wings cut off, this means she'll lose her memory about being a gargoyle and all she knew.
I enjoyed this one, it was bittersweet but a nice wee read.

The Third Kind by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
One sister has impulses that she must follow, the other sister is just along for the ride - until it turns out she's part of the 'pulses.
I really enjoy Jennifer Lynn Barnes' writing and this seems like it could be a good start to a series.

Automatic by Rachel Caine
Based in the Morganville Vampires series, Michael almost loses it when he tries the new canned blood.
Another favourite author of mine so I loved this. Eve is one of my favourite characters as well so I like to see more of her.


So it seems this anthology has just made my Goodreads to-read list that little bit longer. I do like that I've found some new authors to read but I'm pretty sure my bank account doesn't. Oh well, the life of a bibliophile.


Book Depository: Enthralled
Amazon UK: Enthralled

Crossed by Ally Condie

The Society chooses everything.
The books you read.
The music you listen to.
The person you love.

Yet for Cassia the rules have changed, Ky has been taken and she will sacrifice everything to find him.

And when Cassia discovers Ky has escaped to the wild frontiers beyond the Society there is hope.

But on the edge of society nothing is as it seems ...

A rebellion is rising.

And a tangled web of lies and double-crosses could destroy everything.

The second book in the Matched trilogy, sequel to Matched, and we find Cassia in a work camp trying to get to where she thinks Ky is. Ky is in a village pretending to be a farmer trying to get back to Cassia where he thinks she is - back in Oria. They both know about the rebellion, Ky more than Cassia, and they both hate the Society but can they both have the same ending?

This book was half Cassia's POV and half Ky's, I really liked Ky's narrative. We learn a lot more about his background and how he ended up in Oria as a Markham. Crossed carries on from Matched quite nicely and the story progresses at a nice pace. The good thing about both Cassia and Ky's POV is the back stories come out more, we also get a little bit of background on Xander from Ky as he knows something Cassia doesn't. I especially like that there's some conflict regarding Ky, Cassia and Xander - everything's not as crystal clear as it seems.


Book Depository: Crossed
Amazon UK: Crossed

Matched by Ally Condie

On her seventeenth birthday, Cassia meets her match. Society dictates he is her perfect partner for life. Except he's not.

In Cassia's society, Officials decide who people love. How many children they have. Where they work. When they die.

But, as Cassia finds herself falling in love with another boy, she is determined to make some choices of her own.

And that's when her whole world begins to unravel...

Cassia gets matched to her best friend, Xander, on the day of her Matching Banquet, it is a very rare occurrence to get matched with someone in the same city let alone someone you actually know. But when she reads Xander's microcard, another face flashes up on the screen - a face she knows. Cassia begins to question the Society and her Match, along with everything else in her world. She needs to know more about the other boy, Ky, and finds herself falling in love with him. Is she willing to endanger everything she knows, and possibly her family's safety, to follow her heart or does she stay quiet and do what Society tells her to?

First off, how gorgeous is that cover? It's the reason I picked up the book, very different and visually stunning. The author has created a perfectly scary world in this book. Society have made sure only genetically matching couples have children therefore ensuring the healthiest of children, and over time most diseases have been eradicated. Society chooses who you marry and what you do for a living. Even what you eat and what you wear. This world is terribly frightening to me.

The book is very well written and I loved it. In spite of my fear of the world, I was drawn in to the story because, in my head, it's something that could actually happen at some point in time. Cassia is a good heroine, she has her own mind and decides that Society can't be completely true so she decides to fight. I really like her relationship with Ky and Xander as well as her family. Luckily, for me, there's going to be a sequel!


Rating
5/5


Book depository: Matched
Amazon UK: Matched