The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance Review
Unlike with The Mammoth Book of Time Travel Romance I've read almost all of the authors present in this collection to some degree. Obviously some of them more (Maria V. Snyder, Rachel Caine, Mary Jo Putney and Ilona Andrews), but I've read at least one story per an author before now.
Even though I knew I would enjoy the authors more in this collection then the other, I was still hesitant to think I would enjoy the collection more. I read a lot of paranormal--for fun and review--and I've been disappointed before in far shorter anthologies. I'm happy to say that I was not at all disappointed this with this book as a whole. Individual parts perhaps, but not as a whole.
Kelley Armstrong ("Paranormal Romance Blues"), Jean Johnson ("How To Date a Superhero") and Ilona Andrews ("Grace of Small Magics") were my favorites. Armstrong's story was a fun balance of paranormal issues and dating issues--two things that have perhaps more in common then most people think. Johnson's is just a fun superhero love story and the foibles of being able to see the future (note to authors and publishers: we need more superhero romances! A.J. Menden is doing a fine job with the Elite Hands of Justice but come on folks!). And Andrews is the fun of underestimating the small guy (or girl in this case). They always surprise you in the end.
I enjoyed Cheyenne McCray's "Taking Hold" as well. It was a werewolf story, but it was really less about that (romance wise at least) and more about two outsiders coming together. Mac is a funny mix of strong silent type and 'Did I say that wrong?' under-confidence. I wanted it to be longer however--I liked Mac a lot and wanted to know more about him.
The other authors and stories I enjoyed reading, but they didn't spark my interest as the others did. The collection surprised me with just how many different paranormals you could fit into one anthology. There's angels, demons, succubi, inccubi, werewolves, vampires, selkies, mermaids, superheroes, Gods, immortals...it was astounding and so much fun. Some of them don't get enough love, others are so overdone we are all screaming for something different, but each author presents them in a different light.
The only story I didn't quite gel with as well as I would have originally thought was the selkie story by Vaughn ("The Temptation of Robin Green"). Vaughn does a good job of everything but Robin Green. We're told she's very committed to her work, very proper and strait-laced, but we're not shown that really. It was perhaps the short nature of the story that ultimately made this happen--if the story had been longer there would have been more time to build up to Robin and the selkie's encounters.
This was a fun, entertaining anthology however and sure to please many fans of the varied authors present. In fact it might make fans of several other authors as well.
The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance Feature
- ISBN13: 9780762436514
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance Overview
Fall in love with someone out of this world.
If love transcends all boundaries then paranormal romance is its logical conclusion. From the biggest names around, here are 24 tales to take you to another time and place.
Let Alyssa Day, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Cheyenne McCray, Jeaniene Frost, Ilona Andrews, Kelley Armstrong, Maria V. Snyder, Carrie Vaughn, Allyson James Marland and others show you powers beyond your wildest imaginings.
Within these pages mythical beasts, magical creatures of all shapes and sizes, heart-stoppingly handsome ghosts, angels, and mortals with extra-sensitive sensory perception play out the themes of extraordinary desires.
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