Title: Kiss Me Deadly
Editor: Trisha Telep
Author(s): Sarah Rees Brennan, Becca Fitzpatrick, Caitlin Kittredge, Karen Mahoney, Daniel Marks, Justine Musk, Diana Peterfreund, Michelle Rowen, Carrie Ryan, Maggie Stiefvater, Rachel Vincent, Daniel Waters and Michelle Zink
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Paranormal, Anthology
Publisher/Year: Running Press/2010
Related: The Eternal Kiss anthology
Synopsis: If you can possibly thirst for more mysterious metaphysical accounts of love, Trisha Telep has organized some of the greatest and most thrilling tales of paranormal paramours since The Eternal Kiss. She presents the acclaimed literary talent of thirteen unique authors, creating a collection of stories that will undoubtedly capture the imagination of every soul who dares to read them. Werewolves, ghosts, zombies, vampires, and fallen angels drive the plot of these riveting romances.
Review: Stories are reviewed individually with a wrap up overall after.
"The Assassin's Apprentice" by Michelle Zink
A young girl wishes vengeance on the demon who slew her parents, but is she being aided or hindered by a mysterious young man named Asher? Obviously, not set in her Prophecy of the Sisters books. That said, everything I loved about PotS remains true here. Rose is not an easy person to get along with--too stubborn as she freely admits and Asher is much too secretive to be trustworthy in my opinion. Some of the developments felt more shallow then usual, but as its a short story I forgave quickly. Especially as I liked the ending--it served both their needs perfectly.
"Errant" by Diana Peterfreund
This is set in her Unicorn Hunters Universe, which I haven't read. Gitta arrives at the chateau for the traditional Unicorn Hunt to celebrate Elise's upcoming marriage, but in a household of secrets no one wants what they say they want. This didn't read like a short story to me, it read more like a novel. The pacing wasn't rushed, the two characters who meant something--Gitta and Elise--were both well developed and quite a bit happened in the relatively few pages. The 'love' in this story is less of a romantic nature and more of kindred spirits I think.
"The Spirit Jar" by Karen Mahoney
This a direct sequel to her short story from The Eternal Kiss called "Falling to Ash", so I suggest you read that first before reading this. Moth's story in The Eternal Kiss intrigued me, but there was a lot of developmental problems that gave me pause. Not so in here. Moth is a year older, a year wiser and year more desperate to get away from her Maker Theo. Except Theo is hellbent on keeping her and his latest impossible mission only gets more complicated when she meets a not quite human boy named Adam. Oh I loved this story. I really, really did. Moth's struggle to retain pieces of her mortal life, to keep herself together, are bittersweet. She's kind of like the Little Engine that Could "I think I can I think I can" is her mantra. The complication presented by Adam was intriguing and gave us a chance to see Moth shine--her reluctant use of her 'vampire'-ness, urge to keep helping Adam, thoughts of Jason (from "Falling to Ash")...I hope to see more of Moth in the future.
"Lost" by Justine Musk
I haven't read Musk before, though I feel as if I should now. By the end of the story it becomes apparent what this is meant to be a re-imagining of (it ruins the surprise if I say so now). Sasha finds things, but since her best friend Josh's accident she's felt so lost. An enigmatic stranger who seems to know her holds the key to helping her regain herself--but his price may be too steep. I loved the twist, though I would have preferred if more time had spent on the relationship between Sasha and Haiden.
"The Spy Who Never Grew Up" by Sarah Rees Brennan
If the title doesn't give you an idea of who has a starring role here let me tell you--Peter Pan. But not the Pan you may know. Beautiful and dangerous, Peter works for Her Majesty as her top level spy, but he's still the little boy who never wanted to grow up. This was a kind of chilling story actually, despite the light-hearted tone. Peter Pan was always one of those books that gave me chills, but Brennan's Pan is creepifying; he's kind of grown up, but still retains his baby teeth for instance. And the deal he strikes with Her Maj is...wrong, on so many levels. But I really did enjoy it however.
"Behind the Red Door" by Caitlin Kittredge
A dare from her friends sparks a meeting between Jo and the ghost of Ash House. A kindred spirit (ha) who she spends all her time with, but does he really love her or is she living in a dream? This story was so many things. Part accepting changes in your life and part finding your place in the world, I wasn't certain where it was heading until it became glaringly obvious. I liked it, how the story was broken into parts based on the month, pulling snippets from Jo's life. I was sad for her though in the end.
"Hare Moon" by Carrie Ryan
Sister Tabitha from Forest of Hands and Teeth is the focus of this story, set during her girlhood years when she first joined the Sisterhood. Its a story about duty, love and devotion--what's more important, your selfish wants or the betterment of the whole? I enjoyed this story because it helped me understand better where Sister Tabitha was coming from in Forest. She understood, perhaps better than anyone else, what Mary was going through; the need for freedom and to see the 'world', the constricting nature of their village. How one simple choice is all that it takes to tear down generations of protection.
"Familiar" by Michelle Rowan
This was a nice story about a witch-in-training, her bad luck in choosing a familiar and the boy she accidentally bonded with. I'm rather neutral on this because I'm not a big fan of finding real emotions after magically fabricated ones, but on the bright side I liked that Owen was a werecat of all shapes and sizes!
"Fearless" by Rachel Vincent
Set in her Soul Screamers universe, this is a story about Sabine, a mara who's stuck in the Texas Juvenile Correctional Program. A mara is basically a supernatural creature that feeds off the nightmares and fears of others. This mara in particular has a connection to Nash and the story is set before Nash meets Kaylee by about 2 years (in fact Tod is still alive). This is a pre-cursor to what we can expect in the fourth book My Soul to Steal pretty much. A very ominous pre-cursor since Sabine doesn't seem like the type to say 'lol it was 2 years ago so I understand'. Let me just say the more I read about Nash the less I am liking him. Sabine however is going to be a fun, intriguing character and it makes me want My Soul to Steal now.
"Vermillion" by Daniel Marks
Velvet and Nick are sent on a mission to help out in Vermilion to track down a rogue spirit wreaking havoc in the mortal realm. And that's when things get weird. I really enjoyed this story! At first I wasn't certain, because the background of the story is told in a confusing way, but I really got into it. I liked that spirits have to cover themselves in ash while in Purgatory. That there is a Purgatory and its not terribly different from the mortal world. I really liked Velvet and Nick and hope to see more of them in the future.
"The Hounds of Ulster" by Maggie Stiefvater
Bryant and Sullivan were going to be Irish Punk Gods that ruled the world. Until She came along and ruined what they had together. I spent a lot of time wondering at Bryant's gender in this story--which is ridiculous because it didn't really matter one way or the other, but I was really really curious. At the end of the story we find out definitively. Bryant says, at the beginning of the story, that its Sullivan's story. The story of how the two of them joined the seisun at Mullen's Pub, their dreams and aspirations, of what happened when They got involved. Or who Bryant thought was Them. Interwoven throughout is the story of Cu Chulainn, the Hound of Ulster, and his rages that made him a legend. This story was so wistful and sad and I wanted so badly for them to achieve their goals.
"Many Happy Returns" by Daniel Waters
This ties in with Waters "Generation Dead" series. It should be known that the "Generation Dead" novels make me cry more often than not. This story is no different. After an accident claimed the lives of 4 teenagers (and left another comatose), the town grieves and tries to move forward. Cal, who's daughter Mandy was in the van, watches the other parents and their reactions to the knowledge that their kids may return. Its heart-breaking for a child to die, but I think its worse to have the hope they may come back and if they don't, what do you do? I cried the hardest though because of Jake's younger brother Andy who missed his big brother so much and made him his favorite breakfast every day just in case he came back. Its making me cry now and I finished the story hours ago.
"TBA" by Becca Fitzpatrick
As I received this as an ARC, which did not have Becca's story in it, I can't comment on this one. Once my finished copy arrives I will revise this review to reflect how I feel.
Like The Eternal Kiss anthology, a lot of the stories (the ones not tied in with larger universes) made me want more. Daniel Marks' story for instance or Justine Musk's. This is why I like anthologies--it gives me a chance to read authors I haven't read before (this is also the curse, because now I want more). I appreciated both Rachel Vincent's and Carrie Ryan's stories for the fact they offered insight into their respective universes. This one felt more overtly romantic Eternal Kiss however. I certainly hope there will be another anthology of this nature soon!
