Nancy M. (imnellen) reviewed Inked: Skin Deep / Armor of Roses / Etched in Silver / Human Nature on + 246 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
These four stories are by authors that are *not* my favorites. Yet I found the collection enough to keep my interest and even take a look at some of the full length books by some of the authors.
I'd recommend it.
I'd recommend it.
Barbara S. (barbsis) - , reviewed Inked: Skin Deep / Armor of Roses / Etched in Silver / Human Nature on + 1076 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I'm don't usually like anthologies because the stories don't have any meat to them and everything is super rushed. However, I really enjoyed this batch of shorts.
Skin Deep by Karen Chance (5 stars)
You just gotta love a story that starts:
"Get it off! Get it off!"
"I'm trying!" Caleb grabbed a numb stick out of a drawer. "It would help if you stayed still for half a second."
"You stay still with claws in your ass." I snarled, as they sank a little deeper.
Come on, doesn't that make you want to pick up this book? This one takes place in Vegas' underground, literally. Tartarus is practically a duplicate of Vegas but under the city and home to all the supernatural weirdos. I loved Lia de Croissets and her mates, Caleb and Jamie. I was disappointed to find out that this was not really part of a series but just a few short stories printed in anthology form. I would have enjoyed further adventures of these guys as well as Sebastian Arnou and the werewolves.
Armour of Roses by Marjorie Liu (2 stars)
I've had problems with Ms. Liu's writing in the past and wasn't sure I even wanted to read this one but I needed to retry this author for a challenge. It started as if in the middle of the story and I played catchup most of the time. I liked Maxine Kiss but I really liked her demon tattoos - Zee, Aaz, Raw, Dek and Mal. They were just cool. The story centered around her great grandmother and WWII which is a time period that I absolutely hate. It also involved time travel - Maxine goes back in time to save some children during the war. I read this but it didn't make me want to read any further in the Hunter Kiss series.
Etched in Silver by Yasmine Galenorn (4 stars)
I've only read the first book in this series and I did like it. This short was quick but entertaining. It will be interesting to get back into the series and see where Camille and Trillian go next.
Human Nature by Eileen Wilks (4 stars)
It is definitely time to get back into this series. I love Lily and Rule's relationship as it's so real. They spent a lot of time fighting in this story which was surprising but true to life. It's always fun to read about Rule and his werewolves. This one went a little more into detail than most of the previous ones.
Skin Deep by Karen Chance (5 stars)
You just gotta love a story that starts:
"Get it off! Get it off!"
"I'm trying!" Caleb grabbed a numb stick out of a drawer. "It would help if you stayed still for half a second."
"You stay still with claws in your ass." I snarled, as they sank a little deeper.
Come on, doesn't that make you want to pick up this book? This one takes place in Vegas' underground, literally. Tartarus is practically a duplicate of Vegas but under the city and home to all the supernatural weirdos. I loved Lia de Croissets and her mates, Caleb and Jamie. I was disappointed to find out that this was not really part of a series but just a few short stories printed in anthology form. I would have enjoyed further adventures of these guys as well as Sebastian Arnou and the werewolves.
Armour of Roses by Marjorie Liu (2 stars)
I've had problems with Ms. Liu's writing in the past and wasn't sure I even wanted to read this one but I needed to retry this author for a challenge. It started as if in the middle of the story and I played catchup most of the time. I liked Maxine Kiss but I really liked her demon tattoos - Zee, Aaz, Raw, Dek and Mal. They were just cool. The story centered around her great grandmother and WWII which is a time period that I absolutely hate. It also involved time travel - Maxine goes back in time to save some children during the war. I read this but it didn't make me want to read any further in the Hunter Kiss series.
Etched in Silver by Yasmine Galenorn (4 stars)
I've only read the first book in this series and I did like it. This short was quick but entertaining. It will be interesting to get back into the series and see where Camille and Trillian go next.
Human Nature by Eileen Wilks (4 stars)
It is definitely time to get back into this series. I love Lily and Rule's relationship as it's so real. They spent a lot of time fighting in this story which was surprising but true to life. It's always fun to read about Rule and his werewolves. This one went a little more into detail than most of the previous ones.
Kathleen C. (KathleenSews) reviewed Inked: Skin Deep / Armor of Roses / Etched in Silver / Human Nature on + 69 more book reviews
The theme of this 4-story urban fantasy anthology is tattoos. All 4 are short stories set in the authors' series.If you like any of the authors, you will enjoy these stories.
Christine H. (solarawynn) reviewed Inked: Skin Deep / Armor of Roses / Etched in Silver / Human Nature on + 724 more book reviews
Enjoyed all of the stories.I didn't have a fave.
What a delightful selection of stories! I was very impressed with every single one! I have already added these authors to my new favorites and will be looking for each of them in the future.
Barbara R. (geckflac) - , reviewed Inked: Skin Deep / Armor of Roses / Etched in Silver / Human Nature on + 53 more book reviews
Loved these inserts. All my favorite authors!
Kelly J. (KellitaJ) reviewed Inked: Skin Deep / Armor of Roses / Etched in Silver / Human Nature on + 550 more book reviews
I love these cooperative books because sometimes I don't buy the authors new series because the back of the books doesn't make it sound interesting or unique. This book had surprises for me, Like Marjoire Lius Hunter series, now I want that book, because the time traveling, zombie hunter was a captivating character. Karen Chance, her story was great, now I have to make sure I find her latest books. If you were wondering how the Moon Witch (in Yasmine Galenmorn's series of Otherworld stories) came to marry Trillian, here's your book. For Werewolf fans of Eileen Wilkes, the tale of the soul mates Lilly and Rule is also great. This book is worth the money, and will stay on my bookself for future re-reads.
Aileene - , reviewed Inked: Skin Deep / Armor of Roses / Etched in Silver / Human Nature on + 14 more book reviews
I really like the Hunter Kiss series so far and her short stories are pretty good as well, usually short stories of 'full book' type series feel a little too rushed for me. This one was everything I wanted it to be and more. Was a real treat, but I really can't wait for the next full length novel.
The Sisters of the Otherworld one was interesting and I think she made a smart decision making it a 'past' story, rather than trying to continue the current story line arc/arcs in the series in a shorter format. Explained a bit more about the connection between Camille and Trillion...though I wish she had a bit more than just 'sexual attraction' in the relationships she creates (the author, not the characters) don't get me wrong, she writes the 'sex stuff' well, but I wouldn't mind a bit more actual 'feelings' you know? This gave a bit more of the feeling aspect, but it did get overshadowed by the sex, but if you like her SotO series, you'll enjoy this.
The first one was by an author and a series I am unfamiliar with (Karen Chance's "Skin Deep"), but I liked the humor, characters, etc. and I'm interested to see if there are more in the series, but I have to say that one did feel kind of rushed to me and slightly unfinished. (Then again it did its job by making me want to search out more of her work)
The last story,(Eileen Wilks's "Human Nature")...I am still not sure if I 'liked' it...I didn't 'not like it' if that makes any sense. I may have to see about renting a few books in that series to see if they stick, but I don't think I would buy any right now, not unless they were practically free. I think you might have to 'know' the series a bit better to get all the aspects of the story.
Hopefully I managed to convey how much I liked the book and why w/o giving away or 'spoiling' it for anyone else.
--Aileene
The Sisters of the Otherworld one was interesting and I think she made a smart decision making it a 'past' story, rather than trying to continue the current story line arc/arcs in the series in a shorter format. Explained a bit more about the connection between Camille and Trillion...though I wish she had a bit more than just 'sexual attraction' in the relationships she creates (the author, not the characters) don't get me wrong, she writes the 'sex stuff' well, but I wouldn't mind a bit more actual 'feelings' you know? This gave a bit more of the feeling aspect, but it did get overshadowed by the sex, but if you like her SotO series, you'll enjoy this.
The first one was by an author and a series I am unfamiliar with (Karen Chance's "Skin Deep"), but I liked the humor, characters, etc. and I'm interested to see if there are more in the series, but I have to say that one did feel kind of rushed to me and slightly unfinished. (Then again it did its job by making me want to search out more of her work)
The last story,(Eileen Wilks's "Human Nature")...I am still not sure if I 'liked' it...I didn't 'not like it' if that makes any sense. I may have to see about renting a few books in that series to see if they stick, but I don't think I would buy any right now, not unless they were practically free. I think you might have to 'know' the series a bit better to get all the aspects of the story.
Hopefully I managed to convey how much I liked the book and why w/o giving away or 'spoiling' it for anyone else.
--Aileene
Danielle R. (danielleraybuck) reviewed Inked: Skin Deep / Armor of Roses / Etched in Silver / Human Nature on + 76 more book reviews
At first I was impressed over the shear size of the book, it's well over 400 pages. But I was quickly let down by the first story, the second story was just as boring, I read the 3rd, and skipped the 4th altogether. YAWN. Boring.
Karen P. (drkaren) reviewed Inked: Skin Deep / Armor of Roses / Etched in Silver / Human Nature on + 67 more book reviews
A good collection of well written stories. I enjoyed it.