Camilla N. (1craftylady) - , reviewed on 1/4/2009 + 7 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 12

Originally, I got this for Kenyon's short novel, "Phantom Lover", which fits into the Dark-Hunter series, technically after Night Embrace. It serves as an introduction to Dream-Hunters, but I found it lacked something. There are no spoilers, and reading it out of order didn't seem to matter too much. Mainly, it's interesting as a sort of early concept-piece. The Dream-Hunter concept is developed further, and with more consistency, in later novels, especially The Dream-Hunter.

I found Amanda Ashley's "Darkfest" drew me in more, with its blend of fantasy and romance, but the ending was a little anticlimactic. It was almost as if it wanted to be much longer, but an axe-wielding editor chopped it to fit the anthology.

Maggie Shayne's entry, "Under Her Spell", was a bit didactic on Wiccan ritual in places, but still provided adequate interest, and there is plenty of action at the climax of the story.

I thought the best entry in this anthology was Ronda Thompson's "A Wulf's Curse", part of the Wulfs of London series (which I am now going to have to read). This was the only story I literally did not want to put down.

All in all, it's interesting for the series tie-ins, but not stellar. Fans of each author will probably want to read it, if for no other reason than to "complete" the series.

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