4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Alley's & Doorways, May 9, 2009
"Everlasting" by Rose Fox
David has been living in a "heaven" of his own making where there are no every day worries, just the search for his next sexual conquest. However after centuries he is ready to leave...
"Everlasting" gives us a glimpse of how even a "perfect moment" lived too long can become too much.
"The Steel Anniversary" by Valerie Z. Lewis
Xana and I have been together for fifteen years, even though I'm the only one willing to remember the first four years. I understand why she chooses to forget, but sometimes I wish she had kept a few of the memories.
"The Steel Anniversary" is a sad apocalyptic tale of love and survival and how we all survive in different ways. I won't forget this story any time soon.
"The Truth of Skin and Ink" by B.A. Tortuga
When Joshua walks into Aidan's tattoo parlor, the last thing Aidan expects is a customer that will touch him in ways no one else has.
Aidan and Joshua are absolutely bone-meltingly hot in "The Truth of Skin and Ink" and I hope that B.A. Tortuga has more of them in store for us!
"Side Effects" by M. Decker
Jordan practices magic and is struggling to make a career of it. So when he finally gets a commission he is delighted. But neither Jordan nor his boyfriend Will are ready for the side effect...
This story takes a light hearted approach to magic and its effect on every day life. Jordan and Will are perfectly charming and funny as they deal with the side effects of Jordan's magic. "Side Effects" is a wonderful story!
"Path of Corruption" by Steve Berman
Preston is looking to indulge that secret side of himself that he is afraid to acknowledge, but when he meets Brandon, a street hustler, Preston needs to decide how far he is willing to go...
"Path of Corruption" is a dark tale that highlights the change in the perception of one self when we indulge in something considered unacceptable.
"Were" by JoSelle Vanderhooft
Alex has a secret. One he is so embarrassed about that he has stopped going out at night to hang out with his friends. But when they set him up with Christopher the surprises keep Alex off balance...
"Were" is a wonderfully funny story. Alex and Christopher are charming and funny as they exchange witticisms.
"Lost" by Wendy Barnum
Lawrence always runs when he has any sort of romantic trouble in his life, and especially on his birthday. Today he got both - is it any surprise he is running now? The real surprise, however, is who runs after him.
"Lost" is a wonderful story that highlights the miracle of having some one to love and know us so well that when we are stupid they are still waiting with their arms open for us to come home.
"The Reflection of Love" by Julia Talbot
Alain has magic, magic that has made him a target. But when he comes across Kyle there is just one thing on Alain's mind - experiencing Kyle again.
Alain and Kyle are unusual but engrossing characters. "The Reflection of Love" is a wonderful story about the every day magic of love.
"Underneath" by A.J. Grant
John is a Knight that battles all sorts of evil in the modern world with his sword. Just one problem, his seer and boyfriend, Stuart, is a pacifist and this causes all sorts of issues...
"Underneath" is funny, charming and entertaining from start to finish. I hope that we get to see more of John and Stuart in future stories by A.J. Grant.
"The Love Potion" by Abbie Strehlow
Aiden is just looking for someone to share his life with - that's not too much to ask, is it? But when the spell he is concocting to help him find his one true love is ruined Aiden loses hope of ever finding him. But fate has other things in store for him...
"The Love Potion" is sweet and romantic. Definitely a must read for all those who enjoy the discovery of possibilities in romance.
"Picture Perfect" by Sean Michael
What would you do if you had a magic camera? When Lucas discovers his vintage camera takes odd pictures it leads him to the unexpected...
"Picture Perfect" is a vintage Sean Michael story full of sensuality and characters that will capture your imagination and emotions.
"The Token" by Elspeth Potter
What would you do in order to belong? I have been searching for a place that calls to me as home but what I found was the magic of finding a place where being me is the best thing to be...
"The Token" is a truly unusual story that highlights the satisfaction of finding a "place" to call home where being yourself is all you need to be.
"Cedar" by Ann Stocce
John is just off the boat and headed to the place he always goes when he is on land. But to John this place is more than a place to count time until he heads out to sea again.
"Cedar" is a charming story about the every day magic of finding a place where you are loved and wanted whenever you stop by - home.
Alleys and Doorways is a great anthology. All the authors share different types of magic that we find in every day life and magical imaginary worlds. These stories will charm, scare or provoke thought. Do pick up Alleys and Doorways today; it is well worth the price and the time to read!
Sabella
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Some incredible offerings, February 11, 2010
I originally read the anthology when in electronic form. Some of the stories stayed with me since then and others I forgot about entirely. So the chance to revisit this anthology was definitely welcome, but I came away with mixed feelings. Again, some of the stories stand out as fabulous and truly entertaining, whimsical delights. Others are forgettable (again) and ultimately the anthology finished considerably weaker than it starts. The actual score is indicative of the anthology as a whole but the first 9 stories so far outshine the last few. There is sure to be something for every taste in this collection and even with a few less than great stories, the fabulous offerings make this incredibly worthwhile.
The writing ranges from decent to fabulous and the settings tend to be more fantasy than modern, though as I've said there is something for everyone. The collection starts strong with the interesting and curious "Everlasting" about a human that becomes trapped in the park due to a passing wish. This highlights the old saying "be careful what you wish for" and shows a creepy, sad, but fascinating fae world. From there the sole f/f offering is an alternate reality where a war has occurred and changed life while keeping it remarkably similar. The haunting overtones of "The Steel Anniversary" will stay with readers for some time.
From there the anthology really picks up with a delightful and whimsical offering in "Side Effects" where a young couple must deal with an unexpected effect from using magic. The characters, relationship, and story are very entertaining and sure to please. Similarly, "Path of Corruption" stands out for its dark tones and creepy setting. The depths the main character sinks is absorbing and gripping, challenging the reader on costs of love and life. Combined with the romantic and gritty "The Reflection of Love" about a young Seer and his helpless attraction to a prostitute, these three stories stand out as my favorites of the collection. Each is well written, engaging, and creates a great atmosphere in very few words. Must reads for lovers of great fiction.
Highlights also include the funny and witty "Were" about a gay shapeshifter who is a bunny rabbit, not the most masculine of shifters yet he finds a common geeky thread with a younger man. "Lost" is a romantic and sweet tale showing the strength of love and overcoming fear and ingrained habits. "Underneath" is also humorous about a Seer and a Knight, with a lot of parallels between the men and their professions but is well written, engaging, and a quick treat. All of the above stories are worth reading and make the anthology fast to read and very enjoyable.
Unfortunately the collection slows from there with stories that are decent and clean with good settings but ultimately lacked the connection between the story and the reader. These stories tended to involve extraneous detail or slight rambling and just didn't offer the same engaging aspects as the previous stories. "Picture Perfect" has a touch of sweet supernatural to bring two lovers together and "Flight" is a sad but inspiring story about a boy wanting to fly with a partner. "Cedar," "Love Potion," and "The Token" each have a good premise and are decently written but never fully developed either the setting or the characters. They felt half finished as if parts were left out.
One of the best aspects if that you can pick and choose which stories to read and although you could easily read the entire collection in one sitting, you'll want to revisit some I suspect. Take a chance and get this anthology, you won't be disappointed.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Deceptively titled, but some good stuff, August 19, 2011
This review is from: Alleys & Doorways: Stories of Queer Urban Fantasy (Kindle Edition)
I was under the impression that "queer" was an umbrella term for all non-heterosexual people, but apparently the editors of this collection have a different idea. Don't be fooled, this is very much geared toward the gay gents.
I love urban fantasy as an emerging genre, and much like steampunk I love reading anthologies to see how different authors handle it. In that respect, this book was pretty satisfying. It is very US-centered, but included a wide range of cities from New Orleans to Salt Lake to Seattle. The supernatural elements are also well varied, and some like "Were" are delightfully creative. However, I'm a gay girl and I was expecting at least a little more female inclusion based on the title. The only story (that I recall) with female leads was "The Steel Anniversary", and it wasn't particularly memorable. Also, this being fantasy, I expected at some sort of gender-swapping magic or at least some exploration of gender identity, but that never happened. Fantasy's a great genre to delve into the complexities of identity because themes such as transformation and destiny and isolation are already there, so this seemed like a huge missed opportunity. While I enjoy reading stories with gay male characters, it would have been nice to know that's what I was buying in advance. It was way more penises than my imagination could (or wanted to) handle at times. Perhaps the editors can put out a second anthology for the ladies?
Queer is a misnomer, but if you're looking for a unique collection of urban fantasy centered around male-on-male relationships, this is for you.
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