Customer Reviews

Kisses from Hell

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Kisses from Hell brings together five popular young adult paranormal authors with short stories about love and vampires. Similar to the companion anthologies that came before it (Love Is Hell, Prom Nights from Hell, and Vacations from Hell), this book is composed of five different tales, each centered loosely around the title's theme. Different from the other volumes, however, this book focuses on vampires only, instead of a wider host of paranormal creatures.

"Sunshine" by Richelle Mead - Set in Mead's Vampire Academy universe, this story explores how Lissa's parents met and fell in love, and it succeeds in providing a great backstory for that series. "Sunshine" was cute and showed good character development, but it wasn't overwhelming. 3/5

"Bring Me to Life" by Alyson Noël - In this story, Noël presents a modern twist on the Dracula myth involving an eerie fog, an old English manor, and a cute artsy boy. Though okay, "Bring Me to Life" wasn't very engaging or original with its use of obvious and cliché plot clues throughout. 2/5

"Above" by Kristin Cast - In "Above," Cast attempts to create a complex new paranormal mythology about creatures who live below the surface of the earth and their enemies who live above. Even with its two sympathetic main characters, this story fell extremely short due to its confusing and unclear world building that seemed like an attempt to be avant garde or edgy. 1/5

"Hunting Kat" by Kelley Armstrong - Set in Armstrong's world that appears in her Darkest Powers series, "Hunting Kat" introduces a feisty young vampire named Kat who is being pursued by the Edison Group. In the process, she meets two boys, either of whom may be with her or against her. "Hunting Kat" was fast-paced and interesting with a strong, likeable female protagonist and a likeable male lead. I really enjoyed this story and would love to see a longer novella or book based on these characters. 4/5

"Lilith" by Francesca Lia Block - In this story, Block puts a vampiric twist on the original bad girl of the Bible, Lilith. This story had the potential to be very original, but it seemed out of place in this collection with its very dark tone and lack of any real romance. 2/5

While I enjoy short story anthologies and the opportunity they present to sample multiple authors, KISSES FROM HELL left me disappointed. Outside of those by Mead and Armstrong, the stories weren't very interesting or well-written. In addition, the huge font size and the chapter breaks used within individual stories felt like an attempt to hide the overall short length of the book. Despite its title and description, most of the stories also contained very little romance or kissing. If you're willing to branch out into other paranormal creatures in search of a good short story anthology, I would heartily recommend Kiss Me Deadly: 13 Tales of Paranormal Love or Love Is Hell instead.

I read three stories from this book... two of them were really interesting. The one by Kristen Cast was really weird however. I did not get that story at all. I prefer the book love is hell though.

I didn't love this book. I was expecting a lot more from it than I recieved. Their were a few stories in it but the only one that I enjoyed was Richelle Mead's story. This could be because I am a huge fan. She was the only reason I purchased this book. This was not a bad book though by any means. I read it in a day so it's a quick and easy read for like a long car ride or something. Just don't expect some amazing satisfying story because it isn't.

Sunshine by Richelle Mead (4 stars): This is a Vampire Academy Box Set 1-4 story about how Lisa's parents met. I really liked it and because of it I decided to read the whole series :)

Bring Me To Life by Alyson Noel (2 stars): Okay, this story was plainly weird. Its some sort of Dracula story about bringing him back?? IDK, I didn't really get it, and after reading Alyson's Evermore: The Immortals, I'm not a big fan (but I do like her Riley Bloom series--Radiance)

Above by Kristin Cast (sadly, 1 star): All I have to say about this one is: WTF! I didn't understand what was going on...no, I did, kinda, I just had no idea what I was dealing with. Was it a zombie? Mud person? Some sort of Nymph?? IDK. Weird story. I did like that poetic structure of it, though. It seemed...elegant :)

Hunting Kat Kelley Armstrong (5 stars!): This one is most definitely my favorite! Its the reason why I read this book in the first place ;) Anyway, Kat is a vampire and she is running away from the Eddison group, who, technically, are at fault for Kat being what she is. I loved this story especially since I am very familiar with this world (see The Summoning (Darkest Powers, Book 1)). Plus, the descriptions were gruesomely great! It totally made me cringe when she got in the accident :D lol

Lilith by Francesca Lia Black (1 estrella, again) Is it just me or is this book filled with utterly weird stories that I half understand? Because this was another one of those stories. It was something about this girl who's a vampire and this guy who liker her. She starts paying attention to him though in a way that she's still cold (if that makes sense), then...she leaves him??? Hmm...

Overall this book was okay...I only really liked two of the five stories =/

I have been debating for a long time whether to purchase and read this book and I have to say I am glad I did! It was a very quick and enjoyable read. It made me want to go ahead and purchase the other books.

I could really see the authors series reflecting in the stories. A small part of me wanted to see something new from them. I liked the series they wrote I just wanted to see something new with new characters and a different plot.

I wasn't overly impressed with any of the stories. They're not terrible, but there is not a whole lot of substance to any of them. There are two stories that are based on series that I enjoy, but in my opinion these stories do not add to or even really take anything from those series. Just kind of a light read, and very firmly in the YA genre. I was a bit bored.

Bought for my son's girlfriend. I read some of the stories and they are geared toward the teen set. Quick read. Small plots. Decent stories.

I bought this book because Richelle Mead. Her short story comes alright. Not outstanding but enjoyable. But the other stories... I just can't really understand what they are trying to tell us about. I don't enjoy the others. I would like to sell it back, not worth it to fill in my bookshelf.

This latest installment of the From Hell series --- which includes PROM NIGHTS FROM HELL, LOVE IS HELL and VACATIONS FROM HELL --- is possibly its darkest yet.

Drawn from Romanian mythology and involving Strigoi and Moroi (undead people), "Sunshine" recounts how the parents of Lissa Dragonmir, whom readers know from Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series, first met. Eric and Rhea are both in serious relationships with other people when they become attracted to each other on a class outing. They are Moroi, though Eric's mother was recently attacked and murdered by Strigoi. Eric hardly feels up to celebrating with his classmates, and quiet Rhea offers him the first genuine sympathy he has heard in a while. He keeps seeking her out, raising the jealousy level of his girlfriend Emma. They are forced into a dangerous situation and bond by the end of this nice love story with a magical kiss.

Alyson Noel brings readers a contemporary version of DRACULA in a British art school with "Bring Me Back to Life." Danika finds herself to be the only student. Furthermore, her modern clothes disappear, and she wears vintage offerings from the closet of the mansion where the school is, only to find they all fit her perfectly. A handsome artistic boy named Bram is able to find the school in the fog despite the servants telling her it is now invisible. They must work together to save themselves after realizing Danika is supposed to give a soul-stealing kiss to help the owners of the house be immortal. But to be rescued from that fate, she must receive an immortal kiss from Bram.

Kristin Cast, half of the popular P.C. Cast writing duo, brings vampire mythology to life in her lyrical "Above," about those under the earth and their enemies above. The tale, which is almost part poem and part prose, shifts point of view from the heroine who just wants to be loved to the evil vampire who finds himself changed by her love. The ending is dark, and the effect of the story is a bit confusing, though the characters are memorable.

In "Hunting Kat," Kelley Armstrong brings readers into her Darkest Powers urban fantasy series. Kat, who is being pursued by members of the Edison Group, meets Chad and Neil, who seem to want to help her. She is so happy to find other vampires like herself that she quickly befriends them, only to learn that perhaps she can't trust one or both of them. There is plenty of action and flirting here with a strong, spirited heroine in Katiana, which should bring Armstrong even more fans.

Award-winning author Francesca Lia Block wraps up the collection with her Bible-based story of Lilith. Paul Michael can't believe anyone is paying attention to him, let alone the beautiful and mysterious Lilith. Soon he discovers there is more to her than meets the eye as she drains the blood of two bullies who tormented him. Their romance is destined to be short as Lilith can't stay, but Paul Michael will be forever changed. Block is a master of packing feeling into few words, and readers will be drawn in to this story quickly.

KISSES FROM HELL is uneven from story to story in intensity and clarity, but paranormal romance fans will enjoy reading a new offering from a favorite author or being introduced to writers whose works they've never read before. As with the previous titles, a portion of the sales will be donated to College Summit, a program designed to help teens from poorer communities get ready for college.

--- Reviewed by Amy Alessio

This collection consists of 5 stories by the YA authors out of which I am familiar with 3 - I admire Kelley Armstrong, I am fairly disappointed in Richelle Mead, vowed not to read Alyson Noel again - never read anything by Kristin Cast and Francesca Lia Block. First I thought to only read Mead's and Armstrong's stories, but then decided to give 3 other writers a chance, out of the goodness of my heart and because the book is fairly short. Well, I shouldn't have bothered.

"Sunshine" by Richelle Mead - an extremely dull and uneventful story about how Lissa Dragomir's parents met. Absolutely nothing exciting here. Can't imagine anyone not familiar with Vampire Academy series would be enticed to give this author a try after reading this. 2 stars.

"Bring Me to Life" by Alyson Noel - a moderately entertaining tale about a girl who is meant to bring back to life a very special someone. Not a very strong story, but held my interest throughout. 3 stars.

"Above" by Kristin Cast. This must be one of the worst pieces of writing I have ever encountered. I have no idea who told Kristen Cast she was a writer and who decided this embarrassing mess should be printed. Basically, a pathetic attempt at edgy/poetic/cryptic writing a la Margo Lanagan, only minus talent. 0 stars.

"Hunting Kat" by Kelley Armstrong. Easily the best in this collection. This is a continuation of the story "Kat" published in The Eternal Kiss: 13 Vampire Tales of Blood and Desire. A lot of action, fighting, nice mythology, a hint at a possible romance. My main concern is, just like every other book/story in the Darkest Powers series, it's again about running away from the Edison Group. How many times can I read the same scenario? 4 stars.

"Lilith" by Francesca Lia Block. A vampire girl changes a nerd's whole life. Weird, short, with no suspense. 2 stars.

Honestly, do yourself a favor, if you want to read something about kissing, don't bother with Kisses from Hell, pick up Lips Touch: Three Times instead.