9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
You need to like both fantasy and romance, December 12, 2004
It's easy to get misled by the cover, which says these are stories of fantasy and romance. People will buy the book for either the fantasy or the romance, or perhaps both, and be disappointed that it's not all of one or the other, or a mix.
I'm familiar with Delacroix and Kurland from the romance world, McKillip and Shinn from the fantasy world, and didn't expect McKillip and Shinn to be writing the romance stories, and Delacroix and Kurland to attempt something more in the fantasy side of things.
I liked the snappy conversation from the Gorgon (McKillip), though yeah, it's pretty unbelievable that the hero manages to call her up from practically nothing. And it would've been really nice if they did live happily ever after.
Kurland's story is not her usual fare, and I'm not surprised at the one-star ratings for her. The fairytale mode did pall, and more emphasis could've been placed on the 'present' instead. I did like the ending, though I'm not sure how sequels (this story is stamped 'prequel' all over) will read.
You really need to have read Shinn's angel series to appreciate her story. It's not supposed to be blasphemous and is a welcome addition to the entire series.
Delacroix' Melusine story was my least favourite. It was a good attempt at dark fantasy but entirely too depressing and I wanted happy endings.
Romance readers are likely to be disappointed that the stories don't follow the usual 'and they met their princes and lived happily ever after' formula, but keep an open mind.
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10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
four well-written romantic fantasies, July 6, 2004
Patricia McKillip. Artist Harry Waterman feels like a failure because he lacks a muse to motivate him. That changes when Medusa calls him from a painting he drew. She plans to inspire him by pointing to a model Jo who vanished.
Lynn Kurland. Using a cloaking spell, part Elfin Maher flees from her father because she refuses to wed her sire's choice of a spouse for her. Her father Robert wants to forge an alliance with Hagarth through his daughter. She refuses and seeks the help of King Harold to learn how to use a book of spells she possesses. However, her father insists she is a valuable asset to further his ambitions.
Sharon Shinn. In Samaria, Jesse the fallen angel desires the young Manadavvi woman who returns his love. However, her mother insists her family is too important to have her marry a loser insisting the daughter will wed into a wealthy family or the next Archangel.
Claire Delacroix. An elderly woman overhears two gossips discuss Melusine, a demon who chose to live in the mortal world to cast her evil influence on Raymond who she married and had ten children with him. The old woman informs the two women that Melusine came to this world out of love for Raymond. Is she a malevolent devil or a female in love?
All four well-written romantic fantasies contain solid lead characters though in a couple of the tales the antagonist pales in comparison. Sub-genre fans will appreciate the quartet as all fun to read.
Harriet Klausner
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Hmmm, September 19, 2005
The stories were good, but they left me going "What, wait it can't be over" and not in a good way they just seemed unfinished like the authors got to the word limit and stopped. I'm glad I bought the book to add to my Lynn Kurland collection but was still a tad bit disappointed.
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