Review by Booklist Review
Promising "15 stories of paranormal love," this collection has something for every fantasy romantic, even down to the demons and ghouls. The standouts here are Adib Khorram's "Kiss the Boy," a sweet merfolk romance between mer Dylan and his (possibly) one true love; Kat Cho's "Pierce My Soul," which feels like a mash-up of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the Sookie Stackhouse novels and finds grieving Anna set on capturing a vampire until she finds out childhood friend Kai has become one; and Casey McQuiston's funny twist on the Bloody Mary story, "Bloody, Lovely," in which soccer star Dylan is haunted by--and is possibly falling for--the legendary ghost girl. And Blue Bloods series completists will be thrilled to find a short story about Lucifer. While the paranormal romance genre never really went away, it's been experiencing a resurgence. This tasting menu offers new readers a satisfying introduction.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
This swoonworthy paranormal romance anthology, edited by Caldwell (A Phoenix First Must Burn), features 15 stories from such authors as Hafsha Faizal, Chloe Gong, and Julian Winters, among others. An introspective examination of vengeance, Kendare Blake's "Undead Ghoul Meet-Cute" follows Maria, a once-human undead creature seeking revenge on the ghoul who turned her. "In the Eyes of Angels" by Alexis Henderson explores religious myth and leaps of faith, centering Tate, recovering from alcohol dependency, who, after getting fired from her job at a gas station, encounters a fallen angel. While most of the stories deliver well-drawn interpretations of dramatic love amid fantastical happenings, some are humorously couched in the everyday; Akshaya Raman's "If You Give an Asura a Cookie" chronicles Rupa's coming to terms with her appointment as a protector of the gods, even though all she wants is to stay curled up in her Ms. Marvel blanket. Meanwhile, Adib Khorram's "Kiss the Boy" features merperson Dylan, who lounges on a beach in human form while yearning for the boy who saved his life. Each story is delicately infused with the creators' lived experiences, and the protagonists come together in varying pairings, celebrating love across myriad gender and sexual identities. Ages 12--up. Agent: Sara Megibow, KT Literary. (Sept.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 8 Up--Teens who can't get enough of paranormal romances should look no further. This collection of 15 short stories has demons, ghouls, spells, and romances both straight and queer. Authors include mystical beings caught up in fantasy worlds as well as realistic situations of interactions with humans. Featuring contributors like such as Melissa de la Cruz and Sandhya Menon, the collection allows teens to sample favorite authors and discover new ones; they will not be disappointed if they read the book in its entirety. Nia Porter summons the perfect date in "My Demon Prince Charming" by Sandyha Menon. Her perfect date, however, disappears at dawn--can Nia find him again or is their love lost forever? Some entries are sweet and satisfying while others pack a good thrill. Tally Qiu in "A Thousand More" by Chloe Gong is befriended by a new student from Shanghai who claims to be her soulmate from another life. Even though Tally has no recollection of another life, she finds Nate to be irresistible and isn't sure why. Each author has created an intriguing setting to match a paranormal creation worth reading. Characters throughout are of various descent with a variety of skin tones and sexual preference. VERDICT Recommended; perfect for collections looking to add more paranormal or more romance, or both.--Karen Alexander
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Fantastical romances are as diverse as their protagonists in this collection of 15 stories by YA favorites. Maria has finally found Ethan, the ghoul who turned her into an undead creature. When the moment comes to take her revenge, she instead finds herself taking his disembodied head on one last walk around the city in "Undead Ghoul Meet-Cute" by Kendare Blake. Tally Qiu, the protagonist of "A Thousand More" by Chloe Gong, is confronted by Nate Zhou, a new student from Shanghai who claims that they are soul mates, destined to find each other in every reincarnation. Despite her lack of past-life memories, she finds herself growing closer to him as they are partnered for a history project. In Julian Winters' "Who Will Save Me," guardian angel Micah struggles to choose between his duty to his 13-year-old charge, Eli, and his love for Eli's older brother, Zion. Meanwhile, Eli has his own struggles with his identity in the wake of his parents' negative response to Zion's coming out. Featuring mystical beings galore, this volume is filled to the brim with enchanting fantasy backdrops and romances both straight and queer and is perfect for sampling or reading straight through. The tone ranges from soft and sweet to terrifying and thrilling, ensuring there is something for nearly every reader and mood. Additional contributors like Sandhya Menon, Adib Khorram, Melissa de la Cruz, and Anna-Marie McLemore add to the appeal. A delightful addition to the shelf of any romantic. (author biographies) (Paranormal romance anthology. 13-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
