Eternal: More Love Stories with Bite edited by P.C. Cast

Title: Eternal: More Love Stories with Bite
Author: Edited by P.C. Cast
ISBN: 9781935618010
Publisher: BenBella Books
Page #: 212
Source: From my public library

Summary:
"Love is Eternal... so are they.
Claudia Gray delves into the history of Patrice, from her bestselling Evernight series, and her doomed affair with a mortal World War II soldier.

Strange Angels author Lili St. Crow takes us to St. Mary's Catholic prep school where one disaffected girl can't seem to stay away from the boy she believes killed her best friend.

Wicked series' writer Nancy Holder reimagines Romeo and Juliet with an undead Romeo who's waited centuries for his beloved Juliet's return.

Heather Brewer, author of The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, tells the story of a girl who wakes up kidnapped and locked in a freezing basement with the boy she loves, facing a monster she doesn't dare put a name to.

Rachel Caine returns to the setting of her bestselling Morganville Vampires series where her latest supernatural threat isn't to the residents' lives, but to Eve and Michael's bond.

And Shade author Jeri Smith-Ready introduces us to a gypsy community that harbors vampires, a girl caught between her family and her dreams, and the boy who gives up everything to help her."
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First Lines:

"The air in the USO canteen was hazy with cigarette smoke, thick with longing. It would've been hard to say who was more easily enchanted by romance in this place. Maybe it was the young men going off to war, desperate for comfort and perhaps someone to fight for."
Page 1 from "Bloodshed" by Claudia Gray
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Review:

I picked up this book because I have read and loved something by almost every one of these authors - a couple are ones I haven't read yet, but I have their book in my posession. So I'm getting there. But these stories were all really good. A few had surprise endings - or completely blew my assumptions of the story out of the water. Very well done book. I'm going to attempt to go through each story.


The historical Evernight story by Claudia Gray was wonderful. I loved how the school was still a focal point, but you really got a whole new view of it. And it also was an interesting take on what happens when someone is turned into a vamp without allowing it. It's also a look at how love can blind you to reality - especially when it's eternal.


I haven't read the series by Lili St. Crow, but I probably will try to after reading this story. The perspective in this story really is one of a crass high school girl and the way she lives her life. Thrown in is a couple of murders and a vamp on the loose. I found this one to be a bit more abrupt, but I think in longer form it would be wonderful.


Nancy Holder is another author I haven't read much by (I think), but I have one of her books in my TBR pile. There's something about Romeo that just bothers me. He probably would have in the old version too - but he's just so... obsessed. And crazy-seeming. But that's just Romeo for you, I suppose. :) I did love how the ending turned out, though.

The story by Heather Brewer was the most interesting to me. She writes a story that is pure horror and terror... then twists up the ending giving the whole story a new light. It's very well done and I love how she writes. I would love to see how this story could have panned out if it were longer.

Of course I loved the story by Rachel Caine - but I'm a long time fan of the Morganville Vampire books. It's great to get a story from Eve's point of view. Honestly, it felt like she has more meat to her instead of Claire. I would totally read more about her. I kinda hope the new character she introduced is in the next novel.

And last, but not least, the story "Thirst" by Jeri Smith-Ready. I think I had the most confusing time with this one. Probably because it's set in a place/mindset that I don't get. But it's a great story of love and desperation. Shows what lengths someone would go to for someone they love.

All in all, I think this was a great group of short stories. Especially for those who are into the whole vampire thing. There are lots of variations on the same ole' story. I very much intend to pass this one along to my teens.
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Other Blog Reviews:

Cem's Book Hideout
Amberkatze's Book Blog
Poisoned Rationality