Undead in the Garden of Good and Evil by Kim Harrison (3/5)
Undead in the Garden of Good and Evil tells the story of Ivy Tamwood, a living vampire that’s determined to get transferred out of the homicide department of Inderlander Security (I.S). Fans of Kim Harrison will recognize Ivy from Harrison’s popular The Hollows series, which chronicles the adventures of witch-detective Rachel Morgan. The story acts as a prequel of sorts on a little bit of Ivy’s (Rachel’s partner) background and how they came to work together.
To cut to the chase: Ivy Tamwood is a living vampire, born with a genetic virus that allows her certain boons compared to her undead counterparts – being able to walk freely in the sunlight is but one of them. She has personal problems of her own, which include an annoying, seductive boss determined to taste her blood, a manipulative master vampire, and someone trying to pin an unresolved murder on her. Undead in the Garden of Good and Evil doesn’t have explicit smut in it, though are are some scenes that may deter those squeamish to that kind of thing. Harrison manages to take on Ivy’s point of view with aplomb – it’s hard not to like this fiery, sassy vampire determined to rise above the bloodlust.
Recommended to hardcore fans of The Hollows - if you’re into Harrison’s tamer works, however, this may not appeal to you as much.
The Claire Switch Project by Lynsay Sands (4/5)
The Claire Switch Project was a lighthearted, laugh-out-loud read. Lynsay Sands manages to spin a witty, engaging tale about scientific experimentation gone awry as Claire, a researcher on molecular destabilization, finds herself zapped by an overzealous coworker. And the aftereffects? Claire becomes a shapeshifter – a chameleon of sorts, able to freely change her DNA and look like anyone she wants; including models and celebrities.
Claire has to juggle her newfound abilities and fumble her way through her painful crush on Kyle Lockhart, her childhood crush. The situation gets comical when Claire finds herself at her high school reunion as Kyle’s date AND his twin sister’s date, a plan which involves many, many unexplained trips to the washroom. Sands’ characters are well-fleshed out and engaging, making Claire’s tale come alive with her quick humor. An entertaining read.
Chaotic by Kelley Armstrong (4.5/5)
Ahh, sexual tension. What Kelley Armstrong story would go without some? 
Chaotic is a novella that takes place in Armstrong’s Women of the Otherworld series (which is seriously good – add it to your post-xmas shopping list!) Half-demon Hope Adams, who’s trying to hone her seer skills under the guise of working under a tabloid paper, finds herself in a pickle when she lands smack dab in the midst of some very unfriendly foes. Along with Karl Marsten, a snarky werewolf determined to push all her buttons, they navigate through air vents, tunnels, and a slew of uncomfortable situations as they try to evade their pursuers.
Armstrong’s writing never fails to entertain – the plot was fast-paced and exciting, with the interactions between Marsten and Hope relaying equal parts amusement and electricity. A highly recommended read!
Dead Man Dating by Lori Handeland (1.5/5)
Mara Naomi Elizabeth Morelli (‘Kit’, for short), a dumpy, plain girl, comes face to face with a incubus lusting after virgin blood. She’s saved by a mysterious Mexican man known only as Chavez, and he’s determined to keep the incubus off her until they find out its true intentions.
That said and done, I found Dead Man Dating to be a little flat compared to the rest of the stories in the anthology – I couldn’t really muster up any sort of interest in self-deprecating Kit’s love life. The plot itself was as dull as dishwater, making it a very tedious read indeed. Definitely the weakest entry of all the four stories.
malicecat
silentfairies
