I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the library
Death's Excellent Vacation
by
A. Lee Martinez, Charlaine Harris, Chris Grabenstein, Christopher Golden, Daniel Stashower, Jeaniene Frost, Jeff Abbot, Katie MacAlister, L.A. Banks, Lilith Saintcrow, Sarah Smith, Sharan Newman, Toni L.P. Kelner
It is part of the Sookie Stackhouse #10.5, Night Huntress #4.5, Pirate Dave, , series and is a history, paranormal fantasy, short stories, time travel, urban fantasy in Hardcover edition that was published by Ace Books on August 3, 2010 and has 339 pages.
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Other books in this series include [books_series]
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Night's Edge, Must Love Hellhounds, Dead Reckoning, Bite, A Secret Rage, Home Improvement: Undead Edition, Deadlocked, An Apple for the Creature, Dead Ever After, The Sookie Stackhouse Companion, Games Creatures Play, After Dead: What Came Next in the World of Sookie Stackhouse, Indigo, Night Shift, Sleep Like a Baby, The Pretenders, A Longer Fall, An Easy Death, The Russian Cage, Small Kingdoms and Other Stories, Real Murders, A Bone to Pick, Three Bedrooms, One Corpse, Dead Until Dark, The Julius House, Dead Over Heels, A Fool and His Honey, Shakespeare’s Landlord, Last Scene Alive, Shakespeare’s Champion, Poppy Done to Death, Shakespeare’s Christmas, Shakespeare’s Trollop, Shakespeare's Counselor, Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library, Aftertaste, Halfway to the Grave, First Drop of Crimson, One Foot in the Grave, At Grave's End, Destined for an Early Grave, Unbound, This Side of the Grave, One Grave at a Time, The Bite Before Christmas, Once Burned, Eternal Kiss of Darkness, Twice Tempted, The Beautiful Ashes, Bound by Flames, Into the Fire, The Other Half of the Grave, Halfway to the Grave, You Slay Me, Fire Me Up, Dragon Fall, Chicks Kick Butt, The Mad Scientist’s Guide to World Domination, Hunter’s Prayer, Redemption Alley, Flesh Circus, Working for the Devil, Heaven's Spite, The Demon's Librarian, Dead Man Rising, Steelflower, The Devil’s Right Hand, Saint City Sinners, To Hell and Back, Dark and Stormy Knights, Angel Town, Storm Watcher, Fire Watcher, Cloud Watcher, Mindhealer, The Iron Wyrm Affair, The Red Plague Affair, Dark Watcher, To Hell and Back, Trailer Park Fae, Roadside Magic, The Wild Side: Urban Fantasy with an Erotic Edge
An interesting anthology of thirteen short stories revolving around a theme of paranormals going on a “normal” vacation. I don’t think I’ll ever complain about one of my own vacations again…
Series:
“Two Blondes” (Sookie Stackhouse, 10.5)
“One for the Money” (Night Huntress, 4.5)
“Perils of Effrijim” (Aisling Grey, 4.5 and Dragon Septs, 4.5)
“Pirate Dave’s Haunted Amusement Park” (Pirate Dave)
The Stories
Charlaine Harris‘ “Two Blondes” takes place after Victor Madden has taken over in Louisiana and Eric and Sookie are “married”. I was unimpressed with this story; it’s a short bit of nothing. Pam and Sookie take a vacation into Mississippi to visit some casinos but actually it’s an assignment from Victor…and not necessarily one that he hopes either of them comes back from. The best part is probably the scene where Sookie and Pam have to audition as strippers but even that is fairly lackadaisical …
Sarah Smith‘s “Boys Go Fishing” is rather confusing albeit a bittersweet tale of an out-of-work superhero who has lived too long and who is desperately missing his wife.
Jeaniene Frost‘s “One for the Money” is an interesting dip of the toe into a vacation that gets interrupted for Cat and Bones when Dave asks them to protect a spoiled heiress from being killed.
Daniel Stashower‘s “Meanwhile, Across the Caspian Sea…” is definitely an original — and appeals to me on an historical level. The New Guy is determined to do his job, dagnabit, and that includes ferreting out every fact and attributing it to a printed resource. None of that relying upon someone’s word…
A. Lee Martiniez‘s “Innsmouth Nook” is just too gross for words! Ick!!! Although it really was the ideal solution both then and now for the two young men starting out with their new bed-and-breakfast…
Jeff Abbott‘s “Safe and Sound” is one where you root for the “bad guy” although it sure seems as though Molly is heading in Nora’s direction at the end. I must confess I did think this story was in poor taste as it leeched off the disappearance of Natalee Holloway in Aruba.
L. A. Banks‘ “Seeing is Believing” was excellent as is only to be expected from an author of her quality. In a few short pages, Banks has created an atmosphere and characters I want to know more. Jessica Atwater is frustrated that Sheriff Moore won’t take her seriously even though he knows her mama thought Jess was a better psychic than her. And Raphael…I do like that sound of this boy! He is so supportive of his sister…and p*u*s*h*y as all get out. I do wish that Banks had given us some of the action Grand was involved in though. It was just too simplistic there at the end.
Katie MacAlister‘s “Perils of Effrijim” sounds more like it’s about an efrit or a jinn than a demon and it is a really cute story about a demon who prefers to be a dog with a mad passion for a sexy corgi living in Paris. Unfortunately, Jim runs afoul of a nasty apprentice Guardian which tips him into an exiled Titania’s path and totally screws up his romantic vacation.
Christopher Golden‘s “Thin Walls” is a guys’ wet dream come true…with a nasty twist so be careful what you dive into, guys!
Lilith Saintcrow‘s “Heart is Always Right” is another twist this time with a gargoyle and the sacredness of his mission versus the love of his life.
Chris Grabenstein‘s “Demon in the Dunes” comes with a really twisty social message…it’s too bad it took him too long to figure it out!
Sharan Newman‘s “Home From America” also ends in a nasty twist. Not quite the old home week for which Patrick was hoping. I blame the parents…
Toni L. P. Kelner‘s “Pirate Dave’s Haunted Amusement Park” is a short, cute love story between an undecided werewolf inundated with cookie, fruit, and flower bouquets and an amusement park haunted by a ….hmmm…pirate?? vampire?? human??
