Enthralled (Part 2)

Enthralled by Combined Authors

ISBN: 978-0-06-201579-2

Pages: 443

Appearance:

Summary:

A journey may take hundreds of miles, or it may cover the distance between duty and desire.
Sixteen of today’s hottest writers of paranormal tales weave stories on a common theme of journeying. Authors such as Kelley Armstrong, Rachel Caine, and Melissa Marr return to the beloved worlds of their bestselling series, while others, like Claudia Gray, Kami Garcia, and Margaret Stohl, create new land-scapes and characters. But whether they’re writing about vampires, faeries, angels, or other magical beings, each author explores the strength and resilience of the human heart.

Hey guys! Like I said, this is part II of the Enthralled Review. If you haven’t seen the first review, just click here. The first review contains the first 8 stories of the book which has a total of 16 stories. Now that the intro’s out of the way, let’s get into the review!

Bridge by Jeri Smith-Ready

This was definitely an interesting story. It’s the only story in the book written in verse which I thought was unique and different from the others. My one problem, I can’t follow a verse book, everything seems so chopped up and my brain just has a hard time following it. Bridge was a really cute story though. The main character died, I’m assuming from suicide or overdose of some sort and has come back in form of a ghost to warn his brother not to make the same mistake he did. He finally finds a ghost whisperer person who is willing to carry his message, but she’s not all that forceful with the message. You guess what happens next.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Skin Contact by Kimberly Derting

To sum up this story in one word: Eerie. Unbelievably eerie. Rafe is I guess you’d call him a psychic.  His girlfriend left him because she has to protect her younger sibling from her abusive father and absent mother. The only thing Rafe has is a really ugly doll, a favorite of his girlfriend. He gets a vision and goes out to find her but he’s too late. Skin Contact was beautifully written, but I just could not get myself to really enjoy the book. Rafe spent too much time worrying and thinking back and the ending was just...cold.

Rating: 2.6 out of 5 stars

Leaving by Ally Condie

Leaving takes place in a sort of dystopian sci fi world. Sora is somewhat of an outcast after her father left the safety of the Globe to look for her mother. After he left, she considered for years to leave and go find him, and now she’s coming face to face with her decision. To leave or not to leave. That is the question. In the end, she chooses to step Outside and everything makes sense, it’s like she has an epiphany moment. Oh, let’s not forget Elio, I would call him the “Charming” of the story. Part of the “in” crowd, but unbelievably nice towards Sora and guess what? He’s been outside too. The ending is a definite cliffhanger, but concludes the story really nicely with the revelation and Sora’s acceptance of her past.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

At the Late Night, Double Feature, Picture Show by Jessica Verday

I did not understand this at all. So Girl Scouts are now cannibals, the main character is a supernatural hunter, and she (the M.C) is in a car with a bunch of fangirling/guying vampires. It’s a pretty bizarre story, but I like it. XD Wasn’t expecting that huh? Yeah, this story is way out of wack, but it has a ton of creativity thrown in which I think is really cool.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

IV League by Margaret Stohl

Another vampire story this time focusing on Wren who is trying to apply into an Ivy League school so she can prey on the unsuspecting students. At first, it just seems pretty normal, I mean, there are thousands of “unsuspecting” people just walking around. Vampire fast food. Unfortunatly things don’t always go according to plan, and it ends somewhat dark and brooding. Creative twist, especially with the title, but didn’t make a great impression on me.

Rating: 2.6 out of 5 stars

Gargouille by Mary E. Pearson

A definite favorite in the story. Gargouille follows the story of Giselle who has been captured by a hunter named Frans who is traveling and showcasing his new capture to all who are willing to listen. At one village, they encounter Giselle’s beloved, Etienne who attempts to save her but Giselle refuses, According to the legends, she’ll soon forget who she is and become a normal “landwalker.” The story is truly heartbreaking in all the right ways. Etienne swears that Giselle will always remember him even though they both know that cutting off a Gargouille’s wings results in them becoming human. The ending, oh my lords the ending is just pure beauty. Not going to say anything other than: Soul mates always find each other~

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

The Third Kind by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Very mystical and again eerie. Kissy gets these visions and when she gets them, you better go where she tell you to go. That’s what Jess has learned. So one night, Kissy tells her that they have to go to San Antonio. Of course, what’s a good story without some action, several people try to kill them along the way, but they eventually get to Ariel who explains that Jess is the “third kind” who “By their sword, darkness bleeds. They are the arm and the fire. They are the beginning of the End.” Not exactly what you want to here. While I think this is really well written, it is very frustrating because you never find out why Jess is the third kind and why people are trying to kill her. Is this part of a series anyone?

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Automatic by Rachel Caine

Another favorite author! And a short that I actually knew and understood because I knew the series: Morganville Vampires. So there’s been a new invention, a vending machine for the vampires. Go swipe your card and enter your favorite type and it comes out automatically. Cool huh? Except, things don’t go as planned. Michael goes a little bit insane with all the blood and ends up going on a crazed bloodlust. Not good if you’re girlfriend’s human. Things get smoothed out and hey, some things in life just can’t be accessed the easy way.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

3 out of 5 stars

Final thought:

To be perfectly honest, I wouldn't recommend this, but if you do see an author whom you love and know well, then maybe it'll make more sense for you. It is well written, I just didn't connect with many of the stories. That's it! Hope you guys enjoyed my brief reviews, if you do please let me know because I have another book that has a bunch of shorts in them and I'm probably going to review it the same way! Until next time! 

Foreverly Obsessed,

Riv