This is an anthology of game-based tales with a supernatural
twist. The authors featured in this book are Jan Burke, Dana Cameron, Adam-Troy
Castro, Brendan DuBois, Charlaine Harris, Toni L. P. Kelner, Caitlin
Kitteredge, William Kent Krueger, Ellen Kushner, Mercedes Lackey, Joe R.
Lansdale, Laura Lippman, Seanan McGuire, Brandon Sanderson, and Scott Sigler
I’m a fan of Charlaine Harris and that’s
why I got this anthology. Most of the
stories were pretty good, but my biggest issue was that most of these stories
were about ghosts and hauntings. When I hear creature I think big foot, mermaids,
Nessie. Not so much of ghosts.
But the stories for the most part were
interesting reads. I have read other anthologies, and this is an above average one.
Here’s a summary of each tale.
In the Blue Hereafter: Manfred can’t
escape his Grandmother’s game.
Hide and Seek:
A child’s game becomes much sinister, and with high stakes.
Stepping
into the Dead Zone: The new kid in class is more than he seems.
Dead on the
Bones: Revenge is a dish best served after death.
The Devil Went
Down to Boston: How far could one go to protect family?
On the Playing
Fields of Blood: A game that has a deadly purpose.
The God’s Games:
A lycanthrope is sent to the Olympics on a mission by the Gods.
The Case of
the Haunted Safeway: Sometimes a haunting isn’t so black and white.
Pris de Fer:
Too much pride can be deadly.
Dreamer: An
afterlife game
False Knight
on the Road: Sometimes a bargain with the devil can be something else than a
soul
Jammed:
Roller derby and a derby girl death by non- human “hands”
Hide and
Shriek: Immortals get bored
Ice: There’s
something under the pond
Bell, Book,
and Candlepin: A curse wreaks it havoc on unsuspecting people
This anthology isn’t a bad read if you
like supernatural tales. Not a waste of time to read either.
