Light Reading Anthology 2

But "Duva" is awesome!

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Oct 19, Fatima rated it liked it Shelves: I loved Leigh Bardugo and Marissa Meyer's short stories, and I really liked that this was a little preview for some debut fantasy authors. I would love to see more fantasy short story anthologies, I think they're so much fun to rea 3 stars! I would love to see more fantasy short story anthologies, I think they're so much fun to read and I just love the different stories that authors manage to come up with. They're always so creative and so inspiring, and I honestly think there aren't nearly enough short stories going around.

Aug 26, Amanda Butler rated it liked it Shelves: I had already read one of the short stories Glitches by Marissa Meyer , which is still my favorite in this small collection. I rated only the short stories, not the previews that came along with it. I rate anthologies by rating each story individually and using the average for the overall rating. Legacy Lost by Anna Banks 2 stars: This short story is about mermaids, based on the series The Syrena Legacy. I found the protagonist to be very unlikeable in this story; for someone supposedly in love, he often thinks violent thoughts about his betrothed, at least at the beginning.

Dialogue tags were often confusing, as new statements by new characters did not often start new paragraphs.

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At first, the story made me want to read the main books, until I read the preview for the first book, Of Poseidon. This is the type of casual racism that keeps me away from certain books. There are also instances of a sexist aspect of mermaid society that is apparently overlooked: The Witch of Duva by Leigh Bardugo 4 stars: My second favorite story in the series. Based on Russian fairytales, this short reminded me of Cinderella and Hansel and Gretel. A macabre storyline, this read was sad, but light.

This story creeped me out in all the best ways one word: This is by far one of my favorite short stories. The preview showed that the main book is not to my liking. After researching the series more, I discovered the many inconsistencies of Russian lore and culture. The main character seemed superficial, and I did not find myself engaged in the preview. Prophet by Jennifer Boswell 4 stars: The story held my interest, and the plot twist was intriguing, but the events and reactions felt forced to carry the story along. Some actions were unbelievable. The preview was for Struck, and while the beginning of the preview seemed interested, the protagonist felt like a Mary Sue.

I could not connect with this story at all. The premise of the flashback-to-disastrous-science-experiment was intriguing, and the suspense was evenly paced. Answers to the science experiment and the background of the story were answered throughout the flashback. However, the main character — a scientist involved in the experiment — was unlikeable due to his shallow nature. If a female character had similar thoughts in this scenario, she would be labeled as catty. I could also not ignore the use of the G slur. The casual racism bled into the preview as well, in the first chapter of Monument 14, this time apparently at Native Americans.

While it is not straightforward, the preview links Native American stereotypes with racial features: There is also a scene in which a bus full of kids is thrown to its side in a devastating accident, and apparently no one screams during this scene, which I found unbelievable. It ended on a cliffhanger, but I was not interested in what happened next.

Glitches by Marissa Meyer 5 stars: Part of the retelling of Cinderella, this short story shows how Cinder came to live with the Linh family, and is my favorite in the series. This is the only story in the anthology that is not paired with a preview. Overall, this anthology full of mermaids, witches, fairytales, and science experiments was simultaneously entertaining and disappointing. While the short stories themselves may have enticed me to purchase some of the books they are based off of, the previews themselves convinced me otherwise. While the short stories excited me and made me want to purchase their respective books, the previews disillusioned me.

Aug 15, Virginia rated it liked it Shelves: Tor is very clever. They hooked me with the short stories and now I have to read more from the featured authors. Legacy Lost by Anna Banks - I loved this world! I immediately reserved my copy of Of Poseidon upon reading the prequel short story as well as the sample chapters. Loved the characters and love story. Super creepy and sinister. Plus, I hadn't r Tor is very clever. Plus, I hadn't realized I already put the book, Smoke and Bone on hold.

The other stories were fine, but by far the stand outs were the first two.

Aug 25, Kris rated it really liked it. I really liked the Marissa Meyer story, but Cinder is already on my to-read list anyway. I also liked the Leigh Bardugo story and will look for more stuff by her.

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The others were readable but nothing that inspired me to go search for more. Jun 15, Kaethe marked it as to-read Shelves: The Fierce Reads Anthology is available in the U. Mar 12, Jessica rated it liked it Shelves: This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I mean, eventually he finds that she's independent and strong, brave and intelligent, but that isn't what ends the animosity.

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Is it The Pull? But as Grom himself said, shouldn't he have sensed Nalia years earlier, when he first became old e 'Legacy Lost' reminded me an awful lot of The Swan Princess - here are a young man and woman who have been destined to marry their entire lives, and now that they're older, the boy catches sight of the girl and it's insta!

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But as Grom himself said, shouldn't he have sensed Nalia years earlier, when he first became old enough to mate? And besides, at the beginning of the story, he senses her in the Chamber of Ceremonies, but he feels nothing but loathing for her. It's only after he realizes that she's turned into a total babe since the last time he saw her that he's like, "Oh, okay, so maybe it won't be so bad. I mean, how petty can you get? I'm super pissed that she dies in the end, because she was the only remotely interesting character in this story, even if she did end up falling in love with an idiot.

There was a time when the woods near Duva ate girls. And it was so, so good. It has all the elements of a perfect story: I love dark stories, and I especially love stories that make me squirm before I'm certain of what is happening because of the bad feeling I get in my gut. I will definitely keep my eye on Leigh Bardugo. Her prose is wonderful and haunting, and marvelously crafts the atmosphere for this story, making you shiver as Nadya walks through the woods of Duva and smell and taste the scrumptious stew Magda cooks for her.

I mean, most people who live in religious compounds like that don't believe in hospitals, right? And then Rance kills his father because he let Olivia - the aforementioned thirteen year old and the girl he was in love with - die. I mean, all that was great. Maybe that's a good thing, I'm not sure.

The idea for the story was interesting, and the different effects that MORS had on people was, as well. Massey was a complete sociopath, and her characterization was nicely done. I especially loved the scene when she's described as watching the bloodbath with her hands on the glass, as if she were looking at a Christmas window at a store.

I also liked how isolated James is from his family by his experience - because they weren't there, and they can't possibly relate. Still, there was something about how this story was written, especially some of the dialogue, that irked me. Sometimes it felt forced, or just not right. I would've liked to have seen the scene where General Montez shoots himself be a little longer, so we could have appreciated the effect MORS had on him. Instead, it was very quick, and all of the sudden he's on the floor dead along with Privates Sands and Gruin and the two guards who'd also been in the room and it's all over.

This, along with 'The Witch of Duva,' were probably my favorites from the anthology. I really liked the following line, spoken by Iko, the family's android: Sometimes I forget that I'm not human. I don't think that happens to most androids. As a whole, this anthology was pretty great. It struck a good balance between sci-fi and fantasy, and stories that are set in the future, in the past, or in time indeterminate. Mar 05, Melissa rated it it was ok Shelves: Overall this anthology was pretty weak, but there was one stand-out story that I really enjoyed and have continued to think about.

Legacy Lost by Anna Banks - I found parts of this story fascinating - like the general premise of the Syrena - but was thrown off by the ending and some of the writing. The teaser for her novel - set in the same world - was interesting but not intriguing enough for me to have sought it out. The Witch of Duva by Leigh Bardugo- Hands down the best story in this anthol Overall this anthology was pretty weak, but there was one stand-out story that I really enjoyed and have continued to think about.

The Witch of Duva by Leigh Bardugo- Hands down the best story in this anthology and the only story I'd heartily recommend to anyone. I'm always a sucker for a re-told fairy tale and you figure out pretty quick that this is a twisted Hansel and Gretel. But not in the way you think.

This was by far the best written and most interesting story and the only one I'd bother re-reading. Prophet by Jennifer Bosworth- This one was ghastly and not in a good way. I got the concept quickly but found the writing mediocre to the point of being distracting. While I read Cinder a few years ago, I didn't have strong feelings about the novel and I didn't love this story either. Oct 15, nizza rated it really liked it Shelves: I don't think I can write a review about this anthology without being in favor of Leigh Bardugo and Marissa Meyer I've always loved Bardugo and Meyer and reading their stories the second time around was just as fun as before!

The other two, I couldn't finish reading as I felt disconnected with them Jan 02, Kira rated it liked it Shelves: If you have an ereader, I highly recommend you check it out, especially for Bardugo's story. Oddly enough, the indi Overall: Oddly enough, the individual stories themselves aren't free. Prophet by Jennifer Bosworth Standouts: However, fate has other plans. If I was a bigger fan of mermaids, this story may have worked more for me. It was interesting, but not completely original. The world-building was clunkily inserted yet still left gaps in the readers' understanding.

The prose vacilitated between needlessly wordy and beautiful imagery. She suspects the beautiful widow who is viying for her father. I really enjoy fairytale retellings, especially those that turn fairytales on their heads. I was held rapt while Nadya discovered the secret behind the disapearances and discovers her place in the world.

I loved how Bardugo created a world and creatures different from traditional Russian folklore, yet one that fits right into the traditional mythology at the same time. I'm really excited to read her full-length novel set in this world, Shadow and Bone. Prophet by Jennifer Bosworth 2 Stars A teenage son of a cult leader comes of age and accepts his destiny.

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This is a very short story pages on my Nook and has hardly any time to develop the characters or for the reader to develop any sort of bond or emotional response. It's a very traditional villain origin story, but doesn't add anything new or do anything interesting. It's competently written, but rushed.

Considering I've read many similar stories with similar plot devices this fell flat. While this story was gripping and interesting, the more I thought about it, the more problems I had. How could blood type possibly cause aggression or hallucinations - things that are caused by the nervous system rather than the circulatory system? There were also plot points that made no logical sense especially in a high-security military research facility. I didn't understand or connect with the POV character or his eventual decision and the rest of the characters were flat and stereotypical.

Despite my many misgivings, the story kept me glued to the page. The narrative jumped back and forth between the report, flashbacks, and the current setting. A lesser writer could have muddled that terribly, but Laybourne does have storytelling skills. Also, the adult male protagonist says "a-hole" instead of "asshole" 3 times, making him sound like a year-old girl who is still uncomfortable with swearing.

Teenagers will not die if they read the word "asshole. Cinder tries to form relationships and find her place, while trying to adjust to life as a cyborg. I was drawn to this story because of the Asian-inspired sci-fi setting and the unique world-building. Meyer has a very easy voice that draws you in. However, I had assumed Cinder was Asian, but it is revealed that she is European. What a great anthology! I was really impressed by some of these authors, and I know I will be looking up most of the novels this anthology previews. I wasn't surprised I liked this story.

So when I realized this story was about mermaids merpeople? It helped that the plot was good and I What a great anthology! It helped that the plot was good and I related to the character of Grom. This was an excellent preview, and I'll definitely read the novel Of Poseidon. As soon as I read witch in the title of Bardugo's short story, I rolled my eyes. I'm not a supernatural person. I just don't have an interest! So when I saw the title of the story I was less than unenthusiastic about it. But I read it anyway, and I'm glad I did!

It was a very good short story; I liked the surprise at the end and the characters were very real to me. So, what about the Shadow and Bone preview? I was definitely surprised by how much I enjoyed that as well. I've seen Shadow and Bone everywhere lately, and always thought it wasn't my thing. But reading the first two chapters changed my mind. I'm very interested in reading the rest of the book. The Prophet prequel and preview of Struck by Jennifer Bosworth: These were very interesting.

I like how the prequel, The Prophet led up to Struck. It was cool to see how the Prophet came to be before seeing him in Struck. However, I don't think I will read Struck or look anything more up by this author. I just wasn't interested enough in the characters to keep reading. The short story, Dress Your Marines in White was intense! I really enjoyed reading that short.

The preview of Monument 14 , however?

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It was still very intense and exciting, but I don't know if I'll actually read the whole book. But it is going on my to-read list, for now anyway. Glitches prequel to Cinder by Marissa Meyer: The only reason I downloaded this book was for this story. I loved Cinder when I read it and I was ecstatic to read the prequel.

It was worth it! There is a little bit more character development for the stepmom and dad, and I liked seeing how little Cinder adjusted to living with the family. Apr 10, Pamela rated it really liked it Shelves: I actually wanted to read almost all of these. Actually, I can't believe I read the Anna Banks story in toto.

She writes books about merpeople, which is totally fine, but they're also very romantic-he-looked-into-her-liquid-eyes-and-was-mesmerized-by-her-gently-curved-lips, if you know what I mean. I don't do that. My friends know I don't do that. Generally, all of that woo-wah lovey-dovey stuff introduces a angst, b a love trian Slight exaggeration.



I mean, why add more unnecessary angst to your life unless it is angst Weetzie Bat-style, in which case, carry on? I think some of these stories were individually available as well, but I liked having them all together in one free! First up, Anna Banks' Legacy Lost. So, I know Anna Banks' series is about merpeople called Syrena and it has very kissy-looking people on the cover.

I know what I like and what I don't like, and I am just not a romance person. However, I read the story. It was intense, but not vomit-inducing. She's a daredevil and he's not, but I guess their babies are supposed to have mystical powers or something. I didn't read the full books and I think fans of those would appreciate this more. I did, however, like the ending. But after this story I'm tempted to go and read the second two. Bardugo has a great command of the fairy tales she's working with, and the twist about who the monster really was floored me.

Prophet by Jennifer Bosworth So, Jennifer Bosworth's full-length novel is Struck, which I just happened to put on display so it stuck in my mind. Her short story is an interesting exploration of extremism in religion. The transformation of the main character from defiant boy to mad prophet is believable because of his extreme circumstances and unusual background.

Bosworth paints a deft portrait of his family life with just a few paragraphs. I am a huge Monument 14 fan and this really rounded out the story. It's an explanation of the biochemical weapon that affects humans' by blood type. The official report v. This one was gritty and satisfying.

Glitches by Marissa Meyer. Overall, I highly recommend this anthology. It's free on Google Books not a paid endorsement, etc. Jul 25, Diana rated it liked it. The male lead is arrogant, bossy and too full of himself. The female lead started of good: I might as well have grabbed a paper from pubmed.

But it was better than Legacy Lost so it gets two stars. When I first started the Light and Dust anthology site, I had a definite sense of the kind of work I wanted to include. I have fudged a bit on a couple author photos when I could not locate the photographers. On several occasions I have put up work by writers whom I could not locate, asking them to get in touch with me, with the understanding that I would take the work down if they so desired. To me, those of us who have started early should set precedents for responsibility in the new medium. As to plain volume of work, I have been able to publish more than I could imagine including in print in my wildest dreams.

Much of the work in the anthology came from the editorial colleagues who have worked with me, and I discovered plenty of new work during the time I put the anthology together. Although I edited Light and Dust with clear goals in mind, I see editing from a single point of view as, of necessity, limited — certainly too limited for an environment as complex as the milieu in which we find ourselves.

As a partial means of getting around my limitations, the Light and Dust complex includes dozens of coeditors in its specialized sections, and I have at times asked third parties to make selections of work by individuals in single entries. I began moving in this direction in with several Peoples Publishing programs. Shortly after that, as associate editor of Margins magazine, I moved as far in this direction as I could with a series of symposiums I sponsored, each with a different editor, and each including multiple views of the subject. Distinct advantages to this approach come from properties of the web.

Of course, after entries link to menus, the web still leaves plenty of room for revision and augmentation. I would not want to make an anthology such as this without considerable input from people whose expertise is greater than mine or whose opinions differ from my own. The degree of input varied considerably from one project to another, often depending on how much specific editors wanted to do themselves. In some instances, sections were edited as a collaborative project; in others, I stayed out of the editorial process entirely.

Making available work that is otherwise difficult to obtain has been important to me, and in the presentation of complete books on the web I have concentrated on two types: With a number of the poets whose work appears at the site, I have reproduced their early books completely, and included significant examples of work done throughout their lives, providing in-depth presentation of their development through their entire opus.

Differing publication strategies show work in different dimensions: Each approach implies that all work presented in one manner could also be seen from a different angle: Of marginalized work in the twentieth century, the most thoroughly abused and potentially valuable has been visual poetry. Some would see this as a genre of its own.

You can make a good case for that, and so some editors and practitioners should. I see it in a different context, or perhaps I should say a different set of contexts. Most art movements in the century — from the Futurisms to Language Poetry, Vorticism to the Beats, Dada to Fluxus — have first manifested themselves with a concomitant exploration of the graphic potentials of language.

As they grew venal, this tendency was suppressed or relegated to a minor position or used as a form of coopting other movements. Concrete Poetry acted as a minor wing of Fluxus, and that is the type of visual poetry most familiar to the largest number of readers. But the tendency has never been captured or owned by any one movement; instead, it has run through virtually all others in one form or another.

Most movements in their creative phase have sought to transcend boundaries of culture and language and to try to tap universal tonalities and promote unimpeded interchange; in this respect, the graphic nature of the work has acted as one of its primary ambassadors. Perhaps Lettrism has followed the most curious path: If Lettrism has become the most vital of the movements that have included the union of word and image, it still has never owned the tendency.

The need for synthesis forms one of the grounding principles for movements in dynamic phases, and remains with those that keep their energy, while becoming suppressed in those that degenerate into fashionability or dogma. To me, the need to integrate reaches for the roots of written language and public performance. This impulse includes a searching of the origins of art in previous ages.

It also reflects the growing globalism of culture in the twentieth century. The expansion and intersection of cultures suggests the parochial nature of the English language and the Roman alphabet. A global environment needs more than a single alphabet and a single language to promote understanding and cooperation between peoples. As useful and magnificent as the Roman alphabet can be, it still cannot keep up with the complexities of the world in which we now find ourselves.

The web environment allows multiple configurations of media to function together, with no necessity for competition between them. When the web became widely accessible, it made possible the inexpensive reproduction of graphics, in monochrome and in color.

I would not want to try to make an anthology of any twentieth century art form that did not include visual poetry.