I completely love the idea of this project. 5 authors wrote short stories/novellas for an anthology…not that exciting right? Well, they decided that they would not reveal which author wrote which story! I think that’s a pretty amazing project to undertake. Everyone has authors they love. I do. Some of those authors are autobuy authors for me and some authors I am much more inclined to buy a book if their name is attached to it – even if the synopsis doesn’t sound all that great. They’re going to reveal who wrote what story in 3 months. I’m going to make my guesses now and see how good I am!
Lost That Feeling is first up and I really enjoyed this one! It has a very paranormal/SFF feel to it. Alma is rescued from prison at the ouset of the story – but she has no memory of the last 7 years. She’s been piecing things together from what her gaurds had told her. This story is one of my favorites of the group. It turns out that Alma had erased her memory with a spell and she spends her time trying to figure out why. Dris, her old friend and the one who rescued her, is drawn to her and they are drawn together – I liked their chemistry together. I liked this world and the characters.
A Clear View of You is next and this one is more paranormal and I truly enjoyed this, which I would not have expected if I had read a synopsis of it as it involves other-worldly beings, psychics, and prophesies. But it’s so good! Kate is a woman whose mother is involved in cult – as in, she founded it and it revolves around magic. Kate has distanced herself for her own mental health but circumstances – and an unusual client – brings her back home and to the cult. I truly loved this one and would love to read more about this world, the magic, and especially the romance.
Surprisingly to me, Free was a story that was set in the present and was just okay to me after reading the first 2. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had read it on its own. Chariot of Fire was also a contemporary story about a rocker group whose lead singer is heavily involved in a cult. I almost wish these two stories were separated more so that the two present day ones were not together. I think I could have enjoyed them more if they weren’t presented this because they almost became combined to me – even though they did not have much beyond contemporary in common.
The Heart is a Universe was just completely unexpected and really kind of amazing to me. This one is a sci-fi romance set on another planet where the two main characters come together under strenuous circumstances to say the least. The world building in such a short story is incredibly well done. I was very invested in the fate of Vitalis and Eleian and was rushing towards the end to find out what was going to happen. I would absolutely read a full length novel set in this world!
I’m going to make my guesses now…fully aware that I probably am wrong about at least a few!
Lost That Feeling – JA Rock
A Clear View of You – Meredith Duran
Free – Emma Barry
Chariot of Desire – Erin Satie
The Heart is a Universe – Sherry Thomas
ARC provided via Open Ink in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewer: Melinda
Title: Sight Unseen
Release Date: June 6, 2017
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