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catherinehaines

catherinehaines

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A Spy in the House
Y.S. Lee
Pacific Rim: The Official Movie Novelization
Alex Irvine
Prom Nights from Hell - Michele Jaffe, Lauren Myracle, Stephenie Meyer Take three authors I have read previously, and two I haven't. Add in a variety of supernatural factors and set it all around that event that television tells me is an American rite of passage, and what do you get? Prom Nights From Hell, an anthology that starts off very well before puttering out in the last two stories.

The Exterminator's Daughter, by Meg Cabot: I love Meg Cabot's writing, especially when she brings in the paranormal. She is at the top of her game here, with humour mixed in with a little drama, an appealing cast of characters and a good storyline. Also, perhaps a little take that aimed at the girls who swoon over vampires without putting much through to the inherent problems. Pity this isn't a taster for her upcoming novel - I'd love to read more. 52 pages. 5/5.

The Corsage, by Lauren Myracle: This story is based on the classic The Monkey's Paw, updated for a contemporary prom setting. A little humorous, a little creepy and more than a lot sad, this was my other favourite of the collection. 42 pages. 5/5.

Madison Avery and the Dim Reaper, by Kim Harrison: Why oh why couldn't Once Dead, Twice Shy have been like this? Or at least have more of this in the novel? This was the beginning the novel should have had: it's a rip-roaring good time (well, perhaps for the reader, not the characters) with funny dialogue and interesting characters. Basically, it was all the good things about Once Dead, Twice Shy, but without the giant stumble at the beginning. 64 pages. 4/5.

Kiss and Tell, by Michele Jaffe: This was the longest story of the lot, and it definitely felt like it. It seemed very wishy-washy and confused at times, and it wandered off in all directions before finally settling down and focussing on it's plot line. But even then, some things stayed confusing. A case of too much happening in not enough pages - even when the author had twice as much as the rest of the authors in the anthology. 90 pages. 2/5

Hell On Earth, by Stephenie Meyer: This was pretty standard Meyer fare: an interesting premise (a minor demon causing disaster at a prom) is ruined by excess description, poor plotting and a very twisted idea of romance. Being ripped of one's abilities and personality and pretty much being enslaved to the incredibly perfect man is a disturbing trend with the relationships Meyer has written in the past, and Hell On Earth is no exception. 55 pages. 1/5.

Overall I'd give Prom Nights From Hell a rating of three and a half stars, and just wish that the last two stories had matched up to the quality of the first three.