Book Review: Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions edited by Melissa Marr & Kelley Armstrong.

Product details:
Publisher: HarperCollins.
Paperback, 443 pages.
Release date: September 20th 2011.
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Ages: YA.

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.

Suspenseful, funny, or romantic, the stories in Enthralled will leave you moved.

A stunning anthology featuring some of the best YA authors around, Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions takes its readers on a paranormal road trip alongside authors such as Kimberly Derting, Jeri-Smith Ready, Rachel Caine and many more. While I am not usually one for anthologies the inclusion of Skin Contact by Kimberly Derting, set in the world of The Body Finder series, piqued my interest in this particular collection which combines a series of stories with the common theme of journeying.

A highly enjoyable collection, this is the perfect book to dip into over Halloween. Authors such as Melissa Marr (Wicked Lovely), Jeri-Smith Ready (Shade) and Rachel Vincent (Soul Screamers) have contributed stories set in worlds familiar to fans of their books, while authors such as Claudia Gray explore new worlds and characters in this anthology. In short, there’s something for everyone and here are just some of my favourites:

Giovanni’s Farewell by Claudia Gray

A sweet coming of age tale with a paranormal twist set against the backdrop of a sweltering Roman July, Giovanni’s Farewell tells the story of twins Cairo and Ravenna as they make some startling self-discoveries while on a school trip to Rome.

I’ve had Gray’s Evernight series on my bookshelf for the longest time, and it’s one I’ll definitely be bumping up my TBR having enjoyed Giovanni’s Farewell with its sunny setting and intriguing cast of characters.

Skin Contact by Kimberly Derting

I couldn’t wait to get started on Skin Contact by Kimberly Derting to finally find out more about the mysterious character of Rafe who we first met in Desires of the Dead (The Body Finder #2). This is a tragic and sometimes horrific tale giving a lot of insight into Rafe’s background, his character and his abilities. 

Rafe fans may shed a tear over what he has to endure in Skin Contact, and even though my heart belongs only to Jay, I have to admit that this guy has been through a lot. He deserves some happiness.

Gargouille by Mary E. Pearson

                                    

From the author of The Adoration of Jenna Fox comes a mythological romance detailing how far a boy called Étienne will go for his one true love. The world building in this story is fantastic.  I immediately became immersed in the world of Gargouille and was left wanting more.

Also, why must book boys by the name of Étienne always be so dreamy?!

The Third Kind by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

My absolute favourite! This tale of sisters Jess and Kissy and their mysterious road trip to San Antonio gripped me right from the start. This one has got mystery, danger and romance and is completely addictive. I would love to read more about these characters and what their abilities mean for the world Jennifer Lynn Barnes has created in this awesome tale. I want more!!