Review: Heroic Hearts

Heroic Hearts by Jim Butcher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I knew I had to request this one when I saw who some of the authors were!!!

Overall score: I have to give this one 5 stars, because the 4 and 5 star stories were just THAT GOOD.

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Little Things by Jim Butcher
Series: The Dresden Files
My Series Status: Devoted Follower/Obsessee
Stars: Four

NOTE: Do not read this without having read the series up to Battle Ground. Spoilers, people, spoilers.

I love Toot-Toot. Seriously, he's the reason I requested this anthology. Sure, there are plenty of great authors contributing to it, but a story from Toot's perspective was NECESSARY in my life.

I loved this one! It was really cool to be in Toot-Toot's head and see how he views Dresden, Mister, feelings, and the world around him.
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The Dark Ship by Anne Bishop
Series: The Others
My Series Status: Devoted Follower/Obsessee
Stars: Five (I'd give more if five weren't the limit)
Absolute gem of a story. We get a story set in the world of The Others, but this time, it's in Cel-Romano and revolves around a separate cast in the Mediterranean Sea area. This story was fantastic - I loved the characters, the buildup, and the way she ended it just right.
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Comfort Zone by Kelley Armstrong
Series: Darkest Powers/The Otherworld Universe
My Series Status: New to me and Devoted Follower/Obsessee
Stars: Four

New characters in a side story from The Otherworld. A necromancer and a werewolf. Honestly, I feel like they might have been from the secret lab in Stolen. But it's been a long time since I've read the early books. Either way, we get a brief mention of the Nasts too! These two characters decide to start using their powers for good, and this is their first case. Really enjoyed it.
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Train to Last Hope by Annie Bellet
Series: N/A
My Series Status: N/A
Stars: Five

I have no idea if these are side characters from her Twenty-Sided Sorceress world or not, as this is my first time reading Annie Bellet, but I very much enjoyed this one. It threw you right into the story and built the history up as you went along, but it worked really well and showed pretty damn deep characterization for such a shorty. Nailed it.

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Fire Hazard by Kevin Hearne
Series: The Iron Druid Chronicles
My Series Status: Read through book 7 (currently two books behind)
Stars: Three

I liked the first few books in this series, but the last few haven't been as fun or as exciting. Maybe it's just me, but I grew kinda bored of the whole series, which is a shame, because I love Oberon and Granuaile. This one is from Oberon's point of view, which made it more entertaining, but I also am missing a few things for this one since I haven't read the last two books of the series.

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Grave Gambles by R.R. Virdi
Series: The Grave Report
My Series Status: New to me
Stars: Four

Umm, wow. That was a great story! Definitely going to have to pick up this series. I loved the premise - body-hopping soul jumps into murdered people's bodies and solves their murders!

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Silverspell by Chloe Neill
Series: Heirs of Chicagoland
My Series Status: New to me
Stars: Three and a half

It was a little predictable, but it was also interesting enough that I will definitely be checking out the main series (though I'll start with the series Chicagoland, as this Heirs series is a followup/spinoff).

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Troll Life by Kerrie L. Hughes
Series: N/A
My Series Status: N/A
Stars: Four

I'd read more about this world! I loved the development in such a short story. Excellent job building the world. I really liked all the different supernaturals in one story!

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The Return of the Mage by Charlaine Harris
Series: Southern Vampire Mysteries/Sookie Stackhouse Universe
My Series Status: Devoted Follower/Obsessee
Stars: Three

Batanya and Clovache, Britlingen Mercs from All Together Dead, are back in this shortie. It was a very strange story, but oddly intriguing. I'd read more about these Britlingens! :)

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The Vampires Karamazov by Nancy Holder
Series: N/A
My Series Status: N/A
Stars: Two and a half

I really didn't care much for this one. I liked Alexei's struggle with good/evil, but I thought the ending was contrived and just wasn't a fan.

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The Necessity of Pragmatic Magic by Jennifer Brozek
Series: N/A
My Series Status: N/A
Stars: Four

First, I want more Maureen and Felicia. They were hilarious and brave. Second, I want to know what "Him" was. This story was super fun!

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Dating Terrors by Patricia Briggs
Series: Alpha & Omega (Mercyverse)
My Series Status: Devoted Follower/Obsessee
Stars: Five

Asil is such an interesting character, and these little side shorts reveal so much more of who he is at his core. His gracious protection of the characters in this book really make his personality shine, and I very much enjoyed meeting Ruby and her team. I also loved seeing Asil's wolf become his partner again after so long... and the claim it made... I'm gonna need so much more of this story! Please give us more, Patty!!

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