Fun times ( )

I suggest this book if you are a fan of an author included in the anthology. If you aren't a fan, the drop in world building can make you stumble, but you might find new authors to read. I read this for Kim Harrison's Two Ghosts for Sister Rachel. It felt like coming home to friends I've missed since The Hollows ended. I don't think I'm ever going to find a series that has effected me as much as The Hollows.
I also enjoyed The Harvest by Vicki Petersson, which made me interested in her Zodiac series, but the other two stories were a bit too sexy for me. I don't like random instant love/attraction relationships in my books. ( )

Two Ghosts for Sister Rachel by Kim Harrison - 5
A very young Rachel, attempting a high level spell to summon her dad's ghost, summons Pierce instead. Reminding me of Rachel's unique ability to to go BIG even when it goes wrong. Sprinkles of her past health issues and characters that have more meaning the more books in the series you've read.
( )

I picked this up because of the backstory for both Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan series and Vicki Pettersson's Zodiac series. I liked three of the four stories in this book, which is one more than I expected to like. I would have kept it for the Harrison and Pettersson stories alone, and the Liu story made me want to check out her books.

"Two Ghosts for Sister Rachel" Kim Harrison--It's Rachel Morgan as a teenager. Seriously, how was I not going to love this? We get some time with her mother, the brother we've never seen in the books, and we get some fantastic backstory about the father she loved so much. It's typical Rachel, running her mouth and pushing herself to do things people think she can't do, and winning in the end.

"Run, Run, Rudolph" Lynsay Sands--Hah, hah, comical shapeshifting romance complete with girl who turns into reindeer and often ends up naked. I understand there's more of this world and you need to understand I'm going to pass on ever reading it. Blech.

"Six" Marjorie M. Liu--This story took me by surprise. I figured I would loathe this super-agent Six and all her super-agent numbered pals. It turned out that the writing was good, the characters were entertaining, and the world was well-crafted. Normally I get all eyerolly over romance, especially in the short-story, fall in love in less than a day, format, but everything else in the story made that seem acceptable.

"The Harvest" Vicki Pettersson--This is a Zoe Archer story, and it's Zoe working to save not only her daughter but her granddaughter. I like Zoe, what little we see of her through Joanna and Warren's memories, and I like this Zoe even more. I read this story immediately prior to reading Book 3 of the Zodiac series and all through book 3 I flashed back to this story; it gave me a huge insight into many of the characters: Zoe, Warren, and the Tulpa. Solid story, excellent history for this world. ( )

I had this for a year. I read Kim's and Marjorie's stories but hadn't read the other two. I was trying to finish another book before the end of the year but wasn't able to finish the last story in time. I finished it on the 1st though. I'm going to have to go back and read Vikki's first book again after reading this prequel. ( )