Review: Shards & Ashes Anthology

Title: Shards & Ashes

Author: Multiple

Publisher: HarperCollins

Release Date: February 19, 2013

Format/Source: ARC- Publisher via Giveaway

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Gripping original stories of dystopian worlds from nine New York Times bestselling authors, edited by Melissa Marr and Kelley Armstrong.

The world is gone, destroyed by human, ecological, or supernatural causes. Survivors dodge chemical warfare and cruel gods; they travel the reaches of space and inhabit underground caverns. Their enemies are disease, corrupt corporations, and one another; their resources are few, and their courage is tested.

Powerful original dystopian tales from nine bestselling authors offer bleak insight, prophetic visions, and precious glimmers of light among the shards and ashes of a ruined world.

My Review:

Hearken by Veronica Roth
2/5 stars

I think this suffered from being too short. I find the world fascinating and I would love to see a book set in this world. Still interesting though. I think I would pick being able to hear people's death songs rather than their life songs.

Branded by Kelley Armstrong
3/5 stars

I enjoyed this story. It was interesting. This world is ruthless. Humans survive in a fortress and anyone supernatural is branded and tossed outside. Life inside the fortress isn't easy though. I would read a trilogy set in this world. I also think it did well as a short story on its own.

Necklace of Raindrops by Margaret Stohl
1/5 stars

Um... WTF?

Dogsbody by Rachel Caine
2/5 stars

I like the idea of this but it didn't really do it for me. I think this is another story in this book that suffers from being too short. Nothing like a story about a government willing to kill a train full of kids.

Pale Rider by Nancy Holder
1/5 stars

I don't even know what happened in this story. Something about a war and magic? I don't know. It did not hold my interest.

Corpse Eaters by Melissa Marr
3/5 stars

This is another world I would like to see more of. It was probably one of the better stories in the book. Wonderfully creepy. I did not like the ending though.

Burn 3 by Kami Garcia
3/5 stars

Yet another world I would love to see explored more fully. I feel like it's just a snippet from a book. I want more.

Love is a Choice by Beth Revis
3/5 stars

Here is where I admit that I still haven't read Across the Universe. Here is where I also admit that after reading this short story, that book has moved closer to the top of my TBR list and that I'm very excited about it.

Miasma by Carrie Ryan
2/5 stars

Definitely not the worst story in the bunch but it didn't really interest me much at all.