Trix

What I liked about this story was the sense of foreboding pervading the entirety of the story, Josef's hopeless despair. He saw, felt, sensed the unnaturalness that had become Adel once the ritual was completed but could not turn back on what he's done or give up on Adel. That feeling of fear and the possibility of what Adel might become or ask in the future were the ones that stayed with me after I finished the story.

If I were to give it a rating, it would be about 4 stars for the impression it left on me and how affected I was by it. But I usually reserve that rating for stories that I enjoyed and would gladly revisit. Which was not the case here. Danny's ordeal left me gagging and nauseous. Kari Gregg has a style of writing that makes me visualise all too well the horrors being depicted. Coupled with a sexual play I dislike (fisting), the story had me trapped between wanting to read faster to finish it and not daring to find out anything else horrendous happening to Danny. I hated what was done to Danny, the hopelessness of being trapped (first by the beast, then by his supposed friend, Keith). And the scenes where the cephalopod shoved those eggs inside or Keith promised to keep Danny open with a huge plug so he could check on the eggs, I could almost imagine Danny being tore up, a ragdoll of his former self. I shudder even now as I have to recall. And as if that physical torture wasn't enough, Danny was left as the thing's incubator. Though it might have been the best outcome after what Danny had endured, I kind of wish he had died instead.

This was simply a merman calling a fisherman astray instead of the usual siren. It was less traumatizing than the rest of the stories. At least it was to me. Perhaps I just couldn’t feel the character losing himself in the merman, it all happened so fast.

This was a strange little story. I didn’t fully understand how Brant had come to be under Fromunder’s curse and what kind of monsters Fromunder and Noel were. And then when I was focused on Fromunder and Brant and how the latter will try to bring Jason back to life, Noel came into the picture. I knew too little about Jason and how one would behave after being brought back to life to even care that Fromunder wasn’t gone completely.

The background was really interesting. I would have wanted this to be longer just so I could enjoy the world more, with orders for “She Who Turns the Page” or “She Who Winds the Thread” or “He Who Loves Cold Iron”. I wanted to know how they came to exist why some orders worshipped women while other men. And the world itself, similar to our own but with unique characteristics. I rather skimmed over the sex scene because the characters held more interest to me: Yordan tricked into ending a life and Kardam, victim of political machinations. I wasn’t impressed by the paranormal aspect of the story as much as I was by the world and characters themselves.

This was by far the best read of the anthology (so glad it was the last one). I truly felt I was inside Tobias’ head. I could feel his turmoil at having to face an old lover and half-forgotten passions. Then he was forced to decide what price to place on David’s life. The self-doubt and recriminations that followed once Tobias became aware what a hypocrite he really was. The last perfect element to be added to this tension filled story were the mind games and physical torment Tobias had to endure at the hands and will of Mr. Ashmedai. He was given no reprieve, no happy memory to ease the pain and humiliation bestowed by the demon. And Tobias would pay Mr. Ashmedai with his body year by year for the privilege to earn David’s forgiveness and offer him a chance at a better life. But Tobias also learnt the truth under the abuse of the demon. David owned him completely. For it was out of love for David that Tobias would submit to Mr. Ashmedai. Chilling story.