Dark Secrets: A paranormal Noir Anthology with Rachel Caine, Suzanne Johnson , Mina Khan and others ( early review)

Hello to all

I'm really happy to share with you  my opinion on an anthology which will be released soon " Dark Secrets"  which include a favourite author of mine but also new favourite ( some i  had read and just got even more fan of, some completely new)and new authors to me.... A wonderful group of women, very talented and generous as well because if you pre order the book now, before the release on the 29th, you can get it for 99cent only if you are in the USA.

Six stories for that price that's a great offer. But even better, they thought about those of us who love print books more and it will be released in print in the future as well.

I have opted to read the stories in order of the anthology and not jump directly to those of the authors i knew beforehand and i think i was a good way to go about it as I didn't get any specific expectations but was open to anything. I really recommend you this book if you love dark paranormal of if you want to try any of these authors, you have nothing to loose so don't hesitate.

I will give you my opinion, short as not to spoil too much, novella by novella so the post will be longer than usual  but first a little words about each of them.

 happy reading!

Publication: 2015

Genre: paranormal romance, noir, fantasy
Violence: mild to strong
Language: normal to strong
sex: strong
Public: 18+

Source: ebook received in exchange for an honest review

Short description from goodreads :

 Six award-winning authors bring you this spellbinding collection of stories about dark desires, mysterious worlds, and danger that lurks in the shadows of the night. Where nothing is black and white; where things might not be as they seem; where magic and mayhem rule.

MARION, MISSING by Rachel Caine

Valentine is a detective with two major problems: he's been offered a kidnapping case that will probably get him killed, and his partner won't let him turn it down. He owes her that much … since his partner's a ghost, and he blames himself for her death. A dark, haunting noir mystery of love, hate and loss.

FEMME FATALE by Cynthia Eden

PI Mick Swayne has seen it all—his clients have included liars, thieves, and even killers. He thinks he can handle anything and anyone. Then she walks into his office. Savannah Moreau is beautiful, seductive, and…a vampire? The gorgeous vamp hires Mick to help her track down a killer who is hunting in Chicago, but as Mick slips deeper into Savannah’s paranormal world, he wonders if he can really trust his new client…

DANCE WITH THE DEVIL by Megan Hart

When the devil starts the music, you'd better get ready to dance.
Kathleen Murphy has sold her soul to the devil. Fame, fortune, success...everything she's ever dreamed of is hers, and all she has to do is the devil's bidding. When love comes knocking, the last thing in the world she wants to do is involve Jake in her twisted world, but the devil's started up the jukebox and Kathleen has no choice but to learn the steps

THE CONSORT by Suzanne Johnson

Faulkner Hearne, the captain of the ruthless Fae Hunters, finds his duty at odds with his heart when he’s ordered to capture the consort of Faerie’s cruel Prince of Summer when she flees across the veil into modern New Orleans. Can Faulk turn Liandra over to a certain death at the hands of the prince, or will he risk a war with Faerie in order to save her?
An all-new novella set in the Sentinels of New Orleans multiverse.

HEART’S BLOOD by Jeffe Kennedy, a Twelve Kingdoms novella

A dark fairytale retelling of a princess robbed of rank, husband and even her name.
Nix is nothing. The Princess Natilde—her former waiting woman—attacked her on the journey to wed Prince Cavan, stripping her of everything and taking her place. With no serving skills, Nix becomes a goose girl. Perhaps if Nix keeps her promise never to reveal who she really is, Natilde won’t carry out her vile threats. Prince Cavan entered his arranged marriage determined to have a congenial, if not loving relationship with his future queen—for the sake of both their kingdoms. But, his wife repels him more each day and he finds himself absurdly drawn to the lovely Nix.

THE DJINN IN THE MIRROR by Mina Khan, a Djinn World novella

A paranormal Cinderella story with a young witch as the heroine and a wicked, sexy djinn instead of a fairy godmother.

Dahlia, the step-daughter of a power hungry wizard, promises to free a djinn trapped in a mirror if he rescues her from impending death. But Ashmael the djinn has his own agenda: to trick & seduce his way to freedom. The only problem is he ends up falling for Dahlia. Can he win his freedom and save the girl?

My opinion:

          Marion, Missing by Rachel Caine

It was well written and heartbreaking .... i don’t see how you could remain unmoved by this story Rachel Caine really did well but  for me it was too sad. So far she is the author i have the less affinities with so i’m not surprised  if i don’t connect too much with it.

The story speaks about racism too and in a such a way that you are not really sure of what time it... of course you have element showing it’s the past but it done in sucha way that you really can imagine it still done now in some place of the word and that’s probably what makes it unsettling. It’s not my favourite short stories but mostly because ofthe topic and ending and how it left me. I must  precise that this was REALLY wonderfully written.

Femme Fatale by Cynthia Eden

This was a novelty for me as i didn’t read this author before even if i do have at least one of her book in my TBR pile. In this short story about vampire and PI i really liked to be surprised as the author manages to maintain the doubt until the end.

 It was well built and Mick is an inetresting Heroe, i liked how he wanted to stay honorable and all.

So very good reading time.

Dance with the Devil by Megan Hart

Another new author to me and new series of course. The good point is that you can absolutely read this without prior knowledge. If you are one of those who don’t like to read about demons and angel you should probably  pass this one but if you have an open mind this is an interesting story.

 I don’t think i would follow up this series though but as a try it was good

The Consort by Suzanne Johnson

I LOVE IT!!! Suzanne Johnson never disappointed me but this is simply fabulous, even if you have never heard of her series you can follow this easily and it just leave you wanting for more.

You have the action, humour some suspense and romance... just perfect I really liked Liandra, she is only half fae but she is strong willed and intelligent and couregous. Faulk... i just want to read more of him and his team it’s a wonderful treat that works wonderfully aside from the main series but i do hope we will see more of the characters we met here either in other shorts or in the main series but i want more^^

Heat’s Blood by Jeffe Kennedy , a Twelve Kingdoms novella

Oki this is my last liked in the anthology... it’s not bad written or anything, quite the opposite even but it’s not my cup of tea at all... i don’t like cruelty towards animals ( fae or not) or  unjustified violence.... If only the vilains got what he/ she deserved but i didn’t feel as it was the case.

 Some how i would have wanted the fae‘s wrath to apply judgement or something... i’m definitively not ready for the series after reading this, like i said it’s not bad written simply it’s not for me at this time. I reassure you it has an happy ending but i ‘m still upset days after reading it so better if i put it aside for a time

The Djinn in the Mirror by Mina Khan, a Djinn World novella

I loved this one as well. I had read and loved other works by this author  but nothing about her stories with Djinn and now i really want to read those ( part of me want to see a certain revenge well deserved)

 This novella is a little difficult to tell you about without spoiler but if you are new to her Djinn universe like i am don’t fear you will be swept by the story really easily!  It’s engaging, mysterious and so well written.

 There is romance, action, tension and a lot more

You will love Ash and Dalhia story i’m sure if you love magic, witches, djinn and want a good romance.

Score:  4/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and no compensation was received in exchange for this review. Source: an ecopy received in excahnge of an honest review

Challenge:

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