What do you think?
Rate this book
Anyplace Else
Grant Beaudoin should be thrilled to escape Minneapolis at Christmastime and grateful to lounge on a Hawaiian beach. Instead he is mired in self-pity and drowning in too much tequila. His twin is marrying the perfect man, while Grant is stuck in middle management with no love life in sight. A walk into the rain forest leads to a meeting with a doomed man who has a story about a holiday that predates Christmas. Grant comes to realize that difficult endings can lead to new beginnings—and perhaps a brighter future. A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2016 Advent Calendar "Bah Humbug."
33 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2016
5 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
About the author
Kim Fielding
183 books1,308 followersKim Fielding lives in Oregon and travels as often as she can manage. A professor by day, at night she rushes into a phone booth to change into her author costume (which involves comfy clothes instead of Spandex and is, sadly, lacking a cape). Her superpowers include the ability to write nearly anywhere, often while simultaneously doling out assistance to her family. Her favorite word to describe herself is "eclectic" and she finally got that seventh tattoo.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
November 21, 2016
I am a huge Kim Fielding fan and especially adore her fantasy stories. Brute is a classic.
This story falls under the urban fantasy umbrella, which basically means the fantastical happens in the here and now. In this case, the here and now is Hawaii and the fantastical is an ordinary man meeting not one but several ancient gods.
Grant's twin brother is marrying the man of his dreams in paradise, but Grant is all mopey and sad because he's 36 and has never known love (plus, he hates his job). One day, while lounging on the beach, Grant drinks a magical cocktail made by a very special waiter and runs into an ancient god under an oak tree. Yes, an oak tree. In Hawaii. Don't question it.
Grant wants to break the cycle of violence, death, and despair, but the god stops him: to die is to live, he says.
The next section of the story begins in Croatia, where Grant's brother-in-law's family lives. On a hope and a prayer (or maybe just instinct . . . or pure dumb luck), Grant meets his god again.
I wouldn't call Anyplace Else a holiday story, nor would I call it a romance. While both parts of the story take place around Christmas, there is no holiday celebration. And I'm fine with that; joy isn't exclusive to the holidays.
But while the mythology aspects of the story are pretty cool, I would have liked to see Grant and his love interest spend time together. I didn't feel their connection at all. It seemed conjured out of magic and delusion. Forget the steam (there's none); they barely talk.
Plus, the ending was, frankly, kind of creepy. I wouldn't call it a HEA, not even a HFN, just a continuation of a myth (or perhaps a dream).
Kim Fielding is an incredible story teller. I love her work, but this Dreamspinner 2016 Advent Calendar story isn't one of my favorites.
This story falls under the urban fantasy umbrella, which basically means the fantastical happens in the here and now. In this case, the here and now is Hawaii and the fantastical is an ordinary man meeting not one but several ancient gods.
Grant's twin brother is marrying the man of his dreams in paradise, but Grant is all mopey and sad because he's 36 and has never known love (plus, he hates his job). One day, while lounging on the beach, Grant drinks a magical cocktail made by a very special waiter and runs into an ancient god under an oak tree. Yes, an oak tree. In Hawaii. Don't question it.
Grant wants to break the cycle of violence, death, and despair, but the god stops him: to die is to live, he says.
The next section of the story begins in Croatia, where Grant's brother-in-law's family lives. On a hope and a prayer (or maybe just instinct . . . or pure dumb luck), Grant meets his god again.
I wouldn't call Anyplace Else a holiday story, nor would I call it a romance. While both parts of the story take place around Christmas, there is no holiday celebration. And I'm fine with that; joy isn't exclusive to the holidays.
But while the mythology aspects of the story are pretty cool, I would have liked to see Grant and his love interest spend time together. I didn't feel their connection at all. It seemed conjured out of magic and delusion. Forget the steam (there's none); they barely talk.
Plus, the ending was, frankly, kind of creepy. I wouldn't call it a HEA, not even a HFN, just a continuation of a myth (or perhaps a dream).
Kim Fielding is an incredible story teller. I love her work, but this Dreamspinner 2016 Advent Calendar story isn't one of my favorites.
November 20, 2016
This story is part of the 2016 DSP Advent Calendar.
This one....didn't work for me. It's a story of gods from long ago. And magic. And it's woven into current day.
Grant is in Hawaii at his twin's wedding. He's at a crossroads in his life. He has no love life to speak of. He's in a middle management job that's completely unsatisfying. And he has no hopes and dreams for the future.
He meets a waiter/bartender who's cute and gives him some kind of magic drink.
He goes into the local rain forest and meets a god who's been around for thousands of years. They share their stories with each other, and they do seem to have some sort of friendship. Love? Nope, didn't really get that.
He ventures back into the rain forest in the middle of the night and witnesses an ago-old battle between his new friend and another god???? Okaaaaaaay.
After the wedding, Grant decides to quit his job and go to Croatia. Whiplash. Why? I'm still not sure. Some kind of intuition, apparently.
He meets many friends/family of his new brother-in-law. On intuition again, he ventures down a path in a small village and happens upon a familiar tree. He sees his god friend again and suddenly, they vow eternal love.
Really, this was one big WTF. I can appreciate mythology, but this didn't work well with a romance that was so insta-love, it's truly not believable at all. I felt a friendship connection and nothing more. Shrugs. Sorry.
This one....didn't work for me. It's a story of gods from long ago. And magic. And it's woven into current day.
Grant is in Hawaii at his twin's wedding. He's at a crossroads in his life. He has no love life to speak of. He's in a middle management job that's completely unsatisfying. And he has no hopes and dreams for the future.
He meets a waiter/bartender who's cute and gives him some kind of magic drink.
He goes into the local rain forest and meets a god who's been around for thousands of years. They share their stories with each other, and they do seem to have some sort of friendship. Love? Nope, didn't really get that.
He ventures back into the rain forest in the middle of the night and witnesses an ago-old battle between his new friend and another god???? Okaaaaaaay.
After the wedding, Grant decides to quit his job and go to Croatia. Whiplash. Why? I'm still not sure. Some kind of intuition, apparently.
He meets many friends/family of his new brother-in-law. On intuition again, he ventures down a path in a small village and happens upon a familiar tree. He sees his god friend again and suddenly, they vow eternal love.
Really, this was one big WTF. I can appreciate mythology, but this didn't work well with a romance that was so insta-love, it's truly not believable at all. I felt a friendship connection and nothing more. Shrugs. Sorry.
December 4, 2016
Kim Fielding is one of my favorite authors – I think her stories, her characters, and her world-building is solid. Unfortunately, this is one that just didn’t work.
First of all, the sudden appearance of a mythical god in this contemporary setting somehow threw me off completely – I didn’t really read the blurb when I requested this – then what followed was just a whole lot of weird and a little disturbing, in my humble opinion. There was even a scene of Grant digging a hole to look for a skull. Uhm, too much of a Halloween creepiness for a holiday story.
And honestly, I couldn’t see this as a romance somewhat, especially with what Grant has to deal with when he chose to be with Predimir. For me, it is actually sad and I can’t imagine myself in Grant’s shoes. Then again, Grant and Predimir’s relationship was a little too short, and probably needed a whole lot of faith to accept. So maybe that’s a sign of true love.
I just can’t seem to suspend my disbelief…
A Guest Review for The Blogger Girls
The ARC is provided by the publisher via Netgalley for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
First of all, the sudden appearance of a mythical god in this contemporary setting somehow threw me off completely – I didn’t really read the blurb when I requested this – then what followed was just a whole lot of weird and a little disturbing, in my humble opinion. There was even a scene of Grant digging a hole to look for a skull. Uhm, too much of a Halloween creepiness for a holiday story.
And honestly, I couldn’t see this as a romance somewhat, especially with what Grant has to deal with when he chose to be with Predimir. For me, it is actually sad and I can’t imagine myself in Grant’s shoes. Then again, Grant and Predimir’s relationship was a little too short, and probably needed a whole lot of faith to accept. So maybe that’s a sign of true love.
I just can’t seem to suspend my disbelief…
A Guest Review for The Blogger Girls
The ARC is provided by the publisher via Netgalley for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
December 5, 2016
Unicorn Group Jizzmas Review!
This whole grumpicorn thing was meant to be a joke but now I feel extra grinchy for not liking this one. I mean, it’s Kim Fielding! I’m supposed to love all of her writes, right? But this gave me a case of the mehs. Bahs? Humbugs? It’s not overly Christmasy which was a plus but aside from that it was too bizarre.
It’s largely set in Hawaii for Grant’s brother’s wedding. One day Grant gets sloshed day drinking, wanders into a rainforest and meets a god. The god tells a story and it resonates with Grant so much so that he can’t get the god out of his head. I get the whole instalove thing but that’s instalove on industrial strength Santa jizz. There’s no discernible connection between the two that I could see or feel, but Grant’s constantly hitting the rainforest hoping for more of his god.
Review copies were provided by the publisher.
This whole grumpicorn thing was meant to be a joke but now I feel extra grinchy for not liking this one. I mean, it’s Kim Fielding! I’m supposed to love all of her writes, right? But this gave me a case of the mehs. Bahs? Humbugs? It’s not overly Christmasy which was a plus but aside from that it was too bizarre.
It’s largely set in Hawaii for Grant’s brother’s wedding. One day Grant gets sloshed day drinking, wanders into a rainforest and meets a god. The god tells a story and it resonates with Grant so much so that he can’t get the god out of his head. I get the whole instalove thing but that’s instalove on industrial strength Santa jizz. There’s no discernible connection between the two that I could see or feel, but Grant’s constantly hitting the rainforest hoping for more of his god.
Review copies were provided by the publisher.
December 4, 2016
One of my favorite things to look forward to during the Christmas holiday is Dreamspinner Press's annual advent calendar. This year focuses on “Bah Humbug” and I'm excited to see what each of the authors brings to the table. As always, I'm proud and honored to be included in this annual event.
Sitting on a beautiful beach at an amazing resort in Hawaii should not have one feeling melancholy and morose, but that's exactly where Grant is at. He feels like his life is boring, his job is ho-hum, and he can't even remember whether he used to have dreams or not. Of course multiple margaritas probably haven't helped him feel more positive so Grant decides to take a walk through the rain forest.
Grant meets a man who tells him a very old story, a story that happened long before Christians and Christmas, and Grant can't get the man or his predicament out of his head. But Grant can't stop what happens every year, for it must occur in order for the Solstice to move forward. There is no beginning without an ending.
A fascinating story filled with gods, legends, and lore. Plus a happy ending and a chance for love. What else could I ask for? Thank you, Kim.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews
Sitting on a beautiful beach at an amazing resort in Hawaii should not have one feeling melancholy and morose, but that's exactly where Grant is at. He feels like his life is boring, his job is ho-hum, and he can't even remember whether he used to have dreams or not. Of course multiple margaritas probably haven't helped him feel more positive so Grant decides to take a walk through the rain forest.
Grant meets a man who tells him a very old story, a story that happened long before Christians and Christmas, and Grant can't get the man or his predicament out of his head. But Grant can't stop what happens every year, for it must occur in order for the Solstice to move forward. There is no beginning without an ending.
A fascinating story filled with gods, legends, and lore. Plus a happy ending and a chance for love. What else could I ask for? Thank you, Kim.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews
December 23, 2017
3.4 Stars
Interesting, non-traditional holiday story focusing on Solstice and the old gods. Still confused about why they all show up at an exclusive Hawaiian resort but *shrug* that's where the MC is to attend his twin's wedding, while wallowing, depressed about his own love life...
Interesting, non-traditional holiday story focusing on Solstice and the old gods. Still confused about why they all show up at an exclusive Hawaiian resort but *shrug* that's where the MC is to attend his twin's wedding, while wallowing, depressed about his own love life...
December 13, 2016
Being in Hawaii for Christmas should be great, especially when he could be back in Minneapolis under a mountain of snow. But for all that he is glad that his brother has found the love of his life and is marrying him on a picturesque beach, Grant Beaudoin is not feeling much holiday cheer. Drowning his life’s disappointments in expensive beach-side cocktails probably won’t make it better, but he is willing to give it a go. And it even seems to work…until he has one fancy drink too many and finds himself confronted with gods, magic, and a whole world he never dreamed possible.
I really liked the folklore in this one. Sometimes Christmas stories can blend into one-another but this one really stood out. Not knowing anything about these gods or these myths made the story all the more interesting to me. I do wish that there had been more time to explore the characters and gods in this story. The short page-length really didn’t give us much time to get to know them, and it would have been cool to see more about this mythology.
It was a bit more dark than I was expecting, though. And I think that kinda effected the rating. I don’t know, something about having a death scene in a Christmas short just seemed a bit odd to me. I get the whole death/rebirth folklore aspect, it just kinda killed the whole Christmas-y atmosphere of the book. I don’t think it was bad, just not what I was expecting. And we hardly get any real page time with the doomed-god, so it is a bit hard to understand the connection between him and Grant. It came out feeling a bit rushed.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
I really liked the folklore in this one. Sometimes Christmas stories can blend into one-another but this one really stood out. Not knowing anything about these gods or these myths made the story all the more interesting to me. I do wish that there had been more time to explore the characters and gods in this story. The short page-length really didn’t give us much time to get to know them, and it would have been cool to see more about this mythology.
It was a bit more dark than I was expecting, though. And I think that kinda effected the rating. I don’t know, something about having a death scene in a Christmas short just seemed a bit odd to me. I get the whole death/rebirth folklore aspect, it just kinda killed the whole Christmas-y atmosphere of the book. I don’t think it was bad, just not what I was expecting. And we hardly get any real page time with the doomed-god, so it is a bit hard to understand the connection between him and Grant. It came out feeling a bit rushed.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
August 25, 2020
I'm not sure what this was actually about. It's about Grant going to Hawaii and inexplicably meeting some gods from other cultures while at a beach resort. One of whom, the Croatian god, Perdun, has a tragic story and appeals to Grant. Then, after the wedding, Grant decides he's going to quit his job (at 38) and travel around Europe...specifically to Croatia to look for traces of Perdun when he was human. But the jump in time wasn't really explained so it took me a bit to figure out that this was apparently the following year and that Grant hadn't just gone from Hawaii to Croatia in a day. Thing is, I wasn't really sure this was a romance until the last 5 pages of the book when Perdun shows up and says he's got all year (except for the solstice) off to be in a relationship with Grant. It felt out of the blue because there was no chemistry between them at. all. And I'm still trying to figure out what Hawaii, Croatian gods and Christmas have to do with one another (though Perdun's tragic story apparently circles around pagan Christmastime). This was kinda confusing and not really my cup of tea.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2016
All of these Advent stories are beyond different. Some are funny, some more serious, others paranormal, and in Anyplace Else it was more urban fantasy than anything else. I will say it was very unique. However, it was also a bit haunting and by its end I wasn’t sure if it was really a happy ending at all. I suppose one would label it HFN.
Grant is in Hawaii for his twin’s wedding and it starts off cute. He’s depressed, lonely, hates his job. He flirts with the cute waiter all that. Then he takes a walk and the story gets a little strange.
I won’t give much away but he encounters Gods. And through the story he encounters Gods of different kinds and times. For a short story it was a lot to take in a small period of time. Perhaps if it was longer I could have worked more of it out in my head and even understood it a little better.
It is absolutely a unique addition to the Bah Humbug Advent Calendar and there were parts I was fascinated with. But on the whole I found it daunting and sad.
Grant is in Hawaii for his twin’s wedding and it starts off cute. He’s depressed, lonely, hates his job. He flirts with the cute waiter all that. Then he takes a walk and the story gets a little strange.
I won’t give much away but he encounters Gods. And through the story he encounters Gods of different kinds and times. For a short story it was a lot to take in a small period of time. Perhaps if it was longer I could have worked more of it out in my head and even understood it a little better.
It is absolutely a unique addition to the Bah Humbug Advent Calendar and there were parts I was fascinated with. But on the whole I found it daunting and sad.
Read
November 28, 2016Full Unicorning every Sunday as the stories are released.
This is seriously my favorite time of year and I look forward to all the Merry Jizzmas so hard. I'm really loving this years stories, I'm basically having a daily squeefest of holiday overload.
**a copy of this story was provided for an honest review**
This is seriously my favorite time of year and I look forward to all the Merry Jizzmas so hard. I'm really loving this years stories, I'm basically having a daily squeefest of holiday overload.
**a copy of this story was provided for an honest review**
January 5, 2017
Um. What? That was my reaction when I finished. I've like other books by the author but I was just confused by this one. So is the spirit from Peru or from Croatia? He's going to live with the spirit who dies each winter? So he's going to be dating a hot young stud in January and and old man in November and no one notices this, year after year? How is this going to work? I'm so confused. I just didn't get the whole romance or Christmas vibe from this one. I was just shaking my head when it was over, as I had no clue what had just happened or how it would play out.
December 7, 2016
3.5 Stars.
December 13, 2016
ARC provided by the publisher through Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words in exchange for an impartial review.
Grant Beaudoin is a mid-thirties, middle manager in a middle class area of Minneapolis. No love interest now or in the recent past, he’s sort of floating along in life. When his twin brother meets and falls head over heels in love with a guy from Croatia, Grant is envious but not really interested in pursuing a man of his own. Everything in his life is simple until he arrives in Hawaii for his brother’s wedding, and his life takes a turn into the bizarre.
Leaving the bar one afternoon, he strolls into the rain forest and becomes fascinated with a huge oak tree and the man who appears before him, practically out of thin air! The man tells a tale of ancient gods who live, die, and are reborn around the solstice every year. He’s so intrigued, in fact, that he goes back the next night and actually witnesses the event of which the man told him. Profoundly impacted by the tale and by what he witnesses, he decides to make a change in his life—a change that will lead him on a new and unexpected path into a very different future than he ever dreamed of.
I have to say this first: Kim Fielding is, without a doubt, an impressive author with an imagination as big as the great outdoors. Every time I pick up one of her books, I’m amazed at the variety and scope of her work, the emotions she evokes, and the characters she creates. This is a short Advent Calendar story, and yet it felt as if it were a full-length novel encompassing all the plot complexities a lengthy novel can contain.
Be sure to add this one to your holiday shopping list for yourself and those you know might enjoy a short story that packs a huge punch.
Grant Beaudoin is a mid-thirties, middle manager in a middle class area of Minneapolis. No love interest now or in the recent past, he’s sort of floating along in life. When his twin brother meets and falls head over heels in love with a guy from Croatia, Grant is envious but not really interested in pursuing a man of his own. Everything in his life is simple until he arrives in Hawaii for his brother’s wedding, and his life takes a turn into the bizarre.
Leaving the bar one afternoon, he strolls into the rain forest and becomes fascinated with a huge oak tree and the man who appears before him, practically out of thin air! The man tells a tale of ancient gods who live, die, and are reborn around the solstice every year. He’s so intrigued, in fact, that he goes back the next night and actually witnesses the event of which the man told him. Profoundly impacted by the tale and by what he witnesses, he decides to make a change in his life—a change that will lead him on a new and unexpected path into a very different future than he ever dreamed of.
I have to say this first: Kim Fielding is, without a doubt, an impressive author with an imagination as big as the great outdoors. Every time I pick up one of her books, I’m amazed at the variety and scope of her work, the emotions she evokes, and the characters she creates. This is a short Advent Calendar story, and yet it felt as if it were a full-length novel encompassing all the plot complexities a lengthy novel can contain.
Be sure to add this one to your holiday shopping list for yourself and those you know might enjoy a short story that packs a huge punch.
December 4, 2016
Anyplace Else was very different from all of the other short stories in this advent calendar so far. It was a little difficult to follow because so much of the culture was new to me and I didn’t have any background knowledge of the ancient gods the story referred to and I had to go back and reread a paragraph here and there to make sure that I didn’t miss something important.
All in all, it was a pretty good story. The writing was good and the characters were well developed, it was just a little difficult to follow along because of how much information was packed into such a short story. If you have background knowledge or the patience to reread and figure it out, this was a good story. It was very in-depth, I just wish it had been a little longer to allow more explanation and introduction to the gods and all of the folklore involved.
Reviewed by Jordan at Alpha Book Club.
Disclaimer: This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own and not influenced by the author or the publisher in any way.
All in all, it was a pretty good story. The writing was good and the characters were well developed, it was just a little difficult to follow along because of how much information was packed into such a short story. If you have background knowledge or the patience to reread and figure it out, this was a good story. It was very in-depth, I just wish it had been a little longer to allow more explanation and introduction to the gods and all of the folklore involved.
Reviewed by Jordan at Alpha Book Club.
Disclaimer: This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own and not influenced by the author or the publisher in any way.
November 25, 2016
3.5*
I usually love Kim Fielding’s stories. Brute, Good Bones, Guarded, and The Downs are all superb fantasy tales with a beautiful romance. Unfortunately Anyplace Else, although well written as always, didn’t grab me.
The story’s fantasy revolves around mythology and magic connected to the Solstice in our current world, so there’s no AU world-building as such.
Grant—the main character—fulfils the submission brief in that he is grumpy despite spending time with his family in Hawaii. He’s lonely and a little jealous of his twin brother, who is getting married to his gorgeous man. Grant’s in a dead-end job and sees no hope of ever finding the love of his life or a happy future. Thus he feels out of sorts and wants to be alone for much of the time.
The romance creeps up on him in a way and he thinks the strange events that occur in the rainforest under a magical oak tree are hallucinations caused by the special drink concocted by his sexy waiter at the hotel.
This is an unusual holiday story and the romance as such doesn’t really feature much in the story. Yes, Grant does fall for his mysterious man, who apparently is a god, so there is sort of a HFN ending when they meet again the following year.
The events in the story take place around the holiday season, but it’s not your typical Christmas celebration story. We have gods and myths that pre-date Christian times. I would have liked more time for our guys to spend together and get to know each other. The declaration of love didn’t quite work for me as there was a friendship rather than a loving relationship by this point.
Review also posted on Gay Book Reviews:
http://gaybook.reviews/2016/11/25/lil...
I usually love Kim Fielding’s stories. Brute, Good Bones, Guarded, and The Downs are all superb fantasy tales with a beautiful romance. Unfortunately Anyplace Else, although well written as always, didn’t grab me.
The story’s fantasy revolves around mythology and magic connected to the Solstice in our current world, so there’s no AU world-building as such.
Grant—the main character—fulfils the submission brief in that he is grumpy despite spending time with his family in Hawaii. He’s lonely and a little jealous of his twin brother, who is getting married to his gorgeous man. Grant’s in a dead-end job and sees no hope of ever finding the love of his life or a happy future. Thus he feels out of sorts and wants to be alone for much of the time.
The romance creeps up on him in a way and he thinks the strange events that occur in the rainforest under a magical oak tree are hallucinations caused by the special drink concocted by his sexy waiter at the hotel.
This is an unusual holiday story and the romance as such doesn’t really feature much in the story. Yes, Grant does fall for his mysterious man, who apparently is a god, so there is sort of a HFN ending when they meet again the following year.
The events in the story take place around the holiday season, but it’s not your typical Christmas celebration story. We have gods and myths that pre-date Christian times. I would have liked more time for our guys to spend together and get to know each other. The declaration of love didn’t quite work for me as there was a friendship rather than a loving relationship by this point.
Review also posted on Gay Book Reviews:
http://gaybook.reviews/2016/11/25/lil...
December 20, 2019
Kim is an instant buy for me and I love old tales refashioned anew, so this was a double win. Grant's life takes a new turn away from the monotony that it's become. He embraces the revelation of Predimir/Perun with only the littlest bit of questioning his own sanity. I liked that he goes to Croatia looking for traces of the god that intrigues him so much instead of staying in the life he no longer wants.
February 19, 2020
This short story by Fielding was far different than I thought it would be. Instead of the light and airy holiday M/M-ROM XMAS short I thought it was, the story was more involved than I ever could have guessed. It was full of mythological and magical themes that caught me completely off guard. I can tell a lot of research went into these pages and I was very intrigued. I really liked it and will REREAD it to be able to take more of it in.
December 3, 2016
A tale of the gods, discovering the magic, and finding love. Some things can't be changed but if the pain is shared than the rest of the time is even more rewarding.
December 20, 2016
I don’t really know what I expected from the blurb, but certainly not… this.
This story was a surprise, although not a bad one, in so many regards. For one, it’s not about Christmas in the prevalent sense, but about a much older holiday that takes place around what we nowadays know as Christmastime. Koleda is an ancient Slavic winter solstice holiday and also some kind of resurrection story.
I wasn’t quite sure why a story about Croatian/ Slavic mythology needed to be set in Hawaii, of all places; and also, the sudden switch from contemporary to legend and lore made for a rather effective going-down-the-rabbithole feeling that pulled me right into the tale. Made me simply throw away all preconceived notions and go with the flow just like Grant ended up doing. After all, what are you supposed to do when you find yourself totally enraptured with a man who claims to be a godly trinity…?
This story was really different; not much of a romance and not very Christmassy either. It was quirky and weird, it required total suspension of disbelief and it entertained me to no end.
(This is neither here nor there, but the MC and his twin brother’s names took the biscuit for me. I mean, a guy named Grant whose twin brother is called Ulysses…come on, what were their parents thinking?)
This story was a surprise, although not a bad one, in so many regards. For one, it’s not about Christmas in the prevalent sense, but about a much older holiday that takes place around what we nowadays know as Christmastime. Koleda is an ancient Slavic winter solstice holiday and also some kind of resurrection story.
I wasn’t quite sure why a story about Croatian/ Slavic mythology needed to be set in Hawaii, of all places; and also, the sudden switch from contemporary to legend and lore made for a rather effective going-down-the-rabbithole feeling that pulled me right into the tale. Made me simply throw away all preconceived notions and go with the flow just like Grant ended up doing. After all, what are you supposed to do when you find yourself totally enraptured with a man who claims to be a godly trinity…?
This story was really different; not much of a romance and not very Christmassy either. It was quirky and weird, it required total suspension of disbelief and it entertained me to no end.
(This is neither here nor there, but the MC and his twin brother’s names took the biscuit for me. I mean, a guy named Grant whose twin brother is called Ulysses…come on, what were their parents thinking?)
August 27, 2017
It seems that the reviews for this story are pretty mixed, and I can understand that. However, in the end, I did enjoy this story - I wouldn't say that I loved it, but I liked it.
Grant is spending the holidays in Hawaii, but he's not thrilled about it. His twin brother, Ulysses, is getting married to a great guy (Filip, who also happens to be - or at least says he's- a Croatian witch), and Grant can only think about how unhappy he is. He doesn't have a boyfriend, he hates his job, and he can't even remember when he felt passion for anything. Given an odd drink served by a waiter, Grant finds himself wandering in the rain forest by himself and coming across a peculiar man named Perun (aka Predimir), who isn't exactly a man. At least not anymore.
Once I saw that Kim Fielding had written this story, I expected something good, and I got it.
What worked for me:
-I love that this isn't set within the Judeo-Christian framework (said as a Jew, though an atheist one), which seems to dominate December, at least in the "western" world. There are so many other traditions that view the solstice and/or winter months as magical, mythical, and/or spiritual! So I was thrilled to see a story that was "different." And I mean, let's be honest, that is what Kim Fielding does best, and that's why she's one of my go-to m/m authors.
-Mythology and gods and magic, oh my! This ties into the first point in this section, but I just love it. Some of my favorite m/m authors (Kim Fielding, Ariel Tachna, Kelley York [although she writes f/f too]) just go so freaking far out of the box and I love it.
-I like how Grant's interaction with Predimir made him take a hard look at his life. Grant knew that he was unhappy with where he was currently, but he hadn't done anything to take a step past that. He was content to be unhappy with his life, mostly, until he met Predimir. The whole "I quit my job" thing was a bit of a "whoa wait what" moment, but this is a short story, so I could mostly forgive that.
What didn't work for me:
-Grant and Predimir totally had instalove going on in this story. After the brief meeting in Hawaii, Grant apparently couldn't get him out of his mind.
This book isn't heavy on the romance, which some might find disappointing. I am totally okay with it though, and I enjoyed that there was a story in the collection that was so different. Magic? Myth? Hallucination? Fantasy? I don't even know what to call this story or what, exactly, really "happened" in it and what didn't, and that alone makes it great in my eyes. I debated between 3 and 4 stars, and I ended up going with 4 because this story had me riveted to the end.
Grant is spending the holidays in Hawaii, but he's not thrilled about it. His twin brother, Ulysses, is getting married to a great guy (Filip, who also happens to be - or at least says he's- a Croatian witch), and Grant can only think about how unhappy he is. He doesn't have a boyfriend, he hates his job, and he can't even remember when he felt passion for anything. Given an odd drink served by a waiter, Grant finds himself wandering in the rain forest by himself and coming across a peculiar man named Perun (aka Predimir), who isn't exactly a man. At least not anymore.
Once I saw that Kim Fielding had written this story, I expected something good, and I got it.
What worked for me:
-I love that this isn't set within the Judeo-Christian framework (said as a Jew, though an atheist one), which seems to dominate December, at least in the "western" world. There are so many other traditions that view the solstice and/or winter months as magical, mythical, and/or spiritual! So I was thrilled to see a story that was "different." And I mean, let's be honest, that is what Kim Fielding does best, and that's why she's one of my go-to m/m authors.
-Mythology and gods and magic, oh my! This ties into the first point in this section, but I just love it. Some of my favorite m/m authors (Kim Fielding, Ariel Tachna, Kelley York [although she writes f/f too]) just go so freaking far out of the box and I love it.
-I like how Grant's interaction with Predimir made him take a hard look at his life. Grant knew that he was unhappy with where he was currently, but he hadn't done anything to take a step past that. He was content to be unhappy with his life, mostly, until he met Predimir. The whole "I quit my job" thing was a bit of a "whoa wait what" moment, but this is a short story, so I could mostly forgive that.
What didn't work for me:
-Grant and Predimir totally had instalove going on in this story. After the brief meeting in Hawaii, Grant apparently couldn't get him out of his mind.
This book isn't heavy on the romance, which some might find disappointing. I am totally okay with it though, and I enjoyed that there was a story in the collection that was so different. Magic? Myth? Hallucination? Fantasy? I don't even know what to call this story or what, exactly, really "happened" in it and what didn't, and that alone makes it great in my eyes. I debated between 3 and 4 stars, and I ended up going with 4 because this story had me riveted to the end.
December 10, 2016
Anyplace Else is a modern-world-meets-myth mashup of sorts that has Grant Beaudoin running into a Croatian god while attending his brother’s wedding in Hawaii. You know…as one does. Heh. This story has such an interesting set up. Grant has a soul-sucking job and an unsatisfactory love life, so he’s pretty much a mopey, grumpy Gus when we meet him. He has a cute waiter on his side, though, and is soon being given advice and possibly magical drinks. It’s never explicitly stated that the drink is magical, but it’s certainly alluded to. I liked the little hints of magic sprinkled throughout the story: the green drink, after which Grant feels a sudden need to take a nature hike; and then later in the book, his inexplicable urge to start digging at the base of a tree certainly makes it seem like there is something else at work there.
The passage in the beginning, where Grant first ventures into the rainforest, and ends up meeting Parun/Hors/Dazhbog/Predimir (I know…it’s confusing…you gotta read the book) is really mesmerizing and beautifully written. I could perfectly picture the lush jungle with the huge oak tree appearing out of nowhere. And, the second half of the book, in which Grant goes to Croatia on an extended trip, has some wonderful descriptions of parts of the country, and the people and customs there. In fact, the writing overall was very good and engaging. The story itself, though, had me puzzled more than a few times. The Hawaii connection was unclear to me. The entire story is centered around a Croatian myth. So, why Hawaii? And, how were the locals there so familiar with this Croatian legend of the solstice and their gods? I also couldn’t get past how Grant had no issue telling people about the wild things he saw, or how most of them were all, ‘Oh…yeah…that,’ like it was not at all out of the ordinary to run into a Slavic god in the jungle of Hawaii.
It helped when I decided to just frame it in terms of being a work of fantasy, a mythological story, and quit trying to logically fit it into a modern day box. Once I did that, I was better able to apply it to just Grant and his situation. Anyplace Else is a story of rebirth; which Grant desperately needs in his life. It’s a story of being there for someone, and believing strongly in something. I had to read this one twice, you guys. You might have to also—there is a lot going on in these thirty-three pages! And, while I think thirty-three pages may have not been enough for Kim Fielding to satisfactorily cover what she wanted to cover here, I did enjoy the book. It was a very cool premise, and a fun mix of fantasy and reality.
Reviewed by Jules for The Novel Approach Reviews
The passage in the beginning, where Grant first ventures into the rainforest, and ends up meeting Parun/Hors/Dazhbog/Predimir (I know…it’s confusing…you gotta read the book) is really mesmerizing and beautifully written. I could perfectly picture the lush jungle with the huge oak tree appearing out of nowhere. And, the second half of the book, in which Grant goes to Croatia on an extended trip, has some wonderful descriptions of parts of the country, and the people and customs there. In fact, the writing overall was very good and engaging. The story itself, though, had me puzzled more than a few times. The Hawaii connection was unclear to me. The entire story is centered around a Croatian myth. So, why Hawaii? And, how were the locals there so familiar with this Croatian legend of the solstice and their gods? I also couldn’t get past how Grant had no issue telling people about the wild things he saw, or how most of them were all, ‘Oh…yeah…that,’ like it was not at all out of the ordinary to run into a Slavic god in the jungle of Hawaii.
It helped when I decided to just frame it in terms of being a work of fantasy, a mythological story, and quit trying to logically fit it into a modern day box. Once I did that, I was better able to apply it to just Grant and his situation. Anyplace Else is a story of rebirth; which Grant desperately needs in his life. It’s a story of being there for someone, and believing strongly in something. I had to read this one twice, you guys. You might have to also—there is a lot going on in these thirty-three pages! And, while I think thirty-three pages may have not been enough for Kim Fielding to satisfactorily cover what she wanted to cover here, I did enjoy the book. It was a very cool premise, and a fun mix of fantasy and reality.
Reviewed by Jules for The Novel Approach Reviews
December 3, 2016
Hmmm. So. Kim Fielding is one of my auto-buy- auto-loves when it comes to authors. She’s an amazing writer and a great person, too! This, however interesting and intriguing, didn’t quite work for me as a short, Christmas story.
First, it takes place in Hawaii but is really a Croatian story and I’m not sure why we needed to start in Hawaii. Grant eventually ends up in Croatia – for a reason I’m unclear on – and that part made a little more sense, but the part that happens in Hawaii didn’t really make sense to me.
Second, though it happens over Solstice/Christmas, Grant is at a wedding and NOT celebrating the Holiday and his “love interest” isn’t either so…
Third, I’m just not sure how happily ever after our MCs are. It was barely a romance (the two find one another at the very end) and even that has only a hint at their future.
I think the story and the premise are really fascinating. Given more time to develop the story and flesh out the part where our MCs end up together I think it could have worked really well. It was just too short!
Having it start in Hawaii didn’t make sense either. Maybe if the wedding had taken place in Croatia and gone from there? I’m not sure. But the sudden geography change just didn’t make a lot of sense.
I won’t say I didn’t enjoy it, because Kim really is an amazing writer and I thought the story-telling was fascinating – but I didn’t really like it in this setting and thought it was a bit too depressing considering the others in it’s midst. Maybe if it’d been it’s own story and a bit longer? Anyhow, it’s not my favorite from this author, Speechless (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...) and Astounding! (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...) are!
2.75 (rounded to 3) of 5 stars
First, it takes place in Hawaii but is really a Croatian story and I’m not sure why we needed to start in Hawaii. Grant eventually ends up in Croatia – for a reason I’m unclear on – and that part made a little more sense, but the part that happens in Hawaii didn’t really make sense to me.
Second, though it happens over Solstice/Christmas, Grant is at a wedding and NOT celebrating the Holiday and his “love interest” isn’t either so…
Third, I’m just not sure how happily ever after our MCs are. It was barely a romance (the two find one another at the very end) and even that has only a hint at their future.
I think the story and the premise are really fascinating. Given more time to develop the story and flesh out the part where our MCs end up together I think it could have worked really well. It was just too short!
Having it start in Hawaii didn’t make sense either. Maybe if the wedding had taken place in Croatia and gone from there? I’m not sure. But the sudden geography change just didn’t make a lot of sense.
I won’t say I didn’t enjoy it, because Kim really is an amazing writer and I thought the story-telling was fascinating – but I didn’t really like it in this setting and thought it was a bit too depressing considering the others in it’s midst. Maybe if it’d been it’s own story and a bit longer? Anyhow, it’s not my favorite from this author, Speechless (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...) and Astounding! (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...) are!
2.75 (rounded to 3) of 5 stars
Read
December 5, 20164 Hearts
I am a sucker for the traditional Christmas stories but I love it when an author can take the holiday and turn it into more and Fielding did exactly that.
Grant is not happy with his life, his work or really anything in between. It’s pretty bad when you can be happy in Hawaii at Christmas even if it is for your twin brothers wedding. Grant is so grumpy that as he orders another drink, the waiter decides to serve him a bit of magic and Grant finds that the magic among the forest. Grant soon learns that this holiday we consider one of Conifers, colored lights and large men in red suits with white beards, is not the only way to celebrate.
I loved the folklore in this and the tale of the Gods I haven’t heard of. It was great to be with Grant as he learned the story and life of Perun and it was heartbreaking to watch him hold Hors after the evitable. But when he decides to take his fate into his own human hands and go to Croatia to search for the Oak tree from the story, no cold could have kept the warmth from my heart.
This was a great and unconventional holiday story that still kept what I love most about the season, hope, love and happiness for all.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
We Unicorn's are reviewing the Dreamspinner 2016 Advent Calendar every Sunday, Jizzmas gang bang style, on the blog with the unis who are Santa Jizzians and the Grumpicorns. Check out the rest of the reviews for this story here...
I am a sucker for the traditional Christmas stories but I love it when an author can take the holiday and turn it into more and Fielding did exactly that.
Grant is not happy with his life, his work or really anything in between. It’s pretty bad when you can be happy in Hawaii at Christmas even if it is for your twin brothers wedding. Grant is so grumpy that as he orders another drink, the waiter decides to serve him a bit of magic and Grant finds that the magic among the forest. Grant soon learns that this holiday we consider one of Conifers, colored lights and large men in red suits with white beards, is not the only way to celebrate.
I loved the folklore in this and the tale of the Gods I haven’t heard of. It was great to be with Grant as he learned the story and life of Perun and it was heartbreaking to watch him hold Hors after the evitable. But when he decides to take his fate into his own human hands and go to Croatia to search for the Oak tree from the story, no cold could have kept the warmth from my heart.
This was a great and unconventional holiday story that still kept what I love most about the season, hope, love and happiness for all.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
We Unicorn's are reviewing the Dreamspinner 2016 Advent Calendar every Sunday, Jizzmas gang bang style, on the blog with the unis who are Santa Jizzians and the Grumpicorns. Check out the rest of the reviews for this story here...
December 9, 2016
Talk about “Bah, Humbug” – Grant has that down to an art form. He is in Hawaii, with nothing to do but attend his twin brother’s wedding and enjoy himself, and he manages to produce such a cloud of misery around himself, that I was beginning to scowl just reading about his mood. Sheesh! I wasn’t sure anything would enable him to have a happy ending.
But then, based on the recommendation of a very cute cocktail waiter, Grant wanders off into the rain forest adjacent to the resort and has an encounter that changes his life. The man he meets makes all sorts of claims and one is more outrageous than the next. At first Grant is incredulous, then a little scared, but when he has had some time to consider what he has learned, his perspective changes. So does his understanding and that is when he begins to see himself and his life in a different light.
If you like mysterious stories, if you want to find out more about what happens when a modern-day man meets an ancient legend, and if you’re looking for a read that provides great perspective life and what makes it worth living, then you will probably like this short story.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review.
But then, based on the recommendation of a very cute cocktail waiter, Grant wanders off into the rain forest adjacent to the resort and has an encounter that changes his life. The man he meets makes all sorts of claims and one is more outrageous than the next. At first Grant is incredulous, then a little scared, but when he has had some time to consider what he has learned, his perspective changes. So does his understanding and that is when he begins to see himself and his life in a different light.
If you like mysterious stories, if you want to find out more about what happens when a modern-day man meets an ancient legend, and if you’re looking for a read that provides great perspective life and what makes it worth living, then you will probably like this short story.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review.
November 29, 2016
Grant is glad to be out of Minnesota and his humdrum life at his Brother's wedding in Hawaii. He is somewhat jealous and wishes for a love of his own. A mysterious waiter offers him a magical drink that leads him on a path in the tropical forest. Will he find his true love in a myth?
This was a unique story beautifully written. There is some interesting mythology mixed with fantasy. I love Kim Fielding and how she makes such interesting, unusual stories that are sad yet happy too.
This is a perfect blend of reality and fantasy and romance mixed with a touch of holiday spirit.
This was a unique story beautifully written. There is some interesting mythology mixed with fantasy. I love Kim Fielding and how she makes such interesting, unusual stories that are sad yet happy too.
This is a perfect blend of reality and fantasy and romance mixed with a touch of holiday spirit.
December 4, 2016
I enjoy mythology, so I liked this one. I wasn't too clear why a pre-Christian European god was vacationing in Hawaii, when Hawaii already has a rich mythological tradition of its own. I enjoyed the stories the gods told, though. I saw that Uly's name has worked its way into m/m romances. I know he corresponds with Kim Fielding. That was a little disconcerting, but made me smile. Don't expect bedroom scenes. It's a short story and there was a lot of world-building. There were a lot of emotions, though.
December 12, 2016
Ulysses and Grant as twin names, gets a plus point!
Grant's doldrums come over well though as he says, he needs to stop wallowing. But is his chat with Perun real or a dream.
A good mix of myth and reality, didn't mind that it wasn't all happy Christmas, though the fight of the gods was a bit grisly.
I did wonder if we would get a maybe ending, but Grant does get his happy but with a price.
Grant's doldrums come over well though as he says, he needs to stop wallowing. But is his chat with Perun real or a dream.
A good mix of myth and reality, didn't mind that it wasn't all happy Christmas, though the fight of the gods was a bit grisly.
I did wonder if we would get a maybe ending, but Grant does get his happy but with a price.
January 7, 2022
Not sure what’s going on with the cover. It has nothing to do with the book.
Nice research where Slavic gods are concerned, but I suspect it might be extremely confusing at the same time.
The story is too short and mythology takes more pages than the actual romance. I suggest you google Manco Capac *shrugs* He might have been pretty, but - ouch!
2.5 stars.
Nice research where Slavic gods are concerned, but I suspect it might be extremely confusing at the same time.
The story is too short and mythology takes more pages than the actual romance. I suggest you google Manco Capac *shrugs* He might have been pretty, but - ouch!
2.5 stars.
December 11, 2016
Teaser
Reading [Anyplace Else] made me feel a longing for the men themselves and it is one of those rare books that leaves you sighing with regret at the end knowing there are no more pages.
Read Full Review at Kimmers' Erotic Book Banter
http://bit.ly/2gGWJFP
Reading [Anyplace Else] made me feel a longing for the men themselves and it is one of those rare books that leaves you sighing with regret at the end knowing there are no more pages.
Read Full Review at Kimmers' Erotic Book Banter
http://bit.ly/2gGWJFP
Read
December 3, 2016A myth. A dream. An hallucination. I don't know. Definitely not a romance though.
An interesting background tale but not one that I want as the basis for a romance story.
An interesting background tale but not one that I want as the basis for a romance story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews