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Into the Mystic
Into the Mystic, Volume Two
Nine lesbian/bisexual paranormal short stories…
Green Love – Have you heard about the aspen clone in the heart of Blackwood forest? Some say it’s enchanted, while others…
Dead Letter – Signed, sealed, delivered…or was it?
Seaside Escape – Just because it's been done for generations doesn't mean it should be.
Dressed in Wolf Skin – She was never particularly fond of werewolves, but she hated skinwalkers.
Unraveled – Summer can hack their magic, but she can't hack her own heart.
The Holy Company – On an ancient holy path, they will come face to face with one of the local legends.
Vampire Hours – One’s a vampire. The other is human. One wants forever. The other wants everything to end.
To the Sea – Sometimes you just have to hold your breath and dive in.
Lighthouse Five – Is it possible for a mermaid and a human to build a relationship?
Green Love – Have you heard about the aspen clone in the heart of Blackwood forest? Some say it’s enchanted, while others…
Dead Letter – Signed, sealed, delivered…or was it?
Seaside Escape – Just because it's been done for generations doesn't mean it should be.
Dressed in Wolf Skin – She was never particularly fond of werewolves, but she hated skinwalkers.
Unraveled – Summer can hack their magic, but she can't hack her own heart.
The Holy Company – On an ancient holy path, they will come face to face with one of the local legends.
Vampire Hours – One’s a vampire. The other is human. One wants forever. The other wants everything to end.
To the Sea – Sometimes you just have to hold your breath and dive in.
Lighthouse Five – Is it possible for a mermaid and a human to build a relationship?
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First published October 16, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 1, 2017
*fans self* Well, that was a thing. Excuse me while I go take a cold shower.
INTO THE MYSTIC, vol 2, was in a whole different class than the first one. Almost every story in this collection was descriptive, developed, and sensual in a way that vol 1 just never managed. There was once again just one story that seemed like it probably shouldn't have made it into the anthology, and stuck out even moreso in this collection, since the general caliber of the stories was really out of this world.
Some individual thoughts on each story
Green Love by Elena Holst
This was a strong start to the anthology. I was a little concerned at first that the forest description was going on long, when I realized Elise was still woolgathering five pages in, but the reason for the extended intro became apparent a few pages later. In hindsight, I have no problems with it. It was fun to read a story in a forest type I know well (upper Michigan represent!), and I'd be lying if I said I'd never imagined what having sex with a tree would be like.
Dead Letter by Valentine Wheeler
Another strong submission, and I loved the slightly creepy undertones. The little epigraph at the start was confusing on the first read, and it wasn't until I read the story again that it worked for me--which is basically how every epigraph works I suppose. The meat of the story was well paced and I enjoyed the sweet ending. It reminded me of the ghost story from the previous anthology (with the smiling woman), although DEAD LETTER was less creepy and more sweet. P.S. - Valentine Wheeler, if you do figure out how to be Captain Janeway or Dana Scully (reference to the author bio), would you let me know how you did it?
Seaside Escape by A. Fae
This one was the weak spot in the anthology. Redundant word usage abounded, the narrative wasn't very tight, and the plot seemed to spin uncontrollably. The start was decent enough, and I was interested in Fiona's character immediately. Being part of a pact to sell selkies to human men definitely hooked me. The sex scenes, too, were generally engaging. It was the storyline itself, and writing style, that just didn't work for me, so much so that I had to DNF this one. Parts of it did rub me the wrong way, too, in terms of the morality of trapping women and selling them into sex slavery, but noting Ninestar's policy on such things, I assume this was dealt with later in the narrative.
Dressed in Wolf Skin by Sita Bethel
This was a werwolf romance with a witch, which, generally is not really in my interest area. The story was plenty strong enough, and the werwolf and witch characters fleshed out enough that the story held my interest all the way through. I'd have liked to have seen a longer battle with the skin walker, but for a short, this was nicely done. The running gag with the goats was delightful.
Unraveled by CC Bridges
Witches and selkies were definitely the theme of this anthology. This particular short had a neat take on magic and magic users, so much so that I was grumbly that this was a short and not a full novel. The magic system and the main character, Summer, were both fleshed out enough that this short could have easily carried onto more pages. Hence, my only quibble with this piece was that I wanted it to be a book, not a short, so I could have had more time with Evil Biology Professor and the Forbidden Book.
The Holy Company by Laura Bailo
The start and middle of this short were really strong. I enjoyed the sexual tension (yeah wow did I enjoy the sexual tension) and the darker feel to the story. Anna and Sophie work really well together, and the mystery of the town is a strong hook. Sadly, the ending of this short fizzled for me, as I was left unclear as to what had happened. There's resolution, but even after rereading the story, I don't know what that resolution is. Sophie comes to a conclusion in the last two pages, but doesn't in any way share it with the reader. :(
Vampire Hours by Jacqueline Rohrbach
Vampires are another one of those genres I can't really seem to get into. I enjoyed the organizations gags throughout the piece, and the well described depression (that really resonated), but I couldn't connect with the romance (?) between Janna and Stacy.
To The Sea MK Hardy
Look, full disclosure, I am a huge fan of MK Hardy, and have been ever since I read CHASING GHOSTS. The duo don't disappoint in their newest short. The romance was well developed, the characters round, and the plot well described without being too obvious. The end was subtle without being lost on the reader. Basically, it was everything I've come to expect from MK Hardy (you two need to write some spec fic soon, please and thank you).
Holy Water by Lina Langley
Creeeeeeeeepy and I love it. I adore dark fantasy, and this was just perfect. The ghost was tragic, and beautiful, and never really 100% on the up and up. Maria Clara has a strong enough voice that I don't find myself questioning how she gets away with seeing the ghost so often, or why no one challenges her strange sickness and health. Again, another really strong showing for the anthology.
Lighthouse Five by TS Porter
And then we come to the finale, and what a powerhouse it is. This is hands down the best story in the book, and another one of those authors that I want to immediately go buy the entire back catalogue of because of the sheer strength of this piece.
At its heart, this is a mermaid x human love story. Chris is a lighthouse attendant, isolated but not really lonely. Jewels is mermaid without all the sexy trappings of modern folklore, and is much more fish than person. Their romance is slow, and delicate, and practically a dance as their cultures and languages blend around one another. TS Porter did a magnificent job making the inevitable sex scene between fish and human not only flawless, but without any of the awkwardness one might expect in such an encounter. The friendship between Chris and Jewels seems completely organic, and both characters come across as strong, competent adults from very different cultures just trying to make friends and understand one another. I loved this short, and am now eagerly awaiting more from TS Porter.
INTO THE MYSTIC, vol 2, was in a whole different class than the first one. Almost every story in this collection was descriptive, developed, and sensual in a way that vol 1 just never managed. There was once again just one story that seemed like it probably shouldn't have made it into the anthology, and stuck out even moreso in this collection, since the general caliber of the stories was really out of this world.
Some individual thoughts on each story
Green Love by Elena Holst
This was a strong start to the anthology. I was a little concerned at first that the forest description was going on long, when I realized Elise was still woolgathering five pages in, but the reason for the extended intro became apparent a few pages later. In hindsight, I have no problems with it. It was fun to read a story in a forest type I know well (upper Michigan represent!), and I'd be lying if I said I'd never imagined what having sex with a tree would be like.
Dead Letter by Valentine Wheeler
Another strong submission, and I loved the slightly creepy undertones. The little epigraph at the start was confusing on the first read, and it wasn't until I read the story again that it worked for me--which is basically how every epigraph works I suppose. The meat of the story was well paced and I enjoyed the sweet ending. It reminded me of the ghost story from the previous anthology (with the smiling woman), although DEAD LETTER was less creepy and more sweet. P.S. - Valentine Wheeler, if you do figure out how to be Captain Janeway or Dana Scully (reference to the author bio), would you let me know how you did it?
Seaside Escape by A. Fae
This one was the weak spot in the anthology. Redundant word usage abounded, the narrative wasn't very tight, and the plot seemed to spin uncontrollably. The start was decent enough, and I was interested in Fiona's character immediately. Being part of a pact to sell selkies to human men definitely hooked me. The sex scenes, too, were generally engaging. It was the storyline itself, and writing style, that just didn't work for me, so much so that I had to DNF this one. Parts of it did rub me the wrong way, too, in terms of the morality of trapping women and selling them into sex slavery, but noting Ninestar's policy on such things, I assume this was dealt with later in the narrative.
Dressed in Wolf Skin by Sita Bethel
This was a werwolf romance with a witch, which, generally is not really in my interest area. The story was plenty strong enough, and the werwolf and witch characters fleshed out enough that the story held my interest all the way through. I'd have liked to have seen a longer battle with the skin walker, but for a short, this was nicely done. The running gag with the goats was delightful.
Unraveled by CC Bridges
Witches and selkies were definitely the theme of this anthology. This particular short had a neat take on magic and magic users, so much so that I was grumbly that this was a short and not a full novel. The magic system and the main character, Summer, were both fleshed out enough that this short could have easily carried onto more pages. Hence, my only quibble with this piece was that I wanted it to be a book, not a short, so I could have had more time with Evil Biology Professor and the Forbidden Book.
The Holy Company by Laura Bailo
The start and middle of this short were really strong. I enjoyed the sexual tension (yeah wow did I enjoy the sexual tension) and the darker feel to the story. Anna and Sophie work really well together, and the mystery of the town is a strong hook. Sadly, the ending of this short fizzled for me, as I was left unclear as to what had happened. There's resolution, but even after rereading the story, I don't know what that resolution is. Sophie comes to a conclusion in the last two pages, but doesn't in any way share it with the reader. :(
Vampire Hours by Jacqueline Rohrbach
Vampires are another one of those genres I can't really seem to get into. I enjoyed the organizations gags throughout the piece, and the well described depression (that really resonated), but I couldn't connect with the romance (?) between Janna and Stacy.
To The Sea MK Hardy
Look, full disclosure, I am a huge fan of MK Hardy, and have been ever since I read CHASING GHOSTS. The duo don't disappoint in their newest short. The romance was well developed, the characters round, and the plot well described without being too obvious. The end was subtle without being lost on the reader. Basically, it was everything I've come to expect from MK Hardy (you two need to write some spec fic soon, please and thank you).
Holy Water by Lina Langley
Creeeeeeeeepy and I love it. I adore dark fantasy, and this was just perfect. The ghost was tragic, and beautiful, and never really 100% on the up and up. Maria Clara has a strong enough voice that I don't find myself questioning how she gets away with seeing the ghost so often, or why no one challenges her strange sickness and health. Again, another really strong showing for the anthology.
Lighthouse Five by TS Porter
And then we come to the finale, and what a powerhouse it is. This is hands down the best story in the book, and another one of those authors that I want to immediately go buy the entire back catalogue of because of the sheer strength of this piece.
At its heart, this is a mermaid x human love story. Chris is a lighthouse attendant, isolated but not really lonely. Jewels is mermaid without all the sexy trappings of modern folklore, and is much more fish than person. Their romance is slow, and delicate, and practically a dance as their cultures and languages blend around one another. TS Porter did a magnificent job making the inevitable sex scene between fish and human not only flawless, but without any of the awkwardness one might expect in such an encounter. The friendship between Chris and Jewels seems completely organic, and both characters come across as strong, competent adults from very different cultures just trying to make friends and understand one another. I loved this short, and am now eagerly awaiting more from TS Porter.
October 16, 2017
I'm rating the anthology for what I think is the best story inside, because frankly, it seems rude to give the best stories a decreased average because I didn't like others as much. As with most anthologies, the stories themselves cover a wide range from just okay to truly excellent. On the whole, however, I think the majority of the stories are four or five star worthy.
The stories range from barely-romance to romance-for-the-ages, so however much you like romance with your paranormal f/f, you'll likely find something to fit your tastes.
For myself, Dead Letter and The Holy Company stuck out as particularly good. Both had realistic, believable characters whose position as foil to the paranormal aspect worked incredibly well for me. The settings and characters in these ones also aren't the same as have been done a thousand times in other stories, an aspect that I appreciate.
An odd note: there are two stories in the anthology that I would say are horror stories, and the anthology starts out with what I would definitely call a horror story. Not all of them are horror, but it's something to keep in mind if you're not into that genre.
The stories range from barely-romance to romance-for-the-ages, so however much you like romance with your paranormal f/f, you'll likely find something to fit your tastes.
For myself, Dead Letter and The Holy Company stuck out as particularly good. Both had realistic, believable characters whose position as foil to the paranormal aspect worked incredibly well for me. The settings and characters in these ones also aren't the same as have been done a thousand times in other stories, an aspect that I appreciate.
An odd note: there are two stories in the anthology that I would say are horror stories, and the anthology starts out with what I would definitely call a horror story. Not all of them are horror, but it's something to keep in mind if you're not into that genre.
October 29, 2017
// Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. //
If you're looking for an equally eerie and romantic F/F short story anthology, look no further than Into the Mystic. This book contains a variety of short stories; featuring everything from ghosts to witches, werewolves and nymphs. In addition to featuring some sweet, tingly feelings (Dead Letter being my favourite among the sweeter pieces), many of the stories are also quite sexy—meaning explicit, but in a sex-positive way. And, honestly, it deserves the time of day just for that: narratives where women are allowed control over their own bodies and sexual pleasure are sadly under-represented as of yet. Into the Mystic is a nice step in the right direction—with an intriguing mix of paranormal flair to boot!
If you're looking for an equally eerie and romantic F/F short story anthology, look no further than Into the Mystic. This book contains a variety of short stories; featuring everything from ghosts to witches, werewolves and nymphs. In addition to featuring some sweet, tingly feelings (Dead Letter being my favourite among the sweeter pieces), many of the stories are also quite sexy—meaning explicit, but in a sex-positive way. And, honestly, it deserves the time of day just for that: narratives where women are allowed control over their own bodies and sexual pleasure are sadly under-represented as of yet. Into the Mystic is a nice step in the right direction—with an intriguing mix of paranormal flair to boot!
October 5, 2017
I got a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is definitely one that shouldn't be read for the weak of heart or in company with sensitive sensibilities [read as: COLD SHOWER NEEDED DURING/AFTER EACH STORY].
The anthology starts strong and then tapers off. "Green Love" is actually the best start because it spends a majority of its time as a run of the mill fiction story. It's only until the end where it reminds you this is a paranormal anthology.
I found that I don't enjoy sea creature stories so the entries "Seaside Escape," "To the Sea," and "Lighthouse Five" weren't my cup of tea. The last one I didn't finish because I realized sea creatures wasn't my jam.
The most disappointing story was "The Holy Company." The premise was cool, imaginative, and definitely something for Halloween. However, there was something missing from the story. It felt resolved too quickly for its length. I could see myself loving this if it didn't feel so rushed.
My two favorites were "Dressed in Wolf Skin" and "Unraveled." There aren't enough desert witches in fiction and adding the werewolf element felt so right. For "Unraveled," I WANT THIS AS A BOOK. Street witch hackers are a weakness of mine I didn't even know I wanted.
Overall, I think whether or not you like these stories is dependent on what paranormal characters/features you like.
This book is definitely one that shouldn't be read for the weak of heart or in company with sensitive sensibilities [read as: COLD SHOWER NEEDED DURING/AFTER EACH STORY].
The anthology starts strong and then tapers off. "Green Love" is actually the best start because it spends a majority of its time as a run of the mill fiction story. It's only until the end where it reminds you this is a paranormal anthology.
I found that I don't enjoy sea creature stories so the entries "Seaside Escape," "To the Sea," and "Lighthouse Five" weren't my cup of tea. The last one I didn't finish because I realized sea creatures wasn't my jam.
The most disappointing story was "The Holy Company." The premise was cool, imaginative, and definitely something for Halloween. However, there was something missing from the story. It felt resolved too quickly for its length. I could see myself loving this if it didn't feel so rushed.
My two favorites were "Dressed in Wolf Skin" and "Unraveled." There aren't enough desert witches in fiction and adding the werewolf element felt so right. For "Unraveled," I WANT THIS AS A BOOK. Street witch hackers are a weakness of mine I didn't even know I wanted.
Overall, I think whether or not you like these stories is dependent on what paranormal characters/features you like.
October 7, 2017
This was a wild ride! It’s definitely not a book for the weak hearted and it can be very EXPICIT! I totally enjoyed reading this, while I didn’t really love every story, there were three that got 3.5 from me and I really enjoyed them! There will be a full review on my blog in the coming weeks *thank you to Laura Bailio for providing me with an ecopy*
October 22, 2017
Some of the stories resonated with me more than others, but all in all, this was a beautiful and haunting anthology.
November 27, 2017
This collection is fun, steamy, and positive. There's great romance and angsty feelings, but also there's such a care and depth to the characters. You truly become immersed in the world of each small snippet.
Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for an honest review from one of the authors.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for an honest review from one of the authors.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
March 31, 2018
I am going to give my opinion on each different short history, since I believe it wouldn't be fair to judge all of them as a whole.
Green Love by Elna Holst--> I found very interesting that she mixed a scientific concept like that with the mythology of tree nymphs. And on the same time, it makes for a very interesting ecological message. The forest is a huge living being constituted of thousands of souls that feel, suffer and love as one. My only problem with it is the apparent erotica turn that the story takes, over the romance. Being the romantic development scarce and the description of the encounters to explicit for my taste.
Dead Letter by Valentine Wheeler-->There is not much mystery about it, but I loved the details the author put in developing a romance between to people who cannot see each other. Wow with the platonic love. Dead letter is a sweet history, full of nostalgia, and with a spirit who wants to live again in a much more open world that the one she lived in.
Seaside escape by A. Fae--> . It's a nice love story that talks about consent and makes you ponder over the risks of taking someone from their home. What I didn't like is that, since it’s a very interesting moral dilemma, the easily it is solved and brushed out. I would have loved that the author gave more strength to the discussion, even though being a short story, maybe she didn't had the chance.
Dressed in wolf skin by Sita Bethel--> It's a beautiful story with both POC (person of color) characters. There's a very intense chemistry between the two that can be felt during the lecture, to the point of becoming a little bit explicit (I'm blushing). But it would caught you in its reflection of freedom and the dangers of embracing ones true nature.
Unraveled by CC Bridges-->It's refreshing to see a preexisting emotional relation instead of the girl meets girl telling we've been seeing. I love that the characters have a previous ongoing relationship before the typical romantic explosion of the genre. Especially because you can remark other qualities than the physic, more like the personality of the subject of desire.
The Holy Company by Laura Bailo-->Its greatest part is that it has been written by a Spanish woman, happens in Spain and talks about a mysterious Gallegan legend. You can see it when she speaks about gastronomy or architecture. Laura knows well her country, as she knows humans relations. The relation between Sophie and Anna is pure, full of sentiment. It only saddens me that they haven't given more protagonism to the ghosts that announce a near death.
Vampire Hours by Jacqueline Rohrbach-->I liked it because it's different from the rest. For starters the romantic relation is preexisting. I don't have much experience with depression, but I liked it reading about it. I think it would be important to see how you deal with, how it can sabotage your happiness and, most importantly, how you can help other to get through it.
To the sea by MK Hardy-->When I started reading it I suspected that Rose might have been a mermaid, it would make sense. Nevertheless, it’s again a kind creature that doesn't wish to see herself trapped inland. It's probably up to the date one of my favorites love stories, because it talks about the expression: If you love it, set it free. ¿Would you force someone you love to stay with you?
Holy water by Lina Langley-->It's a very sad love story, and I cannot stop thinking about the song from Coco (Llorona, ay de mi llorona, llorona de azul celeste…). The way she falls in loves is very fast and simple, but it feels like it has been a long way. It has a similar end to Dead Letter but it has left me emptier, like they took something from me.
Lighthouse Five by T.S. Porter-->The creature called merperson reminds me a lot to The Shape of Water, being a more animal self than person. And therefore, their beauty is based on the character, innocence and curiosity, more than the looks, even though they have a very soft skin. And since the story doesn't have an adjacent problem like others, the history concentrates exclusively in the friendship and love, developing in more depth. I also find very interesting the qualities of the merperson, very similar to many marine animals. All the time they are referred as an androgynous character, in consequence, I had some problems at the start trying to understand if there were many of them, but it ended being interesting.
Green Love by Elna Holst--> I found very interesting that she mixed a scientific concept like that with the mythology of tree nymphs. And on the same time, it makes for a very interesting ecological message. The forest is a huge living being constituted of thousands of souls that feel, suffer and love as one. My only problem with it is the apparent erotica turn that the story takes, over the romance. Being the romantic development scarce and the description of the encounters to explicit for my taste.
Dead Letter by Valentine Wheeler-->There is not much mystery about it, but I loved the details the author put in developing a romance between to people who cannot see each other. Wow with the platonic love. Dead letter is a sweet history, full of nostalgia, and with a spirit who wants to live again in a much more open world that the one she lived in.
Seaside escape by A. Fae--> . It's a nice love story that talks about consent and makes you ponder over the risks of taking someone from their home. What I didn't like is that, since it’s a very interesting moral dilemma, the easily it is solved and brushed out. I would have loved that the author gave more strength to the discussion, even though being a short story, maybe she didn't had the chance.
Dressed in wolf skin by Sita Bethel--> It's a beautiful story with both POC (person of color) characters. There's a very intense chemistry between the two that can be felt during the lecture, to the point of becoming a little bit explicit (I'm blushing). But it would caught you in its reflection of freedom and the dangers of embracing ones true nature.
Unraveled by CC Bridges-->It's refreshing to see a preexisting emotional relation instead of the girl meets girl telling we've been seeing. I love that the characters have a previous ongoing relationship before the typical romantic explosion of the genre. Especially because you can remark other qualities than the physic, more like the personality of the subject of desire.
The Holy Company by Laura Bailo-->Its greatest part is that it has been written by a Spanish woman, happens in Spain and talks about a mysterious Gallegan legend. You can see it when she speaks about gastronomy or architecture. Laura knows well her country, as she knows humans relations. The relation between Sophie and Anna is pure, full of sentiment. It only saddens me that they haven't given more protagonism to the ghosts that announce a near death.
Vampire Hours by Jacqueline Rohrbach-->I liked it because it's different from the rest. For starters the romantic relation is preexisting. I don't have much experience with depression, but I liked it reading about it. I think it would be important to see how you deal with, how it can sabotage your happiness and, most importantly, how you can help other to get through it.
To the sea by MK Hardy-->When I started reading it I suspected that Rose might have been a mermaid, it would make sense. Nevertheless, it’s again a kind creature that doesn't wish to see herself trapped inland. It's probably up to the date one of my favorites love stories, because it talks about the expression: If you love it, set it free. ¿Would you force someone you love to stay with you?
Holy water by Lina Langley-->It's a very sad love story, and I cannot stop thinking about the song from Coco (Llorona, ay de mi llorona, llorona de azul celeste…). The way she falls in loves is very fast and simple, but it feels like it has been a long way. It has a similar end to Dead Letter but it has left me emptier, like they took something from me.
Lighthouse Five by T.S. Porter-->The creature called merperson reminds me a lot to The Shape of Water, being a more animal self than person. And therefore, their beauty is based on the character, innocence and curiosity, more than the looks, even though they have a very soft skin. And since the story doesn't have an adjacent problem like others, the history concentrates exclusively in the friendship and love, developing in more depth. I also find very interesting the qualities of the merperson, very similar to many marine animals. All the time they are referred as an androgynous character, in consequence, I had some problems at the start trying to understand if there were many of them, but it ended being interesting.
November 12, 2017
A free copy of the book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
I have to say, this anthology was not exactly what I was expecting based on the cover and the "paranormal" description, and that's definitely not a bad thing. I have pretty mixed feelings about a lot of what passes for paranormal these days (especially when it's romance-related), but many of these stories took the genre in some very interesting directions and the overall tone of the book is quite eerie. I also appreciated that the "lesbian/bisexual" in the description actually meant multiple characters who were attracted to more than one gender, as well as one character who was also demisexual. I was not familiar with any of the authors going into it, but there are several I hope to be reading more of in the future.
(Average score 3.2, rounded up to 4 because overall I really liked this book.)
Favorites (5 stars)
Lighthouse Five, by T.S. Porter: Wow. This was a really incredible story. The characters are gorgeously written - I will never stop praising writers who can create characters that are non-human, and really feel non-human, while definitely still being people. Jewels is awesome, as is the world-building around her species and culture. Chris is just such a sweetie (not just because she reminds me a little of my younger sibling). Some of the other stories in this anthology struggle a bit with length and pacing, but the arc and development of Lighthouse Five are basically perfect.
To the Sea, by M.K. Hardy: Sad and sweet and lovely. I really adored the water and nature orientation of many of these stories, and this one in particular. The oil spill clean-up was such a perfect setting for this not-quite-love-story.
Really good (4 stars)
Dressed in Wolf Skin, by Sita Bethel: The witch and werewolf in this one are both so gentle and fierce, and I love it.
Unraveled, by C.C. Bridges: I wanted this one to be longer! I thought Summer's abilities were really cool, and I always like a good magic user + skeptical scientist pairing.
Holy Water, by Lina Langley: This one was delightfully creepy and shivery.
Enjoyable (3 stars)
Dead Letter, by Valentine Wheeler: While this story was well-written it didn't totally capture me. I'm not a big fan of ghosts, and I think it was more a mismatch because of that than any shortcoming on the part of the story.
The Holy Company, by Laura Bailo: See previous comment re: ghosts. But also this was one of the stories where the pacing really needed work - I loved the initial development of the story and especially the relationship between Anna and Sophie, but the conclusion felt anti-climatic.
OK (2 stars)
Green Love, by Elna Holst: While I enjoyed the beginning and there were some wonderfully creepy elements, it went off the rails a bit in the second half once it switched perspectives.
Nope (1 star)
Seaside Escape, by A. Fae: This is supposed to be the redemption story of someone who has spent their life trafficking selkie women into what amounts to sexual slavery, which would be challenging-to-impossible to do well even in a longer form. This particular story is so full of apologism I could barely finish it. Additionally, the background of why this is taking place is nonsensical and the writing isn't great. (And if the "solution" was so easy, why the fuck hadn't anyone tried or suggested it before?)
Vampire Hours, by Jacqueline Rohrbach: (TW for suicide) Turning someone immortal against their will in order to prevent them from committing suicide isn't romantic, it's horrifying. If someone doesn't want to live, forcing them to live FOREVER sounds like pretty much the worst possible answer.
I have to say, this anthology was not exactly what I was expecting based on the cover and the "paranormal" description, and that's definitely not a bad thing. I have pretty mixed feelings about a lot of what passes for paranormal these days (especially when it's romance-related), but many of these stories took the genre in some very interesting directions and the overall tone of the book is quite eerie. I also appreciated that the "lesbian/bisexual" in the description actually meant multiple characters who were attracted to more than one gender, as well as one character who was also demisexual. I was not familiar with any of the authors going into it, but there are several I hope to be reading more of in the future.
(Average score 3.2, rounded up to 4 because overall I really liked this book.)
Favorites (5 stars)
Lighthouse Five, by T.S. Porter: Wow. This was a really incredible story. The characters are gorgeously written - I will never stop praising writers who can create characters that are non-human, and really feel non-human, while definitely still being people. Jewels is awesome, as is the world-building around her species and culture. Chris is just such a sweetie (not just because she reminds me a little of my younger sibling). Some of the other stories in this anthology struggle a bit with length and pacing, but the arc and development of Lighthouse Five are basically perfect.
To the Sea, by M.K. Hardy: Sad and sweet and lovely. I really adored the water and nature orientation of many of these stories, and this one in particular. The oil spill clean-up was such a perfect setting for this not-quite-love-story.
Really good (4 stars)
Dressed in Wolf Skin, by Sita Bethel: The witch and werewolf in this one are both so gentle and fierce, and I love it.
Unraveled, by C.C. Bridges: I wanted this one to be longer! I thought Summer's abilities were really cool, and I always like a good magic user + skeptical scientist pairing.
Holy Water, by Lina Langley: This one was delightfully creepy and shivery.
Enjoyable (3 stars)
Dead Letter, by Valentine Wheeler: While this story was well-written it didn't totally capture me. I'm not a big fan of ghosts, and I think it was more a mismatch because of that than any shortcoming on the part of the story.
The Holy Company, by Laura Bailo: See previous comment re: ghosts. But also this was one of the stories where the pacing really needed work - I loved the initial development of the story and especially the relationship between Anna and Sophie, but the conclusion felt anti-climatic.
OK (2 stars)
Green Love, by Elna Holst: While I enjoyed the beginning and there were some wonderfully creepy elements, it went off the rails a bit in the second half once it switched perspectives.
Nope (1 star)
Seaside Escape, by A. Fae: This is supposed to be the redemption story of someone who has spent their life trafficking selkie women into what amounts to sexual slavery, which would be challenging-to-impossible to do well even in a longer form. This particular story is so full of apologism I could barely finish it. Additionally, the background of why this is taking place is nonsensical and the writing isn't great. (And if the "solution" was so easy, why the fuck hadn't anyone tried or suggested it before?)
Vampire Hours, by Jacqueline Rohrbach: (TW for suicide) Turning someone immortal against their will in order to prevent them from committing suicide isn't romantic, it's horrifying. If someone doesn't want to live, forcing them to live FOREVER sounds like pretty much the worst possible answer.
May 6, 2018
This review also appears on my blog alexreadsboooks
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Into The Mystic. Volume Two is a collection of ten lesbian and/or bisexual paranormal short stories published by NineStar Press.
I’d like to thank Laura Bailo, who has her story The Holy Company featured in this collection, for providing me with an eARC.
I really loved the range of stories in this collection. There is a great diversity in the topics and the paranormal elements used, and between tree spirits, vampires, werewolves, selkies and mermaids (among others) there’s something for everyone in this collection. I loved how some of the authors put twists to fairly usual paranormal creatures, while others stuck to more traditional ideas. It’s great to see a mermaid who isn’t described as the traditional “half woman, half fish” combination, but it’s also nice to get to read a fairly traditional vampire story like Jacqueline Rohrbach’s Vampire Hours.
All of the stories are great, and I can’t say that there was one that stuck out negatively to me. However I do have a few that stuck out as particular favourites.
The first one is Seaside Escape by A. Fae, a story about a water witch, who charms selkies to the shores as brides for local fishermen, and finds love in one of the selkies. I like selkie stories, and I loved how sweet this one was.
Sita Bethel’s Dressed in Wolf Skin is a great take on werewolves and finding love despite fearing that you’ll hurt them.
The Holy Company by Laura Bailo, I enjoyed for the friends-to-lovers story line and the absolutely beautiful writing and the way this story reminds me a lot of magical realism.
And last but not least there was Lighthouse Five by TS Porter, which drew me in by making its mermaid love interest not look like a traditional mermaid, and actually concerned itself with how that affects the relationship.
I could go on about the stories in this collection because they all have great qualities about them but I wouldn’t want to spoil anything. If you like paranormal romance stories, you should definitely pick up this collection.
Note: Please be advised that this collection includes sexually explicit content that may only be suitable for mature readers.
______________
Into The Mystic. Volume Two is a collection of ten lesbian and/or bisexual paranormal short stories published by NineStar Press.
I’d like to thank Laura Bailo, who has her story The Holy Company featured in this collection, for providing me with an eARC.
I really loved the range of stories in this collection. There is a great diversity in the topics and the paranormal elements used, and between tree spirits, vampires, werewolves, selkies and mermaids (among others) there’s something for everyone in this collection. I loved how some of the authors put twists to fairly usual paranormal creatures, while others stuck to more traditional ideas. It’s great to see a mermaid who isn’t described as the traditional “half woman, half fish” combination, but it’s also nice to get to read a fairly traditional vampire story like Jacqueline Rohrbach’s Vampire Hours.
All of the stories are great, and I can’t say that there was one that stuck out negatively to me. However I do have a few that stuck out as particular favourites.
The first one is Seaside Escape by A. Fae, a story about a water witch, who charms selkies to the shores as brides for local fishermen, and finds love in one of the selkies. I like selkie stories, and I loved how sweet this one was.
Sita Bethel’s Dressed in Wolf Skin is a great take on werewolves and finding love despite fearing that you’ll hurt them.
The Holy Company by Laura Bailo, I enjoyed for the friends-to-lovers story line and the absolutely beautiful writing and the way this story reminds me a lot of magical realism.
And last but not least there was Lighthouse Five by TS Porter, which drew me in by making its mermaid love interest not look like a traditional mermaid, and actually concerned itself with how that affects the relationship.
I could go on about the stories in this collection because they all have great qualities about them but I wouldn’t want to spoil anything. If you like paranormal romance stories, you should definitely pick up this collection.
Note: Please be advised that this collection includes sexually explicit content that may only be suitable for mature readers.
Read
October 29, 2017Going to do trigger warnings as I go.
Trigger Warning:
Trigger Warning:
November 14, 2017
There are a lot of stories here, but they really just weren't for me. I was hoping for something rife with magic and intrigue, and while the magic is there, it comes off a bit more subtle. These are contemporary-esque stories against a magical backdrop. There's also a lot of sexual content from vivid masturbation to fantasizing that might be cool if you actually get into that kind of stuff, but it's just wasted paper for me. The stories aren't bad, but they just really weren't what I was looking for.
November 11, 2017
really enjoyed these short stories.
they are definitely NSFW.
i think there is a story in this collection for everyone and is worth getting and reading
i think there was only one story i didnt enjoy in this collection.
will be recommending this to others
they are definitely NSFW.
i think there is a story in this collection for everyone and is worth getting and reading
i think there was only one story i didnt enjoy in this collection.
will be recommending this to others
December 2, 2017
Note: This ARC has been provided by Laura Bailo, in exchange for an honest review.
A couple weeks ago I saw Laura Bailo's tweet announcing e-ARCs for this anthology and after finding out that it was a collection of lesbian/bisexual paranormal short stories... I could not say no. And oh boy let me tell you guys this collection of stories is steamy! I was not prepared whatsoever.
I'm not going to give much away because I don't want to spoil anything, so here are my thoughts on my favorites and my one DNF:
There was only one story that I absolutely couldn't get into and ended up skipping - Vampire Hours by Jacqueline Rohrbach. This was mainly due to the repetitions of "bleep"s, "hiss" "groan" and "har har"s. I can't deal with those words or noises for the life of me. The characters seemed flat and childish as well so I had no way of turning a blind eye on the language.
On to my favorites of this anthology!
My highlight was Dressed in Wolf Skin by Sita Bethel. A witch and a werewolf and they start off fighting each other? Both strong characters? I loved their dynamic. (4.5/5 stars)
Dead Letter by Valentine Wheeler: this story. I just ugh. It's incredibly sweet. If you love literature (you obviously do, or you wouldn't be reading books, let alone my review) and if you feel close to the idea of falling in love through words and presence, this is for you! (4/5 stars)
The Holy Company by Laura Bailo: this is a perfect Story for a lovely Halloween you guys! I read it at night and got spooooked. Especially the spanish aspect was amazing to me as I don't get to read a lot of books set there. (4/5 stars)
Have you read this anthology or heard of it? Are you interested in reading it? Let me know!
A couple weeks ago I saw Laura Bailo's tweet announcing e-ARCs for this anthology and after finding out that it was a collection of lesbian/bisexual paranormal short stories... I could not say no. And oh boy let me tell you guys this collection of stories is steamy! I was not prepared whatsoever.
I'm not going to give much away because I don't want to spoil anything, so here are my thoughts on my favorites and my one DNF:
There was only one story that I absolutely couldn't get into and ended up skipping - Vampire Hours by Jacqueline Rohrbach. This was mainly due to the repetitions of "bleep"s, "hiss" "groan" and "har har"s. I can't deal with those words or noises for the life of me. The characters seemed flat and childish as well so I had no way of turning a blind eye on the language.
On to my favorites of this anthology!
My highlight was Dressed in Wolf Skin by Sita Bethel. A witch and a werewolf and they start off fighting each other? Both strong characters? I loved their dynamic. (4.5/5 stars)
Dead Letter by Valentine Wheeler: this story. I just ugh. It's incredibly sweet. If you love literature (you obviously do, or you wouldn't be reading books, let alone my review) and if you feel close to the idea of falling in love through words and presence, this is for you! (4/5 stars)
The Holy Company by Laura Bailo: this is a perfect Story for a lovely Halloween you guys! I read it at night and got spooooked. Especially the spanish aspect was amazing to me as I don't get to read a lot of books set there. (4/5 stars)
Have you read this anthology or heard of it? Are you interested in reading it? Let me know!
November 16, 2019
Into the Mystic Vol 2 is a fantastic anthology of lesbian paranormal goodness! From Selkies to a Werewolf, from a cursed Spirit to a Mermaid this book has it all in ten short and erotic stories. My favourites include Vampire by Hours by Jacqueline Rohrbach. It’s a charming and sweet story about a vampire and her mortal lover who suffers from long term depression. I LOVED this one! Another excellent story is The Dead Letter by Valentina Wheeler. This one is about a lost letter and the mail carrier that finds her. These are just two but there is so much more to love with the rest. Enjoy!!
Want to read
October 15, 2017Into the Mystic, Volume Two (ARC) was graciously provided to me by IndiGo Marketing & Design for an honest review. Review to follow.
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