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The Mammoth Book of Gaslit Romance
A fantastic collection of stories of love and intrigue that focus on the trappings of the popular Victorian era, enlivened with fantastical elements and incorporating some noir and detective pieces, by O. M. Grey, Leanna Renee Hieber, N. K. Jemisin, Eliza Knight, Sarah Prineas, Delia Sherman, Genevieve Valentine and many more.
Full list of contributors: Vivian Caethe; Leanna Renee Hieber; Seth Cadin; Tiffany Trent; Eliza Knight; Sara Harvey; Rick Bowes; Genevieve Valentine; Nisi Shawl; Maurice Broaddus; Ella D’Arcy; E. Catherine Tobler; Sarah Prineas; Barbara Roden; Mary Braddon; Mae Empson; Caroline Stevermer; Delia Sherman; Tansy Roberts; N. K. Jemisin; O.M. Grey.
Full list of contributors: Vivian Caethe; Leanna Renee Hieber; Seth Cadin; Tiffany Trent; Eliza Knight; Sara Harvey; Rick Bowes; Genevieve Valentine; Nisi Shawl; Maurice Broaddus; Ella D’Arcy; E. Catherine Tobler; Sarah Prineas; Barbara Roden; Mary Braddon; Mae Empson; Caroline Stevermer; Delia Sherman; Tansy Roberts; N. K. Jemisin; O.M. Grey.
512 pages, Paperback
First published September 18, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 31, 2020
I wish I could give this anthology a better rating, but I simply cannot. It took me forever to finish it, because some of the short stories will simply don't end.
I did discover a few new favorites to follow, so at least there's that.
I did discover a few new favorites to follow, so at least there's that.
June 23, 2024
This anthology took me a VERY long time to finish. With the exception of a few, most dragged.
June 5, 2021
A lot of anthologies can have hit and miss stories but unfortunately this collection has way more misses. Let's start with the fact that this collection is NOT a romance anthology, despite the title "Gaslit Romance."
There are only a few stories that actually can be defined as actual romance, and even they are pretty light on that. Several stories talk about relationships and some even of lost love but again not traditional romance (story of 2 people who are attracted to/love each other, must overcome some obstacle(s) to be together and have a happy ending).
Several stories have more of a gothic feel and were well written, but they weren't romances. And there were four stories that had lesbian relationships, which aren't really my thing although two of them were well written. There also were, unfortunately, several stories, no matter how you would classify them, that just were boring, or rambling or not in a writing style I enjoyed - hence the 2-star rating as I only liked a handful of stories.
Seeking Asylum - One of the lesbian romances. It actually was well written and kind of had a Gothic feel and reminded me of the Yellow Wallpaper.
Outside the Absolute - It just was a strange story and I couldn't relate to it at all
The Lady in Red - one of the few actual romances in the book and was fairly well written
Where the Ocean Meets the Sky - a kind of steampunk, alternative reality story with a lesbian "relationship." I guess you could loosely call it a romance even though it doesn't really go anywhere
The Queen and the Cambion - about Queen Victoria and the legend of King Arthur and Merlin. Not a romance in the traditional sense either (except that Victoria kind of has a crush on Merlin and he sort of seems to have one on her), but interesting and well written
The Dancing Master - It's kind of a romance in that two of the characters like each other and run away together but you don't really see the romance at all, you just hear about it later.
The Tawny Bitch - another lesbian "romance" which I put in quotes because you never see the two people together. It is written from one of the partner's point of view and you don't know what actually happens to her. If you're interested in societal commentary on how women, especially lesbians, are treated, then you might enjoy this. If you're looking for romance, you won't.
The Problem of Trystan - One of the few actual romances in the book but there's not much chemistry between the characters and some of the dialogue just feels too forced
Irremediable - Not a romance but if you want to read about the pitfall and regret of marrying the wrong person, then this story is for you
Item 317: Horn Fragment, W/illus - Not a romance at all, but an interesting story
Jane - This is one of the few romances but the romance part is pretty quick. It was an intesesting read with magic
The Wide Wide Sea - Not a romance whatsoever, but a weird, creepy story.
Her Last Appearance - I would't call this a romance in the strictest sense (ie romantic interlude/happy ending etc), more of a tragic love story
The Cordwainer's Daintiest Lasts - sort of a romance/fairytale
Waiting for Harry - Not a romance. An interesting ending, but nope, not a romance.
Lamia Victoriana - Kind of a lesbian, gothic vampire romance.
A Kiss in the Rain - Not a traditional romance but a tragic love story, kind of in the vein of a Poe story
So if you are looking for a collection of traditional romances set in the Victorian period, this is NOT the collection to read. If you can forget the "romance" misnomer, there are a few decent stories that would be worth a read.
There are only a few stories that actually can be defined as actual romance, and even they are pretty light on that. Several stories talk about relationships and some even of lost love but again not traditional romance (story of 2 people who are attracted to/love each other, must overcome some obstacle(s) to be together and have a happy ending).
Several stories have more of a gothic feel and were well written, but they weren't romances. And there were four stories that had lesbian relationships, which aren't really my thing although two of them were well written. There also were, unfortunately, several stories, no matter how you would classify them, that just were boring, or rambling or not in a writing style I enjoyed - hence the 2-star rating as I only liked a handful of stories.
Seeking Asylum - One of the lesbian romances. It actually was well written and kind of had a Gothic feel and reminded me of the Yellow Wallpaper.
Outside the Absolute - It just was a strange story and I couldn't relate to it at all
The Lady in Red - one of the few actual romances in the book and was fairly well written
Where the Ocean Meets the Sky - a kind of steampunk, alternative reality story with a lesbian "relationship." I guess you could loosely call it a romance even though it doesn't really go anywhere
The Queen and the Cambion - about Queen Victoria and the legend of King Arthur and Merlin. Not a romance in the traditional sense either (except that Victoria kind of has a crush on Merlin and he sort of seems to have one on her), but interesting and well written
The Dancing Master - It's kind of a romance in that two of the characters like each other and run away together but you don't really see the romance at all, you just hear about it later.
The Tawny Bitch - another lesbian "romance" which I put in quotes because you never see the two people together. It is written from one of the partner's point of view and you don't know what actually happens to her. If you're interested in societal commentary on how women, especially lesbians, are treated, then you might enjoy this. If you're looking for romance, you won't.
The Problem of Trystan - One of the few actual romances in the book but there's not much chemistry between the characters and some of the dialogue just feels too forced
Irremediable - Not a romance but if you want to read about the pitfall and regret of marrying the wrong person, then this story is for you
Item 317: Horn Fragment, W/illus - Not a romance at all, but an interesting story
Jane - This is one of the few romances but the romance part is pretty quick. It was an intesesting read with magic
The Wide Wide Sea - Not a romance whatsoever, but a weird, creepy story.
Her Last Appearance - I would't call this a romance in the strictest sense (ie romantic interlude/happy ending etc), more of a tragic love story
The Cordwainer's Daintiest Lasts - sort of a romance/fairytale
Waiting for Harry - Not a romance. An interesting ending, but nope, not a romance.
Lamia Victoriana - Kind of a lesbian, gothic vampire romance.
A Kiss in the Rain - Not a traditional romance but a tragic love story, kind of in the vein of a Poe story
So if you are looking for a collection of traditional romances set in the Victorian period, this is NOT the collection to read. If you can forget the "romance" misnomer, there are a few decent stories that would be worth a read.
December 29, 2014
Read Tansy's piece in this one and that's it so far - loved it!
September 24, 2014
Unfortunately, this was massively disappointing to me--most of the stories were pedestrian and unengaging and the only 3 that were at all good I had already read in other collections.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews