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Grumpy Old Gods: Volume 1
What happens when gods wane, retire, or just decide they need a change of employment? 13 writers took up the challenge and let their imaginations run wild in this anthology that is nearly-always amusing, somewhat insightful, and completely irreverent as we imagine the gods of yore in retirement: Pan by Vanessa Wells: Gwen Henson is a witch trainee with a nose for trouble; when she gets into something deeper than she and her mentor can deal with, they are forced to contact a cantankerous former god for assistance, only to find that his help comes at a price...but doesn't everything? A Low Key Game Night by Elizabeth Shaffer: Family Game night is always a risky situation when a former god of mischief is involved; add in a son bringing a new mortal girlfriend to meet the godly household and the stakes get a bit more interesting than anyone intended. For Want of a Feather by Andrew Dunlop: When the God in charge of afterlife management goes AWOL, two intrepid (if somewhat dead) souls and a talking cat set off to find him. What they find isn't exactly what they anticipated. Out of Luck by Vanessa Finaighty: Loki, God of Mischief has a history of going too far: when one of his pranks goes wrong, he and the rest of the Gods are out of luck...literally. Rule 34 by Avery Vanderlyle: When the Primal Terror goes AWOL, Demeter is forced to chase him down in order to keep humanity from destroying themselves; unfortunately, he has a new hobby, and it's for mature audiences only. Immanent Domain by Wendy Smyer Yu: When Cara accidentally invokes Coyote after a terrible date, the young woman has to channel her inner trickster so that the bored deity doesn't wreck her life. God of Morning by Elizabeth McCleary: When Morrow, god of morning is informed he is in danger of losing his position to Chaos god of well...chaos, he has to pull himself out of his recent funk and find joy in the morning once more. Zeus Really Needs To Go by Shawn Klimek: Lactose intolerance and a distinct lack of a statute of limitations combine to give the former King of Olympus one very bad day. Breaking the Habit by Ronel Janse von Vuuren: Odin finds that escaping his throne to make mischief at a rest home might be exactly what the doctor ordered. The New Chief Medical Officer by Tom Vetter: Controlled chaos reigns in the Elysian Fields Retirement facility. The new chief medical officer arrives to take charge; but when retired gods are involved, nothing is ever as easy as it seems at first glance. Playing Hooky by Juneta Key: Death's FA is having a heck of day.Harbinger of Doom by Katharina Gerlach: A mortal with a distasteful job finds that he can be more than he ever dreamed, if he simply has the courage to reach out and take what he wants. Whither Athena by Marshall J. Moore: In which Althea Stagg has a client she can't refuse and a missing Goddess who has no intention of returning: caught between two primal beings, what's a demi-goddess detective to do?
242 pages, Paperback
Published May 2, 2019
4 people want to read
About the author
Juneta Key
10 books41 followersJuneta is Texas born and raised, living in Central Florida–hanging out with pirates and playing with the dolphins. And in her spare time, she makes Magic!
Fun Fact: After 23 years, Juneta retired from police/fire/EMT-911 communications dispatch to go live someplace Tropical.
Juneta writes SPECULATIVE FICTION. She loves writing about Grumpy Old Gods, Space Opera, Paranormal Women's Fiction & Sci-Fi Fantasy adventure, mysteries, and romance with all the complexity of human nature mixed in, whether human or non-human, mage, mystic or pilot. Stories that involve the mythology born of living and the shadows that make us all heroes, anti-heroes, villains, and poets.
Fun Fact: After 23 years, Juneta retired from police/fire/EMT-911 communications dispatch to go live someplace Tropical.
Juneta writes SPECULATIVE FICTION. She loves writing about Grumpy Old Gods, Space Opera, Paranormal Women's Fiction & Sci-Fi Fantasy adventure, mysteries, and romance with all the complexity of human nature mixed in, whether human or non-human, mage, mystic or pilot. Stories that involve the mythology born of living and the shadows that make us all heroes, anti-heroes, villains, and poets.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 8, 2019
This is a very funny and entertaining group of stories that certainly tickled me! I have read book 2 and found that very entertaining as well and I am hoping that the challenge will be thrown up again for more Grumpy old gods.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 25, 2019
This boxset of short stories all feature one or more god or goddess from mythology as a character, with a mix of Greek, Norse and others. I love the variety of ways that the authors have brought those gods into more modern contexts, and would definitely recommend this boxset to anyone who enjoys reading myths but is open to seeing those characters in a new, often funny setting. I hope to read a new boxset soon!
NB I received a complimentary copy of this book, but I always give an HONEST review based wholly on my own opinions
Individual stories:
Pan by Vanessa Wells (5*) 20/8
This story features (unsurprisingly!) the Greek god Pan, and I loved it! With an appearance by harpies too, this is definitely one for fans of Greek mythology.
A Low-Key Game Night by Elizabeth Schaffer (5*) 21/8
This excellent story has a lot of Norse gods in it, all related to the god of mischief Loki. It's a fabulous story, and I really enjoyed it, laughing out loud at many points.
For Want of a Feather by Andrew Dunlop (4*) 21/8
This story is very different and kind of gives a 'what-if' for when the surge in lack of religious belief causes increased workload for the god who judges those people in the afterlife. It's very funny, and also features the Egyptian god Anubis (whose judgement method of weighing the heart against a feather gives the story its title). An interesting, enjoyable and thought-provoking read.
Out of Luck by Vanessa Finaughty (4*) 21/8
This story features the Norse gods and shows what can go wrong when you play pranks... especially when you're Loki, God of Mischief!
Rule 34 by Avery Vanderlyle (5*) 21/8
This story real made me smile. Starring Demeter (Greek goddess of Harvest), Loki (Norse god of mischief) and Cthulhu (also known as The Primal Terror, created by Lovecraft), this is a fabulous story, and I loved the novel idea of what Cthulhu would be doing in the modern world, and how he would use it to change people's attitudes and save the world!
Immanent Domain by Wendy Smyer Yu (5*) 22/8
Featuring the Native God Coyote, this is a very funny story. I loved it, and the ending made me smile.
God of Morning by Elizabeth McClearly (4*) 22/8
This is a lovely story, proving the value and beauty of a fresh, new morning.
Zeus Really Needs to Go by Shawn Klimek (5*) 22/8
A very funny story that includes many gods from several pantheons, with Zeus (Greek) as the main character. I loved the setting of a retirement home for the gods, and imagining them all as grumpy old men and women really made me laugh!
Breaking the Habit by Ronel Janse von Vuuren (5*) 22/8
I LOVED this story!!! The mayhem that Odin causes in the retirement village? That's the kind of place I'd love to live - now, never mind in my old age! A fabulous story, though a slightly ominous ending.
The New Chief Medical Examiner by Tom Vetter (5*) 22/8
Hilariously funny, and full of more gods and goddesses than you can shake a stick at! Loved it!!
Playing Hooky by Juneta Key (3*) 22/8 - LOT OF ERRORS!
While this was essentially a good story, the proliferation of errors, grammatical mistakes and general issues meant that this essence was fundamentally tarnished for me as it made it very difficult to read. A good edit of a story prior to publication should take care of the majority of these issues, and it is a pet hate of mine to see good stories so badly let down by something so easily rectified. Please, please use that wonderful invention called the spell check and an editor in future - your stories and readers beg you!
Harbinger of Doom by Katharina Gerlach (5*) 23/8
This was a really good story about an inspector who is sent to a retirement home by his boss with the sole purpose of closing it down and selling the property... but finds more than he bargains for! With a wide range of gods and goddesses, it's a brilliant read, and I really enjoyed it.
Whither Athena? by Marshall J Moore (5*) 23/8
An excellent short story and a great finale to the box set. Very thought-provoking yet still thoroughly enjoyable. Loved it!
NB I received a complimentary copy of this book, but I always give an HONEST review based wholly on my own opinions
Individual stories:
Pan by Vanessa Wells (5*) 20/8
This story features (unsurprisingly!) the Greek god Pan, and I loved it! With an appearance by harpies too, this is definitely one for fans of Greek mythology.
A Low-Key Game Night by Elizabeth Schaffer (5*) 21/8
This excellent story has a lot of Norse gods in it, all related to the god of mischief Loki. It's a fabulous story, and I really enjoyed it, laughing out loud at many points.
For Want of a Feather by Andrew Dunlop (4*) 21/8
This story is very different and kind of gives a 'what-if' for when the surge in lack of religious belief causes increased workload for the god who judges those people in the afterlife. It's very funny, and also features the Egyptian god Anubis (whose judgement method of weighing the heart against a feather gives the story its title). An interesting, enjoyable and thought-provoking read.
Out of Luck by Vanessa Finaughty (4*) 21/8
This story features the Norse gods and shows what can go wrong when you play pranks... especially when you're Loki, God of Mischief!
Rule 34 by Avery Vanderlyle (5*) 21/8
This story real made me smile. Starring Demeter (Greek goddess of Harvest), Loki (Norse god of mischief) and Cthulhu (also known as The Primal Terror, created by Lovecraft), this is a fabulous story, and I loved the novel idea of what Cthulhu would be doing in the modern world, and how he would use it to change people's attitudes and save the world!
Immanent Domain by Wendy Smyer Yu (5*) 22/8
Featuring the Native God Coyote, this is a very funny story. I loved it, and the ending made me smile.
God of Morning by Elizabeth McClearly (4*) 22/8
This is a lovely story, proving the value and beauty of a fresh, new morning.
Zeus Really Needs to Go by Shawn Klimek (5*) 22/8
A very funny story that includes many gods from several pantheons, with Zeus (Greek) as the main character. I loved the setting of a retirement home for the gods, and imagining them all as grumpy old men and women really made me laugh!
Breaking the Habit by Ronel Janse von Vuuren (5*) 22/8
I LOVED this story!!! The mayhem that Odin causes in the retirement village? That's the kind of place I'd love to live - now, never mind in my old age! A fabulous story, though a slightly ominous ending.
The New Chief Medical Examiner by Tom Vetter (5*) 22/8
Hilariously funny, and full of more gods and goddesses than you can shake a stick at! Loved it!!
Playing Hooky by Juneta Key (3*) 22/8 - LOT OF ERRORS!
While this was essentially a good story, the proliferation of errors, grammatical mistakes and general issues meant that this essence was fundamentally tarnished for me as it made it very difficult to read. A good edit of a story prior to publication should take care of the majority of these issues, and it is a pet hate of mine to see good stories so badly let down by something so easily rectified. Please, please use that wonderful invention called the spell check and an editor in future - your stories and readers beg you!
Harbinger of Doom by Katharina Gerlach (5*) 23/8
This was a really good story about an inspector who is sent to a retirement home by his boss with the sole purpose of closing it down and selling the property... but finds more than he bargains for! With a wide range of gods and goddesses, it's a brilliant read, and I really enjoyed it.
Whither Athena? by Marshall J Moore (5*) 23/8
An excellent short story and a great finale to the box set. Very thought-provoking yet still thoroughly enjoyable. Loved it!
December 8, 2019
Funny Tales of the Discarded Gods
Interestingly, I read Volume 2 before I read Volume 1 of this series. But, of course, it doesn't really matter as this series is collections of humorous and fun short stories about the old gods. It was a delight to read this first one, a collection of 13 stories by different authors. Some were laugh-out-loud funny. Some authors have been very creative in thinking about how the old gods might interact with humans today or otherwise amuse themselves. These stories are all short, so they can be ready easily when you need to, say, wait at the doctor's office or are on a break at work. If you love classic mythology, you may very well enjoy this sometimes hilarious spin on it.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
My book blog: https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com
Interestingly, I read Volume 2 before I read Volume 1 of this series. But, of course, it doesn't really matter as this series is collections of humorous and fun short stories about the old gods. It was a delight to read this first one, a collection of 13 stories by different authors. Some were laugh-out-loud funny. Some authors have been very creative in thinking about how the old gods might interact with humans today or otherwise amuse themselves. These stories are all short, so they can be ready easily when you need to, say, wait at the doctor's office or are on a break at work. If you love classic mythology, you may very well enjoy this sometimes hilarious spin on it.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
My book blog: https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com
November 29, 2019
Wow, I loved this interesting, creative, funny, intriguing, and unique set of stories of gods, humans, dead people, taking cats, and others and the adventures they have. The stories are connected by a common theme, but they are all stand alone with different characters and circumstances. It's a very fun and enjoyable read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 18, 2019
A thoroughly entertaining read. More enjoyable than the laugh-out-loud moments, were the silent chuckles at cleverly placed references and witty play of words. Also, the contributing authors have not forsaken storyline for the sake of creating humor. Highly recommended.
December 19, 2019
This collection is a total laugh out loud funny! Each story different views, different characters and different ways gods acted. Some were funnier than others but all in all great book!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 19, 2019
This is a fun set of fantasy short stories. I really enjoyed them... and they made me smile.. Cute and quirky.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 29, 2019
Fun read about old Gods and what they do to pass the time.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews