Grumpy Old Gods: Volume 2

by Vanessa Wells, Juneta Key, Aletha Wade

The Grumpy Old Gods are back in this second installment of mythical fun. Join us for 13 new tales of deities that are retired, reborn, waning, or AWOL from their assigned posts as they hilariously navigate life, death, and everything in between.

Genres: Short Stories, Fantasy

171 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 9, 2019

Reviews

[Jacqui]

Another excellent collection of stories where the gods are almost human as they struggle to balance the crazy men and women they are supposed to be managing. And not always well. This includes over ten stories ranging from Game Night to Best Laid Plans to Purr Like an Egyptian. Most are based in the present like Hammer Down; some in the past like The Oaken Goddess while some seem to be kinda of a mixture (like Game Night). There are even a few vampires thrown in to augment the gods!

If you’re into the ancient gods, be they Greek or Roman or even Nordic, you’ll enjoy this story collection.

[Elizabeth Ducie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great mix of stories on the theme of gods, but with a twist. Some very different styles and approaches. My particular favourites were Game Night by Laurie Hicks and Herne's Rest by Angela Wooldrige.

[J. Dorner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yet another great book in this anthology series. I'm glad I got to read it. I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys ancient mythology retold in more modern times, often with funny twists.



I really liked Wine and Mazes by Vanessa Wells. That's how my job felt when I first started, sort of (so many hallways...). Purr Like an Egyptian by Rachael Dickson had me hooked right away and concluded puuurrfectly. In Christian Goldback and his Conjectures by Andrew Paul Grell, there's a great part about using rocks to signal for help; I really enjoyed how that scene was done. Hermes Penitence by Juneta Key was a really creative mix of modern times and ancient myths. The story How You Remind Me by Ronel Janse Van Vuuren was an exciting mashup of various pantheons with a great choice for a main character.



Some of my favorite lines from the book include:
"But kids know something adults don't: jumping is fun."

"It's the level of belief that keeps them alive."

"They divorced, and now she's in Bikini Bottom with that celebrity sponge."

"He finally understood what the mortals meant when they said they missed the taste of food the most in the afterlife."



The book is easy to read, entertaining, and has several different mythologies represented. Several of the stories hold a mirror up to society because some of the stories we tell about the old myths are a reflection on how we see ourselves or our leaders. I am an online acquaintance with some authors in this book.

[Rhonda Hicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review is based on "Herme's Penitence" by Juneta Key. She was part of the authors in Volume One and I so enjoyed her story I knew I had to read her contribution in Volume Two. I'm so glad I did. Hermes is a card-carrying member of the gods and goddesses Pantheon Association. But because he made a little side trip before delivering a message to Celesta, Herald of Death, from Hades and because, of course, Herme thought having a ghost in the mortal world occasionally made things interesting, Hades became livid and demanded he make atonement. His penance? Wait until you read it. You'll chuckle with the mental pictures Juneta Key provides with this story. This was just as fun and entertaining as Volume One.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

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:
Hammer Down by Marshall J Moore (5*)
I loved this story, it had me smiling and even laughing out loud! Starring Demi-god PI Althea Stagg, this time she's on the hunt for the hammer of Hephaestus, which has been stolen by one of his cyclops workers. And with the fate of the weather at stake, Allie had better get it back soon... preferably without getting squashed by an angry cyclops in the process!
Game Night by Laurie Hicks (5*)
This brilliantly funny story of an evening in a retirement home for gods and goddesses was excellent, and I'd definitely recommend it for anyone who wants a giggle!
Wine and Mazes by Vanessa Wells (5*)
This was a good story that brought the story of the Minotaur in the maze to a more modern setting. A very interesting idea, and a very well-written story.
The Oaken Goddess by Aletha Wade (3*)
An interesting story, but definitely more a novella as part of a series than an individual short story designed for readers of boxsets like this. The characters and interplay were unknown and never explained, which made it hard to know what was happening really.
Purr Like an Egyptian by Rachael Dickson (5*)
This excellent story links strange happenings with cats in modern day Memphis to the Egyptian goddess Bastet (who, among other titles, is the goddess of cats and protector of women and children) and her husband, the god Ptah. A great read, and so nice to have a different god and goddess to those usually written about - it's like you've learnt something at the same time as having had a thoroughly enjoyable story to read!
Christian Goldbach and His Conjectures by Andrew Paul Grell (4*)
While this was an enjoyable story, it's full of lots of very confusing mathematical referees that make absolutely no sense to me! Definitely one for the brainiacs, this is still a good story overall.
The Fateful Voyage of the Fortunate Seven by Shawn Klimek (4*)
This was a good story, starring the seven Japanese gods of luck and wisdom. It was interesting to read about the some of the gods from a religion we don't know much about here in the west, so it was an enlightening as well as interesting story!
Herne's Rest by Angela Wooldridge (5*)
A brilliant story about what happens when Herne, God of the Forest, wakes up to find himself stranded on a roundabout in the middle of a dual carriageway. What can he do to get off it? What are the weird metal things full of noisy humans? And how can he prevent the squirrels taking over? Loved it!
O'Brien by Brendan Foley (5*)
A visit from the King of the Faeries causes trouble in an old people's home. But why is he really there? And who is the ever-helpful assistant? An excellent story indeed!
Hermes' Penitence by Junita Key (5*)
I loved this story, which had Hermes as puppy trainer to Cerberus's new brood. A really imaginative story, with a beautiful ending.
Hotel Quetzalcoatl by EE King (4*)
A very interesting take on how to run a hotel and museum by Aztec gods!
How You Remind Me by Ronel Janse Van Vuuren (5*)
A story of gods that're branded useless and out of date banding together to save the world. And a timely reminder too that bullying isn't justified! A great story that was really enjoyable reading, and I loved that even a god on vacation found the scent of cooking bacon impossible to resist!!
Best Laid Plans by Vanessa Finaughty (5*)
This final story is a fitting one, of godly cooperation in a plan of revenge and justice. Funny and well-written to the last!

[Jamie Bee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny, Sometimes Thought-Provoking, But Uneven

This is an amusing, if somewhat uneven, collection of short stories written about what the title suggests, grumpy old gods. There are 12 or 13 short stories in this collection. Some made good use of puns; some were downright hilarious; some even made you think a little. Because there are so many authors in the collection, the writing is uneven. Not all the authors included are masters of the short story form. I've actually tried to write short stories and novels, and there really is a distinct difference between the two. In fact, I found I couldn't write short stories; I much prefer to write long-form. I think I read somewhere that one mistake writers often make with short stories is they forget or don't know that the short story is not about character, like longer forms of fiction are. Rather, they should be about an idea or concept. One little note of caution: the book does have some profanity. If you enjoy stories about deities from ancient mythology, you may very well enjoy this book that gives you the gods and goddesses of old in small, bite-size, and often very funny chunks.

I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.

Read my other reviews at https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com.

[Heila · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories delivered on the humour promised in the title. I really liked each author’s view of the gods. Most of the stories are really well-written, and some are just not for me. I really enjoyed the humour of the story featuring Anubis by Ronel Janse van Vuuren – it’s laugh-out-loud funny.

I recommend it if you like to read about old myths with new twists.

*I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest opinion.

[Iseult Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

13 tales about aging and angry gods from different pantheons, as the title suggests. I enjoyed the anthology, and four stories stood out in particular.
1. The Oaken Goddess by Aletha Wade. A story of gods from a different planet. Imaginative world building makes me interested in reading more about these characters, especially House.
2. The Fateful Voyage of the Fortunate Seven by Shawn Klimek. A humorous, well thought out story featuring Japanese deities.
3. Herme’s Penitence by Juneta Key. Cerberus has puppies!!!
4. Best Laid Plans by Vanessa Finaughty. My favourite story of the anthology; it best utilizes the trope of gods in an retirement home, as well as having a strong story and a diverse range of cultures.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Dan Kalin · Rating 4 out of 5]

First and foremost, let me say I love the Grumpy Old Gods anthology concept. I'm also reasonably familiar with the work of some of the featured authors, enough so to spend my ill-gotten coin without a second thought. However, the story quality is wildly uneven and the book felt as though it was put together rather fast. Even so the mix is entertaining, if not especially memorable, and a fast read. My favorite stories were "Hammer Down" and "Hermes' Penitence" in a dead heat, followed closely by "Hotel Quetzalcoatl".

Takeaway; a mythology fantasy junkie might consider these Grumpy Gods perfectly adequate for a quick fix before tackling weightier fare.

[Lynda Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

This anthology is particularly good for lovers of mythology. What happens when the old gods get old, when people forget them, when the modern world encroaches? It’s a fun read with a broad spectrum of different mythologies from different cultures.

I’d have to say my favourite story was O’Brien. I loved the writing style and found it wonderfully magical. I also loved Hammer Down, Wine and Mazes, Best Laid Plans, Hotel Quetzalcoatl and so many more. In fact I’m not sure there was a story in there I didn’t like.

Read it! I highly recommend it!

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun collection of humorous and original stories about what the gods and goddesses really get up to when they're retired and out of the spotlight! I loved the variety of pantheons presented (Greek, Norse, Egyptian, Aztec etc) and learning about gods and goddesses who I hadn't heard of previously. A great light-heated anthology which will leave you smiling and wonderful way to discover some new authors.

NOTE: I received an ARC of Grumpy Old Gods and voluntarily chose to leave an honest review.

[Susie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This collection of short stories by various authors is a fun romp, with gods and goddesses breaking curses and stealing back mythical hammers in exchange for motorbike repairs. The writing is generally great, but short stories are tricky, and not all of these authors have mastered the form yet.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Urszula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ancient gods placed in modern times reality plus a little paranormal bits. They do their jobs in a modern fashion but still are themselves. Interesting reality and plots. Well created characters. Sometimes different and good to read. Good read for myths fans.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in the Grumpy Old Gods series a set of paranormal short stories, that are short and fin to read. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Pat Eroh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great anthology of 13 stories each with different grumpy gods. I found some of the stories irresistible and some were not as much as is in most anthologies. Overall, the book was a fun and fantastic read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Heather W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grumpy Old Gods Volume 2 is an anthology of fun stories of the Gods of mythology. These are irreverent, quirky, and fun the read. I really enjoyed these short stories.
I read and reviewed a copy of this book with no obligation.

[Cleocutie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun set of short stories that all center around gods and how they can be almost human. Each tale is fun to read.