Hexed

Ilona Andrews · Yasmine Galenorn · Allyson James · Jeanne C. Stein

Jun 2011 · Penguin

About this ebook

Four of the bestselling names in romance and fantasy come together in this collection of thrilling novellas featuring powerful women who know how to handle a hex or two.

Ratings and reviews

Magic Dreams, Kate Daniels, 4.5 Ice Shards, Otherworld, 9.5 Double Hexed, Stormwalker, 3.5 Blood Debt, Anna Strong, 6.5 The Stories Ilona Andrews' Magic Dreams is focused on Dali and Jim with brief mentions of Kate. A magical attack against one of the Pack's outlying offices results in problems for Jim when he investigates. Since Dali is one of the few shifters who practices magic, Jim requests her help. A truly inspired aid when it becomes apparent that Dali has some experience with the culture behind the attack. I'm curious if we'll meet the Suanmi fire dragon again. I had to keep checking that this was an Ilona Andrews as the writing felt odd. It wasn't the couple's usual style although, to be fair, it did suit Dali's ethnic background. Andrews makes an interesting point about Kate and telephones. How can Dali's mother not know that Jim is the alpha for the Cats?? When combined with the lack of empathy I felt for the story...it only rates a "3' from me. Yasmine Galenorn's Ice Shards is a good story but I was not thrilled with the writing--wa-a-ay too much information, too much repetition, and too many little "adventures" that felt tossed in to stretch out the length of the story! Although we do learn what really happened 600 years ago when Iris Kuusi, a Finnish house sprite, a Talon-haltija, turned Vikkommin inside out and imprisoned him inside a shadow. An act for which she was scourged, major power removed, and thrown out of the temple. Now Iris wants to give Bruce O'Shea the babies he wants and she must get the curse removed. Helping her are Camille, one of the three D'Artigo half-fae, half-human sisters, is along for the ride with Smoky, one of her husbands as is Rozurial, an incubus. The Elemental Lord, Howl, the Great Winter Wolf Spirit, has promised his aid on their trek into the Northlands. Trenyth, the queen's adviser, shows up to help out as well. Allyson James' Double Hexed finds Janet and Mick, Maya, Cassandra, Coyote, Fremont Hansen, Ansel, the mirror, and eventually Pamela and Sheriff Jones stuck inside her hotel when a hex manifests over the entire hotel preventing its inhabitants from leaving and emphasizing their particular strengths over and above reason even as it prevents Coyote from using his power. Cassandra is convinced that her former employer has sent his sorcerer after her, Emmett Smith, and a blood sacrifice is needed. It's an interesting stand-alone story since James incorporated everyone and included enough back history that I didn't feel lost and she did it in such a way that I didn't feel like I was getting the information dumped on me. It also provides us with a look into everyone's abilities. Pretty amazing in a short story. Jeanne C. Stein's Blood Debt introduces Stephen Powers into Anna's life when the Elders send Samual to retrieve Anna for trial. It seems that Belinda Burke, the black witch whom Anna killed was in Sanctuary and should not have been touchable. Now Anna and one other must pay for the two lives Anna took. This was a cute story--the comment on "flying United" was pretty funny--and I enjoyed it, but I wish Stein had been a bit more forthcoming as to Samual's part in all this. Otherwise, Stein did a good job of providing back history and moving us forward in this short story. Oh, and Tracey has been with them for three months now. The Cover The quintessential magical warrior woman in black leather pants and a zip-up empire vest over a blue and purple lycra crop top, long, black hair blowing in the breeze as she leans up against a grey stone wall inscribed with magical symbols in a circle. The title is accurate enough for all four women are Hexed with some sort of curse.

I love this series.

Awesome

About the author

Ilona Andrews is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. Together they are the coauthors of the #1 New York Times bestselling Kate Daniels urban fantasy series and the romantic urban fantasy novels of the Edge. They currently reside in Texas with their two children and numerous pets.

New York Times bestselling author Yasmine Galenorn writes urban fantasy, mystery, and metaphysical nonfiction, including the Whisper Hollow novels, the Otherworld novels, the Indigo Court novels, and the Fly by Night novels. A graduate of Evergreen State College, she majored in theater and creative writing. Yasmine has been in the Craft for more than thirty-four years and is a shamanic witch. She describes her life as a blend of teacups and tattoos, and she lives in the Seattle area with her husband, Samwise, and their cats.

Award-winning author Allyson James is a pen name of New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Ashley. Allyson has written more than 85 published novels and novellas in romance, urban fantasy, and mystery under the names Jennifer Ashley, Allyson James, and Ashley Gardner.

Jeanne C. Stein is the bestselling author of the Anna Strong Vampire Chronicles, which received a RT Reviewers’ Choice Award in 2008. She is active in the writing community and is a member of the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and Horror Writers of America. Stein lives in Colorado.