Holidays are Hell, a collection of four holiday stories by Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Marjorie M. Liu and Vicki Pettersson, gives a different view to the holidays many of us celebrate. The four authors present their urban fantasy styles in these engaging and entertaining stories. This book was originally released in 2007, was released in 2009 as an ebook, and saw new readers again during the holiday season of 2011.
Two Ghosts for Sister Rachel takes place at the Winter Solstice in a world that has seen witches, vampires and other paranormal creatures come out of hiding. Based on her character from her Hollows series, Kim Harrison takes us back to a time before Rachel becomes a full witch, and hunts down unlicensed witches. When her brother returns home for the holiday, he presents her with a challenge: summon their father and he will sign the papers for Rachel to join the I.S. Rachel completes the spell, summons a ghost, but it isn't her father. The unexpected ghost has an agenda of his own and Rachel follows, trying to prove to herself and her brother that she can join the I.S. This story by itself earns 4/5 stars.
Run, Run, Rudolph by Lynsay Sands follows a newly created shapeshifter through her struggle to avoid the man who created her with her brother's machine. Jill is supposed to spend the day on a float with her love interest, Nick, as Mrs. Santa Claus to his Santa Claus. But the madman chasing her has other plans. This story by itself earns 3/5 stars.
Six by Marjorie M. Liu introduces us to a necromancer, Joseph, and Six, a member of Chinese Squad Twelve. Six has spent her entire life in an emotionless, structured, militant shell. Joseph has the ability to control people with his voice, especially anyone affected by vampirism. Six gets infected and thus begins their romance. Joseph tries to clean the infection from her, so they can save the city from a terrorist attack, lead by a demon who is controlling the vampires. Though the story was intriguing, the romance felt forced and unnecessary. This story by itself earns 3/5 stars.
The Harvest by Vicki Pettersson takes place before The Signs of The Zodiac series begins. Zoe Archer, mother to the series heroine Joanna, tries to protect her daughter's newborn child from the soldiers of dark. She has chosen mortality and protecting her children over her immortal life. But to protect Joanna so that she can take her place as a soldier of light, Zoe must return to the one man she hates more than anything, The Tulpa. This is a great introduction to the series. This story by itself earns 4/5 stars.
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