BOOK REVIEW: Dangerous Women part 3 by George R.R. Martin & Gardner Dozois ★★★★☆

For me, reading novels over 400 pages becomes a challenge, so I favour shorter stories, becase then I am satisfied to reach the end. I got this particular anthology out because firstly of the author George R.R. Martin, author of the huge Fire and Ice Series, now adapted into HBO Game of Thrones. Secondly, the title Dangerous Women, made me think of female empowerment, but also what lengths women would go to, to get what they want. As it is said, women are the dangerous sex.

Split into 3 parts with 21 original cross genre stories, Martin and Gardner Dozois showcase ‘the supposedly weaker sex’s capacity for magic, violence, and mayhem" and "explores the heights that brave women can reach and the depths that depraved ones can test’. And I’m all up for women not being hapless victims. The theme ranges across almost every genre; science fiction, fantasy, mystery, historical, horror, paranormal romance and you’ll find men and women authors contributing. To add, this anthology won the 2014 World Fantasy Award for Best Anthology.

So I started reading part 3 (as it was the only one available at my local library). With seven stories to go through, I’ve reviewed each story individually below.

Some Desperado by Joe Abercrombie
Rating: 5/5
Set in the Wild West, a desperate woman named Shy is chased by bounty hunters into a derelict town. She finds a way to come out on top of the situation. Some Desperado is set before his most recent novel Red Country.

I’ve never read a western before so when I started reading this one, I was hooked from the start. Shy and her horse are on the run and they are injured. She takes shelter in an abandoned town and waits for the bandits to come. Three brothers are on her trail and she finds herself face to face with Jeg, Dodd and Neary.

Abercrombie's tight, intense, action packed style of writing, cursing language and gritty description was captivating. You really get to be side to side with Shy as she fights her way to freedom and her inner thoughts. Although it ends in a sort of cliff hanger, I have found the western genre as something I want to pursue to read, and most likely attempt to write.

City Lazarus by Diana Rowland
Rating 3.75/5
This story follows Captain Danny Faciane in post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans. He is working on a case and soon finds himself being very much involved with a strip pole dancer Delia Rochon. Their relationship moves at a steady pace but when his friend Peter Bennett supposedly gets too involved with Delia, Danny takes the matter into his own hands.

Reading about misogynistic men is not really my thing but Rowland wrote it in a way that was realistic. This thriller, mystery is normally written by male authors but with a female antagonist from a female writer is refreshing. Also, Rowland explains the town’s desperation to start again after a disaster which gets into the heart of the reader. Although I didn’t understand the ending and Delia’s motive, nevertheless it was a compelling, smart and sassy story with a deadly sting.

Hell Hath No Fury by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Rating 3/5
Be careful what you wish you – you might just find it.

This story is a present Native American horror story and it follows four ghost chasers trying to make a documentary about a particular ghost story.

You have the main character Cait Irwin, a psychic who has come along to communicate with the ghost, her best friend Anne, Brandon and Jaime make up the filming crew. Kenyon describes their looks and brief personality on the first page, which didn’t seem too important to me. Three of them are eager to summon the ghost of Louina who was named after the city in Alabama and was driven from her land. However, Cait is reluctant to pursue this venture.

Kenyon is famous for her twenty two novels, paranormal romance Dark Hunter Series and many other series in this genre. I haven’t read any of them so this story was really a sneak peak of her other successful books. I gave this story a go because I’m interested to read what is based on a true legend.

This story was ok but I did get confused with one of the flashback scenes. Alas, the story picked itself up at a crucial climax point and Cait being a psychic, communicating with the Louina’s vengeful ghost and helps her find peace.

Plus I’m not quite sure what happens to Brandon, he seems to have just disappeared and not given much importance like the other characters.

The Hands That Are Not There by Melinda Snodgrass
Rating: 4/5
This one scared me, not in a gruesome horror way but in a creepy aliens can go around manipulating people kind of way.

To be quite honest I really didn’t know how this story was going to pan out. Set in a dystopian future where second lieutenant Tracy Belmanor hears about a conspiracy theory from a drunk named Rohan about an alien race capable of genetically altering humans, including the femme fatale Sammy.

It’s a very descriptive science fiction story about various species and high technology jargon and a story that Rohan must tell in detail. I was slightly lost with all these different species mentioned and in complete awe with Sammy’s seductive description.

Again I don’t know what to make of the story, but I can say that you do feel sorry for Rohan and want Tracy to believe him. But it also gives a moral to the story, be careful who you trust, looks can be deceiving.

Caretakers by Pat Cadigan
Rating: 3/5
It’s a simple enough story. Two sisters, Val and Gloria, who like to watch late night real life serial killer documentaries, visit their mother in a care home. When Gloria starts volunteering at the care home, she notices unusual behaviour.

I had this notion that the main character Val, who is also the narrator, to be in her mid twenties. Turns out she is in her mid fifties and her younger sister Gloria is fifteen years younger than her.

Not that the age bothered me. In fact, it was pleasant to see the middle aged protagonist, compared to the younger ones throughout this anthology. The most enjoyable part of the story is the sisters’ interaction, as it was done beautifully, showing Val’s opinions of how much of a gap there is with the ‘younger generation’ and how she should act around Gloria because Val is the older sister. She also learns and changes her opinion of Gloria and gives her more credit.

The dangerous woman was clearly someone from the care home, but this part didn’t pop out like the other stories. There was much more focus on Val’s life, her interaction with her mother, who has dementia, her relationship with Gloria and finally figuring out what is going on in the care home.

Nora’s Song by Cecelia Holland
Rating 4/5
An historical short about young princess Nora (Eleanor) and her observations of the royal household of her father Henry II of England, her mother and the future king Richard I.

In the third person narrative, this story is told through Nora, trying to understand her position in her royal life and dealing with ever-increasing tension between her parents. Although the story gives some background to the events leading to the rebellion, Nora relationship with Alais, a girl betrothed to Richard I, comes to blow when Alais warns Nora that Eleanor of Aquitaine is wicked.

It’s thoroughly descriptive and events are easily recognisable. When Alais is taken away Nora understand the lengths her mother would go to protect her children.

I may read this further if the author expands on this story.

Bombshells by Jim Butcher
Rating 3/5
From Butcher’s most popular Dresden Files series follows the death of main man Harry Dresden. The primary focus is on his spunky protégé, Molly, the young wizard's apprentice, who finds herself caught between warring factions and must race against time to save a vampire.

The narrative from Molly is in a conversational style which I actually liked because you felt closer to the character. Unlike the other stories this one was fairly long and at times there was some mediocre points but then some parts picked up the pace well.

But to really summarise this story it essential leads Molly and two other girls, going undercover to rescue a vampire but by doing so they use their sexuality to their advantage. For example, Butcher uses terms like “hot" and "racks" and in that way, they successfully do their mission.

The action is well-written and some thrown in humour is got me through this story. But I’m not all inclined to really read the Dresden Files. And in the topic relating to dangerous women, the only danger I saw was when they put themselves in danger.

Summary

Overall, out of all seven short stories, the ones that I favoured were Some Desperadoes, City Lazarus and The Hands That Are Not There because of the style of writing, the message and overall feel that some are dangerous women. Martin and Dozois have done a fine job with the collection as not only have they got the obvious and cunning dangerous women, but some who were in total disguise.

I can’t wait to get my hands on part one and two.

Overall Average Rating: 4/5
Publishers: Harper Voyager
Publication date: November 20th 2014
Genre: Short Stories Anthology