Carniepunk

Disclaimer: I received a copy via netgalley.com for review.

This anthology was on my to get list before I received a copy via netgalley. With an all-star line up of authors, and the carnivale as a setting, it had me hooked at the name. If you were expecting something darker, however... look elsewhere. This anthology is made of mostly urban fantasy stories. There is bits of horror here and there but... it's more urban fantasy. I'd even go as far as to say that I'm not sure why they included the “punk” in the title. Sure, some of the stories do have a punkish attitude but more often than not, they just feel more urban and fantastic than what I've come to expect from anything with a -punk subheading. The stories revolve around main characters we know and love from pre-existing series. However, there are many stories that seem to fit into worlds of their own.

Some of the stories that I enjoyed the most included:
Delilah S. Dawson's “The Three Lives of Lydia” told the tale of a tattooed lady, stuck in a world not of her own making.

Mark Henry's “The Sweeter the Juice”: which features transgendered ladies for protagonists and a horde of zombies. Totally laugh out loud-able.

Rachel Caine's “The Cold Girl”: which portrays victims in a whole new light, as well as just how far love can go to prove itself.

Allison Pang's “A Duet with Darkness” is probably my favorite in this volume. This story reminds me of Charles de Lint's work in that the carnivale is not just the setting but does have a bite to it, and interacts in a huge way with her characters. The end of this story left me wondering if Pang has written more about this world and the characters in it (which she does and I will now investigate).

Overall, if you're like me and have an attraction to the mystique of a carnival, then you'll like this anthology of stories. All the attractions are in it, fun houses, ferris wheels, and fortune tellers... just waiting for you to pick it up and give it a read.