"1858--Warring mages open up a vast inland sea that splits the United States in two. With the floodwaters come creatures from a long distant past. What seems like the End Times forges a new era of heroes and heroines who challenge tradition, law, and even death as they transform the old west into a new world. In the heart of dinosaur country a laconic trapper and a veteran mage risk treason to undertake a secret mission. A brilliant magician and her beautiful assistant light up stages with the latest automaton, but the secrets both of them are hiding test their trust in each other and pit them against one of the most powerful men in the world. At the wild edge of the Inland Sea, amidst crocodiles and triceratops, an impoverished young man and a Pinkerton Detective must join forces to outmaneuver a corrupt judge and his gunmen."--Amazon.com.
Reviews with the most likes.
The Long Past
I enjoyed this story but something just felt a little off. I mean, it was fun and I already knew enough about the world that it was interesting to find out how the rifts became things. (And I like the dinosaurs and mages and how it's really just a mix of things that you don't usually find together.) I can't even begin to guess what my problem was because I like the story and I liked the characters.
The Hollow History of Professor Perfectus
I don't know how to rate this story. Did I enjoy it? Sort of - but it also creeped me out. You see, the major plot point has to do with mind control, wherein a man creates a device that he's planning to sell to other men for them to collar the women in their lives that are too independent. I mean, we can't have that at all, can we. (Basically, without going too much into spoilers, the men lock the women in their own minds so they can't control their own body and use them for sex slaves.) Add that to the fact that it's first person perspective (which I've never read from this author before) and I just don't know what to DO with this story.
Get Lucky
(Okay, so I didn't actually re-read this story, but here's the review for it I wrote up when I read it in Once Upon a Time in the Weird West anthology.)
Dinosaurs, clockwork atomata, element mages and a couple that is so different and yet so perfect for each other. What more do you need? <3 I mean, dinosaurs and steampunk and magic and I'm in love with this story. Simply love and adore everything about it. Except it could have been longer. I would have LOVED that, too.
(Have to re-read it to be sure, but it's probably my favorite in this book.)
