Prom Dates to Die For ed. by Mari Farthing

Goodreads: Prom Dates to Die For
Source: Received from publisher for review

Goodreads Summary: Five young adult authors cordially invite you to five paranormal proms with…

Supernatural hunters hired to save a prom date hungry for souls

A reaper haunted by a past she doesn’t remember

A prom queen seeking justice…and revenge

A loner musician called to save his classmates from an enemy only he can see

A heroine getting much more than she wished for on her 18th birthday and prom night

Fright, fun and unforgettable

Review: The anthology begins with “Darkness Becomes Him” by Kelly Parra, which is probably the shortest and the weakest tale. The concept was great, but because the story was so brief there was little time for readers to get to know or connect with the characters. The onus of interesting the readers was then left mostly on the action…and there was a lot of action! Personally, I think this story could be an exciting climatic scene in a novel, and I would like to see what Parra can do writing a longer work.

Next is “The Bone Flower” by Heater Dearly. This story was very nicely imagined and had a few sentences that made me stop and think for a moment. Some of it is initially confusing, but everything becomes clear in the end. It was both beautiful and a little depressing.

“Every Breath You Take” by Lena Brown, on the other hand, is a little crazy and a little creepy. It was also confusing at points, and I am not sure every detail made complete sense by the end (mainly in terms of some of the characters’ reactions to events.) Nonetheless, the story is very well-developed and had a fascinating premise. It may be the longest story.

“A Kiss at the Threshold by Aaron Smith also presents a very interesting concept, and it has my favorite protagonist (also the only leading male!). The dialogue occasionally comes across as slightly stilted, but perhaps that is due to character traits. The focus is mainly on the plot, however, which is gripping. I would like to know more about how exactly the powers that defeat the villains work.

The last tale is “Tonight, You’re Mine” by Jenny Peterson which was also intriguing. It incorporates some surprises and a bit of humor, which makes it a refreshing contribution to an anthology about proms gone wrong!

Overall, Prom Dates to Die For is a fun, light read with a great variety of stories. Readers looking for bite-sized stories about prom or paranormal adventures will enjoy it.

Published: May 1, 2012

Read the Guest Post by Author Kelly Parra

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