Review: Charmed and Dangerous Anthology: Ten Tales of Gay Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy

Magic takes many forms. From malignant hexes to love charms gone amok, you’ll find a vast array of spells and curses, creatures and conjurings in this massive collection—not to mention a steamy dose of man-on-man action. Charmed and Dangerous features all-new stories of gay paranormal romance, supernatural fiction and urban fantasy by ten top m/m paranormal authors.



3.8 stars average, rounded up to 4.

Rhys Ford, Ginn Hale, KJ Charles, Nicole Kimberling, Jordan Castillo Price, Jordan L. Hawk, Charlie Cochet, Lou Harper, Andrea Speed and Astrid Amara.

Wow!! What an author line up! It reads like a who's who of MM paranormal authors. I was privileged to be able to read and review this book. Each story will have the blurb pasted below and I'll add my rating. I'll add reviews for my favourites. I have to say, this book is absolutely worth reading - such a selection of authors and stories.

Rhys Ford - Dim Sum Asylum  

For Detective Roku MacCormick, working Arcane Crimes is his passion. Now cleared of any wrongdoing for shooting his last partner, MacCormick is given back his badge… as well as a new case and partner. Trent Leonard isn’t exactly what he’d expected, but then nothing in San Francisco’s Chinatown ever is.

Ginn Hale - Swift and the Black Dog
When Jack Swift killed a tyrant and won the revolution he became a national hero. But someone in the new government prefers dead heroes to living, swearing, cynical wizards. Caught between bullets, revenge and desire, Jack had better be swift indeed.

KJ Charles - A Queer Trade

Apprentice magician Crispin Tredarloe returns to London to find his master dead, and his papers sold. Papers with secrets that could spell death. Waste paper seller Ned Hall can’t resist Crispin’s pleading—and appealing—looks. But can the wasteman and the magician prevent a disaster and save Crispin’s skin?
This story drew me into the strange world of Crispin's London. Old time London with a magical twist that  owned me and left me dazed when I returned to 21st century Norfolk. such talent to create a world like this in a short story. I understood it, I became part of it and I wanted to know everything about Crispin and Ned. I loved that this was an interracial relationship. I loved that the world of magicians apprentice and waste paper seller were so different - and yet so connected in this story. I'd definitely read more about these two characters. 

Nicole Kimberling - Magically Delicious 

Occult attacks against NIAD agents aren’t remotely Keith Curry’s department. But when his lover, Gunther, is assaulted, Keith refuses to just sit back and fill out paperwork. He’s on the case—even if that means enraging powerful mages, crossing leprechaun picket lines, or braving dinner with Gunther’s goblin parents.

Jordan Castillo Price - Everyone's Afraid of Clowns 

Psychic medium Victor Bayne can spot a ghost any day of the year, but Halloween holds some special surprises. His psych-groupie boyfriend Jacob coaxes him to the location of an old spirit sighting, but they can’t ghosthunt without enduring a cheesy “haunted house” that’s even more disturbing than they realize.
It's Vic and Jake. If I need to say any more than that then you're reading the wrong books. Okay? 

Jordan L. Hawk - The Thirteenth Hex 
Hexman Dominic Kopecky doesn’t understand why dashing crow familiar Rook wants his help investigating murder by patent hex. For one thing, Dominic isn’t a witch. For another, the case is already closed—and someone is willing to kill to keep it that way.
As with KJ Charles, Jordan L. Hawk made me love a world, and characters, in just a few short pages. Dominic - a hexman who is good at what he does but manages to somehow undervalue himself, let himself settle - is drawn into the hunt for criminals by familiar, Rook. I adored both Rook and Dominic. They sold this story to me, and the setting and mystery were the icing on the cake.

Charlie Cochet - The Soldati Prince

Riley Murrough goes from serving lattes to being chased by demons. If that wasn’t bad enough, he bears the mark of a shapeshifter king from a magical realm. Riley’s determined to get answers, but if the demons out for his blood don’t kill him, the urge to strangle the arrogant king might.

Lou Harper - One Hex Too Many

Veteran detective Mike Mulligan is an expert on violent crimes—of the occult variety. He might even be cursed. Detective Hugh Fox is eager to partner up and prove himself, but Mulligan is accustomed to flying solo. Can they trust each other enough to track a killer who’ll stop at nothing, not even summoning a demon?
Lou Harper - an author I've not read before, but I definitely will be again. I loved this story and the world and characters created. Throughout this story there were touches of humour that tickled me, it was well paced and well written.

Andrea Speed - Josh of the Damned vs. the Bathroom of Doom

It's a boring night at the Quik-Mart for Josh and his friend Doug. Until a vampire with a grudge—and the most adorable backup ever—crashes the store. Can Josh survive the Bathroom of Doom?

Astrid Amara - The Trouble With Hexes 

P.I. Tim Keller has a problem. And the only person who can solve it is his ex-boyfriend, Vincent, whose job as a hexbreaker was the reason they broke up. It’s hard admitting he was wrong, especially when coughing up organs. But there’s a missing person to find, a hexmaker to hunt down, and a romance to repair before Tim breathes his last.
Trust and romance is what this story was about. I loved the relationship between Tim and Vincent - again I could read more about them quite happily. The benefit of hindsight is a wonderful thing. The love between these two was tangible, and like so many relationship,s it wasn't that the love waned but more that the problems suddenly seemed too big. The lack of communication, the attempt to save oneself from pain - it all added up to a failed relationship, until Tim needed Vincent more than fear of hurt. A twisting turning tale of love I adored from beginning to end.

A copy of this anthology was given in exchange for an honest review.

Find out more at Goodreads.