Ratings Overall: 8 Sensuality: 2 Fantasy Element: 9

This is an Official Review by a Fantasy Romance Writer Official Reviewer

Review for Irresistible Forces
Author: Jo Beverley ,Lois McMaster Bujold, Mary Jo Putney, Catherine Asaro (Editor), Jennifer Roberson, Deb Stover
Date of Review: 03/30/04
Reviewed by: Nathalie

Reviewer Comments: Irresistible Forces is a very interesting introduction to the world of “speculative romance,” as Catherine Asaro describes this new genre in her foreword. It includes six very diverse stories, ranging from science fiction to fantasy to paranormal.

Winterfair Gifts, the first story, is my favorite. Written by Lois McMaster Bujold, it takes us through Lord Miles Vorkosigan’s wedding preparations. The story is told by Armsman Roic, a new (and slightly naïve) guard in Lord Vorkosigan’s house, who takes his job very seriously. One of the guests is Sergeant Taura, a very tall bioengineered woman who also happens to have fangs. As Taura and Roic work together to resolve an attempted murder, they become attracted to each other.

I loved this story, even if it doesn’t have a lot of romance in it. It’s very well written, the characters are complex, and the descriptions are very rich in details. This story is part of a series; while I could still follow quite well without having read the previous books, I did get the feeling that I was missing something. I liked Bujold’s style so much that I will be looking for the previous books in this series. Rating : 9

In The Alchemical Marriage by Mary Jo Putney, two very different magicians join forces to fight off a Spanish attack on England. Sir Adam Macrae is a Guardian, a group of Scot magicians who use their talents to serve the greater good. Englishwoman Isabel de Cortes is a powerful mage, but she is also a lonely woman, too different in her magical gifts. This story has its roots on real events that occurred in 1588, when the English defeated the Spanish Armada.

I did not particularly like this story. There is no real sensual tension between the characters or even any attraction, so their relationship is hard to believe. And while the historical background for this story is interesting, the actual plot is not, and the ending is very predictable. It’s well written, but I never got into it. Rating: 7

In contrast, Catherine Asaro’s story, Stained Glass Heart, caught my attention right away. It tells the story of Prince Havyrl Torcellei Valdoria, a young adolescent forced to marry a much older woman, to make an alliance that will stabilize the government. But Vyrl is in love with Lily, his childhood friend. Vyrl and Lily run away so that he can escape his fate.

Asaro’s story is delightful. This is a very romantic story of young love. The worlds that she creates are always original and fascinating. She has become a favorite author for me, and I’m always amazed by the quality of her writing. Rating : 9

Deb Stover’s Skin Deep is a cute and fast-paced story. Nick Riley is dead, but he’s not in heaven. Instead, he’s stuck at the Pearly Gates (guarded by the very funny Seamus, a former Irish NYC cop) because he hasn’t been exactly a nice guy in his life. He is given the chance to make amends by helping his wife, Margo, reunite with her true love… who is no other than Nick’s enemy.

I really enjoyed Stover’s story. It’s fast-paced, interesting, and very funny. Stover is a new author for me, and I would love to read more of her work. Rating : 8

Joe Beverly’s story, The Trouble with Heroes, was fascinating. Childhood friends Jenny Hart and Dan Fixer live on the planet Gaia. Dan is a “fixer,” a sort of doctor/scientist/warrior who can fix anything from a broken arm to a broken heart to a broken machine. Fixers are also the only ones who can kill “blighters,” a strange alien form that turns humans to ashes. When blighters launch a serious attack on their settlement, Dan must go to the front.

This story is very interesting, with a lot of substance to it, maybe too much for a short story. The plot is complex and the characters very well developed, but the story was too short so some of the events felt rushed. But I think this would have made an amazing full-length novel. Jo Beverly would make a superb fantasy romance writer. Rating : 9-

The last story, Shadows in the Wood by Jennifer Roberson, is the least enjoyable story. The premise is interesting: In the Sherwood Forest, Robin Hood and Marian mistakenly bring back to life Merlin, England’s great sorcerer. Merlin needs their help to complete his task: Recover King Arthur’s lost sword and bring it back to the lake.

The problem with this story is that it’s way too short for such a complex plot. Events happen too quickly, and the characters are interesting but never really developed. It’s also not a love story per say. It’s well written, but I never got into it. Rating: 6+.

Overall, Irresistible Forces is an interesting—if not astonishing—fantasy anthology. Hopefully, it will open the door to more anthologies in this genre.