Prom Nights gone horribly wrong || Prom Nights From Hell (A short story collection)

Title:Prom Nights From Hell

Authors:Meg Cabot,Lauren Myracle,Kim Harrison,Michele Jaffe and Stephenie Meyer

Release Date:April 24th 2007

Publisher:Harper Teen

Synopsis:

In this exciting collection, bestselling authors Meg Cabot (How to Be Popular), Kim Harrison (A Fistful of Charms), Michele Jaffe (Bad Kitty), Stephenie Meyer (Twilight), and Lauren Myracle (ttyl) take bad prom nights to a whole new level — a paranormally bad level. Wardrobe malfunctions and two left feet don't hold a candle to discovering your date is the Grim Reaper — and he isn't here to tell you how hot you look.

From angels fighting demons to a creepy take on getting what you wish for, these five stories will entertain better than any DJ in a bad tux. No corsage or limo rental necessary. Just good, scary fun.

Prom Nights from Hell is a short story collection about disastrous prom nights with a paranormal twist.Truth to be told,I actually think that the prom concept was actually an excuse to bind these stories together in a book:)If you ask me,this is an anthology of paranormal short stories with a horribly gone wrong prom night thrown into the mix.

The Exterminator's Daughter.

by Meg Cabot

It was an okay story,but not what I expected from one written by Meg Cabot.A vampire story with a revenge plot,it misses Meg Cabot's signature humour,quirkiness and wonderful characters.It's a story about Mary,who is a daughter of a supernatural hunter,planning to take revenge on the vampire who took the life of her mother.Sounds familiar,huh?

Now the problem with this story is that Cabot spent a lot of time developing the back story and ends up being so descriptive so that by the time the plot actually quickens,she is supposed to end the story,which is a bit abrupt.There is no real action,but only explanations and planning.

Maybe it would have been better if it was a bit longer.

The Corsage 

By Lauren Myracle

This story was creepy and a bit heartbreaking.It's about Frankie,who wishes that her bestfriend and crush Will would ask her to prom.Awkward and cute Will is a bit nervous to ask her,so much that Frankie gets impatient and goes to a psychic to nudge him in the right direction.

So when she gets a magical and dangerous corsage from the psychic which will grant her three wishes,she uses it to make her dream about prom come true.

But unfortunately,it all ends up drastically,when she not only loses her picture perfect prom night,but also her potential date.Forever.

I really liked this story,and it was perfect for a short story,with an ending that's creepy,disturbing and leaves an impact on you.

Madison Avery and the Dim Reaper

by Kim Harrison

Madison Avery moves to a new town and new school just in the time of prom,which makes her an odd one out at the night.Utterly miserable and humiliated by a guy,she prepares to leave the scene only to be stopped by a handsome stranger.After making a stupid decision involving him,she ends up  finding out that he's the Grim Reaper and that she's dead.

Now this one is actually a PR move on Kim Harrison's part rather than a short story.Unlike the other stories from this collection,this one is a prologue to Kim Harrison's book Once Dead Twice Shy.

Not because the story was bad,but it wasn't suitable for a short story.There were too much gaps and loopholes,because obviously you have to read the full novel to find out the answers.

Maybe if the author had edited it a little bit,and ended it in a place where it would have been a perfect cliffhanger,tempting enough to try out the novel,this would have been an awesome trick.But she ended it in a way,that only left me confused.

Kiss and Tell by Michele Jaffe

This one was awesome!First of all it had a tiny prologue with a cliffhanger which had me completely hooked.And then it had two wonderful characters that I couldn't help but miss a lot when the story finished.

Miranda is an orphan who's always had superpowers she couldn't figure out.She works part time as a driver,and one day ends up escorting an annoying 14 year old traveler to her designated place.But when she leaves the girl at her destination,she suspects that something fishy is going on,and saves the girl at the right time from her kidnappers and ends up being pulled into a cat and mouse game with a secret organization.

These two characters were amazing!Miranda was a quirky and awkward girl whose nervous rants were so adorable!And Sibby-the 14 year old-was a piece of work.She is bossy and annoying yet endearing.To top it off,she pays guys to kiss her.

I can't say that this story is a perfect short story though.I personally thought that this would make a great novel,but unfortunately it's not.

Hell On Earth 

by Stephenie Meyer

Well,looks like Meyer decided to give vampires a break and try her luck on angels and demons.This is a story about a truly disastrous prom night.A demon-Sheba who is responsible to ruining romantic relationships in high schools works her magic-or rather curse-at the prom night of a particular one.She breaks up couples by encouraging seduction,cheating,anger and lust.But her plans all come to an end when she herself falls in love-with an angel of all people.

This would have been actually a good story,if Meyer hadn't included her signature romantic trope-insta love.I mean,how does a demon fall in love with an angel in just a few minutes?

But then,I should've expected that.

Overall,I really enjoyed this anthology despite the flaws that each story had.Altogether it made an okay read,and if you like paranormal short stories,then I suggest you give this one a shot.