Listed as Fallen: #3.5, I was hoping it would add something to the plot line – Like most “half” books typically do. Maybe give some insight that would play a significant role in the future or delve into a subplot that was merely glanced over in the main portion of the series. Sadly, I was wrong. All the same, short stories deserve reviews too. So here goes….. Warning: Spoilers ahead if you intend to read this collection.

From the Inside Cover:

“Unexpected. Unrequited. Forbidden. Eternal. Everyone has their own love story. And in a twist of fate, four extraordinary love stories combine over the course of a romantic Valentine’s Day in Medieval England. Miles and Shelby find love where they least expect it. Roland learns a painful lesson about finding and losing love. Arianne pays the price for a love so fierce it burns. And for the first – and last – time, Daniel and Luce will spend a night together like none other. Lauren Kate’s Fallen in Love is filled with love stories . . . the ones everyone has been waiting for.”

This installation was mildly entertaining at best. A collection of 4 stories that intertwine around Valentine’s Day in the Dark Ages; each ending spinning into the beginning of the next story. Depressingly, that was the only part I found truly interesting.

To start with, we got an inside look at Roland and Arianne’s past love lives. Yet, I don’t believe any of this plays a part in the final book, Rapture (Fallen: #4). At least I can’t see how it would. Roland’s love was a mortal woman (obviously dead in the “now”) and Arianne’s was left to bleed out. Given where I’m almost certain the main story line will go, neither relationship nor the information regarding these characters’ past and how it impacted them, can possibly have any bearing on the coming events. If it does, in whatever way, I will gladly eat (or retract, as it were) my words.

Moving on, we come to the new development between Miles and Shelby. I might be able to see where this relationship will factor in to the events of Rapture (Fallen: #4) but of course, it could always just end here with this book; which I think is more than likely. To be fair, it felt like it came a little out of left field for me. They jumped into the Announcer as friends in Torment (Fallen: #2) and that feeling was continued into Passion (Fallen: #3). Then, all of a sudden, they pop out of an Announcer and have feelings for each other? Feelings that were never hinted at anywhere in any of the other books. I’m supposed to swallow that without question? Sorry, no can do, Ms. Kate.

Finally, we get a little Daniel/Luce mini romance moment. Again, nothing was really learned. It was nothing but a guilty pleasure indulgence. The only amusing part was seeing the “modern” Daniel and Luce doing their best to make sure that their “past” selves had this uninterrupted and perfect moment.

Unfortunately, temporarily absorbing or not, it was ultimately forgettable. For that, my Rating is: 3.0 Bookmarks.

Reviews Fallen Angels Fiction Lauren Kate Love Triangle Paranormal Romance Short Story Collection YA