This is a well-written, fun, and intense collection of stories. It was so much fun to see so many different authors working together. I'll admit that I'm new to this series, so I was worried about diving in so late in the series. Yet I didn't have any trouble following along, and I am very grateful for that.

Review of Wild Cards: Texas Hold’Em. Edited by George R.R. Martin
Reviewed By Sam Lubell

Superheroes have been running in comic books for generations and have
become super-popular in the movies with many Marvel movies in the top
moneymakers in recent years and DC having five television shows on the CW
network. So it is not surprising that books of superhero adventures are become
more common.

George RR Martin’s Wild Cards has been providing fans with prose superhero
stories and mosaic novels since the 1980s. While the volumes range in tone
from light fun to surprisingly dark, Texas Hold ‘Em is surprising light
considering that it is focused on the Jokers, those whose bodies are deformed by
the alien Wild Card virus, rather than the more super heroic appearing aces (of
course, appearance does not necessarily reflect morality and some of the jokers
have powers of their own.)

The authors are Caroline Spector, Max Gladstone, William F Wu, Diana Rowland, Walton Simons, Victor
Milan, and David Anthony Durham. As a Wild Cards “mosaic novel” the book divides the stories into
pieces and then assembles them into a novel.

Texas Hold ‘Em is, of all things, the story of a high school band trip. Of course, since the band is
comprised of jokers and the chaperons include aces Bubbles, Rusty, and Rubberband, there are lots of
super powered hijinks. Naturally the kids learn lessons about prejudice and growing up. And they discover
an ace who needs to learn to be open about her powers. Their floor of the hotel is haunted. And this
doesn’t even begin to cover the ordinary misadventures of band teens away from their parents. Even super
powered chaperons won’t stop kids from getting into more trouble than they can handle. This book is fun
and stands alone even if the reader has not read any of the dozens of previous books in the series.

Well written and fast paced book that I am now looking forward to being made into a tv show. It's everything you'd want from the Game of Thrones author and something I'll reread in the future.

I was surprised by this. I enjoyed this one. Interesting journey, depth of characters. Really nice read. My favorite aspect was the complexity of the various relationships.

I thoroughly enjoy Martin's Wild Card series and was pleasantly surprised to see this particular one deals with the children affected by this changing world. Set during a band competition, Martin and his compatriots adjust their voices and write a lively, witty, action-packed story that addresses racism, prejudice and religious fear.

It starts off slow and kind of dense, but once the action begins, it's hard to resist the story as it drives forward. It reads as a true epic, one that makes you feel the world really has been reshaped as you read it. Would recommend.

This amazing collaboration is set in the world created initially by George R.R. Martin and I love that others get to play upon this rich tapestry. Essentially it's set in a time after Earth has been forever changed by an alien virus. The population is still human but many are something much more terrifying. We have those known as Jokers, with mental and physical deformities; others known as Aces possess powers that resemble superheroes and yes they are outnumbered by the normal humans and often ostracized or persecuted.
So explanations aside what happens in this book ? It's quite a normal situation really with a school band traveling to a contest so obviously we get pupils and those sent to chaperone them. Ok it's obviously not that straightforward and the kids are Jokers and we might even find the odd Ace hiding amongst them. Their chaperones are very experienced Aces and whether they want to be there or not these escorts are determined to protect their charges. Things get complicated right from the start with protesters, old rivals and even a missing contestant ! What follows is utter chaos as the contest continues amidst angst, romance, petty jealousies and a lot of mischief.
An incredible idea that actually works. I thoroughly enjoyed this foray into the imagination of these assembled authors and enjoyed the myriad of surprises.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

I have to admit, I really struggled with this book. I don't know if it was the storyline or the characters but I just couldn't get into it.
The book is about a music competition in Texas where various school bands - including jokers with (awesome) special abilities compete to win against other students. A lot of mischief ensues and teenage craziness.
The main story itself isn't too bad but then there were offshoot stories that didn't make sense but they eventually tied together nicely. The writing style was good - and the characters (oh so many of them) were mostly interesting - I just couldn't didn't enjoy the book.

A unique read that was totally different than what I originally thought. There was a new twist and turn on every page. We are familiar with the Wild Card series and the work of George R.R. Martin (especially Game of Thrones) and how their is conflict in some way shape or form and in this case, it's a band of misfit "superheroes" and their mothers supervising their school dance and of course chaos happens. An addictive page Turner that will leave you at the edge of your seat.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. This title will be considered as a possible addition to our Fiction library collection. That is why we give this book 4 stars.

An okay entry in the Wild Cards series for YA readers. A high school band competition brings together a band of jokers, some hidden aces, and a mix of admirers and bigots in San Antonio Texas.The students and their escorts, adult aces, deal with protesters, conspiracies, runaways, great music, romance, traps, crude humor, and other goings-on. Some of the multiple stories dragged and were less than essential to the primary plot (the story in which a pianist runs away with a charismatic ace and is hunted down by other aces dragged badly and didn't tie in well with the rest of the book), but overall, fans of the series will probably enjoy parts of it.

This book is SO. GOOD. If I could just stop right there, I would. Because it sums up everything that needs to be said about this book. The "Wild Card" series is one of my very favorites of all time; each time a new book comes out, I snatch it up as quickly as possible without even reading the description. Who needs to read the description when you already know that it's going to be brilliant?? Once again, I was swept away into the complex and fast-paced plot, head-over-heels for the deeply developed characters. One of those rare. books that stays with you long after the last page is turned.