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Jane Yellowrock
Of Claws and Fangs
New York Times bestselling author Faith Hunter presents a stunning collection of stories from the world of shape-shifting vampire hunter Jane Yellowrock and beyond.
Collected together for the first time, this volume contains shorter works featuring heroines Jane Yellowrock and Nell Ingram, as well as a host of other characters from the Jane Yellowrock and Soulwood series. Faith Hunter is “an expert at creating worlds filled with intriguing supernatural elements and exciting scenarios”* and her skills are on full display in this collection. From a vampire-filled Halloween evening in New Orleans to the searing tale of how a certain were-leopard first got his spots, this collection has something for everyone, and each story is sure to put the super in supernatural.
With eighteen stories in all, Of Claws and Fangs will enrich and entertain—it’s a must-have for Faith Hunter’s readers and all lovers of fantasy.
Collected together for the first time, this volume contains shorter works featuring heroines Jane Yellowrock and Nell Ingram, as well as a host of other characters from the Jane Yellowrock and Soulwood series. Faith Hunter is “an expert at creating worlds filled with intriguing supernatural elements and exciting scenarios”* and her skills are on full display in this collection. From a vampire-filled Halloween evening in New Orleans to the searing tale of how a certain were-leopard first got his spots, this collection has something for everyone, and each story is sure to put the super in supernatural.
With eighteen stories in all, Of Claws and Fangs will enrich and entertain—it’s a must-have for Faith Hunter’s readers and all lovers of fantasy.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 3, 2022
About the author
Faith Hunter
90 books5,636 followersFaith Hunter's Junkyard Cats novella series is available in Audible, eBook, and "ridiculously expensive" (her words) trade paperback books at this time.
Faith's Jane Yellowrock series is a dark urban fantasy. Jane is a full blooded Cherokee skinwalker and hunter of rogue-vampires in a world of weres, witches, vampires, and other supernats.
The Soulwood series is a dark-urban fantasy / paranormal police procedural /para-thriller series featuring Nell Nicholson Ingram, an earth magic user and Special gent of PsyLED.
Her Rogue Mage novels—Bloodring, Seraphs, Host, and the RPG Rogue Mage—feature Thorn St. Croix, a stone mage in a post-apocalyptic alternate reality.
Faith writes full-time, tries to keep house, and is a workaholic. She gave up cooking for lent one year and the oven hasn’t been turned on since. Okay – that’s a joke. She does still make cold cereal and sandwiches. Occasionally, she remembers to turn on Roomba (that she named Duma$$ because it fell down the stairs once.)
Faith researches in great detail, and tries most everything her characters do. Research led to her life’s passions – jewelry making, orchids, Japanese maples, bones, travel, white-water kayaking, and writing.
Jewelry-making was the occupation of two of her characters: Thorn St. Croix, the Rogue Mage, and the main character of BloodStone, written by her pen name, Gwen Hunter. She fell in love with the art form. Though she doesn't have time for jewelry as much as she used to, Faith makes, wears, and sometimes gives away her jewelry as promo items to fans and as prizes in contests. See her FaceBook Fan Page at http://www.facebook.com/official.fait... for pics.
Faith loves orchids. Her favorite time of year is when several are blooming. Pictures can be seen at her FaceBook page. And yes, she collects bones and skulls. Many of her orchid pics are juxtaposed with bones and skulls —a fox, cat, dog, cow skull, goat, and deer skull, (that is, unfortunately, falling apart) and the jawbone of an ass. She just received a boar skull, and the skull of a mountain lion (legally purchased from a US tannery) hit by a car in the wild.
Her latest love is Japanese maples, and she has managed to collect over thirty in one year.
She and her husband RV, traveling to whitewater rivers all over the Southeast.
And that leads Faith to kayaking – her very favorite sport. Faith discovered whitewater paddling when she was researching her (Gwen Hunter) mystery book, Rapid Descent. She took a lesson and—after a bout of panic attacks from fear of being upside down trapped in a boat—discovered she loved the sport.
Faith is a voracious reader.
Under other pen names, notably, Gwen Hunter, she writes action adventure, mysteries, and thrillers. As Gwen, she is a winner of the WH Smith Literary Award for Fresh Talent in 1995 in the UK, and won a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award in 2008. As Faith, her books have been on the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller lists, been nominated for various awards and won an Audie Award with Khristine Hvam, among other awards. Under all her pen names, she has more than 40 books, anthologies, and complications in print in 30 countries.
For more, including a list of her books, see www.faithhunter.net , www.gwenhunter.com , and www.magicalwords.net. To keep up with her daily, join her fan pages at Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/official.fait...
Faith's Jane Yellowrock series is a dark urban fantasy. Jane is a full blooded Cherokee skinwalker and hunter of rogue-vampires in a world of weres, witches, vampires, and other supernats.
The Soulwood series is a dark-urban fantasy / paranormal police procedural /para-thriller series featuring Nell Nicholson Ingram, an earth magic user and Special gent of PsyLED.
Her Rogue Mage novels—Bloodring, Seraphs, Host, and the RPG Rogue Mage—feature Thorn St. Croix, a stone mage in a post-apocalyptic alternate reality.
Faith writes full-time, tries to keep house, and is a workaholic. She gave up cooking for lent one year and the oven hasn’t been turned on since. Okay – that’s a joke. She does still make cold cereal and sandwiches. Occasionally, she remembers to turn on Roomba (that she named Duma$$ because it fell down the stairs once.)
Faith researches in great detail, and tries most everything her characters do. Research led to her life’s passions – jewelry making, orchids, Japanese maples, bones, travel, white-water kayaking, and writing.
Jewelry-making was the occupation of two of her characters: Thorn St. Croix, the Rogue Mage, and the main character of BloodStone, written by her pen name, Gwen Hunter. She fell in love with the art form. Though she doesn't have time for jewelry as much as she used to, Faith makes, wears, and sometimes gives away her jewelry as promo items to fans and as prizes in contests. See her FaceBook Fan Page at http://www.facebook.com/official.fait... for pics.
Faith loves orchids. Her favorite time of year is when several are blooming. Pictures can be seen at her FaceBook page. And yes, she collects bones and skulls. Many of her orchid pics are juxtaposed with bones and skulls —a fox, cat, dog, cow skull, goat, and deer skull, (that is, unfortunately, falling apart) and the jawbone of an ass. She just received a boar skull, and the skull of a mountain lion (legally purchased from a US tannery) hit by a car in the wild.
Her latest love is Japanese maples, and she has managed to collect over thirty in one year.
She and her husband RV, traveling to whitewater rivers all over the Southeast.
And that leads Faith to kayaking – her very favorite sport. Faith discovered whitewater paddling when she was researching her (Gwen Hunter) mystery book, Rapid Descent. She took a lesson and—after a bout of panic attacks from fear of being upside down trapped in a boat—discovered she loved the sport.
Faith is a voracious reader.
Under other pen names, notably, Gwen Hunter, she writes action adventure, mysteries, and thrillers. As Gwen, she is a winner of the WH Smith Literary Award for Fresh Talent in 1995 in the UK, and won a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award in 2008. As Faith, her books have been on the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller lists, been nominated for various awards and won an Audie Award with Khristine Hvam, among other awards. Under all her pen names, she has more than 40 books, anthologies, and complications in print in 30 countries.
For more, including a list of her books, see www.faithhunter.net , www.gwenhunter.com , and www.magicalwords.net. To keep up with her daily, join her fan pages at Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/official.fait...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
May 25, 2022
Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
I've read many of these short stories before, as this anthology is a compilation of all the shorties that she's put out since the release of her first compilation anthology, Blood in Her Veins. But of course, revisiting Jane's world is always a pleasure and it's been a long time for most of these stories, so I'm reading them all again! Yay!
ALL of these stories were good, most of them I'd call great.
---
Story: Candy from a Vampire
I love Leo and I love Del, and I liked this glimpse of seeing Leo's growth. I also really loved getting the story of Leo's decision to give Del real responsibility. Plus, I love Halloween!
---
Story: Make It Snappy
We get another glimpse of Leo in this one, and it has a fantastic twist. I also love seeing some of Leo's history come back to haunt him.
---
Story: It's Just a Date
Wish we'd had a little more of the date before the stuff happens... or a little more of the date after. But it was cute to see Wrassler and Jodi so nervous. :)
---
Story: Life's a Bitch and Then You Die
Hard to read, but great history of Wesa and Cat working together for the first time and understanding the origin of the "Beast" moniker.
---
Story: Black Friday Shopping
I love me some Nell and Occam, but this story just left me wanting more - more explanation, more resolution, more!
---
Story: How Occam Got His Name
Devastating story. But I sure do adore Occam.
---
Story: Shiloh and the Brick
Leo always has plans within plans within plans, years ahead.
---
Story: Beast Hunts Vampire with Jane
It's always fun to be in Beast's thoughts.
---
Story: Of Cats and Cars
Do you know how much I love Edmund? SO MUCH. And Beast has always wanted to ride in that car... deals and hinjinx ensue, obviously. I really enjoyed getting Edmund's POV - especially his grief over you know who's death - juxtaposed with Beast's.
---
Story: Beast Hunts Pie-Bald Deer
That was a cute interaction between Beast and Faith Hunter, told from Beast's perspective.
---
Story: Jane Tracks Down Miz A
What a truly sad tale. :(
---
Story: Anzu, Duba, Beast
Gee is a very interesting character. Feathers and lightning and Mercy Blade status. Plus, it's really fun to see Jane get to shift into new things. Plus who doesn't love a good zombie were-bear-hyena story?
---
Story: Eighteen Sixty
Ayatas is so interesting and I loved getting to see some of his backstory... also, Everhart reference!!!
---
Story: Wolves Howling in the Night
More of Ayatas and Etsi Everhart. A little harder to read, based on the subject matter (potential trigger warning!), but a good story and shows Ayatas' sense of justice and morality.
---
Story: Death and the Fashionista
My favorite supernaturals to read about are... witches! And I adore the Everharts. Personality-wise, they're fantastic. Power-wise, they're badass. This story is no exception. We get to see a handful of the Everhart Trueblood clan go up against Death, Fear, and demon of dark magic... and it's a BLAST.
---
Story: My Dark Knight
Witch stuff AND Edmund? Yes please! Angie and Edmund's bond is such good reading. I can't wait to see future books after Jane ends. I need to see Angie grown up!
---
Story: Bound into Darkness
Eli + Liz 4eva. I love them together!!! Definitely one of my favorites of the anthology. Plus it was way longer :)
---
Story: The Ties That Bind
Whaaaat? We get a story with the famous Everhart daughters' MOTHER!? Awesome! :) We get to see a little bit more of what's going on in Bound into Darkness, but events that took place elsewhere. I love Faith's witch lore.
I've read many of these short stories before, as this anthology is a compilation of all the shorties that she's put out since the release of her first compilation anthology, Blood in Her Veins. But of course, revisiting Jane's world is always a pleasure and it's been a long time for most of these stories, so I'm reading them all again! Yay!
ALL of these stories were good, most of them I'd call great.
---
Story: Candy from a Vampire
I love Leo and I love Del, and I liked this glimpse of seeing Leo's growth. I also really loved getting the story of Leo's decision to give Del real responsibility. Plus, I love Halloween!
---
Story: Make It Snappy
We get another glimpse of Leo in this one, and it has a fantastic twist. I also love seeing some of Leo's history come back to haunt him.
---
Story: It's Just a Date
Wish we'd had a little more of the date before the stuff happens... or a little more of the date after. But it was cute to see Wrassler and Jodi so nervous. :)
---
Story: Life's a Bitch and Then You Die
Hard to read, but great history of Wesa and Cat working together for the first time and understanding the origin of the "Beast" moniker.
---
Story: Black Friday Shopping
I love me some Nell and Occam, but this story just left me wanting more - more explanation, more resolution, more!
---
Story: How Occam Got His Name
Devastating story. But I sure do adore Occam.
---
Story: Shiloh and the Brick
Leo always has plans within plans within plans, years ahead.
---
Story: Beast Hunts Vampire with Jane
It's always fun to be in Beast's thoughts.
---
Story: Of Cats and Cars
Do you know how much I love Edmund? SO MUCH. And Beast has always wanted to ride in that car... deals and hinjinx ensue, obviously. I really enjoyed getting Edmund's POV - especially his grief over you know who's death - juxtaposed with Beast's.
---
Story: Beast Hunts Pie-Bald Deer
That was a cute interaction between Beast and Faith Hunter, told from Beast's perspective.
---
Story: Jane Tracks Down Miz A
What a truly sad tale. :(
---
Story: Anzu, Duba, Beast
Gee is a very interesting character. Feathers and lightning and Mercy Blade status. Plus, it's really fun to see Jane get to shift into new things. Plus who doesn't love a good zombie were-bear-hyena story?
---
Story: Eighteen Sixty
Ayatas is so interesting and I loved getting to see some of his backstory... also, Everhart reference!!!
---
Story: Wolves Howling in the Night
More of Ayatas and Etsi Everhart. A little harder to read, based on the subject matter (potential trigger warning!), but a good story and shows Ayatas' sense of justice and morality.
---
Story: Death and the Fashionista
My favorite supernaturals to read about are... witches! And I adore the Everharts. Personality-wise, they're fantastic. Power-wise, they're badass. This story is no exception. We get to see a handful of the Everhart Trueblood clan go up against Death, Fear, and demon of dark magic... and it's a BLAST.
---
Story: My Dark Knight
Witch stuff AND Edmund? Yes please! Angie and Edmund's bond is such good reading. I can't wait to see future books after Jane ends. I need to see Angie grown up!
---
Story: Bound into Darkness
Eli + Liz 4eva. I love them together!!! Definitely one of my favorites of the anthology. Plus it was way longer :)
---
Story: The Ties That Bind
Whaaaat? We get a story with the famous Everhart daughters' MOTHER!? Awesome! :) We get to see a little bit more of what's going on in Bound into Darkness, but events that took place elsewhere. I love Faith's witch lore.
July 7, 2022
This is a short story collection featuring stories by the author primarily from the Jane Yellowrock series. I liked most of them and especially liked that they stories show a bit of perspective from some of the other main characters. I did think it was odd that there were a few stories the author couldn’t quite place in the timeline. A couple of the stories were a bit slower but overall I really enjoyed this collection. I haven’t finished Jane’s series by far yet, but I still enjoyed the stories and didn’t have a hard time following anything.
May 12, 2022
Considering this is an anthology, I wrote individual reviews for each story, and rated each story. I based my rating for the whole book on those ratings.
Generally, I can say that I enjoyed most of the shorts. Well written, and Kristine does an amazing job, as always! Many of the shorts made me want to reread the main series, but considering I did that just last year, and realized that I found the books to be somewhat slow on a reread, I won't do it again. I don't want to destroy the joy I feel around this world and its characters.
CANDY FROM A VAMPIRE
It was interesting to read another short from Leo's POV. Especially one that talked about my fave holiday - All Hallows Eve - and how it had changed for Leo over the years. As well as how Leo had changed over the years, and stayed the same.
Nothing negative to say at all, really.
5/5
MAKE IT SNAPPY
Another story from Leo's POV, and a longer one, at that. This one actually tells a story, and it both answered questions and created new ones.
4/5
IT'S JUST A DATE
A fun little snippet of the magical life in New Orleans, as well as us finally getting to see how one of the couples in the later part of the series got together!
4/5
LIFE'S A BITCH AND THEN YOU DIE
A story focusing on 1 of the memories Beast keeps hidden from Jane.
I love Beast, and really enjoy any story set in her POV. This one also included WeSa, which was interesting. Found myself very entertained and currious about everything in this story, and would be interested in any sequel.
5/5
BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING
A short story about Nell early in the Soulwood-series. I really like Nell, and find her side of this world interesting and scary.
This story was a heartbreaking one, and did such a good job of showing different types of empathy and pain.
I need more Nell books!
5/5
HOW OCCAM GOT HIS NAME
Another Soulwood story, but this was about how Occam got turned into a were, and where his name came from.
Like the last story, this one was heartbreaking, but in a different way. I have to admit I never wondered about the details of him being bitten, but it was still an interesting story.
Nothing negative to say, it just didn't grab me the way the others have.
3/5
SHILHO AND THE BRICK
I never much cared for vampires, even in this series, but I do love witches, and Shilho has been an enigma for some time. Seeing a story about her was interesting, but unfortunately nothing more
3/5
BEASTS HUNTS VAMPIRE WITH JANE
A fun little short from Beasts POV, as Jane hunts rouge vamps. I think it must have been set pretty early in the series. Fun and sexy
5/5
OF CATS AND CARS
I actually read this when it was first released in 2019, and while I don't remember any big details, I remembered I enjoyed it - I do love Beast, after all.
Reading this extended version was an experience. It felt a lot more personal, somehow, like I was being invited into an inner circle of these characters, and I greatly enjoyed that
5/5
BEAST HUNTS PIE-BALD DEER
Not sure how to rate this one. Random, but fun. Not much of a story, tho. I don't think I'll rate it
JANE TRACKS DOWN MIZ A
A story about human (vampire) error, love, and hope. It was a little heartbreaking, as someone who's been in Katies shoes - to some extent - but I didn't feel like there was much of a story
4/5
ANZU, DUBA, BEAST
I finally got to read this! I've been curious for ages!
The story is interesting. It fulfills one of the promises given in the original series, as well as introduce new creatures and vampires to the world. I'm very curious about the Duba an where they came from, originally, or if it was just a fluke of the location.
Nothing bad to say, but it didn't quite pull at my feels, so ''just'':
4/5
1860
I never liked Firewind - I don't know why - so this story didn't really do much for me. The only good thing I found was the witch, although she didn't have a lot of page time.
It did raise a question about the blood line and such, but that was about it.
Well written, and all the technical stuff was also good, just the story that didn't work for me.
2/5
WOLVES HOWLING IN THE NIGHT
Another story set from Firewind's POV, but this one was more to my liking, as it actually had an interesting story. It also gave us some more info about the Everheart witch we saw in the previous story, although I'm still left with some questions.
4/5
DEATH AND THE FASHIONISTA
Molly! We got a full on witch story, with demons and vamps and everything. And it actually drove a bit of Molly's personal ARC as well, which was nice
5/5
MY DARK KNIGHT
Angelina is an OK character, and I recognize she's a child, but I never much cared for her.
Edd, on the other hand, I always liked! He's one of the few vampires I enjoy reading about.
The story was interesting, but also painful, and something about it felt strangely relevant to the current US political scene
5/5
BOUND INTO DARKNESS
I've read this before, and couldn't bring myself to reread, so here's (parts) my original review:
There were repetitions and events coming out of thin air, makimg me feel like I'd skipped a page.
I had so many problems with this 1, and I'm so sad about that!
I like Eli as a character, but this story reduced his whole personality into being a veteran.
And it was really slow
2/5
THE TIES THAT BIND
My original review fits here as well:
This story was everything the other wasn't. Not only was the action intense, but the underlying plot was very interesting! It may also explain why there was so little cancer in the Everheart-sisters.
I'm so hyped to learn more about this!
4/5
Generally, I can say that I enjoyed most of the shorts. Well written, and Kristine does an amazing job, as always! Many of the shorts made me want to reread the main series, but considering I did that just last year, and realized that I found the books to be somewhat slow on a reread, I won't do it again. I don't want to destroy the joy I feel around this world and its characters.
CANDY FROM A VAMPIRE
It was interesting to read another short from Leo's POV. Especially one that talked about my fave holiday - All Hallows Eve - and how it had changed for Leo over the years. As well as how Leo had changed over the years, and stayed the same.
Nothing negative to say at all, really.
5/5
MAKE IT SNAPPY
Another story from Leo's POV, and a longer one, at that. This one actually tells a story, and it both answered questions and created new ones.
4/5
IT'S JUST A DATE
A fun little snippet of the magical life in New Orleans, as well as us finally getting to see how one of the couples in the later part of the series got together!
4/5
LIFE'S A BITCH AND THEN YOU DIE
A story focusing on 1 of the memories Beast keeps hidden from Jane.
I love Beast, and really enjoy any story set in her POV. This one also included WeSa, which was interesting. Found myself very entertained and currious about everything in this story, and would be interested in any sequel.
5/5
BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING
A short story about Nell early in the Soulwood-series. I really like Nell, and find her side of this world interesting and scary.
This story was a heartbreaking one, and did such a good job of showing different types of empathy and pain.
I need more Nell books!
5/5
HOW OCCAM GOT HIS NAME
Another Soulwood story, but this was about how Occam got turned into a were, and where his name came from.
Like the last story, this one was heartbreaking, but in a different way. I have to admit I never wondered about the details of him being bitten, but it was still an interesting story.
Nothing negative to say, it just didn't grab me the way the others have.
3/5
SHILHO AND THE BRICK
I never much cared for vampires, even in this series, but I do love witches, and Shilho has been an enigma for some time. Seeing a story about her was interesting, but unfortunately nothing more
3/5
BEASTS HUNTS VAMPIRE WITH JANE
A fun little short from Beasts POV, as Jane hunts rouge vamps. I think it must have been set pretty early in the series. Fun and sexy
5/5
OF CATS AND CARS
I actually read this when it was first released in 2019, and while I don't remember any big details, I remembered I enjoyed it - I do love Beast, after all.
Reading this extended version was an experience. It felt a lot more personal, somehow, like I was being invited into an inner circle of these characters, and I greatly enjoyed that
5/5
BEAST HUNTS PIE-BALD DEER
Not sure how to rate this one. Random, but fun. Not much of a story, tho. I don't think I'll rate it
JANE TRACKS DOWN MIZ A
A story about human (vampire) error, love, and hope. It was a little heartbreaking, as someone who's been in Katies shoes - to some extent - but I didn't feel like there was much of a story
4/5
ANZU, DUBA, BEAST
I finally got to read this! I've been curious for ages!
The story is interesting. It fulfills one of the promises given in the original series, as well as introduce new creatures and vampires to the world. I'm very curious about the Duba an where they came from, originally, or if it was just a fluke of the location.
Nothing bad to say, but it didn't quite pull at my feels, so ''just'':
4/5
1860
I never liked Firewind - I don't know why - so this story didn't really do much for me. The only good thing I found was the witch, although she didn't have a lot of page time.
It did raise a question about the blood line and such, but that was about it.
Well written, and all the technical stuff was also good, just the story that didn't work for me.
2/5
WOLVES HOWLING IN THE NIGHT
Another story set from Firewind's POV, but this one was more to my liking, as it actually had an interesting story. It also gave us some more info about the Everheart witch we saw in the previous story, although I'm still left with some questions.
4/5
DEATH AND THE FASHIONISTA
Molly! We got a full on witch story, with demons and vamps and everything. And it actually drove a bit of Molly's personal ARC as well, which was nice
5/5
MY DARK KNIGHT
Angelina is an OK character, and I recognize she's a child, but I never much cared for her.
Edd, on the other hand, I always liked! He's one of the few vampires I enjoy reading about.
The story was interesting, but also painful, and something about it felt strangely relevant to the current US political scene
5/5
BOUND INTO DARKNESS
I've read this before, and couldn't bring myself to reread, so here's (parts) my original review:
There were repetitions and events coming out of thin air, makimg me feel like I'd skipped a page.
I had so many problems with this 1, and I'm so sad about that!
I like Eli as a character, but this story reduced his whole personality into being a veteran.
And it was really slow
2/5
THE TIES THAT BIND
My original review fits here as well:
This story was everything the other wasn't. Not only was the action intense, but the underlying plot was very interesting! It may also explain why there was so little cancer in the Everheart-sisters.
I'm so hyped to learn more about this!
4/5
July 19, 2022
This anthology features a robust mix of stories from the world of Jane Yellowrock, and while I didn't love them all equally, I did really enjoy most. These are generally previously released works, but I hadn't read any of them, so they were all new to me.
"Candy From a Vampire" - a vignette from Leo's point of view. Don't expect a real story here. It's more like a scene, a snapshot, of the vampire on Halloween, as he hosts a party for the children of New Orleans. This is really too short for me to have an opinion on, but die-hard Leo fans might be excited to see him again here. This one was set after he met Jane, unlike "Make It Snappy" which was set a few years before. Here, we follow Leo as he is set up to be assassinated. Obviously, it didn't work, but there were some solid action sequences and several familiar faces, like George and Katie. It's been so long since I've seen the interplay between Leo and his people, it took me back. You can see so much of his character here, the arrogance, the charm, the decidedly inhumanness of him. Plus, there's a cool little twist at the end. I liked this one.
"It's Just a Date" takes place during the time Jane is Leo's enforcer. The plot centers on a triple date with Jane and Bruiser, Eli and Syl, and a first date for Jodi and Wrassler. I always enjoy time spent between Jane and George, but of course, the date doesn't go according to plan. There's magic and violence and a brief question of who is the intended target.
"Life's a Bitch and Then You Die" brings us closer to the current timeline. It's set just before Shattered Bonds, when Jane is spending most of her time in Beast form to stave off her cancer. I really liked it. We get a memory of Wesa and Cat as they are captured --maybe by a covert ops group--and caged along with other animals that may or may not be some kinds of shifter. This is the beginning of them calling themselves Beast. And it sets up a mystery I hope will play out in other books about who these men are and how they'll get taken down.
"Black Friday Shopping" hops over to Soulwood territory, which is A-okay with me. I am a fan of Nell and Occam too! This short follows them as they try to pinpoint the source of magic wreaking havoc at a WalMart on Black Friday. It was too short. "How Occam Got His Name" was meatier. This was his origin story, which was sad, but also really interesting. His dad really sucked.
“Shiloh and the Brick” takes place in the early days after Molly’s niece was turned into a vamp. It shows the push and pull as she fights with her family about her training and responsibilities. This was another showcase for Leo, showing how much he had in hand as master of the city. I didn’t think I would miss him, but these stories remind me of his weight as a character.
“Beast Hunts Vampires With Jane” is a Beast POV from the early days when Jane just killed vampires, before she was so wrapped up in the politics. She’s undercover at a dance club, luring her vampire prey. Short but fun.
We jump to Edmund’s POV for “Of Cats and Cars,” a story he shares with Beast. It’s set later in the series after Jane became Dark Queen, and I had a blast watching Ed and Beast bargain with each other over a hunt. I always enjoy Beast Perspective, but this is the first time I recall reading from Edmund’s. I enjoyed this one quite a bit.
“Jane Tracks Down Miz A” takes us with Jane as she discovers a missing blood servant may not be as dead as she thought. It’s pretty short, while "Anzu, Duba, Beast” is a little longer. It takes us along with Jane as she gives the Mercy Blade the hunt she promised him for his help in a previous book. The Duba in the title is the prey in the hunt, a bear-hyena were-hybrid that is wreaking havoc and needs to be put down--a pair of them actually. This is story is Jane's first shift into an Anzu and highlights the dynamics of her kind of weird relationship with Gee. Pretty good.
"Eighteen Sixty" is the both the title and the year the next story takes place. It's the first of two shorts told through the POV of Atayas Fire-Wind, Jane's brother. It definitely lacked the quality of the Jane stories that pulls me in. It just didn't have the same personality. I was bored. Though it did pique my interest that he mentioned his woman was an Everheart witch. Did I know this already? If so, I forgot. And it is kind of an interesting coincidence that he and Jane share a connection to that family. His other story, "Wolves Howling in the Night," was set about 20 years later, but still, obviously, way in the past. It’s definitely the more engaging of the two. Atayas and his “Everheart woman” enter a town to discover a woman had been sold to a brothel by her new husband. The plot follows their rescue of her and bringing justice to her attackers. I got so much more of a sense of Atayas's character here. And his relationship resonated. Now I am a bit more interested in him than I was before.
Next up, “Death of a Fashionista” is a Molly POV and it’s one of my favorite stories in the book. It takes place in a time Molly is really struggling with her death magics. Two powerful strangers appear at her home, looking for power, and it doesn’t go quite the way they planned. I love the Everheart-Trueblood family and the connection between Molly and Evan. They are so strong together! I hope we get more of them.
We stick with the family for “My Dark Knight,” though Angie takes the reins in this one. Someone is attacking the family home, and Angie must use her magic to protect herself and her little brother. Only, things get hairier when her magic crosses with her mother's and that of her angel. She has to call Edmund for help. I find their relationship interesting but I am always a little leery of the possibility that one day a grown-up Angie will end up with him. After reading the story, thankfully, that seems a little less likely. She is such a fun character. She is going to be an awesome lead for her own series one day.
“Bound into Darkness” is a full-fledged novella and follows Molly's sister Liz as she goes out on a mission-slash-date with Eli shortly after the events of Shattered Bonds. Someone has hired her to find a lost dog, deep in the woods, away from civilization. This was great. It had action, romance, demons, vamps, weres, and witchcraft all rolled into one. Admittedly, it was kind of romance-light but I enjoyed the banter and... the possibilities. I would totally read more from these two together.
Finally, we have "The Ties That Bind." I've got to admit, it took me a second to figure out who this story was about--the name Bedelia didn't ring a bell. But it's the Everheart matriarch --and Lincoln Shaddock! And this is tied directly to the story before this one. I loved the exploration (and revelations) from their past as they work together to take down the witches responsible for setting up Liz for the demon/were attack. A great story and a solid way to wrap up the anthology.
I think any fans of Jane Yellowrock will enjoy this collection as well.
*ARC provided by publisher
"Candy From a Vampire" - a vignette from Leo's point of view. Don't expect a real story here. It's more like a scene, a snapshot, of the vampire on Halloween, as he hosts a party for the children of New Orleans. This is really too short for me to have an opinion on, but die-hard Leo fans might be excited to see him again here. This one was set after he met Jane, unlike "Make It Snappy" which was set a few years before. Here, we follow Leo as he is set up to be assassinated. Obviously, it didn't work, but there were some solid action sequences and several familiar faces, like George and Katie. It's been so long since I've seen the interplay between Leo and his people, it took me back. You can see so much of his character here, the arrogance, the charm, the decidedly inhumanness of him. Plus, there's a cool little twist at the end. I liked this one.
"It's Just a Date" takes place during the time Jane is Leo's enforcer. The plot centers on a triple date with Jane and Bruiser, Eli and Syl, and a first date for Jodi and Wrassler. I always enjoy time spent between Jane and George, but of course, the date doesn't go according to plan. There's magic and violence and a brief question of who is the intended target.
"Life's a Bitch and Then You Die" brings us closer to the current timeline. It's set just before Shattered Bonds, when Jane is spending most of her time in Beast form to stave off her cancer. I really liked it. We get a memory of Wesa and Cat as they are captured --maybe by a covert ops group--and caged along with other animals that may or may not be some kinds of shifter. This is the beginning of them calling themselves Beast. And it sets up a mystery I hope will play out in other books about who these men are and how they'll get taken down.
"Black Friday Shopping" hops over to Soulwood territory, which is A-okay with me. I am a fan of Nell and Occam too! This short follows them as they try to pinpoint the source of magic wreaking havoc at a WalMart on Black Friday. It was too short. "How Occam Got His Name" was meatier. This was his origin story, which was sad, but also really interesting. His dad really sucked.
“Shiloh and the Brick” takes place in the early days after Molly’s niece was turned into a vamp. It shows the push and pull as she fights with her family about her training and responsibilities. This was another showcase for Leo, showing how much he had in hand as master of the city. I didn’t think I would miss him, but these stories remind me of his weight as a character.
“Beast Hunts Vampires With Jane” is a Beast POV from the early days when Jane just killed vampires, before she was so wrapped up in the politics. She’s undercover at a dance club, luring her vampire prey. Short but fun.
We jump to Edmund’s POV for “Of Cats and Cars,” a story he shares with Beast. It’s set later in the series after Jane became Dark Queen, and I had a blast watching Ed and Beast bargain with each other over a hunt. I always enjoy Beast Perspective, but this is the first time I recall reading from Edmund’s. I enjoyed this one quite a bit.
“Jane Tracks Down Miz A” takes us with Jane as she discovers a missing blood servant may not be as dead as she thought. It’s pretty short, while "Anzu, Duba, Beast” is a little longer. It takes us along with Jane as she gives the Mercy Blade the hunt she promised him for his help in a previous book. The Duba in the title is the prey in the hunt, a bear-hyena were-hybrid that is wreaking havoc and needs to be put down--a pair of them actually. This is story is Jane's first shift into an Anzu and highlights the dynamics of her kind of weird relationship with Gee. Pretty good.
"Eighteen Sixty" is the both the title and the year the next story takes place. It's the first of two shorts told through the POV of Atayas Fire-Wind, Jane's brother. It definitely lacked the quality of the Jane stories that pulls me in. It just didn't have the same personality. I was bored. Though it did pique my interest that he mentioned his woman was an Everheart witch. Did I know this already? If so, I forgot. And it is kind of an interesting coincidence that he and Jane share a connection to that family. His other story, "Wolves Howling in the Night," was set about 20 years later, but still, obviously, way in the past. It’s definitely the more engaging of the two. Atayas and his “Everheart woman” enter a town to discover a woman had been sold to a brothel by her new husband. The plot follows their rescue of her and bringing justice to her attackers. I got so much more of a sense of Atayas's character here. And his relationship resonated. Now I am a bit more interested in him than I was before.
Next up, “Death of a Fashionista” is a Molly POV and it’s one of my favorite stories in the book. It takes place in a time Molly is really struggling with her death magics. Two powerful strangers appear at her home, looking for power, and it doesn’t go quite the way they planned. I love the Everheart-Trueblood family and the connection between Molly and Evan. They are so strong together! I hope we get more of them.
We stick with the family for “My Dark Knight,” though Angie takes the reins in this one. Someone is attacking the family home, and Angie must use her magic to protect herself and her little brother. Only, things get hairier when her magic crosses with her mother's and that of her angel. She has to call Edmund for help. I find their relationship interesting but I am always a little leery of the possibility that one day a grown-up Angie will end up with him. After reading the story, thankfully, that seems a little less likely. She is such a fun character. She is going to be an awesome lead for her own series one day.
“Bound into Darkness” is a full-fledged novella and follows Molly's sister Liz as she goes out on a mission-slash-date with Eli shortly after the events of Shattered Bonds. Someone has hired her to find a lost dog, deep in the woods, away from civilization. This was great. It had action, romance, demons, vamps, weres, and witchcraft all rolled into one. Admittedly, it was kind of romance-light but I enjoyed the banter and... the possibilities. I would totally read more from these two together.
Finally, we have "The Ties That Bind." I've got to admit, it took me a second to figure out who this story was about--the name Bedelia didn't ring a bell. But it's the Everheart matriarch --and Lincoln Shaddock! And this is tied directly to the story before this one. I loved the exploration (and revelations) from their past as they work together to take down the witches responsible for setting up Liz for the demon/were attack. A great story and a solid way to wrap up the anthology.
I think any fans of Jane Yellowrock will enjoy this collection as well.
*ARC provided by publisher
August 22, 2022
For the longest time I was on the fence about reading this anthology. I though I’d read most of the stories already. I’m so glad I gave it a chance. I found and rediscovered quite a few stories I didn’t remember reading, and to my surprise, some of my favorite stories had been expanded upon considerably since I last read them, most notably Edmund & Beast’s hunting adventure (sadly not in Edmund’s priceless Maserati.)
I’m not the biggest fans of the Everhearts, but I was pleasantly surprised to discover more about their lives, loves and connection to Jane’s brother; Firewind. Edmund being my favorite, his expanded adventure with Beast alone made this book worth owning. I really wish we’d get another story from his perspective. He’s got hidden depths and secrets that are unlikely to be explained fully in the final Jane Yellowrock novel coming out this fall.
I wish this series wasn’t coming to an end…
I’m not the biggest fans of the Everhearts, but I was pleasantly surprised to discover more about their lives, loves and connection to Jane’s brother; Firewind. Edmund being my favorite, his expanded adventure with Beast alone made this book worth owning. I really wish we’d get another story from his perspective. He’s got hidden depths and secrets that are unlikely to be explained fully in the final Jane Yellowrock novel coming out this fall.
I wish this series wasn’t coming to an end…
April 27, 2022
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 4.0 overall (will break down each story soon)
*Thoughts*
Candy from a Vampire: This story was first published on the authors blog as a serial for a blog tour for Halloween 2017. This story features Leo Pellissier, a story that lots of readers requested from the author to write. Halloween in the French Quarter without all the notable chaos and bloodshed and a happy ending.
Make it Snappy: First published in Urban Enemies, an anthology from Gallery Books in 2017. The story is again from Leo's point of view. The story is set a few years before Jane and Leo meet. I've reviewed this story previously under Urban Enemies.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 4.0 overall (will break down each story soon)
*Thoughts*
Candy from a Vampire: This story was first published on the authors blog as a serial for a blog tour for Halloween 2017. This story features Leo Pellissier, a story that lots of readers requested from the author to write. Halloween in the French Quarter without all the notable chaos and bloodshed and a happy ending.
Make it Snappy: First published in Urban Enemies, an anthology from Gallery Books in 2017. The story is again from Leo's point of view. The story is set a few years before Jane and Leo meet. I've reviewed this story previously under Urban Enemies.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
April 11, 2022
I love Faith Hunter books, but as they are written in first person POV sometimes you miss things that are going on with the other characters. I like these short stories because they give you a better look at some of my favorites. I had read most of these as they were in other anthologies but some of them were new to me. If you are a fan of the Jane Yellowrock series and want more of the other characters including Beast I would recommend this book.
May 5, 2022
I really liked this one, despite all of the stories having been published before, I seemed to miss quite a few of them, so it was nice to get to see them. Often these shorts are with secondary characters a great way to see them in a different light. I loved the Halloween one with Leo. I also liked that some of them were just random scenes showing the characters living their lives, like the crazy triple date. And the one with Angie baby, realizing she was not going to be able to marry her prince. That girl is much too smart for her own good and will be a force to be reckoned with as she grows older. It's good thing she has good adults around her to keep her grounded.
May 3, 2022
Check out our full post for OF CLAWS AND FANGS on Wicked Reads.
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Erica – ☆☆☆☆☆
OF CLAWS AND FANGS is a short-story compilation from Faith Hunter, featuring stories mostly set in the Jane Yellowrock universe, as well as the sister series, Soulwood.
While this is a collection of short stories, I would suggest being current on both series to avoid spoilers, as the stories span the timeframe from predating the debut novel to the most current release.
Since I'm not one to hunt down short stories in a massive series, these were all new-to-me, even though they were previously released in newsletters and websites, most of them taken down after a short period of time. Even if you've read some, you may have missed others.
The heading of each story explains its origin (where it was posted and how it fits into the overall series). Whether you've had the opportunity to read them or not, I appreciate them all being in one handy location, easily accessed to get a hit of my favorite characters in one of my all-time favorite series.
I thoroughly enjoyed picking up the collection, where I immersed myself in the point-of-view of Jane's cohorts, being inside their thoughts for the first time. Each story is of variable length, where if you have five to ten minutes to spare, it's an excellent way to de-stress and relax while being entertained.
Of all the stories, OF CATS AND CARS was my favorite. It was also one of the longest stories. Nothing is as enjoyable as Beast, especially a trixsy Beast in love with Edmund. This is set in the timeframe when Jane is ill, where she was in beast-form more often than not, but Jane was deep healing in the background, allowing Beast free-reign.
Beast wanted to hunt cows with trees on their heads in a car with no head, and Jane allowed the bargain. Poor Edmund's Maserati. Watching Beast be flirty and manipulative with such a powerful man, a man she sees as her mate, even though Jane sees Edmund as her subordinate. Delightful, adorable, and laugh out loud hilarious, I will be rereading this short many times to come.
Leo, Master of the City of New Orleans (along with a good paragraph of other titles) was predominant is many of the stories, sure to please fans. We see things predating Jane, events which were mentioned or glossed over in previous installments. Being inside Leo's head was exciting and refreshing.
Other notable mentions were cameos from the Everhart witches, along with Leo, Beast, Edmund, and others. The connection Jane has fostered with her made family and friends is one of the highlights of the series, and these shorts showcase her nearest and dearest, filled with humor, emotion, and action & adventure, set to the backdrop of the Jane Yellowrock universe.
While I am sad that the Jane Yellowrock series will be coming to a close with the next novel, I cannot wait to see what other projects Faith Hunter has in store for us. This series is on my reread list, and I'm happy to add OF CLAWS AND FANGS to the collection.
Reviewers received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
April 28, 2022
I received a free copy of this title to read and review for Wicked Reads
OF CLAWS and FANGS is a short-story compilation from Faith Hunter, featuring stories mostly set in the Jane Yellowrock universe, as well as the sister series, Soulwood.
While this is a collection of short stories, I would suggest being current on both series to avoid spoilers, as the stories span the timeframe from predating the debut novel to the most current release.
Since I'm not one to hunt down short stories in a massive series, these were all new-to-me, even though they were previously released in newsletters and websites, most of them taken down after a short period of time. Even if you've read some, you may have missed others.
The heading of each story explains its origin (where it was posted and how it fits into the overall series) Whether you've had the opportunity to read them or not, I appreciate them all being in one handy location, easily accessed to get a hit of my favorite characters in one of my all-time favorite series.
I thoroughly enjoyed picking up the collection, where I immersed myself in the point-of-view of Jane's cohorts, being inside their thoughts for the first time. Each story is of variable length, where if you have five to ten minutes to spare, it's an excellent way to de-stress and relax while being entertained.
Of all the stories, Of Cats & Cars was my favorite. It was also one of the longest stories. Nothing is as enjoyable as Beast, especially a trixsy Beast in love with Edmund. This is set in the timeframe when Jane is ill, where she was in beast-form more often than not, but Jane was deep healing in the background, allowing Beast free-reign.
Beast wanted to hunt cow with trees on their heads in a car with no head, and Jane allowed the bargain. Poor Edmund's Maserati. Watching Beast be flirty and manipulative with such a powerful man, a man she sees as her mate, even though Jane sees Edmund as her subordinate. Delightful, adorable, and laugh out loud hilarious, I will be rereading this short many times to come.
Leo, Master of the City of New Orleans (along with a good paragraph of other titles) was predominant is many of the stories, sure to please fans. We see things predating Jane, events which were mentioned or glossed over in previous installments. Being inside Leo's head was exciting and refreshing.
Other notable mentions were cameos from the Everhart witches, along with Leo, Beast, Edmund, and others. The connection Jane has fostered with her made family and friends is one of the highlights of the series, and these shorts showcase her nearest and dearest, filled with humor, emotion, and action/adventure, set to the backdrop of the Jane Yellowrock universe.
While I am sad that the Jane Yellowrock series will be coming to a close with the next novel, I cannot wait to see what other projects Faith Hunter has in store for us. This series is on my reread list, and I'm happy to add OF CLAWS AND FANGS to the collection.
OF CLAWS and FANGS is a short-story compilation from Faith Hunter, featuring stories mostly set in the Jane Yellowrock universe, as well as the sister series, Soulwood.
While this is a collection of short stories, I would suggest being current on both series to avoid spoilers, as the stories span the timeframe from predating the debut novel to the most current release.
Since I'm not one to hunt down short stories in a massive series, these were all new-to-me, even though they were previously released in newsletters and websites, most of them taken down after a short period of time. Even if you've read some, you may have missed others.
The heading of each story explains its origin (where it was posted and how it fits into the overall series) Whether you've had the opportunity to read them or not, I appreciate them all being in one handy location, easily accessed to get a hit of my favorite characters in one of my all-time favorite series.
I thoroughly enjoyed picking up the collection, where I immersed myself in the point-of-view of Jane's cohorts, being inside their thoughts for the first time. Each story is of variable length, where if you have five to ten minutes to spare, it's an excellent way to de-stress and relax while being entertained.
Of all the stories, Of Cats & Cars was my favorite. It was also one of the longest stories. Nothing is as enjoyable as Beast, especially a trixsy Beast in love with Edmund. This is set in the timeframe when Jane is ill, where she was in beast-form more often than not, but Jane was deep healing in the background, allowing Beast free-reign.
Beast wanted to hunt cow with trees on their heads in a car with no head, and Jane allowed the bargain. Poor Edmund's Maserati. Watching Beast be flirty and manipulative with such a powerful man, a man she sees as her mate, even though Jane sees Edmund as her subordinate. Delightful, adorable, and laugh out loud hilarious, I will be rereading this short many times to come.
Leo, Master of the City of New Orleans (along with a good paragraph of other titles) was predominant is many of the stories, sure to please fans. We see things predating Jane, events which were mentioned or glossed over in previous installments. Being inside Leo's head was exciting and refreshing.
Other notable mentions were cameos from the Everhart witches, along with Leo, Beast, Edmund, and others. The connection Jane has fostered with her made family and friends is one of the highlights of the series, and these shorts showcase her nearest and dearest, filled with humor, emotion, and action/adventure, set to the backdrop of the Jane Yellowrock universe.
While I am sad that the Jane Yellowrock series will be coming to a close with the next novel, I cannot wait to see what other projects Faith Hunter has in store for us. This series is on my reread list, and I'm happy to add OF CLAWS AND FANGS to the collection.
August 17, 2022
A full collection of the short stories in the Soulwood's world, some have been in other smaller collections. Different POVs, backstories, and stuff removed from the main books.
May 12, 2022
Actually, 4 and a half. Mrs Hunter is a talented writer and these short stories are fun. I may have to re-read my Jane Yellowrock books..I missed Beast.
Want to read
April 26, 2022NOTE TO SELF: Per author's 3/8/22 newsletter, "There is almost nothing new and never read by anyone, but it does contain ALL of the Jane Yellowrock world short stories and novellas that I can (contractually) print in 2022."
April 22, 2022
Loved reading this collection of stories, being in this world at various points! Really enjoyed having all the stories at this point in this anthology and Blood in Her Veins!
May 3, 2022
Yes, a million times yes! Fans of Faith Hunter absolutely need to make time on their calendars to read Of Claws and Fangs. This anthology collects over a dozen stories from all over the Jane Yellowrock Universe, and it was such a delight to read.
Included in this anthology, readers will find: Candy from a Vampire, Make It Snappy, It's Just a Date, Life's a Bitch and Then You Die, Black Friday Shopping, How Occam Got His Name, Shiloh and the Brick, Beast Hunts Vampire with Jane, Of Cats and Cars: A Story of Beast and Cows with Trees on Heads, Beast Hunts Pie-Bald Deer, Jane Tracks Down Miz A, Anzu, Duba, Beast, Eighteen Sixty, Wolves Howling in the Night, Death and Fashionista, My Dark Knight, Bound in Darkness, and The Ties that Bind. See below for individual reviews on each.
“Of Claws and Fangs is a fun hodgepodge of stories from many characters within non-linear timelines of the Yellowrock world, and the Soulwood world.”
Candy from a Vampire
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
It's a Halloween story from Leo! Essentially, this is a story about Leo and Del trying to work out their well, working relationship. It's nice to see Jane's words having an effect on Leo.
“Halloween in the French Quarter of New Orleans had been changed forever when Marilyn Monroe had attempted to turn John Kennedy in the Oval Office and been staked for her trouble.”
Make It Snappy
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Okay, this one is going to hit readers hard. It's a Leo-centric story, showing both the best and the worst that this vampire has to offer – hence why it's going to hit hard. Yet it does a fantastic job of reminding readers about just how dimensional this character is.
“I shall do more than remember. I shall accomplish your request before the sun, ma cherie. Marcoise will no longer have the power to cause pain.”
It's Just a Date
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I love it. Jane, Bruiser, Jodi, Wrassler, Eli, and Sylvia walk into a restaurant – and no, this isn't the beginning of some joke. Though it is the beginning of another witchy adventure, one that Jane has a talent for finding herself in the middle of. It starts off sweet and funny, but quickly turns tense.
“Jane Yellowrock, I swear by all I hold holy that I will shoot you if you say another word.”
Life's a Bitch and Then You Die
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
If you love Beast, then you're going to have to read this one! It features her perspective heavily, as this story is set during the time that Jane is sick and seeking a way to recover. But that's really only the foundation for this story, as it causes Beast to remember back to the early days of her and Jane.
“Would be better to hunt bison with Ed, in Ed car.”
Black Friday Shopping
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Nell! I love, love, love that Nell stories made it into the mix! This one is set in a Walmart of all places, as she and Occam try to get to the bottom of some weird curses that keep cropping up. I adored the twist and conclusion – it is very in keeping with this world.
“Nell, sugar. You never been in a Walmart?”
How Occam Got His Name
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
This is probably one of the harder to read stories in the collection, and not because it's poorly written or anything like it. It's Occam's origin story, of a sort, and it weighs heavy on the hearts. Yet it is brilliantly done, making readers feel for this beloved character.
“I think this bobcat would eat us for dinner and still be hongry.”
Shiloh and the Brick
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I wish I could rate this story higher than five stars, because it is freaking brilliant. I have always loved the vamp politics (and all other forms of politics) in this series, and I feel like this short captures the nature of it perfectly. More, please!
“The Charlotte coven accepted you as a student for six weeks and assured us of your safety. You. Need. Training.”
Beast Hunts Vampire with Jane
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Another short story from Beast's point of view. The title says a lot for this one, but it is still a lot of fun to read – with a few surprises along the way, of course.
“Nope. This is a false hunt. Like leading predators away from your den to protect your kits. Acting weak.”
Of Cats and Cars: A Story of Beast and Cows with Trees on Heads
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I distinctly remember when this short came out – and just how excitedly the fandom had waited for it. It lived up to the expectation then, and it did so again now. Definitely worth the re-read.
“There is no way beneath heaven's sun that I will allow...that...cat creature to hunt from my car.”
Beast Hunts Pie-Bald Deer
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
The sense of humor in this one is absolutely precious! It's another Beast-centric story, but it is also pretty tongue-in-cheek at times. I love it.
“Beast chuffed quietly, thinking of picture of Reader Humans rolling down long hill. Is funny.”
Jane Tracks Down Miz A
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Ow. My heart. Readers beware, this one is going to hit you right in the feels – much like it did for Jane, come to think of it.
“I was feeling guilty enough to go into a grocery store and buy flowers, which I had never done before, but there was a first time for everything.”
Anzu, Duba, Beast
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Ever wanted to read a story of Jane and GeDiMercy (aka the Mercy Blade) going hunting? If so, look no further. This story is everything we could have hoped for, and arguably a little bit more.
“Bad place, Beast thought at me. Do not go in.”
Eighteen Sixty
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I was not expecting to see a story from Ayatas' perspective in this collection, though I should have! It's more backstory for Ayatas, which is going a long way in explaining his perspective within this world.
“Jaguar claws were better for what he had planned this night.”
Wolves Howling in the Night
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
This is the second Ayatas story in this anthology, and I really loved it. It's set long before Ayatas and Jane are reunited, though there will be a familiar name thrown into the mix. Worth the read.
“Son of a witch on a switch.”
Death and Fashionista
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Time for Molly to take the lead! This one is all about Molly and her death magics – reminding us just how much of a struggle it was for her to cope with all of that.
“But I was paying attention to one thing only – the forest I had killed.”
My Dark Knight
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Aww, Angie baby is the sweetest. This story is from her perspective, mostly. Her family is under attack, and the first person she thinks to call if Edmund. Sweet, but with a heavy dose of danger for good measure.
“It sings like a wolfie and a bird and the bells in the church.”
Bound in Darkness
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
This short is set sometime between Shattered Bonds and True Dead, and focuses on Eli and Liz Everhart. This one was included in another anthology recently, but I still loved reading it again. It's one of my favorites.
“He'd been there for her while she recuperated, then he'd pulled back.”
The Ties that Bind
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Last, but not least, we have The Ties that Bind. An appropriate conclusion to this anthology. This time Bedelia Everhart takes centerstage, and boy does this story have interesting implications for some of the Everhart sisters. I love it.
“A frisson of danger climbed up her spine on hooked spider feet.”
Thanks to ACE and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Read more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
Included in this anthology, readers will find: Candy from a Vampire, Make It Snappy, It's Just a Date, Life's a Bitch and Then You Die, Black Friday Shopping, How Occam Got His Name, Shiloh and the Brick, Beast Hunts Vampire with Jane, Of Cats and Cars: A Story of Beast and Cows with Trees on Heads, Beast Hunts Pie-Bald Deer, Jane Tracks Down Miz A, Anzu, Duba, Beast, Eighteen Sixty, Wolves Howling in the Night, Death and Fashionista, My Dark Knight, Bound in Darkness, and The Ties that Bind. See below for individual reviews on each.
“Of Claws and Fangs is a fun hodgepodge of stories from many characters within non-linear timelines of the Yellowrock world, and the Soulwood world.”
Candy from a Vampire
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
It's a Halloween story from Leo! Essentially, this is a story about Leo and Del trying to work out their well, working relationship. It's nice to see Jane's words having an effect on Leo.
“Halloween in the French Quarter of New Orleans had been changed forever when Marilyn Monroe had attempted to turn John Kennedy in the Oval Office and been staked for her trouble.”
Make It Snappy
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Okay, this one is going to hit readers hard. It's a Leo-centric story, showing both the best and the worst that this vampire has to offer – hence why it's going to hit hard. Yet it does a fantastic job of reminding readers about just how dimensional this character is.
“I shall do more than remember. I shall accomplish your request before the sun, ma cherie. Marcoise will no longer have the power to cause pain.”
It's Just a Date
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I love it. Jane, Bruiser, Jodi, Wrassler, Eli, and Sylvia walk into a restaurant – and no, this isn't the beginning of some joke. Though it is the beginning of another witchy adventure, one that Jane has a talent for finding herself in the middle of. It starts off sweet and funny, but quickly turns tense.
“Jane Yellowrock, I swear by all I hold holy that I will shoot you if you say another word.”
Life's a Bitch and Then You Die
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
If you love Beast, then you're going to have to read this one! It features her perspective heavily, as this story is set during the time that Jane is sick and seeking a way to recover. But that's really only the foundation for this story, as it causes Beast to remember back to the early days of her and Jane.
“Would be better to hunt bison with Ed, in Ed car.”
Black Friday Shopping
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Nell! I love, love, love that Nell stories made it into the mix! This one is set in a Walmart of all places, as she and Occam try to get to the bottom of some weird curses that keep cropping up. I adored the twist and conclusion – it is very in keeping with this world.
“Nell, sugar. You never been in a Walmart?”
How Occam Got His Name
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
This is probably one of the harder to read stories in the collection, and not because it's poorly written or anything like it. It's Occam's origin story, of a sort, and it weighs heavy on the hearts. Yet it is brilliantly done, making readers feel for this beloved character.
“I think this bobcat would eat us for dinner and still be hongry.”
Shiloh and the Brick
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I wish I could rate this story higher than five stars, because it is freaking brilliant. I have always loved the vamp politics (and all other forms of politics) in this series, and I feel like this short captures the nature of it perfectly. More, please!
“The Charlotte coven accepted you as a student for six weeks and assured us of your safety. You. Need. Training.”
Beast Hunts Vampire with Jane
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Another short story from Beast's point of view. The title says a lot for this one, but it is still a lot of fun to read – with a few surprises along the way, of course.
“Nope. This is a false hunt. Like leading predators away from your den to protect your kits. Acting weak.”
Of Cats and Cars: A Story of Beast and Cows with Trees on Heads
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I distinctly remember when this short came out – and just how excitedly the fandom had waited for it. It lived up to the expectation then, and it did so again now. Definitely worth the re-read.
“There is no way beneath heaven's sun that I will allow...that...cat creature to hunt from my car.”
Beast Hunts Pie-Bald Deer
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
The sense of humor in this one is absolutely precious! It's another Beast-centric story, but it is also pretty tongue-in-cheek at times. I love it.
“Beast chuffed quietly, thinking of picture of Reader Humans rolling down long hill. Is funny.”
Jane Tracks Down Miz A
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Ow. My heart. Readers beware, this one is going to hit you right in the feels – much like it did for Jane, come to think of it.
“I was feeling guilty enough to go into a grocery store and buy flowers, which I had never done before, but there was a first time for everything.”
Anzu, Duba, Beast
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Ever wanted to read a story of Jane and GeDiMercy (aka the Mercy Blade) going hunting? If so, look no further. This story is everything we could have hoped for, and arguably a little bit more.
“Bad place, Beast thought at me. Do not go in.”
Eighteen Sixty
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I was not expecting to see a story from Ayatas' perspective in this collection, though I should have! It's more backstory for Ayatas, which is going a long way in explaining his perspective within this world.
“Jaguar claws were better for what he had planned this night.”
Wolves Howling in the Night
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
This is the second Ayatas story in this anthology, and I really loved it. It's set long before Ayatas and Jane are reunited, though there will be a familiar name thrown into the mix. Worth the read.
“Son of a witch on a switch.”
Death and Fashionista
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Time for Molly to take the lead! This one is all about Molly and her death magics – reminding us just how much of a struggle it was for her to cope with all of that.
“But I was paying attention to one thing only – the forest I had killed.”
My Dark Knight
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Aww, Angie baby is the sweetest. This story is from her perspective, mostly. Her family is under attack, and the first person she thinks to call if Edmund. Sweet, but with a heavy dose of danger for good measure.
“It sings like a wolfie and a bird and the bells in the church.”
Bound in Darkness
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
This short is set sometime between Shattered Bonds and True Dead, and focuses on Eli and Liz Everhart. This one was included in another anthology recently, but I still loved reading it again. It's one of my favorites.
“He'd been there for her while she recuperated, then he'd pulled back.”
The Ties that Bind
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Last, but not least, we have The Ties that Bind. An appropriate conclusion to this anthology. This time Bedelia Everhart takes centerstage, and boy does this story have interesting implications for some of the Everhart sisters. I love it.
“A frisson of danger climbed up her spine on hooked spider feet.”
Thanks to ACE and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Read more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
May 3, 2022
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
WHAT'S OF CLAWS AND FANGS ABOUT?
It's a collection of 18 shorter works in the Jane Yellowrock/Soulwood universe—one novella, a couple of very short vignettes, and several short stories.
This is the second collection of such works (and I really should get that first one, I'm not sure how I've managed to miss it), and brings in material from a variety of collections and some things published online and brings them all together in one handy volume—which is great, most readers are like me and we're not going to be able to get all these various collections, but you put them in a book like this, and we're going to have a good time.
I briefly considered giving a sentence or two about each piece, instead, I'm going to focus on just a few:
JANE TRACKS DOWN MIZ A
This is the sole bit of new material for the book—it's described as a "short-short story." It's a little longer than a vignette, but not quite a short story. It was originally written for someone who won a charity auction, and Hunter re-worked it for this collection. I wasn't sure what to think of it originally, but by the time it was over I wanted it to keep going.
BOUND INTO DARKNESS
This novella is the longest piece in the book, and as such, seems like it should get a little more attention than the rest. The story centers on Eli and Molly's sister Liz Everheart. Several other characters get involved by the end, but it's primarily about these two and one of the worst dates (that really wasn't a date) in history. There were plenty of good character moments, a few good supernatural baddies, and a lot of Eli doing his thing.
The nicest touch, if you ask me, was the short story that followed it in this collection. It ties into the novella, talking about something that happens behind the scenes. It doesn't really alter your understanding of the novella, it just adds a little color. I really liked it—not just because of the added color, but the story was nice, too. I didn't realize I wanted to know more about Lincoln Shaddock, but I was wrong.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
I'm a big Soulwood fan, so I was pleased to run into two stories from that series here. There's a cute story about Nell's early days with PsyLED and Black Friday, which is followed by Occam's origin story.
There's a great story where Angie Baby gets to shine. I've been thinking it for a while, but this story ("My Dark Knight") confirms it for me—I need a stand-alone novel featuring her, either at her current age or as a young adult. She's possibly the most interesting character in this series that features several interesting characters.
Of course, there's plenty of good material featuring Jane and Beast—it's pretty much a requirement. My one note on "Life's a Bitch and Then You Die" was that it would justify the book's purchase price by itself. Then I read "Of Cats and Cars" (I posted an excerpt from that earlier today), "Anzu, Duba, Beast" and "Shiloh and the Brick"—I think I'd have said the same about any of them.
LOWLIGHTS?
Really, there weren't any—not many collections like this can say that.
For me, the collection started off rough—but I'm going to be in the distinct minority on this. The first vignette and the story that followed focused on Leo Pellissier, and he's really never been my cup of tea. I can enjoy him as an antagonist to Jane, and even a benefactor, but that's it—as a secondary character, basically. But even then, I thought the story, "Make it Snappy," ended well, with a nice reveal at the end.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT OF CLAWS AND FANGS? I had more fun with this than I expected. I expected to have a good time with it, don't get me wrong, but with short story collections, I try to go in with low expectations (and usually have those met). Like I said above, there's not a bad one in the batch—sure, there were a few I could've liked more, but none of the stories were disappointing or dull.
For readers of Jane Yellowrock and Soulwood, this is a must. You'll enjoy the time with your favorites, get a new perspective on a handful of them, and will be exposed to a variety of adventures that wouldn't fit into a novel.
There's nothing to complain about here, and plenty to enjoy—go get your paws on Of Claws and Fangs.
My thanks to Let's Talk! Promotions for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials (including the book via NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group) they provided.
---
WHAT'S OF CLAWS AND FANGS ABOUT?
It's a collection of 18 shorter works in the Jane Yellowrock/Soulwood universe—one novella, a couple of very short vignettes, and several short stories.
This is the second collection of such works (and I really should get that first one, I'm not sure how I've managed to miss it), and brings in material from a variety of collections and some things published online and brings them all together in one handy volume—which is great, most readers are like me and we're not going to be able to get all these various collections, but you put them in a book like this, and we're going to have a good time.
I briefly considered giving a sentence or two about each piece, instead, I'm going to focus on just a few:
JANE TRACKS DOWN MIZ A
This is the sole bit of new material for the book—it's described as a "short-short story." It's a little longer than a vignette, but not quite a short story. It was originally written for someone who won a charity auction, and Hunter re-worked it for this collection. I wasn't sure what to think of it originally, but by the time it was over I wanted it to keep going.
BOUND INTO DARKNESS
This novella is the longest piece in the book, and as such, seems like it should get a little more attention than the rest. The story centers on Eli and Molly's sister Liz Everheart. Several other characters get involved by the end, but it's primarily about these two and one of the worst dates (that really wasn't a date) in history. There were plenty of good character moments, a few good supernatural baddies, and a lot of Eli doing his thing.
The nicest touch, if you ask me, was the short story that followed it in this collection. It ties into the novella, talking about something that happens behind the scenes. It doesn't really alter your understanding of the novella, it just adds a little color. I really liked it—not just because of the added color, but the story was nice, too. I didn't realize I wanted to know more about Lincoln Shaddock, but I was wrong.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
I'm a big Soulwood fan, so I was pleased to run into two stories from that series here. There's a cute story about Nell's early days with PsyLED and Black Friday, which is followed by Occam's origin story.
There's a great story where Angie Baby gets to shine. I've been thinking it for a while, but this story ("My Dark Knight") confirms it for me—I need a stand-alone novel featuring her, either at her current age or as a young adult. She's possibly the most interesting character in this series that features several interesting characters.
Of course, there's plenty of good material featuring Jane and Beast—it's pretty much a requirement. My one note on "Life's a Bitch and Then You Die" was that it would justify the book's purchase price by itself. Then I read "Of Cats and Cars" (I posted an excerpt from that earlier today), "Anzu, Duba, Beast" and "Shiloh and the Brick"—I think I'd have said the same about any of them.
LOWLIGHTS?
Really, there weren't any—not many collections like this can say that.
For me, the collection started off rough—but I'm going to be in the distinct minority on this. The first vignette and the story that followed focused on Leo Pellissier, and he's really never been my cup of tea. I can enjoy him as an antagonist to Jane, and even a benefactor, but that's it—as a secondary character, basically. But even then, I thought the story, "Make it Snappy," ended well, with a nice reveal at the end.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT OF CLAWS AND FANGS? I had more fun with this than I expected. I expected to have a good time with it, don't get me wrong, but with short story collections, I try to go in with low expectations (and usually have those met). Like I said above, there's not a bad one in the batch—sure, there were a few I could've liked more, but none of the stories were disappointing or dull.
For readers of Jane Yellowrock and Soulwood, this is a must. You'll enjoy the time with your favorites, get a new perspective on a handful of them, and will be exposed to a variety of adventures that wouldn't fit into a novel.
There's nothing to complain about here, and plenty to enjoy—go get your paws on Of Claws and Fangs.
My thanks to Let's Talk! Promotions for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials (including the book via NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group) they provided.
April 19, 2022
I'm not usually a fan of short stories, but this compilation was great. I loved spending more time with Beast. And I really enjoyed the stories with Edmund and Angie Baby. This compilation was a great precursor to True Dead.
May 1, 2022
3.25 🌟
If you’re a fan of Faith Hunter you will love this compilation. It’s also great for new readers as as you’ll get a glimpse into Hunter’s characters (especially Leo and also the Everhart witches), and will definitely find yourself wanting to read more from her series!
While nothing here is new, it is still an enjoyable read and great to have these stories in one place, and be able to dive deeper into some of the characters readers have come to love!
*Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group- Ace, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
If you’re a fan of Faith Hunter you will love this compilation. It’s also great for new readers as as you’ll get a glimpse into Hunter’s characters (especially Leo and also the Everhart witches), and will definitely find yourself wanting to read more from her series!
While nothing here is new, it is still an enjoyable read and great to have these stories in one place, and be able to dive deeper into some of the characters readers have come to love!
*Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group- Ace, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
March 27, 2022
Of Claws and Fangs is the perfect anthology for new readers and longtime fans alike. Hunter's skills as an author are on full display as she curates a feast that offers tantilizing bites and sips of life with the people from multiple series-Soulwood and Jane Yellowrock- whose lives intertwine with our heroine, Jane Yellowrock. Eighteen short but robust stories in all makes this well worth the purchase.
May 2, 2022
Desperately looking for some of the short stories Ms. Hunter wrote in the Jane Yellowrock series but cannot find them? Well look no more! This collection features a consolidation of stories posted and published in all different places. There are a few stories that cross over into the Soulwood series too. I believe there is only 1 story in here that was never published and written for just 1 fan as a prize. For me, I learned that there were more than a few I never came across so I delighted in reading this collection.
To read the rest of my review, click on the image below to see it on my website.
To read the rest of my review, click on the image below to see it on my website.
June 5, 2022
Non-linear hodgepodge of short stories, novelettes and bits & pieces from both the Yellowrock and Soulwood worlds. Collected freebies, PR, newsletter, hard-to-find or no-longer published stories.
1) Candy from a Vampire. Jane Yellowrock 11.75. Halloween 2017 blog vignette. Leo’s POV. After handing out candy at the annual French Quarter Halloween street party, Leo realizes he needs to take Jane’s advice and treat people better.
2) Make it Snappy. Urban Enemies anthology 2017. Leo’s POV before he meets Jane. When doing a favor for a blood donor turns out to be a trap, Leo partners up with Derek Lee to prevent the assassination being led by an old rival mage.
3) It’s Just a Date. Jane Yellowrock 9.3. Matchmaker Jane arranges a triple date so she can bring Jodi and Wrassler together which is derailed by a magic attack. (Of course).
4) Life’s a Bitch and Then You Die. Serial short online 2017. Before ‘Of Cats and Cars’. Jane is very sick and has retreated into Beast. Beast & Wesa’s POV. Jane, as Beast is hunting deer with Brute, the werewolf, when she relives a memory of Beast being captured by white men.
5) Black Friday Shopping. Soulwood story. 2017 gift to fans. When Nell joins PsyLED. Nell and Occam shop at Walmart on Black Friday looking for the source of a possible curse. Very heartwarming.
6) How Occam Got His Name. Soulwood story. Blog tour serial short 2018. Occam’s POV about his origins. Two young idiots out in the Texas woods discover leopard tracks and ignore them. One dies and other becomes Occam, devil cat.
7) Shiloh and the Brick. Jane Yellowrock 7.6. 2016 serial short during ‘Blood In her veins’ release. Jane is an enforcer for Leo. Shiloh, Molly’s niece, a new witch-vamp. When she loses control, Leo orders her to report to Witch training school. Really cool story.
8) Beast Hunts Vampire with Jane. A rewritten 2011 Christmas serial short-short. From Beast’s POV we see Jane act like prey to hunt a vampire.
9) Of Cats and Cars: a Story of Beast and Cows with Trees on Heads. Written in 2019 as a blog event from both Edmund and Beast’s POV. Fits nowhere in timeline, but may come after Leo’s Sangre Duello and after the above short #4. Beast/Jane wants Edmund to use his Maserati so she can hunt cows. But he makes a counteroffer to hunt at a ranch in Texas using a Hummer convertible. Beast has a wonderful time as the Alpha hunter.
10) Beast Hunts Pie-bald Deer. Published 2019 on Beast’s fan page. Beast’s POV talking to Reader Humans of hunting deer near Writers house. Writer not happy.
11) Jane Tracks Down Miz A. Short-short for winner of charity auction. Timeline uncertain. Jane’s POV. When a blood servant get’s old and injured, Jane must hunt her down and deal the with the problem.
Short stories and novelettes from older anthologies.
1) Anzu, Duba, Beast. Published in WERE anthology from ‘Zombies need Brains’ 2016. Sometime before Jane became Dark Queen. Gee has requested that Jane hunt with him and Leo has okayed it. Jane had had other plans, but using a new shape changer form, she ends helping a Mithran tribal woman against a dangerous, supernatural cryptid.
2) Eighteen Sixty. A Ayatas FireWind prequel. Published in 2015 Weird Wild West anthology. Takes place in 1860 in Ayatas’s, a jaguar shifter, POV. He’s following a group of cowboys herding cattle and destroying the land. Interesting take from the Cherokee’s POV.
3) Wolves Howling at Night. Story of Ayatas Firewind. Published in 2017 ‘Lawless Lands: Tales from the Weird Frontier anthology. Time: 1879. Ayatas and his partner Etsi, a white reporter and witch, arrive at a western town to discover that a rancher has sold his rich wife to a saloon and stolen her money. So Ayatas and Etsi decide to fix the situation. Good insight on how women, natives and people of color were treated back then.
4) Death and the Fashionista. Published 2017 in ‘The Death of All Things’ anthology. In Jane’s friend Molly’s POV right after she found her death magics. She unexpectedly has two visitors at her home with a bargain and a warning: Sam, ‘Death of Magic’ and Sally, ‘Death of Fear’.
5) My Dark Knight. Published in ‘Temorally Deactivated’ anthology from ‘Zombies need Brains’ 2017. From Angie’s POV right after she starts calling Jane “Ant’ Jane. When the Everhart-Trueblood home is attacked by paranormal hunters, Angie creates a magic hedge but it tangles with the father and mother’s creating a dangerous mess, so Angie calls her Dark Knight Edmund to rescue them.
6) Bound into Darkness. Jane Yellowrock 13.5. Published in ‘Dirty Deeds’ anthology 2021. Liz Everhart and Eli Younger’s POV. On a search for a lost dog in the Appalachian mountains, Liz and Eli stumble onto a 2000-year-old fire demon ritualistically sealed in a cave above a ley line. After accidentally releasing it, they have to use all their resources to survive.
7) The Ties That Bind. Published 2021 in ‘Dirty Deeds’ anthology. This ties to and takes place during the end of the previous story. Tells about Bedelia and Linc taking care of Shania Mayhew who was the instigator of the plot against Liz.
1) Candy from a Vampire. Jane Yellowrock 11.75. Halloween 2017 blog vignette. Leo’s POV. After handing out candy at the annual French Quarter Halloween street party, Leo realizes he needs to take Jane’s advice and treat people better.
2) Make it Snappy. Urban Enemies anthology 2017. Leo’s POV before he meets Jane. When doing a favor for a blood donor turns out to be a trap, Leo partners up with Derek Lee to prevent the assassination being led by an old rival mage.
3) It’s Just a Date. Jane Yellowrock 9.3. Matchmaker Jane arranges a triple date so she can bring Jodi and Wrassler together which is derailed by a magic attack. (Of course).
4) Life’s a Bitch and Then You Die. Serial short online 2017. Before ‘Of Cats and Cars’. Jane is very sick and has retreated into Beast. Beast & Wesa’s POV. Jane, as Beast is hunting deer with Brute, the werewolf, when she relives a memory of Beast being captured by white men.
5) Black Friday Shopping. Soulwood story. 2017 gift to fans. When Nell joins PsyLED. Nell and Occam shop at Walmart on Black Friday looking for the source of a possible curse. Very heartwarming.
6) How Occam Got His Name. Soulwood story. Blog tour serial short 2018. Occam’s POV about his origins. Two young idiots out in the Texas woods discover leopard tracks and ignore them. One dies and other becomes Occam, devil cat.
7) Shiloh and the Brick. Jane Yellowrock 7.6. 2016 serial short during ‘Blood In her veins’ release. Jane is an enforcer for Leo. Shiloh, Molly’s niece, a new witch-vamp. When she loses control, Leo orders her to report to Witch training school. Really cool story.
8) Beast Hunts Vampire with Jane. A rewritten 2011 Christmas serial short-short. From Beast’s POV we see Jane act like prey to hunt a vampire.
9) Of Cats and Cars: a Story of Beast and Cows with Trees on Heads. Written in 2019 as a blog event from both Edmund and Beast’s POV. Fits nowhere in timeline, but may come after Leo’s Sangre Duello and after the above short #4. Beast/Jane wants Edmund to use his Maserati so she can hunt cows. But he makes a counteroffer to hunt at a ranch in Texas using a Hummer convertible. Beast has a wonderful time as the Alpha hunter.
10) Beast Hunts Pie-bald Deer. Published 2019 on Beast’s fan page. Beast’s POV talking to Reader Humans of hunting deer near Writers house. Writer not happy.
11) Jane Tracks Down Miz A. Short-short for winner of charity auction. Timeline uncertain. Jane’s POV. When a blood servant get’s old and injured, Jane must hunt her down and deal the with the problem.
Short stories and novelettes from older anthologies.
1) Anzu, Duba, Beast. Published in WERE anthology from ‘Zombies need Brains’ 2016. Sometime before Jane became Dark Queen. Gee has requested that Jane hunt with him and Leo has okayed it. Jane had had other plans, but using a new shape changer form, she ends helping a Mithran tribal woman against a dangerous, supernatural cryptid.
2) Eighteen Sixty. A Ayatas FireWind prequel. Published in 2015 Weird Wild West anthology. Takes place in 1860 in Ayatas’s, a jaguar shifter, POV. He’s following a group of cowboys herding cattle and destroying the land. Interesting take from the Cherokee’s POV.
3) Wolves Howling at Night. Story of Ayatas Firewind. Published in 2017 ‘Lawless Lands: Tales from the Weird Frontier anthology. Time: 1879. Ayatas and his partner Etsi, a white reporter and witch, arrive at a western town to discover that a rancher has sold his rich wife to a saloon and stolen her money. So Ayatas and Etsi decide to fix the situation. Good insight on how women, natives and people of color were treated back then.
4) Death and the Fashionista. Published 2017 in ‘The Death of All Things’ anthology. In Jane’s friend Molly’s POV right after she found her death magics. She unexpectedly has two visitors at her home with a bargain and a warning: Sam, ‘Death of Magic’ and Sally, ‘Death of Fear’.
5) My Dark Knight. Published in ‘Temorally Deactivated’ anthology from ‘Zombies need Brains’ 2017. From Angie’s POV right after she starts calling Jane “Ant’ Jane. When the Everhart-Trueblood home is attacked by paranormal hunters, Angie creates a magic hedge but it tangles with the father and mother’s creating a dangerous mess, so Angie calls her Dark Knight Edmund to rescue them.
6) Bound into Darkness. Jane Yellowrock 13.5. Published in ‘Dirty Deeds’ anthology 2021. Liz Everhart and Eli Younger’s POV. On a search for a lost dog in the Appalachian mountains, Liz and Eli stumble onto a 2000-year-old fire demon ritualistically sealed in a cave above a ley line. After accidentally releasing it, they have to use all their resources to survive.
7) The Ties That Bind. Published 2021 in ‘Dirty Deeds’ anthology. This ties to and takes place during the end of the previous story. Tells about Bedelia and Linc taking care of Shania Mayhew who was the instigator of the plot against Liz.
June 7, 2022
Wow normally I'm not a novella reader but this compilation was really great
April 25, 2022
With the final book in the Jane Yellowrock series out this year, readers will want to have this anthology to complete the whole works. It also contains stories from the Soulwood series as well and it is handy to have these stories all now available in one place. Some of the tales are about other characters from each of Jane Yellowrock and the crossover Soulwood world while others focus on Jane or Nell, all but one has been previously released. Not surprisingly everyone’s favorite vampire Leo Pellissier is featured more than once. While it will be hard to see the end of the series, we can hope for more stories of the ancillary characters from Jane Yellowrock will appear in the future where we might just catch a glimpse of our favorite Skinwalker.
Candy From a Vampire
A Halloween story with Leo, Del and the development of their working relationship.
Make It Snappy
Another Leo story pre-Jane where he has to confront and defeat a very serious enemy, El Mago, who has a strong connection to him, almost ending up true-dead himself. Derek Lee and his squad make an early appearance.
It’s Just a Date
Jane, Bruiser, Jodi and Wrassler, Eli, and Slyvia on a triple date to a restaurant where some witchy badness happens.
Life’s a Bitch and Then You Die
This story takes place during the time Jane is sick and living in North Carolina. She accesses some of Beast’s memories of their past together when she was Wesa as well as how Beast got her name.
Black Friday Shopping
A Soulwood story around the time that Nell has first joined PsyLED as a probie. Nell and Occam are sent to check out a Walmart where someone is throwing curses and causing havoc among the aisles with falling Christmas trees and exploding batteries amid the chaos of Black Friday.
How Occam Got His Name
Readers know Occam’s backstory of being stuck in a cage for twenty years. This is the difficult story of those early years and how he became a werecat as well as his name’s origin.
Shiloh and the Brick
Jane the Enforcer telling Shiloh how it’s going to be because of her out of control vampire witch teenage angst. Leo doing what he does best.
Beast Hunts Vampire with Jane
This story is Beast and Jane on the hunt with Jane in human form told from Beast’s point of view.
Of Cats and Cars
Beast finally gets her fondest wish going hunting in Edmund car morphs into a Hummer in Texas. Edmund and Beast’s point of view and the wild ride. Who can resist a big cat purring like a kitten? Edmund’s still dealing with his grief over Leo’s defeat. This one is a longer story in the anthology.
Beast Hunts Pie-Bald Deer
Beast and Faith Hunter interacting in this cute shorty.
Jane Tracks Down Miz A – A Short Short Story
The first time this story has been published. It may bring a tear to your eye.
Anzu, Duba, Beast
Jane and Gee DiMercy go a’huntin with shifting to new forms for Jane. Hint: think Big Bird
Eighteen Sixty-A Prequel from Ayatas FireWind
Jane’s brother gets his say: interesting parts of Ayatas’s backstory.
Wolves Howling in the Night-A Story of Ayatas FireWind
This story of Ayatas is set in 1879. An Everhart connection, his “fire woman,” their story has some grim abuses in it.
Death and the Fashionista- This story takes place after Molly found her death magics and Death comes a’callin.
My Dark Knight
An Angie baby and her protector, Edmund, to the rescue after the family is attacked story.
Bound Into Darkness
Set between Jane 13 and 14 Eli Younger and Liz Everhart go on quite the adventure. This is one of the longest stories.
Ties That Bind
Bedelia, the Everhart matriarch is the focus of this last one in the anthology.
Candy From a Vampire
A Halloween story with Leo, Del and the development of their working relationship.
Make It Snappy
Another Leo story pre-Jane where he has to confront and defeat a very serious enemy, El Mago, who has a strong connection to him, almost ending up true-dead himself. Derek Lee and his squad make an early appearance.
It’s Just a Date
Jane, Bruiser, Jodi and Wrassler, Eli, and Slyvia on a triple date to a restaurant where some witchy badness happens.
Life’s a Bitch and Then You Die
This story takes place during the time Jane is sick and living in North Carolina. She accesses some of Beast’s memories of their past together when she was Wesa as well as how Beast got her name.
Black Friday Shopping
A Soulwood story around the time that Nell has first joined PsyLED as a probie. Nell and Occam are sent to check out a Walmart where someone is throwing curses and causing havoc among the aisles with falling Christmas trees and exploding batteries amid the chaos of Black Friday.
How Occam Got His Name
Readers know Occam’s backstory of being stuck in a cage for twenty years. This is the difficult story of those early years and how he became a werecat as well as his name’s origin.
Shiloh and the Brick
Jane the Enforcer telling Shiloh how it’s going to be because of her out of control vampire witch teenage angst. Leo doing what he does best.
Beast Hunts Vampire with Jane
This story is Beast and Jane on the hunt with Jane in human form told from Beast’s point of view.
Of Cats and Cars
Beast finally gets her fondest wish going hunting in Edmund car morphs into a Hummer in Texas. Edmund and Beast’s point of view and the wild ride. Who can resist a big cat purring like a kitten? Edmund’s still dealing with his grief over Leo’s defeat. This one is a longer story in the anthology.
Beast Hunts Pie-Bald Deer
Beast and Faith Hunter interacting in this cute shorty.
Jane Tracks Down Miz A – A Short Short Story
The first time this story has been published. It may bring a tear to your eye.
Anzu, Duba, Beast
Jane and Gee DiMercy go a’huntin with shifting to new forms for Jane. Hint: think Big Bird
Eighteen Sixty-A Prequel from Ayatas FireWind
Jane’s brother gets his say: interesting parts of Ayatas’s backstory.
Wolves Howling in the Night-A Story of Ayatas FireWind
This story of Ayatas is set in 1879. An Everhart connection, his “fire woman,” their story has some grim abuses in it.
Death and the Fashionista- This story takes place after Molly found her death magics and Death comes a’callin.
My Dark Knight
An Angie baby and her protector, Edmund, to the rescue after the family is attacked story.
Bound Into Darkness
Set between Jane 13 and 14 Eli Younger and Liz Everhart go on quite the adventure. This is one of the longest stories.
Ties That Bind
Bedelia, the Everhart matriarch is the focus of this last one in the anthology.
July 27, 2022
kindle 338 pages.
candy from a vampire - leo reminisces on halloween then and now.
make it snappy - leo was set up to be killed by an old enemy he thought he'd killed. katie helps him turn the tables.
its just a date - wrassler and jodi go on a triple date with jane and bruiser, and eli and sylvia, but a purple smoke appears and sidetracks the date.
life's a bitch and then you die - jane is spending most of her time as beast while they try to figure out how to deal with her cancer. jane experiences some of beasts memories from her youth, including being captured and working together to escape, and calling themselves beast for the first time.
black friday shopping - soulwood - nell is sent to walmart to investigate magic and finds a little girl living in the store.
how occam got his name - soulwood - how occam became a werewolf, and how he ended up caged.
shiloh and the brick - mollys niece the witch vampire shiloh doesnt want to go to training, jane and leo convince her otherwise.
beast hunts vampires with jane - jane and beast go vampire hunting in a nightclub. "jane picked up vampire head and walked into the night, humming song called 'my favorite things.'
blood drop on pavement
and whiskers on beastie
bright copper teapots and
huge christmas feasties
vampire bodies all tied up with strings
these are a few of my favorite things."
of cats and cars - beast wants to hunt cow in edmund's convertible. edmund bargains with beast and sets up a hunt with eli and alex for cows with trees on head.
beast hunts piebald deer - beast tells a hunting story to the author, faith hunter, in an interview.
jane tracks down miz a - jane tracks down a missing blood servant.
anzu, duba, beast - jane is sent on a hunt with gee the mercy blade, and flies as an anzu to hunt the duba.
eighteen sixty - ayatas firewind prequel. ayatas and his witchy woman ambush cowboys and their cattle and horses.
wolves howling in the night - ayatas firewind and etsi everhart travel together and help rescue a woman sold by her husband.
death and the fashionista - molly deals with some demons that show up at her house seeking power. "a tea party, with Death, Fear, and a demon."
my dark knight - angiebaby calls edmund for help when something attacks the house that her parents cant see, and she's forced to use her magic.
bound into darkness - eli helps liz everhart out on a missing dog job that ends up involving a demon and werewolves. "that was the nature of all power, to always want more, no matter the cost."
the ties that bind - bedelia, the everhart matriarch, meets up with lincoln shaddock to help take down a bad witch/werewolf.
candy from a vampire - leo reminisces on halloween then and now.
make it snappy - leo was set up to be killed by an old enemy he thought he'd killed. katie helps him turn the tables.
its just a date - wrassler and jodi go on a triple date with jane and bruiser, and eli and sylvia, but a purple smoke appears and sidetracks the date.
life's a bitch and then you die - jane is spending most of her time as beast while they try to figure out how to deal with her cancer. jane experiences some of beasts memories from her youth, including being captured and working together to escape, and calling themselves beast for the first time.
black friday shopping - soulwood - nell is sent to walmart to investigate magic and finds a little girl living in the store.
how occam got his name - soulwood - how occam became a werewolf, and how he ended up caged.
shiloh and the brick - mollys niece the witch vampire shiloh doesnt want to go to training, jane and leo convince her otherwise.
beast hunts vampires with jane - jane and beast go vampire hunting in a nightclub. "jane picked up vampire head and walked into the night, humming song called 'my favorite things.'
blood drop on pavement
and whiskers on beastie
bright copper teapots and
huge christmas feasties
vampire bodies all tied up with strings
these are a few of my favorite things."
of cats and cars - beast wants to hunt cow in edmund's convertible. edmund bargains with beast and sets up a hunt with eli and alex for cows with trees on head.
beast hunts piebald deer - beast tells a hunting story to the author, faith hunter, in an interview.
jane tracks down miz a - jane tracks down a missing blood servant.
anzu, duba, beast - jane is sent on a hunt with gee the mercy blade, and flies as an anzu to hunt the duba.
eighteen sixty - ayatas firewind prequel. ayatas and his witchy woman ambush cowboys and their cattle and horses.
wolves howling in the night - ayatas firewind and etsi everhart travel together and help rescue a woman sold by her husband.
death and the fashionista - molly deals with some demons that show up at her house seeking power. "a tea party, with Death, Fear, and a demon."
my dark knight - angiebaby calls edmund for help when something attacks the house that her parents cant see, and she's forced to use her magic.
bound into darkness - eli helps liz everhart out on a missing dog job that ends up involving a demon and werewolves. "that was the nature of all power, to always want more, no matter the cost."
the ties that bind - bedelia, the everhart matriarch, meets up with lincoln shaddock to help take down a bad witch/werewolf.
April 30, 2022
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I was very excited to have this anthology of the "rest" of the short stories and novellas which are not in Blood In Her Veins. I love the previous anthology but I wasn't sure how much I would like Of Claws and Fangs. I knew some of the stories were from special anthologies like Dirty Deeds. Others were from serials on blog tours or in newsletters. I do know some were edited and updated. I am here to tell you these were fantastic!
One thing I really enjoyed was the few sentences at the start of each story giving the setting and timeframe, and where it was previously available. It helped me get right into the story and settle into them easily. I know I would not read these if I was not a fan who had read already read the series. There is so much background and history one wouldn't know without being a series reader. Still, the stories are very well-written. They also develop some characters further from the existing series books.
There are a few stories with Beast's point of view, and we learn more things about her Jane doesn't even know. We get a couple stories with Leo's thoughts as the main character. We have the blind date between Wrassler and Jodi. There is a story with Nell and PsyLED, and one with just Occam. Jane appears in a couple stories as a main character to further develop side characters, but mostly only as a supporting character. Edmund is the main character view in two stories, one with Beast and one with the Everharts. There are two historical tales of Ayatas Firewind. Finally, there are multiple stories about the Everharts and witches including Molly, Evan, Angie, EJ, Shiloh, Liz and Cia. One story includes their mother and grandmother. In two Everhart stories, we also get more information about Lincoln Shaddock and some of his point of view.
Of Claws and Fangs is excellent and a real gift for fans. I love the stories and further details about so many characters and their histories. Overall, there is very little of Jane and Nell with most of the focus on other wonderful characters. I can't recommend this one highly enough.
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I was very excited to have this anthology of the "rest" of the short stories and novellas which are not in Blood In Her Veins. I love the previous anthology but I wasn't sure how much I would like Of Claws and Fangs. I knew some of the stories were from special anthologies like Dirty Deeds. Others were from serials on blog tours or in newsletters. I do know some were edited and updated. I am here to tell you these were fantastic!
One thing I really enjoyed was the few sentences at the start of each story giving the setting and timeframe, and where it was previously available. It helped me get right into the story and settle into them easily. I know I would not read these if I was not a fan who had read already read the series. There is so much background and history one wouldn't know without being a series reader. Still, the stories are very well-written. They also develop some characters further from the existing series books.
There are a few stories with Beast's point of view, and we learn more things about her Jane doesn't even know. We get a couple stories with Leo's thoughts as the main character. We have the blind date between Wrassler and Jodi. There is a story with Nell and PsyLED, and one with just Occam. Jane appears in a couple stories as a main character to further develop side characters, but mostly only as a supporting character. Edmund is the main character view in two stories, one with Beast and one with the Everharts. There are two historical tales of Ayatas Firewind. Finally, there are multiple stories about the Everharts and witches including Molly, Evan, Angie, EJ, Shiloh, Liz and Cia. One story includes their mother and grandmother. In two Everhart stories, we also get more information about Lincoln Shaddock and some of his point of view.
Of Claws and Fangs is excellent and a real gift for fans. I love the stories and further details about so many characters and their histories. Overall, there is very little of Jane and Nell with most of the focus on other wonderful characters. I can't recommend this one highly enough.
May 4, 2022
Of Claws and Fangs by Faith Hunter is a collection of her shorter books (Jane Yellowrock/Soulwood), some which were on her site. I am a big fan of all of Faith Hunter’s books, and I looked forward to reading these stories that I may have missed from her site, or I did not remember. Happy to say I loved reading these stories.
Of Claws and Fangs is a wonderful Faith Hunter anthology, especially for long time fans, bringing back many memories of those stories we read before, as well as some other stories I never read (which may have been on her blog). There are 18 short stories (one was fairly bigger) from her series, such as the awesome Jane Yellowrock series, and a few from her Soulwood series. Besides spending time with Jane, we got looks at many of our favorites; Nell, Eli and Alex, Edmund, Leo, Bruiser, Brute, Molly and Angie, and the Everhearts, just to name a few.
If you are a fan of Faith Hunter, you need to read Of Claws and Fangs, as it was a terrific and entertaining to read. Below is a table of contents of the stories listed.
Candy From a Vampire
Make It Snappy
It’s Just a Date
Life’s a Bitch and Then You Die
Black Friday Shopping
How Occam Got His Name
Shiloh and the Brick
Beast Hunts Vampire with Jane
Of Cats and Cars
Beast Hunts Pie-bald
Jane Tracks Down Miz (never published)
From Anthos:
Anzu, Duba, Beast
Eighteen Sixty
Wolves Howling in the Nights
Death and the Fashionista
My Dark Knight
Bound Into Darkness
The Ties That Bind
Barb
The Reading Cafe
Of Claws and Fangs is a wonderful Faith Hunter anthology, especially for long time fans, bringing back many memories of those stories we read before, as well as some other stories I never read (which may have been on her blog). There are 18 short stories (one was fairly bigger) from her series, such as the awesome Jane Yellowrock series, and a few from her Soulwood series. Besides spending time with Jane, we got looks at many of our favorites; Nell, Eli and Alex, Edmund, Leo, Bruiser, Brute, Molly and Angie, and the Everhearts, just to name a few.
If you are a fan of Faith Hunter, you need to read Of Claws and Fangs, as it was a terrific and entertaining to read. Below is a table of contents of the stories listed.
Candy From a Vampire
Make It Snappy
It’s Just a Date
Life’s a Bitch and Then You Die
Black Friday Shopping
How Occam Got His Name
Shiloh and the Brick
Beast Hunts Vampire with Jane
Of Cats and Cars
Beast Hunts Pie-bald
Jane Tracks Down Miz (never published)
From Anthos:
Anzu, Duba, Beast
Eighteen Sixty
Wolves Howling in the Nights
Death and the Fashionista
My Dark Knight
Bound Into Darkness
The Ties That Bind
Barb
The Reading Cafe
July 20, 2022
Of Claws and Fangs: Stories from the World of Jane Yellowrock and Soulwood by Faith Hunter is a collection of shorter works featuring heroines Jane Yellowrock and Nell Ingram, as well as a host of other characters from the Jane Yellowrock and Soulwood series. From a vampire-filled Halloween evening in New Orleans to the searing tale of how a certain were-leopard first got his spots, this collection has something for everyone, and each story is sure to put the super in supernatural. With eighteen stories in all, Of Claws and Fangs will enrich and entertain—it’s a must-have for Faith Hunter’s readers and all lovers of fantasy.
Of Claws and Fangs is a collection of vignettes, short stories, and a novella all from the world of Jane Yellowrock and Soulwood. Those that subscribe to the newsletter and follow Hunter online might have seen some of these stories previously, but most will be brand new to readers. I loved getting a look at some of the moments between the stories I have read and particularly moments from characters the generally do not get to have their thoughts shared. I loved that some of these stories tie the characters I felt I have come to know well, and those that always seem on the periphery, closer together in ways I never expected. This was a great collection and I think all fans of Hunter's work will enjoy it very much.
Of Claws and Fangs is a must have for fans of Faith Hunter. For those that prefer to listen, the audiobook version is available, and extremely well done.
Of Claws and Fangs is a collection of vignettes, short stories, and a novella all from the world of Jane Yellowrock and Soulwood. Those that subscribe to the newsletter and follow Hunter online might have seen some of these stories previously, but most will be brand new to readers. I loved getting a look at some of the moments between the stories I have read and particularly moments from characters the generally do not get to have their thoughts shared. I loved that some of these stories tie the characters I felt I have come to know well, and those that always seem on the periphery, closer together in ways I never expected. This was a great collection and I think all fans of Hunter's work will enjoy it very much.
Of Claws and Fangs is a must have for fans of Faith Hunter. For those that prefer to listen, the audiobook version is available, and extremely well done.
June 19, 2022
One of the things I like best about a collection of short stories is how diverse and insightful the stories can be. With Faith Hunter’s collection, you get a lot of extra insight into secondary characters and even if you don’t know all the characters that well, they are still engaging. I did find it helpful that I was familiar with her work already, especially the Jane Yellowrock series. Many of the characters were already known to me and I found it especially intriguing to get the inner thoughts of some of the multitude of characters from her worlds.
One of the skills Faith Hunter brings to the table is that her characters and her stories resonate and engage you quickly, even more so with these short stories. They are full of interesting dynamics, compelling characters, and humor, all in just the right doses. Each story has a quick pace and heart that will keep you interested whether you know the characters or the world.
While these stories in particular are most going to be enjoyed by fans of Faith Hunter’s writing and those familiar with her series, if you want a way to introduce yourself to her worlds and her characters this is a wonderful way to check them out. You get short stories with heart, that are diverse and insightful, and full of resonance. If you love Faith Hunter’s other work, you may find this a must read as it does give greater depth to her world and her characters.
One of the skills Faith Hunter brings to the table is that her characters and her stories resonate and engage you quickly, even more so with these short stories. They are full of interesting dynamics, compelling characters, and humor, all in just the right doses. Each story has a quick pace and heart that will keep you interested whether you know the characters or the world.
While these stories in particular are most going to be enjoyed by fans of Faith Hunter’s writing and those familiar with her series, if you want a way to introduce yourself to her worlds and her characters this is a wonderful way to check them out. You get short stories with heart, that are diverse and insightful, and full of resonance. If you love Faith Hunter’s other work, you may find this a must read as it does give greater depth to her world and her characters.
May 2, 2022
Of Claws and Fangs has a little something for pretty much every urban fantasy fan. Eighteen short stories of various Faith Hunter characters and many of them answer questions posed by fans of her series. Now is when I admit that this collection was my introduction to this author. I know, I know, I'm not sure how I've missed her, but now that I've met a few of her characters, I'll have to do some catching up. As a newbie to Hunter's work, I wasn't sure how reading this collection would go, especially with so many beloved characters starring in these stories, and what I found was a bit of a combination. What I mean by that is I got a good representation of the author's writing style, which I liked, and I now have an idea of her characters and the worlds they inhabit. I liked every story, some more than others, but they're all good. That said, I do have some questions that I feel like a regular reader of Faith Hunter's books wouldn't have. Even with that in mind, I'd still recommend this book. The stories are fast-paced and entertaining, and they left me wanting more of these intriguing characters. And I can't forget to mention that cover. It's fabulous! It caught my eye, so even before I knew anything about what was inside, I wanted to know more.
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