Fantasy Short Stories - Wolfsbane and Mistletoe
Harris and Kelner bring a whole new meaning to Christmas this year. The usual jovial cheer of the holiday season is marked with a dark omen, that of werewolves to be exact, in the latest anthology. The authors provide a creative mix of horror and humor, and there are also some characters you might recognize. Here’s a sampling of some of the stories provided in the book.
Gift Wrap, by Charlaine Harris, finds Sookie Stackhouse alone at Christmas, that is, until she discovers an ailing werewolf outside her home. Not one to abandon a creature in trouble, Sookie swings into action. For those who don’t follow the series, this story takes place just after the latest novel.
With Lucy, at Christmastime, Simon R. Green weaves elements from his popular Nightside books into this tale about a werewolf crying into his beer at Christmas about his past loves. While the ending is obvious, Greens story still amuses.
Supernatural creatures are usually good-hearted in The Night Things Changed by Dana Cameron. However, in a twist of fate, one turns out to be a killer. A female vampire and her werewolf brother investigate the matter.
In The Werewolf Before Christmas, by Kat Richardson, perhaps the most enjoyably wicked of the collection, this tale, from the author of the Greywalker series, features Matthias the werewolf. After helping himself to a tasty meal of Rudolph the Reindeer at the North Pole, Santa Claus ropes him into taking Rudolphs place.
In true Christmas spirit, Carrie Vaughn writes an uplifting story with her “II Est Ne” contribution. An unlikely encounter in a Waffle House finds Kitty and her new friend, a recently turned werewolf, hunting down a serial killer and changing both their dismal outlooks.
What happens when Soviet vampires discover that Santa is one of their own and has been using Christmas as a way to satisfy his bloodthirsty desires? They want in, of course! But somehow they end up in Africa after being bamboozled by a werewolf. Nancy Pickard writes an amusing tale of vampires-gone-wild with her story, You’d Better Not Pyout.
In “Rogue Elements”, Karen Chance writes a police mystery set in the supernatural realm of Las Vegas which involves identity denial and werewolf politics.
This compilation of holiday-themed tales provides readers with a wonderful sampling of works by bestselling authors. Fantasy and romance fans alike are certain to find several offerings in the collection quite appealing.
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Tags: Book Reviews, fantasy books