Title: Winnowing the Herd
Author: Carrie Vaughn
Series: Kitty Norville #0.9
In: Kitty’s Greatest Hits (Carrie Vaughn)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal fantasy, Urban fantasy, Werewolves
Dates read: 18th November 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Tor
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: Not even a chunk of Brie in sight.

Picking music for your midnight radio station can certainly be a difficult choice… especially when you have to deal with a fool of a manager.

This doesn’t really feel like much of a short story. More like a little segue, look into Kitty’s daily life, managing her station manager. It did help to crystalize some of the ways in which she views the world though and highlight that before or else, she is a werewolf first and sees things in terms of animal nature of instincts.

Kitty is so clearly an alpha figure in this story. It’ll be interesting how this works into an urban fantasy world. There’s not many stories which feature a strong, female werewolf without a whole slew of issues from her male contemporaries.

Since this really felt more like an anecdote than a story, I don’t really have all that much to say about this. It was fun, easy and makes me keen to sink my teeth into Kitty and the Midnight Hour.

Image source: Amazon

Title: Wild Ride
Author: Carrie Vaughn
Series: Kitty Norville #0.7
In: Kitty’s Greatest Hits (Carrie Vaughn)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal fantasy, Urban fantasy, Werewolves
Dates read: 17th November 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Tor
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: The Dustbowl was part of a row of simple wooden buildings set up to look like an Old West street but without disguising the modern shingles, windows, and neon beer sings.

He’s just discovered that he’s not as well as he wants to be. But a motorbike accident and a twist of fate might provide him with an out. Will he be brave enough to start a new life?

I’ve decided that I absolutely adore werewolf stories which feature gay werewolves. This is only my second. The other is the Mercedes Thompson series. There is just something that pulls me in… I’m not sure why. Probably something to do with the fact that werewolves are often used to indicate our animalistic side, which is very much associated with power and masculinity where the males are concerned… things that are not traditionally associated with gay men. Which is stupid, but that’s another soapbox for another day. The point is… I loved this.

This isn’t a greatly positive story. Although, it’s not entirely negative either. Unlike some of the other lead-up Kitty Norville short stories, the man isn’t turned against his will and there’s really not much trauma associated with his turning. Rather, he trades one “cage” for another and then finds a way to live with the decisions he’s made. A much nicer and more PG story of paranormal turnings and becoming a monster.

What I loved most about this story though is the fact that he actually walked away. Although it was scary, possibly dangerous and could potentially lead to his death. He manages to stand up for himself, walk away and be his own person. Something that not everyone can do. Especially when surrounded by such intense peer pressure and an alpha figure such as the one in this story. All in all, a fantastic read and one that I absolutely ripped through.

Image source: Amazon

Title: Looking After Family
Author: Carrie Vaughn
Series: Kitty Norville #0.6
In: Kitty’s Greatest Hits (Carrie Vaughn)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal fantasy, Urban fantasy, Werewolves
Dates read: 15th November 2019
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Tor
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: The moonlit world was bright, but a kind of filtered brightness.

Cormac managed to avenge his father’s death. But, he doesn’t think he’s quite done yet. When his younger cousin Bill follows him into the darkness, he realises that he may just have to readjust his priorities.

As a pre-story to a series about a woman who is a werewolf, I was kind of surprised to find a story about a young werewolf hunter. One that starts with the boy killing a werewolf in revenge for his father’s death and continues with his journey for revenge. Yet, I’m pretty sure that this is an origins story, one that will make a lot more sense when I meet Cormac and Bill in the full-length novels.

Bill and Cormac are a fantastic pair of cousins. Like two sides of the same coin – one is a tough, no nonsense, serious boy. The other is kind of needy, wants to impress his older cousin and show that he’s made of sterner stuff. Yet, it is ultimately this difference in personality and relationship that saves both boys – their differences and ability to accept each other that gives Cormac a chance to move on from his father’s death and live his life.

This story really asks – when is someone actually a monster? Is it just because they can kill you? Or because they do? I wonder how Cormac will answer this question as the series unfolds…

Image source: Amazon

Title: A Princess of Spain
Author: Carrie Vaughn
Series: Kitty Norville #0.3
In: Kitty’s Greatest Hits (Carrie Vaughn)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal fantasy, Urban fantasy, Werewolves
Dates read: 1st November 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Tor
Year: 20
5th sentence, 74th page: Arthur did not look at her.

Catherine is the princess of spain, and about to enter marriage with a sickly Englishman. But, when she realises that there are paranormal forces at work, she bands with his younger brother Henry to get rid of the evil.

I only recognised that this was about Henry the VIII’s first wife, Catherine of Aragon because I read Falling Pomegranate Seeds. Which is amazing (read it). But, since I’m not all that well versed and, quite frankly, interested in Tudor History, I wouldn’t have really clicked as to what this story was actually about. Having said that, even if I hadn’t. I still would have thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s obviously a story about a historical figure, and it has a beautiful dose of the paranormal. Both things which always draw me in. Actually, I’m finding that the short stories in the lead up to Kitty and the Midnight Hour are so far beautifully able to mention historical moments that are quite well known. But in a oh so subtle way.

The political intrigue in this story immediately draws you in. It makes it almost impossible to look away as you want to find out how the Spanish princess will fare in an English court. Luckily, this is just a short story. Otherwise I would have happily wasted an entire afternoon trying to figure out who was up to what in this political tale.

Most people when they imagine Henry VIII, it’s a pretty bad image. Someone who liked to behead his wives and eat a lot. But, this short story gives a view of him as a young child. Before he begins to run around beheading women and divorcing the ones he didn’t kill…

Image source: Amazon

Title: The Book of Daniel
Author: Carrie Vaughn
Series: Kitty Norville #0.1
In: Kitty’s Greatest Hits (Carrie Vaughn)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal fantasy, Urban fantasy, Werewolves
Dates read: 12th July 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Tor
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: Daniel started from a nightmare, his eyes growing wide all at once, his breathing fast and panicked.

Daniel is the right hand man of the king. But people are jealous, and their jealousy could get him killed. If he didn’t have a secret that will help him survive.

I normally don’t love stories that have a Christian connotation. Something about going to a Lutheran high school and being exposed to WAY too much of the faith for my comfort. But this story was the perfect amount of Christianity and paranormal fantasy. The more I read stories like this, the more my prejudices seem to be wiped away, or at least lessened.

When I first started getting into paranormal fantasy stories, I thought that werewolves were the paranormal creature that I loved the most (probably has something / a lot to do with the Mercedes Thompson series). But the more I read of this genre, the more obscure and fun creatures I find to fall in love with. And feline shapeshifters are at the top of that list. Which just makes Daniel kind of amazing, as this is his secret power.

The Book of Daniel takes you to a completely different world. One that existed centuries ago, before any of us were born, and even before our grandparents were a glint in their parents’ eyes. I’m not sure how this short story relates into the greater Kitty Norville series, but it certainly adds an extra layer of world building and makes me more than eager to get my nose stuck in this series.

Image source: Amazon