Tag Archives: Wolfsbane and Mistletoe

The Werewolf Before Christmas by Kat Richardson

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Image result for wolfsbane and mistletoe book cover

Title: The Werewolf Before Christmas
Author: Kat Richardson
In: Wolfsbane and Mistletoe (Charlaine Harris & Toni L.P. Kelner)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Dark fantasy, Urban fantasy, Werewolves
Dates read: 25th November 2019
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Gollancz
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: And hope.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide
Synopsis

He’s a werewolf stuck halfway between his forms at the North Pole. And, he’s understandably peckish… but maybe it wasn’t such a great idea to eat Rudolph.

Thoughts

Most Christmas stories I tend to read are quite happy. I’ve NEVER read one that starts with a werewolf eating Rudolph. That was a shock. It was hilarious, and I scared my dog by spitting out a bit of my tea as I held in the laughter (yes, I have a twisted sense of humour, so sue me). But it was also incredibly unique. As I said, I’ve never had the pleasure of reading a story which begins with Rudolph being eaten by a werewolf. And not just a werewolf, but a werewolf stuck in a crazy kind of half-form that he can’t seem to get out of. Little wonder that that image made me spit out my tea.

Although this was a story that starts with Rudolph, there were a surprising amount of Christian overtones. In fact, Santa only visits good little Christian boys and girls… which I found a bit annoying – but that’s my own religious hangups. I did like that there were a number of versions of the Saint Nikolas mythos added into the telling of the tale. It wasn’t just about our more modern / common versions of this. And there was also his evil shadow to contend with…

I love that the last spin on this featured Rudolph’s nose. Instead of a light to guide the way, the werewolf was able to use his superior sense of smell. And the way that he uses this to navigate the night… brilliant. Even though I’m pretty sure the werewolf is still kind of evil and needs a swift kick up the bum… all in the name of the Christmas spirit of course!

 <- The Night Things Changed ReviewFresh Meat Review ->

Image source: Hachette Australia

The Night Things Changed by Dana Cameron

Book Review, , , , , ,
Overview
Image result for wolfsbane and mistletoe book cover

Title: The Night Things Changed
Author: Dana Cameron
Series: Fangborn #0.1
In: Wolfsbane and Mistletoe (Charlaine Harris & Toni L.P. Kelner)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal fantasy, Urban fantasy, Vampires, Werewolves
Dates read: 22nd November 2019
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Gollancz
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: I exhaled, whistling.

Synopsis

Based on premise of vampires and werewolves running in the same family – an evil free creature to protect the rest of us. This brother and sister though are about to have their entire reality turn on its head as they try and cure the latest evil they’ve come across.

Thoughts

Most stories I read about vampires and werewolves have them at loggerheads. This wasn’t all that different for the fact that the vampire and the werewolf did argue a lot. But it came from sibling rivalry rather than a difference in species and osmosis of species. I love this different take on a classical rivalry. One that I totally didn’t see coming, but really want to sink my teeth into.

The premise of this story is based on the idea that the vampires and werewolves are the protectors of humanity and there are no “evil” versions of their race. I don’t quite believe that there is no such thing as a race completely devoid of a bad apple… which apparently Cameron agrees with, because she creates a villain in this story which is a werewolf gone bad (or vampire, I wasn’t totally clear on what type of being they were)…

I’m so excited that this Christmas short story is part of a bigger series! I can’t wait to see what more happens in the full-length novels. Definitely a series that gets to move to the top of my wishlist – after all, it’s the first stories I’ve ever read where vampires and werewolves are siblings!

<- Lucy, at ChristmastimeThe Werewolf Before Christmas ->

Image source: Hachette Australia

Lucy, at Christmastime by Simon R. Green

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for wolfsbane and mistletoe book cover

Title: Lucy, at Christmastime
Author: Simon R. Green
Series: Nightside #8.4
In: Wolfsbane and Mistletoe (Charlaine Harris & Toni L.P. Kelner)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Paranormal fantasy
Dates read: 18th November 2019
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Gollancz
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: She never does.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide
Synopsis

There’s the Ghost of Christmas Past and then there’s the Ghost of your First Time… after reading this, you tell me which is worse.

Thoughts

At the beginning of this story, I thought it would be quite a sweet, easy little read. It begins talking about the fact that you never forget your first. Which, of course, we don’t. What I didn’t quite realise was that the narrator really wasn’t talking about the first I was imagining. Or at least, that was not all that he was talking about. It turned out to be quite a tragic tale, and one that almost had me in tears.

Alright, this story is still about first loves, but, being that it is a werewolf story, there is a much darker twist on the glory of a first love. Something that I really wasn’t expecting, and was only revealed at the very end. Yet, there is also a bittersweetness to the story – he is able to constantly love and communicate with the spectre of the past, one that eerily reminds me of the ghosts in A Christmas Carol.

Most people dream of true love. And, in its dark, twisted way… this is a beautiful tale of that kind of love. That everlasting feeling that you’ll never get over, and always remember… kind of a nice Christmas tale, but not one that left me with all the warm fuzzies that I normally would like.

 <- The Haire of the Beast ReviewThe Night Things Changed Review ->

Image source: Hachette Australia

The Haire of the Beast by Donna Andrews

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for wolfsbane and mistletoe book cover

Title: The Haire of the Beast
Author: Donna Andrews
In: Wolfsbane and Mistletoe (Charlaine Harris & Toni L.P. Kelner)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Humour, Urban fantasy
Dates read: 17th November 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Gollancz
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: I tried to keep my tone neutral, but brothers and sisters learn to read each other.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide
Synopsis

Revenge is a dish best served cold… or as a plate of brownies! Never mess with an intelligent woman and then give her a book of powerful spells…

Thoughts

Any revenge story is going to make me laugh and smile. I’m just that kind of person… especially when that revenge story is one well deserved, in a dish best served cold. Literally. And if the guy in question is turning a woman’s brother against her? Yup, I was absolutely cackling with glee at the end of this story.

Sadly, I don’t hear many positive stories come out of tales of women in academia… I’m still hoping that this will change. But the fact that a man took advantage of his girlfriend and then proceeded to make her brother think that he was still the bees knees… Yeah, I’d be out looking for revenge too. And the way that the lead in this takes her revenge is quite brilliant, even if she isn’t sure whether or not it will actually work.

I love the idea of a spell to help you become a werewolf. It’s always interesting what mythos is employed for this transformation, and the one used in this was brilliant. Although, I don’t know if I would be so calm about the decisions she makes in the end. Even if I am 100% behind her!

 <- Gift Wrap ReviewLucy, at Christmastime Review ->

Image source: Hachette Australia

Gift Wrap by Charlaine Harris

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Image result for wolfsbane and mistletoe book cover

Title: Gift Wrap
Author: Charlaine Harris
Series: Sookie Stackhouse #8.4
In: Wolfsbane and Mistletoe (Charlaine Harris & Toni L.P. Kelner)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Paranormal fantasy, Vampires
Dates read: 16th November 2019
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Gollancz
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: ‘Ah, do you need me to leave you alone for a second before I help you into the shower?’ I asked, indicating the toilet with a tip of my head.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

Sookie is alone on Christmas Eve and feeling incredibly lonely… and then she finds a surprising body in her backyard and things take a turn for the more… interesting.

Thoughts

I wasn’t really sure what to expect from a Sookie Stackhouse Christmas short story. I knew it would be a little off-kilter and a lot of fun. But beyond that… really not sure how Charlaine Harris would deal with the theme of werewolves and Christmas in the Wolfsbane and Mistletoe anthology. Turns out, she dealt with it brilliantly, kind of amusingly and in a really engaging way.

There seems to be this idea that there is nothing sadder than being alone at Christmas. As someone who has a partner who works away at this time of year every year… I actually don’t think that it’s that sad. But it is incredibly lonely. This story highlights that, and also the joy that you get when you get an incredibly unexpected gift. Although, you don’t truly realise that Sookie’s fun, adult times with a hot stranger, is a gift until the very end of the story.

This is a seriously fun and beautiful Christmas story. It encompasses that Christmas feeling of family and company, but does so with a wonderful dose of paranormal entertainment. And a good, heavy dose of lust throughout.

<- Wolfsbane and MistletoeThe Haire of the Beast ->

Image source: Hachette Australia

Star of David by Patricia Briggs

Book Review, , , , , , ,

Overview

shifting-shadows

Title: Star of David
Author: Patricia Briggs
Series: Mercedes Thompson #1.5, Mercy-verse #10
In: Shifting Shadows (Patricia Briggs) & Wolfsbane and Mistletoe (Charlaine Harris & Toni L. P. Kelner)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal fantasy, Strong women, Werewolves
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Ace fantasy
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: Her father considered that.

Synopsis

Centers on David Christiansen, who was briefly mentioned in Moon Called. It’s a heartwarming story of how murder and deception can bring a family together.

Thoughts

For me, Christmas is all about family and love. It is about gathering together and being grateful for each other’s’ presence in our lives and hearts. And there are a lot of Christmas tales out there that focus on this, there are also a lot who focus upon the Christian understandings of this celebration. Briggs’ Christmas tale focuses on the aspects of Christmas that I love the most – love, family and reconciliation.

David Christiansen is a bit of a sad character in Moon Called – he was changed in the worst circumstances, and struggles constantly to accept his new place in life. The horror of his past constantly taints his future, and, through the incredible short story, The Star of David, you discover that he has lost not only his humanity, but also a part of his family. The resonating loss in Devonte’s position as a foster child in hospital at Christmas drives home the pain of this and the need of everyone to be constantly be surrounded by people who love and cherish you.

The spirit of Christmas hovers over the whole story, and the final, closing scene is a beautiful way in which to highlight the uplifting and beautiful message within this story. A great short story to read over this Christmas break, something that will make you happy and hopeful as you navigate the most hectic time of year.

<- Moon CalledBlood Bound ->

Image source: Patricia Briggs