#Review - Urban Enemies by Joseph Nassise (Editor) #Urban #Fantasy

Series: Collections & Anthologies
Format: Paperback, 448 pages
Release Date: August 1, 2017
Publisher: Gallery Books
Source: Publisher
Genre: Fantasy / Collections & Anthologies

Villains have all the fun—everyone knows that—and this anthology takes you on a wild ride through the dark side! The top villains from seventeen urban fantasy series get their own stories—including the baddies of New York Times bestselling authors Jim Butcher, Kevin Hearne, Kelley Armstrong, Seanan McGuire, and Jonathan Maberry.

For every hero trying to save the world, there’s a villain trying to tear it all down.

In this can’t-miss anthology edited by Joseph Nassise (The Templar Chronicles), you get to plot world domination with the best of the evildoers we love to hate! This outstanding collection brings you stories told from the villains' point of view, imparting a fresh and unique take on the evil masterminds, wicked witches, and infernal personalities that skulk in the pages of today’s most popular series.

The full anthology features stories by Jim Butcher (the Dresden Files), Kelley Armstrong (Cainsville), Seanan McGuire (October Daye), Kevin Hearne (The Iron Druid Chronicles), Jonathan Maberry (Joe Ledger), Lilith Saintcrow (Jill Kismet), Carrie Vaughn (Kitty Norville), Caitlin Kittredge (Hellhound Chronicles), Faith Hunter (Jane Yellowrock), and Diana Pharaoh Francis (Horngate Witches). 

Jim Butcher's "Even Hand" (The Dresden Files #11.6 ) was previously part of Dark and Stormy Nights collection. Harry Dresden, professional wizard, has face more than his fair share of villains amid the supernatural underbelly of Chicago's dark streets, but none has proven more vexing than Gentleman John Marcone. In this story, Marcone sets aside his plans to kill Harry to go head to head with a more pressing, extremely dangerous situation.

Kelley Armstrong's "Hounded" (Cainsville #4.5) takes place in the Cainsville Universe featuring the Huntsman. The Cainsville series takes place in a town settled by refuge fae. Welsh fae (Tylwyth Teg) and the Cŵn Annwn, the Welsh version of the Wild Hunt, who are tasked with hunting killers and sending their souls to the afterlife. Huntsman appeared in the story Betrayals when he lost his hound to the protagonist. He's out to replace his missing canine companion in a very twisted way.

 

Lilith Saintcrow's "Kiss" (Jill Kismet #6.5) takes readers back to the Jill Kismet series. Readers of the Jill Kismet series will recognize Perry, a character of who the author has often said makes her ant to scrub herself with a wire brush every time he shows up. Santa Luz's resident hellbreed leader has a long history, and a long entanglement with Jill's line going back to 1945. The hunters battle the things that go bump in the night, and Jill herself made a bargain with her own person devil to gain the strength to bump back. What she didn't know, of course, was just how far that bargain would take her.

Kevin Hearne's "The Naughtiest Cherub" (The Iron Druid Chronicles #8.7) is a story, narrated by Loki, that takes place after Staked, book 8 in The Iron Druid Chronicles. The road to hell is not, as they say, paved with good intentions. Loki visits Lucifer to ask for help with his rebellion and ends up fighting for his life against some dangerous creatures. Nobody, however, is as dangerous as Loki. This is a series I've been wanting to read, but haven't had time to get caught up. Maybe one day.

 

Caitlin Kittredge's "The Resurrectionist" (Hellhound Chronicles #1.5) is set in the continuity of Hellhound Chronicles during the early 1920s. Lee Grey is a monster hunter, a man who would probably be considered a hero for protecting humanity. But Ava and other characters populating Hellhound Chronicles are monsters, and to them, a man like Lee, with special abilities designed to kill their kind, would be the ultimate enemy. This is the first meeting between Lee and Ava, but not the last.

 

Carrie Vaughan's "Bellum Romanum" (Kitty Norville #13.5) is set in the Kitty Norville universe. Kitty started out as a werewolf who had a radio talk show. The more Kitty delves into the supernatural world, meeting powerful vampires, and sinister magicians, the more she realizes the world isn't what it seems and a deep, dangerous conspiracy is afoot of this conspiracy is a mystery vampire named Roman. Before he because Kitty's nemesis, Roman was Gaius Albinus, a centurion of Rome, and two thousand years ago, he was dragged into the supernatural world against his will. He's been seeking revenge every since. 

 

Jonathan Maberry's Altar Boy" (Joe Ledger #9.1) is set in the world of the Joe Ledger weird science thrillers. This story, however, does not feature Ledger, but instead focuses on Toys, a character introduced in the first volume as a villain and who continues in the series as a "recovering bad guy," fighting for his soul every step along the rocky path to redemption. Toys is no one's idea of a hero, but he isn't quite the villain he used to be. Maybe.

Faith Hunter's "Make It Snappy" is set in the Jane Yellowrock world. Leo Pellissier is the vampire Master of the City of New Orleans. He's attacked from a direction and by an enemy he never expected. One that nearly sends him to the land of the true dead. This story introduces Katie (Leo's vampire heir), George (his human primo), the outclan priestess, Bethany, and Leo before Jane and her Beast began to tame the MOC.  It is a time when Leo's hubris runs free and his humans are little more than cattle.

Diana Pharaoh Francis's "Unexpected Choices" (Horngate Witches #4.5) takes place in the Horngate Witches series world. In the Horngate Witches series, the magical apocalypse has struck. A vast amount of destructive wild magic has washed over the earth, unleashed by the Guardians, a group of elemental beings with extraordinary power, in order to restore the balance of magic and magical creatures in the world. Giselle is a witch who established the Horngate convenstead. Shoftiel is an angel of Justice. After making his second mistake, seeking vengeance on Max, one of Giselle's supernatural warriors, he was imprisoned in the Mistlands. Both Giselle and Shoftiel are villains. Both are seeking redemption. Can either of them overcome their hatred and suspicion of each other? 

Seanan McGuire's "Balance" is set in the world of the authors InCryptid universe. Most of the cryptids in the universe are perfectly lovely people. But then there are the cuckoos. Telepathic ambush predators who will steal everything you are, and laugh while your world falls apart around you. They live for math. They live for malice. We got a real glimpse into the way the creature thinks. This is truly the most evil villain in the entire story. 

Skipped: Joseph Nassise (Templar Chronicles), Domino Finn (Black Magic Outlaw), Steven Savile (Glasstown), Jeffrey Somers (The Ustari Cycle), Sam Witt (Pitchfork County), Craig Schaefer (Daniel Faust), Jon F. Merz (Lawson Vampire).

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