#Review - High Moon (An Urban Fantasy Anthology) Various Authors

Series: Anthology
Format: Kindle, 660 pages
Release Date: September 14th 2021
Publisher: Wetknee Books
Source: Publisher
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Come howl at the moon with these all-new tales of wolves in the city!

This thrilling collection contains eight exclusive novellas by today's top urban-fantasy authors:

 

 

"Fox Hunt" by Aimee Easterling - Mai Fairchild's life revolves around acting human and teaching fencing to middleschoolers and protecting her sister Kira who is her only remaining relative. Then a student goes missing just as werewolves start breathing down her neck and fighting over who controls the city. One of them has intentions of making Mai his mate. Can she hunt the hunters without revealing her identity as a fox? Can she avoid being caught up in Werewolf politics? Can she save her sister from being used as a pawn? **This is a new to me author. This is a prequel to “Wolf’s Bane” (Moon Marked Series). 

Rating: 3 1/2 Gizmos

 

"Wereabouts Unknown" by Jenn Stark - Having strutted her way from cop to carny fortune teller to the newest, most fabulous member of a group of Tarot mystics, and Sara Wilde's best friend, Nikki Dawes has the world in the palms of her bedazzle-gloved hands. But now a pack of displaced werewolves is relying on her to find the rest of their kind who was left behind by the former Moon. Can she reunite those snarly, sexy beasts in time to win the war on magic? **I will literally gobble up anything this author writes no matter what name she writes under. There are some guest appearances like Aleksander Kreios, Simon the Fool, and Armaeus the Magician, as well as a brief appearance by Sara Wilde. 

Rating: 4 Gizmos

 

"Elemental Witch" by B R Kingsolver - After a magical disaster puts Joanna's future in jeopardy, the Supernatural Council gives her a second chance at Midleton College. She is basically an indentured servant until the Council feels that she's no longer a threat. New friends, a hot wolf shifter, and a serene campus grow on her fast. Then some fool summons a demon which starts on a killing spree. Can Joanna clean up the mess before the demon kills her friends? **This is another new to me author. I know the author has written other series, but I haven't found any information about Joanna or whether or not this is a one time introduction to a new character. 

Rating: 3 1/2 Gizmos

 

"Dragon Tears" by Marina Finlayson - New wolf Nat Turner jumps at the chance to escape her controlling pack when she's offered a job as bodyguard to a powerful dragon who is about to throw a party that all his enemies will appear. But her dream job becomes a nightmare when she realizes she must also protect the magical gems known as dragon tears that contain his power. Because holy hell, does that man have a lot of enemies. **This is also a new to me author and I have no further information whether Nat and Gabriel Arquette appear in any other of the authors works.

Rating: 3 Gizmos

 

"Lunaticking" by Dale Ivan Smith - Sorcerer-Agent Elizabeth Marquez tracks illegal wolf-men manifestations while enforcing the magical laws that keep the hidden supernatural hidden. Shifter Chloe must find her kidnapped pack leader. Together, these two wielders of different magics must find the supernatural culprits behind both crimes, and stop a far greater one from happening. Elizabeth works for an organization called RUNE (Regulating Union of Normalizing Enchantments). Elizabeth and her partner Tully appear in the authors Agents of Sorcery series. She also appears in the anthology called Street Spells with the story called Silos.

Rating: 3 1/2 Gizmos

 

"Prowl" by N. R. Hairston - Wereskunk Anise is constantly ducking werewolves and vampires intent upon harvesting her high-dollar skunk oil. Skunk oil can heal almost any injury as well as allowing vampires do day walk. She also works with other Skunks in rescuing those held by vampires who love to drain skunks of their precious oil. Everything seems to be coming to a head when Brick, an Alpha Werewolf, decides to take an interest in Anise and ensure that nobody takes what they're not entitled to. Will alpha werewolf Brick really help, or is he just another poacher hunting her? *Note* According to the author, Anise and Brick are the stars of an upcoming series

Rating: 3 1/2 Gizmos

 

"Full Moon's Curse" by Jenn Windrow - Sometimes the cure is worse than the curse. Cursed by a witch on a power kick, Julia Monroe has twenty-four hours to kill the leader of the local coven named Kyoko Leno who just happens friends with her brother Julian. If she fails, she'll be forced to live as a wolf for the rest of her life. If she succeeds, she'll be excommunicated from her pack and her family. *There's a huge back story that needs to be linked to this story. Especially when characters like Alexis Black appear in the book. I've been told that if you want to know more about Alexis, then you need to read Evil's Unlikely Assassin.

Rating: 3 Gizmos

 

"A Myth in Moonlight" by Becca Andre - Leena, who has the ability to manipulate moon light, knows that mythical creatures don't exist - not in the modern magical world. She knows that if you believe something to be true, then chances are that the thing you believe in will come to life like werewolves. But when the old werewolf myth proves to have some...bite, she must reexamine her beliefs to break an improbable curse before it runs wild in Cincinnati.**If you read this story and like it, the author suggests reading Final Formula series.

Rating: 3 Gizmos 

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#Monday Review - Almost Midnight by C.C. Hunter (YA, Paranormal, Anthology)

Series: Shadow Falls:After Dark # 3.5
Format: Paperback, 407 Pages
Release Date: February 02, 2016
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal

Novella Collection

Nestled deep in the woods, Shadow Falls is a secret camp where teens with supernatural powers learn to harness their abilities and live in the normal world.

Independent and strong-willed Della Tsang did not believe in vampires...until she became one. Chase Tallman is the newest member of Shadow Falls, but what made him into the sexy, mysterious vampire he is today? And what led him to Della Tsang? And for Miranda Kane, magic has always been something she's struggled with, but when an opportunity to test her powers takes her to Paris, she'll have to prove that she's a witch to be reckoned with and belongs at Shadow Falls.

Fans won't want to miss these four remarkable stories of love, magic and friendship.

Almost Midnight is a series of FIVE short stories that take place in the Shadow Falls universe. The book opens with Turned at Dark (Shadow Falls 0.5) which Published March 15th, 2011 by St. Martin's Griffin. The 32 page novella is considered to be the beginning of the Shadow Falls series. Since I've already read, and reviewed this book, here is what I previously wrote:

"Turned at Dark is a novella in the Shadow Falls Series for which I am definitely going to read (and have). It follows 16 year old Della Tsang who has never seen a ghost before until the night she sees her dead cousin Chan zipping across the street and ducking into an alley. Chan has been "dead" for less than a year, or so she thought. Della is hardheaded and refuses to believe what is right in front of her with a world full of Vampires, Shape-shifters, Fae, Witches, and Werewolves. Della, as it turns out, is a carrier of a virus that transforms her into a vampire. By touching Chan with her open cut, the virus spreads rapidly throughout her body, just like it did to Chan. In the end, Della has to make a difficult choice about remaining with her human family who believes she fallen into bad ways and boyfriend who thinks she's changed, or going to Shadow Falls summer camp headed by Holliday Brandon where she can find answers about her new found existence."

The Second Story is "Saved at Sunrise" (Shadow Falls #4.5). Another story featuring Della Tsang. Della and Shape-shifter Steve are given a mission to find rogues vampires who have been terrorizing humans by Burnett James, and the Fallen Research Unit (FRU). This novel really goes to the root of Della's thinking and her headstrong ways. She doesn't want to fail Burnett. She wants to put her time with her Lee, behind her, but finds herself facing him. Della's broken heart also comes from a quick visit to her own family. Della is a character who really is an emotional train-wreck. While Steve may have some feelings for her, Della doesn't want to get close to anyone. Yes, even though Della is hard-headed at times, she is still accepted by Kylie and Miranda and Yes, there is a bit of kissing involved as well between Della and Steve. This novella is 100 pages long, and was released April 2, 2013 by St. Martin's Griffin. 

The Third story is "Unbreakable" which I've previously read and reviewed: Published: September 30, 2014 by St. Martin's Griffin 

"Unbreakable (Shadow Falls: After Dark 0.5) is another short (55 pages) novella that skims over Chase Tillman's life before he came to Shadow Falls, and tried to win the heart of vampire Della Tsang. Technically, this story takes place previous to Reborn (Shadow Falls: After Dark # 1). It all begins with a blood test, an encounter with a palm reader, a hopeful romance, and then a devastating crash that unleashes the VI virus in Chase's blood. The points of view change from Chase, to reports of the plane crash that Chase's family is involved in. There are other characters involved in the story as well, including Chase's dog Baxter, but Hunter doesn't really offer any revelations as to who they are, or why they were involved in the first place, or what makes Chase so special. I should say that readers shouldn't expect a whole lot of answers in this novella. Eventually, Hunter does reveal Chase's journey, but you have to read the new After Dark series until the end." 

The fourth story is Spellbinder (Shadow Falls: After Dark # 2.5) which features Miranda Kane, witch, best friend, and roommate of Kylie Green and Della Tsang's. I've always had a soft spot for Miranda. Kylie has had a bunch of books dedicated to her plight, and Della has now had her turn. Spellbinder is Miranda's turn to shine. She's a really good character, who means well. She's a bit on the dyslexic side, and doesn't always have a handle on her own magic. But, with a trip to Paris and a High Priestess competition on the line, Miranda will come into her own, while also finding out some devastating secrets having to do with her own family, and fighting to stay alive. Of course, one can not read this book without expecting a bit of a twisted romance with Miranda and Perry, or have feelings for a warlock named Shawn. Spellbinder is 141 pages long, and was previously published June 30, 2015 by St. Martin's Griffin. 

The fifth and final story in the book is called Fierce.  The story features werewolf Fredericka (Ricka) LaKota, a 17 year old with a promising future as an artist. Fredericka has had a rough history in the Shadow Falls series. She's only been at Shadow Falls for six months, but she's managed to make all sorts of waves and had numerous conflicts Kylie. However, let's not write her off just yet because of stuff that happened in another time. After reading this book, you do get a better understanding about who Ricka really is. Yes, she has some issues. Yes, she definitely needs some friends. But, she's also a brilliant artist. She's made her peace with Kylie, and that's a pretty good start when you are looking for help from a creepy McCreepster. There is a whole lot to say about Fredericka, but I can only say that if you've read this series in its entirety, then you shouldn't skip this story. There is a bit of suspense, a bit of romance, an interesting twist, and an understanding that happens between the three primary characters and Fredericka.

In the end, Almost Midnight is totally worth the time it will take you to read it. Yes, Kylie, Miranda, and Della do appear in almost every single story, but why wouldn't they? After all, they are the three main characters along with Holiday and Burnett James. 

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