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A review by kitvaria_sarene
Wolfsbane and Mistletoe by Dana Stabenow, Charlaine Harris, Alan Gordon, Toni L.P. Kelner, Donna Andrews, Rob Thurman, Dana Cameron, Kat Richardson, Carrie Vaughn, Simon R. Green, Patricia Briggs, J.A. Konrath, Nancy Pickard, Karen Chance, Keri Arthur
4.0
Overall 3,5* rounded up.
Not the best anthology I read, but most of the stories were fun enough for me to enjoy them. I am not a fan of most paranormal romance and "very hot men" in my fantasy though. People who are will most likely enjoy it a lot more than me.
Gift Wrap - Charlaine Harris
I found this one both slightly annoying, and the twist at the end more than just a bit creepy. Way too much hot men, and way too little actual story for my taste.
The Haire of the Beast - Donna Andrews
Very short, and just funny. Not bad, but also not especially good.
Lucy, at Christmastime - Simon R. Green
Another really short one, without much actual plot. I did like the tone and setting though.
***** The Night Things Changed - Dana Cameron
I quite enjoyed the twist on vampire and werewolf lore. The tone and voice worked well, and I clicked with the characters. It made me buy the first Fangborn novel!
The Werewolf Before Christmas - Kat Richardson
This was weird, and bloody. I liked some of the twists, but the tone didn't always work well for me. Overall it was fun, but not a favourite.
***** Fresh Meat - Alan Gordon
This has (some little) romance, and yet it was one of the best stories in my eyes. I enjoyed it so much, I ordered the first book in a series with the same main character! It's dark and fun, and I really liked the pragmatic way of the main character.
Il Est Né - Carrie Vaughn
Entertaining, but not one I will think about for a long while.
The Perfect Gift - Dana Stabenow
Really didn't like this. Just didn't catch my interest either ins tory, characters or tone.
Christmas Past - Keri Arthur
Hated this, and the "Oh he is so hot I can't resist" thing. I'm definitely not the target audience.
SA - J. A. Konrath
I really didn't like this one. The humour was nice at the start, but later on it and the romance part just made me cringe. Not horrible, but not my cup of tea. Not a fan of insta-attraction.
**** The Star of David - Patricia Briggs
I quite loved this one! Both the characters and the way the story was told. Add in a tone and voice I enjoyed, and a Christmas theme that actually felt christmassy, and it's another favourite of mine, and another book added to my ereader...!
You'd Better Not Pyout - Nancy Pickard
I could have enjoyed this, if the story would have been a bit more focussed on the characters. As is, I liked the start and end, but the middle felt a bit off the rail.
**** Rogue Elements - Karen Chance
This was another fun one, with a main character I instantly liked. Coming from a werewolf family, but not being a were herself, she is instead a warmage. I loved the blend of magic and werewolves - it reminded me a bit of Gail Carriger, whom I adore. I marked my favourites with *****
Milk and Cookies - Rob Thurman
Weird, fun, bloody - not a favourite, but entertaining enough.
Keeping Watch over His Flock - Toni L. P. Kelner
One I liked, but not a specific favourite. I also didn't expect to find such a topic (a pedophile with a little girl, right before the worst happens) in a christmas anthology. I did quite like a twist, and the end, that felt more christmassy than most other stories.
Not the best anthology I read, but most of the stories were fun enough for me to enjoy them. I am not a fan of most paranormal romance and "very hot men" in my fantasy though. People who are will most likely enjoy it a lot more than me.
Gift Wrap - Charlaine Harris
I found this one both slightly annoying, and the twist at the end more than just a bit creepy. Way too much hot men, and way too little actual story for my taste.
The Haire of the Beast - Donna Andrews
Very short, and just funny. Not bad, but also not especially good.
Lucy, at Christmastime - Simon R. Green
Another really short one, without much actual plot. I did like the tone and setting though.
***** The Night Things Changed - Dana Cameron
I quite enjoyed the twist on vampire and werewolf lore. The tone and voice worked well, and I clicked with the characters. It made me buy the first Fangborn novel!
The Werewolf Before Christmas - Kat Richardson
This was weird, and bloody. I liked some of the twists, but the tone didn't always work well for me. Overall it was fun, but not a favourite.
***** Fresh Meat - Alan Gordon
This has (some little) romance, and yet it was one of the best stories in my eyes. I enjoyed it so much, I ordered the first book in a series with the same main character! It's dark and fun, and I really liked the pragmatic way of the main character.
Il Est Né - Carrie Vaughn
Entertaining, but not one I will think about for a long while.
The Perfect Gift - Dana Stabenow
Really didn't like this. Just didn't catch my interest either ins tory, characters or tone.
Christmas Past - Keri Arthur
Hated this, and the "Oh he is so hot I can't resist" thing. I'm definitely not the target audience.
SA - J. A. Konrath
I really didn't like this one. The humour was nice at the start, but later on it and the romance part just made me cringe. Not horrible, but not my cup of tea. Not a fan of insta-attraction.
**** The Star of David - Patricia Briggs
I quite loved this one! Both the characters and the way the story was told. Add in a tone and voice I enjoyed, and a Christmas theme that actually felt christmassy, and it's another favourite of mine, and another book added to my ereader...!
You'd Better Not Pyout - Nancy Pickard
I could have enjoyed this, if the story would have been a bit more focussed on the characters. As is, I liked the start and end, but the middle felt a bit off the rail.
**** Rogue Elements - Karen Chance
This was another fun one, with a main character I instantly liked. Coming from a werewolf family, but not being a were herself, she is instead a warmage. I loved the blend of magic and werewolves - it reminded me a bit of Gail Carriger, whom I adore. I marked my favourites with *****
Milk and Cookies - Rob Thurman
Weird, fun, bloody - not a favourite, but entertaining enough.
Keeping Watch over His Flock - Toni L. P. Kelner
One I liked, but not a specific favourite. I also didn't expect to find such a topic (a pedophile with a little girl, right before the worst happens) in a christmas anthology. I did quite like a twist, and the end, that felt more christmassy than most other stories.