November 23, 2010

Review: Wolfsbane and Mistletoe

Wolfsbane and Mistletoe
Authors:  Various
Publisher: ACE Trade
ISBN: 0441017622
Purchase Information:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository


Let's Face it - the holidays can bring out the beast in anyone. They are particularly hard if you're a lycanthrope. Charlaine Harris and Toni L. P. Kelner have harvested the scariest, funniest, saddest werewolf tales, by an outstanding pack of authors, best read by the light of a full moon and with a silver bullet close at hand.


Review:

Wolfsbane and Mistletoe has a host of tantalizing tales focused on werewolves, all filled with either Christmas Cheer or just plain Scroogery. While most add a supernatural flair to the holiday, others bring about a melancholy that reminds the reader why the holidays can be so glum for some, adding mirthless perspective to an otherwise cheery season. With horror, humor and a plethora of other emotions as well, this is a fun read that is wonderfully suited to the holiday season!

While I don't want to go into great detail about these shorts and spoil them for the reader, I can tell you that some of the stories truly outshine the others. Most notable in this anthology are: 'Gift Wrap' a Sookie Stackhouse short by Charlaine Harris, 'Lucy, at Christmas Time' by Simon R. Green, 'Christmas Past' by Keri Arthur, 'The Star of David' by Patricia Briggs, and last but certainly not least, 'Milk and Cookies' by Rob Thurman. And while these tidbits shone a bit brighter then the rest for me, that's not to say that all the stories weren't wonderful. In fact, I love anthologies simply to read authors that I otherwise might over look. This compilation had the perfect balance of writers that were not well known to me and ones that I simply adore, making each tale unique and satisfying. Authors included in this novel are:

Charlaine Harris, Toni L.P. Kelner, Kat Richardson, Alan Gordon, Carrie Vaughn, Patricia Briggs, Dana Stabenow, Nancy Pickard, Karen Chance, Keri Arthur, Rob Thurman, J.A. Konrath, Donna Andrews, Simon R. Green, and Dana Cameron

This is a wonderful book for any supernatural fan or werewolf lover to bring in the holiday season. Perfect reading material for the airport, in the car or on the go! With stories that are short and sweet, so to speak, its easy to pick up and put down as you shuffle towards you destination.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 Scars


1 comment:

Kat said...

I remember this one was on my Christmas wish list last year! T'is the season for werewolves, it seems. :) Thanks for the review.