A Stroke of Dumb Luck

Colbana Files #0.3

by Shiloh Walker

When a teenaged girl goes missing, her mother calls Kit Colbana, scion of an ancient line of warriors  -- unfortunately, Kit's heritage doesn't impress the local wererats much. They're determined to make the girl one of their own, and Kit is going to need a big sword, a bright flashlight, and a helpful vampire to get her back.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Vampires, Fantasy, Short Stories, Shapeshifters, Magic

21 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 22, 2011

About the author

Hello... thanks for swinging by. I don't log into Goodreads much, so if you have questions, please visit my website to email me through my site.
Thank you!

My other me.... J.C. Daniels

And an experimental me that I put to sleep. J. Dallas




Bio...

Shiloh Walker has been writing since she was a kid. She fell in love with vampires with the book Bunnicula and has worked her way up to the more...ah...serious vampire stories. She loves reading and writing anything paranormal, anything fantasy, and nearly every kind of romance. Once upon a time she worked as a nurse, but now she writes full time and lives with her family in the Midwest.

To contact the author, please visit her website!

Reviews

[Prabhjot Kaur · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have never read anything about were-rats so it makes for a very interesting read. Along with were-rats, it also has vampires and warriors. I liked the fact that vampires can turn into a mist form and I also liked the characters even though Kit seemed a little immature but I don't mind as long as her character develops in the series. Writing was really good and this short story has definitely piqued my interest enough to read the first book.

3.5 stars

[Karlyflower *The Vampire Ninja, Luminescent Monster & Wendigo Nerd Goddess of Canada (according to The Hulk)* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spooktober, the month of things that go bite in the night - or day ;).

w, is for Walker

4 Stars

Hello, my name is Kit Colbana and I AM a badass!

A Stroke of Dumb Luck is a one of those 0.5 shorties that are so popular these days. And I don’t actually have much luck with these little morsels, especially when they are in worlds I’ve never visited. However, this is a GREAT little taste of Walker’s world.

If this is what her Colbana Files Series is all about, I am so in.

You see Kit is the particular flavour of badass I adore. She is the stumbling, imperfect kind that sometimes need help but that have the courage to run headlong into danger because they KNOW that whatever is going down is wrong. And righting that wrong, or the attempt to do such, is more important than their own lives. And she isn’t above asking for help, at the top of her voice, of ANYONE willing to aid her.

If I died for it, then I died for it.
Mama would be so proud.
The tunnel was dark.
I hated the dark.



This is the short story of Kit setting out to save a girl who has ran away to join the wererats. This is the story of a girl risking her life to save another girl from her own fear of death.

I don’t want to give away too much here, but there is quite a bit going on in this short story. There are layers covering layers of setting, character and world building and a few morality questions that slid in there and made a home in my brain space.

Like I need more books to add to my to-read shelves.

[ᴥ Irena ᴥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Stroke of Dumb Luck is one of the two prequels of the Colbana Files series. At least, there are only two at the moment.

I must say it works really well as an introduction to this world. At the moment I don't know much about it except what can be glimpsed from Kit's comments.

Kit Colbana comes from a family of mythical warrior women. Only she is a half-breed of sorts and there isn't a lot of love between her and her family.

I like Kit. We find her in the sewers looking for a friend's daughter. All Kit knows is that the fifteen-year-old is with the rat shifters and that she has to find her before the full moon. Before she left she sent a distress call to all the alphas in the area.
Just in case.

[Jessica ❁ ➳ Silverbow ➳ ❁ · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can get this for free here:

http://www.tor.com/stories/2010/07/a-...

My sword arm is mighty.

I will not falter.

I will not fail.

Pretty killer introduction to the series IMO.

[Angie Elle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting little introduction to a series. I picked this up because I’ve heard people compare it to Kate Daniels. I do see a few similarities, but I’ll need to read more of this world before I can tell if the comparison is accurate, which I do plan on doing.

[Meigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super short story, about 20 pages, that's available for free at Tor.com. You can also find it through the usual ebook retailers, but it's not free if you go that route.

This novella takes place before the events of the first book, showing a bit more of the relationship between both Jude and Kit, and the rats and Kit. Kit has always hated the rat clan and this story shows why that is. It was also interesting to read about Jude before he had Kit in his sights as something more and I have to say, he was deceptively nice and polite in this short story. Albeit still a fearsome creature, but it made it easier to see why Kit didn't immediately recognize him for the bastard he turned out to be. He's still a bastard in this story, don't get me wrong, but he's a master of disguise.

Another important character who's mentioned in the series, but not a physical part of it, also played a role in this tale. Mandy, Colleen's daughter, seeks refuge and more in the rat's lair. It's a hopeless venture, as it's discovered in the series, but it was still a nice touch to get a bit more backstory on Mandy's journey.

Super short, yet still a good read. I recommend going the free route for this story, as there really isn't much to it. It can also be read at any time, there isn't anything you need to know of the characters or the storylines in the series books prior to reading this.

3.5 stars for this prequel.

[Rachel-RN · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice, short introduction to Kit. I liked Kit, but she came across as very young and a bit immature. It was enough to snag my interest and I'm curious to read how she grows in the next book.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good stuff! Except for a few, very little, nit-picky things, I'm really impressed with the writing. The setting isn't too original but I like the characters in this bite-sized story. On to book 1!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fans of the Colbana Files are going to really enjoy this little short story prequel that can be read for free on the Tor website. The story is also available to download from Amazon for the Kindle but you have to pay a small amount for that version. I have to say that although I'm happy to have read it for free I think I'd have been disappointed if I'd spent money on it (it's very short at around 20 pages). Please note that while A Stroke of Dumb Luck is published on Amazon with the author's correct name, Shiloh Walker, but the rest of the series has been published under her pen name, J.C. Daniels. I think that is a little confusing - especially to anyone who hasn't come across the series before - so I wanted to point it out for anyone who is unaware.

This story will have much more meaning to people who have already started reading the series and who know the characters involved. I've read the first two books (Blade Song & Night Blade) so I'm already invested in this world and it was really nice to get a glimpse into Kit's past. We get to see one of her earliest meetings with vampire Jude and we also get to see a bit more of the background of her friendship with Colleen. If you're new to the series then this story is a nice introduction but it doesn't show the full complexity of the world Shiloh Walker / J.C. Daniels has created, it's a nice taster to whet your appetite but there is only so much you can show in 20 pages. I would highly recommend the series though, it is fast becoming one of my favourite urban fantasy series and I think it will appeal to fans of authors like Ilona Andrews and Patricia Briggs.

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Podem ler este conto aqui: http://www.tor.com/stories/2010/07/a-...

Este conto está cheio de acção e é uma boa introdução à série Colbana Files. Eu fiquei com vontade de ler!
Kit parece uma boa protagonista, forte mas ao mesmo tempo vulnerável, e gostei da voz narrativa. Se os romances forem assim, acho que posso gostar.
Do que não gostei foi dos clichés:
- Were-rats são mauzões;
- Vampiro, todo bom, salva o dia.
Do que mais gostei:
- Da voz narrativa;
- Do potencial da Kit enquanto aneira;
- Da acção e da não sencura da violência, sem que houvesse necessidade desta ser demasiado gráfica.

Acho que este texto funcionou bem como conto e como porta de entrada à série. Talvez leia Blade Song (o primeiro da série).

Nota: Adoro a capa feita pelo Jason Chan (a ilustração).

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really, REALLY love the world created here and seeing Kit and Jude before the events in book 2 kinda killed me. Kit's fierce and determined. Jude's... well, he's Jude. Btw, even if I wasn't already invested in the characters, I would have read this one because the cover is so freaking awesome. As it is, the short story delivers and gives us hints of the Kit to come.

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

A Stroke of Dumb Luck was a free read at the Tor.com website on 11/21/13.

[Ken Finlay · Rating 3 out of 5]

"A Stroke of Dumb Luck" was originally published by Shiloh Walker as an experiment on Tor in 2010. "Kit’s a new character ... I do have a project with her I’m kind of working on, but I’m not sure what’s going to happen with it yet," she wrote at the time.
It was the first time she tried her hand at Urban Fantasy.
It's a short story (20 pages) that is rough around the edges but has a solid core.
Kit Colbana is a semi-trained aneira (legendary assassins with the ability to become invisible for short periods). There's no introduction - at the start Kit is steps away from attempting to rescue a 15-year-old girl from a nest of Shapeshifters.
It quickly becomes very evident that planning is not her strong suit - it's a good thing that help is at hand.
I liked it and will be reading the series.
3 Stars.

[Amyiw · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this is a very short, say 21 pages and I think that is about right. It is one scene. You probably should read one of the Colbana Files books before it or you wont understand who Kit is or who the vampire she gets help from. This is a prequel really better read after the first book. I enjoyed seeing Kit come into her own. This is really her first "job" and luckily, or unluckily she gets help from Jude. He seems good in this but don't let that fool you. So a first look at Jude and seeing Kit unprepared since her planning hasn't come up to speed. This is all impulse. Should be read before Bladed Magic short.

[TinaMarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Free read at tor.com. Kit's story facing off the rats to save a teenage girl. I wish I had read this story before I had read the rest of the series. It's hard to reconcile the hero Jude saving Kit, knowing what I know now. Great short story, this event had been brought up in other books, was great to finally read the full story of what happened with the rat shifters.

[Deena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is it possible that I have found a new series that might come close to IA? This was short, so I am reserving judgment, but this short piece showed promise. I'll certainly try the first title in the series.

[Debbie Loader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short story introduces us to Kit and Jude and paves the way for all their future interaction. For me nothing good can come from him being able to look inside her head!

[Teri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very quick read

Quick look into Kit. Just to tease you with a little bit of information on her to get you thinking you wanted to know more.

[Alealea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny quick and easy read. The flow was good, the story short but gripping.

[monet whitlock-bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the prequel to blade song. Its a quick read.

[Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only complaint is that it is too short. It does explain the beginning of how she becomes an investigator and her relationship with Jude. It all starts somewhere.

[Angelic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book

I love the whole series the characters and story keep you wanting more. I couldn't put it down its a good start for a fantastic story

[Jeremy Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Were people, vampires, and a half aneira - seems to be similar to a valkyrie, warrior woman; interesting and well written enough that I will by trying the longer books in the series.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it

Awesome beginning to an awesome series thank u Kit!!
Thank you JC!! Love this series so much got me from the beginning

[Scarlett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog here.

What first attracted me to this book was the cover. I had been looking at the art of Jason Chan and this is one of the covers that he has done (I really like his style, you can check out more at his website ) and thought I would give it a try. Doesn't that girl look like she has an intense story behind her? I'm sure she does...but unfortunately this novelette is not it.

To be fair, this book didn't really give itself much of a chance, it only breaks down to about 15 pages and that isn't even half an hour of reading time. It was a simple storyline, simple resolution, and while it was able to convey quite a bit in the few pages that made up its entire being, there definitely could have been more.

Usually these type of simple stories have very simple elementary covers to go along with them. This one lucked out big time when it got this cover, but it also sets up the stage for something pretty epic and when you don't get that, it's a bit of a let down.

I still really like this cover though and am glad that I gave the book a try just so that I didn't have to sit there wondering what this character's story was and why she was SO cool looking! Now, knowing that it's not that great, I can at least make up my own. However, I think that this cover fits perfectly with Suzanne Collins 'Gregor the Overlander' series. That has some pretty kick-butt people in it too, and don't forget the monstrous rats!

This book gets 3 stars for being able to inspire such an amazing cover!

[A Voracious Reader (a.k.a. Carol) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kit Colbana belongs to an ancient line of warriors, but she’s not a pure-blood. When a mother calls Kit to find her missing daughter she agrees to go searching the lair of the wererats for her. Unfortunately, her mission goes sideways. Fortunately, one of the many messages she left for the supernatural community leaders was received and acted upon. Otherwise, Kit might have been a tasty meal for the wererats.

I loved this short story. The writing was smooth and the plot flowed easily. The two main characters have caught my interest and this story whetted my appetite for more. This is apparently a prequel for 'Blade Song' by J.C. Daniels which is a pen name for Shiloh Walker. I’ll be picking up 'Blade Song' (published 1 August 2012) as soon as possible.

*I read this short story in July when it was offered free to all and sundry on Shiloh Walker’s blog.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven't read a book with rat shifters (wererats) before (wait, no! that's not entirely true, Nalini Singh's Psy-Changeling series has them as well, but they only have one sentence in a whole book, poor rat shifters). Here, they are the villians and it suits them well. Kit Colbana is part aneira, but more human than aneira. She has an enchanted sword and can make herself dissappear from anyone's sight for a short period of time. Cool. I wish I had an enchanted sword and could slice through my imagined enemies, disappearing in thin air is a cool ability. *want this*

The story in a nutshell is this: Kit is looking for a missing girl in the wererats lair. The girl seeks salvation with the wererats because she is sick. Her mother wants her back in one piece. Kit rescues her with the help of a supernatural = happy ending.

[Christi Snow · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Review:
I'm a huge fan of the Kit Colbana books, but for some reason never realized this novella was out there. This novella shows how Kit got her start "finding things" and moved on from working at TJ's bar back when she was still fairly traumatized by her upbringing...not that she's ever truly recovered from that. This novella also introduced Jude and Kit's relationship with him. *shudder*

It's definitely a novella that fans of the series should read just because it provides early insight. It's also super-short...basically one incident so it makes for an easy read. And bonus...it gives fans, like me, a quick Kit fix while waiting for the next book to release.

[Thenia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very intriguing short story about a half-breed mythical assassin named Kit and an almost suicide mission she takes on to save the life of a fifteen year-old girl.

Kit is tenacious and brave, although very aware of her abilities and her vulnerability, especially compared to the other nonmortals around. One of those is the vampire Jude that comes to her aid and basically saves her bacon.

I enjoyed that first glimpse into Kit's world and I'm jumping straight to the first book of her series!

[Ryan Snyder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, I just love Kit. I own both Blade Song and Night Blade and she never gets old. Jude, however, I feel no love for. But I enjoyed being able to read about her adventures into the Rat pack to save Mandy, as this is an essential part of her relationship with Mandy's mother as well as how she came to owe Jude. Good for a novella.

I read it for free on Tor.com here:

http://www.tor.com/stories/2010/07/a-...

[Mishal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yay Kit saved Mandy...if it wasn't for Jude she would've been dead so YAY JUDE!
I really like it...it was very well written. Jude really reminded me of Draco Malfoy except he was a saviour and was a vampire...oh and he was calmer and more collected. More mature.
Really enjoyed it!
http://www.tor.com/stories/2010/07/a-...