Is there anything as faithful or loyal as a dog? Always ready to lend a paw, cuddle up next to you, or chase away foes (because their noses know!).
This feel-good collection features eight magical stories of whimsical, true-hearted, and rascally hounds. From a blind dog with surprising gifts to a watery pup with a winsome secret to a fiery hound, ready to test his new dog-sitter to his limits. Danger may lurk, but don’t worry! Every story is guaranteed a heartwarming, happy ending.
This sixth anthology from the Fellowship of Fantasy showcases incredible authors dedicated to telling doggone good fantasy fiction that will make you laugh, sigh, and cuddle your own furry friend.
Selina R. Gonzalez is a Colorado local with mountains in her blood and dreams that top 14,000 feet. She loves swords, fantasy, costumes, bread, history, castles, superheroes, things that sparkle, snark, dogs, dragons, and Jesus—not in that order.
She writes medieval-inspired fantasy with swoon but no on-page spice. She loves writing about relationships—platonic, familial, and romantic—and her books center healthy romances founded on mutual values, trust, and respect between imperfect people who make mistakes but always strive to grow.
– the rating given to the collection is based off the average of each story’s rating together
Reviews:
Dragon Dog by A.J. Bakke
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars)
– Note: it’s not spelled out, but a character is at the site of someone’s burial and mourning them – it just mentions a mound of dirt and the person crying by it
This was heartwarming and sweet! I loved reading about this pup’s journey to find their human (with the help of their squirrel friend) after having lived with dragons and not knowing anything beyond the nest. It put things that we take for granted into perspective as well!
The Legacy of the Houndguard By Amber Gabriel
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars)
I liked getting to know what the Houndguard was in bits and pieces and that it was being shown to us from a father dog’s perspective with him teaching his pup what it all was/meant. I loved the pup’s distracted tendencies and the awe he got as he learned something new about his heritage.
Goggles and Tails E. J. Kitchens
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.5 stars)
I removed a partial star because on it’s own (as it is) I didn’t feel the story was completed, just gave the main character their purpose in a world against them. However, it is a really good and very interesting start to a story! Unlike the other stories, this one wasn’t from a dog’s point of view, but rather an orphan’s. It was a mix of steampunk & magic with a magical dog and the mechanical inventions around the main character. Amberson (the orphan) was interesting in that though he looked out for himself, he mainly saw himself as an issue that needed to be taken away from others in order to keep them safe. I loved that Courtlyn tried to give Amberson a home and that he and his family succeeded in making him feel at home for awhile. I just wish we’d gotten more beyond then ending given.
Grim Guardian By Sarah Pennington
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars)
This was a light mysterious story with a good dog! I hadn’t really been able to follow any hints as I didn’t know what was happening in terms of what kind of characters/creatures there are beyond werewolves, but I wasn’t upset about that. I actually liked that I was entirely surprised by the end result. (The narrator is also not the dog in this story!)
Second Sight By Laura L Zimmerman
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars)
– Notes: there are multiple life or death/danger incidences mentioned (almost forced entry into a home, house fire, people almost being hit by a drunk driver); the dog is blind and deaf
This story is told from mainly a little boy’s point of view (with a little from his father’s). I was a little startled by how many different incidences were thrown into this little story, but they did well to orchestrate the point of the story. I liked that the boy not only found a friend/companion in his pup, but that he also saw the pup’s worth beyond his perceived abilities even before the pup’s heroics.
The Potion Maker & The Nuisance By Brianna Tibbetts
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars)
This was a clever use of writing a story for this anthology! I liked that we went under the sea to see the life of a mermaid being interrupted by a seal pup! I really enjoyed Athys’s dilemma of thinking the pup was cute, but also needing to get his potions for his clients made correctly. And that ending was both funny and endearing to see Athys struggle against the hold the pup had on his heart.
Triple Threat By Hailey Huntington
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars)
This was hilarious! A broke college kid accepting a job dog sitting from Hades, thinking it’s just an unfortunate naming situation. I loved that he was in slight denial for the beginning and then just dove right in to caring for Cerberus as the three-headed dog caused trouble.
The Witch of Stone Gnome Mountain By Selina R. Gonzalez
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars)
Careful, this story will give you tears of sadness and relieved joy! It was so sweet what the husband would do for his wife and how he felt about it. I loved the ending and that it worked out for everyone in the story.
This anthology had me tearing up several times. The dogs are all the goodest of the good boys! Definitely would recommend to any dog lover.
I was gifted an advance copy by the publisher, but my opinions are my own. This is seriously a cute collection. Some of the stories feel very much a part of a bigger world. Some feature familiar canine friends (like Cerberus or the church grim), while others may catch you completely off guard (like The Potion Maker And The Nuisance). 10/10. Will read again.
This was an imaginative, heartwarming, and highly entertaining collection. Some of the stories were funny, some serious, others action-packed. All were lovely. They gave me all the emotions and had me shedding a tear or two along the way.
Dragon Dog by A.J. Bakke A dog raised by a dragon is sent out into the world to make its own way and makes a surprising friend along the way.
The Legacy of the Houndguard by Amber Gabriel This story gives a snippet of what a day is like in the life of a Houndguard and his son protecting a ranch.
Goggles and Tails by E.J. Kitchens A steampunk tale where a boy with autumn eyes (eyes that could get him killed) gets help from a Sky Keeper and his faerie-touched dog.
Grim Guardian by Sarah Pennington Opal Seymour and her son investigate the appearance of a strange hound in a graveyard.
Second Sight by Laura L. Zimmerman There’s something extra special about a grieving boy’s special-needs rescue dog.
The Potion Maker & The Nuisance by Brianna Tibbetts A playful seal pup keeps interrupting the potion maker's work.
Triple Threat by Hailey Huntington A broke college student takes a job dog-sitting Cerberus.
The Witch of Stone Gnome Mountain by Selina R. Gonzalez To save his wife, a man and his dog visit the witch of Stone Gnome Mountain... A witch who prefers to be paid in dogs…
This anthology is a must-read for dog lovers. I enjoyed every single story, which isn't always the case in collections like this. I can't recommend it highly enough.
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.
So far I have only read "The Witch of Stone Gnome Mountain" By Selina R. Gonzalez that I got for signing up to her newsletter. 4 Stars... Even though it has a happy ending, I cried from the first page to the last. But it was happy.
Cute, sweet little stories that made me smile, and some even packed a whopping amount of feels for such small packages, lol. Enjoyed reading this anthology!
~I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.~~
Wags Woofs and Wonders, from the Fellowship of Fantasy is a short story anthology written around the theme of magical dogs. I love both dogs and magic, so it's no wonder that I enjoyed this anthology. The stories curate by the Fellowship of Fantasy are always original and unique. This anthology was no exception.
My favorite of these stories was the story Goggles and Tails by E.J. Kitchens. This story is a steampunk story and takes place in the author's Star Clock Chronicles series. In this story, a magical dog helps disguise a boy hiding out from the tyrannical Time King. I enjoyed the way the author tied in her existing lore in away that didn't require reading the whole series.
The rest of the stories are just as exciting with almost all of them hitting the heartstrings.
A review copy of this book was provided to me. The above review is my honest and unbiased opinion of the book provided.
This was a great read for me.A fantastic collection of short stories with out four legged friends as the main characters.The stories left you feeling happy a great read when you're feeling low. I loved how it shows how loyal and good dogs can be as opposed to all the bad media they get.
I received a review copy from the publisher and am leaving an honest review.
This heartwarming collection of short stories by seasoned authors revolves around furry canine companions. Each author delivers a feel-good tale that won’t disappoint. My favorites were Goggles and Tails by E.J. Kitchens and The Witch of Stone Gnome Mountain by Selina R. Gonzalez. The former takes us into a steampunk world and follows the journey of a thirteen-year-old orphan named Amberson, who wears goggles to hide his multi-colored eyes, and a faerie-touched dog, Charaid. When Amberson’s life is in danger, Charaid and his owner quickly intervene. They embark on a dangerous adventure that feels like the beginning of a much larger story, one that I’d love to read. The latter story takes place in winter and is about a man who loves two things in the world – his wife and his dog. When his wife falls deathly ill, he sets out on a perilous journey to Stone Gnome Mountain in search of a witch and her healing potions. However, his mission is not without sacrifice. But even the sadder stories have a happy ending. I received an advanced reader copy (ARC) of the book, and my review is entirely voluntary.
This was such a sweet read. I loved every story. I'll admit the last story nearly had me sobbing. The first story reminded me so much of my favorite book growing up, The Puppy Who Wanted a Boy. Each story has its own unique feel which I loved. There are a couple I'd love to see fleshed out into full novels. I'll definitely be gifting this one.
This wasn't quite what I expected, several of these should be made into a full book. The stories are sweet. And if you love animals you may find a tear or two.
Review for the stories I've read so far, though I plan to finish the collection sometime!
Goggles and Tails (E.J. Kitchens) Having recently read aloud the Star Clock Chronicles series to my siblings, I was most excited about this story set in that same world, and it did not disappoint! Oh my goodness! I got slight Chrestomanci and Mairelon the Magician vibes from this one, and it was a delight being back in the Star Clock world, though I think anyone new to that world would still enjoy it. I loved Amberson (our hero) and Courtlyn (a cool and mysterious chap!) and Mrs. Elson (efficient housekeeper and clever help on missions!) and Charaid (bestest fey-touched dog boi!) and all the shenanigans they got up to, my word! What a delight.
Grim Guardian (Sarah Pennington) The other story I was super excited about, I super enjoyed this one! I don't want to give away the plot, but the cozy mystery vibe was a delight and I enjoyed Opal and her son Andrew and their investigating strange goings-on at a church yard and I definitely guessed what was up and it made me happy to figure it out. XD I especially enjoyed the little worldbuilding things casually mentioned on the side (like Wild Hunt things) that brought uniqueness to this seemingly-normal modern church setting. It was so cozy and I loved it!
Triple Threat (Hailey Huntington) Actually the first one I read. I was flipping through the book, looking at the story titles and authors, and my eye snagged on the opening of this one. It featured an email from Hades to a dogsitter and I was instantly hooked. I read the whole thing before I had realized what I was doing. Humorous and full of mythological references, this was just sooo much fun! XD I loved every bit of it and I just can't get enough fun modern-twist-on-Hades-who's-not-so-bad (which reminds me of Flower of the Underworld by Hazel B. West which I loved). So much fun!
Do you prefer books that make you laugh or cry? These stories will do both! Hilarious hijinks and tender, tail-wagging moments fill the pages. I just finished reading them all, and I can't decide which is my favorite.
Here's a brief preview:
“The Dragon Dog” by A.J. Bakke After an unusual upbringing, a dog without a name is sent on a quest to find his place in the world.
“The Legacy of the Houndguard” by Amber Gabriel Two telepathic dogs, a father and his son, watch over a herd of cattle, protecting them from predators while bonding with the new calves and each other.
“Goggles & Tails” by E.J. Kitchens In a world where the wrong eye color can get you killed and clocks are treason, an orphan must escape an orphanage and the city before the truth of his heritage is revealed.
“Grim Guardian” by Sarah Pennington When a shadowy hound haunts the churchyard, the congregation calls on Opal Seymour and her former-werewolf son to investigate.
“The Potion Maker & the Nuisance” by Brianna Tibbetts All Athys wanted was for the seal pup to leave him alone, but when using his magic to try and solve the problem puts the pup in danger, the merman is forced to decide if his peace and quiet is more important than the pup's life.
“Triple Threat” by Hailey Huntington An unsuspecting college student finds himself dog-watching Cerberus.
“Second Sight” by Laura L. Zimmerman A boy grieves his mother's death, but when a disabled dog becomes his new companion, the youth finds there's more to the mutt than meets the eye.
“The Witch of Stone Gnome Mountain” by Selina R. Gonzalez In this poignant and heartwarming tale, a man determined to do anything to save his wife's life takes his beloved dog to seek a mysterious witch who has a penchant for requesting dogs as payment for her magical cures.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This was a delightful short story anthology! I purchased this because it combined my two favorite things; dogs and fantasy! I listed the stories in order from most-least favorite. Even my least favorite is well-written.
🐾 The Legacy of the Houndguard by Amber Gabriel
🐾 The Witch of Stone Gnome Mountain by Selina R. Gonzalez