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Gnoll Tales
Anthropomorphic hyenas-or gnolls-get a bad reputation in many fantasy settings, being reduced to little more than slavering, ravenous beasts. Yet what if gnolls were more than just creatures for heroes to fight, but rather a species with their own culture and history?
Gnoll Tales is a collection of twelve myths and folktales in a world rich in magic that offers a different view on gnolls. Join the druid Ingot as he regales with stories ranging from his people's legends and gods to tales of gnolls simply living their lives.
Gnoll Tales is a collection of twelve myths and folktales in a world rich in magic that offers a different view on gnolls. Join the druid Ingot as he regales with stories ranging from his people's legends and gods to tales of gnolls simply living their lives.
122 pages, Paperback
Published June 30, 2023
3 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
NightEyes DaySpring
29 books55 followersNightEyes DaySpring is an author who specializes in furry fiction. His work has covered a number of different genres with furry fiction as he continues to explore his voice.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 21, 2024
A very fun read. I loved the variety of themes and myths and stories.
January 9, 2024
Gnoll Tales was a fun collection of short stories about hyenas that left me wanting more. I'm a big fan of the conceit of a short story collection being a set of stories that a character is telling to other people. I think that framing helped to elevate a lot of the creation myth stories that were included into something more substantial. It helped to sell them as a part of Ingot's background and oral traditions. Solid collection of stories, my biggest complaint is that I feel like some of the stories could have been longer. There were a few that I had wanted to see more done with the premise but then they ended as I felt they were getting going.
Here's some quick thoughts on some of my favorites:
Stars and Moon does a great job of bringing the reader in with the explanation of part of the gnoll creation myth. I think it worked well as an introduction to the collection.
I absolutely loved the tone and playful nature of the characters in The Fox, the Wolf, and the Gnoll. A cute twist on the expectations of furry readers and how magic can have consequences long after you've cast your spells.
A Wager in Bone was one of the highlights of the collection to me. It reads like a refined story told about a particularly cool interaction that happened during a game of D&D and that made it feel so much more personal. The build-up of the stakes and the game being played tying back to the earlier stories in the collection helped to push this one over the top.
Twisted Vows is probably my favorite story in the collection as it works the hardest to acknowledge and tear down the stereotypes that have been built up about gnolls in fantasy. Kyla's responsibilities war against who she is as a person and her doubts and insecurities almost overcome her. Through her friends and family, she is able to choose another path and that was a powerful statement indeed.
If you like gnolls or hyenas I think this is a must buy as I feel like there's a lot to love in this collection!
Here's some quick thoughts on some of my favorites:
Stars and Moon does a great job of bringing the reader in with the explanation of part of the gnoll creation myth. I think it worked well as an introduction to the collection.
I absolutely loved the tone and playful nature of the characters in The Fox, the Wolf, and the Gnoll. A cute twist on the expectations of furry readers and how magic can have consequences long after you've cast your spells.
A Wager in Bone was one of the highlights of the collection to me. It reads like a refined story told about a particularly cool interaction that happened during a game of D&D and that made it feel so much more personal. The build-up of the stakes and the game being played tying back to the earlier stories in the collection helped to push this one over the top.
Twisted Vows is probably my favorite story in the collection as it works the hardest to acknowledge and tear down the stereotypes that have been built up about gnolls in fantasy. Kyla's responsibilities war against who she is as a person and her doubts and insecurities almost overcome her. Through her friends and family, she is able to choose another path and that was a powerful statement indeed.
If you like gnolls or hyenas I think this is a must buy as I feel like there's a lot to love in this collection!
January 22, 2025
Gnoll Tales is a charming and fun collection of short stories concerning gnolls, with a narrative that is faithful to the gnolls' traditional oral storytelling.
I know little of the D&D world upon which it is based, but the stories were engaging nonetheless. With each one I learned more about the traditions and lore of the gnolls, which meant I appreciated their culture the more I read. This added a greater depth to the later stories, which are consequently the most powerful.
There is also a diverse range of themes too. 'The Fox, the Wolf, and the Gnoll' is my favourite story, if only because it's so playfully silly. 'Twisted Vows' is the exact opposite, a compelling piece of writing with an important allegorical message. Meanwhile, I found 'The Forgotten God' very emotional and felt it added a great deal of background to gnollish culture. These are my particular favourites, but I enjoyed all of the tales.
If you are looking for a quick read and have a love of gnolls or fantasy, this is definitely a good option. Even if this world is new to you, as it was to me, it's still a fantastic collection of stories.
I know little of the D&D world upon which it is based, but the stories were engaging nonetheless. With each one I learned more about the traditions and lore of the gnolls, which meant I appreciated their culture the more I read. This added a greater depth to the later stories, which are consequently the most powerful.
There is also a diverse range of themes too. 'The Fox, the Wolf, and the Gnoll' is my favourite story, if only because it's so playfully silly. 'Twisted Vows' is the exact opposite, a compelling piece of writing with an important allegorical message. Meanwhile, I found 'The Forgotten God' very emotional and felt it added a great deal of background to gnollish culture. These are my particular favourites, but I enjoyed all of the tales.
If you are looking for a quick read and have a love of gnolls or fantasy, this is definitely a good option. Even if this world is new to you, as it was to me, it's still a fantastic collection of stories.
October 21, 2023
Full disclosure, I was a betareader for this anthology.
I also will admit that one of my many faults is that I have a huge soft spot for gnolls, so take into account my biases here!
Gnoll Tales is a great little collection that examines gnolls, rather than as the demonic, bestial figures as depicted in D&D, but rather as a race with their own culture, desires, and most of all, stories.
There's quite the variety, from an exploration of gender, to creation myths, to an interspecies wedding, to the discovery of something from a time of gnoll legend. If that last one doesn't make you shed a tear, I cannot name you gnoll-friend!
If I have a complaint, it's that a lot of the stories stick a little too close to standard D&D for my liking regarding the surrounding world and its races, but that's a personal opinion. It is nice to see, though, that not all other races see them with hostile eyes, but as just another people they can interact with.
The cover being rather adorable is also a plus. :)
I also will admit that one of my many faults is that I have a huge soft spot for gnolls, so take into account my biases here!
Gnoll Tales is a great little collection that examines gnolls, rather than as the demonic, bestial figures as depicted in D&D, but rather as a race with their own culture, desires, and most of all, stories.
There's quite the variety, from an exploration of gender, to creation myths, to an interspecies wedding, to the discovery of something from a time of gnoll legend. If that last one doesn't make you shed a tear, I cannot name you gnoll-friend!
If I have a complaint, it's that a lot of the stories stick a little too close to standard D&D for my liking regarding the surrounding world and its races, but that's a personal opinion. It is nice to see, though, that not all other races see them with hostile eyes, but as just another people they can interact with.
The cover being rather adorable is also a plus. :)
November 1, 2023
A wonderful collection of somewhat interconnected tales (tails?), Gnoll Tales gives more life to one of the often overlooked races in the world of Dungeons and Dragons, proving they're more than "evil, smelly enemies to fight". The collection feels like the gnoll equivalent of humanities' Greek or Roman myths- the stories everyone would be vaguely aware of, and that everyone would have their own slightly different versions of. These are the kinds of tales a DnD fan could call back to when they need deep lore to enrich the world, or just to have something for players to talk about at the tavern after a dungeon crawl.
From creation myths to modern folk tales, Gnoll Tales offers something for any fans of mythology, anthropormorphic animals, or tabletop roleplaying games.
From creation myths to modern folk tales, Gnoll Tales offers something for any fans of mythology, anthropormorphic animals, or tabletop roleplaying games.
May 12, 2025
For disclosure, NightEyes is a friend of mine.
Gnolls are a bipedal hyena species from D&D, originally just another monster for adventurers to fight and get XP from, but later writers removed the speciesism and made them a race for players to use.
NightEyes explores this underrepresented species with a dozen stories, told by a druid gnoll storyteller.
I really enjoyed this book and the lore he created. The world isn't a specific D&D setting, but inspired by it, as there are monsters and magic.
I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a light, enjoyable fantasy anthology
Gnolls are a bipedal hyena species from D&D, originally just another monster for adventurers to fight and get XP from, but later writers removed the speciesism and made them a race for players to use.
NightEyes explores this underrepresented species with a dozen stories, told by a druid gnoll storyteller.
I really enjoyed this book and the lore he created. The world isn't a specific D&D setting, but inspired by it, as there are monsters and magic.
I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a light, enjoyable fantasy anthology
October 26, 2023
These stories have so much life and character in them that it’s hard to describe without giving things away. There’s attention to detail and little charming moments that really make me want more. The character Ingot is also great and the characters origin of his name is perfect!
Seriously, get this and the authors other works. You’ll be pestering him for more just like me!
Seriously, get this and the authors other works. You’ll be pestering him for more just like me!
July 17, 2023
This was a delightful read! The stories span all kinds of genres and emotions. You have fun adventures, heartwarming stories, moments of great tension, and even a few spooks! Definitely something for everyone in this collection!
-Schande T.
-Schande T.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews