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Werewolves rule the night in urban fantasy, but everyone knows there are other were-creatures out there just as dangerous and deadly, if not as common, each with their own issues as they struggle to fit into—or prey upon—society. What about the were-goats? The were-crows and were-wasps? Here are seventeen stories of urban fantasy by today's leading science fiction and fantasy authors that introduce you to some of those other were-creatures, the ones hiding in the dark background shadows, waiting to bite. Join Seanan McGuire, Ashley McConnell, Susan Jett, Eliora Smith, David B. Coe, April Steenburgh, Gini Koch, Mike Barretta, Elizabeth Kite, Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Jean Marie Ward, Katharine Kerr, Sarah Brand, Anneliese Belmond, Faith Hunter, Patricia Bray, and Phyllis Ames as they take you into the hidden corners of our world to see some lesser known were-creatures. You may want to bring along some silver ... just in case.
242 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 13, 2016
108 people are currently reading
610 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Bray
32 books68 followersPatricia Bray is the author of a dozen novels, including Devlin’s Luck, which won the 2003 Compton Crook Award for the best first novel in the field of science fiction or fantasy. A multi-genre author whose career spans both epic fantasy and Regency romance, her books have been translated into Russian, German, Portuguese and Hebrew. Patricia Bray has also spent time on the editorial side of the business, as the co-editor of After Hours: Tales from the Ur-Bar (DAW, March 2011), The Modern Fae’s Guide to Surviving Humanity (DAW, March 2012), and Clockwork Universe: Steampunk vs Aliens (ZNB, June 2014).
Patricia lives in a New England college town, where she combines her writing with a full-time career as a Systems Analyst, ensuring that she is never more than a few feet away from a keyboard.
Patricia lives in a New England college town, where she combines her writing with a full-time career as a Systems Analyst, ensuring that she is never more than a few feet away from a keyboard.
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December 18, 2018Just reading this for the Seanan McGuire and Faith Hunter stories for now. Next year I'll come back for the rest. :)
Best in Show by Seanan McGuire
A little predictable, other than that one extra twist! I was a little confused when Thea's named changed to Fiona partway through. 3.5 stars.
Anzu, Duba, Beast by Faith Hunter
I love Jane Yellowrock. I love the world, the mythology, the characters, the magic. 5 stars.
Best in Show by Seanan McGuire
A little predictable, other than that one extra twist! I was a little confused when Thea's named changed to Fiona partway through. 3.5 stars.
Anzu, Duba, Beast by Faith Hunter
I love Jane Yellowrock. I love the world, the mythology, the characters, the magic. 5 stars.
May 14, 2020
“Anzu, Duba, Beast” by Faith Hunter 3.5 stars
October 10, 2019
All I have to say is that not everything should be made into a were-creature.
September 25, 2018
Werewolves rule the night in urban fantasy, but everyone knows there are other were-creatures out there just as dangerous and deadly, if not as common, each with their own issues as they struggle to fit into—or prey upon—society. What about the were-goats? The were-crows and were-wasps?
Here are seventeen stories of urban fantasy by today’s leading science fiction and fantasy authors that introduce you to some of those other were-creatures, the ones hiding in the dark background shadows, waiting to bite. Join Seanan McGuire, Ashley McConnell, Susan Jett, Eliora Smith, David B. Coe, April Steenburgh, Gini Koch, Mike Barretta, Elizabeth Kite, Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Jean Marie Ward, Katharine Kerr, Sarah Brand, Anneliese Belmond, Faith Hunter, Patricia Bray, and Phyllis Ames as they take you into the hidden corners of our world to see some lesser known were-creatures. You may want to bring along some silver … just in case.
This story were ok. The ones I liked the most were Seanan McGuire's story. The story I liked the least was Mike Barretta's. There were several other that were cute and a few that were forgettable. I did not read the Jane Yellowrock story as I am reading that series and not yet to that book. I will come back and read it when I have gotten to it in the story line.
Here are seventeen stories of urban fantasy by today’s leading science fiction and fantasy authors that introduce you to some of those other were-creatures, the ones hiding in the dark background shadows, waiting to bite. Join Seanan McGuire, Ashley McConnell, Susan Jett, Eliora Smith, David B. Coe, April Steenburgh, Gini Koch, Mike Barretta, Elizabeth Kite, Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Jean Marie Ward, Katharine Kerr, Sarah Brand, Anneliese Belmond, Faith Hunter, Patricia Bray, and Phyllis Ames as they take you into the hidden corners of our world to see some lesser known were-creatures. You may want to bring along some silver … just in case.
This story were ok. The ones I liked the most were Seanan McGuire's story. The story I liked the least was Mike Barretta's. There were several other that were cute and a few that were forgettable. I did not read the Jane Yellowrock story as I am reading that series and not yet to that book. I will come back and read it when I have gotten to it in the story line.
September 12, 2016
One of those rare amazing anthologies that I read every single story, and enjoy them enough to reread a few of them.
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August 2, 2017Only read 1 story in this anthology.
Anzu, Diba, Beast by Faith Hunter. I rate it 3.5 stars.
I'm not reading the anthology as a whole bc the only author I'm familiar with was the reason for the purchase.
Anzu, Diba, Beast by Faith Hunter. I rate it 3.5 stars.
I'm not reading the anthology as a whole bc the only author I'm familiar with was the reason for the purchase.
October 10, 2016
Any anthology edited by Bray and Palmatier have become insta-buys for me. This is the third anthology from these two and, again, I was not disappointed. The first two anthologies are The Modern Fae's Guide to Surviving Humanity (sheep review) and After Hours: Tales from Ur-Bar (sheep review -Trivia: this was the very first review I did for I Smell Sheep). Were- was one I helped bring to life via the kick starter campaign. Bray and Palmatier manage to recruit some of the top authors in urban fantasy and science fiction. You really can't go wrong with any of these anthologies.
Back to Were-, the stories range from 5 sheep to 3 1/2 sheep, most on the high end of the scale. And as the title suggests, all the stories are about were-creatures. But not the ordinary kind...these are unusual weres: crows, possums, wasps and some I won't mention because they are surprises. All the stories are fun (you can tell the authors had a good time playing with this theme) and some do have slight dark edge to them, but they all the werecreatures have happy endings.
Were- starts out with a bang with "Best is Show" by Seanan McGuire. The story is a fun detective story with a were-twist. Beast from Faith Hunter's Jane Yellowrock series is as cheeky as ever and David Coe writes about some naughty little bears. Belmond's "The Whale" addresses the issue of mass differences between a person and their were form that I've always wondered about. These are just a few of the great stories.
4.25 "were" Sheep
http://www.ismellsheep.com/2016/10/bo...
Back to Were-, the stories range from 5 sheep to 3 1/2 sheep, most on the high end of the scale. And as the title suggests, all the stories are about were-creatures. But not the ordinary kind...these are unusual weres: crows, possums, wasps and some I won't mention because they are surprises. All the stories are fun (you can tell the authors had a good time playing with this theme) and some do have slight dark edge to them, but they all the werecreatures have happy endings.
Were- starts out with a bang with "Best is Show" by Seanan McGuire. The story is a fun detective story with a were-twist. Beast from Faith Hunter's Jane Yellowrock series is as cheeky as ever and David Coe writes about some naughty little bears. Belmond's "The Whale" addresses the issue of mass differences between a person and their were form that I've always wondered about. These are just a few of the great stories.
4.25 "were" Sheep
http://www.ismellsheep.com/2016/10/bo...
September 8, 2016
I really enjoyed this collection. As always, some stories are better than others, but overall enjoyable.
October 5, 2016
I'm giving it 4 stars; as with most anthologies, some of the stories are 5s and some are 3s.
January 1, 2018
I got this for the Hunter and McGuire stories, but was really enjoyed the others as well. Overall a well-written anthology and a fun read.
January 2, 2022
Really good anthology of were-animal stories. I don’t think there was a single dud; a couple might have dragged on longer than necessary, but that’s it. Most of the stories were truly excellent, and I found a bunch of new (to me) authors I need to start reading.
There were some truly unexpected takes on the genre, both in terms of were-animal and in world-building. Probably my favorites overall were “Cry Murder” by April Steenburgh, Katharine Kerr’s “Witness Report”, and “The Whale” by Anneliese Belmond. Sarah Brand, Patricia Bray, and Eliora Smith get points for unexpected were-creatures/world-building. Susan Jett, David Coe, and Mike Barretta get points for creepiness/horror.
If you just want werewolves, this isn’t for you. But if you’re open to other animals (did you ever read Animorphs? Yes? Read this. No? Read Animorphs, then come back and read this), you’re in for a good read.
There were some truly unexpected takes on the genre, both in terms of were-animal and in world-building. Probably my favorites overall were “Cry Murder” by April Steenburgh, Katharine Kerr’s “Witness Report”, and “The Whale” by Anneliese Belmond. Sarah Brand, Patricia Bray, and Eliora Smith get points for unexpected were-creatures/world-building. Susan Jett, David Coe, and Mike Barretta get points for creepiness/horror.
If you just want werewolves, this isn’t for you. But if you’re open to other animals (did you ever read Animorphs? Yes? Read this. No? Read Animorphs, then come back and read this), you’re in for a good read.
January 29, 2021
A lot of the stories in this book are fun ideas that I generally wouldn't have thought of when it comes to were-creatures so I give the books extra points for that! There are several stories that need some extra polish though, and since I enjoyed the content, I would advise people who get easily hung up on minor editing errors to try and bear with it. It's a fairly easy read and even though some of the stories weren't fantastic, the bulk of the book is worth the time to check out.
August 18, 2025
Since this is a collection of stories, all written in different styles, linked on by theme, it was a bit rough to jump from one to the next. Some of the stories were written as stand alone, others felt like they were missing a lot of context. It didn’t detract from my reading experience but unlike other story collections I read, some stories seem like they were written by new authors and not edited as well.
I still enjoyed them and look forward to reading more by these authors.
I still enjoyed them and look forward to reading more by these authors.
November 30, 2022
A fascinating anthology with some really interesting concepts around were-creatures. Some were brilliant. Some stories struggled a bit more to really sell the were-characters and how they fit into the world around them, but overall everything was still enjoyable.
Though I do have to argue with the premise that there are too many werewolves in fiction already - I'd argue there is never enough!
Though I do have to argue with the premise that there are too many werewolves in fiction already - I'd argue there is never enough!
September 23, 2021
OMG what a fun book to read! Any of these stories could be made into a novel, though each was a complete gem in itself. And more authors to read as the same old same old (to me) were not included...except for one person.
December 3, 2019
There are some really unique and awesome stories here. Who would've thought beyond werewolves to weremoles?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2025
Were- is a collection of short stories all based on therianthropes- or shifters if you will. Werewolves are great, but what about beings like were-goats, were-cats, were-wasps?
I tend to ramble in my reviews and there are 15 stories to get through, so I will try to be brief.
Best in Show- Sean McGuire
A great introduction story to the world of Were-. A detective hired to investigate a couple being accused of cheating in Cat/ Dog shows.
3/5 Short and simple, nice writing and dialogue. Has a rather pleasant twist at the end that I didn't expect.
We Dig- Ashley McConnell
In a mining town, the mine has collapsed. The people need those that are able to dig or 'flickers,' those who can shift, and rescue the 'stills' or ones who cannot shift. There has been a series of collapses due to charges going off to soon and no one knows why. Is it just faulty equipment or is it intentional?
2/5 Starts off intriguing but I got confused with who was who. May be a better short story if it was a bit longer to explain more.
Eyes Like Stars- Susan Jett
Mara is with her parents enjoying summer vacation. Hanging out at the beach, catching fish/ fighting a Barracuda and befriending people. Mara sneaks out to see her new friends and her crush Garrett one last time before she returns home.
3/5 A short YA story that goes from awkward teenager to horror very quickly.
Among the Grapevines Growing- Eliora Smith
Nahal is taking care of their Grandma's garden after they have passed. This is the last crop before they have to move, not being able to afford the house anymore. In their new place they try and start a new garden, but it isn't easy. The garden seems to be fighting back and something is changing inside them.
4/5 This was a very interesting story. I think this would be a great story in a longer format. I would really like to get into the details of Nahal and Laura. How does one become that? What are they gonna do with the house? I would love to read more.
A Party for Bailey - David B. Coe
The story mostly follows Bailey who seems to get into trouble a lot by biting people and throws a lot of parties. They also like to play as bears with their friends.
2/5 It is hard to gauge the age of everyone. They talk of parties and crushes but are playing bears on a playground. Maybe like upper elementary? Like 5-6th grade? Maybe younger. Reading about younger shifters is interesting but I didn't really like the story.
Cry Murder - April Steenburgh
It is that time of the month for Erin, but not what you or their parents think. The time to shift and escape through the window and fly to meet up with your family of were-crows. When one of the family is found dead at the hands of a were-owl, the crows have to work together to find the owl to avenge them.
4/5 Another very interesting story that I could read a whole book about. Dive more into Erin's story and what happened with Jenny and get to know the others in the family.
Missy the Were-Pomeranian vs. The Masters of Mediocre Doom - Gini Koch
Beth lives in the Big City. A place half wiped out by the Super Team. At least all the bad guys are dead. She lives in The Bunker, a safe house underneath the residence, with her family and dog-Missy. Missy isn't any ordinary dog though.
1/5 Very cheesy names like Big City, Super Team, Amazeballs. Everything was just obviously named like The Bunker, The Underground or Impregnable Tunnels. A lot of just seemingly random capitalization of words. If you want like cheesy J fiction this is for you.
Paper Wasps - Mike Barretta
Vespa is working in the kitchen at a summer camp, watching a party she wasn't invited to. Daydreaming about a boy who is always nice to her. Jack is the new guy and wants to include Vespa, but his friends think she is fat and weird. In a game of truth or dare he is dared to be with Vespa and he does. After a slip of judgment towards Jack Vespa is left embarrassed and heart broken. Vespa changes that night, she becomes something different.
4/5 We love an underdog story. The bullied get stronger and carve out their own path. But maybe not in the usual way this time. More than an underdog story and more on revenge...or just a change in hierarchy. Amazing story.
Point Five - Elizabeth Kite
Emails from Nia to her Aunt Estrella. Nia is away with Neil and they have left very important directions for Estrella, mostly being to not under any circumstances open the padlocked freezer. In the even they do open the freezer, there is another email for them to read explaining the situation. Nia is a were-starfish and comes from a family of were- ocean creatures. After being convinced to spend the full moon in the actual ocean, things go sideways. It was spring break and all the college students were at the beach. After a few rounds of frisbee with their starfish body, they were essentially kidnapped onto a boat. Luckily they were able to be flung back into the ocean...into a set of propellers. And what happens when a starfish looses a limb? It grows back. but of a were-starfish...what happens when things grow back after the full moon?
5/5 This is one of the shorter stories of the anthology only being a few pages long. I absolutely loved it though. The format is different and the lineage of the family is fun. I could read a book about the whole situation.
The Promise of Death - Danielle Ackley McPhail
An is slowly going mad. Their horn was taken from them and is in the hands of someone who wants to wipe out those with magic. An will not let this happen. An chases Jegar's scent over weeks, through towns, always just missing them. But when a friend goes missing An has to choose between saving them and finding Jegar. As madness slowly sets in, will An be able to find his horn and get his revenge, or will he lose his slip on his fragile sanity?
3/5 I wasn't sure when this story took place. It has the classic fantasy feel of being in a medieval times but mentions cell phones and chemical warehouses. There is a lot going on in this story, lore, people and the environment. As with most short stories, if it were longer and could be more fleshed out, it could be great.
The Five Bean Solution- Jean Marie Ward
Jack comes home to his dorm to find his roommate Gene has transformed into a opossum. This is nothing new to Jack but it is inconvenient being the day before exams. But Gene wants to go somewhere and is unable to communicate. Jack and his step sister Rika team up along with some left over scattered photos from Gene to figure out what Gene wants.
2/5 Interesting story but I wasn't a fan of the MC. Despite Rika being clearly smarter, stronger and a fighter, he treats her like she is made of glass. His feelings cloud his judgement. Rika should have been the one covering him and leading. But conveniently they cannot shift and he can despite the fact they were hit with the same things. She is strong and shown she can fight only at the end. Also, just my opinion, I am not a fan of the step siblings getting together. I know they aren't related but it just seems ick to me.
Witness Report - Katherine Kerr
A women is stripped and thrown in a Nazi prison. They have a single blanket, are interrogated daily and sleep deprived. They want to know if she is a werewolf, but she denies them. One day a man by the name of Wulf, changes everything. Making sure she eats and is dressed. What does he want and how can our MC use this to escape her imprisonment.
3/5 Seems there is a theme this month with everything I am watching and reading/ playing. All centering on Nazis. Just an interesting coincidence. That aside, this is falling under the handful of stories that I would like to read more about. What did the kids in the village do that our MC got blamed for? What kind of shifter is she? Can they turn into anything or just a hawk? The MC mentions we know how she survived in the woods after but I certainly don't. Unless this is part of a series I am unaware of.
Attack of the Were-Zombie Friendship with Benefits - Sarah Brand
In a place overtaken by Infected-Vampires, Werewolves, Zombies and Fae, it is advised not to go out at night. And if you are out late, hopefully you have a place to stay till sunrise. Our MC has recently become single again and is looking for someone to fill the void. They don't want a relationship, just someone to fool around with. Meet Adam, tall, dark and handsome and in a band. But not all is right with Adam when he starts acting weird. Is he infected or just awkward?
3/5 Despite our MC not liking urban fantasy, I love it. This would be a cool world to dive into. All supernatural basically falling under one category- Infected. While there is a curfew it didn't seem super regulated. There wasn't mention of police or military patrolling. Just places locking up for the night and if you were there, you stayed until sunrise. I would want to know more about whatever event happened that caused the outbreak of all the Infected. Just add this to the list of books I would read as a whole book or series.
The Whale - Annaliese Belmond
In a world were "How much weight do you hold?" is not an offensive question. But rather an inquiry to what kind of life you must live.
Mara is on a case to find a missing child. She is sent to Herman Henley for help. Herman is the only adult blue whale shifter in existence. In him he carries over 100 tons.
5/5 This one finally addresses the mass when shifting. Where does it all go in human form? What happens to those that hold heavy animals and those that are smaller than their form? What kind of life and strain does that have on you. And in animal form how does your mindset affect your ability to be an animal? It was so interesting and it was nice that everyone had a name and a story. Great writing, good dialogue. I would love to know more about the world but am content with the short story.
Anzu, Duba, Beast - Faith Hunter
Jane owes Girrard (Gee) DiMercy a hunt and has come to collect. A night of hunting and feasting and blood. Jane is weary and doesn't trust it and prepares to have many surprises up their sleeve just in case. Gee is a vampire and Jane is a shifter, ex rogue vampire hunter now enforcer for the vampire clan. What was originally thought to be a hunt for prey turns into a night hunting a creature unknown that is killing man and vampire alike.
3/5 Most of the reviews were about this story as it is a part of the Jane Yellowrock series. I am often worried about reading short stories that are from a series because I am often missing key elements of character or relationships. Which I kind of was in this case. I was able to follow the story itself well and the author gives us the cliff notes of what is important to know. But all the background and lore is missing, but that comes from someone who hasn't read the series. All the lore aside, all the overpreparing is lost on me and we didn't even get a reaction from Gee about the form Jane takes. I did like that it continued to explain the shifting into bigger or smaller forms and what that cost is.
Overall a decent story, definitely more for people who have read the series and can piece everything together. Maybe I will give the first book a read.
Shiftr - Patricia Bray
The Shiftr app is almost live. Think Tinder but for shifters. Our MC, Tess, is the coder and the spine of the company. Just below Bob, but the power change is shifting as Jamal tries to take Tess's place. Will Tess hold on to all the work she put in or lose everything?
4/5 I liked this one. I was feeling a bit burnt out by the end of this book and this was refreshing. Solid short story, good characters, interesting background plot. Another one for the books of worlds I would love to explore more.
Sniff for Your Life - Phyllis Ames
Daniel is the only were-rat in the city, they have the strongest nose. They may live like a packrat but they know where everything is. When the FBI comes to ask Daniel help sniff out an anti-were terrorist group, Daniel will need all of his senses to find the bomb targeting Portland. The clock is ticking.
2/5 A nice one to end it on. Nothing overly complicated or new take on anything. Simple story with some extra real life stories for those who wanted to know more.
Whew. That is a lot of reviewing. Overall this was a great collection of stories. I loved learning about different takes on both shifters and rules they live by. It was also nice straying away from certain tropes when it comes to weres. I did get a bit burnt out reading every story because each chapter is starting a new story. Different places, times and people. I had a lot of fun and I am glad I stumbled upon this book. Over all about 3/5 average.
I tend to ramble in my reviews and there are 15 stories to get through, so I will try to be brief.
Best in Show- Sean McGuire
A great introduction story to the world of Were-. A detective hired to investigate a couple being accused of cheating in Cat/ Dog shows.
3/5 Short and simple, nice writing and dialogue. Has a rather pleasant twist at the end that I didn't expect.
We Dig- Ashley McConnell
In a mining town, the mine has collapsed. The people need those that are able to dig or 'flickers,' those who can shift, and rescue the 'stills' or ones who cannot shift. There has been a series of collapses due to charges going off to soon and no one knows why. Is it just faulty equipment or is it intentional?
2/5 Starts off intriguing but I got confused with who was who. May be a better short story if it was a bit longer to explain more.
Eyes Like Stars- Susan Jett
Mara is with her parents enjoying summer vacation. Hanging out at the beach, catching fish/ fighting a Barracuda and befriending people. Mara sneaks out to see her new friends and her crush Garrett one last time before she returns home.
3/5 A short YA story that goes from awkward teenager to horror very quickly.
Among the Grapevines Growing- Eliora Smith
Nahal is taking care of their Grandma's garden after they have passed. This is the last crop before they have to move, not being able to afford the house anymore. In their new place they try and start a new garden, but it isn't easy. The garden seems to be fighting back and something is changing inside them.
4/5 This was a very interesting story. I think this would be a great story in a longer format. I would really like to get into the details of Nahal and Laura. How does one become that? What are they gonna do with the house? I would love to read more.
A Party for Bailey - David B. Coe
The story mostly follows Bailey who seems to get into trouble a lot by biting people and throws a lot of parties. They also like to play as bears with their friends.
2/5 It is hard to gauge the age of everyone. They talk of parties and crushes but are playing bears on a playground. Maybe like upper elementary? Like 5-6th grade? Maybe younger. Reading about younger shifters is interesting but I didn't really like the story.
Cry Murder - April Steenburgh
It is that time of the month for Erin, but not what you or their parents think. The time to shift and escape through the window and fly to meet up with your family of were-crows. When one of the family is found dead at the hands of a were-owl, the crows have to work together to find the owl to avenge them.
4/5 Another very interesting story that I could read a whole book about. Dive more into Erin's story and what happened with Jenny and get to know the others in the family.
Missy the Were-Pomeranian vs. The Masters of Mediocre Doom - Gini Koch
Beth lives in the Big City. A place half wiped out by the Super Team. At least all the bad guys are dead. She lives in The Bunker, a safe house underneath the residence, with her family and dog-Missy. Missy isn't any ordinary dog though.
1/5 Very cheesy names like Big City, Super Team, Amazeballs. Everything was just obviously named like The Bunker, The Underground or Impregnable Tunnels. A lot of just seemingly random capitalization of words. If you want like cheesy J fiction this is for you.
Paper Wasps - Mike Barretta
Vespa is working in the kitchen at a summer camp, watching a party she wasn't invited to. Daydreaming about a boy who is always nice to her. Jack is the new guy and wants to include Vespa, but his friends think she is fat and weird. In a game of truth or dare he is dared to be with Vespa and he does. After a slip of judgment towards Jack Vespa is left embarrassed and heart broken. Vespa changes that night, she becomes something different.
4/5 We love an underdog story. The bullied get stronger and carve out their own path. But maybe not in the usual way this time. More than an underdog story and more on revenge...or just a change in hierarchy. Amazing story.
Point Five - Elizabeth Kite
Emails from Nia to her Aunt Estrella. Nia is away with Neil and they have left very important directions for Estrella, mostly being to not under any circumstances open the padlocked freezer. In the even they do open the freezer, there is another email for them to read explaining the situation. Nia is a were-starfish and comes from a family of were- ocean creatures. After being convinced to spend the full moon in the actual ocean, things go sideways. It was spring break and all the college students were at the beach. After a few rounds of frisbee with their starfish body, they were essentially kidnapped onto a boat. Luckily they were able to be flung back into the ocean...into a set of propellers. And what happens when a starfish looses a limb? It grows back. but of a were-starfish...what happens when things grow back after the full moon?
5/5 This is one of the shorter stories of the anthology only being a few pages long. I absolutely loved it though. The format is different and the lineage of the family is fun. I could read a book about the whole situation.
The Promise of Death - Danielle Ackley McPhail
An is slowly going mad. Their horn was taken from them and is in the hands of someone who wants to wipe out those with magic. An will not let this happen. An chases Jegar's scent over weeks, through towns, always just missing them. But when a friend goes missing An has to choose between saving them and finding Jegar. As madness slowly sets in, will An be able to find his horn and get his revenge, or will he lose his slip on his fragile sanity?
3/5 I wasn't sure when this story took place. It has the classic fantasy feel of being in a medieval times but mentions cell phones and chemical warehouses. There is a lot going on in this story, lore, people and the environment. As with most short stories, if it were longer and could be more fleshed out, it could be great.
The Five Bean Solution- Jean Marie Ward
Jack comes home to his dorm to find his roommate Gene has transformed into a opossum. This is nothing new to Jack but it is inconvenient being the day before exams. But Gene wants to go somewhere and is unable to communicate. Jack and his step sister Rika team up along with some left over scattered photos from Gene to figure out what Gene wants.
2/5 Interesting story but I wasn't a fan of the MC. Despite Rika being clearly smarter, stronger and a fighter, he treats her like she is made of glass. His feelings cloud his judgement. Rika should have been the one covering him and leading. But conveniently they cannot shift and he can despite the fact they were hit with the same things. She is strong and shown she can fight only at the end. Also, just my opinion, I am not a fan of the step siblings getting together. I know they aren't related but it just seems ick to me.
Witness Report - Katherine Kerr
A women is stripped and thrown in a Nazi prison. They have a single blanket, are interrogated daily and sleep deprived. They want to know if she is a werewolf, but she denies them. One day a man by the name of Wulf, changes everything. Making sure she eats and is dressed. What does he want and how can our MC use this to escape her imprisonment.
3/5 Seems there is a theme this month with everything I am watching and reading/ playing. All centering on Nazis. Just an interesting coincidence. That aside, this is falling under the handful of stories that I would like to read more about. What did the kids in the village do that our MC got blamed for? What kind of shifter is she? Can they turn into anything or just a hawk? The MC mentions we know how she survived in the woods after but I certainly don't. Unless this is part of a series I am unaware of.
Attack of the Were-Zombie Friendship with Benefits - Sarah Brand
In a place overtaken by Infected-Vampires, Werewolves, Zombies and Fae, it is advised not to go out at night. And if you are out late, hopefully you have a place to stay till sunrise. Our MC has recently become single again and is looking for someone to fill the void. They don't want a relationship, just someone to fool around with. Meet Adam, tall, dark and handsome and in a band. But not all is right with Adam when he starts acting weird. Is he infected or just awkward?
3/5 Despite our MC not liking urban fantasy, I love it. This would be a cool world to dive into. All supernatural basically falling under one category- Infected. While there is a curfew it didn't seem super regulated. There wasn't mention of police or military patrolling. Just places locking up for the night and if you were there, you stayed until sunrise. I would want to know more about whatever event happened that caused the outbreak of all the Infected. Just add this to the list of books I would read as a whole book or series.
The Whale - Annaliese Belmond
In a world were "How much weight do you hold?" is not an offensive question. But rather an inquiry to what kind of life you must live.
Mara is on a case to find a missing child. She is sent to Herman Henley for help. Herman is the only adult blue whale shifter in existence. In him he carries over 100 tons.
5/5 This one finally addresses the mass when shifting. Where does it all go in human form? What happens to those that hold heavy animals and those that are smaller than their form? What kind of life and strain does that have on you. And in animal form how does your mindset affect your ability to be an animal? It was so interesting and it was nice that everyone had a name and a story. Great writing, good dialogue. I would love to know more about the world but am content with the short story.
Anzu, Duba, Beast - Faith Hunter
Jane owes Girrard (Gee) DiMercy a hunt and has come to collect. A night of hunting and feasting and blood. Jane is weary and doesn't trust it and prepares to have many surprises up their sleeve just in case. Gee is a vampire and Jane is a shifter, ex rogue vampire hunter now enforcer for the vampire clan. What was originally thought to be a hunt for prey turns into a night hunting a creature unknown that is killing man and vampire alike.
3/5 Most of the reviews were about this story as it is a part of the Jane Yellowrock series. I am often worried about reading short stories that are from a series because I am often missing key elements of character or relationships. Which I kind of was in this case. I was able to follow the story itself well and the author gives us the cliff notes of what is important to know. But all the background and lore is missing, but that comes from someone who hasn't read the series. All the lore aside, all the overpreparing is lost on me and we didn't even get a reaction from Gee about the form Jane takes. I did like that it continued to explain the shifting into bigger or smaller forms and what that cost is.
Overall a decent story, definitely more for people who have read the series and can piece everything together. Maybe I will give the first book a read.
Shiftr - Patricia Bray
The Shiftr app is almost live. Think Tinder but for shifters. Our MC, Tess, is the coder and the spine of the company. Just below Bob, but the power change is shifting as Jamal tries to take Tess's place. Will Tess hold on to all the work she put in or lose everything?
4/5 I liked this one. I was feeling a bit burnt out by the end of this book and this was refreshing. Solid short story, good characters, interesting background plot. Another one for the books of worlds I would love to explore more.
Sniff for Your Life - Phyllis Ames
Daniel is the only were-rat in the city, they have the strongest nose. They may live like a packrat but they know where everything is. When the FBI comes to ask Daniel help sniff out an anti-were terrorist group, Daniel will need all of his senses to find the bomb targeting Portland. The clock is ticking.
2/5 A nice one to end it on. Nothing overly complicated or new take on anything. Simple story with some extra real life stories for those who wanted to know more.
Whew. That is a lot of reviewing. Overall this was a great collection of stories. I loved learning about different takes on both shifters and rules they live by. It was also nice straying away from certain tropes when it comes to weres. I did get a bit burnt out reading every story because each chapter is starting a new story. Different places, times and people. I had a lot of fun and I am glad I stumbled upon this book. Over all about 3/5 average.
May 20, 2019
An awesome collection of shapeshifter stories where the leads were never once were-wolves
August 7, 2020
Barely 3 stars. LOVED the idea but the execution was inconsistent with some stories being far better than others but none that really appealed.
November 28, 2016
Werewolves rule the night in urban fantasy, but everyone knows there are other were-creatures out there just as dangerous and deadly, if not as common, each with their own issues as they struggle to fit into—or prey upon—society. What about the were-goats? The were-crows and were-wasps?
Here are seventeen stories of urban fantasy by today’s leading science fiction and fantasy authors that introduce you to some of those other were-creatures, the ones hiding in the dark background shadows, waiting to bite.
unusually, i liked all the stories in this anthology and the vast array of were-creatures on offer (i think my fave is the were-starfish)
Here are seventeen stories of urban fantasy by today’s leading science fiction and fantasy authors that introduce you to some of those other were-creatures, the ones hiding in the dark background shadows, waiting to bite.
unusually, i liked all the stories in this anthology and the vast array of were-creatures on offer (i think my fave is the were-starfish)
October 19, 2016
I really quite enjoyed this dip into the fantastical world of urban fantasy with a twist, I mean we've done werewolves to death and werecats and well Anita Blake has "done" most of the weres. This book celebrates the lesser thought of weres - rats, birds, the only were-whale in the world, and even a were-horse in a collection of funny, sad, and poignant tales.
An enjoyable read for a rainy winter day, an easy escape from the usual sterotype of the alpha werewolf.
An enjoyable read for a rainy winter day, an easy escape from the usual sterotype of the alpha werewolf.
February 4, 2017
A quite enjoyable collection of stories about were-creatures beyond the old standard werewolf were all familiar with. From were-rats to were-sharks to were-grapevines (nope, not kidding there), the were-world is greatly expanded here. I got this through a Kickstarter campaign, and it was definitely worth the pledge.
November 15, 2016
Great series of shorts...so many Weres!
As with all anthologies...some stories are better than others but all are satisfying in their depictions of weres outside of the typical conventions.
And...two stories of were-sharks!!
Very fun read.
As with all anthologies...some stories are better than others but all are satisfying in their depictions of weres outside of the typical conventions.
And...two stories of were-sharks!!
Very fun read.
June 16, 2017
I bought this book mainly for the Faith Hunter story which was great as always, but you need to make sure you have read the series to really get all the nuances. I was disappointed in most of the other stories. Some of them are to short to even be called a short story.
January 29, 2017
Entertaining and diverse. Full review coming soon on CDonline.
August 14, 2017
Normally I give anthologies four stars, because while one or two stories are standouts, usually I run into a couple clunkers as well. I loved all the stories in Were- - most of the stories created solid worldbuilding in a few short strokes.
Avoiding the ubiquitous werewolf, Were- follows the dozens of other shifters of folklore and urban fantasy: weregoats, shape-shifting unicorns, young children-cubs, murders of were-crows, were-plants. ... Yep, were-plants and many more things which will make your skin crawl or, maybe, shift.
The stories and writing style varied as much as the were-creatures - from detective noir to superhero. A+ read!
Best in Show by Seanan McGuire - Detective noir sent to a cat show.
We Dig by Ashley McConnell - Worldbuilding with miners and historical industrial (and racial) issues.
Eyes Like Pearls by Susan Jett - You never forget your first holiday crush.
Among the Grapevines, Growing by Eliora Smith - Were-plant.
A Party for Bailey by David B. Coe - Children bite, and momma bear really should keep her cub closer to home.
Cry Murder by April Steenburgh - Age old issues of crows versus owls.
Missy the Were-Pomeranian vs. the Masters of Mediocre Doom by Gini Koch - Wonderful superhero snark!
Paper Wasp by Mike Barretta - Who put this back to back with Missy? Really the whiplash between the upbeat superhero story and this horror one is mind-blowing. After all the light and joy building from A Party, to the family vibe of Cry Murder and pure fun of Missing, Paper Wasp stings deep.
Well done editors with the pacing of stories funny, sad, scary, and thoughtful.
Point Five by Elizabeth Kite - Email format writing style and an amazing "if this, then this would happen" worldbuilding.
**Usually about here in anthologies, things start to be the second stringers. A reader feels like they got their money worth and is willing to try a couple new authors who are learning the craft. I swear, in this anthology, things got even better after the half-way point.**
The Promise of Death by Daniell Ackley-McPhail - Unicorn without a horn.
The Five Bean Solution by Jean Marie Ward - I've read the first short-story about these characters in a different anthology and this one is even better. The characters and POV character's voice in the story are nicely nuanced.
Witness Report by Katherine Kerr - Historical were- story.
Attack of the Were-Zombie Friendship with Benefits by Sara Brand - Another worldbuilding twist - when it is no longer safe to go out at night, how does the night-scene teenagers and early-twenty adjust?
The Whale by Annelies Belmond - Even humans unconsciously recognize the majestic and tragic hidden in human form. The worldbuilding of Weight-bound gives an entirely different approach to shifter/were- relations and activities. I would say this one was my favorite short story, except I want to say that about a few others as well. I will say this is the most original in a collection of very original material.
Anzu, Duba, Beast by Faith Hunter - A story from the Jane Yellowrock world.
Shiftr by Patricia Bray - Again with the worldbuilding. If you have "this" then "this". Love the apps - from hook ups to family tree to DNA investigation.
Sniff for Your Life by Phillis Ames - If you like rats, this short is a must-read. Big alpha werewolf needs a nose even more sensitive than a canine's to save the city.
Avoiding the ubiquitous werewolf, Were- follows the dozens of other shifters of folklore and urban fantasy: weregoats, shape-shifting unicorns, young children-cubs, murders of were-crows, were-plants. ... Yep, were-plants and many more things which will make your skin crawl or, maybe, shift.
The stories and writing style varied as much as the were-creatures - from detective noir to superhero. A+ read!
Best in Show by Seanan McGuire - Detective noir sent to a cat show.
We Dig by Ashley McConnell - Worldbuilding with miners and historical industrial (and racial) issues.
Eyes Like Pearls by Susan Jett - You never forget your first holiday crush.
Among the Grapevines, Growing by Eliora Smith - Were-plant.
A Party for Bailey by David B. Coe - Children bite, and momma bear really should keep her cub closer to home.
Cry Murder by April Steenburgh - Age old issues of crows versus owls.
Missy the Were-Pomeranian vs. the Masters of Mediocre Doom by Gini Koch - Wonderful superhero snark!
Paper Wasp by Mike Barretta - Who put this back to back with Missy? Really the whiplash between the upbeat superhero story and this horror one is mind-blowing. After all the light and joy building from A Party, to the family vibe of Cry Murder and pure fun of Missing, Paper Wasp stings deep.
Well done editors with the pacing of stories funny, sad, scary, and thoughtful.
Point Five by Elizabeth Kite - Email format writing style and an amazing "if this, then this would happen" worldbuilding.
**Usually about here in anthologies, things start to be the second stringers. A reader feels like they got their money worth and is willing to try a couple new authors who are learning the craft. I swear, in this anthology, things got even better after the half-way point.**
The Promise of Death by Daniell Ackley-McPhail - Unicorn without a horn.
The Five Bean Solution by Jean Marie Ward - I've read the first short-story about these characters in a different anthology and this one is even better. The characters and POV character's voice in the story are nicely nuanced.
Witness Report by Katherine Kerr - Historical were- story.
Attack of the Were-Zombie Friendship with Benefits by Sara Brand - Another worldbuilding twist - when it is no longer safe to go out at night, how does the night-scene teenagers and early-twenty adjust?
The Whale by Annelies Belmond - Even humans unconsciously recognize the majestic and tragic hidden in human form. The worldbuilding of Weight-bound gives an entirely different approach to shifter/were- relations and activities. I would say this one was my favorite short story, except I want to say that about a few others as well. I will say this is the most original in a collection of very original material.
Anzu, Duba, Beast by Faith Hunter - A story from the Jane Yellowrock world.
Shiftr by Patricia Bray - Again with the worldbuilding. If you have "this" then "this". Love the apps - from hook ups to family tree to DNA investigation.
Sniff for Your Life by Phillis Ames - If you like rats, this short is a must-read. Big alpha werewolf needs a nose even more sensitive than a canine's to save the city.
June 26, 2018
This was a good book; a lot of diverse and interesting ways of thinking about shapeshifters.
Best in Show by Seanan McGuire was good; I like her stuff and this was fun.
We Dig by Ashley McCommell was wonderful; I really enjoyed it.
Eyes Like Pearls by Susan Jett was good and nicely creepy.
Among the Grapevines, Growing by Eliora Smith was one of the most unusual were stories I have ever read, and very good.
A Party For Bailey by David B. Coe was good.
Cry Murder by April Steenburgh was another good one.
Missy the Were-Pomeranian vs. The Masters of Mediocre Doom by Gini Koch was not the kind of story I particularly like. I like superhero stories just fine, but I don't have a big taste for the silly, brainless ones. I like constructive superhero stories, so Super Powered, Astro City, that sort of thing.
Paper Wasp by Mike Barretta was nicely spooky.
Point Five by Elizabeth Kite was beautifully funny in a lovely way.
The Promise of Death by Danielle Ackley-McPhail was ok. It was more dramatic, and it doesn't suite with the story before it.
The Five Bean Solution by Jean Marie Ward was nicely funny.
Witness Report by Katharine Kerr was lovely.
Attack of the Were-Zombie Friendship with Benefits by Sarah Brand was good; but wasn't exactly to my taste.
The Whale by Anneliese Belmond was absolutely fantastic, without a doubt.
Anzu, Duba, Beast by Faith Hunter was good. I'm always a little concerned about the skinwalker books, because I'm not quite sure if it's racist or not. Skinwalker is a term used by Native Americans, and I'm pretty sure they don't think it's fun to have their terms grabbed by other people and used. And especially when people change the meaning. Dresden Files has a skinwalker, who is one of the most god-awful scary monsters to show up. So, I avoid the books by Faith Hunter. I'm pretty well invested in the Dresden Files, so I hope they're not offensive.
Shiftr by Patricia Bray was a lot of fun.
Sniff For Your Life by Phyllis Ames was good, and I enjoyed it.
Best in Show by Seanan McGuire was good; I like her stuff and this was fun.
We Dig by Ashley McCommell was wonderful; I really enjoyed it.
Eyes Like Pearls by Susan Jett was good and nicely creepy.
Among the Grapevines, Growing by Eliora Smith was one of the most unusual were stories I have ever read, and very good.
A Party For Bailey by David B. Coe was good.
Cry Murder by April Steenburgh was another good one.
Missy the Were-Pomeranian vs. The Masters of Mediocre Doom by Gini Koch was not the kind of story I particularly like. I like superhero stories just fine, but I don't have a big taste for the silly, brainless ones. I like constructive superhero stories, so Super Powered, Astro City, that sort of thing.
Paper Wasp by Mike Barretta was nicely spooky.
Point Five by Elizabeth Kite was beautifully funny in a lovely way.
The Promise of Death by Danielle Ackley-McPhail was ok. It was more dramatic, and it doesn't suite with the story before it.
The Five Bean Solution by Jean Marie Ward was nicely funny.
Witness Report by Katharine Kerr was lovely.
Attack of the Were-Zombie Friendship with Benefits by Sarah Brand was good; but wasn't exactly to my taste.
The Whale by Anneliese Belmond was absolutely fantastic, without a doubt.
Anzu, Duba, Beast by Faith Hunter was good. I'm always a little concerned about the skinwalker books, because I'm not quite sure if it's racist or not. Skinwalker is a term used by Native Americans, and I'm pretty sure they don't think it's fun to have their terms grabbed by other people and used. And especially when people change the meaning. Dresden Files has a skinwalker, who is one of the most god-awful scary monsters to show up. So, I avoid the books by Faith Hunter. I'm pretty well invested in the Dresden Files, so I hope they're not offensive.
Shiftr by Patricia Bray was a lot of fun.
Sniff For Your Life by Phyllis Ames was good, and I enjoyed it.
October 7, 2022
An anthology of all sorts of were- creatures, everything except wolves. There were some really out-there were-s, like were-grape vine and were-zombie. Unusual for an anthology, I enjoyed most of the stories in this one, and some of them I outright loved.
Some of my favorite ones were the were-crow story (the characters, even in human form, were so perfectly crow-like). "Best in Show" had a fun twist at the end.
Some, while they featured were-creatures, were more about other themes, like the story about "Shiftr" (Tinder/Grindr for were-creatures) was about how some people get screwed (figuratively) in the tech world.
Two of the stories were clearly set in the authors' other book series, and those felt like cheating because if you didn't read the series, you were left out in the cold.
All in all though, I really enjoyed this book.
Some of my favorite ones were the were-crow story (the characters, even in human form, were so perfectly crow-like). "Best in Show" had a fun twist at the end.
Some, while they featured were-creatures, were more about other themes, like the story about "Shiftr" (Tinder/Grindr for were-creatures) was about how some people get screwed (figuratively) in the tech world.
Two of the stories were clearly set in the authors' other book series, and those felt like cheating because if you didn't read the series, you were left out in the cold.
All in all though, I really enjoyed this book.
July 19, 2022
I only read the Faith Hunter story. Like all the little filler short stories, that is all it is, filler. Nothing that really adds to the overall series. If you'd not read any of the other stories you could enjoy this one but wouldn't really understand everything. I can never make up my mind if I like Gee or not, in fact in this series that is true of a good lot of the characters. I like that Jane got the best of Gee throughout when he (and Leo) thought he was so clever. Otherwise I found the story pretty meh.
November 27, 2016
Stories vary, as with any anthology, though for me it started off well and tended to get worse. Maybe reading it across one week I got were-d out.
Obviously you know going in that these stories are of were-things, so that's no longer a twist. In some cases it was an immediate reveal as to were-what our protagonist was, in other cases that was the twist, or was actually not specified and left for the reader to work out. Oh, except that on the title page of each story was an illustration - in all but one case, I think, the silhouette of an animal - which acted as just a bit of a spoiler. Odd choice.
Obviously you know going in that these stories are of were-things, so that's no longer a twist. In some cases it was an immediate reveal as to were-what our protagonist was, in other cases that was the twist, or was actually not specified and left for the reader to work out. Oh, except that on the title page of each story was an illustration - in all but one case, I think, the silhouette of an animal - which acted as just a bit of a spoiler. Odd choice.
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