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The City Between #5.5
Cloudy With a Chance of Dropbears
Kill the kid and you can come back.
That's what the note says.
Five-Four-One is just a lowly leprechaun, working for the Behindkind Tax Office. He has no idea why he's suddenly been dumped into the terrifying death-trap known as Australia: no idea who the kid is, or why someone wants them both dead.
Nor does he know who else is looking for the kid—which is unfortunate, because out of all the other things that could potentially kill him today, that one is the most likely to stick.
CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF DROPBEARS is a companion novellette in the City Between urban fantasy series.
That's what the note says.
Five-Four-One is just a lowly leprechaun, working for the Behindkind Tax Office. He has no idea why he's suddenly been dumped into the terrifying death-trap known as Australia: no idea who the kid is, or why someone wants them both dead.
Nor does he know who else is looking for the kid—which is unfortunate, because out of all the other things that could potentially kill him today, that one is the most likely to stick.
CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF DROPBEARS is a companion novellette in the City Between urban fantasy series.
41 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 23, 2019
68 people are currently reading
197 people want to read
About the author
W.R. Gingell
45 books1,081 followersW.R. Gingell is a Tasmanian author of urban fantasy, fairy-tale retellings, and madcap science fiction who doesn’t seem to be able to write a book without a body suddenly turning up. She solemnly swears that all such bodies are strictly fictional in nature.
W.R. spends her time reading, drinking a truly ridiculous amount of tea, and slouching in front of the fire to write. Like Peter Pan, she never really grew up, and is still occasionally to be found climbing trees.
GOODREADS FRIEND POLICY: I don't tend to friend anyone unless they're a personal friend or someone from my close author circle. I have a limited social battery which needs constant care. If you want to keep up with my reading/writing, you can absolutely follow me here or on pretty much any social media site.
W.R. spends her time reading, drinking a truly ridiculous amount of tea, and slouching in front of the fire to write. Like Peter Pan, she never really grew up, and is still occasionally to be found climbing trees.
GOODREADS FRIEND POLICY: I don't tend to friend anyone unless they're a personal friend or someone from my close author circle. I have a limited social battery which needs constant care. If you want to keep up with my reading/writing, you can absolutely follow me here or on pretty much any social media site.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
June 26, 2019
A leprechaun is sent (unwillingly and unknowingly) to Australia and told if he wants to come back, he has to kill the kid.
Well, this was the only kid in the area; long-legged and long-haired, it had a hopeful sort of expression to its face. I mean, it was still ugly, but it was ugly in a nice sort of way. It looked like you could pat it on the head without being bitten.
The kid is our Pet - who is way more resilient and capable than expected. Also the leprechaun doesn’t actually want to kill it. Especially after learning who she belongs to.
“Please stop trying to help me!” Every time it tried to help me, things got a little bit worse.
It’s a bite sized treat of The City Between series- which is rapidly becoming one of my favorite urban fantasies.
Free on kindle unlimited.
Well, this was the only kid in the area; long-legged and long-haired, it had a hopeful sort of expression to its face. I mean, it was still ugly, but it was ugly in a nice sort of way. It looked like you could pat it on the head without being bitten.
The kid is our Pet - who is way more resilient and capable than expected. Also the leprechaun doesn’t actually want to kill it. Especially after learning who she belongs to.
“Please stop trying to help me!” Every time it tried to help me, things got a little bit worse.
It’s a bite sized treat of The City Between series- which is rapidly becoming one of my favorite urban fantasies.
Free on kindle unlimited.
September 19, 2021
Dropbears, an endearingly grumpy leprechaun, the Troika, and Pet being her usually sassy self combine to make an enjoyable companion to the City Between series!
Content: mild violence
Content: mild violence
December 15, 2019
Fun!
Love this new character! He reminds me of one of my own characters😊. It was also cool to see reactions from a different POV.
And I love that this author believes in justice. 😁
Love this new character! He reminds me of one of my own characters😊. It was also cool to see reactions from a different POV.
And I love that this author believes in justice. 😁
January 2, 2022
good ocker fun
August 7, 2019
Fun addition to The City Between series. And it adds a huge question there at the end that I have a feeling with come up again within the main series.
I especially loved how this story used the Austrailian legend of dropbears. I was just talking to friends of mine from Australia and Tasmania about dropbears and the legends about them, and it was so fun to then read this book where dropbears are "real."
I especially loved how this story used the Austrailian legend of dropbears. I was just talking to friends of mine from Australia and Tasmania about dropbears and the legends about them, and it was so fun to then read this book where dropbears are "real."
April 27, 2024
Stars: 5 out of 5
Fun short story based in the City Between world. Someone sent an unsuspecting leprechaun to kill Pet, but things didn't turn out quite as well as the person(s) behind all this expected. Hopefully, we see more of Five in other books.
Fun short story based in the City Between world. Someone sent an unsuspecting leprechaun to kill Pet, but things didn't turn out quite as well as the person(s) behind all this expected. Hopefully, we see more of Five in other books.
September 12, 2021
4 stars // read September 2021
Five-Four-One is your average leprechaun, minding his own business, until he’s stuck in the human side of Australia (horror of horrors!) with a kid he’s supposed to kill. Oh yeah, and dropbears.
A fun peek into a Behindkind POV. I would recommend reading this between books 5 and 6, like you’re supposed to, since a certain peg-legged character reappears in later installments. :)
Five-Four-One is your average leprechaun, minding his own business, until he’s stuck in the human side of Australia (horror of horrors!) with a kid he’s supposed to kill. Oh yeah, and dropbears.
A fun peek into a Behindkind POV. I would recommend reading this between books 5 and 6, like you’re supposed to, since a certain peg-legged character reappears in later installments. :)
September 4, 2020
Cute little filler piece between books. I'm hoping to see the lep again.
There's a lot of crotchety characters in this series! LOL
There's a lot of crotchety characters in this series! LOL
September 8, 2021
This novelette is short and sweet (approx 41 pages) and doesn’t contain much of a backstory. Therefore, I recommend it only if you’ve read/listened to some of the full-length City Between novels.
Five-Four-One, a leprechaun at the Behindkind Tax Office, has a feeling something big is going to happen at the office today, only it’s nothing like he expected. In the blink of an eye, he is deported to Australia.
The story is told from Five-Four-One’s perspective and I loved it. Apparently, he must kill the kid if he wants to return. Someone is blackmailing him. He does not know who the kid is until he spots our Pet.
"Well, this was the only kid in the area; long-legged and long-haired, it had a hopeful sort of expression to its face. I mean, it was still ugly, but it was ugly in a nice sort of way. It looked like you could pat it on the head without being bitten."
I loved getting the thoughts of someone from the Between and their views of humans. Pet is her usual self, which always makes me smile. The author introduced me to Dropbears. Never heard of this Australian legend? Of course, I had to Google it, which sent me down a rabbit hole exploring their legends and myths. I totally recommend you do the same.
The story was delightful and I am glad that I took the time to meet 541 because low and behold he is a character in the next audiobook, book six, Between Walls. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
Five-Four-One, a leprechaun at the Behindkind Tax Office, has a feeling something big is going to happen at the office today, only it’s nothing like he expected. In the blink of an eye, he is deported to Australia.
The story is told from Five-Four-One’s perspective and I loved it. Apparently, he must kill the kid if he wants to return. Someone is blackmailing him. He does not know who the kid is until he spots our Pet.
"Well, this was the only kid in the area; long-legged and long-haired, it had a hopeful sort of expression to its face. I mean, it was still ugly, but it was ugly in a nice sort of way. It looked like you could pat it on the head without being bitten."
I loved getting the thoughts of someone from the Between and their views of humans. Pet is her usual self, which always makes me smile. The author introduced me to Dropbears. Never heard of this Australian legend? Of course, I had to Google it, which sent me down a rabbit hole exploring their legends and myths. I totally recommend you do the same.
The story was delightful and I am glad that I took the time to meet 541 because low and behold he is a character in the next audiobook, book six, Between Walls. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
September 24, 2021
I felt like I had to read this one since it’s referenced in the next book. But it was a little bit different and Pet seems a little bit different so I’m not sure how I feel about it but just needed to get it out of the way.
September 22, 2019
Pet is in trouble again and this time it’s a Leprechaun that has a choice to make. I love how the pet/ behindkin meetings are all consistent.
February 8, 2023
Cute but random. This is why I can't really get into the Between world just yet. Its a bit too out there for my personal preference.
July 10, 2019
Excellent addition to this delicious series
I love pet, and here, we see her at her innovative best. I was uncertain, at first, of the Behindkind PoV, but the leprechaun grew on me, and I got an intriguing glimpse of a unique, but ultimately kind mind and a brief but fun look at behind. And dropbears! I want more info, now, on dropbears!
I love pet, and here, we see her at her innovative best. I was uncertain, at first, of the Behindkind PoV, but the leprechaun grew on me, and I got an intriguing glimpse of a unique, but ultimately kind mind and a brief but fun look at behind. And dropbears! I want more info, now, on dropbears!
August 11, 2019
This is just 41 pages, but it's a fun story about a leprechaun and the characters from The City Between. Since I love the series this was a very good story for me. It's a story that should be read after reading other books in the series since there isn't a lot of backstory--which is how the author can tell a complete story in so few pages.
December 27, 2021
A fun little "extra" story in a great series. It was interesting seeing Behind through a different character's eyes, though I do prefer Pet's point of view. It was also interesting seeing Pet herself, and the Troika, from someone else's perspective. I feel as though I have a more well-rounded picture of her now, and of what her "psychos" think of her.
November 30, 2019
Gobbled it
This is a fascinating novella in the City Between series. It is told from the point of view of a leprechaun meeting our main characters under difficult circumstances.
I want more!
Read in KU
This is a fascinating novella in the City Between series. It is told from the point of view of a leprechaun meeting our main characters under difficult circumstances.
I want more!
Read in KU
September 19, 2021
Might be short but so funny
I love Pet's character and I'm enjoying the series, I noticed the 2 novellas so gave them a go. It would have been good if they were numbered to see where they fit in the series. The other one was good with soom funny parts but I was crying with laughter at this one, the innocent dry character of Pet was brilliant with the leprechaun especially when she wanted a leg up then ended up throwing him too far so he got stuck with his burnt behind on show. The interaction with her 3 owners gets better, especially the vampire. Well worth reading, so much so I am going to buy it along with the series 😂😂😂
I love Pet's character and I'm enjoying the series, I noticed the 2 novellas so gave them a go. It would have been good if they were numbered to see where they fit in the series. The other one was good with soom funny parts but I was crying with laughter at this one, the innocent dry character of Pet was brilliant with the leprechaun especially when she wanted a leg up then ended up throwing him too far so he got stuck with his burnt behind on show. The interaction with her 3 owners gets better, especially the vampire. Well worth reading, so much so I am going to buy it along with the series 😂😂😂
September 5, 2023
4.25 (maybe 4.5) stars
A short interlude in the main series and something definitely worth the read. It's the first time I got to see things through the eyes of a character other than Pet - in this case, a one-legged leprechaun who gets slated to perform a task he very much did not sign up for and where the failure is banishment to the human world. It made for an interesting view of Pet, to say the least, and the mini (mis)adventure they are forced upon was entertaining. Now I wonder if Five-Four-One will have any reference/ significant role later on in the series...
A short interlude in the main series and something definitely worth the read. It's the first time I got to see things through the eyes of a character other than Pet - in this case, a one-legged leprechaun who gets slated to perform a task he very much did not sign up for and where the failure is banishment to the human world. It made for an interesting view of Pet, to say the least, and the mini (mis)adventure they are forced upon was entertaining. Now I wonder if Five-Four-One will have any reference/ significant role later on in the series...
November 28, 2021
Cloudy With a Chance of Dropbears by W. R. Ginger: NA. Urban Portal Fantasy. Survival. Allies. Teamwork. Blackmail. Action. Morality. War hero. Leprechaun. Human. Investigative.
I really enjoyed this short novelette. I was enjoyable, fast-paced, with an interesting plot, and I really like the personality, thought process, and backstory of the leprechaun protagonist. Not to mention the more familiar characters that appear throughout this.
I really enjoyed this short novelette. I was enjoyable, fast-paced, with an interesting plot, and I really like the personality, thought process, and backstory of the leprechaun protagonist. Not to mention the more familiar characters that appear throughout this.
February 2, 2022
Started and finished this last night. I found it because I’d started the full length book that follows it and there were too many references that didn’t make sense. I’m not sure it would mean anything to a reader who hadn’t read at least one of the full length books, but taken as a chapter in between (ha!) two Between books it was great. I loved experiencing Pet and the Troika through the eyes of another, significantly less powerful Behindkind character.
September 30, 2022
Fun, quick read
Things I liked:
-how distinctive Pet's voice is; easy to ID her even though the POV charrie doesn't know her
-dropbears!
-backstory to fill in a couple gaps in the main books
Things I didn't like:
-nothing I can think of!
-A note to potential readers: this can stand alone, but I don't think I would have enjoyed it nearly as much if I was unaware of the overarching story.
Things I liked:
-how distinctive Pet's voice is; easy to ID her even though the POV charrie doesn't know her
-dropbears!
-backstory to fill in a couple gaps in the main books
Things I didn't like:
-nothing I can think of!
-A note to potential readers: this can stand alone, but I don't think I would have enjoyed it nearly as much if I was unaware of the overarching story.
February 12, 2021
it needs to be listed as part of the series!
When i read thru the series i think by the 5th book it was like i was missing part of the plot.
this is the part.
I followed amazons guide to the books (7 in series currently)
but these companion books need to be read too!
such a great author! imaginative and quirky humor
When i read thru the series i think by the 5th book it was like i was missing part of the plot.
this is the part.
I followed amazons guide to the books (7 in series currently)
but these companion books need to be read too!
such a great author! imaginative and quirky humor
June 17, 2021
Short and sweet
This one was laugh-out-loud funny! What a charming little short story! I started reading book 6 of the series, and Five(the Leprechaun) is in it. I was very confused as to how I had missed him in the previous books, but it turns out that this is the book where he shows up. This tiny little 40 page short story is our introduction to Five the Leprechaun.
This one was laugh-out-loud funny! What a charming little short story! I started reading book 6 of the series, and Five(the Leprechaun) is in it. I was very confused as to how I had missed him in the previous books, but it turns out that this is the book where he shows up. This tiny little 40 page short story is our introduction to Five the Leprechaun.
October 17, 2020
LOVE this short story (and the whole series)!
This is a fun take on the world of "Between" and its characters! Told with the same wit and creativity this author is so good at portraying.
This is a fun take on the world of "Between" and its characters! Told with the same wit and creativity this author is so good at portraying.
September 10, 2021
This is a short story in the City Below series, about Pet's encounter with a leprechaun who is tasked with killing her. Cute, and it introduces the leprechaun character who otherwise would be a puzzle for readers in Book 6.
September 11, 2021
A delightful insight into the world of Behind
After the reference to this story in book 6, I went and hunted it down. It is a delightful addition to the world of Behind and Between, and as always, funny and charming.
After the reference to this story in book 6, I went and hunted it down. It is a delightful addition to the world of Behind and Between, and as always, funny and charming.
September 23, 2021
Wish it was longer
I know its only a companion novella, but I wish it was longer. It seemed like it was just getting good and it ended. It was a nice view of the group from another point of view though. Hopefully the leprechaun makes a future appearance in other books.
I know its only a companion novella, but I wish it was longer. It seemed like it was just getting good and it ended. It was a nice view of the group from another point of view though. Hopefully the leprechaun makes a future appearance in other books.
January 1, 2022
Don’t miss this novella! It doesn’t come up in the queue of “what’s next to read” but it contains a vital character who remains part of the story from here on out.
I really enjoyed the different storytelling perspective.
I really enjoyed the different storytelling perspective.
March 22, 2023
Just a novelette, but a great read. It's fun seeing Pet and her psychos from a different point of view, not to mention finding out more about living Behind. And as an Aussie, I loved seeing our own mythical creatures making an appearance.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews