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San Andreas Shifters #3.5
Vixen Ecology
Fox shifter Mana has an offer from Hollywood that she can’t refuse. Her lover, the werewolf Lovejoy, is tethered to his pack and his work in the Bay Area and can’t go with her — even if she asks him too, which she hasn’t. Their affaire started as a very casual thing and seems to be ending in the same way.
Or is it?
This short interstitial story it told from Lovejoy’s perspective and comes just after events chronicled in The Enforcer Enigma. It features side characters from the San Andreas Shifter series.
This story will probably not make sense if you haven’t read the first three books in the series (The Sumage Solution, The Omega Objection, The Enforcer Enigma). Mana and Lovejoy’s romance runs through the background of those books. This story picks up assuming you have already been witness to Lovejoy and Mana’s relationship development. It’s also Gail’s take on a dark fairy tale (with a kitsune drag queen and a happy ending, of course) but you have been warned.
Or is it?
This short interstitial story it told from Lovejoy’s perspective and comes just after events chronicled in The Enforcer Enigma. It features side characters from the San Andreas Shifter series.
This story will probably not make sense if you haven’t read the first three books in the series (The Sumage Solution, The Omega Objection, The Enforcer Enigma). Mana and Lovejoy’s romance runs through the background of those books. This story picks up assuming you have already been witness to Lovejoy and Mana’s relationship development. It’s also Gail’s take on a dark fairy tale (with a kitsune drag queen and a happy ending, of course) but you have been warned.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
March 4, 2022
Short, sweet and unless you've read all the other books in the series, not a traditional novella.
This is more a series of vignettes that give a peek into the complex relationship between Lovejoy and Mana.
I was very pleased to see how much his pack loves him and stuck up for him after Mana broke his heart and very happy that she knew how much of a mistake she'd made.
This is more a series of vignettes that give a peek into the complex relationship between Lovejoy and Mana.
I was very pleased to see how much his pack loves him and stuck up for him after Mana broke his heart and very happy that she knew how much of a mistake she'd made.
January 26, 2021
I was so stoked about Lovejoy and Mana getting their own short story, but I must say it didn't quite live up to expectations.
Seeing Lovejoy and Mana together, and reading about their relationship and how they work was lovely. So was simply getting to know a bit more about Lovejoy himself and how he sees the world. The mood is bittersweet and atmospheric, and while it's not quite as humorous as the author's other works, the usual snark does eventually come through.
However, it was too short. The book is upfront about it probably not making much sense if one hasn't read the rest of the San Andreas Shifters series as it is over the course of those books that the relationship develops, if only in the background, but even having read it multiple times and rather recently, I found it hard to get any sort of emotional connection to the book and characters.
The buildup and development of the conflict was completely missing. The entire setup was all told in retrospect, summarized in a couple lines, and encompassed what the official description says the book is about and more.
This unfortunately lead to there being no impact in the one emotional scene that pretty much is the entirety of this short story.
I still love that it exists, and that buying it at this time gives money to fundrasisers!
Seeing Lovejoy and Mana together, and reading about their relationship and how they work was lovely. So was simply getting to know a bit more about Lovejoy himself and how he sees the world. The mood is bittersweet and atmospheric, and while it's not quite as humorous as the author's other works, the usual snark does eventually come through.
However, it was too short. The book is upfront about it probably not making much sense if one hasn't read the rest of the San Andreas Shifters series as it is over the course of those books that the relationship develops, if only in the background, but even having read it multiple times and rather recently, I found it hard to get any sort of emotional connection to the book and characters.
The buildup and development of the conflict was completely missing. The entire setup was all told in retrospect, summarized in a couple lines, and encompassed what the official description says the book is about and more.
This unfortunately lead to there being no impact in the one emotional scene that pretty much is the entirety of this short story.
I still love that it exists, and that buying it at this time gives money to fundrasisers!
June 5, 2021
やっぱりこのシリーズ好き。アメリカ西海岸を拠点にする人狼団のロマンスシリーズ番外編。トランスジェンダーの狐シフターとSan Andreas人狼団の人狼のロマンス短編。このシリーズでは主人公たちのロマンスも楽しいけれど、それと一緒に他の人狼や他のシフターたちとのグループダイナミクスというかわちゃわちゃしている様を読むのが本当に楽しい。この短編も短いながらそれがぎゅっと詰まっていてニコニコして読了。我らがLovejoyの男前さを見よ！
January 24, 2021
It may be short but the love is fierce. Mana may be a trickster kitsune but it was she who was tricked by life. It is a story of love and learning. Never be to old to learn.
February 1, 2021
Very short, but Carriger has a gift for making you care and making sure you know that however broken you may feel, there is still hope.
July 2, 2021
I found this disappointing, but I was expecting something different. I read Marine Biology, the prequel the San Andreas Shifters series, years ago and loved it. It was before the series was even announced. I haven't gotten around to reading the series yet, but as I like to intersperse longer reading with short stories and novellas, I decided to read this now.
I wouldn't even call it a short story, its more like deleted scenes. The author does warn in the intro that it may not make much sense to readers not familiar with the series. That's not how I would describe the problem, though. It does make sense, the new reader is not confused or lost as there's not much to the story. Its more that with no previous experience with the characters, there's no emotional connection. Lovejoy comes off as simple and weak. Mana comes off as somewhat cold, but more just . . . blank. I didn't get a good sense of her character at all. Without knowing any of her history, her talking about never expecting to have found unconditional love falls flat.
I wouldn't even call it a short story, its more like deleted scenes. The author does warn in the intro that it may not make much sense to readers not familiar with the series. That's not how I would describe the problem, though. It does make sense, the new reader is not confused or lost as there's not much to the story. Its more that with no previous experience with the characters, there's no emotional connection. Lovejoy comes off as simple and weak. Mana comes off as somewhat cold, but more just . . . blank. I didn't get a good sense of her character at all. Without knowing any of her history, her talking about never expecting to have found unconditional love falls flat.
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January 25, 2021She was upfront that it was a short story, but I didn't realize just how short it would be. It's really, really short, more of a little vignette, two short scenes. Although it ends with declarations of love, it just seems unfinished, like it lacks a beginning, middle, and end; it just has those two scenes and alludes to characters actions in the middle. The impression of incompleteness was not helped by the fact that the story ended at only 39% of the Kindle file (not uncommon for short stories, which frequently include another book's first chapter or two at the end, but I always seem to forget that and end up really disappointed when it ends so early).
The early price for newsletter subscribers was only $1.99, and it goes to charity, so I don't really regret spending the money, but I would have if I paid any more for it. You won't really miss anything in the overall series if you skip this (very) short story.
Purchased via her Gumshoe page (via her website).
The early price for newsletter subscribers was only $1.99, and it goes to charity, so I don't really regret spending the money, but I would have if I paid any more for it. You won't really miss anything in the overall series if you skip this (very) short story.
Purchased via her Gumshoe page (via her website).
March 9, 2021
This is probably the most prettily written installment of the San Andreas Shifters series. And the shortest. It packs an emotional wallop if you’ve read the first three novels. I’m not sure it would carry the same weight if read on it’s own. Maybe, but I’ll never know, since I’ve been reading these books as they were released. But it was beautiful and it wraps up all the loose ends of Lovejoy and Mana’s story in a satisfying way. It definitely made me cry. And it made me smile. And I loved it. 🥰
January 24, 2021
I find the character Mana beautiful and I am in awe of the ancient but still curious streak in inspiring in her character. I also adore how the pack reacts to the growth in their relationship. The story made me so sad, it is not a feal good story but rather one to read when life is hard, but I adore the positive ending.
The only bad thing is that the story ends when I started to be really engaged. I crave more.
The only bad thing is that the story ends when I started to be really engaged. I crave more.
February 8, 2021
I definitely enjoyed this short. I wish that Mana and Lovejoy had a full novel but their romance was in the background for most of the series so far, so it is understandable how quick this read was.
I can’t wait to see more of the Sam Andreas shifters~ Theyre definitely a pack I’m not ready to say goodbye to juuuuust yet. I want to see them grow and definitely have a deeper issue that they have to overcome as pack 👏🏼
I can’t wait to see more of the Sam Andreas shifters~ Theyre definitely a pack I’m not ready to say goodbye to juuuuust yet. I want to see them grow and definitely have a deeper issue that they have to overcome as pack 👏🏼
May 2, 2021
This short novella fills in the gaps between Mana - the kitsune drag Queen and Lovejoy her chef boyfriend and part of the San Andreas werewolf pack.
It’s short and delightfully sweet and we see another side to Mana, whilst Carriger also adds a short piece on character names and other issues as an acknowledgement.
I love this series, the characters are fun and there’s never a dull moment whilst the romance is full on.
It’s short and delightfully sweet and we see another side to Mana, whilst Carriger also adds a short piece on character names and other issues as an acknowledgement.
I love this series, the characters are fun and there’s never a dull moment whilst the romance is full on.
October 23, 2021
I was so so so excited to see a short story with Mana and Lovejoy. It was 13 pages on my nook. We didn't learn anything about Lovejoy or Mana's history, or a new event, only how their relationship balance works. Especially when compared to the rest of the short stories Carriger has written, especially Marine Biology in the same series, I don't really feel like it was worth buying, or that it added much to my enjoyment of the series.
That said, I would love to see this expanded.
That said, I would love to see this expanded.
February 23, 2022
Short. Cute. It's what you'd want.
Anyway I'm going to talk about Mana for a bit.
I always have weird feelings about her in a lot of ways. She's a good character, for sure. But she feels very messy. Realistically so, certainly. But true enough that maybe it hurts a little. Learning we share certain bedroom interests makes that a bit more raw. I don't know. Is this a happy ending? It's an ending for her. I'll have to keep thinking about it.
Anyway I'm going to talk about Mana for a bit.
I always have weird feelings about her in a lot of ways. She's a good character, for sure. But she feels very messy. Realistically so, certainly. But true enough that maybe it hurts a little. Learning we share certain bedroom interests makes that a bit more raw. I don't know. Is this a happy ending? It's an ending for her. I'll have to keep thinking about it.
January 24, 2021
A short, rather dark story about an ancient vixen and a not so ancient werewolf. There is some lovely delving into the pyches of the two main characters as well as some very revealing moments for them and others. Alec has truly grown into his Alpha self and Isaac is no longer jumping at shadows.
Please, please! More San Andreas shifters, Ms Carriger!
Please, please! More San Andreas shifters, Ms Carriger!
February 10, 2021
A sweet little in-between for a series that is dear to my heart. Lovejoy is the glue that holds the pack together, and this suits him better than a full novel would (as much as he's a great character!), since he doesn't like to be the center of attention. Fills in the gaps through the overarching story and is a treat for SAS readers. I love this world and I can't wait to read more from it!
April 13, 2021
A nice little story. You definitely need to have read the other San Andreas Shifter books to know what’s going on, however. Without prior exposure to the characters, I’m pretty sure readers would be scratching their heads, and wouldn’t be able to appreciate the story.
Also, I definitely appreciated the apology for previously using “Manifest Destiny” as a character name.
Also, I definitely appreciated the apology for previously using “Manifest Destiny” as a character name.
April 20, 2023
Sweet, and I agree that it needs the context of the larger works. One of the things I really love about this series though is that it isn't afraid to portray a wide and deep collection of relationships -- ones that might not work for everyone, but definitely work for the characters involved. Nice little window onto Lovejoy and Mana.
January 25, 2021
Too short, good for completeness if you are reading the series, but I think Marine Biology is better for a short story (ok, it made me laugh when I first read it). This story is not bad, but I've read others from this author that I liked more, so I have some bias
February 11, 2021
It's a *very* short story set in the author's San Andreas Shifters series. It's best if read after at least the first book or two, because otherwise you will have no idea what is going on or who the characters are. That and the extremely short length are the reasons I left off a star. There was also an apology from the author at the end that reinforces part of why I like her so much, she's genuinely concerned with the impact her words/choices have and will correct her mistakes, rather than doubling down.
February 7, 2021
Diciamo che ho fatto pace, parzialmente, Mana. Continua ad essere un personaggio un po' troppo "oltre" per piacermi davvero, ma questo scorcio la rende più comprensibile. Come sempre però, il meglio lo da il pack al completo. Adorabili.
February 10, 2021
My only complaint is my usual one with anything Gail Carriger writes.....I want MORE! You fall in love with her characters and it leaves you wanting more time with them to hang out and see what they are up to. A must read as always.
February 10, 2021
I didn't love this one. I'm glad it was for charity and I understand why she wrote it and the message, but it just felt a bit short and rushed. I know a short story is supposed to be short, it was just lacking the magic of the rest of the series.
February 16, 2021
Very short, very evocative, and much more nebulous than this author’s usual style. It’s effective, though, and gets the point across. It’s a story about love, but it’s not a romance, per se. The only reason I didn’t rate it higher is that subtext frustrates me immensely!
March 21, 2021
I liked it, it was cute, it was so short. There were more pages of the other books than that of this actual story, the entirety of the plot is in the blurb and the whole thing was maybe one word doc page long. I guess I built it up too much?
April 4, 2021
Quite short, with very little plot, but a good window into Lovejoy and the pack. Not a stand alone - definitely wouldn't make any sense if you haven't read the rest of the series, and probably not necessary for the story arc of the series, either.
April 26, 2023
Only for the fans. Terrific to have the story of these two wound up - a super short read - but packed with emotions that fans will easily follow and feel deep. Seeing so much packed into so little makes me appreciate (again) what a wonderful writer Gail is.
January 22, 2021
Darker than her normal stuff, but an excellent addition to the cannon.
January 24, 2021
oh my... hit me right in the feels. SO hard and SO good! Just the way he likes it...
January 24, 2021
Gorgeous, just like Mana, of course. My only complaint is that there wasn't more of it! 😍
January 25, 2021
Short but sweet.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews