Four Shifters and a Stranger

The Guild Codex: Spellbound #0.1

by Annette Marie

When a bounty hunting job goes wrong, a mysterious aeromage saves Aaron's life...

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Paranormal, Magic, Fiction, Short Stories, New Adult

26 pages, Unknown Binding

Published February 8, 2019

About the author

Annette Marie is the best-selling author of over thirty books, including the expansive urban fantasy series The Guild Codex, epic urban fantasy series Steel & Stone, and romantic fantasy trilogy Red Winter.

A 2015 Goodreads Choice Awards Finalist in Fantasy and an Amazon Charts Bestseller, Annette has sold over 2 million books. Her books have been translated into French, German, Polish, Ukrainian, and Russian, with readers coming back again and again for her addictive blend of fast-paced adventure, tantalizing forbidden romance, and unforgettable characters.

Annette lives in the frozen winter wasteland of Alberta, Canada (okay, it’s not quite that bad) with her husband and their furry minions of darkness. When not writing, she can be found elbow-deep in her garden or an art project while blissfully ignoring all adult responsibilities.

To find out more about Annette and her books, visit www.annettemarie.ca

Reviews

[Lucie V.]

You can get this short story when you register to the author’s newsletter here.
This short story shows us how Aaron and Kai met Ezra, and how they got him into the guild. It is short and sweet, told from Aaron’s point of view.

Chronologically, it happens before Three Mages and a Margarita, but the recommended reading order says to read it between book 3 and book 4. It does not change much, but since it shows us a little more of Ezra’s power, I imagine it will be relevant to the events of Demon Magic and a Martini.


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[Daisy Delfin]

This short story is only 53 pages. I got it for free and never read it. But as we are doing a br of The Guild Codex Universe, this was the next item in the reading order.

The story explains how Kai and Aaron met Ezra.
Reminder to myself:
Kai and Aaron are staying and are working together. On night they go after a shifter gang. It had grown a lot and now they hunt down people and eat them. While hunting them Kai and Aaron get separated. Aaron is cornered and beaten by the shifters. The plan to take him away and kill him slowly. He can't defend himself anymore. Then Aaron sees a homeless Dude. And the kid doesn't run away but goes after the shifter and injures three out of four severely. He saves Aaron's life and helps him to get Kai to the place where he is. Aaron offers him to give him money and hands him his wallet. But the kid only takes half of the money and hands the wallet back. Then he disappears.

After seeing a healer and a day of staying at home, Aaron and Kai go back to the part of the city where Aaron was saved. They search a long time. Suddenly they see two shifters sprinting out of an alley to their car and leave hurriedly. The go and investigate and they find seven dead bodies of the shifter group. But they also find the kid sitting in the back against a wall. Aaron persuades him to go home with him. He sets him up in his spare room and he is now housing with Kai and Aaron. The also get forged legal paperwork for the kid, who just turned 18. The name him Ezra and want him to join a guild, even though they know that he is keeping his secrets and won't tell them. Darius has Ezra interviewing and he is accepted into the guild. Basically Aaron and Kai are task to take care of him, even though an older guild member is task officially to look after Ezra. The story ends here and is continued in the Spellbound Series, #1.
It was a cute short story and a nice read.

[Lauren]

A Guild Codex backstory! Getting to see our guys before Tori happily bulldozed her way into their lives, changing a lot of people's lives for the better, is always great! I loved this story and now I want to re-read the entire series... again.

[Teru]

That was soo short I feel like crying. A short story about the first meeting of my three favourite guys, told from Aaron's POV.
I need more 🥺🥺

[Natalie H]

July 2023
Kindle edition

Buddy read with RHR. A nice little intro to Aaron and Kai's first meeting with Ezra. Chaotic as expected. Would've been nice to see how Darius dealt with the interview. It was sweet though, Aaron knowing he was accepting trouble and continuing to do so.

[Alex(Books-In-A-Storm)]

This was an amazing story and so cute.

[Sophia]

The Guild Codex Universe of urban fantasy books has captivated me to the point I've not wanted to miss even the shorter tales in the series. Four Shifters and a Stranger is one of those and can only be had at the present time by signing up for the author's newsletter- which I did.

Four Shifters and a Stranger falls chronologically as the first prequel to the Guild Codex: Spellbound series. Personally, I appreciated it more by reading it mid-way through the Spellbound series because then what is going on here in these two brief scenes makes much better sense and significance to the reader. I read this after the events of The Alchemist and an Amaretto (incidentally, a good time since this is the novel that explains werewolves in this world), but I think any time after Demon Magic and a Martini would be optimal.

So, the plot. This is the short tale of how Aaron and Kai first meet Ezra and, woohoo, is told from Aaron's point of view. Aaron and Kai are tracking werewolves for a guild bounty job early in their membership of the Crow and Hammer while they're still trying to prove themselves. Aaron gets cocky and only a mysterious street kid packing startling power saves his bacon. He drags Kai back to find the kid for a thank you when they see an even more amazing demo of street kid's power. Aaron won't let the guy stay on the streets and drags him into the guild and into their friendship as the new guild aeromage, Ezra Rowe.

Loved this so much!

[M.Marie.S.]

Aww, baby trio is so cute.

[Kathrin]

For me, short stories are always a bit hit-or-miss. I was really unsure about when to read this book, so I went with the official recommendation. However, it didn't really win me over. All in all, the story left me more confused than what was added to the overall story.

[Sabine]

4 kryo stars
This short story recounts how Ezra met Aaron and Kai and joined the crow and hammer guild. We get to see the beginning of their friendship and Aaron's sweet and caring heart.

[Ella Appling]

4.5

[Lisa Mandina]

I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.So this was a very short story and might have been a little better to read before I read Demon Magic and a Martini, but it also worked to read after because it deals with some of Ezra's back story, how he came to be a part of the Crow and Hammer Guild and be friends with Kai and Aaron. Short and sweet and a quick but really interesting read, not necessary for the series to keep up, but still worth reading if you get a chance.This review was originally posted on Lisa Loves Literature

[Kathy]

The Guild Codex: Spellbound #0.25
The only thing wrong with this is that it's way too short. This is about how Aaron & Kai met Ezra. Enjoy!

Read:
January 21, 2023 – Kindle edition

The Guild Codex Universe:
The Guild Codex includes four linked series: Spellbound, Demonized, Warped and Unveiled for a total of 16+ books and 3 bonus stories.

They can be read in publication order, chronological order, as individual series, or in Annette’s recommended order, which is listed below.
• Three Mages and a Margarita (The Guild Codex: Spellbound #1)
• Warping Minds & Other Misdemeanors (The Guild Codex: Warped #1)
• Dark Arts and a Daiquiri (The Guild Codex: Spellbound #2)
• Two Witches and a Whiskey (The Guild Codex: Spellbound #3)
• Four Shifters and a Stranger (The Guild Codex: Spellbound #0.25) (short story)
• A Damsel and a Demigod (The Guild Codex: Spellbound #0.5) (novella)
• Demon Magic and a Martini (The Guild Codex: Spellbound #4)
• Taming Demons for Beginners (The Guild Codex: Demonized #1)
• Hellbound Guilds & Other Misdirections (The Guild Codex: Warped #2)
• The Alchemist and an Amaretto (The Guild Codex: Spellbound #5)
• A Little Warped*** (The Guild Codex: Warped #2.5) (short story)
• Slaying Monsters for the Feeble (The Guild Codex: Demonized #2)
• Druid Vices and a Vodka (The Guild Codex: Spellbound #6)
• Hunting Fiends for the Ill-Equipped (The Guild Codex: Demonized #3)
• Lost Talismans and a Tequila (The Guild Codex: Spellbound #7)
• Rogue Ghosts & Other Miscreants (The Guild Codex: Warped #3)
• Damned Souls and a Sangria (The Guild Codex: Spellbound #8)
• Delivering Evil for Experts (The Guild Codex: Demonized #4)
• More Than a Little Warped (The Guild Codex: Warped #3.5) (short story)
• The One and Only Crystal Druid (The Guild Codex: Unveiled #1)
• The Long Forgotten Winter King (The Guild Codex: Unveiled #2)
• The Twice-Scorned Lady of Shadow (The Guild Codex: Unveiled #3)
• The Unbreakable Bladesong Druid (The Guild Codex: Unveiled #4)
• (The Guild Codex: Warped #4)
• (The Guild Codex: Warped #5)
• (The Guild Codex: Warped #6)

*** Available at the end of The Alchemist and an Amaretto (paperback/kindle) and Hellbound Guilds & Other Misdirections (paperback/kindle/audio)

[Angela (Angel's Book Nook)]

I’m having a blast diving into The Guild Codex universe! I’ve been following Annette’s recommended reading order from her site, and Four Shifters and a Stranger was such a treat. It’s a lovely prequel that shows how Ezra first crossed paths with Aaron and Kai.

Four Shifters and a Stranger is the first prequel in the Guild Codex: Spellbound timeline. Personally, I think it’s best enjoyed if you read it after Two Witches and a Whiskey but before starting Demon Magic and a Martini.

The plot: After a mysterious stranger saves Aaron from a shifter gang and disappears, Aaron and Kai set out to find him. They eventually locate the young man in a grim state and bring him home, discovering he is an eighteen-year-old who has been homeless for two years. Though they work to welcome him into the magical world of the Crow and Hammer, his secrets stay hidden even as the mage duo evolves into a trio.

Four Shifters and a Stranger takes us back to the very beginning. Fans of The Guild Codex universe will truly enjoy this heartwarming short story.

Rated: 4 Stars

**Note: To get this short story you must sign up for the author's newsletter.**

[Angela]

4 Stars

Four Shifters and a Stranger (The Guild Codex Universe) by Annette Marie ... and reading this series was like stepping into a magical cocktail bar where every drink comes with a side of danger, sass, and heart. This interconnected urban fantasy world is fast-paced, witty, and brimming with plenty of found-family vibes.
Across the series we meet snarky bartenders, reluctant demon hosts, time-bending mages, and sword-wielding druids, who are all tangled in high-stakes adventures. The banter is sharp, the action's dynamic - all while the emotional beats hit just as hard as the fight scenes.
So, if you love magic systems that feel fresh, characters you want to grab a coffee with, and stories that balance humor with heart – then this universe is an addictive binge-read. Just be warned: once you start, you’ll want to devour every book just so you can see how the many threads all weave together.
A spellbinding, laugh-out-loud, edge-of-your-seat ride through a world you won’t want to leave.
Happy Reading…

[Ela]

I really liked this short story and I wish that it was longer. Aaron is being dragged off by shifters when a stranger (Ezra) intervenes. This story definitely makes me want to continue with the series (I think it might have been the best book in the series), to find out more about Ezra. I think more POVs in the previous books would have made me enjoy them much more and while I don’t think it’s the case, I hope that the next books have more perspectives.

Setting: -
MC names: Aaron Sinclair
POV: Aaron, 1st person

[Jazmine]

Ezra is so mysterious... If only this was longer!

[Rachel]

I was always curious how all the boys met. Honestly wish this was a full length book.

[Di]

A peek at how the Three Mages became a trio... Recommended to be read after Two Witches although chronologically it comes before Three Mages.

[Amy]

Cute, free short story about Ezra meeting the boys and joining the guild. Makes me want to keep reading the series to learn more about his backstory.

[Georgen Charnes]

The backstory on a few of our main characters.

[Brandi Thompson]

Really a short story, not even a novella. Tells the background of how Ezra met Aaron and Kai. About a ten minute read!

[OhWell]

Aww...♥

[Vannessa]

A fun, short story about how the 3 mages met and the unexplained powers of Ezra.

Looking forward to reading more in this series now.

[Annettesbookbanter]

Short read, but it was great reading about my favourite character Ezra.

[✨EJ✨]

Ok, so now, I really, really, really (!) want to know more about Ezra.

[Heather Gilbert]

The beginnings (almost) of Ezra's adventures with Aaron and Kai. Set several years before the events in Tori's first book.

[Nicole]

This was too short. I wanted more backstory from this novella and I feel like I have more questions than before.

[Claire]

Cute, very short story.

It's available for free by signing up for the author's mailing list.

[CONNIE BALTHROP]

I do hope there's more short stories to come.