What do you think?
Rate this book
Kitty Norville #0.1, 0.5-0.8, 1.5, 2.5, and more
Kitty's Greatest Hits
The first-ever story collection from the New York Times bestselling author, including two all-new works!Kitty Norville, star of a New York Times bestselling series, is everybody’s favorite werewolf DJ and out-of-the-closet supernatural creature. Over the course of eight books she’s fought evil vampires, were-creatures, and some serious black magic. She’s done it all with a sharp wit and the help of a memorable cast of werewolf hunters, psychics, and if-notgood- then-neutral vampires by her side. Kitty’s Greatest Hits not only gives readers some of Kitty’s further adventures, it offers longtime fans a window into the origins of some of their favorite characters. In “Conquistador de la Noche,” we learn the origin story of Denver’s Master vampire, Rick; with “Wild Ride,” we find out how Kitty’s friend T.J. became a werewolf; and in “Life is the Teacher,” we revisit Emma, the human-turned-unwilling-vampire who serves the aloof vampire Master of Washington, D.C. This entertaining collection includes two brand-new “You’re On the Air,” about one of Kitty’s callers after he hangs up the phone; and the eagerly awaited “Long Time Waiting,” the novella that finally reveals just what happened to Cormac in prison, something every Kitty fan wants to Est NeA Princess of SpainConquistador de la NocheThe Book of DanielThe Temptation of Robin Green Looking After FamilyGod's CreaturesWild RideWinnowing the HerdKitty and the Mosh Pit of the Damned Kitty's Zombie New YearLife is the TeacherYou're on the AirLong Time Waiting
318 pages, Trade Paperback
First published August 16, 2011
44 people are currently reading
1787 people want to read
About the author
Carrie Vaughn
280 books4,541 followersCarrie Vaughn is the author more than twenty novels and over a hundred short stories. She's best known for her New York Times bestselling series of novels about a werewolf named Kitty who hosts a talk radio advice show for the supernaturally disadvantaged. In 2018, she won the Philip K. Dick Award for Bannerless, a post-apocalyptic murder mystery. She's published over 20 novels and 100 short stories, two of which have been finalists for the Hugo Award. She's a contributor to the Wild Cards series of shared world superhero books edited by George R. R. Martin and a graduate of the Odyssey Fantasy Writing Workshop.
An Air Force brat, she survived her nomadic childhood and managed to put down roots in Boulder, Colorado, where she collects hobbies.
Visit her at www.carrievaughn.com
For writing advice and essays, check out her Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/carrievaughn
An Air Force brat, she survived her nomadic childhood and managed to put down roots in Boulder, Colorado, where she collects hobbies.
Visit her at www.carrievaughn.com
For writing advice and essays, check out her Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/carrievaughn
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 220 reviews
August 5, 2017
4 stars
This was a very good group of short stories. While Kitty isn't always in the story, almost all of them are directly related to her and have familiar characters in them. If you like the Kitty Norville series I'd definitely recommend this book.
I'm listening to the audio version of this book and have listed the times for each story below.
Il Est Ne
(1.5 in the series)
Time: 0-1:03
This story takes place after book #1 at the point where Kitty is traveling around after leaving the pack but she hasn't gone to Washington yet (book #2). It's Christmas and Kitty is spending part of the day in a Waffle House in order to feel like she's spending time with others on the holiday. She happens to meet up with David, another werewolf who was transformed against his will and doesn't have any guidance. Kitty helps him out and they stop a bad guy while they're at it.
A Princess of Spain
(Outside series storyline)
Time: 1:03-1:44
This story takes place in England around 1501. Princess Catherine of Spain goes to England and marries Prince Arthur (older brother to King Henry VIII) but he's ill and under the thrall of a Vampire. This was an interesting story but had nothing to do with the series.
Conquistador de la Noche
(Outside series storyline)
Time: 1:44-3:01
This story tells about Rick when he's still human, his transformation into a Vampire and then his salvation...into something he can live with.
The Book of Daniel
(Outside series storyline)
Time 3:01-3:32
A version of Daniel and the Lion's Den where Daniel is a Lion shifter.
The Temptation of Robin Green
(Outside series storyline)
Time: 3:32-4:15
Robin is in the Army and working in a secret Army base that houses many paranormal creatures.She gets tangled up with a Selkie and it changes her whole life. The only tie into the series is the fact that Rick appears in the story as a secondary character.
Looking After Family
(Outside series storyline)
Time: 4:15-4:43
This is a story about Ben and Cormac and their first "hunt" together. It takes place when they're still young, right after Cormac comes to stay with Ben and his parents after his father was killed.
God's Creatures
(Outside series storyline)
Time: 4:43-5:36
This is a story about Cormac going on a hunt for a werewolf that takes him to a convent/boarding school.
Wild Ride
(Outside series storyline)
Time: 5:36-6:27
This is the story of how TJ got transformed into a werewolf.
Winnowing the Herd
(Outside series storyline)
Time: 6:27-6:38
This story takes place at the radio station when Kitty is still a DJ before she got her show. Kitty gets stuck going to a mandatory employee party and is bored enough that she starts thinking wolfy thoughts about her coworkers.
Kitty and the Mosh Pit of the Damned
(During book #1)
Time: 6:38-7:13
This story seems to take place during the time of book #1 as Kitty has her show, is a known werewolf but is still in Denver (and doesn't seem to be with Ben yet). Kitty goes to the show of a band that has a reputation for a higher number injuries at their shows than normal and finds paranormal reasons behind it.
Kitty's Zombie New Year
(During book #1)
Time: 7:13-7:33
This story also seems to take place during the timeframe of book #1. Kitty goes to a New Years party at the home of a co-worker, Matt. A zombie shows up at the party and Kitty is left trying to figure out what happened to the woman and how to fix it.
Life is the Teacher
(2.5 in the series)
Time: 7:33-8:16
This story is about Emma and Alette, 2 vampires that Kitty met while in Washington in book #2. This story appears to take place a few months after the end of book #2 and is about Emma attempting her first solo hunt.
You're on the Air
(During book #4)
Time: 8:16-8:35
This takes place during book #4. Jake is a vampire that works nights at a Speedy Mart and calls into Kitty's show (her side of the call is in book #4) to tell her what a crock the whole vampire world domination shtick is. After the call he goes back to his job and runs into some trouble but as a result, he finds that there are some benefits to being a vampire after all.
Long Time Waiting
(mostly during book #6)
Time: 8:35-10:54
This story explains how Amelia was (erroneously) charged with murder and hung for the crime (around 100+ years ago) and then goes into how she and Cormac met when he was sent to prison in present time. Amelia and Cormac have to deal with a big bad that's killing prisoners and Cormac has to go way out of his comfort zone in order to do his part. The majority of this story takes place during the timeframe of book #6, Kitty raises Hell.
This was a very good group of short stories. While Kitty isn't always in the story, almost all of them are directly related to her and have familiar characters in them. If you like the Kitty Norville series I'd definitely recommend this book.
I'm listening to the audio version of this book and have listed the times for each story below.
Il Est Ne
(1.5 in the series)
Time: 0-1:03
This story takes place after book #1 at the point where Kitty is traveling around after leaving the pack but she hasn't gone to Washington yet (book #2). It's Christmas and Kitty is spending part of the day in a Waffle House in order to feel like she's spending time with others on the holiday. She happens to meet up with David, another werewolf who was transformed against his will and doesn't have any guidance. Kitty helps him out and they stop a bad guy while they're at it.
A Princess of Spain
(Outside series storyline)
Time: 1:03-1:44
This story takes place in England around 1501. Princess Catherine of Spain goes to England and marries Prince Arthur (older brother to King Henry VIII) but he's ill and under the thrall of a Vampire. This was an interesting story but had nothing to do with the series.
Conquistador de la Noche
(Outside series storyline)
Time: 1:44-3:01
This story tells about Rick when he's still human, his transformation into a Vampire and then his salvation...into something he can live with.
The Book of Daniel
(Outside series storyline)
Time 3:01-3:32
A version of Daniel and the Lion's Den where Daniel is a Lion shifter.
The Temptation of Robin Green
(Outside series storyline)
Time: 3:32-4:15
Robin is in the Army and working in a secret Army base that houses many paranormal creatures.She gets tangled up with a Selkie and it changes her whole life. The only tie into the series is the fact that Rick appears in the story as a secondary character.
Looking After Family
(Outside series storyline)
Time: 4:15-4:43
This is a story about Ben and Cormac and their first "hunt" together. It takes place when they're still young, right after Cormac comes to stay with Ben and his parents after his father was killed.
God's Creatures
(Outside series storyline)
Time: 4:43-5:36
This is a story about Cormac going on a hunt for a werewolf that takes him to a convent/boarding school.
Wild Ride
(Outside series storyline)
Time: 5:36-6:27
This is the story of how TJ got transformed into a werewolf.
Winnowing the Herd
(Outside series storyline)
Time: 6:27-6:38
This story takes place at the radio station when Kitty is still a DJ before she got her show. Kitty gets stuck going to a mandatory employee party and is bored enough that she starts thinking wolfy thoughts about her coworkers.
Kitty and the Mosh Pit of the Damned
(During book #1)
Time: 6:38-7:13
This story seems to take place during the time of book #1 as Kitty has her show, is a known werewolf but is still in Denver (and doesn't seem to be with Ben yet). Kitty goes to the show of a band that has a reputation for a higher number injuries at their shows than normal and finds paranormal reasons behind it.
Kitty's Zombie New Year
(During book #1)
Time: 7:13-7:33
This story also seems to take place during the timeframe of book #1. Kitty goes to a New Years party at the home of a co-worker, Matt. A zombie shows up at the party and Kitty is left trying to figure out what happened to the woman and how to fix it.
Life is the Teacher
(2.5 in the series)
Time: 7:33-8:16
This story is about Emma and Alette, 2 vampires that Kitty met while in Washington in book #2. This story appears to take place a few months after the end of book #2 and is about Emma attempting her first solo hunt.
You're on the Air
(During book #4)
Time: 8:16-8:35
This takes place during book #4. Jake is a vampire that works nights at a Speedy Mart and calls into Kitty's show (her side of the call is in book #4) to tell her what a crock the whole vampire world domination shtick is. After the call he goes back to his job and runs into some trouble but as a result, he finds that there are some benefits to being a vampire after all.
Long Time Waiting
(mostly during book #6)
Time: 8:35-10:54
This story explains how Amelia was (erroneously) charged with murder and hung for the crime (around 100+ years ago) and then goes into how she and Cormac met when he was sent to prison in present time. Amelia and Cormac have to deal with a big bad that's killing prisoners and Cormac has to go way out of his comfort zone in order to do his part. The majority of this story takes place during the timeframe of book #6, Kitty raises Hell.
October 1, 2011
I really love the Kitty Norville series. Kitty is a terrific character and she gets into some interesting situations. So, when I saw that this book was coming out, I had to have a copy. I was pretty disappointed. First, being more expensive than the typical Kitty Norville novel, I expected it to be bigger. Well, it is trade paperback, so it is bigger, but only in physical size, not in content. I read it in three days using only break time and my 1/2 hour lunch. Second, it didn't really have much to do with Kitty's world. The few stories she appears in, she's usually a secondary character and doesn't seem at all like she does in the novels. Third, there just weren't that many stories and most of the ones that were there weren't that good.
The saving grace of Kitty's Greatest Hits is the novella at the end, "Long Time Waiting". It is a terrific story that shows what was going on with Cormac in prison, how he connected with Amelia, and really adds dimension to his character. That one story made the book worth reading.
The saving grace of Kitty's Greatest Hits is the novella at the end, "Long Time Waiting". It is a terrific story that shows what was going on with Cormac in prison, how he connected with Amelia, and really adds dimension to his character. That one story made the book worth reading.
March 21, 2015
A nice mix of stories, many of them not involving Kitty at all. We get several stories from Cormac's POV and both his and Rick's origin stories.
January 15, 2019
As I always do with anthologies, I'll just be listing a brief outline of the plot of each story and what I thought of it.
1) Il Est Ne
Having been exiled from her Pack, Kitty's lonely Christmas at a Colorado diner turns into the hunt for a rogue wolf killer. 4 star.
2) Princess of Spain
Catherine of Aragon is concerned about the strange woman who is visiting the bedchamber of Prince Arthur and making him sick. Nice Tudor story. 4 star.
3) Conquistador de la Noche
Ricardo is fighting for Coronado and more riches when his old friend Diego lures him to a meeting that will forever change his life. Rick's origin story. 3 star.
4) The Book of Daniel
Daniel's days as advisor to the King of Persia are numbered when he is thrown into the lions. Not sure what this had to do with anything Kitty and why it was written. 2 star.
5) The Temptation of Robin Green
Robin falls in love with a selkie and decides to risk everything to release him from his cell at a supernatural research facility where Rick is also a prisoner. 2 star.
6) Looking After Family
When Cormac's dad is killed by a werewolf, he goes to live with Ben's family and Ben is soon dragged into werewolf hunting. Nice to get Cormac and Ben's story. 4 star.
7) God's Creatures
Cormac is hired to kill a rogue wolf that is losing control, tracking it to a Catholic Girl's school where the wolf is getting assistance. Hunting with Cormac! 4 star.
8) Wild Ride
TJ gets the news that he is HIV positive but a chance encounter with a werewolf at a race track offers him the chance of a new life. Loved seeing TJ's back story! 4 star.
9) Winnowing the Herd
Kitty is at a vegan buffet hosted by Ozzie at the radio station where a grumpy Kitty considers eating her co-workers. Dumb story. 2 star.
10) Kitty and the Mosh Pit of the Damned
Kitty is watching a popular band in a club who always seem to cause murder and mayhem wherever they go. Fun story. 4 star.
11) Kitty's Zombie New Year
Kitty goes to Matt's festive party and encounters an unexpected zombie guest. 4 star.
12) Life is the Teacher
Emma decides it is time to go and embrace her vampire side, feeding for herself at last when she gets sidetracked with a former crush. 3 star.
13) You're on the Air
Jake is the nerdy vampire working night shift at the Speedy Mart when he suddenly gets the chance to play the hero during a robbery. Fun story! 4 star.
14) Long Time Waiting
Amelia is sentenced to death and her ghost prowls the prison looking for a new body to take over-and then she meets Cormac. Long awaited story of Cormac in prison. 4 star.
Overall a good mix of stories that gives more back story to Cormac, Ben, Amelia and Rick, along with a few fun Kitty stories!
1) Il Est Ne
Having been exiled from her Pack, Kitty's lonely Christmas at a Colorado diner turns into the hunt for a rogue wolf killer. 4 star.
2) Princess of Spain
Catherine of Aragon is concerned about the strange woman who is visiting the bedchamber of Prince Arthur and making him sick. Nice Tudor story. 4 star.
3) Conquistador de la Noche
Ricardo is fighting for Coronado and more riches when his old friend Diego lures him to a meeting that will forever change his life. Rick's origin story. 3 star.
4) The Book of Daniel
Daniel's days as advisor to the King of Persia are numbered when he is thrown into the lions. Not sure what this had to do with anything Kitty and why it was written. 2 star.
5) The Temptation of Robin Green
Robin falls in love with a selkie and decides to risk everything to release him from his cell at a supernatural research facility where Rick is also a prisoner. 2 star.
6) Looking After Family
When Cormac's dad is killed by a werewolf, he goes to live with Ben's family and Ben is soon dragged into werewolf hunting. Nice to get Cormac and Ben's story. 4 star.
7) God's Creatures
Cormac is hired to kill a rogue wolf that is losing control, tracking it to a Catholic Girl's school where the wolf is getting assistance. Hunting with Cormac! 4 star.
8) Wild Ride
TJ gets the news that he is HIV positive but a chance encounter with a werewolf at a race track offers him the chance of a new life. Loved seeing TJ's back story! 4 star.
9) Winnowing the Herd
Kitty is at a vegan buffet hosted by Ozzie at the radio station where a grumpy Kitty considers eating her co-workers. Dumb story. 2 star.
10) Kitty and the Mosh Pit of the Damned
Kitty is watching a popular band in a club who always seem to cause murder and mayhem wherever they go. Fun story. 4 star.
11) Kitty's Zombie New Year
Kitty goes to Matt's festive party and encounters an unexpected zombie guest. 4 star.
12) Life is the Teacher
Emma decides it is time to go and embrace her vampire side, feeding for herself at last when she gets sidetracked with a former crush. 3 star.
13) You're on the Air
Jake is the nerdy vampire working night shift at the Speedy Mart when he suddenly gets the chance to play the hero during a robbery. Fun story! 4 star.
14) Long Time Waiting
Amelia is sentenced to death and her ghost prowls the prison looking for a new body to take over-and then she meets Cormac. Long awaited story of Cormac in prison. 4 star.
Overall a good mix of stories that gives more back story to Cormac, Ben, Amelia and Rick, along with a few fun Kitty stories!
February 13, 2017
This was a fun collection, some of them having to do with the origin stories of several recurring Kitty-verse characters like Rick and T.J., and the relationship of Ben and Cormac. Others are directly about Kitty and some of her adventures. One of the best was the novella about what exactly happened to Cormac while he was in jail and how he ended up with such a 'split personality' afterwards.
Highly recommend for all Kitty fans!
Highly recommend for all Kitty fans!
May 15, 2012
This is an eclectic collection of short stories that are supposed to take place in the Kitty Norville world. Some are better than others. A few... I'm not sure what they're doing in this book at all. Here's a breakdown.
"Il Est Ne" - Being a werewolf is new to David. He can't control his changes; he has no pack. He thinks he'll never lead a normal life again. Then, he meets Kitty at a Waffle House on Christmas. She recognizes what he is and tries to guide him. As they talk, news reports come in, of a series of deadly attacks in the area. David immediately wonders if he is to blame. So he and Kitty work together to solve the murders. (This story takes place after the events of Kitty and the Midnight Hour.)
"A Princess of Spain" - I'm not entirely sure what this story is doing in this anthology. It's set in England in the early 1500's and tells the story of Catherine of Aragon's marriage to a young Prince Arthur. The young groom is too ill to consummate the marriage and it turns out that a vampire has taken him for her pawn. It wasn't a bad little story, it just felt out of place.
"Conquistador de la Noche" - We're still in the 1500's here, but there actually is a Kitty connection this time. This is the story of how Ricardo de Avila became a vampire. Yes, we're talking about Rick. He was one of Coronado's men, exploring the new world. After 10 years, he was approached by an old friend and lured to a neighboring village. It turns out that Diego is a vampire. Ricardo found out when Diego and three of his vampire friends attacked him and changed him against his will. The other men thought that once he was turned, Ricardo would be content to kill and plunder at their sides. They were wrong. Ricardo is made of sterner stuff. And while he'll never be human again, he won't be the evil thing they expected him to be.
"The Book of Daniel" - This story jumps back to Persia, just after the fall of Babylon. Daniel is a lion-shifter and advisor to the Persian king, Darius. Daniel is a pious man, a Hebrew. His wisdom and devotion to his faith make him a target of the other advisors. They try to have him killed by tossing him in a lion's pit. Imagine their surprise when he walks out, unscathed, the next day.
"The Temptation of Robin Green" - Robin is a Lieutenant in the military, working for the Centers for the Study of Paranatural Biology. We heard about this research facility in Kitty Goes to Washington, although in this story, there are far more outlandish creatures than we were introduced to in any of the Kitty novels. Basically, the story is about how Robin encounters a Selkie and succumbs to his charms. But what really bothered me about the whole things is the presence of Rick. Apparently, he was a prisoner there at one time... though to my recollection that has never been acknowledged in the series. (Did I forget this?) Robin frees him when she escapes with the Selkie. --And by the way, the Selkie ditches her.
"Looking After Family" - Now THIS is the kind of story I had in mind for this book. It's a little peek into the history of Cormac and Ben. It takes place right after Cormac's father is killed and he goes to live with Ben's family. Cormac is cut off emotionally and Ben barely recognizes his cousin. On the first full moon after he moves in, Cormac sneaks out to hunt and Ben tags along. It's then that Ben learns about werewolves and what really killed his uncle. And it's the beginning of that connection between Cormac and Ben that continues into the current books.
"God's Creatures" - Here we see the Cormac we met at the beginning of the series. He's a hunter; he believes all werewolves are monsters. And he's been hired by a rancher to track one down and kill it. Cormac discovers the creature is linked to a local Catholic girls school. I think maybe this experience is one of many that begins to show him that there are more to werewolves than just beasts.
"Wild Ride" - Oh, TJ, I hardly knew you. (**sniff**) This is the story of how TJ became a werewolf. From the moment he found out he was HIV positive, to his decision to be bitten... and his eventual choice to strike out as a lone wolf. It was good, but bittersweet, in light of the events of Kitty and the Midnight Hour.
"Winnowing the Herd" - This may be the shortest story in the book... just six pages. It gives us a glimpse of Kitty's state of mind just before the first book. She's at a staff party for the radio station... basically stifling the urge to forgo the vegetable tray and have one of her co-workers for dinner.
"Kitty and the Mosh Pit of the Damned" - It's been about a year since Kitty took her talk show national, and she's at a club to investigate a band whose every concert ends in violence. Is there something in the music making it happen? Is it the bandmembers themselves? Things go bad quickly when an audience-member is killed in the moshpit. It's then, that the true source of the violence is revealed.
"Kitty's Zombie New Year" - Kitty is celebrating the new year at a party with her radio station crew, when a strange girl shows up at the door. Her eyes are dull; she's unable to talk. Kitty realizes she must be a zombie... but how did she get that way? Zombies in Kitty's world aren't brain eating, walking carcasses. The girl is the victim of a selfish lover... and it's damage that can never be undone.
"Life is the Teacher" - Remember Emma? She was Alette's living descendant who was turned into a vampire at the end of Kitty Goes to Washington. In this story, she is still coming to terms with what she has become and sets out to take blood from a human for the first time. She encounters a man from her old life and struggles with the rising monster inside her. It was a sensual story with a satisfying ending.
"You're on the Air" - We were introduced briefly to Jake in Kitty and the Silver Bullet. He was a vampire who called into Kitty's show. He was made against his will and had no family. Now we get that phone call from his perspective... and we get to see what happens after he hangs up and decides to live his unlife with the cards that were dealt him.
"Long Time Waiting" - This is the story most people will probably buy the book for. It details what happened to Cormac when he went to prison. Essentially, there is a demon killing inmates. And in the prison is the spirit of a demon hunter who knows how to defeat him. Amelia needs a human host to do the job and she thinks Cormac would be the perfect host. He fights the idea, but eventually gives in for the greater good.
Here's the thing: I hate the entire concept of Cormac sharing his body with this woman. Is she supposed to be an eventual love interest? The story reminds us of the unresolved feelings of Cormac for Kitty. Why does Carrie Vaughn torture me this way? Kitty and Cormac are like the dangling carrot I have been chasing for years. Kitty (and in a different way, Ben) is supposed to be the one who sees inside him... who has this bond with him... not some woman that's been dead 100 years. It was a good story, but it just stirs up my angst all over again.
Vaughn did provide some Author's Notes at the end, which I did find insightful, answered a few of my questions, and added to the stories.
The bottom line: I enjoyed the book as a whole. It reminded me why I liked the series... especially "Looking After Family," "Wild Ride," and "Il Est Ne." Unfortunately, it also reminded me how frustrated I've become with the direction it has ultimately taken. 4 stars.
*ARC Provided by Tor Books
*ARC Provided by Tor Books
"Il Est Ne" - Being a werewolf is new to David. He can't control his changes; he has no pack. He thinks he'll never lead a normal life again. Then, he meets Kitty at a Waffle House on Christmas. She recognizes what he is and tries to guide him. As they talk, news reports come in, of a series of deadly attacks in the area. David immediately wonders if he is to blame. So he and Kitty work together to solve the murders. (This story takes place after the events of Kitty and the Midnight Hour.)
"A Princess of Spain" - I'm not entirely sure what this story is doing in this anthology. It's set in England in the early 1500's and tells the story of Catherine of Aragon's marriage to a young Prince Arthur. The young groom is too ill to consummate the marriage and it turns out that a vampire has taken him for her pawn. It wasn't a bad little story, it just felt out of place.
"Conquistador de la Noche" - We're still in the 1500's here, but there actually is a Kitty connection this time. This is the story of how Ricardo de Avila became a vampire. Yes, we're talking about Rick. He was one of Coronado's men, exploring the new world. After 10 years, he was approached by an old friend and lured to a neighboring village. It turns out that Diego is a vampire. Ricardo found out when Diego and three of his vampire friends attacked him and changed him against his will. The other men thought that once he was turned, Ricardo would be content to kill and plunder at their sides. They were wrong. Ricardo is made of sterner stuff. And while he'll never be human again, he won't be the evil thing they expected him to be.
"The Book of Daniel" - This story jumps back to Persia, just after the fall of Babylon. Daniel is a lion-shifter and advisor to the Persian king, Darius. Daniel is a pious man, a Hebrew. His wisdom and devotion to his faith make him a target of the other advisors. They try to have him killed by tossing him in a lion's pit. Imagine their surprise when he walks out, unscathed, the next day.
"The Temptation of Robin Green" - Robin is a Lieutenant in the military, working for the Centers for the Study of Paranatural Biology. We heard about this research facility in Kitty Goes to Washington, although in this story, there are far more outlandish creatures than we were introduced to in any of the Kitty novels. Basically, the story is about how Robin encounters a Selkie and succumbs to his charms. But what really bothered me about the whole things is the presence of Rick. Apparently, he was a prisoner there at one time... though to my recollection that has never been acknowledged in the series. (Did I forget this?) Robin frees him when she escapes with the Selkie. --And by the way, the Selkie ditches her.
"Looking After Family" - Now THIS is the kind of story I had in mind for this book. It's a little peek into the history of Cormac and Ben. It takes place right after Cormac's father is killed and he goes to live with Ben's family. Cormac is cut off emotionally and Ben barely recognizes his cousin. On the first full moon after he moves in, Cormac sneaks out to hunt and Ben tags along. It's then that Ben learns about werewolves and what really killed his uncle. And it's the beginning of that connection between Cormac and Ben that continues into the current books.
"God's Creatures" - Here we see the Cormac we met at the beginning of the series. He's a hunter; he believes all werewolves are monsters. And he's been hired by a rancher to track one down and kill it. Cormac discovers the creature is linked to a local Catholic girls school. I think maybe this experience is one of many that begins to show him that there are more to werewolves than just beasts.
"Wild Ride" - Oh, TJ, I hardly knew you. (**sniff**) This is the story of how TJ became a werewolf. From the moment he found out he was HIV positive, to his decision to be bitten... and his eventual choice to strike out as a lone wolf. It was good, but bittersweet, in light of the events of Kitty and the Midnight Hour.
"Winnowing the Herd" - This may be the shortest story in the book... just six pages. It gives us a glimpse of Kitty's state of mind just before the first book. She's at a staff party for the radio station... basically stifling the urge to forgo the vegetable tray and have one of her co-workers for dinner.
"Kitty and the Mosh Pit of the Damned" - It's been about a year since Kitty took her talk show national, and she's at a club to investigate a band whose every concert ends in violence. Is there something in the music making it happen? Is it the bandmembers themselves? Things go bad quickly when an audience-member is killed in the moshpit. It's then, that the true source of the violence is revealed.
"Kitty's Zombie New Year" - Kitty is celebrating the new year at a party with her radio station crew, when a strange girl shows up at the door. Her eyes are dull; she's unable to talk. Kitty realizes she must be a zombie... but how did she get that way? Zombies in Kitty's world aren't brain eating, walking carcasses. The girl is the victim of a selfish lover... and it's damage that can never be undone.
"Life is the Teacher" - Remember Emma? She was Alette's living descendant who was turned into a vampire at the end of Kitty Goes to Washington. In this story, she is still coming to terms with what she has become and sets out to take blood from a human for the first time. She encounters a man from her old life and struggles with the rising monster inside her. It was a sensual story with a satisfying ending.
"You're on the Air" - We were introduced briefly to Jake in Kitty and the Silver Bullet. He was a vampire who called into Kitty's show. He was made against his will and had no family. Now we get that phone call from his perspective... and we get to see what happens after he hangs up and decides to live his unlife with the cards that were dealt him.
"Long Time Waiting" - This is the story most people will probably buy the book for. It details what happened to Cormac when he went to prison. Essentially, there is a demon killing inmates. And in the prison is the spirit of a demon hunter who knows how to defeat him. Amelia needs a human host to do the job and she thinks Cormac would be the perfect host. He fights the idea, but eventually gives in for the greater good.
Here's the thing: I hate the entire concept of Cormac sharing his body with this woman. Is she supposed to be an eventual love interest? The story reminds us of the unresolved feelings of Cormac for Kitty. Why does Carrie Vaughn torture me this way? Kitty and Cormac are like the dangling carrot I have been chasing for years. Kitty (and in a different way, Ben) is supposed to be the one who sees inside him... who has this bond with him... not some woman that's been dead 100 years. It was a good story, but it just stirs up my angst all over again.
Vaughn did provide some Author's Notes at the end, which I did find insightful, answered a few of my questions, and added to the stories.
The bottom line: I enjoyed the book as a whole. It reminded me why I liked the series... especially "Looking After Family," "Wild Ride," and "Il Est Ne." Unfortunately, it also reminded me how frustrated I've become with the direction it has ultimately taken. 4 stars.
*ARC Provided by Tor Books
*ARC Provided by Tor Books
August 18, 2011
Since Kitty's Greatest Hits is all Vaughn all the time, the anthology has a better flow to it even with a mix of different types of stories than typical multi-author collections do. A lot of these stories have been previously published, but even though Vaughn promised a few new ones - including a brand new Cormac story - and some hard to find ones originally appeared in magazines, I was still surprised to find there were actually a few more new-to-me-ones here than I'd expected. I was also surprised that I actually enjoyed most of the oldies more on the second read as well. As bonus - and I thought this was especially interesting - there's section at the back of the book which includes a discussion of the stories and their purpose. So for me that extra insight, plus the new novella length Cormac story, made Kitty's Greatest Hits worth the read.
Here's Kitty's Hit List:
Il Est Ne (in Wolfsbane and Mistletoe) - Facing a lonely Christmas in a diner, Kitty helps another werewolf recapture his humanity. I think I liked this one better the second time 'round, since I wasn't expecting a slice of the series and the shifter's plight is very sympathy stirring.
A Princess of Spain (in The Secret History of Vampires) - Not a Kitty story, instead a vampire plays a part in a historical story involving Catherine of Spain and King HenryVIII - this was okay but didn't really seem to belong here
Conquistador de la Noche (Subterranean Online, Spring 2009) Vampire Rick's background is explored a bit here, this was interesting and I would love more of Rick.
Book of Daniel (Talebones #39, Winter 2009) - A twist to the story of Daniel and the lions - I liked this one but again, it didn't really fit in a Kitty anthology.
Temptation of Robin Greene (in Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance) - A woman who is essentially a crypto-zookeeper falls for one of her charges - When I read this the first time, I didn't realize that the vampire was Kitty's friend Rick, I think that helped up my enjoyment of the story as well.
Looking After Family (Realms of Fantasy, February 2007) - A Cormac and Ben origins story, it was fun to see the start of cousins' relationship when they were teens.
God's Creatures (in Dark and Stormy Knights) - Cormac hunts a beast on the edge of becoming a man killer, it is interesting to see a slight shift in Cormac's black and white world view in this day in in his oddball life story
Wild Ride ( in Running with the Pack ) - This is TJ's back story - I've always like TJ, this is pretty short, I would have liked more.
Winnowing the Herd (Strange Horizons, Oct. 16, 2006)- a Kitty prequel, actually just a really short scene with a horror feel to it.
Kitty and the Mosh Pit of the Damned (Weird Tales #338) - Kitty goes to a club gig to get and interview with a band whose concerts are hell on fans - this was a nice little carve out vignette, Kitty manages to get into trouble wherever she goes.
Kitty's Zombie New Year (in Weird Tales #345) - Afraid of spending another boring New Year's Eve alone, and attends a party she'll never forget - I really liked this one and Vaughn's twist on the zombie mythos.
Life Is the Teacher (in Hotter than Hell) - connected to Kitty Goes to Washington, this stars vampire Emma working to become independent after her 'change of life' - I enjoyed this story so much more this time around, even though the ending is a bit bittersweet - but I was relieved that it didn't have the more horror-ish ending that I misremembered.
You're on the Air (new)- connected to Kitty and the Silver Bullet, One of Kitty's callers plays the hand he was dealt - very short but it's nice see a Joe-regular-guy vamp rail against the stereotype and see to him finally get a break.
Long Time Waiting (new) - The story of how prison 'changed' Cormac - this story is a bit heftier lengthwise and we really get a good look inside his head and find out what happened while he was off screen in the last few books. This one was long enough to be a satisfying Cormac fix.
Here's Kitty's Hit List:
Il Est Ne (in Wolfsbane and Mistletoe) - Facing a lonely Christmas in a diner, Kitty helps another werewolf recapture his humanity. I think I liked this one better the second time 'round, since I wasn't expecting a slice of the series and the shifter's plight is very sympathy stirring.
A Princess of Spain (in The Secret History of Vampires) - Not a Kitty story, instead a vampire plays a part in a historical story involving Catherine of Spain and King HenryVIII - this was okay but didn't really seem to belong here
Conquistador de la Noche (Subterranean Online, Spring 2009) Vampire Rick's background is explored a bit here, this was interesting and I would love more of Rick.
Book of Daniel (Talebones #39, Winter 2009) - A twist to the story of Daniel and the lions - I liked this one but again, it didn't really fit in a Kitty anthology.
Temptation of Robin Greene (in Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance) - A woman who is essentially a crypto-zookeeper falls for one of her charges - When I read this the first time, I didn't realize that the vampire was Kitty's friend Rick, I think that helped up my enjoyment of the story as well.
Looking After Family (Realms of Fantasy, February 2007) - A Cormac and Ben origins story, it was fun to see the start of cousins' relationship when they were teens.
God's Creatures (in Dark and Stormy Knights) - Cormac hunts a beast on the edge of becoming a man killer, it is interesting to see a slight shift in Cormac's black and white world view in this day in in his oddball life story
Wild Ride ( in Running with the Pack ) - This is TJ's back story - I've always like TJ, this is pretty short, I would have liked more.
Winnowing the Herd (Strange Horizons, Oct. 16, 2006)- a Kitty prequel, actually just a really short scene with a horror feel to it.
Kitty and the Mosh Pit of the Damned (Weird Tales #338) - Kitty goes to a club gig to get and interview with a band whose concerts are hell on fans - this was a nice little carve out vignette, Kitty manages to get into trouble wherever she goes.
Kitty's Zombie New Year (in Weird Tales #345) - Afraid of spending another boring New Year's Eve alone, and attends a party she'll never forget - I really liked this one and Vaughn's twist on the zombie mythos.
Life Is the Teacher (in Hotter than Hell) - connected to Kitty Goes to Washington, this stars vampire Emma working to become independent after her 'change of life' - I enjoyed this story so much more this time around, even though the ending is a bit bittersweet - but I was relieved that it didn't have the more horror-ish ending that I misremembered.
You're on the Air (new)- connected to Kitty and the Silver Bullet, One of Kitty's callers plays the hand he was dealt - very short but it's nice see a Joe-regular-guy vamp rail against the stereotype and see to him finally get a break.
Long Time Waiting (new) - The story of how prison 'changed' Cormac - this story is a bit heftier lengthwise and we really get a good look inside his head and find out what happened while he was off screen in the last few books. This one was long enough to be a satisfying Cormac fix.
November 1, 2012
Here's Kitty's Hit List:
Il Est Ne (in Wolfsbane and Mistletoe) - Facing a lonely Christmas in a diner, Kitty helps another werewolf recapture his humanity. Quite gorey, you can really feel Vaughn's imagery. YIKES
A Princess of Spain (in The Secret History of Vampires) An unrelated vampires story, I really didn't feel this fit the Kitty series, nonetheless it was OK.
Conquistador de la Noche- Vampire Rick's backstory.
Book of Daniel - The story of Daniel and the lions.
Temptation of Robin Greene (in Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance) - A woman who is essentially a crypto-zookeeper falls for one of her charges. Yuck I don't find Selkies sexy in the slightest.
Looking After Family- Cormac and Ben's life before Kitty.
God's Creatures (in Dark and Stormy Knights) - Cormac hunts a beast on the edge of becoming a man killer.
Wild Ride ( in Running with the Pack ) - This is TJ's back story; very short.
Winnowing the Herd- Kitty prequel, actually just a really short scene with a horror feel to it.
Kitty and the Mosh Pit of the Damned- Kitty goes to a club gig to get and interview and manages to get into trouble, once again.
Kitty's Zombie New Year- Afraid of spending another boring New Year's Eve alone, and attends a party she'll never forget.
Life Is the Teacher (in Hotter than Hell) - Vampire Emma working to become independent after her 'change of life'. Seems to just be a coming of age, of sorts.
You're on the Air (new)- Short story involving a call to Kitty's radio show.
Long Time Waiting (new) - The story of how prison 'changed' Cormac. In a way I find it interesting to see what happened to Cormac but I am also pretty much over his character.
Il Est Ne (in Wolfsbane and Mistletoe) - Facing a lonely Christmas in a diner, Kitty helps another werewolf recapture his humanity. Quite gorey, you can really feel Vaughn's imagery. YIKES
A Princess of Spain (in The Secret History of Vampires) An unrelated vampires story, I really didn't feel this fit the Kitty series, nonetheless it was OK.
Conquistador de la Noche- Vampire Rick's backstory.
Book of Daniel - The story of Daniel and the lions.
Temptation of Robin Greene (in Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance) - A woman who is essentially a crypto-zookeeper falls for one of her charges. Yuck I don't find Selkies sexy in the slightest.
Looking After Family- Cormac and Ben's life before Kitty.
God's Creatures (in Dark and Stormy Knights) - Cormac hunts a beast on the edge of becoming a man killer.
Wild Ride ( in Running with the Pack ) - This is TJ's back story; very short.
Winnowing the Herd- Kitty prequel, actually just a really short scene with a horror feel to it.
Kitty and the Mosh Pit of the Damned- Kitty goes to a club gig to get and interview and manages to get into trouble, once again.
Kitty's Zombie New Year- Afraid of spending another boring New Year's Eve alone, and attends a party she'll never forget.
Life Is the Teacher (in Hotter than Hell) - Vampire Emma working to become independent after her 'change of life'. Seems to just be a coming of age, of sorts.
You're on the Air (new)- Short story involving a call to Kitty's radio show.
Long Time Waiting (new) - The story of how prison 'changed' Cormac. In a way I find it interesting to see what happened to Cormac but I am also pretty much over his character.
March 27, 2012
First, the title, as some reviews have pointed out, is slightly misleading. Yet, the back of the book makes it clear that the stories take place in the Kitty universe, so it's not really false advertising.
Kitty does appear in some of the stories, yet those stories (with one exception) are the weakest ones in this collection. In fact, one of them "Winnowing the Herd", shows a Kitty who isn't a Kitty from the novels, in particular considering the story takes place before the first book in series.
Two of the stories are alternate history stories, offering a different take on the story of Daniel as well as the marriage of Katerine of Aragorn and Prince Arthur. I found myself wishing that Vaughn would write a volume of such stories. Two of the stories also feature our favorite vampire Rick, including his origin. TJ's origin is also included in this volume. But the reason why any Kitty fan would buy is because of the Cormac novella that makes up the last section of the book. It covers his time in jail (Cormac and Ben's origin is also included here).
In other words, overall the collection is a mixed bag. Of note, however, is the author's notes on each story at the end of the book. It seems some of the stories were used ot flesh out characters.
Kitty does appear in some of the stories, yet those stories (with one exception) are the weakest ones in this collection. In fact, one of them "Winnowing the Herd", shows a Kitty who isn't a Kitty from the novels, in particular considering the story takes place before the first book in series.
Two of the stories are alternate history stories, offering a different take on the story of Daniel as well as the marriage of Katerine of Aragorn and Prince Arthur. I found myself wishing that Vaughn would write a volume of such stories. Two of the stories also feature our favorite vampire Rick, including his origin. TJ's origin is also included in this volume. But the reason why any Kitty fan would buy is because of the Cormac novella that makes up the last section of the book. It covers his time in jail (Cormac and Ben's origin is also included here).
In other words, overall the collection is a mixed bag. Of note, however, is the author's notes on each story at the end of the book. It seems some of the stories were used ot flesh out characters.
February 2, 2016
It has been quite a while since I've read any Kitty Norville books, but I'm wanting to catch up where I was without having to read the entire series again. So this seems like a good place to start. I've read some of these stories in various anthologies.
"A Princess of Spain"
I really enjoyed this story to the nth degree. I'll probably read again, just for the hell of it!
Conquistador de la Noche
Yes!Yes!Yes!(what is this an Herbal Essence commercial?){NO!} This is Rick's story, and he just so happens to be my favorite character in the Kitty Norville series.
The Temptation of Robin Green
This was a really melancholic story, but I did like it.
Kitty and the Mosh Pit of the Damned
Ha! That karma, such a kidder! You'll never guess the recipient of this one.
Kitty's Zombie New Year
Wait the story is over already?
Life is the Teacher
Now this was a bit steamy. Not for me, but there were some really good lines in this story when the main character achieves some personal growth.
[the cheerleaders in my head are waving their pom-poms!]
Looking After Family
God's Creatures
Wild Ride
Winnowing the Herd
"A Princess of Spain"
I really enjoyed this story to the nth degree. I'll probably read again, just for the hell of it!
Conquistador de la Noche
Yes!Yes!Yes!(what is this an Herbal Essence commercial?){NO!} This is Rick's story, and he just so happens to be my favorite character in the Kitty Norville series.
The Temptation of Robin Green
This was a really melancholic story, but I did like it.
Kitty and the Mosh Pit of the Damned
Ha! That karma, such a kidder! You'll never guess the recipient of this one.
Kitty's Zombie New Year
Wait the story is over already?
Life is the Teacher
Now this was a bit steamy. Not for me, but there were some really good lines in this story when the main character achieves some personal growth.
[the cheerleaders in my head are waving their pom-poms!]
Looking After Family
God's Creatures
Wild Ride
Winnowing the Herd
deals
February 5, 20165 February 2016: $2.99 on Kindle
August 9, 2017
"There are more things in heaven and Earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy."
I'm pretty sure Hamlet must have been living in Kitty Norville's world when He spoke these words. As I was reading these stories, this quote kept rolling round and round my head. I mean pretty much every type of supernatural creature pops up somewhere in these fourteen tales.
And obviously Carrie Vaughn realized this, because she has one of her characters use this quote in the last story in the book. This was a wonderful addition to this series.
I'm pretty sure Hamlet must have been living in Kitty Norville's world when He spoke these words. As I was reading these stories, this quote kept rolling round and round my head. I mean pretty much every type of supernatural creature pops up somewhere in these fourteen tales.
And obviously Carrie Vaughn realized this, because she has one of her characters use this quote in the last story in the book. This was a wonderful addition to this series.
December 24, 2020
All of these were good I am glad I read some of these, others were slow to get through but was easy enough because they were short. I am glad I read these to cover some missing holes like Cormac being in the Jail and how the ghost being a thing.
December 28, 2017
Great book of shorts from the Kitty universe...loved it!!
January 2, 2012
Originally posted at: http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.c...
This book is a must for Kitty fans. A simple statement, but it really does apply because Ms. Vaughn presents a bunch of short stories that showed the development of what we now know and love about Radio D.J, and my favorite werewolf, Kitty Norville.
I included in the page count the explanations that the author included at the end of all the short stories because they read well, are entertaining by themselves and provided greater insight as to what was going on at the time she wrote them. It was a fascinating process.
There are too many to write a review for individually and even though I rated the heat level as hot, most are spicy or sensual but since one made it to the hot level, the whole book has to be labeled as such.
I really enjoyed Ms. Vaughn’s personal interpretation of the Bible story, Daniel and the Lion’s Den. In fact, it was perfect because it made so much sense and it worked with the ‘facts’ as we know them. It was fun.
Actually, I'm really sick of books about zombies but I found myself completely engrossed in Ms. Vaughn's twist on the subject. It was a breath of fresh air and she even touches base at the end of the book as to the research she's done and why she took the stand she did. I like her version a whole lot better because I agree with the author -- it's waaay scarier.
What I found intriguing and had me bouncing in my seat were the stories that had Rick in them. Surprisingly, there is quite the undercurrent about his character. I’d read the one about the military lab and the unicorn and the selkie in another anthology but never could I have imagined that the vampire in that had any connection to Kitty’s world. Call me floored.
Ms. Vaughn saved the best for last and that is the story about Cormac. Oh, Wow! To be able to get inside his head? To get his point of view from inside prison? What an amazing ride. And to finally find out about how he and Amelia came together was awesome. The tale gripped me and had me reading wide-eyed through the whole thing. Also, I found those little comments that Cormac made relating to Amelia absolutely delicious. I sense a sub-plot and I have high hopes that the author isn’t just teasing her fans but will someday figure out how to bring that to light in a way to satisfy romantics at heart. As it is, this story alone was worth waiting for.
Between Rick and Cormac, they made the purchase of this book a winner and I’m a very satisfied reader. Some publishers have books out on popular series that don’t contribute much to the forward movement but re-hash what’s already been written. Kitty’s Greatest Hits doesn’t do that. I found value in understanding more of the background while at the same time it presented me with new questions and interest in the series.
A cute addition to this anthology is the behind scenes look at one of Kitty’s callers on the radio show. It tickled me because I DID remember the caller- though I can’t remember which book it was in – and I had an ‘awww’ moment at how it ended. I enjoyed it and thought it clever of the author. Why? Because it created a more solid world-building atmosphere where a reader could feel like a part of it; like they could travel to another city somewhere and actually find some of Kitty’s world. Or see it someday on the silver screen. When an author can successfully incorporate other mundane aspects of the world her characters live in and still entertain, garner interest and make them feel like they’re still visiting Kitty and pals, it’s well done and worth taking the time to read.
Another great lure is the background tale of the relationship between Ben and Cormac. They’re cousins but it’s more than that. Based upon the series, I understood that they’d been through a lot and they always had each other’s backs but there is one tale that brings understanding as to just how far back it goes, and the trials and tribulations they survived to get to the point of being where they are now in the series. Fascinating stuff.
Kitty’s Greatest Hits is the best book to get for fans of the series, especially if they have a special place in their hearts for Cormac, Ben and Rick. Those three guys are a trifecta for Kitty. Each one has a role that showcases the heroine’s growth as a character and this book explores for readers just how special they are. Add in those other intriguing tales from the author’s imagination and this is a real winner that entertains as well as informs. I can’t wait until the next Kitty adventure!
This book is a must for Kitty fans. A simple statement, but it really does apply because Ms. Vaughn presents a bunch of short stories that showed the development of what we now know and love about Radio D.J, and my favorite werewolf, Kitty Norville.
I included in the page count the explanations that the author included at the end of all the short stories because they read well, are entertaining by themselves and provided greater insight as to what was going on at the time she wrote them. It was a fascinating process.
There are too many to write a review for individually and even though I rated the heat level as hot, most are spicy or sensual but since one made it to the hot level, the whole book has to be labeled as such.
I really enjoyed Ms. Vaughn’s personal interpretation of the Bible story, Daniel and the Lion’s Den. In fact, it was perfect because it made so much sense and it worked with the ‘facts’ as we know them. It was fun.
Actually, I'm really sick of books about zombies but I found myself completely engrossed in Ms. Vaughn's twist on the subject. It was a breath of fresh air and she even touches base at the end of the book as to the research she's done and why she took the stand she did. I like her version a whole lot better because I agree with the author -- it's waaay scarier.
What I found intriguing and had me bouncing in my seat were the stories that had Rick in them. Surprisingly, there is quite the undercurrent about his character. I’d read the one about the military lab and the unicorn and the selkie in another anthology but never could I have imagined that the vampire in that had any connection to Kitty’s world. Call me floored.
Ms. Vaughn saved the best for last and that is the story about Cormac. Oh, Wow! To be able to get inside his head? To get his point of view from inside prison? What an amazing ride. And to finally find out about how he and Amelia came together was awesome. The tale gripped me and had me reading wide-eyed through the whole thing. Also, I found those little comments that Cormac made relating to Amelia absolutely delicious. I sense a sub-plot and I have high hopes that the author isn’t just teasing her fans but will someday figure out how to bring that to light in a way to satisfy romantics at heart. As it is, this story alone was worth waiting for.
Between Rick and Cormac, they made the purchase of this book a winner and I’m a very satisfied reader. Some publishers have books out on popular series that don’t contribute much to the forward movement but re-hash what’s already been written. Kitty’s Greatest Hits doesn’t do that. I found value in understanding more of the background while at the same time it presented me with new questions and interest in the series.
A cute addition to this anthology is the behind scenes look at one of Kitty’s callers on the radio show. It tickled me because I DID remember the caller- though I can’t remember which book it was in – and I had an ‘awww’ moment at how it ended. I enjoyed it and thought it clever of the author. Why? Because it created a more solid world-building atmosphere where a reader could feel like a part of it; like they could travel to another city somewhere and actually find some of Kitty’s world. Or see it someday on the silver screen. When an author can successfully incorporate other mundane aspects of the world her characters live in and still entertain, garner interest and make them feel like they’re still visiting Kitty and pals, it’s well done and worth taking the time to read.
Another great lure is the background tale of the relationship between Ben and Cormac. They’re cousins but it’s more than that. Based upon the series, I understood that they’d been through a lot and they always had each other’s backs but there is one tale that brings understanding as to just how far back it goes, and the trials and tribulations they survived to get to the point of being where they are now in the series. Fascinating stuff.
Kitty’s Greatest Hits is the best book to get for fans of the series, especially if they have a special place in their hearts for Cormac, Ben and Rick. Those three guys are a trifecta for Kitty. Each one has a role that showcases the heroine’s growth as a character and this book explores for readers just how special they are. Add in those other intriguing tales from the author’s imagination and this is a real winner that entertains as well as informs. I can’t wait until the next Kitty adventure!
May 30, 2016
Like all my reviews of anthologies, each story will have its own rating and review. The overall rating is an average of each.
Il Est Ne - Set between books one and two, this is an awesome story where Kitty meets a shy and disoriented werewolf on Christmas. Concerned he may have killed someone, he and Kitty investigate a series of brutal murders to discover the truth. It's fun, intense, and you really get to see how much Kitty helps people just by listening (5/5).
A Princess of Spain - Though it doesn't have a lot to do with the Kitty storyline, this is an interesting vampire tale about Queen Catherine/King Henry and their adventure dealing with a vampire. The vamp has seduced Prince Arthur, Catherine's former husband through an arranged marriage. Now younger brother Henry and Catherine team up to vanquish the bloodthirsty mistress (5/5).
Conquistador De La Noche - Wow! The origin story of Ricardo. Blended with rich imagery and historical tidbits, this is exciting for fans of Kitty's friend and neighborhood-friendly vampire Rick(5/5).
The Book of Daniel - It's sometimes hard for me to judge a story or a book based on Christian belief because I'm not Christian. But I really enjoyed this retelling of Daniel in the lion's den (5/5).
The Temptation of Robin Green - I kinda expected this story to be about Shumacher, though I wasn't disappointed that it wasn't. It sort of connects with the Kitty world - if you think that Rick is the same Rick from Kitty's world that is. The author says in her note that Rick was just the general character name for any vampire in her stories, though he seems to have the regal bearing and kind understanding that the Rick we know has. Anyway, this is a steamy little love story about a female soldier who runs off with a Selkie the military once harbored for study. Though one scene gets pretty descriptive, the rest kind of alludes to the amounts of love-making to come! (4/5)
Looking After Family - A very short story involving a much younger Cormac and Ben as they sneak out of the house for their first hunt. It's full of emotions, as Cormac has recently lost his father to a werewolf attack. The situation gets more intense when a werewolf shows up with a protective brother tagging along, a brother who is human (4/5).
God's Creatures - Cormac hunts down a werewolf nun who loses control of her wolf side and starts killing livestock and attacking people. This shows a bit of a bitter, predatory side of Cormac. Probably before he met Kitty (4/5).
Wild Ride -This is TJ's origin story, explaining how he became a werewolf in order to rid himself of the HIV virus. When he first joins the local pack, he feels safe and understood, but later, all that changes. Even the pack tends to know he's more of a leader type and therefore, not able to follow another alpha. So he leaves. Sadly, we all know he just joins one pack for another that's the same, only it ends up worse (4/5).
Winnowing the Herd - Super short story about Kitty at a party, the night before a full moon. She must be new since her show hasn't started and she's a little bit more on edge than when we see her later. Funny lines though, so I liked it (5/5).
Kitty & The Mosh Pit of the Damned - Kitty's first adventure with the far as she encounters a rock band that brings chaos and violence to every show thanks to a "devil's" bargain. She even gets to flirt with the front man after everything gets cleared up (4/5).
Kitty's Zombie New Year - Well, this is a new take on zombies. It's about a poor girl who gets zombiefied by her bad boyfriend and crashes the New Year's party Kitty is attending (5/5).
Life is the Teacher - I don't really get the title but I love the story. A sexy little novella told by Emma, who's been recently turned. It's about her first hunt and intertwined with sex and heat and life lessons for the undead (5/5).
You're On the Air - I loved this! Cute, funny, sweet. It's about one of Kitty's callers, who's not too sure about his feelings about being a vampire. But when he rescues two girls from a robber, he realizes it may not be sooo BAD (5/5).
Long Time Waiting - Readers finally get the chance to hear about Cormac's adventure in prison and how he and Amelia teamed up to tag a demon that's been killing off the prisoners. Full of action and magic, this is an awesome novella for Kitty fans (5/5).
Il Est Ne - Set between books one and two, this is an awesome story where Kitty meets a shy and disoriented werewolf on Christmas. Concerned he may have killed someone, he and Kitty investigate a series of brutal murders to discover the truth. It's fun, intense, and you really get to see how much Kitty helps people just by listening (5/5).
A Princess of Spain - Though it doesn't have a lot to do with the Kitty storyline, this is an interesting vampire tale about Queen Catherine/King Henry and their adventure dealing with a vampire. The vamp has seduced Prince Arthur, Catherine's former husband through an arranged marriage. Now younger brother Henry and Catherine team up to vanquish the bloodthirsty mistress (5/5).
Conquistador De La Noche - Wow! The origin story of Ricardo. Blended with rich imagery and historical tidbits, this is exciting for fans of Kitty's friend and neighborhood-friendly vampire Rick(5/5).
The Book of Daniel - It's sometimes hard for me to judge a story or a book based on Christian belief because I'm not Christian. But I really enjoyed this retelling of Daniel in the lion's den (5/5).
The Temptation of Robin Green - I kinda expected this story to be about Shumacher, though I wasn't disappointed that it wasn't. It sort of connects with the Kitty world - if you think that Rick is the same Rick from Kitty's world that is. The author says in her note that Rick was just the general character name for any vampire in her stories, though he seems to have the regal bearing and kind understanding that the Rick we know has. Anyway, this is a steamy little love story about a female soldier who runs off with a Selkie the military once harbored for study. Though one scene gets pretty descriptive, the rest kind of alludes to the amounts of love-making to come! (4/5)
Looking After Family - A very short story involving a much younger Cormac and Ben as they sneak out of the house for their first hunt. It's full of emotions, as Cormac has recently lost his father to a werewolf attack. The situation gets more intense when a werewolf shows up with a protective brother tagging along, a brother who is human (4/5).
God's Creatures - Cormac hunts down a werewolf nun who loses control of her wolf side and starts killing livestock and attacking people. This shows a bit of a bitter, predatory side of Cormac. Probably before he met Kitty (4/5).
Wild Ride -This is TJ's origin story, explaining how he became a werewolf in order to rid himself of the HIV virus. When he first joins the local pack, he feels safe and understood, but later, all that changes. Even the pack tends to know he's more of a leader type and therefore, not able to follow another alpha. So he leaves. Sadly, we all know he just joins one pack for another that's the same, only it ends up worse (4/5).
Winnowing the Herd - Super short story about Kitty at a party, the night before a full moon. She must be new since her show hasn't started and she's a little bit more on edge than when we see her later. Funny lines though, so I liked it (5/5).
Kitty & The Mosh Pit of the Damned - Kitty's first adventure with the far as she encounters a rock band that brings chaos and violence to every show thanks to a "devil's" bargain. She even gets to flirt with the front man after everything gets cleared up (4/5).
Kitty's Zombie New Year - Well, this is a new take on zombies. It's about a poor girl who gets zombiefied by her bad boyfriend and crashes the New Year's party Kitty is attending (5/5).
Life is the Teacher - I don't really get the title but I love the story. A sexy little novella told by Emma, who's been recently turned. It's about her first hunt and intertwined with sex and heat and life lessons for the undead (5/5).
You're On the Air - I loved this! Cute, funny, sweet. It's about one of Kitty's callers, who's not too sure about his feelings about being a vampire. But when he rescues two girls from a robber, he realizes it may not be sooo BAD (5/5).
Long Time Waiting - Readers finally get the chance to hear about Cormac's adventure in prison and how he and Amelia teamed up to tag a demon that's been killing off the prisoners. Full of action and magic, this is an awesome novella for Kitty fans (5/5).
November 25, 2011
Collection of short stories. The regular books are first person. The short stories are deliberately third person, so the author can explore different parts of the universe she created.
Il Est Ne
A Princess of Spain
Conquistador de la Noche
The Book of Daniel
The Temptation of Robin Green
Looking After Family
God's Creatures
Wild Ride
Winnowing the Herd
Kitty and the Mosh Pit of the Damned
Kitty's Zombie New Year
Life is the Teacher
You're on the Air
Long Time Waiting
Interesting mix of stories.
"Il Est Ne", "Winnowing the Herd", "Kitty and the Mosh Pit of the Damned", and "Kitty's Zombie New Year" are focused on Kitty.
"Wild Ride" is focused on TJ.
"Conquistador de la Noche" and "The Temptation of Robin Green" are about Rick.
"Looking After Family" is about Cormac and Ben.
"God's Creatures" and "Long Time Waiting" are about Cormac.
"Life is the Teacher" is about Emma, a minor vampire character from the books.
"You're on the Air" is about a vampire who calls into Kitty's radio show.
And, "A Princess of Spain" and "The Book of Daniel" are "what if" stories that don't use any characters from the books.
My personal favorites were "Il Est Ne", "The Temptation of Robin Green", "Wild Ride", and "The Book of Daniel".
I'd rank the individual stories anywhere between 3 and 5 stars, but I'd give the book itself 3 1/2 stars because the stories are so short and disjointed. You read one and sit the book aside. Although, this is probably the first anthology I've completed from cover to cover in some time.
A bit nitpicky, but I would have preferred the author's notes either at the beginning, or split up as introductions to each short story. I kept flipping to the back to see which story I should read next.
While interesting, I'm not sure any of the stories were "must reads" in the sense that the regular books wouldn't make sense without them.
Il Est Ne
A Princess of Spain
Conquistador de la Noche
The Book of Daniel
The Temptation of Robin Green
Looking After Family
God's Creatures
Wild Ride
Winnowing the Herd
Kitty and the Mosh Pit of the Damned
Kitty's Zombie New Year
Life is the Teacher
You're on the Air
Long Time Waiting
Interesting mix of stories.
"Il Est Ne", "Winnowing the Herd", "Kitty and the Mosh Pit of the Damned", and "Kitty's Zombie New Year" are focused on Kitty.
"Wild Ride" is focused on TJ.
"Conquistador de la Noche" and "The Temptation of Robin Green" are about Rick.
"Looking After Family" is about Cormac and Ben.
"God's Creatures" and "Long Time Waiting" are about Cormac.
"Life is the Teacher" is about Emma, a minor vampire character from the books.
"You're on the Air" is about a vampire who calls into Kitty's radio show.
And, "A Princess of Spain" and "The Book of Daniel" are "what if" stories that don't use any characters from the books.
My personal favorites were "Il Est Ne", "The Temptation of Robin Green", "Wild Ride", and "The Book of Daniel".
I'd rank the individual stories anywhere between 3 and 5 stars, but I'd give the book itself 3 1/2 stars because the stories are so short and disjointed. You read one and sit the book aside. Although, this is probably the first anthology I've completed from cover to cover in some time.
A bit nitpicky, but I would have preferred the author's notes either at the beginning, or split up as introductions to each short story. I kept flipping to the back to see which story I should read next.
While interesting, I'm not sure any of the stories were "must reads" in the sense that the regular books wouldn't make sense without them.
December 21, 2011
For some reason, when I requested this book, I thought it was written for young adults. I enjoy stories of the paranormal when they are written for YA, but I usually avoid them when they are written for adults. Adult paranormal books often slip into the realm of erotica and are more graphic in general. This book was no exception. I was interested in the stories that involved a bit of mystery, like when Cormac was trying to determine the identity of the werewolf in "God's Creatures." In fact, although the book is entitled Kitty's Greatest Hits, Cormac seemed to be the more developed character. Except for the very first story and one later in the book, I never really felt that I got to know Kitty. But, to be fair, there are several previous books about Kitty that I'm sure reveal much more about her character. As with most books of short stories, there were some that I liked and others that I did not. One was particularly erotic and I didn't care for it. A couple of stories inserted elements of the paranormal into Biblical stories and changed their Biblical meaning in the process. I tried not to take offense (artistic license and all that), but I did. I appreciated the writer's imagination and the way she included so many fantastical creatures. She didn't just include stories about vampires and werewolves; she included ghosts, demons, shape-shifters, mermaids, and others. However, it's not a book I would recommend to most readers. Even if you are a huge fan of the paranormal, there are, in my opinion, much better books with paranormal elements and characters (like Stephenie Meyer's The Host). As for me, I'll stick to YA paranormal.
In compliance with FTC guidelines, please note that I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
In compliance with FTC guidelines, please note that I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
March 15, 2012
I enjoyed this book, but not quite as much as the regular Kitty books.
I enjoyed having more background on Cormac and Rick. It would not work to have that information in one of the regular Kitty books because they are not stories they would share with other people. I would like to see more short stories of Cormac, especially his pre-jail times.
I did not get into Emma’s story or A.J.’s story as much because they are more minor characters and were not developed as much in the series. A.J. had the potential to be a major character if he was not killed off early in the series. As it is, I did not even remember him till I read the story.
I think my favorite stories are the ones that actually had Kitty in them. Kitty brings traces of quirky humor that balance out the darker more serious parts of the stories.
I kept waiting for a character from the Kitty series to pop up in the second story “A Princess of Spain.” I was puzzled and a little disappointed when one did not. However, I enjoyed the Daniel story even though there were no characters from the Kitty series in it. Maybe it was because I was not waiting for a familiar character to pop up. I like the idea of famous people from the past who may have been were animals. That would be a good idea for a short story collection or an anthology collection.
I think the book would be better served with a different title. Most of the stories did not actually feature Kitty. Two of them did not even have characters from the Kitty series.
I would recommend reading the author notes before you read the stories. They give useful information, such as when the stories take place, without giving things away. Also I would have been aware that two of the stories did not contain people from the Kitty cast.
I enjoyed having more background on Cormac and Rick. It would not work to have that information in one of the regular Kitty books because they are not stories they would share with other people. I would like to see more short stories of Cormac, especially his pre-jail times.
I did not get into Emma’s story or A.J.’s story as much because they are more minor characters and were not developed as much in the series. A.J. had the potential to be a major character if he was not killed off early in the series. As it is, I did not even remember him till I read the story.
I think my favorite stories are the ones that actually had Kitty in them. Kitty brings traces of quirky humor that balance out the darker more serious parts of the stories.
I kept waiting for a character from the Kitty series to pop up in the second story “A Princess of Spain.” I was puzzled and a little disappointed when one did not. However, I enjoyed the Daniel story even though there were no characters from the Kitty series in it. Maybe it was because I was not waiting for a familiar character to pop up. I like the idea of famous people from the past who may have been were animals. That would be a good idea for a short story collection or an anthology collection.
I think the book would be better served with a different title. Most of the stories did not actually feature Kitty. Two of them did not even have characters from the Kitty series.
I would recommend reading the author notes before you read the stories. They give useful information, such as when the stories take place, without giving things away. Also I would have been aware that two of the stories did not contain people from the Kitty cast.
July 11, 2011
I liked this book but not as much as a regular Kitty novel. Kitty's greatest hits contains 14 short stories. 5 stories include Kitty, 3 are about Cormac, 2 include Ricardo. T.J., Angeline, Alette and Daniel the lion shifter all have a story each.
My favourite 5 stories are, Il est Ne, Princess of Spain, Conquistador de la Noche, Temptation of Robin Green, and Kitty and the Mosh pit of the Damned.
I liked Il est Ne because the story includes Kitty and shes in her element. She forgets all her troubles as soon as she has someone else to take care of.
I really enjoyed Princess of Spain because it takes place during my favourite time of English history.
Conquistador de la Noche is a story of Rick's beginnings as a vampire.
Temptation of Robin Green was a story about a selkie. I would really like to know how Rick ended up locked up by the Centre of Paranormal Biology.
Kitty and the Mosh pit of the Damned seemed like it could have been expanded into a plot for a regular novel.
All in all I enjoyed this book enough to get it from the library but not nearly enough to spend $16.99 for a paperback. Although I won an uncorrected advance copy it has the prices listed at the back and I thought it too much for a collection of short stories.
My favourite 5 stories are, Il est Ne, Princess of Spain, Conquistador de la Noche, Temptation of Robin Green, and Kitty and the Mosh pit of the Damned.
I liked Il est Ne because the story includes Kitty and shes in her element. She forgets all her troubles as soon as she has someone else to take care of.
I really enjoyed Princess of Spain because it takes place during my favourite time of English history.
Conquistador de la Noche is a story of Rick's beginnings as a vampire.
Temptation of Robin Green was a story about a selkie. I would really like to know how Rick ended up locked up by the Centre of Paranormal Biology.
Kitty and the Mosh pit of the Damned seemed like it could have been expanded into a plot for a regular novel.
All in all I enjoyed this book enough to get it from the library but not nearly enough to spend $16.99 for a paperback. Although I won an uncorrected advance copy it has the prices listed at the back and I thought it too much for a collection of short stories.
March 29, 2012
The best stories were:
"A Princess of Spain" -a vampiric twist to Catherine of Aragon's marriage to the sickly Prince Arthur.
"Conquistador de la Noche" -the tale of how Rick from the Kitty series became a vampire in the 1500s.
"The Book of Daniel" -a shapeshifting twist on the biblical story of Daniel being thrown to the lions.
"Looking After Family" -about what happened to Cormac from the Kitty series after he killed the thing that murdered his father when he went to live with his cousin Ben and his parents.
"Kitty's Zombie New Year" -a unique take on zombies which is more about the loss of free will and the result of severe brain damage than the living dead.
I couldn't force myself to read TJ's story "Wild Ride" of how he learns he's contracted HIV and his decision to become a werewolf because just revisiting him would be just too sad. Nor could I read "Long Time Waiting" about Cormac's prison time and how he came to share his body with a female Victorian spirit because I really dislike this new aspect of the Kitty series.
"A Princess of Spain" -a vampiric twist to Catherine of Aragon's marriage to the sickly Prince Arthur.
"Conquistador de la Noche" -the tale of how Rick from the Kitty series became a vampire in the 1500s.
"The Book of Daniel" -a shapeshifting twist on the biblical story of Daniel being thrown to the lions.
"Looking After Family" -about what happened to Cormac from the Kitty series after he killed the thing that murdered his father when he went to live with his cousin Ben and his parents.
"Kitty's Zombie New Year" -a unique take on zombies which is more about the loss of free will and the result of severe brain damage than the living dead.
I couldn't force myself to read TJ's story "Wild Ride" of how he learns he's contracted HIV and his decision to become a werewolf because just revisiting him would be just too sad. Nor could I read "Long Time Waiting" about Cormac's prison time and how he came to share his body with a female Victorian spirit because I really dislike this new aspect of the Kitty series.
November 13, 2016
Despite the title, most of these stories don't feature Kitty Norville, but rather other characters who appear in the series of novels, or at least are set in the same Kitty-world. Once I got past that confusion, I enjoyed the book very much. My favorite story was The Temptation of Robin Green. I was never a fan of Cormac in the books, but two stories here feature him and were among the best in the book, Long Time Waiting and Looking After Family. (Norman Reedus could be cast as a great Cormac.) The best title from the stories included has to be Kitty and the Mosh Pit of the Damned. There's an afterword with interesting story notes and a suggested song per story in the tradition of the playlists from the novels. (Wow, who else remembers Procol Harum's Conquistador!)
November 3, 2012
Ms Vaughn was sneaky and gave us Rick the Vampire's beginnings without warning. It wasn't till the end that I realised whose story she was telling.
Ben & Cormac's early life together was as I'd imagined from the full books, but probably the most interesting was Cormac's life in prison and how Lady Amelia Parker ended up a ghost and bound to him.
There were a couple of other stories some relating to Kitty and some not, which were also good, King Henry VIII; zombie girlfriend; Jake the Vampire; David the Werewolf; and the Selkie.
Ben & Cormac's early life together was as I'd imagined from the full books, but probably the most interesting was Cormac's life in prison and how Lady Amelia Parker ended up a ghost and bound to him.
There were a couple of other stories some relating to Kitty and some not, which were also good, King Henry VIII; zombie girlfriend; Jake the Vampire; David the Werewolf; and the Selkie.
August 27, 2015
This short story collection is a fun read for any fan of Vaughn's series about Kitty the werewolf. Some tales I'd already read elsewhere, and some were new to me. Included are the origin stories for Rick the vampire and TJ the werewolf, plus a novella about how Cormac and Amelia met. There are secret government labs, intrigue at the court of Henry VII, and and a different take on how Daniel survived the lions' den. I really enjoyed this.
October 5, 2014
14 short stories, all but 2 of them are Kitty or "Kitty-verse" stories. All but 2 had been previously published. That said, I had only read 4 of them. This is a nice collection for Kitty fans. It nice too read some back stories about Rick, Cormac, and T.J. I liked reading about what went on during Cormac's prison stay.
March 5, 2017
A cool series of short stories that further expand the world of Kitty Norville.
You get a look at the background stories of several side characters and some new tidbits about Kitty's life.
I do think that at least a passing knowledge of the series is necessary to fully appreciate the stories, but several of them can be enjoyed without it. That's some solid writing.
You get a look at the background stories of several side characters and some new tidbits about Kitty's life.
I do think that at least a passing knowledge of the series is necessary to fully appreciate the stories, but several of them can be enjoyed without it. That's some solid writing.
January 4, 2016
I normally don't like short stories, but this collection held my interest the entire way through. Most of the stories are related to the Kitty novels and I was happy to learn a bit more about the other characters that make appearances in the books.
July 26, 2012
3.5 stars. Good collection, though not as enjoyable as a Kitty novel. The last story, "Long Time Waiting" was a 4-star new story about Cormac.
October 19, 2016
Great collection of the early short stories in this series! I didn't read all of them today, but I read the majority, just 3 left, I think, to read! Can't wait to read more of this series!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 220 reviews