Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Of Claws and Fangs by Faith Hunter Series: Jane Yellowrock
Published by Ace on May 3, 2022
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 352
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
Goodreads
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple
Collected together for the first time, this volume contains shorter works featuring heroines Jane Yellowrock and Nell Ingram, as well as a host of other characters from the Jane Yellowrock and Soulwood series. Faith Hunter is “an expert at creating worlds filled with intriguing supernatural elements and exciting scenarios”* and her skills are on full display in this collection. From a vampire-filled Halloween evening in New Orleans to the searing tale of how a certain were-leopard first got his spots, this collection has something for everyone, and each story is sure to put the super in supernatural.
With eighteen stories in all, Of Claws and Fangs will enrich and entertain—it’s a must-have for Faith Hunter’s readers and all lovers of fantasy.
I was very excited to have this anthology of the “rest” of the short stories and novellas which are not in Blood In Her Veins. I love the previous anthology but I wasn’t sure how much I would like Of Claws and Fangs. I knew some of the stories were from special anthologies like Dirty Deeds. Others were from serials on blog tours or in newsletters. I do know some were edited and updated. I am here to tell you these were fantastic!
One thing I really enjoyed was the few sentences at the start of each story giving the setting and timeframe, and where it was previously available. It helped me get right into the story and settle into them easily. I know I would not read these if I was not a fan who had read already read the series. There is so much background and history one wouldn’t know without being a series reader. Still, the stories are very well-written. They also develop some characters further from the existing series books.
There are a few stories with Beast’s point of view, and we learn more things about her Jane doesn’t even know. We get a couple stories with Leo’s thoughts as the main character. We have the blind date between Wrassler and Jodi. There is a story with Nell and PsyLED, and one with just Occam. Jane appears in a couple stories as a main character to further develop side characters, but mostly only as a supporting character. Edmund is the main character view in two stories, one with Beast and one with the Everharts. There are two historical tales of Ayatas Firewind. Finally, there are multiple stories about the Everharts and witches including Molly, Evan, Angie, EJ, Shiloh, Liz and Cia. One story includes their mother and grandmother. In two Everhart stories, we also get more information about Lincoln Shaddock and some of his point of view.
Of Claws and Fangs is excellent and a real gift for fans. I love the stories and further details about so many characters and their histories. Overall, there is very little of Jane and Nell with most of the focus on other wonderful characters. I can’t recommend this one highly enough.
About Faith Hunter
Faith Hunter, fantasy writer, was born in Louisiana and raised all over the south. She writes three Urban Fantasy series: the Skinwalker series, featuring Jane Yellowrock, a Cherokee skinwalker who hunts rogue vampires. The Soulwood series, featuring earth magic user Nell Ingram. And the Rogue Mage novels, a dark, urban, post-apocalyptic, fantasy series featuring Thorn St. Croix, a stone mage. (There is a role playing game based on the series, ROGUE MAGE.)
Under the pen name Gwen Hunter, she writes action-adventure, mysteries, and thrillers. As Faith and Gwen, she has 30+ books in print in 29 countries.
Hunter writes full-time, tries to keep house, and is a workaholic with a passion for travel, jewelry making, white-water kayaking, and writing. She and her husband love to RV, traveling with their rescued Pomeranians to whitewater rivers all over the Southeast.
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 22-COYER
I’m not reading this series, but I can appreciate the idea of these types of anthologies. I can think of a few series I’m reading where short stories would be nice😁
I truly love when an author of a series I read puts the short stories, serials and novellas together into an anthology or two. This one is very well done in many ways.
Nice to know this is a wonderful addition to the series.
It’s really excellent. I would say there’s not a dull story in the bunch.
I love this idea for an anthology to supplement an existing series. Like Tammy above, I can think of several series I’d love to have a similar collection of stories for to expand what we’ve seen about certain characters, etc. Glad this was such a wonderful read for you. 🙂
Thank you Suzanne. It was truly excellent in every way.
I really need to start reading this series. I have a feeling that I would really enjoy it.
I want to do it as a Read-along. So maybe you could join us then. There will be 15 books with the final one out this fall.
I love when authors create these omnibus editions of a series short stories. One of these days I’ll start this one. Great review, Anne💜
Thank you Jonetta. I definitely want to do this as a Read-along as it’s a favorite series.