Read December 2023 Recommended for animal lovers ★ ★ ★
Baited with a clever double hook, I bought this collection. Not only are some of the stories side tales from pillars of urban fantasy, but part of the profits go to a rescue in Colorado. The real treat was finding an unexpectedly good story, Junkyard Rex. However, let's note that as with many purportedly 'animal-centric' books, the stories are mostly about humans. Man, we're a bunch of navel-gazers, aren't we?
The Gold Standard by A.J. Hartley: 3 ◆ I didn't recognize this author, but it was a mildly entertaining story. Interestingly, I felt like the dog was largely a peripheral character and it was more about the human narrator's relationship to his team. Quality snark: "His eyes were fishy too, not bulbous but blank, unfeeling and impossible to read. He would have made a good card player, assuming they played cards under the sea."
Howl-O-Ween by Alex Erickson: 3 ◆ Unfamiliar. A decently written supernatural ghost story, but again, it felt like the dog was peripheral.
Dog by D.J. Butler: 2.5 ◆ Unfamiliar. Dog more central, theme obvious, but nicely done, sci-fi world setting iffy.
Safe Place by Eliza Eveland: 3 ◆ Unfamiliar. Narrated first person from the dog's POV, a little more poignant as expected. Sweet and does well with the frame.
George and Kitkit Save the Witches by Faith Hunter: 2.5 ◆ I had read a number of the Jane Yellowrock books so am familiar with the family, Jane's godchildren. I thought this rambled quite a bit and was as much about the children as the animals.
Keeting it Real by Hailey Edwards: 4 ◆ Also familiar with this universe, this one shows off the delightful zombie parakeet, Keet, on an outing to the aquarium, but is also about a not-date between a gwyllgi (werewolf) and a vampire. Not unpredictable but a lot of fun. Keet is hilarious.
Helpful by Jennifer Blackstream: 2.5 ◆ Unfamiliar. First person from a cat point of view. A witch's familiar and a dog mummy on the loose. Great premise but the storytelling needs some work.
Fugitive by Jim Butcher: 3.5 ◆ Familiar. Told from the POV of Mouse, Harry Dresden's pet temple dog. Cerberus comes to him for some help. Simple language.
The Unlikeliest Places by John G. Hartness: 3.5 ◆ familiar author but forgettable for me. A 'part-vampire magic-wielding smartass' acquires a kitten.
Forever and a Day by Kelley Armstrong: 3◆ Familiar author, unfamiliar universe. A woman and her cat head out into the world to rescue her husband Gabriel from the fae. The cat is definitely a side character and plot device.
The Kitcoon by L.J. Hachmeister 2.5 stars. Unfamiliar. Awkward sci-fi world that has a lot of time devoted to backstory and world building, and yet contains the phrase, "Humans spread across the galaxy centuries ago and interbred with countless alien species." The kitcoon, a lab rescue, stands in for self-compassion in this running-from-the-government story. Book editor.
The Unexpected Dachshund by L.E. Modesitt Jr.: 3 ◆ Familiar author. Underwhelming sci-fi story about scraping by on a colony planet. However, it is about the dachshund. Felt like a tribute story.
A Cry in the Night by Lucienne Diver: 4 ◆ The owner and residents at a wolf rescue fight off an unusual predator. Magical realism. Good at building that atmosphere of isolation and fear. Although it at times read like a infomercial for a wolf rescue, it was well done. I'd read more in this world.
The Kindness of Cats by R.R. Virdi: 2.5 ◆Unfamiliar. A cat's first person POV. An isolated master somehow segues into helping a sick child. However, one of the few stories entirely about the animal. I liked the sweetness of it but was puzzled by the plotting. Cats: we always knew they were judgey: "There is a special place in the bottom of the world for men like that, but it is not for me to judge. Well, mostly not for me. I happen to be a marvelous arbiter of character."
Junkyard Rex by Sam Knight: 4.5 ◆ Unfamiliar. I finished this story and immediately looked up the author, who has a 'forthcoming book.' I hope it makes it to publication, because I will read the heck out of it. Interesting story about a loner living in a post-apocalyptic setting with dinosaurs. "The footprints all around the area reminded him of turkey prints--if the turkey had fat, size two-thousand feet."
Nine by Seanan McGuire: 1 ◆ Just awful. A 1st person POV meandering about cat's nine lives and their relationship to humans but completely nonsensical. I would expect better from McGuire.
A Memory of Witches by Patricia Briggs 3.5 ◆ Familiar with the universe, and I must say, I enjoy it when it isn't about l-u-v and pair bonds. The werewolf Sherwood and Mercy investigate a witches' house and discover a cat, who is once again a completely peripheral character, but since the main is a werewolf, I suppose it counts? Not really a mystery, it's a half-hearted investigation, a fragment that likely couldn't make it into a larger story. I want to read the book this leads into, unless its about Mercy and Adam.
Overall, a not unexpected mixed bag of stories. I usually count myself lucky if I find one new author worth further investigation, and I came up with two (Knight, Diver) so a success.
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