The Christmas spirit has never been so wicked. Whether you wish to be amused, touched or terrified this anthology has all the necessary ingredients. Humor and sentimentality are often showcased in this Christmas collection of goodies. The stories are unique but fans will be pleased to see some favorite characters. Here’s a look at some of the stories in the book.
In “Gift Wrap” by Charlaine Harris, Sookie Stackhouse expects to spend some quiet “alone time” during Christmas when she discovers a wounded werewolf in the woods. This is a cozy, light story that combines a lovable and well-known character, Sookie, with a mischievous and sexy werewolf.
In Lucy, at Christmastime, Simon Green writes a short story that complements his popular Nightside series; a werewolf having drinks at a Nightside bar during the holiday season reminisces about his past, including his past love.
In the story The Night Things Changed, by Dana Cameron, siblings hunting down a killer may seem run-of-the-mill scary, until you learn that they are a vampire and werewolf team. The two are part of the Fangborn, a group of creatures who eventually realize that the killer is among them.
Kat Richardson contributes “The Werewolf before Christmas”, a tale about Matthias, an intelligent and resourceful werewolf, who gets himself into a situation that’s out of his control. After making his way to the North Pole and successfully consuming the famous glowing reindeer, Matthias is forced into servitude by St. Nick and ends up with more than he was looking for.
In true Christmas spirit, Carrie Vaughn writes an uplifting story with her “II Est Ne” contribution. An unlikely encounter in a Waffle House finds Kitty and her new friend, a recently turned werewolf, hunting down a serial killer and changing both their dismal outlooks.
In “You’d Better Not Pyout”, Nancy Pickard writes an an hilarious story about two misplaced ex-Soviet vampires in Florida. They just found out that Santa Claus is a vampire and that Christmas is a scam that simply grants him access to homes and an endless blood supply. They seek to join him, but somehow end up across the Atlantic Ocean. Yes, this story includes many lively twists and turns.
In “Rogue Elements”, Karen Chance writes a police mystery set in the supernatural realm of Las Vegas which involves identity denial and werewolf politics.
These talented authors make this compilation a fun and easy read, and will definitely get even the most hardened Scrooges into the Christmas spirit.