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.
Gift Wrap, by Charlaine Harris, finds Sookie Stackhouse alone at Christmas, that is, until she discovers an ailing werewolf outside her home. Not one to abandon a creature in trouble, Sookie swings into action. For those who don’t follow the series, this story takes place just after the latest novel.
Although the ending may be clear from the beginning in “Lucy, at Christmastime” by Simon R. Green, it doesn’t deter from this great story of lost love and Christmas memories. It’s an interesting night at the Nightside bar when a werewolf takes a walk down memory lane.
Supernatural creatures are usually good-hearted in The Night Things Changed by Dana Cameron. However, in a twist of fate, one turns out to be a killer. A female vampire and her werewolf brother investigate the matter.
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.
What happens when Soviet vampires discover that Santa is one of their own and has been using Christmas as a way to satisfy his bloodthirsty desires? They want in, of course! But somehow they end up in Africa after being bamboozled by a werewolf. Nancy Pickard writes an amusing tale of vampires-gone-wild with her story, You’d Better Not Pyout.
With “Rogue Elements”, Karen Chance, the author of the Cassandra Palmer series writes a Christmas story that takes place in the heart of Las Vegas. Lia is a member of the War Mage Corps who refuses to accept her werewolf heritage or even believe in it. What follows is a story of politics and intrigue.
These talented authors make this compilation a fun and easy read, and will definitely get even the most hardened Scrooges into the Christmas spirit.
