Kicking It by Faith Hunter, Kalayna Price, Rachel Caine, Chloe Neill, Rob Thurman
Urban Fantasy/Anthology
December 3, 2013
Roc Trade

Reviewed by Tori

Featuring stories by FAITH HUNTER * KALAYNA PRICE * RACHEL CAINE * CHLOE NEILL * ROB THURMAN * SHANNON K. BUTCHER * LUCIENNE DIVER * CHRIS MARIE GREEN * CHRISTINA HENRY

New York Times bestselling author Rachel Caine has modern-day potions witches Holly and Andrew facing off against a firebrand politician who wears literally killer boots in a Texas-sized rodeo of trouble.

Boot-loving Cadogan vampire Lindsey must team up with off-again, on-again vampire partner Luc when a woman from her past is targeted by supernaturals in New York Times bestselling author Chloe Neill’s all-new adventure.

And New York Times bestselling author Rob Thurman features Trixa Iktomi from her Trickster series dealing with magical vengeance and magical footwear.

Taking kick-ass urban fantasy literally, USA Today bestselling authors Kalayna Price and Faith Hunter bring together the best of the genre to once again prove when you’re fighting supernatural forces, it helps to keep your feet on the ground. (Goodreads)

The best reason to read an anthology is because it offers a small view of the authors skills and insight into their ongoing series. I was extremely excited to see this anthology featured novellas from Faith Hunter’s Jane Yellowrock series, Chloe Neill’s Chicagoland Vampire series, and Rob Thurman’s Trickster series. All three are favorite series of mine.

I have read but opted not write a review for every story in this anthology.

Stolen Goods by Shannon K. Butcher. In a world poised on the brink of an alien take over, a man hires a renowned thief to help him recover a magical artifact that could spell the end of humanity if it falls into the wrong hands.

Stolen goods is a well written novella with a strong storyline, personable characters, and lots of action. Butcher gives our characters somewhat complicated pasts that are addressed in the story and adds to the faint sexual undercurrents flowing through it. The main conflict is ripe with tension and horror as Butcher gives us a front row seat to what we as humans have to look forward to if our couple doesn’t win this battle. Enjoyable all the way around and I hope Butcher writes more on this couple and their unique skills.

The Girl With No Name by Chris Marie Green. When a young lady awakens in a strange room with no memory and wearing a pair of unusual knee high boots, she finds herself playing a dangerous game of cat and mouse as she struggles to recover her memory and stay alive.

This is my first time reading Ms. Green but not my last. Green’s incorporation of nature, magic, and the price for using it is interesting, especially when applied to our heroine. The story reveals well as we start out in the unknown and each clue leads us deeper into the mystery that surrounds our heroine’s memory loss and the reasons she is running. Interesting side characters and a possible love interest let us know our heroine isn’t fighting alone. Fast pacing and a kick arse heroine made this a joy to read.

The Devil’s Left Boot by Faith Hunter. Two young witches take a missing person case from an old enemy. Their investigation leads them into the town’s past and into the arms of an insane vampire whose appetite for Christian Louboutin is only matched by her appetite for blood and chaos.

I like Hunter’s Jane Yellowrock series so I was excited to read a novella that revolves around the witch family that Jane has a love/hate relationship with. Word of warning, this story exists mid series and may spoil those who haven’t read book four-Raven Cursed. Witches, vampires, and a baby goat provide action, suspense, and humor when these two witches find themselves in a quandary that only Jane can get them out of when they stumble on their town’s bloody past and become more in touch with the dark side of their magic.

High Stakes (Chicagoland Vampires, #8.5) by Chloe Neill. Cadogan House guard Lindsey adores her boss Luc but the chains of her past leave her unable to commit to a relationship with him. When her past comes calling, threatening her family, Lindsey travels back to her beginnings and lays some ghosts to rest for good.

Fans of Neill’s Chicagoland Vampire series have watched as Luc and Lindsey have danced around their attraction for years. Luc has done everything possible to make Lindsey his but with no avail. She is too stubborn and scared to give that much trust to one person. High Stakes is a short novella that finally tells us of Lindsey’s turbulent past and seems to hint at good things for her relationship with Luc.

Red Really Isn’t My Color (Black Wings, #2.5) by Christine Henry. The many greats grand daughter of Lucifer isn’t really big on family reunions or her family period but when Lucifer makes a request, she can’t refuse. Charged with recovering a pair of cursed red dancing shoes from the fairies leads Madeline Black into a battle with the Queen of Fae’s top assassin.

Having never read Christine Henry, this short story seemed the perfect way to ease myself into her series. Red Isn’t My Color plays off Hans Christian Andersen’s moralistic fairy tale-The Red Shoes. Mayhem follows our winged warrior as she confronts the Queen of the Fae’s right hand man and finds herself set up as a well shoed sacrificial lamb. Our heroine triumphs but is forced to use a side of herself that leaves her fearful of the consequences. A well plotted storyline with equal parts humor and that resolves fully but leaves faithful fans with hints towards the future.

Snakeskin (Trickster series, #0.5) by Rob Thurman. Making a deal with the Trickster can have unforeseen consequences as a customer learns the hard way.

Thurman’s Trickster series is a favorite of mine, right behind her Leandros series. The heroine, Trixa Iktomi, is a trickster; a semi divine shape shifter. Youthful in appearance and dangerous in reality; Trixa gives her customers what they ask for but often manipulates the results. In Snakeskin, a prequel set about ten years prior to book one, Trixa uses her skills to give a murderous black widow her heart’s desire. Humor reigns supreme as Trixa teaches a valuable lesson on the evils of greed.

Kicking It is a fun anthology that offers readers a variety of kick arse heroines in a collection of action packed stories by some of Urban Fantasies hottest authors to date. Though some stories are stronger then others, the collection as a whole is an engaging read sure to enchant.

Rating: B-

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