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Strange Brew [Paperback]

P. N. Elrod
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (89 customer reviews)

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Book Description

July 7, 2009

Today’s hottest urban fantasy authors come together in this delicious brew that crackles and boils over with tales of powerful witches and dark magic!

In Charlaine Harris’ “Bacon,” a beautiful vampire joins forces with a witch from an ancient line to find out who killed her beloved husband. In “Seeing Eye” by Patricia Briggs, a blind witch helps sexy werewolf Tom Franklin find his missing brother—and helps him in more ways than either of them ever suspected.  And in Jim Butcher’s “Last Call,” wizard Harry Dresden takes on the darkest of dark powers—the ones who dare to mess with this favorite beer.

For anyone who’s ever wondered what lies beyond the limits of reality, who’s imagined the secret spaces where witches wield fearsome magic, come and drink deep. Let yourself fall under the spell of this bewitching collection of short stories!

 

 


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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Anthologist Elrod (My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding) taps into the urban fantasy craze with a mixed bag of wizardry, mystery and glamour. The best include Patricia Briggs's wistful Seeing Eye, wherein blind witch Wendy Moira Keller helps werewolf Tom Franklin search for his missing brother, and Jim Butcher's funny Last Call, which finds wizard Harry Dresden hot on the tail of Meditrina Bassarid, a wicked wine-loving maenad who wreaks havoc in a Chicago bar. In Rachel Caine's romantic Death Warmed Over, Holly Anne Caldwell, a resurrection witch, falls in love with Andrew Toland, a corpse from 1875, while Elrod's Hecate's Golden Eye tells of a 1937 hunt for a curious family gem. Though not particularly groundbreaking, these tales will easily keep paranormal mystery fans entertained. (July)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"These tales will easily keep paranormal mystery fans entertained."
--Publishers Weekly
 
"This uniformly excellent anthology starts off strong and proceeds to weave in plenty of action and dark magic.... There's something here for every supernatural taste."
--Romantic Times
 
"Readers will pick this one up for the popular authors and be pleasantly surprised by the tyros. Highly recommended."
--Library Journal

Product Details

  • Paperback: 384 pages
  • Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; 1 Original edition (July 7, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0312383363
  • ISBN-13: 978-0312383367
  • Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 1.1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (89 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #60,131 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

That said, it was excusable, because the stories were good and I enjoyed them. Kristi G., mom of Sage  |  17 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
115 of 118 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
SYNOPSIS:
This anthology contains nine paranormal short stories. The following is a brief description of each story.

1. Seeing Eye by Patricia Briggs - A blind witch decides to help a man, a werewolf, find his brother who is an undercover cop and has disappeared while on a case.

2. Last Call by Jim Butcher - Harry Dresden walks into his favorite bar for a beer and a sandwich and finds chaos instead. What is wrong with the beer being brewed by the bar owner?

3. Death Warmed Over by Rachel Caine - Holly is a resurrectionist witch. The last time she brought Andrew Toland back from the dead she fell in love with him. Now the police need his special help to solve another case but how can Holly stand the pain when Andrew has to die this time?

4. Vegas Odds by Karen Chance - Accalia (Lia) trains recruits at the War Mage Corps. Imagine her surprise when she realizes it is her own students who are trying to kill her.

5. Hecate's Golden Eye by P. N. Elrod - Chicago 1937 - Charles Escott and his undead colleague Jack Fleming are hired to help the rightful owner steal back her pendant. The history of the jewel says that any man who touches the Golden Eye dies. Luckily for Jack, he's already dead.

6. Bacon by Charlaine Harris - Dahlia Lynley-Chivers is a vampire who is now a widow because her werewolf husband was defeated in a challenge fight for pack position. She hires a witch to help her find out what was done to her husband to make him vulnerable and weak during the fight.

7. Signatures of the Dead by Faith Hunter - Spruce Pine, North Carolina, is being targeted by a band of rogue vampires. Earth witch Molly Trueblood and her friend shapeshifter Jane Yellowrock must find the vampire lair or the killings will continue.

8. Ginger by Caitlin Kittredge - Sunny Swann and her cousin Luna grew up in Nocturne City. Sunny is a witch without much confidence in her powers totally unlike her werewolf cousin. Then why would someone want to kidnap Sunny?

9. Dark Sins by Jenna Maclaine - Venice 1818 - Cin, Michael, Devlin and Justine (The Righteous-judge, jury, and executioners in the world of vampires) are in the city for pleasure, not business. When they are all four kidnapped by a wizard and his coven Cin is forced to chose between the lives of her lover and friends or dark, evil magic.

RECOMMENDATION:
I definitely enjoyed reading this marvelous anthology. It gave me exactly what I want from a collection of short stories such as these. There are many stories which feature characters already made well known by these authors. Particular favorites of mine are the stories by Patricia Briggs, Jim Butcher, Rachel Caine, P. N. Elrod and Faith Hunter. I have not read novels by many of these authors and this anthology has given me a chance to sample their works and make the decision of whether or not to go seek out and read their full length books.

*****Aug. 31, 2009***** Two of my favorite characters in this anthology are Moira (the blind witch) and Tom (the werewolf) in the Patricia Briggs story "Seeing Eye". Those two characters play a substantial role in the new Briggs book Hunting Ground (Alpha & Omega, Book 2). It was wonderful to meet up with them again.
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35 of 36 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Make mine a double --- 4.5 stars out of 5 July 13, 2009
By Dana
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
You never quite know what you are going to get with an anthology. Strange Brew has nine stories involving witchcraft, potions, and the like that definitely doesn't disappoint. I was excited by the fact that I had heard of 7 out of the 9 authors and have read works by 5 of them. I had high hopes that, for once, weren't dashed. I liked EVERY single story in this anthology --- high marks for all the authors involved (mostly A's and perhaps one or two B/B+'s).

Briggs gives us a story of a witch, a werewolf, and the ties that bind: family & love. It may be set in the Mercy Thompson/Alpha & Omega universe, but this is the first time we've seen these characters up close. (I hope to see more of them.)

Harris also sets her story in her well-established Universe (Southern Vampire Chronicles) but using less established characters. Her story of revenge, Bacon, is made all the more delicious and satisfying if you're already familiar with the unlikely interspecies love story, Tacky, found in My Big Supernatural Wedding that precedes this one.

As far as I know, Caine's tale of love resurrected and Chance's action-packed account of espionage among the War Mage Corps are wholly original pieces. I could, of course, be wrong. Regardless, both stories were unique and hard to put down.

The rest of the authors give us stories within there respective series:
Butcher gives us a story involving Harry Dresden, tainted beer, and the Chicago Bulls. Elrod gives us a classic tale of double cross from her Jack Fleming/Vampire Files series.
Hunter's story introduces us to her new butt-kicking, vampire-slaying, heroine - Jane Yellowrock - whose very own book Skinwalker is available this month (7/09).
Kittredge gives us a story of a "glamour-ous" power play from her Nocturne City series that delivers my favorite line in the whole anthology. (I'll let you guess what it is!) And Maclaine's story left me wanting to read more of her Cin Craven series.

Whether new and original or borrowing from established settings or series, all the stories are easy to follow --- even if you are completely unfamiliar with the authors' works. Overall, this may be the best money I ever spent on an anthology. It delivers a fine sampling for anyone who is interested in reading some anecdotes in the realm of urban fantasy. Who knows, you may find some authors from whom you'd like to read more. I know I did.

---DEW---
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Not Overly Juicy, But Satisfying September 3, 2009
Format:Paperback
Anthologies can be a bit hit or miss. Sometimes there is one fantastic author and a cluster of up and comers who haven't hit their stride yet. Not the case here! Strange brew is packed with big writers with big stories that just happen to be short. There's not enough length to the stories for anything too steamy if that's what you require, but the individual stories will keep you too busy flipping pages to notice.

Seeing Eye by Patricia Briggs
Returning to the same world as her Mercy Thompson and Alpha & Omega series, werewolves and witches are real and dominant Tom needs a witches help to get his human brother back after he's taken by a coven. Deformed and odd white witch Moira is the only one willing and capable to help. I read this story and was so pleased to find these characters cropping back up in the newest Alpha & Omega book!

Last Call by Jim Butcher
I'm never a big reader of the Dresden files but Butchers shorts still always amuse me! Of course this one provides a good mystery when the patrons of Harry Dresden's favorite watering hole go crazy and he and love interest Murphy need to track the villain down in time. Even if Harry's tempted to take a more delightful offer...

Death Warmed Over By Rachel Caine
This was possibly the most memorable story of the book! I was bawling be for the end of it! Holly is a resurrection witch paid and bullied by the police to bring back a legendary dead man and former witch whom she's brought back previously and secretly loves. When Holly ends up in a killers twisted sight, Andrew will do anything to protect her, even die all over again for love.

Vegas Odds by Karen Chance
Diving into the worlds of her Cassie Palmer & Dorina Basarab series's we find a sleepy mage trainer under attack during a time of war and traitors. Despite injury and betrayal she'll hunt down the one responsible for her pain despite the werewolf boyfriend who loves her and just wants her to be safe. Action packed!

Hecate's Golden Eye by P.N. Elrod
I have previously not liked this authors work but this story about a gumshoe vampire in the 1930's and his private eye pal trying to get a mystical necklace back for a client was very edge of the seat stuff and visually rich.

Bacon by Charlaine Harris
Into a different area of the Southern Vampire Series world where a lady vampire is set on getting revenge for her werewolf husband who was killed by a competing pack with help from a witch known as the Circe. Kind of a modern day Grimm's fairytale, slightly disturbing but fun!

Signatures of the Dead by Faith Hunter
A creepy tale of vampires preying on the defenseless in a small town and the witch, the human, and the bounty hunter with a splash of Other who go to stop them. Don't read this one after dark! Eeeekk! Now I have to read the Jane Yellowrock series that just started, she's an intriguing character.

Ginger by Caitlin Kittredge
Enter Nocturne City, and it's own series, where police detective Luna Wilder is tying up the ends to a big case when her mild mannered cousin, Sunny Swann, saves the day and countless lives with her curiosity and witchcraft. In her world not everyone is what they seem...

Dark Sins by Jenna Maclaine
Part of the Sin Craven series, the vampire witch Sin, her friends and her lover all get nabbed by a coven of dark witches led by a vengeful man eager to force Sin to become part of his evil plotting and magic. Desperate for their freedom, Sins prayers are answered, just not in the way she expected.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars All good
I loved this collection and although short stories are not my favorite, I often read them to find new authors that I might enjoy. This collection did not disappoint.
Published 12 days ago by M. Ritchey
5.0 out of 5 stars A mixed bag!!
Some of the stories really need for the reader to know what has gone before. A few were simply not to my taste. I like strong heroines and little whining. Read more
Published 2 months ago by P. R. Ashley
4.0 out of 5 stars Great group of stories
The title confused me whenever I saw it, but that was the only problem I had with this book.

The stories were interesting and in most cases I was interested in reading... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Jennifer Kyrnin
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Mix of Talent
This collection of "teaser" stories are complete in themselves and tweak my interest to want more. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Kate
4.0 out of 5 stars Book
I enjoyed all the short stories included in this book. It was nice to read different styles of writing in one place.
Published 3 months ago by Jacqueline Gillahan
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable
I really enjoyed the stories and all the various creatures that were in them. Just these tips bits did leave me wanting more.
Published 5 months ago by Patricia Butler
3.0 out of 5 stars Gack
I know these stories. They're the ones that get passed around at cons, done in rexograph on colored paper. Some are utter dogs. Read more
Published 5 months ago by ringo
4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty good collection
Not all of the stories in this book were great, but some of them were. I love the Charlaine Harris, and Faith Hunter books, and I especially loved the Patricia Briggs story that... Read more
Published 6 months ago by booklover
5.0 out of 5 stars Great compilation of short stories
I bought it because it had a short story by Patricia Briggs. That story is definitely one of my favorites, but I enjoyed most of the other stories as well.
Published 6 months ago by Catherine M Chilton
5.0 out of 5 stars Strange brew
Positives: great new authors! Keeping to the same universe as other books I've read. Finding a new series or two to read
Negatives: if I'm reading the series, found some... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Kat McNicol
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Kindle price 30% higher than the paperback? Be the first to reply
Does Anyone Have Any Info on the Patti Briggs Entry?
There's nine novelette length stories. I'm keeping up on things at the editor's blog.

Here's the entry that lists the writers: http://p-n-elrod.livejournal.com/59540.html
May 4, 2009 by Mystik |  See all 19 posts
"Bacon"
I got to read it today, and Dahlia is in fine form. You're gonna like it! :D
Jul 9, 2009 by Mystik |  See all 3 posts
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