The premise of this short story collection is a winner. Take some of the bestselling urban fantasy writers and have them write stories focusing on their villains. Who doesn’t love a villain? Most of the time, I find villains more interesting than heroes. As such, I couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into Urban Enemies.
So imagine my disappointment when most of the stories were hell-bent on giving the villains of the tales traditional hero narratives. Where were the badasses causing mayhem and murder? Ok, so there was plenty of murder, but there was far too much time spent on ‘why’ they were bad, making excuses for these characters. They try to humanise the villains, explaining away their bad behaviour as though their life experiences meant they had no choice but to become villains. Many of the stories in these collections are ‘back stories’ for well-known villains in their urban fantasy worlds that are sob stories created to make us feel sorry for these nasty pieces of work. I don’t want to feel sorry for the villains, I want to revel in their evil! (Surely I can’t be the only one who feels this way?)
‘There was no amount of good he could accomplish that would wash his soul clean.’
Urban Enemies editec by Joseph Nassise coverNo beating around the bush: I am a snob. When it comes to the books I like, the quality of the prose is my top priority. I don’t mean flowery, long-winded prose, but simply good quality sentences, descriptions, structure, so on. I am constantly disappointed by the quality of writing in bestselling novels and Urban Enemies was no exception. Too often I found myself cringing or rolling my eyes at the clunky exposition dumps.
Not only was the prose, in general, lackluster, I found that most of the stories didn’t work as short stories. I’m all for setting a standalone short story within an existing universe, but it needs to work as its own entity as well as a bonus for fans of the original series/setting. These stories, for the most part, don’t. Not only that, it is obvious these writers are not known for their short stories. Writing a short story is very different to writing a novel – you need to grip the reader immediately and show them why this particular nugget is worthy of their time. Almost all of these stories felt like an additional chapter of a novel, or at best, a bonus story that belongs on a Patreon feed, not in a short story anthology.
Other general complaints include:
Lack of characterisation
Pages and pages of exposition
All tell, no show
Utterly predictable plots
All action, no character growth
…
‘Blood always finds blood.’
That’s not to say that there was nothing worthy of note in the collection. But the gems were certainly hidden among thick and sticky muck. One of my favourite things about short story collections is discovering new writers I’d never heard of. In Urban Enemies, I fell in love with Kelley Armstrong and her story ‘Hounded’. This story was very different from the others, with a distinct voice and interesting lore. Armstrong’s villain was given the space to truly be villainous while also having a character arc that both intrigued me as a reader and made sense in the context of his personality.
It was no surprise that I enjoyed Seanan McGuire’s entry, ‘Balance’. I’m a huge fan of her Wayward Children series of novellas. This was a very different piece, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Occasionally it drifted into expositing information about the world, but it was kept to a minimum. Again, the villain was allowed to be villainous and she had a distinct voice.
Caitlin Kittredge is another name I had not come across before. Her entry is a 1930s noir PI style story, ‘The Resurrectionist’. Kittredge plays with common tropes around zombies and necromancers and completely turns it on its head. It’s great fun and took me entirely by surprise.
‘I will always remember the first time I tasted a sacrifice.’
Urban Enemies feels like a miscalculation. A nice idea on paper, but in practice, it falls flat. Too many of these short stories relied too heavily on readers being familiar with the worlds in which they are set and the timeline/characters involved. Those kinds of stories do have their place, but they don’t work as an anthology.

Verdict: I suggest giving this one a miss unless you’re happy to purchase the whole thing for that one bonus story from your favourite urban fantasy novel.

Stories about villains from the urban fantasy genre, some more sympathetic than others (and mostly not in the midst of committing sins against innocent victims). Jim Butcher’s was the only universe I was fully familiar with, and I enjoyed his take on Marcone’s handling of a small problem under the Accords. Other participants: Kelley Armstrong (Hounded), Jeff Somers (not bad take on blood magic), Craig Schaefer, Lilith Saintcrow, Kevin Hearne (Loki meets Lucifer, which goes about as well as you’d expect), Caitlin Kittredge, Joseph Nassise, Carrie Vaughn, Jonathan Maberry, Faith Hunter, Jon F. Merz, Diana Pharaoh Francis, Steven Savile, Domino Finn, Seanan McGuire (October Daye, from the perspective of a cuckoo, who beguiles people to do whatever she wants—the only one who really harmed innocents in front of the readers), and Sam Witt.

I really don’t like anthologies, but with contributions from seventeen of the baddest cats in the contemporary urban fantasy business, I struggled to keep my jaws from salivating after reading some of the best shorts this year. As a reviewer, I take pride in being honest and unbiased in my reviews – there’s no excessive dabs of makeup or pretty words to cover limited insight – and the only reason why I decided to take a chance on this specific publication are the following factors: Jim Butcher and the word ‘villains’.

That’s it. Of the seventeen established writers on this list I’ve only read works produced by one of them – and not even thoroughly. You might be thinking, ‘Seriously?’

Absolutely.

Noticed I said these authors are the baddest cats in the business? That’s because they are: none of them need an introduction because you already know that the material they create is without a doubt excellent entertainment coupled with great command of the English language and visionary brilliance. I use the word ‘brilliance’ loosely here on account of the urge I have that, now that I’m aware of the kind of stories these people write, I’m quite keen on expanding my choice of preferred authors.

If you have read some of the novels in which the villains have been mentioned or play crucial or recurring roles, then you’re in for a treat as you delve further into the stories detailing what elements shaped them into the individuals they are presented as. What changed them, what elements or situations twisted their morals, who hurt them, tormented them, what do they experience through a fictional world labelling them as villains?

From a wretched old crone who refuses to die and deliberately trains her apprentice to kill her, a leech stripped of his hound who encourages our most begotten impulses, and to a reimagined Loki who makes full use of his shape-shifting abilities and brutally slaughters Lucifer’s hellspawn. There is a wide variety of awesomeness in this collection and I’ll be damned if no one devours it for a third reading.

Fun collection of stories from some amazing fantasy authors. Loved the Loki story from Kevin Herne and Jim Butcher was amazing as usual.

Now, I feel I must apologise. I have had Urban Enemies for a few months now. It is an anthology of short stories all about the bad guys. Several popular authors contributed short stories of their favourite baddies that you love to hate including Jim Butcher, Seanan McGuire and Kelly Armstrong. I have to admit I couldn't finish it! I have surprised even myself. I think the fact that Jim Butcher's contribution was the same one as in the anthology Dark and Stormy Knights (St. Martin's Griffin; July 2010) was a bit too disappointing and rather turned me off. I am not the biggest fan of short stories and when they all center around the antagonist I seemed to lose interest very quickly. Sorry!

You can read my full review, which includes my thoughts on each of the 17 short stories, on my WordPress blog, Flora's Musings... (see link below)

I wanted to read this book for three reasons:
1. I hoped to find some “new to me” authors and some series to read.
2. It gave me the opportunity of reading work from those authors I’ve admired but as yet not read.
3. I could read some new tales from a couple of existing favourites.

So what did I think?
I think that this is a good anthology; I feel that it has got a nice assortment of different settings, writing styles and sub-genres under the urban fantasy themed umbrella to suit most tastes. The collection of villains that we meet here are just as varied; some are predators just doing what they do naturally, some are potential heroes in the rough and some would be better off obliterated from the face of the earth. *shiver*

I have enjoyed having this as an ongoing back-up, to be able to pick up and read when I’ve had a bit of free time – who doesn’t have time to squeeze in a short story?! What I’m thrilled about is that I have found a couple of new-to-me authors to check out and I’ve finally read work from authors that have popped up on my radar for years.

I’ve really loved reading 4 out of the 17 tales while about 6 stories did not float my boat; I think that level of satisfaction is quite exciting for a collection of this quantity, don’t you? However, at the time of writing this the price for this book on Amazon UK is £8.49 Kindle (approx 50p per story) and £12.99 paperback (approx 76p per story) - paperback due to be released in September 2017 - so this is not a cheap and cheerful book, if I’m honest it’s probably a bit out of my price range but only you will know whether it’s worth the price for you.

Introduced to brand new worlds I want to explore...... 4 stars

This anthology contains stories from the perspective of the villains from the worlds each author has created. Many authors I hadn't read before. However, I am left wanting to read more of some of these new worlds introduced from the villain's view point.

Jim Butcher - Harry Dresden. - Full of action, highly entertaining. A hero of a villain.

Kelley Armstrong. - Cainsville. - It's dark, dark, dark, with a twist at the end.

Jeff Sommers - Ustari Cycle - a bit disjointed to start as it lays out the foundation of the story in a short space of time, but races to a very dark ending.

Craig Schaefer - Harmony Black / Daniel Faust - gripping tale. Makes me want to know more about this author's work, especially the Harmony Black series. Is Fontaine really a bad guy?

Lilith Saintcrow - Jill Kismet - an early beginning tidbit to Jill's history. Would provide better enjoyment if had read some of the Jill Kismet series.

Divide Hearne- the Iron Druid Chronicles - a taste of hell.....

Caitlin Kittredge - Hellhound Chronicles - a story about a "hero" who's considered a "bad guy" by monsters and their ilk.

Joseph Nassise - Templar Chronicles- an evil villain.....

Carrie Vaughn -Kitty Norville series - evil created by vampires and magic....

Johnathan Mayberry - Joe Ledger - a villain with a conscience

Faith Hunter - Jane Yellowrock - a fight between villains

Jon F Merz - Lawson Vampire series - villain vs villain

Diana Pharoah Francis - Horngate Witches - an interesting story. Can't wait to find out more....

Steven Savile - Glass Town - did not enjoy this story -begins with rape and domestic violence and continues on being evil/dark. A complete turn off. I didn't finish reading this story.

Domino Finn - Black Outlaw Magic - a nasty villain with sharp teeth meets his match...

Seanan McGuire - Incryptid - nasty villains with a parasitic twist...

Sam Witt - Pitchfork County - this villain just keeps on keeping on...

I received a free, advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

This review will go live on my website on August 14, 2017 @ 6:37AM PST (https://theartisanpenguin.com/book-reviews/2017/urban-enemies)

REVIEW ~ URBAN ENEMIES
EDITED BY: JOSEPH NASSISE
I have a bit of a bone to pick with Urban Enemies, because of reading this book I have now added TEN more books to my to-be-read list (TBRL). Most of these books are also part of a series, so the potential for even more books is high. I will never get through my TBRL, and that's ok. To be honest, If I don't have a few hundred books on this list I start to get a little antsy and start the search for more.

I have admitted in the past, during my review of Equus, that short stories are not usually my favourite. Most of the time, I find that just as I'm getting into the story it's over and I feel let down by the story. Other times, there isn't enough detail for me to really get into the story or the characters I know that's the point of a short story, and I have a feeling they might be harder to write then full novels, but it just isn't my kind of thing to read.

You may wonder then, why I've read Urban Enemies, well the original reason that I wanted to read it was because it included a new (to me) Jim Butcher, Dresden Files story, Even Hand. I love the Dresden Files, I've read all the books, novellas and even watch the short-lived TV show multiple times. I think that I will always have a fondness for The Dresden Files as this is the series that first introduced me to Urban Fantasy.

Urban Enemies also had another short story from a series that I'm up to date in reading, The Cainsville Series by fellow Canadian, Kelley Armstrong. Kelley Armstrong is one of a few authors that I discovered because of The Dresden Files. The fourth book of her Women of the Otherworld Series, Industrial Magic, happened to sitting right next to a Dresden Files book at local Chapters one day. I picked it up because I thought the cover art was intriguing. Yes, I know that you should never judge a book by it's cover, and for the most part I don't. However, covers do have a way of initially grabbing your attention to pick up the book and read the synopsis.

The most surprising part I found about Urban Enemies is that once I finished the two stories that I really wanted to read, I found the majority of the rest of the stories to be mostly interesting. So much so, that as I previously mentioned, I added 10 more books to my TBR pile.

I won't finish a story that I don't like, and there were only a couple of stories in this anthology that didn't peak my interest, so I skipped over those ones. I think that part that helped me the most enjoying Urban Enemies is that the stories are written from the point of view of the villains perspective. They also seemed, to me, to be a completely separate story or a background story from the main series.

I know in the two stories I read, where I actually read the series, this villain perspective added a new depth to these characters and I can't wait to read the newest novels from The Dresden Files or The Cainsville Series. I suspect this same phenomenon would be for any of the series these villains are from and I look forward to finding out when I read the books I've added.

I also felt that for the most part, these stories were easy to follow along with, despite not having read the series they came from. The couple of stories that I did skip over, were the ones that it seemed that I was missing information to understand what was happening in the story I was reading.
There is one other author whose novels I have read, but am not currently up to date with, who's short story was in Urban Enemies, Kevin Hearne. I am currently about halfway through reading the Iron Druid Chronicles, with plans to finish them before May 2018. Why May 2018 you may ask, well, next year I will be getting the chance to meet Kevin Hearne and spend the weekend with him and a few hundred other writers and readers at The Creative Ink Festival taking place in Burnaby, BC.
I designed this poster! Had to share.
I designed this poster! Had to share.

Kevin Hearne is going to be one of the guest of honour of the event, and since The Creative Ink Festival is the entire reason why I'm now writing my own book reviews and have my own website, I feel I should be up-to-date with his published work. Full Disclosure, The Creative Ink Festival was created by a good friend of mine and author, Sandra Wickham, and over the last few years I have been lucky enough to become more involved with it, and for next year I’m now the promotions and volunteer coordinator. This is an amazing event which I have talked about my experiences in the past about it. It's not just for writers and as a reader I got some much out of the experience too. Definitely worth checking out.
Anyways, back to the actual review of Urban Enemies, it was a well put together anthology with a creative twist, the stories from the villain's point of view and I think that anyone could enjoy this book, especially if you are like me and tend not to enjoy short stories that much.

You might be asking which stories did I add to my TBR list:

1) Pretty Wicked (Pretty Wicked #1) by Kelly Charron
2) We are not good people (The Ustari Cycle #1) by Jeff Somers
3) The Electric Church (Avery Cates #1) by Jeff Somers*
4) Harmony Black (Harmony Black #1) by Craig Schaefer
5) Black Dog (Hellhound Chronicles #1) by Caitlin Kittredge
6) Bitter Night (Horngate Witches #1) by Diana Pharoah Francis
7) Glass Town by Steven Savile
8) Silver (Ogmios Team Adventure #1) by Steven Savile*
9) The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Murder at Sorrow's Crown by Steven Saville*
10) Discount Armageddon (InCryptid #1) by Seanan McGuire

*these series weren't in Urban Enemies, but another series by the same author was and this book also sounded interesting

These are all authors and series I have never heard of before, so to the editor, Joseph Nassise, good job, I will eventually check out the first of these series to see if I enjoy them.

Reading Urban Enemies, I also rediscovered an author I had completely forgotten about, Jonathan Maberry and his Joe Ledger Series. I've had the second book in this series on my TBRL for years. His short story Altar Boy, has reminded me of this series and I have a new desire to go back and read them.

Overall, Urban Enemies was a pretty good read. I discovered a bunch of new authors and rediscovered an old one. I think any fan of short stories and urban fantasy would enjoy this anthology.



I received an free ARC of Urban Enemies from Gallery Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3 Stars
I don’t usually go into details about why I’ve rated something what I’ve rated it, but in this case I felt that I should. I seem to give Urban Enemies a glowing review so why you may ask a 3 stars rating? Well, despite the fact that I did enjoy the book overall, it still took me quite some time to read, 10 days. The urge and desire to pick up this book just wasn’t there. It was the short story thing. Once I picked up the book and read one of the stories, I didn’t have the urge to read the next one.

A collection of tales about villains - including some surprisingly likeable ones! My favourite entry was Jim Butcher's which left me feeling melancholy - long live Harry Dresden.

“Even Hand” by Jim Butcher (Dresden Files)
This story is shared from Dresden’s long-time nemesis, John Marcone.

Justine shows up with a baby and asks for sanctuary from Mag, a powerful fomor wizard. Marcone isn’t one for making bad business decisions, but takes Justine in because one of Marcone’s rules is no harm to children. Mag is extremely determined to get back Justine and brings all his power to bear down on Marcone, Gard, and Hendricks.

While the tale doesn’t directly tie into the overall Dresden story arc, it gives great insight into the warped mind of Marcone, reminding readers he isn’t anybody’s hero. I love he remains the bad guy, even when saving Justine. And his plans for Dresden left me shivering.

“Hounded” by Kelly Armstrong (Cainsville series)
Never having read this series, Ms. Armstrong does a great job giving readers just enough information to understand the short without going into the entire series background and history.

The Cwn Annwn are the Hunters of the Wild Hunt. “Hounded” follows one Huntsman whose hound was taken from him and was cut from his pack for reasons we discover as the story unfolds. Unlike the previous story, where a bad guy does a good deed, this Huntsman is not good, and we witness how he corrupts a woman, bending her will to suit his needs. Very well done and a bit creepy!

“Nigsu Ga Tesgu” by Jeff Somers (Ustari Cycle story)
Once again, the author does a great job giving readers a blurb about the world and antagonist featured in this anthology. Mika Renar is a magician, and she is one of the most powerful and dark ustari in the world. The first line in the story tells us she killed her father, and thus starts our lesson of how wicked magicians truly are.

Told in first person, present tense, “Nigsu Ga Tesgu” shares an attack meant to destroy Mika. While I had no problems following the storyline, I found that it held little interest for me. Maybe if I knew more about Mari, I would have been more invested in her survival. However, she is an evil, selfish woman, one I didn’t care about.

“Sixty-Six Seconds” by Craig Schaefer (This story contains characters from two interconnected series: Harmony Black and Daniel Faust.)

Fontaine and his new apprentice, Rache, work for hell by bringing in damned souls. They are on a mission to stop the Redemption Choir, a group set on bringing down the beings of hell.

The story takes place over the course of one night, while Fontaine takes on a difficult bounty with a big payoff. I like how the tale unfolds and the twist that plays out. It’s an interesting story; I wanted to know more about Fontaine and his human informant, Ada.

“Kiss” by Lilith Saincrow (Jill Kismit series)
The main character in this one is Perry, a nemesis of the series heroine.

Honestly, I was lost most of this story. I think Perry was the first person, “I” telling the story and he is the son (?) of Argoth. Perry is working with a hunter, his enemy, to take down Argoth.

It was also confusing because Perry refers to “you” and “your world,” and it’s unclear if he’s speaking to another character or the reader directly. I ended up DNFing this one after reading about half of it. It was way too confusing.

“The Naughtiest Cherub” by Kevin Hearne (Iron Druid Chronicles)
This story is shared by Loki as he prepares to begin Ragnarok, and without the bounds of Fate, he approaches the Christian devil, Lucifer, for assistance in the upcoming battles.

Mr. Hearne’s sense of humor shines in this short story. Both Loki and Lucifer had me smirking. Loki is growing stronger, and the time to take on Atticus, the Druids, and all of Midgard draws near. As a big fan of the series, I enjoyed this little look inside Loki’s mind.

“The Resurrectionist” by Caitlin Kittredge (Hellhound Chronicles)
This story, set in the 1930’s, features a monster hunter named Lee, who is considered evil to the population of non-human beings living in this world. It’s more of an origin story about Lee.

Reading this one, I was lost most of the time until the very end. I think I would have enjoyed the story much more had I been a fan of the series. With that said, Lee and his nemesis, Ava, intrigued me, enough that I’d like to check out the full series.

“Down Where the Darkness Dwells” by Joseph Nassise (Templar Chronicles)
The story is narrated by necromancer Simon Logan, who is also an acolyte of the big, bad fallen angel, Ashereal, also know as the Adversary. This tale takes readers back to the time when Logan came into power.

I found this dark tale interesting. It’s clear the narrator is a bad man, but I enjoyed learning about how he came to power.

“Bellum Romanum” by Carrie Vaughn (Kitty Norville series)
Heroine Kitty Norville is a werewolf who has stumbled onto a rather large, evil conspiracy, and at the center of the trouble is 2,000-year-old vampire, Roman, aka Dux Bellorum. This story shares how he came into power and hints at the evil plans ahead.

While I’ve never read the Kitty Norville series, I’ve heard great things. Regardless, the story was easy to follow and drew me in. I want to know more about the world and what Roman plans to do with his magic lamp.

“Altar Boy” by Jonathan Maberry (Joe Ledger weird science thrillers)
Joe works for a covert Special Ops group that stops terrorists using cutting-edge science weapons. This story follows a reoccurring, “recovering” villain named Toys, a man who firmly believes he is damned due to his past actions. Yet a new relationship with an equally broken woman gives Toys a new outlook on life.

Wow! Did I love this one. I’ve never even heard of this series, yet I found this to be a powerful story that was emotionally gripping. Toys is a complex man, one worthy of redemption, yet will never seek it. I want to read more from this author ASAP!

“Make It Snappy” by Faith Hunter (Jane Yellowrock series)
This story takes a small look at a backstory of Leo, the vampire Master of New Orleans. The author sets the stage at the opening, which probably makes a lot a sense to those familiar with the series.

Even though I was a bit lost (this series is next on my audiobook TBR), I enjoyed this short episode about Leo and his nemesis, El Mago. Leo is a just Master, but cruel when he is crossed, and this story demonstrates what happens to those who cross him. Entertaining reading!

“Chase the Fire” by Jon F. Merz (Lawson Vampire series)
In this world, vampires remain hidden from the world and protected by an elite cadre. However, there are some vampires who do not wish to live by the rules. Shiraz Aziz is one such creature.

This story sets the stage for a large conspiracy within the ruling vampire council. Shiraz and his partner work to find an artifact and kill Lawson, and I found myself interested in their tale, despite knowing nothing about the series. The plot against Lawson appears to be rather well-thought out, and I want to know if it is successful or not. This one was an exciting tale.

“Unexpected Choices” by Diana Pharaoh Francis (Horngate Witches series)
In Ms. Francis’s world, a group called the Guardians has unleashed a magical apocalypse with the hopes in killing off the humans. Giselle is a witch who formed the Horngate coven to fight on the side of humans. She foresees the need to steal something and calls upon her sometimes nemesis, Shoftiel, a righteous angel of justice, to guard her. The pair form a fragile alliance in an effort to save the world.

I was a bit lost with this story at first, but as I read on, the author filled in more gaps and the mythology became more interesting. What seemed like a “Kate Daniels knockoff,” became a detailed and unique world. I loved the back and forth between Giselle and Shoftiel and want to know what happens after the events of this story.

“Real Life” by Steven Savile (Glass Town Story)
Seth Lockwood is envious of his brother’s life. Obsessed with his brother’s love, Seth kidnaps Eleanor, and the pair live in a magical construct outside of time known as Glass Town. Seth is an evil man who enjoys causing physical and emotional pain.

“Reel Life” is a disturbingly odd story. The magical construct is a lonely, desolate place with only two inhabitants; the captive held against her will and the captor now stuck in this place because of the passing time outside of Glass Town. Seth is truly evil, ruining his own life in an effort to destroy his brother. The story is creepy and distressing.

“The Difference Between Deceit and Delusion” by Domino Finn (Black Magic Outlaw series)
This is the backstory of Tunji Malu, one of the first villains in the series. He is a supernatural bodyguard for a Nigerian businessman making his way in Miami.

Tunji is a being akin to a vampire, best I can tell. He’s a loyal bodyguard and does the things necessary to protect his boss. Yet his boss is only a means to climb out from the world Tunji once lived. In this story we get a taste of his ruthlessness and cruelty. Yet all isn’t what it seems, and by the end of the story, new alliances are formed. The tale is action-filled and exciting, yet easy to follow. I am interested in reading more.

“Balance” by Seanan McGuire (InCryptid Universe)
The InCryptid universe is filled with shifters (?), humans, and non-human others. I believe it is the job of these others, cryptids, to keep humans from discovering they aren’t alone. There are also cuckoos, and I am unsure if they are related to cryptids. The story, shared in first person narrative, follows a female cuckoo who has the ability to read and manipulate the minds of those around her. She’s warped and loves messing with those around her in awful, usually deadly ways.

I think in his effort to explain his world, the author confused me by adding information that was unnecessary for understanding this short tale. The narrator, Eliza, a one of many cuckoos that have invaded our world. They manipulate humans to survive, leaving them after they are used up. In this story Eliza discovers that those hunting the cuckoos have learned a new way to trap her kind. I enjoyed the story, wondering about the larger universe outside the cuckoos.

“Everywhere” by Sam Witt (Pitchfork County Story)
Joe Hark, the Night Marshal, fights the forces of darkness in the world. His mentor and ally, the Long Man, became one of the monsters they fight, and Joe was forced to kill his once friend. However, the Long Man, didn’t wholly perish and has returned, looking to gain back the powers Joe took from him.

Oh... another dark, yet interesting tale! The Long Man is warped... at first wanting to find eternal rest with the Father, but when turned away, his demented mind hatches plans to “save” his soul. Getting inside this dark mind reminded me of a creepy horror movie. I fear for Joe and the world he struggles to protect.

Urban Enemies is an interesting look into several different worlds through short stories that center on a villain or antagonist from each series. Some of its villains are simply misunderstood or have good intentions, while others are truly evil. I enjoyed reading the several varieties of writing styles and antagonists. Even though I only follow two of the seventeen series represented in Urban Enemies, I enjoyed the book, wanting to look further into some series. I recommend this unique anthology to fans of the urban fantasy genre.

My Rating: B, Liked It

Urban Enemies is a collection of sixteen stories that give readers a chance to hobnob with the villains that inhabit some of urban fantasy’s best selling series. Newcomers and long time fans will appreciate the diversity and change of scenery as we are given the rare chance to experience some favorite (and new to us) worlds from the point of view of those not often seen.

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

Even Hand by Jim Butcher (The Dresden Files). *Previously published in the Dark and Stormy Nights collection* A businessman and his bodyguards find themselves under attack when a young woman claims sanctuary for herself and her child.

Henry Dresden is one of my favorite male protagonists but it was a treat to see inside the head of one of his many enemies, Gentleman John Marcone. Especially when Marcone is forced to play the hero. Well written with a strong character base, interesting magic, and engaging narrative. Butcher allows his villain more than enough ample room to navigate within his unusual but strict moral code. This story has me pledging to catch up on this series ASAP. Grade: B+

Hounded by Kelley Armstrong (Cainsville). A hunter needs a hound and when the Huntsman’s is stolen, well, he finds another one

I’ve only read the first book in the Cainsville series so I wasn’t quite up to speed on the villain but I loved the dichotomy of this, particularly dark villain. Armstrong gives us an in-depth past as she tries to convince the reader that Cwn Annwn, her Rogue Huntsman, has been wronged by everyone around him. Only, appearances can be deceiving as we all soon learn. Grade: B

Sixty Six Seconds by Craig Schaefer (Harmony Black). A demonic bounty hunter finds himself saddled with a new partner when a large bounty is offered to him.

This is a first-time author for me. I liked overall premise of the story though it is definitely written for those who are well versed on the series. I found the villain more heroic in personality and deed with his dry wit and a strong sense of honor. I do wish the over world building and characters involved has been explained better. Grade: C

The Naughtiest Cherub by Kevin Hearne (The Iron Druid Chronicles). When Loki descends into Hell, the Father of Lies decides to have a little fun at Loki’s expense.

I haven’t read The Iron Druid Chronicles but I’ve heard nothing but praise for it. Hearne intertwines Norse mythology and Christianity when Loki comes to Lucifer to ask whether he will help or at least not hinder Ragnarok. Humorous narrative and strong characterization are well represented as Hearne amuses us with his interpretations of these two baddies. Grade: B

The Resurrectionist by Caitlin Kittredge (Hellhound Chronicles). A bounty hunter turns the table on a client who isn’t honest with him.

A new series to me, Kittredge introduces us to a villain whose morals are severely tested and tried until he once again accepts his destiny. The slow evolution is marked by a series of and conversations and memories when he learns that the young woman he’s been tasked to find is who she seems and doesn’t want to be found. The ending is quite the hook that leaves you wanting more. Grade: B

Bellum Romanum by Carrie Vaughn (Kitty Norville). A vampire whose need for revenge leads to disaster.

This particular niblet revolves around Gauis Albinus, a former Roman Centenarian whose anger at being made immortal places him on a path of death and destruction. This story was rather tame and bland compared to the others. It is literally a vampire having a tantrum with it’s unsympathetic character, vague backstory, and abrupt ending. Grade: D

Make It Snappy by Faith Hunter (Jane Yellowrock). The Master of New Orleans Leo Pellister finds himself on the defensive when an old enemy strikes at him from the grave.

I jumped at the chance to read this story as it shows us how Leo Pellister was before he met Jane Yellowrock. When Leo is asked to locate a young woman who is missing, he soon finds himself at the mercy of a witch who has been sent to kill him. Leo’s arrogance is forever amusing and I enjoyed seeing a younger (so to speak ) George and Katie. Hunter reveals some things that answer questions seen later in the series. Grade: B+

Altar Boy by Jonathan Maberry (Joe Ledger). One man discovers that redemption comes to us when we least expect it.

This story is another new series to me and again reveals a villain with a strong heroic streak. “Toys” pays penance every day for his past crimes but is given a chance to redeem himself when a young woman kidnaps him; determined to destroy the world. An interestingly layered conflict and the main character who did not reveal themselves in the way I expected. Grade C+

Unexpected Choices by Diana Pharaoh Francis (Horngate Witches). A witch must make nice with her greatest enemy is she is to save her world and those she loves.

This was one of my most anticipated stories because I got to see more of Max who is one of my favorite female protagonists. And Francis gives us two villains for the price of one. While Shoftiel is the acknowledged villain, those who have read the series must agree that Giselle is no better. In this short, Giselle needs Shoftiel’s help. She offers him complete freedom from his prison for one week of bondgae to which he agrees. I enjoyed watching two enemies learn to work together and see beyond their differences. Grade: B



Balance by Seanan McGuire (InCryptid Universe) An alien learns that no one lives forever.

McGuire’s story is an interesting and unique one. An alien species called Cuckoos lives among humans and are able to alter their minds; resulting in them eventually taking over their lives. One such Cuckoo finds themselves having to defend their actions and species to a human who sees what they do and is determined to stop them. I enjoyed the worldbuilding and narrative. The twist at the end sealed the deal. Grade: B

Urban Enemies is an interesting concept that will delight all Urban Fantasy aficionados. Though some stories are stronger than others, the collection as a whole is a solid read that has something for everyone.

Grade: B

An expertly curated collection of tales that set the spotlight firmly on those masters of mayhem and evil - the villains.

Anthologies are a wonderful way to find ‘new’ authors, and are a bit like a day trip. You get to dip into new worlds, have a quick look around, and decide if you’d like to return for a proper holiday. Sometimes all the authors are unknown to you, other times you find a new story in a world you’ve visited many times before. Urban Enemies contains stories by two authors I consider to be ‘mine’, plus a few others that I’ve heard of but never tried.
There are a host of villains and anti-heroes in these pages, and the stories are of varying qualities, which is pretty standard fare with an anthology. Highlights were Craig Schaefer’s Sixty-Six Seconds, Caitlin Kittridge’s The Resurrectionist, Domino Finn’s The Difference Between Deceit and Delusion, and Kelley Armstrong’s Hounded.
Disappointments were Lilith Saintcrow’s Kiss, and Jim Butcher’s Even Hand (not because there was anything wrong with the story - there isn’t, it’s up to his usual high standard - but because this is the third anthology it’s appeared in, a number which will increase with the publication of Brief Cases in 2018).
Over all, though, it’s a decent collection, with no howlers and lots to be discovered.

The stories included are:
Jim Butcher – Even Hand [Dresden Files]
Kelley Armstrong – Hounded [Cainsville]
Jeff Somers – Nigsu Ga Tesgu [Ustari Cycle]
Craig Schaefer – Sixty-Six Seconds [Harmony Black/Daniel Faust]
Lilith Saintcrow – Kiss [Jill Kismet]
Kevin Hearn – The Naughtiest Cherub [Iron Druid Chronicles]
Caitlin Kittredge – The Resurrectionist [Hellhound Chronicles]
Joseph Nassise – Down Where the Darkness Dwells [Templar Chronicles]
Carrie Vaughn – Bellum Romanum [Kitty Norville]
Jonathan Maberry – Altar Boy [Joe Ledger]
Faith Hunter – Make It Snappy [Jane Yellowrock]
Jon F. Merz – Chase the Fire [Lawson Vampire series]
Diana Pharaoh Francis – Unexpected Choices [Horngate Witches]
Steven Savile – Reel Life [Glass Town]
Domino Finn – The Difference Between Deceit and Delusion [Black Magic Outlaw]
Seanan McGuire – Balance [InCryptid]
Sam Witt – Everywhere [Pitchfork County]

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This collection is a set of stories told from the villains of various series. Most are the main antagonists of ongoing series so if you are a fan of the writers collected here you will be in for a treat. Most of the stories are new to the collection. The Jim Butcher story is a reprint from another collection but it fits the theme here perfectly. Several of the stories were set in new to me universes but for the most part gave a good taste of the settings they used. The Seanan McGuire story is an Incryptid one and gives great background on cuckoos and just hammers home why Sarah is so different. But the best surprise in here was the Lilith Saintcrow story about Perry’s origin. I was glad to get another peek into this story universe even if it was a short story.

Overall this is a good collection and there will be plenty of stuff for fans of various universes. And if you want a sample of what makes the bad guy sometimes the more interesting than the hero of the story try this out.

Digital review copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley

Urban Enemies
by Joseph Nassise (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Jim Butcher (Goodreads Author), Kevin Hearne (Goodreads Author), Seanan McGuire (Goodreads Author), Kelley Armstrong (Goodreads Author), Jonathan Maberry (Goodreads Author), Jeff Somers (Goodreads Author), Steven Savile (Goodreads Author) , more…
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Lou Jacobs's review
Aug 02, 2017 · edit

it was amazing

Do your remember how you rooted for "Dexter" to do the "Kill" and yet not get caught. Then this marvelous collection is for you. A mostly original collection of short stories by "fan favorite" authors, featuring stories in their own series Universe. Not a stinker among them ... most very good and atleast 6 were excellent ... especially the stories of: JIM BUTCHER ; KEVIN HEARNE ; JON MERZ ; KELLEY ARMSTRONG ; and SEAMAN McGUIRE.
This also proved a great way to discover new writers and series to follow up in a full length format ... especially: JONATHAN MABERRY ***; JOSEPH NASSISE; and DIANA PHARAOH FRANCIS.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing a copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

This is a book of short stories which I tend to avoid but with the inclusion of Jim Butcher and Jonathan Mayberry I had to give it a shot. It is a compilation of back stories of villains that are featured prominently in the author’s full length books. It provides a different perspective than the hero-centric novels. Not all bad guys are misunderstood kind souls, some are just not nice people, evil even. This book gave their point of view. Quite entertaining.

The authors included in the book are:
Kelley Armstrong
Jim Butcher
Domino Finn
Diana Pharoah Francis
Caitlin Kitteredge
Jonathan Mayberry
Seanan McGuire
Jon F. Merz
Joseph Nassise
Lilith Saintcrow
Craig Schaefer
Jeff Somers
Steven Savile
Carrie Vaughn
Sam Witt

Urban Enemies is an anthology containing 17 short stories from a slew of big-name authors in the Urban Fantasy genre. The authors contributing to this collection had a fine line to walk. Each of their stories is set within their own larger universes, so they’re tasked with writing a story that will 1 – not alienate readers new to their universe (and maybe even convince them to pick it up?) and 2 – satisfy readers already familiar with their characters and storylines. I felt like most of the authors pulled this off. I will note, that I was somewhat disappointed that not all the stories were actually about villains – some were just anti-heroes.

I’m not going to do a story-by-story rating, as I might if these stories were standalone because it wouldn’t be fair. I’m already biased to prefer the stories from authors’ whose series I read – Jim Butcher, Seanan McGuire, Kevin Hearne – over the authors who write series I haven’t even heard of.

Of the authors I’m already familiar with, I really enjoyed Kevin Hearne and Seanan McGuire’s contributions. Both were satisfying and added dimension to their universes. I was disappointed with Jim Butcher’s contribution – not because it was a bad story but because it’s a reprint. Not a new story, it’s been printed in earlier anthologies.

About half of the authors I wasn’t familiar with I was intrigued enough by their villain or worldbuilding that I plan to check out at least the first novel in the series. In particular the stories by Craig Shaeffer, Caitlin Kitteridge and the editor Joseph Nassise. Other stories were either major turnoffs or just not my thing.

Overall though, I enjoyed the collection. I didn’t read anything particularly standout in either direction as good or bad (it’s hard to like stories about unlikable characters.) If you’re a fan of any of these series, check this collection out. If not, these stories may not be the easiest entry point into these universes, but you might find one you like (or like to hate.)

Excellent stuff: all the baddies tell their tales. By their very nature, some of those tales feature gallons of gore and main characters who, at times, are fascinatingly repellent. Others provide a real insight into the ways and means by which people can go to the bad.

My favourite was Jim Butcher's contribution featuring gang boss John Marcone; it left you wondering just to what extent his apparently amoral actions are motivated by a touch of residual humanity. - a difficult nuance which Butcher renders perfectly.