Tales of Howloween (The Tales Short Story Collection Book 1) is the perfect anthology for Halloween. Readers who enjoy paranormal and fantasy novels with werewolves, shifters, spooks, romance, and drama will not want to miss out on this dynamic collection.
Tales of Howloween draws readers in with a beautiful cover. The background gives off a sense of a cloudy twilight night with glittering stars in the sky. At the corners are depicted thorny vines in shadows weaving around and across the cover. Center stage is a beautiful profile of a wolf’s head in shades of midnight. The wolf has a bright star for an eye, with stars and a crescent moon scattered across its coat. Nestled in the wolf’s profile is the silhouette of a young woman painted in gold.
The cover of Tales of Howloween gives the impression of beauty, mystery, a sense of fantasy and a hint of the paranormal.
Tales of Howloween is an anthology of short stories written by a variety of authors. You’ll find some favorites in this Tales Short Story Collection, and you’ll discover some new authors that you’ll be eager to follow up with concerning their respective stories. Some stories are short, sweet, and to the point. While there are some stories that are longer than others.
Author D.C. Gomez kicks things off in Tales of Howloween by reuniting readers with Constantine and several others of the gang from the Death’s Interns series. This story is short and sweet with no spice which is consistent with author Gomez’s work.
Bloodstone by author Gomez gives readers a story about a dangerous stone that could potentially awaken the Egyptian god Set. Sounds like a problem, right? Well, it definitely is. But, there’s more! Of course, there’s more! Author Gomez never disappoints by doubling down on the drama that threatens to unfold, but does it with a healthy dose of humor.
Bloodstone gives readers the paranormal with tons of drama, and a nice dose of humor, and keeps readers glued to the pages. Bloodstone is short and sweet. You get a nice little short story with characters that you’re familiar with and love. While this story is one of the shorter ones of this collection, it still whets the appetite for more Constantine and the crew.
Now, the next story in Tales of Howloween is one that you’re not going to be ready for. Author Arla Jones comes with the intent to surprise readers and boy does she ever! The Wolves – Werewolf Football Players is a story that will literally have your jaw on the floor. You’re getting contaminated pills, “adverse effects” and a twist element that will have your eyes popping out of your head. You will be thinking “WTF did I just read?!”
It’s more than safe to say that The Wolves – Werewolf Football Players gives readers the stereotypical werewolf, but goes a step further. Author Jones gives readers a lead-up that we find predictable, and then…BAM! We get hit with a shocker. It’s an aspect of this short story that readers will not be forgetting any time soon. Plus, readers who like the angle that author Jones takes will be rushing off to check out more of her works.
The shortest story in Tales of Howloween is the short story – For Shuck’s Sake by Julie L. Kramer. This story brings something fresh and new to the table. In this story, we’re getting more shifters and wolves, but this time it’s a hybrid character. Okay, hybrid characters aren’t necessarily “fresh and new” but it’s the type of hybrid that we’re getting.
Author Kramer introduces readers to shucks. What are shucks? Well, they’re a mix of selkies and wolves. Author Kramer beautifully combines these two shifter breeds together to create something new and unique. This story is a tease of a bigger story yet to come. We meet a trio of friends. Their relationship is a beautiful one. Their friendship is strong, and readers will love how they connect to each other. No romance is to be found, but who knows what’s to come later on once the story is fully fleshed out.
As Tales of Howloween unfolds with each unique story by their own respective authors readers will be transported to various locations and meet a dynamic cast of characters. Readers will be swept away to fantastical worlds to explore and with each new story, the romance will begin to creep in. The steam-o-meter will gradually inch up until you’re getting some sweet tasty moments to enjoy.
Each story in Tales of Howloween begins with a brief introduction about the author and gives readers some information about them that you probably didn’t even know. You’ll also get a tiny blurb that will give you an idea of what to expect concerning the story you’ve come to. Each author includes a list of tropes you’ll discover with the story and a steamy meter.
The first few stories you’ll encounter in Tales of Howloween will have little to no steamy moments. As this anthology progresses the steamy meter will begin to inch up a little bit a time. When the steamy hits – it hits. Now, does that mean that you’re getting a ton of steamy? Not necessarily. You’ll get one book that hits 4/5 on the steamy meter, but that’s about it.
For readers who prefer the “less is more” then this anthology will suit you just fine. You’ll be able to go in, check which stories have the levels that you’re comfortable with, and read those. Each story in Tales of Howloween will have something for readers looking for stories up and down the range.
Want something with no spice? The first four stories have got you covered. Want something with ranging degrees of steamy? Then the remaining five stories will have you covered and more. You’ll get the romance you crave, plus a little more – depending on the story, of course.
Tales of Howloween (The Tales of Short Story Collection Book 1) is a deliciously delightful collection of short stories that give readers a taste of a variety of authors and their respective works. Readers get romance, drama, horror, fantasy, paranormal, and even a little science fiction. This anthology definitely will keep readers on their toes about what to expect.
Love an anthology that gives you a little of everything? Then Tales of Howloween is the anthology for you. Love wolves? Then Tales of Howloween is the anthology for you. Like being able to select how much spice you read in a story? Then Tales of Howloween is the book for you. So, what are you waiting for? Snap this collection up and treat yourself to a delightful Halloween anthology.
Pros:
- A dynamic collection of stories
- Varying levels of steaminess gradually increase as the anthology goes along.
- The “howl”-oween element is thoroughly represented in each story.
- Engaging storylines that leave you wanting more.
- Page-turner
Cons:
- None of merit
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