I love how this short story collection has tie in songs for each story. It adds another layer to the story especially with the author’s notes included.

The collection is the final installment in the Kitty Norville series though each story doesn’t follow Kitty, some are even historical but they are all supernatural, set in this universe and mostly feature characters from the series.

It’s kind of a look around the world at what else was going on since the main series is told from Kitty’s perspective the view is limited to what she experiences. With this collection we get to see a little more and discover things she doesn’t know as well as some new experiences for her since Kitty Saves the World.

*review posted to blog www.elainehowlin.com on release date

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to review "Kitty's Mix-Tape" in exchange for an honest review. I have to say upfront that I have been a Kitty fan for many years now and I used to gobble up each installment of that series. I was leery of a short story collection which was part Kitty universe and part not, but I should not have feared because Carrie Vaughn kept things entertaining. And no story was super long so if it was one I enjoyed less than others it wasn't a drudge to get through.

Kitty Walks On By, Calls Your Name- Super cute story about Kitty attending her high school reunion. Loved the play on Breakfast Club. Intrigued by other characters appearing from her past.

It's Still the Same Old Story- This one is about Master Vampire Rick. It was a mystery that brought his past and future together and was actually beautiful and a little sad.

Island of Beasts- a story about a woman who gets left by her attackers on an island and she suddenly finds out she isn't alone there.

The Beaux Wilde- I loved this one so much that I want more stories about these characters/world. This would have made a great novella if not full novel. (Carrie please hear my call!) Miss Elizabeth Weston is a fine young woman of great fortune who just isn't interested in finding a husband. Until fate intervenes at a dance and she meets three Wilde brothers.

Unternehmen Werewolf- My personal least fave, esp coming off the story prior. A story of a werewolf back in 1940's Germany.

Kitty and the Full Super Bloodmoon Thing- This was a super short look at Kitty during the bloodmoon. Always cute because it involves Kitty.

Kitty and Cormac's Excellent Adventure- If I ever liked a character in any series, it is for sure Cormac! This time Cormac has a mystery to solve and Kitty 'kitties' her way into helping. A good little mystery and fun times with some great characters. One of my favorites in this collection.

Sealskin- I wasn't sure about this one as I started it, but I ended up really liking it. Its about a man who doesn't feel comfortable in his skin, in his life. So he lets himself travel back to a world where his mother met his unknown father and some really beautiful stuff happens. (no spoilers is much harder on short stories)

The Arcane Art of Misdirection- This featured a character who was in a couple of Kitty novels. He is a magician in Vegas. The story itself was very enjoyable. He and a cardealer try to bring down a cheater.

What Happened to Ben in Vegas- We know some of this story but this is Ben's side of things and gives some more detail. Ben is fine? A good husband? But he's no Cormac.

Kitty and the Super Blue Blood or Whatever Moon Thing- Another super quick story about Kitty being a werewolf and the moon.

Defining Shadows- Another minor character from the series shows up here. Detective Jessi Hardin investigates a very disturbing murder. This one has a quick dose of Cormac. (I might be in love with Cormac) Even without his inclusion, this is one of the strongest stories.

Bellum Romanum- This is a tale of Gaius Albinus...playing the long game. It showed a bit more of his origin.

Kitty Learns the Ropes- another great short featuring Kitty. This time she is helping a reporter figure out if a heavyweight boxer is abusing the game because he is a werewolf.

Kitty Busts the Feds- an interesting story about some shady Feds showing up during the taping of Kitty's talk show. This was a nice one to end on because it brings in (quickly) some of my most favorite aspects of the series.

I really enjoyed reading this collection of short stories, it was really fantastic to be back in Kitty's world, and we did get a few from Kitty's perspective, so that was really great! I really enjoyed spending more time in this world!

There were a few short stories that we've gotten in previous anthologies, like Dux Bellorum's story, or Jessi Hardin's Philippines vampire story. But there were also a few new ones, like Kitty's 10 High School Reunion, which was pretty interesting. And there were 2 flash pieces that were apparently posted, about the affects different conditions of the moon might cause that were really fun to read!

Of my favourite stories, it was either The Island of Beasts, or the story of what happened to Ben in Vegas, of his kidnapping and how he got shot, and how he escaped. I wish we had an idea of what happened next int he Island of Beasts, since I don't think they're ever mentioned again, but both stories were really great to read!

There's only one story that I know takes place after the main series, and that's because their son is mentioned, and that happened right at the very end of the final book. So it was great to see how things have settled, but that the world is still turning, and people are causing problems!

Loved reading this collection of stories, it was such a great read and I would love to have more time in this world, regardless of who stars in it!

A delightful return to Kitty's world, featuring a mix of short stories (some new to this collection, some reprinted from other sources). Like "Kitty's Greatest Hits" this one includes some stories from Kitty's PoV, some from those of other familiar characters (Ben, Rick, Roman, Fritz) and some stories set in the same world (including a sequel to "The Temptation of Robin Green") that feature new characters.

If you're new to Kitty's world, there's a lot here to enjoy, but be warned that some events in the novels will be incidentally spoiled by some of these stories.

A varied collection of short fiction in the world of the Kitty Norville stories. I say "in the world of" because it includes a couple of stories set in the 19th century, which seem not to feature any characters from the main (contemporary) series - and with a number of characters being unaffected by ageing, that isn't as odd a sentence as it sounds. In fact, there's one story about Rick the Conquistador vampire and some experiences of his from 50 years ago that suddenly become relevant today.

A couple of the pieces are just short vignettes written for posting on social media, and could have been skipped without losing anything from the book, but they're short enough that it's not a problem. Others are side-stories for characters in the books; the books are all from Kitty's viewpoint, but these give other characters a chance at centre stage.

Carrie Vaughn is that unusual thing, a novelist who is also a good short story writer, and while I've read standalone short stories of hers that are better than many of the ones in this volume, that isn't to say these aren't good. And if you're a fan of the main series, you'll probably enjoy these glimpses into other characters' lives and other places and times.

I enjoyed revisiting Kitty's world for this book. The stories are great. There are some new stories mixed in with the old. #KittysMixTape #NetGalley

It’s been five years since the “final” book in the Kitty Norville series was published (2015’s “Kitty Saves the World”) so more stories taking place in this fascinating universe are indeed welcome. This volume of short stories presents a nice variety of tales, some of which feature Kitty herself, some that fill out background of series characters or present different views on subplots we’ve seen in the novels. So if you’re interested in what it might be like for a werewolf to unleash his power as a professional boxer, or solve a supernatural case with Detective Jessi Harden, or read stories with characters like Cormac, Ben, or magician Odysseus Grant as the protagonist, then dive right in. My favorite was probably “Bellum Romanum”, the one featuring Gaius Albinus, (AKA, Roman) that provides some eye-opening deeper background into critical history for the entire series.

Carrie Vaughn is well known as the author of the Kitty Norville novels about the werewolf who hosts a radio show and has a penchant for getting into trouble of all stripes. But she is also a highly-regarded short story writer, a deserving award winner, a regular contributor to George R. R. Martin’s “Wild Cards” series, and it is with this form that I think she is truly masterful. Generally speaking, most authors will tell you that writing good short stories is more difficult than writing good novels, but Ms. Vaughn makes it look easy.

The appendix includes author’s notes on each story including how it came to be and where it was first published (for those stories not original to this collection). Also included, as the book’s title implies, is a list of music comprising the playlist that appropriately accompanies each story.

All in all, this is a delightful way to revisit the entire series, learn more about the characters, and simply enjoy a dose of excellent short stories.

Filled with short stories, Kitty's Mix-Tape was a fun read. I really liked the short stories, with the various characters. It was also a bit funny at times too.

Overall, it was a good read.

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of KITTY’S MIX-TAPE (A Kitty Norville Series short story anthology) by Carrie Vaughn in exchange for an honest review. This is a collection of supernatural short stories; some are in Kitty’s world and some aren’t clearly identifiable as being part of that reality. The tales fill in a few gaps by providing information Kitty didn’t know, give us a few new adventures, introduce some new characters, and inspire a small hope that, though the series has officially concluded, Kitty’s story may, eventually, continue.

I have been a fan of the Kitty Norville Series since the beginning. I even bought most of the books twice as I abandoned the dead-tree editions for digital. I obviously and enthusiastically recommend the entire series to all fans of urban fantasy. (Trigger warning: the series is rife with physical violence and contains some sexual violence, as well).

#KittysMixTape #NetGalley