3.25 🌟

If you’re a fan of Faith Hunter you will love this compilation. It’s also great for new readers as as you’ll get a glimpse into Hunter’s characters (especially Leo and also the Everhart witches), and will definitely find yourself wanting to read more from her series!

While nothing here is new, it is still an enjoyable read and great to have these stories in one place, and be able to dive deeper into some of the characters readers have come to love!

*Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group- Ace, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

This review was originally posted on <a href="https://booksofmyheart.net/2022/04/30/of-claws-and-fangs-by-faith-hunter/" target="_blank"> Books of My Heart</a>
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<i>Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.</i>

I was very excited to have this anthology of the "rest" of the short stories and novellas which are not in <strong>Blood In Her Veins</strong>.  I love the previous anthology but I wasn't sure how much I would like <strong>Of Claws and Fangs</strong>.  I knew some of the stories were from special anthologies like <strong>Dirty Deeds</strong>.  Others were from serials on blog tours or in newsletters.  I do know some were edited and updated.    I am here to tell you these were fantastic!

One thing I really enjoyed was the few sentences at the start of each story giving the setting and timeframe, and where it was previously available.  It helped me get right into the story and settle into them easily.  I know I would not read these if I was not a fan who had read already read the series.  There is so much background and history one wouldn't know without being a series reader.  Still, the stories are very well-written.  They also develop some characters further from the existing series books.

There are a few stories with Beast's point of view, and we learn more things about her Jane doesn't even know.  We get a couple stories with Leo's thoughts as the main character.  We have the blind date between Wrassler and Jodi.  There is a story with Nell and PsyLED, and one with just Occam.  Jane appears in a  couple stories as a main character to further develop side characters, but mostly only as a supporting character.  Edmund is the main character view in two stories, one with Beast and one with the Everharts. There are two historical tales of Ayatas Firewind.  Finally, there are multiple stories about the Everharts and witches including Molly, Evan, Angie, EJ, Shiloh, Liz and Cia.  One story includes their mother and grandmother.  In two Everhart stories, we also get more information about Lincoln Shaddock and some of his point of view.

<strong>Of Claws and Fangs</strong> is excellent and a real gift for fans.  I love the stories and further details about so many characters and their histories. Overall, there is very little of Jane and Nell with most of the focus on other wonderful characters.  I can't recommend this one highly enough.

A very enjoyable set of stories for anyone that’s liked this series! I’d seen one or two before but most were new to me. If you’re a fan you’ll find something fresh here unless you’ve really hunted high and low for every story you could find. I’d recommend to any series fan.

Candy from a Vampire: This story was first published on the authors blog as a serial for a blog tour for Halloween 2017. This story features Leo Pellissier, a story that lots of readers requested from the author to write. Halloween in the French Quarter without all the notable chaos and bloodshed and a happy ending.

Make it Snappy: First published in Urban Enemies, an anthology from Gallery Books in 2017. The story is again from Leo's point of view. The story is set a few years before Jane and Leo meet. I've reviewed this story previously under Urban Enemies.

It's Just a Date: First published online as a serial short, as part of a blog tour in 2016. In the timeline, Jane is the Enforcer to Leo. Jane and Jodi have agreed to double date with Bruiser and Wrassler who Jodi has fallen in love with. Eli Younger and Sylvia also tag along to make it a triple date. Chaos ensues when a witch seeking vengeance appears.

Life's a Bitch and Then You Die: First published as a serial short online in 2017 and takes place while Jane was sick. The story is from Beast and Wesa's point of view. Timeline wise, the author says it takes place before or after Of Cats and Cars. A combination of Jane and Beast's memory of the past. Of being caught by maybe military people? Likely about the time Jane walked out of the woods with bullet wound scars on her.

Black Friday Shopping: A Soulwood story featuring Nell which was released in 2017. The story is about Nell and Occam shopping at Walmart. Have you ever visited Walmart on Black Friday? Think of that chaos, and add a child with witch powers that makes things even more chaotic and you have an entertaining story.

How Occam Got His Name: First appeared as a serial short, as part of a blog tour in 2018. It is written from the point of view of Occam, and answers fans questions about the origins of the were-leopard special agent who has won Nell's heart.

Shiloh and the Brick: First appeared as a serial short in 2016 for the release of Blood in Her Veins. Shiloh Everhart Stone is a witch turned vampire who is being forced into learning how to control her needs by her aunt Molly Everhart. She may be as powerful as Angie Baby. Shiloh is a major incident waiting to happen. She's been used, and abused, suffered untold years of trauma, and is finally free. This story make be a look into the future years of Angelina and what Molly, Evan, and Jane have to look forward to.

Beast Hunts Vampire with Jane: Originally published online in 2011 as a Christmas serial short, and rewritten for this anthology. Story is from Beast's point of view. Shopping and hunting with Jane is fun. But Jane singing is like cats screaming.
"Blood drops on pavement,
And whiskers on Beastie,
Bright copper teapots and
Huge Christmas feast-ies.
Vamp-ire bodies all tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things!"

Of Cats and Cars: This short story, originally written from Edmund Hartley's point of view, was first published on the authors blog in 2019, and as a serialized blog tour event. It has been rewritten and extended (with more of Beast's point of view). Author states this takes place at the end of Dark Queen and after Life's a Bitch and Then You Die. Eli and Alex Younger make appearances in this story.

Beast Hunts Pie-Bald Deer: Beast story of Hunt. Beast talks to reader. Humans in beast point of view.

Jane Tracks Down Miz A: The original version of this short-short went to a single winner for a charity auction. Except for the winner, no one has ever seen this vignette, and the ending has been altered. Timeline is Jane's world is uncertain. Miz A is a blood servant who disappeared after a bloody fight at Katie's Ladies not long after Jane arrived in New Orleans. Jane learns just how mysterious Katie Fonteneau can be.

Anzu, Duba, Beast: First published in WERE an anthology from Zombies Need Brains (2016). It is in the timeline before Jane becomes the Dark Queen. Jane owes Girrard DiMercy, aka the Mercy Blade, a hunt and Leo offers a little hint as to what Gee and Jane will be facing. "May your hunt be bloody. May you rend and eat the flesh of your prey." Recommended highly.

Eighteen Sixty: A prequel from Ayatas Firewind, Jane Yellowrocks brother. First published in the Weird Wild West, an anthology (2015). Story takes place in 1860, and is written in the point of view of Ayatas. This story makes mention of a woman with magic. Read the next story to find out who this woman is.

Wolves Howling in the Night: First published in Lawless Lands: Tales from the Weird Frontier an anthology from Falstaff Books 2017. The year is 1879. Story once again focuses on Ayatas Firewind. This time you meet the woman named Etsi, or Everhart, the woman with magic, who also states she is a reporter. The two have been together since 1860, nearly inseparable.

Death and the Fashionista: First published in The Death of All Things, an anthology 2017. This story takes place just after Molly Everhart-Trueblood found her death magics. Angie is the first to warn of trouble when people try to attack the Everhart household. Angie's angel warns that 'Death is the Truth and the Lie. And Death can be cheated.' Woman calls herself Sally, Fear of death, man claims to be Death of Magic. Appearances by Molly's sisters Boadicea (Cea) and Elizabeth (Liz). Recommended highly.

My Dark Knight: First published in Temporally Deactivated, an anthology from Zombies Need Brains 2017. In the Yellowrock timeline, it occurs just after Angelina Everhart aka Angie Baby staring calling Jane "Ant" Jane. This novella is one of the longest in this anthology, and one of the most entertaining. Her dark knight refers to Edmond, who swore a blood oath and fealty to the Everharts and Truebloods. More trouble, and more chaos for the family.

Bound into Darkness: First published in Dirty Deeds, an anthology from Pen and Page Publishing (2021). Sometime between books 13 and 14 in Jane's series. Liz Everhart and Eli Younger aka Captain America to Angie and EJ, are the main characters in this book. I will say that THIS is the longest novella in the entire anthology. Liz has come a long way since her older sister Evangelina tried to kill her. Liz agrees to take a job finding a lost dog. From a lost dog, to an assault on Liz and Eli, to Jane, Cea, and Lincoln Shaddock showing up to help. Surprisingly nobody, this was by far the most entertaining story in this entire anthology.

The Ties That Bind: First published in Dirty Deeds, an anthology 2021. Features Bedelia Everhart, as well as Lincoln Shaddock. This story takes place during and after the events of Bound into Darkness which makes sense because Bedelia was mentioned in that story, and she's Cea and Liz's mother. Bedelia learns that her entire family is at risk, and it's up to her, and Lincoln, as well as some old friends, to be a stop to it. There's some interesting aspects of Bedelia and Lincoln's relationship that is highly revealing which I shall not spoil. Definitely worth the read.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group - Ace and Netgalley for the advanced reading copy of this book. Review below contains my own thoughts and opinions.

Faith Hunter is a new to me author - and I am sad to not have found her sooner. Of Claws and Fangs was an excellent introduction into her work, as a compilation of 18 short stories in her Jane Yellowrock and Soulwood world.

As soon as I finished the first story, I immediately went to my library’s app to reserve one of Hunter’s books so that I could immerse myself more deeply into this fantasy universe. Her writing is engrossing, and I thoroughly enjoyed this collection. It’s such a treat for new and longtime fans of Hunter’s work to have all of these stories in one book.

Desperately looking for some of the short stories Ms. Hunter wrote in the Jane Yellowrock series but cannot find them? Well, look no more! This collection features a consolidation of stories posted and published in all different places. There are a few stories that cross over into the Soulwood series too. I believe there is only 1 story in here that was never published and written for just 1 fan as a prize. For me, I learned that there were more than a few I had never come across so I delighted in reading this collection.

I am going to avoid any spoilers or go through a detailed breakdown of each story. What I can say is that I cherished receiving a glimpse into the lives of Jane and her extended family and friends. Each of these stories builds another layer into this magical world. I am especially fond of Molly's kids. Angie is beyond adorable. Her young love of a vampire and calling him her Dark Knight is precious. As many little girls are wont to do, they find an older man they crush on and are determined they will marry him. Angie is no different. Her story may be my favourite. I hope someday, there may be a spin-off with Angie being the lead character. There is so much that can be done with her.

Beast showing up in a few of the stories also warms my heart. She is fearless and humourous. The ponderings of a wild animal in its simplicity and directness make me feel comfortable. Why? Because there is little to no deceit. It is refreshing. Beast is able to make pointed comments that are not politically correct and then label stupid thinking as stupid. And this is why I love Beast... the envy of her ability to speak her mind and get away with it.

This collection is recommended to Yellowrock fans who want to see a daily in the life of these fantastic characters.

With the final book in the Jane Yellowrock series out this year, readers will want to have this anthology to complete the whole works. It also contains stories from the Soulwood series as well and it is handy to have these stories all now available in one place. Some of the tales are about other characters from each of Jane Yellowrock and the crossover Soulwood world while others focus on Jane or Nell, all but one has been previously released. Not surprisingly everyone’s favorite vampire Leo Pellissier is featured more than once. While it will be hard to see the end of the series, we can hope for more stories of the ancillary characters from Jane Yellowrock will appear in the future where we might just catch a glimpse of our favorite Skinwalker.

Candy From a Vampire
A Halloween story with Leo, Del and the development of their working relationship.

Make It Snappy
Another Leo story pre-Jane where he has to confront and defeat a very serious enemy, El Mago, who has a strong connection to him, almost ending up true-dead himself. Derek Lee and his squad make an early appearance.

It’s Just a Date
Jane, Bruiser, Jodi and Wrassler, Eli, and Slyvia on a triple date to a restaurant where some witchy badness happens.

Life’s a Bitch and Then You Die
This story takes place during the time Jane is sick and living in North Carolina. She accesses some of Beast’s memories of their past together when she was Wesa as well as how Beast got her name.

Black Friday Shopping
A Soulwood story around the time that Nell has first joined PsyLED as a probie. Nell and Occam are sent to check out a Walmart where someone is throwing curses and causing havoc among the aisles with falling Christmas trees and exploding batteries amid the chaos of Black Friday.

How Occam Got His Name
Readers know Occam’s backstory of being stuck in a cage for twenty years. This is the difficult story of those early years and how he became a werecat as well as his name’s origin.

Shiloh and the Brick
Jane the Enforcer telling Shiloh how it’s going to be because of her out of control vampire witch teenage angst. Leo doing what he does best.

Beast Hunts Vampire with Jane
This story is Beast and Jane on the hunt with Jane in human form told from Beast’s point of view.

Of Cats and Cars
Beast finally gets her fondest wish going hunting in Edmund car morphs into a Hummer in Texas. Edmund and Beast’s point of view and the wild ride. Who can resist a big cat purring like a kitten? Edmund’s still dealing with his grief over Leo’s defeat. This one is a longer story in the anthology.

Beast Hunts Pie-Bald Deer
Beast and Faith Hunter interacting in this cute shorty.

Jane Tracks Down Miz A – A Short Short Story
The first time this story has been published. It may bring a tear to your eye.

Anzu, Duba, Beast
Jane and Gee DiMercy go a’huntin with shifting to new forms for Jane. Hint: think Big Bird

Eighteen Sixty-A Prequel from Ayatas FireWind
Jane’s brother gets his say: interesting parts of Ayatas’s backstory.

Wolves Howling in the Night-A Story of Ayatas FireWind
This story of Ayatas is set in 1879. An Everhart connection, his “fire woman,” their story has some grim abuses in it.

Death and the Fashionista- This story takes place after Molly found her death magics and Death comes a’callin.

My Dark Knight
An Angie baby and her protector, Edmund, to the rescue after the family is attacked story.

Bound Into Darkness
Set between Jane 13 and 14 Eli Younger and Liz Everhart go on quite the adventure. This is one of the longest stories.

Ties That Bind
Bedelia, the Everhart matriarch is the focus of this last one in the anthology.

Stories from the worlds of Jane Yellowrock and Soulwood giving us tantalizing glimpses of some of the minor and major characters. Among my favorites are How Occam Got His Name which gives us a glimpse into Occam’s childhood and My Dark Knight which explores the bond between the witch child Angie and the vampire Edmund. A close runner up is The Ties That Bind which gives us a look at the vampire Lincoln Shaddock’s past and ties with the Everheart clan of witches. Overall a must have for all fans of Jane Yellowrock and Soulwood. Highly recommended

I so enjoyed these stories sent in the wonderful and unique world Faith Hunter has created. It whets my appetite for more!

I'm not usually a fan of short stories, but this compilation was great. I loved spending more time with Beast. And I really enjoyed the stories with Edmund and Angie Baby. This compilation was a great precursor to True Dead.

A few stories in this collection I have read online or in other collections but there were still some I had not read yet.

I absolutely love this world and I'm so sad the final Jane Yellowrock book is coming out this year.

I'm glad the world continues with the Soulwood novels.

I'm hoping for another spinoff series featuring The Everhart witches. This book features several short stories about the witches and they reveal some shocking subplots that could seriously be fleshed out for a new series. So much tea is spilled in these stories, I really hope the author follows up because I am dying to know more about these Everhart reveals.

This book is a must-read for those who love the Jane Yellowrock and Soulwood novels.

I generally really enjoy Faith Hunter's writing and series - I never really fell in love with Jane Yellowrock, but I really really enjoy the Soulwood series. There were some fun books in here, some of which were online, but for sure worth a read

I love Faith Hunter books, but as they are written in first person POV sometimes you miss things that are going on with the other characters. I like these short stories because they give you a better look at some of my favorites. I had read most of these as they were in other anthologies but some of them were new to me. If you are a fan of the Jane Yellowrock series and want more of the other characters including Beast I would recommend this book.

I love short story collections, especially when they're branched off from a main series, like with 'Of Claws and Fangs'. I've always enjoyed the world of Jane Yellowrock and the background characters (sometimes more than Jane herself) so this was a great opportunity to read or reread some of Faith Hunter's shorts. There's nothing really new here if you've kept up with Faith Hunter's website/blog but if you're like me and it's been a while since you've read them, this is a nice refresher. I loved the Leo POV's and the Soulwood stories the most but it's always fun to get a small look at Jane and company outside of the main arc.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Have to be honest here. I’ve read all the Jane Yellowrock books and enjoyed them; but I really like the Soulwood series and Nell. Something really fresh and different there. A couple of these stories were familiar, like I might have read them in another anthology. No matter, the short stories were all great, new to me or not.

Of Claws and Fangs is the perfect anthology for new readers and longtime fans alike. Hunter's skills as an author are on full display as she curates a feast that offers tantilizing bites and sips of life with the people from multiple series-Soulwood and Jane Yellowrock- whose lives intertwine with our heroine, Jane Yellowrock. Eighteen short but robust stories in all makes this well worth the purchase.

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I've read many of these short stories before, as this anthology is a compilation of all the shorties that she's put out since the release of her first compilation anthology, Blood in Her Veins. But of course, revisiting Jane's world is always a pleasure and it's been a long time for most of these stories, so I'm reading them all again! Yay!

ALL of these stories were good, most of them I'd call great.
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Story: Candy from a Vampire
I love Leo and I love Del, and I liked this glimpse of seeing Leo's growth. I also really loved getting the story of Leo's decision to give Del real responsibility. Plus, I love Halloween!
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Story: Make It Snappy
We get another glimpse of Leo in this one, and it has a fantastic twist. I also love seeing some of Leo's history come back to haunt him.
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Story: It's Just a Date
Wish we'd had a little more of the date before the stuff happens... or a little more of the date after. But it was cute to see Wrassler and Jodi so nervous. :)
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Story: Life's a Bitch and Then You Die
Hard to read, but great history of Wesa and Cat working together for the first time and understanding the origin of the "Beast" moniker.
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Story: Black Friday Shopping
I love me some Nell and Occam, but this story just left me wanting more - more explanation, more resolution, more!
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Story: How Occam Got His Name
Devastating story. But I sure do adore Occam.
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Story: Shiloh and the Brick
Leo always has plans within plans within plans, years ahead.
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Story: Beast Hunts Vampire with Jane
It's always fun to be in Beast's thoughts.
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Story: Of Cats and Cars
Do you know how much I love Edmund? SO MUCH. And Beast has always wanted to ride in that car... deals and hinjinx ensue, obviously. I really enjoyed getting Edmund's POV - especially his grief over you know who's death - juxtaposed with Beast's.
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Story: Beast Hunts Pie-Bald Deer
That was a cute interaction between Beast and Faith Hunter, told from Beast's perspective.
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Story: Jane Tracks Down Miz A
What a truly sad tale. :(
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Story: Anzu, Duba, Beast
Gee is a very interesting character. Feathers and lightning and Mercy Blade status. Plus, it's really fun to see Jane get to shift into new things. Plus who doesn't love a good zombie were-bear-hyena story?
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Story: Eighteen Sixty
Ayatas is so interesting and I loved getting to see some of his backstory... also, Everhart reference!!!
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Story: Wolves Howling in the Night
More of Ayatas and Etsi Everhart. A little harder to read, based on the subject matter (potential trigger warning!), but a good story and shows Ayatas' sense of justice and morality.
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Story: Death and the Fashionista
My favorite supernaturals to read about are... witches! And I adore the Everharts. Personality-wise, they're fantastic. Power-wise, they're badass. This story is no exception. We get to see a handful of the Everhart Trueblood clan go up against Death, Fear, and demon of dark magic... and it's a BLAST.
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Story: My Dark Knight
Witch stuff AND Edmund? Yes please! Angie and Edmund's bond is such good reading. I can't wait to see future books after Jane ends. I need to see Angie grown up!
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Story: Bound into Darkness
Eli + Liz 4eva. I love them together!!! Definitely one of my favorites of the anthology. Plus it was way longer :)
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Story: The Ties That Bind
Whaaaat? We get a story with the famous Everhart daughters' MOTHER!? Awesome! :) We get to see a little bit more of what's going on in Bound into Darkness, but events that took place elsewhere. I love Faith's witch lore.

Loved having these stories gathered into one place. I've already ordered the book for my library system. Some of them I'd still like in more depth, but I'll take them any way that Ms. Hunter wants to share them.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

So terrific to have all of these stories in one place. Any collection by Faith Hunter is worth owning, if only to help fill in the gaps between books. Love this author.

It starts off slow and kind of dense, but once the action begins, it's hard to resist the story as it drives forward. It reads as a true epic, one that makes you feel the world really has been reshaped as you read it. Would recommend.