AN APPLE FOR THE CREATURE is an anthology comprised of
thirteen bestselling authors in both the urban fantasy and
mystery genre. The running theme within all stories is
supernatural education. Editors, Charlaine Harris and Toni
L.P. Kelner have compiled a stellar list of authors
including Ilona Andrews, Thomas E. Sniegoski, Faith Hunter,
Nancy Holder and many more.
At the top of the list is Charlaine Harris' never-before-
published Sookie Stackhouse short story called "Playing
Possum". This story has quite a bit of action for its short
length. It's Hunter Savoy's birthday and Aunt Sookie has
made some cupcakes to deliver to his school so he can
celebrate with his classmates. However, the school's
secretary has her own personal problem that bleeds into
work time. When Sherry Javitts' ex-boyfriend, Brady insists
on holding on to their relationship and Sherry turns him
down, their break-up soon becomes everyone's problem when
Brady comes toting a gun to the school where Sherry works.
The threat is high and Sookie has a group of innocents to
protect from the line of fire.
New-to-me author, Faith Hunter has a short story in her
Jane Yellowrock series entitled, "Golden Delicious". I
love anthologies because they give me an opportunity to
discover new authors. After reading this short story, I
found myself enthralled by Hunter's writing and her world.
I will definitely be checking out the rest of the series.
The clear standout of this anthology has to be Ilona
Andrews' "Magic Tests". Set in Julie's POV, Kate and Julie
find themselves waiting at the principal's office. Julie
thinks she's in trouble once again, but soon finds out that
they have been called in to find a missing student. Instead
of Kate nosing her way through the school, Julie takes on
the case and with the help of other students, she is able
to put her training to the test. Andrews infuses mythology,
humor and action, creating a fun-filled short story that
is sure to be enjoyed by all.
Overall, AN APPLE FOR THE CREATURE is a great read. With
such a vast array of authors from different genres, readers
are sure to find at least one story that they can enjoy.
The running theme of supernatural education and the
presence of apples, as displayed nicely on the cover, ties
in all the short stories together. I only wish some of the
stories were longer!
Includes a never-before-published Sookie Stackhouse
story!
What could be scarier than the first day
of school? How about a crash course in the paranormal from
Charlaine Harris and Toni L. P. Kelner, editors of Home
Improvement: Undead Edition? Your worst school
nightmares—taking that math test you never studied for,
finding yourself naked in school assembly, not knowing which
door to enter—will pale in comparison to these thirteen
original stories that take academic anxiety to whole new
realms.
In #1 New York Times bestselling
author Charlaine Harris’s story, "Playing Possum," Sookie
Stackhouse brings enough birthday cupcakes for her nephew's
entire class but finds she's one short when the angry
ex-boyfriend of the school secretary shows up.
When
her guardian, Kate Daniels, sends her undercover to a school
for exceptional children, teenaged Julie learns an all-new
definition of "exceptional," in New York Times
bestselling author Ilona Andrews's "Magic Tests."
For those who like fangs with their forensics,
New York Times bestselling author Nancy Holder offers
"VSI," in which FBI agent Claire is tested as never before
in a school for Vampire Scene Investigation.
And in
New York Times bestselling author Thomas Sniegoski's
"The Bad Hour," Remy Chandler and his dog Marlowe find evil
unleashed in an obedience school.
You'll need more
than an apple to stave off the creatures in these and nine
other stories. Remember your first lesson: resistance is
fruitless!
Includes stories by: ILONA ANDREWS, AMBER
BENSON, RHYS BOWEN, MIKE CAREY, CHARLAINE HARRIS, DONALD
HARSTAD, STEVE HOCKENSMITH, NANCY HOLDER, FAITH HUNTER, TONI
L.P. KELNER, MARJORIE LIU, JONATHAN MABERRY, THOMAS SNIEGOSKI