Kitty's Mix-Tape

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

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.

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.

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.

If this has to be Kitty’s farewell it was a fun way to do it. I’m sad it has come to an end but it was an entertaining way to go. I enjoyed Kitty’s journey along with the friends (and enemies) she made along the way! Thanks to NetGalley the author and her publisher for letting me read an advanced copy of Kitty’s Mixed-Tape.

If we have to say goodbye to a literacy friend, this is a good way to do it. Another run ride through Kitty's world, in this case, in a selection of stories (some new, some old). Thank you for the opportunity to preview this ARC. There are several of my customers that are excited to hear there's another book coming!

This is a fun collection of short stories set in the fabulous world of Kitty Neville, werewolf extraordinaire. Readers will enjoy stories of established characters like Rick, Kitty, and Ben, as well as stories involving new characters and settings. The stories are delicious small bites.

I love Kitty. She is amazing. The other characters are well developed and complex. It is action packed and original. I cannot get enough of Kitty. I love to read about the werewolves. I get so excited when a new book comes out. I look forward to reading another one. I definitely recommend this book. The series is quite realistic.

I just love all the Kitty books. The world is so well rounded and fleshed out. this series of short stories was tight and well written, but still very readable and enjoyable. I liked all the stories as they are, complete, bit would definitely read each as a novel or novella, because they are so interesting.. thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC before publication.

Kitty’s Mix-Tape by Carrie Vaughn was a fabulous way to end the Kitty Norville series! This book is a series of short stories that checks in with beloved characters and expands your knowledge of the supernatural world that Kitty lives in.

I love that this book made it so easy to picture Kitty continuing with The Midnight Hour and learning more about the supernatural world. This book also answered some questions that you (and Kitty) probably wondered about throughout the series. Like what happens during a blood moon? Or what happened to Ben when he was kidnapped?

I am so sad that this series is now over! I have throughly enjoyed reading about Kitty, Ben, Cormac and the rest of their friends and pack. Please make sure you read this book when it comes out in October! It is sooo worth it!

I received a NetGalley copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Man, what a WONDERFUL return to Kitty's world and SO many amazing stories I've wondered about for YEARS! I hope we have more returns!

Kitty's Mix-Tape by Carrie Vaughn 5 stars

It has been about five years since Kitty Saves the World, the last book in the Kitty Norville series. This book is a short story anthology that fills in the gaps between stories and provides some insight into other characters that populate Kitty's world. I loved all the Kitty stories, especially the "Kitty Walks On By, Calls Your Name". and "Kitty Busts the Feds". I have hopes that Ms. Vaughn will visit this world again, especially after she published "The Immortal Conquistador" about Rick, the Master of Denver earlier this year.

Thank you Netgalley and Tachyon Publications for this ARC.

Kitty's Mix-Tape is a delightful mix of vignettes featuring characters from the world of werewolf DJ Kitty Norville. I love this series and miss the characters so this was like a gift. We discover Dux Bellorum’s backstory. We get to hang out with Kitty, Ben and Cormac in various locations doing what comes natural. Even Rick the vampire gets a story. I truly enjoyed revisiting these characters. Rock on, Kitty, rock on.

It has been awhile since I read anything in the Kitty Norville universe and this was an enjoyable reminder of just how much I enjoyed the series and how much I’d like to see more stories of Kitty. These stories also show just how interesting some of the minor players in her universe are. Favorite stories in this collection were Kitty Walks On By, Calls Your Name where Kitty goes to her high school reunion, It’s Still the Same Old Story with Rick the vampire and The Arcane Art of Misdirection which just makes me want to see a whole series focusing on Odysseus Grant, a stage magician who is so much more.

If you have never delved into Kitty’s world this collection can still be enjoyed as well as acting as an introduction to the series. I am inspired to go and read the whole series again from the beginning - I mean, who can resist a werewolf named Kitty. Highly recommended.

In 2005, Carrie Vaughn introduced us to Kitty Norville, a late night radio DJ who also happens to be a werewolf. I read the first book then and I've been a dedicated fan ever since. In 2015, Kitty saved the world and retired. But Carrie Vaughn has given us a gift in KITTY'S MIX-TAPE. Just like a mixed cassette tape, she has included stories that will make you feel happy, sad, mad, and every other emotion in between. Each story revolves around one of the characters that helped Kitty's stories become fan favorites. I enjoyed each of them but was left wanting just a few more. Maybe Carrie will gift us another soon.....

A fun collection of short stories from the Kitty world. It's been roughly five years since the last book in the series so this was a nice nostalgic collection and a chance to revisit some of our favorite characters. I thoroughly enjoyed it and if you're a fan of Kitty, you'll definitely want to read it!

Kitty's Mix Tape is a collection of short stories featuring Carrie Vaughn's popular series character Kitty Norville, a werewolf radio talk show host, and her various friends and enemies. Carrie Vaughn, who will be a returning Guest of Honor at Virtual Capclave 2020 in October, first wrote about Kitty in a short story, "Doctor Kitty Solves All Your Love Problems" in Weird Tales #324, Summer 2001. Kitty has appeared in fourteen novels and one previous story collection.

This collection has seventeen stories with author notes and a music playlist for each. Fellow urban fantasy writer Emma Bull contributes a nice introduction. Four stories are original to this collection and two previously appeared on Vaughn's website. The others originally appeared in magazines and anthologies. Six stories feature Kitty.

Fans of Kitty will welcome her reappearance here especially since the author had said the series was finished. Readers new to Kitty and her adventures will find this book a decent way to start their acquaintance, although they will miss some aspects of the stories if they do not know who these characters are and what their connection is to Kitty. Still, some of the stories are about the early history of the characters, before they meet Kitty, and Vaughn successfully provides information about the major characters in Kitty's life.

"Kitty Walks On By, Calls Your Name" is about Kitty and her husband Ben attending Kitty's 10th high school reunion. This shows how she has divided her life into before becoming a werewolf and after. There is a bit that comes a little too close to a certain movie, and having a character comment on the resemblance does not excuse the borrowing.

"Kitty and the Full Super Bloodmoon Thing" is a cute glimpse of the relationship between Kitty and Ben that shows what happens to werewolves when a supermoon (when the moon is closest to the Earth) and a lunar eclipse happen at once.

In "Kitty Learns the Ropes" Kitty has to decide whether to "out" a champion boxer as a werewolf. Is it fair for a supernatural creature with enhanced strength and healing to compete at a sport with regular humans?

"Kitty and Cormac's Excellent Adventure" has Cormac, a bounty hunter specializing in supernatural creatures, ask Kitty for help with delivering a message. This leads to a mysterious quest that may be part of someone else's story; unfortunately, this mysteriousness deprives the otherwise interesting story of a meaningful ending.

In "Kitty Busts the Feds", two agents from the Paranatural Security Administration burst into Kitty's recording studio in the middle of a broadcast, demanding that Kitty share recordings of the show and identify the vampire masters of various cities.

"What Happened to Ben in Vegas" only has Kitty at the very end although she is very much on the mind of Ben, who is kidnapped on the day of his wedding to Kitty. The notes say this story reveals what happens to Ben after he goes missing in Kitty and the Dead Man's Hand.

"Kitty and the Super Blue Blood or Whatever Moon Thing" is another Kitty and Ben conversation before moonrise.

The other stories involve other characters from the Kitty universe.

"It's Still the Same Old Story" stars Kitty's vampire friend Rick as he investigates the murder of an old friend who witnessed a crime in 1947. It also features Detective Hardin, a policewoman who knows about the supernatural.

"The Island of Beasts" tells a survival story of the lone female werewolf trying to maintain civilized neutrality while marooned on an island with two waring packs of male werewolves.

"The Beaux Wilde" answers the question "What would life be like for werewolves in Regency England" as a very shy lady "of great fortune and little accomplishment", but a secret talent, encounters the Misters Wilde, three brothers who are really werewolves.

"Unternehmen Werwolf" shows how the Nazis trained werewolves for special missions, in this case killing a witch, giving the history of a minor character in Kitty Goes to Washington.

"Sealskin" is about a Navy Seal with webbed hands and feet who goes to Ireland to learn about his father, about whom his mother only said that "he was like something out of a fairy tale".

"Defining Shadows" features Detective Jessi Hardin who tries to solve a murder case involving half a body. This is an excellent mystery involving a rather obscure bit of folklore.

"The Arcane Art of Misdirection" is another mystery as casino blackjack dealer Julie and magician Odysseus Grant confront a card cheat who is a master of illusion.

"Bellum Romanum" shows what led Gaius Albinus to become a world-threatening villain.

Reading this book caused me to remember how much fun is in the Kitty books and I've started re-reading them, which considering the size of my to-be-read pile is a strong endorsement for this book.

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this is book 16 in the Kitty Norville series and I'm sad to see it's the last. Kitty and her paranormal friends share their last adventures in a series of short stories. Happy to say you can read this as a stand alone book and then go back and find the rest of the series to enjoy. Some of the best paranormal creatures I've run across, a great mix of vampires and werewolves. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.