Furry Book Review

Ok, hear me out. Imagine Redwall mixed with Game of Thrones mixed with a healthy dose of Phil Geusz' post-apocalyptic science fiction. That's what you're getting with Jaysen Headley's newest book, Longtails: The Storms of Spring.In a mildly futuristic Earth, society is comprised of anthropomorphic animals who use swords and magic alongside super-advanced technology. Of course, "science fantasy" is an emerging genre still, and it's great to see this in a furry book. We follow the main mousetagonist Del Hatherhorne who is claimed to be a nobody much like Harry Potter who naturally finds himself to be born with certain special talents, namely the ability to use multiple elements of magic.Part of the more metaphorical magic of this book is the amount of worldbuilding the author put into this work. It is such a rich and advanced world with history, lore, literature, and politics. It is such a unique world.However, I'd hesitate to give the book a full five stars. The tone is at such odds with itself, mostly being a very young adult style—similar to Harry Potter (the early books) or the Redwall series—but then having bloody scenes that are sharp, shocking, visceral, and grotesque. It reminds me of Kurtis Jobling's young adult animal fantasy series because of that contrast in audience.At times, the dialogue comes off as incredibly choppy and unrealistic. We have this amazing world to explore, but it's hard to want to explore it with fairly simple characters who are generally hard to bond with. When it comes to plot, the narrative is fairly straightforward as a young adult fantasy.However, if you are an avid devourer of fantasy literature, then please check this out. The worldbuilding is delightful. Its pacing may seem pedantic at points, especially the beginning, but it does get better. And you will find yourself asking where you would fit in this society if given the choice.I also want to commend the book as a product itself. The cover is stunning considering this isn't done by one of the "major houses," and the interior layout is likewise impressive.Would I join the Longtails? Hells yeah.

The Adventures of Peter Gray (Written Dreams Publishing, $16.99) is the first novel by Nathan Hopp. It's told from the perspective of the titular Peter Gray, a young wolf living on the streets of an alternate history New York City in 1899. The Adventures of Peter Gray invites us to experience the city through the eyes of one who loves it and see how both it and Peter's life changes over the year.I want to start off with the biggest weakness of this book [as a product]: the blurb. The problem with it is that it sets up misplaced expectations and reading then becomes frustrating when those expectations aren't met. The first paragraph of the blurb is fine, but then it makes the whole book sound like it's about Peter's quest for a family and the Newsies' strike. The Newsies' strike is introduced and finished in fewer than 30 pages; the book has 240.Ignore the blurb and appreciate the book for what it is: a collection of adventures of a young, orphaned wolf in the big city. There is an overall arc to Peter's story, but it develops slowly and organically while many smaller incidents build up to the climax. It's a good structure that works, making the whole book very suitable for quickly picking up and reading without having to worry about forgetting what happened last time.Nearly all the chapters are self-contained. We meet new characters that stay with us but each chapter has a distinct story. Maybe it's Peter having a picnic with his friends, maybe it's a time when he deals with bullies, or maybe he goes to visit the Statue of Liberty. The various adventures are entertaining and reminiscent of the carefree days as a child. However, that carefree feeling is tempered by the reality that Peter is an orphan, homeless, and broke. Setting the story in New York City was perhaps not the best idea. I understand why Nathan Hopp did it: the stories he's telling are based on real events, there are actual historical figures, and it gives us a familiar world. I found that familiarity to work against it. When I played Breath of Fire as a child, it was easy to accept the world. This guy is a dragon, there's a human, he's a were-tiger, and that's a walking onion. That's just how it is. When Kyell Gold's Dangerous Spirits series uses normal geography but replaces humans with furries, it's still fairly easy to accept. What I find difficult to accept is a world where furries (called Furren in this book) exist in the real world, alongside humans in the historical past. It's disorienting for me because instead of a blank slate that the world fills, I am constantly unsure whether what I know remains true. This is best exemplified by Bromley, a minor character who happens to be an eight-year-old German Shepherd. German Shepherds are a breed of dog that was created by humans, so how does that work in this world? This is the disorienting part of not knowing what is still true and what is not. Historically it doesn't work either. Bromley is a German Shepherd, eight years old and living in New York City in 1899. The German Shepherd breed only began in 1899 and would've taken time to be established in Germany before moving to New York.Of course, that doesn't take away from the development of good characters. Everyone feels and acts like an individual, and it's nice to see them all grow and develop over the year which the book spans. It's especially good to see the development of Gavin who we were introduced to as a bully but whom Peter later befriends. Considering the polarization that we see in the world today, I think it is really good to have characters that show that people can change and that it is possible for enemies to become friends. Other characters, like the fennec Ms. Lesser, show that there is often more to people than we can see.These are not the only themes explored: the book has the Newsies standing up for their rights, many examinations of discrimination, community, and poverty. I think if we empathize with Peter, it should stimulate us to ask questions about our own lives. As I was reading the book, with everyone knowing that Peter was living out on the streets, sleeping in barrels and struggling for food, I wondered why they didn't help him. Why didn't they give him a bed to sleep in? But would I take in someone off the street, even if I talked to him every day? Almost certainly not. Perhaps in that way, one might wonder what that reveals about us. If our lives were a book, what would a reader think of our choices?The last topic I want to touch on is motivation. While the main story aspects have clear motivation, I don't always see that for the world at large. For example, why even have furry characters here? It's seldom brought up, and I don't recall it playing a major role. It doesn't even add much diversity to the world as fennecs, raccoons, humans, wolves, foxes and mice all appear to be roughly the same size with the same capabilities.Species don't seem to correspond to any particular human race or caste, and this can lessen the impact of certain scenes. We see a certain amount of hatred directed at a gay fox and mouse couple but given the date and an encounter elsewhere in the story, it's unclear if the hatred is due to them being gay or them being a mixed-species couple. I think more evidence leans towards it being homophobia, but it's slightly ambiguous. Similarly, we see discrimination against humans, but we are not given any understanding of why. While hatred and discrimination in the real world are almost always based on half truths or whole lies, there is some sort of motivation. Religion, fear of the unknown, fear of losing jobs, and so on. There doesn't seem to be any cause, whether real or imagined, for the anti-human prejudice in the story.The story is written in the first-person from the perspective of Peter Gray. You would think that we would know his motivations well, but they are also seldom explored. This is a huge contrast to Fallout Equestria and some of its spin-offs where we get a constant window into the main characters thoughts. We follow Peter Gray but we don't really know him; there's a vague sense of detachment. Why doesn't he steal? Is it his religion? And, despite his claims, we know he does try to steal small things, so why does he do that? How does he justify himself? We are always left unsure.These are mostly minor flaws. As I said previously, The Adventures of Peter Gray is a good book. It's set up well, easy-to-read, and the short, self-contained chapters make it very convenient to pick up when you only have a short time. The characters are all unique and the themes are handled well without being preachy. As I went through it, I found myself increasingly invested in the outcome and wanting to see more. The ending, although quite cliche, was suitably emotional. I think it is a very strong first novel for Nathan Hopp, and I can definitely recommend it as a good read.

Roz Gibson’s Griffin Ranger duology is the story of a world ruled by mythical beasts and populated by assorted species of sapient animals. We are first introduced to this world in the first book, Crossline Plains, which will be reviewed here. The Twin Continents of this world host seven sapient species: Griffins, raccoon-like Hanz, canine Herders and Wolfen, massive Thunderbirds, feline Longtooths, and the belligerent tech-using parrots known as “Greenies.” The Northern Continent is patrolled by the Griffins’ titular Rangers who have a tenuous peace with the Greenies who rule the Southern. But that peace might be threatened as Ranger Harrel White-Shoulders receives reports of Greenies hunting Thunderbirds and selling their guns to Wolfen raiders. When a flight of sub-adult Griffins disappears near Greenie territories, including Harrel’s own daughter Aera, Harrel has enough and starts an investigation into the Greenies’ activities. He is soon joined by veteran investigator Kwaperramusc (Kwap for short), a tropical griffin based on a bird-of-paradise rather than a bird-of-prey and who escaped from the Greenies’ territories; and Tirrsill, a Hanz apprentice photojournalist assigned to document their adventures. As the group near the Greenie city of Kaerling, they are set upon by successive waves of assassins. Now, Roz Gibson is known in some circles for her morally ambiguous if not outright evil protagonists, and, while Harrel’s goals are sympathetic, make no mistake, he is very brutal in his methods, and many of his enemies end up with their bones shattered and guts spilled out on the grass. This is no kids’ book. Crossline Plains makes a good introduction to an alternate world where humanity never arose. It manages to show us the assorted facets of the world without resorting to a story-breaking infodump as tends to be endemic to speculative fiction. Gibson also manages to build this setting without falling into common traps like the “always evil species” or “technology levels.” The party meet a fair number of Greenies who aren’t antagonistic to them and even one or two who actively assist them, and there are some Griffins in the villain’s employ who are outright sadistic.SPOILER ALERT: The bad guys are working with humans. Whitehead built an interdimensional portal and started trading oil and young griffins for weapons. While I don’t fault Roz for going with the “humans are monsters” trope, especially when only a few human characters have been seen so far, I do take issue with the resort to Lovecraftian descriptions for them. Strange anatomy by itself just doesn’t evoke the sort of feelings of “unnaturalness” characters remark around humans. Now, if Roz had mentioned that the “Monsters” look like they’ve been plucked like a Greenie under stress, that might have been understandable. SPOILERS CONCLUDED.While the Hanz and Greenies have developed maglev trains and Griffin-portable deflector shields, photography still relies on chemical film, and telecommunications is limited to short-range radio and cables. If you’re a big fan of Griffins, and don’t mind venturing into the dark places where Roz Gibson’s writing is known to venture, I would recommend buying this and its sequel, The Monster Lands.

Cait and her band of lost souls are the captain and crew of the submarine, The Rose. Intent on breaking a string of bad business dealings, they take a job delivering a valuable painting in the hopes of fixing their financial straits. They also intercept and "rescue" a boy being sent by his parents to a ship for delinquent kids that is apparently tantamount to torture and slavery. The rescued boy, however, has other ideas, repeatedly attempting to escape and flee back to his parents. Meanwhile, Cait is dealing with crew squabbles, family feuds, and the ever present threat of pirates (which sadly, don't appear in Act One). The painting, it turns out, is more than it seems, and the crew of The Rose are going to be hard-pressed to keep it in their possession long enough to make the delivery and repair their reputation. The Secrets of the Kraken is set up to have a lot of action and adventure. The pace, however, was a little slow for this reader. The majority of Act One (the first hundred or so pages) is focused on relationships, character-building, and flashbacks to things that have set up the current situation. Near the end of the section, the plot begins to show itself, but I felt like the ending of Act One was in fact more like the inciting incident of the book. For me, that came a little late to feel any sense of urgency. The book is huge, and perhaps, would have moved a lot faster if trimmed to essential scenes only. That being said, the writing is solid, and the characters are rich and distinct. There's enough of interest to hold a reader who is less pacing-focused and enjoys a leisurely exploration of a world and characters in detail. The only hang-up I had with the prose was the frequent repetition of words, which I found a little jarring. Act One hints at many exciting things to come. The pirates and the mysteries in Cait's past, I found exciting. If they come to play as the book gets going, it has the promise to be a truly epic adventure. Secrets of the Kraken will delight the reader who enjoys a long and fully explored epic yarn, who is interested in things nautical, or anyone who just loves a big, meaty read.

There's really not enough nonfiction in the furry fandom. Not enough about the fandom and by the fandom. So, when I met Joe Strike at last year's Furry Weekend Atlanta, I was thrilled to meet a furry nonfiction writer.His new book is titled Furry Nation: The True Story of America's Most Misunderstood Subculture, and it was published through Cleis Press. A quick glance at the table of contents reveals pretty familiar aspects to most furries: " 'I'm Not the Only One!'"; "Pretty as a Picture: Furry Art"; "Walk a Mile in My Fursuit"; "The Naughty Bits"; etc. So, it would seem that Strike "strikes" out to write a fairly comprehensive study of the fandom.However, that comprehensiveness—while certainly helpful—comes with a slew of its own problems.While each chapter does have a set theme as mentioned above, many of the chapters come off as rambling and long quotes without much meaning. The book as a whole doesn't seem very cohesive. Despite the subtitle indicating that this is a "story" and Patten's equally misleading blurb that this is a "history," the book seems very much to be an exploration. That is, Strike takes a topic and loosely organizes all the information he has on it into a chapter. Sometimes, a quote goes on for several pages without any clear purpose. Other times, Strike goes on a personal rant for several pages. However, that said, if you come into this book without the expectations of normal trade nonfiction (and the misleading subtitle and Patten review), you might learn quite a bit. If you explore the fandom through the author's reptilian eyes, you will indeed learn historical facts you hadn't previously known and possibly see connections you hadn't considered.A big question for furry nonfiction is always "Who is the audience for this?" To a furry reading this, they might gain some historical precedent but also might disagree with some of the portrayals of the themes (many of them ignore the social media aspects of the fandom as well as the commercial industry aspects). To the non-furry, this would be a good primer on understanding the fandom, especially through the personal journey Strike takes with this.Due to this difference in audience, it's safe to say everyone could gain something from reading Furry Nation, regardless of furry identity. Strike has produced a very well-researched text here, so if you want a good "Did you know?" book on the fandom, Furry Nation is perfect for you.

In 2017, FurPlanet chose to deviate from their usual custom of designating differing themes for FANG and ROAR by instead assigning their two annual anthologies the same theme: Paradise. In FANG 8, edited by Ashe Valisca, 14 authors of gay erotica explore the concept of paradise in a variety of contexts; real or imaginary, natural or created, lasting or transitory. This review aims to examine each of these stories.We begin with Al Song’s “Serenity in Blue.” Holt, a fennec fox, has suffered a painful breakup with his boyfriend and now, post-college, works a job he despises. The story follows his efforts to find a path to new love and a more inspiring career. The ‘paradise’ element wasn’t particularly obvious, but Song’s themes of a search for love and purpose in a competitive modern world will likely be relatable to many young people.“For Metal Do I Bleed” by NightEyes DaySpring follows Evie, a wolf struggling with a crush on a close friend, which may or may not be returned. Along with friends, he attends a heavy metal concert. The evening’s subsequent events, which include him meeting a band member he idolises, have lasting effects on Evie’s conception of his idol, his crush, and himself. I myself did not find Evie a particularly sympathetic protagonist, but as an initial degree of immaturity is hardly unusual in the heroes of ‘loss of innocence’ tales, this does not detract from the quality of the story.“Reflections” by TJ Minde features a couple, Jared (raccoon), and Derrick (rabbit), as they address Jared’s sexual inexperience by having a threesome with Derrick’s friend Charlie (fox). Again the ‘paradise’ element was fairly loosely interpreted, but given most of the other stories in the anthology feature monogamous couples, Minde’s portrayal of a couple opening their relationship up for the first time was a welcome nod to the diversity of modern relationship types. My one quibble was that Derrick comes across as a rather overdone caricature of the ‘flamboyant gay’ stereotype but this may be personal taste. In "A Night Out" by Jaden Drackus, another example of a ‘paradise found’ tale, we follow Captain Kerry Cooper, a US Army pilot fox stationed in Paris during WWI. While exploring Montmartre, Cooper visits a cabaret designed for gay males, where he meets Claude, a French lion. Drackus’s skill at bringing the sights, sounds, and scents of Edwardian Montmartre alive for the reader made this one of my favourite stories in the anthology.“Antisocial Paradise” by Miriam “Camio” Curzon tells the tale of Landon, a British African Wild Dog, as he tries to balance his affection for Mina (genet), an Egyptian student studying in London, with his zeal for anarchist activism and rebellion. This was by far the most divisive story for me in the anthology. Curzon’s rich and descriptive narrative style makes “Antisocial Paradise” without doubt one of the best-written stories in the collection, if not the best, but the outstanding narrative quality is equally balanced by it having the least-likeable cast (Mina being the exception; I felt sorry for him). Often Landon’s dialogue, or that of supporting characters, was so far-out I half-wondered if I was reading a social satire. I’m very curious to see if other readers’ reactions to this story match or differ, but for writing quality and characterisation (a character doesn’t need be likable to be well-conceived, after all) it was my favourite story in the anthology."Cause No Trouble" also by NightEyes DaySpring is set in Soviet Russia, where Ivan, a snow leopard, finds himself in trouble with the authorities. To his surprise, the official placed in charge of his case, Nikolai (husky), offers to look the other way on Ivan’s transgressions if Ivan takes him to a gay club. More trouble follows for both of them. This was another of my favourite stories in FANG 8; a fine tale of two individuals finding companionship amid deplorable circumstances."IRL" by Billy Leigh comes next, the story of Peter, a coyote testing out a new X-rated visual reality program. I will not be reviewing it here however for conflict of interest reasons given Billy is my husband.What would it be like if we could switch to a different body any time we wished? This is the question posed in "Heavenly Flesh" by Slip Wolf. In a colony far in distant space, Janus (bear) tries to be supportive of his boyfriend Puca, who, having lost his memory during transit from Earth, tries to ‘refind’ himself through frequent changes to different bodies. There is an excellent twist at the end few readers will see coming. Through various elements of an entirely-fabricated world, Slip Wolf does a fine job of exploring the concept of ‘paradise created.’ The predominant erotic scene involves tentacles which some readers may find not to their tastes.“Waking Neil” by Skunkbomb follows beaver Archie as he attempts to draw his ferret boyfriend Neil out of a car-accident induced coma. Neil has found that within his mind he can create his own paradise; what if he doesn’t want to return to reality? While the erotic scenes in this story did not stand out to me, I did appreciate the subplot concerning Archie’s and Neil’s plans to become parents, a topic less-often touched on in gay furry fiction.Like several of the other stories in this anthology, “Too Good” by MythicFox also explores the concept of a fabricated paradise. Paul, a coyote, is staying at an exotic resort staffed by fennec foxes who cater to his every whim, but as his memory of his life outside the resort begins to fade, he increasingly wonders if all is as it seems. As with the previous story, this tale makes the suggestion that given the choice reality may be better than paradise.“Making Contact” by Tym Greene handles the theme of an escape from Earth a little differently than “Heavenly Flesh”: in this story, the spaceship Osiris has been in transit for hundreds of years, but as it approaches the distant planet which is to be its destination, other spaceships appear. Have aliens been discovered at last? This is the question Orville, a wildebeest, must answer as, having become acting-captain, he attempts to resolve the conflict. I’ve very little experience reading sci-fi but this story was very well-written, the sci-fi elements come across as very believable, and the twist ending was both surprising and satisfactory.Another sci-fi tale, “The Centre of my Universe” by T.D. Coltraine features Frank, the bear ‘scavenger’ whose spaceship scrounges scrap materials. While investigating a crashed government spaceship with his fennec lover Zeke, Frank discovers a seeming-paradise on an uncharted planet, but the crashed spaceship harbours secrets that endanger the happiness he and Zeke have found there. While the twist at this story’s climax was pleasingly surprising, overall ‘The Centre of my Universe’ did not resonate as well with me as some of the other stories in this anthology did. It began with an extended sex scene that I felt did not give the reader adequate time to connect with the characters, the dialogue often felt forced and unbelievable, and there were numerous typos which sometimes made me question what a sentence was saying – this stood out as otherwise the anthology is largely well edited.The penultimate story, “Little Death” by James Hudson follows Frederick, a fox who in a near-death experience finds himself transplanted into his own conception of paradise: a tropical beach on which his crush, snow leopard Toby, is his lover. This story’s interpretation of the ‘paradise’ theme suggests that the boundaries between reality and a conceived paradise may not be so distinct as one might think.“Empty” by Faora Meridian is the shortest story in the anthology, and one of my favourites. The tale of a fox visited in bed by his wolf lover, I can’t reveal much else without spoiling the ending – it has one of the best surprise endings in the anthology, perhaps my favourite take on ‘paradise’ as a theme.Overall, FANG 8 does a great job of exploring the concept of ‘paradise’ through various incarnations and interpretations. While some stories are better in quality than others, all were enjoyable on some level, and the variety of genres included, from sci-fi to historical fiction to contemporary settings in various contexts, makes it likely that most readers will find at least a few stories to their tastes, if not also introduction to other genres. The erotic element is much more evident in some stories than others, ranging from obvious, lengthy sex scenes to shorter sexual incidences nestled within the greater narrative, but in this respect as well I expect the diversity of approaches will help make the anthology appealing to a wider audience. Generally speaking the editing quality was high, as I noticed typos in only two or three stories out of fourteen. My compliments to Ashe Valisca and the authors of FANG 8 for putting together a fine anthology.

Camouflage is Kyell Gold’s new historical fiction novel about a young, college-aged white tiger named Danilo who finds himself supernaturally shifted to 1508 Scotland. Danilo is desperate to find a way back to his own time, but is quickly caught up in his attempts to help the underground gay community in their persecution by the Catholic church.The story is typical of Kyell Gold with its just-finding-himself gay young-adult protagonist and the contemplative yet action-packed flow to the story. However, it differs greatly in a thematic sense from his usual fare, and caught me well off-guard with the visceral brutality through which it accurately depicts the horrors inflicted on gay men and women during the time. The scene in question made me queasy enough to set the book down and make sure I had a trash can nearby.That isn’t a bad thing, though. After reading the scene over the three occasions it took me to get through it, I was at the same time thoroughly horrified with what just happened and newly in love with the story itself. It was a gut punch at the perfect time to break the reader (and the main character) out of the idea that Danilo’s trip into the past was a pretty little fairy tale to teach some lesson. That scene was an excellent inclusion at just the right time to tear down the reader’s preconceptions about what this setting would be.The plot as a whole was thoroughly action-packed, including a scene of "action" that departed from Kyell’s norm. However, that scene tied into the story perfectly well, and wonderfully built up Danilo’s character.In fact, the most impressive aspect of the story to me was how deftly the characters were handled, both those with an arc and the side-characters who interacted with the protagonist. The corollaries between the characters in the present and past were eerie in their differentiation.The biggest problem with the story, however, is how little time we have to understand the modern Danilo before he falls backward in time. This is understandable, given that most of the conflict takes place in the past, but there was so much exposition dumped on me during that first chapter that I felt like I was drowning in backstory information. Then, once we were in the past, the information and conflict presented played a bare minimum role.Furthermore, I personally didn’t enjoy how brutally heavy the story was starting around a third of the way in, all the way up through the climax. It felt like Danilo just couldn’t win at anything up to the point where I almost wanted to put the book down rather than see him fail again and get shoved another step backward. I love dark stories, but I personally need some semblance of small victories and steps forward to keep myself motivated.However, despite those elements that didn’t resonate as well with me, Camouflage was one of my favorite Kyell Gold stories, and a book that I absolutely recommend. It can be tough and gut-twisting to get through, but the journey is absolutely worth it.9/10

The nominations for the 2017 Leo Literary Awards are now closed!The next couple of months, the judges shall review all of the nominated works to see which are worthy of the Leo Literary Award. Since there are five judges, for any work to win at least two-thirds votes, at least four judges must vote "Yes" on a work for it to win an award. Judges are not allowed to vote on works in which they had a direct hand in its publication (as a writer, editor, or publisher). However, an editor for a house may judge a work at that same house, provided they were not its editor. Likewise, if the judge wrote a story in a collection, they cannot judge the collection themselves, but they can judge another story in the collection.Each of the judges provided a bio so you can "meet" them! Check them out below.Madison Scott-Clary, or Makyo, is a furry, writer, editor, and publisher living in the Pacific Northwest. In 2011, she founded [adjective][species], a metafurry resource, as writer and editor-in-chief. Shortly thereafter, the project took ownership of the Furry Survey, the fandom's largest yearly market and demographic survey. Beginning in 2016, she edited Arcana - A Tarot Anthology for Thurston Howl Publications. In 2017, she joined forces with Thurston Howl Publications as an editor. She also assumed the role of president of the Furry Writers' Guild. Madison helped found Hybrid Ink, LLC, an independent publisher based out of the Pacific northwest, focused on thoughtful writing, fiction and nonfiction, from prose to verse. Madison has had essays published by Thurston Howl Publications in Furries Among Us 2 and on The New Stack, a tech news site. Her works have also appeared in the Further Confusion conbook in 2015, Civilized Beasts II, Arcana - A Tarot Anthology, Knotted: A BDSM Anthology, vol. 2, and Hot Dish 3.Dominique Goodall is an author mainly dedicated to the love she has for wolves, with her books available for reading on Amazon. A firm believer in challenging herself, she's a seven-year NaNoWriMo winner, having completed her 50,000 words in only 48 hours in 2017. An editor and proofreader over at Priceless Proofreading UK, she loves nothing more than to write her books in varied genres, and to curl up with a good book.Kirisis "KC" Alpinus is an author whose works have appeared in the Coyotl Award-winning Inhuman Acts, the Leo-nominated Bleak Horizons, Dogs of War: Aftermath, and the upcoming Infurno. As of February 2017, she is the lead editor of the first lesbian, furry anthology CLAW, as well as the lead editor for the upcoming Species: Wild Cats and Breeds: Wild Cats, while also being a slush pile reader for Bleak Horizons and an upcoming horror anthology. Her reading interests include fantasy, horror, romance, historical fiction, mythology, and a few more odds and ends. Sam Dutton is a writer and nature lover who lives on the edge of Dartmoor National Park in the South West of England. An avid reader of fiction and poetry, she has a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree in English Literature. Her writing credits to date include ‘Wolf: A Short Story.’ in ‘Wolf Warriors: The National Wolfwatcher Coalition Charity Anthology.’ (2014) Thurston Howl Publications; ‘Fairytale Wonderland.’ in ‘Wolf Warriors: Winter Wolves.’ (2016) Thurston Howl Publications; ‘Sweet Child of Nine.’ In ‘Poems To My Younger Self.’ (2018) Compiled and edited by Sarah Michelle Lynch. (Release date 20th February 2018).Thurston Howl is a writer, editor, and publisher. As a writer, he's had works published in Purrfect Tails, ROAR 8, HEAT 14 & 15, Knotted II, Civilized Beasts II, Typewriter Emergencies, Dogs of War II, Passing Through, and some college magazines. His recent experimental horror novella The Devil Has a Black Dog was recently accepted by Red Ferret Press, and he is also a reporter for Michigan LGBT newspaper, Between the Lines. As an editor, he does some volunteer work for Weasel Press, and he occasionally edits novels and anthologies for Thurston Howl Publications, of which he is the editor-in-chief. He is also the founder of the Furry Book Review program and will be the editor of upcoming nonfiction collection, From Paw to Print.

Paradise. It’s such a wildly interpreted topic, and one that volume 8 of Bad Dog Books’ ROAR anthology series bravely tackles. The anthology was edited by Mary E. Lowd, and this review is going to look at each story in this collection.The first story in the anthology is "Northern Delights" by Madison Keller. The story follows a Chihuahua detective from his home in Arizona to the frozen tundra of Alaska in search of a police informant who may be in danger. Keller’s greatest strength in this tale is her ability to create incredibly realistic, stunning backdrops for the action, gradually shifting the protagonist and the reader's views from a harsh, unfamiliar landscape to one of unexpected paradise.The next story is “Flying Back to Paradise” by Jelliqal Belle. Flying in all the way from Paradise Archipelago, this story centers on the heroic actions of Wonder Wombat and her first visit to New York City. While this story didn’t seem to carry the theme of the anthology very well, the story itself was a delight to read. Belle has created a protagonist who is adorable, hilarious, and, most importantly, one I’d love to see more of in the future.Up next is Tim Susman’s “Personal History.” What starts as researchers taking a look at an old military uniform quickly turns into a flashback filled with romance and sorrow. While this story had fantastic historical detail, I didn’t seem to connect with the protagonists on the same level as I did with other stories in this volume. Despite this, the character’s emotions were well thought out, and the fact that they were able to find a small slice of paradise, even briefly, made this bittersweet story a great addition to the anthology as a whole.“The Lion Sleeps” by Frances Pauli is up next. What happens when you’re trapped where you feel like you don’t belong? Pauli’s lion protagonist finds himself in a similar situation. The unsettling confinement of the story is expertly done, and Pauli gradually increases the pressure until you feel just like the protagonist: ready to break. This story was one of my favorites to read in the anthology, and as for the theme of paradise? I’ll tell you it fits, but check out the ending for yourself.The fifth story is “Tucked Away” by E. S. Lapso. This story follows a transgender protagonist as she leaves her open life to visit her conservative family. Through all of the stress and nervousness, Lapso nicely illustrates that even in the darkest places, a person can find a refuge. The emotions in the story are convincingly written, and made very relatable to the reader. It’s in that relatability that “Tucked Away” finds its greatest strength.“When Pigs Fly” by Amy Fontaine is one of the shortest stories in the anthology, but was one of the most enjoyable to read. The story plays out like a fairy tale, or one of the animated films we enjoyed so much as children. The message of paradise is very clear, and by the end, the joy of the protagonist is so strong and infectious that I couldn’t help but want to sing along.Priya Sridhar’s “Funnel Dresses” offers a different view of paradise, showing the reader that it doesn’t necessarily have to be a place, but can be found within yourself as well. Sridhar’s narrative and settings are as skillfully crafted as the dresses her spider protagonists weave, ultimately creating another of my favorite stories in this volume.“A Christmas Tale for the Disenchanted” by Mark Blickley also offers a unique view of the theme of this anthology. As Mary E. Lowd’s preface text explains, “A moment in time can be a piece of paradise.” This story lets that idea unfold through the tale of a blind human and her companion animal on Christmas Eve. When I read the title, I was honestly expecting a tale that was more cynical, or even parodic. It was a pleasant surprise for me to find that Blickley’s narrative is completely genuine, as it reminds the reader that even for just a moment, the magic of Christmas can indeed be a tangible thing.“Bite the Apple” by Christopher Shaffer is yet another story in this anthology that was a delight to read. In it, paradise takes the form of a casino that almost magically caters to its patron’s every desire. The narrative follows a cheetah named Kate as she embarks on a secret mission of her own devising to figure out how this system works. This sci-fi narrative was chock full of all the things that make up a great detective story: a plucky protagonist, plenty of mysterious side characters, and a series of clever twists all the way to the end.The tenth story in this volume is “Lonesome Peak”, by John Giezentanner. This story follows two parallel narratives. The first follows a deer named Jeremy who is fighting depression. In order to get him out of the house, his friends take him on an outing to the nearby idyllic mountain range. This afternoon in paradise quickly devolves into a fight for the characters’ survival. The second narrative, however, follows a character known as ‘The President,’ as he communicates with an unseen second party who appears to be in control of this narrative’s government. This arc of the story is where I got lost. The events of this storyline had little, if anything, to do with Jeremy’s plot, and honestly didn’t seem relevant at all. These two narratives could definitely work together in a longer mode, but within the given short form, it didn’t work for me. Despite this, each narrative was fun to read, and they each made me want to read more of Giezentanner’s work.“When the Milkmen Come” by Searska Greyraven is a story about a paradise lost. It raises an important question: Is paradise worth standing up and fighting for? Greyraven’s brusque, biting narrative kept me not only on the edge of my seat, but increasingly uncomfortable as the story progressed. Well-told, and at points hauntingly familiar, “Milkmen” is definitely a story you don’t want to miss.“Nor’Killik” by Matt Doyle follows Corvin, a gengineered anthro-reptilian, hardwired to respond to the emergencies of other ships throughout the galaxy. It is on one such rescue that he runs into a stranded science vessel, where the inhabitants aren’t exactly what they seem. In the end, Corvin is faced with a choice, each outcome less than ideal. Doyle has created a strong narrative here, and I enjoyed the attention to detail in his characters.Thurston Howl’s “We Are One” is up next. As far as sci-fi goes, this anthology has put together a great selection so far, and this story is no exception. The narrative follows a crew of space pirates as they try to insert themselves into the beautiful, almost mythical world of Olym-Pass. Howl’s crew of pirates are some of the most dislikable protagonists in this book, and, as small elements of horror begin to increase, it’s a delight to watch as the tables are turned, and paradise is instead inserted into them.“Lucid” by Nicholas Hardin is a tale of what happens when what seems like a harmless escape from reality becomes an addiction. Erica, a struggling employee at a call center, wins the chance to beta a fully-immersive virtual-reality machine. The virtual world, an underwater paradise called Aquatica, is richly detailed and so vivid compared to the character’s waking world. Erica’s gradual addiction to this world doesn’t feel forced or shoehorned in—even as a reader, I didn’t want to go back to her real world of offices and disappointments—and that’s where the subtle terror of this story lies. Hardin handles the downsides and stresses of addiction in this story flawlessly, and if you, as I am, are a fan of Black Mirror, you’ll definitely enjoy this story.“Castle Phoenix” by Bill Kieffer follows a woman coming to terms with the loves and decisions in her life as she faces death. Her guide though the journey is a mysterious children’s book, found in an empty lot that once housed her own paradise. As the story unfolds, the protagonist’s guilt, joy, and emotional processes in the face of what’s coming are so tangible, and the writing behind it was expert. This was my favorite story in the anthology, and this alone would make the purchase worth it.“Kypris’ Kiss” by Slip Wolf is a thought-provoking story about a character that has fallen in love with their paradise. The twist here comes when paradise begins to love them back. While being slightly surrealist, the story is a great piece of speculative fiction, and is full of sumptuous, almost decadent imagery. My advice? Grab a cup of your favorite beverage, sit in the sun, and enjoy.Dwale’s “Behesht” is the penultimate story in this anthology. A traveler’s log from a post-apocalyptic journey to seek out paradise, this story comes to life with fantastic characters and attention to detail. The narrative draws a lot of influences from Middle-Eastern settings and cultures, which is not something I often see in furry literature. These influences work to add a refreshingly different feel to the story, and honestly I wish it had been a bit longer. I’d love to revisit this setting in the future.“Hope for the Harbingers” by Allison Thai is definitely the most mythological story in this anthology. Whereas so far, the reader has been taken through journeys in the past, present, and future, this story takes place at the end of everything: the Apocalypse. As the Biblical Four Horsemen ravage the earth, they slowly begin to have a change of heart. Can even an evil spirit find its way to paradise? It’s a fun question to ponder, and Thai certainly makes a convincing case.I thoroughly enjoyed this anthology. Mary E. Lowd’s careful attention to order allows the emotional arcs of the stories to flow naturally. And what stories they were! Each and every one offered a unique view of paradise, some of which I’d never considered myself. Each author’s skill and passion for writing were clearly evident. While I enjoyed some stories more than others, there wasn’t a single one that I would flat-out say I disliked. This was my introduction to ROAR as an anthology series, and, if this book is any indication, I am eager to read more volumes in this series. Very well done, and my compliments to all involved in the creation of this book.

Genetic modification? Check. A university for Furs only? Check. A nightly sex club with felines, canines, equines, reptiles, humans, and alien werewolves? Check, check, check, check, check, and check!In Joe Sherman’s novel The Student, Chris is a young human interested in the colony of Furs that human society seems to disdain perpetually. However, when he gets accepted at the University in the furry colony, he leaps at the chance to learn more about the strange creatures. What starts out as a geeky sci fi story quickly turns into an erotic novel when Chris’ roommate Marcus (occasionally spelled Markus) introduces him to the local sex club.Now, despite the interesting and perhaps unique premise of the book, I took several key issues with it. As a product itself, the cover is lacking in quality or intent, coming off as maybe a young adult horror with its Gothic font and focus on blood-red. In the print version, most of the image is just dark, so we get the sense of a dark force looming. Yet, nothing of the sort happens in the book. The editing is almost nonexistent. Characters’ names are spelled different ways throughout (even the main character gets a name change in the Introduction), and typos, grammar errors, and awkward formatting become consistent.In terms of overarching plot, there isn’t much of one. You could easily consider the volume a string of male sex fantasies with lots of head-hopping to go with it. Initially, I had the complaint that the book objectifies women to ridiculous levels, but the more I thought about it, the more I think every character exists for sexual gratification. This is about as far from realistic fiction as you can get.Also worth mentioning is the book has a very explicit gang-rape scene that becomes glorified and romanticized to the point where the MC’s general response was ecstasy near the end, publicly stating his annoyance at the gang, and having a mildly sore anus for the days following. This might have been less shocking had there been a trigger warning or any kind of sexual violence up to this point. As it stands though, it’s over-positive and really out of place.However, all these issues aside, the writing style itself is the selling point of the novel. I kept wanting to read more, and I hope to read the sequels when they come out. I think that with a lot of the episodic sex out of the way, the author will be able to explore some of the few plot threads (like the above-mentioned random alien-werewolf) he left open by the end of the book. And again, the writing style is very approachable, and that is hard to do with erotica. On one end of the spectrum is super clunky writing that has you rolling your eyes, and on the other end is super lofty writing that...also leaves you rolling your eyes. His style is wonderful, and I did find myself continuing to turn pages despite its flaws.The book is more porn than erotica, but, if that’s up your alley in a sci-fi setting, this is the book for you!

Aboard the starship White Flower II, the dutiful geroo work, live, love, and die in the service of their immense, reptilian masters. Kanti works in the recycling center, driving the big dozers that turn the refuse and organics into the base substances that keep life on a starship possible. But Kanti has a secret that could mean his life. He was born without a birth token, an illegal child in a system where even one extra body could mean a cascade of failures that put the entire population at risk.Skeleton Crew is hands down one of the most engaging furry novels I've ever read. The characters are lovable, flawed, and deeply individual. The setting is thoroughly realized, exciting, and full of both secrets and tension. The plot is thrilling, fun, terrifying, and heartbreaking in turns. In short, I could not stop turning pages, and the second it was over I knew I had to have more.The writing is very professional, well-edited, and free of errors, which is a delight but far overshadowed by the story itself ... which is a gem of a tale.Skeleton Crew is a must read for furry readers as well as general sci-fi fans. The species involved are aliens but read enough like anthropomorphic animals to delight a furry audience.

Wolves have long fascinated mankind. Variously, they have been seen as menaces, Aesopian mentors, and just free-spirited kin to dogs. SPECIES: Wolves, edited by Thurston Howl, explores these assorted views throughout thirteen stories ranging from Aesop and Ysengrimus to modern stories of disconnected packs and pop-howlers.We start out with one of Aesop’s lesser-known fables, “The Dog and the Wolf”, concerning a meeting between a starving wolf and one of his better-fed but collared kin.Next, we move to one of the stories of the folk-hero Reynard the Fox, and his lupine adversary Ysengrimus. Most such stories end with Reynard successfully tricking Ysengrimus, sometimes spelled Ysengrin or Isengrim, but this one details one of the wolf's few victories.Then, we are brought forward in time from the Middle Ages to the Victorian Era and “The White Wolf”, a story straight from Andrew Lang’s fairy books which starts out following the “princess betrothed to a beast” plot but segues into the “supernatural lover lost” trope. Modern audiences might find the initial premise a bit sexist, but halfway through the characters swap the "pursued" and "pursuer" roles, showing that there are some mutual feelings between the two.In contrast, George MacDonald’s “The Gray Wolf” is a Victorian horror story whose influence may still be glimpsed in modern werewolf fiction. If you want a straightforward wilderness encounter with a stranger who isn't who she seems, don't skip this one.The remainder of the anthology collects stories showcasing the present century’s assorted conceptions of wolves. While many writers have written alternate takes on "Red Riding Hood". Kadrian Blackwolf subverts the classic story in “Graffers” with a unique blend of sex, violence, and betrayal not seen in your standard “twisted fairy tale”. I have to give the author points for originality.Next, Slip Wolf shows us how the wolf can reflect one’s own darker self in “Glass.” A minimalistic horror that gives the reader just enough information to figure the truth out for themselves.Whereas in “A Winter’s Work,” Renee Carter Hall presents wolves in their rarely written role as victims of man’s predations, while also anthropomorphizing them to amplify the tug on the reader’s heartstrings. The writer manages to bring across such sympathies that you can't help but share in the wulfen's pain and the trapper's fear.Kirsten Hubschmid’s “The Winter Wolf” is the first story of this collection set in a “world of anthros” setting where sapient animals replace humans, and the wolves represent a rural population facing encroachment by the big city, whose representative is a domestic dog. It’s pretty apparent from the start that the narrator is the “villain” of the piece--out-of-towners buying a local business usually are--but there’s still one or two surprises in store.John Kulp’s “Lone” brings us the disconnected solitude of the single office worker through the lens of a lone wolf searching for a new pack in the city. How the secondary problem, that of money, gets resolved isn't particularly clear, but overall it might not matter much as he is starting to feel like he has someplace he belongs.Now, “Stealing the Show”, by Jaden Drackus, plays on some common stereotypes and misnomers about wolves with a lupine professional wrestler who acts like an “alpha” and a “lone wolf” in the ring, but is anything but once he steps outside. The contrasts between the characters' "stage personas" and their "real" selves can be confusing at times, but it fits in with the setting of the wrestling arena.“The Needle and the Departed”, by Weasel, showcases some of the difficulties faced by gay people as a result of discrimination, but, unfortunately, it doesn’t have much to do with wolves. The main character is a wolf, yes, but the story would be exactly the same if he were a tiger or a hyena. All of the previous stories involve some trait or legend about wolves in the plot, but this one, not so much. It’s just a highly depressing story of humans with fur.“Wolves That Sing” by Billy Leigh is a WWII story in a world of anthros where a band of wolves howl to inspire the troops, and to save their own lives. You can tell that the author put some thought into how history might have run differently in an alternate world with different species, however slightly.The final story in the collection is “INSTINCT”, by Faolan, an account of a lupine K-Pop idol pack by the same name as they attempt to maintain group cohesion despite their individual egos and feelings for one another. The characters’ species are about as relevant as they are in “Needle”, and some of the things that come between the band members seem nonsensical (which may be the point). But, compared to the life-or-death struggles of the last few stories, it’s a little relaxing.As a whole, SPECIES: Wolves is a worthwhile exploration of the wolf in popular culture in all the species’ assorted roles. The free spirit, the predator, the pack mate, the howler, we see them all scattered throughout history. While the stories are presented in order of initial publication, we see little evidence of “evolving” portrayals of the wolf as some folklorists may assert, the wolves of the more modern tales retain the traits they exhibited in the earlier stories. At most, a few of the newer stories anthropomorphize them more than the old tales. Instead of creatures of the woods or hidden monsters, the last six stories in this collection portray wolves as living essentially human lives, all the better for the reader to relate to their struggles.SPECIES: Wolves holds appeal for not only dedicated furry fans but also for fans of more “classically” formatted stories. There are even a couple stories that would appeal to horror fans. The gradually increasing levels of anthropomorphization in the stories would make this book a good introduction to the furry literature for new fans.

And Then Things Got Hairy...They’ve lived among us humans for centuries, millennia even. They look like us, most of the time, but they are not human. They’re faster, stronger, more agile. When the moon is right or during moments of great emotional stress, they change, taken over by a bloodlust that is nearly uncontrollable. To most, they are myth or legend. To a handful of shadowy government agencies, they are tactical assets to be exploited in international games of power.To themselves, they are the Children of the Affliction. Aliuranthropes. Cat-people.Pawly Katczynski is dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder the best way she knows how: staying in her shifted form and taking out sex slave traffickers in the San Francisco Bay area. But her family is worried about the young woman. Can they bring her to her senses in time to help rescue the clan’s patriarch and his important research from North Korean agents? Some of whom wear hauntingly familiar faces...Always Gray in Winter is the first novel by Mark J. Engels. It reads as part international thriller and part generational family saga, with a pleasing pinch of star-crossed romance for seasoning. Oh yeah, and there’s kick-ass cat-people. It took some investing for me to get into the plot at first, but no more than for a typical work of speculative fiction. And I have the suspicion that my disorientation made me more empathetic to Pawly’s situation. I was figuring things out right along with her.Engels handles multiple viewpoints and flashbacks with great finesse, though I for one would have liked datelines or at least some typographical indication of when the flashbacks began and ended. I was able to figure things most things out from context, but a little bit of signposting would have made the reading that much smoother. More than juggling an impressive cast of characters, it’s in action that the author really shines. The choreography of the fight scenes is beautiful, even when the results are brutal. I’m led to suspect that the author is a student of the martial arts. At the very least, he must have watched a lot of martial arts anime to good effect.His various settings are also handled well, focusing on telling details rather than lengthy descriptive passages. I cannot speak to his accuracy about San Francisco or the Polish countryside, but he hits Chigagoland right on the nose (e.g., the subculture of the hockey-obsessed and love of euchre). Getting the Midwest right, I gladly give him the benefit of the doubt for the rest.I also absolutely love the subtle worldbuilding throughout the story. There is just the right amount of tantalizing glimpses of aliuranthropic culture, from the history of their clans, to their belief systems and their interactions with humans through the years. But these glimpses rise integrally within the story. No infodumps here. Engels also has a deft hand with the shifted forms of the aliuranthropes. The best of these passages almost shimmers with otherness when describing the characters’ heightened senses and abilities.Yet the themes of the story are universal: recovery after tragedy, love of family, the conflict between duty and love. Things resolve for Pawly in a way I never would have expected from the beginning. And it is a resolution, not an ending. There is plenty more story of the Katczynski clan for Mr. Engels to tell.I for one look forward to reading it.

Intimate Little Secrets (US$9.95 from FurPlanet) is an anthology of short stories written by Rechan with a cover illustration by Teagan Gavet. Originally I expected the stories to be short, erotic pieces, but this is not the case and approaching it in that way will not lead to a proper appreciation of the work. Sex plays a role in all the stories, but they are more, as the title suggests, intimate secrets where we see how different characters interact and react. The writing is excellent, particularly with regard to the characters themselves. Each one, even characters that only appear briefly, feel real and whole. In each story, we see situations where the characters' lusts, needs, and vulnerabilities are all laid bare, and you can't help but find yourself caring about the characters and wanting to know what their reasons for acting a certain way are. Occasionally, quality is let down by the editing, though. This is certainly higher quality than most of what you will read online, but that just makes the errors all the more glaring. There is a duplicated quotation mark in one story which is particularly strange as that story is also available through Rechan's SoFurry account and does not contain the error there. Another very noticeable one is when "kind've" is used instead of the correct "kind of." This one stands out for me because the incorrect and correct forms are used within five lines of each other on at least two occasions. It's not a deal breaker, but it can bring the reader out of the scene. One of the anthology's major strengths is the diversity of species and how that is worked into the stories. Amongst the more familiar species, we also encounter skunks, gazelles, minks and chipmunks. These choices have consequences for the story. Previous furry commentaries have asked questions such as whether the animal aspect plays a role in a furry story and whether there is a reason the characters are furry as opposed to being human. In this anthology, it does matter and serves the story in many cases. Sometimes, a species' strong musk means you don't have to worry about others smelling the scent of sex. In one case, we have an interspecies couple looking for a sperm donor because their species are incompatible. There's even a really good piece of world-building where one character comments that, due to their reliance on body language, wolves do not communicate well over the phone. This brings the world alive. In one case, the uncommon species choice leads to a bit of ambiguity that an editor should probably have picked up on. That is the cacomistle which I had never even heard about. That's good, I'm learning something new, but it's also referred to in the story as a ringtail. If you do a search for these terms, what you find is that ringtail refers to the ring-tailed cat (Bassariscus astutus) which is occasionally called a cacomistle, but more often cacomistle refers to the cacomistle (Bassariscus sumichrasti). Since the ring-tailed cat is the only one referred to as a ringtail and its range extends into the US, it must be what the author is referring to, but the term cacomistle is both ambiguous and being used here in its less common form. This leads to confusion when you need to look it up. I said right at the beginning that this is not erotica but there are sex scenes in almost all of the stories. These scenes are not written purely to aid pawing off, but they are more real and occasionally include things like intrusions killing the mood or a guy firing too early. With this more realistic depiction of sex, what I was glad to see was when there was a scene with an escort and client where she used a condom. It's a small thing, but it's something which has been noted as lacking in furry art and literature. The furry fandom is sexually open and very much made of personal fantasies which can be risky when taken directly into the real world. Condoms are only used in one story and mentioned one other, but that inclusion alone, along with things like HIV testing at MFF, can help create a safer furry fandom. In summary, despite a few minor missteps, this is a collection of really excellent, character-based writing. The depth of the characters that is established in a very short time is impressive, and many of the stories left me wanting more. There's a sense of frustration from that – that I wanted the stories to go on longer – but it is the good kind of frustration. My favourite of the stories would be "Missed" and "Rickety V" (They both follow the same characters and "Rickety V" builds on "Missed") which deals with BDSM, love, and polyamorous relationships. Many of the others are also really good, including one tragic one where you can really feel the strain the characters are under. I can definitely recommend it and would be very interested if Rechan does a full novel in the future.

Weasel’s Jazz at the End of the Night is the perfect mix of horrendously depressing and astoundingly relatable, which—in its own way—is horrendously depressing. His stories chronicle the lives of men on the brink of their worst: some who stumble beyond their limitations, and others who succumb to them—some willfully, some not quite so much.Yet, regardless of whether or not the protagonist faces death, there is an eerie realness in the stories that, even if a reader personally cannot relate to the situation, they may still find themselves floating in his incredibly pungent air of despondency. Weasel’s word choice dances from crude and straightforward to emotional and profound depending on the voice of the narrator; some are vulgar, others scared, all incredibly broken in their own unique ways, many in love—equally as heartbreaking. A particularly stark description that resonated with me even as I closed the book was that of Drake: “An embodiment of how many bruises you can have and pretend they don’t exist.”Descriptions such as Drake’s can be found in each of Weasel’s close-to-home depressions, and often they equal in strength. There’s a feral quality to each story, whether it be about drugs, lost loves, found loves, or any other number of life-ruining circumstances; a reader can get lost in the sadness; even when progression comes to a halt in the middle of some pieces, his success in atmosphere keeps the reader lost in his narrators’ minds.Another quality that took me by surprise (but ultimately ended up adding to my enjoyment of his collection) is the interwoven nature of the narratives. A character will see on the news the death of another, or fall asleep with someone else’s ex-boyfriend—these people are falling apart in their own special ways, and sometimes they share, sometimes they don’t. In this, there exists an all-too-familiar liminality as you watch them fall apart separate of one another, sometimes hoping the other made it out better than they did, sometimes not giving it a second thought. In these small ways, Weasel reiterates the desperate humanity of his creations, which lends masterfully to his collection.Now, that’s not to say I do not have my critiques, though they are all small. The first is that many manifest their sorrows in similar ways. I can only read about cigarettes and shitty jobs for so long before it grows stale. I understand this to be a commonality of the impoverished expressed in his work, and, while I applaud his ability to remain consistent and shift his characters’ approaches and opinions regarding these similarities (and while said aspects are never the actual focus of the narrative’s hardship[s]), it still fell short in some areas that may have been expressed better otherwise.The second is that the collection was exceptionally male-centric. Each story featured a male-identifying protagonist and their male-identifying partners (of some sort). Rarely were women ever present in a piece, and never the main character. This again leads to a sense of thematic repetition, though this time harder to ignore than my former complaint. In the simplest of terms, the collection could have benefited from a little more variety.Ultimately however, the collection was a treat. I had it finished in three days, and the only reason I had to set it down was through no fault of the writing—in fact, it was quite the contrary. As said before, Weasel’s engulfing atmospheres and familiar characters invite the reader into the inner-workings of their minds and as such can create a difficult though sadly beautiful journey for an empathetic reader. Jazz at the End of the Night has imperfect characters in an imperfect world, and it is through these familiar imperfections that such a depressing read can be so satisfying when set down.

Pussy Katnip can be compared to a superhero or a vigilante. And in some ways, the two are interchangeable. Except that her powers come not from a transformation or within herself, but from a magic potion aptly named “Fizz." The recipe is passed down from mother to daughter, upon which great strength and agility are given to the drinker. When Coney, a friend from her past, appears at the nightclub Pussy owns, Pussy will need all the help she can get. When she tries investigating what Coney needs help about, Pussy finds herself framed for a crime she didn’t commit. The race is on to avenge her friend and clear her name.The second novel in the Pussy Katnip series, this takes place in a city called Mutt Town, set in a world much like our own. Although the time period is something of a mystery, it is most likely during the pre-1970s, with the absence of wireless communications as we know them. It must be noted that anthropomorphism in The Devil Was Green (henceforth abbreviated as DWG) appears to be mostly cosmetic, with few of the characters exhibiting their unique species traits. More often than not, supporting characters are referred to only by “the man” or “the woman”, which leads readers to fill in the specific species profile for themselves. This technique may work for a story featuring only human characters, but for stories featuring anthropomorphism, readers have an expectation on species description. We would like to know if the lumberjack was a beaver or mole rat, so that we may mentally acknowledge the reference to a beaver’s affinity for wood, and if not, what led the mole rat to take up woodcutting. The second names of characters however attest to their species, such as a “tall male canine” named George Pup and a bird bartender named Robby (a robin?).DWG is told in two third-person perspectives, namely Pussy’s and Detective Lila Ringtail’s. After Pussy is framed for a crime, it is up to Lila to investigate what really happened. It is eventually clear that not everything is as it appears, and there are higher powers involved in what would turn out to be a citywide conspiracy. DWG falls roughly into the genre of Modern Fantasy with police procedural elements.It must be noted that at least two of the alternating points of view are almost similar to one another in content. Alternating viewpoints should show new information to the reader, and on these two occasions the scenes are highly similar to one another. DWG features strong female protagonists who are often pitted against prejudiced male adversaries. As the only known female detective in her place of work, as well as being of a stigmatized species, Lila has a lot to prove to her colleagues, though she doesn't seem to care what they think. One cannot help but find the antics of Lila amusing, but it also borders on unrealistic when she outright puts down her superiors, a move that should have gotten her fired even in the movies. The constant references to her chain-smoking habits lead one to wonder if a smoking commercial is integrated within the story.All in all, The Devil Was Green will appeal to those who like strong female characters and plot twists. But for those who prefer realism and greater attention to anthropomorphism, it might not be their cup of tea.Or coffee.

Busy animals are often on the move, and, when they need a little help getting where they're going, anything can happen. Passing Through features six furry stories of hitching a lift and lending a paw. From straight up horrific to downright sexy, one thing's for certain—it's going to be one hell of a ride. "First Time Ain't Easy" (Tyson West) is a rough-and-tumble tale about a nice guy who falls in with the wrong crowd and learns a hard, hard lesson. Rod is a raccoon coming out of a relationship who decides to hitch to Seattle to help his cousin with a job. On the way, however, he climbs into a car full of trouble and ends up on the wrong side of the law and forced to learn some hard and fast survival skills. "Seed of a Doubt" was written by this reviewer and will not be considered in the review. "The Savage Caravan" (Jako Malan) features a wily mutt who picks up a sexy sheep for a ride that is bound to be full of surprises. Set in South Africa, the tale plays on the predator-prey relationship of the two characters and pulls off both sexy and creepy in a great hitch-hiker horror that twists in delightful and unexpected ways. In "El Vucko" (Billy Leigh), we meet Jamie, a broken-hearted dingo on a driving trip around Spain with his best friend. But when they pick up a sexy and mysterious hitchhiker, things take a twist toward trouble. The wolf who climbs into their van might not be who he says he is, but he does a great job of stealing Jamie's heart. "Highway to Hell" (Thurston Howl) is a fun flash piece that reads somewhere between the Twilight Zone and a morality fable. A lecherous truck driver picks up a hitching kid who ends up taking him for a ride right into surreal territory. In "Underpass" (BanWynn Oakshadow), a down-and-out cougar relays his trials and tribulations to his therapist in a gorgeous, stream-of-consciousness style story. His road to recovery wanders through themes of spirituality, mental illness, and redemption, and the beautiful writing makes this my favorite piece in the collection. The stories in Passing Through are diverse but also cohesive. There is a gritty, knife-sharp edge to most of the stories and a sense of depth and beauty in even the darkest moments. It should be a welcome read to any reader who enjoys edgy entertaining stories with anthropomorphic protagonists.

"Born to this cradle below the stars, not unlike those who carried the torch before..." These are the opening words of J. Malan's new novel ReWritten, and they could not be more misleading. Despite the beauty of the opening lines and the equally stellar cover art, this is paws-down a book you do not want to read at night.Starting out as an almost dystopic National Treasure, ReWritten follows Professor M. van Elsburg and several dangerous mercenaries into the wastelands--the kind of place no one of common sense wanders--in search of a historical artifact and its mysteries. There have been others seeking the same artifact...but no one's heard back from that expedition.Part-dystopia, part-horror, part-posthumanist philosophy, part-furry, and altogether great fiction, ReWritten is a must-read. Coming into this book, I had high expectations from reading J. Malan's other work. While again, my initial thoughts as I began the novel were, "Wow, is this really going to be a furry National Treasure?" my concerns of it being cliche were quite quickly ripped from my mind. This book is scary. Not just on a visceral horror kind of way, but also in an ethical way. I walked away from this with actual philosophical insight, and that's rare for me, especially in a furry book.I usually like to give my English students short challenges like offering exactly three words in response to a piece of literature. My three words in response to ReWritten would be: "Chilling ... provocative ... haunting."Now is usually when I come to the weaknesses of the book and suggestions. Aside from the weak formatting of the interior, shoddy proofreading, and the inappropriate (for the genre) cover design, I would say the greatest weakness lies in the often shallow descriptions. But still, even with these minimalist sensory evocations, the psychological aspects of the horror are convincing and alluring.All in all, I'd recommend this book to any furry who wants a quick read, especially if they want to be haunted a bit. I would not recommend this book to ... anyone who is reading before bed.Ever onward,Howl

If there were one word to describe “Slave Trade” by Comidacomida, it would easily be “surprising.” This 466-page novel chronicles the story of its protagonist Sidney—introduced as a fox house slave to Lord Hector Desanti of Pross—and his rise among the ranks of both those of property and those of power.When a mysterious character known only as Fate Weaver leads Sidney to be his Lord’s errand-runner, Sidney could not imagine that this decision would save his life more than once. Following this choice, Sidney is thrust first into the role of a Slave Master, then to an overseer of a gladiator stable, later to a confused political tool, and soon to a curious title of rumor that even the King himself fears. Along the way he meets friends, enemies, and watches as some turn to the other in a world where no one is quite who they seem to be.Slave Trade’s plot is steeped in its world’s politics. Comidacomida’s world-building is fantastic, which makes the politics all the more engaging. The reader really gets a sense of Pross’s laws, the way Lords and the King interact, how slaves are valued and varied: there is a clear hierarchy that allows for real excitement when one watches Sidney surpass his limitations. The characters (with maybe one or two exceptions) are all almost wholly unique, with fleshed-out origins, personalities, opinions, and even accents and languages.On that last point is one of my few critiques: Maern—the foreigner horse that Sidney buys under Lord Hector’s request—does not speak Prossian upon his introduction. This leads to some cute and characterizing scenes, though they often felt longer than necessary and far too frequent to reiterate the point that he cannot speak with them.Beyond that one mildly-aggravating characterization, the inhabitants of Slave Trade’s pages were all very consistent in behavior, and their growth felt natural, justified, and well-paced. Hector remains hopeful to a fault; Sidney—despite his successes—remains timid and confused, though visibly evolves; Lord Talvin is cryptic and conniving, though ever-friendly (and admittedly my favorite character) throughout; Ulric starts and stays headstrong and aggressive; I could go on. Comidacomida clearly put a lot of thought into the personality of Pross’s characters, and it makes for incredibly enjoyable dialogue and organic development.Fair notice: this book is heavily erotic. Numerous male-on-male scenes pepper the storyline, and more often than not they feel like an integral part of the plot. Sidney, having once been a “pleasure slave” is well-versed in sexual capabilities and uses such knowledge to his advantage on more than one occasion. While at first, the trope of a sexualized fox character had me roll my eyes, I was impressed with Comidacomida’s utilization of Sidney’s history as a means to propel the story: his being so sexual had actual bearing on the progression of the events, and I was glad that after most scenes of promiscuity there was an accomplishment in it having been so. My one concern regarding the novel’s sexual content its frivolous use of rape: while framed in the world of Pross as a commonality of slave life (in the form of sold breeding or punishment), far too often afterwards it is inconsequential and felt as though such scenes could have been omitted at no cost to the story.For furries—particularly ones interested in politically-influenced narratives, and especially those that enjoy gay erotica—this book will not disappoint. Every few chapters grace the reader with gorgeous full-page illustrations, only adding to the novel’s immersion. Its characters are varied, its plot is exciting, its mysteries are engaging—all of which culminate in the last 150 pages as such a roller coaster of betrayal, magic, action, life and death, and more betrayal that I could not set the book down. Exclusively hardback with stunning full-cover, full-color cover design, “Slave Trade” would make a fine addition to anyone’s bookshelf.

Imagine a world where the American Revolution failed. Now, can you also imagine that in this world the British Empire employed sorcerers, and that these sorcerers created races of human-animal hybrids known as “Calatians?" You now have the basic premise of Tim Susman’s novel The Tower and the Fox.The book opens with an excerpt written by this universe’s version of John Adams concerning the Empire’s poor treatment of its Calatian “children,” and then we the readers are shown an example of such treatment as our protagonist attempts to enter a college of sorcerers. Kip Penfold, a fox Calatian, displays a strong talent for magic, but his kind are generally not allowed to learn sorcery. However, when the Prince George College of Sorcery suffers an attack that wipes out the entire apprentice population, Kip receives the opportunity to enroll alongside a dozen other new students. He quickly bonds with a group of other “unusual” students including his old friend Coppy, an otter, Emily, the first woman to attend the college, and Malcolm, who’s Irish. Together, they attempt to study magic and prove themselves worthy apprentices despite strict (at best) teachers, a host of magical accidents, and Farley, a bigoted student whose bullying often turns deadly.Those familiar with Tim Susman’s work under the name Kyell Gold and who may be expecting another novel along those lines may be disappointed. I am sorry to say that The Tower and the Fox is utterly lacking in a romantic subplot.Susman is an experienced author, and it shows in his characters. While they might appear two- or even one-dimensional at first, as you get to know them further, they reveal hidden depths. For instance, one character at first seems to be just a rich kid with no talent for magic, but it later turns out that he has some rather plot-significant influence “behind the scenes” as it were. However, some might think that he exaggerates the racism and sexism of the period to drive the story forward. I’m unsure if arranged marriages were prevalent in the real Colonial-era America, but, in this version, they do seem common among both Calatians (as they must marry within their species, and their populations are sparse) and middle-class humans. Still, the action is paced so that you’ll have trouble setting the book down for fear of missing what happens next.