Tales of the Otherworld
Kelley Armstrong
Bantam, Apr 13 2010, $25.00
ISBN: 9780553807882

The second Otherworld short story collection (see Men of Otherworld) is a superb compilation that enhances knowledge of characters in the saga. As stated by Kelley Armstrong in the Introduction to the eight story anthology, "Beginnings" and "The Case of El Chapacabra" were written previously and placed on the author's website. In "Rebirth", Aaron learns of his vampire bloodline. "Bewitched" half-demon Eve and corporate sorcerer Kristof prove opposites attract. Logan Jonson seeks his "Birthright" when at eighteen he is about to meet his father Jeremy Danvers and unwittingly the pack for the first time. Elena of "Bitten" fame tells of her "Beginnings". The wedding of the year between Lucas Cortez and Paige Winterbourne brings "Expectations" to fans who know everything will go wrong. In "Ghost" the house seems empty with Elena and Clay gone but Daniel threatens his former pack mates. Three weeks and counting down to the nuptials, but the engaged couple feel as if they are going through "Wedding Bell Hell" with the slow countdown. In "The Case of El Chapacabra", Lucas and Paige investigate murder. These are terrific entries, but only fans of the Otherworld series will appreciate them as, like Ms. Armstrong has done on-line, they fill gaps in the series.

Harriet Klausner