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Heroic Hearts
by
Jim Butcher, Kerrie L. Hughes
fantasy in a Kindle edition that was published by Ace Books on May 3, 2022 and has 365 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Mean Streets, Changes, Side Jobs, Ghost Story, Dark and Stormy Knights, Aftertaste, Hex Appeal, Welcome to the Jungle, Dangerous Women, Storm Front, Grave Peril, Summer Knight, Fool Moon, Cold Days, Skin Game, Blood Rites, Death Masks, Proven Guilty, White Night, Small Favor, Shadowed Souls, Peace Talks, "Christmas Eve", “The Good People”, Battle Ground, "The Law", “Everything the Light Touches”, "Job Placement", Westward Weird
An anthology of twelve short stories in the fantasy genre and revolving around everydayish heroes, full of hope, courage, and bravery.
The Series
“Little Things” (The Dresden Files, 17.1)
“The Dark Ship” (The Others, 5.1)
“Comfort Zone” (Darkest Powers, 3.7, with a touch of Women of the Otherworld)
“Fire Hazard” (The Iron Druid Chronicles, 9.4)
“Silverspell” (Heirs of Chicagoland, 1.5)
“The Return of the Mage” (Sookie Stackhouse: Britlingen)
“The Necessity of Pragmatic Magic” (Karen Wilson Chronicles)
“Dating Terrors” (Alpha & Omega, 6.5; Mercy Thompson World, 18.5)
The Stories
Jim Butcher’s “Little Things”
It’s Toot-Toot’s first person perspective in this, as he bemoans the blindness of the humans as he and his fellow Guard defend the Castle from invading gremlins.
As usual, Toot-Toot is too funny for words. In this case, it’s what is most important in his world — and pizza deliveries are way up there. That danged conomee is getting in the way of pizza! You know it’s really important when Toot-Toot’s first reaction to invaders is that the pizza must be guarded. He’s not too impressed with the quality of the Castle’s tapestries . . . hmm. As for his reaction to “boom” . . . eek.
The depressing Lacuna is still feeling the humiliation of captivity, *laughing*. Harry too is depressed after events in Battle Ground, 17.
There’s a budget with spotty deliveries of food and thirty to fifty people eating at the castle . . .? I do wish Butcher would hurry up with Twelve Months.
Characters
Major General Toot-Toot Minimus is a pixie in service to Sir Harry Dresden, Knight of the Winter Court and Wizard of Chicago. Toot-Toot is also the captain of the Za-Lord’s guard. Lacuna, one of the Little People, is Toot-Toot’s “love” and a hostage. More of the Guard include Loo-Tender Bluenose, Wobbleshanks, and Redcullen.
Lol, “someone must protect him from threats too small to readily discern. That is my place: not at my lord’s side, but at his ankles.”
Mister, Harry’s monster of a tomcat, is still around and absorbing a lot of petting. The Bane is iron. Sir William is Harry’s castellan. Michael Carpenter visited the Velasquezes’ little girl. Bob the Castle is in charge of security.
Scar Eye is the leader of the invading gremlins.
Anne Bishop’s “The Dark Ship”
There’s an olde worlde feel to “The Dark Ship”, and I’m feeling the need to explore this The Others series. A tale of myths come true, an unexpected heroine, and salvation, all told in first person protagonist point-of-view from Dette’s perspective.
Bishop provides a quick synopsis to ground us in her world, yet “The Dark Ship” easily stands on its own.
Characters
It’s in Pyetra, a small fishing village on the coast of the Mediterran, where a people are terrorized by the dread Captain Starr, a.k.a. Jonathan Brogan.
Dett, a.k.a. Vedette, is an Intuit who can sense things about ships and the sea. Mara is her stepmother who eagerly assists Ennzo, Dett’s father, in torturing her. He owns a dockside tavern, aided by the free help. Lucy had been Dett’s friend. Hilda was a child who had transgressed when she tried to free a trapped human orphan.
Captain Crow, a.k.a. Corvo Sanguinati, poked the “beast”. Alano is the ship’s medic. The terra Indigene are earth natives and Others. Tethys is an Elemental, the voice, heart, and fury of the Mediterran Sea. Niklaus, an Intuit, sails with Corvo.
Kelley Armstrong’s “Comfort Zone”
Oh, I liked this. It’s a side story that’s mostly Darkest Powers and a touch of Women of the Otherworld with that mention of Sean, and finds Chloe torn between her desire to help and her need to stay safe. It’s about heroes, trust, and taking that next step.
Part of being safe is sleeping in the same bed as Derek — and no, it’s not about sex!
I started with sympathy for Justin, lost it, and gained part of it back by the end. Chloe does a great job of taking Justin’s story apart.
Characters
Chloe Saunders, a poor little rich girl, a necromancer who sees ghosts, is in college and living with the scary Derek Souza, a werewolf, who is also attending college. Both are genetically modified. Liz is usually Chloe’s spirit guide.
May and Daniel are friends who juggle post-grad studies with helping supernaturals. Sean Nash helps people.
Justin was killed. Now he’s a ghost trying to save his thirteen-year-old half-sister Gina.
Annie Bellett’s “Train to Last Hope”
This so reminded me of Seanan McGuire’s Ghost Roads with its fateful train and tale of broken hearts and a hopeless hunt for a loved one. Of memories of a happier past. Of memories of conflict.
And yes, of heroes. Heroes who protect and love.
Characters
Cassidy is a hearth witch, estranged from her mate, Raina, who made a bargain with Death. Mairi, a.k.a. May, is their daughter who ran away from home ten years ago to join the circus (shades of McGuire’s InCryptid!). “Nightmare” is Raina’s horse.
Last Hope is where the train of the dead stops. Blythe is the daughter of the hotel owner. Alice had been May’s friend in the circus who had married a man in White Water. Paulie had been the circus owner’s brother.
Kevin Hearne’s “Fire Hazard”
This was fun! I do so enjoy Oberon’s perspective on the world. In this one, from first person protagonist point-of-view, it’s all about the sausage and courage. Both dogs share a mental link with Atticus, which makes the story even more fun.
It’s part of Oberon’s character arc that he comes to realize the difference between sausage and courage. He sums it all up at the end, and you will be ROFL.
Characters
Atticus, a.k.a. Siodhachan, is a one-armed Druid, tasked with protecting the world. Oberon is the Irish wolfhound who’s been with Atticus forever. Starbuck is a snorty Boston terrier who thinks positive with food and negative with squirrels, lol.
Inspector Rose Badgley in Launceston, Tasmania, is Atticus’ current love interest. Gwyneth is an entrepreneurial poodle who’s got quite the business model with her ass candles. No, no, I do not even want to think of this one, although Oberon is quite taken with the idea. Coriander is a Herald Extraordinary of the Fae Court. Who smells like street tacos. Brighid is the goddess of fire, and First among the Fae.
Xaphan is a fallen angel.
R.R. Virdi’s “Grave Gambles”
Well, this was quite different! A “private investigator” who wakes up in the bodies of the murdered. On the plus side, he gains all the memories and skills of those he inhabits. On the negative side, he’s losing his own. It seems he has quite the reputation as well.
It’s another first person protagonist point-of-view from Vincent/Curt’s perspective, and it’s all about the luck.
Characters
Vincent Graves is a body-hopping soul who investigates murder cases. Church, the blondie, seems to be Vincent’s contact.
Curtis “Curt” Brown is an HVAC technician and former locksmith who helps out as a handyman at a daycare where Jeanine is a receptionist. Tyler is one of the attendees. Miss Chaudry, a Yaksha and the local luck spirit, is a teacher. Andy is one of a number of missing children. Jake works at a doughnut shop.
Chloe Neill’s “Silverspell”
Aww, Elisa is all grown-up. Neill fills us in on the various characters nicely, but she leaves us hanging as to the real why of the perpetrator. Nor do I understand what Jonathan’s purpose is here.
Characters
Elisa “Lis” Sullivan is the vampire daughter of Ethan, the Master of Cadogan House, and Merit, its Sentinel. Lulu, a non-practicing sorceress, is Elisa’s housemate. Lulu’s parents are Mallory and Catcher Bell. Eleanor of Aquitaine is their temperamental black cat.
Roger Yuen is Chicago’s supernatural ombudsman. Petra, an aeromancer, and Theo Martin are associate ombudsmen with Elisa. Detective Gwen Robinson is the Chicago PD’s supernatural expert.
The North American Central Pack is based in Chicago and is led by Gabriel Keene. Connor Keene is Gabriel’s son, the heir apparent, and Elisa’s boyfriend. Consolidated Atlantic is the shapeshifter Pack on the Eastern Seaboard. Jason Maguire is their Apex; Bryce had been a member of his Pack.
The Raucous Wolf is an artisanal bar run by Lucy Dalton, the bartender. The rule-breaking Ariel Shaw, a necromancer and witch, is a waitress at the Raucous Wolf. Annabelle Shaw, her mother, has been of help to the Sullivans now and again. Joe’s is Elisa’s favorite coffeeshop. The Taco Hole, a dive of a bar, serves as a supernatural neutral ground. Jonathan Black is part elf with his own agenda. The Assembly of American Masters is the ruling body of American vampires.
Kerrie L. Hughes’ “Troll Life”
Cute, although it was a bit ham-handed. The idea of sentient trains is fun. Hughes hasn’t done much to describe the world in this story. As for the interactions between Harzl and the “bad guys” . . . that was danged confusing.
Harzl has his conflicts. His dad is pressuring him to become a station manager, but Harzl can’t stay away from the vending machine sweets, his TV programs, and bringing Snori to work.
Characters
Harzl Hellirverja of the Cavern Clan is a troll who is temporarily posted to the Northern Transfer Station, a stop on the Liminal Subway System of sentient trains and a form of elemental shifters — who like to gossip. Snori is the barghest Harzl rescued. Harzl’s oldest sister is a station manager in Denver; his youngest brother, an assistant station manager in Portland. Two others patrol rural stations. Their father is a ranger on the other side of the realm. The station inspector, a banshee, is Gwyn Ivershae.
Alex is a child; Nancy, a.k.a. Cortney, is the woman he’s with. Spencer Beaumont was a lawyer working for a powerful wizard family. Jana is a wolfen shifter working for Spencer. The Vertasoturi Clan are vampires in Chicago.
Charlaine Harris’ “The Return of the Mage”
I do enjoy the Britlingens, and this short story finds them in danger and a danger, for a Britlingen team doesn’t get dead. A fact that really ticks Batanya off.
I gotta say, this story feels like it was thrown together in a hurry. I sure ain’t buying Perro’s excuse about the hunting party.
Characters
The Britlingen Collective is the most expensive, efficient, and well-known bodyguard, mercenary, and extraction group in many a’world. First Officer Batanya leads a klaven, and Clovache is Batanya’s second officer, who’s having a relationship with Geit, who leads a team that includes Therryl and Simone. Vandler is a sending mage
Coturigo is a primitive jungle planet with rich lodes. Hannuman is a stranded metals mage, who married Marla. They had three sons: Bertol, Perro, and Ronoldo.
Nancy Holder’s “The Vampires Karamazov”
The Karamazovs have had it all their way for too long, and their father is not known for his restraint.
I am so confused about all this talk of murdering their father. As for the meandering story Ivan and Dmitri indulge in . . . I was still confused. I have an idea of parts of it, but Holder is so vague and throws so many bits and pieces together that only have the Karamozovs in common. As for the ending . . . oy.
Characters
It’s a vampire family with Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov the arrogant father who had turned them all. Pavel is the oldest and an illegitimate son; Dmitri is Pavel’s half-brother, furious about his inheritance; Ivan;and, Alexei, who had been a monk and fears being cut off from the Church. Father Zosima was the monk with whom Alexei studied.
Jennifer Brozek “The Necessity of Pragmatic Magic”
Pragmatism. Hmm, John Sandford’s The Investigator had a bit on pragmatism that I enjoyed.
Characters
Maureen is a paid docent at the Stewart Historic Museum with her own fears. Felicia Care is the pragmatic witch with whom Maureen has tea on Wednesdays.
Harold Sperling is the curator at the museum; Raven is his secretary. Ethan is the barista in the museum’s café. Jack is the maintenance man. Joe Lolen and Adam are night security guards.
Kulwinder is the mail carrier for downtown Kendrick. I think Susan is with the Kendrick Museum of Art and Science. The Crystal Creek Café is a 24-hour diner.
Karen Wilson, a mundane with powerful allies, is the representative of the Master of the City.
Patricia Briggs’ “Dating Terrors”
Ruby wants to play it safe, so she plans to meet her online date at a ghost hunt. And I hadn’t realized Asil had his own set of short stories about online dating! “Dating Terrors” is the third one, and I gotta give him credit to going through with these online dates — that drive from Montana to Seattle has got to be a pain.
”During the required two hours of your date, no one ran screaming into the night. All deaths happened after the required time . . .”
Now if that doesn’t get you to wondering . . . Then, oh yeah, then Asil uses the word “woke”. Hmmm.
Briggs is brilliant, as ever, at her storytelling. We get Asil’s background, a sense of his power (and craziness) with a quick look in at the Emerald City Pack, Ruby’s issues, and the purpose behind “Dating Terrors”. Terrors that are on both sides, lol, as we discover through third person dual protagonist point-of-view.
I do have to agree with Ruby. This is a nasty trick to play on Asil. That assessment Asil makes of Ruby and her group of weak misfits was cute and very protective. As for Asil’s enjoyment of the setting, well, I enjoyed it too. Lol, Ruby does get a sense of how old Asil is when he waxes on about the initial appearance of the corset and court fashions in the Renaissance.
It’s a definite turning point for Asil and his wolf, and I’m looking forward to his next short story. I suspect those ConcernedFriends@marrok.com are curious too, lol.
Characters
Ruby Kowalczyk — with her price beyond — is a half-fae (with the ability to sense emotions and memories with a bit of psychometry) bookstore clerk on the run from her captor. Ghost hunting is her hobby.
Asil the Moor, a.k.a. Asil Moreno, is a crazy werewolf who keeps hoping the Marrok will kill him before his wolf lets loose. Sarai is the mate Asil lost to murder so long ago (Cry Wolf, 2). Kara is Asil’s young friend. Anna is the Omega wolf of the Marrok’s Pack who’s married to Charles.
Ruby’s fellow ghost hunters include the very pregnant Miranda, a white witch married to Alan. Terry is the grumpy old guy and a white witch; Becky never gets ruffled; Max has some lesser fae blood; and, Peg is the shy computer geek and a white witch who uses her power on Dusty, her twin brother, a ghost who likes to mess up their electric cords.
Tom Franklin is the second to Angus Hopper, the Alpha of the Emerald City Pack in Seattle. Tom’s wife, Moira, is a powerful white witch. Alan Choo is one of Angus’ submissives.
Ivory Jim “Smith” had been some sort of goblin, wendigo-ish. A Gray Lord is a very powerful Fae. Evan Mercanter Benson had built a beautiful, artful Victorian mansion. The Guerra de Brujas, a.k.a. the War of the Witches, took place during the Inquisition and changed fae interbreeding.
The Cover and Title
It’s a colorful cover in muted oranges and blues with a kick of deep yellow. The background is a’slant in the front of an orange wall, its shadowed blue side, and the pale blue of a night sky with a full moon in the upper right corner. It’s an anthology with many fae characters as we can tell from the female and male characters dressed in black with their dark hair, wings, and swords. They appear to be standing on a stage with an audience below, reaching for them. At the very top is an info blurb in yellow with the author/editors’ names below in white above their heads. Starting at about their knees is the title with a black badge bordered in white with yet another info blurb inside it in yellow and white. At the bottom is yet another info blurb in yellow and white with a partial list of the participating authors. And more.
The title is accurate, for this is of Heroic Hearts with everyday heroes.
