I received this book for free from my own shelves in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: my own shelves
Instinct
by
L.J. Hachmeister
fantasy, science fiction in a Kindle edition that was published by Source 7 Productions LLC on March 7, 2023 and has 447 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon
An anthology of seventeen stories of fantasy and science fiction revolving around animals.
The Series
AJ Hartley’s “The Gold Standard” (Hawthorne Saga)
Alex Erickson’s “Howl-O-Ween“ (Furever Pets)
DJ Butler’s “Dog” (Abbott in Darkness, 1.5??)
Eliza Eveland’s “Safe Place” (Talons and Tethers)
Faith Hunter’s “George and KitKit Save the Witches” (Jane Yellowrock)
Haley Edwards’ “Keeting It Real” (The Beginner’s Guide to Necromancy, 8.5??)
Jennifer Blackstream’s “Helpful” (Blood Trails)
Jim Butcher’s “Fugitive” (The Dresden Files, 17.5)
John G Hartness’ “The Unlikeliest Places” (Quincy Harker, Demon
Hunter, 8.75)
Kelley Armstrong’s “Forever and a Day” (Cainsville, 5.5)
LE Modesitt, Jr’s “The Unexpected Dachshund” (Archform: Beauty and Flash)
LJ Hachmeister’s “The Kitcoon” (Triorion universe, 0.5)
Lucienne Diver’s “A Cry in the Night” (The Latter Day Olympians,)
RR Virdi’s “The Kindness of Cats” (Tales of Tremaine, 1.5)
Sam Knight’s “Junkyard Rex” (The Abandoned Lands, 9.5)
Patricia Briggs’ “A Memory of Witches” (during Mercy Thompson 11)
The Stories
AJ Hartley’s “The Gold Standard”
It’s their fifth job for Raines . . . but their first dog, Durnok. And it’s Durnok who gets the gang thinking and making their own plans.
This was too funny. Hartley did a great job of keeping me wondering as Will kept despising the dog and the rest of them — Renthrette, Lisah, Mithos, Garnet, and Orgos — put all their faith in Durnok.
Alex Erickson’s “Howl-O-Ween“
Liz Denton is hoping to up her profile for her rescue organization and intends to talk to the arrogant Jon Luckett at his annual Howl-O-Ween party on his farm. Only, everything goes wrong.
A complicated plot for revenge that goes amazingly wrong but ends up right with one dog doing plenty of rescuing.
DJ Butler’s “Dog”
A very ill daughter is making the Abbots hurt and worry, yet it doesn’t keep John Abbott from rescuing an injured dog.
Cute with LOTS of detail with an ending that pays it forward.
Eliza Eveland’s “Safe Place”
A royal’s life is never easy, especially when you’re gay and have magic.
A sad tale about a boy with a secret and an old Molossus war hound companion, Brick. Told from Brick’s perspective who doesn’t understand why he no longer has as much attention from his Boy.
”It’s like a hunger in my chest, and it hurts.”
Faith Hunter’s “George and KitKit Save the Witches”
There’’s a threat out back of the Everheart-Truebloods’ house but the alphas aren’t paying any attention to KitKit’s warnings.
You know things are really bad when KitKit warns George that the danger witch wants all the tuna!
It’s a different kind of animal rescue, as it’s the animals who do the rescuing. Hunter says this short story is based on “My Dark Knight” from KitKit’s and George’s third person point-of-view. And it’s too funny as George thinks all about the smells he’s encountering, including those lies. As for poor EJ and his need to pee, oh, I do sympathize, lol. It’s a nasty attack focused on witches.
The Characters
KitKit was given to the Truebloods via Jane from Aggie One Feather’s mother in Black Arts, 7, to be Molly’s familiar.
Angelina, a.k.a. Angie or “Sissy”, is the human-witch-kitten, the daughter of the pride alphas, Mama and Daddy, i.e., Molly Meagan Everheart Trueblood and Big Evan, both of whom are witches. EJ is the smaller-male-human-witch-kit, i.e., Angie’s brother. The pet dog is George the Stupid-Dog, a bassett hound gifted to Angie by Shaddock, who refers to Mama and Daddy as the biggers. Cia and Liz Everheart, twins, and Elizabeth are sisters to Molly.
Uncle RickyBo used to date Jane Yellowrock. Now he’s with PsyLED.
Edmund is Angelina’s Dark Knight. Lincoln Shaddock is the Master of the City of Asheville. Melodie Joy Custer-Luckett, a paramedic, is from the Custer witch clan. Ant Jane is a Cherokee skinwalker and friends with Molly. Death to Paranormals (DTP) is a hate group.
Haley Edwards’ “Keeting It Real”
It’s a babysitting job for Eva with Keet and Oscar to the Clarice Lawson Oceanic Research Institute (named for Uncle Linus’ mother). A stupid choice for a challenge ambush.
And it’s Eva’s cockiness that leaves it too late to realize Bastian’s strategy. But not to worry as Keet comes to the rescue . . . just keeting it real.
This was too funny, and i want to read it all over again. I just love Keet! In fact, I think I must go check out Edwards’ The Beginner’s Guide to Necromancy series.
The Characters
Keet Richards, a.k.a. Pumba, is a banana yellow parakeet and familiar who loves The Lion King. Woolly is short for Woolworth House where Aunt Grier, a necromancer who created the psychopomp, and Uncle Linus live. Oscar is their six-year-old poltergeist.
Eva “Eva-Diva” Kinase is a babysitter as well as the eldest daughter of the alpha pair of the gwyllgi pack as well as its gamma, a.k.a. third. Rollo and Marly are pack enforcers. Bastian, Mathieu, Ormand, and Thaddeus Crowley are brothers and fellow gwyllgi.
Corbin Theroux, Eva’s childhood crush, is a sentinel and a Deathless vampire. Last Seeds are made vampires. Paula is a warg from the Iglesias pack in Florida. Miss Lacy, a vampire, works at the aquarium.
Jennifer Blackstream’s “Helpful”
Oh, the trials and tribulations of being a cat. All those children who want to pick you up. The distrustful pixies. Still, it must be borne if Majesty is to help the witch with her magic to find the missing amulet. There are attacks and supports from various helpers.
It’s from Majesty’s point-of-view with interjections from Bas, the dog mummy. I had to laugh at how the cat interpreted human facial expressions and tones. It was so very cat. Rayaan is a powerful djinn.
Jim Butcher’s “Fugitive”
A monster has escaped Hades and is threatening Maggie. Cerberus is tasked with its retrieval. It’s but one reason that Cerberus asks Mouse for help.
But when Mouse learns he’ll have to attack the used Mister, oh no. It is essential to remain a Good Boy.
I love the Dresden Files, but I gotta confess this story was written too simply and its premise is too convoluted.
The Characters
Mouse, Dresden’s monster of a dog (Blood Rites, 6) and is Harry’s little girl’s, Maggie’s, bodyguard. My Friend is Harry Dresden. Mister is Harry’s monster of a cat. Will Borden is a werewolf. Michael Carpenter is was a Knight of the Sword until events in Small Favor, 10.
Cerberus is the three-headed dog. Hades is the god of the Underworld. The Castle is the building Harry took from Marcone. My Shadow, a.k.a. Ash, is a Bad Dog. Cowl is one of Harry’s enemies. The Nemean Lion has escaped Hades.
John G Hartness’ “The Unlikeliest Places”
It’s an assignment. There’s a vampire flouting the king of the vampires’ rules, and making a right mess of it, so law enforcement sends in Quincy who gets a very little help from a cat.
Cute with some funny bits.
The Characters
Quincy “the Reaper” Harker is a part-vampire, magic-using demon hunter — his parents are Jonathan Harker and Mina Murray Harker. Lucas Card, a.k.a. Mr Alucard, is his grief-stricken, legendary uncle, who also happens to be king of the vampires.
Graybeard the Furry Nutjob is a cat who decided he’s going to help Quincy.
Deputy Director Rebecca “Becks” Gail Flynn heads up the Mid-Atlantic Division of the Department of Homeland Security’s Paranormal Division — and she’s Quincy’s fiancée.
Lugosi Light reckons he’s a Master vampire.
Kelley Armstrong’s “Forever and a Day”
Something’s wrong, especially with that earlier omen and then the doppelgänger. A set-up. A betrayal revealed even as TC redeems himself.
A sad tale of redemption.
The Characters
Olivia is part Fae and Wild Hunt who sees omens. She’s also Gabriel’s investigator and the reincarnation of Matilda. Gabriel Walsh is a defense lawyer and a reincarnated half-fae. Gwynn ap Nudd, a Welsh king of the fae. Patrick, a bàcan, is Gabriel’s father. TC, a.k.a. The Cat, is a matagot, a magical cat of French legend.
Matilda of the Hunt was betrayed by Arawn, the prince of the Cŵn Annwn. Ricky, a biker with an MBA, is the reincarnation of Arawn. Enid was a maid back in the day; Derog was her cat. Cainsville is a Tylwyth Teg town in Illinois. Thiten is a very old fae who tricked humans.
LE Modesitt, Jr’s “The Unexpected Dachshund”
Per their contract, they’d never be able to have children, but maybe this dachshund can fill that gap, as they build the domes on Nieuwhuis.
An interesting dip into a restricted life in this science fiction tale
The Characters
Keryleyn, a meteorologist, and Dom are on Nieuwhuis and can’t afford much. Rudolfo is a miniature dachshund puppy zygote. Arlena and Pietro are friends.
LJ Hachmeister’s “The Kitcoon”
Trying to escape the Dominion soldiers who are intent on capturing any telepaths, the smuggler’s ship is forced down. And the Dominion is hot on her heels . . . or are they after the kitcoon?
It’s an interesting story of a prejudiced universe and a cute animal that helps change Rex’s ways.
The Characters
Rex is a telepathic refugee and a data-hustler on an illegal transport. Kio is a kitcoon, a pest, traveling with an old woman. Chezzie had been Rex’s sponsor. Remy is a traumatized USC specialist. The United Starways Coalition is the enemy of the Dominion.
Lucienne Diver’s “A Cry in the Night”
It was Spirit’s trials that led to the origin of the Wolf Rescue and Rehabilitation Center. A gift and a rescue for him and his mate. And a gift that pays Lacey and Thompson back when they’re attacked by a mythical beast.
Interesting. I did enjoy Diver’s setting with an animal rescue center.
The Characters
Luke is Lacey Guerrera’s son. Spirit is a wolf-dog. Frost is his mate. Thompson is a biologist. Beau is their German shepherd. Jenny is a volunteer. Sarah is Lacey’s best friend. Joe is her deceased husband.
Gavin had been Spirit’s vicious owner. The krokotta comes from Ethiopia, an apex predator. Sergeant Cami Martinez. Tori Karacis is a PI and Apollo Demas is an actor.
RR Virdi’s “The Kindness of Cats”
A starving girl and an ill mother catch the attention of Shola.
Virdi captures the arrogance of a cat well even as he promotes kindness.
The Characters
Shola is a cat, also a nuisance and a thief. Ari appears to be Shola’s boy, his charge. Nitham. Aram, Radi. Clanks is either a person or the kitchen. Sarika is a starving girl caring for her ill mother. Ali is a server where Maanvi is the cook at the soup-shop. Mender Katar seems to be a doctor and Sneha, an inkeeper’s daughter, are customers.
I think Brahm is a god. The Rookery is an ashram?? in the city of Ghal.
Sam Knight’s “Junkyard Rex”
There’s no hope of help and the United States is no more. Now monsters roam the Abandoned Lands with bounties on tyrannosaurs and press gangs conscripting men.
This was so ghastly, depressing, and so sweet with Hugh caring more for the beast than the money.
The Characters
Hugh Sanchez runs a junkyard in the Abandoned Lands. Junker had been his dog. Papi had been his father. Mr Williams provides livestock. Roger is his son. The guards include Ty-man and Sunflower, a.k.a. Mr Happy.
Seanan McGuire’s “Nine”
This one was an interesting philosophy of why cats have nine lives. The relationships they seek from Humans and the hearts and years of life.
Patricia Briggs’ “A Memory of Witches”
It’s a crime scene at Elizaveta’s house, and someone must go in to assess it.
Whew, Sherwood’s memory loss is getting weaker with Sherwood realizing that even though his wolf didn’t want to go in, his human self knew he had to go, to protect Mercy. It’s a creepy tale of an arrogant Sherwood determined on rescue who screwed up, fears that he remembers now.
It’s quite the interesting perspective since Coyote shows up with some home truths for Sherwood.
The Characters
Sherwood Post is a one-legged/three-legged werewolf. Zack is their submissive wolf. Carlos works for Adam Hauptman, the alpha, in his security business. Darryl is Adam’s second. Mercy is Adam’s coyote shapeshifter mate. The Marrok is the alpha for all of North America.
Elizaveta Arkadyevna Vyshnevetskya is the witch to whom Adam and his pack pay a monthly retainer. Coyote is an avatar of the First People. The Lord of Night is the ruing vampire in Europe. The Singer is evil.
The Cover and Title
The cover is stark with a soft blue and pink sky overshadowed by a giant black wolf standing on a gray to black ground. In front of him and to the left is a fuchsia-haired woman crouching in a black tank top and blue jeans with, I’m guessing, a fuchsia flame rising up from her left hand. At the top is the title in a orange-tinged yellow with an info blurb about it in white directly below the title. Starting at the woman’s upper thigh is two columns of author’s names in white.
The title refers to that Instinct held by animals everywhere.
