Urban Allies: Ten Brand-New Collaborative Stories

by Joseph Nassise

Overview

In this impressive anthology, twenty of today’s hottest urban fantasy writers—including Charlaine Harris, Jonathan Maberry, Kelley Armstrong, Seanan Mcguire, and C. E. Murphy—pair together to write ten original stories featuring their favorite series characters.

Worlds collide when two different urban fantasy series meet in each of the ten electrifying stories in this collaborative project, featuring beloved characters such as Peter Octavian and Dahlia Lynley-Chivers, Joanne Walker and Harper Blaine, Joe Ledger and Special Agent Franks, Sabina Kane and Ava. Urban Allies melds the talents of some of the most high-profile authors in the genre today—many of whom are working together for the first time—to give readers a chance to see their favorite characters in an imaginative and fresh way.

Edited by acclaimed bestselling author Joseph Nassise, who is also a contributor, this outstanding collection showcases the brilliant storytelling talents of some of the most acclaimed urban fantasy writers working today—among them seven New York Times bestselling authors and one USA Today bestselling author.

Contributors Include:

• Charlaine Harris and Christopher Golden
• Carrie Vaughn and Diana Rowland
• Jonathan Maberry and Larry Correia
• Kelley Armstrong and Seanan Mcguire
• Joseph Nassise and Sam Witt
• Steven Savile And Craig Schaefer
• David Wellington and Weston Ochse
• Stephen Blackmoore and Jeff Somers
• C. E. Murphy and Kat Richardson
• Jaye Wells and Caitlin Kittredge 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062391346
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	07/26/2016
Pages:	416
Product dimensions:	5.31(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.94(d)

About the Author

Joseph Nassise is the author of more than twenty novels, including the internationally bestselling Templar Chronicles series, the Jeremiah Hunt series, and several books in the Rogue Angel action/adventure series from Gold Eagle. He’s a former president of the Horror Writers Association, the world’s largest organization of professional horror writers, and a multiple Bram Stoker Award and International Horror Guild Award nominee.

Editorial Reviews

06/13/2016
An all-star roster of 20 urban fantasy authors headlines this collection of 10 crossover adventures, each of which sees two writers pitting their signature heroes against shared threats. Verity Price from Seanan McGuire’s InCryptid series encounters Elena Michaels from Kelley Armstrong’s Women of the Otherworld while both are investigating mysterious events in the woods. Jonathan Maberry’s Capt. Joe Ledger teams up with Larry Correia’s Special Agent Franks to fight demons in the Middle East. C.E. Murphy’s Joanne Walker runs into Kat Richardson’s Harper Blaine while checking out a haunted house. The reasons for each team-up and the methods by which it’s accomplished vary from one story to the next (and are often awkward). Each work stands on its own, acting as an introduction to the characters and their respective concepts. Nassise (Midian Unmade) has assembled an admirable group of contributors who do a good if sometimes uneven job of blending both styles and toy boxes. The tales lean more toward the darker fantasy or horror end of the spectrum, making for an occasionally gory spectacle. Readers will undoubtedly get a kick out of seeing their favorite heroes solving cases together and will enjoy being introduced to new characters and settings. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

”This anthology highlights incredible authors and their best lead protagonists. Readers will devour these stories, which answer the question many fans pose: ‘What if these two characters met?’” — Library Journal (starred review)

“Literary mashups are no easy feat, but thanks to some excellent pairings and the work of a group of wonderfully talented writers, this collection is enormously fun from beginning to end, particularly for series fans. 4-1/2 stars.” — RT Book Reviews (top pick)

“Readers will undoubtedly get a kick out of seeing their favorite heroes solving cases together and will enjoy being introduced to new characters and settings.” — Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

Literary mashups are no easy feat, but thanks to some excellent pairings and the work of a group of wonderfully talented writers, this collection is enormously fun from beginning to end, particularly for series fans. 4-1/2 stars.

RT Book Reviews (top pick)

BY THE BLOOD OF HEROES is a genre-twisting madhouse of horror, Steampunk SF and zombie madness that is too damn much fun to miss! Buckle up...this is a wild ride!

Jonathan Maberry

★ 07/01/2016
These ten shared stories brings together the work of 20 different authors. "Ladies' Fight" matches up Caitlin Kittredge's hellhound Ava and reaper Leo with Jaye Wells's Chosen, Sabina Kane, her partner Adam, and demon Giguhl as they search for the Grim Reaper's scythe. In "Tailed," Seanan McGuire's Verity Price hunts a cryptid poacher and discovers a werewolf with her kids and Kelley Armstrong's Elena, Kate, and Logan. More pairings of fan-favorite characters, including Peter Octavian and Dahlia Lynley-Chivers, and Joe Ledger and Kitty Norville, bring fresh outings and fun crossovers sure to delight many readers. VERDICT This anthology highlights incredible authors and their best lead protagonists. Readers will devour these stories, which answer the question many fans pose: "What if these two characters met?"—KC

Library Journal