by Jim Butcher
Series: The Dresden Files #14.5
Narrator: Julia Whelan, Full Cast
Length: 11 hours and 3 minutes
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Source: Purchase
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Narration: 4 cups Speed: 1.3x
In this dark and gritty collection - featuring short stories from Jim Butcher, Seanan McGuire, Kevin J. Anderson, and Rob Thurman - nothing is as simple as black and white, light and dark, good and evil....
Unfortunately, that's exactly what makes it so easy to cross the line.
In number-one New York Times best-selling author Jim Butcher's "Cold Case", Molly Carpenter - Harry Dresden's apprentice-turned-Winter Lady - must collect a tribute from a remote Fae colony and discovers that even if you're a good girl, sometimes you have to be bad.
New York Times best-selling author Seanan McGuire's "Sleepover" finds half-succubus Elsie Harrington kidnapped by a group of desperate teenage boys. Not for anything weird. They just need her to rescue a little girl from the boogeyman. No biggie.
In New York Times best-selling Kevin J. Anderson's "Eye of Newt", Zombie PI Dan Shamble's latest client is a panicky lizard missing an eye who thinks someone wants him dead. But the truth is that someone only wants him for a very special dinner....
And New York Times best-selling author Rob Thurman's infernally heroic Caliban Leandros takes a trip down memory lane as he deals with some overdue - and nightmarish - vengeance involving some quite nasty "Impossible Monsters".
Also includes stories by Tanya Huff, Kat Richardson, Jim C. Hines, Anton Strout, Lucy A. Snyder, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, and Erik Scott de Bie.
I didn’t even realize this was an anthology when I purchased the Dresden Files on Audible. The anthology features Cold Case, Dresden 14.5 and focuses on Molly. Julia Whelan narrates and holy snowballs it was good. The Shadows Souls collection is a feast for audio and urban fantasy fans. Dark and delicious!
Introduction by Kerri Hughes, read by Julia Whelan. The Foreword was written and read by Jim Butcher. I love gaining insight into this brilliant mind and savior these conversations.
- COLD CASE by Jim Butcher, read by Julia Whelan. The tale gives us Molly’s perspective in her new role. Mab just loves giving her lessons! This was excellent from the magic to the threat. Grasshopper is clever but at what cost? I have long loved Julia Whelan and felt she did an outstanding job even if I missed Marsters.
- SLEEPOVER by Seanan McGuire, read by Emily Rankin (InCryptid World). This is a short story about another Price family member and will give you a taste of the series unique world. It isn’t necessary to have read the series but a treat if you have. Elise is a succubus, but not quite like you think. When she is kidnapped by a group of teens she is annoyed, until she discovers why. I enjoyed Emily Rankin narration and was pleased to see this series/author in the mix.
- IF WISHES WERE by Tanya Huff, read by Justine Eyre (Vicki Nelson series). I really enjoyed this one about a vampire PI dealing with a gin and the inevitable loss of someone she cares deeply for. This is what i love about anthologies. I discover series I want to read. Justine Eyre did a stellar job with the narration.
- SOLUS by Anton Strout, read by David de Vries. Psychometry and a secret agency that regulates the paranormal world. Hells yes! Banter and a castle filled with ghosts have me wanting to discover more of Strout’s writings. I enjoyed David de Vries narration.
- PEACOCK IN HELL by Kat Richardson, read by Mia Barron. I love Kat Richardson. Her Greywalker series is one of my favorite urban fantasy series, and I enjoyed her science fiction debut. Peacock is sent to hell to retrieve someone. While this felt like it was part of a whole series, it was fascinating and left me wanting more. Mia Barron was fantastic giving voice and tone to the characters.
- EYE OF NEWT by Kevin J. Anderson, read by Jon Lindstrom. This was hilarious. A zombie PI helps a newt. I loved this. It wasn’t at all dark, but featured a crazy world I’d like to visit again. Jon Lindstrom did a bangup job with the voices.
- WHAT DWELLS WITHIN by Lucy A. Snyder, read by Julia Whelan. Of course I love Whelan as narrator. This was an interesting story about a witch with a unique familiar. The world was interesting, but I needed more explanation. It features Jessie from the Jessie Shimmer series. I’ve added the first book to my bookshelf.
- HUNTER, HEALER by Jim C. Hines, read by Sumalee Montano. This was an interesting tale about a two-souled woman, her crazy father and her unique abilities. Her assistant had the foulest mouth and I couldn’t help but laugh. I had hoped to discover a series, but struck out. Sumalee Montano offered delightful voices to this narration.
- BAGGAGE by Erik Scott de Bie, read by Mozhan Marno. This was a new to me author and narrator. The story features a retired superhero who drinks to keep things in check. In this tale she ends up tackling something evil. I am curious about V and this world. The narration was well done.
- SALES. FORCE by Kristine Kathryn Rusch, read by Karissa Vacker. What if you suffered a terrible loss? What if a potion could magically take the pain away. Our heroine is tested on her latest assignment from her employer. This was an interesting tale and I would love to know more about the agency she works for. Karissa Vacker offered a nice listen and captured the protagonists emotions.
- IMPOSSIBLE MONSTERS by Rob Thurman, read by Macleod Andrews. This is a story from the world of the Cal Leandros series and narrated by one of my favorite narrators. Cal is a half-demon and a visit to an old teacher turns grim. I think this was one of the darkest in the anthology and I’ve added the series to my backlist.
This was a stellar anthology with interesting stories and a variety of authors. Let these narrators read you a bedtime story each night.
Shadowed Souls by Jim Butcher and various authors was a superb collection of dark and gritty #UrbanFantasy #JIAM #loveaudiobooks Share on X
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Mary @StackingMyBookShelves!
Another one to add to my list, I love that he worked with the other authors. I think that is so awesome! My list is getting so huge!
Mary
Anne - Books of My Heart
Hmm I was trying to figure out if I had read the Jim Butcher one in this anthology. And YES! It is in Brief Cases which I reviewed last June when it came out. Great review! I may need to take this in as it features a whole batch of excellent writers and talented narrators.
Olivia Roach
The cover of the book looks like any other Jim Butcher novel for the series so I am not surprised that you didn’t realise it was an anthology until you read it! It sounds like you really enjoyed a lot of the series. And there are some quite well known authors in this collection as well, which is surprising!
Jen
OH, this sounds good. I listened to Cold Case as part of the Brief Cases anthology – which is only Dresden stories. And oh… it really is tough to learn about the cost of Molly’s new life.
MarthaE
Oh– I see several authors in this collection that I like. I have added this to my Audible Wish List.
Katherine @ I Wish I Lived in a Library
I have mixed feelings about anthologies but they can be such a great way to discover authors that are new to me. I really need to read Jim Butcher. It’s becoming ridiculous that I haven’t.
Melanie Simmons
I was a bit concerned that I missed a story, but I think this was in one of the Dresden Anthologies too. But looks like several other good stories. I might still need to check this out. I would be weird listening to someone besides Marsters read a Dresden book, but I do like Julia Whelan.
Dani @ Perspective of a Writer
oooh I need to check this out!! I’d love a way to read about other urban fantasy writers and not have to pick up a full book. I’m glad you liked it so much.
Mary Kirkland
This sounds good and I am loving that cover.
Melliane
So late and so many books!
Ethan
I always forget how much I enjoy short stories until I’m reading them. This sounds like a great collection!
Tyler H. Jolley
I love the compilation of authors. Jim Butcher is always an auto-buy for me.
Jackie
Shadowed Souls sounds great! I’m glad you liked all the stories in this one because I’ve been wanting to read it. Peacock in hell sounds like something I’ve read in the Underground City by H.P.Mallory.
Sophia Rose
I agree about how wonderful anthologies are for introducing new to me authors or series. This looks like a winner to me just from reading your thoughts on each of those stories.
Angela - Angel's Guilty Pleasures
Sounds nice. I’ve got to listen/read those short story/novellas in the Dresden series. Thank’s for sharing!
Crystal @ Lost in Storyland
It sounds like this anthology was a pleasant surprise! Sometimes I purchase an anthology to read a particular story by an author I love, and it’s fun to discover a new author through the other stories in the anthology.
Tanya @ Rantings of a Reading Addict
I always have such a hard time with anthologies because I end up in the middle of worlds that have been developed and I feel like I’m cheating reading a novella set farther into the series. I haven’t tried an anthology in audio. I think that would be a different listening experience.
Tracy Terry
an author I do like thought its been a while since I’ve read any of his Dresden books which is a series I dip in and out of … funnily enough I’ve only just this morning picked his Proven Guilty up with the intention of reading it next month …. not too keen on anthologies though (I always seem to be disappointed by them no matter how much I’ve enjoyed everything else by the author(s)) so I may well give this one a miss..
Nadene
Nice collection of stories.
Ailyn Koay
there’re some author’s that I wouldn’t mind reading ! oh such a nice collection