Urban Enemies: Stories from the Villains of Your Favorite Urban Fantasy Series

by Joseph Nassise (Editor), Jim Butcher, Kevin Hearne, Seanan McGuire, Kelley Armstrong

Overview

Villains have all the fun—everyone knows that—and this anthology takes you on a wild ride through the dark side! The top villains from seventeen urban fantasy series get their own stories—including the baddies of New York Times bestselling authors Jim Butcher, Kevin Hearne, Kelley Armstrong, Seanan McGuire, and Jonathan Maberry.

For every hero trying to save the world, there’s a villain trying to tear it all down.

In this can’t-miss anthology edited by Joseph Nassise (The Templar Chronicles), you get to plot world domination with the best of the evildoers we love to hate! This outstanding collection brings you stories told from the villains' point of view, imparting a fresh and unique take on the evil masterminds, wicked witches, and infernal personalities that skulk in the pages of today’s most popular series.

The full anthology features stories by Jim Butcher (the Dresden Files), Kelley Armstrong (Cainsville), Seanan McGuire (October Daye), Kevin Hearne (The Iron Druid Chronicles), Jonathan Maberry (Joe Ledger), Lilith Saintcrow (Jill Kismet), Carrie Vaughn (Kitty Norville), Joseph Nassise (Templar Chronicles), Domino Finn (Black Magic Outlaw), Steven Savile (Glasstown), Caitlin Kittredge (Hellhound Chronicles), Jeffrey Somers (The Ustari Cycle), Sam Witt (Pitchfork County), Craig Schaefer (Daniel Faust), Jon F. Merz (Lawson Vampire), Faith Hunter (Jane Yellowrock), and Diana Pharaoh Francis (Horngate Witches).

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781501155093
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster
Publication date:	02/13/2024
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	449
Sales rank:	49,669
File size:	5 MB

About the Author

#1 New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher turned to writing as a career because anything else probably would have driven him insane. He lives mostly inside his own head so that he can write down the conversation of his imaginary friends, but his head can generally be found in Independence, Missouri. 

Editorial Reviews

07/03/2017
Fans of urban fantasy can read stories from some of the best-known names in the genre and discover new writers in this well-arranged anthology, which focuses on villains. In Jim Butcher’s “Even Hand,” the human crime lord who has been a thorn in wizard Harry Dresden’s side gets his due in an amusing story that pokes some fun at the long-running Dresden Files series. Other highlights include the haunting “Hounded” by Kelley Armstrong; Carrie Vaughn’s “Bellum Romanum,” featuring an immortal Roman centurion who wants to see the world burn; and the deliciously wicked “Balance” by Seanan McGuire, set in her InCryptid world. Other stories, such as Domino Finn’s “The Difference Between Deceit and Delusion” and Jonathan Maberry’s “Altar Boy,” seem more interested in showing how violent and brutal their bad guys can be than in telling a compelling story, though readers already invested in their series might be more appreciative. The collection feels balanced and entertaining and is a solid companion to Nassise’s Urban Allies. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

Top grade horror fiction.

Starred Review on Jonathan Maberrys Joe Ledger se Booklist

Storytelling doesn’t get much better than this, folks. The author has caught lightning (pun intended) in a bottle and he keeps doing it again and again. If you haven’t caught on to the joy that is the Iron Druid Chronicles, you should remedy that post-haste.

My Bookish Ways on Kevin Hearnes Hunted of the Iron Druid Chronicles

A wondrously gothic hybrid horror-thriller in the grand tradition of Dean Koontz and Stephen King.

Providence Journal on Kelley Armstrongs Cainsville series

Storytelling doesn’t get much better than this, folks. The author has caught lightning (pun intended) in a bottle and he keeps doing it again and again. If you haven’t caught on to the joy that is the Iron Druid Chronicles, you should remedy that post-haste.

My Bookish Ways on Kevin Hearne’s Hunted of the Iron Druid Chronicles

Top grade horror fiction.

Starred Review on Jonathan Maberry’s Joe Led Booklist

A wondrously gothic hybrid horror-thriller in the grand tradition of Dean Koontz and Stephen King.

Providence Journal on Kelley Armstrong’s Cainsville series

Top grade horror fiction.

Starred Review on Jonathan Maberry’s Joe Led Booklist

A wondrously gothic hybrid horror-thriller in the grand tradition of Dean Koontz and Stephen King.

Providence Journal on Kelley Armstrong’s Cainsville series

Storytelling doesn’t get much better than this, folks. The author has caught lightning (pun intended) in a bottle and he keeps doing it again and again. If you haven’t caught on to the joy that is the Iron Druid Chronicles, you should remedy that post-haste.

My Bookish Ways on Kevin Hearne’s Hunted of the Iron Druid Chronicles

Butcher is the dean of contemporary urban fantasy.

Booklist on Jim Butcher

"Helmed by editor Joseph Nassise, these tales plunge readers into the world of each series featured—from Jeff Somers' Utsari Cycle to Kevin Hearne's Iron Druid Chronicles to Carrie Vaughn's Kitty Norville series—these stories are sure to appeal to fans and series newcomers alike!"

RT book reviews

The only thing more fun than an October Daye book is an InCryptid book. Swift narrative, charm, great world-building . . all the McGuire trademarks.

Charlaine Harris

07/01/2017
With contributions from the greatest names in the genre and less well-known authors, the range in this collection of antagonist-focused stories is wide. Opening the volume with Jim Butcher's "Even Hand," about Harry Dresden's longtime enemy, Gentleman John Marcone, is a good choice. We get to see that the sometimes vicious criminal, who has been around since the beginnings of the series, has his own personal code. Other standouts include "Hounded," a Cainsville story from Kelley Armstrong, and "Bellum Romanun," the backstory of the enemy Roman from Carrie Vaughn's "Kitty Norville" series. For many of these stories, the series hero doesn't even make an appearance, which means that these side tales might resonate more with those already familiar with that particular world. And being all about the villains, the violence quotient occasionally runs a little higher than series readers might expect. VERDICT Still, there are treats for urban fantasy fans and a taste of some writers they may want to explore further.—MM

Library Journal