Otherworld Nights

Armstrong revisits her Otherworld series with the first of three planned anthologies. This collection of six short stories and two novellas—one brand-new—focuses on love and family, preternatural intrigue and politics, and zigging where zags are expected. The three best entries involve werewolves. “Chivalrous” may be short, but its story of forbidden college romance between two werewolves packs a major wallop. In the novella “Hidden,” Elena and Clay’s attempt to provide their four-year-old twins with an old-fashioned Christmas is interrupted by the investigation of a young man’s death. Telling the twins about werewolves becomes more pressing for future Pack Alpha Elena when one of them exhibits supernatural abilities. The brief “From Russia, with Love” features a visit from Pack Alpha Jeremy. His plan to relinquish authority to Elena is delightful, and the twins are so precocious it’s a shame the series ended before they grew up. The unfortunately titled “Twilight” is a less interesting examination of vampires, but lycanthrophiles will be very pleased. (Oct.)