Urban Enemies

July 3, 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.

July 1, 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

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