Rating:4.75🌈
Anthologies are always a great place to find a new author, get reacquainted with a writer you haven’t read in a while, or just plain enjoy a story from a favorite author of yours. All centered around one theme so a reader can see if they take a different or similar approach to the topic.
In this case , it’s the popular theme of fated mates in paranormal romance.
Fated Mates, a charity anthology, offers 20 stories by 20 authors, on the subject of fated mates. Clearly, a reader will be able to find a story to enjoy out of such a wide variety.
Story Format Key:
🟦Authors who wrote standalone stories, no connection to another series
🟪Authors wrote prequels to new series
🟩Authors used their series/universe here , including characters, prior or some knowledge required.
List of Stories:
🔹Aether and the Elements by Louisa Masters 🟪
🔹How to Survive a Summoning by Nikole Knight 🟦♥️
🔹A Werewolf Called Ammon by Michelle Frost 🟩
🔹A Squirrel Gets His Nut by Kelex🟪
🔹Fated Kiss by Mia Monroe 🟦
🔹Inferno by Kiki Clark 🟪
🔹Black and White by Vinni George 🟪♥️
🔹Violent Secret by Ariana Nash 🟩♥️
🔹 Wounded Mate by Lee Colgin 🟩♥️
🔹Shiny Things by Kelly Fox 🟦♥️
🔹The Crow King’s Mate by Jennifer Cody🟦♥️
🔹Fate’s Treasure by Grae Bryan 🟦♥️
🔹Deader Than Dead by H.L Day 🟦🔹Words Not Necessary by Lisa Oliver 🟩🟪♥️
🔹As the Raven Flies by Meghan Maslow 🟩♥️
🔹Curse of Silver & Blood by Sheena Jolie 🟩♥️
🔹There’s A Bat in My Room! By Michele Notaro 🟩
🔹The Demon and the Librarian by Chloe Archer🟩
🔹A Scent Like No Other by JP Sayle🟪
🔹True Mates and Where to Find Them by AJ Sherwood🟦
———-
1. Aether and the Elements by Louisa Masters – this story, which is a prequel, has a nice twist and interesting premise. Ends abruptly but as the author intends to go into a series with these characters, it’s fine.
2. How to Survive a Summoning by Nikole Knight-Demon Lyn and human Jamie are #couplegoals and this is a fabulous tale w/ great depth and characters. Love this Demon, they are adorable.❤️
3. A Werewolf Called Ammon by Michelle Frost – part of an existing series, instant maté storyline.
4. A Squirrel Gets His Nut by Kelex- terrific little story about a squirrel shifter finding his mate. Prequel to a new series. Fantastic.
5. Fated Kiss by Mia Monroe-instant mate/love vampire story that was one dimensional, plot holes.
6. Inferno by Kiki Clark- a prequel to the author’s new Silver Oak Pack series, it’s a quick best friends to fated mates tale, via mixed up curse. Cute.
7. Black and White by Vinni George- this is another prequel to a new paranormal series, Orcas. It’s pretty terrific in that it sets out the characters, a great storyline, and foundation arc. Need more!
8. Violent Secret by Ariana Nash- part of the author’s Blackrose Brotherhood series, including the character. Well done. Terrific piece.❤️
9. Wounded Mate by Lee Colgin , set in Colgin’s Outcast Mates series, an incubus and a werewolf find true love (hurt/comfort, found family) in a well done story.
10. Shiny Things by Kelly Fox is a great read, complete with well crafted location, terrific characters and story line. Poe the Raven shifter with his avian characteristics is perfect.♥️
11. The Crow King’s Mate by Jennifer Cody is an excellent paranormal love story about a raven shifter and a wolf shifter dealing with past bad romantic experiences finding out that they are fated mates. Wonderful characters and plot.❤️
12. Fate’s Treasure by Grae Bryan is a story I wish the author would expand into a larger novel. It’s so well written with excellent plotting and terrifically detailed characters that the ending pops way up too soon. Gentle , sweet storytelling.❤️
13. Deader Than Dead by H.L Day, great elements but together they added up to a story that just didn’t work for me. Others might feel differently. Trigger warnings about death and suicide.
14. Words Not Necessary by Lisa Oliver -prequel to established series, Magic Users of Greenford Trilogy, knowledge of that is useful but not necessary. Neo the anchor and Rocky the High Magic User find themselves on a magical murder mystery case as well as fated mates in a terrific short story that will send me looking into the series.❤️
15. As the Raven Flies by Meghan Maslow . Forced proximity/fated mates and two of my favorite shifters Raven/wolf combos or dire wolf. Part of the Charm City series/universe, excellent tale in every aspect. Storytelling, hot chemistry, fabulous characters, and location. More !♥️
16. Curse of Silver & Blood by Sheena Jolie is part of the Infinite Arcana Universe by SJ Himes/Sheena Jolie. Werewolf and wounded Fae fated mate pairing that’s a prequel to a story coming out in 2024. I’ll be waiting to read it as I love this romance and need more about what happens next. ❤️
17. There’s A Bat in My Room! By Michele Notaro. This is part of the Ellwood and Brinnswood world series for those who are familiar with the universe. There’s an adorable bat shifter in trouble and his human fated mate who will help him, once he gets over his fear of bats and idea that the bat isn’t a vampire. Cute story with familiar characters showing up as support.
18. The Demon and the Librarian by Chloe Archer. Archer had me at the librarian but just continued to seal the deal with great elements that had me snort giggling at places. Fabulous characters and storylines. Part of the Monsters Hollow series, this is a favorite story and one I wish was at novel length. ♥️
19. A Scent Like No Other by JP Sayle, Enchanted Ink tattoo shop, Salem, Massachusetts, and three beings in search of their fated mates, one of whom of is a skunk shifter. Prequel and same universe as the story in the beginning of the anthology from Kelex.
20. True Mates and Where to Find Them by AJ Sherwood is a fantastic way to end this grand anthology. It’s a fated mates vampire romance with all the writing aspects associated with Sherwood’s storytelling. There’s poignant moments, humorous scenes, sexy intimacy and great characters. I seriously needed more than just the shortened ending. Love the universe and couple.❤️
All in all, a fabulous anthology, full of a wonderful selection of authors and stories to read and even new series to enjoy. And a charity that will be able to provide for the LGBTQIA community too with the readers help.
Buy Link :
Fated Mates: an MM Paranormal Romance Charity Anthologyby Kiki Clark
Blurb:
Fated Mates is a Paranormal Romance Charity Anthology from some of your favorite MM authors!
It features new, exclusive stories from Kiki Clark, Mia Monroe, Louisa Masters, Kelly Fox, Sheena Jolie, Jennifer Cody, Nikole Knight, Vinni George, Chloe Archer, Meghan Maslow, Lee Colgin, Kelex, H.L Day, Grae Bryan, AJ Sherwood, Michele Notaro, Lisa Oliver, Ariana Nash, Michelle Frost, and JP Sayle.
All royalties will be donated to the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund and the ACLU’s Drag Defense Fund.
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 