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Kitty’s Mix-Tape
Carrie Vaughn
“You have been waiting for this book!”
—Seanan McGuire, author of Every Heart a Doorway
In the final installment of the bestselling Kitty Norville werewolf-DJ series, the paranormal escapades continue with Carrie Vaughn’s most captivating characters, including fan favorite characters like Rick the vampire and Jessi Hardin, paranormal detective, Kitty’s husband Ben, his cousin Cormac the bounty hunter, and the villainous Dux Bellorum.
ISBN: Trade Paperback IBSN: 978-1-61696-325-5 Digital/Particle Book ISBN: 978-1-61696-326-2
Published: October 2020
Available Format(s): Trade Paperback and Digital Books
The final installment of the bestselling Kitty Norville series showcases the paranormal escapades of Carrie Vaughn’s fan-favorite werewolf talk-show host. This engaging short fiction collection—with its own soundtrack for each tale—is sure to delight both existing Kitty fans and anyone who enjoys urban fantasy at its grittiest and best.
“The only urban fantasy world where I want to read every book of the series.”―The Denver Post
“You have been waiting for this book!”
—Seanan McGuire, author of Every Heart a Doorway
Kitty Norville still can’t stay away from trouble—of the supernatural kind.
Everyone’s favorite werewolf DJ is here to mix it up just one last time. Here you will find, or even newly discover, the irrepressible Kitty Norville with friends and enemies alike: Rick the vampire; Jessi Hardin, paranormal detective; Kitty’s husband Ben; Cormac, the bounty hunter; and the villainous Dux Bellorum. These irresistible tales are full of unpredictable twists and turns: lupines experimenting with astronomy, a cheating boxer with preternatural strength, vampires arriving from the Philippines.
As a special treat, author Carrie Vaughn (Bannerless) has provided her own selections for a mix-tape: story notes and songs dedicated to each tale.
So whatever you do, don’t miss Kitty before she is gone. . . .
“Comfort food for the urban fantasy soul. Carrie Vaughn never disappoints. It was so nice to see my friends again! If you’ve loved Kitty’s adventures, you have been waiting for this book!”
—Seanan McGuire, author of Come Tumbling Down and Every Heart a Doorway
“Vaughn offers readers one last trip into the world of Kitty Norville, the werewolf talk radio host last seen in 2015’s Kitty Saves the World, in this nostalgic collection of 15 urban fantasy shorts, which splits focus between the delightful Kitty and other fan favorite characters who’ve been caught up in her adventures over the years. Vaughn offers star turns to Kitty’s lawyer husband Ben (‘What Happened to Ben in Vegas’), ancient vampire Rick (‘It’s Still the Same Old Story’), and bounty hunter Cormac (‘Kitty and Cormac’s Excellent Adventure’). Kitty’s own jaunts—which see her attending her high school reunion (‘Kitty Walks on by, Calls Your Name’), dealing with bureaucracy (‘Kitty Busts the Feds’) and investigating a werewolf boxer (‘Kitty Learns the Ropes’)—are suffused with humor and pop culture references. A genuine sense of playfulness abounds, especially in several cute flash fiction pieces about the effects of different lunar events on Kitty’s lycanthropy. Though the uninitiated won’t want to start with this, the insights into Kitty’s supporting cast and illumination of previously unseen moments from the series will delight longtime readers. For those devoted fans, this will be a delicious final taste of Kitty’s complicated life.”
—Publishers Weekly
“A Carrie Vaughn story is a guarantee of quality entertainment and a night of no sleep as I stay up late to devour it!”
—Patricia Briggs, bestselling author of the Mercy Thompson series
“It’s one of the best collections I’ve read this year—and maybe for a good chunk of last year, too.”
—The Irresponsible Reader
“Carrie Vaughn is still a compelling writer, and personality shines through each page. She provides a note on her series at the end of the book, and leaves the door open for more Kitty tales in the future. Kitty’s Mix-Tape is fantastic dip-into reading, each short tale illuminating another corner of the urban fantasy world.”
—Fresh Fiction
“For many, reading in the time of COVID-19 is a challenge, making comfort books a good fallback. This collection of paranormal stories of various lengths is a delightful read for those who have enjoyed Vaughn’s novels featuring Kitty Norville, the late-night talk show DJ who was bitten by and turned into a werewolf, including Kitty Rocks the House (2013). Her call-in show featuring all kinds of somewhat monstrous beings made her a national authority on the supernatural, and in her adventures she gets involved with Ben, the love of her life; Conrad, a bounty hunter; Rick, a powerful vampire; and many more. Ten previously published stories are joined by three original tales and the story notes and playlists add interest, though beware of ear worms. While some tales feature Kitty and her associates, others are set in various times and places, such as a paranormal historical story set in Regency England, and one in WWII Germany. A male selkie, a magician, and a manananggal, a horrific monster from Philippine folklore, also appear.”
—Booklist
“Reading this book caused me to remember how much fun is in the Kitty books and I’ve started re-reading them, which considering the size of my to-be-read pile is a strong endorsement for this book.”
—SF Revu
“I’m sure if you have never read any other book by Vaughn, this collection would make you want to go devour everything you can that is in this world. Absolutely I recommend this to anyone who is a fan of Urban Fantasy, who likes some stakes in their stories, or even those who like some re-imagined historical fantasy.”
—Southern Today Gone Tomorrow
“Loved reading this collection of stories, it was such a great read and I would love to have more time in this world, regardless of who stars in it!”
—Words I Write Crazy
“Like the rest of the Kitty Norville series, these stories are wise, kind, and always entertaining. I loved returning to Kitty’s world and enjoying these new adventures.”
—Kevin Hearne, author of The Iron Druid Chronicles
Carrie Vaughn‘s work includes the Philip K. Dick Award-winning novel Bannerless, the New York Times Bestselling Kitty Norville urban fantasy series, over twenty novels, and upwards of 100 short stories, two of which have been finalists for the Hugo Award. She’s a contributor to the Wild Cards series of shared world superhero books edited by George R. R. Martin and a graduate of the Odyssey Fantasy Writing Workshop. An Air Force brat, she survived her nomadic childhood and managed to put down roots in Boulder, Colorado. Visit her at www.carrievaughn.com.
Praise for The Immortal Conquistador
“Vaughn presents a gratifying origin story for Ricardo “Rick” de Avila, vampire Master of Denver and partner to the popular werewolf heroine of her Kitty Norville series.” —Publishers Weekly
“The Immortal Conquistador was a captivating read that finally shed some light on one of the most interesting and secretive characters from the Kitty universe. This book is sure to please all the Kitty Norville fans out there!”
—Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist
“A must have for Kitty Norville fans, but also an excellent standalone for readers new to Vaughn’s worlds.”
—Kelley Armstrong, author of Wherever She Goes and Led Astray.
“No surprise to anyone, but Carrie Vaughn can write the sixteenth century up through the Old West as well as it’s been done. And it just feels so good to sneak back into the Kittyverse through the vampire door.”
—Stephen Graham Jones, author of Mongrels and The Only Good Indians.
“Carrie Vaughn’s The Immortal Conquistador is an excellent addition to her Kitty Norville books, and gives us a closer look at one of her most fascinating characters.”
—Stephen Blackmoore, author of the Eric Carter Necromancer series
Praise for Carrie Vaughn
On Bannerless
2017 Winner of the Philip K. Dick Award
“Bannerless is both a fine murder mystery and a multi-layered look at a different kind of society.”
—Analog Science Fiction & Fact
“Vaughn skillfully portrays a vastly altered future America that’s almost unrecognizable decades after its total collapse; the … focus on sustainability and responsibility is unusual, thought-provoking, and very welcome.”
—Publishers Weekly
“[A]n intimate post-apocalyptic mystery . . . a deft portrait of a society departed so completely from the complexities of the now-destroyed civilization . . . that survivors don’t even understand what it is they’ve lost. . . . [A] well-crafted and heartfelt effort.”
—Kirkus
“Amazing and compelling, Vaughn brings her deft characterization and humanity to bear on a post-apocalyptic world that is all too real.”
—Tobias S. Buckell, bestselling author of Arctic Rising
On The Wild Dead
“This thrilling postapocalyptic mystery, which demonstrates the author’s wide range of style, will please Vaughn’s many fans.”
—Library Journal, starred review
“Enid is a capable, honest, relentless seeker of answers, and her investigation is reminiscent of classic hardboiled mysteries. Despite an almost palpable air of claustrophobic foreboding, this tale still manages to convey a sense of hope and optimism.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Structurally, this is a standard police procedural; it’s the environment, the carefully constructed future society, that gives it a unique flavor. Beautifully executed.”
—Booklist
“Carrie Vaughn may still be best known for her Kitty the Werewolf series, but Bannerless and The Wild Dead show that her talents are versatile. I really enjoyed these novels. I would very much like to read more of them.”
—TOR.com
“The Wild Dead is a highly enjoyable and captivating sophomore entry in the Bannerless series.”
—eeks of Doom
On Kitty Saves the World
“Longtime readers will enjoy the sense of payoff—especially when certain characters meet much-deserved fates and others get their happy-for-nows—and they’ll be eager to see where Vaughn goes next.”
—Publishers Weekly
“The open nature of Kitty’s character and the way Vaughn makes her such a likeable character make this the only urban fantasy world where I want to read every book of the series.”
―The Denver Post
“A great series for fans of the recent werewolf-vampire craze who want to move beyond Stephanie Meyer or Charlaine Harris.”
―The Daily News (Galveston County, TX)
“Kitty Saves the World was a fun, fast . . . The ending feels like a new beginning and I’m good with that.”
—Vampire Book Club
“None of these books are ever repetitive and they always have a great obstacle that the characters must overcome. This was no different and quite a fast paced read.”
—Under the Covers
“Kitty Saves the World is probably my favorite final book in any series that I’ve read. I highly recommend [it].”
—All Things Urban Fantasy
Kitty Walks on By, Calls Your Name
It’s Still the Same Old Story
The Island of Beasts
The Beaux Wilde
Unternehmen Werwolf
Kitty and the Full Super Bloodmoon Thing
Kitty and Cormac’s Excellent Adventure
Sealskin
The Arcane Art of Misdirection
What Happened to Ben in Vegas
Kitty and the Super Blue Blood or Whatever Moon Thing
Defining Shadows
Bellum Romanum
Kitty Learns the Ropes
Kitty Busts the Feds
Kitty’s Mix-Tape
Carrie Vaughn
“You have been waiting for this book!”
—Seanan McGuire, author of Every Heart a Doorway
In the final installment of the bestselling Kitty Norville werewolf-DJ series, the paranormal escapades continue with Carrie Vaughn’s most captivating characters, including fan favorite characters like Rick the vampire and Jessi Hardin, paranormal detective, Kitty’s husband Ben, his cousin Cormac the bounty hunter, and the villainous Dux Bellorum.
Kitty’s Mix-Tape
by Carrie Vaughn
ISBN: Trade Paperback IBSN: 978-1-61696-325-5 Digital/Particle Book ISBN: 978-1-61696-326-2
Published: October 2020
Available Format(s): Trade Paperback and Digital Books
The final installment of the bestselling Kitty Norville series showcases the paranormal escapades of Carrie Vaughn’s fan-favorite werewolf talk-show host. This engaging short fiction collection—with its own soundtrack for each tale—is sure to delight both existing Kitty fans and anyone who enjoys urban fantasy at its grittiest and best.
“The only urban fantasy world where I want to read every book of the series.”―The Denver Post
“You have been waiting for this book!”
—Seanan McGuire, author of Every Heart a Doorway
Kitty Norville still can’t stay away from trouble—of the supernatural kind.
Everyone’s favorite werewolf DJ is here to mix it up just one last time. Here you will find, or even newly discover, the irrepressible Kitty Norville with friends and enemies alike: Rick the vampire; Jessi Hardin, paranormal detective; Kitty’s husband Ben; Cormac, the bounty hunter; and the villainous Dux Bellorum. These irresistible tales are full of unpredictable twists and turns: lupines experimenting with astronomy, a cheating boxer with preternatural strength, vampires arriving from the Philippines.
As a special treat, author Carrie Vaughn (Bannerless) has provided her own selections for a mix-tape: story notes and songs dedicated to each tale.
So whatever you do, don’t miss Kitty before she is gone. . . .
“Comfort food for the urban fantasy soul. Carrie Vaughn never disappoints. It was so nice to see my friends again! If you’ve loved Kitty’s adventures, you have been waiting for this book!”
—Seanan McGuire, author of Come Tumbling Down and Every Heart a Doorway
“Vaughn offers readers one last trip into the world of Kitty Norville, the werewolf talk radio host last seen in 2015’s Kitty Saves the World, in this nostalgic collection of 15 urban fantasy shorts, which splits focus between the delightful Kitty and other fan favorite characters who’ve been caught up in her adventures over the years. Vaughn offers star turns to Kitty’s lawyer husband Ben (‘What Happened to Ben in Vegas’), ancient vampire Rick (‘It’s Still the Same Old Story’), and bounty hunter Cormac (‘Kitty and Cormac’s Excellent Adventure’). Kitty’s own jaunts—which see her attending her high school reunion (‘Kitty Walks on by, Calls Your Name’), dealing with bureaucracy (‘Kitty Busts the Feds’) and investigating a werewolf boxer (‘Kitty Learns the Ropes’)—are suffused with humor and pop culture references. A genuine sense of playfulness abounds, especially in several cute flash fiction pieces about the effects of different lunar events on Kitty’s lycanthropy. Though the uninitiated won’t want to start with this, the insights into Kitty’s supporting cast and illumination of previously unseen moments from the series will delight longtime readers. For those devoted fans, this will be a delicious final taste of Kitty’s complicated life.”
—Publishers Weekly
“A Carrie Vaughn story is a guarantee of quality entertainment and a night of no sleep as I stay up late to devour it!”
—Patricia Briggs, bestselling author of the Mercy Thompson series
“It’s one of the best collections I’ve read this year—and maybe for a good chunk of last year, too.”
—The Irresponsible Reader
“Carrie Vaughn is still a compelling writer, and personality shines through each page. She provides a note on her series at the end of the book, and leaves the door open for more Kitty tales in the future. Kitty’s Mix-Tape is fantastic dip-into reading, each short tale illuminating another corner of the urban fantasy world.”
—Fresh Fiction
“For many, reading in the time of COVID-19 is a challenge, making comfort books a good fallback. This collection of paranormal stories of various lengths is a delightful read for those who have enjoyed Vaughn’s novels featuring Kitty Norville, the late-night talk show DJ who was bitten by and turned into a werewolf, including Kitty Rocks the House (2013). Her call-in show featuring all kinds of somewhat monstrous beings made her a national authority on the supernatural, and in her adventures she gets involved with Ben, the love of her life; Conrad, a bounty hunter; Rick, a powerful vampire; and many more. Ten previously published stories are joined by three original tales and the story notes and playlists add interest, though beware of ear worms. While some tales feature Kitty and her associates, others are set in various times and places, such as a paranormal historical story set in Regency England, and one in WWII Germany. A male selkie, a magician, and a manananggal, a horrific monster from Philippine folklore, also appear.”
—Booklist
“Reading this book caused me to remember how much fun is in the Kitty books and I’ve started re-reading them, which considering the size of my to-be-read pile is a strong endorsement for this book.”
—SF Revu
“I’m sure if you have never read any other book by Vaughn, this collection would make you want to go devour everything you can that is in this world. Absolutely I recommend this to anyone who is a fan of Urban Fantasy, who likes some stakes in their stories, or even those who like some re-imagined historical fantasy.”
—Southern Today Gone Tomorrow
“Loved reading this collection of stories, it was such a great read and I would love to have more time in this world, regardless of who stars in it!”
—Words I Write Crazy
“Like the rest of the Kitty Norville series, these stories are wise, kind, and always entertaining. I loved returning to Kitty’s world and enjoying these new adventures.”
—Kevin Hearne, author of The Iron Druid Chronicles
Carrie Vaughn‘s work includes the Philip K. Dick Award-winning novel Bannerless, the New York Times Bestselling Kitty Norville urban fantasy series, over twenty novels, and upwards of 100 short stories, two of which have been finalists for the Hugo Award. She’s a contributor to the Wild Cards series of shared world superhero books edited by George R. R. Martin and a graduate of the Odyssey Fantasy Writing Workshop. An Air Force brat, she survived her nomadic childhood and managed to put down roots in Boulder, Colorado. Visit her at www.carrievaughn.com.
Praise for The Immortal Conquistador
“Vaughn presents a gratifying origin story for Ricardo “Rick” de Avila, vampire Master of Denver and partner to the popular werewolf heroine of her Kitty Norville series.”
—Publishers Weekly
“The Immortal Conquistador was a captivating read that finally shed some light on one of the most interesting and secretive characters from the Kitty universe. This book is sure to please all the Kitty Norville fans out there!”
—Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist
“A must have for Kitty Norville fans, but also an excellent standalone for readers new to Vaughn’s worlds.”
—Kelley Armstrong, author of Wherever She Goes and Led Astray.
“No surprise to anyone, but Carrie Vaughn can write the sixteenth century up through the Old West as well as it’s been done. And it just feels so good to sneak back into the Kittyverse through the vampire door.”
—Stephen Graham Jones, author of Mongrels and The Only Good Indians.
“Carrie Vaughn’s The Immortal Conquistador is an excellent addition to her Kitty Norville books, and gives us a closer look at one of her most fascinating characters.”
—Stephen Blackmoore, author of the Eric Carter Necromancer series
Praise for Carrie Vaughn
On Bannerless
2017 Winner of the Philip K. Dick Award
“Bannerless is both a fine murder mystery and a multi-layered look at a different kind of society.”
—Analog Science Fiction & Fact
“Vaughn skillfully portrays a vastly altered future America that’s almost unrecognizable decades after its total collapse; the … focus on sustainability and responsibility is unusual, thought-provoking, and very welcome.”
—Publishers Weekly
“[A]n intimate post-apocalyptic mystery . . . a deft portrait of a society departed so completely from the complexities of the now-destroyed civilization . . . that survivors don’t even understand what it is they’ve lost. . . . [A] well-crafted and heartfelt effort.”
—Kirkus
“Amazing and compelling, Vaughn brings her deft characterization and humanity to bear on a post-apocalyptic world that is all too real.”
—Tobias S. Buckell, bestselling author of Arctic Rising
On The Wild Dead
“This thrilling postapocalyptic mystery, which demonstrates the author’s wide range of style, will please Vaughn’s many fans.”
—Library Journal, starred review
“Enid is a capable, honest, relentless seeker of answers, and her investigation is reminiscent of classic hardboiled mysteries. Despite an almost palpable air of claustrophobic foreboding, this tale still manages to convey a sense of hope and optimism.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Structurally, this is a standard police procedural; it’s the environment, the carefully constructed future society, that gives it a unique flavor. Beautifully executed.”
—Booklist
“Carrie Vaughn may still be best known for her Kitty the Werewolf series, but Bannerless and The Wild Dead show that her talents are versatile. I really enjoyed these novels. I would very much like to read more of them.”
—TOR.com
“The Wild Dead is a highly enjoyable and captivating sophomore entry in the Bannerless series.”
—eeks of Doom
On Kitty Saves the World
“Longtime readers will enjoy the sense of payoff—especially when certain characters meet much-deserved fates and others get their happy-for-nows—and they’ll be eager to see where Vaughn goes next.”
—Publishers Weekly
“The open nature of Kitty’s character and the way Vaughn makes her such a likeable character make this the only urban fantasy world where I want to read every book of the series.”
―The Denver Post
“A great series for fans of the recent werewolf-vampire craze who want to move beyond Stephanie Meyer or Charlaine Harris.”
―The Daily News (Galveston County, TX)
“Kitty Saves the World was a fun, fast . . . The ending feels like a new beginning and I’m good with that.”
—Vampire Book Club
“None of these books are ever repetitive and they always have a great obstacle that the characters must overcome. This was no different and quite a fast paced read.”
—Under the Covers
“Kitty Saves the World is probably my favorite final book in any series that I’ve read. I highly recommend [it].”
—All Things Urban Fantasy
Visit Carrie Vaughn’s website.
Table of Contents
Introduction by Emma Bull
Kitty Walks on By, Calls Your Name
It’s Still the Same Old Story
The Island of Beasts
The Beaux Wilde
Unternehmen Werwolf
Kitty and the Full Super Bloodmoon Thing
Kitty and Cormac’s Excellent Adventure
Sealskin
The Arcane Art of Misdirection
What Happened to Ben in Vegas
Kitty and the Super Blue Blood or Whatever Moon Thing
Defining Shadows
Bellum Romanum
Kitty Learns the Ropes
Kitty Busts the Feds
Story Notes