"I’d read another Kelly Link collection a few years back and remember coming away from the experience lukewarm. But, as I work my way through a much larger historical novel, I’ve got to have something on the side for some quick hits of the fantastical. Luckily, White Cat, Black Dog has been peering out at me, enticing me to open its pages and marvel at the weirdness within. Coming back to Link now was a terrific experience: each of these stories scratched a particular itch of genre and had really terrific writing.

I’m most impressed with the seamless marriage of the mundane world we all know with the whimsical, bizzare, and unexplainable. Some other works in the same genre have the feeling of a sharp dividing line: the world before and the world after. Not so here! There’s a story of a man going to actual Hell to retrieve his husband so that they can make it to their favourite brunch spot. Or maybe you’ll prefer the Troupe who walk the post-apocalyptic roads of a world ravaged by…some mysterious magical weirdness?

Each of these stories feels fairy tale adjacent, or maybe it’s better to say these stories feel like they share the common ancestor of fairy tale. There’s rules, morals, and the inscrutable logic of magic. That these stories take place in kaleidoscopic visions of our world make them all the more special.

Without characters you’d be lost on a sea of beautiful prose and strange ideas. Fortunately, the plights and experiences of the leads in these stories are interesting and their personality comes through even on the shortest of the tales. You’ll want to hang with Andy at the sketchy house sitting gig because you know writing a dissertation is hell and his roommate challenges are relatable. If he happens to do mushrooms with a bear: bonus!

Overall, a most impressive collection of stories. In fact, it’s the type of book that makes me wonder if I should loop back on the earlier collection (Get in Trouble) and try it again. Though there are the other collections. Oh, and there’s a novel she’s recently put out.

Really, I’m spoiled for choice.

[4.5 Stars]"

"This is Harrow at her Harrowest, which is always a good thing. Replete with her characteristic viscerally descriptive prose and razor-sharp dialogue, The Knight and the Butcherbird is a perfect entree into the Harrowverse for the uninitiated and a superb appetizer for those of us eagerly awaiting the release of The Everlasting in the fall. "

"A great telling of the norse myths from Loki's perspective. There really is no better perspective to witness these events from...Loki is sarcastic, funny and down right sneaky. Perfect for fans of the MCU and fans of Fantasy in general. It really defines fantastical."