Reviewed by: Rabid Reads. 
 SILVER 
 I only just recently got caught-up on Briggs' MERCY THOMPSON series, thus I'm not as familiar with the mythology surrounding the Cornick family as some readers, so when Ariana showed up in SILVER BORNE I didn't realize that her and Samuel had a history that spanned hundreds of years. I really enjoyed this short because it helped to fill-in a lot of the blanks in their past, and was a great overview of Bran's lineage; it helped me to better understand her deep-seated fear of wolves, and her connection to silver which are two elements that went completely over my head when I originally read SILVER BORNE. This anthology also starts, and ends with Samuel & Ariana which I thought was fitting. 
 FAIRY GIFTS 
 This was actually one of the shorts that I enjoyed the least in this anthology, so the fact that it's listed as a 'readers favourite' in the blurb has me questioning my Patricia Briggs fan-girl status. The author is from Butte, Montana, so I understand why she wanted to write a story that featured her hometown, but other than the Fae bits I didn't really understand why it earned a spot in this compilation. I found the flashbacks confusing, and other than Stefan, I personally don't particularly care of this author's vampires. Also, I felt that the 19th century Chinese racism angle was unnecessary, and didn't add anything to this tale other than confusion. 
 GRAY 
 A cute short that was inspired by the colour gray, and Valentine's Day; leave it to Briggs to put a dark spin on flowers, and chocolate. The author manages to squeeze in vampire politics, love, and a decent amount of action in only 34 pages. I found that the tale was well-rounded given its length, and even though the tone is for the most part sad, the ending was immensely satisfying. Normally I'm not a big fan of ghost stories, but this author is a pro at fleshing out characters, and creating tension. I rather enjoyed Peter Vanderstaat, the full-time cop, part-time contractor, and his quick acceptance of Elyna's vampirism was one of my favourite parts of GRAY. 
 SEEING EYE 
 This one featured two characters from HUNTING GROUND, which I also have yet to read, but I enjoyed learning more about this author's witches as they rarely make an appearance in her MERCY THOMPSON series (excluding Elizaveta, the pack witch). There was a lot of wolf-y goodness, and sexual tension; as a whole it felt pretty complete for a short story. I like that the magical rules remained consistent in this anthology, and mirrored what I've come to expect from this author. After two werewolf-less tales in a row, I was happy to get back to Briggs' furry canines. I look forward to seeing Moira and Tom again when I finally get around to tackling the ALPHA & OMEGA books. 
 ALPHA AND OMEGA 
 In my opinion, this was the best short in this collection, mainly because I have yet to explore the world of ALPHA & OMEGA, so it made Briggs' werewolves feel almost new again. Latham's first three years as a shifter were beyond horrible, but her unfortunate back story helped to give Bran's youngest son the appearance of being a knight in shining armor when he shows up in Chicago. The Marrok has always been a favourite of mine, so I was pleased when he made an appearance in this story. The ending was as satisfying as it was violent, and I liked the twist because it wasn't at all what I was expecting. Again, I really need to read the ALPHA & OMEGA series now. 
 THE STAR OF DAVID 
 This was the second holiday-themed tale in this anthology, and it had a pretty big impact for being so brief. It was a touching story that revolved around family and forgiveness; the author managed to pack in a surprising amount of paranormal elements in only 34 pages with werewolves, vampires, and wizards all making appearances. I don't recall the latter ever showing up in her MERCY THOMPSON novels, so that was a definite bonus. I also liked how THE STAR OF DAVID tied in to MOON CALLED by revisiting one of the original characters that made his debut alongside Adam. The conclusion was absolutely perfect, and a brilliant embodiment of the Christmas spirit. 
 ROSES IN WINTER 
 If I were to rank all of these stories from best to worst, ROSES IN WINTER would be a close second behind ALPHA AND OMEGA. I've always had a soft spot for the Marrok and the Moor, and both of these characters play significant roles in this short which was a real treat for this werewolf fanatic. Kara, the ten year old (now thirteen) from BLOOD BOUND, is at the forefront of this tale, and I've always wondered what happened to her, so I really enjoyed reading the continuation of her journey. To my delight, there was a great deal of pack politics in this tale, and I loved how Asil and Devon, two of the oldest wolves, both came up to bat for the youngin'. The ending with the rose and the guitar brought tears to my eyes, because it was just so beautifully executed. 
 IN RED, WITH PEARLS 
 No paranormal anthology would be complete without zombies in my opinion, and IN RED, WITH PEARLS was a fun short about stupid neighbours and improbable crushes told from Warren's POV--everyone's favourite gay werewolf! Briggs' witches made another appearance in this one, and it even explained why Nadia, Elizaveta's niece, mysteriously takes a trip to 'France' in the MERCY THOMPSON series which I thought was a nice little bonus. The twist was rather wonderful because I didn't see it coming AT ALL, and something pretty major happens between Warren and Kyle that made me love them even more. I totally want a full length book about these two now because 44 pages just wasn't enough! 
 REDEMPTION 
 REDEMPTION was the funniest story in SHIFTING SHADOWS because Ben and Adam make a no swearing bet which lead to some rather creative vocabulary from the pack's underdog. That paired with all of the geeky references brought on by Shaw's job as a DBA (Database Administrator) kept me smiling from ear-to-ear. Ben's known for his issues with women, so he was as shocked as I was when he finds himself sticking up for Melinda, his department's secretary. Adam and Mercy also made a cameo appearance in this short (FINALLY!!); I only wish that Briggs would have included the full motivational speech that Ben's asked to give by his boss because I probably would have LOL'ed. 
 HOLLOW 
 By this point, Briggs had me seriously doubting whether Mercy was even going to get her own tale--talk about saving the best for last! This short felt like it could have almost been a full length installment because it followed the traditional investigative format that's prevalent throughout the MERCY THOMPSON books. Our favourite coyote is hired to shed some light on a haunting, finds herself in yet another life-or-death situation, and Adam of course is pissed. I liked that Zack, the pack's newest werewolf, was along for the ride, and the conclusion tied in nicely to this series' main story arc. We also learn a bit more about Mercy's Walker abilities which was an unexpected plus. 
 SILVER BORNE (outtake) 
 This is the Samuel / Ariana scene that I mentioned in my above review of SILVER. It was short and sweet, but I thought it did a good job of rounding out this couple's story in this anthology, and it also gave them a bit of a HEA which was nice. 
 NIGHT BROKEN (outtake) 
 I can't really say much about this outtake because it's one big spoiler for those of you who haven't read NIGHT BROKEN yet. Adam and Coyote have a bit of a tete-a-tete, but if you're still reeling from this series' most recent cliff hanger, you might want to check it out.