Four Shifters and a Stranger by Annette Marie Series: The Guild Codex: Spellbound #0.1
on February 8, 2019
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 26
Format: eBook
Source: Free
Goodreads
Short Story
When a bounty hunting job goes wrong, a mysterious aeromage saves Aaron's life...
Also in this series: Three Mages and a Margarita, Dark Arts and a Daiquiri, Two Witches and a Whiskey, Three Mages and a Margarita, Dark Arts and a Daiquiri, Two Witches and a Whiskey
I’m having a blast diving into The Guild Codex universe! I’ve been following Annette’s recommended reading order from her site, and Four Shifters and a Stranger was such a treat. It’s a lovely prequel that shows how Ezra first crossed paths with Aaron and Kai.
Four Shifters and a Stranger is the first prequel in the Guild Codex: Spellbound timeline. Personally, I think it’s best enjoyed if you read it after Two Witches and a Whiskey but before starting Demon Magic and a Martini.
The plot: After a mysterious stranger saves Aaron from a shifter gang and disappears, Aaron and Kai set out to find him. They eventually locate the young man in a grim state and bring him home, discovering he is an eighteen-year-old who has been homeless for two years. Though they work to welcome him into the magical world of the Crow and Hammer, his secrets stay hidden even as the mage duo evolves into a trio.
Four Shifters and a Stranger takes us back to the very beginning. Fans of The Guild Codex universe will truly enjoy this heartwarming short story.
Rated: 4 Stars
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About Annette Marie
Annette Marie is the best-selling author of The Guild Codex, an expansive collection of interwoven urban fantasy series ranging from thrilling adventure to hilarious hijinks to heartrending romance. Her other works include YA urban fantasy series Steel & Stone, its prequel trilogy Spell Weaver, and romantic fantasy trilogy Red Winter.
Her first love is fantasy, while fast-paced adventures and tantalizing forbidden romances are her guilty pleasures. She lives in the frozen winter wasteland of Alberta, Canada (okay, it’s not quite that bad) with her husband and their furry minion of darkness—sorry, cat—Caesar. When not writing, she can be found elbow-deep in one art project or another while blissfully ignoring all adult responsibilities.
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I agree about this being, technically a prequel, but made better sense to get to it after the series was established so I knew the people better.
Totally agree with what you said. Thanks Sophia for visiting!
Okay, now that I’ve read Demon Magic and a Martini I HAVE to go back and read this one. Got it on my Bookfunnel app, going to try to read it today!
https://lisalovesliterature.bookblog.io/2026/02/03/release-blast-review-intercepted-the-coopers-1-by-aleatha-romig/
Lisa, you’re going to fly through it! It’s a super quick read—I managed to finish the whole thing in a single day on BookFunnel. I really hope you enjoy diving back into the world!
I didn’t know there was a prequel! I’m still catching up with the series. I hope to participate in the next chat!
After checking the author’s site for the recommended reading order, I stumbled upon this gem! It’s such a nice freebie—the only catch is that you have to sign up for her newsletter to get it. It was so lovely to finally get some backstory on the guys! We look forward to seeing you at the next chat! In the meantime, happy reading!
Oh, since this is a freebie from the author, I need to check it out. Thanks!
You should definitely grab it, Jen! It’s such a perfect little taste for anyone enjoying the series. I love that the author provides these glimpses into the three mages for free, though I do wish they were hosted directly on her website. It would be so much easier if all the Guild Codex shorts and novellas were combined into one volume—it would make keeping track of the world so much simpler!
I think I would like this one.
It really is a treat, Mary. It offers such a sweet glimpse into the three mages and gives you a perfect little taste!
Great review! I really enjoyed this one also. I also think it falls right at this point after Two Witches because we are just starting to learn about characters other than Tori as she learns more about them.
I completely agree! Since we’re starting to get those first glimpses of the rest of the cast in Two Witches, it feels like the ideal moment to dive into Four Shifters. Thanks so much for reading the review and sharing your take!