Underdogs: A Primer

We’re a month away from the launch of “Underdogs: Beware of Wolf,” the second full-length novel in the Underdogs series. I recently had a new fan who asked what they should read first with the story of Ari and Dale. It’s a valid question! With all the short stories, the novels, and the prequel novels, it can be a tricky prospect to find the right spot to dive in. So I’m going to help you out! What do you need to read before you get “Beware of Wolf”?

Nothing.

No, really. The novel isn’t exactly standalone as it references past events, but if you decided to start reading the series with this novel you wouldn’t be lost. You might be spoiled for a few things, but you wouldn’t be lost. But let’s say, just for fun, you want to spend the month leading up to the new release reading up on the series. What would you want to read then? Well, here’s a handy-dandy guide for you. You can read some of them, you can read none of them, but just so people can get covered if they want.

1) STRAYS
The first-ever Underdogs story, which established who Ari and Dale are, where they came from, and so on. It’s not exactly an origin story, since the business is already established, but it does explore a lot of their background.
http://archiveofourown.org/works/166290

2) PACK MENTALITY
Ari and Dale’s first big case, a novella-length adventure where the ladies went up against an enemy willing to use deadly force. It’s also the first time Ari ran up against the canidae community in a big way.
http://archiveofourown.org/works/243721

4) THE NOVEL
Naturally, I think you should read the novels in order even if “BoW” isn’t a direct continuation. A character introduced here carries over into the next books, and events help set the stage for what’s happening in Book 2. So yes, if you haven’t read the first one… you don’t HAVE to, but it would probably be the best way to enjoy the series.
(ebook) http://astore.amazon.com/squsisl-20/detail/B007UHQY10
(paperback) http://astore.amazon.com/squsisl-20/detail/193810899X

5) A DOG’S LIFE
This gives an idea of what Dale goes through, and what life with Ari is like for her, from her point of view. A lot of times it can seem like Dale is just sitting around at Ari’s beck and call, waiting to be called into action. This story shows that she does it because she cares, and reveals that she’s honored to be one of the only people in Ari’s life she has ever been able to count on completely.
http://archiveofourown.org/works/541890

6) EATEN BY WOLVES
Content warning: there’s stuff in this one that may squick people. So heed the warnings before you read it. Like the other stories, it’s not necessary, but it helps establish just how dedicated Ari and Dale are to each other, and what Dale means when she says she loves Ari completely.
http://archiveofourown.org/works/546027

7) BARKING MAD
A character from this story/string of stories appears in Beware of Wolf in a major way. Again, if your first exposure to her is in the novel, you have nothing to worry about. But have you ever read a novel and wished you could find out what a new character was up to before she stumbled into the series? Well, this is the backstory/history of the new recurring series character, Milo Duncan.
http://archiveofourown.org/works/763971

7) WOLF AT THE DOOR
This book is a slice of canidae history. Set in 1812, the events of this novel has become a sort of fairy-tale by the time Ari is growing up. Ari tells the story of Johanna Brion and Agatha Westreich, so if you want the whole thing instead of just the footnotes, you can get the first part here…
http://astore.amazon.com/squsisl-20/detail/B00941GYOC

8) MARKING TERRITORY/WOLF ON THE FOLD
…and the rest of the story is here. All the pertinent information covered in these two stories is explained in the novel so no one will be lost. But I thought some people might want to actually “see it with their own eyes” rather than being told second- or third-hand.
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/267563