Winter's Knight is an interesting short story. The problem is that Calmes' world-building takes a hit here. After three novels building and creating the world of L'ange, she introduces a mythical? creature - the last of his kind - not a king or a warrior but a healer and immediately the future of L'Ange is guaranteed? Plus what is the relationship power-wise between this black stag and Quade - the alpha of L'Ange? It does not work!
In addition, all of these stag princes have been drawn to L'Ange for the claiming and he claims Tucker - a submissive jackal. Could all of this work? Yes - but -(and it is a big but) it would require much more than a short story. Calmes would need to do a better job of context and scene setting. She can not just drop in this 'person' and say ta-da! problem solved. Well, I guess she kind of did but this leaves a situation that many readers will find - - - confusing? off-putting? - - just not working. In addition, the new introduction is a flat character in that little is developed. He is big, possessive, and good-looking. That is it.
I know it would work better for me if there had been a bit of building tension where L'Ange was threatened by conflicting groups then the black stag appears with some mythology or need to be protected or that the land he lives on can not be touched and Quade grants him refuge. Anyway - I am not a writer - just a reader, but this has gaps for me. ( )

I read everything by Mary Calmes. This is a short novelette from the L'Ange series. It essentially tied up a loose end of one of the less central characters from the first book in the series. It was good for a quick read but didn't really add anything new to the original characters. I won't be reading over and over again like some of the authros other novels. ( )