The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Link, Kelly. White Cat, Black Dog. Random House, 2023.

In The White Cat's Divorce, a wealthy man tries to defy aging through surgeries and marriages to younger women, but his mortality haunts him. He sends his sons on a quest to find the perfect dog, hoping to be rid of them, but the youngest son forms a deep bond with the dogs he encounters on his journey across America. He finds refuge on a marijuana farm tended by cats during a snowstorm and befriends a white cat. The youngest son returns home, bringing his dog to his unimpressed father. The father then sends his sons away to find a suit and later a wife, with the youngest son reluctantly taking the white cat. The cat transforms into a beautiful woman, and the father marries her. However, their twisted relationship ends tragically when the father dies after requesting to be beheaded. The woman reverts to being a cat, and the youngest son brings her back to the Colorado farm after their father's funeral.

Prince Hat Underground follows Gary and Prince Hat, a middle-aged couple in an unconventional relationship. When they encounter Agnes, Prince Hat's old friend and former fiancée, Gary becomes concerned about their bond. Weeks pass without contact from Prince Hat, prompting Gary to travel to Reykjavíc in search of him. Guided by a snake named Brennivín, Gary embarks on a journey through dark passages and encounters peculiar creatures, including Sræmundr the Learned. He eventually finds himself in a strange suburban landscape, discovering that Agnes is the Queen of Hell. Agnes offers Gary a deal to spend nights with Prince Hat, but Gary's attempts to wake him are hindered. Eventually, Prince Hat wakes up, revealing a bet between him and Agnes. They leave Agnes behind and return home, but the story hints at a future where Gary will be left alone with debts to pay.

In The White Road, a group of travelers, mostly actors, journey between Philadelphia and Hot Springs during an indistinct time. They provide services, perform plays, and deliver letters to rural communities. Disappointment arises when the doctor leaves the group, but the remaining travelers, including the narrator, Alice Palace, and Laurent Godejohn, continue their journey. They encounter a rainstorm in Chattanooga, where some fall ill from consuming wild mushrooms. As they continue, they arrive in the deserted town of Bremen, where they hold a mock funeral to deceive the mysterious "white road." The narrator discovers Alice Palace's childhood trauma and the imperfections of the white road. They encounter distorted apparitions and, in a moment of panic, the narrator inadvertently takes the life of Henry, creating a real corpse and scaring away the white road. Returning to the group, they travel to Nashville, where the narrator recovers from tetanus, Alice Palace and Laurent settle down together, and they inform Henry's uncle about his death. The story concludes with uncertainty but hints at a glimmer of hope.

Reluctant traveler Abby, from The Girl Who Did Not Know Fear, attends a conference in Iowa City but gets caught in a storm that strands her at the Detroit airport. She befriends the airport shuttle driver and stays in touch with her wife and daughter, who long for a dog. Abby has a haunting nightmare in a moonlit pool and decides to leave the airport. Just as hope wanes, a flight crew arrives, and Abby finds herself seated between a young girl and an older woman who share queer relationship stories and tales of haunted apartments. After landing, Abby eagerly heads home with a fellow passenger.

The Game of Smash and Recovery follows siblings Anat and Oscar on their planet Home, where Anat is protected by Handmaids from vampires. Oscar gives Anat a gift, hinting at their parents' absence. They live in the Bucket, exploring Home and playing games together. During Anat's birthday, Oscar hides markers in the forbidden territory, testing Anat's skills. Anat receives a recording from her parents but realizes only Oscar truly knows her. She discovers a map hinting at a lost ship and realizes her true identity. Oscar tries to stop her, but Anat, now merged with the ship's consciousness, moves forward. The ship embarks on a mission with Anat and Oscar aboard, while the Handmaids maintain it.

The Lady and the Fox tells the story of Miranda and her childhood friend, Michael. One Christmas, Miranda meets a mysterious man named Fenny wearing a red coat with an embroidered fox. They connect over the years, and at fifteen, Miranda discovers Fenny's true identity as Fenwick Septimus Honeywell. They share a deep connection and a passionate kiss. Miranda realizes her feelings for Fenny are different from those for Michael. Miranda travels, and upon her return, she plans to bring Fenny back using a snow-producing machine. Fenny appears, and their connection grows stronger in the presence of Michael's mother, Elspeth.

In Skinder's Veil, Andy Sims, a struggling PhD student in Philadelphia, agrees to house-sit in rural Vermont for his friend Hannah. He encounters strange rules upon arrival, including never letting Skinder, a person who looks just like Andy, enter the house. Over the three weeks, different individuals, including Rose White and Harlan Coben, follow the rules and enter the house. Rose Red, who denies having a sister, arrives and shares hallucinogenic mushrooms with Andy while telling stories involving Death. At the end of his house-sitting, Andy returns home, completes his dissertation, and secures a job. Years later, he experiences a strange encounter near Skinder's house in Vermont.