I love this series of anthologies and the authors have once again put together a fantastic collection with a wide range of styles and subgenres of fantasy. Most of all, I love that this anthology is going to support communities affected by wildfires.
Here are my thoughts on the individual stories included in the anthology:
In the Ashes by Jo Holloway
A lovely tale of a girl left in the clutches of an evil stepfather and two step brothers who plot to take her title and lands from her. The twist in Cinderella is well done, but there are no balls here. Juliet survived the fire that killed her mother and destroyed half the manor, but her biggest problem is the rumors her stepfather starts spreading in an attempt to take everything from Juliet. Forced to flee, Juliet’s continued adventures offer some tantalizing glimpses into an intriguing world where a strange mist divides the land of Anterra and terrifying beasts roam the mist. I enjoyed how this story also connects up with Holloway’s story in the Twice Upon a Name anthology.
Hero of the Wyverns by Alice Ivinya
A fast-paced action adventure with wyvern-riders. Theresa doesn’t want to get married and runs away on the eve of the wedding her parents have arranged. A twist of fate leads her straight into the arms of her equally unwell groom and as they run from marriage, they find friendship instead, while saving wyvern eggs from poachers.
A Candle Burns in Herboshi by Ben Lang
I simply love Lang’s settings. They are so vibrant and tantalizing. This story is also wonderfully twisty with some great and memorable moments, and a powerful message about humans and monsters. The question “what makes a monster” is a subtle undercurrent to the whole story, and I like the hint that it is our beliefs and our responses to circumstances with our subsequent actions that can transform us into monsters.
To Steal a Kiss by Sky Sommers
This is a lovely continual to Sommers’ interconnected tales. To Steal a Kiss follows on from two years after To Snare a Prince. It completes Greta and Eddie’s story with some good laughs and great romance. I also enjoyed the hints at some other fairytales Sommers seems ready to retell. Snow White and The Twelve Dancing Princesses look like they’ll be next.
Ping and the Phoenix by Xander Cross
This story follows on directly from Apple and the Dead Forest and is the one story in this collection that needs to be read as a sequel for it to make sense. It was an enjoyable fast-paced action story, the conclusion of this adventure of Pingguo and his friends when they return home with the seeds they found in the previous story.
Cajun Cold Flames by Donna White
Great monsters, an unlikely saviour and lots of plot twists. This is a great historical Fantasy set around 18th century New Orleans. I liked the feu follet and the werewolf twist, but you’ll have to read it to find out more. It’s a fun read. I was thrown off by the beginning though. There were a few moments so didn’t know who was who or who was speaking, so it took some time to get into the flow of the story.
Palace of Embers by NDT Casale
This story is very busy and I felt a lot of things were rushed and some things left unresolved. Maybe if it were a novella or a novel even the author should have enough time to tie off all the ends. As it is, it’s a fast-paced action adventure about a young Queen who’s betrayed by those closest to her and has to overcome her loathing of her own magic to be able to set things right. She makes friends with some interesting and unusual creatures.
The Wyvern and the Woodwitch by Lyndsey Hall
A lovely story about the healer Brigid searching for an elusive flower to brew a remedy for a deadly disease. And there’s an adorable wyvern sidekick too! A lovely little adventure with some nail-biting moments and a sweet little side of romance.
The Scorch Tournament by Elena Shelest
This one was rather unexpected as Shelest mostly writes historical fantasy, but the dystopian future and characters who have magical affinities to the elements was definitely interesting and kept me on my toes. Rashi was an interesting character and the post-apocalyptic world was very intriguing.
