I am thoroughly enjoying this amazing collection of quirky tales, most with fairytale vibes. It's been a wonderful read with a whole range of different subgenres and tropes, which means there ought to be a little something for all tastes within the greater fantasy genre.
A Feather for a Kingdom by K.A. Last
A lovely story about the power of humility and the strength of kindness. It has beautiful fairytale vibes. A wonderful read and definitely perked my curiosity to read more from this author.
Three Eyes of Ra by Elena Shelest
This is a fun-filled Indiana Jones style archaeology adventure set in Paris, featuring mummies and clues to a mystery. As is usual with this author, it’s a page turner with a sweet side of romance. I’d like to note that this is alternative history, not fantasy.
The Sea Witch’s Book of Shadows
A charming, funny story about the magic of poetry and the power of belief. Although it’s low fantasy, I really, really enjoyed it, and the school setting and YA themes just added to the charm.
The Magic of Trees by Serene Conneeley
Amazing fairytale story about an evil enchantress who tries to take over a kingdom, but who made one big miscalculation. I loved how the author brought in the theme of threes with three “impossible” tasks and three names for the enchantress. Definitely a wonderful read that totally hit the spot.
The Haunting of Neve Ravensblood by Sophia-Rose Johnson
This story is connected to the previous two anthologies in this series. It continues the trials of witch Guinevere, who prefers to go by the name Neve. She is still struggling at school with bullies who don’t know she can use magic, while at night she spends her time increasing her power. It looks like she’s headed straight for a vengeance-fuelled blood bath, but perhaps there’s a surprise in store for the next short story featuring Neve…
Threads of Gold by Rebecca Fittery
A brilliant Rumpelstiltzkin retelling. I absolutely adore how the author twisted the original tale into something completely different while still remaining true to all the elements of the original tale. All the hearts (and stars)for this one.
Forged Destiny by MS Weaver
Oh, I loved the hint of Sleeping Beauty and The Three Little Pigs in this story with wonderful fairytale vibes. The adventure is a total page turner, and I absolutely adore the dynamics of the characters. Such a wonderful read, definitely recommend.
To Catch a Thief by Sky Sommers
Another quirky tale set in Sommers’ dragon kingdom. It references Sleeping Beauty and Snow White, further fun winks to the world where fairytales come to life and change as they are told and retold in our world—quite the fun magic system. We also get a cute romance between Lottie and Gil, and their history is hilarious. Dragons like to fly off with their precious treasure, but Lottie objects to the abduction… definitely a funny story.
Allie’s Dream by Eurelia Winters
A cute story about a haunted inn and Allie’s wish to see it up and running despite the difficulty of a restless spirit.
The Unicorn of Sovatia by NDT Casale
Not really my cup of tea. The description of the unicorn was pretty, but I didn’t connect with the character as his wants, dreams, hopes, and fears didn’t really come across, and the plot was very simple.
Threads of the Battlefield by Meadoe Hora
An unexpectedly powerful story about the power of our determination to change our future. Vika is a reaper from Greek mythology, but she’s tired of collecting the souls from battlefields. With the help of the Fates, she embarks on a quest to find a new path. I really, really like this one.
Third Year’s A Charm by Marie Reed
A fun academy fantasy story about rivals becoming friends when teamwork is required. I love Callie’s adventures in this series, and the talking rabbit’s foot is so much fun!
The Guardian of the Falling Rains by B. Luna Covello
This is a really empowering portal fantasy, in which Cailin Rosepixie travels to the realm of the falling rains and has to face three tests. It’s an uplifting story with some interstellar magical creatures and a nice look at the importance of caring for the environment.
Lavender Locks and the Three Trolls by Alex Stubblefield
An action-packed fantasy adventure featuring a daring rescue from three monstrous trolls. The bickering between the trolls reminded me a lot of The Hobbit, while other elements of their personal “searches for perfection” definitely had Goldilocks and the Three Bears vibes, but where it was the trolls looking for “just right”. I also absolutely LOVE the idea of the Dusk Unicorn. Definitely a unique concept and a fun adventure.
Amira and the Healing Flower by Ashley Steffenson
I love the jungle setting and the very unusual culture created for this story. The panther people added a lot to make this story unique. It’s an entertaining adventure story with a strong message about helping others to strength bonds that will, in the long run, help us in return.
At the Crossroads by Sarina Langer
This is an empowering story about a woman reclaiming herself in the aftermath of a toxic relationship. It’s beautifully written and has just the right amount of dreaminess to the contemporary setting and three random, fated meetings with the maiden, the mother, and the crone, to provide a wonderful low fantasy vibe to the whole thing.
In the Wicked Wilds by Jo Holloway
Action-packed, funny, and with a side of romance, this one hits all the spots. What a wonderful story! And the worldbuilding is so unusual too. A page-turner if ever there was one.
Some Gnarly Sea Monsters by Donna White
A cute sea-monster adventure with a side of detectives and a mystery to solve. It felt a litt short. I think it would be more enjoyable as a novella, where the world building and characters have space to shine.
The Gambit of Threes by Susan Stradiotto
As expected from this author, we get an interesting fast-paced read with fabulous world building and a complex set of characters. The setting and the band of thieves reminded me a lot of the vibe of The Lies of Locke Lamora. It’s an entertaining read and I’d definitely love to have more experiences in this very intriguing world.
In conclusion, I can definitely say this anthology is worth getting. It's a wonderful read, perfect to have "reading snacks" between other activities.
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