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khargaotte's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
invisibleninjacat's review against another edition
5.0
This anthology has something for everyone, from urban fantasy (yay, Natalie!) to historical fiction to high fantasy to science fiction. And unusually for an anthology, there wasn't a single story I didn't like. Everything was crisp, polished, and featured at least one LGBT+ character, though sexuality was never the focus of any of the stories. There were also two asexual characters, a genderfluid character (yay again, Natalie!), and a trans character - all from parts of the LGBT+ spectrum that don't typically get much representation. READ THIS BOOK!
themadmaiden's review against another edition
3.0
Some interesting stories and as always, ace and aro characters are always a treat to see show up. Still I didn't really enjoy most of the stories, even if there were a few in there that made up for it.
nmcannon's review against another edition
5.0
As one of the authors, I'm biased towards this book from the start. However, this was also the first time I was able to read the other contributors' works.
And I am deeply honored.
From the beginning with Tash McAdam's ring fighter to Helle Reiersen's Daughter of the Night, every story knocked me right out my usual headspace into a new, starry universe of (blood-drenched) possibility. My heart ached and sang and tore. I reveled in each character's triumph. Each author brought their big guns to the page, wow-ing me at every plot twist and delighting me with their complex, diverse characters. Is it too late for me to learn knife-throwing? I want to learn knife-throwing after this book, since fairy portal closing and battle mage-fighting are a bit beyond me.
So in summary: I laughed, I cried, I want to learn a new skill, and I can't believe my little running werewolf snuck into this phantasmic anthology, among all these fantastic, brilliant, & splendid authors. Thank you for writing and keeping on writing when the going got tough. Thank you to Nica and Amelia, to all the Kickstarter backers, and to everyone who made this anthology possible. Keep fighting and keep writing.
And I am deeply honored.
From the beginning with Tash McAdam's ring fighter to Helle Reiersen's Daughter of the Night, every story knocked me right out my usual headspace into a new, starry universe of (blood-drenched) possibility. My heart ached and sang and tore. I reveled in each character's triumph. Each author brought their big guns to the page, wow-ing me at every plot twist and delighting me with their complex, diverse characters. Is it too late for me to learn knife-throwing? I want to learn knife-throwing after this book, since fairy portal closing and battle mage-fighting are a bit beyond me.
So in summary: I laughed, I cried, I want to learn a new skill, and I can't believe my little running werewolf snuck into this phantasmic anthology, among all these fantastic, brilliant, & splendid authors. Thank you for writing and keeping on writing when the going got tough. Thank you to Nica and Amelia, to all the Kickstarter backers, and to everyone who made this anthology possible. Keep fighting and keep writing.
simonlorden's review against another edition
4.0
average rating: 3.8 stars
This is a collection of stories with queer protagonists. In most stories about queer people, I am used to reading romances, so it was nice to read a collection with queer protagonists where many of the stories have no romance at all, and even in the others, it's usually not the focus.
Overall, there weren't any stories that I really hated, but there were several that just didn't really grab my attention. I kind of want to rate this 3 stars but I added up my ratings and the average was 3.8 so...
the seeing hands of captain zerach by kayla bashe: 4.5 stars. This one is about an older sapphic protagonist who is recently blind and has to learn to adjust to her disability.
things we'll never know by b.r. sanders: 5 stars. This is a story about aliens, but also about humanity. Poor/non-white people can't trust aliens because white people fucked them over, and rich/white people can't trust aliens because they fucked people over and think the aliens will do the same to them.
glass bones by kirstie olley: 4.5 stars. Fantasy girl and her disabled brother end up visiting our moden world. Also, she's in love with the Lake Maiden. I don't want to spoil the ending, but I'm glad she made the right choice.
unnecessary risks by abigail rosenhart: 5 stars. Honestly? Best story. Never saw that twist coming.
nothing good to say by e.h. timms: 4.5 stars. Aroace warrior saves kids. Neat.
these bodies are battlefields by tash mcadam: 3 stars
sole survivor by lewis bright rees: 3 stars
seida the fairy-troll by claudie arseneault: 3.5 stars
colossus of epheus by tyler gates: 2.5 stars
the metal mermaid by kelly matsuura: 3.5 stars
howl by natalie cannon: 3 stars
from dust 'til dawn by helle reiersen: 3 stars
This is a collection of stories with queer protagonists. In most stories about queer people, I am used to reading romances, so it was nice to read a collection with queer protagonists where many of the stories have no romance at all, and even in the others, it's usually not the focus.
Overall, there weren't any stories that I really hated, but there were several that just didn't really grab my attention. I kind of want to rate this 3 stars but I added up my ratings and the average was 3.8 so...
the seeing hands of captain zerach by kayla bashe: 4.5 stars. This one is about an older sapphic protagonist who is recently blind and has to learn to adjust to her disability.
things we'll never know by b.r. sanders: 5 stars. This is a story about aliens, but also about humanity. Poor/non-white people can't trust aliens because white people fucked them over, and rich/white people can't trust aliens because they fucked people over and think the aliens will do the same to them.
glass bones by kirstie olley: 4.5 stars. Fantasy girl and her disabled brother end up visiting our moden world. Also, she's in love with the Lake Maiden. I don't want to spoil the ending, but I'm glad she made the right choice.
unnecessary risks by abigail rosenhart: 5 stars. Honestly? Best story. Never saw that twist coming.
nothing good to say by e.h. timms: 4.5 stars. Aroace warrior saves kids. Neat.
these bodies are battlefields by tash mcadam: 3 stars
sole survivor by lewis bright rees: 3 stars
seida the fairy-troll by claudie arseneault: 3.5 stars
colossus of epheus by tyler gates: 2.5 stars
the metal mermaid by kelly matsuura: 3.5 stars
howl by natalie cannon: 3 stars
from dust 'til dawn by helle reiersen: 3 stars
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