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kleonard's review
1.0
I'm sorry that none of the stories in this collection really grabbed me. The folklore on which these supposedly drew is rich and interesting, but many of the stories felt very generically magical or magical in a broadly pan-Asian way, including the use of anime tropes. Most of the stories needed significant developmental and/or line editing for length, tone, and clarity, The illustrations hurt the book as well--they're not needed, and they're not good.
shay_d's review
4.0
I loved this. When I had the chance I curled up with a cup of tea and read through this whole book in one sitting. It was so interesting to see the different writing styles from multiple authors in one book. It was a first for me and I enjoyed it thoroughly. I don't usually branch out into reading about folklore from other countries, but this book has definitely made me more interested in expanding my reading lists.
candiemarsh's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
5.0
Oh, this was an absolute delight to read! Not your typical collection of Malaysian folklore and fairy tales, this book features stories that aren't conventional, and may introduce you to new lores that you may have never heard before, yet still maintains relatability. There is an eclectic mix of culture, fantasy and myth in this collection; a little something for everyone. I found myself constantly intrigued and excited as the read goes on, feeding my love for folklore and mythology. It's a great collection to add to the existing variety of Malaysian stories.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent and Death
katrin_loves_books's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
3.75
This was an interesting anthology from a country we don’t often hear from in terms of literature. I was particularly interested in this book because I’m half Indonesian and am always partial to read more stories set in Southeast Asia. As is often the case with anthologies, we connect to some stories more than others. But I thought it was an entertaining read, and a good introduction to Malaysian mythology and folklore - although I’m not sure if someone who’s not familiar with the region might need more context regarding certain terms and language. My favorite stories were The Fiery Tale of Embun and the Prince and the first one about the shapeshifter. I felt that they could be turned into full-length fantasy novels and find a devoted readership!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!!
beccaontheinternet's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Overall, this anthology was really beautiful. Readers should know that there are some stories here that are more accessible to a general audience than others, but that's not necessarily a bad thing - it's important for authors to write authentically. Like all anthologies, there were some truly wonderful stories and some I wasn't as enthusiastic about. The ones I loved most were Kampar and the Kings of Kedah by Joshua Lim, The Rivers and Lakes by Collin Yeoh, The Fiery Tale of Embun and the Prince by Julia Alba, and The Dahlia of Hutan Kilat by Hamizah Adzmi. They all had incredibly cool world building and a sense that while they could be longer, they were finished pieces. My favorite was The Fiery Tale of Embun and the Prince by Julia Alba - I thought it was such a cool imaginative story and I'm absolutely going to read more of her work. The largest critique I had of many of the other stories were that they felt like the first chapter of a longer novel - they didn't feel complete or satisfying. That didn't mean they were bad - they just weren't my favorites. Overall, I'm really happy I read this book. It exposed me to a culture I'm not very familiar with and stories that will live in my head for a long time. I can't wait to explore some of these authors in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review
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