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The Curiosities: A Collection of Stories by Tessa Gratton, Brenna Yovanoff, Maggie Stiefvater
julsreadinglist's review
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
craftyreader14's review against another edition
This book was so addicting. I have always been a fan of Maggie Steifvater. Her beautiful writing is like a swirling storm of emotions and description. This collection was no different. The other two authors are just amazing. I have a list of books to read now! As a writer this book was an inspiration.
misssusan's review against another edition
5.0
you know, i decided this year i didn't have to review every book i read but it turns out i'm far too attached to the sound of my own voice to leave a book uncommented upon
besides this book is really great, it feels unfair to give words to ai ore and neglect something i actually liked
i'm not going to do the individual story review thing though because there were at least thirty of them, this is about me rambling, not putting actual work in
so what are these stories? creepy, atmospheric, gorgeous, full of monsters and the girls who kill them
i kind of want to toss it on tumblr because i feel like every person who flies the misandry flag would be about this life
also every single one of these stories has magic, like i know there's one tessa gratton tries to claim doesn't but i subscribe to the 'it feels like it does though!' argument of yovanoff
oh wait hold up i just remembered some yovanoff's stories. okay i retract my statement, most of these stories have magic and the ones that don't have murder so it all comes out even in the end
and it makes me want to write, i'm awed by the fact that these women could produce gems like these on a weekly basis like how? words??? on pages?!? perhaps i can attempt this thing as well?!?!?
(doug, pretend you didn't read that bit, i'm still ignoring the writing gauntlet you've thrown)
someone remind me to buy this when it comes out in paperback because i really want to own it
5 stars
besides this book is really great, it feels unfair to give words to ai ore and neglect something i actually liked
i'm not going to do the individual story review thing though because there were at least thirty of them, this is about me rambling, not putting actual work in
so what are these stories? creepy, atmospheric, gorgeous, full of monsters and the girls who kill them
i kind of want to toss it on tumblr because i feel like every person who flies the misandry flag would be about this life
also every single one of these stories has magic, like i know there's one tessa gratton tries to claim doesn't but i subscribe to the 'it feels like it does though!' argument of yovanoff
oh wait hold up i just remembered some yovanoff's stories. okay i retract my statement, most of these stories have magic and the ones that don't have murder so it all comes out even in the end
and it makes me want to write, i'm awed by the fact that these women could produce gems like these on a weekly basis like how? words??? on pages?!? perhaps i can attempt this thing as well?!?!?
(doug, pretend you didn't read that bit, i'm still ignoring the writing gauntlet you've thrown)
someone remind me to buy this when it comes out in paperback because i really want to own it
5 stars
squirrelbrain3's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
3.0
I'm realizing that short stories are not my favorite. Most of the time I either can't get into it at all or want way more from it. That's not to say that these short stories weren't good though. I did overall enjoy them. I particularly loved Rain Maker by Maggie, Dumb Supper by Tessa, and Neighbors by Brenna. However, to me, the stories are not the most important part of this collection. These stories are mostly unedited and accompanied by thoughts about the writing process which are really interesting to see. If you're a writer or are just interested in the writing process, reading through the ways these three different authors approach stories and attempt to take new risks to improve their writing is really quite fascinating.
jbojkov's review against another edition
5.0
This book is a compilation of some of the stories created by Maggie Stiefvater, Tessa Gratton, and Brenna Yovanoff and posted on their website- www.merryfates.com Really nice collection of short fiction AND comments from each other covering a variety of topics. This is a really neat collection with an original and creative format.
books_plan_create's review against another edition
Loved this! I loved reading the authors' notes to each other more than anything else. And I am in love even more with Brenna than I was before!
Popsugar: "Book of short stories"
Popsugar: "Book of short stories"
kmjones's review against another edition
4.0
Honestly this book was amazing! I can't wait to read more from these three amazing authors.
shogins's review against another edition
4.0
This is cool glimpse into the creative process for three YA writers. I'm pretty familiar with Stiefvater's work, but am definitely curious to read more by Gratton and Yovanoff now.
If I ever have to run a writing workshop for tweens/teens, some of the prompts they talk about sing could be cool exercises.
If I ever have to run a writing workshop for tweens/teens, some of the prompts they talk about sing could be cool exercises.
bellatora's review against another edition
5.0
I adored this collection.
Even though I don't love all her books (see: [b:Ballad: A Gathering of Faerie|6076413|Ballad A Gathering of Faerie (Books of Faerie, #2)|Maggie Stiefvater|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1288028289s/6076413.jpg|6252991]), I think [a:Maggie Stiefvater|1330292|Maggie Stiefvater|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1268241579p2/1330292.jpg] is one of the most talented writers with some of the most beautiful writing. I thought [a:Brenna Yovanoff|3023658|Brenna Yovanoff|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1261685101p2/3023658.jpg] was amazingly talented in creating a creepy, haunting atmosphere in [b:The Replacement|9453823|The Replacement|Brenna Yovanoff|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348847078s/9453823.jpg|6911742]. And [a:Tessa Gratton|3111338|Tessa Gratton|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1328563756p2/3111338.jpg] I had no opinion of before reading this book, but now I can't wait to read her novels and am especially excited for [b:The Lost Sun|13021366|The Lost Sun (The United States of Asgard, #1)|Tessa Gratton|http://www.goodreads.com/assets/nocover/60x80.png|18183974] because it is clear she is absolutely fascinated by Norse culture and her stories of a Norse-infused modern America were among my favorites.
It was fun to see how much the authors obviously just enjoyed each other. Their side comments and doodles were endearing. It made the book have the same kind of appeal as listening to Tina Fey's memoir on audio - it feels like bonding with the author and makes you want to grab brunch and chat and laugh and drink mimosas with them.
The stories themselves were impressive. While some of them were better than others, none of them were bad. These authors are talented and their ability to create whole worlds and people in so few pages is inspiring.
My favourite stories were “The Vampire Box” (Tessa Gratton) – about a girl whose family keeps a vampire trapped in the basement for luck; it had the same ambiguous ending both hopeful and frustrating that I loved in [a:Vivian Vande Velde|13014|Vivian Vande Velde|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1241839752p2/13014.jpg]’s writing as a teen. “A Murder of Gods” (Maggie Stiefvater) – boarding school of demigods; further proof that Stiefvater can create a simmering romance in even a short story. “Date With a Dragon Slayer” (Tessa Gratton) – love this idea! Ordinary girl wins date with nation’s celebrity du jour, a teen dragonslayer who is going to go off to try to slay another dragon the next morning. “Rain Maker” (Maggie Steifvater) – because I have a thing for asshole geniuses with a layer of kindness, too. “Neighbors” (Brenna Yovanoff) – because I saw the first twist but not the second one. “Beserk” (Tessa Gratton) – trolls, beserker, one of the creepiest/most horrifying scenes (the trolls in the house) in a book full of creepy/horrifying scenes, and a girl who experiences the evil of the world and decides to fight back.
Even though I don't love all her books (see: [b:Ballad: A Gathering of Faerie|6076413|Ballad A Gathering of Faerie (Books of Faerie, #2)|Maggie Stiefvater|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1288028289s/6076413.jpg|6252991]), I think [a:Maggie Stiefvater|1330292|Maggie Stiefvater|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1268241579p2/1330292.jpg] is one of the most talented writers with some of the most beautiful writing. I thought [a:Brenna Yovanoff|3023658|Brenna Yovanoff|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1261685101p2/3023658.jpg] was amazingly talented in creating a creepy, haunting atmosphere in [b:The Replacement|9453823|The Replacement|Brenna Yovanoff|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348847078s/9453823.jpg|6911742]. And [a:Tessa Gratton|3111338|Tessa Gratton|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1328563756p2/3111338.jpg] I had no opinion of before reading this book, but now I can't wait to read her novels and am especially excited for [b:The Lost Sun|13021366|The Lost Sun (The United States of Asgard, #1)|Tessa Gratton|http://www.goodreads.com/assets/nocover/60x80.png|18183974] because it is clear she is absolutely fascinated by Norse culture and her stories of a Norse-infused modern America were among my favorites.
It was fun to see how much the authors obviously just enjoyed each other. Their side comments and doodles were endearing. It made the book have the same kind of appeal as listening to Tina Fey's memoir on audio - it feels like bonding with the author and makes you want to grab brunch and chat and laugh and drink mimosas with them.
The stories themselves were impressive. While some of them were better than others, none of them were bad. These authors are talented and their ability to create whole worlds and people in so few pages is inspiring.
My favourite stories were “The Vampire Box” (Tessa Gratton) – about a girl whose family keeps a vampire trapped in the basement for luck; it had the same ambiguous ending both hopeful and frustrating that I loved in [a:Vivian Vande Velde|13014|Vivian Vande Velde|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1241839752p2/13014.jpg]’s writing as a teen. “A Murder of Gods” (Maggie Stiefvater) – boarding school of demigods; further proof that Stiefvater can create a simmering romance in even a short story. “Date With a Dragon Slayer” (Tessa Gratton) – love this idea! Ordinary girl wins date with nation’s celebrity du jour, a teen dragonslayer who is going to go off to try to slay another dragon the next morning. “Rain Maker” (Maggie Steifvater) – because I have a thing for asshole geniuses with a layer of kindness, too. “Neighbors” (Brenna Yovanoff) – because I saw the first twist but not the second one. “Beserk” (Tessa Gratton) – trolls, beserker, one of the creepiest/most horrifying scenes (the trolls in the house) in a book full of creepy/horrifying scenes, and a girl who experiences the evil of the world and decides to fight back.