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618 reviews for:
A Phoenix First Must Burn: Sixteen Stories of Black Girl Magic, Resistance, and Hope
Patrice Caldwell
3.94 AVERAGE
618 reviews for:
A Phoenix First Must Burn: Sixteen Stories of Black Girl Magic, Resistance, and Hope
Patrice Caldwell
3.94 AVERAGE
Overall the stories were enjoyable to read, and definitely a breath of fresh air thanks to the diverse perspectives presented. I wasn't aware this was labelled YA until it was mentioned to me; some of the stories do fit that label, while others felt more adult.
The editor's introduction mentions that all of these stories have a glimmer of hope, and that's true, although in some stories it's introduced organically as a natural ending and in others it feels rushed and shoehorned in as the author struggled to shrink a long and complex resolution down to a few lines only hinting at an eventual happy ending.
The main problem I had with some of the stories here (for example, "A Hagiography of Starlight", "Melie" and "All the Time in the World") was that, while their premise was very enjoyable, they felt like a chapter 1 of a novel or at least part of what should have been a longer work, that was truncated in order to fit a short story format and sacrificed a feeling of closure to achieve it. They left me thinking, "wait, that's it?" at the end. In the case of other stories, the more YA ones such as "The Curse of Love", I just couldn't get into the premise since it's based on a notion I can't wrap my head around, mainly that someone at age 16 who meets a cute guy should be introduced to the narrative that such "love" is worth every sacrifice in the world (but only on the side of the woman, dude can shrug off any consequences). For this particular story, I also didn't get the perspective shift, as it didn't seem to be accomplishing anything as a literary recourse, and was just there to, I don't know, be cool and alternative? Unsure.
My favorite stories were "When Life Hands You a Lemon Fruitbomb", which was a perfect short story (simple enough to feel perfectly contained in the length of the format, while having enough depth to keep the reader engaged) and, showing my bias, "Letting the Right One In", because you'd have to really mess up "lesbian vampires" as a concept to turn me away.
All in all, it was an entertaining read and I'd recommend this book.
The editor's introduction mentions that all of these stories have a glimmer of hope, and that's true, although in some stories it's introduced organically as a natural ending and in others it feels rushed and shoehorned in as the author struggled to shrink a long and complex resolution down to a few lines only hinting at an eventual happy ending.
The main problem I had with some of the stories here (for example, "A Hagiography of Starlight", "Melie" and "All the Time in the World") was that, while their premise was very enjoyable, they felt like a chapter 1 of a novel or at least part of what should have been a longer work, that was truncated in order to fit a short story format and sacrificed a feeling of closure to achieve it. They left me thinking, "wait, that's it?" at the end. In the case of other stories, the more YA ones such as "The Curse of Love", I just couldn't get into the premise since it's based on a notion I can't wrap my head around, mainly that someone at age 16 who meets a cute guy should be introduced to the narrative that such "love" is worth every sacrifice in the world (but only on the side of the woman, dude can shrug off any consequences). For this particular story, I also didn't get the perspective shift, as it didn't seem to be accomplishing anything as a literary recourse, and was just there to, I don't know, be cool and alternative? Unsure.
My favorite stories were "When Life Hands You a Lemon Fruitbomb", which was a perfect short story (simple enough to feel perfectly contained in the length of the format, while having enough depth to keep the reader engaged) and, showing my bias, "Letting the Right One In", because you'd have to really mess up "lesbian vampires" as a concept to turn me away.
All in all, it was an entertaining read and I'd recommend this book.
This collection rewrote the definition of a short story in my head. I loved every single one. So many of them also subvert the idea of fantasy as escapism by weaving the fantasy elements directly into very real-world topics, which is super super cool. Highly recommend.
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Amazing!
Anthologies are always difficult to review, for all that I love reading them. In a really good anthology, there will be stories for everybody, while introducing everyone to new authors and new concepts. In a really great anthology, I will love all the stories.
This was a good anthology. Very nearly great, and when I reread it in ebook form, I might change my mind, but there were a couple of stories that did not translate well for me in the audiobook.
Story by Story:
"When Life Hands You a Lemon Fruitbomb" by Amerie: I loved this one, though it was a little heavy on the info dump at first. I really liked the look into what we consider alien, and how to listen, and how to forgive. Plus I loved the twisty ending.
"Gilded" by Elizabeth Acevedo: This one I liked more, and I don't usually like magical realism. I think mostly because of the absolute indoctrination of the main character, and how she slowly overcame it. The ending was perfect.
"Wherein Abigail Fields Recalls Her First Death And, Subsequently, Her Best Life" by Rebecca Roanhorse: The title of this one is almost longer than the story itself! But that's not a bad thing. This was a short gut punch of a story that left me wanting to find all the stuff this author has ever written.
"The Rules of the Land" by Alaya Dawn Johnson: I love selkie style stories, and they are rarely told from the perspective of the children. This one was wonderful!
"A Hagiography of Starlight" by Somaiya Daud: I honestly didn't finish. Everything was just too much for listening to while I drove. I'll come back to it in ebook form.
"Melie" by Justina Ireland: Rocking the larger female protag! Also a larger female protag where the point wasn't about her weight. In fact, it didn't seem to bother her at all. I loved this one.
"The Goddess Provides" by L.L. McKinney: A murder mystery, palace intrigue, a succession crisis, and a crisis of faith all in one short story. Somehow beautifully played off and excellent. I want more.
"Hearts Turned to Ash" by Dhonielle Clayton: While I loved the ultimate message of this story, about not giving all of yourself to love, so that you lose everything that makes you "you", I had a little bit of whiplash from expecting a character to be evil when she wasn't. A story that is better on the second reading than the first.
"Letting the Right One In" by Patrice Caldwell: Meh, I could take it or leave it. I don't tend to like stories with depressed characters, because I like active characters. But this one managed to engage me for the whole story, at least.
"Tender-Headed" by Danny Lore: Another for the ebook, though I did love listening to it. A retelling of Athena and Arachne with a greater moral, it got a little confusing towards the end as I was listening to memories and reality merge.
"Kiss the Sun" by Ibi Zoboi: Skipped it. Too much information to try and absorb in audio format, and I got confused and bored quickly. I liked the lyrical style of writing, though. I'll update once I've read the ebook.
"The Actress" by Danielle Page: Absolutely loved this. 5 stars, will read again. And again. She caught the tone of a girl unsure about her crush and confusing it with acting perfectly. And the twist is fantastic.
"The Curse of Love" by Ashley Woodfolk: Loved the message of this story. Also love any stories with bargains and the consequences of them. I will be checking out her other stuff.
"All the Time in the World" by Charlotte Nicole Davis: I was prepared not to like this one from nearly the first word, because it's written in second person. But then the magic happened. And themes of police harassment on a backdrop of the Flint Water Crisis. I was hooked. Then the MC went on a joyous magical tour. I loved it.
"The Witch's Skin" by Karen Strong: This one seemed to be trying too many things at once. I wanted to know about the Boo Hag, but she kept going on about one of the other story lines. Yes. Multiple story lines in a short story. I got bored. But I did finish it.
"Sequence" by J. Marcelle Corrie: I liked the "what if" nature of this story, which managed to tell me two different perspectives, one after another, without boring me. Definitely a good end to the anthology.
This was a good anthology. Very nearly great, and when I reread it in ebook form, I might change my mind, but there were a couple of stories that did not translate well for me in the audiobook.
Story by Story:
"When Life Hands You a Lemon Fruitbomb" by Amerie: I loved this one, though it was a little heavy on the info dump at first. I really liked the look into what we consider alien, and how to listen, and how to forgive. Plus I loved the twisty ending.
"Gilded" by Elizabeth Acevedo: This one I liked more, and I don't usually like magical realism. I think mostly because of the absolute indoctrination of the main character, and how she slowly overcame it. The ending was perfect.
"Wherein Abigail Fields Recalls Her First Death And, Subsequently, Her Best Life" by Rebecca Roanhorse: The title of this one is almost longer than the story itself! But that's not a bad thing. This was a short gut punch of a story that left me wanting to find all the stuff this author has ever written.
"The Rules of the Land" by Alaya Dawn Johnson: I love selkie style stories, and they are rarely told from the perspective of the children. This one was wonderful!
"A Hagiography of Starlight" by Somaiya Daud: I honestly didn't finish. Everything was just too much for listening to while I drove. I'll come back to it in ebook form.
"Melie" by Justina Ireland: Rocking the larger female protag! Also a larger female protag where the point wasn't about her weight. In fact, it didn't seem to bother her at all. I loved this one.
"The Goddess Provides" by L.L. McKinney: A murder mystery, palace intrigue, a succession crisis, and a crisis of faith all in one short story. Somehow beautifully played off and excellent. I want more.
"Hearts Turned to Ash" by Dhonielle Clayton: While I loved the ultimate message of this story, about not giving all of yourself to love, so that you lose everything that makes you "you", I had a little bit of whiplash from expecting a character to be evil when she wasn't. A story that is better on the second reading than the first.
"Letting the Right One In" by Patrice Caldwell: Meh, I could take it or leave it. I don't tend to like stories with depressed characters, because I like active characters. But this one managed to engage me for the whole story, at least.
"Tender-Headed" by Danny Lore: Another for the ebook, though I did love listening to it. A retelling of Athena and Arachne with a greater moral, it got a little confusing towards the end as I was listening to memories and reality merge.
"Kiss the Sun" by Ibi Zoboi: Skipped it. Too much information to try and absorb in audio format, and I got confused and bored quickly. I liked the lyrical style of writing, though. I'll update once I've read the ebook.
"The Actress" by Danielle Page: Absolutely loved this. 5 stars, will read again. And again. She caught the tone of a girl unsure about her crush and confusing it with acting perfectly. And the twist is fantastic.
"The Curse of Love" by Ashley Woodfolk: Loved the message of this story. Also love any stories with bargains and the consequences of them. I will be checking out her other stuff.
"All the Time in the World" by Charlotte Nicole Davis: I was prepared not to like this one from nearly the first word, because it's written in second person. But then the magic happened. And themes of police harassment on a backdrop of the Flint Water Crisis. I was hooked. Then the MC went on a joyous magical tour. I loved it.
"The Witch's Skin" by Karen Strong: This one seemed to be trying too many things at once. I wanted to know about the Boo Hag, but she kept going on about one of the other story lines. Yes. Multiple story lines in a short story. I got bored. But I did finish it.
"Sequence" by J. Marcelle Corrie: I liked the "what if" nature of this story, which managed to tell me two different perspectives, one after another, without boring me. Definitely a good end to the anthology.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A PHOENIX FIRST MUST BURN celebrates Black Girl Magic in a literal and metaphorical sense. I like a few of the stories, but the overall collection was uneven. Several end abruptly in a way that feels like they needed more space to develop. There were a few standouts which make the collection worth perusing. “When Life Hands You A Lemon Fruitbomb” is the collection’s opener. I love it, if the whole anthology had been like it I’d be raving over it. “A Hagiography of Starlight” is one where it felt complete but I want there to be more, it’s a fantastic world which I want to explore. “Melie” inverts several "chosen one" tropes in some cool ways, with an irreverent feeling. “Letting The Right One In” is marred only by referencing books by an author who wasn’t widely known to suck when this collection was written (though it’s not the only one to do so). "Sequence" is a good choice for ending the anthology, it's excellently written and well-placed in the collection.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Body shaming, Homophobia, Mental illness, Xenophobia
"When Life Hands You a Lemon Fruitbomb" - CW for confinement, torture, war, death.
"Gilded" - CW for pregnancy, blood, injury detail, slavery, parental death, death.
"Wherein Abigail Fields Recalls Her First Death and, Subsequently, Her Best Life" - CW for racism, gun violence, injury detail, murder, death.
"The Rules of the Land" - CW for vomit, alcohol, alcoholism, domestic abuse, pregnancy, parental death. Minor CW for xenophobia, sexual content, animal death, war.
"A Hagiography of Starlight" - CW for adult/minor relationship. Minor CW for sexual content.
"Melie" - CW for blood, violence, war, death. Minor CW for body shaming, self harm, murder.
"The Goddess Provides" - CW for grief, sexism, religious bigotry, confinement, excrement, fire/fire injury, gore, blood, violence, injury detail, self harm, torture, murder, parental death, death.
"Hearts Turned to Ash" - CW for grief, toxic relationship.
"Letting the Right One In" - CW for abandonment. Minor CW for sexual content, mental illness, racism, homophobia. Brief Harry Potter reference.
"Tender-Headed" - CW for toxic relationship, toxic friendship.
"Kiss the Sun" - CW for colorism, racism, ableism, bullying, infidelity, fire, colonization
"The Actress" - Minor CW for sexual content, racism. Brief Harry Potter reference.
"The Curse of Love" - CW for parental death, death.
"All the Time in the World" - CW for racism. Minor CW for sexual content, war, death.
"The Witch's Skin" - CW for sexism, abandonment, sexual content, grief, pregnancy, blood, gore, murder, war, parental death, child death, death.
"Sequence" - No major CWs.
This book was more than what I expected. Each story in this book brought out many elements what what women go through on a regular basis regarding beauty, putting yourself first before any man, being comfortable in your own skin (loving yourself whether you are dark skinned or light skinned complexed), realizing that just because society says thats how you should be does not mean you have to listen, etc (do not need to follow the status quo). I fell in love with this book and I highly recommend everyone to read it. I also like that fact that it brings up the black experience, which is really relevant today. All the stories were absolutely phenomenal and I do plan on reading this book again.
This was such an enjoyable collection! Every story felt like something fresh and new, none of them blended into the other or felt like something I'd seen earlier in the volume. Like any anthology, there will always be some stories that the reader enjoys more than others (whatever the reason may be) and this collection is no exception. But that said, none of these stories felt like filler or like a weak link - every single tale added value and uplifted the collection as a whole.
One thing that is especially unique in this collection is the variety when it comes to inspirations and origins for each tale. Some are pure sci-fi or fantasy, crafted solely from the author's own imagination. Others pull heavily from various mythologies or folklore. Others still are inspired by historical events and figures. In an anthology heavily rooted in the concepts of magic, this variety added individuality and heft that made each story shine that much brighter. No boring, cookie cutter fantasy here.
Personally, my favorites were Melie by Justina Ireland, Letting the Right One In by Patrice Caldwell, and Gilded by Elizabeth Acevedo. Each of these stories made me yearn for more and left me hopeful the authors will expand on them in the future.
Highly recommend.
One thing that is especially unique in this collection is the variety when it comes to inspirations and origins for each tale. Some are pure sci-fi or fantasy, crafted solely from the author's own imagination. Others pull heavily from various mythologies or folklore. Others still are inspired by historical events and figures. In an anthology heavily rooted in the concepts of magic, this variety added individuality and heft that made each story shine that much brighter. No boring, cookie cutter fantasy here.
Personally, my favorites were Melie by Justina Ireland, Letting the Right One In by Patrice Caldwell, and Gilded by Elizabeth Acevedo. Each of these stories made me yearn for more and left me hopeful the authors will expand on them in the future.
Highly recommend.