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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
A good mix of short stories. I'm glad they included the blurb at the end of each story about where the concepts came from. I enjoyed learning about that.
Some good, some bad, your classic short story collection.
Some good, some bad, your classic short story collection.
My goodness, I cannot tell you how much I needed this book this month. It is a collection of short stories all inspired by Asian myths and legends AND each short story is written by an own voices author. I especially loved the varied settings, time periods, and fantasy/contemporary genres intermixed throughout the book. And, at the end, the author always explains the original myth/legend/story/event that the story was inspired by and why the story means so much to the author. Many of the authors also had a feminist undertone in their stories. All in all, this short story collection is BEAUTIFUL and needs to be talked about more often.
3.75 stars
This was a lovely anthology! It’s not often that you see Asian characters in YA fantasy, and I’m glad more and more diverse books are emerging.
I am Asian myself and seeing my culture’s folklore being retold in a YA anthology made me so happy. I enjoyed most of the stories but I did find some average and forgettable (and even too short). Each story was whimsical and mysterious, with an eerie undertone. I was entranced and captivated throughout.
Overall, this was a breath of fresh air and I really enjoyed this collection!
These are my favorite stories in the collection:
∙ Bullet, Butterfly - Elsie Chapman
∙ The Crimson Cloak - Cindy Pon
∙ The Land of Morning Calm - E.C. Meyers
∙ Eyes Like Candlelight - Julie Kagawa
This was a lovely anthology! It’s not often that you see Asian characters in YA fantasy, and I’m glad more and more diverse books are emerging.
I am Asian myself and seeing my culture’s folklore being retold in a YA anthology made me so happy. I enjoyed most of the stories but I did find some average and forgettable (and even too short). Each story was whimsical and mysterious, with an eerie undertone. I was entranced and captivated throughout.
Overall, this was a breath of fresh air and I really enjoyed this collection!
These are my favorite stories in the collection:
∙ Bullet, Butterfly - Elsie Chapman
∙ The Crimson Cloak - Cindy Pon
∙ The Land of Morning Calm - E.C. Meyers
∙ Eyes Like Candlelight - Julie Kagawa
dark
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Great collection of stories ranging from darker fables to modern retellings of myths. Plus an explanation/history of the traditional myth each story is based on
A really wonderful collection of retellings from myth and folklore. Some of these were a bit hit and miss for me, but as a caveat, I read them all across two different long-haul flights.
My favourites:
"Olivia's Table" by Alyssa Wong
"Steel Skin" by Lori M. Lee
"The Land of the Morning Calm" by E. C. Meyers
My favourites:
"Olivia's Table" by Alyssa Wong
"Steel Skin" by Lori M. Lee
"The Land of the Morning Calm" by E. C. Meyers
TW: death, death of a parent, war, betrayal, murder
Such amazing retellings in this anthology. Honestly I enjoyed each one. It was brilliant to have the author's notes on the tales origins after each one. Probably my favourite anthology collection!
Such amazing retellings in this anthology. Honestly I enjoyed each one. It was brilliant to have the author's notes on the tales origins after each one. Probably my favourite anthology collection!
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is by far the best short stories collection I've ever had the pleasure of reading. 💖📚
Forbidden Fruit — [a:Roshani Chokshi|13695109|Roshani Chokshi|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1446482566p2/13695109.jpg]
⭐⭐⭐
A tragic Mountain Goddess and mortal love story based on the Filipino folktale of Maria Makiling.
Olivia’s Table — [a:Alyssa Wong|8178928|Alyssa Wong|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1469819886p2/8178928.jpg]
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Based on the Chinese tradition of the Hungry Ghost Festival, Yu Lan, that takes place in late summer. This story takes place in Arizona. Brownie points for queer rep. Please make this into a movie. I will be looking up more about the festival because it sounds very interesting.
Steel Skin — [a:Lori M. Lee|7084159|Lori M. Lee|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1368213295p2/7084159.jpg]
⭐⭐⭐⭐
A sci-fi take on The Woman and the Tiger Hmong folktale with androids. I'm a sucker for sci-fi retellings. I would love a second part of the story.
Not the most diverse recommendations but if you liked Steel Skin, I recommend [b:Frost|28599500|Frost|M.P. Kozlowsky|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1453158257s/28599500.jpg|44811708] and [b:Heart of Iron|35181314|Heart of Iron (Heart of Iron, #1)|Ashley Poston|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1498506185s/35181314.jpg|52787851] by [a:Ashley Poston|4279769|Ashley Poston|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1510687986p2/4279769.jpg].
Still Star-Crossed — [a:Sona Charaipotra|7359318|Sona Charaipotra|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1385065970p2/7359318.jpg]
⭐⭐⭐
Star-crossed lover stories span over many different mythologies and cultures. Still Star-Crossed is based on Mirza and Sahiba which is a Punjabi folktale.
The Counting of Vermillion Beads — [a:Aliette de Bodard|2918731|Aliette de Bodard|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1261567215p2/2918731.jpg]
⭐⭐⭐
I've never been a big shapeshifter fan. This is a retelling of a Vietnamese folktale, Tâ´m Cám. If you like Fantasy tales of sisters, I highly recommend [b:Grace and Fury|36546635|Grace and Fury|Tracy Banghart|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1510039444s/36546635.jpg|62645635] by [a:Tracy Banghart|239569|Tracy Banghart|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1476408223p2/239569.jpg]. It releases later this month.
The Land of the Morning Calm — [a:E.C. Myers|2968447|E.C. Myers|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1286687622p2/2968447.jpg]
⭐⭐⭐
A bittersweet modern grim reaper story based on Korean mythology that takes place in a video game. I don't like video games but I enjoyed this story more than I thought I would.
The Smile — [a:Aisha Saeed|8106586|Aisha Saeed|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1396461507p2/8106586.jpg]
⭐⭐⭐
The Smile is based on the South Asian legend, The Story of Anarkali. A courtesan has to choose to live with a jealous and selfish prince or freedom. This reminds me of a lot of current Fantasy.
The prince always said I belonged to him. I had thought this word protected me and kept me safe, but now I understood. Belonging meant he could place me wherever he liked. Belonging is not love. It never was.
Girls Who Twirl and Other Dangers — [a:Preeti Chhibber|15600901|Preeti Chhibber|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1496408704p2/15600901.jpg]
⭐⭐
This is based on a Gujarāti Hindu festival, Navrātri. I did like the use of different terminology that would require people unfamilar with it, such as myself, to do a little research. Unfortunately I didn't like the story.
Nothing into All — [a:Renee Ahdieh|4600197|Renee Ahdieh|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1487663209p2/4600197.jpg]
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I NEED A WHOLE SERIES OF NOTHING INTO ALL. Or at least a full novel. You can't just end a story like that. I don't even like goblins but now I have to go look up The Goblin Treasure (Korean fairytale) and any other retellings of it I can find.
Spear Carrier — [a:Rahul Kanakia|4114729|Rahul Kanakia|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1443738329p2/4114729.jpg]
⭐⭐
I went into Spear Carrier hating it because it read like a terrible livejournal entry. As I continued, I did end up liking the philosophy of the story. Why are you fighting? What are you fighting for? What does it mean to be a hero?
I thought a lot about that particular topic: heroism, and the nature thereof. Because it’d occurred to me that most of my intellectual and emotional life revolved around fictional depictions of heroism.
So in my car that day, I was thinking, shit, if someone came up to me and gave me a magical sword and told me I was the chosen one and asked me to defeat some cosmic evil, I’d say, “No thanks,” because you know what? Death is real.
Code of Honor — [a:Melissa de la Cruz|21911|Melissa de la Cruz|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1521600969p2/21911.jpg]
⭐⭐⭐
Ok, Filipino Stefan Salvatore.
Bullet, Butterfly — [a:Elsie Chapman|5441417|Elsie Chapman|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1351817206p2/5441417.jpg]
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Butterflies defy gravity, so maybe they can defy death, too.
What a heartbreakingly beautiful story based on The Butterfly Lovers, depicted as the Chinese version of Romeo and Juliet. P.S. I like this story better.
Daughter of the Sun — [a:Shveta Thakrar|5097748|Shveta Thakrar|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1418066758p2/5097748.jpg]
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Blended from two different stories included in the South Asian epic, The Mahabharata, Daughter of the Sun tells the beautiful love story of the sun and the moon. It's everything folklore should be.
The Crimson Cloak — [a:Cindy Pon|2471183|Cindy Pon|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1259643400p2/2471183.jpg]
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Crimson Cloak is based on the Chinese legend of how the Milky Way stars were formed (which I love and will be reading more about!), The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. It is another star-crossed lover's story. It's also mortal/immortal and as a Malec fan I may have shed some tears. 😭
So the river of stars in the night sky was formed by the tears I have shed through all the centuries since that first time I cried, in pain or sorrow, but also from joy and love—even in the reminiscing.
Eyes Like Candlelight — [a:Julie Kagawa|2995873|Julie Kagawa|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1257816454p2/2995873.jpg]
⭐⭐⭐⭐
A ghost story was a weird way to end this collection. The first half of the Kitsune story felt like a movie. The second half felt like a folktale. That being said, I would like a series of Eyes Like Candlelight please but a different ending. Ok, thanks. 🙏🏼
All opinions and interpretations of each story are my own. I sincerely appreciate each and every author for explaining their story and why they chose it. Brb. I'm off to look up everyone's book resumes.
Forbidden Fruit — [a:Roshani Chokshi|13695109|Roshani Chokshi|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1446482566p2/13695109.jpg]
⭐⭐⭐
A tragic Mountain Goddess and mortal love story based on the Filipino folktale of Maria Makiling.
Olivia’s Table — [a:Alyssa Wong|8178928|Alyssa Wong|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1469819886p2/8178928.jpg]
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Based on the Chinese tradition of the Hungry Ghost Festival, Yu Lan, that takes place in late summer. This story takes place in Arizona. Brownie points for queer rep. Please make this into a movie. I will be looking up more about the festival because it sounds very interesting.
Steel Skin — [a:Lori M. Lee|7084159|Lori M. Lee|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1368213295p2/7084159.jpg]
⭐⭐⭐⭐
A sci-fi take on The Woman and the Tiger Hmong folktale with androids. I'm a sucker for sci-fi retellings. I would love a second part of the story.
Not the most diverse recommendations but if you liked Steel Skin, I recommend [b:Frost|28599500|Frost|M.P. Kozlowsky|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1453158257s/28599500.jpg|44811708] and [b:Heart of Iron|35181314|Heart of Iron (Heart of Iron, #1)|Ashley Poston|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1498506185s/35181314.jpg|52787851] by [a:Ashley Poston|4279769|Ashley Poston|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1510687986p2/4279769.jpg].
Still Star-Crossed — [a:Sona Charaipotra|7359318|Sona Charaipotra|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1385065970p2/7359318.jpg]
⭐⭐⭐
Star-crossed lover stories span over many different mythologies and cultures. Still Star-Crossed is based on Mirza and Sahiba which is a Punjabi folktale.
The Counting of Vermillion Beads — [a:Aliette de Bodard|2918731|Aliette de Bodard|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1261567215p2/2918731.jpg]
⭐⭐⭐
I've never been a big shapeshifter fan. This is a retelling of a Vietnamese folktale, Tâ´m Cám. If you like Fantasy tales of sisters, I highly recommend [b:Grace and Fury|36546635|Grace and Fury|Tracy Banghart|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1510039444s/36546635.jpg|62645635] by [a:Tracy Banghart|239569|Tracy Banghart|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1476408223p2/239569.jpg]. It releases later this month.
The Land of the Morning Calm — [a:E.C. Myers|2968447|E.C. Myers|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1286687622p2/2968447.jpg]
⭐⭐⭐
A bittersweet modern grim reaper story based on Korean mythology that takes place in a video game. I don't like video games but I enjoyed this story more than I thought I would.
The Smile — [a:Aisha Saeed|8106586|Aisha Saeed|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1396461507p2/8106586.jpg]
⭐⭐⭐
The Smile is based on the South Asian legend, The Story of Anarkali. A courtesan has to choose to live with a jealous and selfish prince or freedom. This reminds me of a lot of current Fantasy.
The prince always said I belonged to him. I had thought this word protected me and kept me safe, but now I understood. Belonging meant he could place me wherever he liked. Belonging is not love. It never was.
Girls Who Twirl and Other Dangers — [a:Preeti Chhibber|15600901|Preeti Chhibber|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1496408704p2/15600901.jpg]
⭐⭐
This is based on a Gujarāti Hindu festival, Navrātri. I did like the use of different terminology that would require people unfamilar with it, such as myself, to do a little research. Unfortunately I didn't like the story.
Nothing into All — [a:Renee Ahdieh|4600197|Renee Ahdieh|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1487663209p2/4600197.jpg]
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I NEED A WHOLE SERIES OF NOTHING INTO ALL. Or at least a full novel. You can't just end a story like that. I don't even like goblins but now I have to go look up The Goblin Treasure (Korean fairytale) and any other retellings of it I can find.
Spear Carrier — [a:Rahul Kanakia|4114729|Rahul Kanakia|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1443738329p2/4114729.jpg]
⭐⭐
I went into Spear Carrier hating it because it read like a terrible livejournal entry. As I continued, I did end up liking the philosophy of the story. Why are you fighting? What are you fighting for? What does it mean to be a hero?
I thought a lot about that particular topic: heroism, and the nature thereof. Because it’d occurred to me that most of my intellectual and emotional life revolved around fictional depictions of heroism.
So in my car that day, I was thinking, shit, if someone came up to me and gave me a magical sword and told me I was the chosen one and asked me to defeat some cosmic evil, I’d say, “No thanks,” because you know what? Death is real.
Code of Honor — [a:Melissa de la Cruz|21911|Melissa de la Cruz|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1521600969p2/21911.jpg]
⭐⭐⭐
Ok, Filipino Stefan Salvatore.
Bullet, Butterfly — [a:Elsie Chapman|5441417|Elsie Chapman|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1351817206p2/5441417.jpg]
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Butterflies defy gravity, so maybe they can defy death, too.
What a heartbreakingly beautiful story based on The Butterfly Lovers, depicted as the Chinese version of Romeo and Juliet. P.S. I like this story better.
Daughter of the Sun — [a:Shveta Thakrar|5097748|Shveta Thakrar|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1418066758p2/5097748.jpg]
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Blended from two different stories included in the South Asian epic, The Mahabharata, Daughter of the Sun tells the beautiful love story of the sun and the moon. It's everything folklore should be.
The Crimson Cloak — [a:Cindy Pon|2471183|Cindy Pon|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1259643400p2/2471183.jpg]
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Crimson Cloak is based on the Chinese legend of how the Milky Way stars were formed (which I love and will be reading more about!), The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. It is another star-crossed lover's story. It's also mortal/immortal and as a Malec fan I may have shed some tears. 😭
So the river of stars in the night sky was formed by the tears I have shed through all the centuries since that first time I cried, in pain or sorrow, but also from joy and love—even in the reminiscing.
Eyes Like Candlelight — [a:Julie Kagawa|2995873|Julie Kagawa|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1257816454p2/2995873.jpg]
⭐⭐⭐⭐
A ghost story was a weird way to end this collection. The first half of the Kitsune story felt like a movie. The second half felt like a folktale. That being said, I would like a series of Eyes Like Candlelight please but a different ending. Ok, thanks. 🙏🏼
All opinions and interpretations of each story are my own. I sincerely appreciate each and every author for explaining their story and why they chose it. Brb. I'm off to look up everyone's book resumes.
3.5 - I love re-told mythology and it was especially nice to find a collection of own voices Asian myths and legends. Written by popular YA authors, these are another good resource for continuing to adapt my World Lit curriculum
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes