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amicarlton's review
5.0
If you enjoy fantasy stories and helping people, then this is the book – and even better book series – for you! This group of fantasy writers has banded together to bring you short stories from their various fantastical worlds and each time they work together, they donate all profits to a different cause. This time around with Enchanted Flames, they’re donating the profits to helping communities prone to wildfires.
I love these books. While I wrote this review, I was literally in my church – where I serve as the chair of the social justice ministry – in case people need a place to cool off and get some water because the feels like temperatures are getting well into the triple digits where I live today. So, when fellow author Astrid V.J., approached me about helping to promote the #enchantedanthologies it was a literal no-brainer for me. I love what these authors are doing with a passion! And the excellent stories are lagniappe!
All of the stories are great, but I had three particular favorites – “To Steal a Kiss” by Sky Sommers, “Golden Apples,” by Astrid VJ, and "Cajun Cold Flames" by Donna White.
I have enjoyed Greta and Eddie’s story by Sky Sommers in by “Enchanted Forests,” and “Twice Upon A Name,” other charity anthologies by this group. The story amuses me greatly, and when I came across another installment I was delighted! It is worth picking up these other two books for that story alone! I always enjoy Astrid V.J.’s works, and this one was no exception. Her unique, coming-of-age tale blended with exceptional fantasy elements is a delight. Finally, as a New Orleans transplant, but Louisiana native how could I not love a story with Cajun in the name that stayed true to our roots? A Rougarou and a swamp? A New Orleans story that wasn’t just vampires and a romp in the French Quarter? Yes, please!! White’s story was a refreshing glimpse at a different side of New Orleans. Thank you!
I love these books. While I wrote this review, I was literally in my church – where I serve as the chair of the social justice ministry – in case people need a place to cool off and get some water because the feels like temperatures are getting well into the triple digits where I live today. So, when fellow author Astrid V.J., approached me about helping to promote the #enchantedanthologies it was a literal no-brainer for me. I love what these authors are doing with a passion! And the excellent stories are lagniappe!
All of the stories are great, but I had three particular favorites – “To Steal a Kiss” by Sky Sommers, “Golden Apples,” by Astrid VJ, and "Cajun Cold Flames" by Donna White.
I have enjoyed Greta and Eddie’s story by Sky Sommers in by “Enchanted Forests,” and “Twice Upon A Name,” other charity anthologies by this group. The story amuses me greatly, and when I came across another installment I was delighted! It is worth picking up these other two books for that story alone! I always enjoy Astrid V.J.’s works, and this one was no exception. Her unique, coming-of-age tale blended with exceptional fantasy elements is a delight. Finally, as a New Orleans transplant, but Louisiana native how could I not love a story with Cajun in the name that stayed true to our roots? A Rougarou and a swamp? A New Orleans story that wasn’t just vampires and a romp in the French Quarter? Yes, please!! White’s story was a refreshing glimpse at a different side of New Orleans. Thank you!
dwinprincess's review
4.0
An amazing anthology benefiting charity. Great collection of short stories! Fast but wonderful reads.
In the Ashes by Jo Holloway
Trigger Warning: Fire leading to loss of parent
This one was a great but quick story, retelling of Cinderella with a twist. I can’t wait to see what the upcoming series brings and to see more of Locke and Juliet.
In the Ashes by Jo Holloway
Trigger Warning: Fire leading to loss of parent
This one was a great but quick story, retelling of Cinderella with a twist. I can’t wait to see what the upcoming series brings and to see more of Locke and Juliet.
karynenorton's review
5.0
I'm still working my way through these stories, but I absolutely loved Alice Ivinya's story, Hero of the Wyverns. It had adventure and dragons (obviously) and the hope of a romance. I can't wait to read more of her books.
Listen to Hero of the Wyverns free here: https://www.findingfantasyreads.com/podcast/hero-of-the-wyverns-by-alice-ivinya/
Listen to Hero of the Wyverns free here: https://www.findingfantasyreads.com/podcast/hero-of-the-wyverns-by-alice-ivinya/
bellsb00ksandwritings's review
5.0
THIS REVIEW IS ONLY FOR GOLDEN APPLES, ONE OF THE STORIES IN THIS COLLECTION.
Golden Apples is a 40 pages long retelling of Stravinsky's ballet, The Firebird, and weaves traditional epic fantasy with cultural elements from Ukraine along with the author's particular brand of transformation fiction.
I enjoyed this story very much. I liked the author's writing style - everything was beautifully described without the use of an overabundance of words - and I'm impressed by her ability to create such a solid character/story, because I know how difficult it can be to write short stories, especially within the fantasy genre.
I recommend reading Golden Apples, and I'm excited to find out if the other stories are just as good!
Golden Apples is a 40 pages long retelling of Stravinsky's ballet, The Firebird, and weaves traditional epic fantasy with cultural elements from Ukraine along with the author's particular brand of transformation fiction.
I enjoyed this story very much. I liked the author's writing style - everything was beautifully described without the use of an overabundance of words - and I'm impressed by her ability to create such a solid character/story, because I know how difficult it can be to write short stories, especially within the fantasy genre.
I recommend reading Golden Apples, and I'm excited to find out if the other stories are just as good!
thebiasedbibliophile's review
5.0
If I loved Enchanted Forests, then I’m absolutely enamored by Enchanted Flames! The authors really raised the bar with this anthology, and I couldn’t have been more pleasantly surprised (not to mention that all the proceeds go to the World Land Trust’s Wildfire Appeal). Here are my mini-reviews for each story:
“In the Ashes” by Jo Holloway: I really enjoyed this twist on a Cinderella retelling! I love that Juliet’s story does not follow the original fairytale. I would’ve liked to see one of her relationships develop a little more (perhaps with Paris or her younger stepbrother). I also would’ve liked to see more of her growing closer to her people, but ultimately I appreciated the open-endedness to the story.
“Hero of the Wyverns” by Alice Ivinya (TOP 3): I loved everything about this story from Theresa’s character to the premise behind it. I would’ve been happy to read endless books with these characters. I know this story is one that is going to stick with me for a long time to come!
“A Candle Burns in Herboshi” by Ben Lang": This story was so unique and incorporated the theme of fire subtly but effectively. The characters and plot really drew me in. I did not see the plot twist coming at all, and Lang is certainly a very talented author to be able to craft such an unexpected twist in a short story!
“To Steal a Kiss” by Sky Sommers: This was a really cute story, and I love that it was related to Sommers’ story in Enchanted Forests. I did feel like the romance was a bit rushed toward the end, but otherwise I enjoyed the dynamic between Eddie and Greta. I was also curious about the backstory and magic system. I look forward to reading more by Sommers soon!
“Gold Apples” by Astrid V.J.: I was lucky enough to have the chance to beta read this story, and I had a lot of fun reading it again! The story is inspiring, and I was blown away by Astrid’s ability to create such a wonderful character arc in a short story. She also has an uncanny knack for writing beautiful descriptions, truly bringing the story to life.
“Ping and the Phoenix” by Xander Cross: This story was a great continuation of Cross’s story from Enchanted Forests! Ping’s character growth is so compelling and I love the lines of wisdom scattered throughout. The way that Daoism was woven into the story was phenomenal!
“Cajun Cold Flames” by Donna White: This was a fast-paced, unique, and fun story! The setting of New Orleans was wonderful, and I enjoyed the various mystical creatures that were included. I particularly appreciated the humor woven throughout the story!
“Palace of Embers” by NDT Casale: Another story I was honored to beta read! I really enjoyed the sensory details in this story, along with some of the magical creatures. I would’ve liked to see more character agency in the protagonist. Likewise, the magic system is not always clear throughout the story. That being said, it was a cute tale!
“The Wyvern and the Woodwitch” by Lyndsey Hall (TOP 3): This was another story I had the pleasure of beta reading, and again, I was so excited to have the chance to revisit it at different stages! The plot is so intriguing, the characters lovable, and the writing exquisite. I adored the fact that the protagonist is a little older than many protagonists within the fantasy genre, and I loved the way the story took me to another world!
“The Scorch Tournament” by Elena Shelest (TOP 3): This apocalyptic story certainly strays from Shelest’s previous story in Enchanted Forests, and I won’t lie, I was nervous at first. However, Shelest demonstrated an impressive ability to write wonderfully across genres! This was another story in which I became completely immersed while reading. The depth of the characters was fantastic, the setting was vivid, and the plot was robust. There was just enough romance to add a fun element to the story. Overall, a truly wonderful take on what our future could look like on this planet!
“In the Ashes” by Jo Holloway: I really enjoyed this twist on a Cinderella retelling! I love that Juliet’s story does not follow the original fairytale. I would’ve liked to see one of her relationships develop a little more (perhaps with Paris or her younger stepbrother). I also would’ve liked to see more of her growing closer to her people, but ultimately I appreciated the open-endedness to the story.
“Hero of the Wyverns” by Alice Ivinya (TOP 3): I loved everything about this story from Theresa’s character to the premise behind it. I would’ve been happy to read endless books with these characters. I know this story is one that is going to stick with me for a long time to come!
“A Candle Burns in Herboshi” by Ben Lang": This story was so unique and incorporated the theme of fire subtly but effectively. The characters and plot really drew me in. I did not see the plot twist coming at all, and Lang is certainly a very talented author to be able to craft such an unexpected twist in a short story!
“To Steal a Kiss” by Sky Sommers: This was a really cute story, and I love that it was related to Sommers’ story in Enchanted Forests. I did feel like the romance was a bit rushed toward the end, but otherwise I enjoyed the dynamic between Eddie and Greta. I was also curious about the backstory and magic system. I look forward to reading more by Sommers soon!
“Gold Apples” by Astrid V.J.: I was lucky enough to have the chance to beta read this story, and I had a lot of fun reading it again! The story is inspiring, and I was blown away by Astrid’s ability to create such a wonderful character arc in a short story. She also has an uncanny knack for writing beautiful descriptions, truly bringing the story to life.
“Ping and the Phoenix” by Xander Cross: This story was a great continuation of Cross’s story from Enchanted Forests! Ping’s character growth is so compelling and I love the lines of wisdom scattered throughout. The way that Daoism was woven into the story was phenomenal!
“Cajun Cold Flames” by Donna White: This was a fast-paced, unique, and fun story! The setting of New Orleans was wonderful, and I enjoyed the various mystical creatures that were included. I particularly appreciated the humor woven throughout the story!
“Palace of Embers” by NDT Casale: Another story I was honored to beta read! I really enjoyed the sensory details in this story, along with some of the magical creatures. I would’ve liked to see more character agency in the protagonist. Likewise, the magic system is not always clear throughout the story. That being said, it was a cute tale!
“The Wyvern and the Woodwitch” by Lyndsey Hall (TOP 3): This was another story I had the pleasure of beta reading, and again, I was so excited to have the chance to revisit it at different stages! The plot is so intriguing, the characters lovable, and the writing exquisite. I adored the fact that the protagonist is a little older than many protagonists within the fantasy genre, and I loved the way the story took me to another world!
“The Scorch Tournament” by Elena Shelest (TOP 3): This apocalyptic story certainly strays from Shelest’s previous story in Enchanted Forests, and I won’t lie, I was nervous at first. However, Shelest demonstrated an impressive ability to write wonderfully across genres! This was another story in which I became completely immersed while reading. The depth of the characters was fantastic, the setting was vivid, and the plot was robust. There was just enough romance to add a fun element to the story. Overall, a truly wonderful take on what our future could look like on this planet!
anushka_adishka_diaries's review
4.0
“Death is not kind, but eternity can be cruel in its own way.”
~A Candle Burns In Herboshi, Ben Lang
I might not be a fantasy buff, but once in a while I love indulging myself into this imaginary world with vivid imageries, dragons running around & the protagonists winning over the evil forces.
"Enchanted Flames" is a collection of 10 Magical short stories by authors—Alice Ivinya, Astrid V.J., Elena Shelest, Jo Holloway, Lyndsey Hall, N.D.T. Casale, Sky Sommers, Ben Lang, Xander Cross, Donna White—and as the name suggests, each story contains within themselves the element of 'Fire'.
Some of the stories are finite, some continuation from their previous installation 'Enchanted Forests' & some establishing suspense for the author's future works.
I loved the diversity in the world building, the cultures & the languages where the tales are set, and how they play with the gender dynamics.
My favorites are "A Candle Burns in Herboshi" & "Hero of the Weyverns".
Some tales are deep, questioning human motives and some easy going adventure tales; but each different in its own way and they stand apart.
If you're a fantasy lover, you need to check out this book & all the other books the authors have published.
Thank you to the authors' team for providing me the ARC in return for honest reviews.✨
P.S. The book's releasing on 18th June, and the profits from the books sale will go towatds supporting communities affected by wildfires. It would mean a lot if you could go ahead & make your contribution.
~A Candle Burns In Herboshi, Ben Lang
I might not be a fantasy buff, but once in a while I love indulging myself into this imaginary world with vivid imageries, dragons running around & the protagonists winning over the evil forces.
"Enchanted Flames" is a collection of 10 Magical short stories by authors—Alice Ivinya, Astrid V.J., Elena Shelest, Jo Holloway, Lyndsey Hall, N.D.T. Casale, Sky Sommers, Ben Lang, Xander Cross, Donna White—and as the name suggests, each story contains within themselves the element of 'Fire'.
Some of the stories are finite, some continuation from their previous installation 'Enchanted Forests' & some establishing suspense for the author's future works.
I loved the diversity in the world building, the cultures & the languages where the tales are set, and how they play with the gender dynamics.
My favorites are "A Candle Burns in Herboshi" & "Hero of the Weyverns".
Some tales are deep, questioning human motives and some easy going adventure tales; but each different in its own way and they stand apart.
If you're a fantasy lover, you need to check out this book & all the other books the authors have published.
Thank you to the authors' team for providing me the ARC in return for honest reviews.✨
P.S. The book's releasing on 18th June, and the profits from the books sale will go towatds supporting communities affected by wildfires. It would mean a lot if you could go ahead & make your contribution.
stephnm26's review
4.0
So I was not expecting this and overall I would definitely give all of the stories 4-5 so that is why I would do 4.5 overall! Fantasy is always my favorite genre and I enjoyed the entire collection. I do not think I could pick an overall favorite but In the Ashes and Golden Apples were tied! All of these authors coming together and writing magical/fantasy worlds was quite a great read!
When Sky reached out I definitely had to read and so glad that I did!
When Sky reached out I definitely had to read and so glad that I did!
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