Scan barcode
aphelia88's review
3.0
I enjoyed this anthology but most of the stories were not memorable. Most cross into horror, sometimes grotesquely. 12 stood out to me, and here are my favourites:
"The Fairy Godmother" by Kim Neville
A bittersweet look at the life of a small wish maker, complete with a sparkly wand - which, unfortunately, is not the solution to everything the way we expect it to be. Wry and witty.
"Lesser Creek: A Love Story, A Ghost Story" by A. C. Wise
A ghost and a devil trapped in a nowhere crossroads town are doomed to fight for souls to survive every Summer. They always win, but they always lose too. Could be expanded into a novel.
"Ushakiran" by Laura Friis
And orphaned girl on a ship sailing magical seas is transformed into a wooden figurehead by evil sorcery until she sets herself free.
"A Cavern of Redbrick" by Richard Gavin
222 "Don't base your opinion of the world on how it appears. Always try to remember what lies beneath. Sometimes the things that appear to be the most innocent are the most dangerous and vice versa."
A jinn of fire, a jinn of ice - or maybe just an old human monster?
"Social Services" by Madeline Ashby
In a near-future world where life is measured and wellness assessed by sensors, a boy cheats the system. Chilling.
":Axiom: The Calling" (excerpt) by Daniela Elza
Amazing poem! I'd like to read the full text. Crow imagery.
"The Salamander's Waltz" by Catherine MacLeod
A quiet, sinister tale. A small town where the sea demands its sacrifice and a woman with a choice.
"Lost" by Amal El-Mohtar
Beautiful poem: "she's always loved the evening best / the twilight, and the stars"
I love reading anthologies like this, it helps me find new authors. Although this is a very uneven collection the offerings are so varied that it likely has at least one story for everyone
"The Fairy Godmother" by Kim Neville
A bittersweet look at the life of a small wish maker, complete with a sparkly wand - which, unfortunately, is not the solution to everything the way we expect it to be. Wry and witty.
"Lesser Creek: A Love Story, A Ghost Story" by A. C. Wise
A ghost and a devil trapped in a nowhere crossroads town are doomed to fight for souls to survive every Summer. They always win, but they always lose too. Could be expanded into a novel.
"Ushakiran" by Laura Friis
And orphaned girl on a ship sailing magical seas is transformed into a wooden figurehead by evil sorcery until she sets herself free.
"A Cavern of Redbrick" by Richard Gavin
222 "Don't base your opinion of the world on how it appears. Always try to remember what lies beneath. Sometimes the things that appear to be the most innocent are the most dangerous and vice versa."
A jinn of fire, a jinn of ice - or maybe just an old human monster?
"Social Services" by Madeline Ashby
In a near-future world where life is measured and wellness assessed by sensors, a boy cheats the system. Chilling.
":Axiom: The Calling" (excerpt) by Daniela Elza
Amazing poem! I'd like to read the full text. Crow imagery.
"The Salamander's Waltz" by Catherine MacLeod
A quiet, sinister tale. A small town where the sea demands its sacrifice and a woman with a choice.
"Lost" by Amal El-Mohtar
Beautiful poem: "she's always loved the evening best / the twilight, and the stars"
I love reading anthologies like this, it helps me find new authors. Although this is a very uneven collection the offerings are so varied that it likely has at least one story for everyone
More...