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hanseah's review
5.0
Great samples of Amazing authors
A highly enjoyable collection of dark fantasy characters. Each story highlights the talents of these authors for truly deep, dark character creation. If you are looking to delve into some awesome Indie works, I recommend this collection.
A highly enjoyable collection of dark fantasy characters. Each story highlights the talents of these authors for truly deep, dark character creation. If you are looking to delve into some awesome Indie works, I recommend this collection.
davidgreenwriter's review
4.0
Reading about villains is fun, right? The more villainous and complex the better? If you agree, and why wouldn't you, then From the Shadows is for you. 21 dark fantasy tales from the badguys point-of-view are compiled in this anthology. As with all collections, some stories stand out more than others, but, in my opinion, there isn't a *bad* story included. All are well-written, though some work as standalone stories more than others. That being said, this anthology is absolutely worth a fantasy fan's time.
A nice touch is that the stories become darker as the stories progress - for people a little more squeamish or readers who don't like their fantasy too dark, it signals a good time to tap out.
Ghoul Grief by Jacob Peppers: A really fun, strong start to the anthology, dealing in fake news and PR spin in a fantasy setting. Maximillian is a great character, one not as heroic as his press would make out, in life or undeath.
The Precipice of Sin by Rachel Rener: While this felt like a part of a larger story, Ms Rener did a good job at making the story work on its own, too. Excellent writing to make us feel empathy for Zeb.
A Dragon's Guide To Hatching A Rebellion by J.C. Kang: Excellent. Very enjoyable *and* skillful how Mr Kang portrayed the dragon, its thought process, its journey, and how it sparked a rebellion almost through accident.
Interview With the Dark Elf by Jamie Edmundson: Mr Edmundson has proven adept at adding sharp wit to his fantasy, and there's no change here, but this story comes with a deliciously vicious streak. I'm not sure why, but I got a Wile E. Coyote vs Roadrunner vibe from this, and I'm all for it.
Let The Dark In by Stacey Trombley: We meet Malcom and Julie in this magical story about abuse and what happens to people who are pushed too far. How will they snap? And what happens when they do? I'd like to have known Julie a little better here, but this was a tense, well-written read.
The Sea Witch by Bethany Hoeflich: A wonderfully dark prequel to The Little Mermaid, focusing on Ursula. Taking the fairy tale and adding depth, this is a brilliant example of an author working with an existing property and bringing something new to it.
A Mad King's Hymn by J.E. Mueller: Enjoyed the worldbuilding here, and feel this story would benefit from a longer storytelling form. There's a novel just waiting to be unleashed in this demonic tale!
This Trap Has A Beating Heart by Sarah K.L. Wilson: A fan of writing about family struggles and strife, this story really spoke to me as a reader and author. The characters all feel *real* and I could empthasise with many of them. Except the Emperor. Kiss the dust!
Zens' Dragon by Eileen Mueller: I've always had a soft-spot for science crashing into fantasy, and the cloning shenanigans here are very satisfying. I feel this is part of a larger story, and researching says that is, and this story has me interested in reading more. Zens isn't a likeable villain, but compelling.
Wizardoms - Soul Blade by Jeffrey L. Kohanek: Feeling like a slice of a larger tale, Soul Blade nonetheless proved a worthwhile read due to the wonderful world-building present, and the craft and deft detail shining through.
The Binding Day Truce by Allegra Pescatore and J.P. Burnison: I'm glad I'd read A Bond of Thread before this as I think it's quite essential to fully enjoying this excellent story. I'm not certain it would work as a standalone of without prior knowledge, but I had a great time with it, The Fae are well explored and defined, and the break-neck pace with shifting POVs worked well.
Sun Touched by Zaid Samer Alshattle: I enjoyed Quareth, and the dark-brooding tension of this tale, but it left me wanting more. Not a bad thing, but it really did feel like the beginning of a larger story.
Oblivion by Eric T. Knight: A real high point. Straightforward but not lacking in detail, the characterisation here really shines through in this ripping-yarn villainous adventure. Hagen is brilliant, and the monk/religious aspect of the fantasy here is fascinating. It's the origin story for a larger work, but it tells its own story, and really whets the appetite for more.
The Menagerie by Miri C. Golden: A dark, thrilling story of perspectives. Who's is the villain in someone's life? A person who represents change, or someone who craves the status-quo? A fascinating, moreish story that left me wanting more.
Gravitas - A Tale of the Constella by Christopher Russell: Ambiguous and delightfully dark, this is epic fantasy distilled into a wonder short-story. Scraw held my attention throughout, and at times I found myself rooting for him.
Birth Of Darkness by Aaron Hodges: A strong bit of fantasy horror, and it's welcome at this stage of the anthology. Enjoyable, Theo's manipulation and drive is fun to read.
Apples and Shadows - A Tale of Dwemhar by J.T. Williams: "Elvish wine. The King might claim he hates elves but he sure as Vankou doesn't mind drinking their wine." Isn't that just the way? More fantasy straying into horror, this story explores hypocrisy and the corruption of innocence, and don't we all love that?
The Trouble With Necromancy by Joe Jackson: I've always enjoyed a necromancer story and Mr Jackson doesn't disappoint here with one of my favourites in the anthology. Daorun's experiments are a wild ride, and his characterisation is on-point.
Ascension To Hell by Jeff Bacon: Ambitious, this story is perhaps confined by the short-story format. Well-written, it tries to cover so much ground and detail that it would benefit from more space to breathe.
Into The Storm by D.W. Hawkins: "Please understand - conversion is best for you all." And with that, the author had me hooked. The villains here believe they're in the right, and aren't they just the best ones to deal with?
Bound In Death by Angel Haze: "The blond would die tonight." The darkest comes last, in this horrifically dark necromancer tale that should come with its own warning. I loved it! A perfect way to end a strong anthology, and a story that had me laughing out loud when I really shouldn't have.
A nice touch is that the stories become darker as the stories progress - for people a little more squeamish or readers who don't like their fantasy too dark, it signals a good time to tap out.
Ghoul Grief by Jacob Peppers: A really fun, strong start to the anthology, dealing in fake news and PR spin in a fantasy setting. Maximillian is a great character, one not as heroic as his press would make out, in life or undeath.
The Precipice of Sin by Rachel Rener: While this felt like a part of a larger story, Ms Rener did a good job at making the story work on its own, too. Excellent writing to make us feel empathy for Zeb.
A Dragon's Guide To Hatching A Rebellion by J.C. Kang: Excellent. Very enjoyable *and* skillful how Mr Kang portrayed the dragon, its thought process, its journey, and how it sparked a rebellion almost through accident.
Interview With the Dark Elf by Jamie Edmundson: Mr Edmundson has proven adept at adding sharp wit to his fantasy, and there's no change here, but this story comes with a deliciously vicious streak. I'm not sure why, but I got a Wile E. Coyote vs Roadrunner vibe from this, and I'm all for it.
Let The Dark In by Stacey Trombley: We meet Malcom and Julie in this magical story about abuse and what happens to people who are pushed too far. How will they snap? And what happens when they do? I'd like to have known Julie a little better here, but this was a tense, well-written read.
The Sea Witch by Bethany Hoeflich: A wonderfully dark prequel to The Little Mermaid, focusing on Ursula. Taking the fairy tale and adding depth, this is a brilliant example of an author working with an existing property and bringing something new to it.
A Mad King's Hymn by J.E. Mueller: Enjoyed the worldbuilding here, and feel this story would benefit from a longer storytelling form. There's a novel just waiting to be unleashed in this demonic tale!
This Trap Has A Beating Heart by Sarah K.L. Wilson: A fan of writing about family struggles and strife, this story really spoke to me as a reader and author. The characters all feel *real* and I could empthasise with many of them. Except the Emperor. Kiss the dust!
Zens' Dragon by Eileen Mueller: I've always had a soft-spot for science crashing into fantasy, and the cloning shenanigans here are very satisfying. I feel this is part of a larger story, and researching says that is, and this story has me interested in reading more. Zens isn't a likeable villain, but compelling.
Wizardoms - Soul Blade by Jeffrey L. Kohanek: Feeling like a slice of a larger tale, Soul Blade nonetheless proved a worthwhile read due to the wonderful world-building present, and the craft and deft detail shining through.
The Binding Day Truce by Allegra Pescatore and J.P. Burnison: I'm glad I'd read A Bond of Thread before this as I think it's quite essential to fully enjoying this excellent story. I'm not certain it would work as a standalone of without prior knowledge, but I had a great time with it, The Fae are well explored and defined, and the break-neck pace with shifting POVs worked well.
Sun Touched by Zaid Samer Alshattle: I enjoyed Quareth, and the dark-brooding tension of this tale, but it left me wanting more. Not a bad thing, but it really did feel like the beginning of a larger story.
Oblivion by Eric T. Knight: A real high point. Straightforward but not lacking in detail, the characterisation here really shines through in this ripping-yarn villainous adventure. Hagen is brilliant, and the monk/religious aspect of the fantasy here is fascinating. It's the origin story for a larger work, but it tells its own story, and really whets the appetite for more.
The Menagerie by Miri C. Golden: A dark, thrilling story of perspectives. Who's is the villain in someone's life? A person who represents change, or someone who craves the status-quo? A fascinating, moreish story that left me wanting more.
Gravitas - A Tale of the Constella by Christopher Russell: Ambiguous and delightfully dark, this is epic fantasy distilled into a wonder short-story. Scraw held my attention throughout, and at times I found myself rooting for him.
Birth Of Darkness by Aaron Hodges: A strong bit of fantasy horror, and it's welcome at this stage of the anthology. Enjoyable, Theo's manipulation and drive is fun to read.
Apples and Shadows - A Tale of Dwemhar by J.T. Williams: "Elvish wine. The King might claim he hates elves but he sure as Vankou doesn't mind drinking their wine." Isn't that just the way? More fantasy straying into horror, this story explores hypocrisy and the corruption of innocence, and don't we all love that?
The Trouble With Necromancy by Joe Jackson: I've always enjoyed a necromancer story and Mr Jackson doesn't disappoint here with one of my favourites in the anthology. Daorun's experiments are a wild ride, and his characterisation is on-point.
Ascension To Hell by Jeff Bacon: Ambitious, this story is perhaps confined by the short-story format. Well-written, it tries to cover so much ground and detail that it would benefit from more space to breathe.
Into The Storm by D.W. Hawkins: "Please understand - conversion is best for you all." And with that, the author had me hooked. The villains here believe they're in the right, and aren't they just the best ones to deal with?
Bound In Death by Angel Haze: "The blond would die tonight." The darkest comes last, in this horrifically dark necromancer tale that should come with its own warning. I loved it! A perfect way to end a strong anthology, and a story that had me laughing out loud when I really shouldn't have.
inked_up_bookshelf's review against another edition
5.0
Ghoul Grief Jacob Peppers
The story is based around two men sharing an experience of the past other. Maximillian the Magnificent is a right pompous man waking to what he thought was just a bad night out of drinking. As the story went on he realize something was a miss. I really enjoyed the pace of this story, the flow and bit of humor here and there was just enjoyable all around. Great way to being this book!
The Precipice of Sin Rachel Rener
The Evil One vs the Chosen One told by the villain. Humorous at times but makes you really wonder; can we change our fate as prophecy was been told. The webs of strings wound together to make your destiny solid no matter the path we take. I really did love this short story and there is so much potential to make it a whole book. *cough cough hint hint*
A Dragon’s Guide to Hatching a Rebellion JC Kang
This was shorter than the rest but enjoyable to a point. It was a blurred line as for how could the MC a dragon be the villain in this story. His ego, and his ignorance was a bit much but I can see why he was the way he was.
Interview with a Dark Elf Jamie Edmundson
I adorable Jamie’s series Me Three and to get another story with that ogre I had a great time reading this. People even elves aren’t the what they seem. This story proved us just that.
Let the Dark In Stacey Trombley
I loved this little short story. Malcolm was the typical prey for darkness to seep into the soul as he was bullied by his peers and those in his village. Stacey really did a fantastic job on showcasing the empathy of the “villain” within the story.
The Sea Witch Bethany Hoeflich
This novella wasn’t my favorite so far but it was interesting! I found it very “Little Mermaid-ish” so obviously if it’s turning into a full novel retelling I’d be all for it. But a preface to who
And why she is what she is the story just felt obvious?
A Mad King’s Hymn JE Mueller
I couldn’t connect with this story unfortunately. Unique definitely, writing was well done but the story itself just didn’t hit any of my emotions.
This Trap Has a Beating Heart Sarah LK Wilson
This was a short but sweet interesting novella to one of Sarah’s newer series that I haven’t yet begun so I’m glad I got a chance to read a tid bit and of course add yet more books to my TBR.
Zens’ Dragon Eileen Mueller
This explains so much, having only read 3 of Eileen’s Dragon Riders novels so far (I know I know I need to read them all) Zens is the main villain of that series and his background wasn’t always clear. This was such a heart wrenching short story.
TW: child abuse is present.
Wizardoms: Soul Blade Jeffery Kohanek
The Binding Day Truce Allegra Pescastore & JP Burne
Dual POV Ilyas of Vine and Willow of Herb. Opposite sides of the war both deadly set out for a final fight to the death.
With being such a short novella I found myself needing more depth but that’s okay as I know there was more to come in Book 1 A Bond of Tread that takes you for a wild ride.
I love the uniqueness of the world both these authors are creating and the complexity of the characters. Two men wondering why they fight for this war that isn’t just black and white.
Highly recommend this novella and book one if you want a new take on the Fae/Magic with a huge world building next level story.
Sun Touched Zaid Samer Alshattle
An interesting tale for sure. The more I read this anthology the less I find who is the villain in each story. Unique names, and a beautiful way to magic with the sands and motions of will. I enjoyed this story very much.
Oblivion Eric T Knight
I wasn’t sure how I felt about this, the tale was okay. It was different from most short stories in this anthology thus far but it felt short, like I was missing the wow factor.
The Menagerie Miri C. Golden
An interesting tale for sure. Who was the real villain, the jailer who is threaten by the prisoner for the prisoner who could destroy all the jailer holds dear. Fun, grim, and dark.
Gravitas: A Tale Of the Constella Christopher Russell
What a strange and enjoyable story. Scraw reminded me so much of the Egyptian King who set out for slaves to build his kingdom. It was odd to read this short story and see how easily “man” can be corrupted by the perseverance of will for their own good instead of all.
Birth of Darkness Aaron Hodges
This story maybe the shortest but it sure packed a punch. I didn’t expect that ending. I recall reading the tale Oathbreaker by AH my first year in IFA. I think it’s time to revisit it. I loved this tale. Truly power can cause corruption and evil within someone’s mind.
Apples and Shadows A Tale of Dwenhar
JT Williams
This was unexpectedly amazing. Chanlur was a very complex character I wasn’t sure how the tale would be and if it be truly a villain or just a boy with a troubling past.
The Trouble with a Necromancer Joe Jackson
This was a sad tale for sure. A necromancer and a scaly lizard like female working on dead corpses
secre's review
4.0
From the Shadows is a fascinating anthology that stays away from the heroes and instead shines a light on the darker elements of our fantasy stories. From the slightly grey to the definitively villainous, this anthology takes you to the view points that you often don’t see in fantasy works. From the humorous to the intense, there will almost certainly be something for everyone here.
Ghoul Grief by Jacob Peppers; 4/5 stars. A humourous tale of a hero who isn’t quite the hero that everyone thinks. He wasn’t in life and he isn’t in undeath. This was good fun and a good start to the anthology. The humour running throughout it us excellent and I really enjoyed how all of Maximillian's previous exploits had an alterative truth to the public view!
The Precipice of Sin by Rachel Reneer; 4/5 stars. This felt like the back story to a wider narrative and also worked really well. Far more traditional in feel, I liked how much empathy you felt for the villain of the piece here. The juxtaposition between good and evil was cleverly portrayed, along with the age old question of would we know joy without sorrow.
A Dragon’s Guide to Hatching a Rebellion by JC Kang; 5/5 stars. Again, a very different feel to this one with a dragon learning to be human... and hatching a rebellion almost by accident. I really appreciated just how well JC Kang portrays the non-human thought processes of the dragon lead and just how ridiculous some human conventions such as clothing appear to his eyes. This is an unusual little tale... and one with a sting in the tail!
Interview With The Dark Elf by Jamie Edmundson; 4.5/5 stars. Another humour driven tale, but with a distinctly darker edge to it. I’m even more interested in reading the full length works by this author now as this was funny, dark and brilliant. The view from the eyes of the dark elf following the hero around and trying to kill him in various ingenious ways is cleverly done. It was like reading the other side of the typical fantasy novel, where you are kinda rooting for the evil guy!
Let the Dark In by Stacey Trombley; 4/5 stars. Another dark edged tale, focussed on a dark magic and the depths we can sink to when pushed beyond our limits. In fact this is more than dark edged, as the victim becomes the aggressor and the darkness that is overtaking the world steps one foot closer to total victory. Out of the two characters, Malcolm is by far the most fleshed out, whereas Julie seems almost a footnote. Still enjoyable and there is some interesting world building here.
The Sea Witch by Bethany Hoeflich; 5/5 stars. I'd give it more stars if I could. I adored this dark tale on the background to The Little Mermaid. If you ever wondered where Ursula came from, this is the tale for you. It adds a huge amount of depth to the existing faerie tale, making a two dimensional villain into a fully fleshed out character with a tragic history. The author also adds those small, incredibly important details of her own to the tale, making it a truly worthy prequel to a very well known children's tale. I'd happily read a full 100 page novella of this particular retelling, and have picked up the Dreg Trilogy on Kindle Unlimited on the strength of this short. Truly spectacular and one of my absolute favourites of the collection.
A Mad King’s Hymn by J.E.Mueller; 3/5 stars. This was clever, but wasn’t quite to my taste. I just didn’t quite get on with the demonic depictions, but it’s certainly well written. There's some really interesting world building here though and it felt as though a full novel could quite easily rise from the back of it.
This Trap Has A Beating Heart by Sarah K. L. Wilson; 4.5/stars. We’re back in the realms of epic fantasy and it is beautifully written. The power struggles and family strife is brilliantly depicted; I thoroughly fell in love with scene, characters and narrative. I particularly liked the fact that the villain... isn't really a villain here. Yeah, he's definitely morally grey and manipulative as hell, but he's not evil... His father on the other hand... yeah. Evil. I kinda want a short from his perspective now! My Kindle Unlimited shelf is now getting crowded as I discovered that Sting Magic is set in the same universe and I obviously have to read it.
Zen’s Dragon by Eileen Mueller; 3.5/5 stars. Re-reading this, I've bumped it up a half star as it's been a while since I read the other books and so didn't actually remember the scenes I thought were recycled. This is an interesting look at the villain of the authors excellent Riders of Fire series. I particularly liked the scientific aspects that were brought into play as Zens tries to master cloning. Zens isn't a particularly likable villain, even with his tragic history, but the means and methods he has taken to become a villain are fascinating.
Wizardoms: Soul Blade by Jeffrey L. Kohanek; 4/5 stars. The Wizardoms series has been on my to read list for what seems like forever and I really need to get around to it as this glimpse at the world was fascinating. There is a huge amount of depth in not too many words here, and it has really wet my appetite for the main series. The world building was particularly strong, as indeed were the hints at the future. It's intriguing, giving a foretaste of what seems to be a well realised world with strong, three-dimensional characters.
The Binding Day Truce by Allegra Pescatore and J.P. Burnison; 2.5/5 stars. This made a lot more sense having read A Bond of Thread, but I still have to say it doesn't work particularly well as a stand alone short. The full novel gave me some much needed character background and world building that seemed lacking in the short first time round. I would thoroughly recommend this if you have already read the full novel set in the same world, but without that background the dual perspectives were difficult to follow. As these shorts frequently seem to be introductions into the world, I'm going to leave my initial rating. I certainly enjoyed it far more on re-reading, but anyone who hasn't read the full novel will be just as lost as I was first time round, particularly with the character shifting. I will say that I still loved the ambiguity of the ending and it was even more powerful on a second read through.
Sun Touched by Zaid Samer Alshattle; 2.5 stars. Another confusing tale that didn’t quite grab me. There just wasn’t the character depth or world building displayed by some of the precious works, and I suspect it would work better as the opening chapters to a longer work than as a stand alone. It seemed to need far more pages than were possible in an anthology to truly bring the world to life in honesty and I struggled to get a real sense of what the characters were fighting for. This made it difficult to engage with.
Oblivion - Eric T. Knight; 5/5 stars. Simplistic in many ways, but no less brilliant for it. Another stand out favourite of the collection, this really threw me into the tale along with our villain. There are all the hallmarks of an intricate and detailed world hinted at here, and my only complaint is that it was over so soon. In contrast to the last couple of shorts, this really captured the characterisation wonderfully and captured me completely. It's a bite sized slice of life, with no overarching narrative, but it works beautifully.
The Menagerie by Miri C. Golden; 5/5 stars. Where the last story was a bite sized moment in time, this could easily work as a far longer piece. It’s the mark of an excellent author that it also worked so well as a short. This is dark, grimy and absolutely brilliant. I loved the characterisations here, on both sides. I felt the threat of Prisoner Zero from Day's perspective, even as the world was built up in such a way that I knew they were living on a house of cards, ready to topple at any moment. But what I liked most about this is the uncertainty of who the villain really is. Because from Day's perspective, Prisoner Zero is a threat to everything he holds dear... even if what he holds dear is a tottering pile of lies, manipulations and propaganda.
Gravitas: A Tale of the Constella by Christopher Russell; 4/5 stars. Another epic fantasy win here, this is dark as all hell, but brilliantly written. I admit to being slightly confused as to who the actual bad guy is here, but it's all the better for it. There's an ambiguity to this that is really appealing, as the lead character is obviously committing heinous acts, but can the ends sometimes justify the means?!
Birth of Darkness by Aaron Hodges; 3.5/5 stars. When family jealousy combines with a hunger for power, the results get interesting. This has a spooky vibe to it that almost crosses over into horror.
Apples and Shadows: A Tale of Dwemhar by J.T. Williams; 4.5 stars. Another one with horror vibes going for it, but in a far more corruption of innocence fashion. Another stunning tale.
The Trouble With Necromancy by Joe Jackson; 4.5/5 stars. We have what is perhaps the darkest tale here yet and it’s brilliant. Never trust a necromancer.
Ascension to Hell by Jeff Bacon; 3/5 stars. Still on the necromancy, this perhaps tries to bite off more than it can manage in the short format.
Into the Storm by D. W. Hawkins; 3.5 stars. Some interesting world building here, and a delightfully competent villain. I quite enjoyed this, and felt there was some interesting hints at a larger universe.
Bound in Death by Angel Haze; 5/5 stars. And we finish on the darkest of the dark, brilliantly written and darkly stunning. Serial killer meets necromancy and it’s excellent.
So all in all, this is an excellent anthology. There were a handful that I didn’t get on with so well, but the standard was excellent as a whole.
Many thanks to the authors for my free review copy of this title.
Ghoul Grief by Jacob Peppers; 4/5 stars. A humourous tale of a hero who isn’t quite the hero that everyone thinks. He wasn’t in life and he isn’t in undeath. This was good fun and a good start to the anthology. The humour running throughout it us excellent and I really enjoyed how all of Maximillian's previous exploits had an alterative truth to the public view!
The Precipice of Sin by Rachel Reneer; 4/5 stars. This felt like the back story to a wider narrative and also worked really well. Far more traditional in feel, I liked how much empathy you felt for the villain of the piece here. The juxtaposition between good and evil was cleverly portrayed, along with the age old question of would we know joy without sorrow.
A Dragon’s Guide to Hatching a Rebellion by JC Kang; 5/5 stars. Again, a very different feel to this one with a dragon learning to be human... and hatching a rebellion almost by accident. I really appreciated just how well JC Kang portrays the non-human thought processes of the dragon lead and just how ridiculous some human conventions such as clothing appear to his eyes. This is an unusual little tale... and one with a sting in the tail!
Interview With The Dark Elf by Jamie Edmundson; 4.5/5 stars. Another humour driven tale, but with a distinctly darker edge to it. I’m even more interested in reading the full length works by this author now as this was funny, dark and brilliant. The view from the eyes of the dark elf following the hero around and trying to kill him in various ingenious ways is cleverly done. It was like reading the other side of the typical fantasy novel, where you are kinda rooting for the evil guy!
Let the Dark In by Stacey Trombley; 4/5 stars. Another dark edged tale, focussed on a dark magic and the depths we can sink to when pushed beyond our limits. In fact this is more than dark edged, as the victim becomes the aggressor and the darkness that is overtaking the world steps one foot closer to total victory. Out of the two characters, Malcolm is by far the most fleshed out, whereas Julie seems almost a footnote. Still enjoyable and there is some interesting world building here.
The Sea Witch by Bethany Hoeflich; 5/5 stars. I'd give it more stars if I could. I adored this dark tale on the background to The Little Mermaid. If you ever wondered where Ursula came from, this is the tale for you. It adds a huge amount of depth to the existing faerie tale, making a two dimensional villain into a fully fleshed out character with a tragic history. The author also adds those small, incredibly important details of her own to the tale, making it a truly worthy prequel to a very well known children's tale. I'd happily read a full 100 page novella of this particular retelling, and have picked up the Dreg Trilogy on Kindle Unlimited on the strength of this short. Truly spectacular and one of my absolute favourites of the collection.
A Mad King’s Hymn by J.E.Mueller; 3/5 stars. This was clever, but wasn’t quite to my taste. I just didn’t quite get on with the demonic depictions, but it’s certainly well written. There's some really interesting world building here though and it felt as though a full novel could quite easily rise from the back of it.
This Trap Has A Beating Heart by Sarah K. L. Wilson; 4.5/stars. We’re back in the realms of epic fantasy and it is beautifully written. The power struggles and family strife is brilliantly depicted; I thoroughly fell in love with scene, characters and narrative. I particularly liked the fact that the villain... isn't really a villain here. Yeah, he's definitely morally grey and manipulative as hell, but he's not evil... His father on the other hand... yeah. Evil. I kinda want a short from his perspective now! My Kindle Unlimited shelf is now getting crowded as I discovered that Sting Magic is set in the same universe and I obviously have to read it.
Zen’s Dragon by Eileen Mueller; 3.5/5 stars. Re-reading this, I've bumped it up a half star as it's been a while since I read the other books and so didn't actually remember the scenes I thought were recycled. This is an interesting look at the villain of the authors excellent Riders of Fire series. I particularly liked the scientific aspects that were brought into play as Zens tries to master cloning. Zens isn't a particularly likable villain, even with his tragic history, but the means and methods he has taken to become a villain are fascinating.
Wizardoms: Soul Blade by Jeffrey L. Kohanek; 4/5 stars. The Wizardoms series has been on my to read list for what seems like forever and I really need to get around to it as this glimpse at the world was fascinating. There is a huge amount of depth in not too many words here, and it has really wet my appetite for the main series. The world building was particularly strong, as indeed were the hints at the future. It's intriguing, giving a foretaste of what seems to be a well realised world with strong, three-dimensional characters.
The Binding Day Truce by Allegra Pescatore and J.P. Burnison; 2.5/5 stars. This made a lot more sense having read A Bond of Thread, but I still have to say it doesn't work particularly well as a stand alone short. The full novel gave me some much needed character background and world building that seemed lacking in the short first time round. I would thoroughly recommend this if you have already read the full novel set in the same world, but without that background the dual perspectives were difficult to follow. As these shorts frequently seem to be introductions into the world, I'm going to leave my initial rating. I certainly enjoyed it far more on re-reading, but anyone who hasn't read the full novel will be just as lost as I was first time round, particularly with the character shifting. I will say that I still loved the ambiguity of the ending and it was even more powerful on a second read through.
Sun Touched by Zaid Samer Alshattle; 2.5 stars. Another confusing tale that didn’t quite grab me. There just wasn’t the character depth or world building displayed by some of the precious works, and I suspect it would work better as the opening chapters to a longer work than as a stand alone. It seemed to need far more pages than were possible in an anthology to truly bring the world to life in honesty and I struggled to get a real sense of what the characters were fighting for. This made it difficult to engage with.
Oblivion - Eric T. Knight; 5/5 stars. Simplistic in many ways, but no less brilliant for it. Another stand out favourite of the collection, this really threw me into the tale along with our villain. There are all the hallmarks of an intricate and detailed world hinted at here, and my only complaint is that it was over so soon. In contrast to the last couple of shorts, this really captured the characterisation wonderfully and captured me completely. It's a bite sized slice of life, with no overarching narrative, but it works beautifully.
The Menagerie by Miri C. Golden; 5/5 stars. Where the last story was a bite sized moment in time, this could easily work as a far longer piece. It’s the mark of an excellent author that it also worked so well as a short. This is dark, grimy and absolutely brilliant. I loved the characterisations here, on both sides. I felt the threat of Prisoner Zero from Day's perspective, even as the world was built up in such a way that I knew they were living on a house of cards, ready to topple at any moment. But what I liked most about this is the uncertainty of who the villain really is. Because from Day's perspective, Prisoner Zero is a threat to everything he holds dear... even if what he holds dear is a tottering pile of lies, manipulations and propaganda.
Gravitas: A Tale of the Constella by Christopher Russell; 4/5 stars. Another epic fantasy win here, this is dark as all hell, but brilliantly written. I admit to being slightly confused as to who the actual bad guy is here, but it's all the better for it. There's an ambiguity to this that is really appealing, as the lead character is obviously committing heinous acts, but can the ends sometimes justify the means?!
Birth of Darkness by Aaron Hodges; 3.5/5 stars. When family jealousy combines with a hunger for power, the results get interesting. This has a spooky vibe to it that almost crosses over into horror.
Apples and Shadows: A Tale of Dwemhar by J.T. Williams; 4.5 stars. Another one with horror vibes going for it, but in a far more corruption of innocence fashion. Another stunning tale.
The Trouble With Necromancy by Joe Jackson; 4.5/5 stars. We have what is perhaps the darkest tale here yet and it’s brilliant. Never trust a necromancer.
Ascension to Hell by Jeff Bacon; 3/5 stars. Still on the necromancy, this perhaps tries to bite off more than it can manage in the short format.
Into the Storm by D. W. Hawkins; 3.5 stars. Some interesting world building here, and a delightfully competent villain. I quite enjoyed this, and felt there was some interesting hints at a larger universe.
Bound in Death by Angel Haze; 5/5 stars. And we finish on the darkest of the dark, brilliantly written and darkly stunning. Serial killer meets necromancy and it’s excellent.
So all in all, this is an excellent anthology. There were a handful that I didn’t get on with so well, but the standard was excellent as a whole.
Many thanks to the authors for my free review copy of this title.
clarissagosling's review
5.0
This is an amazing collection of stories. Some were obvious lead ins to series I now need to read, while others were more stand alone.
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