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yukarin's review against another edition
3.0
Average rating: 3,56
It wasn't as badass and kickass as I wished it to be. I would have liked a more steampunk or magical realism approach on some of the stories.
Mother Carey's Table- 3 stars
The Journey- 3.5 stars
Madeleine's Choice - 5 stars
El Destinos- 4 stars
High Stakes - 3 stars
The Red Raven Ball - 3.5 stars
Pearls - 4 stars
Gold in the Roots of the Grass - 4.5 stars
The Legendary Garrett Girls - 4 stars
The Color of the Sky - 3 stars
Bonnie and Clyde - 2 stars
Hard Times - 2.5 stars
City of Angels - 4 stars
Pulse of Panthers - 3.5 stars
The Whole World is Watching - 4 stars
It wasn't as badass and kickass as I wished it to be. I would have liked a more steampunk or magical realism approach on some of the stories.
Mother Carey's Table- 3 stars
The Journey- 3.5 stars
Madeleine's Choice - 5 stars
El Destinos- 4 stars
High Stakes - 3 stars
The Red Raven Ball - 3.5 stars
Pearls - 4 stars
Gold in the Roots of the Grass - 4.5 stars
The Legendary Garrett Girls - 4 stars
The Color of the Sky - 3 stars
Bonnie and Clyde - 2 stars
Hard Times - 2.5 stars
City of Angels - 4 stars
Pulse of Panthers - 3.5 stars
The Whole World is Watching - 4 stars
clairefaith01's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
roseleaf24's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this anthology of historical fiction, each story featuring a young American woman of strength. The form that strength takes is varied, as are many things about these girls and the time periods they are a part of. Some appealed to me more than others, but that's the beauty of an anthology, and I'm betting others would have different favorites and skips. My one regret is that I wasn't able to take more time reading it. The characters, settings, and voices were all so strong that it was difficult to move too quickly from one to the next, though the chronological organization generally made the book flow very well. Some authors I look forward to reading more from, and some history I need to dig deeper into.
jess64au's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
4.5
My teenager daughter recommended this collection of short stories. Really engaging and informative. I love for an Australian version.
steckerlg's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
spellboundliz's review against another edition
3.0
Average rating: 3.47/5
My rating: 3.5/5
Going into this anthology, my expectations we're high. I had heard and seen a lot of hype surrounding this book, and what I was expecting was fifteen feminist historical fiction stories of "badass girls". While many of the stories did deliver on this promise, many others were more along the lines of fantasy, magical realism, and paranormal fiction and a few failed to deliver when it came to the purported badassery.
Many of the stories are diverse in some way, whether racially/ethnically, or on the basis of class, sexuality, and other circumstances. While many of the characters are girls of color, many of the authors to my knowledge (although I do not claim to know each author's exact race) are white women writing about characters of color. I would love to see some own voices reviews on each of these stories to see how the representation was handled. I can only speak to the queer representation, and as I am not a lesbian (which each of the queer characters are) I can only go so far to review that as well. From my own view point, I feel that the representation was handled well although I would have liked to see more authors of color employed to write about characters of color. I also was disappointed that I had to wait til the end of the book to read about any queer characters at all.
Despite my disappointments I still really enjoyed reading this anthology and I'm certainly glad I read it. Some of the stories that stood out to me as favorites were Pearls, Gold in the Roots of the Grass, and High Stakes. I also enjoyed The Legendary Garrett Girls and The Whole World is Watching.
When I read anthologies, I am as excited about reading the individual stories as I am being introduced to authors who's works I have yet to read. After reading A Tyranny of Petticoats, I plan to read other works by Beth Revis and Robin Talley.
Here are my specific thoughts on each of the 15 stories (warning for a few spoilers ahead):
(LGBT stories are denoted with a 🏳️🌈 emoji!)
Mother Carey’s Table by J. Anderson Coats: 2/5
// In 1710, during the Golden Age of Piracy, a young black girl called Joe disguises herself as a boy and works on a pirate ship in order to keep her and her father out of the throes of slavery. //
- This was the most disappointing story to me, and it had the unfortunate business of being the first one I read. I struggled to get through the piece, and after trudging through it (and suffering through reading the phrase "piss and vinegar" way too many times), I found the ending to be an extreme let down. This also had a magical realism element that I found jarring because it was not what I was expecting from this anthology and it was not executed very well at all.
Also, I want to note that I have seen some backlash for the author's middle grade novel "R is for Rebel" that came out earlier this year (I encourage you to check out some reviews here for yourself). I do not plan on reading this author again.
The Journey by Marie Lu: 3/5
// Yakone, a native girl living in Alaska in 1723, flees her village by dogsled after it is attacked by white settlers. //
- This story was a great improvement compared to the first story, but I still felt that it was one of the weaker ones. I know that because the book is ordered by timeline they couldn't mix in the weaker stories with the stronger ones, but I really struggled to read the anthology at first because of the amount of weaker stories towards the beginning. I actually fell asleep while reading this story multiple times (which, I admit, was mostly my fault) but I decided to get the audiobook so that I could get through the stories quicker. Overall, at the end of the story, I felt that it was wrapped up too quickly. If you enjoy survival stories, this one might interest you more than it did me.
Madeline's Choice by Jessica Spotswood: 3/5
// In 1826 in New Orleans's French Quarter, Madeline, a free person of color, struggles to chose between a whirlwind love affair and a more practical marriage offer. //
-I liked the historical aspects of this story along with the cultural details, which I found to be blended into the narrative quite well. I found the setting of the story to be intriguing and I liked the French influence, as well as and the discussions of gender, race, and class. This story was written by the editor of the anthology, so I expected a bit more, as the plot was lacking a little for me, but overall it was an enjoyable read.
El Destinos by Leslye Walton: 3.5/5
// The Three Fates of ancient mythology live as a trio of Mexican American sisters in Southwest Texas in 1848, struggling with being both human and monster and the choices they must make as such. //
-The concept of this story is very beautiful. I enjoyed its atmosphere and world-building, although I wasn’t expecting so much magical realism from a historical fiction anthology, and this story fell into that category. As much as I liked these elements of the story and the incorporation of the Mexican American culture, I feel like more could have happened plot-wise and the story had trouble keeping my attention at times. I would have liked to see this as a longer story, perhaps a novel.
High Stakes by Andrea Cremer: 4/5
// In 1860s Boston, a mysterious assassin named Kilo is employed to protect a gentleman as he participates in "The Game" with a cast of fantastical characters. //
-I know that I criticized some of the stories for being more fantasy than strict historical fiction, but I felt that this one was extremely well executed and still fit with the theme of the anthology.
I found this story to be perfect paced and the ending was extremely satisfying, although I wasn't sure how I felt about the death of a character solely for the plot's sake and that's why I dropped it down in my rating. Overall I thought this was a great addition to the anthology, although it might have been better suited in a fantasy/paranormal historical fiction collection, and it was a great read.
The Red Raven Ball by Caroline Tung Richmond: 4/5
// In 1862 Washington, D.C., Lizzie's grandmother holds her yearly ball. When Lizzie is tasked by her uncle with uncovering a confederate spy at the party, she finds that she may not truly know whom to trust. //
-This is the kind of story I was expecting from this anthology and I was not disappointed. I think my high rating mostly come from the fact that I really liked the character of Lizzie and I related to her in more ways than just the sharing of our name. She was a great character and I adored her choices, especially because they were hard ones to make. The plot was good, too, and the story felt complete in its few pages, which is something that some of the other stories struggled with.
Pearls by Beth Revis: 5/5*
// To escape her rapist, Helen Davies flees 1876 Chicago and becomes a schoolteacher at a small subscription school in Wyoming, where she becomes the mentor of one of her students, a young female sharpshooter. //
-Of all the stories in this anthology, this was my absolute favorite. The story tackled the difficult subject of rape and how Helen copes with what has happened to her in a very powerful way. I loved the character of Helen, and I feel like this story above all others delivered on a truly badass heroine. I feel like this was a great use of the short story format and the ending was so perfect. There's a historical twist that I don't want to spoil, but all I have to say is that when I figured it out, I was so excited. I had been planing to already, but after reading this I will DEFINITELY be checking out Beth Revis' work again very soon.
Gold in the Roots of the Grass by Marissa Meyer: 4.5/5
// In 1870s Deadwood, Dakota during the Gold Rush, Sun Fei-Yen, who speaks to ghosts for a living, does a favor for a boy James. //
-I absolutely loved this story. The setting was vivid in my mind and the character of Sun Fei-Yen was a delight. This one dealt with some paranormal stuff again, but for some reason I feel like it fit with the theme better than some of the others that attempted to go the fantasy/paranormal route. I enjoyed how Meyer handled seemingly sad subject matter with a pleasant twist and I loved the hopeful ending.
The Legendary Garrett Girls by Y.S. Lee: 3.5/5
//In 1898, in a small mining town in Alaska, two sisters, Lily and Clara Garrett must defend their family saloon from bandit Soapy Smith. //
-This story could have been a five-star for me had the ending been more exciting and less confusing. Still, the story that Y.S. Lee weaves is one that had me hooked from the first line, intent on seeing what happened to the Garrett Girls and how they handled it. It was just that what the Garrett Girls ended up doing to run off the bandit was less legendary than I had imagined. Still, an overall exciting read with compelling characters and a fun setting.
The Color of the Sky by Elizabeth Wein: 3/5
// Tony, a young black student excited about physics and aviation witnesses the death of her role model, aviatrix Bessie Coleman in 1926. //
-I had heard a lot about Elizabeth Wein, who is the author of the Code Name Verity series, so I had high expectations going into this story. While I appreciated what it attempted to do, compared to all of the other action-filled stories in this anthology, this was lacking much action at all. I enjoyed learning about Bessie Coleman, as well as the discussion on race regarding black women and flying in the 1920s, but I don't feel that this one had as much of an impact as the others. This fits the advertised theme of A Tyranny of Petticoats, but when looking back at the other stories so far, I think it would fit better in a different collection. Also, on the part of the editor, after so many stories were set in the 1860s-1870s, I found it jarring that the time-jump went 28 years into the future.
Bonnie and Clyde by Saundra Mitchell: 3/5
// In 1930s Indiana, a girl dresses as a boy to rob banks in order to help her family's financial struggles due to the Great Depression. //
-I really liked the concept of this story and I found it to be cute; it just felt underdeveloped and unfinished. I feel like more could have happened plot-wise: it could have been expanded into a longer story with a more satisfying conclusion or a full novel or novella. In the author's note, Mitchell mentions that she was debating on whether to do this story or a murder mystery. I would have liked to see the murder mystery be included somehow, or that story explored instead, in all honesty.
Hard Times by Katherine Longshore: 2.5/5
// In 1934, Rosie exposes her life as a hobo in Washington State to an inquisitive young reporter as the ride the rails. //
- This story was sweet but it really didn't do anything for me. I liked the discussion of class and poverty. I just don't think it had enough time to do what it wanted, and while the characters felt well developed, it would have benefited from being a longer story.
City of Angels by Lindsay Smith: 4/5* 🏳️🌈
// After meeting aspiring actress Frankie at the aircraft factory, riveter and screenwriter-hopeful Evie discovers her sexuality in 1945 L.A. //
- As I was reading this anthology, I couldn't believe it took this long to get to a queer story. I really enjoyed this one and I was glad that I finally got to read about some queer girls, even if romance hasn't been the sole focal point of this collection. The story didn't exactly end in happily ever after, but I was glad that Evie was able to accept who she was and continue pursuing her dreams. I loved the atmosphere and setting, especially that of the Shrinking Violet.
Pulse of The Panthers by Kekla Magoon: 2.5/5
// In a small town in California in 1967, Sandy meets members of the Black Panther party when they visit her father. //
-And that's about all that happens. While this story was nice and I really appreciated the portray of the Black Panthers and learning about them, I felt like not much happened in this story. I don't think this story serviced this anthology well; there was more badassery needed from the main character and I wish she had chose to do something drastic, like go with the Panthers or become one in the future instead of just wondering why her world ended at the driveway. Despite this, I did like that it introduced me to this author and I will consider reading more of her work, mainly her nonfiction concerning the Black Panthers.
The Whole World Is Watching by Robin Talley: 4.5/5* 🏳️🌈
// During a protest in Chicago at the 1968 Democratic National Convention, Jill struggles to accept her sexuality while battling police brutality and injustice. //
This story was a great way to end this anthology. It ended on a triumphant note, and after all that the girls in this anthology went through, it was nice to read a story not only about the progress that has been made in this country, but also about where we still need to go. I enjoyed the character growth Jill went through with accepting her sexuality and I appreciated the romance, especially because Denise saves Jill in the end, not the boy Jill had been with.
Overall, I enjoyed a lot of things about this anthology separately, but as a whole work I found it a bit lacking. There were definitely a few stand out stories, I just wish that the other stories could have lived up to the standards of the others. As with most anthologies, there were some stories I loved, some I hated, and some that just left me feeling lukewarm.
I enjoyed that each author gave an author's note at the end of their story; I found this especially helpful because it helped to explain where they got their ideas from and some of the historical significance of the events that take place in their writing.
I do plan on reading the follow up to this anthology, The Radical Element, and I hope that it is even better than this anthology was.
I would recommend this anthology to fans of historical fiction and fantasy/paranormal historical fiction.
Also, the audiobook is narrated by Bahni Turpin (narrator of Children of Blood and Bone and The Hate U Give), and it was fantastic. I definitely recommend listening to the audiobook if you enjoy audiobooks or if you are struggling with physically reading the book.
My rating: 3.5/5
Going into this anthology, my expectations we're high. I had heard and seen a lot of hype surrounding this book, and what I was expecting was fifteen feminist historical fiction stories of "badass girls". While many of the stories did deliver on this promise, many others were more along the lines of fantasy, magical realism, and paranormal fiction and a few failed to deliver when it came to the purported badassery.
Many of the stories are diverse in some way, whether racially/ethnically, or on the basis of class, sexuality, and other circumstances. While many of the characters are girls of color, many of the authors to my knowledge (although I do not claim to know each author's exact race) are white women writing about characters of color. I would love to see some own voices reviews on each of these stories to see how the representation was handled. I can only speak to the queer representation, and as I am not a lesbian (which each of the queer characters are) I can only go so far to review that as well. From my own view point, I feel that the representation was handled well although I would have liked to see more authors of color employed to write about characters of color. I also was disappointed that I had to wait til the end of the book to read about any queer characters at all.
Despite my disappointments I still really enjoyed reading this anthology and I'm certainly glad I read it. Some of the stories that stood out to me as favorites were Pearls, Gold in the Roots of the Grass, and High Stakes. I also enjoyed The Legendary Garrett Girls and The Whole World is Watching.
When I read anthologies, I am as excited about reading the individual stories as I am being introduced to authors who's works I have yet to read. After reading A Tyranny of Petticoats, I plan to read other works by Beth Revis and Robin Talley.
Here are my specific thoughts on each of the 15 stories (warning for a few spoilers ahead):
(LGBT stories are denoted with a 🏳️🌈 emoji!)
Mother Carey’s Table by J. Anderson Coats: 2/5
// In 1710, during the Golden Age of Piracy, a young black girl called Joe disguises herself as a boy and works on a pirate ship in order to keep her and her father out of the throes of slavery. //
- This was the most disappointing story to me, and it had the unfortunate business of being the first one I read. I struggled to get through the piece, and after trudging through it (and suffering through reading the phrase "piss and vinegar" way too many times), I found the ending to be an extreme let down. This also had a magical realism element that I found jarring because it was not what I was expecting from this anthology and it was not executed very well at all.
Also, I want to note that I have seen some backlash for the author's middle grade novel "R is for Rebel" that came out earlier this year (I encourage you to check out some reviews here for yourself). I do not plan on reading this author again.
The Journey by Marie Lu: 3/5
// Yakone, a native girl living in Alaska in 1723, flees her village by dogsled after it is attacked by white settlers. //
- This story was a great improvement compared to the first story, but I still felt that it was one of the weaker ones. I know that because the book is ordered by timeline they couldn't mix in the weaker stories with the stronger ones, but I really struggled to read the anthology at first because of the amount of weaker stories towards the beginning. I actually fell asleep while reading this story multiple times (which, I admit, was mostly my fault) but I decided to get the audiobook so that I could get through the stories quicker. Overall, at the end of the story, I felt that it was wrapped up too quickly. If you enjoy survival stories, this one might interest you more than it did me.
Madeline's Choice by Jessica Spotswood: 3/5
// In 1826 in New Orleans's French Quarter, Madeline, a free person of color, struggles to chose between a whirlwind love affair and a more practical marriage offer. //
-I liked the historical aspects of this story along with the cultural details, which I found to be blended into the narrative quite well. I found the setting of the story to be intriguing and I liked the French influence, as well as and the discussions of gender, race, and class. This story was written by the editor of the anthology, so I expected a bit more, as the plot was lacking a little for me, but overall it was an enjoyable read.
El Destinos by Leslye Walton: 3.5/5
// The Three Fates of ancient mythology live as a trio of Mexican American sisters in Southwest Texas in 1848, struggling with being both human and monster and the choices they must make as such. //
-The concept of this story is very beautiful. I enjoyed its atmosphere and world-building, although I wasn’t expecting so much magical realism from a historical fiction anthology, and this story fell into that category. As much as I liked these elements of the story and the incorporation of the Mexican American culture, I feel like more could have happened plot-wise and the story had trouble keeping my attention at times. I would have liked to see this as a longer story, perhaps a novel.
High Stakes by Andrea Cremer: 4/5
// In 1860s Boston, a mysterious assassin named Kilo is employed to protect a gentleman as he participates in "The Game" with a cast of fantastical characters. //
-I know that I criticized some of the stories for being more fantasy than strict historical fiction, but I felt that this one was extremely well executed and still fit with the theme of the anthology.
I found this story to be perfect paced and the ending was extremely satisfying, although I wasn't sure how I felt about the death of a character solely for the plot's sake and that's why I dropped it down in my rating. Overall I thought this was a great addition to the anthology, although it might have been better suited in a fantasy/paranormal historical fiction collection, and it was a great read.
The Red Raven Ball by Caroline Tung Richmond: 4/5
// In 1862 Washington, D.C., Lizzie's grandmother holds her yearly ball. When Lizzie is tasked by her uncle with uncovering a confederate spy at the party, she finds that she may not truly know whom to trust. //
-This is the kind of story I was expecting from this anthology and I was not disappointed. I think my high rating mostly come from the fact that I really liked the character of Lizzie and I related to her in more ways than just the sharing of our name. She was a great character and I adored her choices, especially because they were hard ones to make. The plot was good, too, and the story felt complete in its few pages, which is something that some of the other stories struggled with.
Pearls by Beth Revis: 5/5*
// To escape her rapist, Helen Davies flees 1876 Chicago and becomes a schoolteacher at a small subscription school in Wyoming, where she becomes the mentor of one of her students, a young female sharpshooter. //
-Of all the stories in this anthology, this was my absolute favorite. The story tackled the difficult subject of rape and how Helen copes with what has happened to her in a very powerful way. I loved the character of Helen, and I feel like this story above all others delivered on a truly badass heroine. I feel like this was a great use of the short story format and the ending was so perfect. There's a historical twist that I don't want to spoil, but all I have to say is that when I figured it out, I was so excited. I had been planing to already, but after reading this I will DEFINITELY be checking out Beth Revis' work again very soon.
Gold in the Roots of the Grass by Marissa Meyer: 4.5/5
// In 1870s Deadwood, Dakota during the Gold Rush, Sun Fei-Yen, who speaks to ghosts for a living, does a favor for a boy James. //
-I absolutely loved this story. The setting was vivid in my mind and the character of Sun Fei-Yen was a delight. This one dealt with some paranormal stuff again, but for some reason I feel like it fit with the theme better than some of the others that attempted to go the fantasy/paranormal route. I enjoyed how Meyer handled seemingly sad subject matter with a pleasant twist and I loved the hopeful ending.
The Legendary Garrett Girls by Y.S. Lee: 3.5/5
//In 1898, in a small mining town in Alaska, two sisters, Lily and Clara Garrett must defend their family saloon from bandit Soapy Smith. //
-This story could have been a five-star for me had the ending been more exciting and less confusing. Still, the story that Y.S. Lee weaves is one that had me hooked from the first line, intent on seeing what happened to the Garrett Girls and how they handled it. It was just that what the Garrett Girls ended up doing to run off the bandit was less legendary than I had imagined. Still, an overall exciting read with compelling characters and a fun setting.
The Color of the Sky by Elizabeth Wein: 3/5
// Tony, a young black student excited about physics and aviation witnesses the death of her role model, aviatrix Bessie Coleman in 1926. //
-I had heard a lot about Elizabeth Wein, who is the author of the Code Name Verity series, so I had high expectations going into this story. While I appreciated what it attempted to do, compared to all of the other action-filled stories in this anthology, this was lacking much action at all. I enjoyed learning about Bessie Coleman, as well as the discussion on race regarding black women and flying in the 1920s, but I don't feel that this one had as much of an impact as the others. This fits the advertised theme of A Tyranny of Petticoats, but when looking back at the other stories so far, I think it would fit better in a different collection. Also, on the part of the editor, after so many stories were set in the 1860s-1870s, I found it jarring that the time-jump went 28 years into the future.
Bonnie and Clyde by Saundra Mitchell: 3/5
// In 1930s Indiana, a girl dresses as a boy to rob banks in order to help her family's financial struggles due to the Great Depression. //
-I really liked the concept of this story and I found it to be cute; it just felt underdeveloped and unfinished. I feel like more could have happened plot-wise: it could have been expanded into a longer story with a more satisfying conclusion or a full novel or novella. In the author's note, Mitchell mentions that she was debating on whether to do this story or a murder mystery. I would have liked to see the murder mystery be included somehow, or that story explored instead, in all honesty.
Hard Times by Katherine Longshore: 2.5/5
// In 1934, Rosie exposes her life as a hobo in Washington State to an inquisitive young reporter as the ride the rails. //
- This story was sweet but it really didn't do anything for me. I liked the discussion of class and poverty. I just don't think it had enough time to do what it wanted, and while the characters felt well developed, it would have benefited from being a longer story.
City of Angels by Lindsay Smith: 4/5* 🏳️🌈
// After meeting aspiring actress Frankie at the aircraft factory, riveter and screenwriter-hopeful Evie discovers her sexuality in 1945 L.A. //
- As I was reading this anthology, I couldn't believe it took this long to get to a queer story. I really enjoyed this one and I was glad that I finally got to read about some queer girls, even if romance hasn't been the sole focal point of this collection. The story didn't exactly end in happily ever after, but I was glad that Evie was able to accept who she was and continue pursuing her dreams. I loved the atmosphere and setting, especially that of the Shrinking Violet.
Pulse of The Panthers by Kekla Magoon: 2.5/5
// In a small town in California in 1967, Sandy meets members of the Black Panther party when they visit her father. //
-And that's about all that happens. While this story was nice and I really appreciated the portray of the Black Panthers and learning about them, I felt like not much happened in this story. I don't think this story serviced this anthology well; there was more badassery needed from the main character and I wish she had chose to do something drastic, like go with the Panthers or become one in the future instead of just wondering why her world ended at the driveway. Despite this, I did like that it introduced me to this author and I will consider reading more of her work, mainly her nonfiction concerning the Black Panthers.
The Whole World Is Watching by Robin Talley: 4.5/5* 🏳️🌈
// During a protest in Chicago at the 1968 Democratic National Convention, Jill struggles to accept her sexuality while battling police brutality and injustice. //
This story was a great way to end this anthology. It ended on a triumphant note, and after all that the girls in this anthology went through, it was nice to read a story not only about the progress that has been made in this country, but also about where we still need to go. I enjoyed the character growth Jill went through with accepting her sexuality and I appreciated the romance, especially because Denise saves Jill in the end, not the boy Jill had been with.
Overall, I enjoyed a lot of things about this anthology separately, but as a whole work I found it a bit lacking. There were definitely a few stand out stories, I just wish that the other stories could have lived up to the standards of the others. As with most anthologies, there were some stories I loved, some I hated, and some that just left me feeling lukewarm.
I enjoyed that each author gave an author's note at the end of their story; I found this especially helpful because it helped to explain where they got their ideas from and some of the historical significance of the events that take place in their writing.
I do plan on reading the follow up to this anthology, The Radical Element, and I hope that it is even better than this anthology was.
I would recommend this anthology to fans of historical fiction and fantasy/paranormal historical fiction.
Also, the audiobook is narrated by Bahni Turpin (narrator of Children of Blood and Bone and The Hate U Give), and it was fantastic. I definitely recommend listening to the audiobook if you enjoy audiobooks or if you are struggling with physically reading the book.
lindetiel's review against another edition
3.0
A quite uneven collection with some stories being much more engaging than others.
nicholeb84's review against another edition
4.0
I don't normally read anthologies, but there was something about this one that interested me. I'm very happy I picked this up.
The Stories:
"Mother Carey's Tale" by J. Anderson Coats. It felt like the beginning of something larger, and I couldn't help but feel like it could have been fleshed out just a bit more. (Maybe another 2-5 pages?) The character didn't grab me, but it was a unique story. 2.5/5 stars.
“The Journey” by Marie Lu - 2.5/5: I enjoyed her writing style in this short story. And, I thought the idea (though nothing too new) was done in a really nice way. I also really liked the main character.
“Madeleine’s Choice” by Jessica Spotswood - 3/5. The writing style was one I enjoyed. (I've never read Jessica Spotswood) But, the overall story was terribly predictable."
“El Destinos” by Leslye Walton: 5/5. A new favorite short story. A great and unique mix of myths and the real world. Beautifully written. I cannot wait to read more stuff from this author.
“High Stakes” by Andrea Cremer: 3.5/5. In a way, it felt like I was dropped into page 30 or so of a much longer novel. A really cool story, that again mixed myths and life. It was a bit cliche, but was enjoyable.
“The Red Raven Ball” by Caroline Tung Richmond: 3/5. Another story that was utterly predictable and even cliche. The writing style somewhat saved it.
“Pearls” by Beth Revis: 4.5/5. Amazing. Helen is an outstanding character, and I wish I could have read more about her and her students.
"Golds in the Roots of the Grass" by Marissa Meyer. 5/5. Wonderfully written and with great characters, too. I think that, so far, this is my favorite. It really left me wanting more. Can we get another short story about Fei-Yen and co?
“The Legendary Garrett Girls” by Y.S. Lee: 3/5. I loved the friendship between the sisters. I would actually like to read about Clara and Lily again, too. However, the overall story did not really hold my interest.
“The Color of the Sky” by Elizabeth Wein: 3/5. A well written story, that I enjoyed. Tony was a great character and it is always cool to see historical events via fictional characters.
“Bonnie and Clyde” by Saundra Mitchell: 3/5. Quick, interesting, and a lot of fun. I would have loved for there to be more of this story.
“Hard Times” by Katherine Longshore: 3/5. Rosie and Billy had a sweet friendship and I enjoyed their story. Could have done without Lloyd.
"City of Angels” by Lindsay Smith: 3/5. Good, but not great. There was something lacking in the story, that I couldn't place.
“Pulse of the Panthers” by Kekla Magoon: 4/5. Sandy and Bobby were great characters and I enjoyed the story a lot.
“The Whole World Is Watching” by Robin Talley: 3.5/5: A really strong story and a great way to end the anthology.
The Stories:
"Mother Carey's Tale" by J. Anderson Coats. It felt like the beginning of something larger, and I couldn't help but feel like it could have been fleshed out just a bit more. (Maybe another 2-5 pages?) The character didn't grab me, but it was a unique story. 2.5/5 stars.
“The Journey” by Marie Lu - 2.5/5: I enjoyed her writing style in this short story. And, I thought the idea (though nothing too new) was done in a really nice way. I also really liked the main character.
“Madeleine’s Choice” by Jessica Spotswood - 3/5. The writing style was one I enjoyed. (I've never read Jessica Spotswood) But, the overall story was terribly predictable."
“El Destinos” by Leslye Walton: 5/5. A new favorite short story. A great and unique mix of myths and the real world. Beautifully written. I cannot wait to read more stuff from this author.
“High Stakes” by Andrea Cremer: 3.5/5. In a way, it felt like I was dropped into page 30 or so of a much longer novel. A really cool story, that again mixed myths and life. It was a bit cliche, but was enjoyable.
“The Red Raven Ball” by Caroline Tung Richmond: 3/5. Another story that was utterly predictable and even cliche. The writing style somewhat saved it.
“Pearls” by Beth Revis: 4.5/5. Amazing. Helen is an outstanding character, and I wish I could have read more about her and her students.
"Golds in the Roots of the Grass" by Marissa Meyer. 5/5. Wonderfully written and with great characters, too. I think that, so far, this is my favorite. It really left me wanting more. Can we get another short story about Fei-Yen and co?
“The Legendary Garrett Girls” by Y.S. Lee: 3/5. I loved the friendship between the sisters. I would actually like to read about Clara and Lily again, too. However, the overall story did not really hold my interest.
“The Color of the Sky” by Elizabeth Wein: 3/5. A well written story, that I enjoyed. Tony was a great character and it is always cool to see historical events via fictional characters.
“Bonnie and Clyde” by Saundra Mitchell: 3/5. Quick, interesting, and a lot of fun. I would have loved for there to be more of this story.
“Hard Times” by Katherine Longshore: 3/5. Rosie and Billy had a sweet friendship and I enjoyed their story. Could have done without Lloyd.
"City of Angels” by Lindsay Smith: 3/5. Good, but not great. There was something lacking in the story, that I couldn't place.
“Pulse of the Panthers” by Kekla Magoon: 4/5. Sandy and Bobby were great characters and I enjoyed the story a lot.
“The Whole World Is Watching” by Robin Talley: 3.5/5: A really strong story and a great way to end the anthology.
littleyarngoblin's review against another edition
5.0
A Tyranny of Petticoats is the anthology everyone needs. Badass girls? Check. Diverse stories? Check. Amazing writers? Check. Each story was so, so unique, and I know there are a few new authors I've GOT to read.
tinynavajo's review against another edition
5.0
You think you a bad-ass girl? You think you're the only girl who has wanted to be something more? Well, you are not. But, this book will tell you 15 stories of girls who, throughout history, have broken the glass ceiling, and have reached beyond the stars. And someday, your own story may be in a book like this.