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FORESHADOW: Stories to Celebrate The Magic of Reading & Writing YA by Emily X.R. Pan, Nova Ren Suma
greysonk's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
mssarahmorgan's review against another edition
inspiring
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mxphoebesviewpoint's review
5.0
Linda Cheng’s Sweetmeats is a retelling of Grimms’ Hansel and Gretel and I adore it. Cheng’s backdrop of the Chinese culture as proof of destruction is fascinating. I was immediately drawn into the story by the mystery and then sucked in by Mei’s dilemma. I was floored by one twist at the end, but not the two obvious ones. (I’m not telling, you have to read it!) I cannot wait to see what Cheng writes in the future.
Escape is a Hitchcockian tale that stayed in my mind long after I put the book down. Tanvi Berwah writes a tale of young love, lust, and folklore. It is creepy with suspense and just like a Twilight Zone episode you cannot stop watching. I kind of knew what was going to happen and said, “Damn, don’t do it...uh-oh...girl, leave it alone…”. (laugh) Berwah drew me in like a fly in a web. Once you get caught in the story, you can’t get out and you don’t want to.
The anthology is perfect for those who want to deepen their appreciation of art and craft, aspiring YA writers and fans of YA fiction.
Writers include: Tanya S. Aydelott, Tanvi Berwah, Gina Chen, Linda Cheng, Mayra Cuevas, Nora Elghazzawi, Desiree Evans, Rachel Hylton, Adriana Marachilian, Sophie Meridien, Maya Prasad, Flor Salcedo, and Joanna Truman.
I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.
Escape is a Hitchcockian tale that stayed in my mind long after I put the book down. Tanvi Berwah writes a tale of young love, lust, and folklore. It is creepy with suspense and just like a Twilight Zone episode you cannot stop watching. I kind of knew what was going to happen and said, “Damn, don’t do it...uh-oh...girl, leave it alone…”. (laugh) Berwah drew me in like a fly in a web. Once you get caught in the story, you can’t get out and you don’t want to.
The anthology is perfect for those who want to deepen their appreciation of art and craft, aspiring YA writers and fans of YA fiction.
Writers include: Tanya S. Aydelott, Tanvi Berwah, Gina Chen, Linda Cheng, Mayra Cuevas, Nora Elghazzawi, Desiree Evans, Rachel Hylton, Adriana Marachilian, Sophie Meridien, Maya Prasad, Flor Salcedo, and Joanna Truman.
I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.
phoebereads's review
5.0
Thank you to Algonquin Publishing for an advanced copy of this book!
Foreshadow is a fantastic anthology of short stories, combined with commentary and tips for writing YA. It is a celebration of the short story, of writing, and of reading too, and the magic that stories bring to all of our lives. The stories themselves are all clever and well done and I found myself intrigued by all of them in different ways as I read. I also absolutely loved the inclusion of the author's notes at the end of each story. The commentary offered by the editors was also very well done and I found it to be a really useful resource that I will definitely return to for writing guidance. Overall, this is a great book full of interesting stories and great writing advice. It is an ode to the magic of storytelling and I recommend it to all.
Foreshadow is a fantastic anthology of short stories, combined with commentary and tips for writing YA. It is a celebration of the short story, of writing, and of reading too, and the magic that stories bring to all of our lives. The stories themselves are all clever and well done and I found myself intrigued by all of them in different ways as I read. I also absolutely loved the inclusion of the author's notes at the end of each story. The commentary offered by the editors was also very well done and I found it to be a really useful resource that I will definitely return to for writing guidance. Overall, this is a great book full of interesting stories and great writing advice. It is an ode to the magic of storytelling and I recommend it to all.
caidyn's review
challenging
tense
medium-paced
4.0
I received an ARC through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review!
If you're an aspiring author, I highly recommend this book. This collection is full of top-notch stories. I'm not the biggest short story fan, but this was so enjoyable. Every story was good in its own way and they were very diverse. Each story was analyzed after by the editors of the book to show why it was chosen, then there were writing prompts given based on the analysis for some stories. I'm not an author and I'm not looking to be one, but I really liked it. It's a book I'd want to get for my writer friends who would appreciate it even more than I did.
If you're an aspiring author, I highly recommend this book. This collection is full of top-notch stories. I'm not the biggest short story fan, but this was so enjoyable. Every story was good in its own way and they were very diverse. Each story was analyzed after by the editors of the book to show why it was chosen, then there were writing prompts given based on the analysis for some stories. I'm not an author and I'm not looking to be one, but I really liked it. It's a book I'd want to get for my writer friends who would appreciate it even more than I did.
sahibooknerd's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
I’m definitely having a better time reading short fiction these days, so I decided to pick this one up and it blew me away with the breadth of amazing writing in it and the wonderful new voices we get introduced to. The stories are diverse and fun and intense, and I loved the editors mentioning the reasons behind choosing these stories, and the sprinkling of writing advice throughout the anthology was just icing on the cake. There are also prompts for budding writers to try out their own hand at short fiction, and interviews with the editors towards the end which has some great advice for writers on how to approach drafting as well as editing their pieces. I would definitely recommend this one to anyone who loves YA and wants to discover new and upcoming authors, as well as the writers at heart who would love some genuine advice.
Below are my individual reviews for the stories:
Flight by Tanya S. Aydelott
I won’t say I understood the mythology behind the creatures that form a part of this story, but it’s very beautifully written and very mysterious and has a very interesting take on women’s relationship with their bodies, as well as how men choose to objectify and represent them in art.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Risk by Rachel Hylton
A story of a group of girls in high school who are always supportive of each other, despite the circumstances - this was very weirdly fascinating but probably not my kind of story.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sweetmeats by Linda Cheng
This is a modern day horror retelling of Hansel and Gretel and it was spectacular. It has the scary parts but it also has a beautiful female friendship, the two girls just trying their best to be there for each other, while also having themes of difficult relationships between mothers and daughters. Definitely an author I look forward to read more of.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Glow by Joanna Truman
A story of two powerful girls with magic, this had all the beautiful yearning and angst of a girl whose heart is full of overwhelming feelings for another which she just wants to express and be loved back. The author really brought the emotion to life with her words.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Escape by Tanvi Berwah
Wow. This was mysterious, wonderfully written and had family drama, heirlooms and old stories, with a side dish of twisted revenge. Very enjoyable.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Pan Dulce by Flor Salcedo
This story takes us back to the 90s when teenagers could still drive across the southern border to party, but it also weaves in a little of the dreaded times to come. Both the innocence and invincibility that the teenage girls feel and the ominous nature of their journey are captured perfectly.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Solace by Nora Elghazzawi
This was such an emotional exploration of loss and grief, but also asks us to grow and nurture and hope despite the darkness and I really enjoyed it.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Princess by Maya Prasad
I’ve read a good number of short stories about AI/digital immortality, but reading one with similar themes but inspired by Indian mythology is a different kind of joy. I loved the MC Leela who takes the second lease of life that she gets to dream for something bigger than herself and make choices that she believes in. Very interesting story.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Fools by Gina Chen
This starts off quite sad but it was such a beautiful story of a girl finding where she fits in and what she wants to do with her life. There’s love and humor and wonderful descriptions here alongwith a great ensemble of lovable characters.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Monsters by Adriana Marachlian
This was kind of sad, especially with the backdrop of the situation in Venezuela which the author captures with her words, but it’s also about feeling like the other, being alone and scared and not being believed by anyone, and how that struggle shapes a person’s choices.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Break by Sophie Meridien
This was such a cute and romantic story of two high school seniors trying to get to know each other in the small moments they get to spend together. It also has some angst and a message, but overall it just made me smile.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Resilient by Mayra Cuevas
This is a story about resilience set after the events of hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, and it’s absolutely devastating to read about what happened after through the words of young people who had to give up on their dreams because survival was more important. It ends with a bit of hope, but the it’s definitely more of a bittersweet story.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Belly by Desiree S. Evans
There is a great sense of place in this story, with the land and river and the character’s relationship to them forming the emotional core of the story. It was both sad as well as inspiring, with hope that it’ll get better.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Below are my individual reviews for the stories:
Flight by Tanya S. Aydelott
I won’t say I understood the mythology behind the creatures that form a part of this story, but it’s very beautifully written and very mysterious and has a very interesting take on women’s relationship with their bodies, as well as how men choose to objectify and represent them in art.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Risk by Rachel Hylton
A story of a group of girls in high school who are always supportive of each other, despite the circumstances - this was very weirdly fascinating but probably not my kind of story.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sweetmeats by Linda Cheng
This is a modern day horror retelling of Hansel and Gretel and it was spectacular. It has the scary parts but it also has a beautiful female friendship, the two girls just trying their best to be there for each other, while also having themes of difficult relationships between mothers and daughters. Definitely an author I look forward to read more of.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Glow by Joanna Truman
A story of two powerful girls with magic, this had all the beautiful yearning and angst of a girl whose heart is full of overwhelming feelings for another which she just wants to express and be loved back. The author really brought the emotion to life with her words.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Escape by Tanvi Berwah
Wow. This was mysterious, wonderfully written and had family drama, heirlooms and old stories, with a side dish of twisted revenge. Very enjoyable.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Pan Dulce by Flor Salcedo
This story takes us back to the 90s when teenagers could still drive across the southern border to party, but it also weaves in a little of the dreaded times to come. Both the innocence and invincibility that the teenage girls feel and the ominous nature of their journey are captured perfectly.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Solace by Nora Elghazzawi
This was such an emotional exploration of loss and grief, but also asks us to grow and nurture and hope despite the darkness and I really enjoyed it.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Princess by Maya Prasad
I’ve read a good number of short stories about AI/digital immortality, but reading one with similar themes but inspired by Indian mythology is a different kind of joy. I loved the MC Leela who takes the second lease of life that she gets to dream for something bigger than herself and make choices that she believes in. Very interesting story.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Fools by Gina Chen
This starts off quite sad but it was such a beautiful story of a girl finding where she fits in and what she wants to do with her life. There’s love and humor and wonderful descriptions here alongwith a great ensemble of lovable characters.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Monsters by Adriana Marachlian
This was kind of sad, especially with the backdrop of the situation in Venezuela which the author captures with her words, but it’s also about feeling like the other, being alone and scared and not being believed by anyone, and how that struggle shapes a person’s choices.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Break by Sophie Meridien
This was such a cute and romantic story of two high school seniors trying to get to know each other in the small moments they get to spend together. It also has some angst and a message, but overall it just made me smile.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Resilient by Mayra Cuevas
This is a story about resilience set after the events of hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, and it’s absolutely devastating to read about what happened after through the words of young people who had to give up on their dreams because survival was more important. It ends with a bit of hope, but the it’s definitely more of a bittersweet story.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Belly by Desiree S. Evans
There is a great sense of place in this story, with the land and river and the character’s relationship to them forming the emotional core of the story. It was both sad as well as inspiring, with hope that it’ll get better.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
nytephoenyx's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from NetGalley and Algonquin Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I am not normally a short story person, but I really loved Foreshadow. This collection of stories compiled by Emily X. R. Pan and Nova Ren Suma excites the imagination ands such a deliberate of language that while they flow together beautifully, they are also individually beautiful.
Often with these sorts of collections. I'll go in and rate the discuss each of the pieces on their own. However, Foreshadow was such a cohesive collection that I am comfortable saying - if you like one of these stories, you will like them all. Each of these new voices is powerful, and the storytelling is curious and magical when it should be... and all just a little bit dark.
All the stories here are really good, but the one that sticks out to me the most was Risk by Rachel Hylton. I thought it was so original and the language was absolutely fabulous. Ever story - every single story - in this collection is a fantastic example of the craft. But Risk was my favorite and it still pops into my head from time to time.
Another aspect of Foreshadow I really enjoyed was the way each story had an introduction and an follow-up conversation with either Emily X. R. Pan or Nova Ren Suma, discussing the original prompt behind the story and why they chose this one for the collection. And if that wasn't enough of a behind-the-scenes peek, there's a section at the end of the collection which introduces the editors of the collection, how they approach their craft, and how they came to each of these stories. There's an extensive Q&A at the end that's very interesting, so definitely read past the stories themselves.
I know this is a bit of a shorter review for me, and please don't take that as an indication of quality. It was so good, and I'm not sure what more to say other than I recommend this one wholeheartedly. I requested the ARC of Foreshadow because I had high hopes for it and in my experience there's not a lot of buzz for short story collections. I'm here to tell you to add this one to your TBR. Every story is heartfelt and memorable.
For more reviews and bookish content, please visit The Literary Phoenix.
I am not normally a short story person, but I really loved Foreshadow. This collection of stories compiled by Emily X. R. Pan and Nova Ren Suma excites the imagination ands such a deliberate of language that while they flow together beautifully, they are also individually beautiful.
Often with these sorts of collections. I'll go in and rate the discuss each of the pieces on their own. However, Foreshadow was such a cohesive collection that I am comfortable saying - if you like one of these stories, you will like them all. Each of these new voices is powerful, and the storytelling is curious and magical when it should be... and all just a little bit dark.
All the stories here are really good, but the one that sticks out to me the most was Risk by Rachel Hylton. I thought it was so original and the language was absolutely fabulous. Ever story - every single story - in this collection is a fantastic example of the craft. But Risk was my favorite and it still pops into my head from time to time.
Another aspect of Foreshadow I really enjoyed was the way each story had an introduction and an follow-up conversation with either Emily X. R. Pan or Nova Ren Suma, discussing the original prompt behind the story and why they chose this one for the collection. And if that wasn't enough of a behind-the-scenes peek, there's a section at the end of the collection which introduces the editors of the collection, how they approach their craft, and how they came to each of these stories. There's an extensive Q&A at the end that's very interesting, so definitely read past the stories themselves.
I know this is a bit of a shorter review for me, and please don't take that as an indication of quality. It was so good, and I'm not sure what more to say other than I recommend this one wholeheartedly. I requested the ARC of Foreshadow because I had high hopes for it and in my experience there's not a lot of buzz for short story collections. I'm here to tell you to add this one to your TBR. Every story is heartfelt and memorable.
For more reviews and bookish content, please visit The Literary Phoenix.
jamesflint's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0