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A review by tiffani_reads
Foreshadow: Stories to Celebrate the Magic of Reading and Writing YA by Nova Ren Suma, Emily X.R. Pan
4.0
Average rating: 3.7 stars
This was such a diverse collection of stories, there really was something for everyone to enjoy. I really enjoyed this anthology on a whole and feel that it will be very inspiring for present and future writers alike. I think the story prompts included with some story will be very helpful to aspiring writers to help them with their writing. My favourite stories were Sweetmeats, Solace, Fools, and Break for various reasons. I have included short review and ratings for each individual story below.
Flight by Tanya S. Aydelott
- This was a very cool take on the selkie folktale. I really liked how the story unfolded and found the way the author told the story to be very enjoyable.
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Risk by Rachel Hylton
- This story was weird with a capital W. That doesn't mean it was bad, on the contrary, I found it to be so amusing. I think the ending however was a bit to abrupt.
Rating: 3/5 stars
Sweetmeats by Linda Cheng
- This story was fantastic. It was super creepy, weird, and the craziest twist on Hansel and Gretel I have ever read. There is some body horror aspects to this story so be warned. I want this story to be turned into a full fledged book because I cannot stop thinking about it.
Rating: 5/5 stars
Glow by Joanna Truman
- This story talks about the power that girls have to unmake and remake the world with their power. while the message of the story is powerful, I found the fantastical elements of the narrative not to my taste.
Rating: 3/5 stars
Escape by Tanvi Berwah
- This story was not my cup of tea. I didn't really like the characters or the story. It was an easy enough read but a purse full of demon cats just didn't intrigue me enough.
Rating: 2/5 stars
Pan Dulce by Flor Salcedo
- I always really dislike at least one story in an anthology, and for me it was this one. I know the story is personal to the author but for me all the characters were unlikable and I found myself bored reading.
Rating: 1/5 stars
Solace by Nora Elghazzawi
- This story broke my heart into a million pieces and then slowly stitched it back together. I wanted the before and after of this story. I want to read all of Laila's thoughts, feelings, and darkest secrets. I will definitely be checking out anything else this author does in the future.
Rating 5/5 stars
Princess by Maya Prasad
- This story was so unexpected. Usually science fiction in anthologies doesn't work because something lacks. Whether it is the world build or character development because you don't have enough time. This story managed both and did it very well. The concept was cool and I enjoyed this story.
Rating: 4/5 stars
Fools by Gina Chen
- A heartless girl, in the literal sense as she has no heart, falls in love with a demon. What more do you need to know. I'd like the rest of the story in the form of a complete novel now please!
Rating: 5/5 stars
Monsters by Adriana Marachlian
- This story was interesting and I thought the concept was unique but I don't think the short-story format did it justice. It needed more pages to flesh out some of the details that would have made it more compelling. I just needed more.
Rating: 3/5 stars
Break by Sophie Meridien
- This contemporary romance was done so well that I was swooning by the end of it. I love the way the author told the story through meetings and spin-the-bootle rounds. To me it was perfect. I'd love to see Kikiade and Kastov get their own full novel someday.
Rating: 5/5 stars
Resilient by Mayra Cuevas
- This story was well written and did a lot in the pages it had but to me it felt unfinished. It seemed that it ended in the middle of being told and that there was more that needed to be said. The fact that it is based on somewhat true events is also very cool.
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Belly by Desiree S. Evans
- This story covered a lot of things in such a short narrative. Climate change, segregation, rape culture, lgbtq, and so much more. Jaima is such a strong character and you cannot help but admire her continued strength with all she is going through while reading.
Rating: 4/5 stars
This was such a diverse collection of stories, there really was something for everyone to enjoy. I really enjoyed this anthology on a whole and feel that it will be very inspiring for present and future writers alike. I think the story prompts included with some story will be very helpful to aspiring writers to help them with their writing. My favourite stories were Sweetmeats, Solace, Fools, and Break for various reasons. I have included short review and ratings for each individual story below.
Flight by Tanya S. Aydelott
- This was a very cool take on the selkie folktale. I really liked how the story unfolded and found the way the author told the story to be very enjoyable.
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Risk by Rachel Hylton
- This story was weird with a capital W. That doesn't mean it was bad, on the contrary, I found it to be so amusing. I think the ending however was a bit to abrupt.
Rating: 3/5 stars
Sweetmeats by Linda Cheng
- This story was fantastic. It was super creepy, weird, and the craziest twist on Hansel and Gretel I have ever read. There is some body horror aspects to this story so be warned. I want this story to be turned into a full fledged book because I cannot stop thinking about it.
Rating: 5/5 stars
Glow by Joanna Truman
- This story talks about the power that girls have to unmake and remake the world with their power. while the message of the story is powerful, I found the fantastical elements of the narrative not to my taste.
Rating: 3/5 stars
Escape by Tanvi Berwah
- This story was not my cup of tea. I didn't really like the characters or the story. It was an easy enough read but a purse full of demon cats just didn't intrigue me enough.
Rating: 2/5 stars
Pan Dulce by Flor Salcedo
- I always really dislike at least one story in an anthology, and for me it was this one. I know the story is personal to the author but for me all the characters were unlikable and I found myself bored reading.
Rating: 1/5 stars
Solace by Nora Elghazzawi
- This story broke my heart into a million pieces and then slowly stitched it back together. I wanted the before and after of this story. I want to read all of Laila's thoughts, feelings, and darkest secrets. I will definitely be checking out anything else this author does in the future.
Rating 5/5 stars
Princess by Maya Prasad
- This story was so unexpected. Usually science fiction in anthologies doesn't work because something lacks. Whether it is the world build or character development because you don't have enough time. This story managed both and did it very well. The concept was cool and I enjoyed this story.
Rating: 4/5 stars
Fools by Gina Chen
- A heartless girl, in the literal sense as she has no heart, falls in love with a demon. What more do you need to know. I'd like the rest of the story in the form of a complete novel now please!
Rating: 5/5 stars
Monsters by Adriana Marachlian
- This story was interesting and I thought the concept was unique but I don't think the short-story format did it justice. It needed more pages to flesh out some of the details that would have made it more compelling. I just needed more.
Rating: 3/5 stars
Break by Sophie Meridien
- This contemporary romance was done so well that I was swooning by the end of it. I love the way the author told the story through meetings and spin-the-bootle rounds. To me it was perfect. I'd love to see Kikiade and Kastov get their own full novel someday.
Rating: 5/5 stars
Resilient by Mayra Cuevas
- This story was well written and did a lot in the pages it had but to me it felt unfinished. It seemed that it ended in the middle of being told and that there was more that needed to be said. The fact that it is based on somewhat true events is also very cool.
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Belly by Desiree S. Evans
- This story covered a lot of things in such a short narrative. Climate change, segregation, rape culture, lgbtq, and so much more. Jaima is such a strong character and you cannot help but admire her continued strength with all she is going through while reading.
Rating: 4/5 stars