5 stars! Leigh Bardugo’s arc as a writer has been amazing. Each series has shown a marked improvement in writing quality and character development, and this collection is the crowning jewel of her “Grisha” novels. Each of these short stories and novellas is a dark fairy tale, drawing from classical tales such as “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Little Mermaid”. Bardugo uses the original meaning of fairy tales rather than the Disneyfied modern conception; each story is dark, scary, and uncomfortable in the best way. This collection is a great entry point into the overall universe, sharing a geographical location but no major plot points with the other books.