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ele_b 's review for:
A Thousand Beginnings and Endings
by Elsie Chapman, Ellen Oh
That was a joyous dream come true. Was this book perfect? No. It was actually really not the greatest at times, and has a long list of flaws. But it feeds my hunger for Asian myths, has many books have their ever been before this?
My favourite stories were Forbidden Fruit, The Smile, Spear Carrier, Eyes Like Candlelight, and Bullet, Butterfly. I've heard a lot of people say the Hindus stories weren't strong, but I honestly thought all except Still Star-Crossed were pretty good, at least entertaining. Still Star-Crossed and The Crimson Cloak I didn't care for, but thankfully they were the only ones I really didn't like.
My main problem with this book were that it had some adult content. I think if it was avoided in Forbidden Fruit to story just wouldn't have been the same, but there were many tales where it should've just been avoided. Even though I loved Julie Kagawa's story, I really thought when she threw that in almost ruined it. And The Crimson Cloak was just overpowered by it, which was disgusting and distasteful.
I also think this book should've had at least one Arabic and/or Persian tale, but it didn't, causing the book to feel slightly incomplete. However, I was overjoyed to see a Laotian story included - a fascinating country with a rich literary culture much overlooked.
Story-by-Story reviews:
Forbidden Fruit by [a:Roshani Chokshi|13695109|Roshani Chokshi|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1544538355p2/13695109.jpg]: As I've mentioned, I am no fan of this author, thanks to her comments on anemia, but this story actually really caught me????? It was so weird and disturbing. I might have to read [b:The Gilded Wolves|39863498|The Gilded Wolves (The Gilded Wolves, #1)|Roshani Chokshi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1525714353l/39863498._SY75_.jpg|53547018] after all.
Olivia's Table by [a:Alyssa Wong|8178928|Alyssa Wong|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1469819886p2/8178928.jpg]: I didn't really care about this one but it did make me hungry.
Steel Skin by [a:Lori M. Lee|7084159|Lori M. Lee|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1368213295p2/7084159.jpg]: I didn't like the first half of this one, but I really liked the plot twist and ending. The kissing scene should've really been omitted, though. I can't wait for [b:Forest of Souls|51573880|Forest of Souls (Shamanborn, #1)|Lori M. Lee|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1576781387l/51573880._SX50_SY75_.jpg|70325351] to come out this year, especially after learning that this book will be Laotian, a culture I have much interest in but there are sadly so few books on.
Still Star-Crossed by [a:Sona Charaipotra|7359318|Sona Charaipotra|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1385065970p2/7359318.jpg] - OK, so that was disturbing, disgusting, creepy. and unnecessary. I never asked for a love triangle of which both mother and daughter are involved, and I never will.
The Counting of Vermillion Beads by [a:Aliette de Bodard|2918731|Aliette de Bodard|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1261567215p2/2918731.jpg] - This was an enjoyable story, but I kind of thing it would have been better if they kept it as an evil-sister story instead of making them good friends to be # feminist.
The Land of the Morning Calm by [a:E. C. Myers|19076215|E. C. Myers|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] - This story was pretty creative and interesting. I didn't enjoy it too much on the first read, but I think I'll enjoy it better when I re-read it (which I obviously will). I like the idea of combining Korean myths into a video game world.
The Smile by [a:Aisha Saeed|8106586|Aisha Saeed|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1396461507p2/8106586.jpg] - This story was based on Mughal legends and I am pleased. I just have a grudge against Saeed because of Yes No Maybe So.
Girls Who Twirl and Other Dangers by [a:Preeti Chhibber|15600901|Preeti Chhibber|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1496408704p2/15600901.jpg] - A fun, if mindless story. Def. going to look into this author's other books.
Nothing Into All by [a:Renée Ahdieh|4600197|Renée Ahdieh|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1487663209p2/4600197.jpg] - This story was precious and interestingly very similar to stories I've read from European fairy tale treasuries, like the Brother's Grimm. I've heard both a lot of good and bad things about Ahdieh's books, I'll have to read them to see if I like them quiet as much as this tale.
Spear Carrier by [a:Rahul Kanakia|4114729|Rahul Kanakia|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1578970946p2/4114729.jpg] - This felt like a pacifist retelling of the Mahabharata. I stan.
Code of Honor by [a:Melissa de la Cruz|21911|Melissa de la Cruz|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1521600969p2/21911.jpg] - This just felt # edgy. I can see why some may enjoy it, but it really wasn't for me (though it would make a pretty cool novel, if lengthened).
Bullet, Butterfly by [a:Elsie Chapman|5441417|Elsie Chapman|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1351817206p2/5441417.jpg] - This felt like a gender-reversed version of Mulan and Romeo & Juliette, which made this story both familiar and a breath of new air at the same time. I want it as a full-length novel, please.
Daughter of the Sun by [a:Shveta Thakrar|5097748|Shveta Thakrar|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1543548224p2/5097748.jpg] - I didn't connect with this one too much, but I expect it will at re-read. I enjoyed Thakrar's writing, which is good, as my most-anticipated release this year is her novel [b:Star Daughter|52781202|Star Daughter|Shveta Thakrar|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1572202419l/52781202._SX50_SY75_.jpg|66825697].
The Crimson Cloak by [a:Cindy Pon|2471183|Cindy Pon|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1259643400p2/2471183.jpg] - I really didn't like this one. While not as bad as Still Star-Crossed, the writing reminded me of [b:Spin the Dawn|42815556|Spin the Dawn (The Blood of Stars, #1)|Elizabeth Lim|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1542674036l/42815556._SY75_.jpg|58477266], just less flowery.
Eyes Like a Candlelight by [a:Julie Kagawa|2995873|Julie Kagawa|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1257816454p2/2995873.jpg] - I love reading about kitsune and I love Kagawa writing about kitsune.
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Yahoooooo! I'm finally reading this! It starts with a story by Roshani Chockshi, who I have an intense disliking for (her Aru Shah series is incredibly rude to ill children), and ends with Julie Kagawa, who I've very much enjoyed her [b:Shadow of the Fox|36672988|Shadow of the Fox (Shadow of the Fox, #1)|Julie Kagawa|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1525104599l/36672988._SY75_.jpg|58459383] series. This book even has Laotian tales!
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OK someone tell me who forgot to tell me of this book's existence so that I can give them a good fussing. Thank you.
My favourite stories were Forbidden Fruit, The Smile, Spear Carrier, Eyes Like Candlelight, and Bullet, Butterfly. I've heard a lot of people say the Hindus stories weren't strong, but I honestly thought all except Still Star-Crossed were pretty good, at least entertaining. Still Star-Crossed and The Crimson Cloak I didn't care for, but thankfully they were the only ones I really didn't like.
My main problem with this book were that it had some adult content. I think if it was avoided in Forbidden Fruit to story just wouldn't have been the same, but there were many tales where it should've just been avoided. Even though I loved Julie Kagawa's story, I really thought when she threw that in almost ruined it. And The Crimson Cloak was just overpowered by it, which was disgusting and distasteful.
I also think this book should've had at least one Arabic and/or Persian tale, but it didn't, causing the book to feel slightly incomplete. However, I was overjoyed to see a Laotian story included - a fascinating country with a rich literary culture much overlooked.
Story-by-Story reviews:
Forbidden Fruit by [a:Roshani Chokshi|13695109|Roshani Chokshi|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1544538355p2/13695109.jpg]: As I've mentioned, I am no fan of this author, thanks to her comments on anemia, but this story actually really caught me????? It was so weird and disturbing. I might have to read [b:The Gilded Wolves|39863498|The Gilded Wolves (The Gilded Wolves, #1)|Roshani Chokshi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1525714353l/39863498._SY75_.jpg|53547018] after all.
Olivia's Table by [a:Alyssa Wong|8178928|Alyssa Wong|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1469819886p2/8178928.jpg]: I didn't really care about this one but it did make me hungry.
Steel Skin by [a:Lori M. Lee|7084159|Lori M. Lee|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1368213295p2/7084159.jpg]: I didn't like the first half of this one, but I really liked the plot twist and ending. The kissing scene should've really been omitted, though. I can't wait for [b:Forest of Souls|51573880|Forest of Souls (Shamanborn, #1)|Lori M. Lee|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1576781387l/51573880._SX50_SY75_.jpg|70325351] to come out this year, especially after learning that this book will be Laotian, a culture I have much interest in but there are sadly so few books on.
Still Star-Crossed by [a:Sona Charaipotra|7359318|Sona Charaipotra|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1385065970p2/7359318.jpg] - OK, so that was disturbing, disgusting, creepy. and unnecessary. I never asked for a love triangle of which both mother and daughter are involved, and I never will.
The Counting of Vermillion Beads by [a:Aliette de Bodard|2918731|Aliette de Bodard|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1261567215p2/2918731.jpg] - This was an enjoyable story, but I kind of thing it would have been better if they kept it as an evil-sister story instead of making them good friends to be # feminist.
The Land of the Morning Calm by [a:E. C. Myers|19076215|E. C. Myers|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] - This story was pretty creative and interesting. I didn't enjoy it too much on the first read, but I think I'll enjoy it better when I re-read it (which I obviously will). I like the idea of combining Korean myths into a video game world.
The Smile by [a:Aisha Saeed|8106586|Aisha Saeed|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1396461507p2/8106586.jpg] - This story was based on Mughal legends and I am pleased. I just have a grudge against Saeed because of Yes No Maybe So.
Girls Who Twirl and Other Dangers by [a:Preeti Chhibber|15600901|Preeti Chhibber|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1496408704p2/15600901.jpg] - A fun, if mindless story. Def. going to look into this author's other books.
Nothing Into All by [a:Renée Ahdieh|4600197|Renée Ahdieh|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1487663209p2/4600197.jpg] - This story was precious and interestingly very similar to stories I've read from European fairy tale treasuries, like the Brother's Grimm. I've heard both a lot of good and bad things about Ahdieh's books, I'll have to read them to see if I like them quiet as much as this tale.
Spear Carrier by [a:Rahul Kanakia|4114729|Rahul Kanakia|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1578970946p2/4114729.jpg] - This felt like a pacifist retelling of the Mahabharata. I stan.
Code of Honor by [a:Melissa de la Cruz|21911|Melissa de la Cruz|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1521600969p2/21911.jpg] - This just felt # edgy. I can see why some may enjoy it, but it really wasn't for me (though it would make a pretty cool novel, if lengthened).
Bullet, Butterfly by [a:Elsie Chapman|5441417|Elsie Chapman|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1351817206p2/5441417.jpg] - This felt like a gender-reversed version of Mulan and Romeo & Juliette, which made this story both familiar and a breath of new air at the same time. I want it as a full-length novel, please.
Daughter of the Sun by [a:Shveta Thakrar|5097748|Shveta Thakrar|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1543548224p2/5097748.jpg] - I didn't connect with this one too much, but I expect it will at re-read. I enjoyed Thakrar's writing, which is good, as my most-anticipated release this year is her novel [b:Star Daughter|52781202|Star Daughter|Shveta Thakrar|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1572202419l/52781202._SX50_SY75_.jpg|66825697].
The Crimson Cloak by [a:Cindy Pon|2471183|Cindy Pon|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1259643400p2/2471183.jpg] - I really didn't like this one. While not as bad as Still Star-Crossed, the writing reminded me of [b:Spin the Dawn|42815556|Spin the Dawn (The Blood of Stars, #1)|Elizabeth Lim|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1542674036l/42815556._SY75_.jpg|58477266], just less flowery.
Eyes Like a Candlelight by [a:Julie Kagawa|2995873|Julie Kagawa|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1257816454p2/2995873.jpg] - I love reading about kitsune and I love Kagawa writing about kitsune.
---------
Yahoooooo! I'm finally reading this! It starts with a story by Roshani Chockshi, who I have an intense disliking for (her Aru Shah series is incredibly rude to ill children), and ends with Julie Kagawa, who I've very much enjoyed her [b:Shadow of the Fox|36672988|Shadow of the Fox (Shadow of the Fox, #1)|Julie Kagawa|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1525104599l/36672988._SY75_.jpg|58459383] series. This book even has Laotian tales!
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OK someone tell me who forgot to tell me of this book's existence so that I can give them a good fussing. Thank you.