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A review by thebiasedbibliophile
Enchanted Flames by Lyndsey Hall
5.0
If I loved Enchanted Forests, then I’m absolutely enamored by Enchanted Flames! The authors really raised the bar with this anthology, and I couldn’t have been more pleasantly surprised (not to mention that all the proceeds go to the World Land Trust’s Wildfire Appeal). Here are my mini-reviews for each story:
“In the Ashes” by Jo Holloway: I really enjoyed this twist on a Cinderella retelling! I love that Juliet’s story does not follow the original fairytale. I would’ve liked to see one of her relationships develop a little more (perhaps with Paris or her younger stepbrother). I also would’ve liked to see more of her growing closer to her people, but ultimately I appreciated the open-endedness to the story.
“Hero of the Wyverns” by Alice Ivinya (TOP 3): I loved everything about this story from Theresa’s character to the premise behind it. I would’ve been happy to read endless books with these characters. I know this story is one that is going to stick with me for a long time to come!
“A Candle Burns in Herboshi” by Ben Lang": This story was so unique and incorporated the theme of fire subtly but effectively. The characters and plot really drew me in. I did not see the plot twist coming at all, and Lang is certainly a very talented author to be able to craft such an unexpected twist in a short story!
“To Steal a Kiss” by Sky Sommers: This was a really cute story, and I love that it was related to Sommers’ story in Enchanted Forests. I did feel like the romance was a bit rushed toward the end, but otherwise I enjoyed the dynamic between Eddie and Greta. I was also curious about the backstory and magic system. I look forward to reading more by Sommers soon!
“Gold Apples” by Astrid V.J.: I was lucky enough to have the chance to beta read this story, and I had a lot of fun reading it again! The story is inspiring, and I was blown away by Astrid’s ability to create such a wonderful character arc in a short story. She also has an uncanny knack for writing beautiful descriptions, truly bringing the story to life.
“Ping and the Phoenix” by Xander Cross: This story was a great continuation of Cross’s story from Enchanted Forests! Ping’s character growth is so compelling and I love the lines of wisdom scattered throughout. The way that Daoism was woven into the story was phenomenal!
“Cajun Cold Flames” by Donna White: This was a fast-paced, unique, and fun story! The setting of New Orleans was wonderful, and I enjoyed the various mystical creatures that were included. I particularly appreciated the humor woven throughout the story!
“Palace of Embers” by NDT Casale: Another story I was honored to beta read! I really enjoyed the sensory details in this story, along with some of the magical creatures. I would’ve liked to see more character agency in the protagonist. Likewise, the magic system is not always clear throughout the story. That being said, it was a cute tale!
“The Wyvern and the Woodwitch” by Lyndsey Hall (TOP 3): This was another story I had the pleasure of beta reading, and again, I was so excited to have the chance to revisit it at different stages! The plot is so intriguing, the characters lovable, and the writing exquisite. I adored the fact that the protagonist is a little older than many protagonists within the fantasy genre, and I loved the way the story took me to another world!
“The Scorch Tournament” by Elena Shelest (TOP 3): This apocalyptic story certainly strays from Shelest’s previous story in Enchanted Forests, and I won’t lie, I was nervous at first. However, Shelest demonstrated an impressive ability to write wonderfully across genres! This was another story in which I became completely immersed while reading. The depth of the characters was fantastic, the setting was vivid, and the plot was robust. There was just enough romance to add a fun element to the story. Overall, a truly wonderful take on what our future could look like on this planet!
“In the Ashes” by Jo Holloway: I really enjoyed this twist on a Cinderella retelling! I love that Juliet’s story does not follow the original fairytale. I would’ve liked to see one of her relationships develop a little more (perhaps with Paris or her younger stepbrother). I also would’ve liked to see more of her growing closer to her people, but ultimately I appreciated the open-endedness to the story.
“Hero of the Wyverns” by Alice Ivinya (TOP 3): I loved everything about this story from Theresa’s character to the premise behind it. I would’ve been happy to read endless books with these characters. I know this story is one that is going to stick with me for a long time to come!
“A Candle Burns in Herboshi” by Ben Lang": This story was so unique and incorporated the theme of fire subtly but effectively. The characters and plot really drew me in. I did not see the plot twist coming at all, and Lang is certainly a very talented author to be able to craft such an unexpected twist in a short story!
“To Steal a Kiss” by Sky Sommers: This was a really cute story, and I love that it was related to Sommers’ story in Enchanted Forests. I did feel like the romance was a bit rushed toward the end, but otherwise I enjoyed the dynamic between Eddie and Greta. I was also curious about the backstory and magic system. I look forward to reading more by Sommers soon!
“Gold Apples” by Astrid V.J.: I was lucky enough to have the chance to beta read this story, and I had a lot of fun reading it again! The story is inspiring, and I was blown away by Astrid’s ability to create such a wonderful character arc in a short story. She also has an uncanny knack for writing beautiful descriptions, truly bringing the story to life.
“Ping and the Phoenix” by Xander Cross: This story was a great continuation of Cross’s story from Enchanted Forests! Ping’s character growth is so compelling and I love the lines of wisdom scattered throughout. The way that Daoism was woven into the story was phenomenal!
“Cajun Cold Flames” by Donna White: This was a fast-paced, unique, and fun story! The setting of New Orleans was wonderful, and I enjoyed the various mystical creatures that were included. I particularly appreciated the humor woven throughout the story!
“Palace of Embers” by NDT Casale: Another story I was honored to beta read! I really enjoyed the sensory details in this story, along with some of the magical creatures. I would’ve liked to see more character agency in the protagonist. Likewise, the magic system is not always clear throughout the story. That being said, it was a cute tale!
“The Wyvern and the Woodwitch” by Lyndsey Hall (TOP 3): This was another story I had the pleasure of beta reading, and again, I was so excited to have the chance to revisit it at different stages! The plot is so intriguing, the characters lovable, and the writing exquisite. I adored the fact that the protagonist is a little older than many protagonists within the fantasy genre, and I loved the way the story took me to another world!
“The Scorch Tournament” by Elena Shelest (TOP 3): This apocalyptic story certainly strays from Shelest’s previous story in Enchanted Forests, and I won’t lie, I was nervous at first. However, Shelest demonstrated an impressive ability to write wonderfully across genres! This was another story in which I became completely immersed while reading. The depth of the characters was fantastic, the setting was vivid, and the plot was robust. There was just enough romance to add a fun element to the story. Overall, a truly wonderful take on what our future could look like on this planet!