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elleyotter 's review for:
Once Upon a Winter: A Folk and Fairy Tale Anthology
by Katherine Shaw, Joyce Reynolds-Ward, S. Markem, Jenna Smithwick, Ella T. Holmes, A.J. Van Belle, Caroline Logan, Laila Amado, Jake Curran-Pipe, Rebecca F. Kenney, M.J. Weatherall, Bharat Krishnan, H.L. Macfarlane, R.A. Gerritse, Josie Jaffrey, Kate Longstone, Adie Hart
Like most anthologies, this book had some stories I absolutely loved and some I didn’t care for at all. I have super brief mini reviews for every story included, and go a bit more in depth into a couple I liked the most. Happily, the stories I loved greatly outweighed the ones I didn’t like!
The Biting Cold by Josie Jaffrey
Second person present tense, fantasy horror. 2 stars
The Match Girl by Rebecca F. Kenney
Immediately went to lookup Kenney’s blacklist. Give me this romance novel PLEASE. I love this dark fantasy romance spin on The Little Match Girl and really wish this was a full novel. I would read it IN A HEARTBEAT. 5 stars
Santa Claus is Coming to Town by Bharat Krishnan
Holiday horror, THOROUGHLY creeped me out. It was especially effective after the dark romance of the previous story and the sort of fluffy feminist take on a classic fairy tale that came after. 4 stars
A Pea Ever After by Adie Hart
Absolutely adorable (feminist) twist on The Princess and the Pea! For such a short story I came to care about all the princesses (and the poor prince, haha) very much. I love the various relationships in this, and can see it existing as an interstitial novella as part of a series. I’ll definitely be checking out this author’s other work. 5 stars
The Snowdrop by H. L. Macfarlane
Cute but not much substance, the ending felt very abrupt. 2.5 stars
Silverfoot’s Edge by Ella Holmes
Felt the most like a traditional fairy tale so far, complete with some fae sidekicks and an impossible task. 3.5 stars
The Storm Hags by Caroline Logan
Almost Buffy-like vibes somehow. I had trouble getting into this story, but it was very interesting. It had a very urban fantasy feel despite also being told like a more traditional fairy tale and seeming to be set in a sort of medieval setting. But what happens after the tale? 3.5 stars
The Boggart of Boggart Hole Clough by Jake Curran-Pipe
Hated the writing style, DNF
Around the Hawthorne Tree by Jenna Smithwick
Actual fae in this one, being tricksy and fae. I could easily see this being a full novel or at least a novella. If it were a full novel I’d definitely pick it up! 3.5 stars
The Best Girl this Side of Winter by Laila Amado
Lovely coming of age fantasy story. The ending was a but abrupt for me and I’d really love to see this as a fully fleshed out YA fantasy romance novel. I think it could be BIG! Sort of Game of Thrones Nightwalker type vibes. 4 stars
The Snow Trolls by S. Markem
Lol what the heck? This story just so silly, I loved it. Of you’re a fan of gag gifts like “snowman poop” that is actually mini marshmallows, and authors like Terry Pratchett, you’ll probably love this story! 4.5 stars
Lord of the Forest by Katherine Shaw
Adore this story. I love Slavic mythology so this was right up my alley. I was upset when it was over because I need MORE. Yet another story I wish was longer! 5 stars
Queen of the Snows by Joyce Reynolds-Ward
I felt a little lost through most of this, like it’s a side story for a greater series I haven’t read. I tried looking at Joyce Reynolds-Ward’s other works and couldn’t find anything that looked like a series to go with this story, and I’m kind of mad because I want to read it. A modern day epic fantasy. 4 stars
Long Meg and the Sorcerer’s Stones by M. J. Weatherall
Is this a legend about how Stone Henge came to be? It seems like it. Interesting and I love the Sapphic vibes. 3.5 stars
The Frost of Mercy by A. J. Van Belle
Haunting tale of dryads in a modern day world where they’ve been polluted just about out of existence. 4 stars
Wintercast by R. A. Gerritse
Amazing story about “sparks of inspiration” – or are they? Intriguing insight into the Winter that comes before the Spring. 4 stars
You Can’t See Me by Kate Longstone
This is such a cute little fairy story! I had a silly grin on my face at the end, it was just too cute. Reminded me a lot of Alethea Kontis’ work. 5 stars
A digital ARC of this book was provided by the tour company for review. All opinions are unbiased and my own.
The Biting Cold by Josie Jaffrey
Second person present tense, fantasy horror. 2 stars
The Match Girl by Rebecca F. Kenney
Immediately went to lookup Kenney’s blacklist. Give me this romance novel PLEASE. I love this dark fantasy romance spin on The Little Match Girl and really wish this was a full novel. I would read it IN A HEARTBEAT. 5 stars
Santa Claus is Coming to Town by Bharat Krishnan
Holiday horror, THOROUGHLY creeped me out. It was especially effective after the dark romance of the previous story and the sort of fluffy feminist take on a classic fairy tale that came after. 4 stars
A Pea Ever After by Adie Hart
Absolutely adorable (feminist) twist on The Princess and the Pea! For such a short story I came to care about all the princesses (and the poor prince, haha) very much. I love the various relationships in this, and can see it existing as an interstitial novella as part of a series. I’ll definitely be checking out this author’s other work. 5 stars
The Snowdrop by H. L. Macfarlane
Cute but not much substance, the ending felt very abrupt. 2.5 stars
Silverfoot’s Edge by Ella Holmes
Felt the most like a traditional fairy tale so far, complete with some fae sidekicks and an impossible task. 3.5 stars
The Storm Hags by Caroline Logan
Almost Buffy-like vibes somehow. I had trouble getting into this story, but it was very interesting. It had a very urban fantasy feel despite also being told like a more traditional fairy tale and seeming to be set in a sort of medieval setting. But what happens after the tale? 3.5 stars
The Boggart of Boggart Hole Clough by Jake Curran-Pipe
Hated the writing style, DNF
Around the Hawthorne Tree by Jenna Smithwick
Actual fae in this one, being tricksy and fae. I could easily see this being a full novel or at least a novella. If it were a full novel I’d definitely pick it up! 3.5 stars
The Best Girl this Side of Winter by Laila Amado
Lovely coming of age fantasy story. The ending was a but abrupt for me and I’d really love to see this as a fully fleshed out YA fantasy romance novel. I think it could be BIG! Sort of Game of Thrones Nightwalker type vibes. 4 stars
The Snow Trolls by S. Markem
Lol what the heck? This story just so silly, I loved it. Of you’re a fan of gag gifts like “snowman poop” that is actually mini marshmallows, and authors like Terry Pratchett, you’ll probably love this story! 4.5 stars
Lord of the Forest by Katherine Shaw
Adore this story. I love Slavic mythology so this was right up my alley. I was upset when it was over because I need MORE. Yet another story I wish was longer! 5 stars
Queen of the Snows by Joyce Reynolds-Ward
I felt a little lost through most of this, like it’s a side story for a greater series I haven’t read. I tried looking at Joyce Reynolds-Ward’s other works and couldn’t find anything that looked like a series to go with this story, and I’m kind of mad because I want to read it. A modern day epic fantasy. 4 stars
Long Meg and the Sorcerer’s Stones by M. J. Weatherall
Is this a legend about how Stone Henge came to be? It seems like it. Interesting and I love the Sapphic vibes. 3.5 stars
The Frost of Mercy by A. J. Van Belle
Haunting tale of dryads in a modern day world where they’ve been polluted just about out of existence. 4 stars
Wintercast by R. A. Gerritse
Amazing story about “sparks of inspiration” – or are they? Intriguing insight into the Winter that comes before the Spring. 4 stars
You Can’t See Me by Kate Longstone
This is such a cute little fairy story! I had a silly grin on my face at the end, it was just too cute. Reminded me a lot of Alethea Kontis’ work. 5 stars
A digital ARC of this book was provided by the tour company for review. All opinions are unbiased and my own.