A review by smittenforfiction
Toil & Trouble: 15 Tales of Women & Witchcraft by Jessica Spotswood, Tess Sharpe

4.0

Toil & Trouble is a unique short story collection of imaginative tales about witches learning to believe in themselves and face their fears. Some of the stories are light, while others are more serious and moving. Nothing can stand in the way of a woman who believes in herself. The real history of witches inspire a modern conversation about past mistakes as an opportunity for change. With a cast of diverse characters, many tales had me hooked from the first paragraph to the end.

Toil & Trouble is a commendable compilation for fantasy fans, especially for those interested in witches, but is also a significant piece of today's conversation about feminism and diversity.

Some of my Favs:
"Afterbirth" by Andrea Cremer
"The Heart in Her Hands" by Tess Sharpe
"Death in The Sawtooths" by Lindsay Smith
"Love Spell" by Anna-Marie McLemore
"The Gherin Girls" by Emery Lord

My favourite: "Why They Watch Us Burn" by Elizabeth May

All of the stories are at least ⭐⭐⭐ for me, my only complaint being that I found some of the endings abrupt/incomplete.

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for the complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.

Contributors:
Tehlor Kay Mejia "Starsong"
Andrea Cremer "Afterbirth"
Tess Sharpe "The Heart In Her Hands"
Lindsay Smith "Death in the Sawtooths"
Brandy Colbert "The Truth About Queenie"
Shveta Thakrar "The Moonapple Menagerie"
Robin Talley "The Legend of Stone Mary"
Nova Ren Suma "The One Who Stayed"
Zoraida Córdova "Divine are the Stars"
Brenna Yovanoff "Daughters of Baba Yaga"
Kate Hart "The Well Witch"
Jessica Spotswood "Beware of Girls With Crooked Mouths"
Anna-Marie McLemore "Love Spell"
Emery Lord "The Gherin Girls"
Elizabeth May "Why They Watch us Burn"