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A review by tomesproject
Toil & Trouble: 15 Tales of Women & Witchcraft by Jessica Spotswood, Tess Sharpe
4.0
my review over @ Tomes Project
So my average rating is closer to a 3.5-3.75, but while there were a handful of stories that I really didn't like, the ones that I enjoyed I absolutely loved. (Also, normally I hate anthologies because I only find two or three stories/authors I like, and I'm frankly shocked that I liked so many stories in this.)
Stories I Loved:
- Afterbirth by Andrea Cremer: This was the historical, Crucible-esk story that I wanted going into this. I loved Cremer's writing, and this is one of the few stories I pulled quotes from.
- The Truth About Queenie by Brandy Colbert: After this story, I'm officially bumping up Colbert's book on my TBR. I absolutely fell in love with her writing. This story was very much real life with a touch of magic, which is one of my favorite ways for magic to be in stories. It also felt very Practical Magic, which I loved.
-The Legend of Stone Mary by Robin Tally: Another one that made me bump up Robin Tally's books on my TBR. It didn't have my favorite writing of this bunch, but the storytelling and plot kept me so engaged.
- The One Who Stayed by Nova Ren Suma: WOW. AH. THIS WRITING. I'm so glad that I own a Nova Ren Suma book so that I can read it ASAP. She writes a great short story (probably my favorite of the whole anthology?).
- Beware of Girls With Crooked Teeth by Jessica Spotswood: Oh, I love an unlikeable, morally grey female main character. Also, it felt like a period drama? Which super appealed to me.
- Love Spell by Anna-Marie McLemore: McLemore's writing is so beautiful and wonderful and meaningful, and I love that Spanish just exists in her writing, she doesn't explain it, doesn't translate it, it's just there. It's a very small thing, but I absolutely love it.
- The Gherin Girls by Emery Lord: The sheer number of witch sisters in this anthology is amazing, and I loved practically every one of them. But of the sister stories, this was my favorite. I loved all of the sisters in different ways, but I loved Nova. Like, she shaved her head when she got into a serious relationship with a dude so that people wouldn't assume she was straight. I love her.
- Why They Watch Us Burn by Elizabeth May: This is another one that is really at the top of this bunch. So, so amazing and well-written. The allegory, the story, everything about this was perfect for me.
Stories I Just Felt Okay About:
- Divine Are the Stars by Zoraida Córdova: This one really teeters between this category and the former. I loved the roots of this story, the magical realism, but I was kind of confused while reading it and it left a little to be desired. This definitely reminded me to pick up her books soon though.
- Starsong by Tehlor Key Mejia: I loved the F/F romance in this one, but I just? Don't like astrology that much? And the pop culture references were a little heavy-handed for my tastes.
- The Heart in Her Hands by Tess Sharpe: A fun, cute, queer take on every fanfic author's favorite soulmate AU. Though if I didn't read fanfic and know all of these tropes by heart, I probably would not have liked this story very much.
- Death in the Sawtooths by Lindsay Smith: This had a really strong concept (gotta love death witches) but I felt it wasn't executed plot or writing-wise up to it's full potential.
Stories I Didn't Like:
- The Moonapple Menagerie by Shveta Thakrar: Oh, god, I was so confused. I had to take character notes on a short story because everything was just thrown at you one page into the story. While the actual writing was very pretty, I don't think it suits short stories very well. There was just so much going on that I was confused from the beginning to the end.
- Daughters of Baba Yaga by Brenna Yovanoff: This was very 2008 YA. The writing was just very ... underwhelming, very tell not show. I mean, our POV character literally says in the narrative "here's what happened" and "[this] is what happened" multiple times in order to explain the story to the reader. The story itself was fine, but I couldn't handle the writing.
- The Well Witch by Kate Hart: I literally couldn't even force myself to actually read this one. I, uh, didn't like Hart's debut last year. And this was like a western? And there wasn't actually much magic? (From what I could tell by skim-reading.) And the main character's name was Elsa which is like naming your character Katniss and just shouldn't be done.
If witchcraft is the voice of women rising free and powerful (to change the world, make it ours, on our feet instead of on our knees) then I wish to be a witch more than anything.
- Elizabeth May, Why They Watch Us Burn
So my average rating is closer to a 3.5-3.75, but while there were a handful of stories that I really didn't like, the ones that I enjoyed I absolutely loved. (Also, normally I hate anthologies because I only find two or three stories/authors I like, and I'm frankly shocked that I liked so many stories in this.)
Stories I Loved:
- Afterbirth by Andrea Cremer: This was the historical, Crucible-esk story that I wanted going into this. I loved Cremer's writing, and this is one of the few stories I pulled quotes from.
- The Truth About Queenie by Brandy Colbert: After this story, I'm officially bumping up Colbert's book on my TBR. I absolutely fell in love with her writing. This story was very much real life with a touch of magic, which is one of my favorite ways for magic to be in stories. It also felt very Practical Magic, which I loved.
'I mean, why don't we talk about [magic]?'
'Because sometimes being black is hard enough, Queenie,' she said, her voice not angry but tired. 'We were the first black family to move in on this block, and I don't want to give people a reason to question us.'
-The Legend of Stone Mary by Robin Tally: Another one that made me bump up Robin Tally's books on my TBR. It didn't have my favorite writing of this bunch, but the storytelling and plot kept me so engaged.
- The One Who Stayed by Nova Ren Suma: WOW. AH. THIS WRITING. I'm so glad that I own a Nova Ren Suma book so that I can read it ASAP. She writes a great short story (probably my favorite of the whole anthology?).
- Beware of Girls With Crooked Teeth by Jessica Spotswood: Oh, I love an unlikeable, morally grey female main character. Also, it felt like a period drama? Which super appealed to me.
- Love Spell by Anna-Marie McLemore: McLemore's writing is so beautiful and wonderful and meaningful, and I love that Spanish just exists in her writing, she doesn't explain it, doesn't translate it, it's just there. It's a very small thing, but I absolutely love it.
- The Gherin Girls by Emery Lord: The sheer number of witch sisters in this anthology is amazing, and I loved practically every one of them. But of the sister stories, this was my favorite. I loved all of the sisters in different ways, but I loved Nova. Like, she shaved her head when she got into a serious relationship with a dude so that people wouldn't assume she was straight. I love her.
Novy's biggest relationship in high school had been with a girl, but in college, with a boy. She was never one to have far-away crushes with longing looks. She fell as she got to know someone, when they made her laugh and proved they could show up.
- Why They Watch Us Burn by Elizabeth May: This is another one that is really at the top of this bunch. So, so amazing and well-written. The allegory, the story, everything about this was perfect for me.
Stories I Just Felt Okay About:
- Divine Are the Stars by Zoraida Córdova: This one really teeters between this category and the former. I loved the roots of this story, the magical realism, but I was kind of confused while reading it and it left a little to be desired. This definitely reminded me to pick up her books soon though.
- Starsong by Tehlor Key Mejia: I loved the F/F romance in this one, but I just? Don't like astrology that much? And the pop culture references were a little heavy-handed for my tastes.
- The Heart in Her Hands by Tess Sharpe: A fun, cute, queer take on every fanfic author's favorite soulmate AU. Though if I didn't read fanfic and know all of these tropes by heart, I probably would not have liked this story very much.
- Death in the Sawtooths by Lindsay Smith: This had a really strong concept (gotta love death witches) but I felt it wasn't executed plot or writing-wise up to it's full potential.
Stories I Didn't Like:
- The Moonapple Menagerie by Shveta Thakrar: Oh, god, I was so confused. I had to take character notes on a short story because everything was just thrown at you one page into the story. While the actual writing was very pretty, I don't think it suits short stories very well. There was just so much going on that I was confused from the beginning to the end.
- Daughters of Baba Yaga by Brenna Yovanoff: This was very 2008 YA. The writing was just very ... underwhelming, very tell not show. I mean, our POV character literally says in the narrative "here's what happened" and "[this] is what happened" multiple times in order to explain the story to the reader. The story itself was fine, but I couldn't handle the writing.
- The Well Witch by Kate Hart: I literally couldn't even force myself to actually read this one. I, uh, didn't like Hart's debut last year. And this was like a western? And there wasn't actually much magic? (From what I could tell by skim-reading.) And the main character's name was Elsa which is like naming your character Katniss and just shouldn't be done.