Cursed is a collection of twenty short stories. Some of these are original fiction and the others are re-tellings. I love reading anthologies so when Cursed is a collection of twenty short stories. Some of these are original fiction and the others are re-tellings. I love reading anthologies so when I saw that this has a collection of twenty dark and chilling stories, I had to read it. Most of these authors are new to me which is another reason for me to pick up anthologies as it gives me a chance to read different authors. This collection was definitely cursed for me as it was a complete waste of my time. So many of the stories made no sense and ended abruptly. Don't get me wrong, I love open-ended stories but this was not the case here.
1. Castle Cursed (2020) / short fiction by Jane Yolen - 1 star
This was just a one-page-long poem which was beautiful to read but I did not understand its significance. Initially, I didn't even realize it was a separate story until I did the counting halfway through and came up with a number short (19 instead of 20 stories) because this felt and read like a set-up for the second story. I can't justify giving this more than 1 star.
2. As Red As Blood, As White As Snow by Christina Henry - 4 stars
This is a story inspired by Snow White and Bluebeard. The writing was foreboding and gave me chills. This story really set the bar for the rest of the stories but sadly, none of the other stories lived up to this.
3. - Troll Bridge (1993) / by Neil Gaiman (variant of Troll-Bridge) - 2.5 stars
Neil Gaiman's writing is gripping but the story lacked something for me. It was quite sad in the end but I expected more.
4. At That Age / short fiction by Catriona Ward - 2 stars
John meets twins Drew and Daisy in his class and the twins invite John to their home after school. They have a party and John finds something rather strange about the twins' house. It started out great but I don't know what happened after that. Even writing this review, I am still trying to figure out what the story was about.
5. Listen / short fiction by Jen Williams - 3 stars
Erren travels from one town to another to play a set of pipes and she always finds an audience when she plays music but there is a sinister side to her music and Erren is cursed to play for eternity. This was one of the few stories that weren't a complete waste of my time.
6. Henry and the Snakewood Box / short fiction by M. R. Carey - 1 star
Henry is an ordinary person and that's why the Snakewood Box chose Henry. The box who happens to be a demon wants henry to make countless wishes which Henry is more than happy to do. But the box has an agenda. This was an absolute disappointment. This goes on and on about the workings of the universe but failed to impress me.
7. Skin / short fiction by James Brogden - 0 stars
Hannah knows that she's not good looking and when she ends up with Robin she along her with her friends wonders how is she able to bag Robin as he is gorgeous. Then Robin disappeared out of her life only to come back now and apologize to Hannah.
I think this was the story that I hated the most from this collection. Hannah was a complete hypocrite. She knows that she isn't good looking and she lies to Robin about her skin condition. So when Robin reacted the way he reacted, she shames him that he grooms himself as if it is illegal for men to groom themselves. Robin is made out to be the villain of the story when in reality, Hannah was the villain and she didn't even pay for her crime.
8. Faith & Fred / short fiction by Maura Mchugh - 2 stars
Another story with a great start, only to dwindle down the path of absolute disaster. Why are we punishing people who weren't at fault?
9. The Black Fairy's Curse (1997) / short story by Karen Joy Fowler - 1.5 stars
A woman is being chased then she wakes up and finds herself somewhere else and so on. I am not even sure if there was an actual story here and then it ends abruptly.
10. Wendy, Darling (2014) / short fiction by Christopher Golden - 1 star
This is a re-telling of Peter Pan as can be guessed by the title but again, I don't know what the point of this was.
11. Fairy Werewolf vs. Vampire Zombie (2011) / short story by Charlie Jane Anders - 2.5 stars
This also started out really good but ended just not as good. It wasn't the worst but I did get my hopes up.
12. Look Inside Me (2013) / short fiction by Michael Marshall Smith - 0 stars
First of all, this concept of starting a story by saying that I am going to tell a lie is a stupid one. Secondly, I had guessed the entire story and the lie by the fifth line. I wanted to skip and should have as this was really bad. One of the worst is this collection.
13. Little Red (2009) / short story by Adam Stemple and Jane Yolen - 1 star
This was the story I was most excited about as I love the original story of little red riding hood. But this was also disappointing and another story that made no sense. I get the metaphor but this was really bad with an abrupt end.
14. New Wine / short fiction by Angela Slatter - 4 stars
Alek's mother left when he was nine and his father is never around. Alek is eighteen now and lives in his father's big mansion and Valerie tutors him. Valerie lost her own teenage daughter a year ago. Valerie and Alek feel like the parent and child they each lost. This was my second favorite story from the collection. I had guessed how the story would turn out right at the beginning but I still enjoyed it as it has an actual story unlike the majority of this awful collection.
15. Haza and Ghani / short fiction by Lilith Saintcrow - 1 star
Haza and Ghani are siblings who lost their mother and their father re-marries but both Haza and Ghani are called by the temple for different duties and are separated. They meet again but the circumstances are so grim. This had real potential but the execution was not there. I don't think the author knew which direction she wanted to go in and ended up neither here nor there.
16. Hated / short fiction by Christopher Fowler - 3 stars
When Michael who is loved by all is suddenly hated by all, he tries to find out the reason and the results turn out to be completely unexpected. This was not bad.
17. Merrie Dancers / short fiction by Allison Littlewood - 3 stars
Merrie dancers is a story about red shoes and Yule and the legends surrounding Yule. I didn't like the middle part so much but this wasn't bad.
18. Again / short fiction by Tim Lebbon - 2 stars
Jodi was cursed to never die and be born again and again. I liked the concept but I wish the end was a bit different.
19. The Girl from the Hell / short fiction by Margo Lanagan - 0 stars
I am not sure what the story was about or if there was a story in this.
20. Castle Waking / short fiction by Jane Yolen - 0 stars
Another one-page poem by Jane Yolen and is completely pointless.
Overall, this was appalling. Most stories (I don't even want to call them stories) read like a jumble of thoughts. You know that feeling when you dream and that dream or nightmare ends abruptly and another starts and another and when you wake up, you only remember a jumble and a haziness? That's exactly what this collection is.
Overall 1.7 stars but rounding it up to 2 stars....more
Elena is a huge Star Wars fan and when a new Star Wars movie is about to be released, she wants to rejoice by being among othMay the force be with you
Elena is a huge Star Wars fan and when a new Star Wars movie is about to be released, she wants to rejoice by being among other Star Wars fans so she decides to queue up to get the movie tickets outside of a cinema the night before. She is ecstatic but soon all her excitement dissipates because the queue isn't very long but she decides to stay and enjoy the experience.
This is a cute short story by one of my favorite authors. So naturally, I had expected a lot, while I won't say that I'm disappointed, I also wasn't in awe like other Rowell books. I felt like there was something missing, hence four stars. I liked it for what it wanted to portray and it was such a short, snappy read too. I'm a huge Star Wars fan too so it spoke to that part of me but the end felt a little unsatisfying to me.
Nell is going to Paris for a weekend away with her boyfriend, Pete. She is waiting at the train station for Pete when Pete tells herLive in the moment
Nell is going to Paris for a weekend away with her boyfriend, Pete. She is waiting at the train station for Pete when Pete tells her to go to Paris alone as he's stuck at work and will try to get the later train. Nell gets to Paris and Pete tells her that he won't be coming. Nell doesn't do anything spontaneous in her life and she always makes a pros and cons list for everything so when she has to be in Paris all by herself, she doesn't like the idea but when she gets hungry she has to eat and she eats by herself. The next day she tries to get an early ticket but she can't afford it so she decides to stay and then she meets the Frenchman, Fabien and Fabien takes her around Paris and Nell feels alive for the first time.
She has no idea what will happen next. It is absolutely thrilling.
It started off really slow but when Nell and Fabien meet, it picked up but then it got a little slow again. It was quite predictable but I didn't mind that. I didn't really like Nell but I liked Fabien and I absolutely loved the receptionist, Marianne. I liked the ending but I didn't love it. I am left with so many questions. Would she move to Paris? Would this be a long distance thing? Is there another option? Still overall, it's quite enjoyable.
Hag: Forgotten Folktales Retold is a collection of ten short stories or I should say re-tellings of ten short stories. I love short story collections Hag: Forgotten Folktales Retold is a collection of ten short stories or I should say re-tellings of ten short stories. I love short story collections and I love the re-telling versions even better. These are all written by female authors so obviously, I was doubly excited. The original stories are mentioned at the back which was great because I was not familiar with a few of these stories. After reading the collection, I have to say that I was disappointed a lot. I have reviewed each story separately.
1. A Retelling by Daisy Johnson - 1 star Based on - The Green Children of Woolpit
Inherent in retelling is - at first - destruction.
Daisy Johnson starts off this story by telling us that she is asked to do a retelling of The Green Children of Woolpit and then she starts to see this woman who maybe resembles the girl from that original story only now a grownup. This story works like magical realism. I honestly did not like the story or the narration style of it nor do I understand the point of it.
2. Sour Hall by Naomi Booth - 2.5 stars Based on - Ay, We're Flittin'
TW/CW - Miscarriage
Ashleigh and George move to George's parents' farm, Sour hall farm after she inherits the farm. They start working on renovating and also how to make a profit from selling cheese and milk and the likes. It is rumored that the farm is haunted by The Boggart. Ashleigh starts to see some strange things that are somehow related to her past.
This was slow but creepy. I did not particularly like the story but I did like how it connected to Ashleigh's past. This was not bad.
3. Rosheen by Irenosen Okojie - 2.5 stars Based on - The Dauntless Girl
She herself a stranger in the land before she had dreamt of the wide flat skies and horizons, the sprawling dappled green landscape, windmills dotted along the Broads' periphery spinning like moored gods.
Rosheen was born to a Trinidadian father and an Irish mother in Ireland's small County, Kerry. She'd never met her father and when she was all grown up, she leaves the town she grew up in to move to the big city and finds work on a secluded farm where the owner doesn't pay her much and got her to work tirelessly. When she demands her share of the money, she experiences something stranger, stranger than fiction as they say.
This was an eerie story with just enough creepiness. I was on an edge throughout because of the way it was told but the twist wasn't as great as it was built out to be.
4. Between Sea and Sky by Kirsty Logan - 3 stars Based on - The Great Silkie of Sule Skerry
Sometimes the thing we think we're the most sure about actually turns out to be our biggest mistake.
Skye is a single mother working in a small town in Scotland as an archeologist. She is the talk of the town as no one knows who the father of her baby is and she keeps it a secret as well. When the baby's father comes to get the baby exactly six months after the baby, Muir was born, Skye can't stop him. After that the baby, Muir starts to spend six months with his mother and six months with his father until one day, he decides that he wants to spend all his time with his mother.
I really liked the story in this one. By far, this was my favorite story but it had a slow start. I did like the twist and that ending made me so so sad.
5. The Panther's Tale by Mahsuda Snaith - 4 stars Based on - Chillington House
' It is not where I have been that matters,' she says. 'It is where I am going.'
John Giffard collects exotic animals and brings them to his house in Chillington Hall. When he captures a panther that reminds people of the devil himself, things turn out to be even more magical than they could have imagined.
This was the best of the bunch. My favorite story, not only in the way it was told but also because the twist was pretty good. The only complaint is that the ending could have been better.
6. The Tale of Kathleen by Eimear McBride - 0 stars Based on - The Tale of Kathleen
Kathleen loved a young man and he was lost at sea. When Kathleen is given a chance to see the young man once again by a mysterious figure, Kathleen agrees to all the terms, after all, she'd be able to see her love once again. But there's a catch.
I don't know why so many people liked this story but I did not. The main reason is that - this re-telling isn't a re-telling at all, it is a word-to-word story copied from the original tale, even the title is the same. The only thing different is the way the writer added weird details such as, 'we don't know whether her hair was black or ebony, we'll never know.' I was promised a re-telling or at least something different, not the same story.
7. The Sisters by Liv Little - 1.5 stars Based on - The Brothers
Grace and Maya are twins but they are completely different from each other except for the way they look. But as they grow up, turns out that they aren't as different as they once thought.
I did not like the story or the characters or anything else about it. It is also heavy on infidelity which I am not a great fan of. However, the writing was not bad.
8. The Dampness is Spreading by Emma Glass - 1 star Based on - The Fairy Midwife
TW/CW - Child Birth, Miscarriage
Eira is a midwife and she comes across a pregnant young woman. Eira thinks that she knows the young woman and she helps deliver the baby only to find out that things aren't as they seem.
This was not an easy story to read. I wish this came with trigger warnings. Horror is one thing but this was on another level. Also, after reading the original, I have to say that the original was way way way better.
9. The Droll of the Mermaid: Natasha Carthew - 4 stars Based on - The Mermaid and the Man of Cury
Lowan has a family secret, the one that comes with a great cost. When it's time for Lowan to pay the cost, he comes up with something completely unexpected and things turn around for him.
I see a lot of people not liking this story mainly because of the grammatical errors. So, the copy I have did not have any of those issues, the grammar was spot on so maybe that's why I enjoyed it more. I also liked the story and the message that it sends. After reading the original story, I'll say that this is more like an extended version down a few generations rather than a full-on re-telling but it works here, at least for me. I liked it a lot.
10. The Holloway by Imogen Hermes Gowar - 4 stars Based on - Old Farmer Mole
TW/CW - Domestic violence/abuse, Manipulation
Evie witnesses domestic violence caused by her father toward her mother. Her brother, Luke tells her a story of Pixies who live in their garden and beyond. Evie doesn't believe him until her wish comes true.
This works in a magical realism way too. Was it magic or was it a coincidence or was it real? A simple story rooted in domestic violence/abuse and how it affects people around it. I quite liked the ending.
As I have said that some of these were good but the majority didn't work for me. And these should come with trigger warnings.
Wanting things to stay the way they were, knowing nothing ever did.
Melody can't sleep as her father would be punished in the morning for committing anWanting things to stay the way they were, knowing nothing ever did.
Melody can't sleep as her father would be punished in the morning for committing an unforgivable crime. She can't do anything about it but let the punishment take its course. She is fourteen years old and has a younger brother, Jeremy. As punishment, her father is banished from the village with a corpse tied to his back and her father has to carry the weight of the dead until his last breath unless he survives it as there are rumors that some survive the punishment known as the Rot. Melody frequently visits her father beyond the gates of the village and starts to come up with plans of saving her father as she needs her father to stand between her and the leering men of the village. Would Melody be successful?
This kicked off as a post-apocalyptic, dystopian story where the technology fried out a long time ago in a world known as World Ago, before the Day the Sun Roared and I was hooked. And that premise of being punished with the weight of the dead was stomach-churning and interesting, to say the least. The writing was engaging and I loved the strong female character but towards the end, the story takes a turn that I could not like as much as the rest of the story. I felt that after such an amazing story, the end was not as satisfying as I had expected it to be.
Miquon doesn't remember much besides her name and that her memory was stolen and she has to catch the thief of memory if she has a chance of ever haviMiquon doesn't remember much besides her name and that her memory was stolen and she has to catch the thief of memory if she has a chance of ever having the life she had before.
I can't say much without giving away spoilers but this was an excellent short story that had me confused for the most part. I didn't think I'd like this but that ending was brilliant but heartbreaking. Although I loved the story, the writing had a few errors.
Karyn has a rare form of synesthesia which means that can feel the sound waves on her body. When her teammateThat’s when things started getting weird.
Karyn has a rare form of synesthesia which means that can feel the sound waves on her body. When her teammates don't return from a cave that's rumored to be haunted in the sense that people hear strange noises within and then end up killing themselves and/or others, she decides to walk within and unlock its secrets.
This was truly a horror story along with being claustrophobic and anxiety-inducing too. The writing was engaging but the ending in my opinion wasn't as good as the buildup.
Maralinda is a novice in the sisterhood of Saint Nicola. She's been training for years and wants nothing more than to be a full sister in the sisterhoMaralinda is a novice in the sisterhood of Saint Nicola. She's been training for years and wants nothing more than to be a full sister in the sisterhood. When the vicious Invaders from Mars attack, she has an opportunity to prove herself and she gets battle ready.
I loved the blurb. It sounds fascinating and kickass so I hate to say that I did not enjoy this. It took me a while to get into the story if I can call it that because there isn't exactly a story and by the time I started to enjoy it, it came to an end. The action fell short of my expectations. The setting is interesting and it is decently detailed but other than that I didn't like anything else.
Klara loves fairytales and she works at the Baron's household as a kitchen maid. When a mysterious butStories are everywhere, and everyone tells them.
Klara loves fairytales and she works at the Baron's household as a kitchen maid. When a mysterious but beautiful woman with long black hair and skin as white as porcelain comes knocking on the kitchen door, Klara opens it to let her in. Klara believes that the mysterious woman is a lost princess and she has come to attend the ball that is to be held in a few days' time. Now, Klara has to make sure that the lost princess does attend the ball and dances with the prince as it happens in all the fairytales and finds her happily ever after.
This was a dark and mysterious tale that reads like a fairytale but it also reads like a spy thriller as it is set in the time of WWII. I loved the world-building and the writing is utterly captivating. Klara's child-like fairytale-obsessed POV works really well in narrating the story. The second half was rushed a little but other than that this was a lovely read.
Telnan of Ranler goes in search of The Desecrator as instructed by Sethra Lavode. He enjoys some parts of his journey whilst others he hates but he maTelnan of Ranler goes in search of The Desecrator as instructed by Sethra Lavode. He enjoys some parts of his journey whilst others he hates but he makes it to the cave where he thinks that he'd find The Desecrator. But when he gets there, another surprise is in store for him.
This was a lovely short story and I particularly enjoyed the narration style. Even though I am not familiar with this world, things made just enough sense (not initially though) for me to end up enjoying this and I liked it as a teaser into this world.
Jenna and Victor get engaged on Victor's last day in the town. When Jenna stops hearing from Victor, she seBut don’t think about the bad things, girl.
Jenna and Victor get engaged on Victor's last day in the town. When Jenna stops hearing from Victor, she sells the ring for a petty amount of cash and moves on. But now two years later, Victor is back in town and so is a haunted Camaro. Jenna comes up with an idea for Victor to pay back.
I liked the compelling start, and I liked the end but it does die down somewhere in the middle. Overall, a bit predictable but decent horror story.
“Beta, opportunity does not come looking for you,” his father said, squinting again. “You must create it. There is always a way to make things better.“Beta, opportunity does not come looking for you,” his father said, squinting again. “You must create it. There is always a way to make things better.”
Rohit is a third-generation American-Indian. When he gets an opportunity to go back to India and work in an organisation called India World, he is beyond ecstatic. He thinks that India World is a theme park but only to realize that is not the case as it happens India World is much more than that but I couldn't tell you what it was because I didn't understand it myself.
I can totally relate to Rohit's feelings to do more for one's country and I am sure this story was supposed to be Rohit's bigger purpose or something but honestly, it didn't make much sense to me. I am sure there were one or several hidden messages but I failed to understand any of them. The story was all over the place, the writing was boring. I don't know if it takes place in the future or alternative timeline or what because again not much was clear. No one is more upset than I for not liking this.
Hag: Forgotten Folktales Retold is a collection of ten short stories or I should say re-tellings of ten short stories. I love short story collections Hag: Forgotten Folktales Retold is a collection of ten short stories or I should say re-tellings of ten short stories. I love short story collections and I love the re-telling versions even better. These are all written by female authors so obviously, I was doubly excited. The original stories are mentioned at the back which was great because I was not familiar with a few of these stories. After reading the collection, I have to say that I was disappointed a lot. I have reviewed each story separately.
1. A Retelling by Daisy Johnson - 1 star Based on - The Green Children of Woolpit
Inherent in retelling is - at first - destruction.
Daisy Johnson starts off this story by telling us that she is asked to do a retelling of The Green Children of Woolpit and then she starts to see this woman who maybe resembles the girl from that original story only now a grownup. This story works like magical realism. I honestly did not like the story or the narration style of it nor do I understand the point of it.
2. Sour Hall by Naomi Booth - 2.5 stars Based on - Ay, We're Flittin'
TW/CW - Miscarriage
Ashleigh and George move to George's parents' farm, Sour hall farm after she inherits the farm. They start working on renovating and also how to make a profit from selling cheese and milk and the likes. It is rumored that the farm is haunted by The Boggart. Ashleigh starts to see some strange things that are somehow related to her past.
This was slow but creepy. I did not particularly like the story but I did like how it connected to Ashleigh's past. This was not bad.
3. Rosheen by Irenosen Okojie - 2.5 stars Based on - The Dauntless Girl
She herself a stranger in the land before she had dreamt of the wide flat skies and horizons, the sprawling dappled green landscape, windmills dotted along the Broads' periphery spinning like moored gods.
Rosheen was born to a Trinidadian father and an Irish mother in Ireland's small County, Kerry. She'd never met her father and when she was all grown up, she leaves the town she grew up in to move to the big city and finds work on a secluded farm where the owner doesn't pay her much and got her to work tirelessly. When she demands her share of the money, she experiences something stranger, stranger than fiction as they say.
This was an eerie story with just enough creepiness. I was on an edge throughout because of the way it was told but the twist wasn't as great as it was built out to be.
4. Between Sea and Sky by Kirsty Logan - 3 stars Based on - The Great Silkie of Sule Skerry
Sometimes the thing we think we're the most sure about actually turns out to be our biggest mistake.
Skye is a single mother working in a small town in Scotland as an archeologist. She is the talk of the town as no one knows who the father of her baby is and she keeps it a secret as well. When the baby's father comes to get the baby exactly six months after the baby, Muir was born, Skye can't stop him. After that the baby, Muir starts to spend six months with his mother and six months with his father until one day, he decides that he wants to spend all his time with his mother.
I really liked the story in this one. By far, this was my favorite story but it had a slow start. I did like the twist and that ending made me so so sad.
5. The Panther's Tale by Mahsuda Snaith - 4 stars Based on - Chillington House
' It is not where I have been that matters,' she says. 'It is where I am going.'
John Giffard collects exotic animals and brings them to his house in Chillington Hall. When he captures a panther that reminds people of the devil himself, things turn out to be even more magical than they could have imagined.
This was the best of the bunch. My favorite story, not only in the way it was told but also because the twist was pretty good. The only complaint is that the ending could have been better.
6. The Tale of Kathleen by Eimear McBride - 0 stars Based on - The Tale of Kathleen
Kathleen loved a young man and he was lost at sea. When Kathleen is given a chance to see the young man once again by a mysterious figure, Kathleen agrees to all the terms, after all, she'd be able to see her love once again. But there's a catch.
I don't know why so many people liked this story but I did not. The main reason is that - this re-telling isn't a re-telling at all, it is a word-to-word story copied from the original tale, even the title is the same. The only thing different is the way the writer added weird details such as, 'we don't know whether her hair was black or ebony, we'll never know.' I was promised a re-telling or at least something different, not the same story.
7. The Sisters by Liv Little - 1.5 stars Based on - The Brothers
Grace and Maya are twins but they are completely different from each other except for the way they look. But as they grow up, turns out that they aren't as different as they once thought.
I did not like the story or the characters or anything else about it. It is also heavy on infidelity which I am not a great fan of. However, the writing was not bad.
8. The Dampness is Spreading by Emma Glass - 1 star Based on - The Fairy Midwife
TW/CW - Child Birth, Miscarriage
Eira is a midwife and she comes across a pregnant young woman. Eira thinks that she knows the young woman and she helps deliver the baby only to find out that things aren't as they seem.
This was not an easy story to read. I wish this came with trigger warnings. Horror is one thing but this was on another level. Also, after reading the original, I have to say that the original was way way way better.
9. The Droll of the Mermaid: Natasha Carthew - 4 stars Based on - The Mermaid and the Man of Cury
Lowan has a family secret, the one that comes with a great cost. When it's time for Lowan to pay the cost, he comes up with something completely unexpected and things turn around for him.
I see a lot of people not liking this story mainly because of the grammatical errors. So, the copy I have did not have any of those issues, the grammar was spot on so maybe that's why I enjoyed it more. I also liked the story and the message that it sends. After reading the original story, I'll say that this is more like an extended version down a few generations rather than a full-on re-telling but it works here, at least for me. I liked it a lot.
10. The Holloway by Imogen Hermes Gowar - 4 stars Based on - Old Farmer Mole
TW/CW - Domestic violence/abuse, Manipulation
Evie witnesses domestic violence caused by her father toward her mother. Her brother, Luke tells her a story of Pixies who live in their garden and beyond. Evie doesn't believe him until her wish comes true.
This works in a magical realism way too. Was it magic or was it a coincidence or was it real? A simple story rooted in domestic violence/abuse and how it affects people around it. I quite liked the ending.
As I have said that some of these were good but the majority didn't work for me. And these should come with trigger warnings.
Legend of the Dragon Slayer: The Origin Story of Dragonwatch is a treat for the fans of the series. This tells the story of Konrad, the first dragon sLegend of the Dragon Slayer: The Origin Story of Dragonwatch is a treat for the fans of the series. This tells the story of Konrad, the first dragon slayer and it is nothing less than magic. It shows how the dragon slayers came to be and the illustrations work wonderfully in line with the story.
I think it is also a great starting point for the skeptics to get into this series. My only complaint is that it is too short. I hope Brandon Mull decides to write more about this world.
Kerry's touch is lethal. She can turn living things into granite and when accidentally she turns her parents into granite, Flint from the Silver HelixKerry's touch is lethal. She can turn living things into granite and when accidentally she turns her parents into granite, Flint from the Silver Helix, an organization that helps people with special powers and abilities takes Kerry under his wing. After living solitary for some time, Kerry embarks on her first mission but that mission turns out to be something that she was not ready for in any way.
I have been enjoying all these short stories written in this Wild Cards universe and this was no exception. It started out great and there was a lot of tension but the ending dragged a little and that's what has affected my rating. An excellent addition nonetheless.
Elliott is the Director of Animal Affairs at a University that deals in emotional support animals for the students there. Today, he finds out that TatElliott is the Director of Animal Affairs at a University that deals in emotional support animals for the students there. Today, he finds out that Tatiana Prentiss is bringing a new support animal who is supposed to be a dragon. They don't know what to expect until they actually find out that it is in fact a dragon. So, turns out that Tatiana actually managed to summon a dragon and they feel that the dragon is in pain and Tatiana doesn't realize that. Tatiana has ADHD, PTSD, and BPD.
The cover is beautiful and the blurb is vague which definitely made me read this story. I think this was supposed to be about people with mental health issues and diagnoses and working with young people along with a bit of fantasy thrown in there. I don't know what I was expecting from this story but it was not what I actually got. I understand there is a profound hidden meaning in here but nothing works here for me, unfortunately.
The Haunting Season is a collection of eight ghostly short stories. I have enjoyed most of these stories and I was glad for it as it has been a while The Haunting Season is a collection of eight ghostly short stories. I have enjoyed most of these stories and I was glad for it as it has been a while since I have enjoyed a short story collection. I do want to suggest that read this at night for a better experience rather than during the day. This entire collection is deliciously chilling.
1. A Study in Black and White by Bridget Collins - 4.5 stars
It was peculiarly quiet.
Morton gets fascinated by a black-and-white house and what's even more fascinating is the house's topiary which consists of chess pieces and incidentally, Morton loves chess. When he finds out that the house is up for rent, Morton decides to rent it and the agent lets him move in straight away making it seem too good to be true. But when chess pieces move on their own, Morton finds out sinister things afoot.
Wow! this story set up the atmosphere nicely. I was apprehensive the entire time and it gave me chills. That end was so good, creepy but good. This was definitely my top favorite story.
2 . Thwaite’s Tenant by Imogen Hermes Gowar - 4.5
Oh, what it is to realise that the only thing worse than there being somebody there is there being nobody there.
After leaving her husband, Lucinda along with her young son, Stanley seeks aid from her father but her father is no different from Lucinda's husband and he thinks that women should be with their husbands, no matter how they are being treated. Lucinda ends up in an old house in the countryside only to find out that the previous inhabitant of the house, Emily Thwaite's situation is quite similar to Lucinda's.
Set up in the Victorian era, this story has a strengthening ending that I loved so much. This is another favorite of mine from the collection.
3. The Eel Singers by Natasha Pulley - 4 stars
Something deep in him recognised the language, though he didn't understand. It sounded ancient.
It's Christmas time so this time around it is especially difficult for Mori since he is a clairvoyant and he longs to go somewhere quiet. So, Thaniel, Mori, and Six decide to take a trip to a town a few hours away from London where it is perfectly quiet for Mori. Thaniel does not like the town or its people who stare at Mori unflinchingly and hum at the same time. The longer they stay there, the more Thaniel hates the town. Would they be able to get away from whatever lurks there?
Another creepy story for the collection. This didn't have a whole lot of answers but worked rather well given the spine-chilling atmosphere this collection has.
4. Lily Wilt by Jess Kidd - 3 stars
Pemble is a memorial photographer and he is known for his first-class portraits taken in all weathers. He captures the essence of the deceased like no other. When he is summoned for Lily Wilt's portrait, he is stunned by her beauty even in death. He becomes obsessed with getting the perfect portrait but when he starts to get visits from Lily Wilt's ghost, things only get more horrifying.
This was an interesting story, to say the least. It is definitely atmospheric but I didn't like it as much as I liked the other stories.
5. The Chillingham Chair by Laura Purcell - 4 stars
There was nothing to do but lie awake and nurse her regrets.
Evelyn is at the Chillingham estate to attend her sister, Susan, and Victor Chillingham's wedding. When she has an accident whilst riding a horse and is confined to a guest house, Evelyn's mother thinks that Evelyn is jealous and regrets refusing Victor's hand in marriage and for a second even Evelyn thinks the same as Victor has been nothing but attentive and kind to Evelyn even when he is about to marry Susan. Could all the talk about Victor Chillingham being a gambler be wrong? When she is seated in Victor's father's wheelchair, some secrets are uncovered but what do they mean for the Chillingham estate, and more importantly what do they mean for Evelyn?
Another story set in the Victorian era that I enjoyed a lot. I think if the ending was different, it would have been a 5-star story for me.
6. The Hanging of the Greens by Andrew Michael Hurley - 3.5 stars
Because it was so still, I could hear voices coming from the trees.
Ed does not like Christmas time and when David asks him why - Ed tells him a story of something that happened to him more than half of his life ago when he was twenty-seven years old. Ed recounts how he was so sure of his path at the parish hall and to help people who needed his help. One such person was Joe Gull who tells him a story about how he is on the brink of death and he wants to do right by the people he's wronged. Ed helps him by writing letters to some people and by visiting some of them. But when he gets to a couple Joe wronged, Ed finds out something that shakes him to his core and shakes all his beliefs too.
This was another cryptic story. It is a story within a story that always chills me and delights me. I had guessed the twist early on. The only thing I didn't like was the ending. I think the ending could have been more developed as Ed never did anything with the information he found out.
I was screaming without a sound, on and on, and at last the scream escaped, shrill and piercing. An unbroken cry. But it was not from my mouth.
Catherine is pregnant and she lives at the Blake Manor with her husband and Mr and Mrs Noakes who look after the Manor and the garden. On a walk to the Church around the Christmas period, she finds out about the white witch who killed children. After Catherine gives birth, she is confined to the carmine room for nine days as is the tradition. In her confinement, she finds out that the white witch is after her new born daughter and Catherine would do anything to protect her daughter.
This is not an easy story to read. Also set in the Victorian era, this story is very unsettling and disturbing. I had guessed the twist in this too. I did like the author's note at the end as it gives a better explanation of the events.
8. Monster by Elizabeth McNeal - 2 stars
Things have a habit of being different from how they appear.
Victor is married to Mabel and he is out to prove himself by unearthing a rare fossil they head to Lyme Regis. By going to Lyme Regis, he is also fulfilling his promise to Mabel. When they get there, the innkeeper says that the hotel is haunted by the selkies. Victor gets engrossed in his work and unearths a complete skeleton of a rare monster but no one is there to celebrate that victory with him as his victory is laced with a young child's death.
This was bad. I mean really bad. It is definitely my least favorite story in the collection. I had a feeling that Victor was being punished for something but I couldn't figure out what for? I thought they would reveal Mabel to be a selkie but was never done. Also, if anyone needed to be punished, it was Mabel. That end was so disappointing.
Sometimes you can only do your best and nothing more.
Cayhun is a young man who lives in a village near the forbidden forest. They are all told by the Sometimes you can only do your best and nothing more.
Cayhun is a young man who lives in a village near the forbidden forest. They are all told by the village priest not to enter the forest as it contains a demon who is trapped in the King's sword. The forbidden forest line contained different types of fruits and plants, some edible some not. One day Cayhun goes way past the forbidden line and he hears a voice calling out beware, beware. Cayhun quickly makes his way out of the forest unharmed. On his return, he finds out that his little sister who was suffering from a mysterious illness has passed away. He blames his father as his father didn't treat his sister. Now, he doesn't want to join his father in raiding another village for food and grain so he flees deep into the forest and sees the very same King's sword. There were many myths about the King's sword. One myth held that the King’s Sword was cursed. Another myth held that whoever could touch the sword without dying would become the new king. Would Cayhun be cursed or would he become the King?
Nothing is apart from anything else in this forest. Our roots intertwine.
This story is told in nine parts and it has a very interesting premise. The story contains so much information about the plants and spore (given the title is Sword & Spore) that I don't recall another story talking about this. This has a wonderful amalgamation of both magic and science but not enough of either. Parts of it also read like a fairytale. The world-building could have been better but the writing flowed. I think for a short story this felt rather long, especially the last three parts but overall, I really enjoyed this.
I wish you hadn't been so young. You wouldn't have forgotten the farmhouse, the soot of its stone walls, the creek where your uncles and I built a thousanI wish you hadn't been so young. You wouldn't have forgotten the farmhouse, the soot of its stone walls, the creek where your uncles and I built a thousand boyhood homes.
A refugee father writes a letter to his son talking about his life before he had to flee his home from a war-torn country with his son in his arms. Only Khaled Hosseini could make me cry with a short story. It is poignant, powerful, moving, and packs a punch. It has beautiful watercolor illustrations too. I also loved the note at the end.
Serendipity is a collection of ten short YA stories by ten different writers. The blurb promises that ten of the brightest and award-winning authors wSerendipity is a collection of ten short YA stories by ten different writers. The blurb promises that ten of the brightest and award-winning authors writing YA have taken on some of your favorite romantic tropes, embracing them and turning them on their heads. I am a sucker for short-story collections as it gives a chance to sample different writers' work and a variety of stories in one book is always a good thing but the latter didn't turn out to be true in this read as all the stories were really bad. Also, that promise in the blurb of turning the tropes on their heads is false. None of the tropes were turned on their heads. Overall, it was a very disappointing read. Let's unpack.
1. Bye Bye, Piper Berry by Julie Murphy Trope - The Fake Relationship Rating - 1.5 stars
The only thing worse than being haunted by your past is being haunted by your future.
Piper finds out that her boyfriend, Travis was cheating on her so she broke up with him. When she finds out that her best friend Gabe knew of the cheating and Gabe didn't tell her, she gets angry with him and plans to win back Travis by pretending to go out with Gabe as Gabe owes her for not telling about Travis's cheating.
This was predictable (to be fair, all the stories were predictable) and it was a very bland story. I didn't mind Gabe but I didn't like Piper. I didn't feel the romance at all. I think this has been done a gazillion times and it didn't hold my interest from the beginning.
2. Anyone Else But You by Leah Johnson Trope - Stranded Together rating - 0 stars
Everything outside of this moment no longer exists.
Perry and Jada are rivals but they are class co-presidents too. They are both planning their senior send-off and Perry is waiting outside the party palace superstore and as usual, Jada is late. By the time Jada arrives, the store is about to close. Then both Perry and Jada realize that they are locked inside the store. As they are locked inside the store for the night, they start to talk and work out why they both didn't get along.
I don't know where to begin with my rant over this story. Jada is always late and when she tells the reason for her being late all the time, I didn't know whether to be angry or laugh. Her reason for always being late is that if you are always late, then people notice you and think you are cool. Pfft! I think it is about time that the writers start to realize that being punctual doesn't mean that one is uptight or uncool. Being punctual is another form of showing respect. Basically, you respect the other person and value their time. Jada is everything I hate in a person. I wanted to skip this story completely but the only reason I continued with this was because of two queer black girls. Besides diversity and representation, this story had nothing going on for it. I know it's a short story but this was RUSHED.
3. The Idiom Algorithm by Abigail Hing Wen Trope - Class Warfare Rating - 2.25 stars
Something so small it's like one strand of hair among nine cows.
Tan is dating Rebecca. They talk in idioms to each other a lot. Rebecca in Chinese idioms and Tan in English to help each other. Rebecca's parents are super rich and they are coming to visit Rebecca. Tan wants to meet them but Rebecca is hesitant. When Tan finally meets them and Rebecca reveals to her parents that Tan is her boyfriend, they take her away to Hong Kong, and all traces of Rebecca disappear from the internet like she never existed. Tan tracks Rebecca using the idiom algorithm and finds out something shocking about Rebecca.
First of all, the trope class warfare means rich vs poor here not the high-school class like I initially thought it to be. Also, is this really a trope? Anyway, I liked the beginning of this and it had so much potential but the shocking revelation wasn't so shocking to me. It was more of a dumb thing. I mean simple communication could have solved things.
4. Auld Acquaintance by Caleb Roehrig Trope - The Best Friend Love Epiphany Rating - 2.75 stars
We get each other in a way that no one gets either of us.
Ollie and Garrett have been best friends for years. People usually think that they are actually together as they are both gays but they are only just friends. When they make a pact to be each other's New Year's kiss if they can't find anyone else, Ollie doesn't think it's a big deal. So, when he overhears someone else planning to kiss Garrett, why does he feel so hot and bothered?
This was a cute enough story of two gay guys being best friends for years and realizing that they actually love each other. It was predictable from the get-go and I didn't love it as much as I had wanted to but it was not bad and it was also the best story from this collection.
5. Shooting Stars by Marissa Meyer Trope - One bed Rating - 2 stars
Wishing, always wishing.
Misty and her class are going on a camping trip for a few days. Among them is Roman whom Misty has had a crush on for years. Misty gets a chance to be close to Roman and sparks fly.
First of all, I don't consider one bed an actual trope. Yes, I have read stories where one bed is featured but it wasn't to the extent to base an entire story on. Secondly, this was an okay story so I don't understand why the majority of the reviewers gave this 5 stars and said this was the best of the bunch. Again, it was an okay story but it wasn't anything out of the ordinary. I think part of the reason is that I am not a fan as I have only read one other short story from this writer which was interesting but not enough to make me a fan. Another part of the reason is the actual trope which I have already explained isn't enough to base an entire story on. I guess fans of the writer would enjoy it as for me, it was a bit meh.
6. Keagan's heaven on earth by Sarah Winifred Searle Trope - The Secret Admirer Rating - 1 star
Mickey keeps getting detention and when their teacher, Mr. kelvin realizes that Mickey isn't taking detention seriously, he puts Mickey on flower day and dance duty for the upcoming valentine's day dance at school. Mickey came out as queer the previous year and has been busy but when Mickey's classmate, Keagan offers her help and they both become close.
This story is told in a comic book/graphic novel style which was refreshing. The art was good. But other than that I didn't like the story. I don't know if the copy I had was missing some parts/pages because some things didn't make sense at least that's how it felt to me. That ending was rushed as well.
7. Zora in the Spotlight by Elise Bryant Trope - The Grand Romantic Gesture Rating - 2 stars
There's no shame in just being what you need.
Zora, Jorge, and Astrid are best friends and they have been best friends since they were kids. Astrid is always the center of attention and it is fine with Zora and Jorge but lately, things are changing. When Jorge voices out the same things Zora is thinking, she thinks about whether she should let these feelings take root.
Wow, this was so so good in the beginning and I thought that I would love it because I laughed and laughed and laughed as Zora gets the spotlight for once but it is not meant for her (I have actually witnessed something very similar in real life so that part was even more enjoyable) but it all went downhill from there because Zora has a boring conversation for ten pages with that guy who wrongly grand gestured to her. Instead of actually ending up with Jorge who was level-headed and with whom she had more chemistry, she ends up with that random guy instead. I did not feel their chemistry at all. I do have to say that this trope did have a twist as the grand gesture wasn't meant for the MC but that's about it. It could have been way better but that ending ruined it all for me.
8. In a Blink of the Eye by Elizabeth Eulberg Trope- Trapped in a Confined Space Rating - 2 stars
Sharing something special with someone who is special.
Morgan has always wanted to visit London and she knows practically everything about the city. When her high school show choir has a chance to compete in London, she's ecstatic. She is doubly happy as she's there with her best friend, Dani and they are about to visit the London Eye. In a surprise turn of events, Dani invites her boyfriend, Tyler, and wants Morgan and Tyler to work on their issues. Morgan can't stand Tyler as ever since Tyler started going out with Dani, Dani spends less time with Morgan. Morgan is now stuck with Tyler and they end up resolving their issues.
Another story with a promising start just dwindles down from there. Morgan's reasons for hating Tyler were ludicrous and then she voices them out whilst resolving those with Tyler and that was even more ridiculous. I wish the ending was different because that ending was terrible. The trope had a twist I'd say but in the worst way possible.
9. Liberty by Anna-Marie McLemore Trope- The Makeover Rating - 0 stars
When I showed off my bow and arrow, I proved I earned them, that I was both a girl who belonged on this earth, and a firework.
Ximena is a cheerleader. She tries hard to stay at the same weight as she's a flyer but it is hard for her as she's naturally curvy. She's the only brown girl in the squad but when another brown girl, Camila comes into the squad, Ximena learns to be herself.
I wanted to skip this one as this one was kinda racist but from a brown person's pov. I can't speak for the makeup industry twenty years ago but this story is based in today's time and the makeup industry has become very inclusive. I am not saying that Ximena didn't face racism herself but if she wanted to change herself and look like a Caucasian person, then it's on her. Camila is a lesbian and she says that she's a little hesitant to put a hand in a girl's crotch. What the heck? If it were a straight person, it wouldn't be cool. All the diversity and representation and this is the story and dialogue the writer comes up with. The whole idea seemed very outdated to me.
Camila also mentions That white girl helping you pick a foundation may mean well, but she's probably gonna steer you too pale. It's not her fault. It's the white beauty industry complex. This was plain wrong. I am not saying that people don't face all this but as a brown person myself, I am ashamed of the dialogue in this story. Why must we put others down to lift ourselves up? Racism of any kind is not okay. I think we need to do better.
And the makeover trope happened right at the end. I mean why base the story on a trope that isn't even used until the end. Literally the end.
10. The Surprise Match by Sandhya Menon Trope - The Matchmaker Rating - 2 stars
Do you think there's someone for everyone?
You can't just sit around waiting to be invited to your own life. You've gotta make stuff happen.
Rosie and Easton are best friends. Rosie wrote a program that would find people's best romantic matches using info trawled from their social media profiles and she makes a lot of money from that. Easton asks her to be matched on that as well and when Rosie runs the program to match him, a surprise awaits her.
A nice start to the story with two best friends who don't exactly realize that they are into each other. But when Rosie realizes her feelings, instead of all that drama, she could have simply used her phone to call or text Easton and things would be much better and easier. And honestly, that trope isn't exactly used as I had expected it to be. The matchmaker is a program.
I think this was the worst short-story collection I have read in my life. Normally, I like a few of the stories in a collection and even wish for longer versions of some but that is not the case here. Even all that diversity and representation couldn't save these stories. Epic failure. I hope these short stories remain short stories only.
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