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retrogirlreads's review against another edition
5.0
“Enchanted Forests” is an absolutely exquisite collection of YA fantasy short stories that center on forests. Each story was wonderfully unique and extremely well written. I was absorbed in this collection as soon as I started it, and my interest didn’t fade until I finished it! And the best part? All proceeds from this anthology go to charity.
GEMS OF FAE AND FOOLERY by Alice Ivinya - 5 stars
In this hilarious short story, dwarves Andie and Fi are sick and tired of how they are being treated in the mines - so they decide to escape. In the process, they accidentally turn a Fae peddler into a frog, and they end up taking him with them on their journey so he doesn’t alert anyone to their absence.
Oh my gosh! This short story was so so funny - I couldn’t stop laughing! I was dying of laughter at the banter between Andie, Fi, and the Fae-turned-frog. I thought this story was super well written, and I really enjoyed reading it.
THE LUCKY TORTOISE by Ben Lang - 5 stars
In this unique short story, an unwanted prince known as Boy strikes up a close friendship with a lucky tortoise who resides on the palace grounds. When Boy is sentenced to die as a sacrifice, the tortoise leaves the grounds for the first time in her long life in order to try and save him.
Wow!!! This is my first time reading something by Ben Lang, and I was extremely impressed with his writing style. I felt completely drawn into Boy’s world, and I was rooting for him the entire time. I will be looking into Ben Lang’s other work.
Feather Green - Jennifer Kropf
In this fascinating short story, a young woman named Estheryn learns to become one with the forest. She lives a peaceful life, at least until her father is murdered on the orders of the Shah of Persianna. Estheryn is almost killed that day too, but she escapes due to the mercy of the Prince of Persianna alone. Estheryn is now determined to get revenge.
Okay, so can I just say that I loved loved loved this story? Estheryn is exactly the type of heroine that intrigues me - she’s beautiful, yes, but she’s also smart and capable. This story sort of set the scene for a full length book the author plans on writing… a book I definitely plan on buying. I can’t wait to see what happens next with Estheryn and Xerxes, the Prince of Persianna!
APPLE AND THE DEAD FOREST by Xander Cross - 5 stars
In this amazing short story, Pingguo, a young man who dreams of a better life, and his two friends Lin and Min leave the only home they have ever known to search for a more prosperous land. This is due to the fact that food is extremely hard to come by in their homeland, and they’re tired of being hungry and watching everyone starve around them. Along the way, they run into many challenges, including a run in with a dragon.
Okay, so I was really intrigued by this story! Pingguo was a very sweet and kind young man, and I admired how loyal he was to his friends Lin and Min. I also loved watching him gain confidence, and I was so proud of him by the end for gaining maturity and self-assurance. I’d definitely recommend!
TO SNARE A PRINCE by Sky Sommers - 5 stars
Greta is a young woman who works as a healer for her village and the animals of the Forest, but as of late she’s been extremely overworked due to the Blue Fairy disappearing. Although she is helped by Hans, her brother, she still finds that she has much work to do. When she heals a six headed dragon, the last thing she expected was for him to turn into a handsome prince… or that he’d try to claim her hand.
Oh my gosh. This story cracked me up! I loved Greta, I thought she was a wonderful heroine that didn’t take anyone’s drama. Greta wasn’t afraid to voice her opinions, and I loved that she healed animals as well as people. The ending completely shocked me, and I am definitely going to be following Greta’s journey once the author releases it!
BLOOD OF THE UNICORN by N. D. T. Casale - 5 stars
Princess Calypso of West Ivoria is the sole heir to the throne, but ruling is the last thing she wants. Her dream is to be a gardener, not a queen, and as her ascension date looms closer, the more desperate she becomes to avoid her fate. One fateful night, she is given a golden pear that will give her heart’s greatest desire. Disregarding the warning, Calypso takes a bite of the pear, causing chaos throughout her kingdom.
Okay, so this story was lots of fun! I was really impressed with the writing style as well as the characters. Even though Calypso originally didn’t want to be queen, she stepped into the role once she realized her people were counting on her. I also loved the backstory of how East and West Ivoria split. I would definitely reccomend!
DIMENSION OF THE SASQUATCH by Donna White - 5 stars
Mercury Dawn Walker is learning how to travel from dimension to dimension when she stumbles upon a baby Sasquatch. Worried about the baby’s safety, she takes charge of the creature until she can reunite it with it’s family. Along the way, the baby Sasquatch, nicknamed B.B., learns to communicate with others through sign language.
This was definitely an interesting take on the legend of the Sasquatch, I think! Instead of a huge hulking monster, B.B. was small and cute, and I think that the whole “teaching a Sasquatch sign language” thing was super original, and not something I’ve seen before. Unlike the rest of the stories in this anthology, there were no Fae, dwarves, dragons, unicorns, magical artifacts, etc. But I still enjoyed this story!
THE FERN FLOWER by Elena Shelest - 5 stars
Miray is a beautiful and shy young woman who is ostracized from her village due to the fact that she is a foreigner. She is in love with Savko, a handsome and vain young man from her village, although he’s never taken notice of her before. But when Savko and Miray become trapped in the forest together, he begins to realize just what a treasure Miray really is.
Okay, so let me just talk for a second about how much I adored this story. Savko and Miray have my whole heart, for a variety of reasons. I loved that Miray slowly realized how wonderful she was, and that she realized she could be entirely herself and still be loved. As for Savko, I loved that he learned the error of his ways and that when he finally saw Miray for all she was, he didn’t run away. In fact, he realized that she was exactly what he needed. 5 freaking stars!
WILLOW DAUGHTER by Astrid V.J. - 5 stars
In this tale, an old man is telling a story from his youth to a young child. He talks about how he used to be a fool, and how he let a beautiful and enticing young maiden in the forest trick him into setting her free. As a result of his own foolishness, he is drawn into a dispute between the Wild One and the Willow Daughter.
This was an extremely interesting story! I liked learning how the Willow Daughter became trapped in the Wild One’s forest. I also thought that having the foolish young man witness the exchange between the Wild One and the Willow Daughter was intriguing, especially once you take in the ending of this tale. I’d definitely recommend!
ONE FAIR EVE by Lyndsey Hall - 5 stars
When Pip is rejected from the prestigious music academy of his dreams, he is willing to do anything for a second chance - even sign away his soul. Fast forward a few years - Pip is a distinguished musician and is engaged to the girl he loves. But soon after his engagement comes to pass, he is reminded of his debt to the Fair Realm. And that they’re coming for him.
So I really enjoyed this short story! Pip had his flaws, yes, but the deal he made wasn’t out of selfishness. Everything he did was to provide for himself and his family, and later his fiancée, Verity. I loved watching this story play out, and the ending absolutely shook me. All in all, it was a wonderful read!!!
GEMS OF FAE AND FOOLERY by Alice Ivinya - 5 stars
In this hilarious short story, dwarves Andie and Fi are sick and tired of how they are being treated in the mines - so they decide to escape. In the process, they accidentally turn a Fae peddler into a frog, and they end up taking him with them on their journey so he doesn’t alert anyone to their absence.
Oh my gosh! This short story was so so funny - I couldn’t stop laughing! I was dying of laughter at the banter between Andie, Fi, and the Fae-turned-frog. I thought this story was super well written, and I really enjoyed reading it.
THE LUCKY TORTOISE by Ben Lang - 5 stars
In this unique short story, an unwanted prince known as Boy strikes up a close friendship with a lucky tortoise who resides on the palace grounds. When Boy is sentenced to die as a sacrifice, the tortoise leaves the grounds for the first time in her long life in order to try and save him.
Wow!!! This is my first time reading something by Ben Lang, and I was extremely impressed with his writing style. I felt completely drawn into Boy’s world, and I was rooting for him the entire time. I will be looking into Ben Lang’s other work.
Feather Green - Jennifer Kropf
In this fascinating short story, a young woman named Estheryn learns to become one with the forest. She lives a peaceful life, at least until her father is murdered on the orders of the Shah of Persianna. Estheryn is almost killed that day too, but she escapes due to the mercy of the Prince of Persianna alone. Estheryn is now determined to get revenge.
Okay, so can I just say that I loved loved loved this story? Estheryn is exactly the type of heroine that intrigues me - she’s beautiful, yes, but she’s also smart and capable. This story sort of set the scene for a full length book the author plans on writing… a book I definitely plan on buying. I can’t wait to see what happens next with Estheryn and Xerxes, the Prince of Persianna!
APPLE AND THE DEAD FOREST by Xander Cross - 5 stars
In this amazing short story, Pingguo, a young man who dreams of a better life, and his two friends Lin and Min leave the only home they have ever known to search for a more prosperous land. This is due to the fact that food is extremely hard to come by in their homeland, and they’re tired of being hungry and watching everyone starve around them. Along the way, they run into many challenges, including a run in with a dragon.
Okay, so I was really intrigued by this story! Pingguo was a very sweet and kind young man, and I admired how loyal he was to his friends Lin and Min. I also loved watching him gain confidence, and I was so proud of him by the end for gaining maturity and self-assurance. I’d definitely recommend!
TO SNARE A PRINCE by Sky Sommers - 5 stars
Greta is a young woman who works as a healer for her village and the animals of the Forest, but as of late she’s been extremely overworked due to the Blue Fairy disappearing. Although she is helped by Hans, her brother, she still finds that she has much work to do. When she heals a six headed dragon, the last thing she expected was for him to turn into a handsome prince… or that he’d try to claim her hand.
Oh my gosh. This story cracked me up! I loved Greta, I thought she was a wonderful heroine that didn’t take anyone’s drama. Greta wasn’t afraid to voice her opinions, and I loved that she healed animals as well as people. The ending completely shocked me, and I am definitely going to be following Greta’s journey once the author releases it!
BLOOD OF THE UNICORN by N. D. T. Casale - 5 stars
Princess Calypso of West Ivoria is the sole heir to the throne, but ruling is the last thing she wants. Her dream is to be a gardener, not a queen, and as her ascension date looms closer, the more desperate she becomes to avoid her fate. One fateful night, she is given a golden pear that will give her heart’s greatest desire. Disregarding the warning, Calypso takes a bite of the pear, causing chaos throughout her kingdom.
Okay, so this story was lots of fun! I was really impressed with the writing style as well as the characters. Even though Calypso originally didn’t want to be queen, she stepped into the role once she realized her people were counting on her. I also loved the backstory of how East and West Ivoria split. I would definitely reccomend!
DIMENSION OF THE SASQUATCH by Donna White - 5 stars
Mercury Dawn Walker is learning how to travel from dimension to dimension when she stumbles upon a baby Sasquatch. Worried about the baby’s safety, she takes charge of the creature until she can reunite it with it’s family. Along the way, the baby Sasquatch, nicknamed B.B., learns to communicate with others through sign language.
This was definitely an interesting take on the legend of the Sasquatch, I think! Instead of a huge hulking monster, B.B. was small and cute, and I think that the whole “teaching a Sasquatch sign language” thing was super original, and not something I’ve seen before. Unlike the rest of the stories in this anthology, there were no Fae, dwarves, dragons, unicorns, magical artifacts, etc. But I still enjoyed this story!
THE FERN FLOWER by Elena Shelest - 5 stars
Miray is a beautiful and shy young woman who is ostracized from her village due to the fact that she is a foreigner. She is in love with Savko, a handsome and vain young man from her village, although he’s never taken notice of her before. But when Savko and Miray become trapped in the forest together, he begins to realize just what a treasure Miray really is.
Okay, so let me just talk for a second about how much I adored this story. Savko and Miray have my whole heart, for a variety of reasons. I loved that Miray slowly realized how wonderful she was, and that she realized she could be entirely herself and still be loved. As for Savko, I loved that he learned the error of his ways and that when he finally saw Miray for all she was, he didn’t run away. In fact, he realized that she was exactly what he needed. 5 freaking stars!
WILLOW DAUGHTER by Astrid V.J. - 5 stars
In this tale, an old man is telling a story from his youth to a young child. He talks about how he used to be a fool, and how he let a beautiful and enticing young maiden in the forest trick him into setting her free. As a result of his own foolishness, he is drawn into a dispute between the Wild One and the Willow Daughter.
This was an extremely interesting story! I liked learning how the Willow Daughter became trapped in the Wild One’s forest. I also thought that having the foolish young man witness the exchange between the Wild One and the Willow Daughter was intriguing, especially once you take in the ending of this tale. I’d definitely recommend!
ONE FAIR EVE by Lyndsey Hall - 5 stars
When Pip is rejected from the prestigious music academy of his dreams, he is willing to do anything for a second chance - even sign away his soul. Fast forward a few years - Pip is a distinguished musician and is engaged to the girl he loves. But soon after his engagement comes to pass, he is reminded of his debt to the Fair Realm. And that they’re coming for him.
So I really enjoyed this short story! Pip had his flaws, yes, but the deal he made wasn’t out of selfishness. Everything he did was to provide for himself and his family, and later his fiancée, Verity. I loved watching this story play out, and the ending absolutely shook me. All in all, it was a wonderful read!!!
ana_bernardes's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
sarahthereadingaddict's review against another edition
5.0
Each of these stories is filled with Mystery, intrigued and tension.
I thought each of the short stories had a great presence within the book and there was not one that stood out more than another because they were all great.
I also love the reason for these authors all coming together to do this book. Our world is precious and it needs protecting in whatever way, big or small we can help.
Gems of Fae and Foolery
I love the sense of adventure in this story and the exciting trials and tribulations along the way.
The Lucky Tortoise
I really like the friendship between the boy and tortoise, it's so lovely and naive and they're hard not to love. Tortoise is protective and a very honourable friend to have.
Feather Green
I love the defiance of youth in this story, a family tradition that he does not want to go along with. Its an interesting book of fantasy with a hint of things that could really happen.
Apple and the Dead Forest
Firstly I loved this quote on the title page 'Every story begins in the heart of another story'
I enjoyed the friendship between Píngguǒ and Min. There questioning of reality and fantasy is really interesting as it can also be relatable in life. There are lots of things we as humans question daily.
This was a thought provoking story.
To Snare a Prince
I enjoyed the bit in this where.... Asks the table cloth for something... I would love magic like that to summon whatever I fancied to eat or drink. That's my kind of magic.
Blood of the Unicorn
Family duty that Calypso doesn't want to take on, I enjoyed discovering the answer the question I had from the beginning will she defy her family and if so, at what cost. I really enjoyed this book.
Dimension of Sasquatch
This is an interesting book. I find it really great how someone can come up with another dimension, another world. I love the mystery and fantasy of this story.
The Fern Flower
I really like the title of this story. I love the growing friendship between Savko and Miray. I also really like Mirays ability with animals.
Willow Daughter
This was beautifully written. I really enjoyed the idea of being able to gather what you want but with the compromise of being relieved of something special.
One fair eve
When selfishness becomes Selflessness. Viktor and Pip are great characters.
I thought each of the short stories had a great presence within the book and there was not one that stood out more than another because they were all great.
I also love the reason for these authors all coming together to do this book. Our world is precious and it needs protecting in whatever way, big or small we can help.
Gems of Fae and Foolery
I love the sense of adventure in this story and the exciting trials and tribulations along the way.
The Lucky Tortoise
I really like the friendship between the boy and tortoise, it's so lovely and naive and they're hard not to love. Tortoise is protective and a very honourable friend to have.
Feather Green
I love the defiance of youth in this story, a family tradition that he does not want to go along with. Its an interesting book of fantasy with a hint of things that could really happen.
Apple and the Dead Forest
Firstly I loved this quote on the title page 'Every story begins in the heart of another story'
I enjoyed the friendship between Píngguǒ and Min. There questioning of reality and fantasy is really interesting as it can also be relatable in life. There are lots of things we as humans question daily.
This was a thought provoking story.
To Snare a Prince
I enjoyed the bit in this where.... Asks the table cloth for something... I would love magic like that to summon whatever I fancied to eat or drink. That's my kind of magic.
Blood of the Unicorn
Family duty that Calypso doesn't want to take on, I enjoyed discovering the answer the question I had from the beginning will she defy her family and if so, at what cost. I really enjoyed this book.
Dimension of Sasquatch
This is an interesting book. I find it really great how someone can come up with another dimension, another world. I love the mystery and fantasy of this story.
The Fern Flower
I really like the title of this story. I love the growing friendship between Savko and Miray. I also really like Mirays ability with animals.
Willow Daughter
This was beautifully written. I really enjoyed the idea of being able to gather what you want but with the compromise of being relieved of something special.
One fair eve
When selfishness becomes Selflessness. Viktor and Pip are great characters.
alexandergrantwriter's review against another edition
5.0
~ Fun Anthology! ~
I’m not normally an anthology reader, but I try to get to them when I can if some of my friends or writers I like are included in them!
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I read and reviewed Enchanted Waters and really enjoyed it as well as the conservation donation angle so I knew I had to jump in and read Enchanted Forests too!!
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I’m really glad I did! I enjoyed all the stories, and love that this is supporting rainforest conservation!! They did a great job assembling the team of authors and the book was pretty cleanly edited which is always nice to see!!
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Great job!! I definitely recommend if you like anthologies and I can’t wait for the next one!!
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***Thank you so much to Astrid V.J. and the other authors for providing me with an early e-arc to read and review! All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.***
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I’m not normally an anthology reader, but I try to get to them when I can if some of my friends or writers I like are included in them!
•
I read and reviewed Enchanted Waters and really enjoyed it as well as the conservation donation angle so I knew I had to jump in and read Enchanted Forests too!!
•
I’m really glad I did! I enjoyed all the stories, and love that this is supporting rainforest conservation!! They did a great job assembling the team of authors and the book was pretty cleanly edited which is always nice to see!!
•
Great job!! I definitely recommend if you like anthologies and I can’t wait for the next one!!
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***Thank you so much to Astrid V.J. and the other authors for providing me with an early e-arc to read and review! All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.***
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lolloreads00's review against another edition
4.0
I was so glad when I received an ARC to this one and can truly say, I really enjoyed it!! As someone who doesn’t read a lot of fantasy this truly has something for everyone one. The short story format really worked for me. It was a great reintroduction to the genre and I’m looking forward to reading more of these authors books. And fantasy in general.
All of the stories were really good but one of them really stuck out to me. The Lucky Tortoise by Ben long, a very thought provoking story. It’s about the concept of luck and why it sometimes seems to be lacking. Others that stood out to me were Willow Daughter by Astrid VJ and The fern flower by Elena Shelest.
It also going to support a good cause, all profits from this anthology will be donated to Rainforest Foundation who support indigenous and traditional peoples of the world’s rainforests. Which is amazing!
I would highly recommend this to any fantasy lover that’s looking for short stories but also fantasy newbies.
All of the stories were really good but one of them really stuck out to me. The Lucky Tortoise by Ben long, a very thought provoking story. It’s about the concept of luck and why it sometimes seems to be lacking. Others that stood out to me were Willow Daughter by Astrid VJ and The fern flower by Elena Shelest.
It also going to support a good cause, all profits from this anthology will be donated to Rainforest Foundation who support indigenous and traditional peoples of the world’s rainforests. Which is amazing!
I would highly recommend this to any fantasy lover that’s looking for short stories but also fantasy newbies.
mhmrose's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
*This is a review of one of the stories, One Fair Eve that I received an ARC for*
After being rejected from the music school of his dreams, Pip makes a deal that has dire consequences he didn't see coming. The best way to describe One Fair Eve is a classic folk tale remade in the contemporary with a moral lesson about the dangers of greed, pride and expecting greatness without any hard work. Pip was the perfect character for this tale and very relatable in his struggles and want to achieve his dreams even when all seems lose.
Overall, One Fair Eve was a brilliant tale that shows each deal has consequences one cannot escape and must learn to overcome.
Thank you, Lyndsey Hall and StoryOrigin for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
After being rejected from the music school of his dreams, Pip makes a deal that has dire consequences he didn't see coming. The best way to describe One Fair Eve is a classic folk tale remade in the contemporary with a moral lesson about the dangers of greed, pride and expecting greatness without any hard work. Pip was the perfect character for this tale and very relatable in his struggles and want to achieve his dreams even when all seems lose.
Overall, One Fair Eve was a brilliant tale that shows each deal has consequences one cannot escape and must learn to overcome.
Thank you, Lyndsey Hall and StoryOrigin for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
amenalf53's review
5.0
4.5/5 stars
I really enjoyed reading this anthology. All of the stories are well aligned to the theme of the grandeur and wonders of forests, and together they blend simply fun tales with cautionary ones about the environment. I did not like every story — and for the ones with more convoluted and less clear writing, I have to mention that I’m rounding up to 5 stars here — but I could see the role they all played. My personal favorites were Feather Green, The Fern Flower, and One Fair Eve.
{Honest review for an ARC}
I really enjoyed reading this anthology. All of the stories are well aligned to the theme of the grandeur and wonders of forests, and together they blend simply fun tales with cautionary ones about the environment. I did not like every story — and for the ones with more convoluted and less clear writing, I have to mention that I’m rounding up to 5 stars here — but I could see the role they all played. My personal favorites were Feather Green, The Fern Flower, and One Fair Eve.
{Honest review for an ARC}
anushka_adishka_diaries's review against another edition
4.0
“Every story begins inside the heart of another story.”
~Apple and The Dead Forest (Enchanted Forests), Xander Cross
~Apple and The Dead Forest (Enchanted Forests), Xander Cross
readitwithred's review against another edition
4.0
This is just such a wonderful collection of stories and for such an amazing cause!
What I love most about Anthologies with different authors is all the different styles and stories mixed in. Each short story can be read in one sitting, and though I did feel some were more aimed at children, you could still enjoy them at any age.
I can just imagine each author receiving the title as their starting point and would love to see how they all arrived at such different but interesting stories.
I really enjoyed reading each short story and would love to read more from these authors.
What I love most about Anthologies with different authors is all the different styles and stories mixed in. Each short story can be read in one sitting, and though I did feel some were more aimed at children, you could still enjoy them at any age.
I can just imagine each author receiving the title as their starting point and would love to see how they all arrived at such different but interesting stories.
I really enjoyed reading each short story and would love to read more from these authors.
tbrwarriors_87's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a collection of short fantasy stories written by talented authors. What's even more, is these authors wanted their book to stand for something bigger and so, since their stories were based around magical forests and mystical beings they choose the charity Rainforest Foundation to aid their organization with their wonderful work and awareness in Rainforest conservation.
These stories were honestly so precious, once I picked the book up it was hard to put it down. In the evenings I could not wait to get to reading. Each story was so original, tackling both light-hearted innocent issues to slightly bigger heavier topics. Some stories were dark and moody while others were light and adventurous. I can tell you that a book hasn't been this much of a page-turner in a while. I have discovered that I enjoy anthologies/collections of short stories (although I suppose depending on the genre) but there is something to be said for knowing something completely different is coming after the story you are currently reading. I highly recommend this book
I will say, there were one or two stories that really left me wanting more, the ending didn't resolve the conflict in total for me and therefore I was left feeling a little disappointed.
Below is a very short description of each story for you :)
Gems of Fae and Foolery - By Alice Ivinya
Two enslaved dwarfs ban together with an unthinkable ally in order to escape their current life.
The Lucky Tortoise - By Ben Lang
A kind Prince in a horrible world befriends and finds solace in a Tortoise in the kingdom.
Feather green - By Jennifer Kropf
A young girl with a strong magical connection to the forest loses everything as a result of the Royal family.
Apple and the dead forest - By Xander Cross
In a post-apocalyptic world, we follow three teenagers as they decide to investigate the myth of the dragon that might be able to help the world heal.
To snare a prince - By Sky Sommers
An almost retelling of Hansel and Gretel. Gretel takes over her grandmother's "apothecary" in her cabin in the woods until she returns. Only to have animals and dragons appear at her door.
Blood of the Unicorn - By N.D.T Casale
A sweet orphaned Princess who wants nothing more than to work with her plants for the rest of her existence is told she will be Queen soon. Innocently in anger she makes a wish that ends up coming true and changes everything.
Dimension of the Sasquatch - By Donna White
A futuristic story following a "dimension walker" as she sets out to retrieve a seed from a tree in one of the dimensions but runs into some narrowing trouble along the way.
The Fern Flower - By Elena Shelest
Orphaned and traumatized Miray promises her adoptive mother that she will join the annual festival this time. She collides with a mischievous gentleman and they end up on an adventure they never bargained on.
Willow Daughter - By Astrid V.J
An old soul tells a story of his youth. Strolling through the forest he came across the Willow's daughter and gets tricked into freeing her. This leads to a war he never wanted to be a part of.
One Fair eve - By Lyndsey Hall
A young man and wonderful Pianist gets rejected to his dream Conservatory. Eager to fix it and not work on the mines with his father he declares he is willing to do anything for a chance at another audition. His declaration is heard and he signs away his soul
I highly recommend this collection of beautiful stories.
These stories were honestly so precious, once I picked the book up it was hard to put it down. In the evenings I could not wait to get to reading. Each story was so original, tackling both light-hearted innocent issues to slightly bigger heavier topics. Some stories were dark and moody while others were light and adventurous. I can tell you that a book hasn't been this much of a page-turner in a while. I have discovered that I enjoy anthologies/collections of short stories (although I suppose depending on the genre) but there is something to be said for knowing something completely different is coming after the story you are currently reading. I highly recommend this book
I will say, there were one or two stories that really left me wanting more, the ending didn't resolve the conflict in total for me and therefore I was left feeling a little disappointed.
Below is a very short description of each story for you :)
Gems of Fae and Foolery - By Alice Ivinya
Two enslaved dwarfs ban together with an unthinkable ally in order to escape their current life.
The Lucky Tortoise - By Ben Lang
A kind Prince in a horrible world befriends and finds solace in a Tortoise in the kingdom.
Feather green - By Jennifer Kropf
A young girl with a strong magical connection to the forest loses everything as a result of the Royal family.
Apple and the dead forest - By Xander Cross
In a post-apocalyptic world, we follow three teenagers as they decide to investigate the myth of the dragon that might be able to help the world heal.
To snare a prince - By Sky Sommers
An almost retelling of Hansel and Gretel. Gretel takes over her grandmother's "apothecary" in her cabin in the woods until she returns. Only to have animals and dragons appear at her door.
Blood of the Unicorn - By N.D.T Casale
A sweet orphaned Princess who wants nothing more than to work with her plants for the rest of her existence is told she will be Queen soon. Innocently in anger she makes a wish that ends up coming true and changes everything.
Dimension of the Sasquatch - By Donna White
A futuristic story following a "dimension walker" as she sets out to retrieve a seed from a tree in one of the dimensions but runs into some narrowing trouble along the way.
The Fern Flower - By Elena Shelest
Orphaned and traumatized Miray promises her adoptive mother that she will join the annual festival this time. She collides with a mischievous gentleman and they end up on an adventure they never bargained on.
Willow Daughter - By Astrid V.J
An old soul tells a story of his youth. Strolling through the forest he came across the Willow's daughter and gets tricked into freeing her. This leads to a war he never wanted to be a part of.
One Fair eve - By Lyndsey Hall
A young man and wonderful Pianist gets rejected to his dream Conservatory. Eager to fix it and not work on the mines with his father he declares he is willing to do anything for a chance at another audition. His declaration is heard and he signs away his soul
I highly recommend this collection of beautiful stories.