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labunnywtf's review
4.0
Read for Book Roast's Magical Readathon: NEWTs Exams. Subject: History of Magic, A Level. (Would Fit in at Hogwarts)
The moon is full, and even the stars are scared of me.
This book sneaks up on you.
That's putting it mildly.
I was SUPER pumped for this book when I requested it from Netgalley. As literally every other Goodreads review will tell you, GAY WITCHES. And not only gay, but the diversity here is so rich, it will choke anyone who would dare to complain. Race, religion, creed, gender, non-gender, it's all here. Along with almost every conceivable trigger warning you can think to throw on a book.
In my opinion, we start out too slowly. The stories are good, really good, but not BAM, in your face. The build is slow, but it's there, and it will steam roll over you if you're not prepared for it.
From Instagram witches to Salem witches, backwoods to inner city, past and future, every single scenario of what could conceivably be called a witch is here. These women are strong as hell. They're vulnerable, they're proud, they're scared, they're hesitant, they're bold, they're magical. Whether the specific stories appeal to you or not, there is literally no denying this.
I was enjoying the stories, truly and genuinely. But I wasn't getting any of that good, deep-down tingly feelings about any specific story. Until we got to Love Spell, by Anna-Marie McLemore. This is the story that knocked me on my ass, and it's the third to last story.
A bruja who specializes in healing the heartbroken and an acolite headed for the priesthood fall in love.
I...I have no words for this story. Is it the long-abandoned Catholic upbringing kicking in? I don't know. But that story just...was a punch to my heart. In all the best ways, but I finished it and had to set the book down for about an hour to deal with my feelings. Because goddamn.
And the last story is so painful, and so real. It's set in the future, Salem Witch Trials meets The Handmaid's Tale, and if that combination doesn't scare the shit out of you, wait until you read the story. It's upsetting. It's really upsetting. But it's beautiful, and just entirely too fucking real for me to handle at 9:00 at night.
The stories that don't work for me really don't work. But the ones that do, the ones that touched a part of my soul, are going to stay with me for a really long time. And I think that's the best part of this book, it will leave a mark.
However, I genuinely hope that in the non-ARC version, there's an introduction. I'm disappointed that there wasn't one here.
The moon is full, and even the stars are scared of me.
This book sneaks up on you.
That's putting it mildly.
I was SUPER pumped for this book when I requested it from Netgalley. As literally every other Goodreads review will tell you, GAY WITCHES. And not only gay, but the diversity here is so rich, it will choke anyone who would dare to complain. Race, religion, creed, gender, non-gender, it's all here. Along with almost every conceivable trigger warning you can think to throw on a book.
In my opinion, we start out too slowly. The stories are good, really good, but not BAM, in your face. The build is slow, but it's there, and it will steam roll over you if you're not prepared for it.
From Instagram witches to Salem witches, backwoods to inner city, past and future, every single scenario of what could conceivably be called a witch is here. These women are strong as hell. They're vulnerable, they're proud, they're scared, they're hesitant, they're bold, they're magical. Whether the specific stories appeal to you or not, there is literally no denying this.
I was enjoying the stories, truly and genuinely. But I wasn't getting any of that good, deep-down tingly feelings about any specific story. Until we got to Love Spell, by Anna-Marie McLemore. This is the story that knocked me on my ass, and it's the third to last story.
A bruja who specializes in healing the heartbroken and an acolite headed for the priesthood fall in love.
I...I have no words for this story. Is it the long-abandoned Catholic upbringing kicking in? I don't know. But that story just...was a punch to my heart. In all the best ways, but I finished it and had to set the book down for about an hour to deal with my feelings. Because goddamn.
And the last story is so painful, and so real. It's set in the future, Salem Witch Trials meets The Handmaid's Tale, and if that combination doesn't scare the shit out of you, wait until you read the story. It's upsetting. It's really upsetting. But it's beautiful, and just entirely too fucking real for me to handle at 9:00 at night.
The stories that don't work for me really don't work. But the ones that do, the ones that touched a part of my soul, are going to stay with me for a really long time. And I think that's the best part of this book, it will leave a mark.
However, I genuinely hope that in the non-ARC version, there's an introduction. I'm disappointed that there wasn't one here.
jelomath's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
ladytiara's review
4.0
When I heard about an anthology of young adult witch stories, I was like, "sign me up." I'm into witches, and I like short stories, so this is a perfect fit.
Toil and Trouble is a really great anthology. It's a diverse collection, with lots of POC and LGBTQ+ characters. All of the writers are women, and many of the stories have a deeply feminist bent. I enjoyed all of the stories, some more than others, but there wasn't a bad one in the bunch.
"Starsong" by Tehlor Kay Mejia. This one has a Latinx heroine and a queer romance. The heroine is a bruja who reads the stars. This one was cute, but a little slight.
"Afterbirth" by Andrea Cremer. This story has the most historical context of any in the collection, being set in 17th century New England, not a good time for anyone who didn't stick to societal norms. A midwife is accused of witchcraft after a woman dies in childbirth. This was one was dark and made me glad once again that I live now.
"The Heart in Her Hands by" Tess Sharpe. This was one of my favorites. In this world, teens wake up one day with writing on their bodies. It's the first words their soulmate will say to them. But the heroine is already in love with someone, her female best friend, and she has to fight the established power structure to be able to live her. I loved this look at rebellion and not accepting the fate that society forces on you.
"Death in the Sawtooths" by Lindsay Smith. This was another favorite. It has a very urban fantasy sort of feel, and I would like to read a full-length book set in this world. The heroine is an outcast witch who's pledged to the Lady of Slumbers (a sort of death goddess), something the other witches look down on, until they desperately need her help.
"The Truth About Queenie" by Brandy Colbert. This one is as much about love as it is about magic. The heroine is in love with her best friend. She has powers, but she hasn't accepted them or learned to control them yet, and she's forced to deal with it when her friend comes home with a new girlfriend.
"The Moonapple Menagerie" by Thveta Thakrar. This one is very dreamy. A group of girls are putting on a play when a creepy creature shows up to demand a role in the play. It's funny and pretty weird/
"The Legend of Stone Mary" by Robin Talley. This one is set in the 70s and features a girl having to deal with a family curse. It has a queer romance. It's dark and has some slightly Carrie vibes.
"The One Who Stayed" by Nova Ren Suma. What happens when a group of women meet around a fire in the woods? This one is typical Nova Ren Suma: creepy, mysterious, and compelling.
"Divine Are the Stars" by Zoraida Cordova. A girl is called home to her family's ranch in Colorado by her grandmother only to find that her grandmother has literally taken root and become part of the house. This was another favorite, and it has a Latinx heroine.
"Daughters of Baba Yaga" by Brenna Yovanoff. Two witches team up to get revenge on the worst people at their school. Another one with slightly Carrie vibes. It's creepy and good.
"The Well Witch" by Kate Hart. This one takes place in Texas in 1875. A woman living alone has water magic, but is it enough to save her when three men show up on her property? This one has a POC heroine.
"Beware of Girls with Crooked Mouths" by Jessica Spotswood. Another story about the power of fate. A young witch has a vision of her future that leads her to take drastic actions, thinking she's saving her sisters from a terrible fate. But what if things don't fall in line? One of the sisters is bisexual,and this is apparently not an issue in their society.
"Love Spell" by Anna-Marie McLemore. A bruja who makes spells to cure lovesickness falls in love with a trans altar boy who accepts her when the rest of the church turns away. I really loved this one, and I'm planning to pick up the author's other works.
"The Gherin Girls" by Emery Lord. This one was another favorite. It's about a trio of sisters. One has recently left an abusive relationship and her sisters are trying to support her. This is one of the least "magical" of the stories, but it's also one of the most emotional. Two of the sisters are queer.
"Why They Watch Us Burn" by Elizabeth May. The last story was my favorite. It's set in the near future where inconvenient women are accused of witchcraft and sent to labor camps. It's beautiful and disturbing and a little reminiscent of the The Handmaid's Tale.
I highly recommend this collection.
Toil and Trouble is a really great anthology. It's a diverse collection, with lots of POC and LGBTQ+ characters. All of the writers are women, and many of the stories have a deeply feminist bent. I enjoyed all of the stories, some more than others, but there wasn't a bad one in the bunch.
"Starsong" by Tehlor Kay Mejia. This one has a Latinx heroine and a queer romance. The heroine is a bruja who reads the stars. This one was cute, but a little slight.
"Afterbirth" by Andrea Cremer. This story has the most historical context of any in the collection, being set in 17th century New England, not a good time for anyone who didn't stick to societal norms. A midwife is accused of witchcraft after a woman dies in childbirth. This was one was dark and made me glad once again that I live now.
"The Heart in Her Hands by" Tess Sharpe. This was one of my favorites. In this world, teens wake up one day with writing on their bodies. It's the first words their soulmate will say to them. But the heroine is already in love with someone, her female best friend, and she has to fight the established power structure to be able to live her. I loved this look at rebellion and not accepting the fate that society forces on you.
"Death in the Sawtooths" by Lindsay Smith. This was another favorite. It has a very urban fantasy sort of feel, and I would like to read a full-length book set in this world. The heroine is an outcast witch who's pledged to the Lady of Slumbers (a sort of death goddess), something the other witches look down on, until they desperately need her help.
"The Truth About Queenie" by Brandy Colbert. This one is as much about love as it is about magic. The heroine is in love with her best friend. She has powers, but she hasn't accepted them or learned to control them yet, and she's forced to deal with it when her friend comes home with a new girlfriend.
"The Moonapple Menagerie" by Thveta Thakrar. This one is very dreamy. A group of girls are putting on a play when a creepy creature shows up to demand a role in the play. It's funny and pretty weird/
"The Legend of Stone Mary" by Robin Talley. This one is set in the 70s and features a girl having to deal with a family curse. It has a queer romance. It's dark and has some slightly Carrie vibes.
"The One Who Stayed" by Nova Ren Suma. What happens when a group of women meet around a fire in the woods? This one is typical Nova Ren Suma: creepy, mysterious, and compelling.
"Divine Are the Stars" by Zoraida Cordova. A girl is called home to her family's ranch in Colorado by her grandmother only to find that her grandmother has literally taken root and become part of the house. This was another favorite, and it has a Latinx heroine.
"Daughters of Baba Yaga" by Brenna Yovanoff. Two witches team up to get revenge on the worst people at their school. Another one with slightly Carrie vibes. It's creepy and good.
"The Well Witch" by Kate Hart. This one takes place in Texas in 1875. A woman living alone has water magic, but is it enough to save her when three men show up on her property? This one has a POC heroine.
"Beware of Girls with Crooked Mouths" by Jessica Spotswood. Another story about the power of fate. A young witch has a vision of her future that leads her to take drastic actions, thinking she's saving her sisters from a terrible fate. But what if things don't fall in line? One of the sisters is bisexual,and this is apparently not an issue in their society.
"Love Spell" by Anna-Marie McLemore. A bruja who makes spells to cure lovesickness falls in love with a trans altar boy who accepts her when the rest of the church turns away. I really loved this one, and I'm planning to pick up the author's other works.
"The Gherin Girls" by Emery Lord. This one was another favorite. It's about a trio of sisters. One has recently left an abusive relationship and her sisters are trying to support her. This is one of the least "magical" of the stories, but it's also one of the most emotional. Two of the sisters are queer.
"Why They Watch Us Burn" by Elizabeth May. The last story was my favorite. It's set in the near future where inconvenient women are accused of witchcraft and sent to labor camps. It's beautiful and disturbing and a little reminiscent of the The Handmaid's Tale.
I highly recommend this collection.
starstruuk's review
fast-paced
5.0
I DEVOURED this book!! It was so good and I will definitely be rereading this in the future.
ali_w15's review
3.0
I throughly enjoyed three stories in this book. They were empowering, inspiring and met my expectations. The rest I felt were a bit of a let down. Some were very bizarre and had little connection to witchcraft. A book with a lot of potential that sadly did not live up to its claims.
jgintrovertedreader's review against another edition
4.0
In this young adult anthology, editors Jessica Spotswood and Tess Sharpe celebrate the witchy wisdom and power of women. The collected stories cover a broad range of history and fantastical locations and include lighthearted tales as well as deadly serious ones.
Any short story collection is going to be a bit uneven but I truly enjoyed the vast majority of these. I would like to read novels based on some of these characters and I will be seeking out longer works by some of these authors. I appreciated that the writers are a culturally-diverse group and their characters reflect that. I also liked that some characters are LGBTQIA+. Representation matters.
After listening to this collection, I can’t say that narrator Amy McFadden is my favorite reader but she did read the stories capably. A lot of the stories blended together because her tone was so similar throughout. She did read with appropriate accents, which sounded fine to my untrained ear, but a lot of stories felt like they were being told by a snarky teen, which wasn’t necessarily accurate. The end of one story and the beginning of the next blurred together as well, which seems like a flaw (as I see it) of the production, not her. Just a few more seconds of silence would have clued me in that I had reached the ending.
Speaking of endings… I am okay with ambiguous endings. I won’t claim to be a huge fan but if I see a purpose, I’ll roll with it. Some of the stories seemed to stop for no apparent reason. That drives me crazy.
I recommend this for readers who enjoy short stories, women’s issues, and representation. When I look back on my Halloween reads, male authors always dominate the list. I enjoyed including a group of talented women this year, especially since they focused on important issues as well.
This is a good place to stop reading this review, but I always feel compelled to review each story as well. Here goes:
“Starsong” by Tehlor Kay Mejia–3 stars–I might have enjoyed this more in print. This was one of the stories that came across as snarky largely because of the narrator. Luna is sixteen and she almost died recently from a bad mixture of pills and alcohol. She’s finding her way forward with the help of her powers and the stars. She’s lonely though–until she meets @futureNASAqueen on Instagram and they begin discussing their mutual love of, but wildly different approaches to, the stars.
“Afterbirth” by Andrea Cremer–3 Stars–Cremer is one of two authors from this collection whom I’ve read previously (Nightshade). This wasn’t my favorite story although it largely felt all too real. Deliverance is an apprentice midwife. Her mentor, Miriam Ley, is on trial for witchcraft after a mother dies in childbirth and a snooping busybody, concerned neighbor reports that the child she gave birth to was really a devil.
“The Heart in Her Hands” by Tess Sharpe–4 Stars–I would like to read more about this world. Bettina Clarke is from a family of witches who are each gifted with a mark on their skin when they meet their soul mates. Bettina isn’t content to let someone else decide her fate so she fights every way she can. I really liked her and Auggie, her best friend.
“Death In The Sawtooths” by Lindsay Smith–4 Stars–Possibly my favorite story of the collection. I’d like a novel and maybe even a series about Mattie, a witch who prepares the dead for burial and helps them settle their unfinished business. She’s never really fit in with the other, more glamorous witches, and they bullied her mercilessly in school. She finds out that witches who have followed in her footsteps haven’t been treated any better but they aren’t as accepting of the pecking order.
“The Truth about Queenie” by Brandy Colbert–3 Stars–This one had a bit too much…troubled teen love?… for my taste. Others will like it more than I did. Queenie is a witch but she has only explored her powers one time previously with disastrous consequences. When her famous best friend (who she’s secretly in love with) asks her to use her powers for a good cause, she’s afraid that she won’t be able to help.
“The Moonapple Menagerie” by Shveta Thakrar–3 Stars–This is a pretty little fantasy about a group of shape-shifting witches putting on a play. Shalini is supposed to be writing the play but she has a terrible case of writer’s block and self-doubt. There’s a message here about asking for help when you need it but mostly it just felt like a sweet little romp through a pretty fantasy world.
“The Legend of Stone Mary” by Robin Talley–4 Stars–Wendy’s family of women has a reputation as witches, stemming from an incident that occurred at the end of the Civil War. Wendy’s great-great something supposedly cursed the town. The curse has died down but now that Wendy is visiting the statue the town erected in an attempt to appease “Stone Mary’s” spirit, it feels like the curse may be coming back stronger than ever. I liked the small town mythos here and Wendy’s complicated friendship with Karen.
“The One Who Stayed” by Nova Ren Suns–This one is hard to rate. I personally didn’t care for it but it’s a powerful piece that’s going to linger with me. It will be a trigger for some readers. A group of women (Witches?Ghosts? I was never clear) watch as a young teen is preyed upon and relive the memory of another girl in a similar situation the year before.
“Divine Are The Stars” by Zoraida Córdova–3 Stars–I was interested enough in the world that this family of witches inhabit but I’ve already largely forgotten it. The elderly matriarch has summoned everyone to her home for their inheritance but the family does not find what they expected.
“Daughters of Baba Yaga” by Brenna Yovanoff–4 Stars–Ms. Yovanoff is the second author whose work I’m familiar with in this group (The Replacement). Stony, a teen from an immigrant family, knows life in America is hard for anyone who is even slightly different. Harmony, a girl who thinks they’re both witches, befriends her. Harmony believes in using her powers for good. Stony, on the other hand, believes in justice.
“The Well Witch” by Kate Hart–4 Stars–This is another strong contender for my favorite story of the collection. Elsa is a water witch living in an oasis of her mother’s creation in the dry Texas plains. Trouble comes to her door in the form of three drifters, apparent deserters from the armies of the Civil War. I admired her for her resilience and reliance only on herself.
“Beware of Girls with Crooked Mouths” by Jessica Spotswood–4 Stars–This felt like a smaller piece of a family saga and I would like to read that saga. There can only be one matriarch in each generation of women in the Campbell family. Jo has a vision that she thinks will allow her and her sisters to avoid the fatal fate of their forebears.
“Love Spell” by Anna-Marie McLemore–4 Stars–I liked this story for its belief in love against the odds. A young woman is learning the art of healing broken hearts from her tía. Even though they’re women of faith, the local priest refuses them Communion, calling them brujas. But un acólito notices the young woman and begins serving them Communion in their home on Sunday afternoons.
“The Gherin Girls” by Emery Lord–4 Stars–I enjoyed this story but, given its superficial similarity to both Practical Magic and Garden Spells, that’s to be expected. I love that the sisters are so wholeheartedly on each other’s side, no questions asked. Middle sister Rosie has been out of a slyly abusive relationship for about a year when she runs into her ex and feels her world collapsing around her. I would like to read more about The Gherin Girls.
“Why They Watch Us Burn” by Elizabeth May–This is another difficult one to rate. I personally didn’t love it but it’s a truly powerful allegory about women who’ve been preyed upon by men and then crucified in the court of public opinion.
Any short story collection is going to be a bit uneven but I truly enjoyed the vast majority of these. I would like to read novels based on some of these characters and I will be seeking out longer works by some of these authors. I appreciated that the writers are a culturally-diverse group and their characters reflect that. I also liked that some characters are LGBTQIA+. Representation matters.
After listening to this collection, I can’t say that narrator Amy McFadden is my favorite reader but she did read the stories capably. A lot of the stories blended together because her tone was so similar throughout. She did read with appropriate accents, which sounded fine to my untrained ear, but a lot of stories felt like they were being told by a snarky teen, which wasn’t necessarily accurate. The end of one story and the beginning of the next blurred together as well, which seems like a flaw (as I see it) of the production, not her. Just a few more seconds of silence would have clued me in that I had reached the ending.
Speaking of endings… I am okay with ambiguous endings. I won’t claim to be a huge fan but if I see a purpose, I’ll roll with it. Some of the stories seemed to stop for no apparent reason. That drives me crazy.
I recommend this for readers who enjoy short stories, women’s issues, and representation. When I look back on my Halloween reads, male authors always dominate the list. I enjoyed including a group of talented women this year, especially since they focused on important issues as well.
This is a good place to stop reading this review, but I always feel compelled to review each story as well. Here goes:
“Starsong” by Tehlor Kay Mejia–3 stars–I might have enjoyed this more in print. This was one of the stories that came across as snarky largely because of the narrator. Luna is sixteen and she almost died recently from a bad mixture of pills and alcohol. She’s finding her way forward with the help of her powers and the stars. She’s lonely though–until she meets @futureNASAqueen on Instagram and they begin discussing their mutual love of, but wildly different approaches to, the stars.
“Afterbirth” by Andrea Cremer–3 Stars–Cremer is one of two authors from this collection whom I’ve read previously (Nightshade). This wasn’t my favorite story although it largely felt all too real. Deliverance is an apprentice midwife. Her mentor, Miriam Ley, is on trial for witchcraft after a mother dies in childbirth and a snooping busybody, concerned neighbor reports that the child she gave birth to was really a devil.
“The Heart in Her Hands” by Tess Sharpe–4 Stars–I would like to read more about this world. Bettina Clarke is from a family of witches who are each gifted with a mark on their skin when they meet their soul mates. Bettina isn’t content to let someone else decide her fate so she fights every way she can. I really liked her and Auggie, her best friend.
“Death In The Sawtooths” by Lindsay Smith–4 Stars–Possibly my favorite story of the collection. I’d like a novel and maybe even a series about Mattie, a witch who prepares the dead for burial and helps them settle their unfinished business. She’s never really fit in with the other, more glamorous witches, and they bullied her mercilessly in school. She finds out that witches who have followed in her footsteps haven’t been treated any better but they aren’t as accepting of the pecking order.
“The Truth about Queenie” by Brandy Colbert–3 Stars–This one had a bit too much…troubled teen love?… for my taste. Others will like it more than I did. Queenie is a witch but she has only explored her powers one time previously with disastrous consequences. When her famous best friend (who she’s secretly in love with) asks her to use her powers for a good cause, she’s afraid that she won’t be able to help.
“The Moonapple Menagerie” by Shveta Thakrar–3 Stars–This is a pretty little fantasy about a group of shape-shifting witches putting on a play. Shalini is supposed to be writing the play but she has a terrible case of writer’s block and self-doubt. There’s a message here about asking for help when you need it but mostly it just felt like a sweet little romp through a pretty fantasy world.
“The Legend of Stone Mary” by Robin Talley–4 Stars–Wendy’s family of women has a reputation as witches, stemming from an incident that occurred at the end of the Civil War. Wendy’s great-great something supposedly cursed the town. The curse has died down but now that Wendy is visiting the statue the town erected in an attempt to appease “Stone Mary’s” spirit, it feels like the curse may be coming back stronger than ever. I liked the small town mythos here and Wendy’s complicated friendship with Karen.
“The One Who Stayed” by Nova Ren Suns–This one is hard to rate. I personally didn’t care for it but it’s a powerful piece that’s going to linger with me. It will be a trigger for some readers. A group of women (Witches?Ghosts? I was never clear) watch as a young teen is preyed upon and relive the memory of another girl in a similar situation the year before.
“Divine Are The Stars” by Zoraida Córdova–3 Stars–I was interested enough in the world that this family of witches inhabit but I’ve already largely forgotten it. The elderly matriarch has summoned everyone to her home for their inheritance but the family does not find what they expected.
“Daughters of Baba Yaga” by Brenna Yovanoff–4 Stars–Ms. Yovanoff is the second author whose work I’m familiar with in this group (The Replacement). Stony, a teen from an immigrant family, knows life in America is hard for anyone who is even slightly different. Harmony, a girl who thinks they’re both witches, befriends her. Harmony believes in using her powers for good. Stony, on the other hand, believes in justice.
“The Well Witch” by Kate Hart–4 Stars–This is another strong contender for my favorite story of the collection. Elsa is a water witch living in an oasis of her mother’s creation in the dry Texas plains. Trouble comes to her door in the form of three drifters, apparent deserters from the armies of the Civil War. I admired her for her resilience and reliance only on herself.
“Beware of Girls with Crooked Mouths” by Jessica Spotswood–4 Stars–This felt like a smaller piece of a family saga and I would like to read that saga. There can only be one matriarch in each generation of women in the Campbell family. Jo has a vision that she thinks will allow her and her sisters to avoid the fatal fate of their forebears.
“Love Spell” by Anna-Marie McLemore–4 Stars–I liked this story for its belief in love against the odds. A young woman is learning the art of healing broken hearts from her tía. Even though they’re women of faith, the local priest refuses them Communion, calling them brujas. But un acólito notices the young woman and begins serving them Communion in their home on Sunday afternoons.
“The Gherin Girls” by Emery Lord–4 Stars–I enjoyed this story but, given its superficial similarity to both Practical Magic and Garden Spells, that’s to be expected. I love that the sisters are so wholeheartedly on each other’s side, no questions asked. Middle sister Rosie has been out of a slyly abusive relationship for about a year when she runs into her ex and feels her world collapsing around her. I would like to read more about The Gherin Girls.
“Why They Watch Us Burn” by Elizabeth May–This is another difficult one to rate. I personally didn’t love it but it’s a truly powerful allegory about women who’ve been preyed upon by men and then crucified in the court of public opinion.
ajb24's review
3.0
Disclaimer: I started this book mostly because I knew it was on my to-read shelf and I saw it was available at the library so I rented it. But I was skeptical that I would enjoy the topic of witches/witchcraft right from the start (I added it to my list because my ex was into witch stuff so I thought I would read it for "perspective" or whatever...reviews said that it had gays too so obvs I got intrigued)
That being said, there were some stories that I genuinely really enjoyed and held my interest in a way where the ~magic~ elements didn't bother me. Others however...not so much. Not that I think that they're bad stories or anything (though some are weaker than others quality-wise) but it's just...sometimes I just can't get behind the whole idea of universes where witches exist. There's that one story where like, a witch girl starts chatting with the science/NASA girl. Yeah, I'm like the NASA girl (but less intense because science is hard and i'm not into that) But conceptually like...I can appreciate that people believe in this stuff but usually it's just not for me. If I had to list my favorites from best to worst it would go like this:
1. The Gherin Girls
2. Death in the Sawtooths
3. Why They Watch Us Burn (this might be a tie for second because I really appreciate the underlying social commentary)
4 (tie) Love Spell
4 (tie) The Legend of Stone Mary
5. The Heart in her Hands
ok and then after this I don't know if I can really rank them because they either weren't compelling enough for me to remember them or I just don't like them.
I could probably rank my bottom 3 actually
3. The Well Witch
2. The One Who Stayed
1. The Moonapple Menagerie
Any others I didn't rank are stuck in that middle section of "I don't care enough to have a distinct opinion"
I took notes after each story (not extensive, just my general feelings so I could remember for this review...obviously that didn't work out totally well lol) BUT anyways I think I'm funny sometimes and I wanna preserve what I wrote so I'm gonna copy/paste them down below (there is NO consistency in what I comment on for each, sometimes I wrote it during and other times after, but anyway...)
Starsong
- rolled my eyes but it gay so,,,
Afterbirth
- kept me intrigued
The Heart in Her Hands
- gf came to save her from a hetero fate!!!!!
Death in the Sawtooths
Definitely my favorite so far, so interesting and liked the concept
The Truth About Queenie
Boring heteros :/
Eh, don't like the abrupt ending (maybe it's abrupt cuz I'm just listening to it and don't have a concept of how long it is)
Weird cheating motif and I dont rly get it
The Moonapple Menagerie
Goddamn these witches are furries
Hey question wtf is going on
I don't understand it
[like, OK, I /get/ that it's a different culture and I was trying to be open to the whole plot and what was happening, but I was just so confused and didn't like it]
The Legend of Stone Mary
The gays!!!
The One Who Stayed
What???? Don't like it :/
Divine Are the Stars
Eh
Daughters of Baba Yaga
New concept, a bad witch, was OK. Don't understand the communist bit tho or why that was included
The Well Witch
Partial to this one only cuz I recently read the Sebastian Barry book set in civil war time, but not much else impresses me
Eh actually not really it was boring and not a lot of witchyness
Beware of Girls with Crooked Mouths
Hmph
But there were some gays that was nice
Love Spell
I read an article in medical anthro about susto once so this one is cool to me
Also just am into the story more which is surprising since the other book I've read by this author I didn't like
Def can see this author's magical realism style coming thru
The Gherin Girls
"Small warm relief sets in" - sounds like a description of if u peed urself even tho i know it's not
Oooo I really liked this one!!!
All the sexuality representation!!! But also family love!! Yay!!
It's incredible how much I identify or feel "seen" in the Willa/Ingrid scenario...just like, the description of what she loves about Ingrid and how they lie next to each other I /feel/ that, yknow?? Cuz like, after some of these hetero stories it's like, holy shit, I do NOT understand that I'm SO gay
It's almost like...representation matters 🤔 *insert Pikachu face meme*
Why They Watch Us Burn
Oof this is powerful
That being said, there were some stories that I genuinely really enjoyed and held my interest in a way where the ~magic~ elements didn't bother me. Others however...not so much. Not that I think that they're bad stories or anything (though some are weaker than others quality-wise) but it's just...sometimes I just can't get behind the whole idea of universes where witches exist. There's that one story where like, a witch girl starts chatting with the science/NASA girl. Yeah, I'm like the NASA girl (but less intense because science is hard and i'm not into that) But conceptually like...I can appreciate that people believe in this stuff but usually it's just not for me. If I had to list my favorites from best to worst it would go like this:
1. The Gherin Girls
2. Death in the Sawtooths
3. Why They Watch Us Burn (this might be a tie for second because I really appreciate the underlying social commentary)
4 (tie) Love Spell
4 (tie) The Legend of Stone Mary
5. The Heart in her Hands
ok and then after this I don't know if I can really rank them because they either weren't compelling enough for me to remember them or I just don't like them.
I could probably rank my bottom 3 actually
3. The Well Witch
2. The One Who Stayed
1. The Moonapple Menagerie
Any others I didn't rank are stuck in that middle section of "I don't care enough to have a distinct opinion"
I took notes after each story (not extensive, just my general feelings so I could remember for this review...obviously that didn't work out totally well lol) BUT anyways I think I'm funny sometimes and I wanna preserve what I wrote so I'm gonna copy/paste them down below (there is NO consistency in what I comment on for each, sometimes I wrote it during and other times after, but anyway...)
Starsong
- rolled my eyes but it gay so,,,
Afterbirth
- kept me intrigued
The Heart in Her Hands
- gf came to save her from a hetero fate!!!!!
Death in the Sawtooths
Definitely my favorite so far, so interesting and liked the concept
The Truth About Queenie
Boring heteros :/
Eh, don't like the abrupt ending (maybe it's abrupt cuz I'm just listening to it and don't have a concept of how long it is)
Weird cheating motif and I dont rly get it
The Moonapple Menagerie
Goddamn these witches are furries
Hey question wtf is going on
I don't understand it
[like, OK, I /get/ that it's a different culture and I was trying to be open to the whole plot and what was happening, but I was just so confused and didn't like it]
The Legend of Stone Mary
The gays!!!
The One Who Stayed
What???? Don't like it :/
Divine Are the Stars
Eh
Daughters of Baba Yaga
New concept, a bad witch, was OK. Don't understand the communist bit tho or why that was included
The Well Witch
Partial to this one only cuz I recently read the Sebastian Barry book set in civil war time, but not much else impresses me
Eh actually not really it was boring and not a lot of witchyness
Beware of Girls with Crooked Mouths
Hmph
But there were some gays that was nice
Love Spell
I read an article in medical anthro about susto once so this one is cool to me
Also just am into the story more which is surprising since the other book I've read by this author I didn't like
Def can see this author's magical realism style coming thru
The Gherin Girls
"Small warm relief sets in" - sounds like a description of if u peed urself even tho i know it's not
Oooo I really liked this one!!!
All the sexuality representation!!! But also family love!! Yay!!
It's incredible how much I identify or feel "seen" in the Willa/Ingrid scenario...just like, the description of what she loves about Ingrid and how they lie next to each other I /feel/ that, yknow?? Cuz like, after some of these hetero stories it's like, holy shit, I do NOT understand that I'm SO gay
It's almost like...representation matters 🤔 *insert Pikachu face meme*
Why They Watch Us Burn
Oof this is powerful
thebookishunicorn's review
5.0
Actual rating 4.5 stars
"Here's how to fulfill a prophecy: you are a woman, you speak the truth, and the world makes you into a liar." -Why They Watch Us Burn
I really really loved this collection of short stories! They are all so different from one another but still feel like they belong together. The cultures and characters are so diverse, a ton of own voices, and amazing LGBTQ+ representation. It's a great spooky read, while also bursting full of female empowerment.
"Here's how to fulfill a prophecy: you are a woman, you speak the truth, and the world makes you into a liar." -Why They Watch Us Burn
I really really loved this collection of short stories! They are all so different from one another but still feel like they belong together. The cultures and characters are so diverse, a ton of own voices, and amazing LGBTQ+ representation. It's a great spooky read, while also bursting full of female empowerment.