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Tea Leaves
Tea Leaves is an astonishing collection of fables for our time by a young writer of tremendous power and promise. Tea Leaves presents 16 speculative short stories that place queer characters in larger-than-life situations to emphasize the surreal experience of marginalization. A queer romance spans multiple incarnations, but only in doomed cities. A gay medieval scholar must testify for his life to the otherworldly octopus who traps him in a cafe bathroom. Ignoring their better judgment, a witch brings their mortal partner on a hunt for a dangerous sorcerer and must cope with the dire consequences. Each of the stories within Tea Leaves explores the urgency of modern queer life in encounters between the otherworldly and the queer other. In juxtaposing queer narratives with new, larger-than-life myths, Tea Leaves both exalts and lampoons the queer experience while examining the sometimes surreal obstacles of marginalization.
250 pages, Paperback
Published September 19, 2023
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134 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
September 29, 2023
This was such a good read to fly by my day! Thoughtful, whimsical, and fantastically vibrant, I’m sort of sad there isn’t more! There is a level of absurdity to these tales – entwining realism and notes of the surreal – that, I feel, conveyed a new, fresh take on the queer experience. There are some fabulous insights in Tea Leaves about queer identity and sexuality.
Thank you to Netgalley and Amble Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you to Netgalley and Amble Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
October 14, 2023
I had high hopes for this collection and unfortunately, it fell a bit short. I really struggled with some of these stories, especially in the first 150 pages or so - I was left wondering "why?" at the ends, seeing the potential threads of commentary or deeper meaning but not quite seeing them all come together cohesively by the end of each story. Many of the stories felt too on the nose, the metaphors a bit too blunt, and that lack of finesse felt like I was being hit over the head even while I struggled to parse a deeper lesson or meaning in the story. The second half stories, however, felt much stronger to me! They had much clearer voices, more natural-feeling characters, and clearer take-aways. Unfortunately, I think most readers would DNF a collection before getting to that point and this collection might have benefitted from the stories being ordered differently. I did appreciate the diversity of the stories and their characters, though, and I think this collection will certainly be loved by some readers - it just wasn't quite the right fit for me.
August 28, 2024
A solid 4 - maybe even higher.
I loved this set of short stories, they're queer, naughty, innocent, magical and human. I've thought about the individual stories a lot, as I've gone about my day - what do the elements want from me? What if this dingy shop was a portal to the devil?
The thread running through each of these stories is a deep yearning for connection, attempts at remedying our own loneliness. Like a good collection, the sum is greater than it's parts, and this book leaves you heartbroken and whole.
I loved this set of short stories, they're queer, naughty, innocent, magical and human. I've thought about the individual stories a lot, as I've gone about my day - what do the elements want from me? What if this dingy shop was a portal to the devil?
The thread running through each of these stories is a deep yearning for connection, attempts at remedying our own loneliness. Like a good collection, the sum is greater than it's parts, and this book leaves you heartbroken and whole.
October 6, 2023
Many a times has the queer community (as any other minority in history) been ostracised and demonised as a way to further the myth of a “modest and proper society“ as a means of control of the masses; but the surefire way to disrupt a community is to make it disappear, for how can you join one and revel in the joy of fellowship and camaraderie if it’s not only signaled as evil but it’s also invisible?
The use of the idea of the “monstrous” in media has been linked to the the portrayal of queerness (both the lgbtqai+ kind of queerness as well as the Stranger and the Diverse, be it in terms of race, disability, gender, etc) - this idea is further explored in these short stories by the presence of the fae folk and other magical creatures, be it witches, demons and ancient gods.
The author puts his best foot forward in this collection, fruit of a decade of work, by making queer people and magical creatures the undisputed protagonists of both common and uncommon situations in an alternate universe of our world (I would call this book an urban fantasy if I had to put it in a genre category) in order for them to be *seen*, and finally regarded as fully fledged members of society without having to hide or mellow themselves down in order to be accepted.
Despite the noble intent, I did not find myself enjoying the reading process: I wasn’t a fan of the author’s characterisations of their protagonists, nor of the writing style in general. I do think there’s a dedicated audience waiting to find this book as their Holy Grail, but sadly it was not for me.
Access to the ARC acquired thanks to NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The use of the idea of the “monstrous” in media has been linked to the the portrayal of queerness (both the lgbtqai+ kind of queerness as well as the Stranger and the Diverse, be it in terms of race, disability, gender, etc) - this idea is further explored in these short stories by the presence of the fae folk and other magical creatures, be it witches, demons and ancient gods.
The author puts his best foot forward in this collection, fruit of a decade of work, by making queer people and magical creatures the undisputed protagonists of both common and uncommon situations in an alternate universe of our world (I would call this book an urban fantasy if I had to put it in a genre category) in order for them to be *seen*, and finally regarded as fully fledged members of society without having to hide or mellow themselves down in order to be accepted.
Despite the noble intent, I did not find myself enjoying the reading process: I wasn’t a fan of the author’s characterisations of their protagonists, nor of the writing style in general. I do think there’s a dedicated audience waiting to find this book as their Holy Grail, but sadly it was not for me.
Access to the ARC acquired thanks to NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 30, 2023
This was the book equivalent of a Kinder Surprise - I never knew what to expect with each new short story and finding out was half the fun.
Tea Leaves is an eclectic collection of short stories in a wide range of topics and genres with two ever-present constants: an LGBTQ+ perspective, and a strong link to magic and mysticism. This translates at times into cozy magical universes, at others into horrific depictions of humans and mysterious creatures (❗warning - it gets violent and very graphic in a couple of stories).
This is a well-written, fascinating book, where no element feels like an afterthought and every detail plays a role. One of my favorite reads of 2023 so far.
✨Disclaimer✨
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Tea Leaves is an eclectic collection of short stories in a wide range of topics and genres with two ever-present constants: an LGBTQ+ perspective, and a strong link to magic and mysticism. This translates at times into cozy magical universes, at others into horrific depictions of humans and mysterious creatures (❗warning - it gets violent and very graphic in a couple of stories).
This is a well-written, fascinating book, where no element feels like an afterthought and every detail plays a role. One of my favorite reads of 2023 so far.
✨Disclaimer✨
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
September 22, 2023
[Thanks to NetGalley & the author for providing me with this ARC]
“For all the queers and mystics and fairies and witches who only ever wanted to be seen.“
This book is so dear to my heart. A gorgeous collection of magical short stories.
These stories allow a powerful statement about the othering of queer people by presenting struggles of the queer experience in a magical setting in an otherworldly setting.
It showed the absurdity of the hatred as well as the resulting hurt and alienation.
With every short story, the author takes the reader on a new journey. The rich and beautiful settings were described with much attention to detail which allowed me to completely sink into the story.
Disclaimer: The ARC was provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The ARC category in no way impacts the rating of the book. All of my reviews contain my honest opinions.
“For all the queers and mystics and fairies and witches who only ever wanted to be seen.“
This book is so dear to my heart. A gorgeous collection of magical short stories.
These stories allow a powerful statement about the othering of queer people by presenting struggles of the queer experience in a magical setting in an otherworldly setting.
It showed the absurdity of the hatred as well as the resulting hurt and alienation.
With every short story, the author takes the reader on a new journey. The rich and beautiful settings were described with much attention to detail which allowed me to completely sink into the story.
Disclaimer: The ARC was provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The ARC category in no way impacts the rating of the book. All of my reviews contain my honest opinions.
January 7, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Tea Leaves is a collection of short stories with a fantasy/speculative/dystopian lean underpinned by explorations of queer life and existence. From eldritch octopus horrors in cafe restrooms, to reincarnated lovers destined to find each other in doomed cities, to shape changing reptilians, these short stories are varied and exciting, and some are deeply emotional, or incredibly terrifying.
A fantastic collection, some of which I really wish were used as opening chapters to full-length novels, particularly The Oak I Knew. A powerful and riveting collection.
Tea Leaves is a collection of short stories with a fantasy/speculative/dystopian lean underpinned by explorations of queer life and existence. From eldritch octopus horrors in cafe restrooms, to reincarnated lovers destined to find each other in doomed cities, to shape changing reptilians, these short stories are varied and exciting, and some are deeply emotional, or incredibly terrifying.
A fantastic collection, some of which I really wish were used as opening chapters to full-length novels, particularly The Oak I Knew. A powerful and riveting collection.
January 2, 2024
This short story collection deals with topics and themes which are very close to my heart, namely queerness and climate change. I have enjoyed the speculative nature of a number of the stories, as well as a tinge of horror in others. Although I didn't particularly connect to any of the characters, the stories "Borealis", "And Then Again To The Next" and "Ah, Well" resonated with me deeply. I think reading this collection was a nice and enjoyable way to start my new reading year.
Thank you to NetGalley for a free review copy of this book!
Thank you to NetGalley for a free review copy of this book!
May 8, 2024
It was going so strong until one of the short stories towards the end referred to a character having an abortion as "baby-murdering." I just don't understand how you make a book about the systems that oppress marginalized communities and then refer to a sovereign right to reproductive control as "baby-murdering." Regardless of whether it was meant to be satirical or not, it was a really uncomfortable and unnecessary addition. I ended up giving this 1.5/5 stars, purely because there were a handful of short stories worth the time until you lost me at the end there.
September 10, 2023
An enjoyable of collection of fantasy stories featuring mythical creatures and magic. Features 17 beautifully crafted queer romance stories that invoke powerful emotions with the diverse range of situations captured in each tale from joy to despair as the character face challenges and dark moments of life. Tackles some difficult topics from the experience LGBTIQA community dealing with hatred, judgment and the darkness that can live within our hearts.
November 17, 2023
This is my favorite kind of collection. And wow did I feel seen like these stories were actually coming for me like slow down thank you I did not give you permission to expose me like that bye.
October 16, 2023
A collection of short stories that uses magical realism and urban fantasy to celebrate queerness in its many forms. Love to see it. I wish that the magical/realism balance had fallen on the magical side a little harder, but that's largely a personal preference.
Thank you to netgalley for the arc.
Thank you to netgalley for the arc.
February 1, 2024
Average rating = 3.25. Rounded to 3.5 for personal stats. Rounded to 4 for Goodreads
Firstly I'd like to start this by saying this is the first time I've read a short story collection that hasn't been a part of a pre-established series or has not had the stories connected in some way normally by following the same character or character group, and unfortunately I don't think this type of book works for me.
I would say if you have read and know you like these types of short story collections before or if you like the storytelling style of a season of black mirror where you see a snippet of this thing and then move on to something different then you could really like this.
I really enjoyed the writing style and if the author ever comes out with a full length novel I would read it.
I did write down a couple of sentences after finishing and individual rated each story, you can find this below by viewing spoilers, spoilers are minor but in many I do talk about the plot or point of stories which you don't know before going into them.
Thanks to @netgalley , the publishers @amble_press and the author @dreambabyjake for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Firstly I'd like to start this by saying this is the first time I've read a short story collection that hasn't been a part of a pre-established series or has not had the stories connected in some way normally by following the same character or character group, and unfortunately I don't think this type of book works for me.
I would say if you have read and know you like these types of short story collections before or if you like the storytelling style of a season of black mirror where you see a snippet of this thing and then move on to something different then you could really like this.
I really enjoyed the writing style and if the author ever comes out with a full length novel I would read it.
I did write down a couple of sentences after finishing and individual rated each story, you can find this below by viewing spoilers, spoilers are minor but in many I do talk about the plot or point of stories which you don't know before going into them.
Thanks to @netgalley , the publishers @amble_press and the author @dreambabyjake for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 11, 2024
I was looking forward to reading this as the description made it sound like a book I would love, but I was disappointed as I struggled through this collection of short stories.
The storylines and characters seemed like random ideas thrown together as the writer desperately tried to reach a word count. I can appreciate the goal of this collection of stories and what the author wanted to achieve with the queer representation, but I have seen it executed far better in other books and anthologies.
I didn't find any of the stories particularly interesting, sometimes I felt confused about what the story was supposed to be, and I found the writing style offputting. Overall, I didn't enjoy the reading experience.
The storylines and characters seemed like random ideas thrown together as the writer desperately tried to reach a word count. I can appreciate the goal of this collection of stories and what the author wanted to achieve with the queer representation, but I have seen it executed far better in other books and anthologies.
I didn't find any of the stories particularly interesting, sometimes I felt confused about what the story was supposed to be, and I found the writing style offputting. Overall, I didn't enjoy the reading experience.
January 9, 2024
Okay, this was a very interesting approach to a short story collection, and not what I expected at all. It includes a whole range of stories, some that are firmly magical realism, some urban fantasy, some high fantasy, and some that are all three, neither, or too short to really know. Many are tinged with horror; most are pessimistic. Some are nearly thirty pages, while others are under five. While there are some themes (marginalization, dissatisfaction) that run through the book, there are few real continuities. What I love about this is it’s simply a collection of the author’s works, without particular regard for short story conventions; it’s very unique.
Unfortunately, most of the stories ranged from inspiring active dislike to just ambivalence, and I wasn’t particularly compelled by the first two thirds or so of the book. However, towards the end there were a few standouts: I particularly enjoyed “Borealis” (about a sort of modern-day sleeping beauty whose aunt helps wake her from her slumber with the offer of freedom), “And Then Again to the Next” (a story of two lovers who meet across time and space, but only in cities doomed to destruction), “The Oak I Knew” (a post-apocalyptic critique of society that can’t quite be called a love story, and “The Age of Oceanus” (a brief tale of the death of river goddesses). These four were actually quite good, and if you should end up with a copy of this book you’d be well-served to skip ahead to these if you aren’t enjoying the first few. This actually makes plenty of sense – the stories have been written by the author over his career, and in these few stories I felt like he was really beginning to touch on some particularly resonant themes. So these ones are absolutely worth reading, even if the first several aren’t.
Unfortunately, most of the stories ranged from inspiring active dislike to just ambivalence, and I wasn’t particularly compelled by the first two thirds or so of the book. However, towards the end there were a few standouts: I particularly enjoyed “Borealis” (about a sort of modern-day sleeping beauty whose aunt helps wake her from her slumber with the offer of freedom), “And Then Again to the Next” (a story of two lovers who meet across time and space, but only in cities doomed to destruction), “The Oak I Knew” (a post-apocalyptic critique of society that can’t quite be called a love story, and “The Age of Oceanus” (a brief tale of the death of river goddesses). These four were actually quite good, and if you should end up with a copy of this book you’d be well-served to skip ahead to these if you aren’t enjoying the first few. This actually makes plenty of sense – the stories have been written by the author over his career, and in these few stories I felt like he was really beginning to touch on some particularly resonant themes. So these ones are absolutely worth reading, even if the first several aren’t.
October 17, 2023
Tea Leaves is a short story collection that blurs the line between modernity and the fantastical. Many of the stories feature mystical elements – such as faeries, magic, and shapeshifters – all in parallel with the LGBTQ+ experience, developing themes around love and desire but also marginalization and violence.
This book was a very interesting read. As a queer person, I enjoyed having LGBTQ+ people like me and the exploration of their experiences at the forefront of so many stories. I applaud Jacob Budenz’s creativity in putting together a collection covering such a wide breadth of tones and characters. Some stories drew me in with how heartfelt they were while others did so with their absurdity, their humor, or their gruesomeness. There were alligator-men, immortal beings, Lovecraftian monstrosities, witches, magicians, and futures full of climate catastrophes. With such fascinating concepts and a pleasant writing style, I found that once I started each story, it was easy to finish them.
While a couple of stories stayed with me far after I was finished reading them, I will say that there were others that were quickly forgettable, and they interfered with my enjoyment of the collection as a whole. Additionally, I sometimes struggled to grasp the overarching theme that drew all the stories together into a single collection, but I still liked a majority of the stories individually.
Overall, I thought that the book was a wonderful foray into magical realism. I would recommend it to those interested in the genre or searching for more queer representation in their reading!
Thank you to Net Galley and Amble Press for providing me with this advanced readers copy
This book was a very interesting read. As a queer person, I enjoyed having LGBTQ+ people like me and the exploration of their experiences at the forefront of so many stories. I applaud Jacob Budenz’s creativity in putting together a collection covering such a wide breadth of tones and characters. Some stories drew me in with how heartfelt they were while others did so with their absurdity, their humor, or their gruesomeness. There were alligator-men, immortal beings, Lovecraftian monstrosities, witches, magicians, and futures full of climate catastrophes. With such fascinating concepts and a pleasant writing style, I found that once I started each story, it was easy to finish them.
While a couple of stories stayed with me far after I was finished reading them, I will say that there were others that were quickly forgettable, and they interfered with my enjoyment of the collection as a whole. Additionally, I sometimes struggled to grasp the overarching theme that drew all the stories together into a single collection, but I still liked a majority of the stories individually.
Overall, I thought that the book was a wonderful foray into magical realism. I would recommend it to those interested in the genre or searching for more queer representation in their reading!
Thank you to Net Galley and Amble Press for providing me with this advanced readers copy
November 4, 2023
This is a collection of short stories and, as such, bound to have narratives that better fit your tastes than others. The second half of the book spoke more to mine (And Then Again to the Next, The Oak I Knew, The Age of Oceanus, Borealis), but I'm not sure someone without my completist tendencies would hold out for it.
If I had to label the genre, I'd say it features mostly urban fantasy, climate fiction, and horror. All of these are often used for commentary, and this collection was no exception. But I felt like I was being talked down to, smacked over the head with the ideals conveyed with little to no depth or finesse. (Mind you, I mostly agree with the author's views, so it's got nothing to do with that.)
The potential was obvious, but there were no new perspectives to garner from these stories. They were also hindered by the length, of course, as it is much harder to make a reader care about a character's journey in so few words. It would've probably helped to invest a little more on characterization, however. As my brilliant friend put it, “[nearly] all the characters in this collection are in unhappy relationships. Yet none is as unhappy as I am having to read this book”. And most of these relationships are terrible by MC's own doing and in the same or very similar way. The relationships were either 1) going stale, the MC struggling with feelings of inadequacy or lack of desire for their partner, or 2) new but not exciting. So, if you’re looking for uplifting queer romance, best to look elsewhere.
This book is for you if you enjoy:
- reading about failing relationships
- dystopian cli-fi
- fantastical creatures behaving oddly
- sprinkles of body horror
Thank you NetGalley, Amble Press and Jacob Budenz for the opportunity to read and review this book.
If I had to label the genre, I'd say it features mostly urban fantasy, climate fiction, and horror. All of these are often used for commentary, and this collection was no exception. But I felt like I was being talked down to, smacked over the head with the ideals conveyed with little to no depth or finesse. (Mind you, I mostly agree with the author's views, so it's got nothing to do with that.)
The potential was obvious, but there were no new perspectives to garner from these stories. They were also hindered by the length, of course, as it is much harder to make a reader care about a character's journey in so few words. It would've probably helped to invest a little more on characterization, however. As my brilliant friend put it, “[nearly] all the characters in this collection are in unhappy relationships. Yet none is as unhappy as I am having to read this book”. And most of these relationships are terrible by MC's own doing and in the same or very similar way. The relationships were either 1) going stale, the MC struggling with feelings of inadequacy or lack of desire for their partner, or 2) new but not exciting. So, if you’re looking for uplifting queer romance, best to look elsewhere.
This book is for you if you enjoy:
- reading about failing relationships
- dystopian cli-fi
- fantastical creatures behaving oddly
- sprinkles of body horror
Thank you NetGalley, Amble Press and Jacob Budenz for the opportunity to read and review this book.
March 29, 2024
Tea Leaves by Jacob Budenz is a collection of short stories with mostly queer protagonists and filled with a delightful surrealness across the various worlds and characters of the stories.
I first became familiar with Jacob’s writing when he submitted the story “Seen” for DefCon One’s I Didn’t Break the Lamp anthology, which was one of the stories we selected for that anthology. I was pleased to see it reprinted here and love it even years after my first reading. Other stories I enjoyed in this collection included “Under Her White Stars,” in which a witch needs to apprehend another magic user, and brings his boyfriend along to help him. “And Then Again to the Next” is a somewhat tragic story of love across reincarnations and time, with a seeming non-linear format of the story that comes to fruition in the telling of it. Finally, I enjoyed “Borealis,” which I read as a dark modern twist on Sleeping Beauty with some substantial remixing of the supporting characters.
If you enjoy reading stories with queer protagonists who lead messy, human lives, with a dose of the surreal, check out Tea Leaves!
The author provided me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for review consideration.
I first became familiar with Jacob’s writing when he submitted the story “Seen” for DefCon One’s I Didn’t Break the Lamp anthology, which was one of the stories we selected for that anthology. I was pleased to see it reprinted here and love it even years after my first reading. Other stories I enjoyed in this collection included “Under Her White Stars,” in which a witch needs to apprehend another magic user, and brings his boyfriend along to help him. “And Then Again to the Next” is a somewhat tragic story of love across reincarnations and time, with a seeming non-linear format of the story that comes to fruition in the telling of it. Finally, I enjoyed “Borealis,” which I read as a dark modern twist on Sleeping Beauty with some substantial remixing of the supporting characters.
If you enjoy reading stories with queer protagonists who lead messy, human lives, with a dose of the surreal, check out Tea Leaves!
The author provided me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for review consideration.
September 8, 2023
A beautiful collection of sixteen short stories that are filled with mystery, magic and wonder – creating a powerful statement about the othering of queer people and culture by placing them in an otherworldly story. There is just something about placing the obstacles and struggles of the queer experience in a backdrop of surreal magic and adventure that emphasises the absurdity of the hatred we receive for simply existing in our world.
We journey to ancient times and modern offices. Visit witches, magicians, fairies and immortal beings in adventures that were delicate, thoughtful and absorbing.
Every story has a curious, playful energy - with beautifully descriptive settings, fantastic characters and richly vivid, lyrical prose throughout. As a short story, of course you can’t always capture the ‘full story’ as it were which at times left me wishing for just a little more context; but the author instead gives us a series of moments that don’t necessarily follow a typical story structure, instead almost acting like a crystal ball and letting us temporarily watch a few moments of life in this mystical world.
We journey to ancient times and modern offices. Visit witches, magicians, fairies and immortal beings in adventures that were delicate, thoughtful and absorbing.
Every story has a curious, playful energy - with beautifully descriptive settings, fantastic characters and richly vivid, lyrical prose throughout. As a short story, of course you can’t always capture the ‘full story’ as it were which at times left me wishing for just a little more context; but the author instead gives us a series of moments that don’t necessarily follow a typical story structure, instead almost acting like a crystal ball and letting us temporarily watch a few moments of life in this mystical world.
November 20, 2023
I am in love with this "collection of fables for our time". I have never before read a collection of short stories where I was satisfied with every single one. Obviously there were some I could fawn over for decades and others that I just liked but I enjoyed every single story.
"Tea Leaves presents 16 speculative short stories that place queer characters in larger-than-life situations to emphasise the surreal experience of marginalisation." I can tell already that this collection is unlikely to be as big as it should be, but please devour this book and pass on the love for these stories. I would definitely love to read a full length novel by this author, and although every story had a satisfying ending, while I was immersed in these tales I knew they would each end too soon for me. If you can't tell, I wholeheartedly recommend this collection, and implore you to read it.
𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞: collections where every short story hits, magical queerness, fantasy and sci-fi, cozy and captivating, environmentalism, horny reptiles, love through the ages
"Tea Leaves presents 16 speculative short stories that place queer characters in larger-than-life situations to emphasise the surreal experience of marginalisation." I can tell already that this collection is unlikely to be as big as it should be, but please devour this book and pass on the love for these stories. I would definitely love to read a full length novel by this author, and although every story had a satisfying ending, while I was immersed in these tales I knew they would each end too soon for me. If you can't tell, I wholeheartedly recommend this collection, and implore you to read it.
𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞: collections where every short story hits, magical queerness, fantasy and sci-fi, cozy and captivating, environmentalism, horny reptiles, love through the ages
December 18, 2023
I received a copy from Amble Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Here we have a collection of short stories that give us a glimpse into each character’s lives. While they’re impacted by fantasy elements, that’s not the driving point of these stories. They range in length and depth, so there’s something for everyone. Some people may not like all of the short stories, but the great thing about a collection like this is that you don’t have to debate on whether or not you want to commit to a full length book if you’re on the fence about the story. They’re short and sometimes not so sweet, but you don’t have to get invested if you don’t want to because they wrap up quickly.
What I like about this collection is that we get to hop around completely different lives. Funnily enough, my favorite story ended up being the very first one I read, which is the one I would probably read as a full-length book. However, I did enjoy reading through the entire collection and getting a peek into several totally different lives with varying degrees of fantasy elements.
Here we have a collection of short stories that give us a glimpse into each character’s lives. While they’re impacted by fantasy elements, that’s not the driving point of these stories. They range in length and depth, so there’s something for everyone. Some people may not like all of the short stories, but the great thing about a collection like this is that you don’t have to debate on whether or not you want to commit to a full length book if you’re on the fence about the story. They’re short and sometimes not so sweet, but you don’t have to get invested if you don’t want to because they wrap up quickly.
What I like about this collection is that we get to hop around completely different lives. Funnily enough, my favorite story ended up being the very first one I read, which is the one I would probably read as a full-length book. However, I did enjoy reading through the entire collection and getting a peek into several totally different lives with varying degrees of fantasy elements.
September 13, 2023
I really wanted to like this collection. The stories had interesting concepts, but the execution didn't always work for me. I liked the way identity and sexuality was unpacked in each story, but (and this is a strange thing for me, personally, to say) I mostly think I would have liked them better without the magical elements. Or with the magical elements amped up enough that I wasn't left going, "Okay, but *why?*"
That said, I appreciated what Budenz had to say about the messiness of being queer, the disconnect between fables and real life, the way magical and surreal elements intermingle with the mundane. Based on the description, I was expecting this book to be... louder? When, in fact, it's fairly quiet, with steady prose that never fully hooked me.
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book as an ARC. There are some beautiful insights here about queer community and identity, and I hope that this book finds its way into the right hands.
That said, I appreciated what Budenz had to say about the messiness of being queer, the disconnect between fables and real life, the way magical and surreal elements intermingle with the mundane. Based on the description, I was expecting this book to be... louder? When, in fact, it's fairly quiet, with steady prose that never fully hooked me.
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book as an ARC. There are some beautiful insights here about queer community and identity, and I hope that this book finds its way into the right hands.
October 25, 2023
This is a fun collection of fantastical short stories, all combining queerness and mystical elements in different ways. It was an enjoyable experience to go into each new story no knowing what to expect, just knowing that there would be something different in each of them. I found many of the stories relatable and realistic in the portrayal of queer people and the challenges they face, and to then have a bizarre mystical element thrown in was entertaining and helped lighten the mood where needed. Some of the stories were less appealing than others, with a sense that perhaps the author was less invested in them, and I felt that the endings of some lacked conclusion - however, I can say that some others left me wishing there was a full length novel dedicated to that particular story. Overall, I'd say that if you're wanting to read something unusual, and that will keep on surprising you throughout that you can dip in and out of, this is a great collection.
November 10, 2023
Before I begin I would like to thank Net Galley and the author for allowing me an edition of this book.
From start to finish i quite enjoyed this book, however I had the same issue throughout. First of all I just want to gush about how much I enjoyed the ideas behind each story. Personally, my favourite was the tale between the wizard and his husband, it was so cute and creative I just loved it. Almost cried if we are being honest.
On the other hand, I felt as though it was to informal at times, I first noticed it in the story of the guys who saw the fairies, This isn't a problem per se, more of a personal preference. My only other slight issue was the fact the stories were so short sometimes (yes I understand what this book is). Occasionally I felt a story needed to be longer, whether this could be rememedied by lengthening the story or editing it down I am not quite sure. Overall, these issues did not take away much from my enjoyment of these fantastic series of tales!
From start to finish i quite enjoyed this book, however I had the same issue throughout. First of all I just want to gush about how much I enjoyed the ideas behind each story. Personally, my favourite was the tale between the wizard and his husband, it was so cute and creative I just loved it. Almost cried if we are being honest.
On the other hand, I felt as though it was to informal at times, I first noticed it in the story of the guys who saw the fairies, This isn't a problem per se, more of a personal preference. My only other slight issue was the fact the stories were so short sometimes (yes I understand what this book is). Occasionally I felt a story needed to be longer, whether this could be rememedied by lengthening the story or editing it down I am not quite sure. Overall, these issues did not take away much from my enjoyment of these fantastic series of tales!
September 19, 2023
I love the idea of short story collections, especially on topics or by authors that really draw in my interest. Unfortunately, I find that I like many of the stories, but others in the collection are lost on me and interfere with my experience. This is not the case.
Tea Leaves drew my attention with its interweaving of fantastical elements and LGBT+ subjects (and I loved this mix by Ryka Aoki's Light from Uncommon Stars). Sign me up! Jacob Budenz's beautiful voice introduces you to queer fables of varying complexity and realism. This was a very beautiful and often heavy collection of stories on the queer experience.
I've never said I've enjoyed every story from a short stories collection before reading Tea Leaves. I liked em all. But I LOVED "Seen" and "And Then Again to the Next". I could not recommend those stories more.
Jacob Budenz, I cannot wait to read more of what you create
Tea Leaves drew my attention with its interweaving of fantastical elements and LGBT+ subjects (and I loved this mix by Ryka Aoki's Light from Uncommon Stars). Sign me up! Jacob Budenz's beautiful voice introduces you to queer fables of varying complexity and realism. This was a very beautiful and often heavy collection of stories on the queer experience.
I've never said I've enjoyed every story from a short stories collection before reading Tea Leaves. I liked em all. But I LOVED "Seen" and "And Then Again to the Next". I could not recommend those stories more.
Jacob Budenz, I cannot wait to read more of what you create
March 16, 2024
I received an ARC from Netgalley
Tea leaves is an eclectic mix of short fantasy stories filled with mythical creatures and magic. From moments of pure joy to depths of despair, the characters in these stories face challenges and dark moments of life that will tug at your heartstrings. Each story is a journey of self-discovery and love, exploring the depths of human emotions in a fantastical setting.This collection doesn't shy away from tackling difficult topics that the LGBTQIA community often faces. From dealing with hatred and judgment to delving into the darkness that can reside within our hearts, these stories offer a raw and honest portrayal of the human experience.
Get ready to embark on a spellbinding adventure through worlds where love knows no bounds and magic is just a heartbeat away.
Tea leaves is an eclectic mix of short fantasy stories filled with mythical creatures and magic. From moments of pure joy to depths of despair, the characters in these stories face challenges and dark moments of life that will tug at your heartstrings. Each story is a journey of self-discovery and love, exploring the depths of human emotions in a fantastical setting.This collection doesn't shy away from tackling difficult topics that the LGBTQIA community often faces. From dealing with hatred and judgment to delving into the darkness that can reside within our hearts, these stories offer a raw and honest portrayal of the human experience.
Get ready to embark on a spellbinding adventure through worlds where love knows no bounds and magic is just a heartbeat away.
October 6, 2023
I like stories that have a sense of mysticism and the fantastical about them, and this collection has this in spades - overt and sometimes absurd! Each story foregrounds the supernatural and LGBTQIA+ characters, with the feel that these stories give voice to the outsiders and the magic just out of “traditional” life. Budenz’s ability to write with many voices is impressive, capturing the subtle agelessness of an ancient being alongside the diction of an insecure younger millennial. Overall, I enjoyed them but there were a few stories that felt unfinished or like they lacked meaning, though perhaps I was just searching for something in a story that was simply meant just to entertain.
ARC from NetGalley in exchange for honest review.
ARC from NetGalley in exchange for honest review.
November 29, 2023
As always with short stories, I enjoyed some more than others. Generally the second half of the collection scored much higher for me averaging out at a 4, and the first half scored much lower with an average of 2, thus the overall 3 star rating.
I'm not sure what exactly I expected from this collection, I got the queer characters I was looking forward to, and some fable lessons, but the stories themselves were pretty mixed, some being short or so open ended they felt slightly pointless, and others being so well written and so interesting I wanted so much more of them.
I don't usually choose to read a short story collection but anything with a queer focus really does have me by the neck I guess!
Thanks go to the author & netgally for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
I'm not sure what exactly I expected from this collection, I got the queer characters I was looking forward to, and some fable lessons, but the stories themselves were pretty mixed, some being short or so open ended they felt slightly pointless, and others being so well written and so interesting I wanted so much more of them.
I don't usually choose to read a short story collection but anything with a queer focus really does have me by the neck I guess!
Thanks go to the author & netgally for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
November 1, 2024
Rating: 2.5 Stars
The stories within this book were quite thought-provoking, though I did enjoy them, or well most of them. There is quite a variety of stories within the book, I deeply enjoyed the first two but by the end, I think I just felt confused as all the stories were just so different and I couldn't find a narrative plotline or theme between them all personally. Or I didn't get behind the characters.
I feel this book could be deeply enjoyed by a different reader and there could be a community for this book, but for me this was just confusing. Thinking more about this book, I felt more confused about more stories than ones I understood and enjoyed.
Access to the ARC was acquired thanks to NetGalley in exchange for an honest review even if I got to it so late.
The stories within this book were quite thought-provoking, though I did enjoy them, or well most of them. There is quite a variety of stories within the book, I deeply enjoyed the first two but by the end, I think I just felt confused as all the stories were just so different and I couldn't find a narrative plotline or theme between them all personally. Or I didn't get behind the characters.
I feel this book could be deeply enjoyed by a different reader and there could be a community for this book, but for me this was just confusing. Thinking more about this book, I felt more confused about more stories than ones I understood and enjoyed.
Access to the ARC was acquired thanks to NetGalley in exchange for an honest review even if I got to it so late.
September 27, 2023
A collection of sometimes fantastical, sometimes terrifying, and always queer short stories. From orgy-having fairies to werewolves and crocodile aliens posing as humans, you get a bit of everything in this collection.
Every single story was unique, some weird, some lovely, but I enjoyed every single one of them. The writing was very pleasant, the characters interesting and the stories captivating, even though some of them were very short. I found myself wishing that there was more - whole novels - of certain stories more than once.
A good read for everyone queer and fascinated with fantasy and the occult.
VVitches are gae - peace out
Every single story was unique, some weird, some lovely, but I enjoyed every single one of them. The writing was very pleasant, the characters interesting and the stories captivating, even though some of them were very short. I found myself wishing that there was more - whole novels - of certain stories more than once.
A good read for everyone queer and fascinated with fantasy and the occult.
VVitches are gae - peace out
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