Insignia: Asian Fantasy Stories

by Kelly Matsuura (Editor), Joyce Chng, Sheenah Freitas

INSIGNIA Vol.4 includes 9 Asian fantasy stories with a mix of literary, contemporary, myth-based, and historical fantasy pieces. Countries included are Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Japan, China, India, and Nepal.

PART I: Adventure / Folktales

‘Four Claws’ by Allison Thai
‘I Found Love in an Urn Full of Ashes’ by Joyce Chng
‘Jentayu’s Tear’ by Anna Tan
‘Ribbons & Bones’ by Kelly Matsuura

PART II: Adult / Literary Tales

‘The Fireflies of Todaiji’ by Russell Hemmell
‘Birds of Heaven’ by EK Gonzales
‘Last Train to Begunkodor’ by Nidhi Singh
‘Untouchable’ by Sheenah Freitas
‘White Lady’ by Tina Isaacs

101 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 27, 2017

About the author

Kelly Matsuura grew up in Australia, and graduated from Victoria University with a degree in Asian Studies. She has lived in China and the USA, and now lives permanently in Nagoya, Japan.
Her writing focuses on fantasy and contemporary stories with Asian characters and/or settings, however she enjoys writing western-style stories occasionally as well.
She is the editor and a contributor of 'The Insignia Series' anthologies, now 7 collections featuring Asian fantasy short stories by various indie authors.
Kelly's personal anthologies, 'Whispering Woods', 'Parting Skies'and 'Stirring Winds' are available through Amazon, Smashwords, and affiliate sites.

Reviews

[Xian Xian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this anthology randomly through Amazon from an author that just happened to be in it, which is Joyce Chng. I’m usually apprehensive of reading these kinds of things because I get burned out on short stories pretty fast, I love them because they’re short, but they’re not always satisfying. Anthologies will always have their hit and miss stories regardless.

Now, despite that I was quite excited to read this, it took me forever to get through it. The anthology isn’t long but there were a few stories that didn’t catch my attention much. My fave stories are Four Claws, Ribbon & Bone, I Found Love in an Urn Full of Ashes, White Lady and Last Train to Begunkodor.

A more detailed review is at the blog.

[Susan Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am glad to have been given the chance to read this albeit 3 years later (I had misplaced it then and found it recently). I have enjoyed it immensely for some and surprised that I have finished it that fast!

My full review here:
http://www.sholee.net/2020/10/mpov-in...