Very little is known about seers—those individuals, both human and being, with the power to know both what could have been and what is yet to come. Seers prefer it that way. Some of them run from their visions. Others call themselves artists or authors instead of oracles. But even in the most seemingly innocent of their creations, the truth will out, and lessons will be learned.
Two storytellers of different eras and vastly different temperaments weave fantastic tales of magic and romance for their enthralled audiences: A young prince avoids his betrothed and the curse that binds them. A witch uses his magic to help the man he loves court someone else. A warrior betrayed by his lord finds himself in the company of a mysterious stranger. A half-fae is doomed to be sent to the Faery Court unless he can find someone to love him. A lonely outcast finds himself drawn to a forbidden forest. A bookseller at a masked ball wonders if he should pursue a handsome prince. A dragon attempts to woo a beast. A shy servant is given one night to reach for what he wants. Fairy tales that reveal more about the tellers, and their audiences, than they might want.
Being(s) in Love:
Magical creatures known as beings emerged from hiding amid the destruction of the First World War. Since then they’ve lived on the margins of the human world as misunderstood objects of fear and desire. Some are beautiful, others fearsome and powerful. Yet for all their magic and strength, they are as vulnerable as anyone when it comes to matters of the heart.
I'm a somewhat absentminded, often distracted, writer of queer romance. I'm probably most known for the Being(s) in Love series and the occasional story about witches or firefighters in love. Also known as, "Ah, yes, the one with the dragons."
3.5 On a first view it's a collection of short stories to bridge the time until the next book in published. Of course I immediately looked forward to something similar like Firebird, some insights on being history and new characters – but it's not what I got. What I got is a collection of fairytales, R. Cooper versions of beloved fairytales and instead of new characters she's leading couples from her previous beings books through these tales, some easily recognizable, some only fragments but all with the distinct R. Cooper wistfulness and as expected that works perfectly on fairytales. They never loose the dreamy quality which is so important for me when reading fairytales - even in those stories where her characters get lost in their own thoughts and the emotions meander.
But there is also a 2nd layer that shows that the decision to use already established couples was never just a whim. The stories are held together loosely by the introduction of seers but seers in the beings universe are never only prophets who predict the future, they could also easily tell you what could be because they see what is. So even while telling some kind of fan fiction it could be a part of the future, some cryptic Cassandra moment. Not every story is of that kind, can be of that kind but also there she has her own idea.
I have to admit I found the start only nice and as always not all stories have the same quality (of all things Cal and Ray's retelling was an unfocused disappointment) but at the time Rennet showed his inner seer I didn't want to stop reading (can't help it, I love that little imp) but it's the last one that did it for me: Cooper melancholy with a flawless happy end and the proof that seers not only see what could be but also what could have been because that future was lost after Firebird.
I mostly liked the framing story for this collection, though it didn't make a lot of sense to me. I'm okay with that.
In order to enjoy this collection, you must love fantasy and love. It helps to have read one or more of the Beings in Love series, as well.
"Little Prince" is another chapter in the 'stupid boys, why don't they talk?' trope. Cute, but eh. "Clematis" is intolerably sweet and made me cry at the end. Big thumbs-up. "Martin the Wrong" This one is quiet and beautiful, and I loved it. "A Lord for the Bear-Prince" short, rather direct, very sweet, and beautiful. "The One That Would Be" Cute. "Tales Before Bedtime, Retold" is part of the framing story. "A Charm for Confidence" Loved this one. "Three Masquerades" enjoyable denial & (re)acceptance "A Beast and a Beauty" straightforward despite wariness. Sweet. "A Wolf's Faithfulness" This one is great! "Tales Before Bedtime" The last of the framing story. Still lost. Still don't care. "Aphrodite's Favorite"My favorite, too. Excellent. Way to end a collection, author!
This is pretty hard to rate, as anthologies often are. Some stories I adored, others I really couldn't wait to be over, but overall I really enjoyed myself with HEA gay fantasy stories. Favourite stories: A Wolf's Faithfulness (this one unexpectedly broke me, holy shit), and The One That Would Be. Clemantis of the Cinders was also cute.
I loved that coming out/homophobia wasn't a thing here - adore that. All the different creatures were cool too. The romances were often sweet and when the heat turned up it was written well too.
The problem I often have with themed anthologies like these is that they become repetitive, even with the variation in different fantasy worlds/creatures. It's always two men who inevitably end up together within 30 or so pages in an inevitably sweet and emotional way - usually with one guy feeling unworthy of the other for some reason.
The "unworthy" factor could probably be tuned down a bit, or maybe not show up as much at all, as the very valid feelings of inadequacy got super repetitive and hard to read after a while. There's only so much "I'm ugly, I'm hideous, ugh, what could anyone want in such worthless filth, he's so perfect, I'm nothing" that I personally can take from a character. They're different characters, but all smushed together as the protagonist, so it just felt a tad relentless at times. This alone bumped down a star for me.
I'll be honest that I hoped we'd get one last story with Edgar and Justin because they're great and I think one story at beginning, middle, and end would've rounded things off nicely, but overall I'm really happy I read this - especially since this one finished off my TPL 2022 Reading Challenge, woot :)
This was a sweet collection of fairy tales all using familiar characters from the other Being's books. I enjoyed how they were utilized to give life to some classic tales. All of this is woven together with the idea of the seers telling stories, because seers don't only see the one future, but possible futures and potentials. I found this to be a sweet moment that just made me smile throughout. I particularly liked one little dragon seer and his long unrequited love. That was just too cute for words. So much hope, but fear to look and be proven impossible.
I can't wait for the next novel in this series to come out. Everything about this world always makes me happy.
Although I really enjoy R. Cooper's novels, I am completely enamored with her short stories. They are gorgeous and lyrical and perfect in my opinion. I don't know why the short stories call to me more than her novels especially since I have historically not loved short stories. I think maybe because these are fairy tales and retellings of her other books in this series and complement them so well.
I for one will be very sad when this series comes to a conclusion.
That was lovely! I wasn't expecting this to be a retelling of each of the previous books as a different fairy tale, but that's exactly what this is. Wonderful to revisit each of these pairs and recognize their stories of how they fell in love.
It took me 3 days to finally get the guts to read the final two stories, but I did it. And it was...perfect... beautiful...cruel. Kaz and Jacob have been one of my favourite couples of the series since Firebird, and that hasn't changed. It completely broke my heart to see them again, though they influence nearly every couple in the series, in some small way.
As an anthology, it begins with a new character - Edgar - who is a dragon *and* a seer, which was an interesting mix. It's the first time we've seen a Seers POV.
Then Edgar begins to share stories of potential lives and fates, which are generally non-Being and royalty related retellings of couples we know from the series: Tim and Nathaniel (Little Wolf) Clematis and Flor (Sweet Clematis) Martin and Ian/Iyan (His Mossy Boy) Arthur and Bertie (A Boy and His Dragon)
After that, we slip into the real world (I think?) to see Rennet acting as Uncle/Godfather to little Eleanor, who is Arthur and Bertie's daughter, and revealed to be a seer. This story hit me hard, as Rennet spent time reminiscing about a childhood spent with Kaz and Jacob, and how Jacob left his "stories" as potential lessons from one Seer to another.
Then it's back to alternative fates: Zeki and Theo (A Beginners Guide) Tulip and David (A Dandelion for Tulip) Zarrin and Joseph (Treasure for Treasure) Cal and Raymond (Some Kind of Magic)
Each story cleverly kept the essence of the original, and the characters never strayed from their known personalities. It was nice to see quick alternatives, but it was the last two that got me.
Tales Before Bedtime is a real world story for Kaz and Jacob. It's in Jacob's POV this time, 4 years after he met Kaz, and he seems to already be aware of his fate and how little time they have left together.
Aphrodite's Favourite was a fairytale story of the same couple, and while devastating, it actually had a happy ending, and gave Kaz and Jacob the fate they deserve!
~
It was sad to realise how much Rennet lost, and that Kaz and Jacob were essentially the only parents he'd ever known. It was interesting to see Edgar, who would probably get on great with Arthur and Zarrin. I think those two would have been my favourite stories until I read the last two. I've really never gotten over Kaz and Jacob, and would LOVE to read a full novel of their time together, but I'm also not sure enough tissues exist for that to be wise.
~
Favourite Quotes
"Foolish bird," Jacob whispered when Kazimir's breathing was even once again, "you are not my curse. I am yours."
"I know what it is to see gray in all directions. To look down because you are scared to look up. But that's why I was spared, why I'm here, your flower in the field."
I don't really view this as a standalone read because I'd imagine one being quite confused in the verse if they go in blind. But it's a really nice read for someone who has been following the series for a long time. And I enjoyed it. A really pleasant fairy tale read. It's like a jumble of other characters tossed into the fairy tales (almost like fan fiction but by the original author). I liked the surprise at seeing or trying to remember which character came from which story. Though the minus 0.5 points came from internal bias where I had specific favourite characters before even reading the story (though I did enjoy them all).
I also like the plot point tying the stories together with the seer story line. It was a bit confusing at first but it was a nice touch.
So this is an enjoyable collection of short stories but more for people who have been following the series.
A retelling, fable-style, of other stories in the Beings in Love universe. It is at times momentous and joyous, quiet and small, each of the stories introduces you to characters you know (presuming you’ve read the series) in a whole new way. I found it interesting that my least favourite character in the original books, is still my least favourite in a retelling. Oh Tulip, I’m just never going to like you. Not a quick read, but worthwhile. It leaves you with an ache in your chest, the way that good books do.
Ah, I liked the clever setup for this collection of fairytale short stories. I loved the magic, the hint of melancholy and the delightful connections to the Beings-series. Some of the stories worked better than others in my opinion, but the best of them were nothing less than magical. I also recognise a couple of them from AO3, and it was fun to see them fit into this framework. I am starting to realise that I get especially charmed by R. Cooper’s shorter stories. They are often beautiful, and have just the right pacing, too. This was lovely.
I didn't know what to expect, but I loved each and every tale. I loved the fact that all the characters, that we learned to love so much in this serie, can still be together in alternative worlds. Kaz and Jacob's story is always heartbreaking, but with this book the author is giving them hope, and at the same time, says that we could chose for ourselves the way we want their story to end. The life is full of possibilities... Loved it.
Nice anthology of alternate events for our favorite beings in love. I won't lie I have my favorite characters, and it was refreshing to get a peek ( albeit parallel universe via the story tellers ). Fun , well written and always a heart gripping. I am still hoping for Albert and Grants story, + crossing my fingers+ welcome back me cooper, you were sorely missed.
These stories are beautiful. Some really uplifting, some almost heartbreaking, especially knowing as I do the other work by R Cooper where some of the characters turn up in longer length books. The variety of stories though, and the fact that I can dip in and out when I have ten minutes is brilliant. The world building is always wonderful by R Cooper and I am always sort when the book ends, the perfect type of fairy tales/ fantasy stories for me,
I didn't know what this book was when I bought it, though I've read and loved everything by R. Cooper I could lay my hands on. It's a collection of short stories, each one a reprise of one of her novels, with different shades to the story or characters... But the kernel of each character, of each story, is intact behind the new costumes and stage sets. 🎭
What Might Be: ★★★ Little Prince: ★★★ Clematis of the Cinders: ★★★★ Martin the Wrong: ★★★★ A Lord for the Bear Prince: ★★★★ The One That Would Be: ★★★★★ Tales Before Bedtime, Retold: ★★ A Charm for Confidence: ★★★★★ Three Masquerades: ★★★ A Beast and a Beauty: ★★★ A Wolf’s Faithfulness: ★★ Tales Before Bedtime: ★★ Aphrodite’s Favorite: ★★
I really liked the stories with the characters whose books I loved. I definitely got the same sense of character even in a different setting. There were a number of stories that I couldn't remember/didn't read previously which I tried to take at face value. But I might have been too impatient with that so I'll probably try again later.
A book of short stories with a framing device that they're being told by a seer. At least that's what I thought when I started it but then the seer's conflict is resolved mid-book and there are still more stories. So I don't know. Some stories were better than others per usual with this type of anthology.
I love the idea of seers glimpsing the future or alternate timelines as stories. This book of shorts exploring that is like the author wrote medieval/fairy tale AUs for our favorite pairs and I adore it.
This book is such a treat. It's like a buffet of treats for fans of the Being(s) In Love series. I don't know what else to say without giving much away, only that it was so damn delightful and it made me so happy to read it! And very emotional at times. What a wonderful shot story collection.
I've read some of these when they were on AO3 in earlier forms. These all feel like AUs for the Beings stories and I am completely here for it. Will get it in print as soon as it's available. (My ultimate comfort reading.)
A collection of short paranormal mm romance stories. Some of the characters are familiar from other works by this author. Typos: A few missing words, one missing letter.
This book is beautiful. It shows all the characters you know, except different, except the same. Every story brings a new set of emotions with it. It teaches you that sometimes it's okay to run away and disappear with the strange creature that lives in the forest. It teaches you that no matter what you think of yourself, someone out there loves you, and you are worthy of them if only you would give them the chance. It teaches you that despite the horrors of this world, fairytale still can come true, but can be told even if they don't.
If you've read any if the Being(s) in Love series you will recognize familiar faces in these stories. Alternate takes of beloved characters, finding each other and each other's love in different settings and in different worlds. But beautiful happy endings all the same.
If you're new to this series, know that Edgar and Jacob are seers and storytellers, and all their stories contain pasts that could have bern and futures that might be.