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Yolen's Short Fiction #3
The Midnight Circus
2021 Locus Award FinalistIn the newest volume of her World Fantasy Award-winning short story collections, beloved author Jane Yolen’s dark side has fully emerged. Her vivid, startling, and thrilling tales and poems of the supernatural—from icy-hearted witches to sometimes-innocent shapeshifters—reveal a classic storyteller at the height of her powers.“Look this way, look that; blazing her consummate imagination against the shadows of human sorrow, Jane Yolen has done it again.”—Gregory Maguire, author of WickedJane Yolen is the Hans Christian Andersen of America” —The New York TimesWelcome to the Midnight Circus—and watch your step. The dark imaginings of fantasy icon Jane Yolen are not for the faint of heart. In these sixteen brilliantly unnerving tales and poems, Central Park becomes a carnival where you can—but probably shouldn’t—transform into a wild beast. The Red Sea will be deadly to cross due to a plague of voracious angels. Meanwhile, the South Pole is no place for even a good man, regardless of whether he is living or dead.Wicked, solemn, and chilling, the circus is ready for your visit—just don't arrive late.Other Jane Yolen short story collections in this seriesThe Emerald 2018 World Fantasy Award winnerHow to Fracture a Fairy 2019 Anne Izard Storytellers’ Choice Award
219 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2020
77 people are currently reading
4433 people want to read
About the author
Jane Yolen
972 books3,237 followersJane Yolen is a novelist, poet, fantasist, journalist, songwriter, storyteller, folklorist, and children’s book author who has written more than three hundred books. Her accolades include the Caldecott Medal, two Nebula Awards, the World Fantasy Award, three Mythopoeic Awards, the Kerlan Award, two Christopher Awards, and six honorary doctorate degrees from colleges and universities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Born and raised in New York City, the mother of three and the grandmother of six, Yolen lives in Massachusetts and St. Andrews, Scotland.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews
December 16, 2020
The introduction to this short story anthology is beautifully done. Jane Yolen shares a couple personal insights into this set of stories and directs everyone to take a look at the related poems (which make up the last half of this book) related to the stories themselves. Yolen truly is an endearing and lasting female SF/F author of her generation.
Story 1 - The Weaver of Tomorrow
Lovely little reminder that what you think you want may not be what you really crave. Love the use of time passing here to show the two inevitable pieces of life, birth and death.
Story 2 - The White Seal Maid
This story features a man and a selkie. It feels very similar to many stories I’ve read before, except it’s missing something. Perhaps it’s the desire to have an obvious moral at the end, or that our man is very one-dimensional, or that we never understand why the selkie chose to do what she does. Either way it wasn’t satisfying for me.
Story 3 - The Snatchers
Meh. Just okay.
Story 4 - Wilding
This is such a cool concept and the use of Central Park is just brilliant. I want so much more! It reads like the tease you'd send to a publisher to try and get them to endorse a full story being written. So very unsatisfying in length and content but really cool concept.
Story 5 - Requiem Antarctica
First, I want to sincerely thank Yolen for writing this. I did not know the history of the race to the South Pole. As I read this, and realized it is an alternate history, I immediately went and read pages on the events. If you read the Wikipedia page that will be enough to realize Yolen did a brilliant job of combining fact with fiction.
This is a jewel of a story. It's creative, briliant, contextually relevant, and an interesting way to learn about history. Absolutely amazing!
Story 6 - Night Wolves
I wish I’d read this story as a child or teen. Then perhaps I’d be a little less intimidated by the dark.
A clever manifestation of a certain kind of loss and grief. Very well done
Story 7 - The House of Seven Angels
Alternate origin story for Moses during his youth. Meh.
Story 8 - Great Grey
This one is creepy... like serial killer creepy but totally not that. Kind of clever. Wasn't perfect but a very solid read.
Story 9 - Little Red
I dunno what it is about little red riding hood but I can’t get tired of retelling or spins on her story. Wonderful rendition with a twist.
Story 10 - Winter’s King
As someone who lives in a cold place (and hates the heat; give me -30C over +30C any day of the week or year) this had a nice dose of melancholy for me.
Story 11 - Inscription
Interesting method of story telling used.
Story 12 - Dog Boy Remembers
Where’s the rest of the story?! This feels like a preview to a larger novel. Really interesting and well done but I want sooo much more. Does dog boy ever succeed in his desired revenge, what is the symbolism of the cap, and so much more. This should definitely be a full book to explore all the interesting nuances dog boy has."
Story 13 - The Fisherman’s Wife
Love the description of the mermaid as alien (not beautiful) and the use of communication (or lack thereof). A wonderful little tale.
Story 14 - Become a Warrior
A story about how women can become as strong and cunning as men. Although ultimately a revenge story which I often struggle with. Revenge feels so petty to me most times.
Story 15 - An Infestation of Angels
The Gipt in this story must be Hutts (Star Wars) as that was immediately what I imagined them as (lol). Clever little trick to make one think that a deity is watching over and not just biology at work.
Story 16 - Names
I didn’t really get this one to be honest...
Overall
Definitely some real gems in here. I'm giving it five stars overall if only because the Antartica story and Dog boy are easily shining stars that make this whole anthology worth reading. None of these are poorly written (It's Yolen and she keeps her high standard in place) or so bad that I didn't want to finish the story. Given how difficult it can be to find good, consistent anthologies this one is easily a step above most.
Yolen is an absolute champion of the writing world and each year that goes by, as I get older and so does she, I worry about the day she won’t be here anymore. With over 350+ stories out there published you’d think there is enough of Yolen in the word; but I do not. Please keep it coming!
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
Story 1 - The Weaver of Tomorrow
Lovely little reminder that what you think you want may not be what you really crave. Love the use of time passing here to show the two inevitable pieces of life, birth and death.
Story 2 - The White Seal Maid
This story features a man and a selkie. It feels very similar to many stories I’ve read before, except it’s missing something. Perhaps it’s the desire to have an obvious moral at the end, or that our man is very one-dimensional, or that we never understand why the selkie chose to do what she does. Either way it wasn’t satisfying for me.
Story 3 - The Snatchers
Meh. Just okay.
Story 4 - Wilding
This is such a cool concept and the use of Central Park is just brilliant. I want so much more! It reads like the tease you'd send to a publisher to try and get them to endorse a full story being written. So very unsatisfying in length and content but really cool concept.
Story 5 - Requiem Antarctica
First, I want to sincerely thank Yolen for writing this. I did not know the history of the race to the South Pole. As I read this, and realized it is an alternate history, I immediately went and read pages on the events. If you read the Wikipedia page that will be enough to realize Yolen did a brilliant job of combining fact with fiction.
This is a jewel of a story. It's creative, briliant, contextually relevant, and an interesting way to learn about history. Absolutely amazing!
Story 6 - Night Wolves
I wish I’d read this story as a child or teen. Then perhaps I’d be a little less intimidated by the dark.
A clever manifestation of a certain kind of loss and grief. Very well done
Story 7 - The House of Seven Angels
Alternate origin story for Moses during his youth. Meh.
Story 8 - Great Grey
This one is creepy... like serial killer creepy but totally not that. Kind of clever. Wasn't perfect but a very solid read.
Story 9 - Little Red
I dunno what it is about little red riding hood but I can’t get tired of retelling or spins on her story. Wonderful rendition with a twist.
Story 10 - Winter’s King
As someone who lives in a cold place (and hates the heat; give me -30C over +30C any day of the week or year) this had a nice dose of melancholy for me.
Story 11 - Inscription
Interesting method of story telling used.
Story 12 - Dog Boy Remembers
Where’s the rest of the story?! This feels like a preview to a larger novel. Really interesting and well done but I want sooo much more. Does dog boy ever succeed in his desired revenge, what is the symbolism of the cap, and so much more. This should definitely be a full book to explore all the interesting nuances dog boy has."
Story 13 - The Fisherman’s Wife
Love the description of the mermaid as alien (not beautiful) and the use of communication (or lack thereof). A wonderful little tale.
Story 14 - Become a Warrior
A story about how women can become as strong and cunning as men. Although ultimately a revenge story which I often struggle with. Revenge feels so petty to me most times.
Story 15 - An Infestation of Angels
The Gipt in this story must be Hutts (Star Wars) as that was immediately what I imagined them as (lol). Clever little trick to make one think that a deity is watching over and not just biology at work.
Story 16 - Names
I didn’t really get this one to be honest...
Overall
Definitely some real gems in here. I'm giving it five stars overall if only because the Antartica story and Dog boy are easily shining stars that make this whole anthology worth reading. None of these are poorly written (It's Yolen and she keeps her high standard in place) or so bad that I didn't want to finish the story. Given how difficult it can be to find good, consistent anthologies this one is easily a step above most.
Yolen is an absolute champion of the writing world and each year that goes by, as I get older and so does she, I worry about the day she won’t be here anymore. With over 350+ stories out there published you’d think there is enough of Yolen in the word; but I do not. Please keep it coming!
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
July 1, 2020
As always, thank you NetGalley for this ARC! It's always such a joy to see that email saying I was accepted for a book I requested. Even after all these years, I love it!
The Midnight Circus, while nothing like I expected, was incredibly enjoyable. It's a book compromised of magical short-stories, some better than others, but all mystical and fairy-tale-like. So if your thing is reading books with either magic, lore, imaginative plots, you name it ... this may be a book you want to keep an eye out for, this year!
Although my "overall" rating is three-stars, I will say there were definitely stories that were in the 4.5-star range. So please be aware that my rating does not mean this whole book is average because that is certainly not the case.
The Midnight Circus, while nothing like I expected, was incredibly enjoyable. It's a book compromised of magical short-stories, some better than others, but all mystical and fairy-tale-like. So if your thing is reading books with either magic, lore, imaginative plots, you name it ... this may be a book you want to keep an eye out for, this year!
Although my "overall" rating is three-stars, I will say there were definitely stories that were in the 4.5-star range. So please be aware that my rating does not mean this whole book is average because that is certainly not the case.
September 18, 2020
This is a collection of short stories from the amazingly talented and legendary Jane Yolen. Two of the stories are co-written. Little Red is written with Adam Stemple and Requiem Antarctica was written with Robert J. Harris.
As with any collection, every single story may not appeal to you, but people will vary as to their favorites. My favorites (in order) were: Become A Warrior, Night Wolves, Requiem Antarctica. and Inscription. All of the stories are tinged with darkness, but some of them were too dark for me. However they are all exquisitely written.
If you love fairy tales, fantasy, the paranormal, horror, or history you will find a story that appeals to you in this collection.
I received a free copy of this book from Tachyon Publications via Netgalley. My review is voluntary.
As with any collection, every single story may not appeal to you, but people will vary as to their favorites. My favorites (in order) were: Become A Warrior, Night Wolves, Requiem Antarctica. and Inscription. All of the stories are tinged with darkness, but some of them were too dark for me. However they are all exquisitely written.
If you love fairy tales, fantasy, the paranormal, horror, or history you will find a story that appeals to you in this collection.
I received a free copy of this book from Tachyon Publications via Netgalley. My review is voluntary.
July 15, 2020
Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. All views and opinions in this review are my own.
Trying to rate this book is like trying to rate a buffet. Some dishes tasted fantastic, some wanted to be spit back out, and others were just filler.
Jane Yolen's Midnight Circus is an anthology of fairy tales and poems, some newly created. Some heavily borrowed. Most quite dark. Yolen has been compared to a modern Hans Christian Anderson or Aesop. While some parallels are noticeable, I'm not sure, solely based on this book, that I would view her in that light. Also, it dawned on me while reading one of her stories related to the Jews and Nazis that I've read her work before (Briar Rose), which was DEFINITELY not in the fairy tale realm although it was called a historical retelling. It was a so-so read for me.
I feel like I'm painting her work in a bad light. So I want to make sure I make it very clear that I LOVED some of her fairy tale/fantasy stories. While dark, they are creative and have the feel of a new fairy tale. Truly, that's where Yolen shines. I could read book after book of these stories by her. But I don't know that I liked any of her modern stories/urban tales. Horror can definitely turn your stomach, but rape and suicide turns my stomach in a different way. I especially didn't care for "Little Red." She's a gifted writer. But major trigger warning on that front. And then there were the "fillers"- some stories that were just there and simple enough to breeze through but felt a little recycled (e.g. she turned the Biblical story of the Israelites escaping Egypt into a myth/fairy tale by tweaking a few name spellings and adding in a bit about carnivorous angels).
One recommendation I may have for the author/publishing house would be to give the brief backstories for the actual stories immediately before or after the story it was written for rather than at the end of the book. They were enlightening and helped me appreciate the short stories more. I understand some of it would spoil the story, so maybe just a brief couple sentences explaining context before the story and the backstory/inspired by bits after. Just a thought.
Quite a few spelling errors, grammatical errors, and one paragraph that popped up repeatedly multiple times on accident throughout the book, like an accidental copy and paste. But this is all SUPER minor as I'm sure they'll fix that before it goes to print.
Overall, I'm not sure this was worth my read as a whole, but I wouldn't have found the few I loved without forging through the entire collection, so in that regard worthwhile. Some of the stories were five stars. A couple one stars. A smattering in between. I guess that averages to about three stars.
I'd rate this an R for rape, suicide, abuse, mild swearing, gore, violence, and disturbing imagery.
Trying to rate this book is like trying to rate a buffet. Some dishes tasted fantastic, some wanted to be spit back out, and others were just filler.
Jane Yolen's Midnight Circus is an anthology of fairy tales and poems, some newly created. Some heavily borrowed. Most quite dark. Yolen has been compared to a modern Hans Christian Anderson or Aesop. While some parallels are noticeable, I'm not sure, solely based on this book, that I would view her in that light. Also, it dawned on me while reading one of her stories related to the Jews and Nazis that I've read her work before (Briar Rose), which was DEFINITELY not in the fairy tale realm although it was called a historical retelling. It was a so-so read for me.
I feel like I'm painting her work in a bad light. So I want to make sure I make it very clear that I LOVED some of her fairy tale/fantasy stories. While dark, they are creative and have the feel of a new fairy tale. Truly, that's where Yolen shines. I could read book after book of these stories by her. But I don't know that I liked any of her modern stories/urban tales. Horror can definitely turn your stomach, but rape and suicide turns my stomach in a different way. I especially didn't care for "Little Red." She's a gifted writer. But major trigger warning on that front. And then there were the "fillers"- some stories that were just there and simple enough to breeze through but felt a little recycled (e.g. she turned the Biblical story of the Israelites escaping Egypt into a myth/fairy tale by tweaking a few name spellings and adding in a bit about carnivorous angels).
One recommendation I may have for the author/publishing house would be to give the brief backstories for the actual stories immediately before or after the story it was written for rather than at the end of the book. They were enlightening and helped me appreciate the short stories more. I understand some of it would spoil the story, so maybe just a brief couple sentences explaining context before the story and the backstory/inspired by bits after. Just a thought.
Quite a few spelling errors, grammatical errors, and one paragraph that popped up repeatedly multiple times on accident throughout the book, like an accidental copy and paste. But this is all SUPER minor as I'm sure they'll fix that before it goes to print.
Overall, I'm not sure this was worth my read as a whole, but I wouldn't have found the few I loved without forging through the entire collection, so in that regard worthwhile. Some of the stories were five stars. A couple one stars. A smattering in between. I guess that averages to about three stars.
I'd rate this an R for rape, suicide, abuse, mild swearing, gore, violence, and disturbing imagery.
April 28, 2022
Pensavo meglio, pensavo molto meglio.
Ci sono alcuni bei racconti (pochi), altri ok (la maggior parte) e svariati racconti che non mi sono piaciuti.
Inoltre non ha aiutato nel giudizio complessivo che un brano del racconto "The Snatchers" fosse ripetuto due volte nel racconto in questione, e altre sei in tre racconti successivi.
Molto carine alcune idee, come quella di Wildings o come il "retelling" degli ebrei in Egitto con le piaghe, o l'horror di Anctartica (con un personaggio che fa venire in mente Dio di JoJo), ma altre volte i racconti li ho trovati particolarmente privi di senso, purtroppo.
Ci sono alcuni bei racconti (pochi), altri ok (la maggior parte) e svariati racconti che non mi sono piaciuti.
Inoltre non ha aiutato nel giudizio complessivo che un brano del racconto "The Snatchers" fosse ripetuto due volte nel racconto in questione, e altre sei in tre racconti successivi.
Molto carine alcune idee, come quella di Wildings o come il "retelling" degli ebrei in Egitto con le piaghe, o l'horror di Anctartica (con un personaggio che fa venire in mente Dio di JoJo), ma altre volte i racconti li ho trovati particolarmente privi di senso, purtroppo.
February 2, 2021
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
The Midnight Circus is an unexpected gem of a book! I flew through the pages devouring each short story and loved the retellings of classic fairy tales, each reimagined in a new and different way. Some of the stories are dark and spooky and some are happy and jovial.
My favourite was the red riding hood story!
I don't read many books with short stories in them, but this is one of my favourites so far! This is the first of Jane Yolens books I have read but i will be looking at reading many more if the rest are as great as this one!
The Midnight Circus is an unexpected gem of a book! I flew through the pages devouring each short story and loved the retellings of classic fairy tales, each reimagined in a new and different way. Some of the stories are dark and spooky and some are happy and jovial.
My favourite was the red riding hood story!
I don't read many books with short stories in them, but this is one of my favourites so far! This is the first of Jane Yolens books I have read but i will be looking at reading many more if the rest are as great as this one!
October 2, 2020
Ahoy there me mateys! I received this short story collection eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So here be me honest musings . . .
I have always loved reading Jane Yolen's novels but as I have gotten older I have loved her short stories just as much. I have read all four of the Tachyon Publications of Jane Yolen's works and I love them. This fifth one deals with dark themes though the book is set up along the lines of her previous collection, the emerald circus, which dealt with fairytales.
This collection has 16 varied tales. Like any collection, I liked some better than others. I also very much enjoyed Yolen's "Story Notes and Poems" at the end of the book which gives background on the short stories in the collection.
I don't want to spoil the magic of the stories and can't really do them justice with me own paltry words but I will try to give ye an idea of the bare bones of the stories:
"The Weaver of Tomorrow" - I loved this tale of a girl who wants to know the future and her wish is answered in an unexpected way. The ending was perfect.
"The White Seal Maid" - As the title suggests, this is a story concerning a selkie. I loved how the story is told from the viewpoint of the husband but the wife ultimately wins.
"The Snatchers" - This was a spooky ghost story with a twist involving the Holocaust. So very atmospheric.
"Wilding" - The setting for this is Central Park in NYC and is an odd and creepy take on the future. It had a fun hopeful ending though. Love the references to "where the wild things are."
"Requiem Antarctica" - Ever hear of the failed 1912 Robert Falcon Scott expedition? I hadn't. I had a lot of fun learning the sad history of the trek and then learning the "real" story as a deathbed confession. Hope this version doesn't end up being true.
"Night Wolves" - The creatures under the bed are real and a boy has to confront his fear for a bigger cause. The lego bear trap made me smile as did the ending.
"The House of Seven Angels" - This very short tale was about a rabbi, a child, and the angel of death. It was well-written but I didn't love it.
"Great Gray" - This features the thoughts of a pedophile. Though not graphic is was too disturbing and I didn't like it at all. I wanted to scrub my brain.
"Little Red" - This was another disturbing piece combining Little Red Riding Hood and child abuse. Can't say I liked this one another though the imagery is well drawn.
"Winter's King" - This felt like an old-fashioned fairy tale where the child is born into the wrong world. I rather liked it.
"Inscription" - I loved this tale of warning from a dying mom to her son. What she was warning him about was awesome.
"Dog Boy" - The boy of this tale has one rough life. Nobody wants a father like his.
"The Fisherman's Wife" - In this tale, a woman fights to win her husband back from the sea. It was bittersweet and yet lovely.
"Become a Warrior" - A father dead on a battlefield and the girl who doesn't follow a traditional woman's path until fate deals her a blow. I loved this one.
"An Infestation of Angels" - This was a strange story of plagues and angels. Gross angels.
"Names" - A harrowing story about the child of a Holocaust survivor and how her mother's tales influence her life.
I have to admit that I did enjoy the emerald circus better than this one but I will certainly read another collection of Jane Yolen's work, especially if published by Tachyon. Arrrr!
So lastly . . .
Thank you Tachyon Publications!
I have always loved reading Jane Yolen's novels but as I have gotten older I have loved her short stories just as much. I have read all four of the Tachyon Publications of Jane Yolen's works and I love them. This fifth one deals with dark themes though the book is set up along the lines of her previous collection, the emerald circus, which dealt with fairytales.
This collection has 16 varied tales. Like any collection, I liked some better than others. I also very much enjoyed Yolen's "Story Notes and Poems" at the end of the book which gives background on the short stories in the collection.
I don't want to spoil the magic of the stories and can't really do them justice with me own paltry words but I will try to give ye an idea of the bare bones of the stories:
"The Weaver of Tomorrow" - I loved this tale of a girl who wants to know the future and her wish is answered in an unexpected way. The ending was perfect.
"The White Seal Maid" - As the title suggests, this is a story concerning a selkie. I loved how the story is told from the viewpoint of the husband but the wife ultimately wins.
"The Snatchers" - This was a spooky ghost story with a twist involving the Holocaust. So very atmospheric.
"Wilding" - The setting for this is Central Park in NYC and is an odd and creepy take on the future. It had a fun hopeful ending though. Love the references to "where the wild things are."
"Requiem Antarctica" - Ever hear of the failed 1912 Robert Falcon Scott expedition? I hadn't. I had a lot of fun learning the sad history of the trek and then learning the "real" story as a deathbed confession. Hope this version doesn't end up being true.
"Night Wolves" - The creatures under the bed are real and a boy has to confront his fear for a bigger cause. The lego bear trap made me smile as did the ending.
"The House of Seven Angels" - This very short tale was about a rabbi, a child, and the angel of death. It was well-written but I didn't love it.
"Great Gray" - This features the thoughts of a pedophile. Though not graphic is was too disturbing and I didn't like it at all. I wanted to scrub my brain.
"Little Red" - This was another disturbing piece combining Little Red Riding Hood and child abuse. Can't say I liked this one another though the imagery is well drawn.
"Winter's King" - This felt like an old-fashioned fairy tale where the child is born into the wrong world. I rather liked it.
"Inscription" - I loved this tale of warning from a dying mom to her son. What she was warning him about was awesome.
"Dog Boy" - The boy of this tale has one rough life. Nobody wants a father like his.
"The Fisherman's Wife" - In this tale, a woman fights to win her husband back from the sea. It was bittersweet and yet lovely.
"Become a Warrior" - A father dead on a battlefield and the girl who doesn't follow a traditional woman's path until fate deals her a blow. I loved this one.
"An Infestation of Angels" - This was a strange story of plagues and angels. Gross angels.
"Names" - A harrowing story about the child of a Holocaust survivor and how her mother's tales influence her life.
I have to admit that I did enjoy the emerald circus better than this one but I will certainly read another collection of Jane Yolen's work, especially if published by Tachyon. Arrrr!
So lastly . . .
Thank you Tachyon Publications!
June 26, 2020
Ok, to be honest, anyone who is known to be Christensen of America, I’m going to want to read them. And the thing is I’ve read Jane Yolen before, I’m pretty sure, in various anthologies, the woman is spectacularly prolific, the book’s bio mentions something like 350 publishes works and sure, the author is 80, but still…that’s really impressive. But this is the first solo collection of Yolen’s that I’ve read and I must say it gave me a much more profound understanding and appreciation of her work than a random story here and there did. In fact it may have turned me into a fan. Mind you, I’m not going to go as far as Christensen comparisons, but some things are just not up for comparisons, fairy tales of Christensen, Wilde, Grimms…there is a dark beauty and an emotional connection there that just can’t be quantified. But I certainly get the basis for the comparisons, Yolen is indeed a fabulous fabulist, she gets the very essence of what makes a good fairy tale, she gets the very music of it. Albeit, much as Theodora Goss states in her foreword, Yolen’s fairy tales tend to not feature morals quite so heavily. Traditionally, the genre is a form of lessons taught creatively through allegory, etc., but Yolen’s tales are more subtle than that. Make of that what you will. At any rate, this isn’t just a collection of fairy tales, this book offers so much more. To my delight (because just fairy tales might have gotten to be too much and too much on the fantasy side for me) this collection (publisher’s third of Yolen’s work) featured her darker literary ventures too, some positively on the horror side, albeit, again, very subtle, no guts and gore here, just profoundly dark psychological literary disturbances. She’s a master stylist, she creates darkness as a multicolored thing and her stories are all the more striking for it. In fact, there’s this weird thing that my usually very good memory does where it forgets short stories almost as soon as I read them, very few stick around and they usually have to be exceptional to do so. Well, this collection features stories that stuck around, so that’s a high praise in and of itself. I very much enjoyed the way Yolen draws on her family’s past as Jews in hostile Eastern European territory and incorporates that past, historical and mythical, into her writing. Some of my favorite stories of hers featured those elements. She’s also a writer who’s equally adept at writing both short and long form, I actually preferred her longer stories. Yolen’s also a poet and each story gets an accompanying poem in the end, some of those were good too, though I’m not much of a poetry reader. All in all, this was a sheer delight. Lovely and very entertaining tales showcasing an abundant talent and a terrifically active imagination. Mind you, the title alone would have been enough to draw me in, I love all things to do with circus, but this collection (actually featuring no circus related stories) was well worth a read as it was and magical in its own inimitable way. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.
July 22, 2020
I really enjoyed this collection of short stories by Jane Yolen. My favorite stories were probably:
If you like short stories, horror, sci-fi, etc. then give this book a try!
The White Seal Maid - a fisherman snatches the white seal maid's seal skin and makes her his wife. They have seven boys, and there's a twist at the end.
The Snatchers - a young Jewish boy is being tracked by a man in shadow - who is he and what does he want?
Little Red - a fun retelling of the classic Little Red Riding Hood tale
Become a Warrior - a bit Joseph from the Bible, a bit Mulan, I really liked this story about a young girl who disguises herself as a boy to enter the Army, and then kill the King who killed her father
If you like short stories, horror, sci-fi, etc. then give this book a try!
November 21, 2020
The Midnight Circus is a collection of short stories that read like dark fairy tales. They have all have a lingering magic whether hidden or very much visible. While the stories are both modern and set ages ago, they all have a similar vibe. As with many story collections, I found some of the entries in this collection to be much stronger than others. This would be a great book to keep in your bag for when you have spare moments waiting for an appointment or riding the train.
3.5 stars
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
3.5 stars
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
October 4, 2020
Let's go on an adventure to the dark universe of The Midnight Circus, where magic comes alive and evil lurks at every corner. Some follow you home, some live in your house, some reside within you. Darkness comes in many forms and this reimagining of fairy tales by Jane Yolen is one such collection. Spooky, creepy, sad, optimistic- there are so many stories to choose from. There's Red Riding Hood, Red Cap gremlin, Moses and the Egyptians - all reimagined and nothing like what you'd expect.
I enjoyed the stories, some more than the others and hence it's rather difficult to rate. I recommend this if you love reading short stories, especially, fairytales and folklore but I warn you, it gets dark.
Thank you Netgalley and Tachyon Publications for the e-ARC.
I enjoyed the stories, some more than the others and hence it's rather difficult to rate. I recommend this if you love reading short stories, especially, fairytales and folklore but I warn you, it gets dark.
Thank you Netgalley and Tachyon Publications for the e-ARC.
Read
August 27, 2020Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest opinion. This book will be available on October first.
Jane Yolen is a big name in fantasy. While she’s written a ton of other books – the incredibly popular How Does a Dinosaur ? children’s book series being some of them – I always think of her fantasy books first. How could I pass up a chance to read her newest collection of short stories?
Overall, this was a solid group of stories. As with any short story collection, some stories were better than others, but the majority were really good. Yolen is comfortable and confident in her ability to weave a tale, and it shows. She includes a plethora of fantastical creatures, and no story was like another.
These are darker stories, so be aware of that. A couple of them actually took a harsh enough tone that I skipped parts. However, they aren’t harsh just to elicit a reaction. Even the hard stories have a purpose behind the content. That being said, be aware that these aren’t your Disney happily-ever-after tales.
I have to mention a few of my favorites in the collection, of course! I loved “Winter’s King,” which felt mysterious and sad. It was beautifully written and felt complete, even though the ending was not exactly a happy one (see my thoughts on happily-ever-afters above). This story showcased Yolen’s ability to create an entire world with just a few pages.
“The Fisherman’s Wife” was another favorite of mine. It felt the most like your typical fairy tale out of all the stories in this collection. I loved the simple, circular feel to it. Plus-selkies!
Finally, I really enjoyed “Wilding.” The best way to describe is bizarre. I can’t really compare, or even explain it, it was so unique. I thought the ending was the perfect beginning for a full-length novel and I’m curious to see if anything ever comes of that.
I consider a short story collection a good one if I like more stories than I dislike. The Midnight Circus definitely ended up in the “good” category for me. If you like your fantasy with a slightly darker edge, check this out.
Jane Yolen is a big name in fantasy. While she’s written a ton of other books – the incredibly popular How Does a Dinosaur ? children’s book series being some of them – I always think of her fantasy books first. How could I pass up a chance to read her newest collection of short stories?
Overall, this was a solid group of stories. As with any short story collection, some stories were better than others, but the majority were really good. Yolen is comfortable and confident in her ability to weave a tale, and it shows. She includes a plethora of fantastical creatures, and no story was like another.
These are darker stories, so be aware of that. A couple of them actually took a harsh enough tone that I skipped parts. However, they aren’t harsh just to elicit a reaction. Even the hard stories have a purpose behind the content. That being said, be aware that these aren’t your Disney happily-ever-after tales.
I have to mention a few of my favorites in the collection, of course! I loved “Winter’s King,” which felt mysterious and sad. It was beautifully written and felt complete, even though the ending was not exactly a happy one (see my thoughts on happily-ever-afters above). This story showcased Yolen’s ability to create an entire world with just a few pages.
“The Fisherman’s Wife” was another favorite of mine. It felt the most like your typical fairy tale out of all the stories in this collection. I loved the simple, circular feel to it. Plus-selkies!
Finally, I really enjoyed “Wilding.” The best way to describe is bizarre. I can’t really compare, or even explain it, it was so unique. I thought the ending was the perfect beginning for a full-length novel and I’m curious to see if anything ever comes of that.
I consider a short story collection a good one if I like more stories than I dislike. The Midnight Circus definitely ended up in the “good” category for me. If you like your fantasy with a slightly darker edge, check this out.
July 23, 2020
The Midnight Circus is a spooky and charming collection of short stories by Jane Yolen. Jane Yolen is such an incredible and prolific writer, especially when it comes to tales that we assume we already know. Drawing upon familiar elements in fantasy, Yolen presents a collection of short stories that are unique and encompassing. The collection is well-balanced, featuring themes of fantasy and horror. There is something in this collection for everyone, from selkies, shapeshifters, red caps, and vampires.
I love stories that relate to mythological sea creatures, so my favorite stories were about the selkies and mermaids. I did find myself completely engrossed by the story of legendary explorer Robert Scott. The story questions- what if Scott had a secret reason for adventuring to Antarctica? With poems and additional information provided about the creation process, the collection is very satisfying. I would highly recommend it for anyone who is a fan of short stories or fantasy. The Midnight Circus releases October 1, 2020. Thank you to Jane Yolen, Tachyon Publications, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I love stories that relate to mythological sea creatures, so my favorite stories were about the selkies and mermaids. I did find myself completely engrossed by the story of legendary explorer Robert Scott. The story questions- what if Scott had a secret reason for adventuring to Antarctica? With poems and additional information provided about the creation process, the collection is very satisfying. I would highly recommend it for anyone who is a fan of short stories or fantasy. The Midnight Circus releases October 1, 2020. Thank you to Jane Yolen, Tachyon Publications, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 3, 2020
Considering how many books Jane Yolen has written it seemed impossible that I had never heard of her before requesting this ARC on Netgalley, but there I was.
So first, thanks to Netgalley and Tachyon Publications for the ARC!
Second, the title and the cover - which is very pretty nonetheless - are completely misleading. If you're looking for short stories telling the life of a circus (or different circuses), this is not the book you're looking for. I know, I was quite surprised too, "circus" here is metaphorical.
That said, I enjoyed most of the short stories, which is no small thing considering that I'm often bored and/or very disappointed by this format.
Yolen's writing is very good, in the way it catches you immediately. All her short stories have a story behind it, and you'll find the genesis of each one at the end of the book, which was a nice and interesting touch imo.
Whether they sparked from a small fact or directly inspired by folklore or History, Yolen sets the ambiance from the start. Some of them are much darker than first anticipated; I mean, that's pretty obvious there's little glitters and rainbows in this book but some are dark.
An interesting discovery, I'll definitely check the author's work.
So first, thanks to Netgalley and Tachyon Publications for the ARC!
Second, the title and the cover - which is very pretty nonetheless - are completely misleading. If you're looking for short stories telling the life of a circus (or different circuses), this is not the book you're looking for. I know, I was quite surprised too, "circus" here is metaphorical.
That said, I enjoyed most of the short stories, which is no small thing considering that I'm often bored and/or very disappointed by this format.
Yolen's writing is very good, in the way it catches you immediately. All her short stories have a story behind it, and you'll find the genesis of each one at the end of the book, which was a nice and interesting touch imo.
Whether they sparked from a small fact or directly inspired by folklore or History, Yolen sets the ambiance from the start. Some of them are much darker than first anticipated; I mean, that's pretty obvious there's little glitters and rainbows in this book but some are dark.
An interesting discovery, I'll definitely check the author's work.
September 8, 2021
Many of the stories were darker and more gruesome than I expected
October 1, 2020
For some while now, I have made an effort to read a short story or two as a sort of palate cleanser between novels. The Midnight Circus had me devouring short stories and poems as though they were popcorn kernels. However, this is not all light fare. The stories jump from fairy tales, to teenage rebellion, to classical vampires, to heartbreaking generational trauma in the wake of the Holocaust. So, there’s a lot going on and some serious emotions to wade through.
The stories (* mark my favorites):
*The Weaver of Tomorrow - “Once, on the far side of yesterday, there lived a girl who wanted to know the future.” A very poetic little fairy tale about a girl named Vera, who is apprentice to the woman who weaves the future. Told in a very traditional fairy tale style, this story offers a quick glimpse into a well-woven world.
*The White Seal Maid - a selkie story, tragic as all selkie stories are, but with a surprising undercurrent of agency and hope.
The Snatchers - Tsar Nicholas I began drafting Jewish boys into a 25 year military service. This story begins at generally heartbreaking, and becomes more personal as it continues.
Wilding - a bit of shapeshifting and teenage rebellion in Central Park. It’s not a good or safe idea. The story has a bit of a Ray Bradbury vibe.
Requiem Antarctica (with Robert J. Harris) - A vicar is having a crisis of faith when he is called to the bedside of a dying man ego wants to tell him a story. This is a vampire story that somehow felt a little inspired by Frankenstein.
Night Wolves - “The wolves lived under my bed, the bear in my closet. They only came out at night.” A story about what bravery means to a child whose nightmares encroach upon his waking life.
The House of Seven Angels - a relatively unreligious village has a very religious rabbi. This one was a little weird—it felt like it has a moral that flew far above my head.
Great Gray - I didn’t like this one. Donnal is a reprehensibly disgusting human who revels in morbidity.
Little Red (with Adam Stemple) - “blood isn’t red until it touches the air” This one was a deeply unsettling look into mental illness and self harm, with a messed up mental healthcare system. It flawlessly uses imagery from the classic little red riding hood story, but also demonizes mental illness in a way I didn’t feel comfortable with.
*Winter’s King - A fairy tale about the life of a stillborn babe. A truly haunting read.
*Inscription - I think this was the best of the batch. Set in a Irish village in the 1500s, a young girl falls in lust with a traveler. The boy is a useless flirt, but she wants the life she imagines they could have. She wants that life more than love. This dark little story runs past magic and hits upon something else.
*Dog Boy Remembers - Heavily inspired by redcap folklore, this horror story is going to haunt me for some time to come.
*The Fisherman’s Wife - ok, look, the mermaid story here? Excellent. The fisherman? Garbage. Throw the whole man away. His wife is deaf, and for some inexplicable reason, he thinks it appropriate to describe sign language as her “finger fantasies” as if he doesn’t believe she is capable of communicating any rational thought. Mair, the wife, is amazing and strong and deserves far better than a whinny ableist husband.
Become a Warrior - Avery tough little girl survives a massacre at her father’s fortress, and goes off into the woods to become a feral warrior. Also, it has an interesting commentary on the logistics of that fairytale trope of the king or prince who finds a speechless woman in a forest and falls in love at first sight.
An Infestation of Angels - this story opens with a sentence I never could have predicted: “The angels came again today, filthy things, dropping golden-hard wing feathers and turds as big and brown as camel dung.” As if they were gigantic pigeon-y pests. Except also violent. This story is about a biblically-adjacent series of plagues in a vaguely Egyptian alternate world.
Names - This was a really tough read. Another look into generational trauma, from the perspective of the daughter of a holocaust survivor.
Content warnings:
Requiem Antarctica - fairly graphic attempted suicide
Great Gray- implied pedophilia
Little Red - graphic self harm, abuse
Dog Boy Remembers - domestic abuse, dehumanization, isolation
Become a Warrior - Gore, implied rape
An Infestation of Angels - implied cannibalism
Names - severe eating disorder
Thank you to NetGalley and Tachyon Publications for approving my request for a review copy of this book!
The stories (* mark my favorites):
*The Weaver of Tomorrow - “Once, on the far side of yesterday, there lived a girl who wanted to know the future.” A very poetic little fairy tale about a girl named Vera, who is apprentice to the woman who weaves the future. Told in a very traditional fairy tale style, this story offers a quick glimpse into a well-woven world.
*The White Seal Maid - a selkie story, tragic as all selkie stories are, but with a surprising undercurrent of agency and hope.
The Snatchers - Tsar Nicholas I began drafting Jewish boys into a 25 year military service. This story begins at generally heartbreaking, and becomes more personal as it continues.
Wilding - a bit of shapeshifting and teenage rebellion in Central Park. It’s not a good or safe idea. The story has a bit of a Ray Bradbury vibe.
Requiem Antarctica (with Robert J. Harris) - A vicar is having a crisis of faith when he is called to the bedside of a dying man ego wants to tell him a story. This is a vampire story that somehow felt a little inspired by Frankenstein.
Night Wolves - “The wolves lived under my bed, the bear in my closet. They only came out at night.” A story about what bravery means to a child whose nightmares encroach upon his waking life.
The House of Seven Angels - a relatively unreligious village has a very religious rabbi. This one was a little weird—it felt like it has a moral that flew far above my head.
Great Gray - I didn’t like this one. Donnal is a reprehensibly disgusting human who revels in morbidity.
Little Red (with Adam Stemple) - “blood isn’t red until it touches the air” This one was a deeply unsettling look into mental illness and self harm, with a messed up mental healthcare system. It flawlessly uses imagery from the classic little red riding hood story, but also demonizes mental illness in a way I didn’t feel comfortable with.
*Winter’s King - A fairy tale about the life of a stillborn babe. A truly haunting read.
*Inscription - I think this was the best of the batch. Set in a Irish village in the 1500s, a young girl falls in lust with a traveler. The boy is a useless flirt, but she wants the life she imagines they could have. She wants that life more than love. This dark little story runs past magic and hits upon something else.
*Dog Boy Remembers - Heavily inspired by redcap folklore, this horror story is going to haunt me for some time to come.
*The Fisherman’s Wife - ok, look, the mermaid story here? Excellent. The fisherman? Garbage. Throw the whole man away. His wife is deaf, and for some inexplicable reason, he thinks it appropriate to describe sign language as her “finger fantasies” as if he doesn’t believe she is capable of communicating any rational thought. Mair, the wife, is amazing and strong and deserves far better than a whinny ableist husband.
Become a Warrior - Avery tough little girl survives a massacre at her father’s fortress, and goes off into the woods to become a feral warrior. Also, it has an interesting commentary on the logistics of that fairytale trope of the king or prince who finds a speechless woman in a forest and falls in love at first sight.
An Infestation of Angels - this story opens with a sentence I never could have predicted: “The angels came again today, filthy things, dropping golden-hard wing feathers and turds as big and brown as camel dung.” As if they were gigantic pigeon-y pests. Except also violent. This story is about a biblically-adjacent series of plagues in a vaguely Egyptian alternate world.
Names - This was a really tough read. Another look into generational trauma, from the perspective of the daughter of a holocaust survivor.
Content warnings:
Requiem Antarctica - fairly graphic attempted suicide
Great Gray- implied pedophilia
Little Red - graphic self harm, abuse
Dog Boy Remembers - domestic abuse, dehumanization, isolation
Become a Warrior - Gore, implied rape
An Infestation of Angels - implied cannibalism
Names - severe eating disorder
Thank you to NetGalley and Tachyon Publications for approving my request for a review copy of this book!
September 26, 2020
Excellent stories, as expected from Jane Yolen, but most of the ones in this collection just didn’t captivate me all that much; I much preferred
The Emerald Circus
collection to this one.
The Midnight Circus focuses on horror and dark fantasy retellings of legends and fairy tales, or inspired by them. Horror in short form like this can be very hit or miss for me, so I wasn’t surprised that I didn’t enjoy many of these as much as I wanted to. That isn’t to say they were poorly written or didn’t have unique twists on tales, because they definitely did! Just not in a way that really enthralled me, for the most part. There were also a few stories in particular that simply didn’t seem to fit a horror/dark/uncanny retelling, they were just… folk tales? (The Weaver of Tomorrow and Becomes a Warrior specifically pop to mind. The latter was also probably supposed to be empowering, but came across as almost the exact opposite to me.)
That being said, I did enjoy some of these enough to warrant mini-reviewing them here!
5 stars
Requiem Antarctica is one of the stories mentioned in the blurb, and was about 75% of the reason for me requesting this. This was by far my most favorite story in the collection–polar horror is always good, plus it’s an excellent twist on history and ties into legitimate real world horrors of what might emerge when permafrost and ice melts due to global warming.
4 stars
The Fisherman’s Wife was beautifully told and vividly rendered.
An Infestation of Angels was incredibly unique in its retelling and I probably wouldn’t have cared much for it if I hadn’t immediately pictured the characters and setting as a Surrealist painting (Carrington or Varo, specifically).
3 stars/Honorable Mentions: Wilding, Great Gray, and Winter’s King.
Definitely not what I was expecting in terms of story offerings within, but still a great collection.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy to review!
(Cross posted on my blog.)
The Midnight Circus focuses on horror and dark fantasy retellings of legends and fairy tales, or inspired by them. Horror in short form like this can be very hit or miss for me, so I wasn’t surprised that I didn’t enjoy many of these as much as I wanted to. That isn’t to say they were poorly written or didn’t have unique twists on tales, because they definitely did! Just not in a way that really enthralled me, for the most part. There were also a few stories in particular that simply didn’t seem to fit a horror/dark/uncanny retelling, they were just… folk tales? (The Weaver of Tomorrow and Becomes a Warrior specifically pop to mind. The latter was also probably supposed to be empowering, but came across as almost the exact opposite to me.)
That being said, I did enjoy some of these enough to warrant mini-reviewing them here!
5 stars
Requiem Antarctica is one of the stories mentioned in the blurb, and was about 75% of the reason for me requesting this. This was by far my most favorite story in the collection–polar horror is always good, plus it’s an excellent twist on history and ties into legitimate real world horrors of what might emerge when permafrost and ice melts due to global warming.
4 stars
The Fisherman’s Wife was beautifully told and vividly rendered.
An Infestation of Angels was incredibly unique in its retelling and I probably wouldn’t have cared much for it if I hadn’t immediately pictured the characters and setting as a Surrealist painting (Carrington or Varo, specifically).
3 stars/Honorable Mentions: Wilding, Great Gray, and Winter’s King.
Definitely not what I was expecting in terms of story offerings within, but still a great collection.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy to review!
(Cross posted on my blog.)
September 14, 2020
I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
More of a 3.5.
This was an anthology of short stories written mostly by Jane Yolen (a few had cowriters). They were darker themed fairy tales, and there was a wide range of styles. Some were set in the future, some were set in the past, some were modern. Some were said in third person, some were said in first person. The change in styles was a little bit jarring, and I wasn't sure what they all had in common, except for the fact that they were all a little bit dark. I thought it was supposed to be YA, but apparently I was wrong.
A lot of them were beautifully told. It obviously shows how talented Yolen is. I just didn't understand what they had in common? Especially because the styles were so different. Most of the short stories have been published before, and this collection was pulled together from her other works. Of course I liked some stories more than others but I didn't really think the collection was very cohesive. But Yolen is an amazing storyteller and that was a delight to see.
CW- as these are dark, there is quite a bit of violence. Death, attempted suicide, murder, homicide, death of a child, abuse.
More of a 3.5.
This was an anthology of short stories written mostly by Jane Yolen (a few had cowriters). They were darker themed fairy tales, and there was a wide range of styles. Some were set in the future, some were set in the past, some were modern. Some were said in third person, some were said in first person. The change in styles was a little bit jarring, and I wasn't sure what they all had in common, except for the fact that they were all a little bit dark. I thought it was supposed to be YA, but apparently I was wrong.
A lot of them were beautifully told. It obviously shows how talented Yolen is. I just didn't understand what they had in common? Especially because the styles were so different. Most of the short stories have been published before, and this collection was pulled together from her other works. Of course I liked some stories more than others but I didn't really think the collection was very cohesive. But Yolen is an amazing storyteller and that was a delight to see.
CW- as these are dark, there is quite a bit of violence. Death, attempted suicide, murder, homicide, death of a child, abuse.
September 14, 2020
3.5 stars
TW: Death, murder, mutilation, graphic depiction of suicide, rape, mental illness, abuse, self harm.
This is a collection of short stories that read like dark folktales. Although the title of the book led me to believe the stories would be about a circus, they weren't. And there also weren't any stories that had anything to do with the circus, but rather about various creatures, and legends. I enjoyed reading these stories, though some of them were uncomfortable for me to read. Below will be my ratings for each of the stories. The ones that don't have a rating are the ones I felt uncomfortable while reading them.
The Weaver of Tomorrow 5 stars
The White Seal Maid 2 stars
The Snatchers 4 stars
Wilding 1.5 stars
Requiem Antarctica 4 stars
Night Wolves 3.5 stars
The House of Seven Angels 3.5 stars
Great Grey 4 stars
Little Red (Didn't rate it)
Winter's King 3.5 stars
Inscription 4 stars
Dog Boy Remembers (Didn't rate it)
The Fisherman's Wife 3 stars
Become a Warrior 3 stars
An Infestation of Angels 5 stars
Names (Didn't rate it)
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
TW: Death, murder, mutilation, graphic depiction of suicide, rape, mental illness, abuse, self harm.
This is a collection of short stories that read like dark folktales. Although the title of the book led me to believe the stories would be about a circus, they weren't. And there also weren't any stories that had anything to do with the circus, but rather about various creatures, and legends. I enjoyed reading these stories, though some of them were uncomfortable for me to read. Below will be my ratings for each of the stories. The ones that don't have a rating are the ones I felt uncomfortable while reading them.
The Weaver of Tomorrow 5 stars
The White Seal Maid 2 stars
The Snatchers 4 stars
Wilding 1.5 stars
Requiem Antarctica 4 stars
Night Wolves 3.5 stars
The House of Seven Angels 3.5 stars
Great Grey 4 stars
Little Red (Didn't rate it)
Winter's King 3.5 stars
Inscription 4 stars
Dog Boy Remembers (Didn't rate it)
The Fisherman's Wife 3 stars
Become a Warrior 3 stars
An Infestation of Angels 5 stars
Names (Didn't rate it)
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 15, 2021
Actual rating: 3.5 stars I had never read a Jane Yolen book before diving into this short story collection, although being a huge fantasy reader, I had heard her named mentioned quite often.
With a title like the Midnight Circus and knowing most of the stories were dark fairy tales, this collection was perfect for what I was craving to read.
For the most part, I really enjoyed the stories in this collection. Most collections will have a few duds, which this collection had for me, but I was very impressed with Yolen’s writing and a few stories have become new favorites for me, including The Snatchers, Wilding, Requiem Antarctica (a vampire story unlike any I have ever read) and An Infestation of Angels (a creative, fantastical twist on the story of Moses guiding the Israelites out of Egypt).
I especially enjoyed reading the accompanying poem after each story. Some of the stories were written especially for this collection and some have been previously published. You’ll also get a little note by the author on why she was inspired to write each story.
If you like dark fairy tales, I’d recommend this collection. I am even more eager to pick up a full lengthen novel by Yolen in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tachyon Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this advanced reader copy.
With a title like the Midnight Circus and knowing most of the stories were dark fairy tales, this collection was perfect for what I was craving to read.
For the most part, I really enjoyed the stories in this collection. Most collections will have a few duds, which this collection had for me, but I was very impressed with Yolen’s writing and a few stories have become new favorites for me, including The Snatchers, Wilding, Requiem Antarctica (a vampire story unlike any I have ever read) and An Infestation of Angels (a creative, fantastical twist on the story of Moses guiding the Israelites out of Egypt).
I especially enjoyed reading the accompanying poem after each story. Some of the stories were written especially for this collection and some have been previously published. You’ll also get a little note by the author on why she was inspired to write each story.
If you like dark fairy tales, I’d recommend this collection. I am even more eager to pick up a full lengthen novel by Yolen in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tachyon Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this advanced reader copy.
September 8, 2021
A book with beautiful prose, some of the stories were extremely sad and heart breaking, but the exquisite writing style made me not able to put this short story collection down.
The stories were original and heartfelt, I want to read more books by this author in the future.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The stories were original and heartfelt, I want to read more books by this author in the future.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 5, 2021
A great collection of thought-provoking (and more than slightly dark) collection of short stories by a true master!
July 3, 2020
The Midnight Circus by Jane Yolen is a collection of magical, witty, dark short stories which revolves around the time of night or Twilight zone.
The writing is very captivating, and the stories are intriguing. The author ends the book with personal notes and poetry which I really liked. I enjoyed reading the poetry more than the short stories.
This was my first novel by the author, and trust me when I say this, the book will drive you to a completely different world. It's a book which will give you beautiful fairytale dreams as well as nightmares at the same time.
The book has everything - Vampire, Werewolves, Serial Killers and others. The cover and the rhetorical title itself made me read this book! I recommend this book if you are into dark fantasy.
The writing is very captivating, and the stories are intriguing. The author ends the book with personal notes and poetry which I really liked. I enjoyed reading the poetry more than the short stories.
This was my first novel by the author, and trust me when I say this, the book will drive you to a completely different world. It's a book which will give you beautiful fairytale dreams as well as nightmares at the same time.
The book has everything - Vampire, Werewolves, Serial Killers and others. The cover and the rhetorical title itself made me read this book! I recommend this book if you are into dark fantasy.
May 17, 2023
Brutal but I'm gonna have to go with 1.5 stars. I just didn't enjoy any of the stories, and skipped/skimmed most of them. I like delightfully creepy, not straight up disturbing.
The Requiem ice one was one of the better ones.
The Requiem ice one was one of the better ones.
November 9, 2020
This was my first Jane Yolen book, and I really liked it! I will be checking out her other stuff too.
April 1, 2025
.1/5 DNF around 45% this book is actually so bad i cant stand this. none of the stories are good, one was almost good but the bad is outweighing the good.
October 19, 2020
I am not a massive fan of short story collections. They just aren’t for me. But when I read this blurb on Netgalley I was intrigued and decided to just give it a go. And I am glad I did, because I had a decent time with it. There were some great stories in here, and some I really didn’t like. You get that with almost every collection I guess. In general… I liked the sad yet heartwarming stories. I liked the ghost stories. I did not like the ones that were filled with abuse, loveless relationships and just made me feel uncomfortable. On average I gave this a 3* rating (3.375), which is fine.
In more detail:
The weaver of tomorrow: 5* A girl wants to know the faith of all and is told to apprentice with the weaver of tomorrow, where her wish is fullfilled but not in the way she had hoped. Just a nice and almost fairy-tale like story that I really enjoyed.
The white seal maid: 3* A fisherman steals a sealies skin so she has to stay with him. Because he wants her to… but she also has her own motives. Although I liked the ending, I didn’t really care for the story.
The Snatchers: 5* A wonderfully spooky read, linked to the Holocaust, with the creepy ending I want all of these stories to have.
Wilding: 3* Set in a future where everything is safe, people can get temporarily transformed into animals and go Wilding to still feel a sense of danger. This was an interesting idea which got ruined for me by an annoying main character.
Requim Antartica: 4* A dying naval surgeon tells about his polar expedition, and their bloodthirsty captain.
Night wolves: 5* A kid has had wolves and bears roaming his room at night, but when his parents get divorced and he moves house they are joined by a ghost. I LOVED this story, easily my favourite in the collection. It was cute and heartwarming but still spooky.
The house of seven angels: 2* a story about a Jewish boy and the Angel of Death. I really didn’t care for this one.
Great gray: 1* We are in the head of a pedophile, who worships an owl and collects skulls. And I hated it.
Little Red: 1* Another one about child abuse, this one more graphic, featuring Little Red Riding Hood, in an asylum, cutting herself in between getting raped. I DNF’ed this one.
Winter’s King: 3* Something more fairy tale like, it follows a boy born dead, but reawakened by a strange prayer. He spends his whole life looking for his kin. I really liked the ending, sad as it was.
Inscription: 4* A naive girl gets herself impregnated by a man who doesn’t want to commit, but what she does next is great. This is a confession and a warning to her son.
Dog Boy Remembers: 2* a story about a boy and his horrible father. Sad, hopeless and uncomfortable, not how I want to feel reading this book.
The fisherman’s wife: 5* I really enjoyed this story of a deaf woman who goes to the bottom of the sea to take back her husband from the mermaids.
Become a warrior: 5* another great story about a strong woman. After her father has fallen on the battlefield, a girl doesn’t follow what a woman ‘should’ do and goes out to take revenge.
An infestation of angels: 2* a weird story about how the ‘slaves’ try to deal with the plagues sent to them by angels. I didn’t care much for it.
Names: 4* the tales of a Holocaust survivor lead her daughter into an eating disorder. A powerful and harrowing story to end on.
Am I now sold to short story collections? No. Am I glad I read this? Yes. There were a few great stories in here that will stick with me for a good while.
In more detail:
The weaver of tomorrow: 5* A girl wants to know the faith of all and is told to apprentice with the weaver of tomorrow, where her wish is fullfilled but not in the way she had hoped. Just a nice and almost fairy-tale like story that I really enjoyed.
The white seal maid: 3* A fisherman steals a sealies skin so she has to stay with him. Because he wants her to… but she also has her own motives. Although I liked the ending, I didn’t really care for the story.
The Snatchers: 5* A wonderfully spooky read, linked to the Holocaust, with the creepy ending I want all of these stories to have.
Wilding: 3* Set in a future where everything is safe, people can get temporarily transformed into animals and go Wilding to still feel a sense of danger. This was an interesting idea which got ruined for me by an annoying main character.
Requim Antartica: 4* A dying naval surgeon tells about his polar expedition, and their bloodthirsty captain.
Night wolves: 5* A kid has had wolves and bears roaming his room at night, but when his parents get divorced and he moves house they are joined by a ghost. I LOVED this story, easily my favourite in the collection. It was cute and heartwarming but still spooky.
The house of seven angels: 2* a story about a Jewish boy and the Angel of Death. I really didn’t care for this one.
Great gray: 1* We are in the head of a pedophile, who worships an owl and collects skulls. And I hated it.
Little Red: 1* Another one about child abuse, this one more graphic, featuring Little Red Riding Hood, in an asylum, cutting herself in between getting raped. I DNF’ed this one.
Winter’s King: 3* Something more fairy tale like, it follows a boy born dead, but reawakened by a strange prayer. He spends his whole life looking for his kin. I really liked the ending, sad as it was.
Inscription: 4* A naive girl gets herself impregnated by a man who doesn’t want to commit, but what she does next is great. This is a confession and a warning to her son.
Dog Boy Remembers: 2* a story about a boy and his horrible father. Sad, hopeless and uncomfortable, not how I want to feel reading this book.
The fisherman’s wife: 5* I really enjoyed this story of a deaf woman who goes to the bottom of the sea to take back her husband from the mermaids.
Become a warrior: 5* another great story about a strong woman. After her father has fallen on the battlefield, a girl doesn’t follow what a woman ‘should’ do and goes out to take revenge.
An infestation of angels: 2* a weird story about how the ‘slaves’ try to deal with the plagues sent to them by angels. I didn’t care much for it.
Names: 4* the tales of a Holocaust survivor lead her daughter into an eating disorder. A powerful and harrowing story to end on.
Am I now sold to short story collections? No. Am I glad I read this? Yes. There were a few great stories in here that will stick with me for a good while.
July 25, 2020
This is a book that one should sit down on a bench in a park, with a nice pumpkin spice latte, and read while gold, red, and green leaves fall gently around you. It has major Halloween feels, but the book isn’t scary. It just gives you that festive thrill that fall-time holidays seem to give you.
It’s also not the easiest book to review, because this book consists of many short stories, each one magical, but independent of each other. But I’m definitely going to give it a try, because this book is a quality book, even as I had some minor gripes.
Some of these short stories are better than others. That’s the name of the game when books are collections of stories, but it was very apparent which stories the author delighted in writing and the ones that she was less interested in developing fully. The ones that were my favorite were atmospheric, romantic, spooky, and alive. And the ones that I didn’t like were flat. It was a 75-25 mix of good vs. bad, which is a good fraction to have, but I truly believe that every short story included in anthologies like this, the author should be passionate about. And I didn’t get that with every story.
I will give props to the cohesiveness of the book. Every story did have the underlying theme of magic and mystics and I did wholly believe that I existed in one fantastical world where all of these universes and stories could be possible.
The lengths of most of the stories were good, enough to get you captivated, but then ended just as your imagination would be able to take over.
Imagination is the key word for this novel. It takes you imagination and imbues it with a sense of spook and thrill and despite not loving some of the stories, you finish the book with a pleasant sense of wonderment.
3.5/5
**Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review,
It’s also not the easiest book to review, because this book consists of many short stories, each one magical, but independent of each other. But I’m definitely going to give it a try, because this book is a quality book, even as I had some minor gripes.
Some of these short stories are better than others. That’s the name of the game when books are collections of stories, but it was very apparent which stories the author delighted in writing and the ones that she was less interested in developing fully. The ones that were my favorite were atmospheric, romantic, spooky, and alive. And the ones that I didn’t like were flat. It was a 75-25 mix of good vs. bad, which is a good fraction to have, but I truly believe that every short story included in anthologies like this, the author should be passionate about. And I didn’t get that with every story.
I will give props to the cohesiveness of the book. Every story did have the underlying theme of magic and mystics and I did wholly believe that I existed in one fantastical world where all of these universes and stories could be possible.
The lengths of most of the stories were good, enough to get you captivated, but then ended just as your imagination would be able to take over.
Imagination is the key word for this novel. It takes you imagination and imbues it with a sense of spook and thrill and despite not loving some of the stories, you finish the book with a pleasant sense of wonderment.
3.5/5
**Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review,
October 13, 2020
These Tachyon books of Jane Yolen's work are just delightful. This one focuses on her 'darker works', but I wouldn't really classify her as a horror writer, although there are some grim stories and some blood.
The book starts with the lighter stories and moves into the darker ones later on. Probably the most fun story is 'Wilding', with its tribute to Maurice Sendak and the Best. Last. Line. Ever.
There are stories of selchies (selkies, or seal people), witches, kings and queens, and allusions to the Holocaust.
These are all short stories, some of almost short-shorts. Some are so short that they seem to end more quickly than the story should, given the richness of Yolen's writing. This book went way too fast - I wanted to linger in some of these stories.
Each story has an essay about it in the back by Yolen, about where it came from or the circumstances of its writing. The essays also contain a pertinent poem, many of them written expressly for this book.
Yolen has mastered the art of writing a story so it resembles a fairy tale in its construction, language and cadence. This gives the impression that it's a much older story. A lot of new writers try to write repurposed or reconstructed fairy tales, but they don't have the skill to make them sound like the old tales. Yolen has it.
Welcome to the world of Goddess Jane. We are all just inhabitants.
The book starts with the lighter stories and moves into the darker ones later on. Probably the most fun story is 'Wilding', with its tribute to Maurice Sendak and the Best. Last. Line. Ever.
There are stories of selchies (selkies, or seal people), witches, kings and queens, and allusions to the Holocaust.
These are all short stories, some of almost short-shorts. Some are so short that they seem to end more quickly than the story should, given the richness of Yolen's writing. This book went way too fast - I wanted to linger in some of these stories.
Each story has an essay about it in the back by Yolen, about where it came from or the circumstances of its writing. The essays also contain a pertinent poem, many of them written expressly for this book.
Yolen has mastered the art of writing a story so it resembles a fairy tale in its construction, language and cadence. This gives the impression that it's a much older story. A lot of new writers try to write repurposed or reconstructed fairy tales, but they don't have the skill to make them sound like the old tales. Yolen has it.
Welcome to the world of Goddess Jane. We are all just inhabitants.
February 11, 2021
The cover and the titles were the hook, but the synopsis reeled me in.
But then I saw the following in the Praise for Jane Yolen section:
''One of the treasures of the science-fiction community''. - Brandon Sanderson
And if the legendary Mr. Sanderson says so, try saying it isn't. Try it, I dare you.
As with any short story collection, you'll be faced with a variety, where you will have favourites, those that you don't like at all, and some stories that are just okay. My favourites were: Wilding, Requiem Antarctica, Night Wolves, Inscription.
The stories that were longer were the ones I enjoyed more, as it gave me time to get invested in them. A couple of the shorter ones felt simply cut off, and I was left with wanting for the stories to continue, for the author to give me more. Overall, I feel like, even though I did enjoy this collection, there was something missing. None of the stories made me feel much of anything, nor was I too haunted, surprised, scared, enlightened...
I think the writing is splendid, and I do see why Jane is compared to Hanz Christian Andersen. I'd love to read more of her stories. I think this would be a good collection to have in your bag, to read while you have some spare time, on the bus, at the station, on your lunch break, before going to bed. You don't have to necessarily sit down and eat the whole thing up.
Who would like it: if you like short stories, short story collection, folk tales, fairy tales, weird, mystical stories.
But then I saw the following in the Praise for Jane Yolen section:
''One of the treasures of the science-fiction community''. - Brandon Sanderson
And if the legendary Mr. Sanderson says so, try saying it isn't. Try it, I dare you.
As with any short story collection, you'll be faced with a variety, where you will have favourites, those that you don't like at all, and some stories that are just okay. My favourites were: Wilding, Requiem Antarctica, Night Wolves, Inscription.
The stories that were longer were the ones I enjoyed more, as it gave me time to get invested in them. A couple of the shorter ones felt simply cut off, and I was left with wanting for the stories to continue, for the author to give me more. Overall, I feel like, even though I did enjoy this collection, there was something missing. None of the stories made me feel much of anything, nor was I too haunted, surprised, scared, enlightened...
I think the writing is splendid, and I do see why Jane is compared to Hanz Christian Andersen. I'd love to read more of her stories. I think this would be a good collection to have in your bag, to read while you have some spare time, on the bus, at the station, on your lunch break, before going to bed. You don't have to necessarily sit down and eat the whole thing up.
Who would like it: if you like short stories, short story collection, folk tales, fairy tales, weird, mystical stories.
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