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Modern Faerie Tales #3.5
The Poison Eaters and Other Stories
Pick your poison: Vampires, devils, werewolves, faeries, or . . . ? Find them all here in Holly Black’s amazing first collection.
In her debut collection, New York Times best-selling author Holly Black returns to the world of Tithe in two darkly exquisite new tales. Then Black takes readers on a tour of a faerie market and introduces a girl poisonous to the touch and another who challenges the devil to a competitive eating match. Some of these stories have been published in anthologies such as 21 Proms, The Faery Reel, and The Restless Dead, and many have been reprinted in many “Best of ” anthologies.
The Poison Eaters is Holly Black’s much-anticipated first collection, and her ability to stare into the void—and to find humanity and humor there—will speak to young adult and adult readers alike.
A Junior Library Guild Pick. Illustrated by Theo Black.
Holly Black is the author of Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale (an ALA Best Book for Young Adults) and two related novels, Valiant (Norton Award winner) and New York Times bestseller Ironside. Her latest novel, Black Heart is the third of a new series, The Curseworkers. She and Tony DiTerlizzi created the best-selling Spiderwick Chronicles. Holly lives in Massachusetts with her husband, Theo, in a house with a secret library.
In her debut collection, New York Times best-selling author Holly Black returns to the world of Tithe in two darkly exquisite new tales. Then Black takes readers on a tour of a faerie market and introduces a girl poisonous to the touch and another who challenges the devil to a competitive eating match. Some of these stories have been published in anthologies such as 21 Proms, The Faery Reel, and The Restless Dead, and many have been reprinted in many “Best of ” anthologies.
The Poison Eaters is Holly Black’s much-anticipated first collection, and her ability to stare into the void—and to find humanity and humor there—will speak to young adult and adult readers alike.
A Junior Library Guild Pick. Illustrated by Theo Black.
Holly Black is the author of Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale (an ALA Best Book for Young Adults) and two related novels, Valiant (Norton Award winner) and New York Times bestseller Ironside. Her latest novel, Black Heart is the third of a new series, The Curseworkers. She and Tony DiTerlizzi created the best-selling Spiderwick Chronicles. Holly lives in Massachusetts with her husband, Theo, in a house with a secret library.
212 pages, Hardcover
First published February 9, 2010
249 people are currently reading
11862 people want to read
About the author
Holly Black
225 books127k followersHolly Black is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of over thirty fantasy novels for kids and teens. She has been a finalist for an Eisner Award and the Lodestar Award, and the recipient of the Mythopoeic Award, a Nebula, and a Newbery Honor. Her books have been translated into 32 languages worldwide and adapted for film. She currently lives in New England with her husband and son in a house with a secret library.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 755 reviews
August 16, 2021
This collection was just okay. The stories were okay, the characters were okay, the plot twists were okay. It was forgettable.
I was surprised at how predictable the twists were. It was clear to me from the moment some of the stories started how they were going to end. The foreshadowing is heavy. Characters sometimes read books that are parallels to the story they're living in, which is the oldest foreshadowing trick in the book and also the worst.
These short stories weren't bad, but I wouldn't recommend them. I was disappointed.
2.5 stars
___
I will read anything by Holly Black please and thank you
I was surprised at how predictable the twists were. It was clear to me from the moment some of the stories started how they were going to end. The foreshadowing is heavy. Characters sometimes read books that are parallels to the story they're living in, which is the oldest foreshadowing trick in the book and also the worst.
These short stories weren't bad, but I wouldn't recommend them. I was disappointed.
2.5 stars
___
I will read anything by Holly Black please and thank you
May 17, 2011
There are too few short story collections by single authors, and this one is incredible. It came highly recommended by Caitlin R Kiernan (herself a master of short fiction) and certainly didn't disappoint. These stories are sharp, with varied styles and tones ranging from gritty to ethereal to satirical.
"A Reversal of Fortune" about a deal with the devil and a wounded dog, was probably my favorite. But "The Night Market" about a girl trying to free her sister from an elf curse and "Paper Cuts Scissors" were also great. As was "The Coat of Stars". You get the idea. They were all good. A number of them were Faerie stories. And I didn't think I liked Faerie stories.
There is imagination here to spare. Read this one. You won't be disappointed.
"A Reversal of Fortune" about a deal with the devil and a wounded dog, was probably my favorite. But "The Night Market" about a girl trying to free her sister from an elf curse and "Paper Cuts Scissors" were also great. As was "The Coat of Stars". You get the idea. They were all good. A number of them were Faerie stories. And I didn't think I liked Faerie stories.
There is imagination here to spare. Read this one. You won't be disappointed.
December 19, 2019
These stories were so fun! I especially enjoyed the one with Roiben and Corny! :)
August 11, 2015
A couple of these stories were enjoyable. The rest just fell flat.
October 5, 2014
The Coldest Girl in Coldtown:
I'm not sure what to think about this story. At first I was wondering where this would go and thinking it was a bit odd, even for me. But when the vampires started getting into the story, it was then that it started getting more interesting. Also, Belgium was mentioned, which is always funny since I'm from Belgium; 'So many of Belgium's citizens were vampires that shops barely opened their doors until nightfall.' -3/5
A Reversal of Fortune:
This story was quite dark, in my opinion. I like dark stories but I didn't love it or anything. It was actually kind of weird with the eating contest but I did like the twist of the devil with it. -2/5
The Boy Who Cried Wolf:
A rather short but not bad story. I loved the twist of turning into a werewolf because of the white flowers and how Alex ran away from his family to save him. I also felt it had a bit of Little Red Riding Hood at the end of the book. -3/5
The Night Market:
I loved this one! I was really into it and was kind of sad to see it end so quickly. I love anything that has to be with elves, faeries, pixies, etc... in this case it was elves. Cleverly written, interesting and a great main character! -5/5
The Dog King:
This was another story that I loved. It was historical in some way but also paranormal with some twists. Awesome! -5/5
Virgin:
This was a great story. I really liked it because it had both fairy tale as well as real life elements. -4/5
In Vodka Veritas:
This story was kind of funny. I laughed quite a lot with it, which is always a good thing. To sum it up: It was one hell of a prom! -4/5
The Coat of Stars:
This one was amazing and definitely a favorite of mine. I like reading about faeries and I love how Holly Black didn't romanticise them in this particular story. -5/5
Paper Cuts Scissors:
Not my favorite story out of the bunch, but it was interesting for sure. Who doesn't want their favorite book characters to come alive? -3/5
Going Ironside:
Okay... this was kind of a trippy story. Very short, too, but I kinda liked it because elves, faeries and whatnot were involved. -4/5
The Land of Heart's Desire:
This story was wonderful! I loved it. I really did, though it's not surprising since it's another faerie story. I love reading about faeries. And I really liked Roiben. -5/5
The Poison Eaters:
This one was a very haunting story. I really liked the way it was written, all chilling and creepy. -4/5
Overall, I really liked these collection of short stories by Holly Black. I hadn't read anything by her before this book and I must say that I'm pleasantly surprised by her writing style and dark elements in the stories. I'll definitely be reading more by her. It's hard to rate a book like this because some stories I didn't like as much as the others but I'm going to give it four stars since I mostly enjoyed almost every story.
I'm not sure what to think about this story. At first I was wondering where this would go and thinking it was a bit odd, even for me. But when the vampires started getting into the story, it was then that it started getting more interesting. Also, Belgium was mentioned, which is always funny since I'm from Belgium; 'So many of Belgium's citizens were vampires that shops barely opened their doors until nightfall.' -3/5
A Reversal of Fortune:
This story was quite dark, in my opinion. I like dark stories but I didn't love it or anything. It was actually kind of weird with the eating contest but I did like the twist of the devil with it. -2/5
The Boy Who Cried Wolf:
A rather short but not bad story. I loved the twist of turning into a werewolf because of the white flowers and how Alex ran away from his family to save him. I also felt it had a bit of Little Red Riding Hood at the end of the book. -3/5
The Night Market:
I loved this one! I was really into it and was kind of sad to see it end so quickly. I love anything that has to be with elves, faeries, pixies, etc... in this case it was elves. Cleverly written, interesting and a great main character! -5/5
The Dog King:
This was another story that I loved. It was historical in some way but also paranormal with some twists. Awesome! -5/5
Virgin:
This was a great story. I really liked it because it had both fairy tale as well as real life elements. -4/5
In Vodka Veritas:
This story was kind of funny. I laughed quite a lot with it, which is always a good thing. To sum it up: It was one hell of a prom! -4/5
The Coat of Stars:
This one was amazing and definitely a favorite of mine. I like reading about faeries and I love how Holly Black didn't romanticise them in this particular story. -5/5
Paper Cuts Scissors:
Not my favorite story out of the bunch, but it was interesting for sure. Who doesn't want their favorite book characters to come alive? -3/5
Going Ironside:
Okay... this was kind of a trippy story. Very short, too, but I kinda liked it because elves, faeries and whatnot were involved. -4/5
The Land of Heart's Desire:
This story was wonderful! I loved it. I really did, though it's not surprising since it's another faerie story. I love reading about faeries. And I really liked Roiben. -5/5
The Poison Eaters:
This one was a very haunting story. I really liked the way it was written, all chilling and creepy. -4/5
Overall, I really liked these collection of short stories by Holly Black. I hadn't read anything by her before this book and I must say that I'm pleasantly surprised by her writing style and dark elements in the stories. I'll definitely be reading more by her. It's hard to rate a book like this because some stories I didn't like as much as the others but I'm going to give it four stars since I mostly enjoyed almost every story.
July 2, 2022
I'm glad to read this short stories collection by Holly Black, one of the few true Queens of Faeries in the realm of YA fantasy.
(1) The Poison Eaters: the story and the setting has rich potential for a twisted fairytale but the ending, not so much.
(2) The Night Market: another story that shows a lot of potential, and the story itself is doing okay too.
(3) The Coat of Stars: it's such a surprising, unbelievable well written LGBTQ love story/fairytale retelling about the trial of true love. It has to be my most favorite story in this collection!
(4) The Dog King: the theme of revenge and the fairytale retelling elements are well played here!
(5) In Vodka Veritas: is such a wicked funny story about prom night, an evil Latin club and hex! HAHAHA!
(6) The Coldest Girl in Cold Town: perhaps this is the short story that inspired the longer novel version with the same name? Again we went back to the Cold Town and see some of the vampires inside, the story is interesting enough.
(7) The Boy Who Cried Wolf: I like this story, it's simple and effective.
(8) Going Ironside: don't remember much about this tory.
(9) The Land of Heart's Desire: Lord Roiben is now one of my book-boyfriends!!!! I am so glad to see the crew from the Modern Fairytale series again.
When Kaya's friend from their coffee shop tries to use faes as a gimmick to attract more customers, everything is disturbed!
My review for The Coldest Girl in Cold Town: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
(1) The Poison Eaters: the story and the setting has rich potential for a twisted fairytale but the ending, not so much.
(2) The Night Market: another story that shows a lot of potential, and the story itself is doing okay too.
(3) The Coat of Stars: it's such a surprising, unbelievable well written LGBTQ love story/fairytale retelling about the trial of true love. It has to be my most favorite story in this collection!
(4) The Dog King: the theme of revenge and the fairytale retelling elements are well played here!
(5) In Vodka Veritas: is such a wicked funny story about prom night, an evil Latin club and hex! HAHAHA!
(6) The Coldest Girl in Cold Town: perhaps this is the short story that inspired the longer novel version with the same name? Again we went back to the Cold Town and see some of the vampires inside, the story is interesting enough.
(7) The Boy Who Cried Wolf: I like this story, it's simple and effective.
(8) Going Ironside: don't remember much about this tory.
(9) The Land of Heart's Desire: Lord Roiben is now one of my book-boyfriends!!!! I am so glad to see the crew from the Modern Fairytale series again.
When Kaya's friend from their coffee shop tries to use faes as a gimmick to attract more customers, everything is disturbed!
My review for The Coldest Girl in Cold Town: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
November 17, 2016
After reading, and really liking, The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, I kind of wanted to read more of Holly Black. And as I was researching what to read next, I realized I already owned something by her. This book, which I've had for, umh, a few years.
I'm not good with short story anthologies, switching from one story to the next after only a few pages is really difficult for me. But it wasn't a problem here. Each story was a delight in its own way, and all where properly magical, and blended reality with the fantastical in a strange, but natural way.
They were urban stories, old-school fantasy stories, and mostly the stories of young adults getting into trouble - wanting to or not.
The devil shows up, there's shapeshifting, poisonous sisters, a coldtown short story, occult rituals and fairies. And each story managed to draw me in almost immediately.
Honestly just a very magical, interesting collection of tales. I felt her urban-fantasy stories worked the best, but I can't recall a single story I didn't like. They were all great. Although I had a soft spot for the queer ones, and was sad there wasn't more of them.
In the end, the only problem was that they were a little predictable at times. I enjoyed them immensely, but they never took my breath away or shocked me.
Still, it was a delight to read. And gave me some taste for short story anthologies. Perhaps they aren't as bad as I tell myself.
I'm not good with short story anthologies, switching from one story to the next after only a few pages is really difficult for me. But it wasn't a problem here. Each story was a delight in its own way, and all where properly magical, and blended reality with the fantastical in a strange, but natural way.
They were urban stories, old-school fantasy stories, and mostly the stories of young adults getting into trouble - wanting to or not.
The devil shows up, there's shapeshifting, poisonous sisters, a coldtown short story, occult rituals and fairies. And each story managed to draw me in almost immediately.
Honestly just a very magical, interesting collection of tales. I felt her urban-fantasy stories worked the best, but I can't recall a single story I didn't like. They were all great. Although I had a soft spot for the queer ones, and was sad there wasn't more of them.
In the end, the only problem was that they were a little predictable at times. I enjoyed them immensely, but they never took my breath away or shocked me.
Still, it was a delight to read. And gave me some taste for short story anthologies. Perhaps they aren't as bad as I tell myself.
October 29, 2015
This is a short story collection written solely by Holly Black. There is everything you could ever hope for from a paranormal book packed into this small but entertaining set of stories.
A few favourites of mine include -
'The Night Market' which is about a girl called Tomasa who tries to save her sister from a elf's curse but ends up falling for him in all the wrong ways. Tomasa wasn't afraid to stand up to the elf even though he had alluring qualities.
'In Vodka Veritas' Which is about a boy who walks in on the Latin club putting a seductive curse on everyone at prom.
'The Coat of Stars' which is about Rafe, a man who lost the love of his life when he was young to fairies and may just have found a way to buy him back.
I was a little let down by some stories like 'A Reversal of Fortune' and 'The Land of Hearts Desire' as a few of these are extremely short and didn't hold enough information for me to feel connected to the story. A few stories were definitely not up my alley as they were quite gruesome but it was worth reading the not-so-good to find the amazing.
I do love Holly Black's work and paranormal is one of my favourite genre's so there are some gems amongst this collection!
A few favourites of mine include -
'The Night Market' which is about a girl called Tomasa who tries to save her sister from a elf's curse but ends up falling for him in all the wrong ways. Tomasa wasn't afraid to stand up to the elf even though he had alluring qualities.
'In Vodka Veritas' Which is about a boy who walks in on the Latin club putting a seductive curse on everyone at prom.
'The Coat of Stars' which is about Rafe, a man who lost the love of his life when he was young to fairies and may just have found a way to buy him back.
I was a little let down by some stories like 'A Reversal of Fortune' and 'The Land of Hearts Desire' as a few of these are extremely short and didn't hold enough information for me to feel connected to the story. A few stories were definitely not up my alley as they were quite gruesome but it was worth reading the not-so-good to find the amazing.
I do love Holly Black's work and paranormal is one of my favourite genre's so there are some gems amongst this collection!
April 30, 2019
So, after reading "The Cruel Prince" and "The Wicked King" (multiple times) earlier this year. I've been re-reading/reading pretty much all of Holly Black's books.
"Virgin", "The Boy Who Cried Wolf", "In Vodka Veritas" and "A Reversal of Fortune" fell short. But the rest of the stories are absolute gems!
Here are the highlights:
"The Land of Heart's Desire"
I loved catching up with characters from "Tithe" and "Ironside" and learning about Roiben's childhood. Apparently, not everything is a fairy tale in his and Kaye's relationship, despite them both being faeries themselves.
It's also really interesting if you read this short story in comparison to "A Visit to Impossible Lands" at the end of "Cruel Prince" where you learn that Kaye also feels insecure in her relationship with Roiben. Those two need to have a heart-to-heart conversation because they love each other so much but worry about not being worthy of one another!
"The Coldest Girl in Cold Town"
If vampires revealed themselves in the present day how would the world transform?
I like the novel "The Coldest Girl in Cold Town" a lot better, but it's really interesting to see how the novel developed from this short story. It's especially cool to see which aspects Black changed and which remained the same.
"The Coat of Stars"
I absolutely loved this story! LGBT urban fantasy with fairy tale elements cleverly woven together (pun intended).
The one thing that threw me off about this story was that the main character, Raphael Santiago, has the same name as one of the vampires in Cassandra Clare's "Mortal Instruments" series. Since Black and Clare peer review each other's stories, I was convinced that this had something to do with the "Mortal Instruments" character's backstory. Spoiler: It didn't.
"The Night Market"
A fantasy story that takes place in the Philippines? Yes, please! A girl has to save her sister from a curse laid on her by a faery. And it ends up being a story about self-love!
I would love to see this story developed into a full novel!
"Virgin" and "Going Ironside"
If you like edgy urban fantasy like Black's "Valiant," you'll love these stories.
"Paper Cuts Scissors"
Who doesn't want to live in their favorite books?...
"The Dog King"
A tale of intrigue in a kingdom where werewolves are hunted by humans. But not everything is as it seems...
"The Poison Eaters"
Three sisters who can kill with a touch are intended to marry princes. That can only end well...
This story reminded me of Kendare Blake's "Three Dark Crowns" series. I saw she wrote a review about this anthology, which makes me wonder if she drew inspiration from this short story. If so, that's super cool!
"Virgin", "The Boy Who Cried Wolf", "In Vodka Veritas" and "A Reversal of Fortune" fell short. But the rest of the stories are absolute gems!
Here are the highlights:
"The Land of Heart's Desire"
I loved catching up with characters from "Tithe" and "Ironside" and learning about Roiben's childhood. Apparently, not everything is a fairy tale in his and Kaye's relationship, despite them both being faeries themselves.
It's also really interesting if you read this short story in comparison to "A Visit to Impossible Lands" at the end of "Cruel Prince" where you learn that Kaye also feels insecure in her relationship with Roiben. Those two need to have a heart-to-heart conversation because they love each other so much but worry about not being worthy of one another!
"The Coldest Girl in Cold Town"
If vampires revealed themselves in the present day how would the world transform?
I like the novel "The Coldest Girl in Cold Town" a lot better, but it's really interesting to see how the novel developed from this short story. It's especially cool to see which aspects Black changed and which remained the same.
"The Coat of Stars"
I absolutely loved this story! LGBT urban fantasy with fairy tale elements cleverly woven together (pun intended).
The one thing that threw me off about this story was that the main character, Raphael Santiago, has the same name as one of the vampires in Cassandra Clare's "Mortal Instruments" series. Since Black and Clare peer review each other's stories, I was convinced that this had something to do with the "Mortal Instruments" character's backstory. Spoiler: It didn't.
"The Night Market"
A fantasy story that takes place in the Philippines? Yes, please! A girl has to save her sister from a curse laid on her by a faery. And it ends up being a story about self-love!
I would love to see this story developed into a full novel!
"Virgin" and "Going Ironside"
If you like edgy urban fantasy like Black's "Valiant," you'll love these stories.
"Paper Cuts Scissors"
Who doesn't want to live in their favorite books?...
"The Dog King"
A tale of intrigue in a kingdom where werewolves are hunted by humans. But not everything is as it seems...
"The Poison Eaters"
Three sisters who can kill with a touch are intended to marry princes. That can only end well...
This story reminded me of Kendare Blake's "Three Dark Crowns" series. I saw she wrote a review about this anthology, which makes me wonder if she drew inspiration from this short story. If so, that's super cool!
June 12, 2015
For me, a couple of the stories were mildly interesting but I found myself mostly bored. Not Miss Black"s fault, she's very talented but I just couldn't continue with this one.
April 1, 2024
"Books were something that happened to readers. Readers were the victims of books."
"She reminded herself that there was nothing they could do to her. She was already like them. Already dead."
I LOVED THIS. SO MUCH.
As most who know me already know, Holly Black is my all-time favorite author! I know I say that a lot, but it's true. I love, love, love her work.
In The Poison Eaters and Other Stories, I got to revisit some of my favorite fantasy worlds that she's created (Elfhame and Coldtown). I was hoping for some Curse Workers content, but there was nothing from that world :( I'm not disappointed, though, because this was so much more than I could ever ask for!
There was so much wild magic in every single story! Even though they were only a few pages long, I was saying "this one is my favorite" after reading every single one. They were all so good! Looking back on it, I would say my favorite is either The Coldest Girl in Coldtown or The Night Market, but The Land of Heart's Desire deserves an honorary mention!
If you haven't read this yet, you need to do that! Right now! Read it right now or else.
I'm going to be writing mini-reviews for every single short story in this collection because oh my god I'm in love.
~ THE COLDEST GIRL IN COLDTOWN
"I'm the kind of vampire that you'd be, one who's new at this and basically out of control. I've already killed someone and I can't guarantee I'm not going to do it again. I'm the one who infected this girl."
"This is the real Coldtown.
I'm the real Coldtown.
You still want in?"
I was already a huge fan of The Coldest Girl in Coldtown novel, so I was more than excited to be reading a novella of the same title! No, this doesn't have Tana, Gavriel, or Aiden (I know, I miss them, too), but trust me, Matilda will NOT disappoint you.
She's funny, she's ruthless, and she has no intentions of hiding the ugly truth. I could read a whole series about Matilda. I miss her already. She's got the whole world under her heel and I live for it, but I can't say any more about that to avoid spoilers. Just...read it. Read it this instant. Your current read? You don't need that, you need Matilda.
Something I loved about this was that some characters were named Dante and Julian, just like in the Caraval books! Dante even kind of acted like Dante from Caraval. I loved everything about it.
"My name is Matilda Green. I was born on April 10, 1997. I died on September 3, 2013. "
In such a short amount of pages, Holly Black had me ENTHRALLED. BEWITCHED. CAPTIVATED. I need more Coldtown novellas.
The protagonists were likable, the antagonists were slappable, and the writing perfectly captured the eerie atmosphere of Coldtown.
~ A REVERSAL OF FORTUNE
"Looking for a weird old guy who could grant wishes was pathetic. It was sad and stupid."
"The devil scowled for a moment, then bowed shallowly. 'Well done, Nicole. Count on seeing me again soon.'"
Holly Black is known for her odd, dark paranormal writing, and this novella captured that perfectly. After the previous story in this collection, A Reversal of Fortune had a lot to live up to (and it succeeded my expectations!)
It has the same unsettling, moody atmosphere as Holly Black's The Modern Faerie Tales trilogy that draws you in! At first, I thought that it might be related to that series somehow. As far as I can tell, though, it isn't.
This short story has a clever (and a little cranky) main character, Nikki, who makes a deal with a mysterious man. However, a lot more than she thought may be at stake...
Did that convince you to read it? I hope it did, because I think everyone should read this.
~ THE BOY WHO CRIED WOLF
"There's a certain kind of boy who likes to read only about things that have really happened. Like Alex. He read about the Titanic and memorized how many people died (1,523) and the name of the boat that picked up the survivors (RMS Carpathia). He read about ghosts and werewolves, too, sometimes, but only when he was certain he was being presented with facts. (The vulnerability to silver bullets, for example, was made up by modern fiction writers—probably any bullet would do.)
In one of the books Alex took out of the library, there was a story about a white flower, the scent of which turned people into wolves. He worried about the flower. It seemed to have no proper name for him to memorize."
"What if he went and sniffed the flower first? Then he would be the wolf. Then he would have no reason to be afraid. And if he started turning, he could tell them to run and get off the island before he finished transforming. He would know what was happening. He would be experiencing nature."
To everyone whose two favorite hobbies are reading and overthinking: I think you will like Alex.
Holly Black werewolf novella?? Yes, please.
It was very short, but the narration was absolutely perfect for the story it was trying to tell. It was such a strange story, but if you aren't looking for a strange story then why are you reading Holly Black??
~ THE NIGHT MARKET
"They're fickle as cats and twice as cruel. You know the tales. They'll steal your heart if you let them and if you don't, they'll curse you for your good sense. They're night things—spirits—and don't care for the day. They don't like gold, either. It reminds them of the sun."
"She knew she should run. She'd beaten him and if she stayed any longer, he would surely put a curse on her. But she didn't move."
This one is definitely one of my favorites out of all the stories. I can't stop wondering if the Eva in the story is the same Eva from The Folk of the Air. It would be really cool if it really is Jude's mom in here.
Right from the start, I liked Tomasa. She was a little foolish, but she was brave and smart enough to figure out ways to solve her problems. Her voice was strong in the narration, and I wish we had more short stories with her!
The dark, secretive mood of this novella made it feel super magical! By the end, I was completely obsessed with the elf boy. It definitely has the same feel to it as The Folk of the Air, so if you loved that series, you will love this short story.
~ THE DOG KING
"Not to be outdone by his subjects, the king of Dunbardain obtained his own wolf pup and has trained it to be his constant companion. He calls it Elienad. It is quite a coup to have one, not unlike making the son of a great foreign lord one's slave. The wolf has very nice manners, too. He rests beneath the king's table, eats scraps of food daintily from the king's hand, and lets the ladies of the court ruffle his thick, black fur."
"She has never seen him with a human face, but she knows him immediately. Her pale mouth curves into a smile. 'I didn't know they let you out of the palace,' she says. She is very beautiful, even dying."
Yet another werewolf story! I didn't even like werewolves before reading this book, but now my mind is changed. There were a lot of twists, some I predicted, others I didn't. Even now, so long after reading it, that ending haunts me.
This story is such an unexpected gem.
~ VIRGIN
"Let me tell you something about unicorns—they're faeries and faeries aren't to be trusted."
"When it was his turn to talk, he told stories. He told me ones I knew, old stories, and he told me old-sounding ones I had never heard."
This story definitely kept the same mood as The Modern Faerie Tales, and I can't help but wonder if this novella takes place in the Elfhame world! The only way I can think to describe is that it was gritty but in a really good way. Like the way that The Modern Faerie Tales was gritty.
The writing perfectly captures the fever-dream of that strange summer, the odd wonder that was Zachary, Jen's naive and curious nature (that gets her into trouble), Tayna's carefree way of navigating the world–all of it. This one is one of the stories that just leaves you thinking.
I also just want to say I NEED more of Zachary. I can't listen to Enchanted by Taylor Swift without thinking of him. He was so weird and crazy and had that sense of wonder that is so unreasonably difficult to find in characters.
~ IN VODKA VERITAS
"Looking at their faces, I suddenly realize I know them. It's the Latin Club. Diego, Jenny, Ashley, Mike, and David. And their advisor, Ms. Esposito. Geeks, one and all. My people.
'What are you doing?' My words come out slurred.
'Bringing Bacchanalia to Wallingford,' said Jenny. 'And you're going to help us.'"
"'It's genius,' he says, 'but definitely evil genius.'"
Who would have guessed that I, an avid fan of The Secret History, would love a Holly Black novella about a bacchanal? If there is anything I learn from these types of stories, it is to NEVER take a Greek or Latin class. Or possibly that I SHOULD take a Greek or Latin class...spiraling into evil does sound enticing.
This short story was a really, really, REALLY fun read. I find the concept of bacchanals intriguing, and the absolute chaos taking place in this novella was incredibly entertaining. So many bad things happened, and the wicked go unpunished. Fun!
~ THE COAT OF STARS
"It hadn't made sense. He wouldn't accept it. He wouldn't go home."
"'Lyle?' Rafe asked. 'Do you remember me?'"
The Coat of Stars is an AMAZING short story about a boy who tries to make a bargain with the fair folk to get back someone he lost. It was written so beautifully and has a sense of melancholy that pierces through everything. I promise that this novella will HAUNT you.
Also, Holly Black is friends with Cassandra Clare, and I was very amused to find that the main character in this novella is named Rafael Santiago. A reference to Cassie's Raphael Santiago from The Shadowhunter Chronicles??
No, the protagonist of this novella is not a vampire. He is human.
Anyway, this story absolutely consumed my thoughts for days after reading it. The concept of fair folk and fairytale bargains is something I am inexplicably drawn towards, so I tend to like stuff like this. If you liked Once Upon a Broken Heart, this novella will absolutely obliterate you.
~ PAPER CUTS SCISSORS
"'That's smart,' Justin said, thinking of Theseus picking his way through the Minotaur's lair, unwinding Ariadne's string behind him. Thinking of how his heart had pounded when he was lost in the stacks. It wasn't just smart, it was clever, even classical. He wished he'd thought of it."
"'Of course I like books!' Justin said, looking up. He didn't know how to explain. He'd started library school to get Linda to Sandlin, but he actually liked it. It felt good to carefully organize the books so that other people would know what they were getting themselves into. 'I've always liked books. I just don't trust them.'"
This short story was a little trippy, but really fun at the same time. Basically, it's about a dude (Justin) who gets a job working with books that come to life. I loved every single page.
I can't help but wonder if the Justin in this novella is Jude and Taryn's dad. The way he described his girlfriend sounded an awful lot like how Eva was hinted to look like, not to mention the word choices that parallel The Folk of the Air.
i wrote reviews for the rest of the novellas, but they didn't save and I don't feel like writing them again :(
"She reminded herself that there was nothing they could do to her. She was already like them. Already dead."
I LOVED THIS. SO MUCH.
As most who know me already know, Holly Black is my all-time favorite author! I know I say that a lot, but it's true. I love, love, love her work.
In The Poison Eaters and Other Stories, I got to revisit some of my favorite fantasy worlds that she's created (Elfhame and Coldtown). I was hoping for some Curse Workers content, but there was nothing from that world :( I'm not disappointed, though, because this was so much more than I could ever ask for!
There was so much wild magic in every single story! Even though they were only a few pages long, I was saying "this one is my favorite" after reading every single one. They were all so good! Looking back on it, I would say my favorite is either The Coldest Girl in Coldtown or The Night Market, but The Land of Heart's Desire deserves an honorary mention!
If you haven't read this yet, you need to do that! Right now! Read it right now or else.
I'm going to be writing mini-reviews for every single short story in this collection because oh my god I'm in love.
~ THE COLDEST GIRL IN COLDTOWN
"I'm the kind of vampire that you'd be, one who's new at this and basically out of control. I've already killed someone and I can't guarantee I'm not going to do it again. I'm the one who infected this girl."
"This is the real Coldtown.
I'm the real Coldtown.
You still want in?"
I was already a huge fan of The Coldest Girl in Coldtown novel, so I was more than excited to be reading a novella of the same title! No, this doesn't have Tana, Gavriel, or Aiden (I know, I miss them, too), but trust me, Matilda will NOT disappoint you.
She's funny, she's ruthless, and she has no intentions of hiding the ugly truth. I could read a whole series about Matilda. I miss her already. She's got the whole world under her heel and I live for it, but I can't say any more about that to avoid spoilers. Just...read it. Read it this instant. Your current read? You don't need that, you need Matilda.
Something I loved about this was that some characters were named Dante and Julian, just like in the Caraval books! Dante even kind of acted like Dante from Caraval. I loved everything about it.
"My name is Matilda Green. I was born on April 10, 1997. I died on September 3, 2013. "
In such a short amount of pages, Holly Black had me ENTHRALLED. BEWITCHED. CAPTIVATED. I need more Coldtown novellas.
The protagonists were likable, the antagonists were slappable, and the writing perfectly captured the eerie atmosphere of Coldtown.
~ A REVERSAL OF FORTUNE
"Looking for a weird old guy who could grant wishes was pathetic. It was sad and stupid."
"The devil scowled for a moment, then bowed shallowly. 'Well done, Nicole. Count on seeing me again soon.'"
Holly Black is known for her odd, dark paranormal writing, and this novella captured that perfectly. After the previous story in this collection, A Reversal of Fortune had a lot to live up to (and it succeeded my expectations!)
It has the same unsettling, moody atmosphere as Holly Black's The Modern Faerie Tales trilogy that draws you in! At first, I thought that it might be related to that series somehow. As far as I can tell, though, it isn't.
This short story has a clever (and a little cranky) main character, Nikki, who makes a deal with a mysterious man. However, a lot more than she thought may be at stake...
Did that convince you to read it? I hope it did, because I think everyone should read this.
~ THE BOY WHO CRIED WOLF
"There's a certain kind of boy who likes to read only about things that have really happened. Like Alex. He read about the Titanic and memorized how many people died (1,523) and the name of the boat that picked up the survivors (RMS Carpathia). He read about ghosts and werewolves, too, sometimes, but only when he was certain he was being presented with facts. (The vulnerability to silver bullets, for example, was made up by modern fiction writers—probably any bullet would do.)
In one of the books Alex took out of the library, there was a story about a white flower, the scent of which turned people into wolves. He worried about the flower. It seemed to have no proper name for him to memorize."
"What if he went and sniffed the flower first? Then he would be the wolf. Then he would have no reason to be afraid. And if he started turning, he could tell them to run and get off the island before he finished transforming. He would know what was happening. He would be experiencing nature."
To everyone whose two favorite hobbies are reading and overthinking: I think you will like Alex.
Holly Black werewolf novella?? Yes, please.
It was very short, but the narration was absolutely perfect for the story it was trying to tell. It was such a strange story, but if you aren't looking for a strange story then why are you reading Holly Black??
~ THE NIGHT MARKET
"They're fickle as cats and twice as cruel. You know the tales. They'll steal your heart if you let them and if you don't, they'll curse you for your good sense. They're night things—spirits—and don't care for the day. They don't like gold, either. It reminds them of the sun."
"She knew she should run. She'd beaten him and if she stayed any longer, he would surely put a curse on her. But she didn't move."
This one is definitely one of my favorites out of all the stories. I can't stop wondering if the Eva in the story is the same Eva from The Folk of the Air. It would be really cool if it really is Jude's mom in here.
Right from the start, I liked Tomasa. She was a little foolish, but she was brave and smart enough to figure out ways to solve her problems. Her voice was strong in the narration, and I wish we had more short stories with her!
The dark, secretive mood of this novella made it feel super magical! By the end, I was completely obsessed with the elf boy. It definitely has the same feel to it as The Folk of the Air, so if you loved that series, you will love this short story.
~ THE DOG KING
"Not to be outdone by his subjects, the king of Dunbardain obtained his own wolf pup and has trained it to be his constant companion. He calls it Elienad. It is quite a coup to have one, not unlike making the son of a great foreign lord one's slave. The wolf has very nice manners, too. He rests beneath the king's table, eats scraps of food daintily from the king's hand, and lets the ladies of the court ruffle his thick, black fur."
"She has never seen him with a human face, but she knows him immediately. Her pale mouth curves into a smile. 'I didn't know they let you out of the palace,' she says. She is very beautiful, even dying."
Yet another werewolf story! I didn't even like werewolves before reading this book, but now my mind is changed. There were a lot of twists, some I predicted, others I didn't. Even now, so long after reading it, that ending haunts me.
This story is such an unexpected gem.
~ VIRGIN
"Let me tell you something about unicorns—they're faeries and faeries aren't to be trusted."
"When it was his turn to talk, he told stories. He told me ones I knew, old stories, and he told me old-sounding ones I had never heard."
This story definitely kept the same mood as The Modern Faerie Tales, and I can't help but wonder if this novella takes place in the Elfhame world! The only way I can think to describe is that it was gritty but in a really good way. Like the way that The Modern Faerie Tales was gritty.
The writing perfectly captures the fever-dream of that strange summer, the odd wonder that was Zachary, Jen's naive and curious nature (that gets her into trouble), Tayna's carefree way of navigating the world–all of it. This one is one of the stories that just leaves you thinking.
I also just want to say I NEED more of Zachary. I can't listen to Enchanted by Taylor Swift without thinking of him. He was so weird and crazy and had that sense of wonder that is so unreasonably difficult to find in characters.
~ IN VODKA VERITAS
"Looking at their faces, I suddenly realize I know them. It's the Latin Club. Diego, Jenny, Ashley, Mike, and David. And their advisor, Ms. Esposito. Geeks, one and all. My people.
'What are you doing?' My words come out slurred.
'Bringing Bacchanalia to Wallingford,' said Jenny. 'And you're going to help us.'"
"'It's genius,' he says, 'but definitely evil genius.'"
Who would have guessed that I, an avid fan of The Secret History, would love a Holly Black novella about a bacchanal? If there is anything I learn from these types of stories, it is to NEVER take a Greek or Latin class. Or possibly that I SHOULD take a Greek or Latin class...spiraling into evil does sound enticing.
This short story was a really, really, REALLY fun read. I find the concept of bacchanals intriguing, and the absolute chaos taking place in this novella was incredibly entertaining. So many bad things happened, and the wicked go unpunished. Fun!
~ THE COAT OF STARS
"It hadn't made sense. He wouldn't accept it. He wouldn't go home."
"'Lyle?' Rafe asked. 'Do you remember me?'"
The Coat of Stars is an AMAZING short story about a boy who tries to make a bargain with the fair folk to get back someone he lost. It was written so beautifully and has a sense of melancholy that pierces through everything. I promise that this novella will HAUNT you.
Also, Holly Black is friends with Cassandra Clare, and I was very amused to find that the main character in this novella is named Rafael Santiago. A reference to Cassie's Raphael Santiago from The Shadowhunter Chronicles??
No, the protagonist of this novella is not a vampire. He is human.
Anyway, this story absolutely consumed my thoughts for days after reading it. The concept of fair folk and fairytale bargains is something I am inexplicably drawn towards, so I tend to like stuff like this. If you liked Once Upon a Broken Heart, this novella will absolutely obliterate you.
~ PAPER CUTS SCISSORS
"'That's smart,' Justin said, thinking of Theseus picking his way through the Minotaur's lair, unwinding Ariadne's string behind him. Thinking of how his heart had pounded when he was lost in the stacks. It wasn't just smart, it was clever, even classical. He wished he'd thought of it."
"'Of course I like books!' Justin said, looking up. He didn't know how to explain. He'd started library school to get Linda to Sandlin, but he actually liked it. It felt good to carefully organize the books so that other people would know what they were getting themselves into. 'I've always liked books. I just don't trust them.'"
This short story was a little trippy, but really fun at the same time. Basically, it's about a dude (Justin) who gets a job working with books that come to life. I loved every single page.
I can't help but wonder if the Justin in this novella is Jude and Taryn's dad. The way he described his girlfriend sounded an awful lot like how Eva was hinted to look like, not to mention the word choices that parallel The Folk of the Air.
i wrote reviews for the rest of the novellas, but they didn't save and I don't feel like writing them again :(
June 26, 2021
(2.5) these short stories read like practice stories that were written to figure out some characters and some faerie worlds
December 1, 2022
It was good although some of the stories didn't make sense to me. I think my favorite was The night market, and the dog king!
February 8, 2025
this collection was fine. holly black is truly the master of faerie stories, her dark and whimsical writing style brings that genre to life perfectly. those were the stories i enjoyed the most (the night market, virgin, and the coat of stars), while the rest of them fell a little flat. i think holly black is a great writer, but for some reason her faerie niche is pure magic and anything outside of that always seems to stumble. regardless, i’m glad i read this because i feel like this collection is not super well known.
an additional thing i wanted to point out was that i’m surprised at how dark this collection was, sometimes i was a little taken aback that this is published for a teen audience. this book was published in 2009, and thinking back to other teen books published during that time, i’m remembering that YA could be a pretty hard hitting genre back then. not that it can’t be now, but i have definitely noticed over time that stories and writing styles have become a little more sanitized and family friendly, whereas pre-2010s i think the teen genre could be pretty raw and visceral, even in fantastical stories. some of the stuff i read as a kid has not been found by me in any new releases i’m reading. this collection made me weirdly nostalgic for that. sometimes i forget that stuff made for young adults in the 00s was way more true to life than i ever realized. i mean, skins uk (season 1 being in 2007)? i remember how harrowing it was, how sick to my stomach it could make me. but it was real. this collection did, at times, give me similar feelings.
ratings for each story:
the coldest girl in coldtown - 3/5
a reversal of fortune - 1/5
the boy who cried wolf - 2/5
the night market - 5/5
the dog king - 3/5
virgin - 4/5
in vodka veritas - 2/5
the coat of stars - 5/5
paper cuts scissors - 3/5
going ironside - 2/5
the land of heart’s desire - 4/5
the poison eaters - 4/5
an additional thing i wanted to point out was that i’m surprised at how dark this collection was, sometimes i was a little taken aback that this is published for a teen audience. this book was published in 2009, and thinking back to other teen books published during that time, i’m remembering that YA could be a pretty hard hitting genre back then. not that it can’t be now, but i have definitely noticed over time that stories and writing styles have become a little more sanitized and family friendly, whereas pre-2010s i think the teen genre could be pretty raw and visceral, even in fantastical stories. some of the stuff i read as a kid has not been found by me in any new releases i’m reading. this collection made me weirdly nostalgic for that. sometimes i forget that stuff made for young adults in the 00s was way more true to life than i ever realized. i mean, skins uk (season 1 being in 2007)? i remember how harrowing it was, how sick to my stomach it could make me. but it was real. this collection did, at times, give me similar feelings.
ratings for each story:
the coldest girl in coldtown - 3/5
a reversal of fortune - 1/5
the boy who cried wolf - 2/5
the night market - 5/5
the dog king - 3/5
virgin - 4/5
in vodka veritas - 2/5
the coat of stars - 5/5
paper cuts scissors - 3/5
going ironside - 2/5
the land of heart’s desire - 4/5
the poison eaters - 4/5
November 16, 2025
Holly Black the QUEEN that you are!!! 👏 RTC
June 1, 2019
"The Coldest Girl in Coldtown": ★★★☆☆ - 3 stars (read May 1, 2019)
This was pretty cool! I'm super interested to read her book by this title!
"A Reversal of Fortune": ★★☆☆☆ - 2.5 stars (read May 5, 2019)
Lol so this one was about a girl who has an eating contest with the devil in order to save her dog's life, so that was pretty goofy, but fairly enjoyable if you don't take it seriously.
"The Boy Who Cried Wolf": ★★★☆☆ - 3 stars (read May 6, 2019)
This was the shortest one so far but it was super unique and definitely entertaining!
"The Night Market": ★★★★☆ - 4 stars (read May 7, 2019)
My favorite so far! I really enjoyed this! It was very unique and the idea was awesome. I think this would have been cool as the basis for a book idea as well.
"The Dog King": ★★☆☆☆ - 2 stars (read May 9, 2019)
Interesting! Different from most of the rest of these. It read more like a fairy tale, but a weird one lol.
"Virgin": ★☆☆☆☆ - 1 star (read May 15, 2019)
Lol not my thing. It was pretty vague and I didn't feel connected to the characters. A little confused at times. And I'm not a unicorn fan lol.
"In Vodka Veritas": ★★☆☆☆ - 2 stars (read May 17, 2019)
This was well written but omg I did not see it going the direction it did lol. It took this crazy weird turn and I mean props to Holly for being so weird and making it work 😂 It’s just not for me.
"The Coat of Stars": ★☆☆☆☆ - 1 star (read May 25, 2019)
I just didn't really enjoy this??
"Paper Cuts Scissors": ★★★★☆ - 4 stars (read May 29, 2019)
This was so unique! I've never heard of an idea like this, and I think it was executed really well. It was absolutely fascinating to see different book characters interact with each other. Just a really cool short story! I enjoyed it!
"Going Ironside": ★☆☆☆☆ - 1 star (read May 30, 2019)
This was super short and not developed enough for me to understand what was going on. All I got was that a fae girl was out in the human world trying to have a baby. But besides that it was just a drug-induced thought process that didn't make a whole lot of sense and didn't have any story to it.
"The Land of Heart's Desire": ★★☆☆☆ - 2 stars (read May 30, 2019)
This is a sort of short story sequel to Holly Black's Tithe trilogy! If you liked those books, you'll probably be excited to read this. I only gave those books 1-2 stars though, so I didn't care much for this story.
"The Poison Eaters": ★★★★☆ - 4 stars (read May 31, 2019)
This was definitely one of my favorites of this short story collection! It completely read like a fairy tale! It was super interesting and entertaining the whole way.
This was pretty cool! I'm super interested to read her book by this title!
"A Reversal of Fortune": ★★☆☆☆ - 2.5 stars (read May 5, 2019)
Lol so this one was about a girl who has an eating contest with the devil in order to save her dog's life, so that was pretty goofy, but fairly enjoyable if you don't take it seriously.
"The Boy Who Cried Wolf": ★★★☆☆ - 3 stars (read May 6, 2019)
This was the shortest one so far but it was super unique and definitely entertaining!
"The Night Market": ★★★★☆ - 4 stars (read May 7, 2019)
My favorite so far! I really enjoyed this! It was very unique and the idea was awesome. I think this would have been cool as the basis for a book idea as well.
"The Dog King": ★★☆☆☆ - 2 stars (read May 9, 2019)
Interesting! Different from most of the rest of these. It read more like a fairy tale, but a weird one lol.
"Virgin": ★☆☆☆☆ - 1 star (read May 15, 2019)
Lol not my thing. It was pretty vague and I didn't feel connected to the characters. A little confused at times. And I'm not a unicorn fan lol.
"In Vodka Veritas": ★★☆☆☆ - 2 stars (read May 17, 2019)
This was well written but omg I did not see it going the direction it did lol. It took this crazy weird turn and I mean props to Holly for being so weird and making it work 😂 It’s just not for me.
"The Coat of Stars": ★☆☆☆☆ - 1 star (read May 25, 2019)
I just didn't really enjoy this??
"Paper Cuts Scissors": ★★★★☆ - 4 stars (read May 29, 2019)
This was so unique! I've never heard of an idea like this, and I think it was executed really well. It was absolutely fascinating to see different book characters interact with each other. Just a really cool short story! I enjoyed it!
"Going Ironside": ★☆☆☆☆ - 1 star (read May 30, 2019)
This was super short and not developed enough for me to understand what was going on. All I got was that a fae girl was out in the human world trying to have a baby. But besides that it was just a drug-induced thought process that didn't make a whole lot of sense and didn't have any story to it.
"The Land of Heart's Desire": ★★☆☆☆ - 2 stars (read May 30, 2019)
This is a sort of short story sequel to Holly Black's Tithe trilogy! If you liked those books, you'll probably be excited to read this. I only gave those books 1-2 stars though, so I didn't care much for this story.
"The Poison Eaters": ★★★★☆ - 4 stars (read May 31, 2019)
This was definitely one of my favorites of this short story collection! It completely read like a fairy tale! It was super interesting and entertaining the whole way.
November 18, 2013
This anthology packs a punch. An amazing first story to pulls you in, an amazing final story leaves you thinking.
I had many things to say through the course of reading this book. Let me summarise some of them now:
The main reason I read this book was in the lead up to Holly's release of The Coldest Girl in Coldtown as a novel. That was the first story in this anthology and, boy, is it powerful. A completely different story than what I'm given to understand from the spoilers out at the moment, but if Holly manages to keep the same level of intensity in her world, her novel is going to be a smash hit, no doubts.
Only because of how amazing this first story was did the following two shorts seem a little bit slower. Still enjoyable, but just not the same pace.
There were a couple of short stories here that seemed like they could have been a part of the popular Tithe universe, but 'The Land of Heart's Desire' brings back our favourite characters and far and away blows out the previous fairy stories of the set.
For fans of the Curse Workers series, there is also a story set in Wallingford.
Only 'The Dog King' was at all disappointing for me. It's written in quite a different style from the rest, so it's just possible that I didn't understand it ;)
The story that really surprised me out of this anthology was one called 'Paper Cuts Scissors'. A boy starts a library club to find and bring back his girlfriend who has the ability to put things, and herself, into books. I don't know what it was about this story, but there was something about it that was so evocative... maybe just the idea of being able to interact with some of my favourite fictional characters.
I think I've said before that a short story anthology is only as good as its weakest story, and for that reason, this book is a solid 4 stars for me.
I had many things to say through the course of reading this book. Let me summarise some of them now:
The main reason I read this book was in the lead up to Holly's release of The Coldest Girl in Coldtown as a novel. That was the first story in this anthology and, boy, is it powerful. A completely different story than what I'm given to understand from the spoilers out at the moment, but if Holly manages to keep the same level of intensity in her world, her novel is going to be a smash hit, no doubts.
Only because of how amazing this first story was did the following two shorts seem a little bit slower. Still enjoyable, but just not the same pace.
There were a couple of short stories here that seemed like they could have been a part of the popular Tithe universe, but 'The Land of Heart's Desire' brings back our favourite characters and far and away blows out the previous fairy stories of the set.
For fans of the Curse Workers series, there is also a story set in Wallingford.
Only 'The Dog King' was at all disappointing for me. It's written in quite a different style from the rest, so it's just possible that I didn't understand it ;)
The story that really surprised me out of this anthology was one called 'Paper Cuts Scissors'. A boy starts a library club to find and bring back his girlfriend who has the ability to put things, and herself, into books. I don't know what it was about this story, but there was something about it that was so evocative... maybe just the idea of being able to interact with some of my favourite fictional characters.
I think I've said before that a short story anthology is only as good as its weakest story, and for that reason, this book is a solid 4 stars for me.
December 24, 2011
Holly Black'in tarzını seviyorum!
Kısa hikayelerden bu kadar hoşlanacağımı hiç düşünmezdim. Holly Black'i Beyaz Kedi'de de sevmiştim ama bu küçük hikayeler onu çok daha iyi anlamamı ve kendimle bağdaştırmamı sağladı. Elinize aldığınız anda bitebilecek, masal anlatır gibi bir kitap. Bazı hikayeler gerçek anlamda karanlıktı. Bazıları ise gülümseyerek okuyacağınız derecede eğlenceli. Aslında hepsi hoşuma gitti ancak aralarında öne çıkanlar da oldu elbette.
Soğuk Kasaba'daki En Soğuk Kız: Bir tür vampir hikayesiydi. Matilda'nın "kaybolmuşluğu" hissettirircesine yazılmıştı. Sevdiğim cinsten karanlık bir tarafı vardı.
Talihin Dönüşü: En sevdiklerimden biriydi. Arka kapakta "şeytanla girilen bir yemek yeme yarışı" yazıyor. Hikaye başka türlü özetlenemezdi herhalde. Oldukça eğlenceli ve şaşırtıcıydı.
Gece Pazarı: Perileri okumayı sevdiğimden tam olarak emin değildim. Bu antolojide Black, onlara bolca yer vermişti ve sayesinde tuhaf dünyalarından hoşlandığımı anladım. Bu hikayede onlardan biriydi.
In Vodka Veritas: En eğlencelilerden biri. Baküs ayini nedir bilir misiniz? Peki bir lise balosunda yapılırsa nasıl olur? İçinde barındırdığı Latince cümlelerle beni kendine daha da bağladı.
Kağıt Makası Keser: Kesinlikle favorilerimden biri. İçinden alıntıları araklayıp bir kenara not etmeden duramadım. Benim gibi kitap bağımlıları için okunması şart bir hikaye.
Zehir Yiyenler: Okuyunca kapağın bu hikayeye ne kadar uygun olduğunu anladım. Tuhaftı, etkileyiciydi ve gerçekten karanlık bir öyküydü.
Kısa hikayelerden bu kadar hoşlanacağımı hiç düşünmezdim. Holly Black'i Beyaz Kedi'de de sevmiştim ama bu küçük hikayeler onu çok daha iyi anlamamı ve kendimle bağdaştırmamı sağladı. Elinize aldığınız anda bitebilecek, masal anlatır gibi bir kitap. Bazı hikayeler gerçek anlamda karanlıktı. Bazıları ise gülümseyerek okuyacağınız derecede eğlenceli. Aslında hepsi hoşuma gitti ancak aralarında öne çıkanlar da oldu elbette.
Soğuk Kasaba'daki En Soğuk Kız: Bir tür vampir hikayesiydi. Matilda'nın "kaybolmuşluğu" hissettirircesine yazılmıştı. Sevdiğim cinsten karanlık bir tarafı vardı.
Talihin Dönüşü: En sevdiklerimden biriydi. Arka kapakta "şeytanla girilen bir yemek yeme yarışı" yazıyor. Hikaye başka türlü özetlenemezdi herhalde. Oldukça eğlenceli ve şaşırtıcıydı.
Gece Pazarı: Perileri okumayı sevdiğimden tam olarak emin değildim. Bu antolojide Black, onlara bolca yer vermişti ve sayesinde tuhaf dünyalarından hoşlandığımı anladım. Bu hikayede onlardan biriydi.
In Vodka Veritas: En eğlencelilerden biri. Baküs ayini nedir bilir misiniz? Peki bir lise balosunda yapılırsa nasıl olur? İçinde barındırdığı Latince cümlelerle beni kendine daha da bağladı.
Kağıt Makası Keser: Kesinlikle favorilerimden biri. İçinden alıntıları araklayıp bir kenara not etmeden duramadım. Benim gibi kitap bağımlıları için okunması şart bir hikaye.
Zehir Yiyenler: Okuyunca kapağın bu hikayeye ne kadar uygun olduğunu anladım. Tuhaftı, etkileyiciydi ve gerçekten karanlık bir öyküydü.
April 16, 2010
A collection of short stories by one of my very favorite authors (although that list seems to get longer and longer...Neil Gaiman, Jim Butcher, Seanan McGuire, Meg Cabot... you see where I'm going with this...?)
Anyhow, most of these stories have been printed in other anthologies, but it's definitely much easier in this one volume. I like this trend of collecting previously-anthologized stories; especially when it's in the context of the Sookie or Dresden books... I think my two favorites here were "The Coldest Girl in Coldtown," "Coat of Stars," and "The Land of Heart's Desire." I wasn't exactly a fan of the title tale, and another I had previously read (from Magic in the Mirrorstone), "Virgin," still flummoxes me a little. Like, I think I know what happened, but I'm not 100% sure, and if it's what I think, then it's amazing, and if it's not what I think, then I'm confused. Eh, it happens.
If you're a fan of Black's Modern Faerie Tales, definitely pick this up.
Anyhow, most of these stories have been printed in other anthologies, but it's definitely much easier in this one volume. I like this trend of collecting previously-anthologized stories; especially when it's in the context of the Sookie or Dresden books... I think my two favorites here were "The Coldest Girl in Coldtown," "Coat of Stars," and "The Land of Heart's Desire." I wasn't exactly a fan of the title tale, and another I had previously read (from Magic in the Mirrorstone), "Virgin," still flummoxes me a little. Like, I think I know what happened, but I'm not 100% sure, and if it's what I think, then it's amazing, and if it's not what I think, then I'm confused. Eh, it happens.
If you're a fan of Black's Modern Faerie Tales, definitely pick this up.
February 8, 2024
This is one of the books I read the most as a teenager. I learned how to pirate ebooks specifically to access this book during classes. Reading it now was nostalgic and bittersweet. I’m old enough to notice all the typos and holes in the storytelling (Coldest Girl In Cold Town did NOT know if its protagonist was named Melinda or Matilda), but I also was able to pick up all the turns of phrase and motifs that have embedded themselves in my speech and writing because I read this so often. Several of the stories hit very different (Coat of Stars, Dog-King, Virgin), and a couple were exactly what I remembered (WALLINGFORD PREPARATORY HAS TWO TRAAAACKS). Always love to catch up with my besties Kaye and Val from Tithe <3 Also fun to watch for themes that have come up in other Holly Black books (even just the title makes me think of Jude’s Cruel Prince poison era). Holly Black please write more werewolves xoxo 💋
December 9, 2011
Çok ilginç ve güzel bir kitaptı. Doğrusu beklediğimden daha iyiydi. Sanki ben çocukmuşum , kitapta korkunç hikayeler anlatmayı seven büyükannem. Biliyorum saçma bir tanım oldu ama gerçekten bunu hissettim. Özellikle Şeytanla olan yemek yarışması , Soğuk Kasaba , Köpek Kral ve Kağıt Makası Keser hikayeleri çok hoşuma gitti. Şu alıntı o kadar doğru ki , bir kaç dakika kitaba öylece bakmama sebep oldu.
'Korunması gereken okurlar ... Okurlar kitapların kurbanıydı. Makul giyinmiş nemrut suratlı kadınlar içeriye girer sevgilerinin hayatı için yalvarırcasına kitabın devamını isterlerdi.Çocuklar kilimin üzerinde oturur tavşanların annelerini kaybettikleri resimli kitaplar için teselli edilemez bir şekilde ağlarlardı.''
Böyle düşününce gerçekten bir kurban olduğumu düşünmeden edemiyorum. Ama mutlu bir kurban. Eh demişler atın ölümü arpadan olsun.
'Korunması gereken okurlar ... Okurlar kitapların kurbanıydı. Makul giyinmiş nemrut suratlı kadınlar içeriye girer sevgilerinin hayatı için yalvarırcasına kitabın devamını isterlerdi.Çocuklar kilimin üzerinde oturur tavşanların annelerini kaybettikleri resimli kitaplar için teselli edilemez bir şekilde ağlarlardı.''
Böyle düşününce gerçekten bir kurban olduğumu düşünmeden edemiyorum. Ama mutlu bir kurban. Eh demişler atın ölümü arpadan olsun.
October 18, 2019
actual rating: 3.5
This was a pretty good collection of stories. I had read one of them before - the one that was in the Sympathy for the Devil anthology - but the rest of them were new to me. There was one that was a precursor to The Coldest Girl in Coldtown and a few that took place in her Modern Faerie Tales series and then several that were just random one-off stories. Definitely a good read if you like her novels.
This was a pretty good collection of stories. I had read one of them before - the one that was in the Sympathy for the Devil anthology - but the rest of them were new to me. There was one that was a precursor to The Coldest Girl in Coldtown and a few that took place in her Modern Faerie Tales series and then several that were just random one-off stories. Definitely a good read if you like her novels.
December 23, 2020
A surprisingly enjoyable collection of short stories which really made my day. Dark, odd, lovely, magical, and not one among them which was bad.
March 19, 2022
Stars: 4/5
I'm already very biased about Holly Black, but this was such a refreshing read after reading a string of not so good books.
I don't usually connect with anthology and short story books because I have to continually adapt to a new story, but each story in this book was different and so complete. Every story was told with a very different, well-fleshed character voice and the world-building of each was filled in so entirely by the subtlest of details.
While I definitely liked some stories better than others, there wasn't any that I disliked. A lot of them were based on really interesting fantastical ideas, and the others built off of Holly Black's other works. One thing that I really like about Holly Black's writing is that it shows a gritty, almost horror-based side of fantasy that is so nostalgic of the early and late 2000s.
I didn't want this review to be too long so I'm just gonna rate each of the short stories out of 5.
- The Coldest Girl in Coldtown: 3/5 - I've already read the book so it didn't add anything for me.
- Reversal of Fortune: 5/5 - literally felt like a bad dream, but so much eery atmosphere.
- The Boy Who Cried Wolf: 3.5/5 - short and spooky, I liked it but there wasn't too much to it.
- The Night Market: 4/5 - so different to every fantasy story I've read, loved the Filipino representation.
- The Dog King: 4/5 - really good worldbuilding and sick twist.
- Virgin: 3.5 - dark and gritty, reminded me of Valiant.
- In Vodka Veritas: 4/5 - super original character voice, felt like a complete novel.
- The Coat of Stars: 4.5/5 - I'm depressed...
- Paper Cuts Scissors: 4/5 - super sick idea, so fun to read
- Going Ironside: 3/5 - this was really wholesome but nothing really happened in it and it sort of banked on you caring about what happens to the side characters of Ironside.
- The Land of Heart's Desire: 3/5 - basically a really depressing poem.
- The Poison Eaters: 4/5 - felt like an actual fairy tale, really interesting and I loved the way it was written in the second person.
I'm already very biased about Holly Black, but this was such a refreshing read after reading a string of not so good books.
I don't usually connect with anthology and short story books because I have to continually adapt to a new story, but each story in this book was different and so complete. Every story was told with a very different, well-fleshed character voice and the world-building of each was filled in so entirely by the subtlest of details.
While I definitely liked some stories better than others, there wasn't any that I disliked. A lot of them were based on really interesting fantastical ideas, and the others built off of Holly Black's other works. One thing that I really like about Holly Black's writing is that it shows a gritty, almost horror-based side of fantasy that is so nostalgic of the early and late 2000s.
I didn't want this review to be too long so I'm just gonna rate each of the short stories out of 5.
- The Coldest Girl in Coldtown: 3/5 - I've already read the book so it didn't add anything for me.
- Reversal of Fortune: 5/5 - literally felt like a bad dream, but so much eery atmosphere.
- The Boy Who Cried Wolf: 3.5/5 - short and spooky, I liked it but there wasn't too much to it.
- The Night Market: 4/5 - so different to every fantasy story I've read, loved the Filipino representation.
- The Dog King: 4/5 - really good worldbuilding and sick twist.
- Virgin: 3.5 - dark and gritty, reminded me of Valiant.
- In Vodka Veritas: 4/5 - super original character voice, felt like a complete novel.
- The Coat of Stars: 4.5/5 - I'm depressed...
- Paper Cuts Scissors: 4/5 - super sick idea, so fun to read
- Going Ironside: 3/5 - this was really wholesome but nothing really happened in it and it sort of banked on you caring about what happens to the side characters of Ironside.
- The Land of Heart's Desire: 3/5 - basically a really depressing poem.
- The Poison Eaters: 4/5 - felt like an actual fairy tale, really interesting and I loved the way it was written in the second person.
September 24, 2019
A collection of short stories inspired by Holly Black's favourite mythical creatures: the fae.
I picked this up because I am reading her extended fae universe in preparation for The Queen of Nothing. Besides most of these stories containing some fae inspiration, and assumedly being set in the same universe, one of the stories here features characters from The Modern Faerie Tales: Tithe; Valiant; Ironside. That was reason enough for me!
This is one of the most balanced short story collections I have read so far, I would say. Holly really has some knack in making them interesting and evenly paced. I would even like some to be extended into full on novels! They are also very varied: you have one set in the Philippines, others with queer representation (though I do wish Holly would vary a bit more in this as well), one about vampires (an early version of The Coldest Girl in Coldtown), mystery, romance, horror... It made it an engaging experience, especially as I was reading on a plane and the short story format could lessen the enjoyment.
Now, for a more detailed review:
The Coldest Girl in Coldtown ★★★★☆
A world in which vampirism is spreading among the population, so quarantine towns, Coldtowns, have been set up. The MC has been turned into a vampire and as she accepts her fate she is starting to shake things up. Pretty cool premise, and albeit the execution felt a bit spotty in places (in terms of pacing especially), I was definitely intrigued and wanting to pick up the novel!
A Reversal of Fortune ★★★★☆
A girl meets a devil in a bus that offers to grant her wishes. She chooses to bargain and 'duel' with him though she might regret the price of her loss. Pretty solid though with a bit of a boring start and setup.
The Boy who Cried Wolf ★★★☆☆
I would say this is the most horror story of the bunch, with a book savvy kid can't deny himself testing out some theories and finds himself in a nightmarish scenario as a result. Interesting, though a bit 'unrealistic' in its setup and just not to my taste.
The Night Market ★★★★★
My absolute favourite of this collection. Set in the Philippines, we get a story of a girl trying to save her sister from the curse of an encanto, a fae. In this journey she finds her own strength and voice, and learns to see beauty in others but, most especially, in herself. So precious and such a cool setting! I wish this was a full-length novel.
The Dog King ★★★★★
Super interesting concept of conflict between men and (were)wolves. As men are using the wolves for their own entertainment, a wolf in an advantageous position learns how to take control. Interesting premise that also has novel potential!
Virgin ★★☆☆☆
I found this actually a bit offensive because of the idea of virginity, purity and someone wanting to snatch it away. A story about a guy that has relied on a unicorn since he became an orphan, but finds himself trusting in the wrong people, people that are jealous of this innocence he has.
In Vodka Veritas ★★☆☆☆
Teenager ends up getting mixed up in the shenanigans of the Latin Club (Cult) that are getting revenge on the whole high school during prom. Queer representation was so cute here, but that was the only highlight for me. It was definitely edgy, but if there had been more context to it, I think I would have enjoyed it more. It was very superficial.
The Coat of Stars ★★★★★
This reminded me of a fairy tale I used to know but I can't think of which one it is. A tailor/costume designer finds himself wrapped up in some family drama that eventually leads him to figure out what happened to his best friend (and love interest) in their teen years. This leads him to bargain with faeries and design beautiful coats! Yes, I was here for this. Queer representation, again, and so sweet!
Paper Cuts Scissors ★★★★☆
A guy is trying to help is (ex)girlfriend after she managed to "write" herself into a book. He ends up witnessing hundreds of characters from different books getting acquainted in this magical library. Pretty cool premise and execution.
Going Ironside ★★☆☆☆
A pair of fae are going ironside (to the human world) to try to get pregnant, something that is quite difficult among fae couples given their longevity (everything has a price). It is written in quite a delirious type of way, I guess because of their particular fae type. It was just short and a bit confusing.
The Land of Heart's Desire ★★★★☆
Characters from the Modern Faerie Tales Series come back in this story! We especially get more on Corny and Luis' relationship as well as Roiben and Kaye's, both of these couples dealing with tensions related to distance and growth. We also learn more about Roiben's childhood and some of the implications of kidnapping humans to fae land... I would've liked to have more of this story, it fell just a bit short for me. Another quest would've been nice :)
The Poison Eaters ★★★★★
Very good story about three "sisters" whose touch is deadly. They are being used in political schemes and this is the story of how one of them is, despite this, trying to make things right. So intriguing and such a great concept! Again, novel potential, and I wish they could get more justice.
I picked this up because I am reading her extended fae universe in preparation for The Queen of Nothing. Besides most of these stories containing some fae inspiration, and assumedly being set in the same universe, one of the stories here features characters from The Modern Faerie Tales: Tithe; Valiant; Ironside. That was reason enough for me!
This is one of the most balanced short story collections I have read so far, I would say. Holly really has some knack in making them interesting and evenly paced. I would even like some to be extended into full on novels! They are also very varied: you have one set in the Philippines, others with queer representation (though I do wish Holly would vary a bit more in this as well), one about vampires (an early version of The Coldest Girl in Coldtown), mystery, romance, horror... It made it an engaging experience, especially as I was reading on a plane and the short story format could lessen the enjoyment.
Now, for a more detailed review:
The Coldest Girl in Coldtown ★★★★☆
A world in which vampirism is spreading among the population, so quarantine towns, Coldtowns, have been set up. The MC has been turned into a vampire and as she accepts her fate she is starting to shake things up. Pretty cool premise, and albeit the execution felt a bit spotty in places (in terms of pacing especially), I was definitely intrigued and wanting to pick up the novel!
A Reversal of Fortune ★★★★☆
A girl meets a devil in a bus that offers to grant her wishes. She chooses to bargain and 'duel' with him though she might regret the price of her loss. Pretty solid though with a bit of a boring start and setup.
The Boy who Cried Wolf ★★★☆☆
I would say this is the most horror story of the bunch, with a book savvy kid can't deny himself testing out some theories and finds himself in a nightmarish scenario as a result. Interesting, though a bit 'unrealistic' in its setup and just not to my taste.
The Night Market ★★★★★
My absolute favourite of this collection. Set in the Philippines, we get a story of a girl trying to save her sister from the curse of an encanto, a fae. In this journey she finds her own strength and voice, and learns to see beauty in others but, most especially, in herself. So precious and such a cool setting! I wish this was a full-length novel.
The Dog King ★★★★★
Super interesting concept of conflict between men and (were)wolves. As men are using the wolves for their own entertainment, a wolf in an advantageous position learns how to take control. Interesting premise that also has novel potential!
Virgin ★★☆☆☆
I found this actually a bit offensive because of the idea of virginity, purity and someone wanting to snatch it away. A story about a guy that has relied on a unicorn since he became an orphan, but finds himself trusting in the wrong people, people that are jealous of this innocence he has.
In Vodka Veritas ★★☆☆☆
Teenager ends up getting mixed up in the shenanigans of the Latin Club (Cult) that are getting revenge on the whole high school during prom. Queer representation was so cute here, but that was the only highlight for me. It was definitely edgy, but if there had been more context to it, I think I would have enjoyed it more. It was very superficial.
The Coat of Stars ★★★★★
This reminded me of a fairy tale I used to know but I can't think of which one it is. A tailor/costume designer finds himself wrapped up in some family drama that eventually leads him to figure out what happened to his best friend (and love interest) in their teen years. This leads him to bargain with faeries and design beautiful coats! Yes, I was here for this. Queer representation, again, and so sweet!
Paper Cuts Scissors ★★★★☆
A guy is trying to help is (ex)girlfriend after she managed to "write" herself into a book. He ends up witnessing hundreds of characters from different books getting acquainted in this magical library. Pretty cool premise and execution.
Going Ironside ★★☆☆☆
A pair of fae are going ironside (to the human world) to try to get pregnant, something that is quite difficult among fae couples given their longevity (everything has a price). It is written in quite a delirious type of way, I guess because of their particular fae type. It was just short and a bit confusing.
The Land of Heart's Desire ★★★★☆
Characters from the Modern Faerie Tales Series come back in this story! We especially get more on Corny and Luis' relationship as well as Roiben and Kaye's, both of these couples dealing with tensions related to distance and growth. We also learn more about Roiben's childhood and some of the implications of kidnapping humans to fae land... I would've liked to have more of this story, it fell just a bit short for me. Another quest would've been nice :)
The Poison Eaters ★★★★★
Very good story about three "sisters" whose touch is deadly. They are being used in political schemes and this is the story of how one of them is, despite this, trying to make things right. So intriguing and such a great concept! Again, novel potential, and I wish they could get more justice.
July 21, 2022
"If there is nothing but this," Roiben said. "If we are to be shadows, changeless and forgotten, we will have to dine on these memories for the rest of our days. Don't you want a few more moments to chew over?"
✦✦
In Vodka Veritas
Land of Heart's Desire
The Coat of Stars
The Poison Eaters
✦✦✦
The Night Market
The Dog King
Paper Cuts Scissors
Books were something that happened to readers. Readers were the victims of books.
June 26, 2017
i like the stories and the writing is much better than the last holly black short story anthology i read, but they were all so similar.
November 1, 2022
I had already read a lot of these without realizing it hence the three stars. The stories themselves though were incredibly enjoyable!
April 13, 2023
3.5 stars. Some were good, others just subpar.
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