From the Bookshelf of Spells, Space & Screams: Collections & Anthologies in Fantasy, Science Fiction, & Horror…

The Starlit Wood

Dominik Parisien (Editor),

Margo Lanagan

Start date: January 15, 2019

Finish date: February 14, 2019

Discussion: Previous Books of the Month

Discussion leader: Lena

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Previous Books of the Month

The Mammoth Book of Fantasy (April 2024)
By Lena , Of the Short Story Kingdom · 48 posts · 17 views

last updated Jan 03, 2025 08:12AM

Twenty-First Century Science Fiction: An Anthology (January 2024)
By Lena , Of the Short Story Kingdom · 72 posts · 15 views

last updated Dec 29, 2024 04:17PM

What Members Thought

Jul 17, 2017 Fiona Knight rated it really liked it

Shelves: found-family, short-n-sweet, kfa, fantasy, fairytales

Having now read the whole book - the original review was for one story whose record was merged with the book - I can safely say that this definitely lives up to the promise of that first story.

There's some great writers here: Naomi Novik, Kat Howard, Seanan McGuire, Daryl Gregory...and so on. They've all brought an inventive eye to putting a new spin on some of our oldest stories; even the stories I wasn't enjoying were at least creative.

Some of my favourites; The super ultra duchess of fedora f ...more

22 likes · Like · see review

Feb 14, 2019 Lena rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, anthology

In the Desert Like a Bone by Seanan McGuire ★★★★☆
A revenge story with lyrical style, it reminded me of Six-Gun Snow White by Catherynne Valente.

Underground by Karin Tidbeck ★☆☆☆☆
After escaping her rapist’s underground dungeon what does Karin Tidbeck think a woman should do?
A) Go seek punishment for her rapist/captor and help for herself
B) Seek self-help
C) Risk her life to help her rapist

Tidbeck chose C which is why I chose one star. No amount of gender power dynamics or good writing could sav ...more

20 likes · Like · see review

Jan 17, 2019 Shomeret rated it liked it

Shelves: anthology, fantasy, my-reviews

I read eight out of eightteen stories. Of those I read most were good-very good. There were two that I disliked. I read this anthology because it was a BOM on one of my groups.

My favorite story was the Sleeping Beauty re-telling "The Briar and the Rose" by Marjorie Liu. It was an interesting premise and I loved the protagonists.

Special mention of "The Badgirl, The Deadman and the Wheel of Fortune" by Cathrynne M. Valente for being the only fiction by this author that I've read in which I thought ...more

6 likes · Like · see review

Jan 20, 2019 Kaa rated it liked it

Shelves: group-buddy-reads, short-story-novella

This anthology was really mixed for me, quality and enjoyment wise. Several stories I loved, many that were pretty "eh", and a few I hated. My favorites were "Seasons of Glass and Iron," "The Briar and the Rose," and "Spinning Silver." ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Aug 31, 2020 Canavan rated it really liked it

✭✭✭½

“In the Desert Like a Bone”, Seanan McGuire ✭✭✭✭
“Underground”, Karin Tidbeck ✭✭✭
“Even the Crumbs Were Delicious”, Daryl Gregory ✭✭✭
“The Super Ultra Duchess of Fedora Forest”, Charlie Jane Anders ✭✭✭✭½
“Familiaris”, Genevieve Valentine ✭✭
“Seasons of Glass and Iron”, Amal El-Mohtar ✭✭✭✭✭
“Badgirl, the Deadman, and The Wheel of Fortune”, Catherynne M. Valente ✭✭✭✭
“Penny for a Match, Mister?”, Garth Nix ✭✭✭
“Some Wait”, Stephen Graham Jones ✭½
“The Thousand Eyes”, Jeffrey Ford ✭✭✭½
“Giants in the Sky ...more

1 like · Like · see review