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Once Upon a Summer: A Folk and Fairy Tale Anthology
A village abandons all they knew in search of water.
A man covets the last roses of summer and pays the price in blood.
Two young monsters seek a peaceful life by the seaside.
A scorching prophecy threatens to destroy all that a princess holds dear.
Once upon a time stories travelled from place to place on the tongues of merchants and thieves and kings alike. Around a crackling bonfire beneath a sky that never grew dark they were shared, and traded, and altered, until every corner of the globe had their own collection of tales.
In the spirit of these age-old stories comes Once Upon a Summer , a seasonal anthology of folk and fairy tales from 15 authors across the globe. It covers everything from summer romances to eco-terror to seaside ghost stories, and features both intriguing twists on classic tales and exciting original stories.
The second of four planned seasonal anthologies from Macfarlane Lantern Publishing, Once Upon a Summer is sure to have a story for just about everyone. Grab your copy in time for the solstice today!
Inside this
The I Scream Van by Caroline Logan
What Big Geese You Have by Adie Hart
The Forest at the End of the World by Josie Jaffrey
It Is Written by S. Markem
These Burning Bones by Laila Amado
Vespertine by Elanna Bellows
The Last Roses of Summer by Kate Longstone
Love, Pride, Virtue and Fate by Bharat Krishnan
Juniper and the Upside Down Well by Ella Holmes
Love in the Time of Volcanoes by Jake Curran-Pipe
Bluebeard’s Beach House by Jenna Smithwick
The Knucker of Lyminster by Katherine Shaw
Summer Dreams by R. A. Gerritse
The Witches of Dogtown by A. J. Van Belle
Contract with a Mermaid by M. J. Weatherall
A man covets the last roses of summer and pays the price in blood.
Two young monsters seek a peaceful life by the seaside.
A scorching prophecy threatens to destroy all that a princess holds dear.
Once upon a time stories travelled from place to place on the tongues of merchants and thieves and kings alike. Around a crackling bonfire beneath a sky that never grew dark they were shared, and traded, and altered, until every corner of the globe had their own collection of tales.
In the spirit of these age-old stories comes Once Upon a Summer , a seasonal anthology of folk and fairy tales from 15 authors across the globe. It covers everything from summer romances to eco-terror to seaside ghost stories, and features both intriguing twists on classic tales and exciting original stories.
The second of four planned seasonal anthologies from Macfarlane Lantern Publishing, Once Upon a Summer is sure to have a story for just about everyone. Grab your copy in time for the solstice today!
Inside this
The I Scream Van by Caroline Logan
What Big Geese You Have by Adie Hart
The Forest at the End of the World by Josie Jaffrey
It Is Written by S. Markem
These Burning Bones by Laila Amado
Vespertine by Elanna Bellows
The Last Roses of Summer by Kate Longstone
Love, Pride, Virtue and Fate by Bharat Krishnan
Juniper and the Upside Down Well by Ella Holmes
Love in the Time of Volcanoes by Jake Curran-Pipe
Bluebeard’s Beach House by Jenna Smithwick
The Knucker of Lyminster by Katherine Shaw
Summer Dreams by R. A. Gerritse
The Witches of Dogtown by A. J. Van Belle
Contract with a Mermaid by M. J. Weatherall
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 2, 2023
1 person is currently reading
53 people want to read
About the author
H.L. Macfarlane
25 books235 followersFollow me on Bookbub! https://bit.ly/HLBookb
NOTE: H. L. Macfarlane is currently on a publishing hiatus to focus on her mental health. She hopes to return with new titles in early 2026 and appreciates your understanding in the meantime.
Hayley Louise Macfarlane hails from the very tiny hamlet of Balmaha on the shores of Loch Lomond in Scotland. After graduating with a PhD in molecular genetics she did a complete 180 and moved into writing fiction. Though she loves writing multiple genres (fantasy, romance, sci-fi, psychological fiction and horror so far!) she is most widely known for her enemies-to-lovers STEM rom-com, The Unbalanced Equation, and her Gothic, Scottish fairy tale, Prince of Foxes – book one of the Bright Spear trilogy.
NOTE: H. L. Macfarlane is currently on a publishing hiatus to focus on her mental health. She hopes to return with new titles in early 2026 and appreciates your understanding in the meantime.
Hayley Louise Macfarlane hails from the very tiny hamlet of Balmaha on the shores of Loch Lomond in Scotland. After graduating with a PhD in molecular genetics she did a complete 180 and moved into writing fiction. Though she loves writing multiple genres (fantasy, romance, sci-fi, psychological fiction and horror so far!) she is most widely known for her enemies-to-lovers STEM rom-com, The Unbalanced Equation, and her Gothic, Scottish fairy tale, Prince of Foxes – book one of the Bright Spear trilogy.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
June 13, 2023
In a Nutshell: A decent anthology set around the theme of summer. Some really good stories herein, but overall, this wasn’t as delightful as the earlier collection of ‘winter’ stories.
This book is the second of a planned four-book anthology series, based on the four seasons. The first book, ‘Once Upon a Winter’, came out in November 2021 and had seventeen stories set in winter. Now we get this summer-themed anthology with fifteen stories. Spring and Autumn will be the remaining two seasons in the series.
Summer is my least favourite season. A tropical summer drains out all my energy and leaves me longing for the refreshing Indian monsoon. However, as I had enjoyed the winter-based anthology so much, I decided not to let my bias against the season affect my potential reading pleasure. 😉
The introductory note by editor and contributor H.L. MacFarlane sets the right tone for this collection. While her entire note was brilliant, I especially loved this line: "Winter may be a time to listen to stories, but summer is the time to live them." Quite true. (Except if you live in a tropical country and summer just bakes you.🔥)
The stories cover a range of genres ranging from fantasy to romance to dystopian, and each offers a distinct feel. There was no point at which I had a feeling of déjà vu. The rep is also diverse, with many stories featuring LGBTQIA+ protagonists. Some of the stories are retellings of fairy tales and lore. Don’t expect a light Disney-style collection though. Just as the original fairy tales have always been grim, these stories too tend to follow the darker side of worldly and otherworldly folk.
As always happens in an anthology, some stories were outstanding and some left me a bit dissatisfied. But one story that truly puzzled me with its appearance here was “Love, Pride, Virtue and Fate”. This story was a narration of the Hindu God Krishna’s early life, beginning with his parents’ troubles under Kansa and going on to Krishna’s childhood years. This is neither a folk tale nor a fairy tale but a mythological tale and based on one of the gods from an active and widely-practised religion. It didn’t feel right to have a story about Krishna in a ‘fantasy’ collection. I would have been as horrified had I seen a tale about Jesus in a fairy/folk-themed anthology.
I rated the stories individually as I always do. Of the fifteen stories, only five stories reached or crossed the four-star mark. The rest were mostly clustered in between. My top favourites were:
All in all, I did like this collection, but it was not as memorable to me as the first one had been. That said, it still ought to make for an enjoyable read to fairy tale and folktale fans.
3.05 stars, based on the average of my ratings for each story.
My thanks to MacFarlane Lantern Publishing and BookSirens for the DRC of “Once Upon a Summer”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
This book is the second of a planned four-book anthology series, based on the four seasons. The first book, ‘Once Upon a Winter’, came out in November 2021 and had seventeen stories set in winter. Now we get this summer-themed anthology with fifteen stories. Spring and Autumn will be the remaining two seasons in the series.
Summer is my least favourite season. A tropical summer drains out all my energy and leaves me longing for the refreshing Indian monsoon. However, as I had enjoyed the winter-based anthology so much, I decided not to let my bias against the season affect my potential reading pleasure. 😉
The introductory note by editor and contributor H.L. MacFarlane sets the right tone for this collection. While her entire note was brilliant, I especially loved this line: "Winter may be a time to listen to stories, but summer is the time to live them." Quite true. (Except if you live in a tropical country and summer just bakes you.🔥)
The stories cover a range of genres ranging from fantasy to romance to dystopian, and each offers a distinct feel. There was no point at which I had a feeling of déjà vu. The rep is also diverse, with many stories featuring LGBTQIA+ protagonists. Some of the stories are retellings of fairy tales and lore. Don’t expect a light Disney-style collection though. Just as the original fairy tales have always been grim, these stories too tend to follow the darker side of worldly and otherworldly folk.
As always happens in an anthology, some stories were outstanding and some left me a bit dissatisfied. But one story that truly puzzled me with its appearance here was “Love, Pride, Virtue and Fate”. This story was a narration of the Hindu God Krishna’s early life, beginning with his parents’ troubles under Kansa and going on to Krishna’s childhood years. This is neither a folk tale nor a fairy tale but a mythological tale and based on one of the gods from an active and widely-practised religion. It didn’t feel right to have a story about Krishna in a ‘fantasy’ collection. I would have been as horrified had I seen a tale about Jesus in a fairy/folk-themed anthology.
I rated the stories individually as I always do. Of the fifteen stories, only five stories reached or crossed the four-star mark. The rest were mostly clustered in between. My top favourites were:
🔥 The I Scream Van - Caroline Logan – Loved the monster narrator. Enjoyed the story development. Would have rated it higher had there been more background to the narrator and why they had to visit that village annually. The details were vague. - 🌟🌟🌟🌟
🔥 It Is Written - S. Markem – Such an innovative and a witty story! Laughed all the way from start to end. To be honest, this could go either way in terms of its humour. But I like quirky, and hence I loved this. - 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🔥 These Burning Bones - Laila Amado – Again a story with an unusual narrator. Loved this retelling of ‘The Firebird’. - 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
🔥 The Last Roses of Summer - Kate Longstone – Loved the protagonist who is so unlike usual folktale FMCs. The only reason why this fell short was because it started one way and ended up in a totally different direction. The disparity between the beginning and the end was too much. - 🌟🌟🌟🌟
🔥 Contract with a Mermaid - M.J. Weatherall – An interesting story using mermaids as well as another fantastical creature. A retelling of a selkie legend, but with some new elements. - 🌟🌟🌟🌟
(S. Markem and Laila Amado also had appeared in my favourites list for the first collection.)
All in all, I did like this collection, but it was not as memorable to me as the first one had been. That said, it still ought to make for an enjoyable read to fairy tale and folktale fans.
3.05 stars, based on the average of my ratings for each story.
My thanks to MacFarlane Lantern Publishing and BookSirens for the DRC of “Once Upon a Summer”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Currently reading
May 27, 2023I love Adie Hart's cozy fantasy stories, so I read her story first when I opened up my e-ARC of this anthology. And it was adorable! Such a fun sapphic romantic fantasy adventure, with lovely fairytale overtones and fantastic banter. I loved it!
I backed up after that and read the first story in the anthology, "The I Scream Van," by Caroline Logan. It turned out to be a fun, funny sapphic horror rom-com about two creatures who can't quite blend in as human. I enjoyed it a lot!
I'll update this review as I read more stories. (I tend to read anthologies in bits and pieces, with chunks of time in between, so it's best to review stories as I read them, rather than counting on remembering all the details by the end.)
I backed up after that and read the first story in the anthology, "The I Scream Van," by Caroline Logan. It turned out to be a fun, funny sapphic horror rom-com about two creatures who can't quite blend in as human. I enjoyed it a lot!
I'll update this review as I read more stories. (I tend to read anthologies in bits and pieces, with chunks of time in between, so it's best to review stories as I read them, rather than counting on remembering all the details by the end.)
June 4, 2023
Summer is not my favourite season; I am one of those people who will burn to a crisp if the sun so much as glances in my direction. But, it wasn’t until I sat down and read this collection that I really thought about what summer means as a season, it’s easier to see for Winter and how it was reflected in the stories in the Once Upon a Winter Anthology; and to some extent I would expect the same for Spring and Autumn when they come. But, summer for all that it is something we anticipate every year, feels like something that is harder to get a grasp on beyond sunny days, bright nights and burning sun – and I will admit that as a result it felt as though some of the stories in this anthology were only tangentially linked to the theme, although the overall vibe was definitely linked to the overarching theme. It was also interesting to see some of the different interpretations the authors came up with for the theme, and while I felt it wasn’t quite as cohesive as the previous one – which had an easier season to focus on – there wasn’t a single story that felt out of place.
As with any anthology, there were some stories that worked better than others in terms of my personal preference. Of all of them, my absolute favourite was ‘The Forest at the End of the World’ by Josie Jaffrey, it was perhaps the bleakest in many senses (maybe that’s why it resonated with someone who doesn’t like summer), but aside from that, I loved the imagery that Jaffrey conjured up especially at the beginning with the idea of this vast boneyard waiting to welcome you at the end of the world. It was also very topical in terms of focusing on an ecological dystopia, while nailing the personal character aspect, and I loved that despite the sadness and loss that permeated the story, there was an element of hope at the end.
Another one that I really enjoyed was ‘What Big Geese You Have’ by Adie Hart. I was already a fan of Hart’s district witches, and there was a lot of fluff and magic and heart, that is the cornerstone of those stories. However, the reason this one resonated with me was that in amongst all the fluff and magical chaos Wilhelmina’s struggle with rules, and why she was the way she was, was delved into and for me that was the turning point that changed it from a story I was enjoying to one I loved; and much appreciation to the author for blending that into a fun short-story.
Other standouts were ‘Vespertine’ by Elanna Bellows which had some of my favourite writing from the entire anthology, and just the descriptions and imagery were beautiful, and I think of all the stories this was the one that felt most folklorish. Like a tale that could be shared around a bonfire on the beach at the height of summer. ‘Summer Dreams’ by R. A. Gerritse was another one that caught me with the prose and imagery. And I think these two really caught that feeling of a hazy summer day where you drift in the warmth. While ‘It is Written’ by S. Markem was a story that took me completely by surprise, as it was a style that I wouldn’t usually get on with, but the story had me laughing both from the characters antics, but also from the point of view of a writer who has often wondered what their character’s are thinking and up to; and the cursed plotholes!
These are just my personal favourites, and while not all the stories were for me, each had so many positives that I think everyone would be able to find something for them in Once Upon a Summer. It is absolutely fantastic to see this series of collections continuing (and we still have my favourite season to go!). The perfect book to take outside to read while basking in the summer sun, or down to the beach to paddle in the shallows and hunt for mermaids.
As with any anthology, there were some stories that worked better than others in terms of my personal preference. Of all of them, my absolute favourite was ‘The Forest at the End of the World’ by Josie Jaffrey, it was perhaps the bleakest in many senses (maybe that’s why it resonated with someone who doesn’t like summer), but aside from that, I loved the imagery that Jaffrey conjured up especially at the beginning with the idea of this vast boneyard waiting to welcome you at the end of the world. It was also very topical in terms of focusing on an ecological dystopia, while nailing the personal character aspect, and I loved that despite the sadness and loss that permeated the story, there was an element of hope at the end.
Another one that I really enjoyed was ‘What Big Geese You Have’ by Adie Hart. I was already a fan of Hart’s district witches, and there was a lot of fluff and magic and heart, that is the cornerstone of those stories. However, the reason this one resonated with me was that in amongst all the fluff and magical chaos Wilhelmina’s struggle with rules, and why she was the way she was, was delved into and for me that was the turning point that changed it from a story I was enjoying to one I loved; and much appreciation to the author for blending that into a fun short-story.
Other standouts were ‘Vespertine’ by Elanna Bellows which had some of my favourite writing from the entire anthology, and just the descriptions and imagery were beautiful, and I think of all the stories this was the one that felt most folklorish. Like a tale that could be shared around a bonfire on the beach at the height of summer. ‘Summer Dreams’ by R. A. Gerritse was another one that caught me with the prose and imagery. And I think these two really caught that feeling of a hazy summer day where you drift in the warmth. While ‘It is Written’ by S. Markem was a story that took me completely by surprise, as it was a style that I wouldn’t usually get on with, but the story had me laughing both from the characters antics, but also from the point of view of a writer who has often wondered what their character’s are thinking and up to; and the cursed plotholes!
These are just my personal favourites, and while not all the stories were for me, each had so many positives that I think everyone would be able to find something for them in Once Upon a Summer. It is absolutely fantastic to see this series of collections continuing (and we still have my favourite season to go!). The perfect book to take outside to read while basking in the summer sun, or down to the beach to paddle in the shallows and hunt for mermaids.
May 27, 2023
I received a free ARC of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.
I really enjoyed the previous anthology Once Upon A Winter so I was excited to try the other seasons. Much like it’s predecessor, the book absolutely understands the assignment. Each story here conveys summer but in different and varying ways.
I do find that out of all the seasons, summer seems the least distinctive. There isn’t a lot of colors or smells that immediately make one think of summer and that is definitely a challenge. I do think the stories tackle it well, as well as it can be done. I just feel personally that summer has less distinction than the other seasons so the atmosphere isn’t quite as immersive.
But like I said, the stories put their damnedest into pulling you into those hot months. I really loved seeing the different folklore involved. Some I knew but there was a lot I didn’t so I really got some exposure to new ideas!
Absolutely worth a read and I look forward to the next season!
I really enjoyed the previous anthology Once Upon A Winter so I was excited to try the other seasons. Much like it’s predecessor, the book absolutely understands the assignment. Each story here conveys summer but in different and varying ways.
I do find that out of all the seasons, summer seems the least distinctive. There isn’t a lot of colors or smells that immediately make one think of summer and that is definitely a challenge. I do think the stories tackle it well, as well as it can be done. I just feel personally that summer has less distinction than the other seasons so the atmosphere isn’t quite as immersive.
But like I said, the stories put their damnedest into pulling you into those hot months. I really loved seeing the different folklore involved. Some I knew but there was a lot I didn’t so I really got some exposure to new ideas!
Absolutely worth a read and I look forward to the next season!
June 22, 2023
Short stories can be hits or misses for me, but this anthology was full of hits!
This is the perfect book to pick up during a reading slump! All of the stories were quick and easy to read, but still very entertaining and they left me wanting more.
One of my favourites was What Big Geese You Have by Adie Hart. It was incredibly fun & lighthearted. I loved the characters and their relationship/dynamic so I was kinda sad it was only a short story!!
I also really enjoyed The Forest at the End of the World by Josie Jaffrey, which felt like an EPIC epilogue for a great fantasy novel! I need more!!
The LGBT rep was also lovely - perfect for pride month!
Thank you Macfarlane Lantern Publishing for the eARC 🌱
This is the perfect book to pick up during a reading slump! All of the stories were quick and easy to read, but still very entertaining and they left me wanting more.
One of my favourites was What Big Geese You Have by Adie Hart. It was incredibly fun & lighthearted. I loved the characters and their relationship/dynamic so I was kinda sad it was only a short story!!
I also really enjoyed The Forest at the End of the World by Josie Jaffrey, which felt like an EPIC epilogue for a great fantasy novel! I need more!!
The LGBT rep was also lovely - perfect for pride month!
Thank you Macfarlane Lantern Publishing for the eARC 🌱
March 15, 2025
So I enjoyed this book but I'm not to thrilled with it. Once Upon a
Winter was a marvelous read. The stories were a hit on all of them. This book I felt like some of them where hits, some of them were just ok, and some of the where just blah. I came into thinking that it was flow like once Upon a winter and it just didn't.
Winter was a marvelous read. The stories were a hit on all of them. This book I felt like some of them where hits, some of them were just ok, and some of the where just blah. I came into thinking that it was flow like once Upon a winter and it just didn't.
June 6, 2023
Rating: 3.5 stars
I really enjoyed the first book of short stories in this four part series, Once Upon A Winter (check out my blog post here), so when I was asked if I’d like to participate in the blog tour/review this second installment I jumped at the chance!
Once again, as usually happens with anthologies, there were stories I loved and some I didn’t really care for. Once again I’ve included some very brief mini reviews for every story included, as well as going a bit more in depth into the stories I loved most. The balance of good stories definitely outweighed those I didn’t like as much.
The stories:
The I Scream Van by Caroline Logan
A cute little sapphic monster story with vaguely Little Red Riding Hood vibes. I wish there was a little more explanation of what sorts of monsters they are - the new girl seemed maybe sort of mermaid/siren-y?
Rating: 4 stars
What Big Geese You Have by Adie Hart
Adie Hart’s story in the Winter anthology (A Pea Ever After) was probably my favorite, so I had HIGH expectations for this story- which were totally justified! My memory is trash, but it felt like this story picked up with the same world-building and vibe as the earlier story. As someone who also doesn’t have a very hatty face, I was immediately taken with Vi, and laughed (and okay swooned a little) over the interactions between her and Wilhelmina. Also, y’all - there’s only one bed. Yesssss. My only complaint (once again) is that I want this to be a full length novel.
Rating: 5 stars
The Forest at the End of the World by Josie Jaffrey
…I hate the third person present tense. X.x
Rating: DNF
It Is Written by S. Markem
Very Piers Anthony's Xanth series sort of vibes. It's like the author basically went "Man, I have no idea what to write for this anthology. I know, I will write a story about that from the POV of the characters! With fart jokes!"
Rating: 2.5 stars
These Burning Bones by Laila Amado
I love Russian fairy tales - stories of the Firebird and Koschei the Deathless and Ivan and Princess Vasalisa. This is all those tales told from the point of view of the Firebird, and as she says, "stories lie." Chilling, and I need ALL the stories by this author now.
Rating: 5 stars
Vespertine by Elanna Bellows
I'll be real, the language was a little too flowery and… verbose? cerebral?... for me. Mostly skimmed this one - interesting but didn't love the writing style.
Rating: 2.5 stars
The Last Roses of Summer by Kate Longstone
I am LIVING for all the Sapphic vibes in this collection! Talia is BADASS and I adore her. I had an inkling as to where the story was going and was SO PLEASED I was right. Love this, and I'll definitely be looking for more by Kate Longstone.
Rating: 5 stars
Love, Pride, Virtue and Fate by Bharat Krishnan
Skipped due to the content warning - got to the first instance of it and just could not.
Juniper and the Upside Down Well by Ella Holmes
I was a little confused at first because my brain just didn't want to accept that one of the characters in this story is an upside down well hovering in the air. Like… what? Once my brain stopped fighting it, I really loved this story. Yes, I cried. Another author I've got to read more from.
Rating: 4 stars
Love in the Time of Volcanoes by Jake Curran-Pipe
Love the Aro/Ace and Sapphic rep, but that's about all that stood out to me with this one.
Rating: 2.5 stars
Bluebeard’s Beach House by Jenna Smithwick
I don't recall how the OG Bluebeard story goes, but his final wife is reclaiming her power in this one. With a party line landline phone, so the setting is, what? The 70s or 80s? When did they have party lines? This one runs more to the horror genre than the others.
Rating: 3 stars
The Knucker of Lyminster by Katherine Shaw
I had to Google what a knucker is (it's a sort of water dragon thingie, in case you, like me, didn't know!) Another Sapphic story - it seems like at LEAST half of the stories in this anthology are. I'm loving it! This story is sort of sad, but sweet.
Rating: 4 stars
Summer Dreams by R. A. Gerritse
Way too cerebral for me.
Rating: DNF
The Witches of Dogtown by A. J. Van Belle
CW: miscarriage
Rating: 3 stars
Contract with a Mermaid by M. J. Weatherall
I love mermaids and so wanted to like this story. Morvena was every bit as wicked as I could have wished, but other than that this story just fell sort of flat, plus it dragged on.
Rating: 2 stars
I really enjoyed the first book of short stories in this four part series, Once Upon A Winter (check out my blog post here), so when I was asked if I’d like to participate in the blog tour/review this second installment I jumped at the chance!
Once again, as usually happens with anthologies, there were stories I loved and some I didn’t really care for. Once again I’ve included some very brief mini reviews for every story included, as well as going a bit more in depth into the stories I loved most. The balance of good stories definitely outweighed those I didn’t like as much.
The stories:
The I Scream Van by Caroline Logan
A cute little sapphic monster story with vaguely Little Red Riding Hood vibes. I wish there was a little more explanation of what sorts of monsters they are - the new girl seemed maybe sort of mermaid/siren-y?
Rating: 4 stars
What Big Geese You Have by Adie Hart
Adie Hart’s story in the Winter anthology (A Pea Ever After) was probably my favorite, so I had HIGH expectations for this story- which were totally justified! My memory is trash, but it felt like this story picked up with the same world-building and vibe as the earlier story. As someone who also doesn’t have a very hatty face, I was immediately taken with Vi, and laughed (and okay swooned a little) over the interactions between her and Wilhelmina. Also, y’all - there’s only one bed. Yesssss. My only complaint (once again) is that I want this to be a full length novel.
Rating: 5 stars
The Forest at the End of the World by Josie Jaffrey
…I hate the third person present tense. X.x
Rating: DNF
It Is Written by S. Markem
Very Piers Anthony's Xanth series sort of vibes. It's like the author basically went "Man, I have no idea what to write for this anthology. I know, I will write a story about that from the POV of the characters! With fart jokes!"
Rating: 2.5 stars
These Burning Bones by Laila Amado
I love Russian fairy tales - stories of the Firebird and Koschei the Deathless and Ivan and Princess Vasalisa. This is all those tales told from the point of view of the Firebird, and as she says, "stories lie." Chilling, and I need ALL the stories by this author now.
Rating: 5 stars
Vespertine by Elanna Bellows
I'll be real, the language was a little too flowery and… verbose? cerebral?... for me. Mostly skimmed this one - interesting but didn't love the writing style.
Rating: 2.5 stars
The Last Roses of Summer by Kate Longstone
I am LIVING for all the Sapphic vibes in this collection! Talia is BADASS and I adore her. I had an inkling as to where the story was going and was SO PLEASED I was right. Love this, and I'll definitely be looking for more by Kate Longstone.
Rating: 5 stars
Love, Pride, Virtue and Fate by Bharat Krishnan
Skipped due to the content warning - got to the first instance of it and just could not.
Juniper and the Upside Down Well by Ella Holmes
I was a little confused at first because my brain just didn't want to accept that one of the characters in this story is an upside down well hovering in the air. Like… what? Once my brain stopped fighting it, I really loved this story. Yes, I cried. Another author I've got to read more from.
Rating: 4 stars
Love in the Time of Volcanoes by Jake Curran-Pipe
Love the Aro/Ace and Sapphic rep, but that's about all that stood out to me with this one.
Rating: 2.5 stars
Bluebeard’s Beach House by Jenna Smithwick
I don't recall how the OG Bluebeard story goes, but his final wife is reclaiming her power in this one. With a party line landline phone, so the setting is, what? The 70s or 80s? When did they have party lines? This one runs more to the horror genre than the others.
Rating: 3 stars
The Knucker of Lyminster by Katherine Shaw
I had to Google what a knucker is (it's a sort of water dragon thingie, in case you, like me, didn't know!) Another Sapphic story - it seems like at LEAST half of the stories in this anthology are. I'm loving it! This story is sort of sad, but sweet.
Rating: 4 stars
Summer Dreams by R. A. Gerritse
Way too cerebral for me.
Rating: DNF
The Witches of Dogtown by A. J. Van Belle
CW: miscarriage
Rating: 3 stars
Contract with a Mermaid by M. J. Weatherall
I love mermaids and so wanted to like this story. Morvena was every bit as wicked as I could have wished, but other than that this story just fell sort of flat, plus it dragged on.
Rating: 2 stars
June 14, 2023
Having previously read, Once Upon a Winter, I was excited to dive into the summer. I wasn't able to spend as much time with this anthology as I wanted but I did jump in on a couple of the stories. What I read, I loved! Most are cute and fluffy, while a few are dark, which is exactly what I wanted.
Bluebeard’s Beach House by Jenna Smithwick was the story I most wanted to read, given its' darker origin story. Bluebeard, or La barbe bleue, was written down by Charles Perrault—who also authored Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Little Red Riding Hood. The story begins with a wealthy nobleman wanting to remarry after the death of his SIX previous wives. Red flag much? Of course, it is, which is why after much debate (mostly due to his ugly blue beard and NOT the dead wives), one of the daughters of a neighbor agrees to marry him, He leaves, but before he does, he gives his new wife the keys to all his treasures. Strangely, given all that he is giving her free access to, she is forbidden, upon severe punishment, to open one particular closet. While he's away she has her sister and family over for a party and her curiosity gets the best of her. When she enters the closet, she finds the previous six wives' bodies laying there! She drops the key in the blood on the floor, and no matter what she tries, she can't get the blood off. When the husband arrives home, seeing the blood on the key and knowing what she saw, he is going to kill her. She asks for one last prayer with her sister, Anne. After stalling, she goes downstairs to her fate, but right before she's killed, her brothers show up and stab Bluebeard to death. She inherits the estate and remarries, giving her a happily ever after… hopefully.
**Spoilers ahead**
In Smithwick's story, the new wife Josephine, is preparing in full 50s housewife magazine style for a dinner party. The magazines came from wife #2, Danielle. In her version of the story, Henry, our clean-shaven Bluebeard, is a little less rich, and the dinner party is to charm prospective partners. Josephine wonders if wife #2, felt the way she feels having to live up to Henry's expectations of his first wife. She has a certain amount of resigned jealousy seeing their portraits hanging still from their place of honor at the top of the stairs. She feels inadequate in the face of his previous marriages and under constant disapproval from Henry. Thinking she sees the portrait move, she drops the glass she's holding, a wedding gift of Henry and Mary's, and cuts herself in the process of cleaning the shards up. Pleading illness, she sends Henry alone to the party but as hes leaving, he warns her not to rummage in the attic. After a ghostly vision of Mary urging her to give in to temptation, Josephine grabs the key and heads upstairs. The first thing she experiences is the smell, and there are weird skittering and scratching sounds, there's blood on the neck of a dress, and are those… feet? She stumbles over a dollhouse, a complete miniature of the house she's in, and inside the attic room, there are two dolls—Mary and Danielle. Blood from her cut hand gets on the white dresses of the dolls and she knows Henry will know she's been in the attic. She calls her sister in panic, who comes over. Henry arrives home and threatens her, Anne smacks him with a cast iron pan, and Josephine locks him in the attic, and sets the place on fire. Her happy ending comes with building a new house on the land, one that is airy and comfortable, and while there may be a new love interest there, it's not dependent on a man.
This was such a great story! The buildup of tension and the creepy atmosphere were perfect! I loved the changes that Smithwick made to the classic story: the ghostly visitations/visions that Josephine had of the two previous wives, how they are actually warning her, and how Josephine, in the end, releases them from the house. Even though there aren't bloody bodies laying in a closet, I thought that the dollhouse was a very effective way of linking back to the origin stories. I especially loved the twist at the end of Josephine's little girl playing with the dollhouse, saying that Daddy is being mean, and how Josephine picks up the doll that looks like Henry, puts him in the attic, and shuts the door. This is exactly how you take a fairytale and give it a contemporary twist.
Bluebeard’s Beach House by Jenna Smithwick was the story I most wanted to read, given its' darker origin story. Bluebeard, or La barbe bleue, was written down by Charles Perrault—who also authored Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Little Red Riding Hood. The story begins with a wealthy nobleman wanting to remarry after the death of his SIX previous wives. Red flag much? Of course, it is, which is why after much debate (mostly due to his ugly blue beard and NOT the dead wives), one of the daughters of a neighbor agrees to marry him, He leaves, but before he does, he gives his new wife the keys to all his treasures. Strangely, given all that he is giving her free access to, she is forbidden, upon severe punishment, to open one particular closet. While he's away she has her sister and family over for a party and her curiosity gets the best of her. When she enters the closet, she finds the previous six wives' bodies laying there! She drops the key in the blood on the floor, and no matter what she tries, she can't get the blood off. When the husband arrives home, seeing the blood on the key and knowing what she saw, he is going to kill her. She asks for one last prayer with her sister, Anne. After stalling, she goes downstairs to her fate, but right before she's killed, her brothers show up and stab Bluebeard to death. She inherits the estate and remarries, giving her a happily ever after… hopefully.
**Spoilers ahead**
In Smithwick's story, the new wife Josephine, is preparing in full 50s housewife magazine style for a dinner party. The magazines came from wife #2, Danielle. In her version of the story, Henry, our clean-shaven Bluebeard, is a little less rich, and the dinner party is to charm prospective partners. Josephine wonders if wife #2, felt the way she feels having to live up to Henry's expectations of his first wife. She has a certain amount of resigned jealousy seeing their portraits hanging still from their place of honor at the top of the stairs. She feels inadequate in the face of his previous marriages and under constant disapproval from Henry. Thinking she sees the portrait move, she drops the glass she's holding, a wedding gift of Henry and Mary's, and cuts herself in the process of cleaning the shards up. Pleading illness, she sends Henry alone to the party but as hes leaving, he warns her not to rummage in the attic. After a ghostly vision of Mary urging her to give in to temptation, Josephine grabs the key and heads upstairs. The first thing she experiences is the smell, and there are weird skittering and scratching sounds, there's blood on the neck of a dress, and are those… feet? She stumbles over a dollhouse, a complete miniature of the house she's in, and inside the attic room, there are two dolls—Mary and Danielle. Blood from her cut hand gets on the white dresses of the dolls and she knows Henry will know she's been in the attic. She calls her sister in panic, who comes over. Henry arrives home and threatens her, Anne smacks him with a cast iron pan, and Josephine locks him in the attic, and sets the place on fire. Her happy ending comes with building a new house on the land, one that is airy and comfortable, and while there may be a new love interest there, it's not dependent on a man.
This was such a great story! The buildup of tension and the creepy atmosphere were perfect! I loved the changes that Smithwick made to the classic story: the ghostly visitations/visions that Josephine had of the two previous wives, how they are actually warning her, and how Josephine, in the end, releases them from the house. Even though there aren't bloody bodies laying in a closet, I thought that the dollhouse was a very effective way of linking back to the origin stories. I especially loved the twist at the end of Josephine's little girl playing with the dollhouse, saying that Daddy is being mean, and how Josephine picks up the doll that looks like Henry, puts him in the attic, and shuts the door. This is exactly how you take a fairytale and give it a contemporary twist.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2024
Rating: 3.5 stars
General review of the book as a whole: This is a collection of short stories surrounding the theme of summer. I enjoyed that these stories came from different cultures providing different viewpoints and myths, gods, and creatures. I liked this collection better than the previous collection in this series. I did find the generic story of a princess not wanting to marry to be an overused trope throughout this collection.
I Scream Van: 4 Stars. I enjoyed this story a lot. I liked the Red Riding Hood set up and liked the idea of the monsters. I also found the ending to be sweet and got the message of “it is what’s on the inside that counts.”
What Big Geese You Have: 5 Stars. I mean who doesn’t love a good story about detective witches. I was surprised how well the characters were developed in such a short amount of time. I quickly fell in love with both of our main characters.
The Fire at the End of the World: 2 stars. I didn’t enjoy this one and didn’t really get the point of the story. It seems just like an end of the world story.
It is Written: 4 Stars. I found this story to be very humorous. It is about a wizard who believes there is an author writing down his story right now for an anthology and wants it to be a good story. So, the wizard and his friend embark on an adventure to be worthy of a summer anthology.
These Burning Bones: 4 stars. I really enjoyed the writing style of this. I also liked the spin on the traditional firebird story and that the princess isn’t who you expect her to be. A princess is turned into a firebird and can only break free until she cares for another person.
Vespertine: DNF. I couldn’t get into this story and didn’t really understand the point / the plot. The writing felt drawn out to me.
The Last Rose of Summer: 4 stars. I thought this story was well written and had me interested from the beginning. We have a woman who sells roses and a baron’s daughter who everyone wants. The story unfolds and takes a surprising turn.
Love, Pride, Virtue, and Fate: 4 stars. This story is about prophecy and the things one will do to avoid the outcome of a prophecy. I found myself immediately emerged in this story as I felt for the characters from the first page. While the story is predictable there was something still enjoyable about it.
Juniper and the Upside Down: 5 stars. I will always love any story involving the good-folk. This is a story about a girl who works with a man of the good-folk to try and break a curse.
Love in the Time of Volcanoes: 4 stars. A story about a prince and princess who arrange their own marriage to have their freedom, but it does not happen as they thought it would
Bluebeards Beach House: 5 stars. A spooky, suspenseful story about a woman, her not-so-great husband, and a stifling house.
The Knucker of Lyminster: 3 stars. A story about a princess who chooses love with the person who makes her feel like herself. I only gave this story 3 stars because it is an overused trope and not an original story.
Summer Dreams: 1 star. I didn’t really understand the point or message of this story.
The Witches of Dogtown: 5 Stars. This is a story about women who become outcasts in the woods. The message for conveyed in this story is the power of women and finding yourself.
Contract with a Mermaid: 4 stars. A story which begins with a girls pled for help to a mermaid, which leads to revenge and ends in freedom.
General review of the book as a whole: This is a collection of short stories surrounding the theme of summer. I enjoyed that these stories came from different cultures providing different viewpoints and myths, gods, and creatures. I liked this collection better than the previous collection in this series. I did find the generic story of a princess not wanting to marry to be an overused trope throughout this collection.
I Scream Van: 4 Stars. I enjoyed this story a lot. I liked the Red Riding Hood set up and liked the idea of the monsters. I also found the ending to be sweet and got the message of “it is what’s on the inside that counts.”
What Big Geese You Have: 5 Stars. I mean who doesn’t love a good story about detective witches. I was surprised how well the characters were developed in such a short amount of time. I quickly fell in love with both of our main characters.
The Fire at the End of the World: 2 stars. I didn’t enjoy this one and didn’t really get the point of the story. It seems just like an end of the world story.
It is Written: 4 Stars. I found this story to be very humorous. It is about a wizard who believes there is an author writing down his story right now for an anthology and wants it to be a good story. So, the wizard and his friend embark on an adventure to be worthy of a summer anthology.
These Burning Bones: 4 stars. I really enjoyed the writing style of this. I also liked the spin on the traditional firebird story and that the princess isn’t who you expect her to be. A princess is turned into a firebird and can only break free until she cares for another person.
Vespertine: DNF. I couldn’t get into this story and didn’t really understand the point / the plot. The writing felt drawn out to me.
The Last Rose of Summer: 4 stars. I thought this story was well written and had me interested from the beginning. We have a woman who sells roses and a baron’s daughter who everyone wants. The story unfolds and takes a surprising turn.
Love, Pride, Virtue, and Fate: 4 stars. This story is about prophecy and the things one will do to avoid the outcome of a prophecy. I found myself immediately emerged in this story as I felt for the characters from the first page. While the story is predictable there was something still enjoyable about it.
Juniper and the Upside Down: 5 stars. I will always love any story involving the good-folk. This is a story about a girl who works with a man of the good-folk to try and break a curse.
Love in the Time of Volcanoes: 4 stars. A story about a prince and princess who arrange their own marriage to have their freedom, but it does not happen as they thought it would
Bluebeards Beach House: 5 stars. A spooky, suspenseful story about a woman, her not-so-great husband, and a stifling house.
The Knucker of Lyminster: 3 stars. A story about a princess who chooses love with the person who makes her feel like herself. I only gave this story 3 stars because it is an overused trope and not an original story.
Summer Dreams: 1 star. I didn’t really understand the point or message of this story.
The Witches of Dogtown: 5 Stars. This is a story about women who become outcasts in the woods. The message for conveyed in this story is the power of women and finding yourself.
Contract with a Mermaid: 4 stars. A story which begins with a girls pled for help to a mermaid, which leads to revenge and ends in freedom.
May 14, 2023
This anthology will come out on June 2nd.
When I read anthologies, there always comes a point when the next story comes up and I either think “Oh no, another one!” or “Yay, another one!”. Once Upon a Summer clearly falls into the Yay-side of things.
That doesn’t mean that I loved - or even liked - every single story. But I’m a picky eater and if you serve me fifteen stories, I don’t expect to find every course delicious. I just hope that I’ll find enough stories with fun ideas, interesting themes, and impressive execution that I don’t mind the ones that don’t work for me.
Once Upon a Summer was full of fun ideas. “The I Scream Van” by Caroline Logan starts the book strong by employing by mixing fay with an unusual and delightful love story. Followed right away with “What Big Geese You Have” by Adie Hart, a story that includes sapphic buddy-cop witches fighting a big goose. “Love, Pride, Virtue and Fate” by Bharat Krishnan, that tells the tale of a king trying to escape his destiny in form of an Indic myth, was also one of my favorites.
Thematically there are many stories where princesses don’t want to be part of an arranged marriage; maybe a little too many of those for my taste. On the other hand, that many of the stories were build around queerness made the repetitiveness easier to swallow. Most of the queer princesses were lesbians, but I even spotted some aromantic characters, which made me happy. Another focus of the stories were witches; I especially enjoyed “The Witches of Dogtown” by A. J. Van Belle, where a young woman becomes the heir of an old witch. And of course there are fairies, like in the already mentioned “The I Scream Van”.
Many of the stories are very well written. The “Knucker of Lyminster” by Katherine Shaw, one of the princess-doesn’t-want-to-marry-stories, being one that I really enjoyed. And “Love, Pride, Virtue and Fate” deserves to be mention a second time here.
I want to compliment the diversity of the authors picked for Once Upon a Summer. I also was happy to see a content warning for one of the stories, though I would have loved it even more if they would have been used consistently throughout the book.
Overall, I would have wished for a little more bite and a little bit more of the gruesomeness of old school fairy tales. Most of them - with notable exceptions like “Bluebeard’s Beach House” by Jenna Smith - are on the lighthearted end of the spectrum of, if not content, then tone. But that’s a matter of personal taste, not objective evaluation.
I absolutely recommend giving this story collection a closer look, especially if you’re interested in its themes.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
When I read anthologies, there always comes a point when the next story comes up and I either think “Oh no, another one!” or “Yay, another one!”. Once Upon a Summer clearly falls into the Yay-side of things.
That doesn’t mean that I loved - or even liked - every single story. But I’m a picky eater and if you serve me fifteen stories, I don’t expect to find every course delicious. I just hope that I’ll find enough stories with fun ideas, interesting themes, and impressive execution that I don’t mind the ones that don’t work for me.
Once Upon a Summer was full of fun ideas. “The I Scream Van” by Caroline Logan starts the book strong by employing by mixing fay with an unusual and delightful love story. Followed right away with “What Big Geese You Have” by Adie Hart, a story that includes sapphic buddy-cop witches fighting a big goose. “Love, Pride, Virtue and Fate” by Bharat Krishnan, that tells the tale of a king trying to escape his destiny in form of an Indic myth, was also one of my favorites.
Thematically there are many stories where princesses don’t want to be part of an arranged marriage; maybe a little too many of those for my taste. On the other hand, that many of the stories were build around queerness made the repetitiveness easier to swallow. Most of the queer princesses were lesbians, but I even spotted some aromantic characters, which made me happy. Another focus of the stories were witches; I especially enjoyed “The Witches of Dogtown” by A. J. Van Belle, where a young woman becomes the heir of an old witch. And of course there are fairies, like in the already mentioned “The I Scream Van”.
Many of the stories are very well written. The “Knucker of Lyminster” by Katherine Shaw, one of the princess-doesn’t-want-to-marry-stories, being one that I really enjoyed. And “Love, Pride, Virtue and Fate” deserves to be mention a second time here.
I want to compliment the diversity of the authors picked for Once Upon a Summer. I also was happy to see a content warning for one of the stories, though I would have loved it even more if they would have been used consistently throughout the book.
Overall, I would have wished for a little more bite and a little bit more of the gruesomeness of old school fairy tales. Most of them - with notable exceptions like “Bluebeard’s Beach House” by Jenna Smith - are on the lighthearted end of the spectrum of, if not content, then tone. But that’s a matter of personal taste, not objective evaluation.
I absolutely recommend giving this story collection a closer look, especially if you’re interested in its themes.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 3, 2023
Summary: All of them was great stories with a mix of happy, sad, funny and thriller stories! Loved them all except story 8 (explained below)
Story 1
The I Scream Van by Caroline Logan
Was a very cute story with a lovely ‘it’s what’s on the inside that counts’ ending!
Story 2
What Big Geese You Have by Adie Hart
Such a fun story with great ending, and two loveable witches!
Story 3
The Forest at the End of the World by Josie Jaffrey
Very dark, very gripping and very good! Wish it wasn’t a short story to learn more of the world!
Story 4
It Is Written by S. Markem
Very fun and original story, didn’t understand the end meaning, but was a funny read!
Story 5
These burning bones by Laila Amado
This was very well written and had a great end and meaning behind it!
Story 6
Vespertine by Elanna Bellows
There wasn’t much I could understand in terms of the story, but I did understand the meaning behind it and that itself was very interesting to read about.
Story 7
The Last Roses of Sunmer by Kate Longstone
Fantastic story with a unexpected ending! With just small amount of words the world building was great!
Story 8
Love, Pride, Virtue and Fate by Bharat Krishnan
Unsure and unexplained why the father kept killing the children, said the 8th would be the undoing but killed them all both boys and girls… then the babies in the whole town…
Story 9
Juniper and the Upside Down Well by Ella Holmes
Was a very cute story, very folky and mystical, love the happy ending but unsure what the ‘truth’ was.
Story 10
Love is the Time of Volcanoes by Jake Curren-Pipe
Even with the sad events it was a very wholesome story!
Story 11
Bluebeard’s Beach House by Jenna Smithwick
Well written ghost story with a good ending!
Story 12
The Knucker of Lyminster by Katherine Shaw
Started as standard ‘arranged marriage’ fantasy, but had a very cute and sweet creature and lovely ending!
Story 13
Summer Dreams by R. A. Gerritse
A very poetic story about holding those happy memories close.
Story 14
The Witches of Dogtown by A. J. Van Belle
Very cool story about witches and being true to yourself and not be tied down by others
Story 15
Contract with a Mermaid by M. J. Weatherall
Amazingly written story! Great world building and was a great story with a with an equally happy and horrifying end.
Story 1
The I Scream Van by Caroline Logan
Was a very cute story with a lovely ‘it’s what’s on the inside that counts’ ending!
Story 2
What Big Geese You Have by Adie Hart
Such a fun story with great ending, and two loveable witches!
Story 3
The Forest at the End of the World by Josie Jaffrey
Very dark, very gripping and very good! Wish it wasn’t a short story to learn more of the world!
Story 4
It Is Written by S. Markem
Very fun and original story, didn’t understand the end meaning, but was a funny read!
Story 5
These burning bones by Laila Amado
This was very well written and had a great end and meaning behind it!
Story 6
Vespertine by Elanna Bellows
There wasn’t much I could understand in terms of the story, but I did understand the meaning behind it and that itself was very interesting to read about.
Story 7
The Last Roses of Sunmer by Kate Longstone
Fantastic story with a unexpected ending! With just small amount of words the world building was great!
Story 8
Love, Pride, Virtue and Fate by Bharat Krishnan
Unsure and unexplained why the father kept killing the children, said the 8th would be the undoing but killed them all both boys and girls… then the babies in the whole town…
Story 9
Juniper and the Upside Down Well by Ella Holmes
Was a very cute story, very folky and mystical, love the happy ending but unsure what the ‘truth’ was.
Story 10
Love is the Time of Volcanoes by Jake Curren-Pipe
Even with the sad events it was a very wholesome story!
Story 11
Bluebeard’s Beach House by Jenna Smithwick
Well written ghost story with a good ending!
Story 12
The Knucker of Lyminster by Katherine Shaw
Started as standard ‘arranged marriage’ fantasy, but had a very cute and sweet creature and lovely ending!
Story 13
Summer Dreams by R. A. Gerritse
A very poetic story about holding those happy memories close.
Story 14
The Witches of Dogtown by A. J. Van Belle
Very cool story about witches and being true to yourself and not be tied down by others
Story 15
Contract with a Mermaid by M. J. Weatherall
Amazingly written story! Great world building and was a great story with a with an equally happy and horrifying end.
May 26, 2023
A real mixed bag of short stories are to be found here, though reader may need to beware the very different tones between them - while the first tale is clearly a fluffy YA fantasy, there are some decidedly dark turns (in fairness, one does have a content warning), plus some high concept stories that went a little over my head. I wasn't completely sold on all of them, some seeming maybe a little ambitious for the short page count, but as with the previous Once Upon A Winter anthology there's a high bar set. There should be something for everyone, from classic fantasy princesses-with-a-LGBTQIA+-twist to snarky humor to outright horrific legends and lore being drawn upon for inspiration.
As someone who enjoys the fluffier side of things in their short stories, I can wholeheartedly recommend the stellar contribution that is What Big Geese You Have by Adie Hart - I will never look at a Goose Girl retelling again in the same way. Magic, mystery, humor and heart; with her LGBT District Witch short stories, this is one fantasy romance writer to keep an eye on.
If however you like your things Tor.com anthology levels of hard-hitting sadness, The Forest at the End of the World by Josie Jaffrey will scratch that itch. Compellingly written as a dystopian eco-fairytale/nightmare, it's utterly heartbreaking. Tor should be knocking.
Others that really shone for me were The I Scream Van by Caroline Logan (a snarky paranormal teenage summer short), The Witches of Dogtown by A. J. Van Belle (an adult paranormal tale of witches and female empowerment), The Last Roses of Summer by Kate Longstone (not your grandmother's LGBT fairytale; deliciously twisty), and It Is Written by S. Markem (you can't beat a bit of meta snarkasm that pokes fun at fantasy tropes).
While I wasn't always sure about the connection to the Summer theme, there's plenty of strange and varied fiction snacks to pick from in this unusual anthology.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
As someone who enjoys the fluffier side of things in their short stories, I can wholeheartedly recommend the stellar contribution that is What Big Geese You Have by Adie Hart - I will never look at a Goose Girl retelling again in the same way. Magic, mystery, humor and heart; with her LGBT District Witch short stories, this is one fantasy romance writer to keep an eye on.
If however you like your things Tor.com anthology levels of hard-hitting sadness, The Forest at the End of the World by Josie Jaffrey will scratch that itch. Compellingly written as a dystopian eco-fairytale/nightmare, it's utterly heartbreaking. Tor should be knocking.
Others that really shone for me were The I Scream Van by Caroline Logan (a snarky paranormal teenage summer short), The Witches of Dogtown by A. J. Van Belle (an adult paranormal tale of witches and female empowerment), The Last Roses of Summer by Kate Longstone (not your grandmother's LGBT fairytale; deliciously twisty), and It Is Written by S. Markem (you can't beat a bit of meta snarkasm that pokes fun at fantasy tropes).
While I wasn't always sure about the connection to the Summer theme, there's plenty of strange and varied fiction snacks to pick from in this unusual anthology.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 8, 2025
I enjoyed this book of fairytales so much, having already loved its predecessor in the series, ‘Once Upon A Winter’. I love this instalment’s continuation of queer representation, and really heartwarming messages (plus some not-so-heartwarming warnings, for instance about the dangers of climate change, which I was very happy to see included).
The narrative styles & themes of each story are very varied, catering to a lot of different tastes - my personal four favourites were:
The Forest at the End of the World (Josie Jaffrey) - truly harrowing and yet I couldn’t put it down!
It is Written (S Markem) - nonsensical and incredibly funny.
Vespertine (Elanna Bellows) - moving & poignant, with some important themes in the present-day.
The Last Roses of Summer (Kate Longstone) - very clever and it made me laugh a lot.
I highly recommend this anthology to any and all fairytale fans (potentially of any age, provided that younger readers appreciate that many fairytales have traditionally had a darker, bloodier side!). And, for those of you who find content warnings helpful with book recommendations, I’m including a list of those below - so STOP READING HERE TO AVOID MINOR SPOILERS!
——————
Content Warnings:
The narrative styles & themes of each story are very varied, catering to a lot of different tastes - my personal four favourites were:
The Forest at the End of the World (Josie Jaffrey) - truly harrowing and yet I couldn’t put it down!
It is Written (S Markem) - nonsensical and incredibly funny.
Vespertine (Elanna Bellows) - moving & poignant, with some important themes in the present-day.
The Last Roses of Summer (Kate Longstone) - very clever and it made me laugh a lot.
I highly recommend this anthology to any and all fairytale fans (potentially of any age, provided that younger readers appreciate that many fairytales have traditionally had a darker, bloodier side!). And, for those of you who find content warnings helpful with book recommendations, I’m including a list of those below - so STOP READING HERE TO AVOID MINOR SPOILERS!
——————
Content Warnings:
May 30, 2023
I received an eARC of this anthology and am excited to leave this review voluntarily. Spoiler: I loved it!
As someone whose least favorite season is summer, this collection of stories was perfect for finding a little bit of magic in the sweltering weather. I aimed to read one story each evening. As a mixed bag of light and dark tales- I never knew what would come next! There are fairy tales featuring witches, mermaids, even a phoenix! And I loved all of the sapphic relationships – there are so many, which is something truly rare for me. Needless to say, this anthology collection is perfect for the coming pride month.
Usually, my favorite stories are the cute, sapphic, funny ones (The I Scream Van, What Big Geese You Have). However, I found myself more intrigued this time by some of the darker tales (Contract with a Mermaid, The Last Roses of Summer). My absolutely favorite was The Last Roses of Summer- written beautifully with a sinister twist. I woke up the next day still thinking about it!
If you stumbled upon this review and haven’t read this anthology yet, I highly recommend that you do so. There is something for everyone inside. This collection was such a delight! I haven’t read the Winter anthology yet, but it’s going to be a must for me later this year!
As someone whose least favorite season is summer, this collection of stories was perfect for finding a little bit of magic in the sweltering weather. I aimed to read one story each evening. As a mixed bag of light and dark tales- I never knew what would come next! There are fairy tales featuring witches, mermaids, even a phoenix! And I loved all of the sapphic relationships – there are so many, which is something truly rare for me. Needless to say, this anthology collection is perfect for the coming pride month.
Usually, my favorite stories are the cute, sapphic, funny ones (The I Scream Van, What Big Geese You Have). However, I found myself more intrigued this time by some of the darker tales (Contract with a Mermaid, The Last Roses of Summer). My absolutely favorite was The Last Roses of Summer- written beautifully with a sinister twist. I woke up the next day still thinking about it!
If you stumbled upon this review and haven’t read this anthology yet, I highly recommend that you do so. There is something for everyone inside. This collection was such a delight! I haven’t read the Winter anthology yet, but it’s going to be a must for me later this year!
December 16, 2023
Originally posted on Just Geeking by.
Content warnings:
Once Upon a Summer: A Folk and Fairy Tale Anthology is the second season-themed anthology in the series, and like the first one it was a joyful reading experience. While there were a few stories that didn’t catch my attention, or I don’t feel quite fit the theme of ‘summer’, overall the wide variety of stories and themes, as well as the quality of writing, was fantastic. This is a wonderful anthology to read in the summer or during the colder months, as I did to give you those warmer feelings when the weather is miserable.
I want to give a shoutout to some of my personal favourites in Once Upon a Summer. This isn’t an indication of the other stories, these are just the ones that left a lasting impression.
The anthology starts strong with a story by ‘The I Scream Van’ by Caroline Logan. I’m a long-time fan of Logan and loved that this story is so typically her while also showing a different side of her writing. It’s creepy and heart-warming, giving you those Halloween vibes right in the middle of summer. Adie Hart’s ‘What Big Geese You Have’ that follows is a story of two witches who turn up for the same assignment and neither of them is willing to give it up. It’s an unlikely partnership with fairytale elements, and I loved every minute of it. I hope Hart writes more in this universe, as it was great!
‘These Burning Bones’ by Laila Amado is a stunningly powerful story and not to be missed. Fans of a darker story will love ‘The Last Roses of Summer’ by Kate Longstone as much as I did. I may have grinned a little too hard at the conclusion to this one; yes, I have a wicked streak 😉 A unique story that I felt truly embraces the storytelling aspect of folklore is ‘Juniper and the Upside Down Well’ by Ella Holmes. This was such a beautiful story that stuck with me after I read it.
Likewise, ‘Love in the Time of Volcanoes’ by Jake Curran-Pipe had a similar feel. Curran-Pipe is from the Canary Islands and ‘Love in the Time of Volcanoes’ is his interpretation of the legend of Gara and Jonay from La Gomera which is used to explain the existence of the Garajonay National Park. I enjoyed the story, but I also liked that he wanted to write this story so that it would be included in the anthology for the first time.
Just as Once Upon a Summer started with great stories, it ends on a fantastic note. ‘The Witches of Dogtown’ by A. J. Van Belle is a story about witches, women and magic, and quite frankly is amazing. Finishing up the anthology is ‘Contract with a Mermaid’ by M. J. Weatherall, a story set in Scotland and inspired by Celtic folklore. It’s about a Maighdean-mara, a mermaid, who ended up land-bound and as a result offered bargains to mortals. Weatherall’s story is about one such bargain made by a girl to save her mother’s life. It’s a great story and the perfect ending to this summer-themed anthology.
The full list of stories in Once Upon a Summer is:
‘The I Scream Van’ by Caroline Logan
‘What Big Geese You Have’ by Adie Hart
‘The Forest at the End of the World’ by Josie Jaffrey
‘It Is Written’ by S. Markem
‘These Burning Bones’ by Laila Amado
‘Vespertine’ by Elanna Bellows
‘The Last Roses of Summer’ by Kate Longstone
‘Love, Pride, Virtue and Fate’ by Bharat Krishnan
‘Juniper and the Upside Down Well’ by Ella Holmes
‘Love in the Time of Volcanoes’ by Jake Curran-Pipe
‘Bluebeard’s Beach House’ by Jenna Smithwick
‘The Knucker of Lyminster’ by Katherine Shaw
‘Summer Dreams’ by R. A. Gerritse
‘The Witches of Dogtown’ by A. J. Van Belle
‘Contract with a Mermaid’ by M. J. Weatherall
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Content warnings:
Once Upon a Summer: A Folk and Fairy Tale Anthology is the second season-themed anthology in the series, and like the first one it was a joyful reading experience. While there were a few stories that didn’t catch my attention, or I don’t feel quite fit the theme of ‘summer’, overall the wide variety of stories and themes, as well as the quality of writing, was fantastic. This is a wonderful anthology to read in the summer or during the colder months, as I did to give you those warmer feelings when the weather is miserable.
I want to give a shoutout to some of my personal favourites in Once Upon a Summer. This isn’t an indication of the other stories, these are just the ones that left a lasting impression.
The anthology starts strong with a story by ‘The I Scream Van’ by Caroline Logan. I’m a long-time fan of Logan and loved that this story is so typically her while also showing a different side of her writing. It’s creepy and heart-warming, giving you those Halloween vibes right in the middle of summer. Adie Hart’s ‘What Big Geese You Have’ that follows is a story of two witches who turn up for the same assignment and neither of them is willing to give it up. It’s an unlikely partnership with fairytale elements, and I loved every minute of it. I hope Hart writes more in this universe, as it was great!
‘These Burning Bones’ by Laila Amado is a stunningly powerful story and not to be missed. Fans of a darker story will love ‘The Last Roses of Summer’ by Kate Longstone as much as I did. I may have grinned a little too hard at the conclusion to this one; yes, I have a wicked streak 😉 A unique story that I felt truly embraces the storytelling aspect of folklore is ‘Juniper and the Upside Down Well’ by Ella Holmes. This was such a beautiful story that stuck with me after I read it.
Likewise, ‘Love in the Time of Volcanoes’ by Jake Curran-Pipe had a similar feel. Curran-Pipe is from the Canary Islands and ‘Love in the Time of Volcanoes’ is his interpretation of the legend of Gara and Jonay from La Gomera which is used to explain the existence of the Garajonay National Park. I enjoyed the story, but I also liked that he wanted to write this story so that it would be included in the anthology for the first time.
Just as Once Upon a Summer started with great stories, it ends on a fantastic note. ‘The Witches of Dogtown’ by A. J. Van Belle is a story about witches, women and magic, and quite frankly is amazing. Finishing up the anthology is ‘Contract with a Mermaid’ by M. J. Weatherall, a story set in Scotland and inspired by Celtic folklore. It’s about a Maighdean-mara, a mermaid, who ended up land-bound and as a result offered bargains to mortals. Weatherall’s story is about one such bargain made by a girl to save her mother’s life. It’s a great story and the perfect ending to this summer-themed anthology.
The full list of stories in Once Upon a Summer is:
‘The I Scream Van’ by Caroline Logan
‘What Big Geese You Have’ by Adie Hart
‘The Forest at the End of the World’ by Josie Jaffrey
‘It Is Written’ by S. Markem
‘These Burning Bones’ by Laila Amado
‘Vespertine’ by Elanna Bellows
‘The Last Roses of Summer’ by Kate Longstone
‘Love, Pride, Virtue and Fate’ by Bharat Krishnan
‘Juniper and the Upside Down Well’ by Ella Holmes
‘Love in the Time of Volcanoes’ by Jake Curran-Pipe
‘Bluebeard’s Beach House’ by Jenna Smithwick
‘The Knucker of Lyminster’ by Katherine Shaw
‘Summer Dreams’ by R. A. Gerritse
‘The Witches of Dogtown’ by A. J. Van Belle
‘Contract with a Mermaid’ by M. J. Weatherall
BLOG | REVIEWS | REVIEW SCHEDULE | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST |
June 4, 2023
A lovely summer anthology perfect for reading in the garden with a glass of Pimms or sangria (and yes, I am speaking from experience!)
Whilst I enjoyed all the stories, there were a few particular favourites:
Firstly, What Big Geese You Have by Adie Hart. I enjoyed Hart's District Witch story in the Winter anthology and I loved this one, too. A runaway princess, opposite attracts sapphic witches and an angry goose - what more do you need? I particularly enjoyed the banter between the two witches.
The Knucker of Lyminster by Katherine Shaw also has a runaway princess and sapphics (spotting a theme to my tastes here!) and I loved the blossoming understanding between the princess and the knucker.
Next, there's still more sapphics, but also an enchanted well and fae this time, in Juniper and the Upside Down Well by Ella T. Holmes. I loved the characters in this and I was genuinely invested in them managing to break the curse.
Meanwhile, It is Written by S. Markem was entirely different - a satirical tale all about a wizard trying to have an adventure worthy of being included in a summer anthology. This was just a lot of silly fun that nicely balanced out some of the serious stories.
Overall, I highly recommend this is you're looking for a summery read!
Whilst I enjoyed all the stories, there were a few particular favourites:
Firstly, What Big Geese You Have by Adie Hart. I enjoyed Hart's District Witch story in the Winter anthology and I loved this one, too. A runaway princess, opposite attracts sapphic witches and an angry goose - what more do you need? I particularly enjoyed the banter between the two witches.
The Knucker of Lyminster by Katherine Shaw also has a runaway princess and sapphics (spotting a theme to my tastes here!) and I loved the blossoming understanding between the princess and the knucker.
Next, there's still more sapphics, but also an enchanted well and fae this time, in Juniper and the Upside Down Well by Ella T. Holmes. I loved the characters in this and I was genuinely invested in them managing to break the curse.
Meanwhile, It is Written by S. Markem was entirely different - a satirical tale all about a wizard trying to have an adventure worthy of being included in a summer anthology. This was just a lot of silly fun that nicely balanced out some of the serious stories.
Overall, I highly recommend this is you're looking for a summery read!
June 2, 2023
Once Upon a Summer is the second in an ongoing series of folk and fairy tale anthologies , following on from 2021's release, Once Upon a Winter. Once again a diverse group of writers come together to create a book filled with magic, mythology and even a little humour, guaranteeing that there will be something to appeal to every reader. The diversity in the stories reflects the fact that the contributors to the book hail from all over the globe, and I particularly appreciated a couple of stories where the writers gave their own takes on local myths and fables such as Love, Pride, Virtue and Faith by Bharat Krishan or Love in the Time of Volcanoes by Jake Curran Pipe, as well as new riffs on childhood favourites like Adie Hart's take on the Goose Girl with her story What Big Geese You Have. The Ice Scream Van by Caroline Logan was such a strong opener that I knew I was in good hands with this book, and I was not disappointed as there was not a single story I did not like in the bunch, a real rarity when it comes to anthologies like this. Other highlights included the wit and humour of S Markem's It is Written , about an archetypal wizard on a uniquely "summery" quest and the whimsy and magic of The Knucker of Lyminster by Katherine Shaw which sent me down a rabbit hole as I had never heard the term knucker before and I was immediately intrigued.
This is a really strong collection of stories, and one that I would highly recommend to fans of the genre , or to those who are looking to broaden their reading horizons.
I read a free advance copy of this book, and am voluntarily writing this review, all opinions are my own .
This is a really strong collection of stories, and one that I would highly recommend to fans of the genre , or to those who are looking to broaden their reading horizons.
I read a free advance copy of this book, and am voluntarily writing this review, all opinions are my own .
June 4, 2023
I very much enjoyed this collection of fantasy short stories.
Some are funny, some are dark and all have a delightful little twist on the theme of Summer.
Highly recommend this anthology just like its predecessor Once Upon a Winter.
My favourites were:
• What Big Geese You Have by Adie Hart - a sapphic romcom and warm hug of a story, full of charm and wit
• The Last Roses of Summer by Kate Longstone - a refreshing, new witch tale
• These Burning Bones by Laila Amado - a beautiful retelling of one of my favourite Slavic folk tales
• Juniper and the Upside Down Well by Ella T. Holmes - I love stories about the power of stories
• The I Scream Van by Caroline Logan – a story featuring monsters, ice-cream and first love evoking the perfect summer feeling
Some are funny, some are dark and all have a delightful little twist on the theme of Summer.
Highly recommend this anthology just like its predecessor Once Upon a Winter.
My favourites were:
• What Big Geese You Have by Adie Hart - a sapphic romcom and warm hug of a story, full of charm and wit
• The Last Roses of Summer by Kate Longstone - a refreshing, new witch tale
• These Burning Bones by Laila Amado - a beautiful retelling of one of my favourite Slavic folk tales
• Juniper and the Upside Down Well by Ella T. Holmes - I love stories about the power of stories
• The I Scream Van by Caroline Logan – a story featuring monsters, ice-cream and first love evoking the perfect summer feeling
May 18, 2023
Absolutely loved this book! There was such a great mix of stories and all very well written! As soon as I read the opening story I knew I was going to enjoy the rest of the book and I think it was a really great story to open up with. I really liked that it was a variety and not just completely all fantasy or fairy tale. Would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves anthologies and anything folklore or magical.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 10, 2023
An enjoyable collection of short stories featuring summer as a connecting theme. Interesting and eclectic in setting, time, and vibe, with diverse characters and authors.
There was definitely a big variety in tone and content between some of the stories, from sapphic monsters in love and kind witches to infanticide. I generally liked them, though the collection as a whole felt a bit random and disjointed.
ARC from BookSirens.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
There was definitely a big variety in tone and content between some of the stories, from sapphic monsters in love and kind witches to infanticide. I generally liked them, though the collection as a whole felt a bit random and disjointed.
ARC from BookSirens.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 3, 2023
An entertaining bunch of stories from various authors. Some of the stories were enthralling. Good world building with wholesome characters. The interaction of humans with otherworldly creatures was well portrayed. A man's obsession with some rare roses leads him into strange territory. A young girl makes a bargain with a mermaid. Is visiting Dogtown a good Idea? Bluebeard has a deadly agenda and very dark secrets.
June 15, 2023
The stories are descriptive, some happy and some sinister. The fairy tales vary from past tense and present tense, a tense which is a personal pleasant way to read, and vary in length. My favourites are The I Scream Van, These Burning Bones, Love in the Time of Volcanoes, and The Knucker of Lyminster.
I received a free copy and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Thank you to Booksirens and author.
I received a free copy and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Thank you to Booksirens and author.
June 19, 2023
https://thebibliophagist.blog/2023/06...
I find it difficult to write too much about any of these stories because I do not want to give too much information away. You really should get yourself a copy and dive in. I think every author did a wonderful job and showing rather than telling. Images danced through my head as I read each page and I discovered some new authors I will be following.
I find it difficult to write too much about any of these stories because I do not want to give too much information away. You really should get yourself a copy and dive in. I think every author did a wonderful job and showing rather than telling. Images danced through my head as I read each page and I discovered some new authors I will be following.
August 14, 2023
Short stories to entertain you. This book has unique short stories that vary in genre. Mostly come from fantasy backgrounds but some are dark takes while others touch your heart. If you are like me a need to set reading limits before bed, this book is perfect to give you a great story before you doze off. I would highly recommend this story for all readers that love good writing and want to find new authors. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 7, 2023
An overall entertaining collection of fairy tales, some more memorable than others. Personal favorites are These Burning Bones by Laila Amado and The Last Roses of Summer by Kate Longstone.
eARC courtesy of BookSirens.
eARC courtesy of BookSirens.
May 28, 2023
This book will give you all the feels.
I loved this short story anthology. There was romance, humor, thought-provoking, and sad stories. It hit my heart in all the different ways. It was enjoyable and amazing. I highly recommend it!
I loved this short story anthology. There was romance, humor, thought-provoking, and sad stories. It hit my heart in all the different ways. It was enjoyable and amazing. I highly recommend it!
July 15, 2025
Having absolutely adored Caroline Logan's works before, I was excited to pick up a collection that included more of her writing and I'm glad it exposed me to more indei authors! This was a fun anthology, although some of the stories connections to summer were a bit tenuous, and I'm excited to carry on with the rest of this seasonal bindup.
There was fantastic representation throughout these short stories, with disabled, diverse, and LGBTQ+ characters. There was also a good mix of genres: fantasy, romance, and dystopian being just a few. Each story is totally unique and it adds to the expansive feeling of the collection.
No surprises here, I adored Caroline's story. The I Scream Van is something I would adore to read more of! I got total Sarah Maria Griffin vibes in the best way and I'd love a whole book for this one! So much detail we could get into!
Now to wait until Autumn until I can read the next collection!
There was fantastic representation throughout these short stories, with disabled, diverse, and LGBTQ+ characters. There was also a good mix of genres: fantasy, romance, and dystopian being just a few. Each story is totally unique and it adds to the expansive feeling of the collection.
No surprises here, I adored Caroline's story. The I Scream Van is something I would adore to read more of! I got total Sarah Maria Griffin vibes in the best way and I'd love a whole book for this one! So much detail we could get into!
Now to wait until Autumn until I can read the next collection!
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