What a wonderful collection of historical/fantastical romantic short stories. Each is like a perfect little capsule that takes you to a different time and place. I'm also amazed by those who can neatly tie a bow on a short story and make so few words seem like a perfect snapshot of a moment in time. There's a story for everyone between these pages. Like a box of chocolate, you can savor one at a time or gobble them all at once. Yummy! Definitely recommend.
So excited to be a part of this anthology with these other talented YA writers. I LOVED writing Stella's Hero with my friend and co-conspirator Ansha Kotyk and we both hope you love Stella and Jie as much as we do.
Just a disclaimer – I am the author of one of the stories. But I really enjoyed reading the rest. Each takes place in a different and interesting time period, with splashes of fantasy/steampunk and a few surprises along the way. They are love stories, but there are no passive heroines or cookie-cutter heroes. Rather, the characters make tough choices and take control of their destinies. These are genuine romances, but I was struck by another common thread that runs through these stories – the desire for freedom, whether it be freedom from physical peril or unfair societal expectations. Weaving these threads together creates dynamic stories that can be read in one sitting, but which will linger “timelessly.”