A Chronicle of Monsters: A Fantasy Anthology

by Rita A. Rubin, Talli L. Morgan, Dewi Hargreaves

A thrilling collection of ten fantasy short stories, with monsters, romance and LGBT+ representation.

In these stories you will find a fierce battle between a knight and a dragon, sparks in an unusual tattoo shop flying, a healer who finds herself drawn to the banshee heralding the deaths of her patients, a god-killer, a monster slayer realising that not all monsters are as they appear, and more.

Genres: Fantasy, Anthologies, Queer, LGBT

ebook

Published March 27, 2024

About the author

An indie author currently residing in Melbourne, Australia with their dog, cat and many books.

Reviews

[Louis C · Rating 4 out of 5]

(ARC REVIEW)


A fun and queer anthology of monster stories that are great to discover new authors or for readers who want to dive into fantasy but might feel overwhelmed by big worlds and big casts of characters. The variety of stories and featured characters was done well, though I wished there was maybe some more of an overall feel that connected the stories. Nevertheless, all stories were to my liking and I enjoyed the messages and themes they explored, as well did I get a good feeling about every author featured and their way of telling stories.

[spidermse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this queer monster fantasy anthology! Each one was so creative. I was hooked from the first story! There is a great variety of stories, characters, and settings and even though they were all short, I still really enjoyed the world building and pace of each one.

I think out of all of them my favorite was She Sings The Graveyard Hymn. Catriona was so brave, strong, and selfless. I was really happy how it ended. I did cry a bit. But they were happy tears!

Definitely going to keep an eye out for more from these authors!

[Wicked Fox ✨️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was drawn into the stories from the start and was blown away by the variety of stories in this antho! I highly recommend this to anyone looking for bite-sized reads with monsters and romance!

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher.

This is a very nice collection of fantasy short stories with a focus on LGBT+ representation and while I didn't enjoy every story in here (some felt too short to be really enjoyable and not all were the type of fantasy I normally read), I liked that there was a nice flow from story to story and that it features a variety of fantasy subgenres (from classical knights and dragons to urban fantasy with shifters and magic tattooink there's something for everyone) and LGBT+ representation (I want to note here that two stories feature trans women as main characters! This shouldn't have to make me this happy but after managing to find a few anthologies with "LGBT+" representation that only feature one transfem side character at most or none at all for my last few anthologies, this was a breath of much needed fresh air!). My favorites of this anthology were "She sings the Graveyard Hymn" by Nicole Tota, "To Cage a Godkiller" by Amanda Ferreira and "We Fellow Monsters" by Mawce Hanlin. All in all I can say that if you enjoy fantasy and queer characters there will definitely be a few stories here that you'll enjoy. My seperate short reviews for each short story as well as notes on trigger warnings and representation can be found below (the trigger warnings are also included in the anthology itself in the beginning of the book, which I also liked).

The Beast of the Greyswood by Rita A. Rubin was a great way to start this anthology. It includes a bisexual slayer, whose also a concerned dad and if you enjoy the Witcher this is a great one to start with (forests with spooky mansions, what makes a monster, cool fighting scenes, it's all in here). I liked the characters and the story was spooky and fun. Plus who doesn't love a good spooky murder mystery? TW: murder, mention of past domestic abuse, hints at past sexual assault, Rep: bisexual man MC

She sings the Graveyard Hymn by Nicola Tota. As mentioned above it's one of my favorites in this anthology. It's gothic, it's haunted AND haunting, it has cool healing magic, sapphic ghosts and chronic pain with flare ups and it's very, very good and fun. I loved following Catriona's story and seeing how she changed over time. TW: plague, widespread illness, chronic pain, murder, death, harassment/pressure to marry, Rep: bisexual woman MC, sapphic LI

Lady of the Dark by Taylor Hubbard: a dnd-esque fantasy with orcs and elves and a quest to save a child. The romance is cute, the trans elf girl is badass, the hot orc is hot (and also badass), the child-abducting creatures are scary. I quite enjoyed this one and if you like Legends and Lattes but would like it to be a bit more spooky, this is definitely one to check out. TW: Child abduction, violence, Rep: sapphic trans woman MC, sapphic Li

Mightier Than the Sword by Talli L. Morgan: more epic fantasy, with knights and dragons and lots of battles, it is very tragic and I loved the twist ending. Unfortunately the battle scenes did not interest me enough and they did take up a big part of the story, so it is one of the stories I enjoyed a bit less. TW: child abuse (neglect), death, Rep: sapphic MC

Oilback Beetle Symbiosis by Dewi Hargreaves: The world building in this short story is incredible, it felt kinda LeGuin-esque with a very interesting thought out religion and tradition system and the few people that dare to question it, it is a story about survival in an inhospitable environment and focusses on making your own decisions. TW: water scarcity, mild harm to animals, Rep: mlm MC

To Cage A God-Killer by Amanda Ferreira: Another one of my favs. It is a dark story about betrayal, secrets, powerful ghosts, sacrifice and magic. But it is also a story about love and it hints at a possibly better future. Definitely a story where I would have loved to read more though. It also features a trans woman MC who makes a deal with a dark dangerous entity and it's not to transition, but for other things. I liked that. The world building was also really interesting. TW: murder and graphic violence, Rep: trans woman MC

We Fellow Monsters by Mawce Hanlin: A trans cat burglar and his brother break into a rich man's mansion and find something they weren't expecting. The story is very tense and filled with suspense which I adored. The magic is interesting and I would have loved to read some more about it. The little brother is a wonderful little brother. A really good, sweet and heartbreaking story about trans solidarity and trans revenge. TW: past child abuse, intentional and unintentional misgendering, transphobia, fantasy racism, Rep: trans man MC, trans woman SC

Why? by Aimee Donnellan: A newly created being struggles with understanding their powers and themself in this fairytale esque fantasy world with wizards in towers and a small town in a forest. It is a very sweet and adorable story and I particularly liked the wizard. TW: hints at ableist attitudes

Atlas by Beau Van Dalen: A young trans man gives up his body and joins the shades in a cave, knowing it's the only way to relieve his dysphoria in an unaccepting society. The worldbuilding is interesting and I liked the first two thirds of the story a lot. The last third is very sweet and adorable and moved a bit too fast for me to fully enjoy it. I also liked the trans happy end, even if don't really like magic transition most of the time. TW: dysphoria, violence, depression Rep: trans man MC

Neon Needle by Halli Starling: this is a sapphic urban magic/fantasy short story with interesting world building and a hint of spice. It was sweet and fun, one of the more humorous pieces and I liked the tattoo magic. TW: slight horror, Rep: sapphic MC and LI

[Norah (Studying) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this anthology. It is a bunch of fantasy short stories from different authors with LGBT+ representation. There is lots of variety and they were overall really enjoyable.
Personally I don't think anthologies or short stories are really my thing. I personally can't get into it, and when I get into it the story is already over. I don't really connect with the characters that fast unfortunately. And that has nothing to do with the authors ability to write or anything, that is just a me thing.

If you do like anthologies/short stories or have never tried them I would definitely recommend. Because it's written really well and not boring.

Thank you to the author for giving me this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

[achilles · Rating 4 out of 5]

(ARC review)

4.5/5

A Chronicle of Monsters is a delightful anthology of amazing stories with casual queer rep. The stories are all very well written and have different vibes to them. Some classic gothic, some classic fantasy, and some with more modern middle-age fantasy vibes, I thoroughly enjoyed this collection. It is an amazing read if you are looking for a quick and enjoyable read of queer fantasy.

[Nessa Vi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for a review.

I really enjoyed this anthology! I liked the variety of fantasy stories and how they all centered around monsters. Mightier than the Sword and She Sings the Graveyard Hymn were two of my favourites.

I'm leaving off a star in my rating because, though because there were two stories I didn't really enjoy as much.

[C.J. Aralore · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Chronicle of Monsters: A Fantasy Anthology is a carefully curated collection of short fantasy stories that all feature at least one queer character. Despite ranging in tone, from thrilling to beautiful, and having different narration styles, these stories fit together artfully well, never feeling jarring or out of place.

This attests to Rita A. Rubin's ability to not only select works that blend well but also put them in an order that flows. For example, Rita's The Beast of the Greyswood is a perfect opening story, capturing the theme of monsters while adding in elements that you'll see again in other stories to come, from hunting, to danger, to protecting a loved one, to romance, to wondering what or who is really a monster.

This leads into the second story, She Sings the Graveyard Hymn by Nicole Tota. I immediately connected to Catriona and how she's used for her gift, and her longing through the pain. It felt so visceral and immersive that her feelings became my own. It's also hauntingly beautiful.

While Lady of the Dark by Taylor Hubbard begins with the sense of both duty and connection that She Sings ends with, it quickly turns to action. This is something many fantasy readers will connect to (although less so my tastes) while still keeping the stakes and character growth.

Mightier Than the Sword by Talli L. Morgan begins with the action of Lady of the Dark, creating such danger and tragedy that I too wanted revenge. But, what unfolds after that is something I wasn't expecting and found surprisingly touching.

Oilback Beetle Symbiosis by Dewi Hargreaves creates an immersive and imaginative world even on such a small scale. It has some surprising twists and a deeper message about conflicting viewpoints, the environment, and human nature.

To Cage A God-Killer by Amanda Ferreira almost reads like a poem, with such rich visuals that it made what could have been a very dark story about betrayal, secrets, and what someone will do for glory into something ultimately empowering.

We Fellow Monsters by Mawce Hanlin brings back the protection of apprentice motif from earlier, this time between siblings on a heist. The very clear danger creates a sense of suspense throughout, up until the dramatic and tense conclusion.

Why? by Aimee Donnellan builds from the protective sentiment of someone younger to tell a story from the perspective of a newly-created being. Char's view of the world, misunderstanding, and friendship, all felt genuine and left me filled with warmth.

Atlas by Beau Van Dalen is another poetic story, this time flowing from the theme of being new to being timeless. Despite easily predicting how it would end, I was captivated by the lyrical picture it painted of longing to be seen as yourself.

Neon Needle by Halli Starling is a perfect way to end this collection, with a quirky fantasy story that combines the expected question of what's a monster, immersive world building, and romance, with humor and sass. It kept a smile on my face to the end.

A Chronicle of Monsters is filled with fantasy elements, danger, romance, and of course monsters, but every story also has queer representation. Some are pronounced and some are subtle. And, although some felt incidental to the story, some are so much a part of the story that the entire thing would fall apart without them (She Sings the Graveyard Hymn is a perfect example of this).

So, while it would have been nice to have even more stories in this collection, if you're looking for queer fantasy short stories, you'll most likey find this is what you've been waiting for.

[Graff Fuller · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Chronicle of Monsters: A Fantasy Anthology by Rita A. Rubin

Challenging, funny, mysterious, reflective, and tense.

Medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75 Stars or a tick better

A Chronicle of Monsters - with a cumlative rating of 3.8 Stars.

I'm not a huge fan of short stories, but it is good to read outside your comfort zone from time to time. So, I was really excited to pick up this book...and find the hidden gems within. Thank you for the opportunity.

01 - Rita A. Rubin - The Beast of the Greyswood - 4.25 Stars
- A really atmospheric story...and surprising amount of worldbuilding for a short story. The characters were alluring, and I was sad when it was finished...for I wanted MORE!

02 - Nicole Tota - She Sings the Graveyard Hymn - 4 Stars
- Goodness, this was eerie. I'm glad she didn't, but then wasn't sure she could do what she did. I would like to know about her.

03 - Taylor Hubbard - Lady of the Dark - 3 Stars
- I just never connected with the characters...so as the action was happening, I wasn't moves by it (either for or against), which isn't what should've happened. Hmmm. I did like that the race was about an orc child.

04 - Talli L. Morgan - Mightier Than the Sword - 4 Stars
- A knight going to kill a dragon, and the story starts. Loved the concept and the resolution. My heart swells.

05 - Dewi Hargreaves - Oilback Beetle Symbiosis - 3.25 Stars
- This a weird story, and it didn't connect with me. What we know, and take from this story an visualize it (a trip).

06 - Amanda Ferreira - To Cage a Godkiller - 3.5 Stars
- Okay, that was interesting. Hmm?!The gifts/talents that you have...and how you use it. Also, the idea of lying...since others don't understand.

07 - Mawce Hanlin - We Fellow Monsters - 5 Stars
- Atmospheric, Cool idea to speed up its life. Loved the entire vibe and story of this one. Really great!

08 - Aimee Donnellan - Why? 4.5 Stars
- I loved this origin story. It feels like the author had a child...and allowed her real world creation spill over into her writing...creativiting this story. BTW, I was surprised by what Char actually was...that had NOT come to mind...till I saw it written. Very interesting.

09 - Beau Van Dalen - Atlas - 2.5 Stars 
- I wasn't as interested in this story. It was well written, and I believe that it will find its audience, though it wasn't for me.

10 - Halli Starling - Neon Needle - 4 Stars
- I had NO idea where this story was going to go, but that was a lot of fun. I chuckled when I read the sign at the end of the story...so much so, that my wife asked me what I was reading...then I told her about this wonderful anthology of monsters. 

She is currently reading it, now. Word of mouth really DOES do the job.

Thank you for allowing me to read an eArc copy of this book. With all stories, not every one of them worked for me, but there is NO doubt that every story will work for someone.

Again, thank you for this adventure.

[Regan Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Chronicle of Monsters is a cozy, low-stakes collection of bite-sized stories, each of which has a unique take on the motif of the monstrous. You never know from one story to the next who the ‘monster’ might be. A Chronicle of Monsters is a refreshing read that you can pick up and put down at your leisure.

Here are the stories that especially stood out to me for their originality, worldbuilding, and impact (in order of appearance):

She Sings the Graveyard Hymn (Nicole Tota)

Catriona is a healer who takes her patients’ pain and makes it her own. Despite the nuptial advances of the plague doctor she works with, she falls in love instead with a banshee who portends those patients’ deaths. Both a chilling love story and a commentary on how women’s pain is taken for granted, Tota’s short story, written with haunting and poetic prose, is captivating, with a sweet and violent twist.

Oilback Beetle Symbiosis (Dewi Hargreaves)

I was hooked on this story from the title. Hargreaves manages to pack so much worldbuilding into such a short story, I was truly in awe of the talent here. Drisoli, a member of a clan of people whose way of life depends on the giant beetles that they follow in an endless peregrination, is charged with deciding the clan’s fate. To do so, he must do what the clan never does, and retrace his steps to find the truth. I’m still ruminating on what it means to go Backwards in order to move forwards and I would definitely read more stories set in this richly-detailed world.

Why? (Aimee Donnellan)

Char is a monster. At least, that’s what the villagers say, when Char escapes their wizard’s tower. Despite their best efforts, they can’t seem to escape causing destruction everywhere they go. They only want to learn about the world, and feel their fire burning. Where do they belong? Donnellan’s tale is told from the perspective of this peculiar beast, and the wide-eyed innocence and heart-wrenching pain they experience is captivating.

Overall, I would give the book 4/5 stars, because some stories were stronger than others.

Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Laura Samotin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A CHRONICLE OF MONSTERS is a fantasy anthology full of stories that were imaginative and captivating. I raced through the collection and was introduced to many new voices that I’ll definitely be following to see what they write next.

I loved each of the stories, but several were worthy of particular mention:

In “She Sings the Graveyard Hymn”, a healer with magical powers is enchanted by a banshee following her path as she cares for plague-stricken patients. I loved the way Catriona refused to let her pain define her or her self of self-worth. I was cheering for her through the whole story, and I wished I could follow her along through many more pages.

In “To Cage a Godkiller,” Pella, a ghost keeper with a multitude of secrets, reveals to the reader what she can’t even reveal to the friend who keeps her hidden truths. The story is gorgeously written and speaks to transformations both affirming and painful.
Pella confronts the reader with her complex nature, a blend of a sympathetic character with an unapologetically destructive one, and I wanted to know much more about her and how she came to her sense of self.

“Neon Needle” was a delightful romp through a magical tattoo shop full of outcasts and a computer trying to start a cult. The humor was sharp and the romance was sweet (pun intended), and I’ll certainly be checking out all of Halli Starling’s other works.

[atlas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free ARC of this book and here's my honest review.

My Rating: 3.75 (average of individual ratings of stories)

I find it hard to review short story collection because there are always some I like and some I don't. I did love that all of the stories had queer MC's and most of them were queernormative.
It was a bit unfortunate that the ones I didn't like that much were in the beginning and the ones I did at end.

I also noticed that I like stories better that confuse me a bit.

Here are my ratings of each story:

The Bears of the Greyswood: 2/5

She Sings the Graveyard: 4/5

Lady of the Dark: 3.5/5

Mightier Than the Sword: 3/5

Oilback Beetle Symbiosis: 4.5/5

To cage a godkiller: 4/5

We Fellow Monsters: 4/5

Why?: 4/5

Atlas: 4.5/5

Neon Needle: 4/5

[Cat Bowser · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy for review and am leaving my thoughts voluntarily.

Well, there’s another ARC I’m going to need a paperback copy of on my shelf. I suspected it by story two but by the time the book was done, I was certain.

What a beautiful variety of characters here! We see monsters in a completely different light—individuals with fears, loves, and lives they wish to live. Some are in more traditional settings, some in a cozy fantasy realm but all of them are excellent.

There’s some wonderful world building in here, both in terms of characters and cultures. I felt so at home with so many of these pairings. Lovely, adorable tales!

I look forward to having it on my shelf.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the authors for providing me a free ARC copy in exchange for a honest review.

"A Chronicle of Monsters: A Fantasy Anthology" is a fantasy anthology set around the theme of monsters. There is a wide variety of monsters used throughout this anthology, sometimes the protagonist, others the antagonist and sometimes its not so straight forward on who / what is the monster of the tale.

My favourites were "She Sings the Graveyard Hymn", "The Beast of the Greywood" and "Why?". Would recommend if you enjoy fantasy, there is something here for everyone.

[Effie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this ARC for free in exchange for a review! thank you for this opportunity!!

cute and short high fantasy semi low stakes romance spread across different types of people, finding themself and finding their other person.

some stories hit really good and one or two missed for me, but such is the nature of an anthology.

[Azariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

With novel-worthy tales that range from the heartwarming to the heroic, A CHRONICLE OF MONSTERS: A FANTASY ANTHOLOGY is a splendid collection of stories that weave the kind of wondrous fantasy that has you charmed throughout and ever eager to see what awaits you next.

[Talli Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Disclaimer: I contributed a story to this collection and am voluntarily leaving a review based on the other included stories.)
I finished A CHRONICLE OF MONSTERS a few days ago and I haven’t stopped thinking about it. This is a brilliant collection of short fantasy fiction from some incredibly talented indie authors. Despite the really broad theme, the stories work well together, and I love how many of them explore queerness in various contexts. Each of these bite-sized stories made me eager to check out the authors’ other works––alas, my TBR grows once again.

[Akansha · Rating 4 out of 5]

10 short stories.

Each tells the story of a monster set in a different world and filled with queer characters. Some of them have love as the theme but there are also stories about friendship, sibling bonds, and families.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable read with many interesting stories inside. What a talented bunch of writers we have here!

[cathán · Rating 5 out of 5]

RTC I need to figure out my notes on this one lol

[Tabitha O’Connell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review to come!

[Jade Connery · Rating 5 out of 5]

i really enjoyed this anthology and as much as i tried to pace myself and make it last i couldn't help but speed right through it. every story had me hooked and it was so so hard to put it down a lot of the time.

i got an arc of this book in exchange for a review.

[Lianne Dubbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fantasy anthology put together by Rita Rubin was a wonderful read. I loved reading stories that were queernormative and had low stakes. I also appreciated the variety of queer rep and stories. My favorite stories were She Sings the Graveyard Hymn, Mightier Than the Sword, and Neon Needle. I highly recommend reading this fantasy anthology! Thank you Rita Rubin for compiling this anthology!

Disclaimer: I received a free eARC, and I'm voluntarily leaving an honest review.