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The Carnelian King and Other Stories
A collection of fifteen short fantasy stories introducing dazzling new worlds.
From a magical second-hand shop hidden between dimensions to rolling emerald hills dotted with ancient ruins, through carnivorous winter woods and across the war-torn steppes of a crumbling empire, this collection spans beloved fantasy genres from classic to cozy, action and adventure to sword and sorcery, and gothic horror to romance. Some of these many star-crossed worlds
A dashing knight nostalgic for the lost myth and glory of the Golden Age, and a reclusive sorcerer who is more than he seems.
Gentlemen dragons, sapphic dragons, dragons as small as hummingbirds and as vast as rivers.
The first installments in a new sword & sorcery series, featuring a mercenary knight who cannot be killed and a horde of witches, lich-kings, and curses.
Trading tales of survival in the god-wrecked scrublands of the old west.
An eldritch house hungering for fresh meat.
A disgraced prophet, his flirtatious rival, and a foal whose birth foretells great changes for their land.
From a magical second-hand shop hidden between dimensions to rolling emerald hills dotted with ancient ruins, through carnivorous winter woods and across the war-torn steppes of a crumbling empire, this collection spans beloved fantasy genres from classic to cozy, action and adventure to sword and sorcery, and gothic horror to romance. Some of these many star-crossed worlds
A dashing knight nostalgic for the lost myth and glory of the Golden Age, and a reclusive sorcerer who is more than he seems.
Gentlemen dragons, sapphic dragons, dragons as small as hummingbirds and as vast as rivers.
The first installments in a new sword & sorcery series, featuring a mercenary knight who cannot be killed and a horde of witches, lich-kings, and curses.
Trading tales of survival in the god-wrecked scrublands of the old west.
An eldritch house hungering for fresh meat.
A disgraced prophet, his flirtatious rival, and a foal whose birth foretells great changes for their land.
249 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 30, 2024
5 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
About the author
Arden Powell
26 books419 followersArden Powell (they/them) is a Canadian author and illustrator with stories in Lightspeed Magazine, Baffling Magazine, and Haunt Publishing, and whose books include The Faerie Hounds of York, The Bayou, the Flos Magicae series, and their short story collection, The Carnelian King and Other Stories. A nebulous entity, they live with a senior rescue hound and an exorbitant number of houseplants, and enjoy the company of both.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 30, 2024
This book was a bit of an experiment for me because I haven’t tried a short story collection before. Given that I have loved the novellas that I have read by Powell this felt like a safe place to explore something new.
This collection features snippets of various fantasy worlds and different characters, as well as a diversity of archillian, saffic and nonbinary stories.
Perhaps not surprising, given how much I like good character work and relationship building, some of these work for me and some felt a bit dull. The stories that I enjoyed best (marked with a ✨) were also ones that I wished for more of, and luckily it appears that Powell isn’t done with some of them yet, mentioning in her comment that they have more planned for Theo and James in Remington Place Bookshop stories as well as Sir Fionnobhar and Marten.
This collection is a nice little palette cleanser to read between books if you need a break. I’m not sure if I’m a convert to short story collections or if this just continues to be a Powell stan account.
✨The Carnelian King: a cute little story about a pacifist knight meeting a dragon
The Wizard Giovanni Del Fiori and the Cometa Cinquanta: a wizard prepares his garden to impress a comet that visits every 50 years.
The Rainbow Necklace and the God of Summertime: A summertime incarnate god and his love story with a simple goat herder.
✨A Nun of the Order of Infinite Luck Walks into a Bookshop: a lucky nun disarms a magic grenade.
Sir Fionnobhar the Black and the Becastled Knight: a Knight who can’t die battles a cursed animated castle
Sir Fionnobhar and the Cursef Blade: Fion finds a cursed blade that just wants a little world domination.
✨ The Rise of the Black Pearl Moon: a mysterious prisoner with a hidden power is being held in a dungeon.
✨ An Autopsy of a Haunted House: A customer with a haunted house dies in Theo and James’ shop.
The Silver Woods in Winter: a traveler searches for her lost love in a sentient forest.
Comparing Scars Under Technicolour Rainskies: Two women meet while waiting out a rainstorm in a dystopian future
✨ Under the Shadow of a Fallen Empire: Following the peaceful surrender to a neighboring Empire two rival horse masters work together in their new world.
Beyond the Riverbanks of the Jade Palace: A betrothed Nobel woman and her Lady in waiting share a moment in the Palace gardens.
Ruby and Brindle: A prison rat and a pet rat meet.
The Temple at the End of Things: an Empresses maid finds herself the last person in her civilization.
A Future Glimpsed Through Smog: A young man who experiences visions is given a chance at a future outside the institution he is kept at.
This collection features snippets of various fantasy worlds and different characters, as well as a diversity of archillian, saffic and nonbinary stories.
Perhaps not surprising, given how much I like good character work and relationship building, some of these work for me and some felt a bit dull. The stories that I enjoyed best (marked with a ✨) were also ones that I wished for more of, and luckily it appears that Powell isn’t done with some of them yet, mentioning in her comment that they have more planned for Theo and James in Remington Place Bookshop stories as well as Sir Fionnobhar and Marten.
This collection is a nice little palette cleanser to read between books if you need a break. I’m not sure if I’m a convert to short story collections or if this just continues to be a Powell stan account.
✨The Carnelian King: a cute little story about a pacifist knight meeting a dragon
The Wizard Giovanni Del Fiori and the Cometa Cinquanta: a wizard prepares his garden to impress a comet that visits every 50 years.
The Rainbow Necklace and the God of Summertime: A summertime incarnate god and his love story with a simple goat herder.
✨A Nun of the Order of Infinite Luck Walks into a Bookshop: a lucky nun disarms a magic grenade.
Sir Fionnobhar the Black and the Becastled Knight: a Knight who can’t die battles a cursed animated castle
Sir Fionnobhar and the Cursef Blade: Fion finds a cursed blade that just wants a little world domination.
✨ The Rise of the Black Pearl Moon: a mysterious prisoner with a hidden power is being held in a dungeon.
✨ An Autopsy of a Haunted House: A customer with a haunted house dies in Theo and James’ shop.
The Silver Woods in Winter: a traveler searches for her lost love in a sentient forest.
Comparing Scars Under Technicolour Rainskies: Two women meet while waiting out a rainstorm in a dystopian future
✨ Under the Shadow of a Fallen Empire: Following the peaceful surrender to a neighboring Empire two rival horse masters work together in their new world.
Beyond the Riverbanks of the Jade Palace: A betrothed Nobel woman and her Lady in waiting share a moment in the Palace gardens.
Ruby and Brindle: A prison rat and a pet rat meet.
The Temple at the End of Things: an Empresses maid finds herself the last person in her civilization.
A Future Glimpsed Through Smog: A young man who experiences visions is given a chance at a future outside the institution he is kept at.
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October 3, 2024It's book release day for my first short story collection, and I'm so proud to see The Carnelian King & Other Stories out in the world. This collection is made up of requests from my readers and dedications to friends and family who helped me through surgery in the spring, making this much more of a community effort than my previous books. I've said it before in the book itself, in my newsletter, in private conversations, but I'm saying it again here: this book exists thanks to the generosity of the queer indie community, and thanks to my readers who have supported me and shown so much enthusiasm throughout my career so far. Thank you.
In writing this, I got to play with many different fantasy genres, and introduce new characters and settings that immediately sank their hooks into me to demand I write more of them, like the Remington Place bookshop, which appears several times throughout, and Sir Fionnobhar the knight, who is in the process of spawning an entire external series. I hope you have as good a time reading about them as I did writing them.
The Carnelian King is made up of 15 short fantasy stories, and it's also my 15th book since I published my first indie book (Faerie Hounds!) in the summer of 2020. Those numbers weren't intentional, but they feel right. I hope you enjoy this collection, whether that means devouring it in a single sitting, dipping in and out once a day, or finding new favourites that you want to revisit in bite-size pieces every so often, like visiting old friends.
In writing this, I got to play with many different fantasy genres, and introduce new characters and settings that immediately sank their hooks into me to demand I write more of them, like the Remington Place bookshop, which appears several times throughout, and Sir Fionnobhar the knight, who is in the process of spawning an entire external series. I hope you have as good a time reading about them as I did writing them.
The Carnelian King is made up of 15 short fantasy stories, and it's also my 15th book since I published my first indie book (Faerie Hounds!) in the summer of 2020. Those numbers weren't intentional, but they feel right. I hope you enjoy this collection, whether that means devouring it in a single sitting, dipping in and out once a day, or finding new favourites that you want to revisit in bite-size pieces every so often, like visiting old friends.
Currently reading
October 28, 2024Ahhhhh after a long and stressful day, I decided to open up my early copy of this collection...and the first short story in it, "The Carnelian King," was exactly what I'd needed: charming, wry, beautifully written, and humane, with a delightful hint of romance and an ending that made me happy. By the time I finished reading it, I was feeling so much better about the world!
As usual with short story collections, I'll probably dip into this here and there across the next month or so, so I'm posting my review of that story now, to hold my place. As an individual story, it definitely earned all 5 stars!
***
Coming back two days later to say that the second story, "The Wizard Giovanni and the Cometa Conquanta," is every bit as good - a sparkling, witty fairy tale that made me laugh but also offered compassion to its frantic hero in the end. So far, this is a fabulous collection to dip into on any free night before bed! Both of these first two stories have made me very happy.
***
Story 3, "The Rainbow Necklace and the God of Summertime" is really lovely, too, but with an entirely different tone than the first 2 stories, much more lyrical and wistful. I love the range being shown in this collection!
***
Story 4, "A Nun of the Order of Infinite Luck Walks Into a Bookshop" is so witty and enjoyable, it really does live up to its fabulous title!
As usual with short story collections, I'll probably dip into this here and there across the next month or so, so I'm posting my review of that story now, to hold my place. As an individual story, it definitely earned all 5 stars!
***
Coming back two days later to say that the second story, "The Wizard Giovanni and the Cometa Conquanta," is every bit as good - a sparkling, witty fairy tale that made me laugh but also offered compassion to its frantic hero in the end. So far, this is a fabulous collection to dip into on any free night before bed! Both of these first two stories have made me very happy.
***
Story 3, "The Rainbow Necklace and the God of Summertime" is really lovely, too, but with an entirely different tone than the first 2 stories, much more lyrical and wistful. I love the range being shown in this collection!
***
Story 4, "A Nun of the Order of Infinite Luck Walks Into a Bookshop" is so witty and enjoyable, it really does live up to its fabulous title!
December 4, 2024
4+⭐
Lovely collection that I didn't feel like devouring at once, hence not 5 stars. But an interesting set of tales, most of them featuring a queer romance but even the ones that didn't were definitely worth the read. Powell has become one of my favourite authors.
Lovely collection that I didn't feel like devouring at once, hence not 5 stars. But an interesting set of tales, most of them featuring a queer romance but even the ones that didn't were definitely worth the read. Powell has become one of my favourite authors.
September 17, 2024
I'm not always a fan of anthologies, but I absolutely loved this one. Arden Powell's books are auto-buys for me, and I scooped up an ARC asap.
I loved the variety within this anthology. We have Medieval fantasy, the POV of rats (along with a Flos Magicae cameo, I think), Victorian fantasy, lots of dragons, and so much more. It was also cool to see how some of the stories linked together.
I loved the variety within this anthology. We have Medieval fantasy, the POV of rats (along with a Flos Magicae cameo, I think), Victorian fantasy, lots of dragons, and so much more. It was also cool to see how some of the stories linked together.
October 7, 2024
One if the things I love most about Arden Powell is their hability to create mood and atmosphere that become almost like a character of the books. That is clear even in this collection of short stories with it's rich descriptions of manicurated gardens, eerie forests and a magical bookshop (that is not a bookshop).
Most of the stories in this collection are heartwarming, the characters either ending in a better place they started or staying in a good place all along. There are a few threaths, (some of them very creepy) but the book is more conforting than anything. (It has already became one of my confort books).
While the quality of the stories varies (a couple seen more like a good plot that deserves to be developed in a whole book) none disappoints. And while they are all very well rounded and work well in their format it's impossible not to want more of some characters, like Sister Beda, Theo and James (from the not-a-bookshop) and Sir Fionnobhar and his poor companion, long-suffering Marten.
Thankfully the bookshop appears in two of the stories (I hope for more in the future) and Sir Fionnobhar and Marten's story is being told in a long book, being released first on the author's Patreon (including how they met). But I still hope to see Sister Beda again.
Most of the stories in this collection are heartwarming, the characters either ending in a better place they started or staying in a good place all along. There are a few threaths, (some of them very creepy) but the book is more conforting than anything. (It has already became one of my confort books).
While the quality of the stories varies (a couple seen more like a good plot that deserves to be developed in a whole book) none disappoints. And while they are all very well rounded and work well in their format it's impossible not to want more of some characters, like Sister Beda, Theo and James (from the not-a-bookshop) and Sir Fionnobhar and his poor companion, long-suffering Marten.
Thankfully the bookshop appears in two of the stories (I hope for more in the future) and Sir Fionnobhar and Marten's story is being told in a long book, being released first on the author's Patreon (including how they met). But I still hope to see Sister Beda again.
April 24, 2025
While the gorgeous cover of this book immediately caught my eye, this was absolutely not a case of judging a book by its cover because I have already read and enjoyed several books by this author, so I knew I was in a safe pair of hands.
This is a magical collection of fifteen stories with some recurring characters and settings ranging from a magical second hand shop hidden between dimensions to the steppes of a war crossed empire. Many of the stories feature dragons of various sizes and in various guises and there are tales of knights and darker tales that will send a shiver up your spine. There really is a little something for everyone and if someone asked me for a taster of Arden Powell's writing I would absolutely point them in this direction. As with most short story collections some I enjoyed more than others, most notably the titular tale and A Nun of the Order of Infinite Luck walks into a Bookshop (What a great title and these were characters I would love to see more of) but I also loved Under the Shadow of a Fallen Empire and was absolutely creeped out by An Autopsy of a Haunted House.
This was a great collection to dip into when ever I had a little time to devote to reading, once again Arden Powell has shown why their books are consistently on my radar.
This is a magical collection of fifteen stories with some recurring characters and settings ranging from a magical second hand shop hidden between dimensions to the steppes of a war crossed empire. Many of the stories feature dragons of various sizes and in various guises and there are tales of knights and darker tales that will send a shiver up your spine. There really is a little something for everyone and if someone asked me for a taster of Arden Powell's writing I would absolutely point them in this direction. As with most short story collections some I enjoyed more than others, most notably the titular tale and A Nun of the Order of Infinite Luck walks into a Bookshop (What a great title and these were characters I would love to see more of) but I also loved Under the Shadow of a Fallen Empire and was absolutely creeped out by An Autopsy of a Haunted House.
This was a great collection to dip into when ever I had a little time to devote to reading, once again Arden Powell has shown why their books are consistently on my radar.
October 1, 2024
This book was an unexpected delight. I've enjoyed Powell's novels, but their short stories are especially wonderful. Some observations:
The stories vary a lot in subject matter/genre, which might partly be explained by the way this collection came to be (a fundraiser). That could have resulted in an uneven book, but somehow it all works beautifully. Everything from dragon fantasy to urban magic to magical realism to19th c. gothic romance (and more!) Many of the stories are explicitly queer, and a few of them are love stories.
I was one of the people to make a donation and a story request, and the result (the last story) was everything I'd hoped for. Happy, healthy open relationships are rarely portrayed. Even less when they are historical Romances. Add in a bi awakening and... Yeah, it's great.
The stories vary a lot in subject matter/genre, which might partly be explained by the way this collection came to be (a fundraiser). That could have resulted in an uneven book, but somehow it all works beautifully. Everything from dragon fantasy to urban magic to magical realism to19th c. gothic romance (and more!) Many of the stories are explicitly queer, and a few of them are love stories.
I was one of the people to make a donation and a story request, and the result (the last story) was everything I'd hoped for. Happy, healthy open relationships are rarely portrayed. Even less when they are historical Romances. Add in a bi awakening and... Yeah, it's great.
February 14, 2025
I may have gone into this collection pre-disposed to love it because I just happen to enjoy this author's writing style a lot and have read other books by them that I really enjoyed. Having said that, I still think this is an excellent collection and would serve as a good introduction to their work if you aren't familiar with it. These tales made me feel like I had stumbled across an ancient collection of fairy and folk tales gathering dust in some obscure corner of a bookshop that only exists when you catch a glimpse of it out of the corner of your eye. At the same time, they have a very modern sensibility with lovely nods to gender complexity and queer romance. There is a kind of good feeling that I can't quite explain that permeates even this author's darker tales and leaves me feeling very satisfied. And just look at that cover! How can you resist?
Currently reading
November 28, 2024Carnelian King - Good enough to bring up my problem with short stories. I get invested in the characters and the story ends...
Wizard Giovanni- not my favorite - about a gardener who doesn't seem to appreciate nature and has to control everything.
Rainbow Necklace and the God of Summertime- found this story of love between a goatherder and a God a little depressing.
Nun of the order of infinite luck walks into a bookshop - Fun story about a lucky nun that helps the proprietors of a magical shop after a dragon wrecks the shop.
Sir Fionnobhar the Black and the Becastled Knight - A bit dark for me
Sir Fionnobhar and the Cursed Blade. Sir Finnobhar comes off a little more sympathetic in this one.
Rise of the Black Pearl Moon -A bit depressing.
Wizard Giovanni- not my favorite - about a gardener who doesn't seem to appreciate nature and has to control everything.
Rainbow Necklace and the God of Summertime- found this story of love between a goatherder and a God a little depressing.
Nun of the order of infinite luck walks into a bookshop - Fun story about a lucky nun that helps the proprietors of a magical shop after a dragon wrecks the shop.
Sir Fionnobhar the Black and the Becastled Knight - A bit dark for me
Sir Fionnobhar and the Cursed Blade. Sir Finnobhar comes off a little more sympathetic in this one.
Rise of the Black Pearl Moon -A bit depressing.
September 29, 2024
I'm a big fan of haunted houses that stray away from the traditional ghostly haunting, and 'Autopsy of a Haunted House' delivers one of my personal favorite tropes: a house that is the haunting entity itself.
The gruesome house-shaped entity in this story is left delightfully unexplained. As the reader you experience the haunting of sorts in the same way the characters do - suddenly, troublingly, and you're left with questions and the urge to carry on to the next room/story.
The gruesome house-shaped entity in this story is left delightfully unexplained. As the reader you experience the haunting of sorts in the same way the characters do - suddenly, troublingly, and you're left with questions and the urge to carry on to the next room/story.
October 15, 2024
Lovely collection of fantasy short stories, mostly romantic, but with several comical in nature. Lush descriptions, filled with hope and yearning, and entirely wholesome. The dragon stories were delightful. There was a sweet story about rats. And, being a sucker for non-linear storytelling, I also enjoyed "A Future Glimpsed Through Smog."
December 27, 2024
Beautiful stories that I enjoyed a lot.
Favorites:
- the one with the rats 🐀
- the one with the horse masters 🐎
- the ones with Fionn & Marten
- the ones with Theo & James
I only wish some of them were longer.
Favorites:
- the one with the rats 🐀
- the one with the horse masters 🐎
- the ones with Fionn & Marten
- the ones with Theo & James
I only wish some of them were longer.
November 1, 2024
Wonderful anthology. I enjoyed it tremendously.
January 11, 2025
A lovely collection of softly delightful stories.
April 20, 2025
A nice collection of shorts. Some I loved, some I liked, some not so much. But overall, I enjoyed it, and it was nice to just pick it up and read one or two stories in between other reads.
October 3, 2024
A superb collection of short stories, featuring dragons, knights, adorable rats, prophecies, horses and many other wonderful things. Tender, charming, sometimes creepy and dark, often humorous and almost always hopeful in the end. Carnelian King and Ruby and Brindle are the favourites that I have already re-read, but I loved all of the stories, and each left me thinking that I desperately want to know more about all of the characters and the worlds they inhabit.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews