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D-Dames: 4 stories of women and elemental magic in WW2
Four stories about women discovering courage and abilities in World War 2!
"The Second Great Fire of London" - During London's Blitz, a woman who survived a theatre fire is called upon to save St. Paul's.
"Land Girl" - In Northern Ireland, a mysterious force is destroying valuable farm crops.
"Depth Charge" - A girl from an ancient lineage in Scotland seeks revenge on an infamous U-boat.
"Eryri" - A newcomer to Wales works feverishly to save priceless art pieces from destruction, but no one can predict the danger. (Winner of the 2021 Realm Award for Best Short Story!)
Then read the stories again with the author's annotated version, including story decisions and changes, historical notes, and images.
"The Second Great Fire of London" - During London's Blitz, a woman who survived a theatre fire is called upon to save St. Paul's.
"Land Girl" - In Northern Ireland, a mysterious force is destroying valuable farm crops.
"Depth Charge" - A girl from an ancient lineage in Scotland seeks revenge on an infamous U-boat.
"Eryri" - A newcomer to Wales works feverishly to save priceless art pieces from destruction, but no one can predict the danger. (Winner of the 2021 Realm Award for Best Short Story!)
Then read the stories again with the author's annotated version, including story decisions and changes, historical notes, and images.
123 pages, Paperback
Published September 11, 2024
4 people want to read
About the author
Laura VanArendonk Baugh
70 books154 followersLaura was born at a very early age and never looked back. She overcame her childhood deficiencies of having been born without teeth and unable to walk, and by the time she matured into a recognizable adult she had become a behavior analyst, an internationally-recognized and award-winning animal trainer, a costumer/cosplayer, a chocolate addict, and of course a writer.
Laura writes fantasy in a variety of subgenres as well as non-fiction in the art and science of behavior and training.
website | Newsletter | Patreon | Twitch | Twitter | Facebook
Laura writes fantasy in a variety of subgenres as well as non-fiction in the art and science of behavior and training.
website | Newsletter | Patreon | Twitch | Twitter | Facebook
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 8, 2023
I had yet to try any of this author's work before, but I went to her website and knew I wanted to read this short story collection the minute I saw the title and book cover.
I think it's pretty safe to say this is the only time I've ever read historical fantasy fiction based on World War II. I thoroughly enjoyed all four stories and their depictions of imperfect, believable, powerful women. They aren't almighty heroines who know everything and make nothing but superb decisions all the time (which would've been too over-the-top to be interesting). But these women are gritty and incredible when they kick into gear at critical moments, whether the actions they take are dramatic or subtle.
These tales have what I love about good short stories: sharp lines and meaningful details with no dispensable scenes. Vignettes like these reveal what's important and let it be enough, trusting the reader's discernment and imagination. Demonstrating how a story doesn't have to be long to be substantive, with strong characters.
Oh! And after reading the stories straight through, you'll definitely want to check out the annotations and bonus images. They're like dessert that's more than dessert.
I received a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review.
I think it's pretty safe to say this is the only time I've ever read historical fantasy fiction based on World War II. I thoroughly enjoyed all four stories and their depictions of imperfect, believable, powerful women. They aren't almighty heroines who know everything and make nothing but superb decisions all the time (which would've been too over-the-top to be interesting). But these women are gritty and incredible when they kick into gear at critical moments, whether the actions they take are dramatic or subtle.
These tales have what I love about good short stories: sharp lines and meaningful details with no dispensable scenes. Vignettes like these reveal what's important and let it be enough, trusting the reader's discernment and imagination. Demonstrating how a story doesn't have to be long to be substantive, with strong characters.
Oh! And after reading the stories straight through, you'll definitely want to check out the annotations and bonus images. They're like dessert that's more than dessert.
I received a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review.
July 22, 2025
A clever concept deftly executed. Each of the short stories is grounded in actual WW2 events, creating a great backdrop for four fantastic women to shine.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews