Fae

Rhonda Parrish's Magical Menageries

by Rhonda Parrish (Editor), Sidney Blaylock Jr., Amanda Block

Meet Robin Goodfellow as you've never seen him before, watch damsels in distress rescue themselves, get swept away with the selkies and enjoy tales of hobs, green men, pixies and phookas. One thing is for certain, these are not your grandmother's fairy tales.

Fairies have been both mischievous and malignant creatures throughout history. They've dwelt in forests, collected teeth or crafted shoes. Fae is full of stories that honor that rich history while exploring new and interesting takes on the fair folk from castles to computer technologies and modern midwifing, the Old World to Indianapolis.

Fae covers a vast swath of the fairy story spectrum, making the old new and exploring lush settings with beautiful prose and complex characters. Enjoy the familiar feeling of a good old-fashioned fairy tale alongside urban fantasy and horror with a fae twist.

With an introduction by Sara Cleto and Brittany Warman, and all new stories from Sidney Blaylock Jr., Amanda Block, Kari Castor, Beth Cato, Liz Colter, Rhonda Eikamp, Lor Graham, Alexis A. Hunter, L.S. Johnson, Jon Arthur Kitson, Adria Laycraft, Lauren Liebowitz, Christine Morgan, Shannon Phillips, Sara Puls, Laura VanArendonk Baugh, and Kristina Wojtaszek.

Genres: Fantasy, Short Stories, Fairies, Anthologies, Fae, Fiction, Fairy Tales

247 pages, Paperback

First published July 16, 2014

About the author

Rhonda Parrish has the attention span of a magpie. Not only can she not focus on a single project at a time, but she also fails at sticking to one genre or even one type of writing (she does manage to stay true to one hockey team, though – Let’s go Oilers!). Perhaps best known for her work as an anthology editor – the Ottawa Review of Books called her “Canada’s best-known and most prolific speculative fiction anthologist” – Rhonda also works as a short story writer, novelist, game writer and a poet. She has been honoured to be included in a handful of ‘Best of’ anthologies, earn a coveted starred review from Publisher’s Weekly and be shortlisted for several awards including the Rhysling Award, the Aurora Award, the Dwarf Stars Award and Alberta Book Publishing Awards.

Most of her work falls under the speculative fiction umbrella but she has also penned paranormal non-fiction and non-speculative work.

In an effort to impose some order in her chaos, these days most of her short fiction and poetry is published directly through her Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/RhondaParrish .

More information about her, updates and calls for submission are posted on her website http://www.rhondaparrish.com/home/.

Reviews

[Marquise · Rating 4 out of 5]

All seventeen stories about Fae were good, some more and some less, so everyone's going to find a fistful of them to enjoy. The stories present a variety of POVs, human sometimes and Fae other times, as well as the type of portrayal, as in some the Fae are noble creatures and in others they're terrifying, and of course, some plots are mainstream modern ideas of Fae in Paranormal and others stick close to the traditional legends and tales of fairies. There's something for everyone!

For me, three stories stood out as favourites: "Antlers" by Amanda Block, a dreamlike story that reads like a fairy tale and seems to take elements from the Erlking and Cernunnos legends; "Possession" by Rhonda Eikamp, set in the US South in wartime and dealing with a young boy that grows into a man with a little fairy in his pockets who is as much a danger as she's helpful; and "Faerie Knight" by Sidney Blaylock Jr, a modern take on Thomas the Rhymer with a humble schoolteacher as the champion of the Seelie court struggling with the conflict between his sense of duty and his desire to lie down to rest for good. There were a few more I also liked a lot but these are those I'd rate 5 stars.

[Stephanie A. Cain · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a well-selected collection of stories about the Fae, and it made me restless and twitchy in the best way possible--the way I always feel when I'm reading about the Fae, which means the authors collected here got it right.

I'd be lying if I tried to tell you that "And Only The Eyes of Children" by Laura VanArendonk Baugh wasn't my favorite story, but then I'm biased. I got to read this story as part of my critique group, and it made me openly envious that I hadn't written it. Baugh captures the city of Indianapolis so well, and the narrative voice of the main character is perfect.

I honestly liked all of these stories. I buzzed through the anthology in two days, which is unusual for me with anthologies. I have a hard time with short stories, both reading them and writing them, so I don't read too many anthologies in general. Two things worked in FAE's favor: all the stories had a common theme, and they were seamlessly woven together by editor Rhonda Parrish.

Other standout stories for me were "The Queen of Lakes" by L.S. Johnson, "Antlers" by Amanda Block, "The Fairy Midwife" by Shannon Phillips, and "The Cartography of Shattered Trees" by Beth Cato. Johnson manages to portray a vivid setting and well-defined characters, and I both admire and am frightened by the frank ambition of her main character. Block's contribution to the anthology reads like a story I should already know--as if the story is already part of a commonly-held mythos. Shannon Phillips' main character has an accessible and likable voice, and no character in this story is wasted. My favorite thing about "The Cartography of Shattered Trees" is the title, because that is an awesome title. I love the way past events are unfolded for us, and the agency her main character seizes for herself.

The other stories are also well-written. "Rosie Red Jacket" by Christine Morgan is a nice opening story, seeming to keep to the traditional fairytale structure, but sneaking in a frisson of dark fantasy. "Ten Ways to Self-Sabotage, Only Some of Which Relate to Fairies" by Sara Puls uses a list format I've seen employed before, and in Puls' skilled hands, the format ties into the characterization of the main character.

In "Only Make-Believe" by Lauren Liebowitz we're granted the rare first-person narration by one of the Fae themselves, and Liebowitz does it well. The world-building in "F.C.U." by Jon Arthur Kitson seems sparse at first, but that gives the reader a delicious chill when you finally realize what's going on.

"Water Sense" by Adria Laycraft was the one story that seemed slightly out of theme to me, since despite being a Charles de Lint fan, I don't generally associate Native American spirits with the Fae. But the story had a rich setting and interesting characters, with a nice twist, so I'm not complaining.

"Possession" by Rhonda Eikamp surprised me by being perfectly set during the American Civil War, a topic I've studied for two decades or better, and yet had never thought of in relation to the Fae. "Seven Years Fleeting" by Lor Graham broke my heart in the best possible way. Parrish's editorial comments at the end of that story reflect my feelings perfectly.

"The Last King" by Liz Colter was probably the sour note for me because of the theme. It's a pet peeve of mine that so many of the fantasy classics--Lord of the Rings, the Prydain Chronicles, the Dark is Rising Sequence, and more--end with magic disappearing from the world. That said, it was well-written, and the theme is a widely-accepted one that obviously resonates with many people. The main character's history is tantalizing, and the Fae characters we encounter are deliciously depicted.

I loved "Faerie Knight" by Sidney Blaylock, Jr. Halloween just screams for the Fae walking around, undisguised, and the main character is fabulous. This story reminds me of Roger Zelazny's Last Defender of Camelot in the best way possible.

Kristina Wojtaszek delicately hints at a character with Asperger's Syndrome or Autism in "Solomon’s Friend," and she does it well. I love the POV Wojtaszek chose, and the two main characters shine.

One of the stories that most left me craving more was Alexis A. Hunter's "A Fairfolk Promise." The setting is both beautiful and chilling, and while the ending of the story is perfect, I found myself yearning to know what happened next.

The final piece, the short "The Price" by Kari Castor, is a fitting ending to this collection about the Fae--it touches on not only the promise but the price of dealing with the Fae.

All in all, Rhonda Parrish has done a masterful job of pulling these stories together into a rich tapestry depicting the constantly inconstant, paradoxical, lovable, terrifying nature of the Fae. This will occupy a permanent place on my bookshelf next to my used copy of Katharine Briggs' Encyclopedia of Fairies.

[Kate Wolford · Rating 5 out of 5]

FAE is a fabulous collection of stories of faerie folk. The 17 tales cover a truly wide-ranging array of supernatural beings to be intrigued by, fall in love with, feel empathy for and feel terrified by.

I loved all of the stories, so by noting the following, I'm not playing favorites. (There's not a dud in the collection, so kudos to Rhonda Parrish, editor.)

There's Kristina Wojtaszek's imaginative and charming "Solomon's Friend," about a a mom, a boy, a diary and a hob (goblin, I suppose). Mom learns much about her boy, in an entertaining, unpreachy way.

"Rosie Red Jacket," by Christine Morgan, is light as a feather, and tells the tale of how a lonely little girl finds fun and gets payback, with the help of a fae named Rosie.

L.S. Johnson's "Queen of Lakes," combines family drama (and unfairness to women), mysterious deaths, a each-uisge (water spirit) and horror. I raced through it.

"The Fairy Midwife," By Shannon Phillips, features a very cool, straightforward protagonist named Tara who ends up bringing fae babies into the world. I'd like to read a lot more about Tara and her work.

Then there's "The Cartography of Shattered Tree," by Beth Cato, which features abuse, pain, scarring, lightning, and a dryad. And it all works.

Read this book! (Full disclosure: World Weaver Press is my publisher, but I don't automatically review all the books it publishes. Also, this review s base on an ARC from WWP.)

[Jess the Shelf-Declared Bibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored each and every one of these stories. I can't wait to read the other collections by this editor. These were brand new, perfectly and flawlessly done fairy tales, transporting the reader to a whole other world!

[Lissa Sloan · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I am a huge fairy tale fan the stories I prefer usually don't include actual fairies. But if tales of fairies were all like the stories in Rhonda Parrish's collection, Fae, I would soon change my mind. This anthology includes seventeen stories featuring a selkie, an each-uisge (water horse), a hob, and many other kinds of fairies. The stories are varied, ranging from the traditional to the modern, even including other worlds.

There are so many terrific stories in this collection it's hard to pick my favorite--but I can. It's The Queen of Lakes by L.S. Johnson, the creepy, sensual story of a frustrated young woman, kept from an education by her parents and a society which gives women little value, tempted by an each-uisge. I just can't get that one out of my mind--and I'm not trying all that hard.

Other favorites are Ten Ways to Self-Sabotage, Only Some of Which Relate to Fairies by Sara Puls, and Solomon's Friend by Kristina Wojtaszek. Ten Ways to Self-Sabotage features a young woman who is floundering and hapless to recognize good things when they appear. Solomon's Friend is a heartrending love letter to the mother of a special boy who just happens to see world in a different way than most people. I cried most of the way through it.

But the list just goes on and on. This is one of the most consistently well-written anthologies I have ever read. These fairies are a far cry from the Disneyfied variety. They may be beautiful and magical, but they can also be wild, cruel, and not at all to be trusted. Or they may be kind and honorable if treated with kindness in return. So think twice about making a bargain, and be careful what you wish for. Unless you wish for a spellbinding read. Then read Fae and your wish is granted.

[Leslie V · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fae is everything I wanted in an anthology. The prose is beautiful, good conflict, lovable/hateable characters, dynamic plots, and sensational world building. It is one of the best anthologies I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Fae is an example of an editor taking risks and reaping the rewards. Nothing upsets me more when you have a great story that doesn’t go the distance – and these authors are a perfect blend of what works. I loved every story in Fae for different reasons. I cannot wait for another anthology from Word Weaver Press – I am sure it will blow me away!

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sara Cleto and I were honored when Rhonda Parrish asked us to write an introduction to this fantastic collection of stories about the fae - well worth checking out, a wonderful anthology!

[Pete Aldin · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A Fairfolk Promise” is my pick from a collection of strong and varied fae-themed stories, drawing on a range of genres.

Highly recommended.

[Samantha Strong · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a melancholy, gorgeous collection of short stories featuring fairies--some large, some small, some nice, some terrible, all a little bit magical and a little bit "off." Every single one holds its own in the collection. Some I liked more than others, but there were more of the ones that I loved than the ones that I wasn't sure about.

And this cover! This COVER!

I've been reading collections and anthologies lately between other books. Usually the short story book gets drawn out over a long period of time while I read other books in between the stories. Not this one. I couldn't stop reading it, sneaking a few pages here and there while waiting for a train or an appointment.

I definitely recommend it.

[Fallon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very interesting because it is all about fairies. This book is very well written and it is full of facts about the mythical creatures known as fairies. This is the best anthology that I have ever read. This book is a must read for those who love fairies.

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second consecutive book I've read that is a collection of short stories, but this is an anthology of short stories from different authors "sharing" a basic theme, of, as the title suggests, about Fae. Reading this book reminded me of reading a book that contained folk and fairy tales of Ireland in an Irish Lit class in college, in that, despite the varied settings, they seem to all invoke a time where the world seemed more mysterious. I use the quotation marks above when stating that the stories all share the same theme, because while the stories are all similar in that respect, they go off of that theme in different ways - some in the traditional, fair folk sense, others bringing in modern culture and technology into it.

Each of the stories were unique and enjoyable in their own way, but the following stories I enjoyed for one particular reason or another...(1) Johnson's "Queen of the Lakes" for its darkness; (2) Kitson's "F.C.U." for its cleverness; (3) Eikamp's "Possession" for the American Civil War setting; and (4) Wojtaszek's "Solomon's Friend" for the mother/son relationship depicted. Again though, these stories, while may favorite, are part of a very strong collection of short stories, all of which were thoroughly enjoyable. If anyone has never read any stories dealing with these genre of literature (fairies, etc.), I would recommend this collection, as it gets at the strong points of moral themes, surprises, and mystery which makes the genre a good source of compelling reads.

[L.D. Colter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll start with the disclaimer that I'm a contributing author in this anthology. I was delighted to be included in this anthology, though, as stories of the fae are one of my favorite things to read. Not fairy tales, not even "Grimm" fairy tales, but the stories taken from the oldest myths of the fae, the ones who are mischievous, self-serving, dangerous, and utterly inhuman. The length of time it took me to read this is no reflection on the book itself - I read mainly in audio and tend to progress slowly through all print material in little bits of spare time I can grab for actual dedicated reading vs the multitasking of driving and listening. While there are a wide variety of stories here and interpretations on the theme of "Fae" I found it a great collection by editor, Rhonda Parrish, and a beautifully produced book by publisher World Weaver Press, with a gorgeous cover and high quality print.

[Laura Baugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

So it's a bit odd to write a review because yes, my story is in this anthology. So let's just agree that I like my own story, sure, but I would have rated and reviewed the book even without it because, you know, fae.

There are a LOT of different takes on the fairy concept here, from Celtic to cyber, and whether you like traditional or innovative tales, there's probably something here for you. Settings range from the American Civil War to interstellar space to the dark woods of mythology to urban streets, and endings are happy and endings are... not happy. Overall, it's a great collection of modern takes on the fairy tale.

[Lynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a delightfully original collection of fairy tales, many of which have a modern setting. However, I could have done without the editorial comments at the end of each one. Rather than imposing their own opinion on the reader, a good editor should let us make up our own minds about the quality of the content.

[Beth Cato]

Not a review. Contains my story "The Cartography of Shattered Trees."

[Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful. Everything I want from fairy tales.

[Heather M Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this themed anthology about the fae-folk. Each writer led me down a different path. The stories were magical, enchanting, and like the fae, sometimes quite terrifying.

[Elesha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has a great variety of stories that show Fae in unique ways. If you enjoy faery or supernatural stories, this is a must read.

[Gordon Gravley · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I thought fantasy/fairy stories could be this good I would have read the genre years ago. This is great stuff! I look forward to the other collections also edited by Ms. Parrish.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Especially liked Rosie Red Jacket, The Queen of Lakes, Possession, Solomon's Friend. The Fairy Midwife.

[Tess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book of fairy tales and then some. New approaches to old themes are surprising and entertaining.

[Danielle Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really different fairy stories for adults. Less sexualized than many fairytale collections for adults, but darker (bordering on horror) for several included stories as well.

Rosie Red Jacket - a fairy tricks a young girl into giving all the local boys scarlet fever

The queen of lakes - ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️my favorite story in the collection, a deceiving water spirit meets his end when a young mortal decides SHE wants to rule

Ten ways to self sabotage - a gal can’t stand all the fairies and feeds them to her carnivorous plants, which ruins her relationship with her girlfriend

Antlers - about sibling rivalry and true love

Only make believe - an abandoned forest spirit posing as a human finds another such creature at school. He teaches her about the magic she contains and they start a relationship

FCU - two faeries get in over their heads when they defy protocol and fly beyond the border of safety. This one is more horrorish than others. They are captured, connected to machines and used to power computers

Water sense - a young man in a parched area wonders why he doesn’t have water magic like everyone else. It takes a trip to the otherworld to reveal his talent

The cartography of shattered trees - a young woman struck by lightning, suffering debilitating injuries, finds out from a nearby tree it wasn’t an accident

Possession - a possessive fairy keeps the man who rescued her alive, but at the cost of his free will. Ultimately he decides free will is more important to him.

And only the eyes of children - an interesting one, more action/adventure than fairytale. A magical being busts a child trafficking ring and takes one unhappy foster child back to fairyland

Seven years fleeting - a female magical being appears about every 7 years in this man’s life. She’s there in his childhood, young adulthood, middle age when his wife passes and at his deathbed.

The last king - a young woman is courted by an elegant fairy man, though a not so elegant other fairy force warns the woman she will be sacrificed unless she gives herself to him instead. The woman escapes, possibly ruins their kingdom and then has no real memory of the ordeal

Faerie knight - an older school teacher is also a servant of the fairy queen and pushes past his age related physical impediments to save the children at his school from dark forces

Solomon’s friend - I liked this story a lot. A house elf/imp writes a letter to a neurodivergent young boy’s mom that he is assisting the kid, and not to accidentally release him from service.

A fair folk promise - one of the stories that tended toward the darker side. A village has been overtaken by powerful and cruel rulers. The workers are treated poorly, not fed enough, and then sentenced to becoming a human scarecrow if they displease the rulers. One such scarecrow man is rescued by the faeries.

The fairy midwife - a midwife is sent on some strange home deliveries, and she realizes she is assisting fairies. She balks when told the faeries are birthing ivf embryos that were scheduled for destruction, until she realizes that’s where she came from

The price - a young woman trades herself to a dark force to save her sisters life. Reminded me quite a bit of “the invisible life of Addie larue “

[Sasha Ruggiero · Rating 3 out of 5]

This anthology shows the fair folk in a spectrum of tiny morsels from a variety of angles. My main critique would be that many of the stories are so short that they seem almost pointless. Only a few
Managed to make full plot arcs- the rest were a random jumble of ideas that ended without impact or meaning. Nonetheless, if you are committed to fey mythology enough to trudge through the slow and meaningless parts then there are a few stories in here with concepts here that are fresh, intriguing and add new color to the fey landscape.

[Robbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm rounding up to four stars. This was a decent collection of stories. Nothing stood out as great but nothing was bad, either. There were one or two that I could have done without (e.g. a story from the perspective of a planter-class soldier for the CSA that never in any way acknowledged slavery and didn't actually benefit form its setting in any meaningful way to justify it). Some felt a bit too YA for me. But there were a few that I thought pretty clever and made me laugh and one or two that filled me with emotion, which is pretty much what I want out of a fairy story.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a little disappointed with D is for Dinosaur, there were only a handful of stories I liked in that one. However, in Fae, I don't think there was a story I didn't like. Most, if not all, I downright loved. The stories were imaginative, sad, creepy and fantastical. I also really enjoyed the editor's notes after each story. I'm really sad that I'm done reading Fae. Fortunately, I've got Sirens to read, and I'll definitely look into buying other anthologies from Rhonda Parrish.

[Marlena Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun anthology and I really liked how the fae are portrayed in this. They’re funny, terrifying, helpful, and dangerous depending on what story you’re on. I’ve always loved reading stories about the fae, not just about tiny fairies who live in the earth like they frequently seem to be portrayed. Each story had me eagerly turning the page to see what happened next. I’m looking forward to reading more installments in the magical menageries series.

[Nathan Trachta · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this one up hoping for some good stories about the fae along the lines of Faerie Tale by Raymond Feist, swing and a miss. I'll open by saying I got about half thru and decided to set this one down. While I'd rate some stories in the three star realm there were enough in the one and two star rating to make me decide I didn't like the way the authors projected the fae and it was time to move on.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing set of short stories

This is an excellent collection of short stories, all involving some version of the fae. Some of them are helpful, some are not but each story is unique and well crafted. They range from stories verging on the horror genre, to more classical fairytales. A different but interesting analogy and a quick read

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some great short stories.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short stories about the fae. I liked all of them, but didn't love any of them.