Hot Chocolate for the Unicorn and Other Flights of Fancy

by Mary E. Lowd

“I’d like a story,” the Unicorn says. He’s been blowing on his hot chocolate to cool it. He stretches his snowy neck, leaning his nose down to taste the dark liquid.

“You always want a story,” the Dragon snarls. The Unicorn shies away from him, but he’s not really scared. The Unicorn and Dragon are the best of friends. My best friends.


In this collection of 44 enchanting and thought-provoking tales, Mary E. Lowd masterfully blends whimsy and wonder with darkness and depth. From unicorns sharing hot chocolate with dragons to the strange machinations of shadowy creatures, these stories traverse the spectrum of light and shadow, inviting readers into worlds both familiar and fantastical.

Whether you're charmed by playful unicorns or haunted by mysterious forces, these flights of fancy examine the complexity of life’s bittersweet moments and the surprises that linger in the shadows. With each story, Lowd explores the magical and the mundane, reflecting on the delicate balance between joy and sorrow, hope and despair.

Join the journey across realms where the whimsical meets the profound, and where every story is a reminder that even the lightest of moments can hold great meaning.

Perfect for readers who love to explore the edges of magic, emotion, and imagination.

This collection contains 44 stories,

Three Ursa Major Award Nominees!Two Writers of the Future Honorable Mentions!The Penn Cove Literary Arts Award-Winning story "Cyclops on Safari"

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction

298 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 1, 2024

About the author

Mary E. Lowd is a prolific science-fiction and furry writer in Oregon. She's had more than 180 short stories and a half dozen novels published, always with more on the way. Her work has won numerous awards, and she's been nominated for the Ursa Major Awards more than any other individual. She is also the founder and editor of Zooscape. She lives in a crashed spaceship, disguised as a house and hidden behind a rose garden, with a large collection of animals, both real and imaginary, who collectively serve as her muse.

Reviews

[Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hot Chocolate for the Unicorn and Other Flights of Fancy is a compilation of fantasy short stories. Some of the stories are light and whimsical, others have a much darker note, and some are thought provoking.

This is a wonderful little read, especially if you are looking for short reads before bed, these are quick, ranging from 3 - 20 pages.

Thank you to Mary E. Lowd and BookSirens for the advance copy.

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

[Cat Bowser · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC from BookSirens and am leaving a review voluntarily.

I love when I find a book and can genuinely say it’s unique. That’s what we have here. A collection of different stories set in the same universe that are utterly fun and special twists on well known elements.

These stories take regular fantasy animals or elements—like dragons, unicorns, were creatures, and all the other favorites—and give them origins or explanations that you never would think of.

Like unicorns have a symbiotic relationship that forms their horns? I won’t give away the fun part. Or that you can charm a unicorn with hot chocolate?

This is such a unique, fun, and truly creative twist on fantasy that you’ll enjoy every chapter of!

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I seem to be on a short story kick lately and this was a collection I really enjoyed. Some of them are longer (~15 pages) and some are only a couple pages long, but they center around dragons and unicorns. The collection opens and closes with the dragon and unicorn, the author's constant companions, and they appear in some of the stories in the middle as well. Some of the stories are pure whimsy, some are gruesome, some are downright funny, and I connected more with some than others, but I enjoyed most of them. I think one could safely say there is a little of something for all readers, assuming you're open to reading fantasy. This is my fourth book by the author and my second collection and I really enjoy her writing style. I relate to her obvious love of Star Trek and animals, and have fun discovering where her imagination will take us next.

If you're looking for a new author, I'd recommend checking out this prolific writer. I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[BookishDramas · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

I have been a sort of fan of the author and this collection with a mix of whimsy, fantasy, and profound moments, offers readers a multifaceted experience—ideal for those who enjoy quick, immersive reads or a deeper dive into stories with both magic and meaning.

A delightful collection of short stories that will whisk you away to magical worlds full of whimsy, humor, and just the right amount of depth. The collection centers around dragons and unicorns—two of Lowd’s favorite fantastical creatures here and who show up in several stories, often acting as guides through the ups and downs of life, friendship, and discovery.

One of the things that makes this collection so enjoyable is its variety. Some stories are light and funny, others a little darker and more serious, but each one brings something unique to the table. The tales oscillate between whimsy and funny to gruesome, traversing the entire spectrum. There’s truly something for everyone, whether you’re in the mood for a quick laugh or a more thoughtful, emotional journey. And with stories varying from a few pages to a dozen, you can easily pick it up, dive into a short escape, and enjoy however much time you have.

The collection opens and closes with stories featuring the unicorn and the dragon, which feels like a comforting bookend. These creatures are more than just mythical beings—they’re almost like old friends, showing up with familiar faces and offering a sense of connection throughout the stories.

Mary's tales “offer escapism with some food for thought.” These stories are perfect for readers who want to lose themselves in fantastical adventures but also enjoy a bit of reflection along the way.

For fans of Lowd’s previous work, this collection will feel like a natural extension of her writing style. She has a clear love of animals, nature, and the magic in the everyday world, and it’s fun to see where her imagination will take you next. If you’re a fan of stories that feature magical creatures but also explore deeper emotions and relationships, this book is definitely worth picking up.

The perfect blend of lightheartedness and substance.

[Cavak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hot Chocolate for the Unicorn and Other Flights of Fancy is an anthology of short stories dedicated to mostly European fantasy. Stories vary from two to twenty pages, and there's over forty stories. Meaning that if one story didn't excite, there's plenty more to try. Simple to do, too, thanks to Lowd's deft prose.

For the most part, many of the stories felt like playful daydreams. Technically, death, danger, and violence are mentioned. Yet there's nothing too graphic. Horror is barely present. Language is pretty clean for the most part. Throughout it all, there's a reverence for imagination and respect for the world. Whether it be expressed through magical realism or some fairytale fantasy realm, monsters aren't really monsters. Friendship, love, and hope prevail in gentle ways. Cynicism is a distant cousin to these tales.

Somehow it all feels nostalgic, as though I've read these stories before at a different age. Fascinating to experience that when I've not read any of Lowd's fiction before. It's a cozy fantasy vibe that I can dig. And fun. I'd like to serve ginger tea to the dragon and hot chocolate to the unicorn too. They seem like good lads.

Enjoyed my overall reading experience. While I didn't enjoy every single story in this collection, I enjoyed many of them. Two stories that I can remember liking off the top of my head are The Dragon's Mask and When the Ghosts of the Future Catch Up. Hope to read another book from Lowd.

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

[Celine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I usually don't give short story collections a five-star because I don't love every story in them. That is the case with this one. But I definitely think there is a bit of something in here for everyone.

It's cute, funny, cozy, and definitely weird. Some of the stories make you wonder. They also had me pondering the lessons that might be buried within them if you study them.

I loved the diversity within this collection. And it felt normal, like it belonged there and wasn't out of place as it often seems to feel in many stories.

I loved the ending! I was hoping it would end in a similar way. I love when things come full-circle, it's just so satisfying.

Also, there is the tiniest bit of monster(ish) romance in here. It's not spicy, but it does have different creatures being romantic.

Fun and weird and interesting and I had a good time.

[Birch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the first short story and immediately wanted to hear more about their story and chess nights.
As I continued on through the next few chapters I was continually drawn into these stories characters being created.
Some chapters are 10 pages and a others are 3. So you can easily flip around the book and pick a quick story to get lost in.
I immediately thought of my childhood favourite series Serendipity with Mighty Morgan and all the other whimsical creatures in the Cosgrove world. I can imagine this collection being a new generations of bedtime stories. Escapism with some food for thought in each story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Reg 🦇 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this ARC for free through Book Sirens, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was quite an enjoyable collection of short stories! A combination of sci-fi, fantasy and more, I found the majority of the stories to be really captivating. I liked that some of them were completely different to each other, and some weaved their way back together.
A handful of the stories felt a tad rushed, but I understand that sometimes in short stories there isn’t quite enough time to let things unravel.
My favourite stories from this collection were The Dragon’s Mask (which 100% could be read as an analogy for queerness or transness !! fully made me choke up), The Carousel of Spirits, Feral Unicorn & Seven Riders and Six Horses.

[Emma ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved the variety of themes in this collection of short stories. Each story includes fantastical elements but they jump from lighthearted, to funny, then to darker themes, and onto more serious notes, and back to whimsical, cosy vibes. There’s something for everyone and it is just pure escapism.
My particular favourites were:
The third wish
Panda-mentional
The blood portal
Sting once and die
The were-raptor and the seamstress robot 👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼
FEMCLOUD 🤯 (I was SHOOK. Amazing work in 3 pages 👏🏼 lol)
St. Kalwain and the Lady Uta
I’ll definitely be reading more of this author’s work in the future.

I received an advance reader copy for free from booksirens.com and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

This is a collection of fantasy short stories featuring unicorns, dragons and elves. Some of these stories were whimsical and charming, and some had darker themes or seemed like a modern variation on classic fairytales. I connected with some stories more than others, but could still appreciate each story in its own way. Either way, if you're a fantasy reader, I'd say there's something for everyone here.

Thank you to Booksirens and the author for a free copy to review.

[Jolie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a cute fantasy/sci fi short story anthology. I like reading short stories in between longer series. Some of the stories were very sweet, however, I felt a shift around halfway through the book that turned most of the latter half into sci fi stories. I definitely prefer the fantasy ones in the beginning more, which is the only reason why I knocked off a star.

I do recommend it as a palate cleanser, or something to get you out of a reading slump. I didn't know what kind of story I'd get next and that would always keep me guessing.

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a strong anthology and had 44 engaging tales that i was hooked from the first one and didn't let go until the end. They were written well and worked as a dark fantasy story. I really enjoyed that this had different creatures and how it worked overall. I really enjoyed the way Mary E. Lowd wrote this.

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

[Tig Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a review copy for free via BookSirens and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

Overall an interesting and very imaginative collection of stories. Written for adults but many would be lovely short stories to read to small children. A couple missed the mark for me as is usually the case with collections of short stories but generally an enjoyable read. A scattering of editorial errors could do with correction but don't spoil the reading experience.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked a lot of the stories in this collection - and loved the bookending unicorn/dragon parts. However I feel a little mislead by the premise. In the middle there were some very unexpected and unwhimsical stories. Almost like it dipped into graphic horror that I did not sign up for. I would have liked a bit more heads up in the description to know that was coming.

I received an advance review copy for free from Book Sirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many interesting stories. I loved the thread with the Unicorn and Dragon, how the storyteller reflects on their life and how the 'friends' evolve (or become more clear to the reader) over time. Most of the stories are sweet, some are a bit more violent, all are good.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jakki (BizzyBookNook) · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

This was such a fun collection of stories. Some that will definitely be in my mind for a long time to come. There were some that were more on the scifi space side then what I am used to reading but the stories were so fascinating and well written that I was immediately drawn in. I think that the only thing that would have given it that star factor is if some of the stories were a tad longer.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has a variety of cute, thrilling, scary, exciting and magical stories, some of which extraordinary. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I absolutely adored the creative writing and can give it no less than 5 stars.

[Smutty Demi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was quite surprised with these little 44 short stories. They are very unique, and very fun to read! Definitely recommended.

[Joan Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of dark fantasy creatures was a very fun read. I love shapeshifters; they are one of my favorite creatures. I would recommend this anthology to others.

[Keli · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

Strange, wonderful, thought-provoking and sometimes bizarre. Very imaginative.