All the Promises We Cannot Keep

by Mary Weber (Editor), C.J. Redwine (Editor), Bridgette O'Hare

Unlock the secrets of forgotten attics and ancestral halls, where mysteries await those daring enough to listen. All The Promises We Cannot Keep is an anthology of tales that reach across generations and distant realms, drawing readers into worlds where intrigue and beauty intertwine. Here, in the shadowed corridors of crumbling manors and beneath the starlit canopy of enchanted forests, stories from 51 authors uncover what lies between the cracks—whether it's hope blossoming in the ruins of a broken life or the delicate dance between darkness and light, they remind us that some promises, once made, are impossible to keep.

Published by @thewriterssanctuary in connection to the Red Herrings Society.

Genres: Romance, Fantasy

857 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 15, 2024

About the author

Hi. I write books. I eat things. I kiss things. I believe in mermaids.

I'm also the author of the Storm Siren Trilogy, The Evaporation of Sofi Snow series, and the March 2019 release, To Best the Boys. When not working, I sing 80’s hairband songs to my three muggle children, and ogle my husband who looks strikingly like Wolverine. We live in California, which is perfect for stalking aging movie stars while wearing fanny packs and sweatpants.

For those who like to know such things (mainly my mom), Storm Siren was featured in the Scholastic Book Fair and my novels have been endorsed by such nice humans as Marissa Meyer, CJ Redwine, Shannon Messenger, and Jonathan Maberry (in fact, Marissa Meyer and I have a fun interview in the paperback of her book, CRESS). Also, Boba tea & sweatpants are life. {We can chat about life (in sweatpants over tea, obviously) in my Newsletter.

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Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Emily Aiken · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Book Doctor's Apprentice" by Laurel Burlew was one of those stories that enchanted you and left you craving more in the best way. I love being immediately immersed in a magical world that slowly reveals more about itself. The end of the story left me with so many questions and curiosities about the world I was just shown. I can't wait to read more of the anthology and get swept up in more bewitching stories!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of "Flowers On A Hill" by S. B, Rizk, one of the many stories in this anthology book. I have not gotten to the rest of the stories yet but I plan to. If you own this book, this particular story is located on page 462.

"Flowers On A Hill" was heart felt, heartbreaking and overall, a great vision of true love, taking someone in to be a part of their family, and having the real courage to protect the ones around you.

Hazel is an older woman set in a village era with a kingdom called "Kingdom Of Wrethnika" aka Kingdom of the damned. Hazel enjoys welcoming things and people into her cozy secret home, her most cherished one being a boy she discovered had lost his parents, in need of a home.

When Hazel raises the boy, Tristan, he grows up to be a stand up man, who has built a relationship with Azzura, a girl who also lives with Hazel that he grew up with.

When Tristan is about to make a pivotal move for him and Azzura, intruders start hurling every agonizing step closer towards them and Hazel's humble and comfortable abode.

Tristan must stop them and protect everyone. As the story escalates fast in this fast paced 12 pager, things do not end up how Tristan had thought, and it's in that moment where Tristan needs to make the biggest decision of his life.

Flowers On A Hill is a beautifully written short story that I highly recommend.

[Susan M Thomison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gideon Teller returns! Polen brings back Gideon in the short story, A Ghostly Promise.
After fighting a vengeful ghost in Power of Three, we find Gideon with his partner Aiden years later. They are moving into a fixer-upper that houses a confused spirit trying to communicate. As Gideon begins renovations, he is tempted to help the ghost find her way to resolution. He is torn between helping and staying true to a ghostly promise.
A Ghostly Promise is for readers interested in the twists and turns of a ghost story with an unbelievable ending.

[Diana Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow !! That’s how I can truly start this review !! The stories contained within are some of the most interesting and amazing short stories I’ve ever read. Not all are 5⭐️, but most are ! The Ones That Stayed by A. N. Sage hit all the right notes ! Past, present and future were all tied into one ! I can’t say more or I’ll give it away ! This is a short story anthology you shouldn’t miss , you will definitely find new Authors that you will want to read. 5✨’s !

[Lindsay Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started by just reading The Mage by Ali Levine and she had me so hooked I had to read the rest. These stories are amazing and hook you so fast you won't know what hit you. The Mage was such a fun read and left me wanting more. In a very short time she built a world that I was fully immersed in and wanted more! I cannot wait to read more work from her. The whole book is fast paced and you won't be able to put it down!

[Kelly Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read nine of these short stories so far. These were my favorites:

Karen Lycan's "Short Story in Letters" - humorously horrifying
Dana Black's "Violets Aren't Forever" - loved the magic and the family ties
Ruth Anne Burrell's "A Splinter of Light" - vivid and tense
Heidi Wilson's "A Vicious Cycle" - lovely in its touching sadness

[Amber Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first book of short stories, and I am beyond excited to get into it!! The first story I read in this book was "The Book Doctor's Apprentice" by Laurel A. Burlew, and I was so impressed by how much emotion and world building was present in an eleven page story! It pulled me in right away and left me wanting more of the world she created! A compelling short story for a compelling anthology!

[Mailia Eckert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magic and Adventure by Marissa Allen was an immersive and captivating read. I really enjoyed the little kernels of humor here and there, along with fuzzy feeling of maternal love. The writing is rich with romantic detail and flows effortlessly, making it easy to get lost in this 12 page story. Each character’s personality is distinct and vibrant, bringing them to life in a way that feels personal and engaging. By the end of the story, I was deeply invested in these characters and I hope to see them again. This short story left me excited to explore the rest of the anthology and discover new authors.

[Sara Brunsvold · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tight, compelling storytelling throughout. I was especially drawn in by A Splinter of Light by Ruth Anne Burrell, which has strong tension throughout, vivid setting and a thought-provoking moral question to ponder. Well done to all the contributors of this collection.

[Adrienne Organa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was so long it was exhausting. While a few of the short stories were pretty good, many were very dark and disturbing and I skipped over a lot. Still couldn’t bring myself to make it to the end though.

[Lavender Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ones that stayed.

A deliciously creepy and mesmerizing story with an astonishing conclusion. It is gripping from the first page to the last.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ones that stayed.
What a great short story .
I really enjoyed it i am sure others will too.
Great from start to finish.
Highly recommended.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Many short stories. Sorry to say, not my thing.