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Seasons of Glass and Iron: Stories
Not yet published
Expected 24 Mar 26Full of glimpses into gleaming worlds and fairy tales with teeth, Seasons of Glass and Stories is a collection of acclaimed and awarded work from Amal El-Mohtar.
With confidence and style, El-Mohtar guides us through exquisitely told and sharply observed tales about life as it is, was, and could be. Like miscellany from other worlds, these stories are told in letters, diary entries, reference materials, folktales, and lyrical prose.
Full of Nebula, Locus, World Fantasy, and Hugo Award-winning and nominated stories, Seasons of Glass and Stories includes "Seasons of Glass and Iron," "The Green Book," "Madeleine," "The Lonely Sea in the Sky," "And Their Lips Rang with the Sun," "The Truth About Owls," "A Hollow Play," "Anabasis," "To Follow the Waves," "John Hollowback and the Witch," "Florilegia, or, Some Lies About Flowers," "Pockets," and more.
With confidence and style, El-Mohtar guides us through exquisitely told and sharply observed tales about life as it is, was, and could be. Like miscellany from other worlds, these stories are told in letters, diary entries, reference materials, folktales, and lyrical prose.
Full of Nebula, Locus, World Fantasy, and Hugo Award-winning and nominated stories, Seasons of Glass and Stories includes "Seasons of Glass and Iron," "The Green Book," "Madeleine," "The Lonely Sea in the Sky," "And Their Lips Rang with the Sun," "The Truth About Owls," "A Hollow Play," "Anabasis," "To Follow the Waves," "John Hollowback and the Witch," "Florilegia, or, Some Lies About Flowers," "Pockets," and more.
208 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication March 24, 2026
10682 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
Want to read
January 23, 2026i love a fairytale
Want to read
May 22, 2025most beautiful cover award 🌟
February 4, 2026
Thank you to the publisher Quercus Books/Arcadia for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I have been a fan of Amal El- Mohtar’s writing since I discovered This is how you lose the time war at the beginning of last year, then I read her beautiful novella The river has roots, her writing style is very lyrical and poetic. I enjoyed this collection of short stories and poems, my favourites were Seasons of iron and glass, The green book, Madeleine, The truth about owls, John Hollowback and the witch and Pockets. Seasons of iron and glass was beautiful, the tale of two women who had both been wronged by a man they loved finding solace, love and peace with each other, this was the story I loved best out of the whole collection. The green book was a really good story but slightly dark and tragic, Madeleine was another favourite as I felt this was a hopeful story. I really enjoyed John Hollowback and the witch, like the witch I don’t think John had completely learned his lesson but I feel he was getting there as I feel that he did feel remorse for his behaviour. Florilegia or some lies about flowers was an interesting story, a retelling of a Welsh legend that I am rather fond of. Overall I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to seeing what the author writes next.
I have been a fan of Amal El- Mohtar’s writing since I discovered This is how you lose the time war at the beginning of last year, then I read her beautiful novella The river has roots, her writing style is very lyrical and poetic. I enjoyed this collection of short stories and poems, my favourites were Seasons of iron and glass, The green book, Madeleine, The truth about owls, John Hollowback and the witch and Pockets. Seasons of iron and glass was beautiful, the tale of two women who had both been wronged by a man they loved finding solace, love and peace with each other, this was the story I loved best out of the whole collection. The green book was a really good story but slightly dark and tragic, Madeleine was another favourite as I felt this was a hopeful story. I really enjoyed John Hollowback and the witch, like the witch I don’t think John had completely learned his lesson but I feel he was getting there as I feel that he did feel remorse for his behaviour. Florilegia or some lies about flowers was an interesting story, a retelling of a Welsh legend that I am rather fond of. Overall I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to seeing what the author writes next.
November 23, 2025
This is a short read comprised of many short reads; some stories with plots, some feelings with bits of stories, some magical and some real, some both, and even some poems.
Overall, I think this is a wonderful journey, whether you sit and devour them one after another or chip away at them over time. And even though I didn't love all of them, I did enjoy most -- whether by marveling at it, taking something from it, appreciating it, or just simply having a good time with it.
Full review to come.
** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) exchange for an honest review. **
Overall, I think this is a wonderful journey, whether you sit and devour them one after another or chip away at them over time. And even though I didn't love all of them, I did enjoy most -- whether by marveling at it, taking something from it, appreciating it, or just simply having a good time with it.
Full review to come.
** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) exchange for an honest review. **
arc-tbr
December 7, 2025
January 23, 2026
3.5?
Anthologies are hard to rate. There were a few stories I liked, one that really wowed me, and the rest were just fine.
This collection is a series of love letters to women. They are all quite different though there are overlapping ideas and most of the stories lean speculative.
Anthologies are hard to rate. There were a few stories I liked, one that really wowed me, and the rest were just fine.
This collection is a series of love letters to women. They are all quite different though there are overlapping ideas and most of the stories lean speculative.
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January 7, 2026
Book Riot’s Most Anticipated Books of 2026:
After experiencing the brilliance of her novella The River Has Roots and the Bigolas Dikolas Wolfwood-famed and stunning This is How You Lose the Time War, co-authored with Max Gladstone, I am chomping at the bit for Amal El-Mohtar's upcoming short story collection. Mohtar's writing has always struck me as masterful, lyrical, and mesmerizing, and I can't wait to dive into the full scope of her talent. Seasons of Glass and Iron is sure to be a compendium of beautiful stories, folktales, and imaginings of our world's possibilities. You don't want to miss it. —Lyndsie Manusos
After experiencing the brilliance of her novella The River Has Roots and the Bigolas Dikolas Wolfwood-famed and stunning This is How You Lose the Time War, co-authored with Max Gladstone, I am chomping at the bit for Amal El-Mohtar's upcoming short story collection. Mohtar's writing has always struck me as masterful, lyrical, and mesmerizing, and I can't wait to dive into the full scope of her talent. Seasons of Glass and Iron is sure to be a compendium of beautiful stories, folktales, and imaginings of our world's possibilities. You don't want to miss it. —Lyndsie Manusos
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
When I read Amal El-Mohtar's The River has Roots I thought it was fine, but I actually enjoyed the short story from this collection featured at the end, John Hollowback and the Witch, more. I was excited to check out the rest.
This collection contains fourteen short stories plus four poems. Full disclosure--I am not much of a poetry person, and I skipped those entries. Sorry, sorry!
But most of the short stories were a success for this reader (favorites include The Green Book, Madeleine, and, of course, John Hollowback and the Witch). The author is very skilled with a pen/keyboard, and so even the few tales that didn't really hit with me were still not a hardship to read. As El-Mohtar explains in the Introduction, several of these pieces were commissioned for specific projects with a core thematic or demographic concern (witches, steampunk, fairytales; Arab, women, queer). All of the stories have a fantasy element to them, and recurring themes include birds, flowers, gemstones, female friendship (sometimes more), and women fighting back against the patriarchy.
Short stories don't often resonate with me as well as novels do, but there was still much to enjoy in this lyrical, otherworldly, analytic work.
My thanks to NetGalley and Tordotcom for the eARC in exchange for my unbiased review.
This collection contains fourteen short stories plus four poems. Full disclosure--I am not much of a poetry person, and I skipped those entries. Sorry, sorry!
But most of the short stories were a success for this reader (favorites include The Green Book, Madeleine, and, of course, John Hollowback and the Witch). The author is very skilled with a pen/keyboard, and so even the few tales that didn't really hit with me were still not a hardship to read. As El-Mohtar explains in the Introduction, several of these pieces were commissioned for specific projects with a core thematic or demographic concern (witches, steampunk, fairytales; Arab, women, queer). All of the stories have a fantasy element to them, and recurring themes include birds, flowers, gemstones, female friendship (sometimes more), and women fighting back against the patriarchy.
Short stories don't often resonate with me as well as novels do, but there was still much to enjoy in this lyrical, otherworldly, analytic work.
My thanks to NetGalley and Tordotcom for the eARC in exchange for my unbiased review.
Want to read
June 9, 2025This Is How You Lose the Time War: 5/5
The River Has Roots 4/5
already climbing up the walls and foaming at the mouth
The River Has Roots 4/5
already climbing up the walls and foaming at the mouth
Want to read
May 8, 2025This will be for those who know fairy tales are always cautionary stories.
November 4, 2025
A lovely collection from a much-loved author! I'm glad that her stories were compiled in this because I probably wouldn't have sought them out individually.
A woman cursed to wear iron shoes meets a women cursed to stay on a glass hill. A women seemingly resides within the pages of a book, prompting the obsession of its readers. A women keeps findings items that don't belong to her in her pockets.
All short story collections are hit or miss, but even though these stories were written over many years and for many different projects El-Mohtar's unique style shines through. I always think of her writing being unintuitive but welcoming, like it wants you to do some of the work to understand it but is also fully willing to reward you for the effort. I also really liked the intro and her thoughts on the common threads across her works. I didn't really care for the poems between stories because that's not really my thing and there were some stories that didn't work for me, but a great showing nonetheless!
Thank you to Amal El-Mohtar and Tordotcom for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!
Happy reading!
A woman cursed to wear iron shoes meets a women cursed to stay on a glass hill. A women seemingly resides within the pages of a book, prompting the obsession of its readers. A women keeps findings items that don't belong to her in her pockets.
All short story collections are hit or miss, but even though these stories were written over many years and for many different projects El-Mohtar's unique style shines through. I always think of her writing being unintuitive but welcoming, like it wants you to do some of the work to understand it but is also fully willing to reward you for the effort. I also really liked the intro and her thoughts on the common threads across her works. I didn't really care for the poems between stories because that's not really my thing and there were some stories that didn't work for me, but a great showing nonetheless!
Thank you to Amal El-Mohtar and Tordotcom for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!
Happy reading!
November 12, 2025
Amal El-Mohtar has beautiful writing that doesn’t always make sense. Overall I enjoyed this collection but I didn’t love it. Some stories I liked more than others. All of them have a magical feel to them or are outright fantastical. The overarching theme of the collection is women: women being strong and independent, women learning truths about themselves, women going on adventures, and women loving women.
Seasons of Glass and Iron—4/5 stars
I liked the writing and the cadence of the words. This story gives off fairytale vibes mixed with the modern day. A woman hiking in iron boots meets a woman who lives on a glass hill. I liked it all quite a bit.
The Green Book—1/5 stars
A woman gets turned into a book. Sadly not as interesting as it sounds. This story honestly made no sense to me.
Madeleine—2.5/5 stars
A woman starts seeing visions of another woman in her memories and dreams and forms a friendship with her. Good concept, but it won’t stick with me.
The Lonely Sea in the Sky—3/5 stars
Theoretical sci-fi story about a woman who develops a condition that is basically an addiction to diamonds found on Neptune. Strange. But I liked it. Even if I didn’t understand the ending.
Song for an Ancient City—2.5/5 stars
Poem. Fine but forgettable.
And Their Lips Rang with the Sun—2/5 stars
I didn’t really care for this story or understand it either. A woman has an affair with the Sun and births its child? Meh.
A Tale of Ash in Seven Birds—3/5 stars
Literally just a long poem about seven birds, but with a fantasy twist. Enjoyable.
Qahr—3.5/5 stars
Powerful.
The Truth About Owls—4/5 stars
I liked this story a lot. You do learn a lot about owls, but it’s also the story of a girl. Worth reading.
Wing—3/5 stars
A girl wears a book around her neck, a book which holds a secret. I liked this story but I wanted it to be quite a bit longer.
A Hollow Play—3/5 stars
This is probably the longest and most developed story in this collection. It was enjoyable. Magical realism. The ending made me feel like I was missing something though.
Thunderstorm in Glasgow, July 25, 2013—1/5 stars
Huh?
Anabasis—2.5/5 stars
I don’t have much to say about this. It was fine.
To Follow the Waves—2.5/5 stars
I think El-Mohtar’s writing is beautiful, but this story was just okay. It’s about a gem and stone worker. Once again I didn’t really understand the ending.
Pieces—2/5 stars
Each set of words in this poem was lyrical and beautiful on its own. But as a whole I don’t know what the poem was about or was trying to convey.
John Hollowback and the Witch—4.25/5 stars
John Hollowback has a hollow back, so he goes to a witch for help. This was a unique story and I really enjoyed it. It felt like a fairytale. It’s the longest story in this collection.
Florilegia; Or, Some Lies About Flowers—3/5 stars
A retelling of the Welsh myth of Blodeuwedd, which I didn’t know about prior to reading this book. It was interesting, but I don’t know how accurate it is.
Pockets—4.5/5 stars
This was a really delightful story of a woman who pulls random items out of her pockets that just show up there without rhyme or reason. I loved the direction this story went in, and I would enjoy a much longer version of this.
I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher via Edelweiss.
Seasons of Glass and Iron—4/5 stars
I liked the writing and the cadence of the words. This story gives off fairytale vibes mixed with the modern day. A woman hiking in iron boots meets a woman who lives on a glass hill. I liked it all quite a bit.
The Green Book—1/5 stars
A woman gets turned into a book. Sadly not as interesting as it sounds. This story honestly made no sense to me.
Madeleine—2.5/5 stars
A woman starts seeing visions of another woman in her memories and dreams and forms a friendship with her. Good concept, but it won’t stick with me.
The Lonely Sea in the Sky—3/5 stars
Theoretical sci-fi story about a woman who develops a condition that is basically an addiction to diamonds found on Neptune. Strange. But I liked it. Even if I didn’t understand the ending.
Song for an Ancient City—2.5/5 stars
Poem. Fine but forgettable.
And Their Lips Rang with the Sun—2/5 stars
I didn’t really care for this story or understand it either. A woman has an affair with the Sun and births its child? Meh.
A Tale of Ash in Seven Birds—3/5 stars
Literally just a long poem about seven birds, but with a fantasy twist. Enjoyable.
Qahr—3.5/5 stars
Powerful.
The Truth About Owls—4/5 stars
I liked this story a lot. You do learn a lot about owls, but it’s also the story of a girl. Worth reading.
Wing—3/5 stars
A girl wears a book around her neck, a book which holds a secret. I liked this story but I wanted it to be quite a bit longer.
A Hollow Play—3/5 stars
This is probably the longest and most developed story in this collection. It was enjoyable. Magical realism. The ending made me feel like I was missing something though.
Thunderstorm in Glasgow, July 25, 2013—1/5 stars
Huh?
Anabasis—2.5/5 stars
I don’t have much to say about this. It was fine.
To Follow the Waves—2.5/5 stars
I think El-Mohtar’s writing is beautiful, but this story was just okay. It’s about a gem and stone worker. Once again I didn’t really understand the ending.
Pieces—2/5 stars
Each set of words in this poem was lyrical and beautiful on its own. But as a whole I don’t know what the poem was about or was trying to convey.
John Hollowback and the Witch—4.25/5 stars
John Hollowback has a hollow back, so he goes to a witch for help. This was a unique story and I really enjoyed it. It felt like a fairytale. It’s the longest story in this collection.
Florilegia; Or, Some Lies About Flowers—3/5 stars
A retelling of the Welsh myth of Blodeuwedd, which I didn’t know about prior to reading this book. It was interesting, but I don’t know how accurate it is.
Pockets—4.5/5 stars
This was a really delightful story of a woman who pulls random items out of her pockets that just show up there without rhyme or reason. I loved the direction this story went in, and I would enjoy a much longer version of this.
I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher via Edelweiss.
December 20, 2025
Black mirror but make it empathetic, dreamy, kind, sad, and filled with love. I’m in awe of the level of imagination that was required to write such diverse and distinct stories, but also the lesson I mastery over language! This is such a treat. Short stories that take your breath and hear away.
Thank you to Netgalley and Tor for the ARC
Thank you to Netgalley and Tor for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I absolutely loved this beautiful collection of stories and poetry. Canadian author Amal El-Mohtar’s writing is both lyrical and piercing, effortlessly balancing tenderness and intensity. While I’m grateful to @netgalley and Tor Publishing (@tordotcompub) for the ARC, I’m also a little heartbroken that I can’t share the many stunning quotes I highlighted along the way.
Many of El-Mohtar’s pieces echo the language and emotional resonance of fairy tales, while others are firmly grounded in reality, tackling weighty subjects such as the 2006 bombing of Lebanon. My very favourite story was “The Truth About Owls,” in which a young girl living in Lebanon during the bombings uses magical thinking to make sense of her experiences—and of the difficulty of resettling in Scotland afterward.
That said, I had so many other “favourites,” including the title story, “And Their Lips Rang With the Sun,” and “John Hollowback and the Witch.” This collection has absolutely convinced me that I need to pick up one of El-Mohtar’s novels next.
Many of El-Mohtar’s pieces echo the language and emotional resonance of fairy tales, while others are firmly grounded in reality, tackling weighty subjects such as the 2006 bombing of Lebanon. My very favourite story was “The Truth About Owls,” in which a young girl living in Lebanon during the bombings uses magical thinking to make sense of her experiences—and of the difficulty of resettling in Scotland afterward.
That said, I had so many other “favourites,” including the title story, “And Their Lips Rang With the Sun,” and “John Hollowback and the Witch.” This collection has absolutely convinced me that I need to pick up one of El-Mohtar’s novels next.
February 3, 2026
Wow. This felt like food for the soul. Seasons of Glass and Iron is a collection of fantasy short stories and poems that have twists and a dark edge to them. Despite a little bit of darkness these stories are full of hope, love, and human connection. Each story is unique in its feel and has its own message. The subtle light shed on shared women’s experiences in these stories feels important given the state of the world. In addition, she highlights Arabic culture, war, and several moral truths.
My favorites of this collection are The Lonely Sea and the Sky, And Their Lips Rang with the Sun, and The Truth About Owls, however I could just list all of them because they each are different and so good. This is most certainly a book that I will be recommending to others. Thank you NetGalley and Tor for the ARC of this book
My favorites of this collection are The Lonely Sea and the Sky, And Their Lips Rang with the Sun, and The Truth About Owls, however I could just list all of them because they each are different and so good. This is most certainly a book that I will be recommending to others. Thank you NetGalley and Tor for the ARC of this book
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Beautifully written.
This is the second book I've read from AE-M. I've never read a collection of stories that I have loved so much so quickly. I am obsessed with the way she writes. It feels like something between poetry and prose with a lyrical quality to it. She is also so incredibly vulnerable with these stories and you can tell she really poured so much of herself into them.
The collection includes stories about grief, loss, identity, sacrifice, and love. I think Qahr broke me the most but I also loved Madeleine, The Truth About Owls, Anabasis, and A Hollow Play. Really all of them. I be purchasing a physical copy when this book is released. I'll be thinking about these stories and re-examining them frequently for the foreseeable future.
This is the second book I've read from AE-M. I've never read a collection of stories that I have loved so much so quickly. I am obsessed with the way she writes. It feels like something between poetry and prose with a lyrical quality to it. She is also so incredibly vulnerable with these stories and you can tell she really poured so much of herself into them.
The collection includes stories about grief, loss, identity, sacrifice, and love. I think Qahr broke me the most but I also loved Madeleine, The Truth About Owls, Anabasis, and A Hollow Play. Really all of them. I be purchasing a physical copy when this book is released. I'll be thinking about these stories and re-examining them frequently for the foreseeable future.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a really strong short story collection! I like that it gathered up El-Mohtar's previously published pieces; I really enjoy her writing style and I wouldn't have thought to go seek these out individually.
Her signature lyricism is on display throughout this collection, and some pieces lean harder than others on the fantastical elements. As with all short story collections, some individual pieces are better than others, but this was not nearly so uneven a collection as others I've read before.
My personal favorite stories were Seasons of Glass and Iron, And Their Lips Rang With The Sun, and John Hollowback and the Witch.
Thanks to Tor and Netgalley for the ARC!
Her signature lyricism is on display throughout this collection, and some pieces lean harder than others on the fantastical elements. As with all short story collections, some individual pieces are better than others, but this was not nearly so uneven a collection as others I've read before.
My personal favorite stories were Seasons of Glass and Iron, And Their Lips Rang With The Sun, and John Hollowback and the Witch.
Thanks to Tor and Netgalley for the ARC!
December 6, 2025
A collection of short stories that are great to be read all at once or story by story. I will say, not all the stories were my cup of tea. There definitely were stories that I would have loved to have been a full-length book while others I almost wanted to skip. Even with that, I enjoyed the collection. The center of all the stores is women, even if only a brief part of story. The inclusion of their wins, their losses, and their actualization of themselves really kept me interested.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tordotcom for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tordotcom for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5
loved about half of the stories, though the other half were a bit hard to get through. the mix of fantasy and reality works really well, I just wish some of the longer stories were easier to follow.
loved about half of the stories, though the other half were a bit hard to get through. the mix of fantasy and reality works really well, I just wish some of the longer stories were easier to follow.
Want to read
May 7, 2025if anyone's looking to get me a birthday present...this is your hint!!!
October 31, 2025
yeah i’ll read anything she writes
February 3, 2025
Amal El-Mohtar has done it again, folks! Seasons of Glass and Iron is a delightful short story about two girls, each cursed due to their experiences with men, who eventually cross paths and fall in love. This refreshing and creative twist on traditional fairytale curses offers a poignant commentary on how men’s actions often force women to bear the weight of trauma, leading to isolation and self-loathing.
El-Mohtar masterfully weaves a tale that feels both timeless and modern, blending fantasy with a deeper exploration of resilience, healing, and the transformative power of love. It’s a heartwarming and empowering story that reimagines fairytales in a way that feels both magical and deeply relatable.
El-Mohtar masterfully weaves a tale that feels both timeless and modern, blending fantasy with a deeper exploration of resilience, healing, and the transformative power of love. It’s a heartwarming and empowering story that reimagines fairytales in a way that feels both magical and deeply relatable.
April 17, 2025
short story 4/16:
...gay
you can see the motifs that overlap between this and time war.
...gay
you can see the motifs that overlap between this and time war.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a collection of fourteen short stories and four poems by Amal El-Mohtar, a book critic, writer, and poet best known (to me anyway) for writing half of the wonderful This is How You Lose the Time War. Almost all of these stories are magical or inexplicable in some way, many focus on the immigrant experience, many draw from Arabic art and literature, and all prominently feature relationships of all kinds between women. El-Mohtar’s novella from last year, The River has Roots, didn’t do much for me, so I was curious how I would feel about her short fiction, the medium she’s been most actively working in for the past decade or so.
Are you a fan of the recent sub-genre of feminist retellings of fairy tales and myths? If so, you’ll probably enjoy this collection. Unfortunately, it’s not a genre that does much for me (aside from Song of Achilles and Circe, which I love), and as such, I didn’t get a lot out of these stories. They’re not bad by any means, but I couldn’t help but find most of them rather slight.
My favorites were:
-Seasons of Glass and Iron: The collection’s namesake, and one of El-Mohtar’s earliest works. Two women, cursed in distinct ways, try to find a path forward for the both of them. This is the most clear example of the fairy tale type of story in this collection, but maybe because it was the first, I hadn’t tired of the aesthetic.
-Madeleine: A woman starts having vivid flashbacks of her life; except there’s a girl she’s never seen before in all of them. Like many of the stories here, it ends just when it’s getting interesting, but the idea is certainly compelling, and I found the mourning examination of memory loss creeping at the edges moving.
-A Tale of Ash in Seven Birds: I love birds! This is a long poem about the various ways that immigrants and the disenfranchised must continually adapt and transform themselves to keep from being ground down by the forces of empire, all woven through a lovely bird metaphor.
I found most of the rest to disappear from my mind the minute I finished them. Maybe I’ve been spoiled by reading the short story work of Ted Chiang, Kelly Link, and Karen Russell, my three favorites of the medium. Each of Chiang’s stories is a meticulously crafted science fiction idea of the highest caliber, with more unique insights in each story than in most novels. And Link and Russell’s work is just so delightfully weird, pulling on the heartstrings with each beautifully-written and often unsettling tale. I might not love every story those writers publish, but each one feels necessary. Each one has something interesting and vital to say. In comparison, the stories in Seasons of Glass and Iron don’t feel very weighty.
Perhaps its unfair to judge short stories by harsher standards than a novel. I’ve enjoyed plenty of novels that don’t have much new to add to the genre, or don’t engage with interesting ideas; if they’re well-enough written with a fun story I’ll happily read. But I can’t help it; for me, a short story needs to justify itself. What are you trying to say? Why does the story have to stop here? It must have some piece that’s too heavy for an entire novel. Something best explored in a little bite for you to chew on for days. These tales are solid and pleasant, but they don’t linger.
However, if you really do love fairy tales, I think you’d quite enjoy this. It’s just not my favorite genre.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts expressed are my own.
Are you a fan of the recent sub-genre of feminist retellings of fairy tales and myths? If so, you’ll probably enjoy this collection. Unfortunately, it’s not a genre that does much for me (aside from Song of Achilles and Circe, which I love), and as such, I didn’t get a lot out of these stories. They’re not bad by any means, but I couldn’t help but find most of them rather slight.
My favorites were:
-Seasons of Glass and Iron: The collection’s namesake, and one of El-Mohtar’s earliest works. Two women, cursed in distinct ways, try to find a path forward for the both of them. This is the most clear example of the fairy tale type of story in this collection, but maybe because it was the first, I hadn’t tired of the aesthetic.
-Madeleine: A woman starts having vivid flashbacks of her life; except there’s a girl she’s never seen before in all of them. Like many of the stories here, it ends just when it’s getting interesting, but the idea is certainly compelling, and I found the mourning examination of memory loss creeping at the edges moving.
-A Tale of Ash in Seven Birds: I love birds! This is a long poem about the various ways that immigrants and the disenfranchised must continually adapt and transform themselves to keep from being ground down by the forces of empire, all woven through a lovely bird metaphor.
I found most of the rest to disappear from my mind the minute I finished them. Maybe I’ve been spoiled by reading the short story work of Ted Chiang, Kelly Link, and Karen Russell, my three favorites of the medium. Each of Chiang’s stories is a meticulously crafted science fiction idea of the highest caliber, with more unique insights in each story than in most novels. And Link and Russell’s work is just so delightfully weird, pulling on the heartstrings with each beautifully-written and often unsettling tale. I might not love every story those writers publish, but each one feels necessary. Each one has something interesting and vital to say. In comparison, the stories in Seasons of Glass and Iron don’t feel very weighty.
Perhaps its unfair to judge short stories by harsher standards than a novel. I’ve enjoyed plenty of novels that don’t have much new to add to the genre, or don’t engage with interesting ideas; if they’re well-enough written with a fun story I’ll happily read. But I can’t help it; for me, a short story needs to justify itself. What are you trying to say? Why does the story have to stop here? It must have some piece that’s too heavy for an entire novel. Something best explored in a little bite for you to chew on for days. These tales are solid and pleasant, but they don’t linger.
However, if you really do love fairy tales, I think you’d quite enjoy this. It’s just not my favorite genre.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts expressed are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.75 or 4 stars! (Short story collections can be difficult to rate because there are so many different works that you are rating in one.)
This was a lovely collection of short stories (and a few poems) that all in some way revolve around women—women in love, women facing hardships, women's friendships, and more. This book features 18 works written over 15 years of El-Mohtar's life. I think the timeframe is an interesting detail because, despite being written at vastly different times, there was a consistent and strong style throughout, but each work was unique in its telling. Sometimes, with short story collections by one author, the works could blend together, but each of these stood on their own.
However, some stories were much stronger in their development than others. I want to highlight just a few of the stories below.
The first story, the titular one, is told in two perspectives. Tabitha has been cursed in sevens and must wear down the soles of her iron shoes, while Amira has been cursed in ones, set to live as a statue on a glass hill. This story was a beautiful introduction to the collection; it was emotionally strong and wrapped in poetic allegory, despite its straightforward diction.
Madeline follows a woman grappling with the grief of losing her mother to Alzheimer's and dreaming of someone she's never met. This was another bittersweet story of the pain of love and how those two emotions are inherently intertwined, because the pain of a loss shows where love once was.
A Tale of Ash in Seven Birds began as one of my favorite works, with birds as a metaphor for colonialism and the need to fight against imperialism. However, this work (and one or two others) suffered from its use of internet diction (i.e. words that are from memes or lyrics or other notions that date it). These lines were very cheesy and completely removed you from the story. In this work in particular, it was entirely on the nose and almost defeated the purpose of the bird metaphor because it spells it out for you.
I don't have much to say on The Truth About Owls or Anabasis other than that I deeply appreciated these, two of my favorites from the collection. (Anabasis in particular is extremely short but so moving, which highlights El-Mohtar's strength as she can tell such a beautiful story in so few pages).
The final work I want to touch on is John Hollowback, which follows a man who seeks the assistance of a witch to close the hollow hole in his back. This was very well developed, but I severely disliked the end takeaway and felt it almost contradictory to all the other works. I understand what the work is saying, but it's a disappointing end.
Overall, I think this collection told many important stories and covered necessary themes of love, grief, pain, and hope through desperate times. Some stories are stronger than others, some are a little forgettable, but they all worked well together as a collection.
Thank you so much to Tor and Netgalley for providing this ARC, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This was a lovely collection of short stories (and a few poems) that all in some way revolve around women—women in love, women facing hardships, women's friendships, and more. This book features 18 works written over 15 years of El-Mohtar's life. I think the timeframe is an interesting detail because, despite being written at vastly different times, there was a consistent and strong style throughout, but each work was unique in its telling. Sometimes, with short story collections by one author, the works could blend together, but each of these stood on their own.
However, some stories were much stronger in their development than others. I want to highlight just a few of the stories below.
The first story, the titular one, is told in two perspectives. Tabitha has been cursed in sevens and must wear down the soles of her iron shoes, while Amira has been cursed in ones, set to live as a statue on a glass hill. This story was a beautiful introduction to the collection; it was emotionally strong and wrapped in poetic allegory, despite its straightforward diction.
Madeline follows a woman grappling with the grief of losing her mother to Alzheimer's and dreaming of someone she's never met. This was another bittersweet story of the pain of love and how those two emotions are inherently intertwined, because the pain of a loss shows where love once was.
A Tale of Ash in Seven Birds began as one of my favorite works, with birds as a metaphor for colonialism and the need to fight against imperialism. However, this work (and one or two others) suffered from its use of internet diction (i.e. words that are from memes or lyrics or other notions that date it). These lines were very cheesy and completely removed you from the story. In this work in particular, it was entirely on the nose and almost defeated the purpose of the bird metaphor because it spells it out for you.
I don't have much to say on The Truth About Owls or Anabasis other than that I deeply appreciated these, two of my favorites from the collection. (Anabasis in particular is extremely short but so moving, which highlights El-Mohtar's strength as she can tell such a beautiful story in so few pages).
The final work I want to touch on is John Hollowback, which follows a man who seeks the assistance of a witch to close the hollow hole in his back. This was very well developed, but I severely disliked the end takeaway and felt it almost contradictory to all the other works. I understand what the work is saying, but it's a disappointing end.
Overall, I think this collection told many important stories and covered necessary themes of love, grief, pain, and hope through desperate times. Some stories are stronger than others, some are a little forgettable, but they all worked well together as a collection.
Thank you so much to Tor and Netgalley for providing this ARC, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.5 Stars
From the moment I began reading This is How You Loose the Time War, I knew I needed to read more from Amal El-Mohtar. The River Has Roots was nearly as enthralling, of which the ARC included a sneak peek of John Hollowback & the Witch and I was feral for more. Thank you a million times over for providing a physical ARC of Seasons of Glass & Iron, Tor Dot Com!
It is challenging to review an anthology as there are multiple plots, characters and themes throughout the collection. El-Mohtar’s imagination, outlook and voice is unique to any other author I’ve come across. The imagery of prose pulls me into a whimsical dream of which I do not wish to wake up from (oh, and there’s a lovely story incorporating dreams as well!). One thing I adore about anthologies is that you can read it from cover to cover, or savor it by reading a story, a poem or two between larger books.
I was already gushing while reading the introduction, which set the stage for a collection of stories while quite different from each other, still felt cohesive as a collection with El-Mohtar’s stunning prose, all of them tugging my emotions in one way or another. I love that this collection of stories also includes a couple of poems in both English and Arabic. I was giddy when I discovered we are both of Lebanese descent! Although I cannot speak or read it, seeing Arabic brings fond memories of my grandmother’s church.
If you're already an El-Mohtar fan, I am confident you will enjoy this. If you haven’t begun your El-Mohtar yet, you are in for a treat!
“She wonders at how change comes in like a thief in the night, dismantling our sense of self one bolt and screw at a time until all that’s left of the person we think we are is a broken door hanging off a rusty hinge, waiting for us to walk through.”
“You gathered flowers and read woman. You read woman and gleaned docile, pretty, fragrant, weak. But you misread me, Lleu. I have in me the hearts of great ships, the bones of cathedrals. I have in me the sharpness of claws.”
I could honestly pull pages upon pages of favorite quotes, but I urge you to pick up a copy for yourself ✨
While I enjoyed everything, the below were the standout stars for me:
✨ Seasons of Glass and Iron
✨ To Follow the Waves
✨ Pieces
✨ John Hollowback & the Witch
✨ Florilegia; Or, Some Lies About Flowers
✨ Pockets
From the moment I began reading This is How You Loose the Time War, I knew I needed to read more from Amal El-Mohtar. The River Has Roots was nearly as enthralling, of which the ARC included a sneak peek of John Hollowback & the Witch and I was feral for more. Thank you a million times over for providing a physical ARC of Seasons of Glass & Iron, Tor Dot Com!
It is challenging to review an anthology as there are multiple plots, characters and themes throughout the collection. El-Mohtar’s imagination, outlook and voice is unique to any other author I’ve come across. The imagery of prose pulls me into a whimsical dream of which I do not wish to wake up from (oh, and there’s a lovely story incorporating dreams as well!). One thing I adore about anthologies is that you can read it from cover to cover, or savor it by reading a story, a poem or two between larger books.
I was already gushing while reading the introduction, which set the stage for a collection of stories while quite different from each other, still felt cohesive as a collection with El-Mohtar’s stunning prose, all of them tugging my emotions in one way or another. I love that this collection of stories also includes a couple of poems in both English and Arabic. I was giddy when I discovered we are both of Lebanese descent! Although I cannot speak or read it, seeing Arabic brings fond memories of my grandmother’s church.
If you're already an El-Mohtar fan, I am confident you will enjoy this. If you haven’t begun your El-Mohtar yet, you are in for a treat!
“She wonders at how change comes in like a thief in the night, dismantling our sense of self one bolt and screw at a time until all that’s left of the person we think we are is a broken door hanging off a rusty hinge, waiting for us to walk through.”
“You gathered flowers and read woman. You read woman and gleaned docile, pretty, fragrant, weak. But you misread me, Lleu. I have in me the hearts of great ships, the bones of cathedrals. I have in me the sharpness of claws.”
I could honestly pull pages upon pages of favorite quotes, but I urge you to pick up a copy for yourself ✨
While I enjoyed everything, the below were the standout stars for me:
✨ Seasons of Glass and Iron
✨ To Follow the Waves
✨ Pieces
✨ John Hollowback & the Witch
✨ Florilegia; Or, Some Lies About Flowers
✨ Pockets
Read
January 8, 2026I don't actually count how many times I announce to everyone that I love Amal El-Mohtar's writing, but if I were to genuinely count, I'd arrive at an incomprehensible number, I think. That's to say, this is what I'm doing in this review again.
The titular story is incredible. I like fantasy stories and sapphic stories and combine both those things with beautiful prose and the result is an unforgettable story.
Seasons of Glass and Iron is about a woman who's wearing down shoes made of iron, and the backstory reveals blinds spots in the logic of her wearing it down, something that the princess in the Glass house allows her to talk about. Our Glass princess on the other hand is there in a prison she chose for herself, a place where she is safe but unable to go wherever she wishes to go. Together, the two of them disentangle the riddle of how they could both be truly free--and as an added bonus, together.
I want to say it's my favorite story out of all the ones in the anthology but frankly I think I love them all equally.
the truth about owls made me put the book down and pace my living room and do all my errands while having it swirl in my mind before im ready to read again (': also the poems are worth savoring and/or reading twice (or more) before moving on i think. lovely. i wish i could read and understand Arabic, because I'm sure it's an added bonus for those who do, for reading things in one language always always feel different than another (this, coming from someone who's tasted multiple languages, and continues to do so for as long as i'm alive), but all that to say I liked the poems in their English form anyway.
AND OH. to end the anthology with the story of 'Pockets,' a story that ends with the sweetest letter I've ever read, whoever made that decision final for this collection you deserve a raise and a million bucks. That story is reminiscent of El-Mohtar's work in This is How You Lose the Time War, aka one of my all-time favs.
Brilliant anthology. I'll put it on my wishlist as I want a copy for myself to re-read at leisure.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for granting access to the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The titular story is incredible. I like fantasy stories and sapphic stories and combine both those things with beautiful prose and the result is an unforgettable story.
Seasons of Glass and Iron is about a woman who's wearing down shoes made of iron, and the backstory reveals blinds spots in the logic of her wearing it down, something that the princess in the Glass house allows her to talk about. Our Glass princess on the other hand is there in a prison she chose for herself, a place where she is safe but unable to go wherever she wishes to go. Together, the two of them disentangle the riddle of how they could both be truly free--and as an added bonus, together.
I want to say it's my favorite story out of all the ones in the anthology but frankly I think I love them all equally.
the truth about owls made me put the book down and pace my living room and do all my errands while having it swirl in my mind before im ready to read again (': also the poems are worth savoring and/or reading twice (or more) before moving on i think. lovely. i wish i could read and understand Arabic, because I'm sure it's an added bonus for those who do, for reading things in one language always always feel different than another (this, coming from someone who's tasted multiple languages, and continues to do so for as long as i'm alive), but all that to say I liked the poems in their English form anyway.
AND OH. to end the anthology with the story of 'Pockets,' a story that ends with the sweetest letter I've ever read, whoever made that decision final for this collection you deserve a raise and a million bucks. That story is reminiscent of El-Mohtar's work in This is How You Lose the Time War, aka one of my all-time favs.
Brilliant anthology. I'll put it on my wishlist as I want a copy for myself to re-read at leisure.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for granting access to the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
December 4, 2025
ARC provided by Tor — thank you so much for letting me read this early!
“She wonders at how change comes in like a thief in the night, dismantling our sense of self one bolt and screw at a time until all that's left of the person we think we are is a broken door hanging off a rusty hinge, waiting for us to walk through” — this quote made me sob. Full body, sit-in-silence-for-a-minute sob.
I’ve loved Amal El-Mohtar’s writing for years, but this collection reminded me why she feels elemental to me — like someone who can look directly at the seams of the world and name every fragile thread. Seasons of Glass and Iron brings together a selection of her short fiction, and while not every story worked for me, the ones that did… absolutely did. “Seasons of Glass and Iron,” “Pockets,” “Madeline,” and “John Hollowback and the Witch” were my absolute standouts — each one sparkling with that precise, lyrical, devastating magic Amal is known for. Even when a story didn’t land for me, the collection as a whole felt cohesive, like an incantation stitched from girlhood, grief, wonder, rage, and tenderness.
The introduction alone is worth the price of admission. It’s stunning — intimate, thoughtful, and deeply grounding for what follows. This line in particular feels like the thesis of the entire collection:
“Mostly, what emerged is that I love women. I love women talking to each other. I love women reading each other, through letters and journals and flowers, offering up the stories of themselves to each other's tender scrutiny. I love women being friends and being lovers, in all of their shapes, across the breadth and depth of their lives. Over and over, in these stories, I find myself returning to what Emily Yoshida called ‘the terrifying magic of two women in a room, talking,’ and agreeing that ‘there's still so much of it we haven't explored yet.’”
And truly — that “terrifying magic” permeates everything here. The stories are full of women naming their pain, their power, their thresholds. Women reshaping themselves. Women refusing to be small. Women speaking impossible truths to each other.
If you love El-Mohtar’s work, you’ll adore this.
“She wonders at how change comes in like a thief in the night, dismantling our sense of self one bolt and screw at a time until all that's left of the person we think we are is a broken door hanging off a rusty hinge, waiting for us to walk through” — this quote made me sob. Full body, sit-in-silence-for-a-minute sob.
I’ve loved Amal El-Mohtar’s writing for years, but this collection reminded me why she feels elemental to me — like someone who can look directly at the seams of the world and name every fragile thread. Seasons of Glass and Iron brings together a selection of her short fiction, and while not every story worked for me, the ones that did… absolutely did. “Seasons of Glass and Iron,” “Pockets,” “Madeline,” and “John Hollowback and the Witch” were my absolute standouts — each one sparkling with that precise, lyrical, devastating magic Amal is known for. Even when a story didn’t land for me, the collection as a whole felt cohesive, like an incantation stitched from girlhood, grief, wonder, rage, and tenderness.
The introduction alone is worth the price of admission. It’s stunning — intimate, thoughtful, and deeply grounding for what follows. This line in particular feels like the thesis of the entire collection:
“Mostly, what emerged is that I love women. I love women talking to each other. I love women reading each other, through letters and journals and flowers, offering up the stories of themselves to each other's tender scrutiny. I love women being friends and being lovers, in all of their shapes, across the breadth and depth of their lives. Over and over, in these stories, I find myself returning to what Emily Yoshida called ‘the terrifying magic of two women in a room, talking,’ and agreeing that ‘there's still so much of it we haven't explored yet.’”
And truly — that “terrifying magic” permeates everything here. The stories are full of women naming their pain, their power, their thresholds. Women reshaping themselves. Women refusing to be small. Women speaking impossible truths to each other.
If you love El-Mohtar’s work, you’ll adore this.
December 6, 2025
An exquisite collection of short stories written in Amal’s poetic prose that might leave you shedding a few tears or staring at the wall after reading, contemplating life, love, and the many joys and horrors of our world.
If everyone loved women the way this author so dearly loves women, the world would be a more beautiful and safe place for all. The way my heart ached for the women in these stories, for all the evils the world of men has put upon them, for the way they were healed by fellow women, sisters, mothers, friends...the way they were accepted for who they were, not for who others (men) wanted them to shaped like...
My auto-buy author list has one more addition!
A standout story in this collection was the title track, Seasons of Glass and Iron. This was a story of women discovering new possibilities through their relationship with each other after being conditioned by men/systems into harmful beliefs. It was beautiful, and I cried.
Another poignant tale is John Hollowback and the Witch. This perfectly encapsulates the horrible habit men have of seeing something beautiful, wanting to cage it and shape it to their liking, thinking they are doing a wonderful service, demanding to be the hero, the main character in everyone’s story, and completely blind to the reality where they smother someone’s soul so much it shrinks to barely a whisper and it isn’t until this crushed and bruised soul breaks free that the full scope of such a harm is realized...and everyone hates the men for it but they don’t even know because they cannot see themselves in a poor light, it must be everyone else’s fault.
While these two might be the ones I point out in this review, it by no means diminishes the rest. Each piece in this work is as precious as any other. You’ll find stories, perspectives, and representations of queer, Palestinian, and immigrant characters. There are also West Asian supernatural entities such as the Peri and Djinn. In every piece, there is magic.
This book is for everyone; everyone should read this book! Highly recommend!!
Thank you to Tor for the eARC copy via NetGalley for review consideration. All my opinions are my own.
If everyone loved women the way this author so dearly loves women, the world would be a more beautiful and safe place for all. The way my heart ached for the women in these stories, for all the evils the world of men has put upon them, for the way they were healed by fellow women, sisters, mothers, friends...the way they were accepted for who they were, not for who others (men) wanted them to shaped like...
My auto-buy author list has one more addition!
A standout story in this collection was the title track, Seasons of Glass and Iron. This was a story of women discovering new possibilities through their relationship with each other after being conditioned by men/systems into harmful beliefs. It was beautiful, and I cried.
Another poignant tale is John Hollowback and the Witch. This perfectly encapsulates the horrible habit men have of seeing something beautiful, wanting to cage it and shape it to their liking, thinking they are doing a wonderful service, demanding to be the hero, the main character in everyone’s story, and completely blind to the reality where they smother someone’s soul so much it shrinks to barely a whisper and it isn’t until this crushed and bruised soul breaks free that the full scope of such a harm is realized...and everyone hates the men for it but they don’t even know because they cannot see themselves in a poor light, it must be everyone else’s fault.
While these two might be the ones I point out in this review, it by no means diminishes the rest. Each piece in this work is as precious as any other. You’ll find stories, perspectives, and representations of queer, Palestinian, and immigrant characters. There are also West Asian supernatural entities such as the Peri and Djinn. In every piece, there is magic.
This book is for everyone; everyone should read this book! Highly recommend!!
Thank you to Tor for the eARC copy via NetGalley for review consideration. All my opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
This is not exactly a book of short stories as is usually published in the premise of it being one theme or over a certain assigned ( according to the publishers timeline) but one of tales written over the span of almost 20 years giving the writing variety and seeing the authors growth.
There are two stories I am choosing to review as they were my favorite
" MADELEINE"
written before Black Mirror was even a concept ,this is a story that has all the elements of an episode. The gaslighting mysterious Dr.,some new technology, flashbacks/ fever dreams and a stranger who guides you through it all
As the young ones say TDLR : Madeleine a young woman who has a lot of trauma from the death of her mom seeks out drug in a clinical trial to help forget all of the pain,but finds new memories or realities(?) Along the way meeting/remembering a girl named zeinab who helps guide her through. Unlike Black mirror I think the ending is a bit happier
THE TRUTH ABOUT OWLS
Anisa a young immigrant from Lebanon moves to the U.K. soon after ( what is not exactly stated but accurate) the Lebanon war of 1982. Trying to fit in with her fellow students is not working ,so she "develops" a power of cursing or causing bad will .mostly its getting others sick which the other students welcome ,probably so they can ditch to the arcade or do other 80s stuff.
She goes on a field trip to an owl sanctuary and feels a connection to an owl from Wales and one of the workers Izzy. The sanctuary becomes just that and at the same time discovers another" power " and her place in the U.K. through the owls namesake a character in a Welsh fairytale.
Overall most readers arent going to find every story to their liking but like I stated at the beginning, this is not a thematic or chronological/linear dateline collection but is it worth it? In my opininon yes .
Also of note ,it was a great book to read while flying .
There are two stories I am choosing to review as they were my favorite
" MADELEINE"
written before Black Mirror was even a concept ,this is a story that has all the elements of an episode. The gaslighting mysterious Dr.,some new technology, flashbacks/ fever dreams and a stranger who guides you through it all
As the young ones say TDLR : Madeleine a young woman who has a lot of trauma from the death of her mom seeks out drug in a clinical trial to help forget all of the pain,but finds new memories or realities(?) Along the way meeting/remembering a girl named zeinab who helps guide her through. Unlike Black mirror I think the ending is a bit happier
THE TRUTH ABOUT OWLS
Anisa a young immigrant from Lebanon moves to the U.K. soon after ( what is not exactly stated but accurate) the Lebanon war of 1982. Trying to fit in with her fellow students is not working ,so she "develops" a power of cursing or causing bad will .mostly its getting others sick which the other students welcome ,probably so they can ditch to the arcade or do other 80s stuff.
She goes on a field trip to an owl sanctuary and feels a connection to an owl from Wales and one of the workers Izzy. The sanctuary becomes just that and at the same time discovers another" power " and her place in the U.K. through the owls namesake a character in a Welsh fairytale.
Overall most readers arent going to find every story to their liking but like I stated at the beginning, this is not a thematic or chronological/linear dateline collection but is it worth it? In my opininon yes .
Also of note ,it was a great book to read while flying .
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