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Voices of the Future: Stories of Whimsy & Warriors
Discover the next generation of storytellers …
The sixth edition of Voices of the Future weaves together short stories of whimsy and warriors in a memorable and heartwarming collection. Experience the next generation’s creativity and vision through these brief tales from rising young creatives.
Sydney O' Hello, Black Dog
Avery Guide and Seek
Johanna If We Had Wings
Abigail G. Never Perfect
Naomi Good Tidings & Twin Sisters
Lillianna Dreamscape
Hollis The Rose-Tinted Glasses
Ella The Pond House
Sam The Percentage of Magic
Sydney Crosswind
Anna Under the Blitz Sky
Cristiana Till the Mountain BurnsThe Author Conservatory is a college-alternative program for gifted writers focused on raising up the next C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. 100% of your purchase goes to help students attend writing conferences where they can pitch their work to agents and publishers. AuthorConservatory.com
The sixth edition of Voices of the Future weaves together short stories of whimsy and warriors in a memorable and heartwarming collection. Experience the next generation’s creativity and vision through these brief tales from rising young creatives.
Sydney O' Hello, Black Dog
Avery Guide and Seek
Johanna If We Had Wings
Abigail G. Never Perfect
Naomi Good Tidings & Twin Sisters
Lillianna Dreamscape
Hollis The Rose-Tinted Glasses
Ella The Pond House
Sam The Percentage of Magic
Sydney Crosswind
Anna Under the Blitz Sky
Cristiana Till the Mountain BurnsThe Author Conservatory is a college-alternative program for gifted writers focused on raising up the next C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. 100% of your purchase goes to help students attend writing conferences where they can pitch their work to agents and publishers. AuthorConservatory.com
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291 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 24, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
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May 2, 2025well I wrote "if we had wings" so I guess I should rate it 💪🦋
July 22, 2025
I received a complimentary copy but also pre-ordered one from author Lillianna Joy. I’m so glad I got a physical copy and I highly suggest you get one too. It’s so beautiful; you’ll find yourself wanting to highlight every other sentence just because. Getting to support young Christian writers is definitely a huge plus. ;)
"Hello, Black Dog" by Sydney O'Rear
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
sweet, heart-warming middle grade short story.
written with the talent of an authoress with more writing years than actually under her belt!
“Guide and Seek” by Avery Heisey
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
a unique, well written middle grade short story.
while reading, I related to Aelia and her struggles in the forest a lot. She also inspired me to be better!
“If We Had Wings” by Johanna Anaya
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
this short story is so lovely! I love all the facets and the lessons. some sentences were (IMHO) confusingly incomplete but did not detract from the story.
“Never Perfect” by Abigail G. Smith
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I am so impressed with the talent in this short story! It is incredibly well-written and such a cute story! I loved everything about it and will be on the lookout for more by this author. :D
“Good Tidings & Twin Sisters” by Naomi Sowell
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
wow.
"Hello, Black Dog" by Sydney O'Rear
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
sweet, heart-warming middle grade short story.
written with the talent of an authoress with more writing years than actually under her belt!
“Guide and Seek” by Avery Heisey
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
a unique, well written middle grade short story.
while reading, I related to Aelia and her struggles in the forest a lot. She also inspired me to be better!
“If We Had Wings” by Johanna Anaya
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
this short story is so lovely! I love all the facets and the lessons. some sentences were (IMHO) confusingly incomplete but did not detract from the story.
“Never Perfect” by Abigail G. Smith
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I am so impressed with the talent in this short story! It is incredibly well-written and such a cute story! I loved everything about it and will be on the lookout for more by this author. :D
“Good Tidings & Twin Sisters” by Naomi Sowell
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
wow.
November 27, 2025
Til the Mountain Burns by Cristiana Moyer
4 stars. I don't often get to read Greek historical fiction, but as a kid who was obsessed with Greece, I enjoyed it! This short story had a great message and I look forwards to more by this author.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
4 stars. I don't often get to read Greek historical fiction, but as a kid who was obsessed with Greece, I enjoyed it! This short story had a great message and I look forwards to more by this author.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
July 11, 2025
What an amazing collection! I'll admit, I bought it for only one short story that I knew I was going to love, but when I flipped through the rest of the book, I realized this whole collection is FULL of talented authors! Guys, this is the next generation of storytellers right here.
(But I can't leave without raving about my favorite story in this collection: Till the Mountain Burns . Cristiana Moyer knocked this one out of the park! Ancient Greek vibes? War horses?? An impending attack that only Eirene can stop??? *Slaps my money down* Say no more. Moyer writes with a passion and edge that leaves you frantically flipping pages till the very end. I can't wait to see more from this girl in the future! 🙌)
(But I can't leave without raving about my favorite story in this collection: Till the Mountain Burns . Cristiana Moyer knocked this one out of the park! Ancient Greek vibes? War horses?? An impending attack that only Eirene can stop??? *Slaps my money down* Say no more. Moyer writes with a passion and edge that leaves you frantically flipping pages till the very end. I can't wait to see more from this girl in the future! 🙌)
Read
May 23, 2025I received a complimentary copy of this anthology from the publisher. A positive review was not required. So far I have only read one of the stories; The Pond House by Ella Webb. The Pond house is an enchanting story about belonging and friendship. Its whimsical, yet mystifying setting provides an excellent backdrop for the characters and plot. But I'd have to say my favorite part was the dialogue, which felt realistic and poetic at the same time! I would love to read more about this specific world and the way it works and I am excited to read the rest of the stories in the Analogy as well!!!
June 28, 2025
I've only read one story in this so far The Rose-Tinted Glasses by Hollis Wakefield, which I enjoyed immensely.
edit (June 28): I have now read the first half of the stories, of which If We Had Wings by Johanna Anaya is my favorite.
Full review to come!!! <3
edit (June 28): I have now read the first half of the stories, of which If We Had Wings by Johanna Anaya is my favorite.
Full review to come!!! <3
May 29, 2025
I've only read The Pond House so far, but I really liked it! Ella Webb's writing is splendid, and really draws you in. Her worldbuilding is fantastic!! A great read overall!!!
I received a complimentary copy of this anthology from the publisher. A positive review was not required.
I received a complimentary copy of this anthology from the publisher. A positive review was not required.
July 14, 2025
Such a charming addition to the VoTF series! Whimsy & Warriors is definitely an appropriate title for this one; there's an optimism and warmth to these stories that will make many of them the perfect pick-me-up read after a long day. Some standouts for me:
- Hello, Black Dog by Sydney O'Rear. Captures grief from a child's perspective in a simple but moving way, and navigates through a lot of complex emotions with a subtle touch. Also, I have a black lab myself, so Hank has a special place in my heart.
- Guide and Seek by Avery Heisey. I haven't personally gotten to read a lot of sci-fi stories with such young main characters and this type of focus on family dynamics, so this was a blast! And I am always here for cute animal sidekicks.
- Good Tidings and Twin Sisters by Naomi Sowell. I don't have sisters so it's necessarily the same, but having been the friend who's watched lots of other women move on to new life seasons and had to navigate changing dynamics there, this one still resonated with me a lot. And I loved how Sowell validated the two sisters' diverging life paths as both being valid and good.
- Dreamscape by Lillianna Joy. Such a precious story about healing and listening to your inner child—and validating the perspective that children bring in general. A sweet love letter to all the glittery "girly girls" out there who aren't taken seriously but deserve to be.
- The Pond House by Ella Webb. Delightful worldbuilding, charming characters, and such a sweet resolution that I wasn't expecting! If found family is your favorite trope, this one's for you.
- The Percentage of Magic. Laugh-out-loud funny with a relatable MC and some themes I haven't seen enough of in superhero stories (who are you when you're not defined by what you can do?) Vivid, endearing characters that I would love to hear more from.
- Crosswind by Sydney Leeson. Airships and giant flying squirrels. Enough said, right? (But in all seriousness, the courage themes and exciting action are a blast too.)
- Under the Blitz Sky by Anna Galicinski. This one packs a lot into a tiny story that honestly felt like it was longer—fantastic development of the story world and character journey. Galicinski brings her own compelling voice and perspective to a time period that's been covered a lot.
Cheering hard for these authors, and VERY excited for the world to get to see their novels some day.
(I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.)
- Hello, Black Dog by Sydney O'Rear. Captures grief from a child's perspective in a simple but moving way, and navigates through a lot of complex emotions with a subtle touch. Also, I have a black lab myself, so Hank has a special place in my heart.
- Guide and Seek by Avery Heisey. I haven't personally gotten to read a lot of sci-fi stories with such young main characters and this type of focus on family dynamics, so this was a blast! And I am always here for cute animal sidekicks.
- Good Tidings and Twin Sisters by Naomi Sowell. I don't have sisters so it's necessarily the same, but having been the friend who's watched lots of other women move on to new life seasons and had to navigate changing dynamics there, this one still resonated with me a lot. And I loved how Sowell validated the two sisters' diverging life paths as both being valid and good.
- Dreamscape by Lillianna Joy. Such a precious story about healing and listening to your inner child—and validating the perspective that children bring in general. A sweet love letter to all the glittery "girly girls" out there who aren't taken seriously but deserve to be.
- The Pond House by Ella Webb. Delightful worldbuilding, charming characters, and such a sweet resolution that I wasn't expecting! If found family is your favorite trope, this one's for you.
- The Percentage of Magic. Laugh-out-loud funny with a relatable MC and some themes I haven't seen enough of in superhero stories (who are you when you're not defined by what you can do?) Vivid, endearing characters that I would love to hear more from.
- Crosswind by Sydney Leeson. Airships and giant flying squirrels. Enough said, right? (But in all seriousness, the courage themes and exciting action are a blast too.)
- Under the Blitz Sky by Anna Galicinski. This one packs a lot into a tiny story that honestly felt like it was longer—fantastic development of the story world and character journey. Galicinski brings her own compelling voice and perspective to a time period that's been covered a lot.
Cheering hard for these authors, and VERY excited for the world to get to see their novels some day.
(I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.)
July 25, 2025
Rose Tinted Glasses — Hollis Wakefield
5 stars. ✨ I am blown away by this short story. The writing style is so smooth, the vibes—the ocean feel and how everything literally felt like when you put a warm filter on a photo—were amazing, and the theme was beautiful.
This is the story I bought the anthology for, and I was not disappointed. If this is the quality of writing from Author students, I’m sure the rest of the stories will be amazing as well. Now, I’m off to read them!
5 stars. ✨ I am blown away by this short story. The writing style is so smooth, the vibes—the ocean feel and how everything literally felt like when you put a warm filter on a photo—were amazing, and the theme was beautiful.
This is the story I bought the anthology for, and I was not disappointed. If this is the quality of writing from Author students, I’m sure the rest of the stories will be amazing as well. Now, I’m off to read them!
July 29, 2025
GUIDE AND SEEK by Avery Heisey
This short story was such a cozy, sweet adventure of two siblings as they search for a jungle plant that could save their home. I adored the themes of working together, and Aelia and Luc had the most fun sibling banter. Also, that last line?? Perfection. Avery's story was delightful and I'm SO excited to read her novels to come.
THE ROSE-TINTED GLASSES by Hollis Wakefield
This short story about an indebted boy, his talking seagull sidekick, and the magical glasses that hide the pain of his friend's betrayal is just wonderful. It has such hilarious banter along with the important theme of facing your hurt to find healing, all wrapped up in the most heartfelt ending. This story was beautiful and I cannot wait for the day Hollis's full novels come out.
This short story was such a cozy, sweet adventure of two siblings as they search for a jungle plant that could save their home. I adored the themes of working together, and Aelia and Luc had the most fun sibling banter. Also, that last line?? Perfection. Avery's story was delightful and I'm SO excited to read her novels to come.
THE ROSE-TINTED GLASSES by Hollis Wakefield
This short story about an indebted boy, his talking seagull sidekick, and the magical glasses that hide the pain of his friend's betrayal is just wonderful. It has such hilarious banter along with the important theme of facing your hurt to find healing, all wrapped up in the most heartfelt ending. This story was beautiful and I cannot wait for the day Hollis's full novels come out.
June 13, 2025
Hello, Black Dog by Sydney O'Rear
This contemporary middle grade story is a sweet short story about a girl who had just lost her grandma and wrestles with wanting to forget the sadness of it all. But to do so means ridding herself of the dog she grew up with. The theme in this story is great, and the story itself is good for younger ones to read.
Guide and Seek by Avery Heisey
Aww, I love how realistic the sibling relationship is portrayed here. It's simply cute and the kind of "short adventure" story I would've read as a kid. Basil was adorable—but that's probably because he's a rabbit and I love stories of rabbits.
If We Had Wings by Johanna Anaya
I usually dislike YA contemporary, but this is an exception.
Never Perfect by Abigail G. Smith
Marley's character hit hard. We have so much in common that I was cheering her on with her goals all throughout, but how it ended differently to what she wanted is satisfying.
Good Tidings and Twin Sisters by Naomi Sowell
... Wow. Change. This is something that I could relate to a lot, though I couldn't say I'm as emotionally effected by it as Jordyn is here. How much Madi moved on in life even without her sister, yet kept to their "twin talk time" was so sweet. I wish more sister relationships are written like this.
Dreamscape by Lilliana Joy
Oh my... This hit home. My dreams were put into words set in a story that was as whimsy as fantasy but also hard as reality. This turned out differently that I hoped, but that didn't change how much I connected to the characters. The end had simply more impact on me than I had expected. Trinity is the Warrior here, and I loved her from the start of the book.
The Rose-Tinted Glasses by Hollis Wakefield
A talking bird? Glasses that makes pain invisible to the eye? Now this is something I've looked forward to reading, and it did not disappoint.
The Pond House by Ella Webb
Fantasyyyyy. Yes, yes, yes. Also, a girl trying to find her family, but losing her last chance? EPIC. I was drawn in from the first sentence until the last. The worldbuilding here is as cool as one I'd like to read in a novel.
Percentage of Magic by Sam Matos
The narrative was absolutely fun to read, and the themes—Ahhhh—were so good. It isn't everyday that a superhero loses their powers, so watching Blake lose hers was interesting.
Crosswind by Sydney Leeson
I love endings that are well-written, and this is no exception. I'm surprised yet delighted how Leeson built such a complicated worldbuilding into a short story.
Under the Blitz Sky by Anna Galicinsky
I don't usually like reading historical fiction written by modern authors because it tends to bore me—not this. I didn't feel much for them at all throughout the story, but then I realized that it was all building up towards the end... Margot and her daughter nearly made me cry. The story is, oh, so beautiful, thinking about it now.
Til the Mountains Burn by Cristiana Moyer
This was less epic than I imagined, but it's amazingly well-written nonetheless. What I loved most is how inspiring Eirene's courage is.
Voices of the Future: Stories of Whimsy & Warriors is an anthology filled with a mix of genres including contemporary, fantasy, and historical fiction—all well-written short stories. I love too many stories here to pick a favorite. So, whether you're looking for a short read to make you cry, laugh, or to inspire you, this anthology should be your next read.
This contemporary middle grade story is a sweet short story about a girl who had just lost her grandma and wrestles with wanting to forget the sadness of it all. But to do so means ridding herself of the dog she grew up with. The theme in this story is great, and the story itself is good for younger ones to read.
Guide and Seek by Avery Heisey
Aww, I love how realistic the sibling relationship is portrayed here. It's simply cute and the kind of "short adventure" story I would've read as a kid. Basil was adorable—but that's probably because he's a rabbit and I love stories of rabbits.
If We Had Wings by Johanna Anaya
I usually dislike YA contemporary, but this is an exception.
Never Perfect by Abigail G. Smith
Marley's character hit hard. We have so much in common that I was cheering her on with her goals all throughout, but how it ended differently to what she wanted is satisfying.
Good Tidings and Twin Sisters by Naomi Sowell
... Wow. Change. This is something that I could relate to a lot, though I couldn't say I'm as emotionally effected by it as Jordyn is here. How much Madi moved on in life even without her sister, yet kept to their "twin talk time" was so sweet. I wish more sister relationships are written like this.
Dreamscape by Lilliana Joy
Oh my... This hit home. My dreams were put into words set in a story that was as whimsy as fantasy but also hard as reality. This turned out differently that I hoped, but that didn't change how much I connected to the characters. The end had simply more impact on me than I had expected. Trinity is the Warrior here, and I loved her from the start of the book.
The Rose-Tinted Glasses by Hollis Wakefield
A talking bird? Glasses that makes pain invisible to the eye? Now this is something I've looked forward to reading, and it did not disappoint.
The Pond House by Ella Webb
Fantasyyyyy. Yes, yes, yes. Also, a girl trying to find her family, but losing her last chance? EPIC. I was drawn in from the first sentence until the last. The worldbuilding here is as cool as one I'd like to read in a novel.
Percentage of Magic by Sam Matos
The narrative was absolutely fun to read, and the themes—Ahhhh—were so good. It isn't everyday that a superhero loses their powers, so watching Blake lose hers was interesting.
Crosswind by Sydney Leeson
I love endings that are well-written, and this is no exception. I'm surprised yet delighted how Leeson built such a complicated worldbuilding into a short story.
Under the Blitz Sky by Anna Galicinsky
I don't usually like reading historical fiction written by modern authors because it tends to bore me—not this. I didn't feel much for them at all throughout the story, but then I realized that it was all building up towards the end... Margot and her daughter nearly made me cry. The story is, oh, so beautiful, thinking about it now.
Til the Mountains Burn by Cristiana Moyer
This was less epic than I imagined, but it's amazingly well-written nonetheless. What I loved most is how inspiring Eirene's courage is.
Voices of the Future: Stories of Whimsy & Warriors is an anthology filled with a mix of genres including contemporary, fantasy, and historical fiction—all well-written short stories. I love too many stories here to pick a favorite. So, whether you're looking for a short read to make you cry, laugh, or to inspire you, this anthology should be your next read.
June 21, 2025
This was my favorite out of all the Author Conservatory anthologies I’ve read so far. I’m generally not a huge fan of the way the anthology stories are structured, but goodness, the way the stories in this particular anthology flowed made me very happy. I’m pretty blown away by how great the themes were. Despite the wide variety in style and genre, I’d say that one thing all of the stories in here shared was that they delved into deep themes and weren’t afraid to show that life sometimes has genuine pain which isn’t going to be resolved by a simple “happily ever after.” As someone who is frequently annoyed by the ever-growing number of stories that do close with a trite “and everything was magically okay,” this anthology was a refreshing read.
July 13, 2025
Review to come!
Okay, so... First of all, yes I enjoyed this anthology! There are both stories of whimsy and warriors, and sometimes both, in here.
Rather than do each individual story, right now I'm just going to go through the different genres. There are three in total: contemporary, fantasy, and historical fiction. And then there's subgenres within those as well.
Contemporary
I'm going to preface this by saying that I'm not really a fan of contemporary. So, while I did enjoy the stories in this group... they weren't my favorite, sorry. I think I've figured out why personally I don't like contemporary that much, and that's that I find it... predictable. I'm sorry, but I can see the ending / theme resolution coming a mile away lol.
Still, the first two stories (middle grade) were cute and had a dog and a rabbit ;) The writing style was good for both and I enjoyed them.
But there were some contemporary stories that stuck out to me when we got to young adult. (I think I like YA contemporary better than middle grade.) If We Had Wings was one of the best because I related to it so much XD The main character has just learned to drive. Literally, her thoughts and what she does is so relatable to me lol.
Good Tidings and Twin Sisters is also fun, and I really appreciated that the boyfriend was not a clueless boy XD I also related to it because I hate change too.
But my favorite, the one I related to the most, the one that caught me by surprise, was Dreamscape. Because I have been that main character. I still am like that main character. I adored the theme. I loved Trin. No other short story did I relate to in this anthology as much as I did this one. Don't forget how to dream <3
Fantasy
Of course, fantasy is my favorite genre so... Yeah :)
Overall, I enjoyed all the stories in this section. The superhero one was a fun twist, outside of my usual genre range, but that's what anthologies are for. To give you a taste of something different. Which would include the story with flying squirrels ;) and it's theme of facing fear. Then there was the story with a pond acting as a portal between different worlds, which had interesting world building.
But my favorite was probably The Rose Tinted Glasses. I loved the idea of taking rose tinted glasses and making it, well, literal. And exploring what would be the literal and figurative consequences of that. And what it would mean... to take them off and look your pain in the face. To not hide from it. A message I always need.
Historical
Finally, there's the historical section. There's only two stories in this section, and ironically enough I was looking forward to both of them.
Under the Blitz Sky was a snapshot of a difficult time in London, during the Blitz. I haven't read many books about that time, though I've read plenty of WW2. It was both sad and hopeful, because sometimes loving someone means giving them up <3
Til the Mountain Burns was also a favorite, and the perfect way to finish out this anthology. I loved this story because it featured a big, red warhorse ;) And the theme of facing fear even when things seem impossible. Because riding the horse who's afraid of fire and crippled your father because of it isn't easy, but when you have no choice...
Overall, I enjoyed this anthology!
I received an ARC copy of this anthology. All opinions and thoughts are my own, and not influenced by this. (An example being that I admitted that contemporary isn't my favorite to read and that I didn't like it as well lol.)
Okay, so... First of all, yes I enjoyed this anthology! There are both stories of whimsy and warriors, and sometimes both, in here.
Rather than do each individual story, right now I'm just going to go through the different genres. There are three in total: contemporary, fantasy, and historical fiction. And then there's subgenres within those as well.
Contemporary
I'm going to preface this by saying that I'm not really a fan of contemporary. So, while I did enjoy the stories in this group... they weren't my favorite, sorry. I think I've figured out why personally I don't like contemporary that much, and that's that I find it... predictable. I'm sorry, but I can see the ending / theme resolution coming a mile away lol.
Still, the first two stories (middle grade) were cute and had a dog and a rabbit ;) The writing style was good for both and I enjoyed them.
But there were some contemporary stories that stuck out to me when we got to young adult. (I think I like YA contemporary better than middle grade.) If We Had Wings was one of the best because I related to it so much XD The main character has just learned to drive. Literally, her thoughts and what she does is so relatable to me lol.
Good Tidings and Twin Sisters is also fun, and I really appreciated that the boyfriend was not a clueless boy XD I also related to it because I hate change too.
But my favorite, the one I related to the most, the one that caught me by surprise, was Dreamscape. Because I have been that main character. I still am like that main character. I adored the theme. I loved Trin. No other short story did I relate to in this anthology as much as I did this one. Don't forget how to dream <3
Fantasy
Of course, fantasy is my favorite genre so... Yeah :)
Overall, I enjoyed all the stories in this section. The superhero one was a fun twist, outside of my usual genre range, but that's what anthologies are for. To give you a taste of something different. Which would include the story with flying squirrels ;) and it's theme of facing fear. Then there was the story with a pond acting as a portal between different worlds, which had interesting world building.
But my favorite was probably The Rose Tinted Glasses. I loved the idea of taking rose tinted glasses and making it, well, literal. And exploring what would be the literal and figurative consequences of that. And what it would mean... to take them off and look your pain in the face. To not hide from it. A message I always need.
Historical
Finally, there's the historical section. There's only two stories in this section, and ironically enough I was looking forward to both of them.
Under the Blitz Sky was a snapshot of a difficult time in London, during the Blitz. I haven't read many books about that time, though I've read plenty of WW2. It was both sad and hopeful, because sometimes loving someone means giving them up <3
Til the Mountain Burns was also a favorite, and the perfect way to finish out this anthology. I loved this story because it featured a big, red warhorse ;) And the theme of facing fear even when things seem impossible. Because riding the horse who's afraid of fire and crippled your father because of it isn't easy, but when you have no choice...
Overall, I enjoyed this anthology!
I received an ARC copy of this anthology. All opinions and thoughts are my own, and not influenced by this. (An example being that I admitted that contemporary isn't my favorite to read and that I didn't like it as well lol.)
May 20, 2025
Oh, this was beautiful.
Full review to come
Full review to come
June 23, 2025
I give this 4 1/2 Stars!
I want to start by saying I received an ARC of this from one of the authors Cristiana Moyer. I enjoyed each of these books.
Contemporary Middle Grade
Book 1: Hello, Black Dog by Sydney O’Rear - Ella’s grandmother dies and they end up with her dog Hank. Will Ella and her family keep the dog or give it away?
Book 2: Guide and Seek by Avery Heisey - Aelia, her brother Luc, and Luc’s rabbit Basil set out into the forest to find an herb her parents need so they don’t have to move. Can they find the herb with the help of Basil? How will their parent’s react?
Contemporary Young Adult
Book 3: If We Had Wings by Johanna Anaya - Rosa and her family release butterflies every year as a family tradition. Will they do it this year now that her grandfather has passed away? Will they keep the tradition alive?
Book 4: Never Perfect by Abigail G. Smith - Marley and Matthew go to his family’s house for Thanksgiving. Will his family love her? Will Matthew’s little sister Alice make Marley feel welcome?
Book 5: Good Tiding & Twin Sisters by Naomi Sowell - Jordyn is back home for Christmas. Things have changed in her family in the time she was gone. Will she realize change isn’t always bad? Will she be happy for her family like they are for her?
Book 6: Dreamscape by Lillianna Joy - Ghreta loves to paint and is trying to get scholarships. Will her paintings be good enough to get the scholarships she needs? Will she paint what she loves?
Fantasy Young Adult & Adult
Book 7: The Rose-Tinted Glasses by Hollis Wakefield - Hurley has a debt to finish paying. He wears rose colored glasses that make things invisible. Will he continue wearing the glasses or will he remove them to see life is better without them?
Book 8: The Pond House by Ella Webb - Catily has gone to another realm in hopes to find her parents. Along the way she meets a man who helps encourage her. Will she continue looking for her family or give up and go back to her found family?
Book 9: The Percentage Of Magic by Sam Matos - Blake is a superhero. Every year they have to go to a portal to renew their powers. Will Blake make it in time or will a villain stop her from getting there? Will she lose her powers?
Book 10: Crosswind by Sydney Lesson - Tanya needs to fly into a storm her flying squirrel Beale. They need to deliver parts so the lighthouse will be fixed in time. Will they make it through the storm? Will they make it to the lighthouse in time?
Historical Young Adult & Adult
Book 11: Under The Blitz Sky by Anna Galicinski - Margot is raising her daughter alone in London while her husband is at war. London is constantly getting bombed and Margot wants to keep her daughter safe. Will she be willing to send her away to keep her safe?
Book 12: Till The Mountain Burns by Cristiana Moyer - Eirene is afraid of a certain horse. That horse is afraid of fire. What happens when they have to work together to save their people? Will they face their fears?
I want to start by saying I received an ARC of this from one of the authors Cristiana Moyer. I enjoyed each of these books.
Contemporary Middle Grade
Book 1: Hello, Black Dog by Sydney O’Rear - Ella’s grandmother dies and they end up with her dog Hank. Will Ella and her family keep the dog or give it away?
Book 2: Guide and Seek by Avery Heisey - Aelia, her brother Luc, and Luc’s rabbit Basil set out into the forest to find an herb her parents need so they don’t have to move. Can they find the herb with the help of Basil? How will their parent’s react?
Contemporary Young Adult
Book 3: If We Had Wings by Johanna Anaya - Rosa and her family release butterflies every year as a family tradition. Will they do it this year now that her grandfather has passed away? Will they keep the tradition alive?
Book 4: Never Perfect by Abigail G. Smith - Marley and Matthew go to his family’s house for Thanksgiving. Will his family love her? Will Matthew’s little sister Alice make Marley feel welcome?
Book 5: Good Tiding & Twin Sisters by Naomi Sowell - Jordyn is back home for Christmas. Things have changed in her family in the time she was gone. Will she realize change isn’t always bad? Will she be happy for her family like they are for her?
Book 6: Dreamscape by Lillianna Joy - Ghreta loves to paint and is trying to get scholarships. Will her paintings be good enough to get the scholarships she needs? Will she paint what she loves?
Fantasy Young Adult & Adult
Book 7: The Rose-Tinted Glasses by Hollis Wakefield - Hurley has a debt to finish paying. He wears rose colored glasses that make things invisible. Will he continue wearing the glasses or will he remove them to see life is better without them?
Book 8: The Pond House by Ella Webb - Catily has gone to another realm in hopes to find her parents. Along the way she meets a man who helps encourage her. Will she continue looking for her family or give up and go back to her found family?
Book 9: The Percentage Of Magic by Sam Matos - Blake is a superhero. Every year they have to go to a portal to renew their powers. Will Blake make it in time or will a villain stop her from getting there? Will she lose her powers?
Book 10: Crosswind by Sydney Lesson - Tanya needs to fly into a storm her flying squirrel Beale. They need to deliver parts so the lighthouse will be fixed in time. Will they make it through the storm? Will they make it to the lighthouse in time?
Historical Young Adult & Adult
Book 11: Under The Blitz Sky by Anna Galicinski - Margot is raising her daughter alone in London while her husband is at war. London is constantly getting bombed and Margot wants to keep her daughter safe. Will she be willing to send her away to keep her safe?
Book 12: Till The Mountain Burns by Cristiana Moyer - Eirene is afraid of a certain horse. That horse is afraid of fire. What happens when they have to work together to save their people? Will they face their fears?
June 7, 2025
I received a complimentary copy of this anthology from the publisher. A positive review was not required.
I loved reading these stories!
"Rose-Tinted Glasses" by Hollis Wakefield is a fun and heart-warming story about a young man who sees the world through literal rose-tinted glasses who must learn to face a painful past. The story was so funny, and the climax surprised me and made me tear up. Hollis balances her wonderful humor with the emotional moments of the amazingly, as always!
"The Pond House" by Ella Webb tells the story of a girl searching for her family through a fantastical setting, and the unexpected friend she finds along the way. Ella's descriptions of her setting brought the world to life for me so vividly I felt like I was traveling beside the characters. I was deeply immersed in the story, and I loved the sweet ending!
I loved reading these stories!
"Rose-Tinted Glasses" by Hollis Wakefield is a fun and heart-warming story about a young man who sees the world through literal rose-tinted glasses who must learn to face a painful past. The story was so funny, and the climax surprised me and made me tear up. Hollis balances her wonderful humor with the emotional moments of the amazingly, as always!
"The Pond House" by Ella Webb tells the story of a girl searching for her family through a fantastical setting, and the unexpected friend she finds along the way. Ella's descriptions of her setting brought the world to life for me so vividly I felt like I was traveling beside the characters. I was deeply immersed in the story, and I loved the sweet ending!
June 7, 2025
I received a complimentary copy of this anthology from the publisher. A positive review was not required. I only read Ella Webb's short story, "The Pond House." Ella excellently draws you into the story. The dialogue was very well done, she portrayed the characters in such a real and captivating way. The story is about a girl looking for her family, and as the story finishes you learn with the characters some very important life lessons. Overall, highly recommend!
June 23, 2025
I received a complementary copy and I'm under no obligation to leave a good review.
So far I have only read the story by Ella Web, The Pond House, and absolutely loved it! I love the friendship that's displayed and the beautiful setting. I would definitely recommend it.
So far I have only read the story by Ella Web, The Pond House, and absolutely loved it! I love the friendship that's displayed and the beautiful setting. I would definitely recommend it.
May 31, 2025
I received a complimentary copy of this anthology from the publisher. A positive review was not required.
I have only fully read, "The Pond House" by Ella Webb, thus far, but intend to read the others soon as well. Ella did a great job of grabbing the attention of the reader through the whole story, great detail as well as a wonderful lesson of friendship learned by the character, as well as the reader. I absolutely loved it!!! Great job Ella!!!
I have only fully read, "The Pond House" by Ella Webb, thus far, but intend to read the others soon as well. Ella did a great job of grabbing the attention of the reader through the whole story, great detail as well as a wonderful lesson of friendship learned by the character, as well as the reader. I absolutely loved it!!! Great job Ella!!!
June 13, 2025
A great collection of short stories by new authors. Everyday heroes dealing with everyday situations, change, lose, unplanned adventure, mostly, with a bit of fantasy mixed in just to round things out. A few villains that are of course soon vanquished. A good wholesome read especially for the young and the young at heart.
June 20, 2025
A collection of short stories full of found family bravery and rising above the challenge!
I received a complimentary e-book but this review is voluntary!
I received a complimentary e-book but this review is voluntary!
July 6, 2025
Hello, Black Dog—Sydney O’Rear
This was a really sweet story. I loved Hank’s personality and how Ella came to like him again. The story felt really grounded: real, but hopeful.
Guide and Seek—Avery Heisey
I might have felt a little bit called out by this one. Aelia reminded me of myself when I was younger. This story was a cozy little adventure with vivid descriptions that I thoroughly enjoyed.
If We Had Wings—Johanna Anaya
The message of this one was very touching, and I admired Rosa’s spirit. The style in which it was written confused me at times, because of the switching of past and present tense. Sometimes the descriptions felt lacking, but I enjoyed what felt like an almost conversational prose, as if Rosa was sitting here retelling her story to me. A couple moments made me tear up; I really value what Johanna conveyed through this story.
Never Perfect–Abigail G. Smith
Marley and Matthew are so cute together! But their relationship isn't the center of the story so I'll talk about what it's actually about now lol. Marley and Alice learning to get along was so sweet! They both felt very alive to me and all the little adventures that brought them together kept me smiling.
Good Tidings and Twin Sisters–Naomi Sowell
I enjoyed the character dynamics of this story, especially the lighthearted banter. I appreciated the message of it, though at times it felt heavy-handed to me. But I related to Jordyn’s struggle throughout the story, and the ending tied everything up in a super sweet way.
Dreamscape–Lillianna Joy
This wonderful story had such a sweet message! Ghreta and Trinity are full of character! The only thing that was a little off-putting was that Trinity seemed to act way older than her age…though I admit, I haven't spent a lot of time around eight-year-olds, so I may be wrong. Anyways, this was yet another story I related to and appreciated. And the ending was precious! <3
The Rose-Tinted Glasses–Hollis Wakefield
This literal take on a common idiom was unique and interesting! A sprinkling of magic to the story drew me in to think about a real problem that we sometimes face in a deeper way. I did find Hurley’s change of mind a bit quick, but not so much that it took me out of the story. Also Hurley and A’Chara are hilarious! I wish I could read more about them.
The Pond House–Ella Webb
The worldbuilding and heart of this story captured my attention in equal measure. It puts the Whimsy in “Whimsy and Warriors!” Catily and Mr. Koi are both so kind and I just loved seeing them find family.
The Percentage of Magic–Sam Matos
I love a good superhero story, and this was no different! Blake's struggle struck a chord with me and I admired how she overcame her difficulties. This story felt like it should have been longer (or maybe I just wanted to read more, haha), but it still worked really well as a short story which I admire.
Crosswind–Sydney Leeson
The action and adventure of this story had me hooked the whole time! The worldbuilding was really cool too! This is another one of those stories where I wish there was more. I think the giant flying squirrel is awesome and made this story particularly unique.
Under the Blitz Sky–Anna Galicinski
I think the historical details of this story were done really well, and Margot's love for her daughter was touching. Mrs. Stevens seemed pushy to me, for someone who's just a neighbor. Even though what she said was true, it was very forward. But her kindness balanced that out for the most part and I enjoyed her grandmotherly nature.
Till the Mountain Burns—Cristiana Moyer
This story was really cool! I loved the details that brought the setting to life. And Eirene and Aethon’s courage touched my heart and inspired me. There were several lines in the book that really grabbed my attention, from her father's words about courage to Sometimes I wished for more sensory details and emotions from the character to pull me deeper into the story, but overall I really enjoyed it. I'm excited to see more from Cristiana Moyer!
This was a really sweet story. I loved Hank’s personality and how Ella came to like him again. The story felt really grounded: real, but hopeful.
Guide and Seek—Avery Heisey
I might have felt a little bit called out by this one. Aelia reminded me of myself when I was younger. This story was a cozy little adventure with vivid descriptions that I thoroughly enjoyed.
If We Had Wings—Johanna Anaya
The message of this one was very touching, and I admired Rosa’s spirit. The style in which it was written confused me at times, because of the switching of past and present tense. Sometimes the descriptions felt lacking, but I enjoyed what felt like an almost conversational prose, as if Rosa was sitting here retelling her story to me. A couple moments made me tear up; I really value what Johanna conveyed through this story.
Never Perfect–Abigail G. Smith
Marley and Matthew are so cute together! But their relationship isn't the center of the story so I'll talk about what it's actually about now lol. Marley and Alice learning to get along was so sweet! They both felt very alive to me and all the little adventures that brought them together kept me smiling.
Good Tidings and Twin Sisters–Naomi Sowell
I enjoyed the character dynamics of this story, especially the lighthearted banter. I appreciated the message of it, though at times it felt heavy-handed to me. But I related to Jordyn’s struggle throughout the story, and the ending tied everything up in a super sweet way.
Dreamscape–Lillianna Joy
This wonderful story had such a sweet message! Ghreta and Trinity are full of character! The only thing that was a little off-putting was that Trinity seemed to act way older than her age…though I admit, I haven't spent a lot of time around eight-year-olds, so I may be wrong. Anyways, this was yet another story I related to and appreciated. And the ending was precious! <3
The Rose-Tinted Glasses–Hollis Wakefield
This literal take on a common idiom was unique and interesting! A sprinkling of magic to the story drew me in to think about a real problem that we sometimes face in a deeper way. I did find Hurley’s change of mind a bit quick, but not so much that it took me out of the story. Also Hurley and A’Chara are hilarious! I wish I could read more about them.
The Pond House–Ella Webb
The worldbuilding and heart of this story captured my attention in equal measure. It puts the Whimsy in “Whimsy and Warriors!” Catily and Mr. Koi are both so kind and I just loved seeing them find family.
The Percentage of Magic–Sam Matos
I love a good superhero story, and this was no different! Blake's struggle struck a chord with me and I admired how she overcame her difficulties. This story felt like it should have been longer (or maybe I just wanted to read more, haha), but it still worked really well as a short story which I admire.
Crosswind–Sydney Leeson
The action and adventure of this story had me hooked the whole time! The worldbuilding was really cool too! This is another one of those stories where I wish there was more. I think the giant flying squirrel is awesome and made this story particularly unique.
Under the Blitz Sky–Anna Galicinski
I think the historical details of this story were done really well, and Margot's love for her daughter was touching. Mrs. Stevens seemed pushy to me, for someone who's just a neighbor. Even though what she said was true, it was very forward. But her kindness balanced that out for the most part and I enjoyed her grandmotherly nature.
Till the Mountain Burns—Cristiana Moyer
This story was really cool! I loved the details that brought the setting to life. And Eirene and Aethon’s courage touched my heart and inspired me. There were several lines in the book that really grabbed my attention, from her father's words about courage to Sometimes I wished for more sensory details and emotions from the character to pull me deeper into the story, but overall I really enjoyed it. I'm excited to see more from Cristiana Moyer!
October 8, 2025
3.75 (rounded to four)
🦋🎨⚓
So, what did I think?
I quite enjoyed my time in this book. it was full of stories that were full of emotion and action, heartbreak and healing. warriors and whimsy. as a whole the stories were good, a lot of them average. but there were three that really stood out to me and I will review each of them.
*
𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝑅𝑜𝓈𝑒-𝒯𝒾𝓃𝓉𝑒𝒹 𝒢𝓁𝒶𝓈𝓈𝑒𝓈 𝒷𝓎 𝐻𝑜𝓁𝓁𝒾𝓈 𝒲𝒶𝓀𝑒𝒻𝒾𝑒𝓁𝒹
⚓
Pros
↪
↣ there was a talking seagull that was adorable
↣ the characters felt relatable
↣ I really loved the themes of forgiveness
Cons
↪
↣ when I was reading it I wanted to know more about the world
↣ I felt like this could turn into a whole novel
*
𝐼𝒻 𝒲𝑒 𝐻𝒶𝒹 𝒲𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈 𝒷𝓎 𝒥𝑜𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓃𝒶 𝒜𝓃𝒶𝓎𝒶
🦋
Pros
↪
↣ the butterflies! need I say more?
↣ how grief was handled in a caring and kind way
↣ despite my dislike for the trope, miscommunication or lack of from the fmc to parents. it added to the story.
↣ The love the girl has for her grandfather
Cons
↪
↣ I felt like the girl cried too easy... I know a silly thing but it got on my nerves a few times.
*
𝒟𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓂𝓈𝒸𝒶𝓅𝑒 𝒷𝓎 𝐿𝒾𝓁𝓁𝒾𝒶𝓃𝓃𝒶 𝒥𝑜𝓎
🎨
Pros
↪
↣ um... everything?
↣ the fact that she wanted to paint little sparkly dragons
↣ all of the amazing quotes!
↣ the loveable side character
↣ relatable fmc
Cons
↪
↣ I wanted more.
🦋🎨⚓
So, what did I think?
I quite enjoyed my time in this book. it was full of stories that were full of emotion and action, heartbreak and healing. warriors and whimsy. as a whole the stories were good, a lot of them average. but there were three that really stood out to me and I will review each of them.
*
𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝑅𝑜𝓈𝑒-𝒯𝒾𝓃𝓉𝑒𝒹 𝒢𝓁𝒶𝓈𝓈𝑒𝓈 𝒷𝓎 𝐻𝑜𝓁𝓁𝒾𝓈 𝒲𝒶𝓀𝑒𝒻𝒾𝑒𝓁𝒹
⚓
Pros
↪
↣ there was a talking seagull that was adorable
↣ the characters felt relatable
↣ I really loved the themes of forgiveness
Cons
↪
↣ when I was reading it I wanted to know more about the world
↣ I felt like this could turn into a whole novel
*
𝐼𝒻 𝒲𝑒 𝐻𝒶𝒹 𝒲𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈 𝒷𝓎 𝒥𝑜𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓃𝒶 𝒜𝓃𝒶𝓎𝒶
🦋
Pros
↪
↣ the butterflies! need I say more?
↣ how grief was handled in a caring and kind way
↣ despite my dislike for the trope, miscommunication or lack of from the fmc to parents. it added to the story.
↣ The love the girl has for her grandfather
Cons
↪
↣ I felt like the girl cried too easy... I know a silly thing but it got on my nerves a few times.
*
𝒟𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓂𝓈𝒸𝒶𝓅𝑒 𝒷𝓎 𝐿𝒾𝓁𝓁𝒾𝒶𝓃𝓃𝒶 𝒥𝑜𝓎
🎨
Pros
↪
↣ um... everything?
↣ the fact that she wanted to paint little sparkly dragons
↣ all of the amazing quotes!
↣ the loveable side character
↣ relatable fmc
Cons
↪
↣ I wanted more.
April 15, 2025
You can preorder Voices of the Future; Stories of Whimsy & Warriors directly through one of the authors to help support our book launch! <3
Ella Webb: https://ellawebbauthor.com/books/
Cristiana Moyer: https://cristianamoyer.com/product/vo...
Sydney Leeson: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/CT...
Hollis Wakefield: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/39...
Lillianna Joy: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/TB...
Anna Galicinski: www.annagalicinski.com/voicesofthefuture
Johanna Anaya: https://johannaanaya.com/voices-of-th...
Abigail G. Smith: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/5G...
Sydney O’Rear: https://www.sydneyorear.com/my-storie...
Naomi Sowell: https://www.naomisowell.com/
Avery Heisey https://averyheisey.com/books/
Sam Matos: http://sammiematoswriter.com/product/...
Ella Webb: https://ellawebbauthor.com/books/
Cristiana Moyer: https://cristianamoyer.com/product/vo...
Sydney Leeson: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/CT...
Hollis Wakefield: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/39...
Lillianna Joy: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/TB...
Anna Galicinski: www.annagalicinski.com/voicesofthefuture
Johanna Anaya: https://johannaanaya.com/voices-of-th...
Abigail G. Smith: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/5G...
Sydney O’Rear: https://www.sydneyorear.com/my-storie...
Naomi Sowell: https://www.naomisowell.com/
Avery Heisey https://averyheisey.com/books/
Sam Matos: http://sammiematoswriter.com/product/...
June 10, 2025
I enjoyed reading these short stories and each one came with a different theme and mission. Some I could relate to better than others, but that is to be expected as no one loves every story they read. Some of the stories left me emotional and almost in tears but in a good way. Several illustrated the power of love and family. Others were life lessons learned by never giving up and succeeding in difficult situations. And still others were magical with superheroes. Even a story with an emotional historical context is included in this anthology. Each story is well written, providing a vivid picture that moves the reader along easily. The separate stories make it a great book to read a chapter at a time. FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this anthology from the publisher. A positive review was not required.
May 15, 2025
I was sent an early copy of this book--and it's a glowing addition to the Voices of the Future series!
"Till the Mountain Burns" is an atmospheric historical fiction that follows a courageous girl and her warhorse who must light the beacon to warn their city of a nigh invasion. Cristiana Moyer delivered a stunning read that I devoured in one sitting. Watch out, world! I cannot wait to see her novels come out next!
"Dreamscape" is a beautiful story of growing up and cherishing your dreams. It felt very nostalgic and I related soul to soul with the main character. Lilliana Joy's short story left me fulfilled and seen in such deep, meaningful ways. So excited for her novels to shape hearts just as this story does!
"Till the Mountain Burns" is an atmospheric historical fiction that follows a courageous girl and her warhorse who must light the beacon to warn their city of a nigh invasion. Cristiana Moyer delivered a stunning read that I devoured in one sitting. Watch out, world! I cannot wait to see her novels come out next!
"Dreamscape" is a beautiful story of growing up and cherishing your dreams. It felt very nostalgic and I related soul to soul with the main character. Lilliana Joy's short story left me fulfilled and seen in such deep, meaningful ways. So excited for her novels to shape hearts just as this story does!
June 16, 2025
While I have only read Hollis Wakefield's "The Rose-Tinted Glasses" so far, I look forward to reading the other stories!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this short story, and it definitely lived up to the hype. Hollis handled a hard topic, dealing with grief, with gentleness and humor. Hurley struggled realistically and was very easy to cheer for, and I absolutely loved A'Chara. (:
I was given an advance copy in exchange for an honest review of this book.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this short story, and it definitely lived up to the hype. Hollis handled a hard topic, dealing with grief, with gentleness and humor. Hurley struggled realistically and was very easy to cheer for, and I absolutely loved A'Chara. (:
I was given an advance copy in exchange for an honest review of this book.
September 1, 2025
I enjoyed reading this collection of short stories written by the students in the Author Conservatory. I liked the variety of stories. I think my favorite stories were, “Never Perfect” by Abigail Smith and “Hello, Black Dog” by Sydney O’Rear. I will be anxious to read the stories these young authors write in the future.
June 28, 2025
"The Rose-Colored Glasses" has as much hilarity and heart as anyone could ask for. I laughed out loud at the banter between Hurley and his one-legged seagull friend. I stared into space and contemplated the depths of stupidity present in main characters' choices (but in the best way!!). I teared up when the best friends reunited, and my heart was encouraged when forgiveness was finally exchanged. Hollis Wakefield's connection to this story and passion to communicate a message of healing shine through. This tiny, 10-page story is profound, and I can't wait to watch the impact its author will make throughout her career.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2025
What a fun collection of stories! I say this about each of the Voices of the Future installments, but even though I'm not usually a short story person, I loved this collection so much and had a hard time putting it down. Each story is unique and rich, and the emotions and character development these authors packed into such a small space was so amazing to read. I'm eager to see what these authors write next and can't wait to read full-length novels from them sometime in the near future!
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