These Kindred Hearts: A YA Romantasy Anthology

by Shari B. Pennant, Vanessa Montalban, Jill Tew

Seventeen BIPOC authors from varied backgrounds come together to showcase the diversity of romance and celebrate the wild hearts of teens in this YA Romantasy anthology, These Kindred Hearts, edited by Shari B. Pennant.

An aspiring writer accidentally summons her own book character and struggles to send her new crush back to her fantasy world. The daughter of a royal hell dimension deals with an unwanted betrothal to a boy she's supposed to murder, and questions the meaning of fate. An orphaned thief and a "Chosen One" must go on the run from a tyrannical empire. Two friends confess their feelings for each other in the middle of an earth-shattering apocalypse. A mix of cozy fantasy, high-stakes, action-packed, and everything in between fill these seventeen stories that explore the power and magic of love.

These Kindred Hearts includes stories by Alexene Farol Follmuth, Angela Montoya, Brent Lambert, Cheryl Isaacs, Jamar J. Perry, Jill Tew, Kalynn Bayron, Kwame Mbalia, Maggie Tokuda Hall, Nia Davenport, Shari B. Pennant, Sophie Li, Nikki T. Grant., Vanessa Montalban, Zoraida Córdova, and two unpublished writers selected through a contest.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Anthologies, Young Adult, Short Stories, Science Fiction Fantasy

416 pages, Hardcover

First published June 30, 2026

Reviews

[Freya · Rating 4 out of 5]

17 BIPOC authors delivering 17 stories about love. The stories are magical & represent the different emotions teens and young adults experience with young or first loves, as well as identity. Every story is unique, keeping you engaged and wanting more. None of the stories are repetitive. The few things they have in common is love and a HEA. Even though they are short stories, they still deliver a punch and make you swoon.

Thank you to the authors, Sweet July Books, Zando Projects and NetGalley for this gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Quilted.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

These Kindred Hearts is such a great YA romantasy collection. This anthology brings together seventeen BIPOC authors and you can really feel the range and creativity across every single story. Each one explores love and magic in a different way and it made the whole book feel fresh from start to finish.The stories cover everything from cozy fantasy to high stakes, action packed chaos. You’ve got an aspiring writer who accidentally summons her own book character and suddenly has to deal with sending her crush back to his fantasy world. There’s a princess from a hell dimension stuck in an unwanted betrothal to someone she’s supposed to kill. An orphaned thief and a “Chosen One” on the run from a tyrannical empire. Best friends confessing their feelings in the middle of an apocalypse. Every story brings something new, but they’re all tied together by themes of love, fate, and choosing your own path.What I really loved about this collection is how much representation it has especially for BPIOC and Queer community. These stories are romantic without being cheesy, magical without feeling repetitive, and they do such a good job centering teens, emotions, and identity. You can tell how intentional this anthology is about showcasing different voices and experiences, and it absolutely works.Overall, this was such a solid YA romantasy read. If you love short stories, magical worlds, and romance in all its forms, this is a must pick up. I genuinely loved this book it’s a beautiful, fun, and meaningful collection that deserves a spot on your shelf.

[yazzyvb · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 rounded up, was a great collection of short romantasy type stories! and i deffo could’ve pictured them each individually as fully fleshed out novels too, loved the use of different types of fantasy as well, as none of the stories felt too similar and was really easy to read.

[Katie (Katieeatsbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

06/27/2026-07/02/2026

Thank you so much Zando for the gifted proof of “These Kindred Hearts” by so many great authors of different backgrounds 💜

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
(Out Now!)

This was super cute! 🗡️

Magic full of mermaids, sirens, witches, ghosts, demons, angels, and literally everything in between!

These short stories were fully immersive and gave you the experience of a full read in such a short time!

More than half of them I’d love a full book version of too they were just so good! 🔮

[Eden Chung · Rating 5 out of 5]

(edit- dude the images formatted weird even though i changed it haha)
Oh this was so lovely!! It was a guaranteed happily ever after for each story (which is nice after all of these unpredictable endings in like every book nowadays)
I wish that so many of the stories were longer/had their own book!!!!!!!
my average rating is 4.44 rating (rounded up!)
Overall, this felt like a fairytale book with the most wonderful stories AND I LOVED IT

[in depth because I loved most stories but not all!]
1. Our Cursed Tides : 5 ⭐; wish this was longer!! think To kill a kingdom x second chance

2. A Fate Written in Stars : 4.5⭐; LOVED the premise, would've been amazing if it was an actual book, think demons, astrology, and fate

3. Meet Me at World's End : 4⭐; loved, but wished it expanded more on the conflict (it is a short story so I may just be being picky) think apocolypse, (best?) friends to lovers

4. Old Gods : 3⭐; not my favorite... think selkie vibes x power with powerless

5. The Heartfire Mask : 5⭐; loved!! think six of crows x masquerade (kinda)

6. Chloe's Cat : 5⭐; premise was odd, but it made me cry, think cosy, sweet

7. My Little Witch : 3⭐; I was so confused the whole time, think supernatural, afterlife

8. Atrium : 6⭐; ONE OF MY FAVORITES- it gave divine rivals x house of hearts x belladonna LOVED I SO DEARLY WISHED THIS WAS LONGER

9. The Color of a Broken Heart : 5⭐; oh this was lovely, think (slight slight sliiight) miscommunication x yearning

10. Writing Ms. Right : 3⭐; just didn't love premise, think modern x magic(ish)

11. A Feathered Omen : 5⭐; this was amazing i loved it, think ravens and magic

12. Sinkholes : 4⭐; loved it but it was a tad bit cliche, think apocolypse x saving the world

13. We'll Go To the Sea No More : 3⭐; not enough background info for me to get the story clearly..., think problem, mmc provides solution

14. Silent Death : 5⭐; oh this was fabulous, think underworld x bigger conflict that originally revealed

15. Beneath a Yellow Moon : 4⭐; this was fine :), think mythology x real world

16. Prophecy : 5⭐; it gave six of crows x ember in the ashes!!

17. In the Woods : 6⭐; THIS WAS ABSOLUTELY SPLENDID I LOVED IT SO MUCH, think old lore x new beginnings


(my only thing I didn't like was that i think almost all the stories are in first person, and it always took at least 2-3 pages to figure out the main character's gender)

Arc received at B&N BookFest 2026 in NYC!!

[Michaela Brawner · Rating 3 out of 5]

"These Kindred Hearts" is a collection of 17 love stories with a lot of diversity. There are straight stories, LGBTQ+ stories, and self-love stories. I decided to go with three stores because there were some stories that really stood out as being well written, but there were also a few that left more to be desired. My top four, in order, were as follows: "Beneath a Yellow Moon" by Maggie Toduka-Hall, "Prophecy" by Alexene Farol Follmuth, "In the Wood" by Kalynn Bayron, and "A Feathered Omen, by Jennifer Helen.
I think with this book ultimately suffers from is ambition. 17 stories is a lot, which means that each story has to be fairly short to fit within the page count of an average book. As a result, several of the stories felt less fleshed out than they could have been. There were plot points that I found myself wondering about and characters that felt a little flat. Overall, it's a decent read, but it would have been a lot better with a larger page count or less authors. I think the authors did a terrific job with the amount of space that they had, though!
Another thing that I would like to point out is who exactly would want to read this book. It would make an excellent gift for someone who likes romance but doesn't have a lot of spare time; they could even do a 17-day advent calendar with one of the stories per day! If you are someone who doesn't have a lot of time to read or wants to experience an author's writing (there are 17 good options here!) before looking into more of their books, this is the book for you!

Thank you NetGalley, Zando, and Shari B. Pennant for providing me access to an arc copy of this book in exchange for a honest, unpaid review.

[Kailyn]

A friend of a friend is in this, excited to check out her story in a couple months!

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our Cursed Tides - Vanessa Montalban
- 3/5: I didn’t exactly enjoy the switches between first and third POV throughout the story. I wish we could’ve stuck to one or the other. I also wish the subplot and conflict had a little more resolution.

A Fate Written in Stars - Nia Davenport
- 5/5: I loved this one so much! The world was built up beautifully with just the right amount of context to the romance and conflict! By the end, I was WISHING it was a full blown book!!

Meet Me at World’s End - Shari B. Pennant
- 5/5: I am a sucker for demon hunting through and through. This was a best friends-to-lovers in the heat of an oncoming apocalypse. Enough ends tied up that it was the perfect short and sweet story!

Old Gods - Chelsea Padilla
- 3/5: I feel like there were so many threads left untied and I am left with so many more questions than I started with. I wish there was just a page or two more to flesh out what their lives will look like now

The Heartfire Mask - Kwame Mbalia
- 4/5: I wish some bits of the story came at different earlier than others to help the reader understand the world being built on such a quick read. Other than that, this was an adorable read!

Chloe’s Cat - Sophie Li
- 4/5: again, I’m a sucker for best friends-to-lovers and I loooove any AANHPI rep in romance!! I wish there was just a bit more internal resolution on the FMC’s part because it didn’t really seem to drive the story all too much, but the romance and how we got to the romance resolution was cute and unique!

My Little Witch - Jamar J. Perry
- 5/5: this was quick and cute and it gave me everything I needed! It didn’t feel like any loose ends were left because there wasn’t so much world building that required very much elaboration.

Atrium - Jill Tew
- 5/5: AN EPISTOLARY ROMANCE???? I am utterly gagged in the best of ways because WHAT!! I loved this so much and I need more more more epistolary romances in my life. I am yearning for more in this world that Tew has built. It’s fantastic!!

The Color of a Broken Heart - Angela Montoya
- 5/5: if Angela Montoya writes it, I read it!!! I loved this short story so much and it’s clear as day how much research had to go into the meaning of flowers and colors so descriptive past your basic ROYGBIV. This short story did not disappoint and I can’t believe the way the world was built so perfectly. Give me more!!

Writing Miss Right - Nikki T. Grant
- 3/5: because how will she explain her new girlfriend to her parents?!

A Feathered Omen - Jennifer Helen
- 4/5: I wish there was more romance between the MCs. It felt like we are told they fell each other at the very end of this story rather than getting to really see what it is that makes them fall for each other.

Sinkholes - Cheryl Isaacs
- 5/5: this was a fantastic read set in a world being terrorized by a monster living underground. It was perfectly placed, the tension was there and I so wish there was more about the lore!

We’ll Go to Sea No More - Zoraida Córdova
- 4/5: cute, quick read, but I just wish we had a little more of the family lore and resolution with her mother and grandmother.

Silent Death - Brent Lambert
- 3/5: I wish there was more reasoning and resolution to the conflict! I would’ve loved to see this fleshed out as a full book, but there was too much required for a short story.

Beneath a Yellow Moon - Maggie Tokuda-Hall
- 5/5: this story was the perfect amalgamation of shedding a light on history and blending a cultural piece of folklore into it and showing how one survives in a life like that. Beautiful!!

Prophecy - Alexene Farol Follmuth
- 4/5: a cute read where a magic system is basically MIA but really it was just being misallocated this entire time. I wish there was more detail after the resolution, but it still wrapped up well.

In the Wood - Kalynn Bayron
- 5/5: I love the different types of love shown in this story. How the love drives you to do whatever it takes for the other person - even if you have to “give up” forever.

[Gabriella୨ৎ (semi-ia) · Rating 2 out of 5]

━━━ઇଓㅤ⤸
꒰ 𝐚𝐫𝐜 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 ꒱ Ⓘ dnf @44%

𝟐.𝟓 ✩

꒰ 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: ꒱
I had really high hopes after reading the dedication, expecting magical love stories and battles fought for a happy ending. But instead, some were boring, others were not catching my attention, and most of the anthologies I read were too rushed for me to be able to comprehend anything or connect to the characters. Now I know they’re short stories–half an hour reads at most–so it’s my fault for not enjoying them. Another thing is that the stories are written by various people, so if I liked one, the others’ writing was going to be completely different. This is just my opinion, but I haven’t picked this up in over at least 2 weeks, so I’m officially dnf’ing.

My ratings and short reviews for what I did read: ⤸

Our Cursed Tides - 2.75
Sirens and fishermen, second chance, cursed mmc, heartbroken fmc. I liked the vibes, but I couldn’t connect to anyone due to it being such a short story. It was interesting but also really confusing at times.

A Fate Written in Stars - 3.5
The seven courts of hell, soulmates, forced to kill the love of her life, betrothed since birth. I adored the setting of this story and how poetic some quotes were. It was about two lovers facing the challenges brought upon them, and choosing each other despite everything. For a length so short, I couldn’t help but fall in love and was so sad when I finished it–if there was a full-sized novel, I’d read it.

Meet Me at World’s End - 3
End of the world, best friends to lovers, demon hunters. It was good, but, like the other stories before this one, it was so fast I could barely register what was going on. It was a gripping story, one I can totally see myself absolutely devouring as a book. A little plot twist, cool dystopian-ish setting. Very much worth my time.

Old Gods - 2
Sea monster and human, mlm, mmc’s father hunts the sea people. I did not like this one bit. It was boring, the writing wasn’t very good, and I didn’t like how their ‘happily ever after’ was so bland.

The Heartfire Mask - 1.75-2
Magical masks, infiltration, betrayals, allies? to lovers. This was really confusing and difficult to follow along when I had no idea what was happening. The idea was cool, but I just found it boring and uninteresting. There was, I think, a back and forth between present day and memories, and I only caught on to what was going on at the end. Even then I just wasn’t vibing with the story.

Chloe’s Cat - 2
Best friends to lovers, an fmc who struggles to appreciate herself, a boy who cherishes her and writes a song to express his feelings, a magical cat. I enjoyed it, though it wasn’t anything special. The beginning was cute, but then it got confusing, and then it just got plain weird. No spoilers obviously, but everything went downhill after a few pages, and after I was able to wrap my head around what was happening, I was creeped out, kind of disgusted, and that’s why my rating is significantly low.

My Little Witch - 2
Hidden identity, bringing back the dead, witches. I was not expecting that turn of events, and sadly did not enjoy it. I’m writing this days after reading, so I can’t remember. But all I know is that, like one of the other stories, the ending felt bland and unfinished.

━━━ Ⓘ the short stories I didn’t get to

Atrium
The Color of a Broken Heart
Montoya
Writing Miss Right
A Feathered Omen
Sinkholes
We’ll Go to Sea No More
Silent Death
Beneath a Yellow Moon
Prophecy
In the Wood

━━━

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝: 26/3/2026
𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: dnf’ed

-𝓖

[Natalie Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

**A Beautiful Celebration of Love, Identity, Imagination, and the Power of Many Voices**

*These Kindred Hearts* is much more than a collection of fantasy romances. It is a celebration of storytelling itself—proof that when diverse voices are given the space to imagine, romance becomes richer, fantasy becomes more expansive, and readers discover worlds they never knew they needed.

What impressed me most about this anthology is how every story approaches love from a different emotional and cultural perspective while still contributing to a larger conversation about hope, belonging, courage, and self-discovery. Whether the characters are confronting destiny, surviving impossible odds, challenging oppressive systems, or discovering unexpected connections, each story reminds readers that love is never simply about romance—it is also about finding the strength to become who we are meant to be.

One of the anthology's greatest achievements is its remarkable diversity of voices. Rather than presenting fantasy through a single lens, *These Kindred Hearts* embraces a wide range of cultures, identities, experiences, and imaginations, creating a reading experience that feels both refreshingly original and deeply inclusive. Every contributor brings something unique, yet together they form a beautifully cohesive celebration of what young adult fantasy can become when many perspectives are welcomed.

I also appreciate the decision to include two previously unpublished writers alongside established authors. That choice reflects a genuine commitment not only to telling meaningful stories, but also to creating opportunities for new voices to be heard—a reminder that the future of literature grows stronger when doors are intentionally opened for emerging talent.

Under the thoughtful editorial guidance of Shari B. Pennant and Vanessa Montalban, *These Kindred Hearts* becomes more than an anthology. It becomes an invitation to believe that stories have the power to connect people across backgrounds, challenge assumptions, and remind us that our differences often make the most unforgettable magic.

A heartfelt, imaginative, and inspiring collection that celebrates not only the many forms love can take, but also the extraordinary beauty of storytelling shared across diverse voices.

[Brittney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seventeen stories. Seventeen wildly different worlds. One beating romantasy heart.

📚 These Kindred Hearts edited by Shari B. Pennant
Genre: YA romantasy anthology
Vibes: cozy magic, high stakes chaos, fate versus choice, queer love, epic and intimate

This collection brings together seventeen BIPOC authors and you can feel the creativity on every page. No two stories feel the same, yet they are all tied together by love, identity, and the magic of choosing your own path.

What makes this shine:

✨ A huge range from soft cozy fantasy to action packed rebellion
🔥 Princesses from hell dimensions questioning fate
📖 An aspiring writer summoning her own fictional crush
🗡️ Thieves and chosen ones running from tyrannical empires
💔 Best friends confessing feelings mid apocalypse

The variety keeps the pacing fresh. Just when you settle into one type of magic, the next story flips the tone. Some are sweet and intimate. Some are loud and dangerous. All of them center teens navigating love in worlds that demand impossible choices.

I especially appreciated how intentional this anthology feels. The representation for BIPOC and queer teens is not just present, it is celebrated. These stories allow young characters to be magical, messy, powerful, and deeply in love without shrinking who they are.

Romantic without being cheesy. Magical without feeling repetitive. Emotional without losing momentum.

If you love short stories, diverse voices, and romantasy that balances softness with spectacle, this absolutely deserves a place on your shelf.

💬 Do you prefer anthologies where every story shares a similar tone, or ones that jump wildly between cozy and chaotic?

#ShariBPennant #TheseKindredHearts #SweetJulyBooks #YARomantasy #FantasyAnthology

[Chloe · Rating 2 out of 5]

✨ What This Book Gave Me

A collection of magical and romantic stories with a lot of creative ideas and diverse fantasy worlds. There were moments that intrigued me, and I could see the potential behind many of the concepts, but unfortunately, I struggled to fully connect with the stories.

⸻

💛 What I Liked

* A wide variety of fantasy settings and magical concepts
* Diverse voices and storytelling styles
* Strong themes of love, friendship, and self-discovery
* Several stories had premises that immediately caught my attention
* Beautiful overall concept for a fantasy romance anthology

⸻

⚡ Why I Decided to DNF

I really wanted to love this collection, but I found myself wishing the stories had been expanded into longer novellas or full-length novels. Many of the concepts felt fascinating, yet the short-story format didn’t give enough time to fully develop the characters, relationships, or worlds.

For me, most of the stories didn’t cover everything I look for in a short story. Just as I was becoming invested in a character or plot, the story would end before I felt fully satisfied. I wanted more depth, more world-building, and more time with the characters than the format allowed.

⸻

🧠 Final Thoughts

This anthology simply wasn’t the right fit for my reading preferences. While I appreciated the creativity and variety on display, I struggled to connect with the stories because many felt too brief to deliver the emotional impact I was looking for. Readers who enjoy short-form fantasy and sampling different authors may have a much better experience than I did.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[raes.inkbl0t · Rating 3 out of 5]

* E-ARC REVIEW*

Review of These Kindred Hearts ⭐⭐⭐

These Kindred Hearts is a beautifully diverse YA romantasy anthology that brings together a wide range of voices, stories, and interpretations of love. With seventeen authors contributing, there’s no shortage of creativity and each story offers a unique premise, from demon royalty and forbidden betrothals to apocalyptic confessions and magical mishaps.

What stood out most to me was the variety. Some stories felt rich and immersive, with compelling characters and emotional depth that lingered even after finishing. A few in particular truly captured that sweeping, magical romance the anthology promises. However, as with most anthologies, the quality wasn’t entirely consistent. Some stories felt underdeveloped or rushed, making it harder to fully connect with the characters or their relationships.

I also found that the pacing varied quite a bit, just as I was getting invested in certain worlds, the story would end, leaving me wanting more. On the flip side, a few stories didn’t quite grip me from the start.

Overall, this is a solid, enjoyable read, especially if you love sampling different writing styles and discovering new authors. While not every story was a hit for me, the anthology as a whole delivers a heartfelt exploration of love in all its magical forms.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romantasy plus short stories. Yes please.

These Kindred Hearts is a romantasy anthology that is actually SUCH a solid collection.

You get seventeen different stories from BIPOC authors, and every single one brings something different. You have cozy fantasy, magical romance, monsters, demons, curses, apocalypse vibes, and literally a little bit of everything.

Some of these stories were SO good I immediately wanted full-length novels.

A few personal favorites were definitely the demon-hunting best friends-to-lovers story, the epistolary romance (which had me obsessed) and multiple worlds that felt way too rich to only exist for a short story.

What I loved most was how emotionally strong these stories felt despite being short.

There’s so much yearning, vulnerability, self-discovery, and magic woven into all of them without feeling repetitive.

And the representation throughout this collection was beautifully done.

Some stories hit harder than others for me, but overall this was such a fun, magical read if you love fantasy romance in bite-sized form.

Thanks to Zando for the gifted eARc through Netgalley. All thoughts are my own.

Confession: Nothing hurts more than realizing a short story should’ve been a full novel.

QOTD: If you could turn one short story into a full series, which would you pick?

[Siobhan MW · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Rating: 3.5/5

These Kindred Hearts was a solid collection of short romantasy stories. As with any collection of short stories, some were so good that I wanted them as a full-length novel, and others entirely bored me. Many of these stories would've been much improved with more time to explore the characters and plot, but I understand that it is the nature of short stories that the characters aren't going to be as developed as they would be in a novel. However, writers are able to give characters depth in short stories to some degree, so some of these stories could've been better than they were.

The ones that I did enjoy were full of moments of yearning and longing, and I truly wanted more of them. The ones I enjoyed most were A Fate Written in Stars (a young woman is ordered to assassinate the man she's marrying—but she's already in love with him), Old Gods (a boy and his sister find a selkie washed up on shore), Atrium (an academic romance told entirely in letters! This was my favourite one!), and In the Wood (a woodsy & folkloric story about a girl who intends to save the sister of her beloved, in a world where young girls are sacrificed to the forest god in order to protect their village).

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you very much to Netgalley, Sweet July Books and all the fantastic contributors for this e-ARC.
I was very excited to read this, and it certainly lived up to expectations. A lovely and diverse fantasy anthology by an incredible group of writers. Each story could easily be a book or series in its own right, but the world building and depth in each (only comprised of around 20 pages) was truly marvellous. It didn’t take long until you were drawn into each unique world and journeying along with the characters. I had a great lot of fun reading each and every one, and for the authors I haven’t read much of before, I will certainly be tracking down many of their backlists.

This anthology really has something for everything, with stories including ancient gods, the sea, demons, sink holes, apocalypses, witches, plant magic, desert fantasy, magic cats, hell, shapeshifting and more!

My absolute favourite stories were: Our Cursed Tides by Vanessa Montalban, Old Gods by Chelsea Padilla and The Heartfire Mask by Kwame Mbalia, with a shoutout to Atrium by Jill Tew and the Colour of a Broken Heart by Angela Montoya, though I really enjoyed all of them.

Would highly recommend this to anyone who loves diverse fantasy and intricate short stories.

[The Page Ladies Book Club · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚✨ From sweeping literary fiction and steamy cowboy romance to magical YA adventures and imaginative fantasy worlds, this reading stack took me everywhere!

It's All River by Carla Madeira was emotional, layered, and beautifully written, exploring desire, grief, forgiveness, and the complicated choices people make. Taming the Heart by Elliott Rose delivered plenty of romance, tension, and small-town charm, making it an engaging read for cowboy romance fans. These Kindred Hearts, edited by Shari B. Pennant offered a wonderful collection of diverse YA romantasy stories filled with magic, adventure, and heart, with several tales I wished were full-length novels. Meanwhile, Everybody's Perfect by Jo Walton captivated me with its imaginative fantasy setting, unique storytelling, and fascinating exploration of fate, belief, and possibility.

Together, these books offered a fantastic mix of romance, fantasy, literary fiction, and unforgettable characters. Whether you're looking for emotional depth, magical adventures, swoony romance, or thought-provoking fantasy, there's something here to add to your TBR.

✨️ Thank you, Liveright, Kensington Books, Sweet July Books, Tor Books, and the authors, for sharing these books with us!

[nao · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweeping and atmospheric short stories that made the butterflies in my stomach flutter with delight.

Gosh, where should I start? I couldn’t pick a favorite short story because they were all wonderful, featuring love stories that involve POCs and familiar folk tales and superstitions I’d hear from my grandma as a child. Reading the characters defying time and space just to be with their love has a different kind of magic at the heart of their plots.

Even though each story was short, all the characters weren’t hard to love, as they all feature a feeling, an emotion that we are all familiar with. Love. Adding fantastical elements was an enchanting added bonus that made this anthology unforgettable.

Overall, I loved this collection, and my only complaint is that they weren’t full-blown novels.

Do I recommend this book? A million times yes with a wish in a well!! They were all easy-to-read stories, with unforgettable plots and characters who would love without inhibition.

Thank you to NetGalley, Zando, and Sweet July Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[jade’s reading journey · Rating 3 out of 5]

actual rating= 3.5 stars

This is a YA romantasy anthology featuring short stories by seventeen BIPOC authors. Each contribution offers a unique take on love and magic, blending the two in diverse imaginative ways. The variety within the collection is particularly noteworthy, as the stories range from action to cozy vibes.

One inherent challenge of short story collections is the limited space for character development. At times, the brevity of the format makes it difficult to become fully invested in the characters or their journeys. However, they showcase the authors’ creativity and narrative skill.

The representation of both queer and BIPOC communities is authentically woven throughout the anthology, adding significance to the collection.

Overall, this is an enjoyable read, particularly for those interested in exploring a range of writing styles, voices, and imaginative worlds within the YA romantasy genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and Shari B. Pennant for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Danique · Rating 4 out of 5]

These kindred hearts is a crafted YA romantasy anthology featuring seventeen BIPOC authors, each bringing a unique voice and perspective. The collection explores love and magic in a variety of ways, ranging from cozy fantasy to high-stakes adventure.

Despite their brevity, the stories are emotionally resonant and purposeful, often centering on pivotal moments of vunerability, longing, and self discovery. The anthology shines in its interntional representation makes the romance feel autenthic, heartfelt, and meaningful without ever becoming cheesy or repetitive.

Some of these stories were so compelling that I would genuinely love to see them expanded into full-llength novels. The worlds and characters feel rich enough to explore even further, and a few endings left me wanting just a little bit more.

Overall, These Kindred Hearts is a strong, thoughtful collection that balances magic and emotion beautifully. If you love short stories, diverse voices, and romance in all its forms, this book is one to put on your TBR.

[Isis · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,75⭐️ An amazing introduction to new authors through short stories about magic and love.

These Kindred Heart consists of 17 short stories about diverse characters (both in terms of ethnicity and gender/sexual orientation). This book contains something for everyone, ranging from an underworld princess about to enter into an arranged marriage to a cat consuming its owner’s inconveniences in every shape.

This was a bit of a mixed bag honestly. Some of the stories drew me in from the first sentence, while others fell flat. 17 stories in one book is ambitious, and I think this lead to some lacking the space to shine. I still loved that this concept introduced me to 17 new authors, some of whom I’ll definitely be looking to read more of.

Overall, if you’re looking for some new diverse authors to love without committing to a full length book, this is the perfect read!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an arc. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

[yue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of These Kindred Hearts through NetGalley, and I’m so glad I did. This was actually my first time exploring "Romantasy" as a genre, and this anthology was the perfect introduction.

What I really appreciated about this collection is that while these are short stories, each concept is strong enough to stand alone. I never felt like I was reading half of a story; every world felt intentional and complete. Of course, with any anthology, there were some themes that I absolutely loved and others that were a bit "so-so" for me personally, but the overall quality remained high throughout.

If you’re curious about Romantasy but don’t want to commit to a 600-page novel right away, this is a great place to start. It gives you a little taste of everything!

Special thanks to NetGalley, the authors and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Victoria Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC Review courtesy of NetGalley

Admittedly, I did not finish reading this book - therefore my review will be based on what I have read. My reason for not finishing the book is solely that I do not think that the writing style suits my personal taste and thererefore the book was difficult for me to pay attention to. However, this is very much my own personal issue. Overall, I did find the stories unique, and I enjoyed the inclusion of various cultures and mythological beings within the story. I think it is definitely suitable and well written for teen readers, and I do believe that early teens would find the stories highly enjoyable. They were quick to read and easy to take it - perfect for reading between lessons or after-school - and they were also quite cosy. Although the book wasn't for me personally, I do think it is a very good, unique collection of stories that will be enjoyed by the right people.

[M. A. Hollen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kindred Hearts is a nice anthology of fantasy-centric HEAs. Most of the stories are low fantasy, and I appreciated that their worlds seemed believable and touchable. The few that had more unique locales lacked some world building, in addition to sometimes flat characters and basic plots. These shortcomings do feel understandable being that they’re all novellas/short stories, however.

The prose was very basic, which is not to my personal taste, but the book is marketed towards a YA audience, who I feel would find the stories to be a mix of enthralling and readable.

The book does have LGBTQ representation, and I did not find any graphic, open-door content. Overall it’s a nice collection of stories any fantasy romantic should enjoy time and time again.

I want to thank NetGalley, Zando, and Shari B. Pennant for providing me access to an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest and unpaid review.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨𝒜𝑅𝒞 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌✨

These Kindred Hearts is a YA Romantasy Anthology featuring 17 short stories from 17 authors. Anthologies help me discover incredible new-to-me authors and this one is no exception. I had the best time immersing myself in this beautifully edited collection.

Each unique tale is brimming with adventure, romance, and sweet happily every afters. Enchanting and heartwarming, don’t miss this fantastical romantasy escape!

These Kindred Hearts includes stories by Alexene Farol Follmuth, Angela Montoya, Brent Lambert, Chelsea Padilla, Cheryl Isaacs, Jamar J. Perry, Jennifer Helen, Jill Tew, Kalynn Bayron, Kwame Mbalia, Maggie Tokuda-Hall, Nia Davenport, Nikki T. Grant, Shari B. Pennant, Sophie Li, Vanessa Montalban, and Zoraida Córdova.

Huge thanks to Zando/Slow burn reads for this lovely #gifted proof of These Kindred Hearts and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy! This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Janette · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨💕 These Kindred Hearts was such a fun reading experience! 💕✨

This anthology features 17 BIPOC authors, each bringing their own unique YA romantasy short story to the page, and I loved seeing how different every story felt. From magical worlds to swoony romances and unforgettable characters, there was always something new waiting around the corner.

One of my favorite things about this collection was the variety. Every story had its own voice and style, making it easy to find new authors I'd love to read again. While, as with most anthologies, I connected with some stories more than others, the collection as a whole was wonderfully done and left me wanting several of these stories to become full-length novels!

If you're a fan of YA romantasy and want to discover some amazing BIPOC authors, I definitely recommend picking this one up.

Thank you to NetGalley, all the authors and Zando for the ARC copy!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Luna Bokhorst · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a great short story collection! I love the concept of bringing together a variety of BIPOC authors and characters to give them their moment in the spotlight within romantasy. I'd love to see even more BIPOC representation in the genre in the future.

As with most short story collections, I enjoyed some stories more than others. However, there was only one story that I really struggled to get through, which is impressive for a collection of this size. Overall, I had a wonderful time reading these stories. The characters were diverse, memorable, and easy to root for, and I especially enjoyed the queer representation throughout the collection. It made for a perfect Pride Month read!

Thank you to netgalley, the publisher, and the authors for allowing me to read this book early! All opinions and feelings are my own and completely honest☺️

[Roreadsbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a sweet and fun read and I will recommend it to anyone that will listen. Each and every story in this book was beautiful, original, and magical, and I found myself smiling at every happy ending. This book is so full of culture, diversity, and most importantly, love. There isn’t a single story in this book that I disliked, and it was amazingly refreshing to read short stories from all manner of times and places. This anthology introduced me to 17 amazing authors that made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside and I can’t wait to delve into more from these brilliant writers. All around this was a great YA romance read, and I think anyone who wants a touch of magic in their life should pick this up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Shari B Pennant for the opportunity to arc read this book.

[Ja · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this fantasy romance anthology, readers are treated to a collection of stories that run the gamut of magical and fantasy tropes all along the spectrum of love. Each story was filled with mystery and suspense, some thrills, some pure romance, some charming, some tragic. There were some that didn't feel memorable to me, while others I absolutely loved.

Some of the standout stories for me include Chloe's Cat by Sophie Li, My Little Witch by Jamar J. Perry, Writing Miss Right by Nikki T. Grant, and Silent Death by Brent Lambert. Honestly, all of the stories were great in their own right and deserve a place in this anthology, but these four I could read a whole full-length novel based on the plot and characters.

Anthologies and short story collections are often hit and miss for me, but this was definitely a hit.

[Susanna]

I enjoyed this anthology. It was a fun and easy read, especially when I wanted something lighter but still magical and emotional. 🪄

What I liked the most was how each story felt different—some were cozy and romantic, others more intense and high-stakes—but they were all connected by themes of love, fate, and finding your own path. Of course, like with any collection, I had my favorites, but overall the quality felt very solid throughout.

I also appreciated the variety of characters and worlds. It made the whole book feel fresh and kept me curious about what each new story would bring.

If you’re looking for something quick, romantic, and full of fantasy vibes, this is definitely worth picking up.