Definitely a 4.5 star read!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
All of these stories are so much fun, and it makes sense to have them all in this anthology. It was a fun and twisty journey going through all kinds of different settings, worlds, and emotions.
I feel like this collection encompasses such a wonderful variety of writing styles, allowing us to experience so many different vibes. From the dark, magnificently horrifying experience of The Necromancer's Wife, I wasn't expecting to run the gamut of my emotions throughout this book. I was left with the intended creeping sense of confusion and dread, yet hesitant hope in The Soulswood. I agonized and wept in Inescapable Reflection. A New Beginning left me twisted up and horrified for our poor, hopeful heroine.
For The Love of Eden was the only story that I didn't quite love or resonate with, but it's possible this writing style and story just wasn't for me, but I appreciated the story nonetheless. (that's what these anthologies are for, right?!) I just felt like the characters didn't evoke any emotion from me, and I'm not sure it's because of the retelling or that it just felt like the writer was just filling in bullet points.
Fate of a Goddess was just… YES. Everything I love about a retelling in a modern way and can I say I was over the moon that it went where it did. It left me so satisfied and smiling.
To Sign Or Not To Sign took me on a ride omg-I think this was my second favorite story of the whole collection! The way the writer kept me hanging on the edge of my seat just NEEDING to know what was going on has me looking for more of her work.
And ending this anthology with Meat Cute? This is my FAVORITE! I could envision the setting, the dread, the fear?! And the heroine was SUCH a fun, amusing and delightful FMC-it made me root for her and it left the book on such a hopeful note all while satisfying that darker need for horror in me.
All in all, I loved this whole collection and will reread and go hunt down majority of these writers.