Shards: A Noblebright Fantasy Anthology

by C.J. Brightley (Editor), B. Morris Allen, J.E. Bates

Shards of lives, shards of a broken heart, shards of broken pottery or glass, shards of myth and memory... each author in this exciting collection of fantasy has interpreted the theme in a different way. Focused on noblebright fantasy, this anthology includes stories that edge toward grimbright and nobledark, exploring themes of despair tempered by hope and brokenness tempered by redemption.

This anthology features stories from:

B. Morris Allen, J.E. Bates, Jade Black, Gustavo Bondoni, Bokerah Brumley, Stephen Case, R. K. Duncan, M.C. Dwyer, Chloe Garner, Kelly A. Harmon, Pete Alex Harris, Ben Howels, Tom Jolly, Brandon M. Lindsay, Alice Loweecey, Jason J. McCuiston, Alex McGilvery, Ville Meriläinen, Jennifer R. Povey, Holly Lyn Walrath, Pat Woods, and Richard Zwicker.

Edited by Robert McCowen and C. J. Brightley.

Genres: Fantasy

395 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2018

About the author

C. J. Brightley lives outside Washington, D.C., with her husband and their two young children. When she's not busy writing, she teaches karate, bakes too many desserts, and makes jewelry. She loves to connect with readers!

Follow C. J. Brightley at https://www.facebook.com/CJBrightley and https://www.instagram.com/cjbrightley/

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good mix of stories. Not all of them were for me, but there were several stories I enjoyed. I'm mentioning the ones I particularly enjoyed.

Pooka Problems by M.C. Dwyer - My favorite in this collection. The story felt a little like a very good prequel. The conclusion was satisfying, but it was so much fun I can't help wishing a much bigger story was coming.

Reunions by Ben Howels - Such a good one. This also felt like a complete introduction to something more. It was easy to empathize with Jenessa and the individual she was speaking with. It was really a very touching story.

The Binder by Pat Woods - This was one of my favorites in this collection. Senn was one of my favorite types of heroes - scared but still determined to do what she believed was right. I hope to read more of this author's work.

The Final Piece by Jason J. Mccuiston - The author did a great job of making an unfamiliar (at least to me) concept easy to comprehend. And when it came down to it the story was really beautifully simple. It has stayed with me.

Antonio's Beast by Bokerah Brumley - This was such a sweet story about love and self-sacrifice and the power of friendship. I would like to read more of this author's work.

Glass by Jade Black - It was very easy to slip into this story and see things through Meredith's eyes. The author doesn't give a whole lot of detail, but there is enough. Even some things that I didn't expect seemed to make perfect sense.

Pale Reflection by Gustavo Bondoni - I really didn't know what direction this story would end up taking, and I really liked that. The story felt complete and the ending was satisfying.

Bright Carver by Pete Alex Harris - This one was very easy to visualize. Simone's small act of rebellion and everything it meant to her came through loud and clear.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shards is an anthology with 22 stories that will satisfy everyone's fantasy appetite . Every story in this anthology draws you in and you don't even realize your done until it's over and your really wishing you had one more story .
So if your looking for a good anthology then this is one you should pick up and enjoy every story .

[Jason McCuiston]

As a contributing author, I will not give a rating to SHARDS. What I will say is that this anthology of twenty-two Noblebright stories is a massive book with literally something for everybody.

There’s a hint of Backwoods Horror in Ville Merilainen’s “Smoke Wraiths.” Fans of Portal Fantasy will find wonderful examples of it in Alice Loweecey’s “A Trail of Breadcrumbs” and M.C. Dwyer’s “Pooka Problems.” Re-imagined mythologies feature in Richard Zwicker’s “The Contents of the Grail” and my own “The Final Piece.” Epic Fantasy is well represented in tales such as “The Lasting Hills” by Stephen Case and “Grimoire” by Jennifer R. Povey, just as Urban Fantasy is showcased in “Stained Glass” by Chloe Garner and “The Broken Gargoyle” by Tom Jolly. Kelly A. Harmon’s “Going Home” uses the fantastic to tell the most human of stories, and Jade Black’s “Glass” is the definition of Magical Realism.

There are so many great stories in this collection, it is hard to pick a favorite, but I will say that editor C.J. Brightley may have indeed saved the best for last in Holly Lyn Walrath’s genre-defying “Tarot of the Animal Lords.”

[Pete Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting collection of stories, mostly in the fantasy or SF genres, in the noblebright aspect. Not that nothing bad happens in them, or they only have happy endings: far from it. But there is optimism and purpose in the actions of the characters, and in the sense of what *matters* in each created story-world.