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Return of the Elves
Once Upon An Enchanted Forest: An Anthology of Romantic Witchcraft Stories
Including stories from Award-Winning, New York Times, and USA Today Bestselling Authors
The autumnal equinox is a time of harvest and celebration, a balance of light and darkness, of magick and transformation. It’s a time when those who honor the changing seasons find a time to rest and reflect.
Or reap what they’ve sown.
Once Upon an Enchanted Forest, a collection of adult fantasy romances, features ten novelettes centered around one of the most enchanting preternatural beings of the ages: the witch. With lovers, magical forests, and witchcraft, our stories are sure to warm your nights and your dark little heart.
About our collection:
In the aftermath of a deadly Harvest Moon festival, the valley’s Witch Collector and a voiceless diviner venture into Frostwater Wood—a forest transformed into a dangerous, ever-changing maze—in hopes of saving their king from certain death.
Desperate to escape her village, cobbler Rhianne braves the enchanted wood to find the Witch and her matchmaking loom. But when the loom weaves her a highborn match, the Witch flies into a rage that will set Rhianne’s fate on fire.
After a drunken man falsely claims his daughter can spin straw into gold, a peasant woman—accused of witchcraft and facing death at the hands of the Mad King—must manage the impossible with no more than a wooden spindle and a prayer—and perhaps the aid of a dashing Fae she never saw coming.
In a place called Wolfswood, Rosaline, a talented hunter, must face cursed and deadly creatures on the night of the autumnal equinox if she’s to save her people—and the woman she loves.
When a wounded sorcerer infiltrates the boundary protecting her home, Thalia, Queen of the Dryads, must choose whether to trust this foreigner who's quickly claiming her heart or uproot the seeds of affection growing between them and send him away.
After a fatal accident places a village in grave danger, Yula, a young woman with unpredictable magick, is guided by a handsome knight on her quest to find the only person who can help her—the legendary and evil Dark Queen.
In a time of war, a witch possessing healing powers, is tasked with saving the life of her wounded king, all while trying not to lose her heart to his brutish right-hand man.
A young man struggling with his own identity journeys to a modern-day witch living in a lonely forest garden, and is presented with an unexpected connection and a tantalizing choice.
In an enchanted garden deep in the heart of London, the elven scout Tarah guards the portal to her realm, a boring task after so many centuries. But when a dragon awakens in the countryside, searching for his stolen hoard, life becomes anything but mundane—especially when the dragon decides that Tarah might be the greatest treasure of all.
This anthology also includes a new story from the brilliant Juliet Marillier, author of the Sevenwaters Trilogy and many other historical fantasy novels, including her recent publications The Harp of Kings and Beautiful, an Audible Exclusive.
Now, sit back and let us tell you a tale. Welcome to The Enchanted Forest.
The autumnal equinox is a time of harvest and celebration, a balance of light and darkness, of magick and transformation. It’s a time when those who honor the changing seasons find a time to rest and reflect.
Or reap what they’ve sown.
Once Upon an Enchanted Forest, a collection of adult fantasy romances, features ten novelettes centered around one of the most enchanting preternatural beings of the ages: the witch. With lovers, magical forests, and witchcraft, our stories are sure to warm your nights and your dark little heart.
About our collection:
In the aftermath of a deadly Harvest Moon festival, the valley’s Witch Collector and a voiceless diviner venture into Frostwater Wood—a forest transformed into a dangerous, ever-changing maze—in hopes of saving their king from certain death.
Desperate to escape her village, cobbler Rhianne braves the enchanted wood to find the Witch and her matchmaking loom. But when the loom weaves her a highborn match, the Witch flies into a rage that will set Rhianne’s fate on fire.
After a drunken man falsely claims his daughter can spin straw into gold, a peasant woman—accused of witchcraft and facing death at the hands of the Mad King—must manage the impossible with no more than a wooden spindle and a prayer—and perhaps the aid of a dashing Fae she never saw coming.
In a place called Wolfswood, Rosaline, a talented hunter, must face cursed and deadly creatures on the night of the autumnal equinox if she’s to save her people—and the woman she loves.
When a wounded sorcerer infiltrates the boundary protecting her home, Thalia, Queen of the Dryads, must choose whether to trust this foreigner who's quickly claiming her heart or uproot the seeds of affection growing between them and send him away.
After a fatal accident places a village in grave danger, Yula, a young woman with unpredictable magick, is guided by a handsome knight on her quest to find the only person who can help her—the legendary and evil Dark Queen.
In a time of war, a witch possessing healing powers, is tasked with saving the life of her wounded king, all while trying not to lose her heart to his brutish right-hand man.
A young man struggling with his own identity journeys to a modern-day witch living in a lonely forest garden, and is presented with an unexpected connection and a tantalizing choice.
In an enchanted garden deep in the heart of London, the elven scout Tarah guards the portal to her realm, a boring task after so many centuries. But when a dragon awakens in the countryside, searching for his stolen hoard, life becomes anything but mundane—especially when the dragon decides that Tarah might be the greatest treasure of all.
This anthology also includes a new story from the brilliant Juliet Marillier, author of the Sevenwaters Trilogy and many other historical fantasy novels, including her recent publications The Harp of Kings and Beautiful, an Audible Exclusive.
Now, sit back and let us tell you a tale. Welcome to The Enchanted Forest.
Paperback
First published September 12, 2019
44 people are currently reading
1348 people want to read
About the author
Juliet Marillier
79 books12.1k followersJuliet Marillier was born in Dunedin, New Zealand and grew up surrounded by Celtic music and stories. Her own Celtic-Gaelic roots inspired her to write her first series, the Sevenwaters Trilogy. Juliet was educated at the University of Otago, where she majored in music and languages, graduating BA and Bachelor of Music (Hons). Her lifelong interest in history, folklore and mythology has had a major influence on her writing.
Juliet is the author of twenty-one historical fantasy novels for adults and young adults, as well as a book of short fiction. Juliet's novels and short stories have won many awards.
Juliet lives in a 110 year old cottage in a riverside suburb of Perth, Western Australia. When not writing, she tends to her small pack of rescue dogs. She also has four adult children and eight grandchildren. Juliet is a member of the druid order OBOD (the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids.)
Juliet is the author of twenty-one historical fantasy novels for adults and young adults, as well as a book of short fiction. Juliet's novels and short stories have won many awards.
Juliet lives in a 110 year old cottage in a riverside suburb of Perth, Western Australia. When not writing, she tends to her small pack of rescue dogs. She also has four adult children and eight grandchildren. Juliet is a member of the druid order OBOD (the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids.)
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
September 24, 2019
Once Upon An Enchanted Forest Anthology
A fantastic gathering of fables and tales that will transport you to dark woods, confining castles, and into a world of magic and danger. The stories have a darker, more grim feel to them while also reminding me of Beowolf and Grim Fairy Tales. They are well-written and easily captured my attention, pulling me into the stories almost immediately. This collection is definitely worth a read and I’ve also found a new to me author because of my love for their story and writing style!
The Mad King’s Gold- Emma Hamm
What an incredible take on Rumpelstiltskin! Hamm’s writing is beautiful and flows well breathing life and depth into the story. I loved the subtle complexities of Iona in that she’s fearful but strong and brave, even in the face of death. Declan was an amazing complement to Iona’s character while remaining strong in his own right. With a touch of Midas vibes, Hamm wove a spell-binding tale that kept me captivated until the last page.
The Matchweaver’s Loom- Alisha Klapheke
An awe-inspiring, wonderous story with all the epicness of the classics! It has the high-caliber writing and lush worlds I’ve come to expect from Klapheke paired with a strong-willed, independent, and confident female lead that has left me with a craving for more NOW! Matchweaver was overflowing with legend and lore, well-honed to capture readers and entrance them in the magic of Rhianne’s tale. I loved the witch’s snark and Werian was completely swoonworthy. It ended way before I was ready and I hope the author has more planned for this story in the future.
At the time of this review, I have read two of the stories and am halfway through a third. I will update my review as I complete more individual stories within the set.
A fantastic gathering of fables and tales that will transport you to dark woods, confining castles, and into a world of magic and danger. The stories have a darker, more grim feel to them while also reminding me of Beowolf and Grim Fairy Tales. They are well-written and easily captured my attention, pulling me into the stories almost immediately. This collection is definitely worth a read and I’ve also found a new to me author because of my love for their story and writing style!
The Mad King’s Gold- Emma Hamm
What an incredible take on Rumpelstiltskin! Hamm’s writing is beautiful and flows well breathing life and depth into the story. I loved the subtle complexities of Iona in that she’s fearful but strong and brave, even in the face of death. Declan was an amazing complement to Iona’s character while remaining strong in his own right. With a touch of Midas vibes, Hamm wove a spell-binding tale that kept me captivated until the last page.
The Matchweaver’s Loom- Alisha Klapheke
An awe-inspiring, wonderous story with all the epicness of the classics! It has the high-caliber writing and lush worlds I’ve come to expect from Klapheke paired with a strong-willed, independent, and confident female lead that has left me with a craving for more NOW! Matchweaver was overflowing with legend and lore, well-honed to capture readers and entrance them in the magic of Rhianne’s tale. I loved the witch’s snark and Werian was completely swoonworthy. It ended way before I was ready and I hope the author has more planned for this story in the future.
At the time of this review, I have read two of the stories and am halfway through a third. I will update my review as I complete more individual stories within the set.
September 12, 2019
Enchanted Forest Anthology
An enchanting collection of stories full of magic, mayhem and heart filled romance. I throughly enjoyed each story and highly recommend this set! A must read for fantasy romance lovers!
Wolfswood
An interesting tale of a haunted forest, a long lost romance and old gods.
Matchweaver’s Loom
Feisty and fun! A great fantasy tale with match making, witches and fae.
The Witch Collector
Absolutely loved! I really enjoyed the concept and the world. So excited to see where the story goes!
Balance
A nice little story about finding romance and love in unexpected places.
In Wraithwood
A sorrowful tale full of dead and new beginnings.
For Aeturnum
A wondrous tale of dryads, mischief and magic.
The Witch and the Warrior
Loved it! Feisty and fierce. I enjoyed the push and pull between the characters it was an entertaining read.
The Sentinels
A sweet love story between a dragon sentinel and elf guardian.
Knight of the Dark Queen
Another fantastic story! I enjoyed this dark fantasy romance between a Dark Queen’s knight and a powerful Mage.
The Mad Kong’s Gold
A fun mischievous tale of greed, power, magic and romance.
An enchanting collection of stories full of magic, mayhem and heart filled romance. I throughly enjoyed each story and highly recommend this set! A must read for fantasy romance lovers!
Wolfswood
An interesting tale of a haunted forest, a long lost romance and old gods.
Matchweaver’s Loom
Feisty and fun! A great fantasy tale with match making, witches and fae.
The Witch Collector
Absolutely loved! I really enjoyed the concept and the world. So excited to see where the story goes!
Balance
A nice little story about finding romance and love in unexpected places.
In Wraithwood
A sorrowful tale full of dead and new beginnings.
For Aeturnum
A wondrous tale of dryads, mischief and magic.
The Witch and the Warrior
Loved it! Feisty and fierce. I enjoyed the push and pull between the characters it was an entertaining read.
The Sentinels
A sweet love story between a dragon sentinel and elf guardian.
Knight of the Dark Queen
Another fantastic story! I enjoyed this dark fantasy romance between a Dark Queen’s knight and a powerful Mage.
The Mad Kong’s Gold
A fun mischievous tale of greed, power, magic and romance.
December 18, 2019
If I averaged out my rating for the stories in this anthology, I would say it would probably come to four stars. I'm giving it a five-star rating, though, because I really appreciate the fresh angle of so many of these stories and I like what Charissa Weaks is doing with this series. I want to see more. Many of the stories in Once Upon an Enchanted Forest (witches) and in the previous collection, Once Upon the Longest Night (vampires), have really original takes. It's not what you usually find in a collection of romantic fantasy. I'll be adding several authors to my TBR list ... and I'm looking forward to the next collection in 2020, Once Upon a Hallowed Eve.
September 12, 2019
I really loved putting this anthology together and am super grateful for our authors and all their hard work. If you love witchy reads, this one’s for you! 🧙🏻♀️
September 18, 2019
If you read any of my reviews you’ll know that I’m not a big fan of romantic novels. So you may ask why did I start reading this one. I have to say when I did I was pleasantly surprised. There are very good novellas in this book which stick out, namely From Angela, Autumn and Michelle. As for the rest definitely worth a read. Highly recommended.
September 15, 2019
The title of this anthology is so appropriate because all ten novels where truly enchanting and they took me to a beautiful fantasy world full of romance between humans and other worldly creatures. All ten authors gave us a tale to remember, full of heroism, and creatures such as dryads, leprechauns, a Prince of the fae court, a witch collector, a frost king, nymphs, a dark queen, a dragon, an elf and healers who very often were labelled as witches. Every story was told in celebration of mabon the night of balance between dark and light, night and day but each story took a unique aspect to deliver the tale. Juliet Marillier's story managed to make me cry whilst the rest just filled my heart with wonder and joy and a love for magic. This is an anthology of pure fantasy which all those who believe in magic and witches should not miss reading. Many of the tales were like a first book in a series which made me want to read further into these authors splendid works!
December 14, 2020
Full disclosure: I don't typically consider myself a romance reader, so my review should be taken with a few grains of salt. I like romantic elements, but I often feel like romance is rushed, which I find unappealing and boring. Unfortunately, many stories here had rushed relationships and couples that lacked charisma (in my opinion). And, to be frank, I thought this collection might have some steamier stories. That's not to say since stories didn't feature nights of passion that resulted in true love, but some did it better than others.
I picked up this collection because Juliet Marillier contributed, but I figured this would not be quite for me. I enjoyed many of the fantasy settings, and I was more invested in (or even distracted by) these elements. However, so many of the stories were so "samey". Very similar settings, very generic couples, very similar plots. I know the collection has a theme, but I was hoping for more variety. I definitely noticed some editing issues, too.
Some notable stories:
Wolfswood by Morgan Jensen: a self-contained story about wolves, a curse, and a long-lost sweetheart (and a lady loving a lady, one of the few queer couples in this book).
The Witch Collector by Charissa Weaks: I enjoyed the fantasy elements more than the actual romance, and when the story finally ended, I wanted to keep reading to see where it ended. This had a lot of info, probably too much for a short story collection, but some fun ideas. The narrator cannot speak but uses sign language, which I thought helped this story stand out.
Balance by Elva Birch: a modern witch story is always welcome, and this sweet story features a black woman witch and a trans man seeking a boon from the goddess. This was so lovely and witchy.
In Wraithwood by Juliet Marillier: I'll admit, I'm biased. JM is one of my favorite authors, (although I have my criticisms). This story features some of her hallmarks: a skilled wise woman, a strange but kind man, a connection through loneliness. And as always, JM weaves a tale like a skilled druid. Her writing style and ability to create emotion shines in this story. Very touching and neatly told. Essential Marillier.
Knight of the Dark Queen by Angela J. Ford: not my favorite, but definitely had a steamier, more explicit scene than some of the other stories that I wasn't expecting, so just wanted to give it a shout out.
The Mad King's Gold by Emma Hamm: A fun, sexy take on Rumplestiltskin, this was one of the more humourous stories. A nice way to end the collection.
Although I freely admit I'm not a fan of romance, the biggest weakness of this collection was the lack of variety.
I picked up this collection because Juliet Marillier contributed, but I figured this would not be quite for me. I enjoyed many of the fantasy settings, and I was more invested in (or even distracted by) these elements. However, so many of the stories were so "samey". Very similar settings, very generic couples, very similar plots. I know the collection has a theme, but I was hoping for more variety. I definitely noticed some editing issues, too.
Some notable stories:
Wolfswood by Morgan Jensen: a self-contained story about wolves, a curse, and a long-lost sweetheart (and a lady loving a lady, one of the few queer couples in this book).
The Witch Collector by Charissa Weaks: I enjoyed the fantasy elements more than the actual romance, and when the story finally ended, I wanted to keep reading to see where it ended. This had a lot of info, probably too much for a short story collection, but some fun ideas. The narrator cannot speak but uses sign language, which I thought helped this story stand out.
Balance by Elva Birch: a modern witch story is always welcome, and this sweet story features a black woman witch and a trans man seeking a boon from the goddess. This was so lovely and witchy.
In Wraithwood by Juliet Marillier: I'll admit, I'm biased. JM is one of my favorite authors, (although I have my criticisms). This story features some of her hallmarks: a skilled wise woman, a strange but kind man, a connection through loneliness. And as always, JM weaves a tale like a skilled druid. Her writing style and ability to create emotion shines in this story. Very touching and neatly told. Essential Marillier.
Knight of the Dark Queen by Angela J. Ford: not my favorite, but definitely had a steamier, more explicit scene than some of the other stories that I wasn't expecting, so just wanted to give it a shout out.
The Mad King's Gold by Emma Hamm: A fun, sexy take on Rumplestiltskin, this was one of the more humourous stories. A nice way to end the collection.
Although I freely admit I'm not a fan of romance, the biggest weakness of this collection was the lack of variety.
November 11, 2019
"Once Upon an Enchanted Forest" is a collection of Fantasy Romance short stories by ten talented authors, each telling their own captivating stories with inventive worlds, gripping plots and unusual characters. Some stand out stories for me were "In Waithwood" by Juliet Marillier, "The Matchweaver's Loom by Alisha Klaheke and "For Aeternum" by Michelle Tang. I found this a perfect read on the go, during my breaks and at home. The one negative would be that you cannot read it in bed, I made that mistake and ended up staying awake until 3:00am (I'm talking about you "For Aeternum")! Since Christmas is coming up I would recommend this book as a perfect present!
September 19, 2019
I loved this collection of stories, a lovely and unique blend by multiple authors, I was amazed at how all the stories were different and yet fit the tone perfectly. If you like fairytales and folklore I would highly recommend!!! Thank you @CharissaWeaksAuthor
December 21, 2019
Me gusto, honestamente me gusto. Unas historias más que otras pero en general, muy buena!
September 24, 2019
So far I have read The Matchweaver’s Loom by Alisha Klapheke, from this anthology. A surprising take on a fairy tale similar in concept to the Fates who work to decide everyone’s future. Fun! I received a free copy of this book, with no obligation.
September 24, 2019
Wonderful enchanted romancing stories
A phenomenal anthology mixed with magic and romance. Couldn't have wished for anything more. Each story pulls you a little deeper till flowering you with romance. All the stories were well crafted and written. What an extraordinary read. Thank you all for writing such a great novel for many to devour. Happy reading to all. Much love!!!!
A phenomenal anthology mixed with magic and romance. Couldn't have wished for anything more. Each story pulls you a little deeper till flowering you with romance. All the stories were well crafted and written. What an extraordinary read. Thank you all for writing such a great novel for many to devour. Happy reading to all. Much love!!!!
October 23, 2019
Overall, a really good anthology. I joined a few new authors newsletters because of the starts of some of these stories. The romance was nominal, but natural in most stories and I like that. I can't wait for the next installment of Matchweaver's Loom as it was my favorite. I am also eagerly awaiting more to The Witch Collector, The Witch & the Warrior and Knight of the Dark Queen!
December 26, 2019
I loved how each of these stories had the same fairy-tale vibe to them. This anthology is filled with magic, powerful beings, and romance. A great read!
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March 30, 2020I am not going to rate this book because I've only read 4 stories.
Juliet Marillier's In Wraithwood was as expected - beautiful, tender, sad and hopeful. Reminiscent of the Blackthorn and Grim stories because the main character is a wise woman, I could easily envelop myself in the story. As with most really good short stories, it was all too short, but just the right length. 5 stars.
I also read the first three stories in the book. I enjoyed all three, but two of the stories ended abruptly. After that, I stopped reading because I didn't sign on for cliffhangers (i.e. plots to entice you to buy more books). Wolfswood by Morgan Jensen was the exception. I may pick up the antholgy again some day but for now, I need to read some stories that are complete.
Juliet Marillier's In Wraithwood was as expected - beautiful, tender, sad and hopeful. Reminiscent of the Blackthorn and Grim stories because the main character is a wise woman, I could easily envelop myself in the story. As with most really good short stories, it was all too short, but just the right length. 5 stars.
I also read the first three stories in the book. I enjoyed all three, but two of the stories ended abruptly. After that, I stopped reading because I didn't sign on for cliffhangers (i.e. plots to entice you to buy more books). Wolfswood by Morgan Jensen was the exception. I may pick up the antholgy again some day but for now, I need to read some stories that are complete.
October 15, 2019
Once Upon an Enchanted Forest is really a perfect anthology for those who love romantic witchcraft stories. I’m counted in that number so for me this set is catnip. I’ve read about 2/3 of them so far and each has been well written, with a great plot and cast. If I had to pick out one fave it would be Rhianne and Werian’s tale in Alisha Klapheke’s The Matchweaver’s Loom, as the characters (witch included) are just so perfectly crafted and the story is totally fun. Really though, so far at least, you cannot go wrong with this anthology and based on the tales I’ve already read it’s easy to highly recommend.
September 25, 2019
I love anthologies as they are a great way to try new authors out at a great price. And this one has stories based about witches. I loved the nod to old stories and the twists that were added. I liked them all and loved how some made me laugh and some groan. But they were all entertaining read. Kept me reading one after another since they we’re novelettes. Way too easy to keep reading and not stop. I had read a few of the authors and found new ones to try. Just fun to read. I posted my review with the advice to enjoy.
September 20, 2019
Ten well written romantic witch stories. Not my usual choice of stories, however, I have to admit these are really good. I enjoyed them all and one in particular was "The Matchweaver's Loom" by Alisha Klapheke. What does a human woman and a fae Prince have in common? Not going to tell you! You have to read it for yourself! It's a great story.... All the stories are entertaining fantasy tales.
December 29, 2019
A wonderful anthology of beautiful, scary, enchanting stories! If you love this genre I highly recommend this book! The only downside was some of the stories only begin. To continue them you need to go to the writer's website. Othereise, loved it!
December 15, 2019
Very sweet, some better than others, but overall pleasant read
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March 25, 2022Review also available at The Smut Report.
Heat Factor: Characters remove clothing, but it rarely gets racier than that.
Character Chemistry: Distinctly lacking.
Plot: Maiden + Forest + Autumn Equinox
Overall: I would classify these stories as high fantasy, not romance
What do I mean by high fantasy? I mean elves and orcs and swords. I was expecting more along the lines of Wicca / modern day witches; the dedication is “for all those who still believe in magick,” which seems like it would support my assumption. I guess the cover art should have been a clue, but even that clearly magical lady could be rooted in a mundane, recognizable world. But no: 8 of the 10 stories take place Once Upon a Time in the Land of Magic.
Another general note for readers who are only looking at the cover and tagline: not all of these heroines are witches. In fact, some of them don’t have magic at all. The general plot of several of the stories is as follows: maiden enters forest, finds love despite magical opposition. Some of these maidens do have magic of their own, but not all of them do. And some of the witchcraft we encounter is downright malevolent.
For readers who still find themselves intrigued by this anthology, here’s a quick run-down of things I didn’t like:
- The writing is weak. I am generally pretty forgiving of typos and awkward sentences, but there were enough here that I started highlighting them. Rogue and rouge are NOT the same thing. Please hire a copy editor.
- “The Matchweaver’s Loom” by Alisha Klapheke and “The Witch Collector” by Clarissa Weaks BOTH end abruptly just as the adventure gets started. You can read more about the protagonists as they fall further in love and defeat their enemies in other novellas! Lame.
- In the majority of cases, the chemistry between the protagonists is lacking. Part of that is form: it’s hard to show chemistry in a small amount of space, especially if you’re also doing world-building for a completely new realm as well as setting up a swashbuckling adventure. Part of this is the stylistic choice that most of these authors made to focus only on the point of view of one character. But really, it’s about the way the path to love is constructed: The beautiful girl meets a magic, mysterious man. He’s so handsome! She’s so beautiful! True love it is!
Here are some stories that had something interesting going on:
- “Wolfswood” by Morgan Jenson opens with some nice lyrical language that establishes that we’re entering a dream state. We are not dealing with reality, but with a place outside of time. In addition, this story was short and tightly focused – a nice intro to the collection.
- “Balance” by Elva Birch is fully rooted in our world. Margaret lives in Maine. She has powers because she serves the Goddess. There are rules about how magic works. In addition, Birch is the most successful at showing the development of chemistry between her leads given the short word count.
- “In Wraithwood” by Juliet Mariller is “Romantic” in the Byronic sense of the word, rather than the romance novel sense of the word. The heroine is mourning the death of her true love, and through the course of the narrative, is able to start letting go. With that said, it was well-done, and does end with a glimmer of hope for a brighter future.
- “The Mad King’s Gold” by Emma Hamm is a “Rumpelstiltskin” retelling, and Hamm just leans into the ridiculousness of it all. I appreciated the humor.
I think the negatives outweighed the positives for me in this case. Honestly, I was kind of bored most of the time. However, if you’re more of a fantasy reader than a romance enthusiast, you may not be bothered by all the stuff about dragons and evil forces and magic swords that had me skipping pages.
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Heat Factor: Characters remove clothing, but it rarely gets racier than that.
Character Chemistry: Distinctly lacking.
Plot: Maiden + Forest + Autumn Equinox
Overall: I would classify these stories as high fantasy, not romance
What do I mean by high fantasy? I mean elves and orcs and swords. I was expecting more along the lines of Wicca / modern day witches; the dedication is “for all those who still believe in magick,” which seems like it would support my assumption. I guess the cover art should have been a clue, but even that clearly magical lady could be rooted in a mundane, recognizable world. But no: 8 of the 10 stories take place Once Upon a Time in the Land of Magic.
Another general note for readers who are only looking at the cover and tagline: not all of these heroines are witches. In fact, some of them don’t have magic at all. The general plot of several of the stories is as follows: maiden enters forest, finds love despite magical opposition. Some of these maidens do have magic of their own, but not all of them do. And some of the witchcraft we encounter is downright malevolent.
For readers who still find themselves intrigued by this anthology, here’s a quick run-down of things I didn’t like:
- The writing is weak. I am generally pretty forgiving of typos and awkward sentences, but there were enough here that I started highlighting them. Rogue and rouge are NOT the same thing. Please hire a copy editor.
- “The Matchweaver’s Loom” by Alisha Klapheke and “The Witch Collector” by Clarissa Weaks BOTH end abruptly just as the adventure gets started. You can read more about the protagonists as they fall further in love and defeat their enemies in other novellas! Lame.
- In the majority of cases, the chemistry between the protagonists is lacking. Part of that is form: it’s hard to show chemistry in a small amount of space, especially if you’re also doing world-building for a completely new realm as well as setting up a swashbuckling adventure. Part of this is the stylistic choice that most of these authors made to focus only on the point of view of one character. But really, it’s about the way the path to love is constructed: The beautiful girl meets a magic, mysterious man. He’s so handsome! She’s so beautiful! True love it is!
Here are some stories that had something interesting going on:
- “Wolfswood” by Morgan Jenson opens with some nice lyrical language that establishes that we’re entering a dream state. We are not dealing with reality, but with a place outside of time. In addition, this story was short and tightly focused – a nice intro to the collection.
- “Balance” by Elva Birch is fully rooted in our world. Margaret lives in Maine. She has powers because she serves the Goddess. There are rules about how magic works. In addition, Birch is the most successful at showing the development of chemistry between her leads given the short word count.
- “In Wraithwood” by Juliet Mariller is “Romantic” in the Byronic sense of the word, rather than the romance novel sense of the word. The heroine is mourning the death of her true love, and through the course of the narrative, is able to start letting go. With that said, it was well-done, and does end with a glimmer of hope for a brighter future.
- “The Mad King’s Gold” by Emma Hamm is a “Rumpelstiltskin” retelling, and Hamm just leans into the ridiculousness of it all. I appreciated the humor.
I think the negatives outweighed the positives for me in this case. Honestly, I was kind of bored most of the time. However, if you’re more of a fantasy reader than a romance enthusiast, you may not be bothered by all the stuff about dragons and evil forces and magic swords that had me skipping pages.
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February 7, 2020
Good read
Nicely done ladys. Not a bad read. Well wrote by all. Makes the read want jump right in an have some fun.
Nicely done ladys. Not a bad read. Well wrote by all. Makes the read want jump right in an have some fun.
October 22, 2019
I have not had much time to read this entire anthology, but I wanted to say that I really enjoyed The Witch Collector by Charissa Weaks. Folk tales may only be part truth, and Raina found this out the hard way. Her connection to the Witch Collector/Alexus was instanteous, and for the most part, her trust in him was also strong. With death and destruction all around, these two found their strength together and love. I look forward to reading more in this anthology as well as the next story in this series by Charissa Weaks.
I received a copy of this anthology as a gift, and this is my unsolicited review.
I received a copy of this anthology as a gift, and this is my unsolicited review.
October 11, 2019
Novella's worth reading
I downloaded this book because I had already read and enjoyed works from 2 of the authors.some of these stories are a little disturbing, some a little more racy than books I would normally read but overall a brilliant collection of Novellas and I have since downloaded works by 2 other authors and look forward reading more of their work and adding these to my favourites authors.
I downloaded this book because I had already read and enjoyed works from 2 of the authors.some of these stories are a little disturbing, some a little more racy than books I would normally read but overall a brilliant collection of Novellas and I have since downloaded works by 2 other authors and look forward reading more of their work and adding these to my favourites authors.
October 5, 2019
Great collection
Strong,creative stories about witches, generally with a romantic angle. All of them are different, all unique and some are very creative. The only caveat is that a few are simply teaser novellas for a longer novella they want you to buy although most are simply stand alone short stories.
Strong,creative stories about witches, generally with a romantic angle. All of them are different, all unique and some are very creative. The only caveat is that a few are simply teaser novellas for a longer novella they want you to buy although most are simply stand alone short stories.
October 8, 2019
Delightful Stories!
This anthology is the best I have ever read. I am a fan of Bethany Adams and loved her story in here. Then I started the others. I now have nine new authors to explore. Each short story was well written. Some left me wanting more. If you like stories of magic, you'll love this book.
This anthology is the best I have ever read. I am a fan of Bethany Adams and loved her story in here. Then I started the others. I now have nine new authors to explore. Each short story was well written. Some left me wanting more. If you like stories of magic, you'll love this book.
October 12, 2019
I did not enjoy this book - too much insta-love. Nevertheless, I loved Juliet Marillier's short story. Everything she writes is pure magic. ❤️
Tânia @MyLovelySecret
Tânia @MyLovelySecret
November 26, 2023
A fun anthology of romantic fantasy stories that are mostly prequels to larger books and series by the individuals authors. Mostly complete stories but you can see the potential to expand. A great book for break in a heavier series.
October 15, 2019
Absolutely fabulous collection of stories. Each and every story is outstanding. One story by Alisha Klapheke, The Matchweaver’s Loom was superb.
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