The Alchemy of Curses and Other Stories

by Joshua Grasso

Vikantanda, a member of the cursed race of brikanji, is asked to share his affliction with the woman of his dreams. But curses are like the rain itself—unpredictable, and they fall on the great and small alike. So begins the title story of "The Alchemy of Curses and Other Stories," ten tales of fantasy and magic in the grand tradition, full of spell-crafting, time travel, duels, dragons, discoveries, and seed-addicted astrologers.

136 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 20, 2019

About the author

English professor at a small regional university in Oklahoma, with a PhD in British Literature from Miami University. Teach classes in British Literature (esp. Shakespeare to 18th c.), the Humanities, writing, science fiction & fantasy, and comics. Have written 5 novels in-between grading, raising two boys, and rescuing dozens of stray cats from the wilds of Ada, Oklahoma. :)

Reviews

[Shannon Rohrer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Masterfully written, The Alchemy of Curses delves into ten short stories, all happening in the same universe as many of Dr. Grasso’s various works, and each containing a fresh perspective on the world and peoples that inhabit it.

From a cursed people who bring misfortune wherever they go, to the unreliable narration of a seed-addict, where the line between truth and fiction is easily blurred, there wasn’t a single lull. Each story kept me turning the page, eager to see how things would play out and what would follow in subsequent tales/how they would intertwine.

Few can write short stories that ensnare the senses and plunge the reader headlong into the world, and fewer still can evoke emotion with so little time to focus on the characters within said stories—so the fact that Dr. Grasso was able to accomplish this and so much more is a mark of his skill and dedication to the craft.

If you’re looking for a quick read set within Gothic Fantasy with interesting, memorable characters, this anthology might be just the book for you.

[Sean Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was absolutely fantastic! It's been on my Kindle for quite awhile now, so I'm glad I finally got to read it. Such an engaging collection of short stories, every one of which was as intriguing and beautifully crafted as the last.

Highly recommended.