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Short Stuff
A feel-good Young Adult anthology with stories destined for summer reads lists, Short Stuff features bestselling and award-winning authors dialing down the angst for an anthology of light LGBTQ YA romance.
192 pages, Paperback
First published June 9, 2020
11 people are currently reading
258 people want to read
About the author
Alysia Constantine
4 books47 followersAlysia Constantine lives in the Lower Hudson Valley of New York with her wife, two dogs and a cat. She is the author of the novels SWEET and OLYMPIA KNIFE (coming November 2, 2017).
In another life, Alysia was a professor at an art college in NYC. In a life before that, she was a baker/cook for a baker/caterer. In a life even before that, she was a miserable gay teen studying to be a concert violinist, and before that, she was Joan of Arc (though there’s no evidence for that).
In another life, Alysia was a professor at an art college in NYC. In a life before that, she was a baker/cook for a baker/caterer. In a life even before that, she was a miserable gay teen studying to be a concert violinist, and before that, she was Joan of Arc (though there’s no evidence for that).
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 32 reviews
July 6, 2020
4.5 stars
Boy, I’ve been loving the books I’ve read so far for Pride Reads!!
“Maybe that’s why the meet-cute is so right for stories of LGBTQ folks. We usually find ourselves in tough beginnings. Then circumstances conspire to make things really hard on us. Falling in love happens against all odds. But darn it if we don’t deserve our happy endings too.”
So says Alysia Constantine in her introduction to Short Stuff , a collection of four YA LGBTQ short stories with a romantic bent. Each are written by authors I wasn’t familiar with, which makes me happy, as I can now find even more books by authors whose work I enjoy!
In “I Ate the Whole World to Find You” by Tom Wilinsky and Jen Sternick, an unlikely pairing is forged between a teenage swimmer with Olympic aspirations and the cook at the swim club where he trains. “The August Sands” by Jude Sierra chronicles a familiar trope—the summer romance. But there's more than just that.
“Love in the Time of Coffee” by Kate Fierro tells of a long-time friendship that starts when two girls are young, and often revolves around coffee. And in “Guilded Scales” by Julia Ember, the one fantasy story in the collection, a courageous young woman wants to be taken seriously as a warrior but finds far more than she bargained for in a search for a dragon.
These stories were so enjoyable, they made me smile—even the fantasy one. Each story had interesting twists on the familiar genre and each was really well-written. I also liked that the stories were all fairly long so I didn’t feel cheated out of an ending. My favroite was probably "I Ate the Whole World to Find You," but it was close.
Pick this one up, y’all, for some sweet stories.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
Boy, I’ve been loving the books I’ve read so far for Pride Reads!!
“Maybe that’s why the meet-cute is so right for stories of LGBTQ folks. We usually find ourselves in tough beginnings. Then circumstances conspire to make things really hard on us. Falling in love happens against all odds. But darn it if we don’t deserve our happy endings too.”
So says Alysia Constantine in her introduction to Short Stuff , a collection of four YA LGBTQ short stories with a romantic bent. Each are written by authors I wasn’t familiar with, which makes me happy, as I can now find even more books by authors whose work I enjoy!
In “I Ate the Whole World to Find You” by Tom Wilinsky and Jen Sternick, an unlikely pairing is forged between a teenage swimmer with Olympic aspirations and the cook at the swim club where he trains. “The August Sands” by Jude Sierra chronicles a familiar trope—the summer romance. But there's more than just that.
“Love in the Time of Coffee” by Kate Fierro tells of a long-time friendship that starts when two girls are young, and often revolves around coffee. And in “Guilded Scales” by Julia Ember, the one fantasy story in the collection, a courageous young woman wants to be taken seriously as a warrior but finds far more than she bargained for in a search for a dragon.
These stories were so enjoyable, they made me smile—even the fantasy one. Each story had interesting twists on the familiar genre and each was really well-written. I also liked that the stories were all fairly long so I didn’t feel cheated out of an ending. My favroite was probably "I Ate the Whole World to Find You," but it was close.
Pick this one up, y’all, for some sweet stories.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
May 17, 2020
This is such a deeply enjoyable LGBTQ+ anthology! It features two m/m stories and two f/f stories, and so much queer goodness!!
I Ate the Whole World to Find You - Tom Wilinsky & Jen Sternick 4/5
This was the absolute cutest story, about a professional swimmer training for the Olympics, and a young aspiring chef feeding him truckloads of meals. I absolutely loved this dynamic, and it was a really funny story as well.
Rep: m/m romance
The August Sands - Jude Sierra 3/5
This was a really cute summer romance, about an 18 year old gay boy having his first kiss and his first romance, and about what it feels like to grow up and have your life changing, and you know you're leaving your childhood behind forever. Unfortunately, the writing style didn't really work for me though.
Rep: m/m romance
Love in the Time of Coffee - Kate Fierro 4/5
This was a very quick, slice-of-life kind of story, sharing short scenes from the characters' lives together. I'm a big fan of the childhood friends to lovers trope, so I really enjoyed this story! It also made me crave coffee really badly.
Rep: f/f romance, lesbian MC, bisexual love interest
Gilded Scales - Julia Ember 4/5
As a big fan of dragons and shapeshifters, this fast-paced and easy to follow fantasy story was perfect for me!
Rep: f/f romance
I Ate the Whole World to Find You - Tom Wilinsky & Jen Sternick 4/5
This was the absolute cutest story, about a professional swimmer training for the Olympics, and a young aspiring chef feeding him truckloads of meals. I absolutely loved this dynamic, and it was a really funny story as well.
Rep: m/m romance
The August Sands - Jude Sierra 3/5
This was a really cute summer romance, about an 18 year old gay boy having his first kiss and his first romance, and about what it feels like to grow up and have your life changing, and you know you're leaving your childhood behind forever. Unfortunately, the writing style didn't really work for me though.
Rep: m/m romance
Love in the Time of Coffee - Kate Fierro 4/5
This was a very quick, slice-of-life kind of story, sharing short scenes from the characters' lives together. I'm a big fan of the childhood friends to lovers trope, so I really enjoyed this story! It also made me crave coffee really badly.
Rep: f/f romance, lesbian MC, bisexual love interest
Gilded Scales - Julia Ember 4/5
As a big fan of dragons and shapeshifters, this fast-paced and easy to follow fantasy story was perfect for me!
Rep: f/f romance
June 9, 2020
A huge thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
An average of 4,5/5 if rating the stories separately; two 5 stars, and two 4 stars.
This anthology is honestly so good! I am starting to write this review at 3:15am, after having read it in one go and I already kind of want to read it again. It's- I spent 4 hours smiling, or hurting but knowing I would smile soon enough, as the book promises happy endings, because dammit queer people deserve happy endings.
I don't even really know what to talk about. The stories are diverse, and none of them are like the others.
We have I Ate The Whole World To Find You which is about a swimmer getting ready for the Olympics, and a chef who provides said swimmer with food during his days at the pool. This is pure fanfiction material, and I spent the entire story with a huge smile on my face. They are boys, they are idiots, they are gay, and it is absolutely beautiful. It also made me want all of the food. (and yes there is the asshole coach and asshole sponsors, but they just set off the goodness even more.)
Then there is The August Sands. We follow Tommy, a gay boy on summer holiday with his family, before going off to college, which is something he struggles with. He struggles with his identity a lot and then he meets Chase, a confident boy who has no qualms in expressing interest. This story focuses on Tommy's struggles, and how he comes to terms with himself, while experiencing romance for the first time. Note that him coming to terms with himself is not about his sexuality! It's actually about who he is as a person, and being scared of change.
Next, we have Love in the Time of Coffee which follows Gemma and Anya from the time they were heading to school for the very first time, to them in college. You move through the story by the coffee they drink, which I actually really loved- and I find coffee absolutely gross, haha! I just really loved the set up of it, and I wonder if the book this is inspired by (Love in the time of Cholera) has a similar set up. Gemma is gay, and has been in love with her best friend Anya for ages. Anya, on the other hand, has a boyfriend, which is pretty serious. Lesbian and bi rep, here, y'all! Also, the ending is super cute hdfjksdgalsdf
Last, but certainly not least, we have Gilded Scales. This story is like nothing you would expect. It's the only one that's not contemporary, or even modern. It's fantasy, loud and clear, as there is a dragon. Yep, you read that right: there is a DRAGON! Besides the dragon there is a girl who wants desperately to be a warrior, but whose village won't let her and only wants her to marry and settle down. When a dragon is discovered, she volunteers to help save the girl the dragon is keeping prisoner. SPOILER ALERT (but not really a spoiler it's in the summary): the dragon and the girl are one and the same. This story is very subtle on the romance front, but you just know where they're headed. Safe to say, this story was nothing like I had imagined- I have never read a dragon like this and I loved it!
Add to the that the gorgeous cover and I'm in love. So in love I read this in one sitting and am still writing this review at 3:30am while my laptop is dying. Would wholeheartedly recommend, especially if you're in need of (queer!) feel good stories!
An average of 4,5/5 if rating the stories separately; two 5 stars, and two 4 stars.
This anthology is honestly so good! I am starting to write this review at 3:15am, after having read it in one go and I already kind of want to read it again. It's- I spent 4 hours smiling, or hurting but knowing I would smile soon enough, as the book promises happy endings, because dammit queer people deserve happy endings.
I don't even really know what to talk about. The stories are diverse, and none of them are like the others.
We have I Ate The Whole World To Find You which is about a swimmer getting ready for the Olympics, and a chef who provides said swimmer with food during his days at the pool. This is pure fanfiction material, and I spent the entire story with a huge smile on my face. They are boys, they are idiots, they are gay, and it is absolutely beautiful. It also made me want all of the food. (and yes there is the asshole coach and asshole sponsors, but they just set off the goodness even more.)
Then there is The August Sands. We follow Tommy, a gay boy on summer holiday with his family, before going off to college, which is something he struggles with. He struggles with his identity a lot and then he meets Chase, a confident boy who has no qualms in expressing interest. This story focuses on Tommy's struggles, and how he comes to terms with himself, while experiencing romance for the first time. Note that him coming to terms with himself is not about his sexuality! It's actually about who he is as a person, and being scared of change.
Next, we have Love in the Time of Coffee which follows Gemma and Anya from the time they were heading to school for the very first time, to them in college. You move through the story by the coffee they drink, which I actually really loved- and I find coffee absolutely gross, haha! I just really loved the set up of it, and I wonder if the book this is inspired by (Love in the time of Cholera) has a similar set up. Gemma is gay, and has been in love with her best friend Anya for ages. Anya, on the other hand, has a boyfriend, which is pretty serious. Lesbian and bi rep, here, y'all! Also, the ending is super cute hdfjksdgalsdf
Last, but certainly not least, we have Gilded Scales. This story is like nothing you would expect. It's the only one that's not contemporary, or even modern. It's fantasy, loud and clear, as there is a dragon. Yep, you read that right: there is a DRAGON! Besides the dragon there is a girl who wants desperately to be a warrior, but whose village won't let her and only wants her to marry and settle down. When a dragon is discovered, she volunteers to help save the girl the dragon is keeping prisoner. SPOILER ALERT (but not really a spoiler it's in the summary): the dragon and the girl are one and the same. This story is very subtle on the romance front, but you just know where they're headed. Safe to say, this story was nothing like I had imagined- I have never read a dragon like this and I loved it!
Add to the that the gorgeous cover and I'm in love. So in love I read this in one sitting and am still writing this review at 3:30am while my laptop is dying. Would wholeheartedly recommend, especially if you're in need of (queer!) feel good stories!
May 28, 2020
I'm a sucker for queer fiction, and short story collections are perfect read-in-a-day books for me. This collection featured four YA stories - two m/m and two f/f - and each were different and delightful in their own way, although of course I had my favorites (as one usually does with anthologies).
The first followed an Olympics-trial-bound swimmer and the chef at the country club where he practices (sports fiction! A favorite of mine!), and was both an interesting look at the life of an athlete and the struggle between their dreams and their realities. Featuring lots of delicious-sounding food and a bit of a slow-burn, this story was simply adorable. The second (my favorite of the collection) featured two high school seniors who meet on their respective family vacations, both on the cusp of starting their new lives in college, but also tentatively exploring their burgeoning feelings for one another.
The third story had the overlying theme of coffee, which added a cute perspective (and a fun name for each of the 'chapters'). Two best friends grow up together, but one is too afraid to tell the other when she realizes her feelings for her are more than platonic. And the last story was set in a vaguely Vikings-ish fantasy world, where a dragon terrorizes a village and a headstrong girl goes off to defeat it, learning surprising new things about herself along the way.
Overall, this collection was a light, fun read, and though I wasn't super impressed by the last two stories, I am glad I read it overall. Queer books like this are important, and teens should be able to see themselves in contemporary and fantasy settings alike (and all the worlds in between).
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The first followed an Olympics-trial-bound swimmer and the chef at the country club where he practices (sports fiction! A favorite of mine!), and was both an interesting look at the life of an athlete and the struggle between their dreams and their realities. Featuring lots of delicious-sounding food and a bit of a slow-burn, this story was simply adorable. The second (my favorite of the collection) featured two high school seniors who meet on their respective family vacations, both on the cusp of starting their new lives in college, but also tentatively exploring their burgeoning feelings for one another.
The third story had the overlying theme of coffee, which added a cute perspective (and a fun name for each of the 'chapters'). Two best friends grow up together, but one is too afraid to tell the other when she realizes her feelings for her are more than platonic. And the last story was set in a vaguely Vikings-ish fantasy world, where a dragon terrorizes a village and a headstrong girl goes off to defeat it, learning surprising new things about herself along the way.
Overall, this collection was a light, fun read, and though I wasn't super impressed by the last two stories, I am glad I read it overall. Queer books like this are important, and teens should be able to see themselves in contemporary and fantasy settings alike (and all the worlds in between).
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
April 30, 2020
This was really heartwarming and nice short "stuff" stories! I think i really like the first one the best, they had such good chemestry! But i liked the others too.
June 22, 2020
I saw this anthology bouncing around Instagram and I knew I had to get it. A LGBT young adult anthology less than 200 pages? I’m in. And this book did not disappoint. I loved all of the stories:
- An olympic hopeful swimmer who meets a short-order chef at the pool snack bar
- A friendship thorough the years over coffee drinks
- A summer connection on the shore of Lake Huron in Michigan
- A warrior who searches for a dragon who has captured a girl
All of these stories have the sweetness and innocence of young adult fiction, but with some really great writing. These authors capture the gossamer threads connecting young lovers, fleeting encounters that become sticky memories. I loved the conceit of the third story threaded with a coffee theme. I enjoyed the memories of my home state of Michigan and the sand dunes while reading the second story. If you want a fun, enjoyable, light collection of stories, this is a great book. Enjoy it in the backyard with some lemonade or on the beach or under the stars with a flashlight. ★★★★★ ◊ Trade Paperback ◊ Fiction, Young Adult, LGBT, Anthology ◊ Purchased online ◊ Published by Duet, an imprint of Interlude Press on June 8, 2020. ◾︎
- An olympic hopeful swimmer who meets a short-order chef at the pool snack bar
- A friendship thorough the years over coffee drinks
- A summer connection on the shore of Lake Huron in Michigan
- A warrior who searches for a dragon who has captured a girl
All of these stories have the sweetness and innocence of young adult fiction, but with some really great writing. These authors capture the gossamer threads connecting young lovers, fleeting encounters that become sticky memories. I loved the conceit of the third story threaded with a coffee theme. I enjoyed the memories of my home state of Michigan and the sand dunes while reading the second story. If you want a fun, enjoyable, light collection of stories, this is a great book. Enjoy it in the backyard with some lemonade or on the beach or under the stars with a flashlight. ★★★★★ ◊ Trade Paperback ◊ Fiction, Young Adult, LGBT, Anthology ◊ Purchased online ◊ Published by Duet, an imprint of Interlude Press on June 8, 2020. ◾︎
April 3, 2020
This was four short, queer love stories that I think most people will absolutely love! The last of the four is fantasy, but it's short so I think if fantasy isn't your jam, you might be able to handle it for that.
I have one critique and that is that the m/m stories got to be more in the relationship than the f/f stories, but there were two of each so I'll take that. And, in all fairness, the third story might end up being my favorite overall.
It's a good, queer, short story collection to add to your June Pride TBR.
I have one critique and that is that the m/m stories got to be more in the relationship than the f/f stories, but there were two of each so I'll take that. And, in all fairness, the third story might end up being my favorite overall.
It's a good, queer, short story collection to add to your June Pride TBR.
July 24, 2020
Look, the reality is plenty complicated and sometimes you just want easy-reading, delightful, no/low angst YA. This book delivers!!
Great collection of short stories by a variety of LGBTQ YA authors. Pick it up for your favorites and read the rest for the fun!!
**I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
Great collection of short stories by a variety of LGBTQ YA authors. Pick it up for your favorites and read the rest for the fun!!
**I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**
September 5, 2020
An anthology of LGBTQ meet cutes...what's not to love?
Turns out I have one issue with this book and it has nothing to do with the quality of the writing or the characters or the stories being told (which are all fantastic)...it's simply that I'm not cut out for the nature of a short story! I desperately want to know what happens next, especially when I was enjoying it as much as I did each of these stories. I need more than just this snap shot of their lives and relationships, I've gotten attached dammit!
Other than discovering this personal defect of mine, I loved this collection and would definitely recommend it. Each story is completely different and an absolute joy to read.
Thank you Netgalley and Interlude Press for sending me a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Turns out I have one issue with this book and it has nothing to do with the quality of the writing or the characters or the stories being told (which are all fantastic)...it's simply that I'm not cut out for the nature of a short story! I desperately want to know what happens next, especially when I was enjoying it as much as I did each of these stories. I need more than just this snap shot of their lives and relationships, I've gotten attached dammit!
Other than discovering this personal defect of mine, I loved this collection and would definitely recommend it. Each story is completely different and an absolute joy to read.
Thank you Netgalley and Interlude Press for sending me a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 25, 2020
I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.
A wonderful, warming anthology of four uplifting stories. From the introduction to the last page, I loved everything about this collection.
A wonderful, warming anthology of four uplifting stories. From the introduction to the last page, I loved everything about this collection.
June 25, 2020
Short Stuff is an anthology of four YA LGBTQ short stories... though it's actually just LGB. The stories themselves are nice enough, but when taken as a whole there is very little diversity of representation. Only one of the stories includes actual identity labels (lesbian and bi), but I think it's clear to say there are no trans or non-binary characters, no ace representation, no mention of pansexuality, intersex, polyamory, two-spirit, etc. And I'm almost positive all of these characters are white, along with most of the authors (Jude Sierra is Latinx). So while the stories themselves range from "not bad" to "really enjoyable," the collection as a whole is a bit disappointing. The first three stories are contemporary fiction, while the fourth is historical fantasy.
✏️ I Ate the Whole World to Find You by Tom Wilinsky and Jen Sternick ★★★★☆
🌈 Rep: mlm
Dual POV enemies-to-lovers romance between an Olympic-hopeful swimmer and the amateur chef who works the pool club's snack bar.
This was really fun and cute, and well-written. The banter and miscommunication between the MC's felt realistic. My only complaint is that the characters didn't really feel like teenagers-- more like young twenty-somethings.
✏️ The August Sands by Jude Sierra ★★★☆☆
🌈 Rep: mlm
Tommy's lakeside family vacation gets a lot more interesting when a group of kids his age--including a cute guy named Chase--rent the cabin next door.
The romance in this was cute and drama-free, but I was more invested in Tommy's character as he adjusts to being eighteen and preparing to leave home for college.
✏️ Love in the Time of Coffee by Kate Fierro ★★☆☆☆
🌈 Rep: wlw, lesbian MC, bisexual LI
Snapshots over the years of shared coffees between Gemma and Anya, as Gemma comes to terms with her unrequited love with her best friend. But is it actually unrequited?
This wasn't bad, but a bit lackluster. I didn't feel any connection to the characters.
✏️ Gilded Scales by Julia Ember ★★★☆☆
🌈 Rep: wlw (implied)
When rumors come of a young maiden kidnapped by a fearsome dragon, Fenn determines to prove her worth as a warrior by defeating the beast and rescuing the girl. But what if the beast and the girl are one and the same?
This was fun, though not an original concept. The wlw content was pretty scarce.
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
✏️ I Ate the Whole World to Find You by Tom Wilinsky and Jen Sternick ★★★★☆
🌈 Rep: mlm
Dual POV enemies-to-lovers romance between an Olympic-hopeful swimmer and the amateur chef who works the pool club's snack bar.
This was really fun and cute, and well-written. The banter and miscommunication between the MC's felt realistic. My only complaint is that the characters didn't really feel like teenagers-- more like young twenty-somethings.
✏️ The August Sands by Jude Sierra ★★★☆☆
🌈 Rep: mlm
Tommy's lakeside family vacation gets a lot more interesting when a group of kids his age--including a cute guy named Chase--rent the cabin next door.
The romance in this was cute and drama-free, but I was more invested in Tommy's character as he adjusts to being eighteen and preparing to leave home for college.
✏️ Love in the Time of Coffee by Kate Fierro ★★☆☆☆
🌈 Rep: wlw, lesbian MC, bisexual LI
Snapshots over the years of shared coffees between Gemma and Anya, as Gemma comes to terms with her unrequited love with her best friend. But is it actually unrequited?
This wasn't bad, but a bit lackluster. I didn't feel any connection to the characters.
✏️ Gilded Scales by Julia Ember ★★★☆☆
🌈 Rep: wlw (implied)
When rumors come of a young maiden kidnapped by a fearsome dragon, Fenn determines to prove her worth as a warrior by defeating the beast and rescuing the girl. But what if the beast and the girl are one and the same?
This was fun, though not an original concept. The wlw content was pretty scarce.
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
April 26, 2021
Apr 2021 - AO3 Fic Place Holder
October 22, 2020
Since this book is a collection of four short stories and rating it as one book is a bit complicated, I calculated the average star rating for all four of them. But I do have some comments regarding the individual stories.
1. I Ate the Whole World to Find You - 2/5 stars
This story had such potential in my opinion! Low-key enemies to lovers trope between the sportsman and the cook, throw in a bit of pining and flustered youth here and there and it's a perfect mixture for an ideal short story! But the writing and the characters were not it for me. I did not like the pacing, the way the dialogues were written, and how characters feelings were developing. Everything developed too fast. The feelings were changing back and forth too drastically even for a story about two flustered sixteen year olds. Most of the time there was something that was simply missing for me. The romance just came out of nowhere and I'm usually not a fan of stories that develop that way.
2. The August Sands - 1/5 stars
I hated this one. Legitimately. If I could rate it with 0 stars, I would. The writing was so weird. The dialogues between the main love interests made no sense to me.
"What's this, early morning labor?"
"More like afternoon labor."
"True. I only just woke up, so it's morning to me."
"Same."
Who edited this book?
There was nothing that made me root for the characters or feel any kind of a emotion towards them. I absolutely hated how author portrayed the whole going to the university process. It was described as something completely life-changing, which of course, in some sense, it is, but to that extent? Come on. And character emphasized several times how the university he'd be attending was not even an hour away from his home so that fact being mentioned five times definitely did not make me sympathise with his stress. Going to university does not equal to becoming a completely new self and neither does having a romantic/sexual experience. Those experiences were romanticized as something absolutely life-changing. The main character wakes up the next day after kissing the love interest and "is now a completely new self" except, no, he's not, because that's not how it works. I don't like the idea of sharing an experience like a kiss, or something that is more than just a kiss with another person making you wake up as a completely changed individual. One day, you wake up and you're you, someone that has not kissed anyone. Another day, you wake up and you're still you, except now you have had this pleasant experience that you're probably going to cherish for life, if that's what you want to do. It does not in any way define who you are and what you became. There's nothing wrong with writing about characters that get giddy from kissing, as long as author makes sure to deliver the message that hey, even though they experienced this, it's only a tiny fraction of who they are, and their experience does not define their worth, which this author did not do. Overall, didn't like this story at all. There was legitimately nothing I could get out of it.
3. Love in the Time of Coffee - 4/5 stars
Okay, I loved this one. It was almost perfect! Childhood friends to lovers with developing feelings and pining throughout what, five years? Sign me up, I'm a sucker for those. With the story revloving around friendship rituals, sapphic love and coffee shops, there was nothing more I could ask from it. My coffee-addicted bisexual heart could not get enough of it! And the chapters being named after different drinks? Come on now, it cannot get better than that. The story was also beautiful. The writing was great! I will definitely be looking more into the author's other works.
4. Gilded Scales - 2/5 stars
This one was a bit tricky. Even though the plot itself was interesting, I feel like the execution lacked in most parts. The story was too fast-paced for a fantasy with this kind of world building and such complicated situation between the love interests. I don't think that making this trope into a short story worked with the plot, in my opinion, if the author had maybe around 100-150 pages more, it would allow them to dive deeper into the world, characters, and all kinds of developments. It would also allow the story to be more intriguing. I definitely loved the plot though, it's just the execution was not good enough for me.
1. I Ate the Whole World to Find You - 2/5 stars
This story had such potential in my opinion! Low-key enemies to lovers trope between the sportsman and the cook, throw in a bit of pining and flustered youth here and there and it's a perfect mixture for an ideal short story! But the writing and the characters were not it for me. I did not like the pacing, the way the dialogues were written, and how characters feelings were developing. Everything developed too fast. The feelings were changing back and forth too drastically even for a story about two flustered sixteen year olds. Most of the time there was something that was simply missing for me. The romance just came out of nowhere and I'm usually not a fan of stories that develop that way.
2. The August Sands - 1/5 stars
I hated this one. Legitimately. If I could rate it with 0 stars, I would. The writing was so weird. The dialogues between the main love interests made no sense to me.
"What's this, early morning labor?"
"More like afternoon labor."
"True. I only just woke up, so it's morning to me."
"Same."
Who edited this book?
There was nothing that made me root for the characters or feel any kind of a emotion towards them. I absolutely hated how author portrayed the whole going to the university process. It was described as something completely life-changing, which of course, in some sense, it is, but to that extent? Come on. And character emphasized several times how the university he'd be attending was not even an hour away from his home so that fact being mentioned five times definitely did not make me sympathise with his stress. Going to university does not equal to becoming a completely new self and neither does having a romantic/sexual experience. Those experiences were romanticized as something absolutely life-changing. The main character wakes up the next day after kissing the love interest and "is now a completely new self" except, no, he's not, because that's not how it works. I don't like the idea of sharing an experience like a kiss, or something that is more than just a kiss with another person making you wake up as a completely changed individual. One day, you wake up and you're you, someone that has not kissed anyone. Another day, you wake up and you're still you, except now you have had this pleasant experience that you're probably going to cherish for life, if that's what you want to do. It does not in any way define who you are and what you became. There's nothing wrong with writing about characters that get giddy from kissing, as long as author makes sure to deliver the message that hey, even though they experienced this, it's only a tiny fraction of who they are, and their experience does not define their worth, which this author did not do. Overall, didn't like this story at all. There was legitimately nothing I could get out of it.
3. Love in the Time of Coffee - 4/5 stars
Okay, I loved this one. It was almost perfect! Childhood friends to lovers with developing feelings and pining throughout what, five years? Sign me up, I'm a sucker for those. With the story revloving around friendship rituals, sapphic love and coffee shops, there was nothing more I could ask from it. My coffee-addicted bisexual heart could not get enough of it! And the chapters being named after different drinks? Come on now, it cannot get better than that. The story was also beautiful. The writing was great! I will definitely be looking more into the author's other works.
4. Gilded Scales - 2/5 stars
This one was a bit tricky. Even though the plot itself was interesting, I feel like the execution lacked in most parts. The story was too fast-paced for a fantasy with this kind of world building and such complicated situation between the love interests. I don't think that making this trope into a short story worked with the plot, in my opinion, if the author had maybe around 100-150 pages more, it would allow them to dive deeper into the world, characters, and all kinds of developments. It would also allow the story to be more intriguing. I definitely loved the plot though, it's just the execution was not good enough for me.
June 18, 2022
I haven’t read an anthology before, much less an LGBTQ+-centered one so I was excited!
- I Ate the Whole World to Find You
The title was so intriguing! I wasn’t expecting it to involve baking - or swimming - and I thought it was an odd combination at first. BUT it makes sense and fits so well! Basil and Will have an interesting dynamic and I love how the authors fit a slow-burn romance into a short story like this. It wasn’t heavy on the swimming or baking terms, which I do appreciate because I think it would’ve been a little chaotic since this is just a short story. It was nicely paced and the characters were well-developed too!
- The August Sands
Oh, my heart! I should have known how this story would end once it started but damn, the author just sucked me into Tommy and Chase’s adorable freaking relationship! Honestly though, ‘I relate to Tommy’ is a severely underrated statement for me. I WAS Tommy, down to the distance from home. Reading this story was like flashing back to two versions of myself when I moved away for college - the depressed introvert I was and the social nerdy butterfly with friends I hoped I would be… All that minus the romance (which I adore!). I’m conflicted about why I’m okay with the ending because I wanted it to keep going and a big happily ever after as they somehow made it to the same college or something like those teen movies.
- Love in the Time of Coffee
I’m a coffee fanatic (but maybe a specific one?). Starbucks frappucinos are my go-to but I fix coffee at home too. Never once have I considered a story like this - told from coffee fanatics with a love story woven in. The concept is delicious, pun intended! (Really though, each coffee described sounded SO GOOD!) Anya and Gemma’s relationship is the perfect balance of friendship and romance…but a tricky romance. The sexuality exploration in this story is one I feel deeply. I saw myself in so many parts of it for where I am now. This is also the kind of story I think I’d be okay with regardless of the ending. The journey for Gemma in particular was worth every page.
- Gilded Scales
This was a wonderful, fresh take on the ‘save the damsel in distress from the dragon’ trope I grew up on! It’s also been a while since I read a proper fantasy story. But a queer fantasy story? My first! I love how descriptive this story is, each of the characters is developed how they should be, and what’s in between the lines leaves room for that sweet spot of imagination I love. Bryne and Fenn’s relationship is full of fascination and, despite not knowing a lot about each of their individual interests or things they have in common, I don’t feel like I’m missing anything or that the relationship is forced in any way.
Overall, I’d say my favorite story in this book is probably The August Sands with my second favorite being Love in the Time of Coffee - both for my level of relatability with them and the characters. Tommy and Chase won me over, as well as that ending!
But as for Short Stuff itself, I LOVED IT! I really want more stories like this - similar anthologies or by these authors! The very real themes and obstacles the characters face is perfectly balanced with the fiction side of things so props to everyone involved for creating a book I happily stumbled across that made me FEEL things!
- I Ate the Whole World to Find You
The title was so intriguing! I wasn’t expecting it to involve baking - or swimming - and I thought it was an odd combination at first. BUT it makes sense and fits so well! Basil and Will have an interesting dynamic and I love how the authors fit a slow-burn romance into a short story like this. It wasn’t heavy on the swimming or baking terms, which I do appreciate because I think it would’ve been a little chaotic since this is just a short story. It was nicely paced and the characters were well-developed too!
- The August Sands
Oh, my heart! I should have known how this story would end once it started but damn, the author just sucked me into Tommy and Chase’s adorable freaking relationship! Honestly though, ‘I relate to Tommy’ is a severely underrated statement for me. I WAS Tommy, down to the distance from home. Reading this story was like flashing back to two versions of myself when I moved away for college - the depressed introvert I was and the social nerdy butterfly with friends I hoped I would be… All that minus the romance (which I adore!). I’m conflicted about why I’m okay with the ending because I wanted it to keep going and a big happily ever after as they somehow made it to the same college or something like those teen movies.
- Love in the Time of Coffee
I’m a coffee fanatic (but maybe a specific one?). Starbucks frappucinos are my go-to but I fix coffee at home too. Never once have I considered a story like this - told from coffee fanatics with a love story woven in. The concept is delicious, pun intended! (Really though, each coffee described sounded SO GOOD!) Anya and Gemma’s relationship is the perfect balance of friendship and romance…but a tricky romance. The sexuality exploration in this story is one I feel deeply. I saw myself in so many parts of it for where I am now. This is also the kind of story I think I’d be okay with regardless of the ending. The journey for Gemma in particular was worth every page.
- Gilded Scales
This was a wonderful, fresh take on the ‘save the damsel in distress from the dragon’ trope I grew up on! It’s also been a while since I read a proper fantasy story. But a queer fantasy story? My first! I love how descriptive this story is, each of the characters is developed how they should be, and what’s in between the lines leaves room for that sweet spot of imagination I love. Bryne and Fenn’s relationship is full of fascination and, despite not knowing a lot about each of their individual interests or things they have in common, I don’t feel like I’m missing anything or that the relationship is forced in any way.
Overall, I’d say my favorite story in this book is probably The August Sands with my second favorite being Love in the Time of Coffee - both for my level of relatability with them and the characters. Tommy and Chase won me over, as well as that ending!
But as for Short Stuff itself, I LOVED IT! I really want more stories like this - similar anthologies or by these authors! The very real themes and obstacles the characters face is perfectly balanced with the fiction side of things so props to everyone involved for creating a book I happily stumbled across that made me FEEL things!
May 28, 2020
Thank you to Netgalley and Interlude Press for giving me an advanced copy of Short Stuff, so I could share my review!
Short Stuff is an anthology of four mid-length short stories focusing on queer characters! Containing two stories focusing on male identifying characters and two centered on female identifying characters, this book is full of sweet tales to delight your heart! The premise of this anthology is to present happy stories about queer characters, as so often queer narratives are focused around hardships and suffering. The stories in this book are each full of joy in their own way, from meet-cutes to first kisses, emphasizing the importance of sharing the power of hope.
You can get your copy of Short Stuff on June 9th from Interlude Press!
I really appreciated the slightly longer story length, because it felt like adequate time and page space was spent to really develop each of the characters, ensuring that the stories were extremely engaging! Of the four stories, my two favorites have to be I Ate The Whole World to Find You, by Tom Wilinsky and Jen Sternick, and Gilded Scales, by Julia Ember! I Ate The Whole World to Find You follows a young Olympian-in-training as he begins to fall for the charming chef who runs pool’s the snack bar. I absolutely *ate* this story up because of how much I loved the premise and the characters! Gilded Scales is a fantasy story, about a girl who finally gets the chance to prove herself to be a true warrior when a terrible dragon threatens her village. Little does she know, the dragon may be a cursed girl who’s just as tired of being underestimated as she is. I would definitely want to read full length books about the characters from both of these stories, because the authors did an amazing job of engaging me in their worlds!
My Recommendation-
If you have been looking for a quick and lighthearted read to take your mind away from the current turmoil of the world, Short Stuff contains several great options for you to escape into! If you like sweet contemporary or fantasy stories, Short Stuff might be a great pick for your next read!
Short Stuff is an anthology of four mid-length short stories focusing on queer characters! Containing two stories focusing on male identifying characters and two centered on female identifying characters, this book is full of sweet tales to delight your heart! The premise of this anthology is to present happy stories about queer characters, as so often queer narratives are focused around hardships and suffering. The stories in this book are each full of joy in their own way, from meet-cutes to first kisses, emphasizing the importance of sharing the power of hope.
You can get your copy of Short Stuff on June 9th from Interlude Press!
I really appreciated the slightly longer story length, because it felt like adequate time and page space was spent to really develop each of the characters, ensuring that the stories were extremely engaging! Of the four stories, my two favorites have to be I Ate The Whole World to Find You, by Tom Wilinsky and Jen Sternick, and Gilded Scales, by Julia Ember! I Ate The Whole World to Find You follows a young Olympian-in-training as he begins to fall for the charming chef who runs pool’s the snack bar. I absolutely *ate* this story up because of how much I loved the premise and the characters! Gilded Scales is a fantasy story, about a girl who finally gets the chance to prove herself to be a true warrior when a terrible dragon threatens her village. Little does she know, the dragon may be a cursed girl who’s just as tired of being underestimated as she is. I would definitely want to read full length books about the characters from both of these stories, because the authors did an amazing job of engaging me in their worlds!
My Recommendation-
If you have been looking for a quick and lighthearted read to take your mind away from the current turmoil of the world, Short Stuff contains several great options for you to escape into! If you like sweet contemporary or fantasy stories, Short Stuff might be a great pick for your next read!
June 28, 2020
Arc provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I am so sad it took me a while to get around to reading these short stories. I enjoyed most of them and even stayed up late reading one night because I was so invested in the stories. I ATE THE WHOLE WORLD TO FIND YOU by Tom Wilinsky & Jen Sternick and THE AUGUST SANDS by Jude Sierra were two of my favorites from this collection followed closely by LOVE IN THE TIME OF COFFEE by Kate Fierro. I Ate the Whole World to Find You was such a fun story that had a premise I couldn't help but enjoy. The August Sands felt perfect for this time of year as I read it during one of the hottest days of this month. Finally, Love in the Time of Coffee had such an interesting way of each little clip of their lives being accompanied by what coffee drink they were having at time.
Sadly, the one that left me feeling a bit disappointed was GILDED SCALES by Julia Ember. Maybe it was because I had such high hopes considering I love any story that has to do with dragons. I felt like the ending was just a bit too rushed and kept having to go back to see if my kindle had some how lost the pages. I have read a bit from this author in the past and have enjoyed what I have read so maybe that adds to the disappointment a bit too.
All in all, I really enjoyed this collection and would recommend to others to read it. Even with my disappointments it was still the perfect, light queer read for these summer days.
I am so sad it took me a while to get around to reading these short stories. I enjoyed most of them and even stayed up late reading one night because I was so invested in the stories. I ATE THE WHOLE WORLD TO FIND YOU by Tom Wilinsky & Jen Sternick and THE AUGUST SANDS by Jude Sierra were two of my favorites from this collection followed closely by LOVE IN THE TIME OF COFFEE by Kate Fierro. I Ate the Whole World to Find You was such a fun story that had a premise I couldn't help but enjoy. The August Sands felt perfect for this time of year as I read it during one of the hottest days of this month. Finally, Love in the Time of Coffee had such an interesting way of each little clip of their lives being accompanied by what coffee drink they were having at time.
Sadly, the one that left me feeling a bit disappointed was GILDED SCALES by Julia Ember. Maybe it was because I had such high hopes considering I love any story that has to do with dragons. I felt like the ending was just a bit too rushed and kept having to go back to see if my kindle had some how lost the pages. I have read a bit from this author in the past and have enjoyed what I have read so maybe that adds to the disappointment a bit too.
All in all, I really enjoyed this collection and would recommend to others to read it. Even with my disappointments it was still the perfect, light queer read for these summer days.
July 23, 2020
Short Stuff is a super cute YA Anthology edited by Alysia Constantine. It features four great LGBTQ+ meet-cute type stories and is a perfect summer read! Below are some details on the individual stories ☺️
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I Ate the Whole World to Find You by Tom Wilinsky & Jen Sternick 4.5 ⭐️
This was a super cute m/m romance about a professional swimmer training for the Olympics and an aspiring chef he works at the swim club.
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The August Sands by Jude Sierra 3.5⭐️
A cute m/m romance, set over the course of a week about a gay boy who is soon going to start college and experiences his first romance and first kiss over the summer.
.
Love in the Times of Coffee by Kate Fierro 5⭐️
This friends to lovers story is about two girls and how their relationship develops over the years.
Overall a cute f/f story, told in short scenes and I loved how the chapters were named after the coffee that they were drinking.
.
Gilded Scales by Julia Ember 5⭐️
A faced paced fantasy story about a girl who wants to be taken serious as a warrior, but on a mission starts to fall in love with a dragon shapeshifter. This was a super cute f/f romance and very easy to get into.
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I Ate the Whole World to Find You by Tom Wilinsky & Jen Sternick 4.5 ⭐️
This was a super cute m/m romance about a professional swimmer training for the Olympics and an aspiring chef he works at the swim club.
.
The August Sands by Jude Sierra 3.5⭐️
A cute m/m romance, set over the course of a week about a gay boy who is soon going to start college and experiences his first romance and first kiss over the summer.
.
Love in the Times of Coffee by Kate Fierro 5⭐️
This friends to lovers story is about two girls and how their relationship develops over the years.
Overall a cute f/f story, told in short scenes and I loved how the chapters were named after the coffee that they were drinking.
.
Gilded Scales by Julia Ember 5⭐️
A faced paced fantasy story about a girl who wants to be taken serious as a warrior, but on a mission starts to fall in love with a dragon shapeshifter. This was a super cute f/f romance and very easy to get into.
July 9, 2021
I Ate the Whole World to Find You - Sort of the old enemies to lovers trope but with gourmet food mixed in. I liked it and realize that because it was a short story that things moved a heck of lot more fast than if it were a full fledged story but I still liked it. Cute.
The August Sands - Very cute story about Summer love. I kept wanting to slap Tommy to just enjoy his time with Chase rather than have an existential crisis. Some good introspective contemplation (like those SAT words?) about new beginnings.
Love in the Time of Coffee - Surprisingly slow burn for such a short story. I felt the climax was a little too perfect but life CAN be like that. Not often, but can be.
Gilded Scales - Good concept but I felt like this was the weakest of the 4 stories. Good challenge to the patriarchy. Interesting take on the dragon and damsel in distress trope. I finished it and...that's it. I was left thinking "...and?" because it ended so suddenly.
The August Sands - Very cute story about Summer love. I kept wanting to slap Tommy to just enjoy his time with Chase rather than have an existential crisis. Some good introspective contemplation (like those SAT words?) about new beginnings.
Love in the Time of Coffee - Surprisingly slow burn for such a short story. I felt the climax was a little too perfect but life CAN be like that. Not often, but can be.
Gilded Scales - Good concept but I felt like this was the weakest of the 4 stories. Good challenge to the patriarchy. Interesting take on the dragon and damsel in distress trope. I finished it and...that's it. I was left thinking "...and?" because it ended so suddenly.
June 7, 2021
Meh, this was nothing to write home about. It was fine, as far as short stories go, and I liked that it was pride-related. Collections are hard because it can be difficult to find cohesion. I suppose the connecting factors were queer, teens, and short stories. Nothing stands out as particularly good or bad. "The August Sands" felt like it didn't go through an editing or proofreading process, as there were a number of little mistakes like using incorrect character names and gaps in continuity. The last story was pretty good. I like the fantasy aspect, and the characters were the most relatable. However, even that story didn't feel complete. It felt like the exposition to a much longer tale.
July 15, 2020
This ARC was provided for review, but in no way affects the following impartial and unbiased review:
•
3*
Pros: A collection of wholesome and cute LGBT+ love short stories. Includes the best meet-cutes. Different types of leads and narratives. Each deals with different issues, such as self-worth, doubts, fear of the unknown, and family pressure. Positive feminist notes and defies gender roles. Features mlm and wlw relationships.
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Cons: Not very representative of the wide spectrum of queer relationships. Insta-love everywhere.
•
3*
Pros: A collection of wholesome and cute LGBT+ love short stories. Includes the best meet-cutes. Different types of leads and narratives. Each deals with different issues, such as self-worth, doubts, fear of the unknown, and family pressure. Positive feminist notes and defies gender roles. Features mlm and wlw relationships.
.
Cons: Not very representative of the wide spectrum of queer relationships. Insta-love everywhere.
May 1, 2020
this book might have been the cutest thing i’ve ever read. thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of short stuff! this is a collection of four queer romance stories ranging from contemporary to fantasy, and each and every one hit me right in the heart. if you’re looking for a warm and happy romance read celebrating LGBTQ+ relationships, this one is for you. honestly i could have read even more stories in a collection like this but i’ll take what i can get 🤩
May 21, 2020
Like most Anthologies, some stories were a hit, others not so much. This one only includes 4 stories, 2 of with I liked well enough, and the other two I ended up DNFing. I would give the two I liked (I ate the whole world to Find You and Love in the Time of Coffee) 3/5, but I won't rate the other two since I didn't enjoy them enough to finish them. I could see some people loving Gilded Scales, but I'm not a fantasy fan so I couldn't get into it.
June 17, 2021
These stories were coming of age stories each one as unique as the other. Whether straight, bi, or any of the meanings of LGBTQ+ we are all human and want to be needed, wanted and loved. The path to finding that is our own and not set in stone, we all learn and make mistakes but hopefully come out okay in the end.
July 29, 2020
I Ate The Whole World to Find You by Tom Wilinsky and Jen Sternick - 5
⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭑
The August Sands by Jude Sierra - 3
⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭒ ⭒
Love in the Time of Coffee by Kate Fierro - 3
⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭒ ⭒
Gilded Scales by Julia Ember - 4.75
Stars ⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭒
AVG=3.9
⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭑
The August Sands by Jude Sierra - 3
⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭒ ⭒
Love in the Time of Coffee by Kate Fierro - 3
⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭒ ⭒
Gilded Scales by Julia Ember - 4.75
Stars ⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭒
AVG=3.9
June 23, 2020
"I Ate The Whole World" is an engaging, slice of life story. The banter between Basil and Will, will keep readers on the edge of their seats. A fun distraction, that will thrill readers!!
June 24, 2020
Sweet, fun quick summer read. LGBTQ first date stories.
April 26, 2021
I enjoyed each of the stories, but none of them really wowed me.
July 13, 2022
Genre: anthology
LGBTQ main character(s): gay and lesbian
Importance of identities to plots: 3/5
Romance: 5/5
Coming out: no
Notes: four wonderful queer romances. Loved it!
LGBTQ main character(s): gay and lesbian
Importance of identities to plots: 3/5
Romance: 5/5
Coming out: no
Notes: four wonderful queer romances. Loved it!
December 22, 2020
Cute, pretty quick reads! Short Stuff is a collection of four young adult LGBTQ+ romances (two M/M and two F/F) that I picked up on a whim, but found generally enjoyable.
The first short story, "I Ate the Whole World to Find You" by Tom Wilinsky & Jen Sternick, is M/M romance between a young swimming champion aiming for the Olympics and the aspiring chef who finds him an interesting challenge to feed. I like the meet-cute dynamic in this–it's definitely a unique set-up–and there were also some excellent descriptions of food.
"The August Sands" by Jude Sierra is about a summer fling between two teenage boys who vacation at the same lake the summer before college. I enjoyed the bittersweet vibes and the exploration of change and coming of age, but found the writing a little weak.
"Love in the Time of Coffee" by Kate Fierro explores a slow-burning F/F romance between two childhood best friends through vignettes about coffee over the years. I enjoy the friends-to-lovers trope and also liked the format.
"Gilded Scales" by Julia Ember was my favorite out of the four! It's the only one that's not contemporary, following a girl in a Viking-esque fantasy world who sets off on a quest to prove herself by saving a maiden from a dragon, only to find that things are not as they seem. It gave me slight Beowulf vibes (but sapphic!) which I enjoyed a lot and has definitely got me more interested in reading Julia Ember's other work.
Overall, a short anthology, but one I liked! I appreciated that while there were only four short stories, they all felt long enough to be fully developed.
The first short story, "I Ate the Whole World to Find You" by Tom Wilinsky & Jen Sternick, is M/M romance between a young swimming champion aiming for the Olympics and the aspiring chef who finds him an interesting challenge to feed. I like the meet-cute dynamic in this–it's definitely a unique set-up–and there were also some excellent descriptions of food.
"The August Sands" by Jude Sierra is about a summer fling between two teenage boys who vacation at the same lake the summer before college. I enjoyed the bittersweet vibes and the exploration of change and coming of age, but found the writing a little weak.
"Love in the Time of Coffee" by Kate Fierro explores a slow-burning F/F romance between two childhood best friends through vignettes about coffee over the years. I enjoy the friends-to-lovers trope and also liked the format.
"Gilded Scales" by Julia Ember was my favorite out of the four! It's the only one that's not contemporary, following a girl in a Viking-esque fantasy world who sets off on a quest to prove herself by saving a maiden from a dragon, only to find that things are not as they seem. It gave me slight Beowulf vibes (but sapphic!) which I enjoyed a lot and has definitely got me more interested in reading Julia Ember's other work.
Overall, a short anthology, but one I liked! I appreciated that while there were only four short stories, they all felt long enough to be fully developed.
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