Silk and Steel: A Queer Speculative Adventure Anthology

The Machineries of Empire #- The City Unbreachable

by Janine A. Southard (Editor), Aliette de Bodard, Alison Tam

There are many ways to be a heroine.

Princess and swordswoman, lawyer and motorcyclist, scholar and barbarian: there are many ways to be a heroine. In this anthology, seventeen authors find new ways to pair one weapon-wielding woman and one whose strengths lie in softer skills.

“Which is more powerful, the warrior or the gentlewoman?” these stories ask. And the answer is inevitably, “Both, working together!”

Herein, you’ll find duels and smugglers, dance battles and danger noodles, and even a new Swordspoint story!

From big names and bold new voices, these stories are fun, clever, and always positive about the power of love.

Contents:

“Margo Lai’s Guide To Dueling Unprepared” by Alison Tam
“Princess, Shieldmaiden, Witch and Wolf” by Neon Yang
“Elinor Jones vs. the Ruritanian Multiverse” by Freya Marske
“Plan Z” by Django Wexler
“Little Birds” by Cara Patterson
"Positively Medieval" by Kaitlyn Zivanovich
“Book and Hammer, Blade and Bone” by Ann LeBlanc
“What Finds You in the Deep” by K.A. Doore
“The Sweet Tooth of Angwar Bec” by Ellen Kushner
“Danger Noodle” by S.K. Terentiev
“Chicago Iron” by Chris Wolfgang
“In the Salt Crypts of Ghiarelle” by Jennifer Mace
“The City Unbreachable” by Yoon Ha Lee
“The Commander and the Mirage Master’s Mate” by Elaine McIonyn
“The Epic Fifth Wedding Anniversary of Zaynne The Barbarian and Tikka the Accountant ” by Elizabeth Davis
“The Parnassian Courante” by Claire Bartlett
“The Scholar of the Bamboo Flute” by Aliette de Bodard

Genres: Fantasy, Short Stories, Romance, Queer, Anthologies, Lesbian, LGBT

359 pages, Paperback

First published November 28, 2020

About the author

Janine A. Southard writes and edits speculative fiction in between working on videogame projects. She's attended more than the average number of universities, which she claims is a FEATURE not a bug. ("Oxford educated, but Californian at heart;" she's also lived and traveled in Europe, the United States, and Japan.)

Currently, she lives in Seattle with a husband and a cat. The cat pretends to care about this.

Reviews

[charlotte, · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5)

the ones i liked most were mostly shoved in at the start, so i guess it felt a little like it petered out, but still a solid anthology. * = fave

Rep: wlw mcs

*margo lai's guide for duelling unprepared by alison tam - 4☆

Rep: Chinese mc, Indonesian mc

princess, shieldmaiden, witch, and wolf by neon yang - 3☆

Rep: trans mcs
CWs: transphobia

elinor jones vs the ruritanian multiverse by freya marske - 3☆

*plan z by django wexler - 4☆

little birds by cara patterson - 3☆

Rep: Turkish cast & setting

positively medieval by kaitlyn zivanovich - 2.5☆

*book and hammer, blade and bone by ann leblanc - 3.5☆

*what finds you in the deep by k.a. doore - 4.5☆

the sweet tooth of angwar bec by ellen kushner - 3☆

danger noodle by s.k. terentiev - 3☆

chicago iron by chris wolfgang - 3☆

in the salt crypts of ghiarelle by jennifer mace - 2☆

*the city unbreachable by yoon ha lee - 4☆

Rep: nonbinary side characters

the commander and the mirage master's mate by elaine mcionyn - 2☆

the epic fifth wedding anniversary of zaynne the barbarian and tikka the accountant by elizabeth davis - 1.5☆

the parnassian courante by claire eliza bartlett - 2☆

CWs: lesbophobia

*the scholar of the bamboo flute by aliette de bodard - 4☆

Rep: Vietnamese characters

[Jassmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had this on my list of books I want to get to this year (which I'm not very good at sticking to) and I'm so glad I got to this, because this collection was excellent! As with all anthologies and collections there were weaker and stronger pieces, but there wasn't a story that I would be bored of while reading or that I would actively disliked. The mix was also pretty diverse, so I thought that was amazing (both in relationship dynamics and in characters identities). I could use more trans characters in the collection (we only have two trans characters in one short-story), but from the racial/ethnical perspective I thought this collection done a pretty great job and we get one character on a (sci-fi variant of) wheelchair. And you know... troll lawyer, I think that one is my favourite.
This collection also helped me to realise that I really wasn't so much into the guardian & protected/princess romance. I don't even think it's because of the ethical issues, I just... don't care for the dynamic much. I much more enjoyed the fugitive princess & the criminal scoundrel who seduced her dynamics and two clueless best friends dynamics and I actually think that I like the ones where they are already together the best.
Overall, this is a great collection that I would definitely recommend if you like SFF romance (no smut). I really loved it and my tbr exploded because of it... well, I guess, I'll have to live with that somehow...

Margo Lai’s Guide To Dueling Unprepared by 🌈Alison Tam 5⭐
This anthology is starting really strong! I loved this, I thought it was hilarious and very tongue-in-cheek. I especially loved how this one subverted the femme/buch stereotypes, especially the ones associated with race. Loved this! Alison Tam is an author I will be on the lookout for 😁

Margo put her head in her hands, hunched over in absolute misery and despair. Pippa braced protectively over her and began to rub her back a little, which only further cemented Margo's determination to never cheer up.

Princess, Shieldmaiden, Witch and Wolf by 🌈Neon Yang 3,7⭐
After finishing the first two books in Yang's Tensorate series, I had higher expectations for their short-story. It was still nice however to follow not one, but two trans protagonists through the story, with well-handled class dynamics between them.

They thought to train us for war as men, but they were really training us to live in the world as women.

Elinor Jones vs. the Ruritanian Multiverse by 🌈Freya Marske 4,5⭐
The epistolary format caught me unawares, and made me think I wouldn't like this one much. But... yeah, it absolutely grew on me and the reason for the format was actually great one, so I'll forgive it. The sapphic lusting in this one was 👌🏽

“Dominica,” I said, because we were alone. “Do you know...”
She stared at me as if I were another gilded saucer, and I heroically managed not to whimper please step on me.

Plan Z by Django Wexler 3,2⭐
This kind of read like Princess Leia & fem!Han Solo fanfic in the best way! I really liked the relationship dynamics in this one and the ending was quite narratively satisfying, but overall, it felt like there was something missing. You know... as if you made a soup but forgot to add salt. Not bad though and most importantly the dress had pockets!

She knows she's in trouble. I can tell by the way she's suddenly making shiny megakitten eyes at me, like she can get me to ignore what just happened by being unutterably adorable. It's a delicate moment for our relationship, and definitely requires a touch of diplomacy. Fortunately, diplomacy is my specialty. "Fuck you," I tell her, "and fuck your Plan Z."

Little Birds by Cara Patterson 3,8⭐
The setting of this one was fun, even though some bits felt a bit too convenient for my taste. I also wouldn't mind a bit prolonged ending to actually see the HEA

"It seems fragile," the golden-haired woman said. "Are you not afraid?"
Aiyla almost lied - as she usually did - but the woman looked at her with such grave interest in her green eyes. "Every time," she admitted.

Positively Medieval by Kaitlyn Zivanovich 4,5⭐
This was delightful and funky. We follow aspiring troll lawyer in her first time in human city. Thankfully she has her lady knight at her side... or does she? The ending felt lacking and some bits were... questionable, but overall quite good! Kaitlyn Zivanovich is another author worth looking out for in my opinion!

She saw Humans pushing luggage trolleys, drinking decorative coffees, and consoling their jet-lagged children. Not a pitchfork in sight. Humans, it seemed were entirely modern and civilized. Mother was wrong. A delightful thought.

Book and Hammer, Blade and Bone by 🌈Ann Leblanc 3⭐
This one was a bit meh for me. It just... didn't quite work out. I don't think there is anything particularly wrong with the story, just... not for me 🤷🏽‍♀️

I awaken in pain, knowing I am in the wrong underworld.

What Finds You in the Deep by 🌈K.A. Doore 4⭐
I had a bit of trouble of getting into this one, but it very well might have been by outer influences and not the story's fault. I think this one would do well as a novella, there is a lot of worldbuilding in the background that could use some more attention, especially since it seems to be already developed. The delightful detail about this story is that it's all a romantic set-up! 🤭

...to rekindle the spark of what they'd had, once, to see if they could be more than occasional lovers. Lammeët loved danger and Kuolma loved Lammeët. This cave was what they both needed.

The Sweet Tooth of Angwar Bec by 🌈Ellen Kushner 3⭐
This was a nice short-story, but I have ideological trouble with one of the plot points the man in dress accusation. I'm not sure what was the author's intent with the bit, maybe there's some social commentary that I missed, but as I see it, it wasn't really well handled.

The first thing she noticed after she'd passed through the high, iron gates of Tremontaine House, spiked with gilded, wrought-iron flowers, was the cakes: tables of pastries, beautifully arranged on platters everywhere you looked. The nobles were ignoring them in favor of flirtation, conversation, and alcohol. What was wrong with these people?

Danger Noodle by 🌈S.K. Terentiev 4,3⭐
I'm absolutely here for the nerdy sapphic couple! This was nice, even though it took a little time before it got going and it seemed that it really could use some more editing in places. That said, this was really funny and enjoyable.

"This is the last critter we're bringing home for a while." Thunking the face masks down on my work table, I rummaged in a cabinet for air tanks. "Also, new house rule. If it's scaly and more than moderately poisonous, venomous, whatever, it has to stay off the furniture."

Chicago Iron by Chris Wolfgang 3,2⭐
This felt more like a beginning to novella or novel than short-story. I'm intrigued, I want to know what happens next! What about the brother? Is he beyond saving? Will they try to dismantle the clique that's behind it? Most importantly, what about the cook? Is he dead? Why would he so vehemently try to stop her? I would also like to get to know more about the world, so the story would feel more anchored. The setting of this one felt quite different from the others which is why I liked it, but... could have done better!

"Honey, you need to be less obvious. Look at me. And I hate to say this, but... smile?"
Clara shot her an arch look.

In the Salt Crypts of Ghiarelle by 🌈Jennifer Mace 4,2⭐
This one was properly creepy and the worldbuilding felt really exciting! Once more, this was more of a setting of scene for a longer story than a short-story. I want to know what happens next!

It's a voice used to unquestioning obedience; if she resents past indignities at Élan's hands, the feeling has been buried in impeccable etiquette. So Élan sings.

The City Unbreachable by 🌈Yoon Ha Lee 4,5⭐
Once more this felt like a beginning of a novel, what's wrong with those people?! This is my fist Yoon Ha Lee and I'm excited! The rich beautiful language absolutely enchanted me. Especially the clothing descriptions! This one also has disabled MC.

The dress's rich magenta, in honor of their House flower, pleased Anjen, and its white-and-gold embroidery was in the pattern known as fractal cunning. In better times she would have worn a coronet of azaleas, of silk if not the flesh of flowers, but the House no longer owned the former, and no one grew azaleas anymore in the City's treasured gardens. (...) Her keen eyes had spotted a frayed thread near the collar, but she owned a scarf of blushing silk and pale quantum lace that would cover the blemish.

The Commander and the Mirage Master's Mate by Elaine McIonyn 5⭐
Lesbians on ship! Alert! Lesbians on ship! I really liked this one, the worldbuilding was super intriguing and I wouldn't mind to read a whole novel set in this universe. I guess this short-story just really clicked with me...

Commander Sora Larking stood tall in her blue uniform jacket on the Hardweather's quarterdeck. Her cocked hat was tucked under her arm, and the wind tousled her short sweep of dark hair.

The Epic Fifth Wedding Anniversary of Zaynne the Barbarian and Tikka the Accountant by Elizabeth Davis 3,3⭐
This was quirky and funny and ultimately not for me. I thought it was pretty obvious where some of the things were going (though there was multiple possible scenarios). That said I kind of enjoyed the last stretch of the story and it made me laugh multiple times.
Content warning: this story contains a discussion of taxes! Readers' discretion is advised 🤭 Taxes have to be paid even if you are the evil wizard!

"Your infuriating and labyrinthine sssystem ssserves a kingdom I owe naught!"
"Actually, you used the kingdom's highways during your zombie invasion, you use the services of the kingdom's coast guard to keep this island safe from pirates and marauders, and the kingdom's mail service comes out every week - which you used to send in your faulty tax filing."

Parnassian Courante by Claire Bartlett 5⭐
I think this one just might be my favourite of the lot. I loved loved loved this! It was a bit predictable, but it was also highly satisfying how all of the pieces snapped together. This story contains: fan language, butch martial-arts obsessed princess, femme ice-giantess scholar, class awareness, heroine with missing fingers (guess which one it is!), fans that are really weapons, inteligent protagonist that can use the rules to her benefit, lot of fighting and dancing to first blood. I'm definitely reading The Winter Duke soon!

"Ladies used to put bronze edges on their fans, you know? As a defense against anyone who got too intimate."
(...)
"You don't have a fan."
"Do I need one?" Astrid said.
Nik smiled. "That entirely depends on your definition of too intimate."

The Scholar of the Bamboo Flute by Aliette de Bodard 3,8⭐
This was my first Aliette de Bodard and I'm really glad that right after this, I'm BRing a collection of her storied. The worldbuilding in this collection was amazing and intriguing and bittersweet. But sadly the story overall didn't entirely worked for me. It felt a bit messy, some bits felt redundant sexual violence is mentioned while not being really meaningful to the plot and isn't really addressed so much and some things could have been delved deeper into. Overall, this one was a bit disappointing because it definitely could have done better, but also... it was good, I'm just picky.

BRed at WBtM: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Netanella · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this one much more than I did. Perhaps I was a bit disappointed that some of my fav authors, including Yoon Ha Lee and Aliette de Bodard, did not thrill me with their offerings. Ultimately this turned into a typical spec anthology, a mixed bag with some stellar pieces and some duds.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This anthology featured Sapphic relationships and a lot of...dueling? Really, there were at least three stories where dueling of some sort played a crucial role in the plot.

That actually ties into one of my problems with this anthology, and that's the feeling that so many of these stories sounded alike.

As always with my anthology reviews, here are my thoughts on the individual stories:

#1: “Margo Lai’s Guide To Dueling Unprepared” by Alison Tam.
Rep: BIPOC protagonist and love interest, wlw.

A fun and slightly fluffy little friends-to-lovers romance. Was it my favorite thing ever? Eh...Not really, but for what it was it had merit. I did rather like the two main characters. Rating: 3.5 stars.

#2: “Princess, Shieldmaiden, Witch and Wolf” by Neon Yang.
Rep: trans protagonist and love interest, wlw.
CW: transphobia.

The lush writing and whimsy tone made this story such a pleasure to read. I am convinced that Neon Yang is at their storytelling best when writing short stories. Rating: 4 stars.

#3: “Elinor Jones vs. the Ruritanian Multiverse” by Freya Marske.
Rep: wlw.

Um, I think a lot of this story was lost on me. I have no idea what fictional world this is based on, so I probably missed a lot of the charm, maybe? It was fun, in a chaotic, wacky way, which is not really my thing either. It did have some cool moments. All in all...meh. Rating 3 stars.

#4: “Plan Z” by Django Wexler.
Rep: wlw.
CW: minor violence.

Fun in a slightly cheesy sci-fi action movie kind of way—complete with alien lizard people. Honestly, not really my thing, but it wasn't bad. Rating 3.5. stars

“Little Birds” by Cara Patterson.
Rep: Older woman of color protagonist, wlw.

A lovely, historical tale with an intriguing aerial-combat twist that ends on a note of enduring hope. Some of the writing was a little purple (especially when descriptions of the love interest were involved), but all in all, it was a pretty good story. Rating: 4 stars.

#6: "Positively Medieval" by Kaitlyn Zivanovich.
Rep: wlw.
CW: bullying, minor violence.

An interesting soup of ideas that ultimately, to me, didn't quite blend well. Everything was in extremes and, while this was a fairly fun and entertaining read, I am left unsure and unimpressed by the themes(?). Did like the characters. Rating: 3 stars.

#7: “Book and Hammer, Blade and Bone” by Ann LeBlanc.
Rep: wlw.
CW: minor violence, fire/arson.

This story fell flat for me on several levels. Some of the worldbuilding logic seemed off and the romance felt rushed and just had a bad vibe to it, in general. All in all, I wasn't a fan. Rating: 2 stars.

#8: “What Finds You in the Deep” by K.A. Doore.
Rep: wlw.
CW: violence, murderous zombie chicken....

Pointless story that read like an excerpt from a novel, only with all the things that make novels great taken out (knowing the characters, having a better idea of the worldbuilding, etc), and the...not-so-great writing made me want to pull out my editor/critique pen numerous times. And what was the point even of this whole story? The MC brings her love interest into a monster-infested cave just so she can propose marriage? Um...okay. For that to work as a good story, I need to actually care if these characters end up together or not. I didn't. They sounded the same and had no distinctive personality between the two of them. Also, why was the guarded much better at combat than her guard? That and so many other little slips of logic just either frustrated me or made me roll my eyes. A lot of the latter. Rating: 1 star.

#9: “The Sweet Tooth of Angwar Bec” by Ellen Kushner.
Rep: wlw protagonist and love interest, POC protagonist.
CW: very problematic language used that could be taken as transphobic (not sure how to classify this exactly, but it was offensive overall, even though the character herself wasn't trans).

This story had a lot of problems. First, there was the extremely offensive “Man dressed as a woman” directed at a cis woman in order to “goad” her into a duel. That was even the nicer of the two explicit examples used in this story.

Aside from that, this “story” was also not a story, but a duel....and that's it. Oh, well it had an ending, but...well, it had problems, too. Here's a sample from the last scene:

"Katherine fed her cake after sweet cake. Bec ever after associated the taste of anise with the taste of Katherine's skin, the chocolate crushed in her fragrant armpit, the raspberry dipped in her navel.”

Chocolate armpit. I'm dead. -_-

Anyway...offensive, story-less, and weird descriptions...did I mention that this story is set in the author's series, so, much of the worldbuilding and characters were lost on me? Like, I'm sure if someone knew and loved this world and these characters already, this might be a fine little interlude (aside from the problematic aspect), but I just didn't get anything positive out of it. So....Rating 1 star.

#10:“Danger Noodle” by S.K. Terentiev.
Rep: wlw.
CW: stupidity...none, I suppose.

Another flop. I just was not a fan of the humor, which extended to the characters and the story. It was yet another silly romp and I just didn't care. The humor was way too forced and just wasn't enjoyable. Sorry. Rating: 1 star.

#11: “Chicago Iron” by Chris Wolfgang.
Rep: wlw, Black love interest.
CW: some mild violence.

This was a roaring twenties (or somewhere around that time) Sapphic, paranormal, mystery(ish) story I didn't know I needed until now. Loved the two leads: Jean and Clara. Their banter was such fun and they had wonderful chemistry. Honestly, I would love for this story to be extended into a full-length book or even a series, because that's kind of where my main gripes are. There was just so much big-picture stuff that wasn't resolved! Rating: 4 stars.

#12: “In the Salt Crypts of Ghiarelle” by Jennifer Mace.
Rep: wlw, POC love interest.
CW: gore, violence.

*Yawn.* I was not interested in this story or characters in the slightest. It was very confusing and I didn't care enough to go back and try to make sense of it. This did have some disturbing...magic? Monsters? Whatever it was, it was terrifying. Rating: 2 stars.

#13: “The City Unbreachable” by Yoon Ha Lee.
Rep: wlw, disabled love interest, non-binary side character.
CW: mild violence.

Very interesting worldbuilding, however, I feel it focused a little too much on that aspect than anything else. As a result, I wasn't very engaged with the characters or story because I don't think they got quite enough focus. Rating: 3 stars.

#14: “The Commander and the Mirage Master’s Mate” by Elaine McIonyn.
Rep: wlw.
CW: minor violence.

This story felt like a chapter out of a novel, and was yet another that I just didn't have very strong feelings during the whole time I was reading it. Not bad, but just not very good either. Rating: 2.5 stars.

#15: “The Epic Fifth Wedding Anniversary of Zaynne The Barbarian and Tikka the Accountant ” by Elizabeth Davis.
Rep: wlw.
CW: stupidity...okay, none really.

As to be expected, I suppose, this “funny” story was not my preferred brand of humor. Didn't care about the story, honestly. Rating: 2 stars.

#16: “The Parnassian Courante” by Claire Bartlett.
Rep: wlw, disabled MC, possibly trans love interest.
CW: mild violence (dueling).

Oh, this one was good! I can genuinely say I enjoyed this story. It was inspired, I guess you'd say, by Norse mythology...though it really was basically a Norse myth, or set in that version of the world. I'm not sure how to describe that aspect, but it was done very well. I also loved the characters. Just all in all, this was a delightful story. Rating: 4.5 stars.

#17: “The Scholar of the Bamboo Flute” by Aliette de Bodard.
Rep: wlw, Vietnamese characters.
CW: mildly violent imagery.

A Vietnamese fantasy story that was lush with beautiful language and details. It was a little slow at the start, and confusing in places, but once I got used to the more metaphorical plot-elements, I was hooked. This really was a lovely way to end this anthology. Rating: 4 stars.

3 stars for the anthology as a whole.

[X · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exactly what I was looking for from a short-attention-span perspective - I read these short stories in between watching Love Island Australia. (Allegedly this season is great, although I’m not convinced yet.)

These stories are all very similar in terms of trope, but for the most part there was enough variety that I didn’t get bored. The best imo were the ones by Freya Marske (indeed better in her short fiction!), Chris Wolfgang (more people should write Prohibition era stuff!), Neon Yang (also better in short fiction, is the vibe I’m getting), and Cara Patterson (idk this one didn’t reinvent the wheel but maybe bc I visited Topkapi Palace this summer, I was really feeling the vibes).

The stories in the order I read them (and in no way the order they are in the book lol):

Elinor Jones v. the Ruritanian Multiverse by Freya Marske - phenomenal, fantastic, an excellent short story and an excellent take on Ruritania. Just the right blend of genres!

In the Salt Crypts of Ghiarelle by Jennifer Mace - very good, a little bit overstuffed on the worldbuilding front but in the way where you know this could have been just as good if it were longer.

Positively Medieval by Kaitlyn Zivanovich - my hot take description of this short story is… Dawn of the dead meets Legends & Lattes! It was fine, tonally kind of a lot going on and imo the stocks thing was too dark for the rest of it… and then the end revealed this author has no idea where in DC Georgetown Law is located. She literally could have Google Maps-ed it! But (ironically given the map stuff in this story!) she did not.

Princess, Shieldmaiden, Witch, and Wolf by Neon Yang - Aww, very sweet! I wasn’t totally convinced by the very end, but it was all very cute, and I would love to read more prince/bodyguard-but-they’re-both-transfemme-actually if it’s out there.

What Finds You In the Deep by KA Doore - something about the way this was written made it impossible for me to even tell what was going on. DNF on like page 2.

The Scholar of the Bamboo Flute by Aliette de Bodard - DNF halfway through. Idk this author’s stuff tends to leave me kind of unenthused, and this was no exception.

The City Unbreachable by Yoon Ha Lee - great, SF set in the same world as the Ninefox Gambit books which I loved. There are a couple plot points in the last page or two that are implausible - I think a few of these authors had difficulty coming up with resolutions to their stories that fit the brief given the length limit. It seems like the tendency is to err on the side of the implausible HEA - fine although not my personal preference.

Plan Z by Django Wexler - DNF pretty quickly. From the POV of the uptight girlfriend, which, if that’s the vibe, for me personally they better be having sex or something real fast bc I’m not going to sit through that much nagging-vs-responsibility-avoiding with no upside in sight… and spoiler alert, they did not.

Margo Lai’s Guide to Dueling Unprepared by Alison Tam - DNF. Objectively good/funny, I just didn’t find anything unique enough to keep reading when this is a book full of one particular trope. I would try something else by this author though.

The Sweet Tooth of Angwar Bec by Ellen Kushner - cute!

Chicago Iron by Chris Wolfgang - great! The Prohibition-era setting was a very fun break from the medieval settings a lot of these stories have had.

Danger Noodle by SK Terentiev - DNFed pretty quickly. Enh, just not my thing.

The Parnassian Courante by Claire Bartlett - cute, fun. The twist was right there and I was still surprised haha, very satisfying.

The Commander and the Mirage-Master’s Mate by Elaine McIonyn - enh so DNF, but I would try something else by this author since my “enh” is at least 50% the fact that this short story is the same trope as all the other ones in this book so it’s getting a bit boring.

The Epic Wedding Anniversary of Zaynne the Barbarian and Tikka the Accountant by Elizabeth Davies - DNF almost immediately. I know from the title this wouldn’t be my thing and the first two paragraphs did nothing to change my mind.

Book and Hammer, Blade and Bone by Ann LeBlanc - I really like the necromancer/afterlife concept but the librarian thing just isn’t working for me, it’s too far removed from everything else in the story. DNF.

Little Birds by Cara Patterson - awww!! This was great.

[Grapie Deltaco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sapphic love in magical forests. Sapphic love on spaceships with intergalactic royalty. Sapphic love in the after life.

This anthology was such a good time!

My top three favorite stories from the collection (in no particular order) are:

1. Book and Hammer, Blade and Bone by Ann LeBlanc
2. The Epic Fifth Wedding Anniversary of Zaynne the Barbarian and Tikka the Accountant by Elizabeth Davis
3. Princess, Shieldmaiden, Witch and Wolf by Neon Yang

I will say, though, that some of these stories are carrying the collection as a whole. One of the bizarre standouts (and I mean that negatively) was The Sweet Tooth of Angwar Bec by Ellen Kushner. The whole story was pretty blah with a weird cross-dressing antagonist that felt…odd to say the least and a bit uncomfortable. The final lines sensually describing a chocolate armpit may haunt me for the rest of my days as well.

I think, overall, this collection is an excellent sci-fi/fantasy read with lots of fighting, dueling, and happily ever afters.

CW: death, murder, violence, brief transphobia and misgendering (one story), brief moments of homophobia, brief references to colonization

[Heather Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise for this kickstarter-based anthology was so solidly in my sweet spot that I not only backed the kickstarter immediately, but I was inspired to write a story to submit for it. (Alas, they didn’t take my story, but perhaps it will see the light of day at some point.) The basic premise, inspired by a piece of art, was “two women, one with weapon skills, one with more social/courtly skills, plunge into adventure and romance.” The settings range from classical fantasy worlds to space pirates, with a wide range of character types, story flavors, and interpretations of that premise. The variety is such that I’d predict if the basic concept attracts you, there will be at least one story that’s perfectly on target for you, and more that are thoroughly enjoyable. Some of my favorites were: Freya Marske’s “Elinor Jones vs. the Ruritanian Multiverse” for its delightful self-conscious poking fun at tropes and the process of storytelling; the delightfully bittersweet worldbuilding of Cara Patterson’s “Little Birds”; the comic romp that is Elizabeth Davis’s “The Epic Fifth Wedding Anniversary of Zayne the Barbarian and Tikka the Accountant”; and the twisty emotional tightrope of Aliette de Bodard’s “The Scholar of the Bamboo Flute.” The only story that didn’t really work for me and felt ill-suited to the theme was Elaine McIonyn’s “The Commander and the Mirage Master’s Mate” whose characters simply felt incompetent in their setting and which spent far too much attention to the technical details of the martial magic and not enough developing the plot.

[Riley Neither · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection is exactly what it promises to be: fun sapphic SFF. There's enough variety in the character dynamics and other story elements to keep things interesting, though if (like me) you're not usually much of a romance reader, you may be better off spacing the stories out over a few months than trying to read the whole collection back-to-back. There were a couple of stories that didn't work so well for me, but also several that I really enjoyed.

I was pleasantly surprised to find trans rep in one story (Yang's Princess, Shieldmaiden, Witch, and Wolf), but I'll also warn trans readers that another story (Kushner's The Sweet Tooth of Angwar Bec) has some uncomfortable gender essentialism.

[Brianna Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nonstop sapphic and speculative goodness! This was a delight.

A shout-out to my three favorite stories:

- "Margo Lai's Guide to Dueling Unprepared" (quite fun and shippable, loved the dynamics between the two characters)

- "Plan Z" (I'd love a whole book based off these characters and this setting!)

- "The Parnassian Courante" (a dash of Norse mythology and such a sweet and clever take on the theme)

I read this with my Sapphic SF&F Book Club here on Goodreads, which made it even more fun. On that note, if you want to join my book club, just ask! 😊 We have a steadily growing community and we read f/f sci-fi and fantasy every month. 😁

[Entazis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Silk & Steel is a truly exceptional anthology about sapphic relationships and characters that I enjoyed immensely from start to finish.

Not all stories were my type, and there are those that I liked more than others but, generally speaking, I don't think there was a story I found badly written or just bad.

There are a lot of sapphic fantasy and scifi subversions of the princess/bodyguard trope, but also a lot of stories that took this idea of a pairing with a "fighter" and "lady" types and just gave us something new and unexpected.

I would like to point out some of my favorites (these are the stories that stayed most with me after reading them, a best of the best, because there truly were a lot of great stories that I liked):

Elinor Jones vs. The Ruritanian Multiverse by Freya Marske - a parallel universe story with a woman from our world switching with the princess dopplegänger from the fantasy world. A tourist trip gone wrong that made me laugh out loud.

Little Birds by Cara Patterson, a story set in an alternate Ottoman Empire - heartbreakingly sad and melancholic with hopeful ending. I read it with my breath caught in my chest, could feel the way the characters are caged, broken and still dreaming of free skies.

Positively Medieval by Kaitlyn Zivanovich - contempotary urban fantasy with a Troll law student as the lady and a bike courier as the knight. Such a fun and funny story, I screamed with laughter and enjoyed the way the author played with fantasy tropes. Also, the pandemic setting is just appropriate for these times.

Danger Noodle by S. K. Terentiev - another contemporary urban fantasy with married insurance investigators in a world where magical beings are known to us and a part of our everyday world. What I would give for this to be a part of urban fantasy novel series. So, so good.

The Scholar of the Bamboo Flute by Aliette de Bodard - If you read de Bodard, you'll now what to expect. It's so heartwrenching and it talks about abusive relationships. Beautifully written and bittersweet. About a young scholar who wants to prove herself and become advisor to the emperors and who duels not with swords but with the music of her emotions.

[Kazen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as part of the Shorts and Sorcery Book Club, run by Reija the Book Finch on Booktube, and it was great comparing notes as we worked our way through the collection. I'm new to SFF short stories, and where better to cut my teeth than queer, sapphic adventures in fantastic lands?

The anthology averages out to a three - some dealt in tropes I have no patience for (the logical one vs the chaotic one, for example), but others were just the thing. Standout stories for me include Elinor Jones vs. the Ruritanian Multiverse and Little Birds. Looking forward to reading more anthologies and collections with the club!

[katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favs were Princess Shieldmaiden Witch and Wolf, Plan Z, and the Parnassian Courante. Probably more that I liked but I can't remember lol

I think I felt a bit of a lull in the middle but all the stories were really fun. Short stories aren't usually my thing bc I like a ridiculous amount of world building. Still, the whole thing was really easy to get through and a nice mental break from academic readings!

PS Forgot to mention that reading in the Nook app, there were some character names that had boxes for special characters that were a little annoying so :/ it's the app's fault not the authors' but just so other potential readers know!

[Peyton · Rating 2 out of 5]

What I really want is to stop wanting her.

DNF at 50%. Silk and Steel is an anthology of fantasy and science fiction short stories centered around romantic relationships between a princess and a female bodyguard/knight (or adjacent character types). I was drawn to Silk and Steel by the gorgeous cover. I was looking for something lighthearted and fluffy to read because I am in a bit of a reading slump. The quality and writing styles of these stories weren’t quite what I expected. A couple of the stories in this collection make no sense at all due to a lack of exposition. There were a few intriguing storylines, and I may check out some of these authors in the future, but I don’t feel compelled enough to finish this anthology.

[Mere Rain]

Really fun collection of adventurous fantasy stories in a variety of settings.

[Jena · Rating 3 out of 5]

You guessed it: another 3-star anthology.

Margo Lai's Guide to Dueling Unprepared - 3.5/5
This was probably the best story to start this collection since it set the tone and expectation that this was going to be mostly fluffy, rompy stories with some humor and flirting. I'm not a huge fan of the childhood friends-to-lovers trope so that was my only gripe.

Princess, Shieldmaiden, Witch, and Wolf - 3/5
This one was perfectly fine for me. Story itself was a pretty straightforward fairytale but with the complexity of both characters being trans - until an ending that confused me.

Elinor Jones vs. the Ruritanian Multiverse -5/5
One of my favorites of the whole collection. A snarky take on multiverse travel, and a romance that felt like it bloomed naturally among chaos.

Plan Z -5/5
Another favorite, this story felt like it was designed specifically for me because it was so many tropes I just love and a fast-paced action setting. The relationship/ship dynamic of this pair was also by far my favorite of the collection - chaotic idiot thief and their much put-apon "responsible" ex-princess partner....YES YES YES. I would love a whole novel of these two.

Little Birds - 4/5
A beautifully-written, mostly bittersweet story of a forbidden relationship that gets a happy ending.

Positively Medieval - 1/5
Quite possibly my least favorite of the entire collection. Humor didn't work for me at all and it was way too on-the-nose with commentary about our current world goings-on.

Book and Hammer, Blade and Bone - 2/5
I absolutely loved the setting of this (undead library? yes please) but the choices the main character made didn't check out (library pun, I'm sooo clever) and the romance overall had some weird colonizer/colonized undertones.

What Finds You in the Deep - 1/5
Boring as hell. That's all I've got.

The Sweet Tooth of Angwar Bec - 1.5/5
The .5 is given because this is one of the only stories that actually has our love interests duelling - I was honestly expecting a lot more of that. Where is the inherent sexual tension of the sapphic sword duel?

However, this story also had a really tasteless "man in a dress" jab/"joke" that felt meanspirited given that this is supposed to overall be a fluffy, affirming sapphic anthology.

Danger Noodle -4/5
If this author isn't a massive Buffy and X-Files fan, I'll eat my own foot. It did feel like watching a random episode of a TV show where I haven't seen the rest of it. But I enjoyed the humor and the romp.

Chicago Iron - 1/5
Meh.

In the Salt Crypts of Ghiarelle - 1/5
Meh. Meh.

The City Unbreachable - 5/5
LOVED the worldbuilding of this one, super cool. It did feel like being thrown into the middle of a novel, but I enjoyed it regardless.

The Commander and the Mirage Master's Mate - 3/5
This one was just fine for me. It did feel like reading one chapter out of a full novel, though.

The Epic Fifth Wedding Anniversary of Zaynne the Barbarian and Tikka the Accountant - 4/5
CUTE. I enjoyed the humor of this one, but it's probably hit or miss.

The Parnassian Courante - 5/5
I LOVED this one, the vibes were immaculate. A nice mix of angst and playful flirting.

The Scholar of the Bamboo Flute - 5/5
Another one I really, really enjoyed. Angsty, beautiful, and lyrical. Magic system was incredibly interesting as well.

[Starless One · Rating 3 out of 5]

This anthology contains seventeen stories featuring sapphic relationships in speculative fiction. I loved how diverse it was, both in terms of characters and genre. I have also probably never read a work with so many female characters, which just goes to show that the world needs more Lesbian fiction.

Sadly, most of the stories failed to leave a lasting impression on me. For some, the concept didn’t really work in short fiction (unexplained worldbuilding or a lack of narrative arc were a frequent issue), others just didn’t appeal to me personally because I felt no connection to the characters or the humour wasn’t my cup of tea.

I won’t review all seventeen stories, just the ones I particularly enjoyed:

Elinor Jones vs. the Ruritanian Multiverse (Freya Marske)
A young woman buys a trip to a parallel universe to pose as the princess of Ruritania only to get caught up in court intrigue. I liked the nods to Anthony Hope’s Prisoner of Zenda as well as the dynamic between the two leads. Also, shout-out to Freya Marske for writing the only epistolary story in this collection. Sadly, the ending fell a bit flat for me, but otherwise, an enjoyable story.

Chicago Iron (Chris Wolfgang)
Possibly my favourite in this collection. I loved the setting in prohibition-era Chicago, and the plot was well-structured, with a sense of suspense that most other stories sadly lacked. It was also one of the few entries with strong chemistry between the couple. The two leads were well-written individuals with interesting personalities and believable struggles. I wouldn’t mind reading an entire novel about them.

The Parnassian Courante (Claire Bartlett)
This one was inspired by Norse mythology, which is always a plus. I loved that the protagonist was a student of the humanities and actually used her knowledge to solve the main conflict. Said conflict was very believable, you could tell that the author had really thought it through and took the time to make clear why the poor scholar couldn’t just run away with the princess. Overall, a really solid entry.

The Scholar of the Bamboo Flute (Aliette de Bodard)
This one stood out to me as the story that possibly used the short story format best. (It’s also the longest story, so that probably helped.) While other entries felt a bit like a slice out of a longer novel, this one was well-crafted and self-contained. The worldbuilding was good, using an alternative Vietnam as the setting for an intriguing take on abusive relationships and the dangers of ambition. Sadly, the chemistry between the two leads didn’t really translate.

Overall, an enjoyable anthology with some really good entries, few bad ones and a lot that were neither.

3/5

[Cynthia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am always a bad audience for anthologies. Short stories are always lacking because of how little time they have for nuance. But also, let's be real, so many short stories are bad because the authors are not here to create anything but "fun tropes". This anthology is exactly that. I don't understand how an author can write characters that fully oppose, by their very existence, patriarchal societies and yet normalize a partiarchal(-like) society – let alone so many authors.

- Margo Lai’s Guide to Dueling Unprepared by Alison Tam 1
- Princess, Shieldmaiden, Witch, and Wolf by Neon Yang 1
- Elinor Jones vs. the Ruritanian Multiverse by Freya Marske 2:
Very unrealistic about how the world functions in general and leaning too hard on Tumblr-quirk and cheese but not the worst values-wise and kinda fun compared to the first two
- Plan Z by Django Wexler 1.5
- Little Birds by Cara Patterson 2:
Felt vaguely racist overall in that way that white people don’t even realize they’re essentializing non-white cultures and felt cliché misogynistic “damsel (sex worker) in distress saved by brave stoic soldier” but overall easy to read and at times not entirely unpleasant
- Positively Medieval by Kaitlyn Zivanovich 1
- Book and Hammer, Blade and Bone by Ann LeBlanc 1.5
- What Finds You in the Deep by K.A. Moore 1
- The Sweet Tooth of Angwar Bec by Ellen Kushner 1.5
- Danger Noodle by S.K. Terentiev 1
- Chicago Iron by Chris Wolfgang 1
- In the Salt Crypts of Ghiarelle by Jennifer Mace 1.5
- The City Unbreachable by Yoon Ha Lee 1
- The Commander and the Mirage Master’s Mate by Elaine McIonyn 1
- The Epic Fifth Wedding Anniversary of Zaynne the Barbarian and Tikka the Accountant by Elizabeth Davis 0 (not a typo)
- The Parnassian Courante by Claire Bartlett 1.5
- The Scholar of the Bamboo Flute by Aliette de Bodard 3:
Really the only one worth reading for me. As usual with this author, I appreciate the cultural aspects, especially as they lend a bit more nuance than I'm used to from Western writing. And not the first time with this author, I am unhappy with the age gap. This also read like a retelling of Revolutionary Princess Utena.

Total average = 1.3

[Sadie Slater · Rating 4 out of 5]

Silk and Steel, edited by Janine A. Southard, is an anthology of f/f SFF stories with a focus on pairings between swordswomen (or other warriors) and princesses (or other high femme characters). It was funded by a Kickstarter, which I backed because it sounded very much like my sort of thing, and the authors to be featured included Ellen Kushner and Yoon Ha Lee, both of whom I like very much.

Like all anthologies, I liked some of the stories much more than others, but of the seventeen stories in this anthology, there were only two that I really didn't like, and a couple of others that I thought were just OK. I liked Kushner's 'The Sweet Tooth of Angwar Bec', set in her Riverside universe and taking place shortly after The Privilege of the Sword, and Lee's standalone hexarchate story 'The City Unbreachable' very much indeed. Other favourites included Aliette de Bodard's 'The Scholar of the Bamboo Flute', which is apparently a Vietnamese take on Revolutionary Girl Utena - I'm not familiar with Utena but enjoyed the story nonetheless thought it felt like a #MeToo story and a critique of academic preferment, as well as an engaging fantasy romance; Freya Marske's parallel-universe Ruritanian caper; Kaitlyn Zivanovich's 'Positively Medieval', a cyberpunky romance between a pacifist Troll scholar and a motorcycle courier; Alison Tam's 'Margo Lai's Guide To Duelling Unprepared', a wuxia-type story featuring best friends who can't quite admit that they're in love with each other; and Chris Wolfgang's atmospheric 'Chicago Iron', set in Prohibition-era America.

I've been struggling to read due to [waves hands] All This; I tried non-fiction to see if that would be easier than trying to commit to a novel, but I really missed fiction, and this absolutely hit the spot, giving me the escape into fantasy I was craving without requiring too much commitment from my frazzled brain.

[Eva Müller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Usually, anthologies have at least a few stories I find really really bad. On the plus side: this isn't the case this time. On the negative side: I also barely found any stories really good. I loved Elinor Jones vs. the Ruritanian Multiverse by Freya Marske and Little Bird by Cara Patterson. The Sweet Tooth of Angwar Bec (Ellen Kushner), In the Salt Crypts of Ghiarelle (Jennifer Mace) and The Commander and the Mirage Master’s Mate (Elaine McIonyn) and Yoon Ha Lee's The City Unbreachable could have been amazing if it had been longer but as it was everything from the worldbuilding to the characters, their backstories and their relationship development felt too rushed for me too really enjoy it.

And the rest of the stories were just...very forgettable. Many of them very humorous but the jokes just didn't work for me at all. Besides many stories just felt very low-stakes and unexciting to me. Now don't get me wrong: this is advertised as an anthology in which all queer women get their happy end and I very much want this. But in several stories that presents as "A couple (sometimes they start off as just friends, sometimes they are already in a relationship) has some mild adventures. If they were just friends they are romantically linked now. Otherwise, they might take the next step in their relationship. The End." I think, much like the humour, this is very much a personal preference but in all the stories I did enjoy there were moments where I was genuinely wondering what would happen next/how they were getting out of the situation. In the other stories...I was just watching things happen without feeling very involved.

[Kevin James · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars, a fun read but has some rough patches

A short story collection full of, as a friend put it, "sword lesbians" sounded like exactly the right kind of lighthearted fun to start 2021 off with and it mostly was. The stories range pretty widely in style but they're all united in combining action with sapphic romance that usually errs on the sweet side. Many of the stories in this collection are by writers who have their first writing credit and while many of them pull their stories off, there are a few who I think were not quite ready for prime time. The stories did also sometimes suffer from hitting similar storytelling beats (I'd estimate 2/3rds of the stories focused on strangers being forced together and eventually starting a romance at the end of the story which isn't bad in and of itself but a bit more variety would have livened things up). Still, it's a nice collection overall with a few standout stories that I definitely recommend including: Chicago Iron, The City Unbreachable, and Princess, Shieldmaiden, Witch and Wolf. Definitely worth checking out if you like lighthearted action with well done romantic elements.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lesbian sff short story collection. A bit of a mixed bag, which is how anthologies always are, haha. Probably something for everyone. I had a lot of trouble maintaining any reading momentum, which I guess makes sense.

Stories I recall enjoying:
-the one about the trans princess+knight
-the one about the multiverses. Fun and felt well constructed
-the one about the troll, which really just felt extremely relevant to our present pandemic times
-danger noodle, which was also fun. Could see a larger story with these characters
-the one about the salt crypts. Idk why exactly but reminded me a bit of patricia mckillip

In general most had some interesting concepts i could imagine reading a novel length book about. I almost found myself wishing there was less of a romantic directive on the stories because there were a few where the romance aspect felt kind of forced, but it is what it is!

Bye

[Joanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I backed this Kickstarter in 2019 I was SO excited because it was much harder to find Sapphic books back then compared to now. However, it then took me four years to sit down and read it.

Unfortunately, I just simply cannot with short stories, I always feel like I've been thrown into the middle of a story without enough character building or context of the world to actually get invested in the stories.

There was a few stories I didn't mind but even then I couldn't even tell you which ones they were because none caught my attention enough for me check or remember.

However, If you like short stories there's a good chance you'll love this book, but my inability to enjoy short stories impacted my whole reading experience.

[Bentgaidin · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Silk & Steel' is a really fun anthology, themed around themed around pairs of warrior women and society ladies, and they've got a bunch of fun stories around them discovering each other, falling in love, having adventures, or any combination of the three. Of special note, I particularly enjoyed 'Book and Hammer, Blade and Bone' by Ann LeBlanc (featuring an afterlife library); 'Margo Lai's Guide to Dueling Unprepared' by Alison Tam (just delightful friendship turning into something more); 'Elinor Jones vs. the Ruritanian Multiverse' by Freya Marske (portal fantasy romance with a twist); and 'The Scholar of the Bamboo Flute' by Aliette de Bodard (a Vietnamese take on the Utena story) -- and there's at least twice as many more stories in here to enjoy. If you need some good fun quick reads, I can't recommend this enough.

[Pie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite taking a while to read this (nearly a month, which is a WOEFULLY long time for a speedy reader like me, curse you academic reading overload) but this was absolutely DELIGHTFUL. There were two or three stories I didn't vibe with but I liked nearly all of them and I especially loved Margo Lai's Guide to Dueling Unprepared by Alison Tam, Princess, Shieldmaiden, Wolf, and Witch by Neon Yang, and The Parnassian Courante by Claire Barlett. Overall just a really great theme for an anthology and I loved reading it.

[Julia]

I'm going to stop officially rating short story anthologies, bc in general, I don't like them and it's probably not fair. I didn't realize this was short stories, or I probably wouldn't have read it- but that being said, there were several stories in here that I really liked! But that's the problem- I liked them, and I wish they'd be a full novel. It directed me to a couple of authors to look out for their other works. I'm glad I got past the first couple, which all seemed aimed at very young audiences.

[carley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always forget anthologies aren't for me :/ this took me over 2 months to read oops. I dnf'ed a lot of these stories and honestly didn't even try to read the last one. i was so ready to be done oof i might try to read it and reread a few i dnf'ed
But! here are the stories i did like:
book and hammer, blade and bone + positively medieval + Little birds + princess, shieldmaiden, witch and wolf + margo lai's guide

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some great stories here by the likes of Aliette de Bodard. Individually they are all good stories, although I found that the anthology's very specific theme meant that they ended up feeling a bit same-y after a while.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Out of 17 stories, I enjoyed 10 and disliked 7 so i can't give the anthology as a whole more than 3 stars

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with most short story anthologies, some of these were better than others; a couple were pretty great and a couple were forgettable. A very fun theme, though!

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely anthology! Every story is a hit!