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Clockwork, Curses and Coal
Fairies threaten the world of artifice and technology, forcing the royal family to solve a riddle to stop their world from irrevocable change; a dishonest merchant uses automatons as vessels for his secrets and lies; a woman discovers the secret of three princesses whose shoes get scuffed while they sleep. These and so many other steampunk and gaslamp fairy tales await within the pages of Clockwork, Curses and Coal.
Retellings of Hansel and Gretel, The Princess and the Pea, Pinocchio, The Twelve Dancing Princesses and more are all showcased alongside some original fairy tale-like stories. Featuring stories by Melissa Bobe, Adam Brekenridge, Beth Cato, MLD Curelas, Joseph Halden, Reese Hogan, Diana Hurlburt, Christina Johnson, Alethea Kontis, Lex T. Lindsay, Wendy Nikel, Brian Trent, Laura VanArendonk Baugh and Sarah Van Goethem.
Retellings of Hansel and Gretel, The Princess and the Pea, Pinocchio, The Twelve Dancing Princesses and more are all showcased alongside some original fairy tale-like stories. Featuring stories by Melissa Bobe, Adam Brekenridge, Beth Cato, MLD Curelas, Joseph Halden, Reese Hogan, Diana Hurlburt, Christina Johnson, Alethea Kontis, Lex T. Lindsay, Wendy Nikel, Brian Trent, Laura VanArendonk Baugh and Sarah Van Goethem.
280 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 2, 2021
7 people are currently reading
102 people want to read
About the author
Rhonda Parrish
105 books243 followersRhonda Parrish has the attention span of a magpie. Not only can she not focus on a single project at a time, but she also fails at sticking to one genre or even one type of writing (she does manage to stay true to one hockey team, though – Let’s go Oilers!). Perhaps best known for her work as an anthology editor – the Ottawa Review of Books called her “Canada’s best-known and most prolific speculative fiction anthologist” – Rhonda also works as a short story writer, novelist, game writer and a poet. She has been honoured to be included in a handful of ‘Best of’ anthologies, earn a coveted starred review from Publisher’s Weekly and be shortlisted for several awards including the Rhysling Award, the Aurora Award, the Dwarf Stars Award and Alberta Book Publishing Awards.
Most of her work falls under the speculative fiction umbrella but she has also penned paranormal non-fiction and non-speculative work.
In an effort to impose some order in her chaos, these days most of her short fiction and poetry is published directly through her Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/RhondaParrish .
More information about her, updates and calls for submission are posted on her website http://www.rhondaparrish.com/home/.
Most of her work falls under the speculative fiction umbrella but she has also penned paranormal non-fiction and non-speculative work.
In an effort to impose some order in her chaos, these days most of her short fiction and poetry is published directly through her Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/RhondaParrish .
More information about her, updates and calls for submission are posted on her website http://www.rhondaparrish.com/home/.
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January 18, 2021"The technological flights of fancy are always intriguing, and fairy tale lovers will enjoy deducing the inspiration for each tale. Readers will not be disappointed. " -- Publisher's Weekly https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-73405-451-4
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May 9, 2021Not a review. Includes my story "A Future of Towers Made."
April 5, 2021
Possibly a bit biased, since I have a story in this anthology, but as I think all the authors in here deserve to be applauded, I decided to leave a review! This was a really unique and enjoyable collection of steampunk fairytales that I looked forward to reading every night. My other favorites in the collection included Blood and Clockwork, Sappho and Erinna, and Ningyo.
March 2, 2021
Imagine a girl leaping from on high in the dark of night, great wings attached to the skin of her back and arms. Imagine music that lifts the dead from the ground to walk the earth once again, dancing amid a sea of rats. A changeling child grown up in a world of automatons and artifice; a talented tinkerer pulling her own design gone awry out of her vertebrae. What a fantastical collection – this is one you'll want to sit down with and enjoy. Rhonda Parrish's newest anthology assembles a cast of compelling characters. A surprising and refreshingly brave array of fairy tales were used as inspiration by the authors. From The Pied Piper of Hamelin to The Goose Girl, Pinocchio, The Princess and the Pea, and absolutely everything in between; there's no shortage of variety and theme in Clockwork, Curses and Coal.
In Beth Cato's "A Future of Towers Made" we meet a compelling, intelligent, mid-life Rapunzel whose life choices and unfortunate marriage have led her to a point where she must take her future into her own hands decisively and surely, despite the obstacles in her path and the gender inequities that run rampant in her time. In this satisfying tale, we see the result of a long-imbalanced union but find hope for a woman brave enough to step out of her comfort zone to deftly yet carefully take what is hers. A similar theme of courage and hope is found in "The Coach Girl" by MLD Curelas. In this charming, lighthearted tale where the pistols and desert dust of the Old West meet R2D2-like machines with endearing whistles and beeps, a young woman stumbles upon her talent for talking to steam coaches, coffee percolators, and other contraptions, all while navigating a scenario of deception, duplicity, and danger and disentangling herself from the expected path of a woman's life.
Not only do the fairy tales mined for inspiration offer an opportunity to delve into an alternative world turned steampunk, but they also offer the authors a treasure trove of topics that continue to resonate with today's readers - gender, societal expectations, technology, love, the balance of power, the impact of choices. Many of the tales in the collection have a dark theme running through them. A notable example can be found in "Necromancy," where Melissa Bobe weaves a macabre tale where music stirs the dead from their rest. The story explores the small-mindedness of townsfolk and the brutality of patriarchy, all while bringing together a compelling cast of talented musician brothers and young women who secretly itch to explore outside of the physical and social bounds they've been born into. In this wild, deadly little story, the rats stir all around the town and the people fear the plague - but not one borne in the blood of rodents. Though steeped in necromancy, the story offers a glimmer of hope and a satisfying end. Another surprising ending comes in Sarah Van Goethem's "A Bird Girl in the Dark of Night." In this lyrical story, a girl pins all of her hopes, dreams, and hours upon years of labour into a plan that is shaped like wings. The reader can feel the girl's pain, wrapped tightly around lost dreams, the sadness of not being like her sisters, and the passage of time away from her loved ones, as well as the weight she places on her escape plan that one isn't entirely sure will succeed. Sinister yet lovely, an undercurrent of tension flows beneath the words on the page, pulsing toward an uncertain end.
The other stories in the collection offer additional flavours for every taste - automatons, artifice, airships and steam coaches, creatures not of this world, kings and rooks and a queen playing checkmate, battle, death, flesh fused with copper and glass, plots to overthrow kingdoms, rich and colourful corsets and boots, petticoats and lace, plenty of sinister shadowy corners, and great plans hatched in the dark. This anthology delivers. Not just for lovers of steampunk, this artfully crafted and skilfully edited collection offers an enticing array of work to suit any reader. Clockwork, Curses and Coal offers just the right mixture of magic, science, and worlds that yet could be. Pick up a copy for yourself - you will be both delighted and entranced.
In Beth Cato's "A Future of Towers Made" we meet a compelling, intelligent, mid-life Rapunzel whose life choices and unfortunate marriage have led her to a point where she must take her future into her own hands decisively and surely, despite the obstacles in her path and the gender inequities that run rampant in her time. In this satisfying tale, we see the result of a long-imbalanced union but find hope for a woman brave enough to step out of her comfort zone to deftly yet carefully take what is hers. A similar theme of courage and hope is found in "The Coach Girl" by MLD Curelas. In this charming, lighthearted tale where the pistols and desert dust of the Old West meet R2D2-like machines with endearing whistles and beeps, a young woman stumbles upon her talent for talking to steam coaches, coffee percolators, and other contraptions, all while navigating a scenario of deception, duplicity, and danger and disentangling herself from the expected path of a woman's life.
Not only do the fairy tales mined for inspiration offer an opportunity to delve into an alternative world turned steampunk, but they also offer the authors a treasure trove of topics that continue to resonate with today's readers - gender, societal expectations, technology, love, the balance of power, the impact of choices. Many of the tales in the collection have a dark theme running through them. A notable example can be found in "Necromancy," where Melissa Bobe weaves a macabre tale where music stirs the dead from their rest. The story explores the small-mindedness of townsfolk and the brutality of patriarchy, all while bringing together a compelling cast of talented musician brothers and young women who secretly itch to explore outside of the physical and social bounds they've been born into. In this wild, deadly little story, the rats stir all around the town and the people fear the plague - but not one borne in the blood of rodents. Though steeped in necromancy, the story offers a glimmer of hope and a satisfying end. Another surprising ending comes in Sarah Van Goethem's "A Bird Girl in the Dark of Night." In this lyrical story, a girl pins all of her hopes, dreams, and hours upon years of labour into a plan that is shaped like wings. The reader can feel the girl's pain, wrapped tightly around lost dreams, the sadness of not being like her sisters, and the passage of time away from her loved ones, as well as the weight she places on her escape plan that one isn't entirely sure will succeed. Sinister yet lovely, an undercurrent of tension flows beneath the words on the page, pulsing toward an uncertain end.
The other stories in the collection offer additional flavours for every taste - automatons, artifice, airships and steam coaches, creatures not of this world, kings and rooks and a queen playing checkmate, battle, death, flesh fused with copper and glass, plots to overthrow kingdoms, rich and colourful corsets and boots, petticoats and lace, plenty of sinister shadowy corners, and great plans hatched in the dark. This anthology delivers. Not just for lovers of steampunk, this artfully crafted and skilfully edited collection offers an enticing array of work to suit any reader. Clockwork, Curses and Coal offers just the right mixture of magic, science, and worlds that yet could be. Pick up a copy for yourself - you will be both delighted and entranced.
June 17, 2025
Very good collection of short stories. I very much enjoyed the majority of them.
Full review on my blog:
https://rantsnscribbles.blogspot.com/...
My Thoughts:
I don't read a lot of short stories because I prefer to really immerse myself in a story and really get to know my characters, and I find I often can't do that when it's a short piece. I was drawn to this collection because of the Steampunk theme, and the whole idea of gaslamp, which I had never heard of before. According to the introduction, gaslamp fantasy is "set in the same Victorian/Edwardian era as steampunk, but with a focus less on tech and more on the supernatural and magic. Often with an obvious gothic influence." So of course I had to check this out, and I don't regret it for a moment!
The editor warned that some of the stories might be dark, and she assumes this is because of the whole COVID thing going on while she was choosing the stories for the collection. Boy was she right! Some of these stories are D-A-R-K! I am going to break the collection down by story, but let me start off by saying that the collection of 14 stories as a whole was very well done, enjoyable, and entertaining. I loved the twists on many of the fairy tales.
The Iron Revolution by Christina Ruth Johnson
This story picks parts of Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and The Princess and the Pea, wrapping them all neatly into a very well written and enjoyable tale. It does a very good job of showing the sexism of the time (1851). "Not many ask the girls if they want to go, but they all do anyway." The racism of the time is also emphasized as the girls in the story are split into two groups, girls of "porcelain skin" and girls with "darker complexions and more vivid fabrics." The story is filled with beautiful descriptions and is very visual. I loved how unique each girl is and how they are described by looks and talent. Unfortunately I found the story quite predictable and the ending quite rushed. I never really felt the connection that seems to be implied by the end. A good story, but could have been better.
Clockwork Tea by Joseph Halden
This story was one of my least liked stories. I understand the time and place they are writing about, but it still comes off a little racist to me. I also found the writing style very awkward and hard to get a good reading flow with, which in turn made it hard to enjoy. It was very dark and disturbing, which isn't a bad thing, seeing this evolution of what basically turns out to be a serial killer of sorts. He even keeps souvenirs like a serial killer would. There were some Pinocchio undertones that the author tried to work in, I am just not sure it really works. An odd little tale to be sure.
A Future of Towers Made by Beth Cato
I enjoyed this reimagining of Rapunzel. In this tale Rapunzel is a brilliant young woman trapped in an unhappy and abusive marriage where her husband steals all of her ideas and markets them as his own. Rapunzel, with the help of her dear friend, comes up with a plan to keep her most recent invention under her own name, and escape her marriage. It is a very well written story of feminism and standing up for yourself, and I loved every moment of it. I will have to look for more of Beth Cato's work.
A Bird Girl in the Dark of Night by Sarah Van Goethem
This story was another one I didn't enjoy very much. It was very dark as well, which I don't mind, and intriguing, but it was just all very odd. I suspected the twist that comes up near the end of the story, so I wasn't surprised. I did however kind of like the feeling of female empowerment that was brought up near the end, and I like the way certain things worked out, but it was all just a little too weird for me, and it did leave me with some questions not answered.
Checkmate by Brian Trent
I enjoyed this story so much I wanted more. I would read a whole novel, maybe even an entire series, set in this world. The world building was just so well done. It was intriguing and dark. I want to know how it got to be the way it is. I want to know so much more! Edward's character was well done and I understood his motivations for what he does, which makes the ending make sense. I expected the very ending, but that didn't take away from the enjoyment for me in this story because it was so well done. Brian, please tell me there is more!
Necromancy by Melissa Bobe
Where to start with this story? There is so much going on, and all of it wonderful. It's a dark and mysterious reimaging of the Pied Piper tale. The plague is attacking all the women of town, but what exactly is the plague? It's not what you would expect. I don't want to spoil it, but it fits the time and works really well for this dark story. There is so much I want to comment on, but with short stories it's hard to say much without basically giving away the whole story. Just read it! The writing is beautiful, the story is well written, and I loved the end. I will be looking for more of Melissa Bobe's work for sure.
Blood and Clockwork by Wendy Nikel
This story is one of my favorites in the collection. I read it so quickly. I didn't even stop to take notes! As was typical in this collection the story is very intriguing, and very dark. It was a little predictable at parts, but it was so well written, and just so damn good, that the predictableness of it is forgivable.
Sappho and Erinna by Lex T. Lindsay
This story is a very well done reimaging of The Twelve Dancing Princesses. I loved all of the characters in this story, each one was their own character that stood out from each other. I really loved the end.
Divine Spark by Diana Hurlburt
I didn't enjoy this story at all. The writing style was very awkward and I just couldn't get into the story at all. It had a kind of Frankenstein feel to it, which is too bad as the original is one of my favorite novels. Overall I found this story very confusing and not enjoyable at all.
The Balance of Memory by Reese Hogan
This story was a very interesting and very well written reimaging of Hansel and Gretel. There isn't a whole lot I can say without giving things away, but I was intrigued right away. I likened it almost immediately to someone who is dealing with identity issues, only to later discover that the author is non-binary, so they obviously have a very strong understanding of this. I still was left feeling like I was missing something at the end, but maybe that is the way it was meant to be.
The Giant and the Unicorn by Alethea Kontis
The beginning of this story threw me off a bit as it was written like a steampunk version of the bible. Some might find if offensive, just as a warning, but it didn't bother me. It was just odd. The rest of the story is a reimagining of The Lion and the Mouse. It was a cute little tale, but awkward in places, and a little predictable, but still an enjoyable read.
Ningyo by Laura VanArendonk Baugh
This story starts out on what we later learn is an airship, but I originally thought it was a regular ship. I was glad that section was very short as all the sailing terminology was starting to irritate me, all the unfamiliar words pulling me out of the story. The rest of the story made up for the beginning though. Overall it was an intriguing and entertaining story with interesting characters.
Father Worm by Adam Breckenridge
This story was dark and odd, and very difficult to read with its run on sentences and awkward writing style. The only thing I really liked about this story was the one quote: "Even if the trip didn't reinvigorate her old friend, she would not let her duties as captain keep her from the obligation all keepers of animals have to see their beloved companions through to their deaths." As a loyal pet owner this is something I feel strongly about. Overall it was a very strange story, with an equally odd ending. I did not find it enjoyable.
The Coach Girl by M.L.D. Curelas
For some reason I didn't take any notes while I read this story. I do remember enjoying it quite a bit, even though parts of it were very predictable. I think my favorite part of it is that there is no man needed to rescue the main character, and I remember being intrigued to figure out how she was going to get out of the mess she was in. Very well done and enjoyable.
I am not going to do pros and cons as it is very story dependent, but it was a very good collection and I am glad I took the time to read it.
Full review on my blog:
https://rantsnscribbles.blogspot.com/...
My Thoughts:
I don't read a lot of short stories because I prefer to really immerse myself in a story and really get to know my characters, and I find I often can't do that when it's a short piece. I was drawn to this collection because of the Steampunk theme, and the whole idea of gaslamp, which I had never heard of before. According to the introduction, gaslamp fantasy is "set in the same Victorian/Edwardian era as steampunk, but with a focus less on tech and more on the supernatural and magic. Often with an obvious gothic influence." So of course I had to check this out, and I don't regret it for a moment!
The editor warned that some of the stories might be dark, and she assumes this is because of the whole COVID thing going on while she was choosing the stories for the collection. Boy was she right! Some of these stories are D-A-R-K! I am going to break the collection down by story, but let me start off by saying that the collection of 14 stories as a whole was very well done, enjoyable, and entertaining. I loved the twists on many of the fairy tales.
The Iron Revolution by Christina Ruth Johnson
This story picks parts of Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and The Princess and the Pea, wrapping them all neatly into a very well written and enjoyable tale. It does a very good job of showing the sexism of the time (1851). "Not many ask the girls if they want to go, but they all do anyway." The racism of the time is also emphasized as the girls in the story are split into two groups, girls of "porcelain skin" and girls with "darker complexions and more vivid fabrics." The story is filled with beautiful descriptions and is very visual. I loved how unique each girl is and how they are described by looks and talent. Unfortunately I found the story quite predictable and the ending quite rushed. I never really felt the connection that seems to be implied by the end. A good story, but could have been better.
Clockwork Tea by Joseph Halden
This story was one of my least liked stories. I understand the time and place they are writing about, but it still comes off a little racist to me. I also found the writing style very awkward and hard to get a good reading flow with, which in turn made it hard to enjoy. It was very dark and disturbing, which isn't a bad thing, seeing this evolution of what basically turns out to be a serial killer of sorts. He even keeps souvenirs like a serial killer would. There were some Pinocchio undertones that the author tried to work in, I am just not sure it really works. An odd little tale to be sure.
A Future of Towers Made by Beth Cato
I enjoyed this reimagining of Rapunzel. In this tale Rapunzel is a brilliant young woman trapped in an unhappy and abusive marriage where her husband steals all of her ideas and markets them as his own. Rapunzel, with the help of her dear friend, comes up with a plan to keep her most recent invention under her own name, and escape her marriage. It is a very well written story of feminism and standing up for yourself, and I loved every moment of it. I will have to look for more of Beth Cato's work.
A Bird Girl in the Dark of Night by Sarah Van Goethem
This story was another one I didn't enjoy very much. It was very dark as well, which I don't mind, and intriguing, but it was just all very odd. I suspected the twist that comes up near the end of the story, so I wasn't surprised. I did however kind of like the feeling of female empowerment that was brought up near the end, and I like the way certain things worked out, but it was all just a little too weird for me, and it did leave me with some questions not answered.
Checkmate by Brian Trent
I enjoyed this story so much I wanted more. I would read a whole novel, maybe even an entire series, set in this world. The world building was just so well done. It was intriguing and dark. I want to know how it got to be the way it is. I want to know so much more! Edward's character was well done and I understood his motivations for what he does, which makes the ending make sense. I expected the very ending, but that didn't take away from the enjoyment for me in this story because it was so well done. Brian, please tell me there is more!
Necromancy by Melissa Bobe
Where to start with this story? There is so much going on, and all of it wonderful. It's a dark and mysterious reimaging of the Pied Piper tale. The plague is attacking all the women of town, but what exactly is the plague? It's not what you would expect. I don't want to spoil it, but it fits the time and works really well for this dark story. There is so much I want to comment on, but with short stories it's hard to say much without basically giving away the whole story. Just read it! The writing is beautiful, the story is well written, and I loved the end. I will be looking for more of Melissa Bobe's work for sure.
Blood and Clockwork by Wendy Nikel
This story is one of my favorites in the collection. I read it so quickly. I didn't even stop to take notes! As was typical in this collection the story is very intriguing, and very dark. It was a little predictable at parts, but it was so well written, and just so damn good, that the predictableness of it is forgivable.
Sappho and Erinna by Lex T. Lindsay
This story is a very well done reimaging of The Twelve Dancing Princesses. I loved all of the characters in this story, each one was their own character that stood out from each other. I really loved the end.
Divine Spark by Diana Hurlburt
I didn't enjoy this story at all. The writing style was very awkward and I just couldn't get into the story at all. It had a kind of Frankenstein feel to it, which is too bad as the original is one of my favorite novels. Overall I found this story very confusing and not enjoyable at all.
The Balance of Memory by Reese Hogan
This story was a very interesting and very well written reimaging of Hansel and Gretel. There isn't a whole lot I can say without giving things away, but I was intrigued right away. I likened it almost immediately to someone who is dealing with identity issues, only to later discover that the author is non-binary, so they obviously have a very strong understanding of this. I still was left feeling like I was missing something at the end, but maybe that is the way it was meant to be.
The Giant and the Unicorn by Alethea Kontis
The beginning of this story threw me off a bit as it was written like a steampunk version of the bible. Some might find if offensive, just as a warning, but it didn't bother me. It was just odd. The rest of the story is a reimagining of The Lion and the Mouse. It was a cute little tale, but awkward in places, and a little predictable, but still an enjoyable read.
Ningyo by Laura VanArendonk Baugh
This story starts out on what we later learn is an airship, but I originally thought it was a regular ship. I was glad that section was very short as all the sailing terminology was starting to irritate me, all the unfamiliar words pulling me out of the story. The rest of the story made up for the beginning though. Overall it was an intriguing and entertaining story with interesting characters.
Father Worm by Adam Breckenridge
This story was dark and odd, and very difficult to read with its run on sentences and awkward writing style. The only thing I really liked about this story was the one quote: "Even if the trip didn't reinvigorate her old friend, she would not let her duties as captain keep her from the obligation all keepers of animals have to see their beloved companions through to their deaths." As a loyal pet owner this is something I feel strongly about. Overall it was a very strange story, with an equally odd ending. I did not find it enjoyable.
The Coach Girl by M.L.D. Curelas
For some reason I didn't take any notes while I read this story. I do remember enjoying it quite a bit, even though parts of it were very predictable. I think my favorite part of it is that there is no man needed to rescue the main character, and I remember being intrigued to figure out how she was going to get out of the mess she was in. Very well done and enjoyable.
I am not going to do pros and cons as it is very story dependent, but it was a very good collection and I am glad I took the time to read it.
Read
June 29, 2021Full Disclosure #1:
I am SO FAR BEHIND on this. So late. Later than a White Rabbit to a very important date.
Yeah… I have no excuse, honestly, aside from life being a complete pain in my butt, sometimes literally. Adulting is hard and stuff. Dislike, etc.
Full Disclosure #2:
I received a free advanced copy of this (*cough* release day was March 2, 2021 *cough*) in exchange for my opinions. To be fair, I have been in contact with Rhonda, so she knows this is remarkably late because REASONS.
Let’s face it: My Mini-Me has been updating more regularly than I have, hasn’t he?
Full Disclosure #3:
I love steampunk. LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE. This may cause my review to be biased.
BUT ENOUGH ABOUT THAT. HERE IS THE MEAT AND POTATOES OF THIS POST.
Clockwork, Curses, and Coal is an anthology edited by Rhonda Parrish that features 14 steampunk-style retellings of fairy tales. While I could go on about how much I liked each one – and I did – I’ll concentrate on my favorites.
The Coach Girl by M.L.D. Curelas
What happens when a mechanically-minded girl bonds with the minds of the mechanisms around her? And if said girl is wrongfully, shamefully ousted from her position as a betrothed bride on the cusp of a prosperous, if arranged, marriage?
That’s what we find out in The Coach Girl, a retelling of The Goose Girl.
What stuck out to me most in this is how deeply Tara’s character resonated with me. Her situation may be foreign, sure, but someone whose life was supposed to go one way but takes a rather dramatic turn for the unexpected? I’m a bit familiar with that concept, as most of us would be.
Curelas’ interpretation and reworking of The Goose Girl is a lovely bit of steampunk western drama. Maybe because it ever-so-slightly has an air of Firefly in it (*sings* You can’t take the sky from me!), but this story stands out as my absolute favorite in the anthology. All fourteen are great, but this one resounded deeply.
A Bird Girl in the Dark of Night by Sarah Van Goethem
I also have a fondness for running away to join the circus or carnival, so long as there are no clowns in the mix. I cannot deal with clowns. Coulrophobia is a thing. I can attest to this.
There are thankfully no clowns in Van Goethem’s story, though there is a man as evil and dark as any clown. Our heroine in this, Jane, wants to rescue her sisters from the dastardly clutches of Perry Featherstone, a wonderfully villainous name if ever there were one. An apt name, too, given the story. Jane fashions herself wings in order to get into Featherstone’s sideshow to get her sisters – conjoined twins – back from him.
Icarus she is not, and the story develops in ways unexpected and brilliant.
In Summary…
Rhonda Parrish has knocked it out of the park again with a round of stories as variegated as the cogs in the clockwork creations of the steampunk subculture. I recommend this for fans of steampunk, obviously, and those who enjoy works of the lesser known authors. I think that’s one thing that always shines with her anthologies: Rhonda consistently sheds light on authors whose skills I’m happy to now be familiar with.
I am SO FAR BEHIND on this. So late. Later than a White Rabbit to a very important date.
Yeah… I have no excuse, honestly, aside from life being a complete pain in my butt, sometimes literally. Adulting is hard and stuff. Dislike, etc.
Full Disclosure #2:
I received a free advanced copy of this (*cough* release day was March 2, 2021 *cough*) in exchange for my opinions. To be fair, I have been in contact with Rhonda, so she knows this is remarkably late because REASONS.
Let’s face it: My Mini-Me has been updating more regularly than I have, hasn’t he?
Full Disclosure #3:
I love steampunk. LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE. This may cause my review to be biased.
BUT ENOUGH ABOUT THAT. HERE IS THE MEAT AND POTATOES OF THIS POST.
Clockwork, Curses, and Coal is an anthology edited by Rhonda Parrish that features 14 steampunk-style retellings of fairy tales. While I could go on about how much I liked each one – and I did – I’ll concentrate on my favorites.
The Coach Girl by M.L.D. Curelas
What happens when a mechanically-minded girl bonds with the minds of the mechanisms around her? And if said girl is wrongfully, shamefully ousted from her position as a betrothed bride on the cusp of a prosperous, if arranged, marriage?
That’s what we find out in The Coach Girl, a retelling of The Goose Girl.
What stuck out to me most in this is how deeply Tara’s character resonated with me. Her situation may be foreign, sure, but someone whose life was supposed to go one way but takes a rather dramatic turn for the unexpected? I’m a bit familiar with that concept, as most of us would be.
Curelas’ interpretation and reworking of The Goose Girl is a lovely bit of steampunk western drama. Maybe because it ever-so-slightly has an air of Firefly in it (*sings* You can’t take the sky from me!), but this story stands out as my absolute favorite in the anthology. All fourteen are great, but this one resounded deeply.
A Bird Girl in the Dark of Night by Sarah Van Goethem
I also have a fondness for running away to join the circus or carnival, so long as there are no clowns in the mix. I cannot deal with clowns. Coulrophobia is a thing. I can attest to this.
There are thankfully no clowns in Van Goethem’s story, though there is a man as evil and dark as any clown. Our heroine in this, Jane, wants to rescue her sisters from the dastardly clutches of Perry Featherstone, a wonderfully villainous name if ever there were one. An apt name, too, given the story. Jane fashions herself wings in order to get into Featherstone’s sideshow to get her sisters – conjoined twins – back from him.
Icarus she is not, and the story develops in ways unexpected and brilliant.
In Summary…
Rhonda Parrish has knocked it out of the park again with a round of stories as variegated as the cogs in the clockwork creations of the steampunk subculture. I recommend this for fans of steampunk, obviously, and those who enjoy works of the lesser known authors. I think that’s one thing that always shines with her anthologies: Rhonda consistently sheds light on authors whose skills I’m happy to now be familiar with.
March 1, 2021
Automatons come in all shapes and sizes.
In “A Future of Towers Made,” Zela was trapped in an abusive marriage. Her only avenue for possible escape involved trying to prove her husband had stolen credit for her latest invention, and success was anything but certain for her. I emotionally bonded with her immediately and eagerly kept reading to find out if she’d be freed from the many years of pain he’d put her through. She was such an intelligent and brave character.
Amber needed to bring her cat, Hunter, and as many people from her town as she could persuade to come alone with her on a daring trip to escape their dying planet in “Father Worm.” I was fascinated by how she figured out that their world would soon become too cold to sustain life and looked forward to discovering if her plan to save those who wanted to be saved would be successful. She had so much riding on every decision she made, and she only had a short amount of time to accomplish it all.
The plague that settled upon a small town in “Necromancy” was one of the most unique ones I’ve ever heard of. It was brought to that community by a young woman named Natalie who had gone away to seek her fortune. I was as fascinated by the unusual symptoms of it as it was by how her mother, neighbours, and former friends reacted to the sudden changes in her. This was one of those tales that only grew better with each plot twist, none of which I dare divulge today.
Clockwork, Curses, and Coal accomplished something pretty special. For the first time in all of my years of reading, I adored every single story in an anthology. I hope other readers love them just as much as I did.
In “A Future of Towers Made,” Zela was trapped in an abusive marriage. Her only avenue for possible escape involved trying to prove her husband had stolen credit for her latest invention, and success was anything but certain for her. I emotionally bonded with her immediately and eagerly kept reading to find out if she’d be freed from the many years of pain he’d put her through. She was such an intelligent and brave character.
Amber needed to bring her cat, Hunter, and as many people from her town as she could persuade to come alone with her on a daring trip to escape their dying planet in “Father Worm.” I was fascinated by how she figured out that their world would soon become too cold to sustain life and looked forward to discovering if her plan to save those who wanted to be saved would be successful. She had so much riding on every decision she made, and she only had a short amount of time to accomplish it all.
The plague that settled upon a small town in “Necromancy” was one of the most unique ones I’ve ever heard of. It was brought to that community by a young woman named Natalie who had gone away to seek her fortune. I was as fascinated by the unusual symptoms of it as it was by how her mother, neighbours, and former friends reacted to the sudden changes in her. This was one of those tales that only grew better with each plot twist, none of which I dare divulge today.
Clockwork, Curses, and Coal accomplished something pretty special. For the first time in all of my years of reading, I adored every single story in an anthology. I hope other readers love them just as much as I did.
March 2, 2021
AWESOME!! I've been Steampunked!
I admit two. things, right from the start:
1. This is a voluntary ARC review; and
2. I'm a Steampunk virgin. This fantastic anthology of short stories is my very first reader's foray into the world of makers, steam power, gears, and gadgets. Several people have tried to describe the genre to me - utter futility. And, having read this book , it would be equally futile for me to attempt. But I know who I trust, and I know what I like. Rhonda Parrish is, in my estimation, THE curator par excellence of mystical, magical, other-worldly short fiction. And here is yet more proof - her collection of fourteen stories is incredible, irresistible, clever, imaginative, and (sometimes) outright terrifying. There's not a false note or a flat affect, only a new-to-me genre and a lingering itch to read more, more, MORE!
I admit two. things, right from the start:
1. This is a voluntary ARC review; and
2. I'm a Steampunk virgin. This fantastic anthology of short stories is my very first reader's foray into the world of makers, steam power, gears, and gadgets. Several people have tried to describe the genre to me - utter futility. And, having read this book , it would be equally futile for me to attempt. But I know who I trust, and I know what I like. Rhonda Parrish is, in my estimation, THE curator par excellence of mystical, magical, other-worldly short fiction. And here is yet more proof - her collection of fourteen stories is incredible, irresistible, clever, imaginative, and (sometimes) outright terrifying. There's not a false note or a flat affect, only a new-to-me genre and a lingering itch to read more, more, MORE!
March 7, 2021
Clockwork, Curses and Coal: Steampunk and Gaslamp Fairy Tales
Rhonda Parr
Many books with steampunk and Gaslamp tropes, that were so enjoyable to resd!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Rhonda Parr
Many books with steampunk and Gaslamp tropes, that were so enjoyable to resd!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 2, 2021
Wow, all my favourite fairy tales retold in an imaginative way. Definitely will keep you intrigued until the end. Don’t miss out once it’s released.
August 10, 2022
Rhonda Parrish is perhaps Canada’s best-known and most prolific speculative fiction anthologist. By my count, this is her twenty-fourth themed volume and possibly her best yet. Clockwork, Curses and Coal (released March 2) is a mashup of Steampunk, Victorian/Edwardian era settings, and fairy tales. That may sound like an odd genre mix, but Parrish makes it work.
The opening story, Christina Ruth Johnson’s “The Iron Revolution” for example, completely validates Parrish’s vision. A mashup of not one, not two, but three fairy tales set in a steampunk version of the 1851 Great Exhibition, it’s a delight. An engaging “find the changeling” mystery, it kept me guessing and made me an instant fan of steampunk fairy tales.
What I like most about Parrish, though, is not just her high standards and imaginative themes, but her ability to attract a diverse group of new voices that represent a full range of what speculative fiction has to offer. While she includes at least a few established and award-winning writers in each volume, Parrish has a knack for recognizing the next big talent and giving them space to breathe within her various anthology series. These new voices naturally bring diverse interpretations, diverse settings, and a wide variety of genre backgrounds to Parrish’s anthologies.
Four of the authors here, for example, reinterpret fairy tales to provide a feminist critique of Victorian--and, of course, our own--society: “Sappho and Erinna” by Lex T. Lindsay is a queer retelling of one of my favorites fairy tales as a mystery steampunk adventure; “A Future of Towers Made” by Beth Cato gives a feminist twist to Rapunzel; “Necromancy” by Melissa Bode is a chilling metaphor for those obsessed with controlling their daughters; and Sarah Van Goethem’s “A Bird Girl in the Dark of Night” seconds that condemnation of bad parenting.
Several of the stories could be loosely categorized as horror. In addition to “Necromancy” and “A Bird Girl in the Dark of Night” (which are both wonderfully disturbing), Reese Hogan’s “The Balance of Memory” uses a bit of Mary Shelley to mash up a familiar fairy tale into a steampunk ghost story, while Brian Trent’s “Checkmate” disembowels Alice in Wonderland (with a touch of Egyptian Styx) to give us steampunk-superhero combat.
The collection’s tendency towards horror is nicely balanced by adventure romps, such as the aforementioned “Iron Revolution” and “Sappho and Erinna”, Wendy Nikel’s “Blood and Clockwork” and M. L. D. Curelas’s “Coach Girl”. Alethea Kontis’s “The Giant and the Unicorn” is positively cuddly.
While the majority of stories are set in England, Diana Hurlbut’s “Divine Spark” immerses the reader in an America both steampunk and darkly familiar, it’s revival movements, racism, and misplaced religiosity playing out against a backdrop of mechanized murder. Laur VanArendonk Baugh’s “Ningyo” is set in a steampunk and haunted Japan. “Father Worm” is set outside of any familiar time or space, and is undoubtedly the weirdest piece in the collection, but I’m glad it found its home here.
Out of the thirteen stories, there was only one I did not care for. I felt Joseph Halden’s “Clockwork Tea” a little heavy-handed, the fairy tale connection a little forced, but kudos to Parrish for including a post-colonial tale highlighting a nasty bit of British history with which most readers will be previously unfamiliar.
Otherwise, the stories all sing, a surprisingly high proportion for any anthology, and especially one catering to such a wide range of sensibilities. If you do buy and enjoy the range of short fiction in this steampunk-fairy anthology, I can equally recommend the other volumes in Parrish’s astonishing output.
The opening story, Christina Ruth Johnson’s “The Iron Revolution” for example, completely validates Parrish’s vision. A mashup of not one, not two, but three fairy tales set in a steampunk version of the 1851 Great Exhibition, it’s a delight. An engaging “find the changeling” mystery, it kept me guessing and made me an instant fan of steampunk fairy tales.
What I like most about Parrish, though, is not just her high standards and imaginative themes, but her ability to attract a diverse group of new voices that represent a full range of what speculative fiction has to offer. While she includes at least a few established and award-winning writers in each volume, Parrish has a knack for recognizing the next big talent and giving them space to breathe within her various anthology series. These new voices naturally bring diverse interpretations, diverse settings, and a wide variety of genre backgrounds to Parrish’s anthologies.
Four of the authors here, for example, reinterpret fairy tales to provide a feminist critique of Victorian--and, of course, our own--society: “Sappho and Erinna” by Lex T. Lindsay is a queer retelling of one of my favorites fairy tales as a mystery steampunk adventure; “A Future of Towers Made” by Beth Cato gives a feminist twist to Rapunzel; “Necromancy” by Melissa Bode is a chilling metaphor for those obsessed with controlling their daughters; and Sarah Van Goethem’s “A Bird Girl in the Dark of Night” seconds that condemnation of bad parenting.
Several of the stories could be loosely categorized as horror. In addition to “Necromancy” and “A Bird Girl in the Dark of Night” (which are both wonderfully disturbing), Reese Hogan’s “The Balance of Memory” uses a bit of Mary Shelley to mash up a familiar fairy tale into a steampunk ghost story, while Brian Trent’s “Checkmate” disembowels Alice in Wonderland (with a touch of Egyptian Styx) to give us steampunk-superhero combat.
The collection’s tendency towards horror is nicely balanced by adventure romps, such as the aforementioned “Iron Revolution” and “Sappho and Erinna”, Wendy Nikel’s “Blood and Clockwork” and M. L. D. Curelas’s “Coach Girl”. Alethea Kontis’s “The Giant and the Unicorn” is positively cuddly.
While the majority of stories are set in England, Diana Hurlbut’s “Divine Spark” immerses the reader in an America both steampunk and darkly familiar, it’s revival movements, racism, and misplaced religiosity playing out against a backdrop of mechanized murder. Laur VanArendonk Baugh’s “Ningyo” is set in a steampunk and haunted Japan. “Father Worm” is set outside of any familiar time or space, and is undoubtedly the weirdest piece in the collection, but I’m glad it found its home here.
Out of the thirteen stories, there was only one I did not care for. I felt Joseph Halden’s “Clockwork Tea” a little heavy-handed, the fairy tale connection a little forced, but kudos to Parrish for including a post-colonial tale highlighting a nasty bit of British history with which most readers will be previously unfamiliar.
Otherwise, the stories all sing, a surprisingly high proportion for any anthology, and especially one catering to such a wide range of sensibilities. If you do buy and enjoy the range of short fiction in this steampunk-fairy anthology, I can equally recommend the other volumes in Parrish’s astonishing output.
May 4, 2021
NOTE: I won a free eBook copy of this book in MOBI format from LibraryThing's Early Reviewers (February 2021).
Prior to reading this anthology, I knew the Steampunk genre only by name. This collection of short stories not only gave me a thorough introduction to the genre, but also showed me the wide range of possibilities for adapting well-known fairy tales and folklore. I found all of the stories engaging and a pleasure to read and delighted in the original works.
My reactions to each individual story:
(1) "The Iron Revolution:" I just loved the South Asian protagonist.
(2) "Clockwork Tea:" "Pinocchio" meets that episode of "The Twilight Zone" with the ventriloquist dummy.
(3) "A Future of Towers Made:" "Rapunzel" breaks out of her tower. Such a great feminist story!
(4) "A Bird Girl In the Dark Of Night:" Not sure what fairy tale this is derived from. I detected a theme of breaking patriarchal structures.
(5) "Checkmate:" I have long thought that the world needs something better for war than armies of thousands. This story presents a possible solution; however, it is the Chess Scene from "Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone" on steroids.
(6) "Necromancy:" "The Pied Piper" meets "The Walking Dead."
(7) "Blood and Clockwork:" Original and tragic, with shades of the French Revolution.
(8) "Sappho and Erinna:" "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" with a lesbian twist? Delightful.
(9) "Divine Spark:" Kind of a neat take on how humans are viewed and valued.
(10) "The Balance of Memory:" "Hansel & Gretel" with a twist. Still processing this one.
(11) "The Giant and the Unicorn:" This Aesop adaptation absolutely warmed my heart. Probably my favorite story in the book.
(12) "Ningyō:" The Japanese setting was intriguing, but my unfamiliarity with that culture meant that some of the details were lost on me. The ending was a cliffhanger and the story feels like it is really part of a novel. Still, I appreciated the references to Pure Land Buddhism.
(13) "Father Worm:" The least steampunk of the stories in this collection, I found this apocalyptic tale full of horror and liked the subtle commentary on religion and ritual.
(14) "The Coach Girl:" Though I am a stranger to "The Goose Girl," the source material for this story, I thoroughly enjoyed this adaptation. Great feminist ending to the anthology.
Prior to reading this anthology, I knew the Steampunk genre only by name. This collection of short stories not only gave me a thorough introduction to the genre, but also showed me the wide range of possibilities for adapting well-known fairy tales and folklore. I found all of the stories engaging and a pleasure to read and delighted in the original works.
My reactions to each individual story:
(1) "The Iron Revolution:" I just loved the South Asian protagonist.
(2) "Clockwork Tea:" "Pinocchio" meets that episode of "The Twilight Zone" with the ventriloquist dummy.
(3) "A Future of Towers Made:" "Rapunzel" breaks out of her tower. Such a great feminist story!
(4) "A Bird Girl In the Dark Of Night:" Not sure what fairy tale this is derived from. I detected a theme of breaking patriarchal structures.
(5) "Checkmate:" I have long thought that the world needs something better for war than armies of thousands. This story presents a possible solution; however, it is the Chess Scene from "Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone" on steroids.
(6) "Necromancy:" "The Pied Piper" meets "The Walking Dead."
(7) "Blood and Clockwork:" Original and tragic, with shades of the French Revolution.
(8) "Sappho and Erinna:" "The Twelve Dancing Princesses" with a lesbian twist? Delightful.
(9) "Divine Spark:" Kind of a neat take on how humans are viewed and valued.
(10) "The Balance of Memory:" "Hansel & Gretel" with a twist. Still processing this one.
(11) "The Giant and the Unicorn:" This Aesop adaptation absolutely warmed my heart. Probably my favorite story in the book.
(12) "Ningyō:" The Japanese setting was intriguing, but my unfamiliarity with that culture meant that some of the details were lost on me. The ending was a cliffhanger and the story feels like it is really part of a novel. Still, I appreciated the references to Pure Land Buddhism.
(13) "Father Worm:" The least steampunk of the stories in this collection, I found this apocalyptic tale full of horror and liked the subtle commentary on religion and ritual.
(14) "The Coach Girl:" Though I am a stranger to "The Goose Girl," the source material for this story, I thoroughly enjoyed this adaptation. Great feminist ending to the anthology.
May 11, 2021
Stupendous Stories that Stick
book review by Erin Michaela Sweeney
What makes Clockwork, Curses, and Coal: Steampunk and Gaslamp Fairy Tales such a good anthology? It stays with you. A week after finishing, vivid images from the stories still flit across my mind’s eye. Clever details from plots jump into quiet moments between the mundane tasks of daily life.
The contributors do a great job bringing characters and settings to life. A mechanical Pinocchio with seemingly therapeutic listening skills, check. A Rapunzel who lives with an overbearing husband in her ancestral home called the Tower, check.
This anthology has something to entice all readers, even those not keen on fairy tales. Dive into long-ago Japan in “Ningyo” by Laura VanArendonk Baugh. Sample alternate geopolitics with Brian Trent’s “Checkmate.” And don’t miss “Divine Spark” by Diana Hurlburt, featuring a congregation with a gospel against slavery and against devices of war, which worships the Watchmaker.
A special note of congratulations to World Weaver Press for a book free of grammatical goofs. Plus the professional cover pulls the collection together nicely.
* I received a free ebook of Clockwork, Curses, and Coal as a LibraryThing Early Reviewer member in exchange for an unbiased review (also posted on LibraryThing and Amazon).
book review by Erin Michaela Sweeney
What makes Clockwork, Curses, and Coal: Steampunk and Gaslamp Fairy Tales such a good anthology? It stays with you. A week after finishing, vivid images from the stories still flit across my mind’s eye. Clever details from plots jump into quiet moments between the mundane tasks of daily life.
The contributors do a great job bringing characters and settings to life. A mechanical Pinocchio with seemingly therapeutic listening skills, check. A Rapunzel who lives with an overbearing husband in her ancestral home called the Tower, check.
This anthology has something to entice all readers, even those not keen on fairy tales. Dive into long-ago Japan in “Ningyo” by Laura VanArendonk Baugh. Sample alternate geopolitics with Brian Trent’s “Checkmate.” And don’t miss “Divine Spark” by Diana Hurlburt, featuring a congregation with a gospel against slavery and against devices of war, which worships the Watchmaker.
A special note of congratulations to World Weaver Press for a book free of grammatical goofs. Plus the professional cover pulls the collection together nicely.
* I received a free ebook of Clockwork, Curses, and Coal as a LibraryThing Early Reviewer member in exchange for an unbiased review (also posted on LibraryThing and Amazon).
March 8, 2021
I quite enjoyed this collection of clever re-imaginings of characters and concepts from familiar fairy tales as well as gas-lit confections spun of whole cloth. The book opens very strongly with what was, for me, the most engaging story of the entire anthology. The Iron Revolution by Christina Ruth Johnson was marvelous and agrees definitely on my watch list now. Her twists and characterizations were engaging and grabbed me from the opening salvo with their evocative imagery. Ditto Beth Cato's marvelous A Future of Towers Made, which delivered comeuppance with just the right dash of satisfying panache., and the surprising twists and turns of Sarah Van Goethem's darkly evocative A Bird Girl in the Dark of Night. While there were a number of other stories that I enjoyed, those three struck me as the strongest of the collection.
I found myself connecting better with the stories in the first half of the book than in the second. I think things went a little more hardcore steampunk in the second half, and that's not normally my metier. Still, the stories were consistently good throughout and the collection was curated well with the stories all fitting the theme and flowing nicely.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
I found myself connecting better with the stories in the first half of the book than in the second. I think things went a little more hardcore steampunk in the second half, and that's not normally my metier. Still, the stories were consistently good throughout and the collection was curated well with the stories all fitting the theme and flowing nicely.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
April 26, 2021
Faery tale lovers who love a good reinterpretation with a twist, this collection is for you. Whenever I see Steampunk, I have to pick it up because it is so rare to find. It is also rare to find well written Steampunk. This cover caught my attention immediately with its gears, goggles and top hat. The stories themselves, captivated me, for the most part. The first one which is a slight variation of Sleeping Beauty and the Princess and The Pea kicks off this anthology beautifully.
To read the rest of my review, click on the image below to see it on my website.
To read the rest of my review, click on the image below to see it on my website.
May 26, 2021
I love anthologies for the opportunity to explore a variety of authors, story telling styles and settings. And when that anthology is focused on steampunk, one of my favorite genres, you have a pretty solid win on your hands. This collection fits the bill in all ways. Each of the stories is well written and easy to read with a variety of subjects and situations. Some are based on classic fairy tales, while some are unique creations all on their own. Either way, the stories are packed with action, drama, a bit of romance and a lot of fun. Overall, this was a great collection and I look forward to exploring many of the authors included herein.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.
March 2, 2021
You are in for some fun with the retellings of Hansel and Gretel, The Princess and the Pea, Pinocchio, The Twelve Dancing Princesses and more are all showcased alongside some original fairy tale-like stories. Contributing authors Melissa Bobe, Adam Brekenridge, Beth Cato, MLD Curelas, Joseph Halden, Reese Hogan, Diana Hurlburt, Christina Johnson, Alethea Kontis, Lex T. Lindsay, Wendy Nikel, Brian Trent, Laura VanArendonk Baugh and Sarah Van Goethem, will delight you with a new way of looking at some well-known fairy tales and an introduction of some original stories. You can’t go wrong with this one! There is something in there for everyone!
March 13, 2021
I love anthologies, no matter the genre. I meet new authors and find many different sides to some of my old favorites too. Steampunk and gaslight are both sub genres that i do not read often as there seem to be no good stories available, so when I find an anthology full of great stories, it really makes my day.
These are retellings of some of the most popular children's fairy tales but they are not for the little ones. As always, there are some great and some not as great stories, but I really enjoyed them all and have recommended them to my reading circle of friends. Not your mama's fairy tales but definitely, mine.
These are retellings of some of the most popular children's fairy tales but they are not for the little ones. As always, there are some great and some not as great stories, but I really enjoyed them all and have recommended them to my reading circle of friends. Not your mama's fairy tales but definitely, mine.
March 2, 2021
Rhonda Parrish knocks it out of the park again with her selection of stories and story tellers, this time in a SteamPunk way or reimagining fairy tales. Some are new and some are retellings, but in the end they are all fun to read!
Steampunk is a niche market and not one I normally read much of. As such, I did find a couple of the stories a little slow/difficult to get into because it is not a world I am as familiar with as some others, and therefore gave it 4 rather than 5 stars. But if this is your niche, they are fabulous!
I am definitely looking forward to her next offering!
Steampunk is a niche market and not one I normally read much of. As such, I did find a couple of the stories a little slow/difficult to get into because it is not a world I am as familiar with as some others, and therefore gave it 4 rather than 5 stars. But if this is your niche, they are fabulous!
I am definitely looking forward to her next offering!
March 4, 2021
I am a huge fan of these anthologies, and I have collected quite a few. This particular collection does not dissapoint. The stories here are really well written, and immersive. And I like the gaslamp/steampunk themes. But these stories are also darker. I confess I wanted something kinder and more hopeful, so I took my time reading this - but I cannot deny these stories are still good and original. But one needs a certain frame of mind to read them.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 5, 2021
As a reader who already knows what Steampunk style is and has always loved the idea of it, I knew I was going to love this anthology. Each story was short but entertaining with a unique steampunk spin on traditional fairytales. It was almost like a game trying to guess what the steampunk part of each story would be and what fairytale it was. Even though all the short stories were written by different authors, each story had the same writing style and they fit together well. I thoroughly enjoyed this anthology and would suggest everyone who is interested in the style to read it.
October 13, 2022
Although I am a steadfast lover of (almost) all things Steampunk, this book was... frustrating. It turned out being a tedious chore to get down to reading these stories so I put the compilation aside, hoping it was my mood that was the problem. I tried, I really did, but I just couldn't get into this book. The writing was okay, everything was just okay, but the stories rang flat and were just plain old boring. It might be a case of It's Not You, It's Me but for me this one was a dud.
~ Sorry
*** I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. ***
~ Sorry
*** I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. ***
March 2, 2021
I was excited to read this one. I love fairy tales, I love steampunk, and this book delivered on both in spades. The stories are interesting takes on classics, for the most part. There are twists that you may not see coming in some, which I appreciated. Overall it was a great collection and I would highly recommend it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 3, 2021
Clockwork, Curses and Coals is a creative collection of Streampunk stories. If you like dark tales, this is a great set of stories to read. Some of the stories are fairy-tale retellings of classics like Hansel and Gretel and the Pied Piper, others are original fairy-tale themed stories. One of my favourites of the bunch was a Rapunzel retelling, called A Future of Towers Made.
I received an ARC copy of this book and found it was fascinating to read.
I received an ARC copy of this book and found it was fascinating to read.
March 19, 2021
Allow more than a day for these fourteen PG tales set in an alternative steampunk world.
The Iron Revolution by Christina Ruth Johnson: Allow a little over an hour for this family-friendly tale of what happens when the 1851 Great Exhibition does not invite the Fair Folk. 5*
Clockwork Tea by Joseph Halden: It takes about an hour for this family-friendly story of tea espionage in China in 1848. 5*
A Future of Towers Made by Beth Cato: Allow about an hour for this family-friendly steampunk variation on Rapunzel. 5*
A Bird Girl in the Darkness of Night by Sarah Van Goethem: This PG one takes over an hour. 5*
Checkmate by Brian Trent: Allow an hour for this strange PG chess game which opens in the London sewers, 23 April 1843. 5*
Necromancy by Melissa Bobe: Allow about forty-five minutes for this PG tale of a plague near Bleeker Hill in late summer. 5*
Blood and Clockwork by Wendy Nikel: A PG half-hour read about a tinkerer. 5*
Sappho and Erinna by Les T. Lindsay: Another half-hour PG read, this one about the Governor's family mystery. 5*
Divine Spark by Diana Hurlburt: A strange, PG tale set in New York state and taking about forty-five minutes to read. 4*
The Balance of Memory by Reese Hogan: It takes about a half-hour for this strange PG tale of Henrik and Gerta. 4*
The Giant and the Unicorn by Alethea Kontis: A lovely family-friendly fable that takes less than a half-hour. 5*
Ningyo by Laura VanArendonk Baugh: This PG tale set in Japan and starting on a ship in a storm takes about an hour, 5*
Father Worm by Adam Breckenridge: This is a strange PG13 tale taking about an hour to read. 4*
The Coach Girl by M.L.D. Curelas: This family-friendly tale includes a desert crossing and takes about forty minutes. 5*
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The Iron Revolution by Christina Ruth Johnson: Allow a little over an hour for this family-friendly tale of what happens when the 1851 Great Exhibition does not invite the Fair Folk. 5*
Clockwork Tea by Joseph Halden: It takes about an hour for this family-friendly story of tea espionage in China in 1848. 5*
A Future of Towers Made by Beth Cato: Allow about an hour for this family-friendly steampunk variation on Rapunzel. 5*
A Bird Girl in the Darkness of Night by Sarah Van Goethem: This PG one takes over an hour. 5*
Checkmate by Brian Trent: Allow an hour for this strange PG chess game which opens in the London sewers, 23 April 1843. 5*
Necromancy by Melissa Bobe: Allow about forty-five minutes for this PG tale of a plague near Bleeker Hill in late summer. 5*
Blood and Clockwork by Wendy Nikel: A PG half-hour read about a tinkerer. 5*
Sappho and Erinna by Les T. Lindsay: Another half-hour PG read, this one about the Governor's family mystery. 5*
Divine Spark by Diana Hurlburt: A strange, PG tale set in New York state and taking about forty-five minutes to read. 4*
The Balance of Memory by Reese Hogan: It takes about a half-hour for this strange PG tale of Henrik and Gerta. 4*
The Giant and the Unicorn by Alethea Kontis: A lovely family-friendly fable that takes less than a half-hour. 5*
Ningyo by Laura VanArendonk Baugh: This PG tale set in Japan and starting on a ship in a storm takes about an hour, 5*
Father Worm by Adam Breckenridge: This is a strange PG13 tale taking about an hour to read. 4*
The Coach Girl by M.L.D. Curelas: This family-friendly tale includes a desert crossing and takes about forty minutes. 5*
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 4, 2021
Enjoyed these steampunk and gas lamp re-imagining of fairy-tales. The original and creative twists on 'Sleeping Beauty' and 'Hansel and Gretel' are my favorite in the collection.
#ClockworkCursesandCoal #NetGalley - I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s.
#ClockworkCursesandCoal #NetGalley - I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s.
March 3, 2021
A great set of stories, of intricate complexity and full of imaginary characters and places. Really interesting sci-fi representations as a sensitive approach is wisest to interpretation. All in all, it is a friendly book, amiable to read which I recommend for any avid fantasy reader. Yet, be warned, you must be ready for some crude horror.
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April 15, 2021ARC from NetGalley
DNF @ 11%
I need to stop this because it's been almost a month, and I just can't bring myself to pick this back up. I only read the first short story, and it wasn't bad but was incredibly shallow and uninteresting. I guess I just need to accept the fact that I don't like short stories because they don't have enough time to really develop into something that I GAF about.
DNF @ 11%
I need to stop this because it's been almost a month, and I just can't bring myself to pick this back up. I only read the first short story, and it wasn't bad but was incredibly shallow and uninteresting. I guess I just need to accept the fact that I don't like short stories because they don't have enough time to really develop into something that I GAF about.
January 19, 2021
wonderful collection.
I was not familiar with Steampunk before this collection of steampunk fairy tales. The stories are well done and give a delightful twist to old fairy tales. This collection has peeked by interest in the steampunk stories.
I received this book as an ARC and greatly enjoyed it.
I was not familiar with Steampunk before this collection of steampunk fairy tales. The stories are well done and give a delightful twist to old fairy tales. This collection has peeked by interest in the steampunk stories.
I received this book as an ARC and greatly enjoyed it.
February 28, 2021
This is such a wonderful collection of tales which will take you on a wonderful journey to different lands. Each one is different but you will love each one so read and enjoy
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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