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Girls of Might and Magic: Diverse Books with Magic Anthology
Find your might. Discover your magic.
A disabled teen tracks down an elusive sea beast. A young, Indian detective finds a magical artifact. A Black teen who can see the dead solves a murder mystery. An Ethiopian girl discovers magical secrets when she is kidnapped by her teacher. A teen survivor of a deadly plague realizes she and her robot companion are not alone.
Across realms, worlds, and dimensions we bring you sixteen fantasy and/or science fiction tales that explore the tribulations of growing up. Full of diverse characters and #ownvoices authors, the protagonists in these coming-of-age YA adventures will not only discover powerful magic but discover themselves along the way. Don't miss this magical collection of stories about witches, fae, ghosts, vampires, werewolves, jinn, and more!
The collection includes:
Heartburn by E. M. Lacey
Wind and Silk by Alice Ivinya
Faith by Sudha Kuruganti
Grace and Ghosts by K. R. S. McEntire
The Outside by C. C. Solomon
Daughter of Soil and Gold by Meghan Rhine
Check Yourself by Kat Zaccard
A Meeting in the Woods by Nicole Givens Kurtz
Pretty Young Things by LaLa Leo
Funnel Cake by Amanda Ross
Outcast by D. L. Howard
Serenity Dawn by C. I. Raiyne
The Cursed Gift by Courtney Dean
Chasing Waves by Kendra Merritt
Sight by Tonya Brown
Memories of Magic by Ashley Ford
About Diverse Books With Magic: We are an online community of speculative fiction fans. We aim to highlight #ownvoices authors and stories with diverse characters. Join us on Facebook at “Diverse Books With Magic: Science Fiction. Fantasy. Dystopian.”
A disabled teen tracks down an elusive sea beast. A young, Indian detective finds a magical artifact. A Black teen who can see the dead solves a murder mystery. An Ethiopian girl discovers magical secrets when she is kidnapped by her teacher. A teen survivor of a deadly plague realizes she and her robot companion are not alone.
Across realms, worlds, and dimensions we bring you sixteen fantasy and/or science fiction tales that explore the tribulations of growing up. Full of diverse characters and #ownvoices authors, the protagonists in these coming-of-age YA adventures will not only discover powerful magic but discover themselves along the way. Don't miss this magical collection of stories about witches, fae, ghosts, vampires, werewolves, jinn, and more!
The collection includes:
Heartburn by E. M. Lacey
Wind and Silk by Alice Ivinya
Faith by Sudha Kuruganti
Grace and Ghosts by K. R. S. McEntire
The Outside by C. C. Solomon
Daughter of Soil and Gold by Meghan Rhine
Check Yourself by Kat Zaccard
A Meeting in the Woods by Nicole Givens Kurtz
Pretty Young Things by LaLa Leo
Funnel Cake by Amanda Ross
Outcast by D. L. Howard
Serenity Dawn by C. I. Raiyne
The Cursed Gift by Courtney Dean
Chasing Waves by Kendra Merritt
Sight by Tonya Brown
Memories of Magic by Ashley Ford
About Diverse Books With Magic: We are an online community of speculative fiction fans. We aim to highlight #ownvoices authors and stories with diverse characters. Join us on Facebook at “Diverse Books With Magic: Science Fiction. Fantasy. Dystopian.”
358 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 22, 2021
76 people are currently reading
352 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
June 10, 2021
Rating is an average of individual story ratings. Reviews are below in order. I usually base my reviews on anthology stories on if I would read a continuation of the story because they usually feel like prequel novellas.
Heartburn by E.M. Lacey: 3/5
Could be the beginnings of a decent story, but the idea isn't very original and using the ongoing pandemic as a starting point of human experimentation and apocalypse is 1. Overdone and 2. In poor taste.
Wind and Silk by Alice Ivinya: 5/5
Fangying is born to a family of Singers but brings shame to her family with her stutter. Her life changes when she is married to a man she never met. I need an expansion of this beautiful story.
Grace and Ghosts by K.R.S. McEntire: 5/5
Grace can see ghosts after her mother died. A boy from school asks for help figuring out the truth behind his brother's death. Well done and could easily turn into a paranormal mystery series.
Faith by Sudha Kuruganti: 4/5
Laya works for the Pandora Agency and is on a mission to find a Box. The author info says she has more stories with these characters, so off to add them to the TBR
The Outside by C.C. Solomon: 4/5
Scifi/apocalypse story using a pandemic again. Done more tastefully than the previous one in the collection, but only barely. If this were expanded, I would be most curious about the robotics tech than the main points of the plot.
Chasing Waves by Kendra Merritt: 4/5
Marina chases her dreams even after an accident that ruined her leg.
Funnel Cake by Amanda Ross: 4/5
Quincy gets a job at a funnel cake stand after her step dad has an accident at work. Could be a good prequel to a series that I would definitely read.
A Meeting in the Woods by Nicole Givens Kurtz: 3/5
I was honestly just really confused by the ending of this one because of Chastity's "We did get rid of him" and mentions of magic. Is her sexuality what is magical or is it like Medora's?
Outcast by D.L. Howard: 3/5
Zazi and her family no longer have magic. But...they do kind of? This could be a decent prequel but high school rich girl drama has really been done enough.
Daughter of Soil and Gold by Meghan Rhine: 4/5
Xahara is named successor of a nation fighting to stay afloat surrounded by battling lands. I could see a series about her rule and expansion of the magic and world introduced here.
Pretty Young Things by LaLa Leo: 2/5
I didn't care for this one. A fairy leaves her abandoned village after the end of the human world and meets up with a couple other magical beings accidentally.
Sight by Tamika Brown: 5/5
Nakira can see the future. The boy who's life she saves has his own secret. I would love to read a series based on these two.
Serenity Dawn by C. I. Raiyne: 2/5
I've had my fill of Alice in Wonderland retellings that are the exact same scenes with different named characters.
The Cursed Gift by Courtney Dean: 4/5
A Seer fights to have her own life instead of the one mapped out for her.
Memories of Magic by Ashley Ford: 5/5
There really should be more supernatural/urban fantasy stories that include things like this.
Check yourself by Kat Zaccard: 4/5
Wasn't expecting a chess story in a fantasy anthology, but it was entertaining.
Heartburn by E.M. Lacey: 3/5
Could be the beginnings of a decent story, but the idea isn't very original and using the ongoing pandemic as a starting point of human experimentation and apocalypse is 1. Overdone and 2. In poor taste.
Wind and Silk by Alice Ivinya: 5/5
Fangying is born to a family of Singers but brings shame to her family with her stutter. Her life changes when she is married to a man she never met. I need an expansion of this beautiful story.
Grace and Ghosts by K.R.S. McEntire: 5/5
Grace can see ghosts after her mother died. A boy from school asks for help figuring out the truth behind his brother's death. Well done and could easily turn into a paranormal mystery series.
Faith by Sudha Kuruganti: 4/5
Laya works for the Pandora Agency and is on a mission to find a Box. The author info says she has more stories with these characters, so off to add them to the TBR
The Outside by C.C. Solomon: 4/5
Scifi/apocalypse story using a pandemic again. Done more tastefully than the previous one in the collection, but only barely. If this were expanded, I would be most curious about the robotics tech than the main points of the plot.
Chasing Waves by Kendra Merritt: 4/5
Marina chases her dreams even after an accident that ruined her leg.
Funnel Cake by Amanda Ross: 4/5
Quincy gets a job at a funnel cake stand after her step dad has an accident at work. Could be a good prequel to a series that I would definitely read.
A Meeting in the Woods by Nicole Givens Kurtz: 3/5
I was honestly just really confused by the ending of this one because of Chastity's "We did get rid of him" and mentions of magic. Is her sexuality what is magical or is it like Medora's?
Outcast by D.L. Howard: 3/5
Zazi and her family no longer have magic. But...they do kind of? This could be a decent prequel but high school rich girl drama has really been done enough.
Daughter of Soil and Gold by Meghan Rhine: 4/5
Xahara is named successor of a nation fighting to stay afloat surrounded by battling lands. I could see a series about her rule and expansion of the magic and world introduced here.
Pretty Young Things by LaLa Leo: 2/5
I didn't care for this one. A fairy leaves her abandoned village after the end of the human world and meets up with a couple other magical beings accidentally.
Sight by Tamika Brown: 5/5
Nakira can see the future. The boy who's life she saves has his own secret. I would love to read a series based on these two.
Serenity Dawn by C. I. Raiyne: 2/5
I've had my fill of Alice in Wonderland retellings that are the exact same scenes with different named characters.
The Cursed Gift by Courtney Dean: 4/5
A Seer fights to have her own life instead of the one mapped out for her.
Memories of Magic by Ashley Ford: 5/5
There really should be more supernatural/urban fantasy stories that include things like this.
Check yourself by Kat Zaccard: 4/5
Wasn't expecting a chess story in a fantasy anthology, but it was entertaining.
August 23, 2021
Overall some of these stories were OK. Some were just too short to make sense of and others were just intros into full length books. Personally I'm getting annoyed by anthologies that consist of book previews and not actual short stories.
Heartburn
Wind & Silk
Grace & Ghosts
Faith
Outside
Chasing Waves
Funnel Cake
Meeting in the Woods
Outcast
Daughter of Soil & Gold
Pretty Young Things
Sight
Serenity Dawn
Cursed Gift
Memories of Magic
Check Yourself
Heartburn
Wind & Silk
Grace & Ghosts
Faith
Outside
Chasing Waves
Funnel Cake
Meeting in the Woods
Outcast
Daughter of Soil & Gold
Pretty Young Things
Sight
Serenity Dawn
Cursed Gift
Memories of Magic
Check Yourself
June 24, 2021
Girls of Might and Magic is an anthology celebrating the magic of strength, resilience, and hope. It contains stories of characters of color, characters with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ characters. It’s about how these characters not only discover powerful magic, but also themselves.
The anthology is put together by Divers Books With Magic, a group that aims to highlight #ownvoice authors and stories with diverse characters. This is the group’s first book and it contains short-stories from 16 different authors.
I recently interviewed K.R.S. McEntire about the project (here), and I want to highlight one of the things she said:
Also, it’s really good, and you should read it.
What I’ll whine about
Sixteen authors and sixteen stories – all of them about young women, facing the kind of issues young women deal with (plus magic). As a middle-aged man, I’m not exactly the target audience for this anthology. Not all of the stories resonated with me, but I’d say that’s to be expected. It would be unfair (and unreasonable) of me to raise that as a serious complaint (I don’t really have a serious complaint).
There’s a variety of themes and styles, and not all stories will appeal to all readers.
What I’ll gush about
The theme of strength, resilience, and hope really did a number on me – more so than I expected. It’s encouraging and uplifting, and a lot of the stories gave me the feels in the best of ways.
The writing. Much as mentioned above that not all of the stories resonated with me, I still have to call out that the quality of the writing is uniformly high. I know that for some of the authors involved, this anthology is among the first times they’re published, but judging by writing, I’d be hard pressed to tell who they are.
The anthology only contained one story by an author I’d read previously, and it contained stories by authors I’d never even heard of, but more importantly: it contained stories by authors I want to read more of. I’ve added several new books to my TBR, and placed one pre-order for an upcoming book that ties in to one of the stories.
Final Words
This collection of YA short-stories is a great choice if you need a little emotional pick-me-up – or just a quick dose of hopeful, positive fantasy.
The anthology is put together by Divers Books With Magic, a group that aims to highlight #ownvoice authors and stories with diverse characters. This is the group’s first book and it contains short-stories from 16 different authors.
I recently interviewed K.R.S. McEntire about the project (here), and I want to highlight one of the things she said:
“So I think it’s a mix of wanting to create something new, but also wanting to just be able to exist in fantasy worlds without it being seen as odd or as some type of political statement. “After reading the book over the last two days, I feel like this sums up what’s at the core of this anthology. It’s no more or less political than fantasy in general. Rather, Girls of Might and Magic is a collection of stories about young women, dealing with the difficulties of growing up, and of coming to terms with having to play the hand that fate dealt them.
Also, it’s really good, and you should read it.
What I’ll whine about
Sixteen authors and sixteen stories – all of them about young women, facing the kind of issues young women deal with (plus magic). As a middle-aged man, I’m not exactly the target audience for this anthology. Not all of the stories resonated with me, but I’d say that’s to be expected. It would be unfair (and unreasonable) of me to raise that as a serious complaint (I don’t really have a serious complaint).
There’s a variety of themes and styles, and not all stories will appeal to all readers.
What I’ll gush about
The theme of strength, resilience, and hope really did a number on me – more so than I expected. It’s encouraging and uplifting, and a lot of the stories gave me the feels in the best of ways.
The writing. Much as mentioned above that not all of the stories resonated with me, I still have to call out that the quality of the writing is uniformly high. I know that for some of the authors involved, this anthology is among the first times they’re published, but judging by writing, I’d be hard pressed to tell who they are.
The anthology only contained one story by an author I’d read previously, and it contained stories by authors I’d never even heard of, but more importantly: it contained stories by authors I want to read more of. I’ve added several new books to my TBR, and placed one pre-order for an upcoming book that ties in to one of the stories.
Final Words
This collection of YA short-stories is a great choice if you need a little emotional pick-me-up – or just a quick dose of hopeful, positive fantasy.
June 8, 2021
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for review by one of the writers in this book. I will rate the book 4.5 five stars because I like the book but two of the stories I didn’t like as much as the other stories in the book.
I will talk about what I liked first. The cover is breathtaking and the theme and the quotes that start each story is good. Diversity is important and this is a way to find and read more diverse authors and I can look into other books by the authors I enjoyed! My favorite in the book are in the first half - I LOVE LOVE LOVE the very first story Heartburn. I also love Outcast, The Outside, Grace and Ghosts, Chasing Waves, Funnel Cake, Wind and Silk, A Meeting in the Woods, and many more were good stories to read. I am happy that I have read them.
There were a couple of stories that I could not connect with but I guess that is true for any big collection. There were only two that I did not finish reading. Also the book is very long but the short stories help make it short. Overall I think you will enjoy this book if you choose to read it!
I will talk about what I liked first. The cover is breathtaking and the theme and the quotes that start each story is good. Diversity is important and this is a way to find and read more diverse authors and I can look into other books by the authors I enjoyed! My favorite in the book are in the first half - I LOVE LOVE LOVE the very first story Heartburn. I also love Outcast, The Outside, Grace and Ghosts, Chasing Waves, Funnel Cake, Wind and Silk, A Meeting in the Woods, and many more were good stories to read. I am happy that I have read them.
There were a couple of stories that I could not connect with but I guess that is true for any big collection. There were only two that I did not finish reading. Also the book is very long but the short stories help make it short. Overall I think you will enjoy this book if you choose to read it!
June 16, 2021
Hello! I was given an ARC to post an honest review of my thoughts. So without further ado~Let’s begin!
Diversity, magic, family drama, mystery, romance—this has it all. To be completely honest: this was my first time ever reading an anthology so I wasn’t sure what to expect. But I certainly wasn’t disappointed that’s for sure! I wish I could give my thoughts and opinions on literally every piece that was featured in this, but I can’t because that’ll be too long to read. XD But this was so so so SO amazing, like, it feels that every piece gets better as you keep reading. As well as the fact that there is something here for everyone, I feel like.
Which I why I highly recommend this because it is in fact something where if there’s one story you might not enjoy. There’s like fifteen others you can super enjoy and laugh out loud too. I also recommend this for an entirely cheesy and kinda dumb reason: the visuals. Y’all know I’m a sucker for pretty things. And this book is no different. From the cover to the inside—I was dying honestly. And while reading one story I was losing my mind fangirling over everyone’s interactions and development. I can not stress this enough—read this. If not for the story. Just to see so many diverse people, cultures, and ideas in one bulk. I feel as though a good deal of these could’ve honestly been their own novel entirely that’s how much I was enjoying it.
Overall 5-5 stars; I was literally jumping around my house while reading. That’s how good it was.
Diversity, magic, family drama, mystery, romance—this has it all. To be completely honest: this was my first time ever reading an anthology so I wasn’t sure what to expect. But I certainly wasn’t disappointed that’s for sure! I wish I could give my thoughts and opinions on literally every piece that was featured in this, but I can’t because that’ll be too long to read. XD But this was so so so SO amazing, like, it feels that every piece gets better as you keep reading. As well as the fact that there is something here for everyone, I feel like.
Which I why I highly recommend this because it is in fact something where if there’s one story you might not enjoy. There’s like fifteen others you can super enjoy and laugh out loud too. I also recommend this for an entirely cheesy and kinda dumb reason: the visuals. Y’all know I’m a sucker for pretty things. And this book is no different. From the cover to the inside—I was dying honestly. And while reading one story I was losing my mind fangirling over everyone’s interactions and development. I can not stress this enough—read this. If not for the story. Just to see so many diverse people, cultures, and ideas in one bulk. I feel as though a good deal of these could’ve honestly been their own novel entirely that’s how much I was enjoying it.
Overall 5-5 stars; I was literally jumping around my house while reading. That’s how good it was.
June 13, 2021
Wow wow wow. I was given an ARC of this book and wow. We need more books like this! This book is an anthology of stories from different authors . Each story features a diverse cast and mc. Personally there were stories I couldn't get into, which is fine! But others that I FREAKING LOVED! I cant wait to join the community on facebook and read more of these awesome stories.
June 22, 2021
I loved this collection of diverse fantasy stories, I'd been admiring the cover for weeks so when the opportunity to read an advance copy came I practically snatched the authors' hands off!
I really liked the little added touch of the epigraphs to introduce each story, it felt like a tiny insight into the author and the story.
Particular favourites were Wind and Silk, a gorgeous tale of strength, love and dragons set in an Imperial China inspired world. And Grace and Ghosts, I loved the twists and turns in this one, especially that final reveal! Full. Body. Chills.
Most of these authors were new to me, but I'll definitely be reading more from all of them as I enjoyed every story and can't wait to see what they write next!
This anthology is perfect for fantasy loving teens and adults alike. I definitely recommend it if you love quick, fun reads with big twists.
I really liked the little added touch of the epigraphs to introduce each story, it felt like a tiny insight into the author and the story.
Particular favourites were Wind and Silk, a gorgeous tale of strength, love and dragons set in an Imperial China inspired world. And Grace and Ghosts, I loved the twists and turns in this one, especially that final reveal! Full. Body. Chills.
Most of these authors were new to me, but I'll definitely be reading more from all of them as I enjoyed every story and can't wait to see what they write next!
This anthology is perfect for fantasy loving teens and adults alike. I definitely recommend it if you love quick, fun reads with big twists.
July 9, 2021
Girls of Might and Magic was fantastic! This collection features sixteen fantasy shorts stories about women coming into their magic and their identity. Each story brings something new to the collection with characters you're sure to fall in love with!
June 23, 2021
Most Epic Read Ever
I absolutely loved every story in this awesome project. Every author gets 10's 10's 10's across the board. I can't wait to see what comes next.
I absolutely loved every story in this awesome project. Every author gets 10's 10's 10's across the board. I can't wait to see what comes next.
June 27, 2021
This is a terrific collection written by some amazing authors! All well written these fantasy reads just grab you and reel you in. Each story is set in amazing worlds with great storylines full of action, adventure, twists and turns and amazing characters all different and special in their own unique way. Sixteen awesome stories full of magic, witches, fae, ghosts, vampires, werewolves, jinn, and more!
July 22, 2021
Some great stories in here. Loved reading about other parts of the world with magic.
January 5, 2023
Girls of Might and Magic is an anthology of short stories showcasing magic and the magic of resilience and hope. It contains 16 different stories by 16 different authors, and each of the stories focuses on a different young woman who is dealing with the difficulties of growing up and the struggle of playing the hand dealt to them.
Each story painted a wonderful picture of dealing with the struggles of life and coming out the other side stronger for it. Of the 16 stories, there was only one that I didn't really connect with as much as the others, though it was still a beautiful story. If you like stories with strong female characters and magic that doesn't always make life easier, then give this anthology a chance.
Mini-Reviews for each story:
Heartburn (4/5) - An interesting story overall, but I wished it had been longer. I liked the discovery aspect of it, with the protagonist slowly discovering her own identity and power.
Wind and Silk (5/5) - Fanyeng is the fourth daughter, born into a family of Singers. But she suffers from a stutter, which could bring shame to the family if discovered. It is when she is married off to a stranger so her father can avoid going to war himself that she discovers her true value. I would love a full-length novel of this story and the Song magic in it.
Grace and Ghosts (5/5) - After her mother dies, Grace begins seeing ghosts. A classmate asks for her help in finding out what really happened to his twin brother. This story reminded me a bit of the Mediator series by Meg Cabot, and I would love to see it expanded into a longer story.
Faith (5/5) - Laya is on her first field assignment with the Pandora Unit, trying to track down a Box. According to the author, there are more stories with this character, so they have been added to my TBR list.
The Outside (5/5) - Clara is living in an apartment with an android companion while a pandemic rages through the country. The mystery surrounding why she's not allowed outside the apartment is fascinating, and I would love to see this one expanded - though I would probably want more information on the tech and robotics than the pandemic.
Chasing Waves (4/5) - Marina is determined to help her parents discover the creature they've been searching for, even after the accident which severely damaged one of her legs.
Funnel Cake (5/5) - Quincy's stepfather has been injured at work, so she gets a summer job to help out the family while her younger sister helps care for their stepfather. But her stepfather's injury may not be as simple as it first appears. This story strikes me as a prequel, and I want to read the rest of the series.
A Meeting in the Woods (3/5) - Chastity has a volatile boyfriend, Noah "Sin" Sinclair, and a best friend Medora who claims they're a witch. Sin doesn't like Medora and forces Chastity to choose between the two of them. The story started off great, but the ending was a bit convoluted.
Outcast (5/5) - Zazi Ravendark comes from an elite line of mages. Unfortunately, her family hasn't produced a magic user, and they are on the verge of being expelled from mage society. I definitely want more stories in this world.
Daughter of Soil and Gold (4/5) - Xahara is being named the successor of her faction when other factions are at war and there is turmoil within hers. The brief battle in this story is just enough to whet your appetite, and I could definitely see this story being expanded.
Pretty Young Things (2/5) - A fairy, a demon, and a mermaid all get caught up in the fate of the last human on earth. The premise is interesting, but I just couldn't get into this one.
Sight (5/5) - Nakira has visions of the future. When she uses what she sees to save the life of a popular boy, she learns he has secrets of his own. I definitely want a series following these two characters.
Serenity Dawn (3/5) - an Alice in Wonderland retelling that is interesting but falls a little short. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't great either.
The Cursed Gift (4/5) - Nari is finishing college and trying to figure out what she wants to do, while also struggling with the destiny placed in front of her. I think this story would shine more if it were expanded into a novella; it was too short, and the problem was resolved too quickly for me.
Memories of Magic (4/5) - Struggling with the death of her grandmother, Fia is dragged to a party by her best friend. An Ouija board is brought out, and some things best left alone are discovered.
Check Yourself (5/5) - Who would have thought that a chess-playing vampire would show up in a fantasy anthology, but he does, and he features in a great story.
Each story painted a wonderful picture of dealing with the struggles of life and coming out the other side stronger for it. Of the 16 stories, there was only one that I didn't really connect with as much as the others, though it was still a beautiful story. If you like stories with strong female characters and magic that doesn't always make life easier, then give this anthology a chance.
Mini-Reviews for each story:
Heartburn (4/5) - An interesting story overall, but I wished it had been longer. I liked the discovery aspect of it, with the protagonist slowly discovering her own identity and power.
Wind and Silk (5/5) - Fanyeng is the fourth daughter, born into a family of Singers. But she suffers from a stutter, which could bring shame to the family if discovered. It is when she is married off to a stranger so her father can avoid going to war himself that she discovers her true value. I would love a full-length novel of this story and the Song magic in it.
Grace and Ghosts (5/5) - After her mother dies, Grace begins seeing ghosts. A classmate asks for her help in finding out what really happened to his twin brother. This story reminded me a bit of the Mediator series by Meg Cabot, and I would love to see it expanded into a longer story.
Faith (5/5) - Laya is on her first field assignment with the Pandora Unit, trying to track down a Box. According to the author, there are more stories with this character, so they have been added to my TBR list.
The Outside (5/5) - Clara is living in an apartment with an android companion while a pandemic rages through the country. The mystery surrounding why she's not allowed outside the apartment is fascinating, and I would love to see this one expanded - though I would probably want more information on the tech and robotics than the pandemic.
Chasing Waves (4/5) - Marina is determined to help her parents discover the creature they've been searching for, even after the accident which severely damaged one of her legs.
Funnel Cake (5/5) - Quincy's stepfather has been injured at work, so she gets a summer job to help out the family while her younger sister helps care for their stepfather. But her stepfather's injury may not be as simple as it first appears. This story strikes me as a prequel, and I want to read the rest of the series.
A Meeting in the Woods (3/5) - Chastity has a volatile boyfriend, Noah "Sin" Sinclair, and a best friend Medora who claims they're a witch. Sin doesn't like Medora and forces Chastity to choose between the two of them. The story started off great, but the ending was a bit convoluted.
Outcast (5/5) - Zazi Ravendark comes from an elite line of mages. Unfortunately, her family hasn't produced a magic user, and they are on the verge of being expelled from mage society. I definitely want more stories in this world.
Daughter of Soil and Gold (4/5) - Xahara is being named the successor of her faction when other factions are at war and there is turmoil within hers. The brief battle in this story is just enough to whet your appetite, and I could definitely see this story being expanded.
Pretty Young Things (2/5) - A fairy, a demon, and a mermaid all get caught up in the fate of the last human on earth. The premise is interesting, but I just couldn't get into this one.
Sight (5/5) - Nakira has visions of the future. When she uses what she sees to save the life of a popular boy, she learns he has secrets of his own. I definitely want a series following these two characters.
Serenity Dawn (3/5) - an Alice in Wonderland retelling that is interesting but falls a little short. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't great either.
The Cursed Gift (4/5) - Nari is finishing college and trying to figure out what she wants to do, while also struggling with the destiny placed in front of her. I think this story would shine more if it were expanded into a novella; it was too short, and the problem was resolved too quickly for me.
Memories of Magic (4/5) - Struggling with the death of her grandmother, Fia is dragged to a party by her best friend. An Ouija board is brought out, and some things best left alone are discovered.
Check Yourself (5/5) - Who would have thought that a chess-playing vampire would show up in a fantasy anthology, but he does, and he features in a great story.
April 15, 2024
This anthology was recommended to me on Instagram and I immediately got my copy. Stories are individually reviewed.
Heartburn
Such a fun story! Wish my heartburn hid a secret like that. LOL.
Wind and Silk
So much going on in this story that one wants to read more about the heroine and her dragon.
Grace and Ghosts
A girl who can see ghosts, a boy whose twin was murdered, and human trafficking… It has a HEA, but it’s not really my kind of story.
Faith
I liked the twist on the box they had to find. And I liked the character growth and worldbuilding. Would like to read more about this heroine.
The Outside
An interesting story. Though the heroine wasn’t too likeable for most of the story. I liked the take on a plague.
Chasing Waves
I like the seahorse and the interaction between it and the heroine. Not sure if I like the idea of the seahorses being studied… Scientists do horrible things in search of knowledge.
Funnel Cake
Set in a time of bellbottoms and “groovy”, this werewolf tale packs a punch.
Meeting in the Woods
Something felt off about this story. DNF 50%
Outcast
A good story, though I do wonder how such bullying can be allowed to go unchecked. And why can’t the heroine access her magic? I would like to read more…
Daughter of Soil and Gold
Loads of description, not a lot of story. DNF 8%
Pretty Young Things
A philosophical rambling that went over my head. DNF 2%
Sight
The story drew me in – and then the huge block of italics with her vision along with the abrupt ending spoiled the whole thing.
Serenity Dawn
The story doesn’t make sense: a girl waiting for an Uber walks home, passes out, walks through a portal into a dreamworld where she learns she’d created it and all the magic there – but can’t remember it. DNF 15%
The Cursed Gift
Not really much happening… The loads of italics did nothing to aid the story – just irritate me.
Memories of Magic
Too much alcohol and missing words without something to pull me into the story. DNF 5%
Check Yourself
A fun vampire story centred around chess and friendship. I do wonder why the heroine couldn’t be glamoured…
For the anthology as a whole: I had a problem with the italics as it messes with my eyes and head, making it difficult to read and enjoy the book. Authors and publishers: please consider the neurodivergent when making decisions about italics so books are accessible to all.
Otherwise and interesting collection of short stories.
Heartburn
Such a fun story! Wish my heartburn hid a secret like that. LOL.
Wind and Silk
So much going on in this story that one wants to read more about the heroine and her dragon.
Grace and Ghosts
A girl who can see ghosts, a boy whose twin was murdered, and human trafficking… It has a HEA, but it’s not really my kind of story.
Faith
I liked the twist on the box they had to find. And I liked the character growth and worldbuilding. Would like to read more about this heroine.
The Outside
An interesting story. Though the heroine wasn’t too likeable for most of the story. I liked the take on a plague.
Chasing Waves
I like the seahorse and the interaction between it and the heroine. Not sure if I like the idea of the seahorses being studied… Scientists do horrible things in search of knowledge.
Funnel Cake
Set in a time of bellbottoms and “groovy”, this werewolf tale packs a punch.
Meeting in the Woods
Something felt off about this story. DNF 50%
Outcast
A good story, though I do wonder how such bullying can be allowed to go unchecked. And why can’t the heroine access her magic? I would like to read more…
Daughter of Soil and Gold
Loads of description, not a lot of story. DNF 8%
Pretty Young Things
A philosophical rambling that went over my head. DNF 2%
Sight
The story drew me in – and then the huge block of italics with her vision along with the abrupt ending spoiled the whole thing.
Serenity Dawn
The story doesn’t make sense: a girl waiting for an Uber walks home, passes out, walks through a portal into a dreamworld where she learns she’d created it and all the magic there – but can’t remember it. DNF 15%
The Cursed Gift
Not really much happening… The loads of italics did nothing to aid the story – just irritate me.
Memories of Magic
Too much alcohol and missing words without something to pull me into the story. DNF 5%
Check Yourself
A fun vampire story centred around chess and friendship. I do wonder why the heroine couldn’t be glamoured…
For the anthology as a whole: I had a problem with the italics as it messes with my eyes and head, making it difficult to read and enjoy the book. Authors and publishers: please consider the neurodivergent when making decisions about italics so books are accessible to all.
Otherwise and interesting collection of short stories.
July 1, 2021
This is an anthology of sixteen tales from different authors, with a mix of very diverse characters with the strength to overcome the situations they find themselves in. These are not the normal characters you would find in many stories, as they cover the whole gauntlet of diversity found in our modern world. The stories are told by a set of authors who can be found on Diverse Books with Magic: Science Fiction; Fantasy; and Dystopian. Some of these authors I have already become familiar with and the others are a perfect introduction to their writing and give you an idea of whether you fancy following them as well. Each of the separate tale is a complete story of its own design, rather than what seems to be just a part of something bigger or incomplete, like some anthologies seem to do. There are a wide assortment of situations, settings, main characters, and locations for each tale.
A teenager faced with the dead all around her and not being able to tell anyone else, another who is kidnapped by one of her high school teachers to be experimented upon just like her gran. A teen who refuses to allow a previous injury to stop her looking for a mysterious sea creature her family have been searching for years for, with her parents secretly wanting to send her back to land where she would be safer! A piece close to our current predicament with a young woman all alone after some sort of plague has hit, alone apart from her humanoid cyborg companion, who never lets her out of her room, no matter what strange noises she hears. Teens with issues, facing difficult and magical dangers and quests. There was only one story I didn’t like, only because of the large chunks of poetry, which brought each character into play. Lots of interesting tales from a variety of authors, full of magic and mystery and strong characters. I received an ARC copy of this anthology from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the stories above.
A teenager faced with the dead all around her and not being able to tell anyone else, another who is kidnapped by one of her high school teachers to be experimented upon just like her gran. A teen who refuses to allow a previous injury to stop her looking for a mysterious sea creature her family have been searching for years for, with her parents secretly wanting to send her back to land where she would be safer! A piece close to our current predicament with a young woman all alone after some sort of plague has hit, alone apart from her humanoid cyborg companion, who never lets her out of her room, no matter what strange noises she hears. Teens with issues, facing difficult and magical dangers and quests. There was only one story I didn’t like, only because of the large chunks of poetry, which brought each character into play. Lots of interesting tales from a variety of authors, full of magic and mystery and strong characters. I received an ARC copy of this anthology from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the stories above.
August 21, 2021
A short story collection with 16 tales by different authors. The great thing about anthologies is they can provide a wide range of voices - and this book has plenty of Own Voices with characters of color, as well as several with physical disabilities, and one non-binary character. It was great to see them also find their potential without a magic wand that eliminated their challenges. This contributes to my star rating as we need more inclusive books just like this one.
One thing I really enjoy about collections is the wide range of stories that approached empowering a young woman (could have added some older ladies ;).
There are a few dystopian, some paranormal romance, a few that are the "high school girl who discovers her powers" (my least favorite, but that is because I don't enjoy that type of fantasy), and some that are truly outside the box. However, I was surprised not to find more use of culture either in the characters or in the settings as would be expected.
Among my favorites were: Wind and Silk by Alice Ivinya about a woman dealing with an arranged marriage (this begs for a full-length book); Chasing Waves by Kendra Merritt, really brought back those stories I read in middle school - a lovely tale where the character grows through the adventure; and Daughter of Soil and Gold by Meghan Rhine has a nice blend of SF with Fantasy with a world that would be fascinating to read about (and would please Wakonda fans).
Even if I didn't enjoy all the stories, the writing quality is quite high throughout. This is something you don't find in many indie-published anthologies (which are thrown together with little editing). The formatting of the ebook was also well done.
One thing I really enjoy about collections is the wide range of stories that approached empowering a young woman (could have added some older ladies ;).
There are a few dystopian, some paranormal romance, a few that are the "high school girl who discovers her powers" (my least favorite, but that is because I don't enjoy that type of fantasy), and some that are truly outside the box. However, I was surprised not to find more use of culture either in the characters or in the settings as would be expected.
Among my favorites were: Wind and Silk by Alice Ivinya about a woman dealing with an arranged marriage (this begs for a full-length book); Chasing Waves by Kendra Merritt, really brought back those stories I read in middle school - a lovely tale where the character grows through the adventure; and Daughter of Soil and Gold by Meghan Rhine has a nice blend of SF with Fantasy with a world that would be fascinating to read about (and would please Wakonda fans).
Even if I didn't enjoy all the stories, the writing quality is quite high throughout. This is something you don't find in many indie-published anthologies (which are thrown together with little editing). The formatting of the ebook was also well done.
June 23, 2021
I love seeing books with Black girls and women wielding magic on the cover. This is exactly what I would have picked up as a teenager hoping to see more stories about Black Girl Magic, and I love that more stories like this are available to young adult readers now.
This book definitely delivers on its promise. It's what fantasy could (and in a lot of ways should) be more of. By that I mean, more varied in the range of experiences, abilities, and myths, rather than retreading the same old ground. It was especially refreshing to read perspectives that were new to me and, in my opinion, are underrepresented in genre and fantasy fiction. It was also cool to read the different styles and approaches. This is a good sampler for discovering new (to you) diverse authors.
There's something in this anthology for everyone: shifters, dragons, magical academies, family and found family, and more. A few stories stood out in particular; I most enjoyed "Grace and Ghosts" by KRS McEntire, "Chasing Waves" by Kendra Merritt, and "Sight" by Tamika Brown.
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book definitely delivers on its promise. It's what fantasy could (and in a lot of ways should) be more of. By that I mean, more varied in the range of experiences, abilities, and myths, rather than retreading the same old ground. It was especially refreshing to read perspectives that were new to me and, in my opinion, are underrepresented in genre and fantasy fiction. It was also cool to read the different styles and approaches. This is a good sampler for discovering new (to you) diverse authors.
There's something in this anthology for everyone: shifters, dragons, magical academies, family and found family, and more. A few stories stood out in particular; I most enjoyed "Grace and Ghosts" by KRS McEntire, "Chasing Waves" by Kendra Merritt, and "Sight" by Tamika Brown.
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 14, 2021
I love that this book was full of vivid stories of magic, each one different from the one before! I thoroughly enjoyed the exploration into each authors world of discovery! The Epigraph's were a beautiful interlude to each story, and it was nice getting to learn a bit about each author. This book comes highly recommended!
June 26, 2021
A totally different collection of stories. Teens that have different physical abilities and how they manage. There’s magic involved and definitely keeps you reading.
Want to read
April 14, 2022🎁 FREE on Amazon today (4/14/2022)! 🎁
June 29, 2021
The stories are all different but they're focused on the same theme of strength, resilience, and hope. A beautifully put-together collection.
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.
June 16, 2021
The only complaint I have about this book is that each individual story wasn’t longer! The author’s stories wind their way into your mind and leave you wanting more. I felt personally connected to each heroine and enjoyed watching them each come into their true forms and finding out how strong they really are. A great read for those who enjoy magic and things otherworldly.
June 24, 2021
Each story I read I felt I was there witnessing it. I love the different creativity of each author’s world. I love that each heroine powers came from within showing we control our own destinies. I’m looking forward to read more of these authors works!
June 23, 2021
This anthology opens with a BANG!
You're drawn in by the FREAKING EPIC cover and then swept away by the very first page.
I honestly expected to experience some tales of heroic young women, from many walks of life, owning their sh*t and being wickedly fantastic. You know, I knew this was not your typical commercial fiction crap with the same copy-and-paste heroine.
But I didn't expect to be quite so blown away.
I don't know why you're here reading reviews and wasting time not reading this anthology.
These authors are amazing, and I have now found some new favourites!
I'm so glad I stumbled across this.
You're drawn in by the FREAKING EPIC cover and then swept away by the very first page.
I honestly expected to experience some tales of heroic young women, from many walks of life, owning their sh*t and being wickedly fantastic. You know, I knew this was not your typical commercial fiction crap with the same copy-and-paste heroine.
But I didn't expect to be quite so blown away.
I don't know why you're here reading reviews and wasting time not reading this anthology.
These authors are amazing, and I have now found some new favourites!
I'm so glad I stumbled across this.
March 29, 2022
I love to read anthologies because it's a great way to get a sampling of many different kinds of stories and maybe find a new favorite author. I also love the goals of this anthology to promote more diversity in publishing. It's worth checking out for that fact alone, but I tried to consider the writing under its own merits.
This was an interesting collection of stories by authors that were all new to me, so I liked to get a taste. All the stories were refreshing and different from most other things that I've read recently. For example, I've never seen jinn in an urban fantasy setting, and the take on werewolves was unique.
There were also numerous stories that featured Black Girl Magic. Not just Black girls who gained magic in a fantasy world (although that happens, too), but Black girls who found pride and strength in their identities. Since the authors are writing with their #OwnVoices, these felt very authentic. There were a few stories with LGBTQ+ characters and other types of diversity, but Black Girl Magic was definitely the star of this anthology.
Most if not all the stories were a prequel for a longer series, and that's where the collection fell a little short for me. Some of the stories are complete, but others felt like they were just set up or too brief and didn't even give space to get to know the characters. Also, because they seemed rough and lacked editing, I'm not sure if they all made me want to read more. I will try out a few of these authors' other stories. Many seemed like they were just starting out and need more experience to craft a compelling world.
But the stories that I didn't like might be the perfect cup of tea for someone else. Anthologies are better when they have a wide variety because then you're more likely to find something that appeals to you. If they're all the same, then I might stop reading if the first few stories failed to hold my interest.
This was an interesting collection of stories by authors that were all new to me, so I liked to get a taste. All the stories were refreshing and different from most other things that I've read recently. For example, I've never seen jinn in an urban fantasy setting, and the take on werewolves was unique.
There were also numerous stories that featured Black Girl Magic. Not just Black girls who gained magic in a fantasy world (although that happens, too), but Black girls who found pride and strength in their identities. Since the authors are writing with their #OwnVoices, these felt very authentic. There were a few stories with LGBTQ+ characters and other types of diversity, but Black Girl Magic was definitely the star of this anthology.
Most if not all the stories were a prequel for a longer series, and that's where the collection fell a little short for me. Some of the stories are complete, but others felt like they were just set up or too brief and didn't even give space to get to know the characters. Also, because they seemed rough and lacked editing, I'm not sure if they all made me want to read more. I will try out a few of these authors' other stories. Many seemed like they were just starting out and need more experience to craft a compelling world.
But the stories that I didn't like might be the perfect cup of tea for someone else. Anthologies are better when they have a wide variety because then you're more likely to find something that appeals to you. If they're all the same, then I might stop reading if the first few stories failed to hold my interest.
October 11, 2021
15 diverse writers have put together this indie anthology all about magical girls doing magical things. Most of them are Black; a few are Asian (although I think it's worth pointing out that not all of these stories are #ownvoices). The stories are culturally, socially, and thematically diverse and I think there's something in here for everyone.
That's also where reviewing gets tricky. Anthologies are a little uneven by nature--with so many different writing styles and perspectives in one book that it's rare to find one that's 100% enjoyable for everybody from cover to cover. While there were some stories here I didn't care for, I recognize that they would definitely be appreciated by other genre readers.
That said, I really loved some of these. K.R.S. McEntire's Grace and Ghosts is a great take on a crime-solving medium tale, although the young Black heroes have slightly different concerns than The Ghost Whisperer would. Alice Ivinya gives us the beautiful fairytale Wind and Silk based on Chinese mythology. It includes disability rep and really sweet emotional authenticity in the midst of all the magic. Faith by Sudha Kuruganti is perhaps the first urban fantasy with an Indian heroine I've seen and has an interesting twist. And I need Amanda Ross to turn the funky Black monster hunter story Funnel Cake into a series *stat* -- I'd love to see these characters do more together.
If you like magic and powerful girls, check this collection out--it has a lot to offer.
Thanks to K.R.S. McEntire and the FB Group Diverse Books With Magic for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
If you liked this review, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, or check out my blog. Peace, fellow readers!
That's also where reviewing gets tricky. Anthologies are a little uneven by nature--with so many different writing styles and perspectives in one book that it's rare to find one that's 100% enjoyable for everybody from cover to cover. While there were some stories here I didn't care for, I recognize that they would definitely be appreciated by other genre readers.
That said, I really loved some of these. K.R.S. McEntire's Grace and Ghosts is a great take on a crime-solving medium tale, although the young Black heroes have slightly different concerns than The Ghost Whisperer would. Alice Ivinya gives us the beautiful fairytale Wind and Silk based on Chinese mythology. It includes disability rep and really sweet emotional authenticity in the midst of all the magic. Faith by Sudha Kuruganti is perhaps the first urban fantasy with an Indian heroine I've seen and has an interesting twist. And I need Amanda Ross to turn the funky Black monster hunter story Funnel Cake into a series *stat* -- I'd love to see these characters do more together.
If you like magic and powerful girls, check this collection out--it has a lot to offer.
Thanks to K.R.S. McEntire and the FB Group Diverse Books With Magic for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
If you liked this review, follow me on Facebook, Instagram, or check out my blog. Peace, fellow readers!
June 26, 2021
I was lucky enough to read an early version of this book. It has lots of different stories, with variation in theme and setting but all of them catering to the same audience (teens who want some adventure stories, and adults who continue to love those stories). As its a set of stories by different authors I naturally enjoyed some more than others.
Quick fire opinions:
The very first story is very well written and constructed. The plot felt a little bit unmemorable/familiar but the execution was perfection.
Wind and Silk (the second story) was more adventurous. Quite an unusual plot and a very vivid and memorable setting. Ended a little fast but that is nitpicking.
The ghost story annoyed me. The first half was really good. The character's snappish dialogue was fun, the premise was intriguing and the plot had a thrust. Then it jumped to a quick resolution that didn't really use many of the nice elements that had already been established. I think I would have forgiven the rushed ending more readily apart from the fact that the opening was just so intriguing.
There is one with a magic detective in New York running about with werewolves. It was fun but a lot of it was quite tired, recycled even. The chief detective slams their desk. The blonde girl from school is all snooty and competitive. The wish-giving thing tries to find a way of making things bad by taking your words literally (its readings also didn't actually make sense).
Plague story with robots was nice. A good claustrophobic fearful tone, but still keeping it fun enough to fit in the set.
Overall a really nice set of stories. Some of them excellent and none of them duds!
Quick fire opinions:
The very first story is very well written and constructed. The plot felt a little bit unmemorable/familiar but the execution was perfection.
Wind and Silk (the second story) was more adventurous. Quite an unusual plot and a very vivid and memorable setting. Ended a little fast but that is nitpicking.
The ghost story annoyed me. The first half was really good. The character's snappish dialogue was fun, the premise was intriguing and the plot had a thrust. Then it jumped to a quick resolution that didn't really use many of the nice elements that had already been established. I think I would have forgiven the rushed ending more readily apart from the fact that the opening was just so intriguing.
There is one with a magic detective in New York running about with werewolves. It was fun but a lot of it was quite tired, recycled even. The chief detective slams their desk. The blonde girl from school is all snooty and competitive. The wish-giving thing tries to find a way of making things bad by taking your words literally (its readings also didn't actually make sense).
Plague story with robots was nice. A good claustrophobic fearful tone, but still keeping it fun enough to fit in the set.
Overall a really nice set of stories. Some of them excellent and none of them duds!
August 19, 2025
I don't normally read collections of short stories, but this project/compilation got my attention.
I love the background information and the purpose of this anthology so much and I think it's so great that it started with a group!
The stores are varied and they slab so many different types of magic, so you get a great taste of writing styles and a broad range of fantasy.
While some stories brought me into their world more than others, the format is so short that I never feel fully connected or invested. Each story is either part of a larger project, one that the author is presumably writing, or the author is trying to build a full story with all the drama, the feelings, and the adventure in about 20 pages.
I think this is a lovely starting off point for some authors, and I hope that they can continue to work these stories into full novels and some could be series because there is quite a bit of potential.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I love the background information and the purpose of this anthology so much and I think it's so great that it started with a group!
The stores are varied and they slab so many different types of magic, so you get a great taste of writing styles and a broad range of fantasy.
While some stories brought me into their world more than others, the format is so short that I never feel fully connected or invested. Each story is either part of a larger project, one that the author is presumably writing, or the author is trying to build a full story with all the drama, the feelings, and the adventure in about 20 pages.
I think this is a lovely starting off point for some authors, and I hope that they can continue to work these stories into full novels and some could be series because there is quite a bit of potential.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 4, 2021
YA bitesize coming of age stories that empower young women
Ok, this was different. What I loved most was that the stories were bite size, which lets you read a few in one go and that this YA fantasy set was empowering straight as well as diverse women. The focus was on coming of age and how teen and twentysomething girls got their s**t together and overcame the darkness, prejudice, hate, pain, disability, insecurities and found their inner light.
The most memorable stories for me were:
- Ivinya’s emotional Wind&Silk - ahh, I nearly cried when Chi finds her voice!
- Zaccard’s Check Yourself - the snappy exchanges between Ash and the 565yo vamp were fab and you’ll love this if you liked The Queen’s gambit;
- Howard’s Outcast has a bullying with violence trigger and made me want to know what happens next with Zazi’s necromancer powers!!!
- Ford’s Memories of Magic - spooky good drinksy ouija board fun turned scary;
- Merritt’s Chasing Waves - I really liked that it was Ariel in reverse & the ocean’s call is something I can never resist;
- Ross’ Funnel Cake had werewolves & witches & hunters, kept me on the edge of my seat and I was definitely rooting for the main character & her family to escape her fate;
- Brown’s Sight - Nakira’s prophetic dreams & her relationship with golden boy Devin deserved a longer develop, but it was a fun read and I always applaud when a seer is trying to do good (despite Cassandra’s fate).
Others I liked were:
- McEntire ghost story was uplifting;
- Dean’s The Cursed Gift has a deliciously smelling vampire Artem Azarov approaching a seer with a famous pedigree, but the meet to mate speed was too breakneck for me;
- Kuruganti’s Faith will appeal to those who love Pandora’s box lore & urban fantasy.;
- C.C.Solomon’s The Outside hit a bit close to home in the pandemic world, butnit is mirroring the times, well if we had robots it definitely would;
- Lacey’s Heartburn will be loved by those who love dragons.
Overall impression 4 stars. Suggested for lovers of YA short stories about kickass women who want to find a few promising new indie favourite authors.
Ok, this was different. What I loved most was that the stories were bite size, which lets you read a few in one go and that this YA fantasy set was empowering straight as well as diverse women. The focus was on coming of age and how teen and twentysomething girls got their s**t together and overcame the darkness, prejudice, hate, pain, disability, insecurities and found their inner light.
The most memorable stories for me were:
- Ivinya’s emotional Wind&Silk - ahh, I nearly cried when Chi finds her voice!
- Zaccard’s Check Yourself - the snappy exchanges between Ash and the 565yo vamp were fab and you’ll love this if you liked The Queen’s gambit;
- Howard’s Outcast has a bullying with violence trigger and made me want to know what happens next with Zazi’s necromancer powers!!!
- Ford’s Memories of Magic - spooky good drinksy ouija board fun turned scary;
- Merritt’s Chasing Waves - I really liked that it was Ariel in reverse & the ocean’s call is something I can never resist;
- Ross’ Funnel Cake had werewolves & witches & hunters, kept me on the edge of my seat and I was definitely rooting for the main character & her family to escape her fate;
- Brown’s Sight - Nakira’s prophetic dreams & her relationship with golden boy Devin deserved a longer develop, but it was a fun read and I always applaud when a seer is trying to do good (despite Cassandra’s fate).
Others I liked were:
- McEntire ghost story was uplifting;
- Dean’s The Cursed Gift has a deliciously smelling vampire Artem Azarov approaching a seer with a famous pedigree, but the meet to mate speed was too breakneck for me;
- Kuruganti’s Faith will appeal to those who love Pandora’s box lore & urban fantasy.;
- C.C.Solomon’s The Outside hit a bit close to home in the pandemic world, butnit is mirroring the times, well if we had robots it definitely would;
- Lacey’s Heartburn will be loved by those who love dragons.
Overall impression 4 stars. Suggested for lovers of YA short stories about kickass women who want to find a few promising new indie favourite authors.
July 2, 2021
Heartburn by E. M. Lacey: was an interesting one where a girl (one time) goes against her grandmother and ends up getting kidnapped.
Wind and Silk by Alice Ivinya: a high lords daughter has to pretend not to have disabilities around her betrothed.
Grace and Ghosts by K. R. S. McEntire: when the popular guy asks an outcast (that sees ghosts) for help.
Faith by Sudha Kuruganti: first in field case leaving mc with a decision.
The Outside by C. C. Solomon: when the mc is alone with a robot companion and can't leave the apartment.
Daughter of Soil and Gold by Meghan Rhine: when the daughter takes over from her father of the faction of the soil and gold.
Check Yourself by Kat Zaccard: the mc meets a guy (which is more) that she challenges in chess.
A Meeting in the Woods by Nicole Givens Kurtz: mc learns she has actual magic.
Pretty Young Things by LaLa Leo: I honestly couldn't get into this short.
Funnel Cake by Amanda Ross: when the mc get a summer job to help the family when stepfather gets into an accident at work.
Outcast by D. L. Howard: when a high family doesn't have magic but have to still with the magical society.
Serenity Dawn by C. I. Raiyne: saving a "world" by believing in magic.
The Cursed Gift by Courtney Dean: inherited family "power".
Chasing Waves by Kendra Merritt: after being hurt mc tries to prove that she is still of use.
Sight by Tamika Brown: mc gets visions of what is going to happen.
Memories of Magic by Ashley Ford: going to a party (soon after grandma's passing) mc is reminded who she is.
Wind and Silk by Alice Ivinya: a high lords daughter has to pretend not to have disabilities around her betrothed.
Grace and Ghosts by K. R. S. McEntire: when the popular guy asks an outcast (that sees ghosts) for help.
Faith by Sudha Kuruganti: first in field case leaving mc with a decision.
The Outside by C. C. Solomon: when the mc is alone with a robot companion and can't leave the apartment.
Daughter of Soil and Gold by Meghan Rhine: when the daughter takes over from her father of the faction of the soil and gold.
Check Yourself by Kat Zaccard: the mc meets a guy (which is more) that she challenges in chess.
A Meeting in the Woods by Nicole Givens Kurtz: mc learns she has actual magic.
Pretty Young Things by LaLa Leo: I honestly couldn't get into this short.
Funnel Cake by Amanda Ross: when the mc get a summer job to help the family when stepfather gets into an accident at work.
Outcast by D. L. Howard: when a high family doesn't have magic but have to still with the magical society.
Serenity Dawn by C. I. Raiyne: saving a "world" by believing in magic.
The Cursed Gift by Courtney Dean: inherited family "power".
Chasing Waves by Kendra Merritt: after being hurt mc tries to prove that she is still of use.
Sight by Tamika Brown: mc gets visions of what is going to happen.
Memories of Magic by Ashley Ford: going to a party (soon after grandma's passing) mc is reminded who she is.
July 12, 2021
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to StoryOrigin and Diverse Books with Magic for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.
This was such a beautiful anthology. From the moment I looked at the cover, to reading the synopsis, I was excited to be able to visualize women like me in fantasy stories – something that I never thought possible when I was growing up.
I’ve seen certain reviews talk about how they don’t understand why it was important to showcase the fact that these characters were diverse, that they were women of color or women with disabilities like it was a problem to be proud of that. I don’t understand those comments personally, because why wouldn’t I want to know that someone has similar elements to me? Why wouldn’t I want to know that this badass protagonist is a Black woman like me? For those that grew up with only cis white characters as their protagonists, it’s refreshing and so exciting to see us leading our own stories. I think that’s so important not just for us as adults, but for our younger generations.
This was just an amazing experience, and I’m so glad that I had the opportunity to read something like this. I look forward to supporting Diverse Books with Magic more in the future. Enjoy every single one of these stories for what they are, enjoy what these authors took the time to share with us, because these stories are absolutely beautiful.
This was such a beautiful anthology. From the moment I looked at the cover, to reading the synopsis, I was excited to be able to visualize women like me in fantasy stories – something that I never thought possible when I was growing up.
I’ve seen certain reviews talk about how they don’t understand why it was important to showcase the fact that these characters were diverse, that they were women of color or women with disabilities like it was a problem to be proud of that. I don’t understand those comments personally, because why wouldn’t I want to know that someone has similar elements to me? Why wouldn’t I want to know that this badass protagonist is a Black woman like me? For those that grew up with only cis white characters as their protagonists, it’s refreshing and so exciting to see us leading our own stories. I think that’s so important not just for us as adults, but for our younger generations.
This was just an amazing experience, and I’m so glad that I had the opportunity to read something like this. I look forward to supporting Diverse Books with Magic more in the future. Enjoy every single one of these stories for what they are, enjoy what these authors took the time to share with us, because these stories are absolutely beautiful.
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