Myths, Legends & Dreams

by Freya Bell, Ally Kelly, C.P. Miller

Protective dragons. Conniving succubi, and desperate thieves. Fierce battles and talking marionettes. Inside the covers you will find stories with unique worldbuilding and gripping characters.

Myths, Legends, and Dreams is a Speculative Fiction anthology featuring the works of the members of the Worldsmyths writing community. Founded in 2016, we wanted to do something BIG to celebrate our fifth anniversary, and this anthology was born!

Sixteen stories feature fresh new ideas from budding authors. Inside you will get to know the work of Ryan Gale, Michael Epanchin, Sean Kane, Allusir, Freya Bell, Ally Kelly, Emma Schouten, JC Farnham, Caitlin Donovan, CP Mills, Alex Harvey, Natalie J. Holden, Odessa Silver, and Nicole L. Soper Gorden.

Genres: Short Stories, Fantasy

270 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 9, 2021

Reviews

[Jaimie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every time I pick up a short story collection I enter the fray expecting some stories to be enjoyable and for others to be a slog - with mixed expectations, to say the least. Even having read quite a few collections recently which I heartily enjoyed and knowing a few of the writers personally (full disclosure: the illustrious Freya Bell and I have been pals since high school), I entered the stories of the Worldsmyths (an online writing group for budding fantasy/sci-fi writers) with my usual scepticism. Yet low and behold, by the time I got to the final pages, I was surprised to find that I hadn’t skipped a single story (not counting one I had already read) and I could say without doubt that the group of authors did themselves proud! The stories themselves range in theme, style, and topic, covering the vast grounds of the fantasy/sci-fi genre from dragon-based sagas to steampunk marionette mysteries, from gods-filled city slums to oceanside temples, from Elder-gods ruled Americas to the depths of the Fenris-wolf stalked forest, yet each holds the budding style of a talented author. Standout stories for me were those by Freya Bell (her world building is exceptional); Emma Schouten’s “The Mistbeast of Blackwood Forest” (wolves and dark European forests, yes please); and surprisingly “The Free State” by Michael A. Epanchin (I loved the spy thriller vibe in their take on the Elder Gods mythos), but there’s truly a little bit of everything contained between the covers. My only complaint: cliffhangers?! You bastards!!! Hopefully we’ll see some of these stories expand into full novels, or at least continue in next year’s (already planned) anthology!

[Cassie Snow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the opportunity to receive an ARC of "Myths, Legends & Dreams (A Worldsmyth's Anthology 1)" and it did not disappoint. There are16 short stories included, with some authors having two included. I was immediately drawn in from the first story, "The Golden Mark of Betrayal" by Freya Bell. The story was fast paced and had great detail. It left me wanting to hear more of the story and find out what happens to Maz.

"The Mistbeast of Blackwood Forest" by Emma Schouten was one of my favorites in this anthology. It had a unique storyline and provided enough background, in such a short story, for me to want to spend time thinking about how the story might progress in the future.

I have vivid images in my mind of the world created in "The Drachenwald's Guardian" by Ally Kelly. A world where one dragon remains and is fighting to save his kingdom with the help of a young stranger. I would love to read more by Ally Kelly.

"The Free State" by Michael Epanchin has some unnecessary swearing in the first few pages that do not really add anything to the story. However, once past that, the story really takes off and has a very interesting concept of alien powers taking over the Earth.

"By the Moon's Last Light" by Sean Kane was a very well written story about war between elves, dwarfs, devilkin and dragons who all possessed magical powers. I was really pulling for Keg and enjoyed reading about a new power that was used on the enemy's side that I had never read about before.

Overall, the stories in "Myths, Legends & Dreams" were entertaining and left me wishing that they would keep going so I could stay immersed in the stories. I have now found a whole new group of authors that have made me interested in reading more of their works. I would definitely recommend giving this anthology a shot.

[Debbie Cadorette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy ebook version while waiting for my hardcover copy and I have to say I loved reading it.
Generally, I’m not a fan of anthologies as the stories are far too short for my taste. Myths, Legends & Dreams is a great read with 16 short stories of various lengths, leaving the reader wanting for more.
All the stories were interesting, but I can’t wait to read more from my personal favorites Freya Bell and Nicole L. Soper Gorden (hopefully there are more adventures of Maz and Taz!)

[A.D. Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some great new authors to discover

I will start right off and say that I am not a massive fan of anthologies. It’s a taste thing or maybe I have been living in Yorkshire too long! If I go for a five-course meal (which I never do by the way – but if!) then I would like to enjoy all of it. Not just the starter and dessert course. With an anthology, I usually find 3 or 4 stories that grip me, 3 or 4 that are okay and 3 or 4 that didn’t stay with me past the reading. This Anthology I’m afraid was no different and at £4.36 it is more than I would expect to pay for what was a book for authors to showcase their wares.

I realise that might sound harsh, maybe it is because there were a couple of five-star performers. I will say the writing quality was pretty good generally. There were some mistakes and typos that slipped through the edit on some stories but not enough to detract. Others that had too much descriptive narrative that did detract, some people might like that poetic over description – for me, it didn’t add to the story.

Some of the tales told were unique and will stay with me (no higher praise than that!) which I loved and some were quirky and humorous (which I also loved). For that alone, I would nominally assign a 4 star for this book. However, I took a star off because I simply felt that there were a few of the stories that, whilst well written and of great quality, did not feel like short stories but leaders to a wider story/book. If any of the authors read this and think I am referring to them, then I am and if my feeling is wrong and they are shorts then they didn’t feel satisfyingly complete – take your pick. A shame because at least two of those stories I am referring to were engaging and I wanted to read more. So staying with my food analogies they were a course that tasted delicious but there was not enough on the plate.

For me, the takeaway is that there were several standout stories from authors I never knew but now do. The thing with an anthology I guess is that others will read it and get a different experience and find authors that they resonant with more depending on reading style and taste. I would suggest using Amazon’s wonderful previewer and take a “Look Inside.” The first story will give you a taste of what is in store.

Sorry for all the food analogies – at the time of review I hadn’t eaten yet.

[OldBird · Rating 2 out of 5]

As with all anthologies, there will be stories and styles you like and others you don't get on with so much. There's a mixture of mostly fantasy with a hint of maybe sci-fi-lite in a few. YMMV.

Unfortunately many here weren't my thing. They felt not quite cooked yet, like an extra round of developmental work was needed to make the ideas and the writing really sing. Typos could bring things down for me. I had expected a more adult, less YAish tone, so was caught out by the modern-talk-in-fantasy-setting and the like. Also a great many of them could seem like they were unfinished chapters or prequels, so didn't really have an ending as such and so left me feeling a tad saddened by the lack of satisfying closure.

I wouldn't say any struck me as bad, more just not what I'd expected or not my kind of thing.

My favorites were:

The Golden Mask of Betrayal: one of the sadly prequel-like ones, but a good diverting street urchin tale set in a magical world you'd like to know more of. Though why does an aspiring thief make no qualms about admiring the goddess of justice?

The Mistbeast of Blackwood Forest: Want a Witcher type tale, only Geralt's a clever lady assassin more used to wielding a stiletto than a sword? Mhm, this one has you covered.

The Temple On Cicaro Hill: Oh darkness. What happens when a non-binary godex with powers over the sea realizes that it might not be them with the power after all. That ending...

Sweetening The Deal: My absolute favorite of the lot saved for last, this was a short fae tale done right. A cheeky contract-hunter tries to bite off more than they can chew when faced with watery creatures and the dystopian fantasy rulers of their world. Great pacing, plotting and world building for the short page count.

[Jennie Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a thought provoking fantasy anthology! Each story was gripping, well imagined, and left me wanting more!

I can honestly say I enjoyed each and every one of the short works presented in this anthology; all were excellently written, vivid, and so original. Three especially stood out.

By the Moon’s Last Light by Sean Kane was an absolutely epic battlefield tale. The characters were unique and well-drawn, and the suspense and stakes kept me turning pages until the conclusion.

The Free State by Michael A. Epanchin featured one of the best dystopian societies I have ever read. Chilling, fast paced, and equal parts gruesome and heartbreaking, I found the psychological twists and turns of this tale expertly handled, and I really appreciate the questions it posed. I won’t say too much about it…but the ending was 10/10!

Mystery at the Millenium Theatre by Freya Bell hooked me from the start. The setting and the concept was so intriguing, and I got instant flashbacks to my junior year of college performing The Tales of Hoffmann. Atmospherically, this one was alive and captivating, and I couldn’t help but fall in love with all the characters (especially the marionettes!) I was thoroughly shocked by the ending, too, a great twist.

I’ve never been a big short story reader, but I’m a convert now. I don’t think I’ve ever read short stories in the fantasy/sci fi genre before either, but I want more! It’s a great way to get the fix without committing to a 500 page fantasy tome, if you know what I mean…! I’m eager for another anthology from Worldsmyths.

[Cassie The Ghost · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, first off Thank You so much to Ally Kelly, Worldsmyth Publishing and the amazing authors for allowing me to review this ARC with honesty.

Wow. So I'm like a huge lover of anthologies. I know there not everyone's cup of tea and that's cool. For me anthologies are about ways to explore other authors you might not have read or seen before, or even have seen the name but maybe one story alone wasn't enough to get you interested enough so you walk away from it and pick another. The thing about having a grouping of stories together is you get to sample different taste of stories, a variety of different writing style and best of all, see what different creative minds bring to life.

This anthology did not disappoint. I had stories where I was left wondering what happened after it finished, to being heartbroken and satisfied with endings, to being left wondering what will come next the next story. More than once, I was like "No, please, I want to read more of these characters!" And honestly, that to me, was a story doing its job. I'm so happy I got the chance to read this awesome stories and the amazing diversity within them.

My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

[A Bookworm In Chile · Rating 4 out of 5]

If there was ever a book that could be described as a passion project, it would definitely be this one. I received an ARC in exchange for a review and was very happy I did so. The fact that these writers love fantasy and their craft was evident on every page and I was there for it.

As will often happen with anthologies, this book was a mixed bag. However, I like to think of it as a positive mixed bag. Even my least favorite entries generally provoked criticisms that were largely based on personal taste (and admittedly nitpicky in most cases) Said criticisms were mainly things like my not liking certain dialogue (I hate the word darling. Not sure why) or finding a story difficult to get into at first (it picked up).

Even with the down points, my reactions tended to range from "I liked it" to "I really liked it" to "No! Why does it have to end?!!!!" I enjoyed most of the stories and my favorites were original and imaginative enough to leave me pondering them for a long time.

[David Farrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting mix and variety of stories, well written by the collection of authors and editors involved. I think this was a great idea and as a way to get all of their work published in one anthology it allows the reader a sample of each particular writing styles so that we might find uncover a new favourite author or two. Well done.

[Clare Merrill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found these stories dynamic and intriguing. Some were especially original. The collection does, however, slant towards dark fantasy. Fans of this genre are well catered for. Perhaps a future anthology could include some quieter stories - the philosophical/social kind - about relationships, for instance, and difficult decisions.

[Shy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re looking for some new stories to fall in love with, trust me this group of authors has got you covered. “Myths, Legends & Dreams” was a pleasure to read, with 16 stories that if you’re anything like me, will have your emotions all over the place.

Starting off strong, “The Golden Mark of Betrayal” by Freya Bell, had me instantly drawn in. The setting and characters were so well written, I had a picture in my head with every line I read. The ending of this one left me feeling a mixture of anger, joy, and relief, wondering what would have happened had the story gone on for just a few more pages, which I believe it should have.

I was a little worried that with such a strong start everything else would fall flat in comparison, but I was wrong. While not every story was my cup of tea, it wasn’t because they were boring or badly written, which surprised me a little. Each story had intriguing characters, motivations that were understandable, and vivid descriptions that made each one a unique reading experience.

My absolute favorite story was, “Not Quite Dead Enough” by Odessa Silver. The personification of both Life and Death was creative and intriguing, while the progression of the story highlighted their complicated relationship. Considering Life and Death are often seen as opposites, reading about them bickering like irritated co-workers made me laugh. Although the story itself was just a tiny bit dark, and the beginning had me a little confused, this one definitely tops my list. Captivating until the last second (especially with that ending), I enjoyed every word of it.

As I was reading there was one story that stuck out, simply because it felt a little out of place. While “Heroic Exit” by Caitlin Donovan, was amazingly written and funny, I felt like it wasn’t as on theme with the rest of the stories in this collection and may have been better as a standalone. That being said, the idea of elderly superheroes was absolutely hilarious. Despite feeling like it wasn’t as on theme as it should have been, this story still ended up being one of my favorites.

In conclusion, “Myths, Legends & Dreams” was a great read overall, and is definitely an anthology I will be recommending to friends, and re-reading myself.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually enjoyed most of these stories, which surprised me since I usually go into short story collections expecting it to be a mixed bag (and previously I was someone who claimed to not really like short stories, but I think it just depends.) There were a few that weren't to my taste, but there was nothing wrong with them technically. Some of them, especially a few early ones, felt like they were or could be portions of a larger narrative or story, but I actually wasn't mad about that. In fact, I felt that for most of these stories that if they were expanded into something longer, I would totally read it.

I do have a ranking for each of the stories, but I won't share it here since these are up-and-coming authors and I don't want to bash anyone, especially since it really came down to personal taste. I will say that my favorite of all of them was "Mystery at the Millennium Theatre." I actually really wanted to read more about these characters and this world, and I would be thrilled if this actually turned into a longer story.

I'm really looking forward to the group's next anthology and what they have in store!

[Gary Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short Stories

This book has several short stories, something for all. I enjoyed the majority of them, and a couple, with good world building, would have made complete books.

If you enjoy short stories, then this is your type of book

[Erik Sapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good collection of interesting stories.

[Jodie Reneé · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weird and Wonderful

This is a great collection of fantasy shorts—eclectic I’m the best possible way! From pirates whose pasta come back to haunt them, to non binary Goddexs to retired superheroes, there’s something for every fantasy lover.

I found it a great way of finding nee authors whose work and styles I connect with too! A great light read for those who don’t have much time but still love to escape this dreary mundane life and embark on a good adventure into the unknown!

[Bianca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of short stories is a great read. I like getting to know a little about each author in a little intro at the beginning of each authors story.