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Feathers of Hope
A Young Adult Fantasy Ukraine Charity Anthology
Kindle Edition
Published June 28, 2022
12 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
About the author
J.A. Culican
107 books682 followersJ.A. Culican is a USA Today Bestselling author of the middle grade fantasy series Keeper of Dragons. Her first novel in the fictional series catapulted a trajectory of titles and awards, including top selling author on the USA Today bestsellers list and Amazon, and a rightfully earned spot as an international best seller. Additional accolades include Best Fantasy Book of 2016, Runner-up in Reality Bites Book Awards, and 1st place for Best Coming of Age Book from the Indie book Awards.
J.A. Culican holds a Master's degree in Special Education from Niagara University, in which she has been teaching special education for over 13 years. She is also the president of the autism awareness non-profit Puzzle Peace United. J.A. Culican resides in Southern New Jersey with her husband and four young children.
For more information about J.A. Culican visit her website at: www.jaculican.com and follow her on Facebook: @jaculican
J.A. Culican holds a Master's degree in Special Education from Niagara University, in which she has been teaching special education for over 13 years. She is also the president of the autism awareness non-profit Puzzle Peace United. J.A. Culican resides in Southern New Jersey with her husband and four young children.
For more information about J.A. Culican visit her website at: www.jaculican.com and follow her on Facebook: @jaculican
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 12, 2022
At first, I was majorly disappointed, but as the anthology progressed, more and more stories I liked cropped up. My favourites are The Scarlet Thread by Elena Shelest and Deep in the White Needled Forest by Susan Stradiotto. Several other stories made the book worth reading and I'm so glad it exists simply because of the charity aspect. Supporting the people of Ukraine is such an important thing right now. They need all the help they can get and this is a rather lovely way to do it. For that, I respect these authors even if I didn't enjoy all their stories.
July 2, 2022
I haven’t finished reading it all yet, so a staggered review, but I can tell you the best bits I like already. Overall impression 4.5 as not all stories are my cuppa, but those that are - are amazing!
My favourites in this anthology:
5/5 🌟Deep in the White Needled Forest by Susan Stradiotto - I loved this fairytale retelling along the lines of The Frog Princess (Russian/Ukranian tale, but similar ones crop up in a lot of cultures). Brodei, a chieftain’s son is forced to take a bride to unite all warring territories. To deliver his proposal, he rides through a fae forest where a mouse saves him from a kelpie. The mouse asks what the requirents his wife must meet and the MC rides back & forth 3 times to enquire with his father. It’s a lovely retelling with a HEA and character growth and it was really fun to watch how Brodei started caring for the enchanted mouse. Also, Imma sucker for HEAs.
5/5🌟 Another Midnight by Amanda Marin - I loved this short sweet Cinderella time-loop story. Move over, Perrault! What if the prince wasn’t the usual dreamboat? What if Cinderella was stuck in a time loop until she made the right choice? Talk about growing up fast! If you like your YA fairytales sweet and hopeful and love coming of age tales, this story is for you.
5/5🌟 The Scarlet Thread by Elena Shelest - last but not least in the set ends it all on a hopeful note. Against her better judgment, Oksana promises to wed the local miller so he’d support her dying mother or else they’d be destitute. Next, a Cossac drops nearly dead at her door and while she cares for him, he questions her resolve of marrying to survive and she keeps embroidering her vyshivanka shirt for her mother, believing the magic of her wishes sewn into the design will stave off death. Shelest writes the see-saw emptional rollercoasters masterfully - I loved how Oksana fell for Andriy and how she grappled against her conscience of using the miller to get food & medicine to survive. Edge-of-the-seat-good, recommended for lovers of folk tales blending in history & magic.
My favourites in this anthology:
5/5 🌟Deep in the White Needled Forest by Susan Stradiotto - I loved this fairytale retelling along the lines of The Frog Princess (Russian/Ukranian tale, but similar ones crop up in a lot of cultures). Brodei, a chieftain’s son is forced to take a bride to unite all warring territories. To deliver his proposal, he rides through a fae forest where a mouse saves him from a kelpie. The mouse asks what the requirents his wife must meet and the MC rides back & forth 3 times to enquire with his father. It’s a lovely retelling with a HEA and character growth and it was really fun to watch how Brodei started caring for the enchanted mouse. Also, Imma sucker for HEAs.
5/5🌟 Another Midnight by Amanda Marin - I loved this short sweet Cinderella time-loop story. Move over, Perrault! What if the prince wasn’t the usual dreamboat? What if Cinderella was stuck in a time loop until she made the right choice? Talk about growing up fast! If you like your YA fairytales sweet and hopeful and love coming of age tales, this story is for you.
5/5🌟 The Scarlet Thread by Elena Shelest - last but not least in the set ends it all on a hopeful note. Against her better judgment, Oksana promises to wed the local miller so he’d support her dying mother or else they’d be destitute. Next, a Cossac drops nearly dead at her door and while she cares for him, he questions her resolve of marrying to survive and she keeps embroidering her vyshivanka shirt for her mother, believing the magic of her wishes sewn into the design will stave off death. Shelest writes the see-saw emptional rollercoasters masterfully - I loved how Oksana fell for Andriy and how she grappled against her conscience of using the miller to get food & medicine to survive. Edge-of-the-seat-good, recommended for lovers of folk tales blending in history & magic.
August 16, 2022
I wasn’t sure what to expect, to be honest. I think more thought could have gone into the formatting and line-up of these stories. As it is, I didn’t care for the first two stories that were obviously blurbs for longer novels and not short stories at all. I did enjoy a few of the other stories following, but some seemed to just amble on and on with no real point. However, there were three that were beautifully written: “Deep in the White Needled Forest,” “Another Midnight,” and “The Scarlet Thread.” These three make the entire collection worth owning.
July 3, 2022
Will update as I read more of the stories. I love a lot of these authors and am excited to try out some new ones!
Another Midnight by Amanda Marin: Short but interesting take on Cinderella. The night keeps repeating itself as at midnight, she trips down the stairs instead of making it back home. I would be very interested in reading a full length book or series built off of this.
Another Midnight by Amanda Marin: Short but interesting take on Cinderella. The night keeps repeating itself as at midnight, she trips down the stairs instead of making it back home. I would be very interested in reading a full length book or series built off of this.
August 13, 2022
The start to this anthology was really poor with two stories I totally didn't like. I didn't finish the second one and skipped on to the third from which this anthology picked up. I think if the order of stories had been more carefully selected for the flow, it would have been much, much more enjoyable. As it is, the terrible start completely colored the experience meaning I didn't enjoy some later stories as much as I could have if I'd had a better taste in my mouth from the earlier reading "tasters".
I also found it highly irritating that the story titles didn’t include the author names at the start of each new story. Neither are the author names included in the contents list. I had to essentially wait until I'd finished reading the story before I could pair up the title with an author. I think this was a major formatting flaw that further detracted from the experience.
My favorite story from this collection, without a doubt, is The Scarlet Thread by Elena Shelest. It is a powerful story, most deserving of five stars. It is beautiful and fulfilling! I was hooked from the first paragraph and ended up on the edge of my seat for the last bit. Then Shelest deftly tied it all together with a resounding and satisfying ending. What a brilliant story. And the way Shelest weaves the tradition of vishyvanka into this magical tale – simply marvelous! Oksana is a wonderful MC. I loved how empowering this story is, seen through her eyes. And the message that no matter what we experience, out of the ashes of what came before we can always find worthiness. A simple tale but so beautifully written and immensely moving! Definitely my favorite story in this collection!
The other story I really, really enjoyed and that also gets a five star rating from me is Deep in the White Needle Forest by Susan Stradiotto. Presented in the style of a folktale of old, this short piece is absolutely charming and totally flawless. I simply loved the characters and the gentle flow of the story as well as the lovely moral. The MC was so brave and honorable. It was lovely to read. I will definitely be checking out more by this author.
The other stories I enjoyed in this anthology were:
Another Midnight by Amanda Marin
Rogues of Resendra by S.E. Babin
I also found it highly irritating that the story titles didn’t include the author names at the start of each new story. Neither are the author names included in the contents list. I had to essentially wait until I'd finished reading the story before I could pair up the title with an author. I think this was a major formatting flaw that further detracted from the experience.
My favorite story from this collection, without a doubt, is The Scarlet Thread by Elena Shelest. It is a powerful story, most deserving of five stars. It is beautiful and fulfilling! I was hooked from the first paragraph and ended up on the edge of my seat for the last bit. Then Shelest deftly tied it all together with a resounding and satisfying ending. What a brilliant story. And the way Shelest weaves the tradition of vishyvanka into this magical tale – simply marvelous! Oksana is a wonderful MC. I loved how empowering this story is, seen through her eyes. And the message that no matter what we experience, out of the ashes of what came before we can always find worthiness. A simple tale but so beautifully written and immensely moving! Definitely my favorite story in this collection!
The other story I really, really enjoyed and that also gets a five star rating from me is Deep in the White Needle Forest by Susan Stradiotto. Presented in the style of a folktale of old, this short piece is absolutely charming and totally flawless. I simply loved the characters and the gentle flow of the story as well as the lovely moral. The MC was so brave and honorable. It was lovely to read. I will definitely be checking out more by this author.
The other stories I enjoyed in this anthology were:
Another Midnight by Amanda Marin
Rogues of Resendra by S.E. Babin
September 28, 2022
I mainly bought this book to read Elena Shelest’s story The Scarlet Thread, and it was well worth it. I am only reviewing the one story because I have yet to finish the others at this point.
The Scarlet Thread was a beautifully written historical romance set in Ukraine. I loved the amount of cultural detail Shelest explored, and I learned a lot about the cultural significance of embroidery in Ukraine.
Young Oksana’s life as been marked by scandal and turbulence, not of her own fault, but nonetheless leaving her and her mother in a dire situation. Her hope is poured into her embroidery work, and it ultimately gives her the will to carryon. She is faced with many difficulties, but she finds the courage to face them boldly. Very inspiring.
The Scarlet Thread was a beautifully written historical romance set in Ukraine. I loved the amount of cultural detail Shelest explored, and I learned a lot about the cultural significance of embroidery in Ukraine.
Young Oksana’s life as been marked by scandal and turbulence, not of her own fault, but nonetheless leaving her and her mother in a dire situation. Her hope is poured into her embroidery work, and it ultimately gives her the will to carryon. She is faced with many difficulties, but she finds the courage to face them boldly. Very inspiring.
June 8, 2023
Imagination plus!!
Flights of fantasy stories take the reader on a journeys of hope throughout this book with images and detailed descriptive scenes from the imaginations of several well known fantasy authors. My favorite story was 'The Scarlet Thread' by Elena Shelest. I will eagerly seek out more of her work and hope to find the back stories to this tale as well. Thank you to all the great authors for these entertaining stories.
Flights of fantasy stories take the reader on a journeys of hope throughout this book with images and detailed descriptive scenes from the imaginations of several well known fantasy authors. My favorite story was 'The Scarlet Thread' by Elena Shelest. I will eagerly seek out more of her work and hope to find the back stories to this tale as well. Thank you to all the great authors for these entertaining stories.
July 23, 2022
A delicious and fantastical selection of short stories!
First, as an anthology…this is superb! We are introduced to a range of storytellers who weave together flights of imagination that we are invited to embark upon. Every reader will find favorites. Easy reading, yet page turning! AND the proceeds will benefit timely and humanitarian efforts.
First, as an anthology…this is superb! We are introduced to a range of storytellers who weave together flights of imagination that we are invited to embark upon. Every reader will find favorites. Easy reading, yet page turning! AND the proceeds will benefit timely and humanitarian efforts.
August 15, 2022
My favorite story is "Beauty Sleep". It is a completely different love story, and a reverse Sleeping Beauty.
August 30, 2022
Because I don't typically sit down and read a full anthology, this will be another evolving review based on the short stories in the anthology.
The Scarlet Thread by Elena Shelest ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
This historical fantasy story (verging on magical realism) is so touching and sweet. Shelest tends to write about the human condition and how it changes people. Disabilities healed or mystical ways to cure illnesses. This one is another in her Slavic fantasy short stories that is super touching. I've read them all and found them all thoroughly moving.
Check out her other similar stories in Enchanted Forests, Enchanted Waters, and Once Upon a Name: Tales of the Strange and Unusual
The Scarlet Thread by Elena Shelest ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
This historical fantasy story (verging on magical realism) is so touching and sweet. Shelest tends to write about the human condition and how it changes people. Disabilities healed or mystical ways to cure illnesses. This one is another in her Slavic fantasy short stories that is super touching. I've read them all and found them all thoroughly moving.
Check out her other similar stories in Enchanted Forests, Enchanted Waters, and Once Upon a Name: Tales of the Strange and Unusual
December 2, 2022
Amazing charity collection!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews