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Seasons Unceasing
Days come, and days go. Time is a snake eating its own tail, and all things have their end. Explore the contradictions of life and time in this speculative fiction anthology featuring upcoming authors. Find love in unexpected places or test the limits of your sense of duty. Follow a witch as she seeks to discover her purpose, and watch as a man faces the hungry wolves of winter - and his own mortality.
Worldsmyths Publishing is a non-profit organization with the charitable goal to help new writers navigate the confusions waters of publication. Join the community on Discord to gain access to members-only publishing opportunities like Seasons Unceasing.
Worldsmyths Publishing is a non-profit organization with the charitable goal to help new writers navigate the confusions waters of publication. Join the community on Discord to gain access to members-only publishing opportunities like Seasons Unceasing.
- GenresFantasy
ebook
Published January 15, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 15, 2022
Yet another awesome anthology created by these fantastic authors. Many of the stories were riveting with concepts I wouldn't have ever dreamed of and were filled with such imagination, they opened new ways of thinking for me when it came to fiction and story telling.
A few I would like to particularly mention are:
The Shape of the Storm by Bock Poulsen
As a child who grew up on the sea, this one really captured my attention. The characters were interesting and I really liked the concept of beings with the ability to control or read the weather. I would have happily immersed myself further in this world.
The Season of Fern and Feather by A.B. Barron
Again, such a brilliant idea and so much imagination. A world I could have lost myself in and it left me wanting more. I really love exploring the bond between animals and humans and in particular, some of the creatures of fantasy. This gave me a glimpse into what could possibly be fledged into a full blown fantasy series.
Unceasing Love by C.P. Miller
An excellent short story with a great blend of reality and fantasy with empathetic characters and real emotional connection. A great story about the endurance of loving someone unselfishly.
The Touch of Winter by Caitlin Donovan
Possibly one of my favourites in the whole book. Such an unexpected idea and very creative. I enjoyed the touch of darkness that it had, but enjoyed the ending more.
The May Child by Cassandra Solon Parry
This story has so much life and innocence poured into it. I really took me back to my childhood and had a real 'Fairytale' feeling to it, which was refreshing and very enjoyable. Like most fairytales, it made me process a whole range of emotions, and I could only imagine the beautiful illustrations that would accompany this story in a book, maybe in the likes of Cicely Barker or someone similar. I would love to see this one published as a child's book.
Snowflakes by Freya Bell
Another beautifully written piece by Freya (I'm quickly becoming a fan of her work). Mischief, adventure and just a hint of rebellion, echoes in this magical tale which makes it thoroughly enjoyable. I feel I revert to my nine year old self every time I read something from this author, like I'm discovering the world of magic and fairies for the very first time, it truly is an indescribable feeling.
The ability to create a seamless blend of fantasy and reality without the reader being jarred from one world to the other seems to be a struggle for many authors of fantasy and science fiction. Not that I judge, I only comment on it because my personal preference is to find a world in which things are relatable and new, but not completely foreign to pronounce; and while there were some moments inside this anthology where I felt the mesh of these two concept failed to happen, the level of imagination and creativity was admirable and in some cases, beyond my own conception which was refreshing and challenging.
Once again, this anthology has produced the goods and opened new portals. Well done to all involved.
Thank you for my ARC copy, which I was given in return for an honest review.
A few I would like to particularly mention are:
The Shape of the Storm by Bock Poulsen
As a child who grew up on the sea, this one really captured my attention. The characters were interesting and I really liked the concept of beings with the ability to control or read the weather. I would have happily immersed myself further in this world.
The Season of Fern and Feather by A.B. Barron
Again, such a brilliant idea and so much imagination. A world I could have lost myself in and it left me wanting more. I really love exploring the bond between animals and humans and in particular, some of the creatures of fantasy. This gave me a glimpse into what could possibly be fledged into a full blown fantasy series.
Unceasing Love by C.P. Miller
An excellent short story with a great blend of reality and fantasy with empathetic characters and real emotional connection. A great story about the endurance of loving someone unselfishly.
The Touch of Winter by Caitlin Donovan
Possibly one of my favourites in the whole book. Such an unexpected idea and very creative. I enjoyed the touch of darkness that it had, but enjoyed the ending more.
The May Child by Cassandra Solon Parry
This story has so much life and innocence poured into it. I really took me back to my childhood and had a real 'Fairytale' feeling to it, which was refreshing and very enjoyable. Like most fairytales, it made me process a whole range of emotions, and I could only imagine the beautiful illustrations that would accompany this story in a book, maybe in the likes of Cicely Barker or someone similar. I would love to see this one published as a child's book.
Snowflakes by Freya Bell
Another beautifully written piece by Freya (I'm quickly becoming a fan of her work). Mischief, adventure and just a hint of rebellion, echoes in this magical tale which makes it thoroughly enjoyable. I feel I revert to my nine year old self every time I read something from this author, like I'm discovering the world of magic and fairies for the very first time, it truly is an indescribable feeling.
The ability to create a seamless blend of fantasy and reality without the reader being jarred from one world to the other seems to be a struggle for many authors of fantasy and science fiction. Not that I judge, I only comment on it because my personal preference is to find a world in which things are relatable and new, but not completely foreign to pronounce; and while there were some moments inside this anthology where I felt the mesh of these two concept failed to happen, the level of imagination and creativity was admirable and in some cases, beyond my own conception which was refreshing and challenging.
Once again, this anthology has produced the goods and opened new portals. Well done to all involved.
Thank you for my ARC copy, which I was given in return for an honest review.
September 10, 2023
Story comments:
Rhapsody in Grey - Thomas Canfield
‘One did not become an adult, properly, until one had experienced Synchronicity.’
The Shape of the Storm - Brock Poulsen
‘We’re an odd pair of pirates’
The Season of Fern and Feather - A.B. Barron
‘Fly true and find your birds’
The Last Season - Amanda Barrett
We adapt to Nature if we but know the signs
Unceasing Love
Never give up the pursuit
Rhapsody in Grey - Thomas Canfield
‘One did not become an adult, properly, until one had experienced Synchronicity.’
The Shape of the Storm - Brock Poulsen
‘We’re an odd pair of pirates’
The Season of Fern and Feather - A.B. Barron
‘Fly true and find your birds’
The Last Season - Amanda Barrett
We adapt to Nature if we but know the signs
Unceasing Love
Never give up the pursuit
December 15, 2022
This is my first time reading an anthology from this group. I really enjoyed the range of stories from these authors. There is something for everyone. I would definitely recommend checking it out.
I particularly liked A Touch of Winter by Caitlin Donovan, Our Roots Run Deep by JS Elliot, and A Witch's Future by Kat Cooper.
I particularly liked A Touch of Winter by Caitlin Donovan, Our Roots Run Deep by JS Elliot, and A Witch's Future by Kat Cooper.
October 3, 2023
I picked up this book because, I wanted to read something different, other than my normal romance fiction novels. I was pleasantly surprised how much a enjoyed these stories.
In my opinion, all the stories are written well and kept my interest, Normally sci-fi bores me .
If you're on the fence about read this, I 100% recommend reading this.
Happy reading :)
In my opinion, all the stories are written well and kept my interest, Normally sci-fi bores me .
If you're on the fence about read this, I 100% recommend reading this.
Happy reading :)
September 19, 2023
I was absolutely riveted by one of the the short stories in this book: The Touch of Winter, by Caitlin Donovan. It was so imaginative, so beautifully written, so well thought out, and so utterly readable, I was quite taken. I just couldn't stop reading it, even when I felt it was time for me to move on and do other things! I kept wanting to know what was going to happen next. It was suspenseful, moving, endearing, romantic, sensuous, intriguing, and heartwarming. I loved it! I didn't want it to end. I loved the plot, and the author's character development was so thorough that I wanted to continue to follow the stories of Misu, Keetha, Llea, and Bri beyond the last page. I felt joyous when Misu found what she'd not even realized she'd been seeking - something/someone to melt her heart and bring her to a place of calm within herself. I highly recommend this book, especially because of Ms. Donovan's excellent and compelling contribution.
February 23, 2023
**disclaimer: I’m a member (inactive lol) of the Worldsmyth’s writing community, and BFF’s with one of its main moderators/editors/authors, Freya Bell.
The third time’s the charm, as they say, and Worldsmyth’s did an excellent job with their latest anthology. Brought together by the theme of seasons, the anthology collects stories that interpret this motif in expected and unexpected ways and showcases the range of talents and writing styles among their writing community. That being said, the first handful of stories had me a touch worried; I’m not going to name names, but there were a few weak efforts that didn’t catch my attention at all, and it felt like it took about half of the collection before the stories really started hitting the mark for me. Sometimes having a bigger collection (and this one is a fair sized chonk bigger than the previous anthologies) isn’t always better when you sacrifice quality. It did leave room for a bigger selection of stories though, and while I may not have liked all of them (science fiction will never be my thing), I was pleasantly surprised with the creativity behind some of the takes on the seasonal theme. One standout effort was C.P. Miller’s “Unceasing Love,” which gives us a vampire story that plays with the concept of reincarnation and soulmates as its driving theme (seasons of the heart through time, if you will). The story has vivid characters throughout each sequence in time, and its only downfall is that the limited length of the short story doesn’t give us nearly enough time to explore them in enough depth - can we have this as a novel, please?! I also absolutely loved the witchy vibes and solid magical world building of Kat Cooper’s “A Witch’s Future” (another story that I hope becomes part of a novel at some point); the classical nature mythology and (well-deserved) harsh ending of “Our Roots Run Deep” by J.S. Elliot; and Brock Poulsen’s “The Shape of the Storm” for its unexpected blend of deep sea pirates and magical abilities. Finishing on a high note with Freya Bell’s “Snowflakes,” which had me feeling all the fairy nostalgia for Fox’s Thumbelina (#iykyk) while also revelling in the well-written action adventure sequence, I can definitely say this is a strong effort by the Worldsmyth’s community. It may not have hit quite the same amount of perfect notes throughout that Moonlight and Darkness did for me (hello, we revel in our darkness too much not to place that one on top), but this was a well chosen theme that garnered some great stories!
The third time’s the charm, as they say, and Worldsmyth’s did an excellent job with their latest anthology. Brought together by the theme of seasons, the anthology collects stories that interpret this motif in expected and unexpected ways and showcases the range of talents and writing styles among their writing community. That being said, the first handful of stories had me a touch worried; I’m not going to name names, but there were a few weak efforts that didn’t catch my attention at all, and it felt like it took about half of the collection before the stories really started hitting the mark for me. Sometimes having a bigger collection (and this one is a fair sized chonk bigger than the previous anthologies) isn’t always better when you sacrifice quality. It did leave room for a bigger selection of stories though, and while I may not have liked all of them (science fiction will never be my thing), I was pleasantly surprised with the creativity behind some of the takes on the seasonal theme. One standout effort was C.P. Miller’s “Unceasing Love,” which gives us a vampire story that plays with the concept of reincarnation and soulmates as its driving theme (seasons of the heart through time, if you will). The story has vivid characters throughout each sequence in time, and its only downfall is that the limited length of the short story doesn’t give us nearly enough time to explore them in enough depth - can we have this as a novel, please?! I also absolutely loved the witchy vibes and solid magical world building of Kat Cooper’s “A Witch’s Future” (another story that I hope becomes part of a novel at some point); the classical nature mythology and (well-deserved) harsh ending of “Our Roots Run Deep” by J.S. Elliot; and Brock Poulsen’s “The Shape of the Storm” for its unexpected blend of deep sea pirates and magical abilities. Finishing on a high note with Freya Bell’s “Snowflakes,” which had me feeling all the fairy nostalgia for Fox’s Thumbelina (#iykyk) while also revelling in the well-written action adventure sequence, I can definitely say this is a strong effort by the Worldsmyth’s community. It may not have hit quite the same amount of perfect notes throughout that Moonlight and Darkness did for me (hello, we revel in our darkness too much not to place that one on top), but this was a well chosen theme that garnered some great stories!
December 5, 2022
I received this as a free ARC, and let me tell you I'm so glad I did. This is my first time reading an anthology and I regret not yet checking out the previous releases!
The seasons and weather can be so unpredictable and I really feel these stories pull you in and allow you to experience it in a new light. It felt like getting a little glimpse into so many different worlds and it was so fun wondering what would come in the next one. Obviously not all of the stories and authors are going to be your cup of tea, but I guarantee you, there's a little something for everyone here. If I ever need a quick story to pass the time, I know I'll be picking this one up again and again.
The seasons and weather can be so unpredictable and I really feel these stories pull you in and allow you to experience it in a new light. It felt like getting a little glimpse into so many different worlds and it was so fun wondering what would come in the next one. Obviously not all of the stories and authors are going to be your cup of tea, but I guarantee you, there's a little something for everyone here. If I ever need a quick story to pass the time, I know I'll be picking this one up again and again.
December 13, 2022
Exploring the “contradictions of life and time” through speculative fiction, Worldsmyths has curated a truly seamless collection of new and experienced authors. Each story in this anthology was extremely entertaining and of the highest quality. I wish I had the word count to show appreciation for all twenty-four authors and their work. However, since this is a limited space, I’ve selected three I most want to showcase.
As a confessed logophile, I most appreciate stories that balance superb storytelling with meticulous word choice. “Master of Time” by James Dorr was an exquisite interpretation of the concept of time through perception housed in a flawless #fantasy narrative. I particularly enjoyed the subtle hint at a larger, more epic story outside the awareness of the main character.
Another story that caught my attention was “The May Child” by Cassandra Solon Perry. The whimsical and lyrical language was breathtaking. The narrative voice was vibrant and evocative of fairytales read by fairy godmothers. Reminiscent of Lewis Caroll’s Alice in Wonderland and Watership Down by Richard Adams, this was a truly sweet fable.
“Oddity of Life” by Barry Charman was perhaps my favorite of the #sciencefiction in these pages. While not the most exciting in terms of “action”, there was a serious intimacy to the cycle of apathy and hope, symbolized by the story content, that was most convincing. The syntax in this piece was practically poetical at times which, while unexpected, was delightful.
I’ve only mentioned three stories, but honestly, there wasn’t a manuscript in this book that didn’t impress me. In all, I highly recommend this collection to lovers of well-written stories.
As a confessed logophile, I most appreciate stories that balance superb storytelling with meticulous word choice. “Master of Time” by James Dorr was an exquisite interpretation of the concept of time through perception housed in a flawless #fantasy narrative. I particularly enjoyed the subtle hint at a larger, more epic story outside the awareness of the main character.
Another story that caught my attention was “The May Child” by Cassandra Solon Perry. The whimsical and lyrical language was breathtaking. The narrative voice was vibrant and evocative of fairytales read by fairy godmothers. Reminiscent of Lewis Caroll’s Alice in Wonderland and Watership Down by Richard Adams, this was a truly sweet fable.
“Oddity of Life” by Barry Charman was perhaps my favorite of the #sciencefiction in these pages. While not the most exciting in terms of “action”, there was a serious intimacy to the cycle of apathy and hope, symbolized by the story content, that was most convincing. The syntax in this piece was practically poetical at times which, while unexpected, was delightful.
I’ve only mentioned three stories, but honestly, there wasn’t a manuscript in this book that didn’t impress me. In all, I highly recommend this collection to lovers of well-written stories.
November 29, 2022
I received this book as a free ARC. It's such an amazing experience to see my story alongside a collection of other wonderful stories that capture the ephemeral nature of the seasons and also the impact they can leave. Each story was so unique and different. Nothing felt repetitive. I was taken to otherworldly realms, strange planets, fantasy lands, and some worlds very similar to our own. Some of my favorites were The Breaking Season, Autumn Assassin, and The Season of Fern and Feather. It was also neat to see some stories that actually carried over and continued from the previous anthology, adding some familiar faces to some new stories. 4.5 rounded up to 5
February 17, 2024
this was a fun collection of short stories and I enjoyed my time reading! My favorites stories were The Shape of the Storm, and Unceasing Love
my rating is 3 stars, just because there were several grammar/punctuational/formatting issues with spacing throughout the ebook (sometimes within the same story), that pulled me from the reading immersion. I also thought there were some small instances of purple prose with no real story payoff, but this depended on the story
ex: Loc2809 (page # for eBook kindle edition)
“Janna,” she said,” my brave girl, what will you do with your life?”
ex: Loc2832 (page # for ebook kindle edition)
“No,” I don’t think so.”
*I received a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review
my rating is 3 stars, just because there were several grammar/punctuational/formatting issues with spacing throughout the ebook (sometimes within the same story), that pulled me from the reading immersion. I also thought there were some small instances of purple prose with no real story payoff, but this depended on the story
ex: Loc2809 (page # for eBook kindle edition)
“Janna,” she said,” my brave girl, what will you do with your life?”
ex: Loc2832 (page # for ebook kindle edition)
“No,” I don’t think so.”
*I received a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review
May 1, 2023
A lovely anthology of science fiction and fantasy stories united by the loose theme of seasons. Anthologies or short story collections are some of my absolute favorite things to read, and this one was a perfect example of the genre. From a world without color, to a giant clock that powers time itself, to a migration of magical butterflies and those who seek to protect them, you will experience a great variety of well written short fiction pieces in this book. I enjoyed every story.
June 19, 2023
A diverse and imaginative selection of speculative short fiction.
Mostly vibrant and romantic, I particularly enjoyed 'Unceasing Love' for its creative and emotive good use of certain romantic horror tropes, 'The Shape of the Storm' for its sharp plot and atmosphere, 'Wolves of Winter' for its spectral melancholy atmosphere, 'The Touch of Winter' for its twists and imagery, and 'Behind the Last Years' and 'Into the Breaking Season' for its creative horror and tension.
Mostly vibrant and romantic, I particularly enjoyed 'Unceasing Love' for its creative and emotive good use of certain romantic horror tropes, 'The Shape of the Storm' for its sharp plot and atmosphere, 'Wolves of Winter' for its spectral melancholy atmosphere, 'The Touch of Winter' for its twists and imagery, and 'Behind the Last Years' and 'Into the Breaking Season' for its creative horror and tension.
September 5, 2023
This anthology has many great stories and characters written by a variety of authors. My favorite was “THE AURELIANS’ CHRONICLE” by Michael A. Epanchin. Though I did like many of the stories, they were easy to read short stories all about the seasons written about different cultures and fantasies. I did enjoy reading the stories and would recommend this book. I received a free book and the views and opinions are my own.
May 26, 2023
While all the stories are captivating, my favorite is by L. Kinyon. Her character, Janna Farwinds, is well developed. I enjoyed reading about the firebirds singing with her! I have always loved dragon tales, and Ms. Kinyon provides marvelous detail in this story.
This collection is best read by a campfire, with a flagon of cider, and a bright lantern.
This collection is best read by a campfire, with a flagon of cider, and a bright lantern.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews