Ashley’s Reviews > Buried Deep and Other Stories > Status Update

"The Long Way Round" — A story set in a world that Novik is exploring bc she's writing her next epic fantasy series in it. This story and these characters won't have much bearing on whatever she publishes but it was a really interesting time! It's cool that she worldbuilds by telling stories. 4/5 stars

"Castle Coeurlieu" — This one was freaky. I'm not sure how I feel about it, but I do wish it had been a little less ambiguous. 4/5 stars

"Seven Years From Home" — Lawrence of Arabia in space! 4/5 stars

"Blessings" — This one, a story about what happens when too many fairies bless a baby, felt a little underdeveloped. And yet again, this is a concept I could read an entire novel about. 4/5 stars

”Seven” — This was weird and cool and I want a whole novel of it. 5/5 stars

"Commonplaces" — There is no way that Naomi Novik, one of the founders of AO3, has not written Sherlock fanfiction (and I have almost certainly read it), but I had no idea she'd written a short story and published it! Quite enjoyed it as a short story, but if it was a fanfic I would have other requirements. She very much does Irene Adler justice. 4.5/5 stars

"Spinning Silver" — This one eventually became the full novel Spinning Silver, which is one of my favorite books. Interesting reading a shorter, more fairytale-like version of the story, with a different ending. 4/5 stars

"Buried Deep" — An interesting take on the Ariadne and the Minotaur story. 4/5 stars

"Vici" — Ancient Rome + Dragons, and a prequel to the Temeraire series. Of course it was Mark Antony who invented dragon warfare. Mostly by accident, lol. 4.5/5 stars

"After Hours" — I forgot how much I love the Scholomance. It's just a great setting for a story. 5/5 stars