Jessica Spotswood

This honestly took me over a year to fully complete reading. Yikes! It actually had to do with the formatting of the eBook version, which was absolutely awful when it transferred to my Kindle. There were so many weird breaks in the sentences and words. Then there were the weird lack of breaks between some paragraphs that drove me mental. So to say, I continually put off reading the anthology after reading through a couple pages or stories. In the end, I grabbed a copy from my work and set about, FINALLY, finishing this one.

This wicked anthology consists of thirteen stories by thirteen wonderful authors. I always give props to those who can write a short story, let alone get me so emotionally invested in such few words. Each story had one element in common: magic.

I’m going to give a short synopsis of each story, and any of them with an asterisk (*) by them were one of my favorites!

Starsong
A sixteen year-old bruja trying to make up for the poor choices she made growing up. She uses social media a lot as a way to show off her magic. Essentially, a doubter messages her and they begin a meaningful bout of messages which become flirty and cute.

***Afterbirth
Historical fiction, set in New England in the seventeenth century. A midwife is accused of being a witch after saving a stillborn child. The midwife gives her apprentice her book of “spells and healing,” passed down for generations. Told via past and future events (before and during the trial.)

The Heart in Her Hands
Dealing with soulmates. Despite having a different soulmate, a young woman fights to stay with her girlfriend, even though in doing so, her gift of healing is taken away for defying her coven.

*** Death in the Sawtooths
A servant of Xosia, the Lady of Death, who is a medical examiner with the power to lay souls to rest. Although the town spurs her for her gifts–or curse, according to them–they end up seeking her out for help. This one had a True Blood vibe to it!

The Truth About Queenie
African-American witch in love with her best friend, a pro-skateboarder. She ends up saving her friend’s girlfriend after almost killing her.

The Moonapple Menagerie
I honestly cannot tell you what this one was about because I do not remember it. Except that it had something to do with a play?

*** Legend of Stone Mary
Descendant of a famous witch in town, which the town never lets her forget. There is a memorial statue of the witch. Desperate for friendship, the young woman goes out on Halloween with a group of people to see the statute, and winds up changing the town’s perception of her and her family.

The One Who Stayed
Narrated by a group, waiting for the one person who seeks them out and stays. Trigger warnings. Dark

Divine are the Stars
A story about family and greed, including magical realism. Very neat!

Daughters of the Baba Yaga
Unfortunately, another one I do not remember.

***The Well Witch
Damn, this one was one of my absolute FAVORITES. Historical fiction. A young witch living in BFE, Texas with the only oasis for miles. Three men on horses wind up at her home looking for shelter. This one is wicked. Trust me!

Beware of Girls with Crooked Mouths
Interesting and crazy. Three sisters in a line of witches where only one will survive until old age because they will eventually turn against one another. The eldest sister has a vision of all three surviving, but at what cost to the bond and love they share?

***Love Spell
A bruja who lives with her grandmother. Although witches are not welcome in town, the folk come to them for spells and assistance. She goes to Mass, even though she is shunned by being there, and falls in love with an alcolyte despite the fear that they can never truly live together in peace.

Gherin Girls
Unfortunately, another one I cannot recall.

***Why They Watch Us Burn
Holy hell on Earth, I think this one was the best for me. And I would ABSOLUTELY read an entire novel based upon this story. Very dystopian. Women get removed from society and sent to camps (where they essentially stay until death) because of either being too strong or accusing someone of sexual assault. This one was amazing, and it made me think it was inspired by Margaret Atwood. I loved it.

Until we meet again, Readers!

Cheers,
Talia x

Thank you to NetGalley for this review copy!… (more)

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