Nat Drozdova's mother is dying. She has cancer, and the doctors say there is little they can do. Yet Nat's mother is convinced that her Book Summary:
Nat Drozdova's mother is dying. She has cancer, and the doctors say there is little they can do. Yet Nat's mother is convinced that her cure lies at the top of a skyscraper in Manhattan. So that is where Nat is going.
As it turns out, the cure isn't a thing. It's a goddess; one is both hungry and powerful. Will Nat take her offered deal, or will she give up the hope that may save her mother?
My Review:
When I started Spring's Arcana, I was unaware that it would be the first in a series (Dead God's Heart). That said, I'm thrilled that this is far from the end of this story! A modern-day Baba Yaga tale is exactly what I was looking for – and I got that, plus so much more.
In truth, Spring's Arcana reminded me of several different stories, all taking a new form. There's the obvious – but there are other tales too. It had a bit of an American Gods aesthetic, and elements of the story felt like Seanan McGuire's Ghost Roads world (though this was probably largely due to the road element, duh). I enjoyed seeing these elements combine into something new and interesting.
Plus, there's the whole desperate protagonist plot. Nat is desperate to save her mother, even if that means dealing with a god with nothing but a whim and a wish. We all know how dangerous that is – and it helped to add a darker undertone to this read.
Long story short, Spring's Arcana was a fantastic read, and I legit can't wait to see what happens next.
Highlights: Urban Fantasy Meets Baba Yaga Fight to Save a Life
Trigger Warnings: Cancer
Thanks to Tor Books and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
The Scarlet Circus is the fourth anthology collection of some of Jane Yolen's greatest works. She's an award-winner who writes short ficBook Summary:
The Scarlet Circus is the fourth anthology collection of some of Jane Yolen's greatest works. She's an award-winner who writes short fiction, most famously fractured fairy tales, and fables. If this is your cup of tea, dive in and enjoy!
The Scarlet Circus has an introduction by Brandon Sanderson. It also collects ten of Jane Yolen's stories: Sans Soleil, Dusty Loves, Unicorn Tapestry, A Ghost of an Affair, Dark Seed Dark Stone, Dragonfield, The Sword in the Stone, The Sea Man, Memoirs of a Bottle Djinn, Peter in Wonderland, and The Erotic in Faerie: The Footnotes. As always, it also contains a bunch of Jane Yolen's notes about the creation and intent behind these stories.
My Review:
Jane Yolen is SUCH a talented author. I just can't get over that fact. I will read every anthology that comes my way. I don't care if it's eight hundred pages long – it'll be worth every minute/hour I spend reading it.
Moving on. The Scarlet Circus is a fantastic read, especially for those that love fractured fairy tales and romantic fantasy. As always, Jane Yolen adds her unique twist to these stories, breaking them apart and showing us a new side. It's perfection.
The forward by Brandon Sanderson was a surprise but a pleasant one. It's always interesting to see the professional relationships that pop up.
Highlights: Short Stories Anthology Fantasy/Romance Fractured Fairy Tales
Trigger Warnings: Persecution Antisemitism
Thanks to StMartinsPress and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Liz (Quirky Cat)
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