djinnia's review against another edition
4.0
Not only does this book contain at least one Enchanted Forest story, it also contains a chocolate cake recipe that I die laughing every time I read the instructions. Of course, there are real instructions as well.
This is a collection of tales from different publications in one volume.
I enjoy these so much because they are like having those ebook stories that authors now put out in your hand. I hate to find out that there are novellas and short stories I'm missing because they are ebook only. I despise that.
Okay, rant over. Back to the book review.
I enjoyed some more than others, but they were all quite good.
This is a collection of tales from different publications in one volume.
I enjoy these so much because they are like having those ebook stories that authors now put out in your hand. I hate to find out that there are novellas and short stories I'm missing because they are ebook only. I despise that.
Okay, rant over. Back to the book review.
I enjoyed some more than others, but they were all quite good.
xeni's review against another edition
5.0
(I could have sworn I had a review for this book up already... huh...)
Anyway, I do believe that this was the first of Wrede's books that I read. I borrowed it from my sister, and then totally got immersed as story after story unfolded in front of my eyes.
I am still haunted by the Lorlei, the rose garden and the harp made of the drowned princesses' bones. And still laugh in my head whenever I think of the Frying Pan of Doom! (What is a poached egg anyway?)
If my sister hadn't taken this book back I'd probably pluck it off my shelves occasionally just to re-read it! Wrede spins tales of magic (both classic and new) which are just wonderful to read.
This is a great fantasy short story collection and I recommend it to anyone who wants something wonderful to read!
Anyway, I do believe that this was the first of Wrede's books that I read. I borrowed it from my sister, and then totally got immersed as story after story unfolded in front of my eyes.
I am still haunted by the Lorlei, the rose garden and the harp made of the drowned princesses' bones. And still laugh in my head whenever I think of the Frying Pan of Doom! (What is a poached egg anyway?)
If my sister hadn't taken this book back I'd probably pluck it off my shelves occasionally just to re-read it! Wrede spins tales of magic (both classic and new) which are just wonderful to read.
This is a great fantasy short story collection and I recommend it to anyone who wants something wonderful to read!
jwells's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
Fun collection of short stories. Like the Enchanted Forest Chronicles, these would be appropriate for young YA to older middle grade readers, but this adult reader also enjoyed them.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Spoiler
In one story a girl drowns, and her sister may have pushed her in.clairetrellahill's review against another edition
5.0
As a kid, reading Book of Enchantments was the first time I knew short stories could be fun.
All previous exposure to short stories had been for school, of the "literary" variety. I never knew that you could write short stories in the same style and tone of some of my favorite childhood books. My absolute favorite story in this collection is "The Princess, the Cat, and the Unicorn," about a middle princess who gets to go do non-traditional middle princess things like go on a quest, closely followed by "The Sixty-Two Curses of Caliph Arenschadd," where a ruler invents a list of curses to inflict on people who displease him, and "Utensile Strength," an Enchanted Forest Chronicles story featuring the great and powerful magic weapon...a frying pan.
That's not to say that all the stories in this collection are merely fun puff pieces. Some of the other incredible pieces in this work are "Stronger than Time," a darker Sleeping Beauty story that posits what could have happened if the curse never broke, and "Roses by Moonlight," a pseudo prodigal son story that's all about choices.
I love every story in this collection, and I have read them over and over again throughout my childhood. READ THIS BOOK.
All previous exposure to short stories had been for school, of the "literary" variety. I never knew that you could write short stories in the same style and tone of some of my favorite childhood books. My absolute favorite story in this collection is "The Princess, the Cat, and the Unicorn," about a middle princess who gets to go do non-traditional middle princess things like go on a quest, closely followed by "The Sixty-Two Curses of Caliph Arenschadd," where a ruler invents a list of curses to inflict on people who displease him, and "Utensile Strength," an Enchanted Forest Chronicles story featuring the great and powerful magic weapon...a frying pan.
That's not to say that all the stories in this collection are merely fun puff pieces. Some of the other incredible pieces in this work are "Stronger than Time," a darker Sleeping Beauty story that posits what could have happened if the curse never broke, and "Roses by Moonlight," a pseudo prodigal son story that's all about choices.
I love every story in this collection, and I have read them over and over again throughout my childhood. READ THIS BOOK.
kittenscribble's review against another edition
3.0
Fantasy, nothing terribly deep; an enjoyable set of short stories. Typical cast and tropes, generally lighthearted; pretty good takes on Sleeping Beauty and the "Bonny Swans" sisters. I particularly liked the end story, "Utensile Strength," which involves that most fearsome of all enchanted weapons: The Frying Pan of Doom.
dorhastings's review against another edition
3.0
This is my first book by Wrede, and I'm not sure that's terribly fair in terms of assessing the author (or that I would have preferred starting with short stories; I'm inclined to try to read the bigger things if an author has done those as well). That said, this was a pleasant enough read. Nice pacing. I'd be interested in reading something else by her, perhaps Dealing with Dragons, since it's the first book in the Enchanted Forest Chronicles.
britomarte's review against another edition
5.0
I'm reluctant to read most short story collections, but there are some that I love. This is one of them.
Honestly, at times, they can be a little cheesy, particularly the story with the roses but overall, they're wonderful... particularly the story with the roses.
So I'm a sap.
Honestly, at times, they can be a little cheesy, particularly the story with the roses but overall, they're wonderful... particularly the story with the roses.
So I'm a sap.
allynat's review against another edition
4.0
This was a reread for me. I picked this up following a book with a heavier topic, thinking a batch of short stories by one of my favorite childhood authors would be a great way to refresh before tackling another book. Wrede packs a lot of detail and depth, even into her short stories, and it was great to revisit her characters.
lisalark's review against another edition
5.0
Love love love. So great. Wonderful little stories. Some set in contemporary culture but with magic. Some dark. PATRICIA C. WREDE PLEASE WRITE MORE.
Seriously though, would love to read dark, contemporary stuff from her. Fabulous.
Seriously though, would love to read dark, contemporary stuff from her. Fabulous.
hotsake's review against another edition
4.0
All of these stories were fun but a few were great. The Earthwitch and The Sword-Seller being my favorites.