briarrose1021's review
4.0
Girls of Might and Magic is an anthology of short stories showcasing magic and the magic of resilience and hope. It contains 16 different stories by 16 different authors, and each of the stories focuses on a different young woman who is dealing with the difficulties of growing up and the struggle of playing the hand dealt to them.
Each story painted a wonderful picture of dealing with the struggles of life and coming out the other side stronger for it. Of the 16 stories, there was only one that I didn't really connect with as much as the others, though it was still a beautiful story. If you like stories with strong female characters and magic that doesn't always make life easier, then give this anthology a chance.
Mini-Reviews for each story:
Heartburn (4/5) - An interesting story overall, but I wished it had been longer. I liked the discovery aspect of it, with the protagonist slowly discovering her own identity and power.
Wind and Silk (5/5) - Fanyeng is the fourth daughter, born into a family of Singers. But she suffers from a stutter, which could bring shame to the family if discovered. It is when she is married off to a stranger so her father can avoid going to war himself that she discovers her true value. I would love a full-length novel of this story and the Song magic in it.
Grace and Ghosts (5/5) - After her mother dies, Grace begins seeing ghosts. A classmate asks for her help in finding out what really happened to his twin brother. This story reminded me a bit of the Mediator series by Meg Cabot, and I would love to see it expanded into a longer story.
Faith (5/5) - Laya is on her first field assignment with the Pandora Unit, trying to track down a Box. According to the author, there are more stories with this character, so they have been added to my TBR list.
The Outside (5/5) - Clara is living in an apartment with an android companion while a pandemic rages through the country. The mystery surrounding why she's not allowed outside the apartment is fascinating, and I would love to see this one expanded - though I would probably want more information on the tech and robotics than the pandemic.
Chasing Waves (4/5) - Marina is determined to help her parents discover the creature they've been searching for, even after the accident which severely damaged one of her legs.
Funnel Cake (5/5) - Quincy's stepfather has been injured at work, so she gets a summer job to help out the family while her younger sister helps care for their stepfather. But her stepfather's injury may not be as simple as it first appears. This story strikes me as a prequel, and I want to read the rest of the series.
A Meeting in the Woods (3/5) - Chastity has a volatile boyfriend, Noah "Sin" Sinclair, and a best friend Medora who claims they're a witch. Sin doesn't like Medora and forces Chastity to choose between the two of them. The story started off great, but the ending was a bit convoluted.
Outcast (5/5) - Zazi Ravendark comes from an elite line of mages. Unfortunately, her family hasn't produced a magic user, and they are on the verge of being expelled from mage society. I definitely want more stories in this world.
Daughter of Soil and Gold (4/5) - Xahara is being named the successor of her faction when other factions are at war and there is turmoil within hers. The brief battle in this story is just enough to whet your appetite, and I could definitely see this story being expanded.
Pretty Young Things (2/5) - A fairy, a demon, and a mermaid all get caught up in the fate of the last human on earth. The premise is interesting, but I just couldn't get into this one.
Sight (5/5) - Nakira has visions of the future. When she uses what she sees to save the life of a popular boy, she learns he has secrets of his own. I definitely want a series following these two characters.
Serenity Dawn (3/5) - an Alice in Wonderland retelling that is interesting but falls a little short. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't great either.
The Cursed Gift (4/5) - Nari is finishing college and trying to figure out what she wants to do, while also struggling with the destiny placed in front of her. I think this story would shine more if it were expanded into a novella; it was too short, and the problem was resolved too quickly for me.
Memories of Magic (4/5) - Struggling with the death of her grandmother, Fia is dragged to a party by her best friend. An Ouija board is brought out, and some things best left alone are discovered.
Check Yourself (5/5) - Who would have thought that a chess-playing vampire would show up in a fantasy anthology, but he does, and he features in a great story.
Each story painted a wonderful picture of dealing with the struggles of life and coming out the other side stronger for it. Of the 16 stories, there was only one that I didn't really connect with as much as the others, though it was still a beautiful story. If you like stories with strong female characters and magic that doesn't always make life easier, then give this anthology a chance.
Mini-Reviews for each story:
Heartburn (4/5) - An interesting story overall, but I wished it had been longer. I liked the discovery aspect of it, with the protagonist slowly discovering her own identity and power.
Wind and Silk (5/5) - Fanyeng is the fourth daughter, born into a family of Singers. But she suffers from a stutter, which could bring shame to the family if discovered. It is when she is married off to a stranger so her father can avoid going to war himself that she discovers her true value. I would love a full-length novel of this story and the Song magic in it.
Grace and Ghosts (5/5) - After her mother dies, Grace begins seeing ghosts. A classmate asks for her help in finding out what really happened to his twin brother. This story reminded me a bit of the Mediator series by Meg Cabot, and I would love to see it expanded into a longer story.
Faith (5/5) - Laya is on her first field assignment with the Pandora Unit, trying to track down a Box. According to the author, there are more stories with this character, so they have been added to my TBR list.
The Outside (5/5) - Clara is living in an apartment with an android companion while a pandemic rages through the country. The mystery surrounding why she's not allowed outside the apartment is fascinating, and I would love to see this one expanded - though I would probably want more information on the tech and robotics than the pandemic.
Chasing Waves (4/5) - Marina is determined to help her parents discover the creature they've been searching for, even after the accident which severely damaged one of her legs.
Funnel Cake (5/5) - Quincy's stepfather has been injured at work, so she gets a summer job to help out the family while her younger sister helps care for their stepfather. But her stepfather's injury may not be as simple as it first appears. This story strikes me as a prequel, and I want to read the rest of the series.
A Meeting in the Woods (3/5) - Chastity has a volatile boyfriend, Noah "Sin" Sinclair, and a best friend Medora who claims they're a witch. Sin doesn't like Medora and forces Chastity to choose between the two of them. The story started off great, but the ending was a bit convoluted.
Outcast (5/5) - Zazi Ravendark comes from an elite line of mages. Unfortunately, her family hasn't produced a magic user, and they are on the verge of being expelled from mage society. I definitely want more stories in this world.
Daughter of Soil and Gold (4/5) - Xahara is being named the successor of her faction when other factions are at war and there is turmoil within hers. The brief battle in this story is just enough to whet your appetite, and I could definitely see this story being expanded.
Pretty Young Things (2/5) - A fairy, a demon, and a mermaid all get caught up in the fate of the last human on earth. The premise is interesting, but I just couldn't get into this one.
Sight (5/5) - Nakira has visions of the future. When she uses what she sees to save the life of a popular boy, she learns he has secrets of his own. I definitely want a series following these two characters.
Serenity Dawn (3/5) - an Alice in Wonderland retelling that is interesting but falls a little short. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't great either.
The Cursed Gift (4/5) - Nari is finishing college and trying to figure out what she wants to do, while also struggling with the destiny placed in front of her. I think this story would shine more if it were expanded into a novella; it was too short, and the problem was resolved too quickly for me.
Memories of Magic (4/5) - Struggling with the death of her grandmother, Fia is dragged to a party by her best friend. An Ouija board is brought out, and some things best left alone are discovered.
Check Yourself (5/5) - Who would have thought that a chess-playing vampire would show up in a fantasy anthology, but he does, and he features in a great story.
itstiahra's review
3.0
3.5 stars! I enjoyed this book. I’m not a major fan of short stories because they always leave me wanting more. Some of the stories in the book had me questioning some details. Other stories were nice, action packed with a satisfying ending. Overall, I think it was a refreshing book that is SO NEEDED. Having black girls in the center of fantasy/sci-fi plots with magical elements, supernatural elements, and just badassery. Phenomenal. I appreciate the authors for offering their stories to place black girls at such a magical platform. We deserve these stories and I hope there’s more to come. If you’re looking for escapism filled with literal black girl magic then this book is for you.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
ireadloudnmynook's review
5.0
I love that this book was full of vivid stories of magic, each one different from the one before! I thoroughly enjoyed the exploration into each authors world of discovery! The Epigraph's were a beautiful interlude to each story, and it was nice getting to learn a bit about each author. This book comes highly recommended!
boekensteeg's review
4.0
Girls of Might and Magic is a unique bundle of stories with a diverse theme. From disabled to insecure and from LGBT+ to straight, all kinds of people come to the foreground in these stories. Some stories are better than other, but overall it is a really fun read with a really nice theme!
Want to read more of these short reviews? Check out my blog boekensteeg
Want to read more of these short reviews? Check out my blog boekensteeg
clarissagosling's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Some great stories in here. Loved reading about other parts of the world with magic.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
equalopportunityreader's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
3.5
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