Reviews

Around the World by Lyn McCnchie, Lyn McConchie, Denarose Fukushima, Kirstie Olley, Tade Thompson, Mary Anne Mohanraj, Trent Roman, Sarah Rodriguez, Kathryn Yelinek, Ariel Bolton, Dilman Dila, Donald Bingle, Emeka Walter Dinjos, Daniel Heath Justice, Jeff Suwak, C.L. Clickard, Daniel Ausema, Gama Ray Martinez, Daniel Hand, David R. Stokes, Tomas Pelosi

lordofthemoon's review

4.0

I found this collection of fantasy short stories at a convention, and was intrigued at its premise of a diverse set of authors telling stories not necessarily inspired by traditional Western history, and not limited to the traditional faux-medieval setting. The book had a high hit rate for me, and with Firestarter a story that really felt like it could be expanded into a full novel - I want to know more about both these characters and the world they inhabit. Other stories that really clicked with me are Ascension about a monk's journey to enlightenment; The Music Maker about a young woman whose attempt to leave a mark doesn't turn out as she'd hoped; The Pride of Kutush, telling of a young hunter sent to retrieve a stolen god; and The Beauty of the Dance in which music and magic are tightly intertwined.

There were some that I didn't really get and some that were good but a bit dark for my tastes, but in all I've got to congratulate the editor on the choice and range of stories in the volume.