A review by happilyruined
The Curiosities: A Collection of Stories, by Brenna Yovanoff, Tessa Gratton, Maggie Stiefvater
5.0
I have nothing but the best to say about this anthology. The stories range from delightful to heartbreaking, supernatural to realistic. They're all quite well-written, and none are too long or too short. I also enjoyed the footnotes and drawings; they really added to the experience. This book is honestly one-of-a-kind, and any fantasy fan should try it out.
Highlights include:
THE VAMPIRE BOX by Tessa Gratton
A coming of age story including a vampire in the basement. Creepy and full of longing--though not of the romantic variety.
GIRLS RAISED BY WOLVES by Brenna Yovanoff
Two teenage girls have an interesting conversation in a bathroom. Probably polarizing amongst reviwers, but wow. It'll strike a chord with people who've felt hopeless without knowing why.
DATE WITH A DRAGON SLAYER by Tessa Gratton
A young woman wins a date--and a scholarship, which is more of her concern--with a dragon slayer on the eve of his next battle. Sarcastic, sexy, and melancholy. Also: hot boy alert.
SCHEHERAZADE by Brenna Yovanoff
A girl spins a story to save her life. Cerebral, chilling; and, oh, yeah, psychopath included. Yes.
THE MADNESS OF LANCELOT by Brenna Yovanoff
The story of a heartbroken boy told through the eyes of a girl who spends more time in a lake, it seems, than on land. Again, I tend towards the melancholy--and this one was just beautiful.
THE WIND TAKES OUR CRIES by Maggie Stiefvater
A woman tells the story of the day King Arthur took her son. Dark, different, and told from a perspective quite different from any other in this book.
AUBURN by Brenna Yovanoff
As Brenna tells it, the story of a jaded girl who faces down a bad, bad man. And oh my gosh, bad person on bad person action.
PUDDLES by Tessa Gratton
A girl is obsessed with puddles. A boy may be obsessed with her, in a pulling-your-pigtails kind of way. Charming, yet somehow sad? I don't know, I liked it.
THE LAST DAY OF SPRING by Maggie Stiefvater
A boy tells the story of the Papillons, who live for only three days. Just... cut my heart out. How does she create these things?
ASH-TREE SPELL TO BREAK YOUR HEART by Tessa Gratton
A woman is created to destroy her master's rival. Very much the bittersweet love story I love to devour.
THE SUMMER ENDS IN SLAUGHTER by Tessa Gratton
A town carries out its annual Samhain tradition. A love story, of sorts, soaked in blood. So, yeah. I liked it.
HEART-SHAPED BOX by Maggie Stiefvater
The story of a musician with a secret. Oh hey, Cole St. Clair prototype in all your glory. This one is actually really heartbreaking in a non-romantic kind of way.
Those were the highlights, but they're all good. I loved this book. So much.
Highlights include:
THE VAMPIRE BOX by Tessa Gratton
A coming of age story including a vampire in the basement. Creepy and full of longing--though not of the romantic variety.
GIRLS RAISED BY WOLVES by Brenna Yovanoff
Two teenage girls have an interesting conversation in a bathroom. Probably polarizing amongst reviwers, but wow. It'll strike a chord with people who've felt hopeless without knowing why.
DATE WITH A DRAGON SLAYER by Tessa Gratton
A young woman wins a date--and a scholarship, which is more of her concern--with a dragon slayer on the eve of his next battle. Sarcastic, sexy, and melancholy. Also: hot boy alert.
SCHEHERAZADE by Brenna Yovanoff
A girl spins a story to save her life. Cerebral, chilling; and, oh, yeah, psychopath included. Yes.
THE MADNESS OF LANCELOT by Brenna Yovanoff
The story of a heartbroken boy told through the eyes of a girl who spends more time in a lake, it seems, than on land. Again, I tend towards the melancholy--and this one was just beautiful.
THE WIND TAKES OUR CRIES by Maggie Stiefvater
A woman tells the story of the day King Arthur took her son. Dark, different, and told from a perspective quite different from any other in this book.
AUBURN by Brenna Yovanoff
As Brenna tells it, the story of a jaded girl who faces down a bad, bad man. And oh my gosh, bad person on bad person action.
PUDDLES by Tessa Gratton
A girl is obsessed with puddles. A boy may be obsessed with her, in a pulling-your-pigtails kind of way. Charming, yet somehow sad? I don't know, I liked it.
THE LAST DAY OF SPRING by Maggie Stiefvater
A boy tells the story of the Papillons, who live for only three days. Just... cut my heart out. How does she create these things?
ASH-TREE SPELL TO BREAK YOUR HEART by Tessa Gratton
A woman is created to destroy her master's rival. Very much the bittersweet love story I love to devour.
THE SUMMER ENDS IN SLAUGHTER by Tessa Gratton
A town carries out its annual Samhain tradition. A love story, of sorts, soaked in blood. So, yeah. I liked it.
HEART-SHAPED BOX by Maggie Stiefvater
The story of a musician with a secret. Oh hey, Cole St. Clair prototype in all your glory. This one is actually really heartbreaking in a non-romantic kind of way.
Those were the highlights, but they're all good. I loved this book. So much.