A review by xeni
Monstrous Little Voices: New Tales From Shakespeare's Fantasy World by Jonathan Barnes
5.0
Overall review: I thought this book was fantastic for what it was trying to do. Each of these authors have their own unique take on how to write (with a lot of creativity in the prose) an ongoing tale, intermingling with each other; writing one overarching plot line that writhes and haunts one another's tales. It's masterfully done, with such interesting takes that I have to admire them all of their actual craft.
I think it helps a lot if you are intimately familiar with Shakespeare's referenced plays (especially for the 4th story, which involves so many plot lines it is almost mandatory to know who all the cast are beforehand).
I am not sure I loved these stories so much as I really deeply appreciated them. I did love how an intertwined world of deeper, darker magic and politics across all Europe emerged slowly while staying true to the original works and characters.
Specific tales reviews:
Coral Bones by Foz Meadows - the story of Miranda and her adventures with 2 fairies including Puck.
I really liked how this one was written. It felt mythological and heavy but also capricious and light. The story is not told in a straight-forward manner. We meet Miranda as she is dying from childbirth fever and begs her fairy childhood friend to save her. Her death is faked and she is finally free. Miranda decides to journey on pilgrimage to Tatania's court and ask her favor and is thus guided by Puck.
It's a beautifully told story, full of mystery and darkness but also the fun adventurous Puck and other fairy spirits. Hovering in the background is a greater story of war between the mortals and interference by Oberon and Tatania. I really loved this tale. A solid 5/5 stars.
The Course of True Love by Kate Heartfield - Pomona the witch finds herself traveling a new route home to avoid an annoying satyr and discovers a mysterious garden with even stranger occupants.
This tale starts out so fun: mythical creatures abound, we run into Queen Mab and a prisoner (a man disguised as a woman is so rare! I love it), a mysterious and magical garden. Ah it's a wonderful premise. Pomona is intelligent and quickly puts together what is truly happening. But then I feel the story lost a lot of its magic. The end results in both of these character declaring undying true love for all time and they have only been together for a day and a night? I really dislike insta-love in stories. This is more of a 3.5/5 stars.
The Unkindest Cut by Emma Newman - this story features Lucia Medici as she attacks and kills Duke Prospero and then they figure out who set her up to do so.
I do like that these stories are staying a bit more intertwined - Prospero finally sees Miranda again (20 years after her death in the first story), the war threatened in the second story is almost upon them now (or has it already come? hard to say). I enjoyed Lucia as a protagonist a lot. She is young, but has so much spunk and agency and is not willing to put up with any of Prospero's ghost shit.
I thought the ending in this story not to be the one I expected. It was well done! I kind of wish I was more familiar with certain of Shakespeare's tales (Macbeth in this one) so I'd understand more of the background. 4/5 stars.
Even in the Cannon's Mouth by Adrian Tchaikovsky - This one is again different from the previous: here we have most of the As You Like It cast, plus Macbeth and his witches, plus a bunch of previously introduced characters. They all converge in Illyria due to various plot points.
An interesting (and fun) bit here is how every scene change has a bit of a scene description plus a character who ENTERS. After that it is no longer like a play, but it does feel more play-like than the previous tales.
I loved Helena in this. It felt so natural for her to eschew France, head off and become a powerful witch. It fits both her character and her story arc. I never felt she fit so well with Bertram. The other characters were all a lot more forgettable (though Macbeth on screen never was). The plot was also a bit of a doozy. I'm not sure I followed it entirely. There are a lot of background battles happening across Europe that involve most of the powers of the time, of of who have different names (Aragon, Illyria, etc). I did think it interesting that this tale takes place after the last one, as this one starts out with a diplomatic delegation to Prospero to beg for his magical help in fighting the wars. Little do they all know how dead he is...
This story is the one that combines the most of Shakespeare's works yet. I am not strongly familiar with all the references, and it certainly narrowed my ability to enjoy it. (And then a very strange 4th wall breaking moment to top it all off... huh) 4/5 stars.
On the Twelfth Night by Jonathan Barnes - This story finally features William Shakespeare himself, though he's really only on the fringes. The story is in second person, that of his wife, Anne. In this alternate reality William stayed at home instead of pursuing his writing career, and has 3 children, a merry life, and a lot of happiness. Unfortunately the rest of the universes don't, the knife is tearing through them, and all the Williams are pulled together to stop the Void from consuming them all. This story is written as small vignettes spanning 12 days, slowly ramping up to the destruction of the world. I didn't like it very much. I liked Anne and her perspective and her life. I strongly disliked how everything was resolved and we end with nothing. 3/5 stars
I think it helps a lot if you are intimately familiar with Shakespeare's referenced plays (especially for the 4th story, which involves so many plot lines it is almost mandatory to know who all the cast are beforehand).
I am not sure I loved these stories so much as I really deeply appreciated them. I did love how an intertwined world of deeper, darker magic and politics across all Europe emerged slowly while staying true to the original works and characters.
Specific tales reviews:
Coral Bones by Foz Meadows - the story of Miranda and her adventures with 2 fairies including Puck.
I really liked how this one was written. It felt mythological and heavy but also capricious and light. The story is not told in a straight-forward manner. We meet Miranda as she is dying from childbirth fever and begs her fairy childhood friend to save her. Her death is faked and she is finally free. Miranda decides to journey on pilgrimage to Tatania's court and ask her favor and is thus guided by Puck.
It's a beautifully told story, full of mystery and darkness but also the fun adventurous Puck and other fairy spirits. Hovering in the background is a greater story of war between the mortals and interference by Oberon and Tatania. I really loved this tale. A solid 5/5 stars.
The Course of True Love by Kate Heartfield - Pomona the witch finds herself traveling a new route home to avoid an annoying satyr and discovers a mysterious garden with even stranger occupants.
This tale starts out so fun: mythical creatures abound, we run into Queen Mab and a prisoner (a man disguised as a woman is so rare! I love it), a mysterious and magical garden. Ah it's a wonderful premise. Pomona is intelligent and quickly puts together what is truly happening. But then I feel the story lost a lot of its magic. The end results in both of these character declaring undying true love for all time and they have only been together for a day and a night? I really dislike insta-love in stories. This is more of a 3.5/5 stars.
The Unkindest Cut by Emma Newman - this story features Lucia Medici as she attacks and kills Duke Prospero and then they figure out who set her up to do so.
I do like that these stories are staying a bit more intertwined - Prospero finally sees Miranda again (20 years after her death in the first story), the war threatened in the second story is almost upon them now (or has it already come? hard to say). I enjoyed Lucia as a protagonist a lot. She is young, but has so much spunk and agency and is not willing to put up with any of Prospero's ghost shit.
I thought the ending in this story not to be the one I expected. It was well done! I kind of wish I was more familiar with certain of Shakespeare's tales (Macbeth in this one) so I'd understand more of the background. 4/5 stars.
Even in the Cannon's Mouth by Adrian Tchaikovsky - This one is again different from the previous: here we have most of the As You Like It cast, plus Macbeth and his witches, plus a bunch of previously introduced characters. They all converge in Illyria due to various plot points.
An interesting (and fun) bit here is how every scene change has a bit of a scene description plus a character who ENTERS. After that it is no longer like a play, but it does feel more play-like than the previous tales.
I loved Helena in this. It felt so natural for her to eschew France, head off and become a powerful witch. It fits both her character and her story arc. I never felt she fit so well with Bertram. The other characters were all a lot more forgettable (though Macbeth on screen never was). The plot was also a bit of a doozy. I'm not sure I followed it entirely. There are a lot of background battles happening across Europe that involve most of the powers of the time, of of who have different names (Aragon, Illyria, etc). I did think it interesting that this tale takes place after the last one, as this one starts out with a diplomatic delegation to Prospero to beg for his magical help in fighting the wars. Little do they all know how dead he is...
This story is the one that combines the most of Shakespeare's works yet. I am not strongly familiar with all the references, and it certainly narrowed my ability to enjoy it. (And then a very strange 4th wall breaking moment to top it all off... huh) 4/5 stars.
On the Twelfth Night by Jonathan Barnes - This story finally features William Shakespeare himself, though he's really only on the fringes. The story is in second person, that of his wife, Anne. In this alternate reality William stayed at home instead of pursuing his writing career, and has 3 children, a merry life, and a lot of happiness. Unfortunately the rest of the universes don't, the knife is tearing through them, and all the Williams are pulled together to stop the Void from consuming them all. This story is written as small vignettes spanning 12 days, slowly ramping up to the destruction of the world. I didn't like it very much. I liked Anne and her perspective and her life. I strongly disliked how everything was resolved and we end with nothing. 3/5 stars