A review by thiefofcamorr
Legends of Australian Fantasy by Sean Williams, Garth Nix, Jonathan Strahan, Cecilia Dart-Thornton, Juliet Marillier, D.M. Cornish, Trudi Canavan, Kim Wilkins, Jack Dann, John Birmingham, Ian Irvine, Isobelle Carmody, Jennifer Fallon
5.0
Because it's hard to rate an anthology, I'm going to separate it by novel in my review.
To Hold the Bridge: An Old Kingdom Story - Garth Nix - 4/5 stars
I haven't read any of Garth Nix before, though I think I have Sabriel at home somewhere; I may even read it now after this short, which I quite enjoyed. You could visualise his world easily, and I would have liked to read more.
The Mad Apprentice: A Black Magician Story - Trudi Canavan - 4/5 stars
I've read Trudi's Black Magician series, as well as Priestess of the White. I found this short story to be quite enjoyable as I know what it ties into, and I like how it shows you can try to stick with family even when they're doing something bad... but then also take that step and rid the badness - family can't always stand between everything. It was a good balance.
Twixt Firelight and Water: A Tale of Sevenwaters - Juliet Marillier - 4/5 stars
I'm not usually that good with first person, but I loved this. When I announced I got the book on twitter, my friend Kaelee squealed about this author and now I can see why. I'll have to get one of her books.
It was very well done. So easily it could have been cliched or unbelievable - bringing Aisha in like that was risky... but she pulled it off perfectly.
The Dark Road: An Obernewtyn Story - Isobelle Carmody - 0/5 stars
Hardly made any sense, which was annoying. I haven't read Obernewtyn so that's probably why, but it's annoying. I haven't read any of Garth Nix or Juliet Marillier either and yet I loved their stories.
Crown of Rowan: A Tale of Thyrsland - Kim Wilkins - 4/5 stars
I was surprised by this one - I enjoyed it a lot. I'm actually in a writing course run by Kim Wilkins, and so far have only read her addition in the anthology 'Dreaming Again', which was a twist on Hansel and Gretel (if I remember correctly) - making it all in our time, etc
This series I can't wait to buy. Again, I don't really like first person all the time but I was hooked by this. I loved the sisters (Bluebell in particular) and how there were hints of faerietales in the names and elements of characterisation.
The Spark (A Romance in Four Acts): A Tale of the Change - Sean Williams - 5/5 stars
All I can say is that I'm so glad that I have one of Sean's books waiting on my bookshelf, because reading this... I need to read more of his NOW.
I really have nothing else to say, I can't put into words how much this hooked me.
p.s. SKY WARDENS. Eee! He writes SPACE OPERAS. I am so there.
The Corsers' Hinge: A Lamplighter Tale - D.M. Cornish - No rating.
I wasn't able to read this. I tried many times, and after a few weeks of trying I moved on. I like the idea of it, I don't think I had any issue with how he wrote... I just had no calling to turn the page. Hopefully I'll return sometime to read it.
Tribute to Hell: A Tale of the Tainted Realm - Ian Irvine - 1/5 stars
This I just couldn't read. I was put off by the start, it jumped into the action with no build up, and I honestly just couldn't be bothered... which is a shame. I've always wanted to read Ian Irvine. Hopefully I shall return sometime.
A Captain of the Gate - John Birmingham - 2/5 stars
Failed to capture my interest. It was decent, but quite overshadowed by other novellas in this collection.
The Magic Word - Jennifer Fallon - 5/5 stars
The reason I bought this book. I adore Jennifer Fallon's writing, and this didn't disappoint. I need to go back and re-read all her books, and re-read this novella again more slowly because I couldn't stop myself from rushing on to find out what happened next. I loooove it, especially what the word turned out to be.
The Enchanted: A Tale of Erith - Cecilia Dart-Thornton - 3/5 stars
The longest novella in the anthology at around 100 pages, this didn't disappoint. Parts in the beginning were a little hard to follow, but other than that it was really quite good. I'm not feeling the need to immediately rush out and get her books, like I am with say, Sean Williams, but it was still a good end to a fantastic anthology.
To Hold the Bridge: An Old Kingdom Story - Garth Nix - 4/5 stars
I haven't read any of Garth Nix before, though I think I have Sabriel at home somewhere; I may even read it now after this short, which I quite enjoyed. You could visualise his world easily, and I would have liked to read more.
The Mad Apprentice: A Black Magician Story - Trudi Canavan - 4/5 stars
I've read Trudi's Black Magician series, as well as Priestess of the White. I found this short story to be quite enjoyable as I know what it ties into, and I like how it shows you can try to stick with family even when they're doing something bad... but then also take that step and rid the badness - family can't always stand between everything. It was a good balance.
Twixt Firelight and Water: A Tale of Sevenwaters - Juliet Marillier - 4/5 stars
I'm not usually that good with first person, but I loved this. When I announced I got the book on twitter, my friend Kaelee squealed about this author and now I can see why. I'll have to get one of her books.
It was very well done. So easily it could have been cliched or unbelievable - bringing Aisha in like that was risky... but she pulled it off perfectly.
The Dark Road: An Obernewtyn Story - Isobelle Carmody - 0/5 stars
Hardly made any sense, which was annoying. I haven't read Obernewtyn so that's probably why, but it's annoying. I haven't read any of Garth Nix or Juliet Marillier either and yet I loved their stories.
Crown of Rowan: A Tale of Thyrsland - Kim Wilkins - 4/5 stars
I was surprised by this one - I enjoyed it a lot. I'm actually in a writing course run by Kim Wilkins, and so far have only read her addition in the anthology 'Dreaming Again', which was a twist on Hansel and Gretel (if I remember correctly) - making it all in our time, etc
This series I can't wait to buy. Again, I don't really like first person all the time but I was hooked by this. I loved the sisters (Bluebell in particular) and how there were hints of faerietales in the names and elements of characterisation.
The Spark (A Romance in Four Acts): A Tale of the Change - Sean Williams - 5/5 stars
All I can say is that I'm so glad that I have one of Sean's books waiting on my bookshelf, because reading this... I need to read more of his NOW.
I really have nothing else to say, I can't put into words how much this hooked me.
p.s. SKY WARDENS. Eee! He writes SPACE OPERAS. I am so there.
The Corsers' Hinge: A Lamplighter Tale - D.M. Cornish - No rating.
I wasn't able to read this. I tried many times, and after a few weeks of trying I moved on. I like the idea of it, I don't think I had any issue with how he wrote... I just had no calling to turn the page. Hopefully I'll return sometime to read it.
Tribute to Hell: A Tale of the Tainted Realm - Ian Irvine - 1/5 stars
This I just couldn't read. I was put off by the start, it jumped into the action with no build up, and I honestly just couldn't be bothered... which is a shame. I've always wanted to read Ian Irvine. Hopefully I shall return sometime.
A Captain of the Gate - John Birmingham - 2/5 stars
Failed to capture my interest. It was decent, but quite overshadowed by other novellas in this collection.
The Magic Word - Jennifer Fallon - 5/5 stars
The reason I bought this book. I adore Jennifer Fallon's writing, and this didn't disappoint. I need to go back and re-read all her books, and re-read this novella again more slowly because I couldn't stop myself from rushing on to find out what happened next. I loooove it, especially what the word turned out to be.
The Enchanted: A Tale of Erith - Cecilia Dart-Thornton - 3/5 stars
The longest novella in the anthology at around 100 pages, this didn't disappoint. Parts in the beginning were a little hard to follow, but other than that it was really quite good. I'm not feeling the need to immediately rush out and get her books, like I am with say, Sean Williams, but it was still a good end to a fantastic anthology.