A review by bellatora
The Curiosities: A Collection of Stories, by Brenna Yovanoff, Tessa Gratton, Maggie Stiefvater
5.0
I adored this collection.
Even though I don't love all her books (see: [b:Ballad: A Gathering of Faerie|6076413|Ballad A Gathering of Faerie (Books of Faerie, #2)|Maggie Stiefvater|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1288028289s/6076413.jpg|6252991]), I think [a:Maggie Stiefvater|1330292|Maggie Stiefvater|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1268241579p2/1330292.jpg] is one of the most talented writers with some of the most beautiful writing. I thought [a:Brenna Yovanoff|3023658|Brenna Yovanoff|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1261685101p2/3023658.jpg] was amazingly talented in creating a creepy, haunting atmosphere in [b:The Replacement|9453823|The Replacement|Brenna Yovanoff|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348847078s/9453823.jpg|6911742]. And [a:Tessa Gratton|3111338|Tessa Gratton|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1328563756p2/3111338.jpg] I had no opinion of before reading this book, but now I can't wait to read her novels and am especially excited for [b:The Lost Sun|13021366|The Lost Sun (The United States of Asgard, #1)|Tessa Gratton|http://www.goodreads.com/assets/nocover/60x80.png|18183974] because it is clear she is absolutely fascinated by Norse culture and her stories of a Norse-infused modern America were among my favorites.
It was fun to see how much the authors obviously just enjoyed each other. Their side comments and doodles were endearing. It made the book have the same kind of appeal as listening to Tina Fey's memoir on audio - it feels like bonding with the author and makes you want to grab brunch and chat and laugh and drink mimosas with them.
The stories themselves were impressive. While some of them were better than others, none of them were bad. These authors are talented and their ability to create whole worlds and people in so few pages is inspiring.
My favourite stories were “The Vampire Box” (Tessa Gratton) – about a girl whose family keeps a vampire trapped in the basement for luck; it had the same ambiguous ending both hopeful and frustrating that I loved in [a:Vivian Vande Velde|13014|Vivian Vande Velde|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1241839752p2/13014.jpg]’s writing as a teen. “A Murder of Gods” (Maggie Stiefvater) – boarding school of demigods; further proof that Stiefvater can create a simmering romance in even a short story. “Date With a Dragon Slayer” (Tessa Gratton) – love this idea! Ordinary girl wins date with nation’s celebrity du jour, a teen dragonslayer who is going to go off to try to slay another dragon the next morning. “Rain Maker” (Maggie Steifvater) – because I have a thing for asshole geniuses with a layer of kindness, too. “Neighbors” (Brenna Yovanoff) – because I saw the first twist but not the second one. “Beserk” (Tessa Gratton) – trolls, beserker, one of the creepiest/most horrifying scenes (the trolls in the house) in a book full of creepy/horrifying scenes, and a girl who experiences the evil of the world and decides to fight back.
Even though I don't love all her books (see: [b:Ballad: A Gathering of Faerie|6076413|Ballad A Gathering of Faerie (Books of Faerie, #2)|Maggie Stiefvater|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1288028289s/6076413.jpg|6252991]), I think [a:Maggie Stiefvater|1330292|Maggie Stiefvater|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1268241579p2/1330292.jpg] is one of the most talented writers with some of the most beautiful writing. I thought [a:Brenna Yovanoff|3023658|Brenna Yovanoff|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1261685101p2/3023658.jpg] was amazingly talented in creating a creepy, haunting atmosphere in [b:The Replacement|9453823|The Replacement|Brenna Yovanoff|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348847078s/9453823.jpg|6911742]. And [a:Tessa Gratton|3111338|Tessa Gratton|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1328563756p2/3111338.jpg] I had no opinion of before reading this book, but now I can't wait to read her novels and am especially excited for [b:The Lost Sun|13021366|The Lost Sun (The United States of Asgard, #1)|Tessa Gratton|http://www.goodreads.com/assets/nocover/60x80.png|18183974] because it is clear she is absolutely fascinated by Norse culture and her stories of a Norse-infused modern America were among my favorites.
It was fun to see how much the authors obviously just enjoyed each other. Their side comments and doodles were endearing. It made the book have the same kind of appeal as listening to Tina Fey's memoir on audio - it feels like bonding with the author and makes you want to grab brunch and chat and laugh and drink mimosas with them.
The stories themselves were impressive. While some of them were better than others, none of them were bad. These authors are talented and their ability to create whole worlds and people in so few pages is inspiring.
My favourite stories were “The Vampire Box” (Tessa Gratton) – about a girl whose family keeps a vampire trapped in the basement for luck; it had the same ambiguous ending both hopeful and frustrating that I loved in [a:Vivian Vande Velde|13014|Vivian Vande Velde|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1241839752p2/13014.jpg]’s writing as a teen. “A Murder of Gods” (Maggie Stiefvater) – boarding school of demigods; further proof that Stiefvater can create a simmering romance in even a short story. “Date With a Dragon Slayer” (Tessa Gratton) – love this idea! Ordinary girl wins date with nation’s celebrity du jour, a teen dragonslayer who is going to go off to try to slay another dragon the next morning. “Rain Maker” (Maggie Steifvater) – because I have a thing for asshole geniuses with a layer of kindness, too. “Neighbors” (Brenna Yovanoff) – because I saw the first twist but not the second one. “Beserk” (Tessa Gratton) – trolls, beserker, one of the creepiest/most horrifying scenes (the trolls in the house) in a book full of creepy/horrifying scenes, and a girl who experiences the evil of the world and decides to fight back.