In this collection, seven fantasy authors release their stories in collaboration with Amazon as part of their first Original Stories collection.
The Garden by Tomi Adeyemi
Years after her mother disappeared in search of a mythical place called the Garden, Yuliana is determined to uncover the truth.
This was one of the weakest stories in the collection. The Garden follows Yuliana travelling in Brazil with a guide to a mythical garden, hoping to find what her mother couldn’t. It sounds promising, except all we’re given is a tourist misbehaving, as the writer tries to convince you otherwise. This story was meant for a bigger stage, but even within these pages, Adeyemi couldn’t convince me. I like the concept of alternating prose and poetry, but what does it say when the prose reads better than the poetry?
Persephone by Lev Gossman
Young Persephone hides within herself, especially since her father’s disappearance five years ago, but when the school bullies go too far, she discovers a power that might be the key to everything.
Without giving too much of the plot away, I was surprised by the turn this story took. But Persephone’s voice drips with the stereotypical behaviour of a Disney Channel teen protagonist. I found the plot rather intriguing, but the tone of voice felt dejected and separate from the girl we see on the page.
The Six Deaths of the Saint by Alix E. Harrow
Spared from death to fulfil a destiny, can the girl who became a weapon find her worth under the watchful eyes of the Prince?
You have probably already seen this short story makes its rounds through social media, and for once, a story lives up to the hype. Six Deaths is a beautiful short story, speaking directly into the desire of the girl who has been told repeatedly to sacrifice everything for the empire’s good. Harrow evokes every emotion possible in such a short amount of words; what a bitter-sweet tale for a girl who deserves so much more.
“I would rather love a coward than mourn a legend.” It was 2 am, and I was on the floor.
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as told by zaheerah 