Overall

3.6 stars rounded to 4!

I liked this collection. And I hate that I know more western fairytales and myths than Asian ones. But there were definitely some retellings that I did not enjoy at all. I also looked up most of the folklore that had inspired these stories and I loved all of those. I do have to stay that I absolutely did not like the audiobook; I actually had started this book as audio but like not only did I think that it was bland narration which is sometimes okay for me but also I realised on the first South Asian story (which is when switched to reading reading it) and the punjabi in it was not properly pronouced. I'm sure it's not their fault; I would've liked to see multicast and I see that it has two narrators but I actually did not stopped listening before I could experience the other narrator. This is not against them and is just my opinion. My top 3 in no order: Olivia's Table, The Land of Mourning Calm and Bullet, Butterfly.


Forbidden fruit
★★★
This one was written lyrically and reads like a fairytale. It was simple and beautiful but like I wanted more.

Olivia's table
★★★★★
All the stars for this emotional one about loss. I loved the touches of food because I love my cultural food and I totally understand. I really would like to read their other work in the future

Steel Skin
★★
Interesting at the end so too little too late. Nothing new with the idea of what it means to be human. I did enjoy the writing style though.

Still Star Crossed
★
Nope. Her mother's lover is reincarnated as her lover? what. I feel like story butchered the heart at the story of Mirza and Sahiba (which i only looked up after reading this).

The Counting of Vermillion Beads
★★★★★
OMG. I was hooked. This was such an enchating tale of 2 sisters. This was like magical realism. I really would like to explore this writer's other works. I don't see how this story was anything like the folktale that inspired it except for the characters' names and shapeshifting element but who cares. The original tale is kind of like Cinderella but more fantastical.

The Land Morning Calm
★★★★★
What an absolutely beautiful story. First one tear me up. Loved the sci fi ghost take. Loved how the Korean myths were incorporated into this contemporary tale of loss.

The Smile
★★★★
Okay finally from a story I've heard: Anarkali's story. I really liked Aisha Saeed's feminist take on this. I love how it explores the realistic power imbalance in this timeless tale of what was always believed to be love.

Girls Who Twirl and Other Dangers
★
I know it's mean but reading this felt like a chore. It side by side tells us 2 stories; one of the legends on which Navratri is based on and a contemporary celebration of it in present day with very petty arguments. Comparing that petty story to the story of legend just feels like an insult. I liked how desi everything was and actually the legend story was okay to read too but just fell like info dump. I wish the writer had just focused on the navratri story and retold that instead with their take on it.

Nothing into All
★★★★
Renee Ahdieh is a brilliant writer and this story was immersive and I liked it a lot. I actually read a version of Goblin Treasure too and it's fascinating.

Spear Carrier:
★★★★★
I just loved the idea of retelling a story of heroes and gods from the perspective of a common man. And I liked how it was talking to us.. i feel like i haven't seen in that fiction books in quite a while. This is also a writer whose other works I'm now very interested in.

Code of Honor
★★
This was an okay read. From the writing style to the plot everything just felt oridinary. It's good know about Aswangs though; and she mentions how scary nightmarish they are. But her story reduces them to ordinary teen vampire who turns into a bat like thing at night.


Bullet, Butterfly
★★★★★
OMG my heartbroke and my hand was literally on my chest. I like how she gender swapped the roles from the originals folktale. I loved every single thing. The effects of war on children:

before they died they each wanted to see a star that was naked and unveiled of gun smoke, to eat a handful of real sugar, to fall asleep truly full

They just want to see a clear sky have sugar and have a good sleep. It's not much. But their lives are consumed by war and they are soldiers first. An really my thoughts went out to the children in war torn countries like Yemen and Palestine.

Don’t forget we’re only ever soldiers here in Shangyu, and soldiers never get to be the ones who wake up from a spell, or who even get to break a spell. We’re just the dragons guarding the gate, ordered to keep breathing the fire of those who cast the spell in the first place.

Daughter of the Sun
★★★★
This was actually pretty cool but i just did not feel the chemistry between the 2 characters; it just did not feel like love to me. But I enjoyed the story nonetheless because it was written so well and liked the clever tricks.

The Crimson Cloak
★★★★
I liked everything except the "Dear Reader" part I just felt like it pulled me from my imagination and reminded me that I was just reading. It was a cute story. Reminded me of "Mastermind" song by Taylor Swift.

Eyes like Candlelight
★★★★
This was such a sweet magical mystical tale. I feel like I have heard of kitsune before but i'm not sure.