Publication Date: 1st Oct 2023
Genre: Fantasy Short Story Anthology
3.8 Stars
One Liner: Entertaining
Some of you already know I can’t resist a good cover. This book is no exception. When two friends added the book, I knew I had to read it, at least for that black and gold cover. With wolves, mermaids, and dragons, this one promised to be an exciting ride.
The book begins with a quick note by the author and potential triggers listed with the story titles. The underlying theme is supernatural/ paranormal for all stories. That makes this a highly diverse collection set in various worlds. The writing style is easy to follow and blends descriptions, emotions, and storytelling.
However, as with every anthology, some stories were wonderful, some good, and some meh. Here’s a short review of each story (written after reading it). I read 2-3 stories a day.
Unexpected Encounters of a Draconic Kind – 4 Stars
Amika, a dragon scale gatherer, has a hard time finding enough freshly-shed scales to make money for a living (and feed her family). What does a chance encounter with a dragon do to her? Can she survive to tell the tale? What a start to the anthology. Beautiful! I wish this was a novella with good world-building.
A Taste of Grace – 4.5 Stars
A retelling of Rapunzel that starts a few years after the HEA in the original. It tackles the theme of addiction, the reason for Rapunzel being taken by the witch. A fresh and unique perspective and in the right length.
A Spoonful of Spice – 3.5 Stars
This was fun, alright! Except that it reads more like a rounded excerpt from a novel than a complete short story. I wouldn’t mind reading the full version if it’s available.
Deep Dive – 3 Stars
Iris goes on a sky-diving trip for her birthday. However, cannot help but think about something that happened earlier. While thoughts are fine, someone listening to them through the telepathy chip is not. This one has the right tension and pace but is predictable to an extent.
The Grave Dangers – 4.5 Stars
Tristan regrets abandoning his sweetheart when she catches the Dancing Plague. Desperate to make amends, he visits the graveyard in the woods with a gift. The Flickers (ghosts) come to life at night and tend to kill anyone who trespasses. Can Tristan make it alive? This one managed to spring surprises and has a lovely ending.
Mer-Child – 5 Stars
This should be a novella or even a novel. It made me teary-eyed (which doesn’t happen often). Half-breeds have no place after a treaty for ‘peace’ between humans and merfolk. But Tula is determined to survive and find her only family, her father- the man who doesn’t even know of her existence.
Tough Crowd – 4 Stars
Jessmina works as a jester at an inn as the war continues to ravage outside. However, the latest visitors at the inn may bring some more for her. This is a short and emotional story about war, family, understanding, and forgiveness.
Topsy Turvy Tiger – 2 Stars
Well, I had high hopes, given the title (I love alliterations), but this was mostly meh. Magical circus and all. It needs some fleshing out to read better.
Just a Hench – 3.5 Stars
Set in the far future, it’s the story of Liz, the abandoned daughter of a supervillain. Life is not easy with either side suspecting her, but a girl’s got to find a way to live! This one is quite heartwarming, though I couldn’t connect with it much.
Change of Heart – 4 Stars
Written in the second-person POV, it’s the story of a young werewolf fearing the change (transition from human to wolf). But then, some things cannot be controlled. It’s a short piece with a sort of haunting-like tone with a lovely message. Something is missing, though.
Down in Flames – 2.5 Stars
A magical (of-sorts) raid on smugglers where the narrator has an over-enthusiastic young partner to train on the job. Anything could go wrong, and her guilt could mess things up further. This should have been more detailed and longer. It reads like an excerpt.
Prince of Bees – 4 Stars
Where is my epilogue? This is the story of Prince Ivan, a gentle young man on a rescue mission to save a princess from an evil sorcerer. Of course, has to handle his own brothers first, but there’s someone to help, too. This is a sweet story that reads much like a fairytale.
Of Masks and Macarenas – 4.5 Stars
This is one of my favorites in the book. What happens when a wannabe ghost haunts an opera singer’s shows? Tina sure isn’t the kind to bow down without a fight. An entertainer.
Retrieval – 4.5 Stars
A Tulitian woman has to save her friend’s half-Tulitian boys before they are hurt. With the official agencies being useless in this aspect, she has to do it her way. Is it possible? This is a heartwarming story with a good dose of emotion and action.
Tiger Bright – 4 Stars
A man-eater is hunting the village, and the narrator, a young girl is the one sent to save the people. After all, she has some gifts to do so. But at what cost? The narration is vivid and gripping. Creative, for sure. The plot itself is such that it can go in a loop until something changes.
Sea Claim – 4.5 Stars
Terrific! Galia and Odessi are half-human, half-mer. At fifteen, the sea would claim them as her own. They stand on the shore, ready for the Change. But Galia has second thoughts. What will this do to her life? You can guess what will happen, but that won’t stop you from reading. No other ending would suit the story.
The Perfumers of Qukamar – 4 Stars
Adi Shebalik has been cursed by an ambitious aromancer for not submitting to her. Since then, he’s searching for someone to save him from doom. After all, how can a perfumer smell only two scents? This is a fun story with drama, intrigue, emotion, and HEA. A complete package, though I wouldn’t say no to a bit more world-building.
Sir Gawain and The Green Thumb – 4 Stars
This is a funny little retelling set in King Arthur’s kingdom. The kind you sit back and enjoy. Sir Gawain, a new knight, buys an (electronic) lawnmower. However, his enthusiasm gets him in trouble. Can he save his skin this time?
The Screwtech Letters – 4.5 Stars
Lol… this is such a one-sided epistolary short story where Sir Frederick, the Crasher of Computers, teaches his cousin George to mess up the computer for an upgrade. Too good! Pure entertainment.
No Man’s Jungle – 4 Stars
Oh, my kind of story! Dawson Malone is on yet another quest and enters a forest despite warnings from an old seller. But then he is too sure of himself to do otherwise. So what happens next? This is a fun read with a nice twist at the end.
The Wolf at the Door – 4.5 Stars
Oh, this is such a beautiful and heartfelt retelling of the original. It takes the core elements and places them in a totally different setting. Won’t reveal anything else. Beautiful!
The Mermaid’s Soul – 3.5 Stars
Do Mermaids have a soul? What about someone like Ianthe, who is neither a mermaid nor a human? How does her interaction with a man change her life? I loved the previous two mermaid stories and had high hopes for this one. While I like the theme tackled, the story somehow felt underwhelming. Maybe because it was too short, or my mind connected a scene from the story to one from a movie I saw as a child, never mind that these two have nothing in common except a mermaid.
In case you’re wondering, here it is: Sahasa Veerudu Sagara Kanya (Adventurous Hero and the Sea Maiden), a 1996 Telugu movie.
To summarize, Unexpected Encounters of a Draconic Kind and Other Stories is an intriguing and entertaining collection of 22 short stories with something for everyone. Only two stories fall below the 3-star mark, with 4 stories between 3 and 4 stars.
However, anthologies are highly subjective, so give it a read to find your favorites. I’ll be sure to other works by the author.
Thank you, Prolific Works and SnowRidge Press, for the eARC.
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