I’m not usually one for mythical retellings because often I’m unfamiliar with the source material and I feel like that takes away some of the enjoyment. That doesn’t matter one bit with Babalola’s collection. She has reworked myths and legends from around the world, some in real world settings and some in fantastical ones. She’s inverted violent and misogynistic tropes, transformed them into romantic stories brimming with respect and agency, with the women at the forefront. 

While there were a few stories which didn’t leave as much of an impact, every story was enjoyable to read in the moment. This was a brilliant collection to dip in and out of, especially in the morning! They really set my day off to a lovely start, leaving me smiling or giddy for an imaginary couple who got their happy ever after. 

It’s no surprise that my favourite of the collection was the one featuring the badass queer vigilante. Nefertiti was a brilliant story that kept me on the edge of my seat. Babalola included as many twists and turns as she could into 20 pages without cheapening the story. It was the same with Scheherazade – that story literally left me with my jaw almost hitting the floor! 

Some of my other favourites were Psyche, Neleli and Attem. I really admire the range of styles and settings Babalola exhibited within this collection, from modern-day fashion bloggers to queens leading revolts, but every one of them takes the reins of their own destiny in hand. 

I might have liked to see a few more queer stories, but I still highly recommend this collection for a feel-good read filled with strong women!