As an Asian-American and avid reader, it's hard not to notice the lack of representation for Asian mythology (and Asian culture in general, but this book focuses on mythology) in Western media. I really wanted so much more from this collection, even knowing it's unfair to expect it to measure up to Rick Riordan's or Tamora Pierce's work, though of course it's a first step. Weirdly, attempts at what I assume are making the legends more relatable and personal - primarily through modern "twists" and settings, and often filtered through a heterosexual romance - bothered me, especially reevaluating each story in the context of its inspiration. (Honestly, I probably would've been happier if the authors had stuck to retelling the original myths; there are so many versions, after all, and you can modernize them without distorting the details.)

Possible spoilers below, in my brief reviews of the individual stories:

Forbidden Fruit: 3 stars. Short, but beautifully written enough that I found myself disappointed that the rest of the stories didn't match it in tone.

Olivia's Table: 4 stars. Everything I could want in an Asian-American story about family (including ancestors to be honored!), food, and growing up. Also, I think this was the only story with LGBTQ representation.

Steel Skin: 3 stars. I spent most of this story confused, and I'm just generally not a fan of AI rebellion/takeover stories; it also seemed like a stretch from the original folktale.

Still Star-Crossed: 3 stars. The premise was interesting, if distinctly creepy, though I felt the execution was a little lacking.

The Counting of Vermillion Beads: 4 stars. If this was a full-length novel, I would read it; I love the relationship between the sisters, the specific incarnation of magic, honestly everything about this setup.

The Land of the Morning Calm: 4 stars. I had a pretty significant Sword Art Online phase, and I just generally love anime (and books) about video game immersion. Sunny and her family really come to life, as does their love for each other.

The Smile: 3.5 stars. Well-written, and addresses issues of class and power; too short to have made a very strong impression.

Girls Who Twirl and Other Dangers: 2 stars. The main character and her friends just seem petty; I really didn't like the abrupt heteronormative rivals-to-lovers twist; I only skimmed the passages retelling the original myth because they were so long and drawn-out.

Nothing into All: 4 stars. Strong sense of setting; the tradition of folktale is well-preserved even in the face of minor modernization.

Spear Carrier: 1 star. The protagonist annoyed me from the beginning, and I'm not sure if the story was extra long or just felt that way. The main theme is an intriguing one, but it didn't really come through until I read the follow-up.

Code of Honor: 1 star. Honestly, this is pretty much your typical supernatural YA story, loner new-girl with secret powers versus preppy popular girls, except that the supernatural part is based on creatures from Asian myths. Also, the overt tie-in to the author's other books feels more than a little self-indulgent.

Bullet, Butterfly: 2 stars. I actually know this story; the butterflies gave it away. The new setting is interesting, but the transitions are too abrupt. Also, I'm not sure the author understands how Chinese full names work, because the characters were referred to consistently by their surnames in both the story and the explanation.

Daughter of the Sun: 2.5 stars. Feminism, as so lauded in the follow-up, is actually for guys too - taking away his choice to return to his family because you can't stand being alone (read: misunderstood) any longer is therefore not actually feminist, even if it demonstrates the heroine's empowerment. Consent issues aside, though, the story is well written.

The Crimson Cloak: 3.5 stars. The constant interjections of "Dear Reader" get old really fast, but this is basically the Asian equivalent of modern retellings that give Persephone agency in the choice to stay in the Underworld, though that one change is shoved down the reader's throat several times.

Eyes like Candlelight: 4 stars. Folktale in its purest form, or close to it; conventional setup and progression, which I found comforting and familiar.