A lovely anthology full of magic and love. All of the featured authors were new to me although I've heard of some of them I'd never actually read their work. Glad to say I now have. I really enjoyed this collection, it's a good palate cleanser for the heavier high fantasy/romantasy books out there.

Overall 4 stars after averaging out my rating for each story below.

The Fall Guy: Olivia Blake - 3* Fast paced, felt like an excerpt from the middle of a novel as apposed to a short story.

The Dubious Women of Mirador: Melissa Marr - 4* Interesting story, very short enemies to lovers/fated mates plot.

Until December: Kelly Andrew - 5* - More Sci-Fi than fantasy, but loved it all the same. Addie Laure/Our Infinite Fates vibes.

The King's Witch: Tasha Suri - 5* Good world building, well paced with chapters split between current time and flashbacks. I really enjoyed this one.

Designated Virgin Sacrifice: Kelley Armstrong -5* Favorite one so far! Absolutely loved the twist in this one, for a short story it was really gripping and so well paced.

Second class magic: Kamilah Cole - 3 stars, interesting magic system for a short story, good academic rivals to lovers plot, felt a little bit rushed and disjointed but otherwise a nice little sapphic romance.

Bamboo, Ink, Paper, Clay: Eliza Chan - 3* Loved the magic system in this one, very unique, but otherwise really struggled to get through it and almost skipped it all together a couple of times. Well written, beautiful ending, just slow for me personally.

Slay the Princess, Save the Dragon: A.C Wise - 4* Whirlwind of an academic rivals to lovers story. I really enjoyed this one, fast paced and sweet, ending on a lovely little cliffhanger.

San't Marten's Book of Mild Melancholy: A.G. Slatter - 4* I was a little bit confused by the world building at the start, it felt like too much for a short story, but once it actually got into the plot and the magic I really enjoyed it.

Good Deeds and Their Magical Punishments: Megan Bannen - 5* - Adored this story so much, easiest 5* in this whole anthology. My favorite of them all.

The Larkspur: Megan Bannen - 3* Cozy fantasy vibes but I was a little bit bored with the MCs self pity, it fell a bit flat for me and didn't give his character much depth. I'm not a huge fan of the 'Woe is me' character profile.

Rosebud: Katherine Arden - 3* A beautiful story but closer to gothic/paranormal that romantasy. 

Honestly just incredible. Not a lot to say otherwise. It's dark, is sapphic, it's bloody. I loved it. 

 Nice easy cozy fantasy vibes. The dialogue felt a bit flat for me throughout, and a lot of inconsistencies which let the book down for me, little things like Adelaide ordering tea and cake, then taking a sip from her coffee, or Kye being referred to as Kyle (not by the other characters either). The odd one or two I can pass off as a typo or a lapse but they are throughout the book which leaves it feeling a bit amateur.
The story itself and the idea of a magical bookshop that appears to those who need the escape, and the book chooses you, is unique and full of potential. 

The Darkening Globe is a dark, atmospheric paranormal murder mystery, set in Tudor England. 
The story revolves around (pun whole heartedly intended) an ominous, fortune telling Globe, commissioned by the Sir Hugh Radclyffe, following his most recent expedition, his beloved Wife Beatrice, alongside their 2 children await his return with anticipation, little does she know, this return brings with it a mysterious lodger, and murder at every turn (sorry!).

I'm not usually one for Murder Mystery, but the Historical Fiction paired with the paranormal, and having read and loved The Burnings, I knew I had to at least give it a go, and I loved it. Naomi is such a fantastic writer, down to every intricate dress detail and sweeping sound. 
My main criticism is that this was released in Spring, and not Autumn/Winter where I could live out my cold, dark, haunted evening reading fantasies with this beautifully gloomy book. I fear I will never look at a Globe the same again. 

Another stunning, powerful & thought provoking book on Womanhood by C.J Cooke. The majority The Ghost Woods is set in a beautifully Gothic manor house called Lichen Hall, ran by Mrs Whitlock, who allows unwed, expecting Mothers to live in her home, in exchange for work and the promise of finding a loving family for their babies. The story is told through the POVs of Pearl & Mabel, living at the hall 10 years apart, but joining later in the book. 
As always, Cooke has filled her book with a touch of magic and mystery that kept me absolutely hooked and wanting to read (listen) on.
I love all of the girls in this book, Mabel especially, her realization at the end absolutely tore my heart open. The way her anxiety is described as Ghosts in her body is so poetic and well done. 
The twist in the end and the mild body horror really blew me away, even with such a tragic ending I loved it. 
Incredible story telling, and please, please read/listen to the Authors Note at the end! Very powerful words and insight into the inspiration for this book and the restraints and standards which Women were held by in the 20th Century.