Toil & Trouble is everything I dreamed it could and would be and then some. I was not only gripped by each of the stories, but I often forgot that I was reading a collection--always a good sign. I found myself wholly invested in each of these women's stories, wanting to know how their lives turned out. This is the perfect summer read to give to anyone who is looking for a quick, magical and fun read.

Recommend this one far and wide!

I really enjoyed some of the stories and some fell short, of course. I always get that when it comes to a book like this- different authors, different voices. I did find a few authors I plan to research and try a full length from. There were some f/f stories in this book as well, so be warned if that is a thing you don't like. I just don't prefer to read those kinds of relationships personally. Big props to the authors that are willing to do that though, and reach young people. Over all, I enjoyed this book.

Not bad, wasn’t quite as engaging as I had hoped. I am coming to realize anthologies are not for me. I would have enjoyed this more if it had been one story, rather than multiple. You are drawn into the world and then suddenly it’s over.

Much like any collection of short stories, there are hits and misses in this volume.

My favorite story came from author Zoraida Cordova (Labyrinth Lost, Bruja Born). It had just the right amount of mystery, mysticism, and magical realism for me. But I may be biased because I have loved both books in the Brooklyn Brujas series so far.

This is a good fit for anyone looking for stories of feminism, witchcraft, love and mystery.

I really enjoyed this collection! I loved how many different genres and types of stories were included, as well as the diversity of the characters and contributors. My favorite stories were "The One Who Stayed," "Daughters of Baba Yaga," "The Gherin Girls," and "Why They Watch Us Burn," but I think there's something here for every reader. A really beautifully crafted collection.

Short story collections are one of my favorite forms of reading, to start with. Old witchy tales with a modern spin on them, this book is sure to please anyone that enjoys short stories, young adult, and fantasies. Also, with its late-August release, this will make the perfect book to get in the spooky mood before/during Halloween month!!

No need to get your cauldron bubbling to work a love spell on this anthology because readers won't be able to resist the temptation of these authors! This was a wonderfully creepy collection of witchy stories that ensnared me. Getting to visit with characters of different cultures and sexual identities in one novel was a marvel. Sure, some books were better than others, but the anthology as a whole is a wonderful success.

This was a fantastic anthology of witchcraft-related short stories. I've read a few other YA anthologies, and none of them had stories that consistently kept me engaged like this one did. These stories also encompass narrators and characters of different cultures and sexual identities, which was really refreshing to read!

A few stories dragged a bit, but I was definitely drawn by each story's premise, narrator(s), and how the writing kept me guessing. I was never bored; I just wanted to keep reading. Some stories really drive home what it means to be a woman - to be marked as the other in a male-dominated society and to be persecuted for not being a "proper" kind of woman. And all the women in this anthology find ways to rebel, to fight fate or expectations or restrictions, to gain what they desire.

A truly well-written collection of stories anyone should read because of the women's ferocity and determination. The witchcraft is a bonus of creativity and magic that complements and completes each story.

Like many short story anthologies, Toil & Trouble is a mix of good and bad stories. I do think that this one was a bit better than the average YA collection, with the focus on witchcraft and feminism helping keep things interesting. I will definitely be purchasing this for my library's YA collection.

As with any anthology, you get stories that change your whole life and you also get stories that seem a little - meh. It is my belief that it is totally okay because not everyone is going to feel the same way about every story. I will just mention my favorites and what I loved about them after my overall anthology impressions.

As a whole, this is an impressive collection with diversity, vision, and power. What I am so excited about is how many different patrons I can recommend this anthology to based on the variety of stories. Not only will your general witchy readers dig the new takes on the genre, there are so many other reasons for reading it that three-fourths of my patrons would enjoy something out of this collection. The short story format also makes it very accessible to reluctant readers, although the language is more mature.

My favorites:
Starsong by Tehlor Kay Mejia - Luna being a teen Latinx internet-savvy protagonist keeps her interesting. She also has to deal with the consequences of making poor choices in her past. This story explores a lot of issues including substance abuse, polygamy, and sexuality.
The Heart in Her Hands by Tesse Sharpe - I love the whole idea of a kitchen witch. This book challenges many of the conventional stereotypes of magical stories: soul mates and fate for example.
Death in the Sawtooths by Lindsay Smith - So dark! So dark and it made my heart happy. It reminded me of "Young Goodman Brown" by Hawthorne - just by tone alone. (That's one of my favorite short stories, and anything I compare to that story, it's a good thing.) Plus, living in a small town, I like when authors get small town vibes correct.
The One Who Stayed by Nova Ren Suma - I almost can't even talk about this one. I loved it but in that way that you love watching a scary movie. This one is also pretty dark due to the sexual assault aspect. I just - well, it kept my heart-pounding.
Daughters of Baba Yaga by Brenna Yovanoff - I love anything with Baba Yaga folklore in it. This story did NOT disappoint. These girls have had ENOUGH and they are ready to take the power back in their lives. EEEEE!
Beware of Girls with Crooked Mouths by Jessica Spotswood - This is the second thing I've read by Spotswood this summer, and both times, she made me a fan for life. Also, her books couldn't be more different. I hope she continues to explore this genre.
The Gherin Girls by Emery Lord- In true Emery Lord fashion, this story features strong relationships as a way to get out of unhealthy situations. It's written in a way that makes you slow down. You want to catch everything that the author is saying - the subtext was really important for me in understanding and appreciating this story.
Why They Watch Us Burn by Elizabeth May - What a way to end! OMG. I felt this was a very "Handmaid's Tale"-esque story. Women are blamed for "making" men sexually assault them. Sound familiar? This is one of those stories that brings a social injustice to the forefront and then shows how strong female relationships overcome so much. It's a hauntingly beautiful story that gives me hope, despite all of the darkness it contains.

Finally, I just want to give credit where it is due: Harlequin dropped one of the authors and her story after sexual assault allegations against the author came out. Thank you, Harlequin, for holding true to your readers.

When I first saw that this was an anthology about witches I knew I had to get my hands on this book. Overall this book did not disappoint. The stories started off really good. The middle of the book dragged just a little for me and I wasn’t as crazy about the stories. The end redeemed the book for me and made up for the couple of boring stories. I rated each individual story:
Star Song 5
After Birth 5
The Heart in their Hands 4
Death in the Sawtooths 4
The Truth About Queenie 5
The Moon Apple Menagerie 3
The Legend of Stone Mary 3
The One who Stayed 2
Divine Are the Stars 1
Daughters of Baba Yaga 3
The Well Witch 2
Beware of the Girl with Crooked Mouths 3
Love spell 4
The Gherin Girls 5
The only Way Back 3
Why they Watch Us Burn 4

So overall for a book of short stories this was pretty good. I only thought a couple were boring. I ended up enjoying 80% of the book. The stories were all pretty different looks into witchcraft and the characters in these stories were well developed. I gave this book 4 stars because I thought it was a unique compilation.

A great collection of witchy stories that include a variety of cultures and sexualities.

My Favourite Stories:
The Heart in Her Hands by Tess Sharpe
The One Who Stayed by Nova Ren Suma
Divine Are the Stars by Zoraida Córdova
The Well Witch by Kate Hart
The Gherin Girls by Emery Lord
Why They Watch Us Burn by Elizabeth May

As with most short story anthologies this one comes with the good, the bad and the just okay. I enjoyed most of the stories though and it was really nice to read a quick story when I only had a few moments to read. If you like short stories and witches this is definitely worth checking out!

Toil &Trouble, was an ok read, some of the short stories did leave me wanting a bit more of them, I didn’t really find one that I disliked.
It wasn’t a grab you and keep you reading type of book, but an easy read to pick up and put down without feeling lost.
I received an Arc from Harlequin Teen for an honest review of the book.

I really loved this anthology. Not every story was perfect, there were definitely a couple that I didn’t really love but as a whole, this collection is fantastic and I’m so glad it exists. I’ve always been a fan of witches and everything to do with them so this collection was always going to be right up my alley but these stories are also so wonderfully diverse and I love that a lot of the magic exists in our world and it isn’t just fantasy magic. It felt so real and pretty much every story was about relationships and friendships and connections that just happened to exist between people who are magical. Wonderful magical ladies full of love and discovering their own strengths, what is not to like?!

When I read the description and saw the cover I just had to try to get my hands on th ebook! I was able to receive it through netgalley.com and harlequin teen for an honest review.

This anthology was a bit of a mixed review for me. I wasn't fond of the modern day stories but loved those that went back in time as thats where my mind brings me with witches. Overall, 3 out of 5 stars with solid female witches

Toil & Trouble is a compilation of 15 feministic tales, both historical and contemporary, involving witchcraft mythology and folklore. This novel offers a diverse look at witchcraft origins, gender culture, persecution, survival, and love. Written by some of the today's award winning YA novelist there is sure to be something that appeals to all readers. Stories include: Starsong by Tehlor Kay Mejia, The Heart in her Hands by Tess Sharpe, Death in the Sawtooths by Lindsay Smith, The Truth about Queenie by Brandy Colbert, The Moonapple Menagerie by Shveta Thakrar, The Legend of Stone Mary by Robin Talley, The One who Stayed by Nova Ren Suma, Divine are the Stars by Zoraida Cordova, Daughters of Baba Yaga by Brenna Yovanoff, The Well Witch by Kate Hart, Beware the Girls with Crooked Mouths by Jessica Spotswood, The Gherin Girls by Emery Lord, and Why They Watch us Burn by Elizabeth May

As a lover of witchcraft tales this novel was a must read for me. I especially love anthologies because of the diversity they offer but also because it often allows me to find new authors that I enjoy. As with any collection of tales, there were stories that I really enjoyed, some that didn't appeal to me, and some that were just ok. Overall an interesting and enjoyable novel, a must read for lovers of the genre.

strong woman, magic, witches what not to love. I like most of the stories, but loved four of them. This collection speaks to many females today, even those that are not fans of magic.

Starsong – Tehlor Kay Meija
This was a good start to the anthology with a more modern version of witchcraft and love. I actually wanted more of this story which got me jumping on to the next.

Afterbirth – Andrea Cremer
This was a little more of what most people expect when they think of witch stories. It was a good contrast to the first modern tale. I liked that we got many different perspectives of the story. This was quick and to the point and didn’t dawdle on unnecessary details.

The Heart in Her Hands – Tess Sharpe
This switched back to more modern tales. It was a good story of loving the one you love and not letting anything stand in your way. I was a little put off by the main character’s whiny behavior, yet understood her circumstances and continued to root for her to succeed.

Death in the Sawtooths – Lindsay Smith
I really liked this story and desperately wanted more. This could easily be made into a full length novel with back story, world building, and further character analysis. These characters had a relationship between them that begged for more information.
The Truth About Queenie – Brandy Colbert
This one was very different from the other stories. There was practically no magic in it. It was more about a girl finding herself and accepting herself rather than continuing to search for acceptance from others. I liked it, but it wasn’t my favorite as it was more about teen relationship drama than witchcraft.

Moonapple Menagerie – Shveta Thakrar
I did not care for this title. I found myself bored and skipping through it. It felt like there was much going on and too many characters vying for attention. There was too much conflicting magic tropes that they all blended together rather than stood out.

The Legend of Stone Mary – Robin Talley
I really liked this one. It was rich in history and had a great magical feel. The characters were well formed and it had a many twists and turns for a short story.
The One Who Stayed – Nova Ren Suma
This one takes a while to sink in. It is very heavy; dealing with harsh subjects and hard choices. I think it was dealt with well and had a great voice behind it. It was shrouded in mystery and remained that way, leaving the reader almost second guessing whether it happened now or was just a memory from a long time passed. It is a common subject nowadays that will get talked about.

Divine Are the Stars – Zoraida Cordova
Cordova continues to bewitch me with her writing. She has a great knack for writing about magic and has an easy flow to her style that makes reading her stories fun and quick. The tale was very ethereal and had great messages to convey in such a short time. Well done.

Daughters of Baba Yaga – Breena Yovanoff
I did not like this story. I felt that it had no real subject or plot line. It appeared to be a mash of different “magical” events that happened during a young girl’s life. None of them strung together very well and this left the reader unable to piece it all together at the end. Many of these moments were old tropes that have been done over and over again and are now almost commonplace. There is no continuing story and this makes it almost sure to be forgotten soon after it’s been read.

The Well Witch – Kate Hart
This story did not seem to fit in with the rest. It was more of a star stuck lovers romance than anything else. I did like the idea of the story and the actual story itself, but as part of a magical anthology, no. First off, there is not a lot of magic present. Her water sensing abilities are quickly glazed over, and then highly unutilized near the end. The ending itself is unfinished and also very “rides into the sunset” unoriginal.

Beware of Girls with Crooked Mouths – Jessica Spotswood
I both liked and disliked this short story. I felt that it did not suffice as a short story and would benefit greatly from expansion into a novel about the sister’s lives. There were quick mentions, but no real history, of the sister’s lines and with many new names rambled off it was hard to keep anyone from the histories straight. The lesbian relationship felt off and forced. It did not fit with the time and place suggested and I think took away from the story as it would not be openly acceptable. This felt as if it had no conclusion or point. The future of the sisters is left unanswered, leaving the reader unaware as to whether the measures that were taken actually changed anything or resulted in the originally prophecy. Without this information, there is no real point to the story other than telling it.
Love Spell – Anna-Marie McLemore
This was a cute romance that discussed the religious boundaries dealt with in the magical society. It is a story about acceptance, both of others and yourself. The only thing I was not a fan of was the Spanish words italicized throughout the story. It was odd to highlight only a few words and change their language as they did not all seem to be a part of the magic. It took away from the story and, although I accept that words pertaining to the culture, Bruja for example, most were unnecessary and distracting from the overall story.
The Gherin Girls – Emery Lord
This one was also kind of a mish mash. I did not think that it needed to be split up between the different sisters. The breaks caused more harm than good. There was no real difference in voice between the sisters and was almost told from an outside voice. There was no details on what he had done to the sister, although abuse was definite. This both left the imagination to create whatever fears they could have, yet leave it open for sympathy as well. I liked the idea of sisterhood and forever standing by your family, yet there was too much repetitive ideas that it became a chore to read rather than enjoyable.
The Only Way Back – Tristina Wright
This one definitely didn’t hook me into the story. I did like the sense of twins completing each other with one being science and the other being nature. This story showed a sense of knowing your roots and accepting yourself. For me, it was just too long and drawn out. The narrative become very lengthy and confusing at times. It was confusing when they referred to the new child as they/them yet it seemed to be a single child. I feel that this was a comparison to the twins themselves (maybe they were one person instead of tow?) but it was not explained wholly. Interesting idea, but not for me.
Why They Watch Us Burn – Elizabeth May
I felt that this was a terrible end to the anthology and not such a great read on its own. This had the feel of a story from the 80’s or earlier where a girl was said to be responsible for her rape. With the #me too movement and women standing up for their rights, this seems archaic. I didn’t really have much of a witchy/magical feel to it. The message of being true to yourself still rings true, yet is marred by a religious and outdated overtone that, without historical references or a better knowledge of the world these girls live in, falls flat.

I worship a good anthology and witch novels… So how could resist requesting to read this ARC early?!? I literally squealed with delight when I was pretty much instantly approved, and I had to go brag to all those in my immediate literary world! I got it! I got it! Then I have spent every chance I get to reread the stories! I have already pre-ordered this book! It will be a great addition to my ever-growing library!

Of the 15 stories within this anthology, I am utterly, completely attached to three of them. I have read these three stories multiple times and they might be the best short stories that I have ever read. I will not do spoilers because I want everyone to love these stories and be touched by them like I was!


~ Why They Watch Us Burn by Elizabeth May had me so far up in my emotions that the inevitable fall was three times as hard! Thanks for making me ugly cry and for putting this story at the end because it really drives home the magic of feminism that is this anthology!

~Love Spell by Anna-Marie McLemore is a fantastic little Latinx short about a Bruja girl who went to live her tia because they are both exceptionally gifted at curing heartbreak. There is also a transgender boy in the story who has devoted his entire life to God and the Catholic Church. Now that statement right there is enough to give you pause because we all know how Catholics are all fire and brimstone. The story is so beautifully written and relevant! The story touches on prejudices, family, and learning to be exactly who you are meant to be! I have to say that I absolutely love this huge insurgence of books with wide varieties of diversity. The world is a very diverse place and literature worlds should be too!

~The One Who Stayed by Nova Ren Suma
***I just want to say, this one might have some triggers that could leave a bad taste in your mouth. The story deals with molestation, and detrimental sexual assaults. If any of these things cause you to take note, then you might want to skip. ***
I’m a huge fan of witch movies with cult followings. This story reminded me so much of a modern-day retelling of one such movie, that it quickly soared to the top of my list. I’ll just say initiation is a bench and so are these ladies!

I will totally recommend this book to everyone and sing its praises from the top of roofs or whatever is required to get other women to read this book! The stories are so empowering and the messages within are so femininely fantastic!

I do have to say it is a shame that going forward there will only be 14 stories instead of the 15 that I got to read! I do support the publisher for revoking the one story from being printed because of the sexual allegations against the author. You cannot have a book that empowers women of all shapes, races, and sexual orientations and have this huge cloud of controversy throwing shade on the other 14 brilliant short stories! Thank you for being aware and putting the book 1st!

THANK YOU HARLEQUIN TEEN AND NETGALLEY! I am very honored to be able to read and review this book of anthologies before it has been published in exchange for an honest review! The views and expressions within are my own and were not influenced by previously mentioned parties.