The Alchemy of Sorrow: A Fantasy & Sci-fi Anthology of Grief and Hope was a gamble because I was only familiar with one author, Intisar Khanani. I like anthologies because I get to explore authors I haven’t read before in short bites. I love Khanani enough that I knew her story would be worth the whole anthology. I did love her “Twice-Domesticated Dragons,” and I also loved several of the others stories as well.

I read a lot of advance reader copies, which means that in the last year or more I’ve read a lot of books written during the pandemic. Grief has been a big part of my reading, even when it isn’t the center of the story. It was cathartic to go into a book knowing that it was going to be 13 stories about grief. I didn’t have to wonder if grief was going to sneak up on me, or punch me in the face as soon as I turned the page (figuratively, because 99% of my reading is digital).

As a culture, we don’t deal well with grief, death, loss, chronic illness, or disability. Or a lot of other things, apparently. I realized a long tome ago that when I cry for one grief, all of the other griefs that I haven’t dealt with swim to the surface. It can be overwhelming. While I try to let myself feel emotions as they happen, the last few years have my personal landscape has been hit by plagues, floods, earthquakes, wildfires, a hurricane, and a meteor strike. It’s hard to sit with your feelings when you’re on a highspeed rollercoaster that won’t stop. I knew that done right, some of these short stories would leave me a sobbing mess. Having read the anthology over several days, I feel like I’ve let go of a lot of sorrow.

Most of the short stories were engaging, a few ripped my heart out. I was grateful for the content warnings for each story at the beginning of the book.

I got this as an advance reader copy from Crimson Fox Publishing and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.

Disclaimer: ARC provided by the author in exchange for honest and fair review

I’ve been sitting and trying to think of how to best convey my thoughts for my review of The Alchemy of Sorrow anthology and just like the stories in the book convey, processing one's emotions is easier said than done at times.

I want to be clear that this anthology is superb and I think everyone will be able to connect with at least a few of the stories in the book. As if the book title didn’t give it away, the main theme of the book is centered around grief and sorrow and how we each deal with it differently in our own little way.

Reading this book honestly took a lot out of me and required I do so in chunks while balancing it out with another light hearted book because the topics and the stories in this book will definitely drain your emotions out of you unless you are one of those people with a heart made of coal.

It really is the type of reading that requires some deep inner reflection to get the most out of it and sometimes that inner reflection will stir up emotions that you may or may not be ready for. Personally the story that stuck out the most for me and really rocked me to the core was:

Thief, by Virginia McClain

This story brought up so many memories of being bedside with my own mother as she fought her way through cancer treatments and for the years after that she had many other close calls with death because her health was never the same. It was a year ago this past July that I lost her and that wound is far from being healed, so for anyone who knows me and knows the full story I think it would be pretty obvious to them why this one hit home for me.

Now for the hard part how to I put a star rating or a #/10 rating for a book like this. How exactly do I quantify the quality of a story about one's personal grief and how they dealt with it? I think doing so is like trying to “celebrate one's life” while still mourning the loss of them. On paper it sounds easy to do and the right thing but in reality it's a difficult task to accomplish. It’s honestly why I’ve spent the last two weeks struggling to write this review. Not every story landed with me in the same way but does that make that author's story any less valuable. Should I lower the star count because I connected with some but not all on a subject of grief?

I’ve been teetering back and forth on if I should give it 4 stars or 5 and ultimately I’m giving it 5. Not because every story blew me away or brought me to tears, honestly some didn’t resonate with me. No, I’m giving it 5 stars because the book as a whole is fantastic and I think each reader is going to walk away with a different deep inner perspective on how they themselves deal with grief and sorrow based on the life and loss they have experienced up to this point.

Lastly I want to thank all the authors involved in this book for opening themselves up and being willing to be vulnerable in a way that allowed them to share their perspective of grief and sorrow in this anthology.

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great collection of short stories. There weren't any that I didn't enjoy. On the contrary, I found many of them exceptional.

All the stories deal with some kind of negative emotions. We meet the characters at their lowest in life. They feel lost, alone and desperate. This book is not negative, though. Where there is sadness, there is also a hope.

I like the idea of using fantasy medium for this kind of stories. It really shows that fantasy genre can be more than just a magic adventure. It can offer not only escape but also reflection. The situations the characters face might be foreign and unreal, but their emotions are very familiar.

I feel like talking about each short story might give away too much. I personally enjoyed going in blind and discovering what each story is going to be about.

Lullaby by K.S. Villoso - 3,5

Skies on Fire by Sonya M. Black - 4

A Matter of Trust by Angela Boord - 4

A Recurrence of Jasmine by Levi Jacobs - 4

Twice Domesticated Dragons by Intisar Khanani - 4,5

The Witch in the Woods by Quenby Olson - 4

Thief by Virginia McClain - 3,5

Thicker Than Water by Carol A. Park - 5

Death in the Uncanny Valley by M.L. Wang - 4,5

Summer Souls by Clayton Snyder - 3

Reliquary of the Damned by Rachel Emma Shaw - 4

The Quiet by Madolyn Rogers - 4,5

The Paperweight Watch by Krystle Matar - 4

Adult sci-fi and fantasy anthologies are definitely not something I read often, or ever, but I am a fan of Intisar Khanani, so when I saw her writing included I wanted to check it out. The entire anthology, by 13 authors, focuses on grief and hope. And while the setting would often be someplace fantastical, the emotions and rawness always seemed to truly be the heart of each story. From an unborn child, to a girl grappling with garden gnomes and twice domesticated dragons- even if the characters were not human, the relatability of emotions definitely was. I appreciated the ethnically tinged, Islamic names in Intisar's story, and while some, as to be expected in a collection like this, resonated with me more than others, I think for adult fantasy and sci fi fans this book will be well received.
#dayoffdeliberations #muslimauthor #2022

Intisar Khanani is a long-time favourite author of mine, and for this reason I picked up the Alchemy of Sorrow. Though some stories were better than others, in that the characters were more interestingly written, the world-building was more appealing, I was not disappointed. (I believe the stories got better towards the end of the anthology). It was fascinating to read the variety of ways ‘grief’ and ‘sorrow’ could be expressed through thirteen stories, by different authors. Each author added a different flavour to the overarching theme of grief, and overall it was really pleasing to read. From a mother and child’s perspective on what it means to go against the norm in society, to a family game of virtual reality embedded in despair and aching for someone who will never come back.

I will discuss the stories I most liked in this anthology. To start with, A Recurrence of Jasmine is a story of a mother who will do anything to give her child the best possible future. From saving her palace’s god by her wit, to taking risks to secure her child’s wellbeing, this was a very riveting story. Next, Thief is a short, straight-to-the-point story of courage and wit from a young girl who wants at any cost to see her ill mother. Thicker Than Water is a tale of a young boy and how his trust and belief in his own family is shaken and uprooted when a particular incident occurs. Twice Domesticated Dragons centres around a young refugee girl and her family, trying to settle outside the city when the home she knew has been destroyed due to war. This story also features magical, fiendish gnomes, and dragons who feast on these creatures. As for Reliquary of the Damned, this is a story about acceptance and rejection in the society one lives in, and how a sense of belonging might feel if you are in the minority. Coming to the end of the anthology, The Quiet is about a healer called Solana, who, whilst treating others of their pain, had all her pain taken away and now she can feel nothing. Finally, The Paperweight Watch is the raw, unfiltered grief of a reputed watchmaker’s son, who after finding his father murdered in his own office and after burying his mother in their homeland, comes back to his shop and tries to get back to life.

To conclude, this anthology was a great read. My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy of this novel.

The Alchemy of Sorrow is an ambitious idea. An anthology about grief and sorrow. It is so very different and there are so many different griefs. And I am glad to see so many different ones in this anthology. Grief is not just about death.

The art on the cover and in front of each story is gorgeous and a great asset to the story.

Lullaby by K.S. Viloso | 3 stars
Lullaby is a prologue to the author's series which feels a little weird. It is from the point of view of an unborn child, of the villian of the longer series. While the world felt really interesting I had some trouble with the point of view.

Skies on Fire by Sonya M. Black | 4 stars
An interesting story that focuses on the grief of a phoenix rider for the loss of the ability of their body. It is such an interesting world that I would love to read more about. And an interesting take on grief.

A Matter of Trust by Angela Boord | 4 stars
A very interesting set up and side characters.

A Reoccurance of Jasmine by Levi Jacobs | 4 stars
I thought the set up with the god was really interesting and I really was invested in the characters. I would love to read more.

Twice Domesticated Dragons by Intisar Khanani | 4 stars
'For every child who has had to grow up too fast and carry more than they know how.'

Of course I was going to love this because it had dragons. But then there was also something much more heartfelt in this story about a family of refugees just trying to surive. And a child having to take on more responsiblity than they should.

The Witch in the Wood by Quensby Olson | 4 stars
A Heartfelt story of a mother who has to give up her child to save it.

Thief by Virginia McCain | 4 stars
A story about the grief of a child. What would a few more extra minutes with your loved one really get you? And what would to do to get it?

Thicker Than Water by Carol A. Park | 3 stars
This story is set in the world of a bigger series by the author. I think that showed because I wasn't sure if I was grasping all the elements like the banebringers.

Death in the Uncanny Valley by M.L. Wang | 3,5 stars
This story is set in a VR Game which gave it a bit of a different feel than the other stories.

Summer Souls by Clayton Snyder | 4 stars
'Memories are like that, I said. High and bright. But never so close you can see more than the shine.'

A great standalone story about grief and memories.

Reliquary of the Damned by Rachel Emma Shaw | 4 stars
I really liked the set up of the world in this story and I would love to read more about it.

The Quiet by Madolyn Rogers | 5 stars
' Through fantasy, I wanted to explore the strange duality of depression - that as miserable as it is, it can also be a refuge, it's numbness as shield against unbearable pain.'

What happens when you don't allow grief or pain.

The Paperweight Watch by Krystie Matar | 5 stars
This one is so full of emotions.

This anthology was painful, but also beautiful to read.
The grief and sorrow in each stories was palpable and written masterfully. I enjoyed every story, but Lullaby by K.S. Villoso might be my personal favorite because it was written from unique point of view.

This was an incredibly moving and emotional collection of stories that all touch on the human experience, specifically as it pertains to grief and loss. I would absolutely recommend this anthology to fantasy and scifi lovers who are looking for a stories they will connect to on a deeply emotional level.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this anthology in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Overall, these stories weren't what I was expecting, but there were some that I enjoyed. Star rating: 2.6

Lullaby by K.S. Villoso: 1 star
Skies on Fire by Sonya M. Black: 3 stars
A Matter of Trust by Angela Boord: 2 stars
A Recurrence of Jasmine by Levi Jacobs: 4 stars
Twice Domesticated Dragons by Intisar Khanani: 4 stars
The Witch in the Wood by Quenby Olson: 1 star
Thief by Virginia McClain: 3 stars
Thicker than Water by Carol A. Park: 4 stars
Death in the Uncanny Valley by M.L. Wang: 3 stars
Summer Souls by Clayton Snyder: 3 stars
Reliquary of the Damned by Rachel Emma Shaw: 2 stars
The Quiet by Madolyn Rogers: 2 stars
The Paperweight Watch by Krystle Matar: 2 stars

The Alchemy of Sorrow is a Fantasy and Sci-Fi Anthology about grief and hope of each character in this book. For fantasy and science fiction genres, usually you are going to see the "good vs evil" battle. In this story, the evil is inside the characters. Their own negative minds. In each story, you are going to see and feel their struggle in fighting their weaknesses, believing with their own power, and keeping true to themself.

My favorite story is the one from K.S. Villoso. I love its point of view. At first, it confused me who the narrator was, but after I found it out, I was in awe! The perspective was amazing. I could feel the narrator's feeling, his grief. I think this story represents the theme really well.

I highly recommend this book. This book not only contains the stories from the authors, but you also can find their hope in them, their messages, and all of them are beautiful.
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I received this arc from netgalley in exchange for an honest opinion.

This anthology contains 13 sff short stories centered around difficult themes such as loss, grief and sorrow, but with a certain note of hope and joy. With each story differing in writing style, matter, and depth, there is lots of variety. Even though they are all set in different worlds, they deal with universal themes, that many people should be able to relate to at some point. There is so much sadness, yet beauty, handled delicately and lovingly.

As is the case with most anthologies, there will be some stories that work for you and others that just don't.

One issue for me was that I felt like some authors expected me to be familiar with their books and worlds? Sometimes the worldbuilding was just very confusing, which is why at times, I couldn't even properly get into the story as I was still trying to work out at least a little bit of the world. I know that the worldbuilding ultimately isn't that relevant in the purpose of this book, but it did stop me from feeling and enjoying some of the stories. For example, one is told in second person, and it took me almost until the end to figure out it was an unborn baby talking to its mother, and yet it was speaking like an all-knowing adult the whole time?? This was by far the most jarring story for me. With some of these, I honestly felt like I was spending more time trying to understand the world and narrative than getting to the actual point of the story. This ulimately diminished my reading experience for the most part.

Despite that, some of my favorite stories were those by Intisar Khanani and M.L. Wang, which got me interested in checking out their books and I am looking forward to reading more by them. :)

The cover and interior artworks are simply beautiful, and the content warnings at the beginning are much appreciated.

Overall, while I recognize that this might not be for everyone, I would recommend this to people that want to read some beautifully crafted, hard hitting stories that delicately handle difficult themes, set in different and unique worlds, especially so if you are already familiar with some of the authors and their works! I am sure I would've enjoyed this much more had I known some of the worlds beforehand.

I tried to read this a couple of times and I think the topic just wasn't for me, so I didn't finish it. I liked most of the stories I read. One was written in 2nd person, so I didn't like that all.

I think the stories are meaningful & very well written: they're just not for me right now.

4.5 stars
So, this was a really wonderful anthology. I took my time reading it, savouring all the stories and I loved them all. In a few thousand words, these authors have created incredible worlds and written such unique portrayals of grief and sorrow. I don't think I have read a lot of books that center their focus on grief in a such a way and for that I am really appreciative of this anthology.

Honestly, I wouldn't mind if the authors do a volume 2 of Alchemy of Sorrow. It would so nice to read.

Make sure y'all check this book out when it releases!

The Alchemy of Sorrow
K. S. Villoso et al
Crimson Fox Publishing, 2022
334 pages
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Thank you Netgalley for giving me chance to read the ARC. This book is expected to publish on November 1st 2022
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This book consist of 13 short stories from authors winner of Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off, several illustrations, and editors. As the title said: Alchemy of Sorrow, the main theme is Sorrow. And the content warning is three full pages! Death, suicide, illness, anything.
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Several stories are of my favorite:
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- Skies on Fire - Sonya M. Black
It's amazing to imagine that an Air Force consist of Phoenixes! In this story, Lieutnan Colonel Nozaki is about to resign, and her Phoenix reincarnating. It is beautiful but sad at the same time!
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- Death in the Uncanny Valley - M. L. Wang
To be honest, I just recently finish her Sword of Kaigen, and craving anything of her writing xD
I found that I love it! And you can play game virtually together from Earth and from Mars!
It was about loss, but it is also about finding, about feeling of a family. I love it!
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All the stories describe perfectly grief, sorrow, loss. There's even a Map of Grief and Hope. And the illustrations are truly beautiful!
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Got to re-read whenever I have time 💙

2.5 Stars: I read it.

Favorite Short Stories: Twice Domesticated Dragons by Intisar Khanani and Death in the Uncanny Valley by M.L. Wang.

Thoughts: This was an ambitious project for all authors involved. I liked that there are trigger warnings at the beginning of the book for each story. I loved how creatively some authors approached the subject. Unfortunately, the majority of stories, I felt, fell short. The short stories that tie into some of the authors’ current work and series have the opportunity to advertise what their series has to offer. With exception of one story that did this, I felt like all other attempts failed to make me interested at all because the stories couldn’t stand on their own. I did, however, find two authors who I’m really interested in reading more work from.

Lullaby by K.S. Villoso (3 stars)
I liked the way the author approached writing the main character. However, the world that the author is building off is one that she uses for one of her series. Not having read that series, I felt like I was spending more time trying to understand the world than getting to the main point of the story. Had I read the series or was familiar with the world, maybe it would have made more of an impact.

Skies on Fire by Sonya M. Black (2 stars)
This short story is about a phoenix rider who has to step away from her post because of her chronic illness. This world was heavily inspired by East Asian culture and I didn’t know why a white author needed to use these influences for their story. This story explores a loss of identity, self, and a dear companion. I felt like the story was cut off too soon because it felt like we were getting to the point of the story when it ends.

A Matter of Trust by Angela Boord (2 stars)
This story is about grieving for a past life. This is another short story that exists in the author’s existing written world. I’m sure if you’ve read the series, you would probably get a lot out of this story. Without that context, I felt like the author laid out the story well for people who aren’t familiar with her past work. Overall, I think this was entertaining and it ends on a hopeful note.

A Recurrence of Jasmine by Levi Jacobs (2 stars)
This short story reminded me both of 1001 Nights and maybe a little bit of Beauty and the Beast. This was well written and flowed well but I didn’t love it. Main character seems to be of South Asian descent and is referred to as a “sandwalker” culturally and is sold into slavery by her family (they keep trying to say she’s “indentured” but a debt was never mentioned so that seems more like slavery). Feels a little uncomfy coming from a white, male author.

Twice Domesticated Dragons by Intisar Khanani (5 stars)
This story was dedicated to “every child who has to grow up too fast and carry more than they know how.” This story might be my favorite from the collection. When an oldest child is made to be a sort of third parent, it can be really frustrating and the story reflects that. But also looking at circumstances that put the child in that situation and having empathy for remaining caregivers is also important to remember. Also, dragons make everything better.

The Witch in the Wood by Quenby Olson (4 stars)
This story is about a new mother seeking help for her sick child in a familiar place. It’s about the cost of motherhood and the mothers who will do anything for their children.This story was very touching.

Thief by Virginia McClain (2 stars)
This story is about what you would do if you could have more time. This story was sweet and I’m sure it was very cathartic for the author.

Thicker than Water by Carol A. Park (1 star)
This is another tie-in to an existing series. This story is about grieving a sense of belonging that a person may have had in the past. This story was not for me.

Death in the Uncanny Valley by M.L. Wang (5 stars)
This story is about mourning the loss of a parent and mourning the potential a parent could have, against the backdrop of a futuristic world that has the VR MMORPG we all wish existed IRL. Escapism during grief is sometimes a vital way to cope that can easily lead down a slippery slope to an unhealthy way of dealing with reality.This story really spoke to me.

Summer Souls by Clayton Snyder (2 stars)
This story is about grief and how it can take over one’s life. I did not connect with this story.

Reliquary of the Damned by Rachel Emma Shaw (3 stars)
The idea behind the relics and cores were really interesting. This story is also a part of a larger series and it feels like it.

The Quiet by Madolyn Rogers (3 stars)
This story explores depression and grief. This is part of a larger series. I did not connect with this story

The Paperweight Watch by Krystle Matar (2 stars)
This story is about grief and how it affects the family and friends of one who has passed.This is part of a larger series and felt like it. This story wasn’t for me.

This anthology collects SFF stories of grief, sorrow, and loss from some of the genre's best indie authors. Stories range from characters with chronic pain to debilitating depression to loss of loved ones. Please check content warnings and tread with care.

Even though I know and love a lot of these authors, I was surprised by how much I loved this collection. Grief isn't really my favorite thing to read about, and I think a lot of us SFF readers prefer the genre as it allows us to escape into worlds so different than our own, but we forget that what we love most about these books are the characters who are so entirely relatable. This collection gives us SFF characters dealing with the traumas we all have to go through, because to live is to lose. It also showed me how much of SFF already addresses these topics, as some of these stories felt like they'd been pulled from the pages of favorite novels.

Lullaby by KS Villoso - a story about a woman whose identity is so thoroughly tied up in the home she lost as a child and her adolescence as an outsider that she cannot find a way to belong, to live. Told from the perspective of her unborn fetus, it's quite creative; it's also really sad, it made me cry. 4 stars

Skies on Fire by Sonya M. Black - a phoenix rider whose body is no longer able to fly must set their phoenix free while mourning their old self. Also made me cry. 5 stars.

A Matter of Trust by Angela Boord - a card player with a drinking habit tries to live a straight life to prove his worth to the wife who has already moved on; also, adventure is afoot. (I couldn't stand the main character and his arc made no sense to me) 3.5 stars.

A Recurrence of Jasmine by Levi Jacobs - an old god is bored with life and surrounded by supplicating viziers vying for his favor, in an effort to keep him alive they send entertainers of all sort before him before turning to maids, where our main character comes in - in an effort to keep her son alive and earn their freedom, she befriends the god. (I really enjoyed the premise and storytelling, this might be my favorite of the bunch). 4.5 Stars

Twice Domesticated Dragons by Intisar Khanari - a young girl takes on the responsibilities of her household, despite having been scarred by trauma. (story is YA) 4 stars

The Witch in the Wood by Quenby Olson - a woman must give up her life and her daughter to save her daughter's life. 4 stars

Their by Virginia McClain - the protagonist fights a guardian for the chance to wield time and to see a loved one. 4 Stars

Thicker Than Water by Carol A. Park - a boy is betrayed by his family and mourns the life he thought he had. This was another favorite. 5 stars

Death in the Uncanny Valley by M.L. Wang - a young man on his way to a scholarship must reconnect with the family he left behind and make amends. This was so unique and one of the only Sci-Fi stories in this collection, I loved how different the voice here was. 5 stars

Summer Souls by Clayton Snyder - A girl is visited each year by a traveling machinist/performer, not realizing the cost of his magic. (I didn't understand the ending or the arc of the story) 3 stars.

Reliquary of the Damned by Rachel Emma Shaw - In a world where mental traumas leave physical scars, choosing to reveal those scars to other people is an act of great vulnerability. I loved the premise of this story/world so much, I love the resolution, the commentary on class, lots of things. 5 stars.

The Quiet by Madolyn Rogers - when grief is too great for this healer, she chooses numbness instead - drowning out the good with the bad. I thought this was good writing and a good story but the plot/arc was standard, somewhat formulaic, predictable. 4 stars

The Paperweight Watch by Krystle Matar - a son loses his parents and must process all the associated feelings. (I'm not sure if this qualifies as SFF?) I liked the world building... But the story was very much just the processing of feelings of grief, doubt, regret, anxiety, etc. that come along with burying loved ones.

(review will be posted on instagram Oct 22!)

Alchemy of Sorrow is a short stories anthology by 13 different authors, with fantasy or sci fi stories about grief and healing. I love fantasy, short stories and deep themes so this anthology seems like it was made for me! And it didn’t disappoint at all, I loved the stories and their depth. I have many favorites, though Twice Domesticated Dragons, Thicker than Water and A Recurrence of Jasmine were the most amazing for me. And I’ll be scared of garden gnomes from now on lol!

A good anthology keeps you binge reading and makes you think, and that really worked for me. The only downside for me is that it felt kinda “safe” at times. Short stories are ideal for making a point with bizarre methaphors and beside the garden gnomes I didn’t really see it. But they’re all amazing fantasy and SF stories and I’m glad I got to read them!

1. Lullaby ⭐️⭐️⭐️ I am still confused about almost everything, though it’s beautifully written with recognisable themes.
2. Skies on Fire ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Made me cry as it hit quite close to home 😭 Also phoenixes are the best.
3. A Matter of Trust ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Nicely written fantasy story about loss of love and moving on, it felt a little generic though.
4. A Recurrence of Jasmine ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Epic, loved this story about death and live and ancient gods.
5. Twice Domesticated Dragons ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Ok now I’m terrified of garden gnomes but also an amazing story that hit right in the feels, Intisar Khanani as always had amazing characters with lots of depth. ❤️
6. The Witch in the Wood ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Beautiful story about a mother’s love in a beautiful written you-perspective.
7. Thief ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ It’s about a daughter’s love and grief, and I love the plot twist, amazing story.
8. Thicker than Water ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Wow, this story sucked me right in, very epic world and characters, loved it!
9. Death in the Uncanny Valley ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I loved the gaming element, it made this story about family members dealing with grief very impactful.
10. Summer Souls ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Loved the idea and the themes, but the end fell a bit flat for me.
11. Reliquary of the Damned ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ very original idea and I just wanted to keep reading: it was way too short.
12. The Quiet ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Loved the world and the theme of depression is very well done in this fantasy setting
13. The Paperweight Watch ⭐️⭐️ This one was not for me, it felt a bit flat plotwise.

So, with an average of 4.07 stars this is a very good anthology!

I received an e-arc from Netgalley but this has not influenced my opinions.

I received access to this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed many of the stories in this book, it gave a very interesting glance into many different fantasy and magical worlds while also giving a window into grief and different ways to push through it. I enjoyed how it also extended to chronic illness and the grief of losing ones body.

Some of the stories, however, didn't interest me as much as others. The first one from the perspective of the child was hard for me to follow and with it being at the beginning I came very close to dnfing this. I'm very glad I didnt as it was still quite good and for that I give it 4 stars

Edited by Virginia McClain & Sarah Chorn, An Alchemy of Sorrow is an exciting anthology of short stories by contemporary indie authors. Thirteen original stories examine grief, sometimes followed by hope, joy, and the resilience required to move on.

The cover by Zoe Badini is, without a doubt, stunning. I mean, look at it. Stunning. But what about the stories? Are they any good? I think many of them tackle the subject well. Overall, though, the book is uneven: the stories vary in tone, depth, and quality. I have no doubt that each author put their heart and soul into each story.

On the other hand, some of the pieces were predictable and offered nothing new despite their emotional truth. As long as the reader makes an emotional connection to them, it shouldn't matter. Still, for the sake of objectivity, I need to mention it's not the type of anthology that would forge new paths for speculative fiction. Instead, it tries to approach grief through the lens of fantasy and find hope in most painful situations.

A few stories here succeeded and got a strong emotional response from me. I'm not saying others were lacking, but rather that each of us has a different experience with feelings of grief and loss. Virginia McClains' Thief is my favorite story in the collection. It's short, focused, and fun. It also touched me - I lost my mother way, way too early, and this piece nailed the feeling and the importance of saying goodbye.

Other stories I particularly enjoyed include Skies on Fire by Sonya M. Black - a gripping and emotionally engaging tale of a fighter who lost part of her identity - physical prowess and must say goodbye to the life and companion she loved. Carol A. Park's Thicker Than Water provides a thrilling introduction to her Heretic Gods series. It follows a boy whose family discovers he's a Banebringer and whose more or less carefree life suddenly ends. I don't want to spoil anything, but it made me interested in reading Park's Banebringer.

I'd also like to mention Summer Souls by Clayton W. Snyder - a sad story but with a strong punch. Well worth reading. Krystle Matar and Angela Boord's pieces deepen the lore of their series (Etherean Empire and Tainted Dominion) and may be interesting for their fans, though they didn't impact me as strongly as stories mentioned before.

Editors' selections offer a variety of voices, themes, and forms and a balance between fresh and established indie voices. I recommend An Alchemy of Sorrow to readers interested in different paths that lead from grief to hope. No anthology is perfect. Some stories from An Anthology of Sorrow won't appeal to you. But I'm sure you'll find at least a few to connect to and deeply enjoy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crimson Fox for providing an eARC to review!

A really cool idea for an anthology and I liked that each author had the opportunity to provide the inspiration for their story afterwards - I think it adds a lot especially with the theme of the collection being something so personal.

I think my favourites were Skies on Fire, Twice-Domesticated Dragons, Witch in the Wood, The Quiet and The Paperweight Watch but I have a lot of respect for all the authors that contributed. While there were some heavy topics covered, I think that the anthology really did manage to convey that sense of fledging hope at the end - that it's okay to grieve or be sad, but that there is light at the end of the tunnel. I think it also did a good job of conveying that this is a process.

I think that I prefer anthologies written all by the same author, but I appreciate the opportunity to be introduced to a bunch of people I haven't read from before, and get a sense of their style.

Overall a neat concept and very cool that this is out in the world!