Wow!! Really enjoyed reading this!! I wasn't sure what to expect but I was blown away! I honestly wish I could read the full-length novels of many of these. While they work great as standalones, I just loved the characters and concepts so much I didn't want to say goodbye

I think this one is definitely aimed for YA audiences (and YA audiences only). I didn't really care for the writing style of a lot of the stories in this anthology, but I have some students who might really connect with this one.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

I absolutely LOVE this collection! It is the best short story collection I've read other than "Other Horrors". Even though some stories are stronger than others in this collection, every single story was strong and holds its own. Most of these stories have the potential to be developed into full novels on their own, which I would love to see, and I would read every single one of them. These stories are beautifully written, and I will recommend this book far and wide.

So much fun!
I loved the short stories! They were easy to read and kept me wanting more! I’d like to see more books of this style in the future

I tend to struggle with short story anthologies–I tend to get bored, or I only like a couple of stories in the collection. I’m happy to say that this wasn’t the case for this anthology! I truly enjoyed every story, and all were so different, unique, and entertaining. I love that the magic systems were different throughout the stories and that each story highlighted what it is to be trans. I think everyone can find something to love in this anthology, and I highly recommend it!

This was requested when I first found out about NetGalley and I had requested so many ARCs that I could not get to all of them before they were archived. I really wanted to get to this one, as it seemed interesting. If I can find this somewhere for a reasonable price, I will try to get it! I am giving this book three stars, as I don't want to give it a good or bad rating, since I did not get to it.

G. Haron Davis has crafted a treasure trove of enchanting narratives in "Transmogrify!" This collection of fourteen tales weaves a mesmerizing tapestry of trans experiences within the realms of fantasy, each story a gem sparkling with imagination and depth.

Davis' mastery lies not only in storytelling but in the delicate art of representation. The way these narratives embrace and celebrate the trans experience through fantasy elements is nothing short of magical. Each story, while set in fantastical worlds, resonates with authenticity, capturing the essence of identity, resilience, and the beauty of self-discovery.

What truly sets this anthology apart is the diverse range of tales. From epic quests to subtle, intimate journeys, each story presents a unique facet of the trans experience, allowing readers to explore a multitude of emotions and perspectives. Davis showcases a deft hand in crafting characters that feel vivid, relatable, and, most importantly, human in their complexities.

I find myself jumping around a lot when I read anthologies, but this collection kept my attention from one story to the next. A great read! And the diverse representation blew my mind!! I'm so happy I live in a time when a book like this can be published and circulated in libraries and sold in bookstores.

A wonderful anthology for finding your next favorite author. Sonora Reyes and Emery Lee were standouts for me.

Incredible! It’s not often that I enjoy every single story in an anthology, but I did here. Fantastic magical fantasy writing - and with trans representation, too. What’s not to love?!

With 14 different stories there is sure to be something for everyone and while I can’t say I was as loved every one, there were a few stories that I really enjoyed.

I don't question why this anthology starts with Origin Story by Saundra Mitchell because it was one of my favorites. A magic school outcast returns to their hometown/trailer park and is faced with a magical threat. I was left wanting a book or a series or just anything else to continue with these characters a little bit longer. I have in my notes that this made me cry and while I don't remember WHY…I don't doubt it, because it was stellar. The story ends with such hope, I really wish this was the start of something more.

Dragons Can Name Themselves by R. Capetta and Cory McCarthy was so adorable and clever. This is about a magic school, but also from the perspective of the school itself. It was such an unexpected and fun way to handle the story. It was even more fun when the school (which can only be described as “meddling”) pushes two students together and they become coparents to a dragon. I mean…the premise alone…

Verity by Renée Reynolds was a very sweet story about a magic school student who finds truth in a magic mirror. It had so many glimpses familiar magical stories (“one ring to rule them all”, magic mirror, magic school, a Percy Jackson reference, a cat named “Merlin,” etc.) that anyone who grew up on fantasy will enjoy.

I was clearly drawn to the “cute” stories in this anthology, (well, no surprise there) because Halloween Love by Sonora Reyes was just that. After moving from the Enchanted Realm to a “normie town,” a magical teen tries to make sense of the non-magical world and love. The story references elemental magic, but it doesn’t play a huge role in the story—it mostly centers on their relationship with Tierra, a non-magical teen girl.

There were some really great short stories in this anthology about trans and nonbinary teenagers. It was great to see so many author's names that I recognize as writers of queer YA all in one place. I liked that even though many of the characters faced adversary because of their gender, the stories were ultimately joyful.

My favorites were Dragons Name Themselves, The Hallow King, Genderella, and Seagulls and Other Birds of Prey.

the title pretty much describes the book! i enjoyed reading through these stories for the most part, though i did have my issues. overall, it felt pretty young for YA, maybe for 11-15 year olds, which isn't necessarily bad, just unexpected. also, as i've seen other reviews mention, there is a real lack of transfeminine characters & authors. this is disappointing as it feels like placing a limitation on transness, rather than expanding it. i've heard the author didn't respond well to criticism about it, though i have not seen these tweets myself, but either way it is something to note.

now for specifics on each story:

Origin Story, Saundra Mitchell: loved this story conceptually as well as in the small scale moments, however the continuity/description of setting was quite confusing and i felt untethered. i do find myself still thinking about the story and characters though.

Halloween Love, Sonora Reyes: cute. cheesy and a bit young for me personally. main character did not always have their thinking cap on fr fr

Verity, Renée Reynolds: i enjoyed parts of this, but it referenced other fantasy fandoms a lot which i found a bit cheesy/stale. just wasn't as ~fresh~ as i would've liked!

Dragons Name Themselves, R. Capetta and Cory McCarthy - i cannot explain how much i adored this story. i think about it all the ime. it is t4t. it is narrated my the sentient magical school building/grounds. i am obsessed.

High Tide, Francesca Tacchi: fine? a bit clunky in terms of writing. i didn't feel engaged in the climactic moments.

In a Name, Ayida Shonibar - good stuff!! just wanted more development and more jyo relationship.

Bite the Hand, Nik Traxler and Pinar Sinopoulos-Lloyd - i wanted to love this but i ended up so confused. so intrigued but so so confused

If I can't have love, I want power, g. haron davis - this one felt like it was trying to explain that wanting money isn't inherently greedy and terrible because we live in a capitalist society and poor people are allowed to want to be rich without being unenlightened humans. i agree with that completely. but there was a weird aspect of like... fame being necessary for that journey??? it was so weird. gave me the ick idk? something felt off. the influencer thing was just odd.

The Hallow King, Jonathan Lenore Kastin - i didn't finish this one. the setting/timeline/plot didn't make sense to me at first, and then it got really cruel really quickly without really explaining the cruelness of the transphobia? (i'm trans so,,, i kind of feel like i get to say it made me uncomfy, though i understand if other people enjoyed it or found it cathartic. just felt weird to me.) someone was named principal sass??? idk

Genderella, Mason Deaver - enjoyed! some weirdness with like,,, comprehending how sewing machines/creating garments works (you don't just find fabric and throw it on a machine!!! what!!!) and also by the end i didn't know the love interest at all which was kind of a bummer. but i'm a mason deaver Fan so it's okay.

Seagulls and Other Birds of Prey, Ash Nouveau - fun, fine, acceptable. the ending made no sense to me tho

Bend the Truth, Break it Too, Cam Montgomery - at the end my note was "could've been gayer, tbh" and honestly? yeah. just felt kind of flat despite having a lot of potential. i just didn't really comprehend what was happening because there was no worldbuilding.

Espejismos, Dove Salvatierra - main character was giving autism/neurodivergence (yayy me too icon). TW: mention of suicide. i ended this story very supportive and intrigued and very confused. did not really understand the magic system or world on any level at all. didn't really get its relationship to gender though there def was one.

The Door to the Other Side, Emery Lee - TW: suicide!!!!!!! it was fine idk

other notes:
please include trigger warnings. hi! please include them hahahhaa please that would be nice

overall,,,,, meh???? because these were mostly book ideas crammed into short stories and it didn't really work. ANYWHO

I'd like to preface this by saying I got to read this thanks to NetGalley in exchange for a fair review! Thanks, NetGalley!
I really enjoyed the Audiobook! All of the narrators had awesome voices! The stories themselves were very fun and often made me laugh out loud. I really enjoyed the one about two queer witches raising a dragon egg!

This book is queer / trans+ joy and felt like a hug. I loved this anthology and will most likely be returning to these stories for a very long time.

Give this to your nibbling. Give this to you sibling. Keep one for yourself.

This is an absolutely charming collection of queer and trans joy. We purchased a few copies for our summer pop-ups and they sold so quickly! Particularly to pairs of parents and their gender-exploring kiddos. An all-around heartwarming book.

Really happy this exist.

Some of these stories are incredible and I want to reread them all the time. The majority of them are a little meh and that makes me sad because I wanted this anthology to be amazing. I'm sure others may enjoy some of the stories that I did not enjoy.

I did enjoy most stories, but at the same time, most of them felt fairly forgettable. However, three stories did stand out to me: Bite the Hand by Nik Traxler and Pinar Ateş Sinopoulos-Lloys, Genderella by Mason Deaver, and the final story, The Door to the Other Side by Emery Lee. This final one was my absolute favourite, which I honestly expected because I love Emery Lee.

This book truly is magical. But like magic, not all forms work for all people. And in this odd metaphor, not all of the stories in this anthology worked for me. Of course, that's probably to be expected with an anthology, so I'll stick to the positives. I really enjoyed the various magic systems and the characters and the romances. I think it would have maybe been more up my alley if the stories were interconnected, but that's simply my opinion. Overall, I enjoyed the book and I'll be looking up more by these authors!

(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)