There were titles I enjoyed more than others, but something about the style of a lot of these stories was lacking for me. She writes beautifully, but I'm not sure short fiction is going to be my go-to for her. I can tell that worldbuilding is her strong suit and so many of these were just too short for that to be truly effective and the result was kind of forgettable. And After Hours, her Scholomance tie-in really really missed the mark for me. I got the impression that I needed to read and understand that world because for most of the story I was lost, and the story was pretty much wiped from my mind the second I finished.

There were some standout favorites of the collection. My favorite was by far Spinning Silver in which she developed into a full length novel of the same name. If the novel is anything like the absolute stunning beauty of its short story sister, it will be a 5 star read just like the shortie. I loved the folklorish tone and the eerie Rumpelstiltskin vibes it gave and I have been thinking of it long after finishing. I also really enjoyed Dragons & Decorum, an homage to Pride and Prejudice but envisioning Elizabeth Bennett as a dragon-rider for the British military. The titular Buried Deep was also very good as a re-imagining of the Greek Minotaur myth but from his sister Ariadne's unique perspective. I also quite enjoyed the story Seven and found that her folklorish tales seemed to be the strongest. The original tale unique to the volume The Long Way Around was also interesting and apparently is set in the same world (ish) as her newest novel will be. I enjoyed the worldbuilding and characterization of that one a lot as there was something about it that reminded me of the old British Sinbad movies from the sixties and seventies that I enjoyed as a child. It was pretty long for a short, and didn't really have the oomph I was looking for in regard to the story, but it definitely has potential as a piece of a larger whole. Araminta, or The Wreck of the Amphidrake was decent. I enjoyed the feminist pirate theme but also found it was a little long and stylized for my taste also.


Unfortunately, most of the other stories were forgettable and didn't make the best impression, but I'm giving this 3 stars because the few I enjoyed made it worth it. I think those who have more exposure to her novels might like these more than I did, and it definitely made me want to bump some of her novels on the list.

Rating a book is hard enough, but rating a short story anthology is almost unmanageable as I've enjoyed each story very differently. There is no overarching theme to this collection with some short stories taking place in the worlds Novik crafted for her other series and standalones, so it very much just feels like a compilation of all the things she'd written thus far rather than something cohesive. Regardless, Novik's writing and imagination clearly comes across and I have particularly enjoyed some of the stories. I will provide ratings and fire-rapid comments for each of the stories as I think that's the only way I can review this book!

1. Araminta or, The Wreck of the Amphidrake (3 stars): If you are looking for a pirate adventure that is short and sweet, but still has a strong feminist message, this could be for you. I personally felt it was one of the weakest stories in terms of pacing and structure, but it was entertaining enough.

2. After Hours (3 stars): This is set in the Scholomance world and whilst I read the series and enjoyed it, it is not my favorite work of Novik's and returning to this world for a story that didn't feel all that important was not on my bingo card of literary needs and wants. It was at least fast-paced.

3. Vici (4 stars): As someone who likes to think about the Roman Empire once a day, this fulfilled the imagery I needed. It's about the first (and Roman) dragon tamer and it was very funny at times. Definitely a silly story but well paced and structured.

4. Buried Deep (4 stars): I sort of wish this was a full-fledged novel. It is a retelling of Ariadne from the Greek Mythology with interesting sibling dynamics and analysis of how we're so biased to think ugly = monstrous that we can miss out evil.... The structure was not great but I still enjoyed it.

5. Spinning Silver (5 stars): I loved revisiting an alternative to the novel SPINNING SILVER. It's probably her second best short story. Perfect structure and pace, well-developed characters and an enchanting world.

6. Commonplaces (2 stars): I didn't care for this one at all but at least it was short.

7. Seven (2 stars): No plot just vibes and I didn't care for the vibes.

8. Blessings (4 stars): This was silly, goofy fun and I wish she would take this and turn it into a cozy fantasy novel. I'd purchase that.

9. Lord Dunsany's Teapot (3 stars): I liked the concept but didn't care for how it was executed. It's well written and all, but I found the plot to be a little boring.

10. Seven Years from Home (5 stars): This is the only one that felt like a true sci-fi story and it was my favorite of this collection (despite not fitting in with the remaining short stories). I loved the observations of our main character as she explores a new society/world and how her betrayal deeply affected her. Absolutely a solid read! I hope Novik tries her hand at sci-fi because if this is any indication, I have a feeling she'd do amazing!

11. Dragons & Decorum (5 stars): This is Pride & Prejudice with dragons and it was a fun little retelling.

12. Castle Courlieu (4.5 stars): This one was extremely atmospheric and it reminded me of Ava Reid's style quite a lot. A little eerie and tense, but ultimately more vibes than plot.

13. The Long Way Round (2.5 stars): This one is a story set in the world Novik is currently developing her upcoming series in, and it was one of my least favorites. Maybe it's because it felt underdeveloped in comparison or maybe it was the fact that the pacing wasn't great. The characters were interesting but not enough to hold my attention. It just felt like Novik was still trying to find her way in this world so I'm cautiously optimistic that when the series does come out it will be much better.

I have loved everything I have ever read by Naomi Novik and this was no exception! I've read some of the books that the short stories correlate to and those were an absolute joy--such fun to revisit the characters and settings and stories that I enjoyed so much. Some were not as familiar but were still intriguing and riveting. I think it's a wonderful anthology. I like the short story format--I could pick it up and read one story and not worry if I couldn't get back to it right away--I could pick it up and lose myself in another setting and story next time I sat down with it.
I think it raises a lot of thoughts and insights. A good book for those who know and love Novik's writing but also a wonderful introduction to her works.

A fantastic short story collecting from Naomi Novik. I enjoyed every single story in this book and the background behind them. Highly recommend if you like her writing or want to get to know her writing style without reading a full length novel.

I love the author but decided I am not made for short stories; in theory it should be great to pick up every once in a while but for some reason I can't keep my attention to it at all. Will try again in the future, because I like her other work but for now it's getting shelved.

This book is great intro to Naomi Novik for those who haven't read her work before. I would love to read full length novels set in some of the world introduced, like how she turned Spinning Silver into a novel.

Thank you to Naomi Novik, Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine | Del Rey, and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This short story collection gathers thirteen vividly imaginative tales from both beloved and fresh realms—Temeraire, Scholomance, Spinning Silver, and beyond. Novik masterfully blends myth, fantasy, and science fiction in compact form, delivering emotionally resonant narratives that span retellings, world-building gems, and glimpses into new universes. While a few stories land with subtlety, many leave the reader eager for more—a testament to Novik’s strength in crafting haunted, vivid genrescapes in flash form.

Some stories resonate more deeply than others, especially those anchored in familiar settings like the Scholomance world, while others stand alone with lyrical weight. The anthology’s range—from heartbreak to wonder, from historical fantasy to magical realism—offers a diverse, character-driven entry point for both longtime fans and curious newcomers. It’s a satisfying showcase of Novik’s storytelling versatility.

Naomi Novik writes with such depth and nuance, her prose is beautiful, and the worlds she creates are compelling and always invite you in. Fantastic!

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

She’s my favorites author for a reason; this collection is a joy, I loved revisiting multiple Novik worlds.

Naomi Novik’s collection of short stories evokes a lot of nostalgia for me. I absolutely loved reading fairy tales as a young child. Protagonists who are clever, especially when faced with difficult situations, the odds against them, who still come out of the situation with their heads held high. These are the stories my inner child longs for. With a hint of Slavic mythology and beautiful prose, this book will be implemented into my curriculum and have a place in my classroom library.

This was a good and varied collection of fantastical tales from Novik, some were a revisit to a place or a novel where the seed of the novel began, others were completely new to me. My favorites included "Buried Deep" -- a great re-telling of Ariadne and the Minotaur, loved it; "Spinning Silver" -- I just love this novel so much that I was happy to revisit it; "Dragons and Decorum" -- Pride and Prejudice and Dragons, brilliant!) One of my favorite books with added dragons and dragon armies, and I too re-read it every year); "The Long Way Round" -- part exploration and seafaring, part wizards and warlock-y vibes. I'll be curious to see the novel Novik fleshes this one into. The rest were fine, but these were the best.

Buried Deep is a rich, imaginative collection that showcases Naomi Novik’s range and signature blend of myth, magic, and heart. Each story feels like stepping into a fully-formed world, whether it’s a dark twist on fairy tales or a clever reimagining of history. It’s a treat for longtime fans, with familiar settings and characters, but also a great sampler of her style for newcomers. A beautifully crafted mix of wonder, wit, and emotional depth.

I love Naomi Novik and short stories. Therefore, this was an obvious hit for me! Novik returns to some familiar worlds and has new concepts as well, giving readers new and old something to grasp. I used this as an informal book club with my partner and it was so fun to get different perspectives on the stories. For those unfamiliar with all of Novik’s work, there are some nuances you won’t get, but you also won’t be confused.

Thank you Random House and Naomi Novik for this ARC. Novik provides a wonderful collection of short stories in Buried Deep. I thoroughly enjoyed reading each and every story. I haven't read a Novik novel yet that that I didn't greatly enjoy, I recommend all of her works.

This book was mostly really enjoyable. I’m a really big fan of the Scholomance Trilogy and Uprooted (both getting a super rare five stars ratings from me), so I had high hopes for this book. I definitely enjoyed the story set in the Scholomance world. It was so nice going back there for a few pages. There were maybe three stories in the later half of the book that I found tough to get through, but the last story brought it back around at the end, I think the book’s an interesting mix of sci-if and fantasy, past and future. I think any fans of the author should check this out.

**Thank you to NetGalley & Publisher for the ARC; all opinions are my own.**

4 ⭐️

Featuring short stories from The Scholomamce, Temeraire, and some with pirates, dragons, and more, this collection is the ultimate Novik experience. I loved The Scholomance and Spinning Silver grew on me with time, and I've been wanting to expand my Novik universe- this hit the spot just right! I think my favorite was the Minotaur retelling...the quiet feminine rage was just what I needed.

If you like:
☆ Naomi Novik
☆ short stories
☆ magic, pirates, & the lot
☆ talking dragons
☆ revisiting old story worlds
Then pick this one up!!
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Thank you to Del Ray and Netgalley for sending me a copy of this book! All opinions are my own!

The way Novik writes is just so magical, I can never get enough of it. Each story in this anthology was so precious in its own way, and I loved each of them for their own reasons.

Get your hands on these stories, you won't want to pass them up!

A wonderful and engaging collection of Novik’s short stories, including the story that eventually became Spinning Silver and a Temeraire Pride and Prejudice fusion.

I really do adore Novik’s writing. She has such a gift for scene setting, intriguing characters, and making the tone fit every story. This definitely did its job, getting me invested in more, because I want to immediately dive into her other books.

So I put her first Scholomance book on hold at my local library, double checked I own an audio copy of Spinning Silver, and dug out the next Temeraire book I’ve been meaning to get too.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this arc.

I have minimal experience with Novik. For context, I've read and loved Spinning Silver and DNF'd Uprooted. So, I thought a short story collection would be a great opportunity to dive a little deeper into her writing.

I rarely read synopses or reviews before opening a book, and I was unaware that several of the short stories are related to both the Scholomance and Tereraire series, neither of which I have read. I would have enjoyed these a lot more if I had the backstories of those worlds. I think people who are familiar with her work will have better luck with these stories. There is a Pride and prejudiced retelling that I enjoyed a lot. There is also the beginnings of what would become Spinning Silver, which was interesting to see.

Overall, this collection made me want to delve into the Tereraire series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.