Buried Deep and Other Stories" is a treat for Naomi Novik fans and a great introduction for those new to her work. It highlights her ability to craft compelling narratives across a wide spectrum of genres. A collection of short stories that dips into previous books and offers a sneak peak into new ones. A great way to get acquainted with Novik or revisit old faves

Did not finish book. Stopped at 54%.
Stopping at the end of Blessings because there are more misses than hits so far, and I find myself not looking forward to picking this up. While Novik is one of my favorite authors, I think her writing style is designed more to be full-length novels than shorts. My favorite in this collection was the Spinning Silver short story and my second is After Hours (the scholomance short).

Absolutely wonderful! I love Naomi Novik's writing, and this is one of my new favorite works. I wanted more from each story and was sad the moment they ended.

★★★★☆ - 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
Buried Deep and Other Stories by Naomi Novik
Standalone - Anthology
༘ Spoiler free ༘
⭐️ 4/5
Genre: Fantasy, Mythic Retelling, Science Fiction
Multi POV

➳ Anthology ➳ Retellings ➳ Standalone & Series Tie-ins ➳ Myth & History ➳ Magic Systems ➳ Dragons ➳ Diplomacy ➳ Destiny


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This anthology brings together thirteen short stories spanning Naomi Novik’s best-known worlds—Temeraire, the Scholomance trilogy, and the realms of Spinning Silver and Uprooted—as well as a glimpse into her next major fantasy series. Each story stands on its own while exploring themes of fate, power, and choice.

The highlight for me was Buried Deep, a heartbreaking and beautifully written retelling of the myth of Ariadne and the Minotaur. It captured the tragic inevitability of fate in a way that felt fresh and deeply emotional. Seven Years From Home, a sci-fi political drama about a diplomat caught in a war she was meant to mediate, was another that really stood out to me.

Novik’s signature wit and sharp prose shine throughout, and even the stories tied to her existing series remain mostly accessible to new readers. However, some, like After Hours, leaned a bit too much on prior knowledge of her novels, making them less impactful if you weren’t already familiar with those worlds.

❧✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ:❦:･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ✧❧

As a short story collection, it stands out for its range—mythic retellings, historical fantasy, and sci-fi are all seamlessly woven together. Novik’s work is more character-driven than some anthologies, and she excels at creating fully realized worlds in just a few pages.

Some stories were instant favourites, while a few felt less compelling or a bit rushed. Buried Deep and Vici (a Temeraire prequel) were incredibly engaging, while Araminta had a fun premise but lacked the same worldbuilding depth.

Themes of destiny, power, and personal agency ran throughout the collection. Even in the lighter stories, there was a sense of deeper meaning beneath the surface.

Since it’s an anthology, there’s no single ending—but Buried Deep left a lasting emotional impact, and the teaser for Novik’s upcoming world, Abandon, has me eager for more.

The pacing varies by story. Some feel perfectly self-contained, while others feel like a teaser for a larger world. Novik’s prose is sharp, immersive, and often humorous, balancing intricate worldbuilding with character depth.

This is a collection that lingers, especially Buried Deep. It’s a great read for longtime fans, but also offers enough standalone content for newcomers.

✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: :･ﾟ✧:･ﾟ✧

💖 LIKES:
⋆ Buried Deep—emotional and beautifully written
⋆ The variety of settings and genres
⋆ Novik’s insightful commentary on each story
⋆ The Abandon teaser—excited for what’s next!

❤️‍🩹 DISLIKES:
⋆ Some stories felt like they required prior knowledge
⋆ A few lacked the same emotional depth as the standouts

Fantasy Scoring:

✅ Worldbuilding ➷ Excellent, though some stories needed more depth
✅ Foreshadowing ➷ Strong, especially in retellings
✅ Plot ➷ Varied—some were gripping, others less so
✅ Relationships ➷ Well-developed, even in short form

Thank you to Naomi Novik, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Del Rey, and NetGalley for the opportunity to provide my honest opinion on the ARC of this book.

A must-have for all fans of Naomi Novik’s work. A fantastic anthology. My favorite was “Vici”, as a major Temeraire fan.

Araminta. 4.25. I liked this! It was a lovely short story about an alternate Regency world and a girl who found herself involved in piracy. The prose was fun in how detached it was, but I felt that I lost some understanding of the world with how blasé the narrative was about some world building. However, that didn’t severely limit my enjoyment of the story, it was just a different reading experience. Honestly, I thought the prose was really enjoyable as far as putting you in Araminta’s head, it reminded me of reading Dora’s POV in Half a Soul.

After Hours. 4.0. This was fun! My favorite part was the unique magical practice of our main character Beata, a witch from the Crooked Forest. I really liked her mushroom magic, and her perspective on the scholomance and the other students. I thought the story was a little too reliant on the OG trilogy of books, I think it would be confusing to read as someone who didn’t read the books, but that’s not a major deal breaker for me.

Vici. 4.5. This was cute and very believable. I loved the main character Antony, as frustrating and kind of horrible as he was. And Vici was an absolute delight! Nothing has made me want to undertake the Temeraire series more. Because this is a prequel, no outside knowledge of the series is required.

I’ve chosen to give this 5 stars because this is an excellent collection and each story shines—but the story Buried Deep is everything I ever want. For me, it outshines all the rest despite how great and fun all the rest are. Buried Deep (the story) is beyond perfection and even if the rest of the stories were terrible (they aren’t!) it’d be worth it for just that one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5 stars

Naomi Novik is a brilliant writer and I love her work… but if your not familiar with her previous series (or read them a long time ago) I don’t think this will resonate as much as a collection of short story’s should.
I very much enjoyed the true “standalone” books from this collection- they quick and fun and beautifully written.
But like most anthologies, it’s hit or miss. Some stories I loved, some dragged, but at the end of the day Naomi is a damn good story teller.

I always love Naomi Novik, she knows just how to tug at my heartstrings and throughout these stories she continues to do so. I laughed, I cried, I enjoyed! Totally recommend

Everything Naomi Novik writes is gold. The titular short story made me cry, a lot of the others made me laugh. I enjoyed her commentary on each story, and seeing the seeds that some of her novels grew from.

Naomi Novik never disappoints. Containing short stories set in her Temeraire series, one from her Scholomance books, mythical retellings, and wildly original SFF, pretty much all of these were winners. I really liked "Seven Years From Home," a story about a diplomat on a planet far from her home who gets way more involved in a war that she was meant to be neutral in. "The Long Way Around" is from a world she's working on building, and I am now so excited for that to move into publication. Even her short stories set in her series were accessible, and, if anything, just made me want to read those series too. I think that the titular story, "Buried Deep," may have been the best one, a heartbreaking and beautiful retelling of Ariadne and the Minotaur.

I won't be reading this. I've tried multiple times and haven't gotten into it. Thank you though for the opportunity. If I read it in the future I will come back and change this review.

I’m not usually a fan of short story collections so I struggled to finish this because I kept putting it down. I just think short stories are not for me. I just need more!! None of these blew me away but they were good (again, I think it’s just because I don’t tend to like short stories so it’s my fault for picking this up). But if you’re a fan of short stories and Naomi Novik, I definitely recommend. I’ve read a few books from her so far and really like her writing which is why I wanted to try this.


Here’s a few of my noncoherent thoughts on each story:
1. Araminta 4/5 - I LOVE a good pirate story
2. After Hours 4.5/5 - I missed being back in the Scolomance!! this story is the main reason I wanted to read this
3. Vici 3/5 - interesting but nothing great
4. Buried Deep 5/5 - I can’t stop thinking about this story. I just found it so powerful (to be fair I didn’t really know much about Ariadne/Minotaur so maybe if I did, this wouldn’t have been that great but I really loved the story)
5. Spinning Silver - I really loved the novel when I read it years ago. This is nothing new if you’ve already read the novel but was nice to be back in that world and be reminded of the story
6. Commonplaces - 2/5 not my favorite, this one wasn’t for me
7. Seven - 4/5 really interesting and perfect portrayal of obsession
8. Blessings - 2.5/5 really short and not too much happened
9. Lord Dunsany’s Teapot - ngl i forgot to rate this when i read it but I think I remember liking it?
10. Seven Years from Home - 4.5/5 really good sci fi, intergalactic war type story
11. Dragons & Decorum - 2.5/5 pride and prejudice but with dragons? not my fav but it was okay
12. Castle Coeurlieu - 3/5 greek mythology vibes with a monster in the castle dungeon. this one was pretty good
13. The Long Way Round - 4.5/5 again, I loooove a pirate/ship story. This story was a look into a future book/series which I’m definitely intrigued about

While the premise was nice, the writing was... not what I expected. I wanted more from the characters because I felt that what was on the front cover and the front flap was not what we were given.

Naomi Novik is hit-and-miss with me and short stories are also hit-and-miss with me. Together, there weren't enough short stories that I was enjoying listening to that overcame my wish to move on. It was okay.

Naomi Novik once again showcases her gift for intricate world-building and compelling storytelling in Buried Deep, a novel that draws readers into its richly detailed setting with ease. From the start, the atmosphere is immersive, the prose elegant, and the characters nuanced, making for an engaging and absorbing read.

The beginning immediately hooked me with its blend of mystery, folklore, and Novik’s signature ability to craft a world that feels both magical and deeply grounded. The themes of history, power, and hidden truths weave seamlessly through the narrative, adding depth to the intrigue. However, while the opening and final acts are masterfully paced, the middle portion of the novel loses some momentum. There are sections that feel overly detailed or meandering, making the plot slow down just as it should be escalating. That said, Novik’s lyrical writing and ability to create tension kept me invested.

The novel builds to a rewarding and satisfying conclusion, proving once again why Novik remains a standout in fantasy fiction. Though the pacing dips at times, Buried Deep is still a beautifully crafted, atmospheric read that fans of her work will enjoy. A solid four stars.

Thank you, NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Del Rey, for the chance to read this book in exchange of an honest review.

Buried Deep and Other Stories is a collection of thirteen stories by the unique and amazing Naomi Novik, from the gothic hall of the Scholomance, with a peak at the land where her next novel will be set.
Thirteen short stories spanning from story to myths, Scholomance and the world of Spinning Silver, meeting mushrooms witches, dragon's egg, a bride and Death, dragons and so much more in this compelling and stunning collection.
It was such a pleasure flying through these world, bonded by people who wrestle with destiny and they are ready to do anything to achieve it.

I admit it - I am a Naomi Novik fan. Since I first read <i>Uprooted</i>, I have appreciated her characters, her world-building, and her amazing plots. This collection of short fiction includes pieces set within worlds ro accompanying stories that we already know from her other books. It also has a story set within the world of her next planned series. Some have repviously been published in other anthologies or magazines, but together they make a precious little bundle.

What will you find insides?

- a tale of pirates and a promised bride who is easily the match for the spirited Elizabeth Swann

- a trip back to the Scholomance after it is reopened

- a condemned man in Roman times sent off to kill a dragon and winds up meeting Julius Caesar

- Ariadne and the minotaur

- an early, shorter version of <i>Spinning Silver</i>

- an encounter with Irene Adler (yes, "the woman")

- a group of fairies handing out blessings at the birth of a baby girl

- a teapot in the trenches of WWI that may be something more than just a teapot

- a junior bureaucrat on a foreign planet

- Elizabeth Bennett and her dragon

- a young bride and her stepson trying to survive the Black Death

- and that last story, a taste of things to come with wizards and sea krakes and oceans to explore.

Whether you sit down and read the book through from start to finish, or pick and choose which story suits your mood on a particualr day, you will have a delightful time. You will laugh at silly young fools. You will groan with frustration at unfair situations that the characters must overcome. And you will cheer for determined young women who manage to make their own way in the world despite all the odds stacked against them. If you are a Novik fan already, you know what sort of treat to expect. If this is your first encounter, prepare to hunt down the rest of her books as soon as you finish this one.

I read an advance copy provided by the publisher for review purposes.

This was interesting because it was a collection of stand-alone short stories. I think I was expecting some connection. I liked that some of them related to other works by Naomi. Some of the stories felt too long and drawn out, so I didn't know what was happening. My favorite was the title story, Buried Deep. I'd love to dive more into that world. It would be good to jump around while reading other books, but it was pretty dense all at once.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Buried Deep and Other Stories by Naomi Novik!