This anthology is Naomi Novik showing off her range and it is EPIC. There’s something here for everyone.

My favorites were the Scholomance one which healed a little part of my soul and the Lawrence of Arabia inspired one which was solidly good sci-fi.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for an ARC of this book! This is my honest review.

I loved the Scholomance series. So to go back in an 'unofficial' capacity was a lot of fun. The first story was a little confusing and I didn't understand how it belonged there, but it got better after that. Naomi Novik is one of my favorite authors so I'm so glad to have read this. Anthologies are not normally my thing and I did tend to skip the intros as I just didn't really have much interest in those.

I love Spinning Silver and Uprooted. I recommend them to everyone. Both have fantastic world building and character development and they are fantastic.

I didn't like this book. I know, I know. I am disappointed in myself as well. It just felt really slow. It's very much a me thing, because she has a series, Temeraire, as well as a trilogy, The Scholomance, and I didn't enjoy either of those. I was happy that there was a story in the book related to Spinning Silver, but the other stories were not holding my interest. I am not a die hard fan of Naomi Novik, which is a shame because she's incredibly talented. I highly recommend reading her work.

As always, it’s tough to rate a short story collection. I really loved the first story in the collection, as well as the final. As someone who is a fan of a few of Novik’s fantasies, it was nice to return to those worlds, particularly the Scholomance, and to see her setting up for new books. Though I do think that people who aren’t so familiar with her work will still find a lot to enjoy.

I’ve read a few of Novik’s books, and was immediately captivated by her ability to spin folklore into a new story, followed by her dark academia series. I haven’t started her other series, but have it on the back burner because what fantasy fan can resist dragons? Certainly not I. So I even specifically requested an anthology of short stories, despite not typically gravitating to this type of book. That was all on the merit of her previous stories.

One of the best things I’ve encountered about collections of short stories is the way that even if I don’t connect with certain stories, they are far outweighed by the ones that I do enjoy. And while this may not be true for every collection, I haven’t found any yet where I don’t find a single story to love. This one was especially appealing due to the guarantee of seeing some of my most favorite characters in stories that I loved, but see them in different ways.

Each short story is described a little bit by Novik, explaining when and where it was published, and what she tried to do with the story. I appreciated knowing more about the inspiration behind the stories, and with some, getting to see what seemed like an earlier draft of what turned into a book. This happened with Spinning Silver and I could see so many of the bones of the novel come through in a short story format. I loved seeing the Jewish culture and practices being described just as beautifully, even in a short story.

The book covers a range of stories, characters, and settings, so it ensured that there was something to appeal to every reader, no matter which subgenres are your jam. I was most excited to revisit the previous stories, such as the new and improved Scholomance and Spinning Silver, while also loving some new characters. Vici, dealing with Roman-inspired dragons and Mark Antony, and the most amazingly written and incredibly endearing dragon I have ever seen. Seriously, she’s better than Puff the magic dragon!

Other stories, such as Araminta, or the Wreck of the Amphidrake, took a little longer to capture my attention, although the end of the short story was so much fun, with some tongue-in-cheek humor. I shouldn’t exactly be surprised that Dragons and Decorum wasn’t for me, since it’s a Pride and Prejudice retelling, and I’ve never been a huge fan of classics.

Overall, this was a great collection of short stories from an author that I enjoy reading. There’s enough difference to appeal to any fantasy reader: romantic fantasy, fairy tale retellings, sci-fi, Regency stories, adventures, dark academia, and even delving into sci-fi. If you haven’t read anything by Novik and aren’t sure if you’d like her writing, this is the best way to find out. This would also be a great read for anyone who likes the novelist version of Behind the Music, if you enjoy the possibility of reading about new stories in an older world that you loved, and if you just want to read a damn fine fairy tale retelling.

thirteen stories that lend more proof to Naomi Novik's excellent story telling skills. Small bites of stories that will make her fans very happy. If you've never read her books, these stories will convince you to add her to your TBR list.

When has Naomi Novik disappointed me? (Never, the answer is never.) Her short stories are just as compelling as her long form fiction, and I loved every page.

Thank you so much to Del Rey and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC for this much anticipated book!

Naomi Novik has been a favorite author of mine for many years now due to her writing style and her wonderful storytelling. This collection of stories exemplifies both those talents and more! All the stories, despite some being shorter and I having no previous context of, captured my interest and left me wanting to know more. Even the ones that I’ve already read the full novel too, the short story of it made me want to go and pick up its full version. My favorite of all of them was the story which the title is after, “Buried Deep”, which is a retelling of The Minotaur. I also loved the Pride and Prejudice retelling set in the world of Temeraire. This and the other Temeraire story has definitely motivated me to read that series!

I would highly recommend this book if you love Novik’s other books and her writing! And if you haven’t read any of her previous books, some of the stories in this one are set in the world of some of her other novels, so you get a feel for what to expect in them!

Buried Deep is a treat for fans of Naomi Noviks published works - a course of bite sized stories for those of us who wish we could dive into all of her worlds one after the other. But even the stories that draw from her other books are entirely accessible for new readers. New stories from new worlds, new stories from old worlds, all with Noviks characteristic wit and fancy. Each story has a satisfying conclusion while leaving you dreaming of the stories that could follow. There's something for everyone- dragons, magical schools, regency-era pirates, Greek mythology, and plenty more goodies.

Short stories have the difficult job of having only a few pages to tell a great story and make you care about it (especially in fantasy). But Novik manages to create robust worlds and captivating characters in such a short amount of time. Although Novik writes high fantasy generally, these short stories are a mix of character and story driven because of the constraints of the format. I love a collection like this to have on hand for things like waiting rooms and airports for a one-shot read.

For lovers of : Emily Wildes Encyclopedia and A River Enchanted (by Rebecca Ross)

***Novik never seems to make a misstep, and the thirteen stories here revisit favorite fictional worlds, delve into never-before-revealed adventures, and offer a glimpse into the author's newest world-building adventure--which I already love.***

I love reading Naomi Novik's books without exception--just check out the links to my many rave Bossy reviews at the end of this post to find out how much.

Naomi Novik's newest work, Buried Deep, is a collection of thirteen stories that span the worlds of her fantastic novels--and hint at new works to come.

When I read a collection of short stories, I inevitably develop favorites, and while reading Buried Deep I enjoyed all of the stories but particularly loved three.

"After Hours" allowed me to delve back into Novik's Scholomance series, which I adored. I hated for this one to end, because what I actually wanted was the impossible: to read another full-length work taking place in the world of El and Orion.

"Dragons & Decorum" is a glorious mashup of Novik's dragon stories (see my mention of the Temeraire series, below) and Pride and Prejudice, and it made me grin with glee the whole time I read it.

And "The Long Way Round" is a tantalizing peek into Novik's next world, with a savvy, gruff female captain at sea, her beloved, artistic, romantic brother, and a big adventure. I'm already obsessed with this story and can't wait to read the full-length version.

I received a prepublication copy of Buried Deep and Other Stories courtesy of NetGalley and Ballantine.

Naomi Novik is the author of richly wrought fantasy novels featuring main protagonists I love: Uprooted and Spinning Silver as well as the Scholomance series, A Deadly Education, The Last Graduate, and The Golden Enclaves.

Novik has also written a series of nine fantastic books about dragons, the Temeraire series. The dragons talk and are haughty and greedy and intensely loyal to their riders, Novik explores world politics and the intricacies of nations' relationships and airborne dragon battles within the books' alternate history, and the human protagonists are wonderfully faulted and fantastic. I've read seven of the nine installments, and I'm dreading reaching the end of the series.

I love Naomi Novik and am so happy that another one of her books is this amazing! Her short story skills are great and am so happy to have read this one. :)

The Scholomance series, Spinning Silver, and Uprooted, all get a relook with this collection of 13 short stories. Some of the stories will be brand new and some will take you back to beloved books. From the Temeraire series (a must-read dragon Book) to the brand-new world of Abandon, these are short stories perfect for any fantasy lover.

Why Jackie loves it:

These are some of my favorite books from Novik and I loved getting a glimpse back into the stories. It was also a perfect way to introduce Abandon, the new world in Novik's upcoming epic fantasy series!

As a lover of anthologies & Naomi Novik's previous work this was such a hit for me! Her ability to craft worlds and really pull readers into the setting will never fail to amaze me.

There were a few stories that missed for me, but having 3-4 out of 13 not resonate is definitely ok in my book, we can't expect to love every single piece of work even our favorite authors release.

If you're a lover of whimsy, fantasy, magic, or pirates I would definitely recommend giving this a shot. If you're already a fan of Novik, this is probably on your radar and I think it's time for you to take the plunge!

Overall, this is a fun way to read in short intervals but still be fully engrossed in the story.

I will preface this by stating that I am a Novik groupie and I will take whatever CRUMB they leave me. I am exactly the intended audience for this. And, I mean, does Naomi Novik write anything that is not an utter masterpiece?

It was nice being able to back into old worlds and read new stories. I won't lie, I got a little emotional reading about the Scholomance wold post-culling. Also Beata was just lovely and her voice is really compelling and endearing. Novik had range, each story and world was so different from each other but you could still hear their voice. God, I am a such a loser fan lol.

Love everything that Naomi Novik writes. Loved visiting some of my favorite worlds from her, like the Scholomance and Spinning Silver. loved the pride and prejudice one, and liked seeing the new world she’s working on

This collection of stores was just as good as Novik's other work but my only real complaint is that if you are not up to date with her other work you are definitely missing something.
I love her work but have not completed all of what she has out and I felt like I was missing something big.
I intend to revisit this after finishing what I have left and hopefully that will improve my outlook on this one.

This is a captivating collection of short fiction that showcases her talent for blending rich world-building with compelling characters. Each story in the anthology offers a unique flavor, from high fantasy to fairy-tale-inspired tales, all bound together by Novik’s distinctively lyrical prose.

The standout feature of this collection is the way Novik masterfully crafts immersive settings in even the shortest stories, pulling readers into enchanted worlds brimming with magic, danger, and complex moral choices. The characters, often caught between tradition and personal desire, reflect the internal struggles that make Novik’s work resonate emotionally, even in brief encounters.

While the collection is varied, “Buried Deep,” the title story, epitomizes Novik’s ability to reimagine classic folklore with a modern twist. It explores themes of sacrifice, legacy, and the weight of history in a way that feels both timeless and fresh. Other stories delve into similar explorations of power dynamics and the cost of ambition, giving the anthology a unifying thread while still providing diverse narrative experiences.

Fans of Novik’s larger works will appreciate this collection for its depth and imagination, while newcomers will find it a perfect introduction to her storytelling prowess. “Buried Deep and Other Stories” is a thought-provoking and beautifully written anthology that offers a glimpse into the many corners of Novik’s creative universe.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an ARC and allowing me to provide my honest review

I adored this book as I adore all of Novik's work. It was lovely to revisit some of the worlds that Novik has built in her novels and get glimpses into new ones. I loved having short stories, as they give a good stopping point. Even in a short length Novik builds out worlds that engross and enthrall the reader. The characters in all the stories were as well fleshed out as any in her full novels.

This is a true collection for fans of Naomi Novik.

I think what keeps this from being a five star read is that there are stories in this collection that you need to read the preexisting series in order to truly understand them. There are also reads that are proto-versions of her full works. It's more interesting to read this collection from the perspective of another writer (which I am decidedly not).

The Scholomance series was one of her works that I never had finished so the story in this collection was near incomprehensible to me as I didn't know what it was referring to in tbe beginning.

"Vici" was a truly excellent addition to the world of Temeraire and could also be understood without having read any of the series itself.

Novik whittles away these stories to their core. Creating clearer pictures out of characters both hers and not. Yet another anthology worth adding to a collection.

Buried Deep and Other Stories is a new anthology by author Naomi Novak, containing some of her older works and two new ones, one of which is set in the world of the series she is currently working on.

The Wreck of the Amphidrake (Araminta)
Sensuality: Subtle Grade: D+

On her way to get married, Lady Araminta encounters pirates and magic, forever changing the trajectory of her life. The predictably feisty Mary Sue heroine and a story far too large for the page space allotted keeps this tale from receiving a higher grade.
(Originally published in 2008 in Fast Ships, Black Sails.)

After Hours
Series: Schoolomance
Sensuality: N/A Grade: B

Beata is a witch of the Crooked forest, from a family who has always homeschooled their children in the old ways of the craft. She is surprised and reluctant when her family urges her to attend the Schoolomance and learn sorcery there.When Beata decides to break the rules and go out after dark, risking consumption by some nasty magical beasties while she does, she learns a lot about herself, her roommate Jayne and the real hero of the Schoolomance story. This quick YA read gives fans a chance to revisit the Schoolomance universe, get the briefest update on hero Orion, and see how The Calling, the major event in book two, impacted the students of the Schoolomance. Original to this anthology, it’s a good story for fans of that series.

Vici
Series: Temeraire
Sensuality: Subtle Grade: A-

Marcus Antonius introduces us to the beginning of the dragon-riding/fighting world of the Temeraire series. It’s a fun, lighthearted story that perfectly captures the temper of the original set of books.
(Initially published in 2010 in The Dragon Book: Magical Tales from the Masters of Modern Fantasy).

Buried Deep
Sensuality: N/A Grade: D-

This is an odd retelling of the Greek myth about the Minotaur. Confusing and disjointed, the tale seemed to have no purpose other than to remind us that human sacrifice is needless and cruel.

Spinning Silver
Sensuality: N/A Grade: B+

Novik would later turn this retelling of Rumpelstiltskin into a very different. full-sized novel. However, this quick, cute tale still captures the essence of a clever girl outwitting a fairy king that made the book so wonderful.
(Originally published in 2016 in the anthology The Starlit Wood.)

Dragons and Decorum
Series: Temeraire
Sensuality: Kisses Grade: A

A cute retelling of Pride and Prejudice in which Elizabeth Bennet is the captain of a Longwing Dragon (who will only accept female riders) and meets and falls in love with Mr. Darcy as she visits family. The romance is captured beautifully here, and the tale sticks to the original plot, writing style, and characterizations quite well, given its brevity and the addition of fantasy elements.
(Originally published 2017 in Golden Age and Other Stories.)

The Long Way Round
Sensuality: Subtle Grade: D

Tess and her brother Aston build and race ships when they aren’t busy ferrying goods between the islands that make up their small corner of the world. They are growing tired of paying tariffs for waterway usage, though, and Aston can’t help but wonder if sailing The Blue – that vast expanse of ocean that no one has ever crossed before – wouldn’t provide a way to avoid that. So they build a ship and make a plan to at least give it a try – then local magician Ferrantis decides to join them.

I struggled a lot with this story. One reason for that is that I’m not super fond of tax evasion. Yes, it’s a nuisance to pay the government money you worked for, but there are good reasons for laws that regulate shipping and tax goods, so I wasn’t exactly on board for the why of Aston and Tess’ desire to sail the blue. I struggled with Aston’s character, which is written as both selfish and clueless. But the worst part by far is Ferrantis. He practices a form of mental magic wherein he goes into a person’s mind to either extract information or force a compulsion to do what he wishes on them. I’ve heard this defined as rape before, and in every other instance I have ever seen this power used, it has been reserved for use against villains. Ferrantis uses it just to ensure he isn’t lied to. While he doesn’t use his power to force Tess and Aston to take him with them, the threat that he could means they very reluctantly have to agree. And he does use his power later. Between the boring storyline, an ending that hints at colonization and exploitation, and including a rapist on the roster, this tale concludes the whole collection on a sour note.

Buried Deep contains other tales – Commonplaces, Seven, Blessing, Lord Dunsany’s Teapot, Seven Years from Home and Castle Coeurlieu – all of which have appeared in previous anthologies. None of them are particularly notable. Given the lackluster quality of the new works and the fact you can find the older stuff on library shelves, I recommend everyone but die-hard fans skip this.