Publishers Weekly
04/03/2023
This beguiling collection of fantasy stories, edited by contributor davis, showcases a vivid spectrum of gender identities, settings, and tropes by 14 authors, including Mason Deaver, Cam Montgomery, Nix Traxler, and more. Several stories chronicle nonbinary teens railing against cultural prohibitions on crossing gender lines, as in Francesca Tacchi’s stirring “High Tide,” in which regatta roles are sex-segregated, and Emery Lee’s touching “The Door to the Other Side,” which stars enby Aryn, who, as a ferryperson traversing the boundary between life and death, must shepherd someone who died by suicide into the afterlife. Transgender youth use magic to ward off bullies in Sonora Reyes’s haunting “Halloween Love,” and in Jonathan Lenore Kastin’s empowering “The Hallow King,” trans enchanter Ronan Mayhew procures an ancestor’s grimoire to frighten prejudiced school officials. Contributors ground tales following magical teens combatting supernatural forces with insightful prose that emphasizes the characters’ expansive interiorities. Wide-ranging genre fare centering intersectionally diverse protagonists add levity to major themes regarding the rejection of one’s gender identity, either internally or due to socially constructed binaries, making for a polished and enjoyable work solidly steeped in classic high-fantasy tropes. Ages 13–up. (May)
From the Publisher
"Meaningful magical resistance." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Beguiling. A polished and enjoyable work solidly steeped in classic high-fantasy tropes.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Fun, meaningful, and fantastical." — School Library Journal
"The author lineup is a lovely mix of new-to-YA names joining well-knowns like A. R. Capetta, Cory McCarthy, Cam Montgomery, Mason Deaver, Saundra Mitchell, Emery Lee, and Sonora Reyes, and the stories themselves glow with trans joy and magic." — Dahlia Adler, LGBTQReads
School Library Journal
05/01/2023
Gr 9 Up—This anthology was created with the intention of giving trans identities more visibility in fantasy for teens. Davis explains in their foreword that the focus of the collection would be in representing identities that have been missing. So, 14 stories by authors on the continuum wrote their hearts out in fun, meaningful, and fantastical ways guided by the hands of davis, as editor, someone who is no stranger to publications including anthologies for teens. Recognizable authors, such as Cam Montgomery anchor a collection that also features newcomers, such as Dove Salvatierra, whose first published work is their short story here called "Espejismos." The imbalance of the collection does not come from the prior resume of the authors, but from the lack of development the fantasy short stories need to thrive. Readers will want more from each of the stories. A lack of worldbuilding in this short format prevents a fully realized setting, leaving more questions than answers for avid fantasy readers. Yet, the characters are richly entertaining, such as Ari in Reneé Reynolds's "Verity," who attends a magical school and loves the library, or Ella in Mason Deaver's "Genderella." The visibility outweighs these issues though as the fantasy is secondary to the celebration of intersectionality and genre. VERDICT The cover includes the quote that "magic is for everyone" and this short story collection lives up to it with trans characters at the forefront. A strong purchase for YA shelves.—Alicia Abdul
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2023-04-24
In this fantasy anthology featuring entries by a broad range of trans authors, transgender teens discover strength, truth, and magic in themselves as they fight oppressive societal expectations and define their own destinies.
Tilluster College couldn’t take away Rae’s magic, so instead they threaten to kill everyone Rae loves. Ari thought magic school would solve their problems, but as they struggle with incantations, they still feel like an outcast. Defying the gender-bound traditions enforced by the Council of Elders, Ciano braves siren-infested waters to pursue their dream. Treacherous deals with ancient powers, alluring curses, prowling monsters, and fairy-tale enchantment fill the pages of this timely collection that centers transgender characters figuring out where they belong and choosing themselves. Several stories feature magical regimes enforcing binary traditions that protagonists dismantle not only for themselves, but for their entire communities, whether that means standing up to the director of the Intramural Broomstick Derby summer league or a clan guarding the door between the realms of life and death. Some characters undertake a different battle—unlearning the rules they’ve enforced on themselves. In addition to common themes of self-discovery and belonging, a subtle thread of recurring images ties the stories together. Well-crafted prose and enticing worldbuilding heighten the collection’s appeal. The cast of characters also centers, reflects, and celebrates other types of diverse identities. Although the tones range from soft to suspenseful, every story is resolved with hope.
Meaningful magical resistance. (content warning, author bios) (Fantasy anthology. 14-18)
