Book Review ~ Myths Untold Anthology
Authors:
August Li
Brandon Witt
J. Scott Coatsworth
Skye Hegyes
Cover Artist: August Li
Length: 79K
Format: eBook, Paperback
Release Date: 4/13/16
Pairing: MM
Publisher: Wilde City Press
Price: eBook $5.99, paperback TBD
Blurbs
Faeries are part of mythology the world over, past, present, and future. Called elves, brownies, the fae, and more, they evoke a sense of wonder and a little danger. Faery has its own rules, and humans enter at their peril.
In this spirit, we bring you the first book in the Myths Untold anthology series—four stories from the land of the Fae: a homeless man in Cardiff and the luck that could destroy him; the trans man in future San Francisco who falls for an elf; the village boy who has always been a little different; and a faery prince whose birthright was stolen from him.
Welcome to Faery.
Despite beauty and luck, something about Glyn makes everyone uncomfortable. Homeless on the streets of Cardiff, he has nothing to keep him going but his friendship with Farrokh. Through stealing and fortune’s occasional favor, Glyn keeps them alive. But then homeless youths begin to disappear, and when Farrokh goes missing, Glyn begins to discover the reasons behind both his luck and the way people react to him. Determined to save his friend from a danger he never imagined, he enlists the help of Lleu, who might be an ally, or might be manipulating Glyn to achieve his own goals.
The Other Side of the Chrysalis, by Brandon Witt
In a species that values beauty above all else, Quay looses both his freedom and his birthright as prince of the fairies. Lower than an outcast, he watches over his younger brother, hoping against hope that Xenith’s rebirth will provide safety and positions that has slipped through Quay’s grasp. Though he expected kindness from no one, Quay gradually starts to trust that there is more to life, even for the likes of him, as sexual encounters with Flesser, a fairy barely accepted himself, turn from lust to love. Quay knows having forbidden relationships will be his undoing, but he is powerless to turn away.
Changeling, by Skye Hegyes
With his pointed ears and a tail, Tyler’s always been different than the other children, but until Marsh, a brownie tells him he’s a changeling, he never thought he wasn’t human. Now he will discover what faery life is like, and just how being a changeling could change his life. On the way, his ties with his mother will be pushed and prodded even as his friendships grow and his love life blossoms. However, in a village of God-fearing people, those who are different are spurned and Tyler will discover how much trouble a fledgling changeling can get into.
Through the Veil, by J. Scott Coatsworth
In the not-too-distant future, San Francisco has been swamped by rising sea levels caused by global warming, and has only survived by building a wall to keep the water out of the heart of the City. Colton is a trans man barely getting by on the canals outside the wall. Tris is an elf who has come to the human world on his journey to become a man. Fate brings them together, and everything changes for Colton when he sets out with Tris to find the elf's missing brother, taking Colton behind the Wall for the first time.
Buy Link
Available at the Wilde City website 4/13/16; other sites one week later.
Wilde City Press: https://www.wildecity.com/books/gay-mainstream/myths-untold-book-one-faery/#.Vu1sJkcWLJp
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Myths-
Amazon Intl: http://www.amazon.com/dp/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Myths-
Amazon Intl: http://www.amazon.com/dp/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/
Author Bios
Gus Li
August (Gus) Li is a creator of fantasy worlds. When not writing, he enjoys drawing, illustration, costuming and cosplay, and making things in general. He lives near Philadelphia with two cats and too many ball-jointed dolls.
He loves to travel and is trying to see as much of the world as possible. Other hobbies include reading (of course), tattoos, and playing video games.
Brandon Witt
Brandon Witt’s outlook on life is greatly impacted by his first eighteen years of growing up gay in a small town in the Ozarks, as well as fifteen years as a counselor and special education teacher for students with severe emotional disabilities.
Add to that his obsession with corgis and mermaids, then factor in an unhealthy love affair with cheeseburgers, and you realize that with all those issues, he’s got plenty to write about…
Skye Hegyes
Dragons, wolves, and sharp objects are commonplace in Skye Hegyes’s home in North Carolina. She spends most of her time between writing and working. When not doing either of these things, you may find her making crafts or adventuring with her family, which consists of her husband, two daughters, two birds, and three cats… and a partridge in a pear tree…
J. Scott Coatsworth
Scott has been writing since elementary school, when he and won a University of Arizona writing contest in 4th grade for his first sci fi story (with illustrations!). He finished his first novel in his mid twenties, but after seeing it rejected by ten publishers, he gave up on writing for a while.
Over the ensuing years, he came back to it periodically, but it never stuck. Then one day, he was complaining to Mark, his husband, early last year about how he had been derailed yet again by the death of a family member, and Mark said to him “the only one stopping you from writing is you.”
Since then, Scott has gone back to writing in a big way, finishing more than a dozen short stories – some new, some that he had started years before – and seeing his first sale. He’s embarking on a new trilogy, and also runs the Queer Sci Fi (http://www.queerscifi.com) site, a support group for writers of gay sci fi, fantasy, and supernatural fiction.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie in exchange for a fair and honest review.***
The Pwcca and the Persian Boy, by Gus Li
Luck has always favored Glyn, despite being homeless and robbing to survive and provide for his lover Farrokh. When Farrokh goes missing, Glyn starts looking for him and finds out the reason why so many homeless women have disappeared.
This was a very enjoyable, well-written story that grabbed my attention from beginning to end. I really liked Glyn and while I would've liked a HEA, well, I guess the way it played out was more realistic.
Rating: 4.5 Stars!!!
The Other Side of the Chrysalis, by Brandon Witt
After his rebirth went wrong, Quay loses his birthright as prince of the fairies. When his younger brother's rebirth works, he hopes that perhaps things will change for him someday. In the meantime, he is falling for Flesser, a lower fairy, but their relationship is forbidden and might be his downfall.
This story was heartbreaking. I could feel Quay's despair at being cast away by his parents and the rest of their people, at being ostracized, but especially at seeing how even Flesser was all over him when Quay was in glamour and things changed when the glamour faded. Still, while it was angsty, it was very well-written, almost poetic in some parts.
Rating: 4.5 Stars!!!
Changeling, by Skye Hegyes
This story was heartbreaking. I could feel Quay's despair at being cast away by his parents and the rest of their people, at being ostracized, but especially at seeing how even Flesser was all over him when Quay was in glamour and things changed when the glamour faded. Still, while it was angsty, it was very well-written, almost poetic in some parts.
Rating: 4.5 Stars!!!
Changeling, by Skye Hegyes
Tyler has always been different, but it isn't until his mother reveals his true origin that he knows just how different.
I loved this story! It was so sweet, with a very low angst level and still very poignant. Loved Marsh and Tyler together, and Tyler's mom, who was amazing! I wouldn't have minded reading a bit more with Tyler and Marsh back in Fairy, but I was very happy with how it ended.
Rating: 5 Stars!!!
Through the Veil, by J. Scott Coatsworth
I loved this story! It was so sweet, with a very low angst level and still very poignant. Loved Marsh and Tyler together, and Tyler's mom, who was amazing! I wouldn't have minded reading a bit more with Tyler and Marsh back in Fairy, but I was very happy with how it ended.
Rating: 5 Stars!!!
Through the Veil, by J. Scott Coatsworth
Colton is a trans man barely managing to survive on the canals in San Francisco. Fate brings him together with an elf that needs his help and together they will try to find Tris's brother.
I loved how the author wove action with mythology and romance and gave us a very detailed story that I just couldn't put down until it ended! Colton and Tris were both amazing on their own, but together they seemed unstoppable and I was very happy with how their relationship progressed and the resolution in the end.
Rating: 5 Stars!!!
My Obsession With Fantasy
By Brandon Witt
From the earliest time I can remember, I’ve been obsessed with all things fantasy.
My first and most devoted love is for mermaids. I grew up on The Little Mermaid movies, first the one where she died, and then when I was nine, the Disney version. Anytime I was sick and had to stay home from school, dad would rent the original little mermaid and The Last Unicorn. Surprisingly I didn’t ever try to stay home when I wasn’t sick just to watch those. I should have. Another movie that we’d rent Disney’s 1967 flick, The Gnome Mobile. It featured the same two children actors that were in Mary Poppins. At the end of that movie, they go to fairyland and there are hundreds of gorgeous fairies, and of course, I fell in love with the male ones and wanted to have pretty hair like the female ones. That movie added fairies to my much-loved list.
Though I’m a romance writer, my first love is fantasy. If it has any of those three creatures, or vampires, werewolves, etc, you can count me. I love the escape of the fantasy, as well as the sense of otherness about it all—a sensation I very much related to growing up.
When I was approached about this particular Faery anthology, I jumped at the chance. For two reasons. One, it was fairies (yes, please) and two, the story didn’t have to be romance. I had the opportunity to write fantasy and make it dark----which is my ultimate favorite. Blame it on growing up with The Last Unicorn and the original little mermaid, both of which you cry your eyes out every time you watch. It’s beautiful. Don’t be afraid of this Faery anthology, not everyone went as dark as me, you’ll get some relief. But, I promise, in all four stories, you’ll dive deep into the fantastical, beautiful world of fairies!
No comments:
Post a Comment