Fantasy Book Critic: Anthology review: An Alchemy of Sorrow edited by Virginia McClain

Edited by Sarah Chorn & Virginia McClain, An Alchemy of Sorrow is an exciting anthology of short stories by contemporary indie authors. Thirteen original stories examine grief, sometimes followed by hope, joy, and the resilience required to move on.

The cover by Zoe Badini is, without a doubt, stunning. I mean, look at it. Stunning. But what about the stories? Are they any good? I think many of them tackle the subject excitingly. Overall, though, the book is uneven: the stories vary in tone, depth, and quality. I have no doubt that each author put their heart and soul into each story.

On the other hand, some of the pieces were predictable and offered nothing new despite their emotional truth. As long as the reader makes an emotional connection to them, it shouldn't matter. Still, for the sake of objectivity, I need to mention it's not the type of anthology that would forge new paths for speculative fiction. Instead, it tries to approach grief through the lens of fantasy and find hope in most painful situations.

A few stories here succeeded and got a strong emotional response from me. I'm not saying others were lacking, but rather that each of us has a different experience with feelings of grief and loss. Virginia McClains' Thief is my favorite story in the collection. It's short, focused, and fun. It also touched me - I lost my mother way, way too early, and this piece nailed the feeling and the importance of saying goodbye.

Other stories I particularly enjoyed include Skies on Fire by Sonya M. Black - a gripping and emotionally engaging tale of a fighter who lost part of her identity - physical prowess and must say goodbye to the life and companion she loved. Carol A. Park's Thicker Than Water provides a thrilling introduction to her Heretic Gods series. It follows a boy whose family discovers he's a Banebringer and whose more or less carefree life suddenly ends. I don't want to spoil anything, but it made me interested in reading Park's Banebringer.

I'd like to also mention Summer Souls by Clayton W. Snyder - a sad story but with a strong punch. Well worth reading. Krystle Matar and Angela Boord's pieces deepen the lore of their series (Etherean Empire and Tainted Dominion) and may be interesting for their fans.

Editors' selections offer a variety of voices, themes, and forms and a balance between fresh and established indie voices. I recommend An Alchemy of Sorrow to readers interested in different paths that lead from grief to hope. No anthology is perfect. Some stories from An Anthology of Sorrow won't appeal to you. But I'm sure you'll find at least a few to connect to and deeply enjoy.