To Weave a Web of Magic (2004)

Sadly, a bit take it or leave it. I greatly enjoyed Patricia McKillip's story, but the other three were a bit disappointing. I skipped one story after reading the first ten pages or so (really didn't draw me in), and the other two were just ok. ( )

A rather odd little collection of four entirely different, disparate and unconnected short stories. I bought it for the McKillip, and her story is my favourite – a tale of life among a kind of Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, and a tribute to the women whose faces we all know but whose own stories no-one cares about – the Lizzie Siddals and the Jane Morrises, and their even-more-forgotten sisters. The others? Lynn Kurland's is a bog-standard fantasy redeemed by some flashes of humour; Sharon Shinn's is a short story set in her Samaria universe; and Claire Delacroix's is a retelling of the Melusine legend so clunky that I couldn't be bothered to finish it (if she had used the word 'wrought' one more time I would have had to have hunted her down and slapped her). So … one out of four ain't bad? Four stars for the McKillip alone; the rest, nul points, I'm afraid. ( )

Group C1

Good collection of four romantic fantasy novellas.

The Gorgon in the Cupboard by Patricia McKillip – A painter is inspired by a talking painting and a new muse. This was entertaining, and there were a few quirky things I liked, but overall nothing special. **

The Tale of Two Swords by Lynn Kurland – A young boy’s parents read him a story of love and adventure which tells the lives of a renegade horse breeder’s daughter and an ousted prince. Interestingly framed narrative. ***

Fallen Angel by Sharon Shinn – A spoiled young girl falls for a rebellious angel. This is part of her Samaria series, which I love, and it didn’t disappoint. ****

An Elegy for Melusine by Claire Delacroix – A reworking of the myth of Melusine, the serpent fairy. I thoroughly enjoyed this one as well, though I can’t quite place why – nice mood to it I guess. **** ( )

Re: Fallen Angel | Cute but I kept expecting it to go somewhere MORE. Still, a nice intro to the Samaria series so I’m quite looking forward to reading those. ( )