Stars: 2.5 out of 5.

This really was a bit of a disappointment. The premise was interesting and had so much potential. I mean, what better place to tell all the urban legends of different places and countries, right? Yep, that didn't happen.

Instead we have a collection of mostly uninspired short stories, some of which don't really have anything to do with the concept of the book. I'm looking at you, the Corpse from Chicago. I mean, this story read straight like a short story in an urban fantasy series... which isn't bad in itself, but this collection is supposed to be about magical places in our real world, not an invented one... or did I read that definition wrong?

All in all, it was disappointing. I couldn't even tell you if there was a story I liked best, because they were pretty unremarkable. But it served its purpose as a palet cleanser between bigger books, so I guess that's that. ( )

Oof. Earlier this year I reviewed an anthology that fell rather flat for me, and I think I mentioned that anthologies are never totally solid. There’s always a story or two that feels different, that doesn’t quite fit the theme or uses a writing style that doesn’t grab me or annoys me for plot or character reasons. This is not that sort of anthology. Very much not. Sure, some of the stories are weaker or weirder than others, but we’re talking 8s or 9s rather than 10s out of 10, and not a single one of them threw me. And the stories fit together beautifully, and they’re all full of place and magic and wonder and everything that sucks me in. (And it’s just a stunning volume, with deckled edges and ilustrations and that faux-suede sort of cover. Mmm.)

If you can get your hands on this book, do!

10/10 ( )