Elliott (
Cold Steel; Labyrinth of Stars) has built a career out of creating memorable worlds and populating them with strong, amazing women (and the men who love them). While the longer form gives her a bigger canvas, Elliott proves here she can make those same fantastic worlds and characters in short form. Some of the 12 stories come from her established universes, such as "Riding the Shore of the River of Death" from the world of "Crown of Stars," which is about a girl who prefers a warrior's life to the traditional role of wife and mother. There are also two slight stories from the author's "Jaran" sf series. But there are some great stand-alones, such as "A Memory of Peace," about a girl who brings a war-torn city to life, as well as four essays originally published online.
VERDICT Elliott excels at describing her brilliant worlds, employing a meticulous eye for the significant detail that illuminates a whole landscape. This could be an enjoyable addition for large sf and fantasy collections.
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