My book reviews for the Once Upon a Season series of anthologies published by Macfarlane Lantern Publishing.
Published by Macfarlane Lantern Publishing
Age Group: Adult
Format: Anthologies and Short Story Collections, Fiction
Genres and Categories: Dark Fantasy, Fairytales, Gothic Fantasy, Disabled and Neurodivergent Authors, LGBTQIA+ Authors, Scottish Authors, Diverse Representation, Magic Users, Fae/Fey, Mythological Creatures, Shapeshifters, Witches, Mythology: Mixed, Queer Characters, Various Magic
Series: Once Upon a Season #1
My Rating:
Published on: 20th February 2025
Pages: 324
Buy this Book! Amazon UK / Amazon US / Barnes & Noble / Blackwells / Bookshop.org US
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Once upon a time stories travelled from place to place on the tongues of merchants and thieves and kings alike. Under the blanket of night they were exchanged between children, and passed on to their children, and their children after them. Details were altered from one generation to the next until thousands of tales existed where once there were few. In the spirit of these age-old stories comes Once Upon a Winter, a seasonal anthology of folk and fairy tales from 17 authors across the globe. It covers the Gothic, the romantic, the whimsical, the frightening and everything in-between, and features both intriguing twists on classic tales and exciting original stories.
This book was provided for free by the Publisher and the publishers in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book!
Content Warnings:
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Once Upon a Winter Review
At the end of the year, I’m always on the lookout for winter or holiday-themed books, and being someone who primarily reads fantasy and science fiction, there aren’t that many to be found unless someone specifically sets about putting together a themed anthology. So when I found out about Once Upon a Winter: A Folk and Fairy Tale Anthology, I was thrilled! Even more so because it has a story from one of my favourite authors, Caroline Logan, and a few other authors on my TBR.
Once Upon a Winter is the first of four planned seasonal anthologies from Macfarlane Lantern Publishing, and if this first anthology is anything to go by, you’ll want to ensure you check out the other three, too! This beautiful anthology pulls together a variety of stories with the core themes of winter, folklore and fairytales, and the result is an incredible mix of talent. This is an anthology that draws on every essence of folklore and fairytales, from the magical to the downright terrifying, so while some stories in here are perfect for sharing with the family during the holidays (The Snowdrop by H. L. Macfarlane springs to mind) some are not child-friendly (such as ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town’ by Bharat Krishnan and ‘The Boggart of Boggart Hole Clough’ by Jake Curran-Pipe). These two lean towards the traditional Grimm fairytales, where things aren’t all sugar and spice…
As with all anthologies, some stories resonated with me, and some didn’t. The only one that failed to completely, and I admit I had to skip it, was the first one, ‘The Biting Cold’ by Josie Jaffrey. I suspect the choice to put this one first was to get the reader into the right frame of mind, however, I’m not a fan of second-perspective stories (where the writer uses the pronoun “you” to address the reader rather than “I” or a gender pronoun) and instead of helping me identify with winter it only alienated me as a reader. Thankfully, after that one story, everything else was a vast improvement.
Only one other story stuck out as feeling a bit odd, and that was ‘Queen of the Snows’ by Joyce Reynolds-Ward. It was a good story, a very interesting premise, but it felt as though it was a chapter of a larger story that had been cut out and repackaged as a short story. As a short story, it didn’t make sense, and it didn’t feel as though it had an actual ending, which was a shame because it was so good.
Normally, I find the humorous story in an anthology like this to be infantile and terrible, so I feel that I have to give ‘The Snow Trolls’ by S. Markem a nod for being exactly what it was supposed to be: silly and fun. It had me groaning and facepalming, but that was the point of the story. Thank you for remembering that humour is about being fun and not laughing at someone (the snow trolls notwithstanding…).
Another win for me with this anthology was that the publisher, Macfarlane Lantern Publishing, is very local to me. It was a pleasure to read an anthology by a local Scottish publisher which included Scottish writers too.
The full list of stories in Once Upon a Winter: A Folk and Fairy Tale Anthology is as follows. I’ve marked my favourites with a *
The Biting Cold by Josie Jaffrey
The Match Girl by Rebecca F. Kenney *
Santa Claus is Coming to Town by Bharat Krishnan
A Pea Ever After by Adie Hart *
The Snowdrop by H. L. Macfarlane *
Silverfoot’s Edge by Ella Holmes
The Storm Hags by Caroline Logan *
The Boggart of Boggart Hole Clough by Jake Curran-Pipe
Around the Hawthorne Tree by Jenna Smithwick *
The Best Girl this Side of Winter by Laila Amado
The Snow Trolls by S. Markem
Lord of the Forest by Katherine Shaw *
Queen of the Snows by Joyce Reynolds-Ward
Long Meg and the Sorcerer’s Stones by M. J. Weatherall
The Frost of Mercy by A. J. Van Belle
Wintercast by R. A. Gerritse
You Can’t See Me by Kate Longstone *
Published by Macfarlane Lantern Publishing
Format: Anthologies and Short Story Collections, Fiction
Genres and Categories: Disabled and Neurodivergent Authors, LGBTQIA+ Authors, Scottish Authors, Fae/Fey, Mermaids, Witches, Fairytales, Gothic Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Guanche, Mythology: Mixed, Magic Users, OwnVoices Representation, Queer Characters, Various Magic
Series: Once Upon a Season #2
My Rating:
Published on: 2nd June 2023
Pages: 286
Buy this Book! Amazon UK / Amazon US / Barnes & Noble / Blackwells / Bookshop.org US
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A village abandons all they knew in search of water.
A man covets the last roses of summer and pays the price in blood.
Two young monsters seek a peaceful life by the seaside.
A scorching prophecy threatens to destroy all that a princess holds dear.
Once upon a time stories travelled from place to place on the tongues of merchants and thieves and kings alike. Around a crackling bonfire beneath a sky that never grew dark they were shared, and traded, and altered, until every corner of the globe had their own collection of tales.
In the spirit of these age-old stories comes Once Upon a Summer, a seasonal anthology of folk and fairy tales from 15 authors across the globe. It covers everything from summer romances to eco-terror to seaside ghost stories, and features both intriguing twists on classic tales and exciting original stories.
The second of four planned seasonal anthologies from Macfarlane Lantern Publishing, Once Upon a Summer is sure to have a story for just about everyone. Grab your copy in time for the solstice today!
This book was provided for free by the Publisher and the publishers in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book!
Content Warnings:
Once Upon a Summer Review
Once Upon a Summer: A Folk and Fairy Tale Anthology is the second season-themed anthology in the series, and like the first one, it was a joyful reading experience. While there were a few stories that didn’t catch my attention, or I don’t feel they quite fit the theme of ‘summer’, overall, the wide variety of stories and themes, as well as the quality of writing, was fantastic. This is a wonderful anthology to read in the summer or during the colder months, as I did, to give you those warmer feelings when the weather is miserable.
I want to give a shoutout to some of my personal favourites in Once Upon a Summer. This isn’t an indication of the other stories; these are just the ones that left a lasting impression.
The anthology starts strong with a story by ‘The I Scream Van’ by Caroline Logan. I’m a long-time fan of Logan and loved that this story is so typically her while also showing a different side of her writing. It’s creepy and heart-warming, giving you those Halloween vibes right in the middle of summer. Adie Hart’s ‘What Big Geese You Have’ that follows is a story of two witches who turn up for the same assignment, and neither of them is willing to give it up. It’s an unlikely partnership with fairytale elements, and I loved every minute of it. I hope Hart writes more in this universe, as it was great!
‘These Burning Bones’ by Laila Amado is a stunningly powerful story and not to be missed. Fans of a darker story will love ‘The Last Roses of Summer’ by Kate Longstone as much as I did. I may have grinned a little too hard at the conclusion to this one; yes, I have a wicked streak 😉 A unique story that I felt truly embraces the storytelling aspect of folklore is ‘Juniper and the Upside Down Well’ by Ella Holmes. This was such a beautiful story that stuck with me after I read it.
Likewise, ‘Love in the Time of Volcanoes’ by Jake Curran-Pipe had a similar feel. Curran-Pipe is from the Canary Islands, and ‘Love in the Time of Volcanoes’ is his interpretation of the legend of Gara and Jonay from La Gomera, which is used to explain the existence of the Garajonay National Park. I enjoyed the story, but I also liked that he wanted to write this story so that it would be included in the anthology for the first time.
Just as Once Upon a Summer started with great stories, it ends on a fantastic note. ‘The Witches of Dogtown’ by A. J. Van Belle is a story about witches, women and magic, and quite frankly, is amazing. Finishing up the anthology is ‘Contract with a Mermaid’ by M. J. Weatherall, a story set in Scotland and inspired by Celtic folklore. It’s about a Maighdean-mara, a mermaid, who ended up landbound and as a result offered bargains to mortals. Weatherall’s story is about one such bargain made by a girl to save her mother’s life. It’s a great story and the perfect ending to this summer-themed anthology.
The full list of stories in Once Upon a Summer is:
- ‘The I Scream Van’ by Caroline Logan
- ‘What Big Geese You Have’ by Adie Hart
- ‘The Forest at the End of the World’ by Josie Jaffrey
- ‘It Is Written’ by S. Markem
- ‘These Burning Bones’ by Laila Amado
- ‘Vespertine’ by Elanna Bellows
- ‘The Last Roses of Summer’ by Kate Longstone
- ‘Love, Pride, Virtue and Fate’ by Bharat Krishnan
- ‘Juniper and the Upside Down Well’ by Ella Holmes
- ‘Love in the Time of Volcanoes’ by Jake Curran-Pipe
- ‘Bluebeard’s Beach House’ by Jenna Smithwick
- ‘The Knucker of Lyminster’ by Katherine Shaw
- ‘Summer Dreams’ by R. A. Gerritse
- ‘The Witches of Dogtown’ by A. J. Van Belle
- ‘Contract with a Mermaid’ by M. J. Weatherall
Published by Macfarlane Lantern Publishing
Age Group: Adult
Format: Anthologies and Short Story Collections, Fiction
Genres and Categories: Dark Fantasy, Fairytales, Urban Fantasy, Deity Characters, Magic Users, Royalty Characters, Disabled and Neurodivergent Authors, LGBTQIA+ Authors, Scottish Authors, Fae/Fey, Witches, Greek, Hindu, Mythology: Mixed, OwnVoices Representation, Queer Characters, Various Magic
Series: Once Upon a Season #3
My Rating:
Published on: 28th March 2024
Pages: 300
Buy this Book! Amazon UK / Amazon US / Barnes & Noble / Blackwells / Bookshop.org US
Add to Goodreads
A hunter invades a blossoming grove and becomes obsessed with its beautiful spirit.
In a world forever waiting for spring, two women with no pasts or memories find each other.
A shapeshifting hare seeks her missing brother among the bluebells.
The god of the underworld mourns the loss of his beloved wife, the goddess of spring.
Once upon a time stories travelled from place to place on the tongues of merchants and thieves and kings alike. Winter would thaw, and down rivers of melt water and roads cleared of snow a new round of stories would pop up like flowers in every village or town or city.
In the spirit of these age-old stories comes Once Upon a Spring, a seasonal anthology of folk and fairy tales from 16 authors across the globe. It covers everything from spring curses to fledgling romances to daring adventures, and features both intriguing twists on classic tales and exciting original stories.
The third of four planned seasonal anthologies from Macfarlane Lantern Publishing, Once Upon a Spring is sure to have a story for just about everyone. Grab your copy in time for April showers today!
This book was provided for free by the Publisher and the publishers in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book!
Content Warnings:
Once Upon a Spring Review
The third season-themed anthology released by Macfarlane Lantern Publishing, Once Upon a Spring: A Folk and Fairy Tale Anthology, was another solid four-star read for me. Unlike my previous reviews, I managed to read this one at the start of the appropriate season, and my timing fit beautifully with the themes of this anthology in particular. With themes of rebirth, renewal and change, Once Upon a Spring was the perfect read for me as I said goodbye to winter and watched the world around me change into spring.
I will note that, having read the other anthologies at completely different times of the year from the season they were representing, it isn’t necessary to read them during the correct season. Sometimes it’s nice to read stories about summer during the cold heart of winter, or the cooler seasons during a blistering summer.
The anthology starts with the excellent ‘But for a Dream’ by Ella T Holmes, a bittersweet story of love, belonging and dreaming. Adie Hart continues her fabulous stories of sapphic witches in ‘Far Far Awake, ‘ a spin on Sleeping Beauty. The universe Hart has created in these stories is just begging to be made into a full series of books. I have adored reading these stories in each anthology, with their incredible world-building and amazing characters. I want and need more.
‘Season’s Keep’ by R. A. Gerritse is beautiful, and this one truly touched me as I sat reading it at the start of spring. For those who like their stories a bit darker, the gothic horror of ‘Darkness Green’ by Laila Amado will be right up your alley. I lapped this one up with delight, wishing there was more. Caroline Logan’s ‘The Circus of Forgotten Things’ is a creepy delight that will stay with you long after you’ve finished; Logan nails it with that last line.
‘Forget-Me-Not Jones’ by Jake Curran-Pipe takes a much different approach, and I’m not usually a fan of magical realism. But the themes of misogyny in science and depression that Curran-Pipe tackles in this one caught my attention, and I liked the ending. This is one of those that you need to stick with. I love clever stories, and ‘Lady of the Flame’ by A. J. Van Belle falls under that category. I was definitely kicking myself, though, for not realising things sooner. Sometimes you can’t see what is right in front of you.
In ‘Perennial’, Katherine Shaw retells the Narcissus myth, and her story is heartbreaking. It is very well written, but please check the content warnings for this one. Another cleverly written story that reimagined folklore (I can’t say what because it’s a huge spoiler!) is ‘I Like Quiet Places’ by Fiona Simpson. This one stuck with me after I finished it.
‘To Name a Rose’ by Elanna Bellows focuses on the theme of change in multiple ways in this intriguing fantasy story. It is followed by ‘It Started with Bluebells’ by M. J. Weatherall, a hauntingly dark tale of renewal that ticked all the boxes for me.
I enjoyed the variety of the stories in Once Upon a Spring and how the authors each interpreted the themes of change and renewal associated with Spring. There is something for everyone in this anthology.
The full list of stories in Once Upon a Spring: A Folk and Fairy Tale Anthology are:
- ‘But for a Dream’ by Ella T Holmes
- ‘Far Far Awake’ by Adie Hart
- ‘Season’s Keep’ by R. A. Gerritse
- ‘Darkness Green’ by Laila Amado
- ‘The Circus of Forgotten Things’ by Caroline Logan
- ‘She Vanishes’ by Josie Jaffrey
- ‘Be Careful What You Wish’ For by S. Markem
- ‘Forget-Me-Not Jones’ by Jake Curran-Pipe
- ‘Lady of the Flame’ by A. J. Van Belle
- ‘Perennial’ by Katherine Shaw
- ‘I Like Quiet Places’ by Fiona Simpson
- ‘Spring Tide’ by Kate Longstone
- ‘To Name a Rose’ by Elanna Bellows
- ‘It Started with Bluebells’ by M. J. Weatherall
- ‘Radhakrishna’ by Bharat Krishnan
- ‘The Girls of Spring’ by Jenna Smithwick
Published by Macfarlane Lantern Publishing
Age Group: Adult
Format: Anthologies and Short Story Collections, Fiction
Genres and Categories: Action, Adventure, Fairytales, Gothic Fantasy, Chronic Illness, Disabled and Neurodivergent Authors, LGBTQIA+ Authors, Scottish Authors, Diverse Representation, Magic Users, Ghosts, Sentient Plants, Trolls, Werewolves, Witches, Plant Magic, Queer Characters
Series: Once Upon a Season #4
My Rating:
Published on: 8th October 2024
Pages: 310
Disability Representation: 'A Tale Not About Frog Princes' by Ella T. Holmes contains multiple characters with chronic illnesses and chronic pain, including EDS. In 'The Demon at the Door' by Caroline Logan a character has panic attacks.
Buy this Book! Amazon UK / Amazon US / Barnes & Noble / Blackwells / Bookshop.org US / Waterstones
Add to Goodreads
An orphaned girl finds more than she bargained for when she falls into a fairy ring.
A heartbroken wizard faces up to God to bring his dog back from the dead.
A newly-graduated witch discovers horror lurking in a small town's apple orchard.
A sceptical tour guide takes an unusual job at a haunted house.
Once upon a time stories travelled from place to place on the tongues of merchants and thieves and kings alike. Pumpkins were carved, leaves turned golden, and whisperings from the darkening woods inspired tales of the strange and the dead.
In the spirit of these age-old stories comes Once Upon an Autumn, a seasonal anthology of folk and fairy tales from 14 authors across the globe. It covers the Gothic, the romantic, the whimsical, the frightening, and everything in-between.
The final of four planned seasonal anthologies from Macfarlane Lantern Publishing, Once Upon an Autumn is sure to have a story for just about everyone. Grab your copy in time for Hallowe'en today!
This book was provided for free by the Publisher and the publishers in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book!
Content Warnings:
Once Upon an Autumn Review
Once Upon an Autumn is the fourth and final (sadly) seasonal anthology in the ‘Once Upon a Season’ series. As an October baby, I was excited to read this one for Autumn, but also because every anthology has been brilliant. With some of the same authors contributing throughout the series, I grew very fond of some of their stories and writing styles. There was only one story that I didn’t click with (not a style I like), and maybe I’m a little biased; however, I thought this was the best one of the series. So many of the stories hit the spot with me and truly felt like they embodied the theme of autumn, changing seasons, and fall. I also loved how many authors managed to add spooky season elements.
Once again, highlights for me included stories by Ella T. Holmes, Caroline Logan and Adie Hart.
‘A Tale Not About Frog Princes’ by Ella T. Holmes is a story that made my jaw drop with its bold approach to topics of consent, trauma, and disability. Earlier this year, she guest-posted on my blog for repDISND, and it is wonderful to see her thoughts from that article in action. This story is a must-read!
I’m a huge fan of Caroline Logan’s work; her short stories in these anthologies have been incredible. Her story in this anthology, ‘A Demon at the Door,’ is perfect for the season, and I loved every moment of it.
In ‘Swans Upon a Time’, Adie Hart treats us to another District Witch story. As I’ve said in my previous reviews, I adore the world and characters Hart has created. Serving up a story about a witch being forced to work with the ex she has been avoiding since graduation, Hart had me cackling with laughter.
The anthology ends with the horror story, ‘The Grim Gallery’, by Jake Curran-Pipe. This is one of the darker stories in the anthology and is the perfect one to end on.
If you’re looking for a read that epitomises this time of year, then this is the read for you!
The full list of stories in Once Upon an Autumn is:
- The Network by Katherine Shaw
- God is a Heteropalidrome by S. Markem
- To Wield the Blade of Autumn Sunlight by Laila Amado
- Pay the Troll by Josie Jaffrey
- Heartless by Elanna Bellows
- A Tale Not About Frog Princes by Ella T. Holmes
- Hollywood by Fiona Simpson
- The Demon at the Door by Caroline Logan
- The Thinning of the Veil by A. J. Van Belle
- Mirror, Mirror by M. J. Weatherall
- Swans Upon a Time by Adie Hart
- Shadows of the Fall by R. A. Gerritse
Over to you
Thanks for reading my book reviews for the Once Upon a Season anthology series by Macfarlane Lantern Publishing!
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