A collection of short stories that uses magical realism and urban fantasy to celebrate queerness in its many forms. Love to see it. I wish that the magical/realism balance had fallen on the magical side a little harder, but that's largely a personal preference.

I don't know if these stories are bad, but they are very, very boring. Budenz uses the magical to talk about, or around, the mundane, and in the process takes the magic out of the magic. I think this collection might appeal more to readers who are looking for stories about Being Queer In Real Life, because the stories I read (not all of them, this was a DNF) seem to be a lot more about that, about the reality of being queer in the real world, without the fetishization or the glossy shine often applied by wannabe-allies. The magic is kind of window dressing - it's not the point. And I read fantasy for the magic, so this just doesn't work for me.

This was such a good read to fly by my day! Thoughtful, whimsical, and fantastically vibrant, I’m sort of sad there isn’t more! There is a level of absurdity to these tales – entwining realism and notes of the surreal – that, I feel, conveyed a new, fresh take on the queer experience. There are some fabulous insights in Tea Leaves about queer identity and sexuality.

Thank you to Netgalley and Amble Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Tea Leaves, a collection of enchanting short stories, resonates with reflections on the queer experience, intertwined within a magical backdrop.

The anthology's dedication immediately caught my interest. Such dedication speaks volumes of an author's intent to delve deep into multifaceted themes of identity and sexuality.

“For all the queers and mystics and fairies and witches who only ever wanted to be seen.“

While Tea Leaves offers a thought-provoking perspective on the complexities of queer life, showcasing timeless fables against our present-day realities, I craved for more boldness —both in the portrayal of the queer narrative and the infusion of magic within. The prose, felt soft and I cant help but feeling this was a missed opportunity. to really enchant and enamour the audience.

A collection of sometimes fantastical, sometimes terrifying, and always queer short stories. From orgy-having fairies to werewolves and crocodile aliens posing as humans, you get a bit of everything in this collection.

Every single story was unique, some weird, some lovely, but I enjoyed every single one of them. The writing was very pleasant, the characters interesting and the stories captivating, even though some of them were very short. I found myself wishing that there was more - whole novels - of certain stories more than once.

A good read for everyone queer and fascinated with fantasy and the occult.

VVitches are gae - peace out

While I was intrigued by the description the book was quite heavy on the romance side of things (for me who doesn't like romance), I was hoping for something that leant a little more on the fantasy/sci-fi. With that being said, I can see how others would enjoy it, and I did enjoy more of the stories as the book went along, just as a whole it didn't really do it for me unfortunately! The writing style was also a bit more conversational or colloquial in parts than I typically prefer. 2.75/5

I received a free copy of Tea Leaves from Netgalley and Amble Press in exchange for an honest review.
Tea Leaves is a collection of speculative queer short stories. Many of the stories are surreal, insane experiences that are made that much more complex by adding in the queer experience.
The witchy, magical quality to this collection is my favourite part. It’s a seamless merging of reality with magic—or something like magic. In one, a man is trapped in the bathroom of a café by a octopus with the consciousness of a cosmic horror. In another, fairies are now visible to a man who wants nothing more than to understand why. I highly recommend this collection. The glorious queer magic is undeniably fun.

i finished it a couple of days ago and i’ve already forgotten what some of the stories were about. that’s all i can say, really.

Tea Leaves
By: Jacob Budenz

4 Stars

As a collection of short stories, this was a good collection. Each story was written well and were very descriptive. The magic of each story was so well described that I found myself getting lost in certain stories. The visuals described within the lines of each were so well written that it made each individual and unique in its own right. These were the ones that really grabbed me.

The only negative I found was that some of the stories seemed to get lost along the storyline. It would have a good concept, but the execution just wasn't there.

As a whole, I enjoyed this book. The writing alone would make me come back again.

*I want to thank Netgalley and the Author for this book in return for my honest review*

Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Reviews

Tea Leaves presents 17 speculative short stories that place queer characters in larger-than-life situations to emphasize the surreal experience of marginalization.

Great concepts and great stories. The writing was a little mid, however.

[Thanks to NetGalley & the author for providing me with this ARC]

This book is so dear to my heart. A gorgeous collection of magical short stories.
These stories allow a powerful statement about the othering of queer people by presenting struggles of the queer experience in a magical setting in an otherworldly setting.
It showed the absurdity of the hatred as well as the resulting hurt and alienation.

With every short story, the author takes the reader on a new journey. The rich and beautiful settings were described with much attention to detail which allowed me to completely sink into the story.

Disclaimer: The ARC was provided to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The ARC category in no way impacts the rating of the book. All of my reviews contain my honest opinions.

I love the idea of short story collections, especially on topics or by authors that really draw in my interest. Unfortunately, I find that I like many of the stories, but others in the collection are lost on me and interfere with my experience. This is not the case.

Tea Leaves drew my attention with its interweaving of fantastical elements and LGBT+ subjects (and I loved this mix by Ryka Aoki's Light from Uncommon Stars). Sign me up! Jacob Budenz's beautiful voice introduces you to queer fables of varying complexity and realism. This was a very beautiful and often heavy collection of stories on the queer experience.

I've never said I've enjoyed every story from a short stories collection before reading Tea Leaves. I liked em all. But I LOVED "Seen" and "And Then Again to the Next". I could not recommend those stories more.

Jacob Budenz, I cannot wait to read more of what you create

This was such a curious collection of stories!

To begin with, I was not particularly convinced. Some of the language was coarser than I prefer to read, and I felt like I wasn't being hooked on dramatic plot points because of the short-story structure. However, as the book progressed, I began to see each story as more of a short social commentary or observation on modern-day queer culture. At times, I felt the bizarreness or weirdness of the stories had a Neil Gaiman aspect to them, with the blunt writing and the weaving in of the fantastical.
This was an interesting read, and something I would recommend to those who prefer their flash fiction a little more off-putting

"Tea Leaves" by Jacob Budenz is a remarkable collection of speculative short stories that promises to be a thought-provoking and unique exploration of the queer experience in a fantastical context.

The book's strength lies in its ability to transcend traditional storytelling and venture into the realm of the surreal and the otherworldly. By placing queer characters in larger-than-life situations, Budenz offers readers an opportunity to view marginalization from a fresh perspective. These stories appear to challenge societal norms and expectations, shedding light on the surreal obstacles faced by marginalized communities, particularly the LGBTQ+ community.

The inclusion of a diverse range of speculative scenarios, from queer romances spanning multiple incarnations to encounters with otherworldly beings, adds depth and complexity to the storytelling. It seems that each story within "Tea Leaves" serves as a powerful allegory, using elements of fantasy and myth to highlight the urgent and contemporary issues faced by queer individuals.

Furthermore, the blend of exaltation and satire in the narratives suggests that the book does not shy away from humor and wit. This balance between seriousness and levity could make for a captivating reading experience that engages both the intellect and the emotions.

Overall, "Tea Leaves" appears to be a thought-provoking and daring collection of stories that offers a unique perspective on the queer experience. It's likely to resonate with readers who appreciate speculative fiction, social commentary, and tales that challenge the status quo. Jacob Budenz's work seems poised to make a significant contribution to the exploration of queer identity and the surreal aspects of marginalization.

The danger of short stories is the way they draw you in, and leave you wanting more! I really enjoyed the vast majority of these stories, but wanted so much more from the universes and the characters. There was some exceptional world building and really creative use of magic and fantasy tropes, and I would really love to see some of these expanded.

I really wanted to like this collection. The stories had interesting concepts, but the execution didn't always work for me. I liked the way identity and sexuality was unpacked in each story, but (and this is a strange thing for me, personally, to say) I mostly think I would have liked them better without the magical elements. Or with the magical elements amped up enough that I wasn't left going, "Okay, but *why?*"

That said, I appreciated what Budenz had to say about the messiness of being queer, the disconnect between fables and real life, the way magical and surreal elements intermingle with the mundane. Based on the description, I was expecting this book to be... louder? When, in fact, it's fairly quiet, with steady prose that never fully hooked me.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book as an ARC. There are some beautiful insights here about queer community and identity, and I hope that this book finds its way into the right hands.

Loved the idea of collection, but unfortunately the authors writing style made it very difficult for me to get through. Not to say the stories are bad, just that they aren't for me.

I tried very hard to get into the short stories and had to force myself to finish 'Tea Leaves'. I found the writing style could have been more captivating. The first story comes across as a stream of thoughts that might have benefited from some additional editing. I really wanted to like it more, being a queer person myself and a big fan of all things magical.

Tea Leaves is presented in short stories that really jump from the pages. They are different with a hint of magic and lore. Want something to add to your shelves for a quick read, but also that sets the tone for spooky and cozy? This book is for you.

I honestly enjoyed this. I had to stop and think in between stories because they were simultaneously magically fascinating but also kind of heavy. A very interesting take on the queer experiences!