Thank you to NetGalley and Teaspoon Publishing for my arc in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

A Spoonful of Malaysian Magic: An Anthology was such a fascinating and fun read! I've never read any Malaysian stories and this collection spoiled me! Many of the stories read like myth and folk tales and it provided so much color and texture to what little I know of Malaysia. Malaysia is a multicultural place and the anthology I think represents that really well with Malay, Chinese, Indian, and indigenous peoples' cultures in the selected stories. If you're unfamiliar, I think this does a great job of providing some cultural background to Malaysia.

All of the stories were gorgeously written with detail and clearly a lot of love. I don't necessarily have a favorite or even a story that I didn't like, but the first story was a bit heavy as an opener for me so I deducted a star. BUT overall, the collection's stories were each engaging, interesting, and fun to read. I honestly think this may be the first instance in which a collection did not have a droop of a story. Each story hit well and other than the opening story, I thought the story organization did a great job.

An enjoyable collection of Malaysian short stories, some set in the ancient past -- reminiscent of mythological tales -- and others set in the present. As a whole, they offer a glimpse into the diversity and cultural breadth and wealth of Malaysia; each tale giving the reader a view into Malay, Chinese, Indian, and indigenous society, past or present.

The contributors, likewise, are drawn from Malaysia's multiethnic community; this is truly an anthology representative of the Malaysian landscape. I especially liked this anthology is a work offered by a Malaysian press; this is truly a work of OwnVoices, written for a wide audience of Malaysians as well as non-Malaysians.

While I have my favorites among these tales, all were engaging. On the whole these stories are well-crafted, the prose smooth and evocative. Most of the stories include Malaysian "jargon": Manglish in some cases, Malay and Muslim sayings in others, or modern urban colloquialisms. Readers unfamiliar with Malaysian culture will be able to discern meanings from the text; though a familiarity with Malaysian culture will deliver a greater impact.

I really love short story collections and was very excited for one from a culture I don't know a lot of so I can get a starting point for learning more.

This anthology has a wide variety of styles and fantastical aspects. As in all anthologies I wasn't convinced by every story because sometimes the writing style isn't for me or I don't like the execution of an idea. Especially the latter was significant for some stories where the depiction of women wasn't very … progressive (I think the second story was the one I liked the least).

But then there are such gems in this anthology and I couldn't hide a smile as I realised that especially the shorter ones where hitting the right narration style for me. I really like those "dipping" into sceneries that aren't to long winded and I have the feeling that those stories often have the best writing style.

I definitely want to explore more of malaysian literature, especially when there is magic!

I am going to keep this review short and sweet. I am Malay American, and have been craving Malaysian-inspired or -related fantasy works in English for years. There is plenty of historical fiction based in Malaysia, and I will readily read all that, but I so adore and appreciate the intent of the editors of this anthology to create fantastical Malaysian stories that aren’t just written off as “supernatural.” Each of these stories brings something new and beautiful to the canon of growing Asian-inspired fantasy. I couldn’t pick a favorite, and I will refuse to try to, so that you can hopefully read through each of these and enjoy them for yourselves. PLEASE pick up this book if it comes across your desk or shelves! 5 eager and giddy ⭐️s

This is an anthology of short stories that gives a different take on Malaysian folklore and fairy tales, with added spice and flair.

Oh, this was an absolute delight to read! Not your typical collection of Malaysian folklore and fairy tales, this book features stories that aren't conventional, and may introduce you to new lores that you may have never heard before, yet still maintains relatability. There is an eclectic mix of culture, fantasy and myth in this collection; a little something for everyone. I found myself constantly intrigued and excited as the read goes on, feeding my love for folklore and mythology. It's a great collection to add to the existing variety of Malaysian stories.

I loved this. When I had the chance I curled up with a cup of tea and read through this whole book in one sitting. It was so interesting to see the different writing styles from multiple authors in one book. It was a first for me and I enjoyed it thoroughly. I don't usually branch out into reading about folklore from other countries, but this book has definitely made me more interested in expanding my reading lists.

When A Spoonful of Malaysian Magic popped up on Netgalley, I (someone whose parents came to the US in the 80s from the Malaysian state of Sarawak, where they were born) pretty much screamed in delight. Not only is it a book about Malaysian people and magic, it's a short story collection, so it's right up my alley. Malaysian Magic is a delightful collection of stories by both published and amateur Malaysian authors, some set in more modern realistic settings, some in older Malaysian settings. It's not perfect - some Malaysian terms are never defined, which can lead to confusion, and I disagree with the order the stories are presented in (the first story is the weakest in my opinon and should have been shuffled down the order), but nevertheless, reading this anthology soothed my soul the way laksa warms the body on a cold American day.

This book was a truly special thing. Each story had a unique plot. I’ve never quite read anything like it. My favorite was “Remembering How To Cook” by Sharmilla Ganesan. If you have no other reason to buy this book, let it be to read that short story specifically. I am young, but the idea of aging has always been seen as a bad thing, something to fear. I’ve heard my entire life that women lose value as they age, so the idea of someone coming into full power at the age of 40 was extremely soothing. 10/10.

It was very interesting to dig into Malaysian fantasy and see both its folktale roots and where it is headed today. That said, as with most anthologies, the contents of this one are mixed. Some of the stories are of the highest quality. Others I could barely get though. My advice, if you are in 5 pages and it's not working, skip to the next story. Overall the stories that focused on the more modern ideas were the strongest. This book would be a must if I were learning about Malaysia.

There were a few good stories in this and a few that were not great. Some of them felt a little disconnected and boring or like they were part of a bigger story and the reader wasn't given enough information to understand what was going on fully. Despite being a Malaysian story anthology, a few were clearly based off other cultures.

Each story gets one illustration. I read an advanced copy so I'm unsure if the art was final, but if it was, it's cute but lacking detail.

CW: blood, cannibalism, death, death of a loved one, cancer, body horror, racism, fire, death of parents

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

This was an interesting anthology from a country we don’t often hear from in terms of literature. I was particularly interested in this book because I’m half Indonesian and am always partial to read more stories set in Southeast Asia. As is often the case with anthologies, we connect to some stories more than others. But I thought it was an entertaining read, and a good introduction to Malaysian mythology and folklore - although I’m not sure if someone who’s not familiar with the region might need more context regarding certain terms and language. My favorite stories were The Fiery Tale of Embun and the Prince and the first one about the shapeshifter. I felt that they could be turned into full-length fantasy novels and find a devoted readership!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!! (3.75 stars rounded up to 4)

*2.5 stars

Thank you Netgalley and Teaspoon publishing for the ARC!

All in all, this collection was unfortunately a little disappointing. A lot of the stories fell flat for me and I actually ended up skipping some of them. The writing felt a bit clunky and at times even immature. I found myself mostly really liking the idea of some stories (for instance 'moonlight city of the hidden ones' by joni chung) but not loving the execution of that idea (this story felt like a lot of 'telling' and not a lot of 'showing', which was something that i noticed in other stories too).

I did however love learning about Malaysian mythology. Two stories I did like a lot: Kampar and the Kings of Kedah (Joshua Lim) & Visitor in the night (Zufar Zaid).

I picked this book thanks to both the cover and the title. The cover was pretty and the title hinted at some Malaysian myths. I figured this would be a good opportunity to learn more about the legends of the world, or read something a little different. Besides, magic was a keyword. However, the writing turned out rather disappointing. There are indeed multiple writers behind the covers, all with different, yet similar writing styles, but the sentence structure with some of them is difficult to follow, the stories have little substance or are superficial, little about the characters or the setting is explored.

I honestly ended up reading several pages twice, thrice, four times because I was constantly forgetting who said what or what happened, who was who. The first story with the buroung was the most difficult of the bunch so far. And spoiler alert, I haven’t even finished the book yet. I’m almost halfway through, but since it will take ages before I finish it, I figured this would be a good time to leave a review behind.

It’s sad though; with a couple more revisions, I think there was some potential brewing. But who knows, maybe this book makes more sense to the locals.

In any case, thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy in exchange for a honest review.

A Spoonful of Malaysian Magic, edited by Anna Tan, is a delightful anthology of short stories by Malaysian authors and featuring the legends and tales of Malaysia as elements of those stories. A handful of the stories are also themed around cooking and food, and others around family, though not all share these themes.

The stories in this anthology were wonderful, but a few stood out especially for me. “Visitor in the Night” by Zufar Zeid includes a forgotten goddess and the gorgeous stories she recounts. Rowan C’s “Taxation” depicts a fantasy-style society in which monthly taxes to the central government are a significant plot point, while also showing a family unit comprising four adults in two couples and the children of one couple (which I really love as a version of a family not seen as much in Western fiction). Sharmila Ganesan’s “Remembering How to Cook” is a beautiful tale of magical food and memory and family. “Up in Flames” by Stuart Danker is a cute twist on dreams and prophecy as they intersect in a young person who wants to be a wizard no matter what. Finally, “The Fiery Tale of Embun and the Prince” by Julia Alba, about an orphan girl and the prince who saved her, combines beautiful prose and a powerful message about expectations and normalcy.

Though I haven’t mentioned all of the stories in this anthology, every one of them is equal parts exciting and moving. If you’re wanting to expand your reading horizons into a culture you may know little about, A Spoonful of Malaysian Magic is a fantastic starting point!

The publisher provided me with an advance copy of this anthology for review consideration.

I truly enjoyed this little book of small tales. It was stepping into a whole new world of different adventures, lore and myth. Some stories were easy to gobble up and fall in love with; others were harder to get through. Two of my favorites were about the food magic and the last one about a dragon and a huntress. There is no spice, just light romance. I would recommend this book to those looking for fantasy outside of the usual tropes and flair of what’s out there right now.

Thank you Netgalley and Teaspoon Publishing for this wonderful read.

This collection of short stories is lovely and very interesting. I must admit that it felt more like a fairytales anthology rather than fantasy, but it wasn't a problem for me. I was even surprised by some of them, as their themes were very similar to european ones. I am sure it's a lovely read for kids, but check first, because some stories may be a bit scary !

I loved reading this. I found it really powerful and enjoyed learning more about Malaysian cultures and beliefs through these short stories about magic. I recommend picking up this book.

This anthology of Malaysian folklore and fairy tales offers fresh perspectives, enchanting ordinary moments, and bursts with new flavors. A Spoonful of Malaysian Magic serves as an introduction to Malaysian fiction inspired by multicultural folklore and history. It includes a range of stories, from traditional Malay folklore to dystopian Chinese wuxia dramas and Indian magic realism. There are also surprising inclusions of Japanese and Western-influenced tales, reflecting Malaysia's history of foreign occupation. Overall, it is a nice starter pack that showcases the richness of Malaysia. My favorite stories include Visitor in the Night, Moonlight City of the Hidden Ones, Remembering How to Cook, The Rivers and Lakes, and The Fiery Tale of Embun and The Prince.

This anthology is a lovely showcase to the SFF reading crowd of the rich and non-homogenous flavours of Malaysian mythology: it definitely gets the point across that this diversity of voices is Malaysia’s strength. My introduction to Malaysian myths and folklore was Zen Cho, but I was happy to read and learn more since then, I feel this book would be good both as a primer for newcomers to this flavour of SFF and those with an established interest in it already. I personally can’t wait to add this book to my collection once it comes out.

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the arc.

Overall, this anthology was really beautiful. Readers should know that there are some stories here that are more accessible to a general audience than others, but that's not necessarily a bad thing - it's important for authors to write authentically. Like all anthologies, there were some truly wonderful stories and some I wasn't as enthusiastic about. The ones I loved most were Kampar and the Kings of Kedah by Joshua Lim, The Rivers and Lakes by Collin Yeoh, The Fiery Tale of Embun and the Prince by Julia Alba, and The Dahlia of Hutan Kilat by Hamizah Adzmi. They all had incredibly cool world building and a sense that while they could be longer, they were finished pieces. My favorite was The Fiery Tale of Embun and the Prince by Julia Alba - I thought it was such a cool imaginative story and I'm absolutely going to read more of her work. The largest critique I had of many of the other stories were that they felt like the first chapter of a longer novel - they didn't feel complete or satisfying. That didn't mean they were bad - they just weren't my favorites. Overall, I'm really happy I read this book. It exposed me to a culture I'm not very familiar with and stories that will live in my head for a long time. I can't wait to explore some of these authors in the future.