A collection of weird and creative short stories. I adore Naomi Novik and loved getting a story from the Scholomance world tucked in this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced release copy in exchange for an honest review.

I did end up finishing the whole thing. Sigh. This was a collection that never really sang.

I only really liked two of the short stories, and one was surrounding her longer novel, Spinning Silver, and the other was her take on Ariadne. I have found Novik to be hit or miss with me. Full RTC.

Full review:

You all know how I do collections at this point, I rate each story, and then you can see the overall rating above. I unfortunately did not like many of the stories. I just felt bored and wish that Novik had done more with the fantasy elements like she did in "Uprooted" and "Spinning Silver." But most of the stories were either off or seemed to have some point I was totally missing.

"Armanita, or The Wreck of the Amphidrake" (1 star)-I had such high hopes, but this story about a young nobleman sent off from her family because she keeps getting into trouble was so boring. It took me almost a month to get through this story.

"After Hours" (1 star)-This apparently features characters from her other work, "Scholomance trilogy" and because of that, I had no idea who anyone was and was bored throughout. And honestly that is my number one complaint, if I have to read your other books to get your short stories, hard pass. Do readers like it when characters though are familiar with pop up in other books, yes. Do you still need to make sure a cold reader gets there, also yes.

"Vici" (1 star)-Same issue here, this short story is based on the Temeraire universe. It takes place in Romance times. Yes, at this point was when this almost became a DNF for me.

"Buried Deep" (4 stars)-This short story follows Ariadne, for those who devour Greek mythology like I do, this was a great retelling I thought. The only reason why I didn't give it 5 stars is that the story after a while stalled a bit I thought.

"Spinning Silver" (5 stars)-Honestly think of this as an alternate take on her longer novel, "Spinning Silver" I loved this story and thought her following a moneylender's daughter, who has to grow cold inside to take care of her mother and father was great.

"Commonplaces" (3.5 stars)-A retelling of the character of Irene Adler from the Sherlock Holmes series. I don't know, this was good, but it didn't really fit the whole fantasy theme that Novik had going for her.

"Seven" (2 stars)-A city called Seven and the people who live there. I honestly can't even recall this story and I just went back to refresh my memory and kind of shrugged about it. Once again though, there's fantasy elements here so it's odd we had "Commonplaces" before that.

"Blessings" (2 stars)-A bunch of fairies cause a whole mess due to them drinking during a baby's blessing. I don't know if Novik was going for comedy or something more serious. The ending was so abrupt I thought I was missing something.

"Lord Dunsany's Teapot" (1 star)-Bored throughout.

"Seven Years from Home" (1 star)-Honestly this was just not good. I don't even know what else to say really. Reading about the "adjustments" and everything else just made my eyes glaze over.

"Dragons and Decorum" (1 star)-Just think Pride and Prejudice with dragons. And look, at this point, I was just fed up with this collection and was determined to get through it, but once again, I wonder what the heck "Commonplaces" was doing in a fantasy collection and just tossed my hands up. Also, look, this story did nothing for me. I just sighed and went okay, thanks again for not setting much of anything up. I think that's my number one criticism. Novik did a good job with just two stories in this collection, but I think I only liked them because I was familiar with both so didn't need the set up. But other readers who don't know Greek mythology or have not read her other works are going to be completely lost. And yes, I read Pride and Prejudice (loved it) and felt 100 percent annoyed through this whole thing.

"Castle Coeurlieu"-No stars because I skipped this.

"The Long Way Round" (2 stars)-Honestly, this is just a set up (maybe) of something that Novik is working on. I did not like it. So there you go.

Buried Deep and Other Stories is a collection of 13 short stories that are all vastly different but somehow form a cohesive, entertaining book. I hadn’t read any of Novik’s other novels which made me nervous going into this since some of the stories are set in worlds from her other books. I’m happy to report I was able to enjoy this book despite that fact. Although the stories are short, they are flushed out enough to make me invested in the characters without making me yearn for more when they were over, though it did make even more interested then I previously was in Novik’s other works. The stories ranged from 3-5 stars for me with most hitting that upper range. Overall, I enjoyed this collection of stories and recommend to any fantasy reader!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for a copy of this ARC in exchange for a honest review 😊. It was a fun ride!

This was an enjoyable collection of short stories; most had previously been published, but they were all new to me. Each also had its own narrator, which was great.
With a collection like this, some are going to hit harder than others. I’m going to call out my favs below:

Vici: I would happily read a full book or even a series about Marc Antony and his dragon. Absolutely loved this, and Simon Vance is amazing as always.

Buried Deep: This was a haunting Ariadne-Minotaur tale and Ell Potter knocked the narration out of the park.

Commonplaces: Irene Adler as we’ve never seen her. Short and utterly captivating.

Dragons and Decorum: Lizzie Bennett as a captain in the aerial corps? YES PLEASE! I loved this take on Pride and Prejudice

The Long Way Round: This makes me very excited for Novik’s next book!

The Spinning Silver story was 95% retread with a new ending.
Seven seemed a waste of Steve West’s talents.
I did enjoy the Scholomance story, but sorry, Uprooted fans, there’s nothing set in the world for you.

Many thanks to NetGalley and PRHAudio for the preview. All opinions are my own.

Buried Deep and Other Stories is a collection of short stories from the worlds of Naomi Novik and I was so excited to get this on NetGalley because I had to have a peek back into the world of The Scholomance! I read that trilogy last year and really loved it, so to see one of those characters again warmed my heart.

There were two Temeraire stories that got me super interested in reading more of that alternate history series, especially the Pride and Prejudice (and dragons!) retelling! There was a Spinning Silver story, and of course I will now have to read that book because that was everything I want in a fairy story! The titular story, Buried Deep, was a Minotaur retelling, and while I don’t really enjoy Greek mythology as much as I used to, I did like the unique spin this one had.

All of these stories had completely different feels; one is a sci-fi about the evils of space colonization, while another takes place in the trenches of Great War France. Some feel like traditional short stories, while others feel like completely realized dramas.

The last story, The Long Way Round, is a sneak peek at the world in which Novik’s next book takes place and that one was one of my favorites—if you like grand adventures across oceans, the love between siblings, and queer representation, I’m certain you’ll love that story too!

Overall, this entire collection of 13 stories is five stars for me!

This is a solid set of short stories, some connected to her other novels and others standalone. The world building, characterizations and plots are intricate yet accessible and you don't need to have read all her works to appreciate them. If anything, these short stories are a great introduction since several of them are connected to or even are the foundations to what would become full length novels.

Those curious about the ties to other books will note that there is a story set in the future of the Scholomance in which Orion is still watching over the students (though he is not the main character). There is a story that was expanded to become the full length novel Spinning Silver. There's even a story referencing Uprooted and a prequel of sorts to Temeraire. But in addition there is a fantastical retelling of Pride and Prejudice but with dragons, a story inspired by Lawrence of Arabia, a nod to Sherlock Holmes, and a WW1 trenches story built around a kettle found in a famous person's house that author Novik took on as a dare to write a story around. There's even a swashbuckling female pirate tale in there.

In all, the collection is fun, engrossing, and very immersive. I don't typically like short stories but found I was eagerly looking forward to each new story as I progressed in the book. Highly recommended. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

I adore Naomi Novik and she is one of my automatic authors I will immediately ready what she puts out. So it was such a joy to delve back into some of her past works as well as some new ones in this collection. Uprooted is my favorite standalone book of all time so I was initially excited to hear about this book when it was first announced, though was disappointed there didn't end up being much reference to it. That doesn't take away though from how lush and brilliant these included stories are and I was able to still greatly enjoy them, my favorite being the very first story, "Araminta, or, The Wreck of the Amphidrake," a regency era short story about a woman who finds her own calling on the sea.

If you like Naomi Novik's books and want some more content or even just like adventure stories and mythology, please read this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing a free arc of this book in exchange for an honest review

DNF@ 32%

I read the first four stories before deciding that this collection isn't for me. I don't care for the author's writing style overall and I don't like that you have to have read all of her work to fully appreciate this collection.

Excellent collection of short stories from Naomi Novik. This was a beautifully written collection with a wide variety in the types of stories included. Most of the stories have been previously published elsewhere, but there is a story which is a sneak peek at the new project Novik is working on--which, after reading the story, I can't wait to read the full length version. Some of the stories are set in the worlds of previous books (Scholomance, Temeraire, and Spinning Silver) but I don't think knowledge of those works is necessary to enjoy the stories here. Each of the stories also includes an brief author's note introducing it, which I appreciated for the insight and context provided for each story.

Fans of her previous works won't want to miss this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Came for the Scholomance, stayed for the other great stories ;)

When I heard about this upcoming collection, I immediately noticed it included a new story in the world of Scholomance. A Deadly Education and the others in the series ranks up there in my top disturbing world building series of all time, so I couldn't wait to read the short story associated with it. Other reviewers have mentioned that most of these stories were already released in other collections, but I hadn't personally read any of them, so it was a fun read for me.

I typically don't like short stories as I get invested right before they end and then abruptly have to start over with the next story, but the author is masterful at world building and I quickly got over those feelings with each story I read. There were a few misses for me but most were strong hits:

- Obviously loved the Scholomance story. It takes place after the events of the trilogy and with a new set of characters, though we get a short glimpse of one of the MCs. It's short but I still loved it, as it does give a small epilogue into how the school and the magic system work now. It also made me realize how badly I miss that trilogy, and I sincerely hope the author will write more stories about it in the future. Truly was one of the more unique world building experiences I've read in awhile.

- I loved Spinning Silver but don't remember much about it years later, so I enjoyed reading the short story that led to its creation. I loved it so much I'll likely re-read the full version soon.

- I haven't read any of Novik's Temeraire series but liked these related short stories more than I expected, so I'll likely check out that series as well.

- Buried Deep (a take on the minotaur) was especially haunting, also loved Lady Araminta

Others didn't land with me as well, but they still were just as beautifully written as always for Novik. Specifically any of the stories that weren't as classically fantasy weren't my cup of tea, such as the Sherlock and Holmes-related story, the story based on Pride and Prejudice (which I haven't read), the teapot story, and the last story in the collection, The Long Way Round, which I found hard to get invested into.

Still, a great collection, especially if you are like me and hadn't read any of the stories already. I still would have purchased it for the Scholomance revisiting, though :)

I was lucky enough to receive this as an ARC from Netgalley- and it's my very first time reading an ARC! I was beyond thrilled to get the opportunity to read a book from one of my favorite authors early, and it didn't disappoint.

Noami Novik has such a specific and finely-tuned writing style, and I think this collection of 13 short stories is a wonderful introduction for anyone who hasn't read her before. Most of the stories included have been previously published in other anthologies, but I am so glad she was able to bring them all together in this collection.

There is something here for just about everyone (assuming of course you enjoy fantasy in general). There is commentary on gender, retellings of classic folklore and fairytales, Regency era (but with dragons!), drunken fairies, pirates, and even one sci-fi tale included in the mix that reminded me quite a bit of The Left Hand of Darkness by LeGuin in the best way.

I was particularly blown away by the final story in the collection, The Long Way Round, which focuses on a brother-sister duo who attempt to figure out a way to sail to a never-before-visited continent. It is the longest story in the collection, and it managed to build such a rich and intriguing picture of the world these characters are inhabiting. I could read an entire novel based on that story!

I have read nearly every book Noami Novik has published and I can't thank her, NetGalley, and the publisher enough for allowing me the opportunity to read this book early. I eagerly await her next release!

I've always known Novik was a talented writer & creative, but this collection is the first to honor her broad range of genre experience. From a Temaire universe Pride & Prejudice retelling, to a sinister medieval fable, to a fantastical nautical travelogue, Novik's short stories allow her to exhibit originality and accentuate her skill at transforming prose to fit content. Each story has something to offer, but I especially enjoyed 1) "Araminta", the story of a gender-swapping pirate dodging an arrange marriage; 2) "Buried Deep", a truly excellent retelling of Ariadne & the Minotaur that has me jonesing for a full-length foray by Novik into mythology retellings; and 3) "Castle Coerlieu" aforementioned menacing medieval alt-history about a reality-bending tower. It was heartening to read her original short story version of "Spinning Silver", not only to see the bones of what would become a highly successful novel, but also because it gave me hope for one or more of these installments spinning out into a more ambitious narrative .

I very much enjoyed these stories. I really liked going back to both Scholomance and Temerare's world, although I definitely recommend having read the original books first. Especially Scholomance, as one of the highlights of the story was the contrast in how the world is now. I didn't find the early version of Spinning Silver as enjoyable as the others. The story was less complex, the characters less developed, the lore less vibrant. It was interesting to see the bones that the full book developed from, though.

The stand-alone stories were a delightful variety, hitting a wide range of genres and vibes. Some were on the sillier side (Araminta), some extremely poignant and (Buried Deep, Lord Dunsany's Teapot). Some were about people seeking out spectacular adventures, and some about people just trying to live their lives. The stories are mostly fantasy, but a few feel more sci-fi. The worlds are rich and interesting, and the thread of family (found and by blood) runs through them all.

As a fan of Naomi Novik I was very excited to read this collection of short stories, and it did not disappoint! Novik writes engaging fantasy novels and I enjoyed getting to dip back into some of her worlds through the short story collection, as well as be introduced into an upcoming new world. This book is great for long-time readers to get to experience some beloved worlds again, as well as new readers to get a taste of Novik's brilliant writing!

I really enjoyed this book. I love Naomi Novik's writing in general, and getting to enjoy her perspective through short stories was a welcome change of pace. I love that many of the stories take place in fantasy worlds, some of them new and some very familiar. I especially loved After Hours, Seven, and Spinning Silver.

First line: My house growing up was full of words; my mother read widely.

Summary: In this collection of thirteen stories, acclaimed fantasy author Naomi Novik, brings in several of her previously published short stories as well as two new ones. These stories range from historical to science fiction with appearances by Elizabeth Bennett and dragons. As well as revisiting some of her past works she introduces us to the new world which will be the setting of her upcoming fantasy novel.

My Thoughts: I really enjoy the work of Naomi Novik. She writes some outstanding fantasy novels with beautiful world building. My first look was in Uprooted and most recently with the Scholomance trilogy.

There were several stories in here which I really enjoyed and some that I skipped. I loved revisiting the world of the Scholomance after the events of the trilogy to see what life was like for the new students. I haven’t read her dragon series but I will definitely add it to my list after reading the dragon stories in this collection. I really enjoyed the short story that inspired her book, Spinning Silver. I think it was better as a short story than a full length novel. The one I skipped early on had a strong science fiction theme to it which did not hold my attention but there are many more stories to choose from making it easy to pass on the one.

This would be a good introduction to anyone who hasn’t read Novik’s work yet or someone who wants to expand on her work as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine for the ARC. It was a joy to read!

I’ve been a huge fan of Naomi Novik since her Uprooted days (though, I’ve admittedly been dragging my feet on on the last book in the Scholomance series because I’m not ready for it to be over yet). When I learned she was coming out with a book of short stories, I knew I couldn’t wait to pick it up. I was even more ecstatic when I learned the publisher granted my request for an ARC.

This book is comprised of thirteen short stories. Some of these tales will be familiar to Novik fans, though you need not have read any of her previous books to enjoy these stories. There’s a little bit of everything that will appeal to many types of readers: from Sherlock Holmes to Pride and Prejudice re-imaginings to worlds completely new. Each story is preceded by a little forward from Novik giving a bit of a backstory to the inspiration for each story (though Novik herself requests those forwards be taken with a grain of salt).

So…how to rate an anthology? Since this is the first time I’m rating a series of short stories, my plan is to rate each of the stories individually and then average the scores at the end.

Aramintha, or, The Wreck of the Amphidrake- What a great way to kick off an anthology. I loved this one! It’s a sort of swashbuckling pirate story - empowering with a dash of magic. Really loved the main character and the interesting use of magic. 5/5
After Hours - This book takes place in the aftermath of the Scholomance series and is vaguely spoiler-y. I’m a huge fan of the series (though I haven’t finished the last book yet) and enjoyed the familiar setting. 5/5
Vici - This was a funny, wry take on the origins of dragon taming. Set in Roman Times, the main character was unlikeable in a good way (think Kuzco in The Emperor’s New Groove). 4/5
Buried Deep - A mythology retelling. I admit, after reading Circe a couple years ago, I was a bit mythologied-out but I enjoyed this fresh take on Ariadne’s story. Unfortunately it didn’t really draw me in like the other stories did. 3/5
Spinning Silver - If you’re familiar with Novik’s novel version, you’ll already know this is a reimagining of the tale of Rumpelstiltskin. This book is a shorter, alternate ending of Novik’s retelling (one that felt more true to the main character, in my opinion). 5/5
Commonplace - I struggled with this one. Not because it was poorly written but because I’m not at all familiar with Sherlock Holmes. I think if I’d been more familiar with the characters, I would have gotten more out of this story. 2/5
Seven - This story had such interesting world-building. I wish there was more of it because I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this world. The characters were less memorable but still enjoyable. I’d read a novel-length version of this. 4/5
Blessings - I really enjoyed how funny and charming this story was! It’s a fun and unusual take on drunk fairy godmothers bestowing gifts (perhaps accidentally) on a child and the aftermath. 5/5
Lord Dunsany’s Teapot - I admit, I skim read this one. It’s got a war-field setting which is not really my cup of tea (pun intended) and I didn’t feel very invested in the story or characters. Again, this is more due to my personal tastes than a reflection on Novik’s story-telling abilities. 1/5
Seven Years from Home - This one was really heavy. More sci-fi than fantasy, it covers hard topics like colonialism and politics in a sort of space opera setting. Reminded me a little of The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. 3.5/5
Dragons and Decorum - Hear me out: an abridged retelling of Pride and Prejudice…with dragons. Oh my goodness this was so much fun! 5/5
Castle Coeurlieu - I love fantasy stories that come with their own lore. This book reminded me, mildly, of a darker version of The Secret Garden. 4/5
The Long Way Round - I was excited to learn that this story is a rough-draft preview of Novik’s upcoming novel (tentatively entitled Folly). It was longer than the rest, following two characters in the trading business as they attempt to sail a dangerous and mostly unexplored path to the different continents of their world. My only complaint is that the ending feels incomplete - by that I mean it seems to stop mid-conversation. Needless to say, I’m looking forward to the full-length version.
Overall, I enjoyed most of the stories in this book! Novik’s prose is beautiful as always and I was impressed with her ability to write across various genres in a way that either paid tribute to the originals or built up entirely new worlds. A couple of the stories I had a hard time getting into but only because they either weren’t my preferred genre or I didn’t have the necessary background knowledge to fully enjoy them. That said, there were also several stories with fascinating world building and wonderful characters. This is a must read for any fantasy reader.

Rating: 3.5/5 (rounded up to 4 on Goodreads)
Review will be posted to my website on September 6th, 2024 (close to release date). The URL is below but will not work until the post is published.

Rating: 4.25 stars

This is a must read for Naomi Novik fans! But is also a great sampling of her work for new readers too.

As with every short story collection, I enjoyed some more than others. But I loved quite a few of the stories and worlds visited here.

I was happy to get a story in the Scholomance world (“After Hours”). I would read a million more of stories set there!
Spinning Silver is one of my favorite books so reading the original short story version was a special treat.

My other favorites were:
- “Seven”: A society of master potters who work with deadly clay
- “Seven Years from Home”: A sci-fi story exploring new worlds and the effects of colonization
- “Dragons & Decorum”: Pride & Prejudice with dragons!
- “The Long Way Around”: A sea-faring adventure that takes place in the world of Novik’s next novel. Which I am now so excited for!

In this anthology, Novik shows off her incredible world building and creativity. Her wit and humor really shine in “Dragons & Decorum” and “The Long Way Around”. This is a great collection by a talented author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an ARC.

What can I say, I am obviously going to be in the minority here, but I was very disappointed in this collection. I never got hooked into reading it. I can honestly say that the only story I really enjoyed was the Scholomance chapter. Don't get me wrong, the Spinning Silver one was lovely.....but only if you hadn't read the book of the same title.

To be completely honest, I felt like I was shortchanged, I'm just glad I only paid with my time.

It was so fun to be reading stories written by Naomi Novik again. She has such a way with words! There were, of course, some stories that I enjoyed more than others but it was fun to return to some of the worlds that she writes extensively about in her other novels.