This book features several short stories by fantasy author Naomi Novak. Each story is wildly different! Dragon training meets ‘Pride and Prejudice’, a return to the Scholomance, a sea voyage to an uninhabited island full of inexplicable architecture, the story of the Minotaur’s sister, and many more.

Novik’s creativity is unmatched, whether she’s putting her own twist on familiar tales or forming worlds from scratch, delving into the past or soaring forward to the future. A great read for anyone who is a fan of this author’s other works as well as anyone looking to escape this world.

I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. I gave this five stars, because I didn't want to short change Novik's work, though I debated it, because I like Spinning Silver and the Scholomance series so much. This collection of short stories is an excellent entry point into Novik, who has written in worlds that might not naturally have a lot of crossover tonally. Someone who knows her from Temeraire may never have tried scholomance, but now can sample that and other worlds all in one book. The stories visiting worlds I have already read of Novik were great though I personally wasn't that interested in the earlier version of spinning silver included here, even though I loved that book. But the great thing about a story collection-you can skip around. The new world of Abandon has a story sketched out here. One can definitely tell Novik's love of naval settings, which I recall from Temeraire in how this book is set. I look forward to seeing and reading that series as well. I think this of course is a must read for anyone who likes any of Novik's series. I am not as clear on whether this should be the first Novik book one should read though-I still might go Scholomance for that, as a 'gateway drug' and then this as the next dose. All in all, well done.

I find anthologies to be a collective art in which we can see what an author can do with a short story. Naomi gives us a collection of 13 stories that are not only interesting but unique. Some of these have been in other works but some are entirely new.

With a vast array of characters in each story along with an eccentric yet astounding world building, I think there’s something in here for everyone to appreciate. From worlds some may be familiar with in her other books to Pirates, dragons and Minotaurs, this was a fun, laid back book to pick up sporadically and read.

Naomi Novik is one of my favorite authors, and I continue to think she's a very good writer, but my response to this collection was middling. Part of this is that I don't get along with short story collections in general, but part of it is that I'd say she and I have very different views about some famous fictional women that appear in these stories. The worst is that she brings Irene Adler into a story only to have her sleep with Sherlock Holmes, which just makes me want to stare listlessly into the distance for a while, exhausted. She also has a Pride and Prejudice retelling that removes Elizabeth's major flaw of prejudice. I can still like the story, but find it less enjoyable than I would if she were a character that I could really sink my teeth into. Ultimately, I think the disconnect I'm getting with these stories is that a lot of her female protagonists feel like Strong Female Characters. I want them to have more internal flaws, instead of their issues all being external that they're all already clever enough to overcome. I appreciate an unkind woman as much as the next person, just like, pick another thing sometimes, basically. And the last story felt like a real cop out without a proper ending.

I thought this was a fun short story collection with fantastical elements. This didn't blow me away, but Naomi is obviously a great writer.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this book.

I loved every single one of the stories in here! Each one draws you in quickly, and I believe would be enjoyable to read even if you aren't already a Naomi Novik fan.

Buried Deep and Other Stories is a solid collection from author Naomi Novik, spanning a multitude of fantasy and science fiction worlds. Most striking is her style which adapts to each story. I greatly enjoyed revisiting the Scholomance in “After Hours” and reading the original version of “Spinning Silver.” Another standout is the title story, “Buried Deep,” which revisits the myth of Ariadne, the Minotaur, and the labyrinth, but not as you’ve seen them before. “Seven” was an engaging meditation on the purpose of art and the artist’s life while “Dragons and Decorum” was a fanciful take on Pride and Prejudice. Highly recommended. Thank you to Del Rey and Netgalley for providing an advance reading copy.

I have been a fan of Naomi Novik since I read Uprooted and Spinning Silver, but I haven't had a chance to pick up any of her other works until now and after reading this anthology, let me tell you... my TBR is neverending!! This anthology contains thirteen fun-filled short stories written at various points of Novik's career, ranging from the worlds of Spinning Silver, Scholomance, and Temeraire, to a fabulous Pride and Prejudice re-telling WITH DRAGONS (my personal favorite), some delightfully paranormal stories, plus a sneak peek into the world of "Abandon," her newest series and an immediate "want to read" for me. A couple of the stories were a little hit or miss for me, but overall the collection was engaging, wide-ranging in themes, and yet somehow still cohesive in tone and enjoyment level. I read this all in one sitting, but I think this would also be a great book to use as a palate cleanser between other novels - read a couple stories, put it down, pick it back up later, repeat. I recommend!

These are the first short stories I've read by Naomi Novik, and as a fan of her other work, they didn't disappoint. All collections tend to be a bit uneven, but there weren't any that stood out as particularly weak. I loved revisiting dragons in Vici, a humorous origin story of a kind, and in Dragons & Decorum, a send-up of Pride & Prejudice. Novik always shines in her fairy and folk tales. Buried Deep (a take on the minotaur and the Labyrith), Spinning Silver (an alternate version of what eventually became the novel), Seven, and Castle Coeurlieu were beautifully written and painfully poignant. The Long Way Round is a taste of her next series. It feels much more down to earth than most of the other stories in this volume, in spite of some magical elements, and while a bit slow has definitely whetted my appetite (my apologies for putting two water puns in a sentence about a tale of sea voyages). All in all, this was a delight to savor, and I'm looking forward to where Novik journeys next.

Thirteen stories! Some are set in universes Naomi Novik has already written in (Scholomance, Temeraire, or Spinning Silver) while others are tales written for various anthologies or to scratch a particular itch Novik had. The stories range from alternate world historical fiction with a retelling of Pride and Prejudice but this time with dragons to a fairy tale spun awry. There is an ecological sci-fi tale and a Sherlock Holme vignette. Then there is a retelling of sorts of the Age of Exploration but in a fantasy setting. Each tale has a bit of an introduction that helps to provide context. In all a very satisfying read.

Thanks Netgalley and DelRey for the chance to enjoy this title!

Of the millions of engaging, intriguing, and exciting stories dreamed up by there is one thing that always matters-the writing. A good story well-told is rare and precious. What Naomi Novik achieves with Buried Deep and Other Stories is a collection of tales that are written impeccably, even-perhaps most especially-when they tread familiar ground.

What strikes me most especially is how much I miss well-written stories. Naomi Novik is not just a good writer; she might be one of the best writers working today. When you open this book to the first page of writing, after the introductions, the reader is transported to a wonderous world deftly brought life by a talented author. It is a magical collection.

Everything about these short stories worked. It would not be an understatement to say this is because only a good writer makes it easy to read complex world-building and storytelling. In this book we were introduced to 13 different worlds with their own unique and intricate atmospheres in under 300 pages. To do this quickly, with economy of language, while also fully fleshing out unique characters is a treat for the reader's soul. Many of the stories are short and some may even be unfinished in the eyes of the author, but the reader never feels the ending. Instead, the author has captured moments in time, in her characters' lives and the reader gets the impression that the story will continue ahead without them.

For me, this is a great example of what Jasper Fforde captures in his writing about the BookWorld. You get a sense with Novik that the characters have lives and adventures beyond the page-and that is how it should be. While I do hope that in the future, we will get to revisit some of the worlds presented in this collection, I am also okay with knowing that the worlds exist in the fictional Great Library. That they are not confined to the Well and that now we know these characters will have adventures of their own with, or without, our knowledge.

This collection of short stories range from Austen/Temeraire crossovers to disturbing fairy tales set during the Black Plague. Novik's style of writing is sharp, intelligent and on occasion, sardonic and a little sarcastic. I enjoyed most of the stories, and as usual with my other story collection reviews, I'm going to be reviewing the stories that stood out the most to me.

After Hours

This story is set in the Scholomance universe and is about two students at the new and improved Scholomance post The Golden Enclaves, who are stuck together as roommates. Beata is a young Eastern European witch whose family traditions are essentially fairytale-like. (They grant wishes, cast hexes that are essentially lessons, and work magics that are very transactional and balanced.) Jayne is an enclaver, and manages to make herself extremely hard to get along with. The plot revolves around Beata making friends and Jayne very slowly learning how to be less terrible. This was an entertaining read, and I liked it a great deal.

Vici

A young, dissolute noble named Antony, who is drowning in debt finds himself punished by being sent out to slay a dragon. (The only upsides: The act will clear his debts, and the dragon has a hoard, so if he survives he'll be rich.) He is unexpectedly successful, and ends up accidentally adopting a baby dragon. (He found an egg in the dragon's den.) In caring for it, he becomes the first person to "tame" a dragon. (From a certain perspective. I however feel that Vici inadvertently teaches Antony responsibility.) This is a fun, fast paced story and Vici is absolutely charming. I enjoyed her interactions with Antony.

Dragons & Decorum

The second Temeraire story is an Austen/Temeraire crossover in which Elizabeth Bennet is the captain of a Longwing. This is something she and her family have been keeping secret because of the inherent scandal. (Longwings only accept women as captains. The military and general society pretends extremely hard that this is Not a Thing.) The story hits many of the same points of Pride and Prejudice with some new ones added on. The Austen-voice and turn of phrase is very good, and the overall story holds together extremely well. (Particularly funny moment: Darcy absolutely failing to understand Elizabeth's relationship to her dragon in the worst way possible.)

Spinning Silver

The short story version of Novik's reimagining of the fairytale Rumpelstiltskin is an engaging read. In Spinning Silver a young Jewish woman named Miryem, who starts collecting debts for her father, who is a moneylender, but not very good at it. (To the point the family is starving, because the people he lends money to won't pay him back.) Miryem is successful at debt collection and soon the family prospers, though both of her parents are concerned and also slightly guilty about the situation. Unfortunately, an unwise boast made by Miryem's grandfather draws the attention of the Staryk, frost fairies who love gold. I enjoyed this story a great deal, about as much as I liked the novel-length story. (Which of course is very different.)

Seven Years from Home

This story is a little hard to describe. It's about imperialism and genocide, and a lot of other complex things. Our Protagonist is an ambassador for a "Confederacy" that is overseeing a conflict between two societies: The Melidans who use gene-engineering and other biosciences to live a more or less pastoral or hunter/gatherer existence and the Esperigans, who tend toward the hard sciences and industrialization. The Confederacy is playing one side against the other but Our Protagonist throws herself whole-heartedly into supporting the Melidans, to disastrous affect for the Esperigans and the Confederacy's concerns. This is a thoughtful story that has some interesting twists and turns leading to an absolute trainwreck of an ending. (In a good way: Our Protagonist done messed up, is all I'm saying.)

Castle Coeurlieu

I will first say that this dark little story reminds me of Pan's Labyrinth. The story's plot is in no way similar to Pan's Labyrinth, but it still has the same dark fairytale feel. It's the time of the Black Plague, and our Protagonist is a twelve year old recently wedded wife of a nobleman, who is sent to the titular castle while the noble goes off to war. Isabeau makes friends with her "stepson" Jerome, who has been disabled by a child hood illness. They do various kid-like things together and Jerome tells stories about a mysterious tower no one is supposed to go into, because it's haunted. Or grants wishes in a terrifying way. Or both. This of course leads to Isabeau ending up going into the tower, after Jerome disappears inside. This is a creepy horror-fairytale with a lot of disturbing content. I recommend it for all of the above.

This is over all a really interesting collection of stories that I enjoyed reading. Novik is an amazing writer, though I have occasionally bounced off of some of her work. I enjoyed most of the stories in the book, but the stories listed above stood out the most to me.

This review is based off of a unpublished copy received from NetGalley.

I picked up this collection of short stories because I have loved Naomi Novik's last few books (I somehow never discovered her during Temeraire). This is a fantastic short story collection. Each new entry gets you fully involved and then leaves you wanting more at the end. There is, as promised, a story set at the Scholomance post trilogy (featuring new students and a cameo from one of the known characters). There is also a story set in the Temeraire universe, a short story that is a proto Spinning Silver, and several that are unconnected to any previous novels. If you have enjoyed any of Naomi Novik's previous books I say go pick up this collection as soon as it is available. If you are somehow unfamiliar with her then this is a reasonable entry point to her writing and I guarantee that you will immediately be looking for some of her other books. I can't wait to see what she writes next.

This collection of short storied by Naomi Novik was a delight. A few of the stories revisited previous works, such as the Scholomance series and Spinning Silver. Others, were wonderfully original with varied settings. The last story was a preview of the new world creating in her upcoming novel. She prefaced it by saying it all could change before the novel makes it to print, but I hope it doesn't, because I've already been sucked in!

So I absolutely adored this collection. The stories are great right out of the gate (that first one!); I really, really, really loved the Scholomance one (and would happily read a book of short stories or vignettes just from that world); and it wasn't really until the last third that I found a story I didn't jibe with: "Seven Years from Home." And looking back, really...there was only that one. It had interesting ideas, and I did like what Novik was saying with it, but the framing and the pacing of it just didn't work for me, and it kind of took the wind out of my sails for reading the next story in the collection. I almost felt that way about the last one, but then I got sucked in once I got a good feel for the world, and now I'm looking forward to reading the full-length book version of it.

I think anyone who likes fantasy short stories would enjoy this book, and even if you're not a big short story reader if you've read and enjoyed Novik's work before I think you'll find a lot to love here. This is a really, really great selection of entertaining, beautiful, and magical reads - and it makes me excited to read some of Novik's past work that I haven't gotten around to yet, along with Folly!

The worlds that Naomi Novik have brought to life are diverse and all are very interesting. I love getting a peek into the worlds that she's created in her stories they're all lovely short trips to very beloved places.

I would read Naomi Novik's grocery list. Each short story was captivating. As a Scholomance fan, I admit I requested it for this story and it didn't disappoint. The characters were fresh and exciting. Plus I am always here for Orion. But it was the original take on Spinning Silver that reminded me what a talent she is. I didn't think I could love it more than I did, but I think the short story is just as ethereal. I could wax and wane about all the stories on here, but I just insist...read it! Amazing!

I love all of Naomi Novik's writing and these stories were a tantalizing glimpse into some of my favorite worlds! Her one series that I've never gotten into is Temeraire, but the short stories included in this book finally piqued my interest.

It was so great to check in with the Scholomance and see what life is like after El's revolution.

A few stories didn't quite hit for me (Irene Adler, the teapot one) but I loved the more fantasy/mythological ones. Seeing the original version of Spinning Silver was very interesting from a writing POV since the plot was almost identical except for the very ending.

Loved the glimpse at her new world, can't wait to read more of that.

Buried Deep and Other Stories by Naomi Novik, a lot of enjoyable short stories that I now want larger stories in the same universes. Novik is good at leaving you wanting more and more and more.